In today's ever-evolving world, technology is at the forefront of every industry as it redefines processes, modifies systems, aides to services, and streamlines procedures - all with a goal to achieve more efficient, successful and productive outcomes. In hospitality, for example, significant technological advances have occurred within the past 10 years to the RFP process, reservations systems, and even event planning procedures. It's important for sellers to embrace these technological advances and incorporate these “tools” into the sales process along with nurturing client relationships. Technology will continue to change, but the fundamentals of relationship-building and the sales process remain the same. READ MORE

As a business owner, “social media” can be scary, too big or irrelevant. But it's not. Its impact is growing by leaps and bounds each year. Thanks to the plethora of social media networks available, customers have the ability to share their experiences with hundreds or thousands of people. Hotel guests share the good, the bad and the ugly. By embracing the value of and responding to online ratings and reviews, hoteliers can greatly improve their products and service, drive more online traffic to their websites and shape their reputation - all of which contributes to a healthier bottom line. READ MORE

Hotels and Resorts are increasingly finding it harder and harder to compete on the Internet, especially in this competitive environment. The struggle lies in not only finding ways to navigate the web that won't cause issues with the search engines, but also finding new and creative ways to attract customers. We are going to delve into one broad area that is actually awarded in the search arena today and can generate the attention of customers - social media and public relations. In addition to the overview, there will also be some discussion on some tools to use that can improve performance of social media and PR efforts. READ MORE

The most important way in which hotels differentiate themselves from each other is in the amenities they provide. But all too often amenities are thought of in strictly functional terms - what they are or what benefit they deliver, when in fact these amenities and the way they are presented are the substance and essence of the guest experience. Understanding how guests experience your amenities (which range all the way from the hotel website to the online receipt) is imperative in order to engage guests emotionally, which is possibly the most important thing a hotel can do. After all, research shows that 67% of the decision to stay in a particular hotel is emotional. READ MORE

With the winter season at the doorstep, there is nothing more important for the protection of a hotel property than proper snow and ice management. Winter weather comes in many forms, all of which present potential harm to a hotel landscape. In the article "Hotel Garden: Snow and Ice Management," authors Ken Hutcheson and Mike Fitzpatrick discuss how proper snow and ice management will help ensure that a hotel can operate efficiently and safely throughout the colder months. They also provide tips on how to maintain a hospitable and accessible landscape despite inclement weather that could otherwise pose potentially dangerous conditions. READ MORE