The combination of increasing customization and advancing technology is bringing the world together. What used to take ten or more separate devices is now all in one smartphone. Platform-based services like Uber, Netflix, and Airbnb are revolutionizing business as we know it. Just about every industry has jumped on board this trend towards tech-based simplicity except one. The hotel industry has been slow to adapt, preferring instead to stick with separate systems for their various departments—if using systems at all. Thanks to the increasing awareness of hospitality platforms however, all that's about to change. At long last, the hotel industry is getting its long-awaited wake-up call. Just don't go back to sleep, before making room for a platform in your upcoming budget. READ MORE

Nobody would argue that technology has changed the way we work and entertain ourselves. In a broader scope, however, technology has changed the way we think. From a consumer engagement standpoint, the business community has been slower to recognize this on a grand scale, though in recent months there have been signs of catching up. Take retail, for example. Amazon and other online retailers have long been stealing market share from brick and mortar retailers. These businesses are fighting back by placing a stronger emphasis on the customer experience by embracing digital technologies, as well as immersive and interactive platforms. READ MORE

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