Operations & Strategy USA & Canada Opinion Articles - Hospitality Net

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Opinion Article

October 2, 2019

Tourism Tidbits: Crisis Recovery

The recent devastating hurricane that struck the Bahamas in September is one more example that tourism industry leaders must constantly be mindful of potential crises. From acts of terror and crime to earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis and weather-related issues, industry leaders must have plans to face both natural and man-made crises. Tourism crises come in multiple forms and there is no part of the world that is free from a potential crisis.

By Peter Tarlow, President, Tourism and More

Opinion Article

October 1, 2019

A Dog-Eat-Dog Business, Part 11 - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

"This is Doctor Oppenheim," I repeated several times before hanging up. Caller ID identified the Doubletree in Santa Monica, so I phoned to ask if someone had requested a doctor. Someone had.

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

Opinion Article

September 24, 2019

All in a Day’s Work - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

"She speaks Spanish. I'm not sure what's going on, but she needs a doctor."

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

Opinion Article

September 20, 2019

GDPR Comes To California. Is Your Hotel Compliant?

GDPR: One Year Later It all started across the pond when the European Union's 2018 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect on May 25, 2018. It mandated that companies do more to protect the personal data of consumers. In short—if hoteliers marketed to European Union citizens without the proper permission, then they were in violation and could be fined.

By Thomas McDermott, CMO, Tambourine

California, United States

Opinion Article

September 16, 2019

Good Luck - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

A national housecall service connected me with a guest at the Montage in Beverly Hills. She was suffering the flu; I told her I'd arrive in half an hour.

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

Opinion Article

September 9, 2019

Vomiters Hate Waiting - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

As I was driving, a guest phoned to ask when I'd arrive. “In about fifteen minutes.” On her initial call, I told her I would arrive within the hour, and I was on schedule, so the call meant that she was still vomiting. Vomiters are impatient.

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

Opinion Article

August 27, 2019

More Evidence of America’s Greatness - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

Opening an envelope from an international travel insurer, I expected a check for some hotel visits but found only a form letter containing a dozen boxes, each listing a reason why payment was denied. An "X" through one box revealed that I had not submitted my invoice on an HCFA-1500.

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

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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

Opinion Article

August 20, 2019

Ultimatums Are Risky - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

Could I see a gentleman at the Omni with an upset stomach? The dispatcher for International Assistance was delighted to learn that I could. In most cities, dispatchers work hard to find a doctor willing to make a housecall but not in Los Angeles.

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

Opinion Article

August 13, 2019

A Rash During the Rush Hour - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

A guest in Long Beach had broken out in red spots. This looked like a terrific visit; skin problems are usually easy. A sudden rash is frightening but hardly ever indicates something serious. I have no objection to making a diagnosis over the phone, but guests are terrible at describing a rash's appearance. In any case, most want to doctor to look at it.

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

Opinion Article

August 7, 2019

Another Free Service - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

Her child's nose was bleeding, explained the mother. Could I come?

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

Opinion Article

July 31, 2019

Tricky Problems - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

It upsets me to collect a fee and then send a patient to pay a fee at a clinic or emergency room for care I can't provide in a housecall. I try to anticipate these.

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

Opinion Article

July 24, 2019

When the Doctor Needs Your Help - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

Almost every hotel guest is working or taking an expensive vacation, so illness is more inconvenient than usual. Everyone agrees that doctors have no magical powers…. except… maybe… if you really need them…..

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

Opinion Article

July 17, 2019

Getting Help, Part 2 - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

My relations with other Los Angeles hotel doctors are civilized but not close. When I leave town there's only one colleague I trust to cover. Mostly this works out. I schedule my trips so they don't conflict with his.

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

Opinion Article

July 10, 2019

What Makes Traveler’s Sick - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

American water. American food. Air conditioning. Air Travel. Stress.

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

Opinion Article

July 4, 2019

Another Spiked Drink - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

It was one a.m. as I drove Santa Monica Boulevard, but crowds packed the sidewalks in West Hollywood, lining up to hear the latest band. A few blocks beyond, I parked at the Ramada.

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

Opinion Article

June 28, 2019

An Exotic Travel Destination - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

Tourists come to America expecting a strange foreign land. They usually leave satisfied, but encountering an American doctor is an unexpected bonus, so everyone on the tour gathers round, and I often go about my business in front of a large attentive audience.

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

Opinion Article

June 20, 2019

Doctors Are Always Late - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

At 6 p.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day, I learned that a flight attendant in Costa Mesa had a cold. I prefer not to drive 46 miles during the rush hour, so I promised to be there between nine and ten. That was acceptable. Airline crew are not demanding.

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

Opinion Article

June 13, 2019

Girls are the Best - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

"'allo!" a little girl shouted from her bed as I walked into the room, but that was her only English. Her French parents had called because she was running a 101 fever.

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

Opinion Article

June 7, 2019

A Dog-Eat-Dog Business, Part 10 - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

My last post reported a housecall service that charged an unbelievably large fee. By an odd coincidence, at about the same time, I came across another new service with an even more unbelievable fee: $99.

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

Opinion Article

May 31, 2019

A Dog-Eat-Dog Business, Part 9 - The Life of a Hotel Doctor

I keep an eye on the competition, and recently an internet search turned up International Medical Services (not its real name) which promised to send a highly qualified doctor to a home, office, or hotel at a moment's notice. When I phoned, its medical director knew my name, having dealt with me at previous jobs.

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