Last week we were at the Montreux Jazz Festival and this week I invite you to visit Pamplona in Spain with me.

By feature writer Remko West: Distribution is crucial to the success of your hotel. I am even tempted to think that distribution is more important than anything else in your business. Here’s the reason: no matter how brilliant your hotel or your product is, that you’re trying to sell; no matter how smart your marketing is; no matter how unique your service and location are; if you’re not able to effectively sell your product to consumers, your business will fail.

By feature writer Yoland Perras: At the beginning of an opening, the fun parts are that “YOU” get to reinvent yourself or get re-introduced to many basics. My second week in China brought this back to me.

By feature writer Mary Ylisela: More often than not, parents are choosing to travel with their babies and toddlers rather than hold off on big vacations until the kids are grown. As families travel farther and for longer periods of time, it's vital that those in the travel and hospitality industry keep up with the needs of families on the go. Although some hotels are geared toward families, even those that aren't can become more family-friendly with a few small changes.

By Rafat Ali: Control of the hotel in-room entertainment experience has shifted. Pay-per-view is out, online streaming is in, and TVs are taking a backseat to tablets and laptops. Smart hotels are increasingly catering to digital travelers who rarely leave the house without at least two devices. Here’s what to expect as hotel guests continue to wrangle control of the remote control from hotel operators.

There really is no place like home, unless it's a hotel which offers free internet connection according to new research from IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) which has found that being able to connect online with family and friends is now the top priority for travellers.

First it was visiting the cinema, then it was eating out in a restaurant, now going solo on holiday is fast becoming not only more accepted, but also the preferred option for many women. The number of females travelling alone is on the rise according to figures from Small Luxury Hotels of the World™, which has seen interesting trends in sole occupancy across the breadth of its diverse portfolio.

A recent report by Vogue describes a new facial recognition system which is to be used to identify VIP customers. The facial recognition system will be used by retail outlets and hotels to avoid that potential loss of sale because your frontline staff has failed to recognize the VIP and have not treated them accordingly.

By feature writer Carla Caccavale: Hoteliers are super-busy.  There is no 9:00 to 5:00 in this business.  It’s 24/7.  There aren’t enough hours in a day. Let’s face it, the business is changing and the to-do list is growing. It’s not enough to have a good website these days, you have to have a great Facebook page, post on Instagram, make sure someone is manning Twitter… and don’t forget online reviews.  Well, sometimes we just can’t get to it all, so if some reviews go unanswered so be it.  Right?  Read on before you answer.