Michael McCartan, Managing Director of Europe, Middle East & Africa for Duetto, looks at why the hotel industry has historically lagged behind the technologically advanced online travel agents (OTAs). He addresses the issues of data sharing and analytics, and how these can help shape revenue management decisions as well as enhance the guest experience. He looks at machine learning and technology as a way of removing friction from the guest experience, and questions how this can be incorporated into hotel operations. And he calls on the hotel industry to work together to open up a shared “data lake” and compete head-on with the OTAs. READ MORE

It is hard to argue that a hotel's primary focus be anything else but the guest, but just how essential is it for hotels to be customer-focused? The answer is - very essential. A major part of being customer-focused is understanding and then ensuring you are giving guests what they want. Specifically, if guests are looking for experiences, then create experiences that are unique and personalized. Details matter. In the 21st century, customers have access to a wide variety of valuable third-party information about businesses to help them decide on a hotel at which to stay on their next vacation. READ MORE

Given the increasing number of disability discrimination lawsuits, it is imperative that employers know and understand an employee's rights to leave and reasonable accommodation when injured or disabled. A workers compensation injury is not only covered by rules in the workers compensation system, but is typically also governed by requirements, obligations, and limitations under other important statutes. The Family Medical Leave Act, the American with Disabilities Act, and worker's compensation provide employees that are injured or disabled with various rights to leave or reasonable accommodation. This article will explore each law's parameters and the interplay among them. READ MORE

A panel moderated by PwC's Scott D. Berman; Chris Cahill, CEO, Luxury Brands, AccorHotels; Steve Haggerty, Global Head of Capital Strategy, Franchising, Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Kevin J. Jacobs, EVP & CFO, Hilton; Elie Maalouf, CEO, The Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Mit Shah, CEO, Noble Investment Group discussed the industry's growth potential as it related to geopolitical and economic shifts. READ MORE

The first thing you need to know about reading a hotel financial statement is there are basically 2 different statements that you will want to get comfortable with. The two different statements are the income statement, some call it the P&L for profit and loss statement and the second in the balance sheet. Now I know what you're thinking, balance sheets are for the accounting types and they are complicated. Nothing could be further from the truth and I am going to give you a new understanding and share a secret about the balance sheet and the relationship to the P&L. READ MORE