Are there opportunities for new hotel development beyond breaking new ground particularly in central downtown areas? When looking to develop a new hotel, price and location are important factors typically considered. Ground up development, which generally occurs in outer urban or suburban locations, has the appeal of starting with a blank slate which is often but not always the most economical path. New development in these areas can come with a hefty price tag for the property it sits on if what you are looking for is even available. Some thoughts to consider. READ MORE

Hotel lobbies hold the impressive task of shaping a guest's stay from the moment they walk through the door. Because of the importance of this space, lobbies have always been carefully planned and designed keeping guest preferences top of mind. Travelers' needs and habits have shifted dramatically in recent years, prompting a design evolution of the hotel lobby. Dave Marr, senior vice president and global head of full service brands at Hilton, explains four common themes shaping how the hospitality company designs, stages, and provides a new experience within its lobbies around the world. READ MORE

While riding in a glass-roofed train through the Sacred Valley in Peru on my way to Machu Picchu, two hours into the windy, ever-changing landscape, I saw three glass capsules attached near the side of a cliff about 400 feet above the tracks. As foreign as these futuristic objects were in architectural style to anything I had seen in Peru, was the aesthetic juxtaposition necessarily bad? With recent hospitality trends of becoming more closely connected with the surrounding culture and landscape, how closely should we try to recreate an 'authentic' experience before the experience begins to feel false and trite? READ MORE

The magnitude of wellness and mindfulness has ushered in new perceptions of performance and program authenticity. While the nature of the hospitality industry is to serve, care, and exceed guest expectations; there can be considerable breaks in delivery, legitimacy and company culture, making it a challenge to quantify value and maintain significance and consistency. This article examines the central mainstays of delivering wellness with a mission and purpose that effectively ties to company cornerstones, employee ethos and crafts genuine, wellness-focused guest experiences. This article also looks at internal value propositions that add meaningful engagement, and enhance employee investment in stride with operating and fiscal performance through integrally focused wellness models. READ MORE

According to IBISWorld, the theme park industry has grown strongly over the past five years to more than $18 billion at a 5.4% annual growth rate, largely driven by the operators securing intellectual property rights to major film franchises and entertainment, bringing films and characters into exciting new features and experiential rides that have been driving revenue and increasing profit margins. These theme parks have long known what intrigues customers and keeps them coming back, and smart hoteliers are now catching on to this trend. Let's take a look at how theme park attractions are impacting the hospitality industry's growth by infusing the elements of the big screen into the guest experience. READ MORE