By feature writer Pedro Colaco: Hoteliers not only need to have potential customers land on the hotel's own website: they need a website which is an attractive enough channel so as to guarantee that customers will actually book their stays instead of booking through other channels. So, how can hoteliers increase direct website traffic?

By feature writer John Hogan: “The Times They Are a-Changin'  for the hospitality industry now because we have a major impact on so many events.   Hotels and the hospitality industry of the whole are often at or near the center of activity, because that is what we do. We serve large numbers of people of all socio-economic groups, races, genders and interests. The changing times for us means embracing the needs for open discussion, consideration of options and preparing contingency plans to properly handle those changing needs in changing times.

Last week we discussed the importance of effective communication as a successful management tool. Some of our staff are a bit easier to approach than others. Often it is quite delicate to talk to a busy chef and even more difficult to have friendly personal conversation. Today we give you a perfect opportunity to approach your chef or indeed the whole kitchen brigade on a special occasion.

By Sally Farris: Tipping in the U.S. is a huge deal — you are considered a pompous jerk if you tip too little, and look rather silly if you tip someone who doesn’t work for tips, like say your cardiologist. When travelling, the concept of tipping is a difficult one to grasp, especially in Europe, where each country has different gratuity protocol. Read on to find out just what is expected in a few of the most travelled countries in Europe.

By Mimi Kmet: Hawaii may see big gains in tourism spending if same-sex marriage is legalized in that state, according to an economic analysis released in February from the University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization. Those gains, which total an estimated $217 million from 2014 through 2016, would come from gay couples traveling to Hawaii for destination weddings and honeymoons, as well as from their wedding guests.

By feature writer Amy Bair: Wouldn’t you love to see your name under the TripAdvisor Success Stories headline? It has already been proven that TripAdvisor directly affects revenue. Making it to the top of this list does not require a secret handshake nor do you need to pay a fee to a company to help you improve your rankings (although some staff training might be necessary-more on that later). You just need to pay attention, listen, and act. TripAdvisor even gives you the ingredients to the secret sauce.

By feature writer Doug Kennedy: Speaking from experience as a seasoned road warrior, one who always talks to other travelers everywhere I go, here are a few simple ideas for fulfilling some important and fundamental human needs of the travellers we call guests.

By feature writer Alan Campbell: It is difficult to keep good people motivated and loyal to the properties in which they work. There seems to be a bond in some of the properties which are able to keep most of their employees, so I inquired about what it was that developed that bond.

By feature writer Bryan K. Williams: “As long as it is legal, ethical, and moral, find a way to make it happen”. That was the directive which was programmed into my brain very early in my career. No matter where I’ve travelled, it is obvious that the most dedicated professionals, regardless of the request or the industry, find a way to make it happen.

By feature writer Debbie Allen: Competition is always a worry among the hotel industry. With that said, it is important to use trending marketing tactics and strategies. But it's even more important to find ways to really connect with customers and potential customers. The goal is to connect in effective ways that feel natural for customers but that are also affordable for the business.