There is an old adage that says, “The only constant is change.” Although attributed to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher who lived around 500 B.C., apparently that statement is as true now as it has ever been - perhaps even more so. 2016 has proven to be a year of tumultuous change in the hospitality industry, from the dizzying pace of technological advancements and fluctuating global economies to the introduction and adoption of entire new segments of the business. With rapidly advancing technologies in just about every sector of the industry, hospitality has experienced an exponential transformation over the past several years, dramatically changing the face of one of the world's oldest occupations. READ MORE

Hurricanes can be frightening experiences, particularly for those on the coast. For hotels, which occupy much of the country's coastal landscape, they can bring revenue to a halt. Business interruption coverage is key to help hotels get through these catastrophes without having to board up their businesses for good. In this article, we explore the ins and outs of business interruption coverage to help hotel owners question their coverage and ensure they have the protection they need to come out on top after a major loss. READ MORE

Reliance on growing ADR to drive RevPAR when occupancy levels plateau isn't as easy as it sounds. Reactionary pricing moves, whether they be automated or human in origin will undoubtedly result in subpar performance. This article serves as an early warning that now is the time to take action to ensure that you don't fall victim to your dumbest competitor. Projections for 2017 and beyond by STR, CBRE and PKF all call for anemic occupancy growth at best, notwithstanding record occupancy levels for the U.S. hospitality industry. With Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) growth projections at inflationary levels (2.5 - 3.5 percent, or so), it is clear that expectations call for Average Daily Rate (ADR) growth to continue, but will it? READ MORE

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that placed restrictions on the ability of law enforcement officers to inspect hotel guest registers and other records. Many local laws, which had authorized unlimited police inspections, suddenly were rendered unconstitutional. This article reviews that decision and discusses the developments that have occurred in this area during the past year. Until recently, hotels in many jurisdictions routinely provided the police with access to their guest registers without much concern about the privacy issues that might be involved. After all, numerous cities and towns possessed ordinances that required hotels to collect specific guest information and allowed the police inspect the information upon request. READ MORE

Complying with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Department of Labor's (DOL) regulations for tipped employees continues to present challenges for hoteliers and others in the hospitality industry. While recent attention has been paid to proper tip pooling practices (employers requiring certain tipped employees to chip in a portion of their tips, which are then divided among a group of employees), equal attention must be given to the FLSA's mandatory notice provision to tipped employees. A continuing trend in wage and hour lawsuits stems from the employer's failure to give the tipped employee the required notice. READ MORE