Exploring authentic ways of infusing the hotel location based upon the Operator/Brand & Owner vision. Applying elements of brand-specific identity and responding with successful design solutions within the constraints of existing properties- i.e. interior architecture, existing zoning etc. “It's Tuesday so I must be in Sheffield...” When I started working in hospitality design, this was one of many sayings we frequently heard and always joked about. These were the days when the road warriors back in the UK drove their Ford Taurus' from town to town, city to city, staying overnight in the local hotel flag of their or their company's choice. READ MORE

President-elect Trump is unlikely to support continued federal labor and employment agency activism in wage and hour and other employment-related matters. What does this mean in the context of the hotel industry? Can hotel owners and franchisors expect immediate relief? In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, we forecast a clear pro-business shift in labor and employment policy under Donald Trump. Republicans will assume control of not only the presidency, but both houses of Congress in 2017. Mr. Trump will also likely act quickly to appoint a conservative justice to the Supreme Court to replace Antonin Scalia, and he will possess the power to fill open seats as they arise on the 12 federal circuit courts. READ MORE

Embarking on a major hotel renovation can be an exciting endeavor. When we began formulating our renewed vision for the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront in 2014, we were mindful of a dual responsibility: projecting the image of the regency brand while also infusing into the plan the personality and flavor of a unique surrounding region and its people. Now that the project is complete, others in the industry may benefit from learning about how we achieved those objectives. In all, the year-long renovation included a floor-to-ceiling overhaul of all 951 guest rooms, corridors, the roof-top fitness center, select meeting spaces and more. READ MORE

A hotel is not the same as a house or a warehouse or an apartment or office building, and assessors often don't understand why. The hospitality sector is frequently the most challenging part of a jurisdiction's property tax base. The only way to derive a hotel's real property value from a purchase price is for an assessor to spend time and energy understanding the adjustments needed to accurately determine what part of that purchase price relates to real property and whether or not it can be used as a sales comparable for other hotels in that jurisdiction. READ MORE

Hilton released a survey that asked meeting attendees in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany about their productivity, exercise and diet habits while at hotel meetings. We found that business indeed takes a dive around 2 p.m., and in addition to the afternoon slump, there's a number of other issues that detract from meeting productivity and attendee satisfaction. More than half of meeting attendees pay attention to what they eat and how they exercise in their daily lives, but most were unsatisfied with the ability to maintain this lifestyle while attending meetings at hotels. These meetings aren't just unproductive, they're draining an organization's bottom line. READ MORE