The relationship between business travel buyers (the customer), the travel management company (TMC), and hotels has evolved since the beginning of travel management into one of interdependency. The hotelier must understand the TMC/customer relationship in order for hotels to work more effectively with TMCs to establish, build, and maintain their relationships with the customer. READ MORE

Not too long ago, I was researching for a presentation that I needed to deliver during an annual conference for a major hotel brand. The topic was networking and this brand had seen a drop in personal interactive skills of staff at all levels. People in all roles - front desk, sales, even managers and owners - were losing their ability to connect with others due to their reliance on electronic tools. Being in the world of hospitality, where a premium should be placed on service and relationships, this void was seen as critical. READ MORE

Upon graduating from Colorado State University's department of Design & Merchandising in 2004, I had no idea that my undergrad learnings would come into play during my hospitality career, over a decade later. Nor did I realize I would depart from the fashion/retail industry for the hotel business. I will always remember one of my professor's lectures on what merchandising really is: having the right product, at the right time, in the right place. It sounds quite simple, but putting this philosophy into action is more complex. READ MORE

In the ongoing power struggle between hotels and online travel agencies, one question that often emerges is, “Who owns the guest?” It's a question that will likely be debated for years, and grow even more complicated as new players continue to enter the online travel arena. The answer, DHISCO CEO Toni Portmann, argues, is “no one and everyone.” And rather than argue over who should have access to customer email and other information, she says, they should look to new technology for managing rates and inventory and sharing richer content as the bridge to more amicable relationships. READ MORE

In your hotel, you either share the financials with you leaders, the department managers or you don't. If you already share the financial statements, you know the power it unleashes with your team and the result it helps to create. If you don't share you're wondering what the management team will think about the money and how much goes to you and the owner. You naively think no one needs to know about the finances in your hotel. You think it's none of their business. You're also pretty sure the team will judge you and your results. READ MORE