By Yoland Perras: In opening a new hotel, much depends on getting the right staff mix of expats, nationals and locals.
Nice Touch: Ski-instructor concierge service
A ski holiday requires lots of organisation, which is why high end ski operator Bramble Ski launched a new ski instructor-concierge service.
What guests take and what they leave behind
Whether it is forgetful or flagrant, guests tend to steal from hotels, but they also leave behind some pretty strange stuff too.
Program to help prevent food, water contaminants in hospitality industry
Global public health organization NSF International has launched a new program that provides hotels a credible means to demonstrate the safety of its food and water to travellers, agencies and hotel rating websites.
What is your hotel’s X-factor?
By Brett Patten: What is your true competitive advantage to your customers that can't be easily procured, duplicated, or exceeded by your competitors? You'll need to consider what's important to your customers when it comes to the non-tangible aspects of your business and invest in developing those areas.
8 things to negotiate in your next franchise agreement
By Robert Braun: Know that there is plenty of wiggle room to get some important concessions if you know what to go for and don't waste your effort where it won't do any good.
Throwback Thursday: Novel device to summon staff
By Andreas Augustin/famoushotels.org: Long before in-room iPads or even telephones were the norm, the Herzog Teleseme was used for in-room guest to staff communication.
Nice Touch: Stay Well experience for health-conscious travellers
Guests at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas are responding to a range of services aimed at staying healthy while traveling in the gambling capital.
33,000 hotels in 270 countries enrolled in CCRA Worldwide Preferred Hotel Program
The expanding hotel program provides travel agents with a selection of properties worldwide that have agreed to offer preferred rates, with guaranteed commission and last room availability, through CCRA hotel booking channels.
TripAdvisor hits 150 million reviews milestone
TripAdvisor collects more than 90 user contributions a minute and has been able to hit a 50 percent increase in posted reviews year-over-year.


