TripAdvisor® today announced the winners of its 2013 Travellers’ Choice™ Awards for Destinations on the Rise. The awards highlight 54 spots globally that have seen the greatest increase in positive traveller feedback and traveller interest, year-over-year.

By Feature Writer Patrick Landman: We have been faced with this challenge many times, and it seems it oftenboils down to the same. It might surprise you that generally the problem is due to a lack of insight in independent hotels on how the travel industry really works. There is also a shortage of understanding in the business in general. As a result hotel assets become distressed and are in dire need to be turned around.

By Feature Writer Matt Shiells-Jones: Previously I have discussed many different complainer types, and in this penultimate post of the series, I want to talk about the type of complainer who will always want to get their own way – the Assertive Complainer.

By Jacqueline McGee: If you check into a hotel over the holidays, there is a good chance it will be undergoing renovation. Here’s why: typically, major hotel renovations occur every seven years. But the economic meltdown in 2008 – which shaved 15 percent off of occupancy rates in that one year for luxury hotels, as well as a significant drop in revenue per available room, according to the Wall Street Journal – disrupted that cycle.

By Stephanie Rosenbloom: There was a time when yoga and Sin City were like fire and ice. But practicing a tree pose while a family of bottlenose dolphins looks on is just one of many health initiatives being introduced by hotels once known only for bars, buffets and smoky casinos.

Hilton Worldwide Inc said its initial public offering would raise up to $2.37 billion in the biggest-ever hotel IPO, more than doubling Blackstone Group LP's investment.

By Feature Writer Steve DiGioia: Remember that guy you used to work with years ago, the one that was always "burning the midnight oil", and the one that was driven like no other and was on a fast track to promotion after promotion?  We all knew he would "be the boss" someday. What has happened to him now?

Global Staff Movements for November 2013 provided by Spectrum International.

By Feature Writer Patrick Landman: For a business to be successful it should be solving a challenging problem. Differentiate your concept by solving a problem your competition is not addressing. This will truly make you stand out from the pack and give you a unique story to build the success of your brand around.

By Feature Writer Steve Curtin: The difference between ordinary and extraordinary really is that little “extra.”