Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how organizations hire talent. Today, AI is not just a tool but a partner that supports and enhances human decision-making across all six distinct phases of the hiring process, from receiving applications to extending job offers (see Figure 1).
In a world where hotels, restaurants, and tourism organisations face unprecedented complexity - from digital disruption to climate challenges - Professor Ioannis S. Pantelidis of Ulster University invites us to look beneath the surface. His latest work, REEF: Transformational Leadership, draws on lessons from the ocean’s most adaptive ecosystems to inspire a new form of leadership - one that is rhythmic, empathetic, and resilient.
Negotiation skills are among the most underappreciated abilities in the hospitality industry, yet it shapes everything from supplier agreements to guest experiences. Understanding the nuanced art of negotiation can turn the average deal into an opportunity for value creation and a successful partnership. Here, we explore five basic rules to transform your confidence and results at the negotiating table.
Do happy employees make happy customers, or is it the other way around? Do happy customers make employees happy?
Meliá Hotels International, Spain's leading hotel group, with more than 400 hotels open or in development across over 40 countries, and recognized as Europe's most sustainable hotel company, also leading globally in several international sustainability rankings, reinforces its commitment to education and professionalization through a strategic partnership with Les Roches.
The man who helped create the iconic Las Vegas brand-ad campaign, “What Happens Here, Stays Here” has passed away after a 16-year battle with cancer.
The hospitality industry is knee-deep in budgeting season, and there is no better time to begin equipping hotel teams with the right tools and knowledge to operate efficiently, deliver seamless guest experiences, and maintain brand consistency. One of the most essential components of workforce communication is the Learning Management System (LMS). Today’s technology providers are redefining the way hotel teams are continuously trained, and new, intuitive tools contained within modern LMSs are gaining traction across the industry.
Education comes in many shapes and forms. The focus should be on the quality of the education and the value of what is being offered. Hospitality professionals that want to enhance their professionalism and build their educational resumes have numerous choices. In general, hospitality professionals are looking to receive certifications that support their education, advance their careers and increase potential opportunities in a dynamic and new industry landscape.
There has been a recent flurry of announcements from the business press regarding the appointment of Co-CEOs. What was once an oddity is becoming more common place. A recent article by Barron’s Andy Serwer addresses this trend in the broader marketplace. I thought it would be interesting to look at how the hospitality industry is or is not embracing this movement. Of the 8,088 hotel, casino and restaurant companies we track at AETHOS, only 24 had a Co-CEO arrangement, representing less than 1% of the industry.
"Just be yourself." It's the well-meaning advice that's launched a thousand leadership development programmes and probably twice as many LinkedIn posts. But here's the uncomfortable truth: most leaders who try to "be themselves" at work are actually stuck at a surprisingly unsophisticated stage of authenticity.
Bluegr Hotels & Resorts’ next generation joins HSMAI Europe’s Connecting Future Leaders – ahead of the programme’s launch in Greece
Quore, a leader in hotel operations management, will reveal its next-generation Learning Management System at The Hospitality Show in October. The event, to be held October 26 to 28 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, will give hotel owners and operators the tools they need to streamline operations and drive profitability.
There is a troubling disconnect in the hotel industry between public commitments and meaningful action on gender equality. Nearly every major hospitality brand now publishes impressive-sounding policies on diversity and inclusion but the reality behind the glossy corporate reports tells a different story.
People older than 50 make up less than a fifth of all hotel employees, revealing a stark underrepresentation of experienced workers in an industry that should value their expertise. Research from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management found that only 3.1% of hotels recruit people aged 65 years or over, despite the potential benefits these workers could bring to the industry.
AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of AHLA dedicated to supporting a strong hotel industry workforce, today announced the distribution of more than $710,000 in academic scholarships to 246 students at 64 schools across the country for the 2025–2026 academic year.
People talk about “being in the flow” as if it’s some zen productivity state. That’s nice, but what I mean by flow is much more practical: things moving. From left to right, down the funnel, across the team. Progress happens because work doesn’t get stuck.
When staffing shortages hit at peak season, it’s not just guest satisfaction that suffers — room inventory shrinks, and operations strain under pressure. Across U.S. hospitality, uncertain immigration policy is now a key factor shaping workforce strategy. Hotels are adapting with agility: amplifying internal talent pipelines, refining recruiting, and fortifying preparedness against potential enforcement disruptions.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launches a landmark report, revealing that while the sector is on course to support one in three new jobs worldwide by 2035, demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 43MN people if left unaddressed.
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the launch of Masarona by IHG, a landmark talent development program designed to empower Saudi nationals to become the future leaders of the global hospitality industry. The program name, meaning “Our Pathway” in Arabic, reflects a shared commitment to creating exceptional career journeys for local talent in alignment with the Kingdom’s transformative Vision 2030.
As a conference speaker and hotel trainer, I’m always interested whenever I see the title of an article, book, or blog post that has anything to do with guest service, hospitality, or customer service in general.