Operations & Strategy USA & Canada Opinion Articles - Hospitality Net

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Opinion Article

April 30, 2021

Hotel Franchise Lawyer: 5 Things to negotiate in your next Franchise Agreement

After a year of economic upheaval in the hospitality industry, hotels are making big changes as they look ahead to recovery. Oftentimes these changes involve a complete rebrand, and this leads to questions about what is negotiable in a franchise agreement. In the article below, Bob Braun, senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® and Co-Chair of the Firm's Cybersecurity & Privacy Group, talks about 5 important franchise terms that can usually be negotiated.

By Robert Braun and Jim Butler

Opinion Article

April 29, 2021

A Perfect Start To The Day - The Life Of A Hotel Doctor

A businessman at the Anaheim Hilton was vomiting. Vomiters hate waiting, but the call arrived at seven a.m. on a Friday, and Anaheim is forty miles away. I hate creeping in rush hour traffic, so I try to delay those visits for a few hours.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

April 22, 2021

The Superiority Of Alternative Medicine: The Life Of A Hotel Doctor

At the Ramada, I cared for a lady whose eyes were red and itchy. She had no allergies, and I saw no evidence of an infection. I suspected something was irritating them, and she had been using several over-the-counter eye-drops. Drops themselves can irritate eyes, especially with persistent use, so I told her to stop.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

April 14, 2021

Doing My Duty: The Life Of A Hotel Doctor

"I can't handle that in a hotel room," I explained. "She probably needs an ultrasound."

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

April 7, 2021

A Stressful Visit - The Life Of A Hotel Doctor

A dispatcher from the agency that handles airline flight crew had mentioned a sore throat, but the guest admitted an "unprotected sexual contact" two nights earlier. The sore throat appeared soon after, and he was worried.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

March 29, 2021

Does Everyone Live Like This? - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

The Beverly Garland is a sixteen mile freeway drive. The guest had phoned at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. I avoid distant housecalls during the rush hour; guests rarely object to waiting.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

March 22, 2021

It’s Not an Ear Infection - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

When I peered into the guest's ear, the drum looked normal, so there was no middle-ear infection. When I pulled his earlobe, it hurt but not a great deal. In an external infection (swimmer's ear), pulling is very painful.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Radical Innovation Hospitality TECHNOLOGY

Radical Innovation is an initiative that challenges creative thinkers and visionaries in hospitality TECH to pioneer compelling innovations that fuel the future of the hospitality and travel industries.

Radical Innovation

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Opinion Article

March 10, 2021

Running Out of Medication - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

A guest at the Doubletree had run out of insulin. I could have made a housecall, written a prescription, but instead I explained that insulin doesn't require a prescription. She should go to the pharmacy and ask for it. The same is true for the morning-after pill, another request that arrives now and then.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

February 16, 2021

Good News, Usually - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

A flight attendant with diarrhea is usually good news. Airline crew are young, so they suffer uncomplicated medical problems, and diarrhea qualifies. Her hotel in Costa Mesa was 46 miles away, but it was Saturday morning, so traffic would be light, and I'm paid extra for the distance.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

February 9, 2021

Another Glamorous Film Shoot - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

"We're at 501 West Olympic," explained my caller. "Come up to the seventeenth floor."

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

February 3, 2021

Vision 2050 – 2nd Edition: The Recovery Year

The final U.S. lodging industry numbers for 2020 came out and RevPAR literally finished at half of where it finished in 2019—that's right, half! Occupancy was 66.1% at $131.17 average rate and RevPAR of $86.76. 2020 finished at 42% at a rate of $103.00, RevPAR was $43.26. The impact to the bottom line is easy to see in our bank accounts as breakeven has always been thought to be close to 60% occupancy but many forget the importance of rate to that equation.

By Bob Rauch, President of RAR Hospitality, R.A. Rauch & Associates, Inc.

Opinion Article

February 2, 2021

A Bilingual Doctor at Midnight - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

A guest wanted a doctor who spoke French. "I don't speak French, and it's midnight," I pointed out. "You won't find a bilingual doctor to make a housecall at this hour."

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

January 26, 2021

I Save Another Life - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

The phone rang at 5 a.m. but I am an early riser. April Travel Insurance told me of a lady with a cough at the Residence Inn in Manhattan Beach. Vacationers hate to get sick, so even a bad cold produces wee-hour calls.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

January 19, 2021

The No-Housecall Mode - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

Several times per year, a hotel guest suffers a bloody nose. I don't make housecalls for nosebleeds because there's nothing I can do. Treatment is to pinch the nose, releasing pressure every five minutes to check if bleeding has stopped. I tell guests to repeat until they get bored. If bleeding persists, the next step is cautery or nasal packing, both of which require expertise.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

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Revenue up. Manual work down. Hotels using Mews see 35% higher RevPAR and 45% more upsells. Book a free demo.

Opinion Article

January 15, 2021

HVS U.S. Hotel Franchise Fee Guide 2020

The HVS U.S. Hotel Franchise Fee Guide provides a comparative review of various hotel franchises based on their applicable franchise fees. The selection of an appropriate franchise affiliation affects a property's ability to compete in its local market, generate profits, and achieve a distinguished image and market orientation. Because the success of a hotel is based primarily on the cash flow generated, owners and lenders must weigh the benefits of a brand affiliation against the total cost of such a commitment.

By Kasia Russell and Bomie Kim

Opinion Article

January 11, 2021

Don’t Get on the Plane! - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

"My flight leaves tonight" is a phrase I like to hear because it means the guest will return to the care of the family doctor. Until then he or she is my responsibility. Now and then, I don't like to hear it.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

January 4, 2021

Money is Not Always the Priority - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

The phone rang at 3:30 a.m. An airline pilot at the Costa Mesa Hilton needed a doctor, explained the caller. Could I go?

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

December 28, 2020

“I Can’t Afford That!” - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

I hear this now and then when a guest learns my fee, more often in the form of a hint ("I'll talk to my husband and call you back…").

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

December 18, 2020

How to Find a Good Doctor - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

This column gives the impression that I'm a skilled, caring physician.

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor

Opinion Article

December 11, 2020

Should I Make a Housecall? - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

Only half my callers require one. I'm happy to phone a pharmacy when guests forget legitimate medication: blood pressure pills, heart pills, contraceptives, etc. I don't do this for guests who tell me "I had the same thing last year, and my doctor prescribed……".

By Mike Oppenheim, MD, Mike Oppenheim M.D. - The Hotel Doctor