Group bookings have long been a critical revenue generator for the lodging industry. With technological advances and the increasingly rapid pace of change in the corporate world, however, the booking window has narrowed dramatically, giving rise to a significant subset of group bookings known collectively as last-minute meetings. These meetings, which typically involve 30-50 participants and are often booked "in the month for the month," pose a challenge to both the host hotel as well as the planner. Both sides want a success. Considering the tight timeframe, what are some options to consider, particularly when it comes to selecting the right venue? READ MORE

Ever since the statistic from reputation management company Podium that customers would pay more for a better experience was revealed, leaders have been scrambling for ways to improve their customer experience across industries, hospitality included. To compete with Airbnb and increase customer retention, some hotels have even created robotic bellhops or allowed guests to stay in their rooms by the minute. But going deeper than the tactics themselves, there's one underlying factor that makes these strategies effective and empowers a hotel to truly appeal to customers: the ability to be agile. READ MORE

From “human capital management” to less sophisticated terms like “colleagues,” it’s imperative for hotel leaders and HR folks to establish clear lines of sight into how a candidate, an employee and a property can support growth. This can be done through highlighting the importance of local brand, the importance of teams, and the overall approach to guest experiences. The following article aims to explain why certain properties do a better job than others when it comes to retaining guests and employees alike. READ MORE

A well-designed floorplan is essential to a restaurant’s success. No matter how good the food is, it needs to be served efficiently and elegantly, and it is the floorplan that determines how well each service will run. The keys to a good plan lie in coordinating and balancing the needs of both the servers and the guests. From the location of the kitchen to the exact width of the seats, every decision matters. When done well, ADA requirements can benefit all guests, with gentle, sufficiently wide paths and ample space for strollers as well as wheelchairs. READ MORE

Today’s guests, whether they are hotel or hospital guests, come with incredibly high expectations of hospitality. How does wellness fold into this equation and contribute to the overall guest experience? What does the future of hospitality and healthcare hold as it relates to the wellness factor? Jackson Thilenius, Principal at Retail Design Collaborative, explores the integration of these two disciplines and the implications for hospitality and healthcare brands sparked by the traction of the trillion-dollar wellness industry. READ MORE