About two years ago, I started my career at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. I came from San Diego, California, the apparent capital of farmer's markets. When I moved to Chicago in late-October, the number of farmer's markets had already begun to taper off and all that was left of the hotel's rooftop garden was the sad remnants of a summer full of bounty. However, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The Chicago Marriott Downtown operates a year-round experience to create food from scratch that gives customers fresh and nutritional options. READ MORE

The foodservice industry is one of the oldest and most important. Consumers from all demographics rely on it virtually every day for sustenance. In fact, in the U.S. alone, it's a nearly $800 billion industry that's extremely competitive, with hundreds of new establishments popping up every year, and much of this new business is the result of increased consumer demand. Consumers want more options. For every practiced chef, there is a collective of guests eager to spend their hard-earned dollars on something exotic and different. They want to experience a bit of culture by way of their next meal, and they want to find it using the latest technology. READ MORE

The only consistent aspect in the way people plan travel is that it's constantly changing. Each decade brings new ways for customers to connect with the hospitality experience because of both changes in technology and customer behavior. Think about it this way, the industry has come a long way since a sign out front touting air conditioning and color TV were enough to attract a customer; that is, if they could find you. It wasn't all that long ago when finding a hotel meant pulling off the road because you saw a sign, or by researching a potential stay by utilizing thick books published each year by Mobile or AAA. READ MORE

Much has been discussed about managing millennials, who have brought their own set of priorities to the workplace - greater work-life balance, broadened lines of communication, flatter organizations, and expectations of social engagement. Now, as millennials are poised to step into managerial roles, they will find themselves overseeing a workforce that spans as many as five generations, from the vanguard of Gen Z to the tail end of the traditionalists. Among the challenges new millennial managers face will be gaining the trust of older workers. And the conversation is shifting from how to manage millennials to how will millennials manage? READ MORE

If you ask most hospitality C-levels, social media might not be their top of mind priority. And why would it? Between worrying about operations, finances (average daily rates and average length of stay), staff turnover and more, social media is just one item at the end of the list. But the truth is, the number one thing that we should all worry about is guest satisfaction - I know I don't need to hammer that home; however, what I do need to mention is that guest satisfaction comes from many places, and is heavily influenced by what people are saying online, not just what happens at your hotel. READ MORE