As consumers, we are all used to the idea that technological change is continuous – and accelerating. But how do you deal with this when you’re in charge of technology in a hotel company, and your job is to keep up with guest expectations, make sure critical systems are all up-to-date, ensure security – and justify the investments? The five experts who joined our Technology Roundtable share some...

Dynamic pricing appears to be making its way back into corporate contracts, at least in the hotel arena. InterContinental Hotels Group reported that almost a quarter of its corporate clients will be using some sort of dynamic pricing model for 2011. IHG has been pushing buyers to accept floating rates since at least 2008. Since then, more than 1,000 accounts have agreed to discounts from best-ava...

Virgin Hotels has identified a few sites for its foray into the Washington lodging market, but is at least two years away from launching a property under its new flag, according to owner Richard Branson. Speaking at the American Lodging and Investment Summit here last week, Branson, founder of the Virgin Group empire, would not say where in the area he is looking but assured that the Washington m...

The travel industry has soldiered through many unexpected challenges in recent years (SARS, the Swine Flu, Katrina, and assorted other natural disasters), yet perhaps none as creepy to prospective guests as that which now looms on the horizon: the growing infestation of bed bugs. Yes, bed bugs.

NEW YORK, NY --New York City restaurant Ça Va Brasserie is celebrating its first Valentine's Day with a French inspired custom four course menu for guests of the Intercontinental New York and locals seeking an exceptional New York Times Square dining experience. World renowned Chef Todd English has created a Valentine's Day dinner menu titled "Illumination Aphrodisiaque", a culinary adventure wit...

It is now the end of the first month of the New Year. Resolutions were made 30 or more days ago and we already realize that people been breaking them because of any given number of reasons. Those reasons may be strong or without merit, but reality checks remind us all of the need for planning, action, measurement, analysis, correction if need be and then repeating the cycle.

Regardless of the source of the tradition of making resolutions, we all realize that people all over the world have been breaking them. The title of this short piece is Making This New Year's Hospitality Resolutions Real and Practical, and my goal is to offer a slight alternative to the resolutions making approaches that seem to get broken so often, for whatever reasons.

In today's ever shifting workplace finding a way to engage full-time employees is as challenging as attempting to scale Mount Baker, Mount Hood and Mount Rainier (in the North Cascades), without the proper equipment. To top that, it is even more difficult to recruit, motivate and retain both part-time and temporary workers. Why?

Open Hospitality, a global provider of hotel online marketing solutions, has expanded the possibilities for international consumers using mobile devices with new mobile multi-lingual website presences. "We recognized that consumer mobile usage was nearing the popularity of desktop website use," commented David Millili, CEO of Open Hospitality. "Open has long provided our clients with a many websi...

The Knowland Group, a leading provider of sales and marketing solutions for the global hospitality industry, understands hotel sales managers can't be chained to a desktop computer all day. That's why Knowland has made Target Net available on the Apple iPad.

Video is working for online retailers – it increases sales conversions, lowers shopping cart abandonment rates, reduces product returns and increases website stickiness. Hotels that have followed the retail industry's lead and launched video and VFM Leonardo's VBrochure Online Merchandising System are seeing similar results – particularly increased booking conversions. VFM Leonardo displays hotel...

The cold weather in the UK towards the end of the year was not enough to diminish headline performance levels as its capital achieved a Gross Operating Profit per Available Room (GOPPAR) of €105.07, according to the latest HotStats survey from TRI Hospitality Consulting.

The European hotel industry posted mostly positive results in year-over-year metrics when reported in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds for year-end 2010, according to data compiled by STR Global. "Recovery took hold over most of Europe during 2010", said Elizabeth Randall, managing director of STR Global. "Demand returned, and with limited supply increases overall, most hotel markets booste...

The Americas region recorded positive results in the three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollars for year-end 2010 and December 2010, according to data compiled by STR and STR Global. The Americas region ended the year with a 5.6-percent increase in occupancy to 57.8 percent, average daily rate finished virtually flat with a 0.6-percent increase to US$100.32, and revenue per avail...

Industry veteran Russell Kembel has been promoted to director of industry relations and national accounts for Hilton Waikoloa Village. This promotion is a strategic move by Hilton Waikoloa Village in order to effectively position the hotel in group markets, while supporting the in-market sales team. With an extensive background in the hotel industry, including senior sales manager for Westin Cin...

Turner brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to Hotel Teatro. Most recently, Turner was the director of operations for the Colorado Chautauqua Association, where he oversaw everything from historic cottage rentals, meeting and retreat venues, public events and programming, to maintenance of the 26-acre campus. Prior to that, Turner worked for Destination Hotels & Resorts for more th...

Jeffrey Soffer, Chairman and CEO of Fontainebleau Miami Beach, is pleased to announce the appointment of Philip Goldfarb as President and Chief Operating Officer of the resort. Prior to his new role with the resort, Goldfarb spent seven years with Turnberry Associates. Goldfarb has 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to his position with Turnberry Associates, he served as ...

By Carol Verret
For over two years Shots of Hotel Sales & Revenue Management Caffeine has been delivered to more than 500 Inboxes every week with a mix of sales, revenue management and motivational tips and trends. Now it’s an eBook. “The past two years have been among the most difficult in the industry’s history,” says the author, Carol Verret. “This 55 page book contains lessons we all learned during the recession and those that will launch us into the recovery.”