This year has been named the best that the industry has ever seen, however, the growth in distribution costs as well as other operating costs such as health care and the minimum wage increases can stunt profit growth if not managed properly. This means that reliance on the online travel agencies (OTAs) can impact the bottom line in a significant way. By directing guests to your hotel's website and telephones, the savings are abundant. The digital distribution costs are soaring and the number of players entering the market to compete with OTAs is rapidly rising (think Google, Facebook, Apple, TripAdvisor, Amazon and more). READ MORE

While room revenue management has traditionally functioned independently of other revenue streams, a major step toward Total Revenue Performance is using advanced analytics to aggregate and synthesise across revenue streams. The result is actionable intelligence across rooms pricing, function space and beyond. Hoteliers know that the relationships between revenue streams can be intricate and very complex. Because of this complexity, decisions made with only one revenue stream in mind can directly impact the business performance of several other streams. READ MORE

The beginning of a hotel renovation marks the start of a ticking clock. When the clock runs out, renovation projects must be complete or the hotel faces consequences that range from losing reservations to unnecessary customer disruptions from a building still under construction during a major meeting or convention. These consequences are far greater than just inconveniencing guests; they mean poor reviews, lost revenue, and visitors who may never stay at the property again. READ MORE

Since the Internet gained popularity in the mid-1990s, it has largely damaged hoteliers' finances, with travel aggregators forcing down rates and taking a slice of the pie besides. But now a new phenomenon from cyberspace, social media, is offering ways to generate/replenish lost sales and grow. Aside from sparking operational improvements, social can help foster customer loyalty. A look at opportunities and challenges of this “second wave.” READ MORE

“He may live without love - what is passion but pining? But where is the man who can live without dining?” These lines from the English statesman and poet Owen Meredith, sum up what most of us in the industry would like to feel about dining. But the experience of dining has many elements and how these come together will determine what's more important - how our customers come to feel. It's a truism that first impressions are hard to change. And the earliest impression for diners occurs in seating. Where they're seated and how they're seated. READ MORE