It is estimated that only 48% of travelers write and post travel reviews online. But since a hotel's online review scores contribute to everything from occupancy to RevPAR (revenue per available room) to profits, encouraging the remaining 52% of casual visitors to become social advocates for the brand is of critical importance. Luring these guests to action requires changes to both a hotel's operations and its marketing campaigns. While the specific recommendations made in this article may seem time-consuming, the results gained from improved social review scores make the investment well worth it for motivated hotel operators. READ MORE

It's engagement season! How is your hotel or brand driving customer loyalty and striving for that long-lasting relationship? If you want travelers to opt-in and engage with your digital marketing effort, they need to be wooed. Wooing, however, takes time and it takes finesse. More importantly, it takes precision in knowing just the right thing to say and when to say it. In "Engaging with Customers Beyond their Stays," Shayne Paddock, CIO of ZDirect, details the importance of using Hotel Marketing Automation to build customer trust and a desire for two-way communication. READ MORE

Business as usual produces the usual results: average quality delivered by uninspired employees. There are far too many companies known for providing ordinary customer service - or worse. And there are far too many employees who are content to simply execute the mandatory job functions for which they are paid, unaware of the myriad opportunities missed to delight customers. But for those companies that refuse to accept an unremarkable reputation by default and, instead, take steps to define and communicate their purpose and foster a corporate culture that inspires employees to deliver their best work, READ MORE

Workplace safety plays an important role in retaining productive employees, especially in the hospitality industry where turn-over is high compared to other private sector industries. Safe work environments affect employee health, staff morale and workers' compensation insurance costs. The following guest column by Barry Vogt, senior vice president and chief claims officer at EMPLOYERS, America's small business insurance specialist®, provides guidance on what hotels should do in the event of an on-the-job injury or illness to ensure their employees receive appropriate care and return to work in a timely manner. READ MORE

"Social Identity." It's a phrase heard increasingly often. Yet many hotel marketers still don't fully understand how the concept can and should fit into their marketing strategies. The brand tracking studies the industry uses seem to rely more heavily on competitive comparisons than on a distinct brand identity or social identity. In fact, do you think most consumers can really tell the different between brands? Learning how to market to their social identities will give you the edge you need to stand out from your competitors and earn their loyalty and affinity. READ MORE