By Marcela Ayres: Mergers and acquisitions in Brazil's thriving hotel industry are increasing ahead of soccer's World Cup and the Olympics, as smaller players struggle to survive and leisure travel surges among the nation's thriving middle class.

By Mary Forgione: With electronic frills being the draw of the day, which hotels are the most high-tech?

With no end to the government shutdown in sight, the lodging industry continues to see an economic impact.

By feature writer Bev Sninchak: To keep up with the demands of today's global business climate, it's essential for professionals to have access to the most up-to-date business resources and equipment so they can tend to their company's needs even while traveling. How do you decide which resources are the most important to have in your business center? Here are five must-haves for every hotel.

By feature writer Alan Campbell: They say that while the iron is hot, strike, and yet so many still throw water on it. Business is in some aspects doing very well, especially in the luxury sector. It is also a fact that some properties are doing better than others. Why may you ask? How come the hotel down the street does better than (my) property? What do they do that I don't do? Have you asked yourself that?

By Victoria Raimes: Hotel guests are paying hundreds of millions of pounds in commission fees to third-party booking websites for little in return, according to a new report. The Good Hotel Guide 2014 says guests who reserve rooms via online booking agents are often paying way over the odds because hotels have to pay 15 per cent plus VAT on their gross revenue for every booking. The guide's editors also claimed the hospitality industry's increasing reliance on third-party websites was a principle cause of price inflation within the sector.

By Sophie Bujold: Renaissance Hotels have been making waves with the launch of Discovery Doors – the brand's first interactive film based gaming experience. The campaign launched in mid-August and enables users to explore a real life Renaissance hotel online while unlocking unexpected elements of surprise behind every door.

TripAdvisor® today announced the launch of its free, fully-native app for iPhone and Android users that includes a number of new features.

By feature writer Val Cook: Restaurateurs lead hectic lives – long hours, early mornings, late nights, often with poor eating and drinking habits that can lead to health issues. Sensibly, many restaurateurs have regular health checks, their blood pressure is taken and vital organs monitored. Doctors will then point out areas of concern and recommend courses of action to insure a healthy body. When did the same restaurateurs last "take stock "of their business's vital organs?

By Junvi Ola: Every copywriter or content marketer knows that there are some words that have more clout over the decision making process than others. Funny thing is, these powerful words don't sound so powerful or complex. After all, its simple language that makes it crystal clear to our audience what we want them to do.