By Sage Brennan: It’s not surprising that global luxury brand managers have started paying closer attention to the spendy Chinese travelers hitting their retail doors in Europe and America. After all, China’s tourists outspent the perennial global leaders from Germany in 2012, dropping a total of US$102 billion on overseas trips compared to just US$84 billion by their German counterparts.

Europe's hotel sector saw a year of recovery in 2010 with average hotel values per room (in euros) increasing by 1.5% to €215,200 following two consecutive years of double-digit percentage falls, according to the latest edition of HVS London's annual Hotel Valuation Index (HVI).

The TripAdvisor GreenLeaders program aims to help travelers around the world plan greener trips by highlighting hotels and B&Bs engaging in environmentally friendly practices.

Executive Sous Chef, Egypt
5 star Hotel Group in Sharm El Sheikh. Minimum 3 years' experience in similar role or a head chef in a 5* hotel.

Director of Finance, Palau
This opportunity welcomes candidates who have held an Assistant Director of Finance role and are looking for the break to become a Director of Finance

Executive Assistant Manager / Resident Manager, Nongsa, Batam, Indonesia
Minimum 2 year's related experience in 4 or 5 star hotels and resorts

By Gareth Rees: In Istanbul, you're never stuck for something to do, see, eat or drink — no matter what time of the night or day it is. But even the most energetic travelers need somewhere to take a breather. In a city packed with more hotels than you could visit in a lifetime, finding the best isn't easy. But these eight — ranging from five-star palaces to quirky boutique retreats – are arguably the best the city has to offer.

The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA), a newly formed association dedicated to uniting the world's boutique and lifestyle properties and the suppliers that sustain them, announced plans for developing a universal standard and criteria for defining boutique and lifestyle lodgings.

By Tim Millett: Regardless of a hotel's star rating, minimum standards for all properties involves showing respect for one's guests, providing for their needs, and treating them with dignity and professionalism.

By Dr. Peter E. Tarlow: Travel and tourism professionals can never forget that their profession is not only one that evokes high levels of emotions, but is often open to all sorts of liability cases that range from the frivolous to the extremely serious.  To add to the confusion, what may be legal in one place may be illegal or liable in another location and often visitors may not only sue in the location in which an incident occurred but also once they have returned home.

Following the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the results of a new travel study finds that more newlywed couples have chosen Cyprus as their honeymoon destination this year, which could lead to more bookings to the 'island of love', say ulookubook.com.

By Yoland Perras: Sampling from a guest perspective prior to buying is a critical step for all items on your Hotel Operating Equipment (HOE) list.