HVS recap of the 2025 BLLA Boutique Hotel Owners Conference highlights strong rate growth and limited supply for independents, while rising operating costs and experience-driven investment remain top ownership concerns.
A 31-year hotel veteran reflects on a career spanning F&B, front desk, and finance across North America, arguing that the ability to make a difference is what makes hotel work feel effortless.
Key themes from The Lodging Conference 2026 include strong industry optimism for 2027, a clear preference for conversions over new builds, and growing concern about AI's impact on hotel distribution.
Incoming Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce chairman-elect argues for a data-driven business vitality index tracking openings, closures, and vacancies to better measure and support local economic health.
A hospitality veteran recounts his early career as a busboy in the Canadian Rockies, tracing how a moment of frustration sparked a decades-long rise to controller and beyond.
A hospitality manager reflects on growing up beside a storied Canadian resort hotel, and how early encounters with its exclusive world sparked a four-decade career in the industry.
A hospitality professional reflects on how Stephen King's "On Writing" inspired a daily writing habit and ultimately led to publishing their first book.
Newport Hospitality Group's Compass Circle Councils unite property and corporate leaders in two working groups covering commercial strategy and operations, sharing best practices across the portfolio to drive performance and owner returns.
An operator from Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina outlines five priorities for 2026: personalization, immersive F&B, on-property activations, mainstreamed wellness, and event-aligned programming.
A firsthand conference recap covering Marriott's owner-focused strategy, with sessions on ancillary revenue, AI in marketing, margin pressure, and brand conversion opportunities.
A hospitality professional recounts a 1992 financial crisis during a corporate relocation to Canmore, needing $4,500 in unexpected closing costs with no resources and one day to spare.
Despite strong demand, Miami Beach operators face tightening margins due to misaligned policies and lack of coordination between tourism stakeholders.
A former hotel executive recalls lessons in leadership and respect during a 1989 corporate conference at The Empress Hotel following its major renovation.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) has fundamentally changed the landscape for real estate investment in America—permanently enshrining the Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) framework and expanding the horizon for hotel mixed-use development. For developers, investors, lenders, and deal sponsors, the new OBBB regime offers unmatched certainty, flexibility, and opportunity—but it also demands rigorous compliance and strategic planning. Here’s a deep-dive narrative for industry professionals charting the future of hospitality-led community reinvestment.
With the recent change in the makeup of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), many employers are asking whether there are any labor relations issues they should be preparing for to best position their businesses to operate with maximum flexibility and achieve organizational goals. Even with an NLRB that, by all appearances, will be more employer friendly than its predecessor, the answer is yes. This is because unions may likely turn to certain tactics to add unrepresented employees to existing bargaining units in the workplace.
For small business owners, facing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit can feel like an uphill battle. These lawsuits often allege accessibility violations, and the costs of litigation can be daunting, even for businesses striving to comply with ADA regulations. However, a recent victory in the case of Orlando Garcia v. Zarco Hotels Inc. (Case No. 21STCV00023), defended by Stuart Tubis, Esq. and Martin Orlick, Esq., provides a roadmap for defendant businesses to not only fight these lawsuits but also recover significant attorneys’ fees when they prevail. It takes the right facts, the right lawyer and a genuine commitment to fight for what is right.
After many years of study and proposals, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finally adopted its Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, or junk fees, which takes effect on May 12, 2025.
About one year ago, the state of California passed two bills that introduced significant changes for the state’s hotel industry. By mid-May of 2025, the United States will implement a similar, comprehensive law that will affect hoteliers around the globe.
The news is full of headlines about President Trump’s announcement last week (February 25, 2025), that in the next two weeks, he will propose a $5 million “Gold Card” program to replace the EB-5 program. The new program would allow wealthy individuals to pay $5 million directly to the US government to obtain US citizenship.
In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business environment, the strength of a company lies not just in its products or services but in the team driving those results. How do you build a team that not only works together but thrives together? It goes beyond job descriptions and competitive pay; it’s about creating a shared sense of purpose and fostering an environment where individuals are aligned with the organization’s mission and values. To cultivate a high-performing team, leaders must focus on three essential pillars: Talent, Leadership, and Team Culture.