The Tricycle of Guest Service Excellence: A Perfect Model For Remarkable Experiences
Doug Kennedy | October 4, 2024
Crafting a Unique Employer Brand for Today’s Talent Market
Veronika Mercier | August 14, 2024
Smart Strategies
Hilton Annual Trends Report Predicts 2025 to Be the ‘Year of the Travel Maximizer’
Hilton | September 30, 2024
MCLEAN, Va. – 2024 was the Year of the Great Recharge, where sleep retreats made headlines, mindful drinking rose in popularity and wellness-themed guest rooms took off. Today, as the post-pandemic leisure travel boom normalizes, travelers surveyed in Hilton’s annual Trends Report are looking to pair their desire to relax and recharge with high-impact adventures and experiences to maximize their time and financial investment. “Our 2025 Trends Report uncovers what has been simmering for years – the intersection of work and play; of relaxation and adventure; of being alone but together. Travelers don’t just want to choose their o...
Be Aware of AI Biases in Hiring
Linchi Kwok | September 25, 2024
Using computer programs to screen job candidates’ resumes is not a new HR practice among big corporates. AI accelerates the automation process for all companies in the selection process. More companies are using AI to evaluate job candidates’ performance in their initial interviews, such as word choice and cognitive abilities, in addition to screening their resumes. AI speeds up the hiring process AI can help companies speed up the hiring process because they usually receive hundreds or even thousands of job applications for a vacancy. It becomes unrealistic for companies to solely rely on “human eyes” to screen all resumes or perfo...
Redefining Hospitality: Strategies for Soft-Brand Lifestyle Hotels to Attract the Evolving Traveler
Remington Hospitality | September 25, 2024
By Mauri Berry As the travel landscape continues to evolve, lifestyle hotels find themselves uniquely positioned to meet the demands of today’s diverse and discerning travelers. These travelers are no longer just seeking a place to sleep; they’re searching for unique, memorable experiences that align with their values and preferences. By leveraging their inherent flexibility and distinctive character, soft-brand lifestyle hotels can rise to meet these evolving expectations. These properties must focus on several key strategies, the most important of which often falls by the wayside: marketing. Leverage Effective Marketing Strategies ...
Post-Olympics Hospitality Insights: Pricing, Trends, and Guest Satisfaction From Paris 2024
Shiji | September 19, 2024
The 2024 Paris Olympics posed unique challenges and opportunities for the hospitality sector. During a recent webinar moderated by André Baljeu from techtalk.travel, Lighthouse Director of Hospitality Research Blake Reiter and Shiji ReviewPro Product Specialist Bruno Saragat dissected the performance of the Parisian hospitality market. The discussion centred around dynamic pricing, the influence of short-term rentals, and guest satisfaction throughout the event. Here is a summary of the key insights from the webinar and some points hoteliers can apply to their future revenue strategies, especially for large-scale events. A case of misjudg...
Creating Neurodiverse-Friendly Spaces in Hospitality
Manoj K Mohanty | September 18, 2024
The hospitality industry prides itself on creating welcoming environments for people of all backgrounds. However, what about guests with neurodiverse needs? As awareness grows about the prevalence of neurodiversity—with studies suggesting 15-20% of the global population falls under this umbrella—the industry has a unique challenge in creating inclusive experiences for this significant yet underserved market. What is neurodiversity? Challenges for neurodiverse guests With approximately one billion people with disabilities, they are considered the world’s biggest minority! For neurodiverse tr...
What Hoteliers Need to Know About Sleep Architecture
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | September 18, 2024
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky With sleep science reaching the mainstream over the past few years, numerous hotel brands have unveiled fancy new sleep programs in an arms race to win over travelers looking for accommodations that will help them get a full night’s rest while aboard. But the rise of sleep tourism needn’t be limited to only luxury hotels that have the capital to devote a gargantuan sum per key to noise-dampening materials, new air purification systems or state-of-the-art bedding systems that have built-in temperature and moisture controls. Rather, any brand can build a strategic plan for deploying affordable sleep enhancem...
Artificial Intelligence Is Checking Into Your Hotel – Are You Ready?
Bob Braun | September 17, 2024
by Robert Braun, Co-Chair, JMBM Cybersecurity and Privacy Group; Senior Member, JMBM Global Hospitality Group Even though artificial intelligence has been a part of our lexicon for more than seventy years, artificial intelligence remains the latest bright shiny thing. Businesses large and small feel compelled to incorporate artificial intelligence into their company descriptions even with a limited understanding of what artificial intelligence is, or how it could help their business. Hotels and hotel companies are no different; just take a look at the online newsletters and announcements hitting your mailbox; it’s a rare day that a hot...
The Hospitality Customer You Didn’t Train For
Jim Lopolito | September 16, 2024
By Jim Lopolito Fundamentals in Accident Training Shaping how well we execute service to our guests is a primary function of hotel and restaurant training. From the front of house to the back, and the first floor to the top floor, we support our teams on the path to guest experience and financial rewards. This is fundamental and we hope that nothing gets in the way of our dreams. There is, however, the likelihood your practices are overlooking a component of training that is allowing significant risk to your success. In simple terms, if you assume your employees are performing their responsibilities correctly in protecting guests ...
The Secret to Outperforming the Competition: It’s Not Just About Customers
Shep Hyken | September 12, 2024
In a recent Amazing Business Radio episode, I interviewed Rony Vexelman, the VP of marketing at Optimove, who said, “Companies that put their customers at the center are the companies that are outperforming their competition.” Who would disagree with that statement? Well, Heather Quick Ginevan did, and she included a great explanation in just one sentence. She said, “I disagree – I think companies that put their employees at the center are the companies that outperform their competition.” Well said, Heather … and I agree. Her point is that if you put employees first and show them they are valued and appreciated, a great ...
Managing People? Start by Improving Yourself
EHL | September 11, 2024
Most of us have experienced good and bad bosses. And the difference is huge. A good boss makes you feel supported, builds positive workplace relationships, and boosts employee satisfaction. A bad boss, on the other hand, micromanages, shows favoritism, hinders your creativity, and makes every day feel like a grind. Bad bosses can manifest in many forms - no emotional intelligence, overconfidence, and taking credit for other people’s work. But why do these people who seem so unsuited for leadership roles continue to rise to the top, and what can you do to be one of the good guys? What is the extent of the bad boss problem? Numerous st...
Your Data, Your Control: Ensuring Your Data Is YOUR Data in Hotel Technology
Mike Pavicich | September 10, 2024
By Mike Pavicich | Director, Global Sales | SalesAndCatering.com In the modern, data-centric, tech-reliant hospitality industry, hotels depend heavily on third-party vendors to streamline operations, enhance guest service, and maximize profits and productivity. This dependency, however, introduces a vulnerability as it involves sharing sensitive data with these external partners. Recent and many high-profile cybersecurity breaches have underscored the inherent risks in such arrangements, where hotels can be held accountable for any data breaches. Consequently, the critical task for hotels is to ensure that their data ownership remai...
Mapping the Guest Journey to Technology to Enhance the Guest Experience: Is Your Tech Stack Up to Par?
Gregg Hopkins | September 10, 2024
by Gregg Hopkins, Founder & Principal Consultant of Get Hoppy Consulting Hospitality is about people helping people, a process that technology can enhance and support through robust infrastructure and tools the workforce can learn and enjoy using while delivering the experience guests have grown accustomed to when on vacation or a business trip. It is essential for every hospitality organization to prioritize the evaluation of its current technology stack, process workflows, data infrastructure, and security. This is to ensure that they effectively support internal distribution, sales, operational controls, and the desired customer...
Road Trippin’ Is the Vibe as Travel Slows Across the U.S.
Mandy Murry | September 6, 2024
The news is bleeding with travel gloom and discouraging numbers for the hospitality market. Headlines tout softening and consumer spending coming to a halt while exploiting the idea that luxury travel is both thriving and diving. Bloomberg reported that even with deep-pocketed travelers, the word right now is “value.” Reality: Travel is slowing, but this has been happening, and the news cycle is catching up to reports and trends of 2024. Consumers have been living high in travel mode—living for the experience and not afraid to put the fun on credit for some time. Spending has caught up with many, and thus, household budgets are...
Why Modernize Your Hotel’s Obsolete PMS
Shiji | September 6, 2024
Staying ahead of guest expectations and operational challenges is not just an option—it’s a fundamental necessity. The Property Management System is crucial in achieving this. A modern, next-generation PMS is the backbone of a hotel’s operations, providing integrated functionality across various departments, from reservations and guest services to housekeeping and revenue management. Upgrading to a state-of-the-art PMS is crucial for a hotel’s digital transformation and overall success. Let’s explore how upgrading a hotel’s PMS can impact a hotel’s success. Let’s explore how upgrading a hotel’s PMS can impact a hotel’s su...
Hotel Employee Training Impacts Customer Experience and Happiness
EHL | September 6, 2024
The hospitality industry thrives on delivering exceptional customer experiences, and hotel employee training plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal. Well-trained staff not only provide better service but also contribute to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty. In today's competitive market, hotels that invest in comprehensive learning and development programs for their employees often see improvements in employee retention, motivation, and overall performance. The Importance of Employee Training in Hospitality Employee training equips staff members with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their roles, ultimately le...
Soft Brands – A Third Alternative
Robert Mandelbaum and Paul Isaacson | September 4, 2024
By Robert Mandelbaum and Paul Isaacson Historically, hotel owners have had the option to either affiliate with a known brand or operate independently. Affiliating with a brand provided access to a reservation system, loyal customers, communal marketing programs, a known identity among consumers, and a sense of stability within the finance and investment community. Brand affiliation, however, comes with costs. Owners pay a variety of fees for royalty, marketing, reservation, and guest loyalty programs, and need to conform to facility, service, and operating standards. Operating independently relieves owners from the burden of the franchise-r...
CEO Pay in Hospitality 2024
AETHOS | September 3, 2024
With the pandemic largely in the rearview mirror, the last twelve months have been about interest rates, less transactions, and wild presidential election cycles worldwide. The hotel industry will be impacted in significant ways as these issues unfold. On the other hand, operational fundamentals have been strong, contributing to CEO pay marching upward. Average CEO pay in the industry rose to USD $9.8M, from the previous year’s $9.5M. Most of this increase came in the form of short-term incentive pay, making the correlation between stronger operating fundamentals and CEO pay. Interestingly, “other compensation” also increased indicat...
Your Input Requested: Corporate Digital Responsibility Code for the Lodging Industry
HFTP | September 3, 2024
The importance of corporate digital responsibility has been pushed to the forefront with the many data breaches and the latest CrowdStrike incident. It is proven that even a cybersecurity technology company is not immune to problems and issues. To that end, HFTP recently formed the Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) Task Force for the Lodging Industry. The aim is to establish a Hospitality Code of Digital Responsibility. Learn more about this project through this comprehensive article. To complete the project, the task force needs your help. We kindly invite you to complete a survey asking to rank a list of identified i...
Decentralized Identity Verification: A Privacy-First Approach to Hotel Data Security
YouVerse | August 30, 2024
Facial biometrics offers a promising solution for hotels seeking to streamline check-in processes and enhance guest experiences. It eliminates the need for traditional check-in procedures, such as presenting identification and filling out forms, speeding up the process and saving time for both guests and hotel staff. But how can hoteliers protect guest data from cyberattacks and ensure they meet the stringent privacy standards demanded by guests and regulation? A new approach to hotel data security and privacy Biometric verification offers a dual benefit in the hospitality industry: it enhances hotel data security while also improving ...
Hospitality Industry Statistics To Have on Your Radar 2024
EHL | August 28, 2024
The hospitality industry is a vast sector with many different sub-sectors that include recreation, lodging, entertainment, food and beverage which are constantly evolving. Due to the overwhelming amount of data available today, it has become increasingly challenging for industry players to gather all the necessary hospitality statistics to keep up with the latest trends. As a result, staying informed and up-to-date has become an impossible task. Despite being an exhilarating career path with many avenues that demand a diverse skill set, the hospitality industry is currently struggling to fill open positions. This is partly due to the chan...
Hoteliers: For Those About to Rage…
Haydn Kramer | August 22, 2024
From Dylan Thomas, I quote: “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” You my hotel friends are “the light”. My beloved hotel industry is always on the cutting edge, sooner or later. And lately there has been an onslaught of print, post, pod about just how we should be doing things. From industry insiders, seasoned hotel executives on CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and a million other industry publications, and of course LinkedIn, the world’s leading professional network, a la Microsoft. In the face of this, I’m going to help you vent. I’m not going to g...
Best Practices for Your Next Technology Project’s Success
Gregg Hopkins | August 22, 2024
by Gregg Hopkins, Founder & President of Get Hoppy Consulting Technology projects are essential for organizations to stay competitive and innovative in the digital age. However, many projects fail to deliver the expected outcomes, wasting time, money, and resources. According to various sources, the success rate of technology projects ranges from 16% to 30%, depending on the project's type, size, and scope. Technology deployments can fail for many reasons, including: Lack of executive sponsorship: Often the most common reason for failure and can start at the top. Lack of change management: Without a plan for change manage...
How To Implement a Front Desk Upsell Program That Outperforms Your Prearrival Email Campaign
Doug Kennedy | August 22, 2024
Despite what digital marketing and tech providers may say, I believe upselling can best be accomplished when warm, welcoming, front desk colleagues have authentic, human conversations. That’s not to say that pre-arrival emails that market upsell options in advance do not serve a role, because they do. For one, whatever upselling revenue they produce is a plus, especially since it is automatically generated. Also, pre-arrival emails tee-up a conversation-starting question that a well-trained receptionist can use to open the door. The challenge is that these days, guests who book travel in advance are inundated with pre-arrival emails explai...
Why Is There a Gender Imbalance in Hospitality Technology Jobs?
Max Starkov | August 20, 2024
By Max Starkov A recent article on PhocusWire discussed the “woeful gender imbalance” existing in the travel technology space, which is “holding back the whole technology sector.” I believe the main reason for gender inequality in hospitality technology is the unsatisfactorily role both parents and educators play to foster female interest in STEM sciences and in the technology sectors in hospitality and the economy as a whole. I am a firm believer that today’s gender inequality in technology has nothing to do with machism or gender discrimination and has everything to do with family upbringing, school education and mass...
