From rooftop nightclubs to water parks, unique amenities are springing up at hotels across the country. These attractions can help attract more guests, but they also open hotels to an array of insurance exposures. With the right risk management tactics and insurance coverage, you can adopt new amenities while keeping your business safe. READ MORE

Have you ever noticed that some managers seem to attract the same team members regardless of where they go? It's not uncommon for these managers to receive calls from former employees asking them if by chance they have a spot available on their team. We call these leaders magnet because no matter where they go, others seem to follow them. You can sit back and wish you had their charisma or you can take stock of what it takes to be the type of leader that gets great people to stick with them through thick and thin. Here's how to become a magnet leader by Monday. READ MORE

What is today's traveler looking for when deciding on where to stay for their vacation or weekend getaway? Do they research all the online reviews in hopes that will lead them to their ultimate destination or is it where the best value is perceived, best service? Is it a place that has the best spa or the pools with all the slides for the kids or is it the place with the best restaurants that determine where you book. Because there are so many choices out there where someone can spend their money you need to have that something "special thing" that attracts them and keeps them coming back for more. In my opinion it's a hotel or resort that takes the "everything made from scratch" philosophy that will win their patrons over. READ MORE

Three stars, 30 points, 5 diamonds? Which is the best and who is doing the rating? The time has come for a new global food and drink experience accreditation system for our industry. There is plenty of room for improvement in current assessment systems for food and drink experiences. Consumer-oriented systems are confusing and/or incomplete. Trade systems are often arcane or relate to specific organizations or programs (like organic-certified or sustainably-fished). To be successful, such a new system would need to cross the various industry sectors, and be suitable for all countries, languages and cultures. We'll look at the work that has been done to date on just such a system and what's in store for the world's food and drink rating systems in the near future. READ MORE

The hospitality industry is on the mend and 2013 is expected to be an excellent year. But hoteliers now find themselves in a new game where customers are dictating what hotels need to do, and technology is forcing hotels to change at an exponential rate. Tighter collaboration within a hotel and investments in rational pricing approaches will bode well for their future profitability. Technology is no longer a barrier; only the mindset is. It will take both villages - internal and external - for the hospitality industry to surge ahead and meet the new challenges head on. READ MORE