By feature writer Daniel Edward Craig: Not just a search engine anymore, Google has dramatically extended its presence and influence in the online travel space in recent years. New features include Hotel Finder, Google+, a revamped Maps application and Local pages, greater prominence of reviews and ratings, and redesigned YouTube brand channels.   What does all this mean for hotels, and how can they utilize these features to maximize visibility, traffic and conversions?

By feature writer Noelle E. Ifshin: When you decide to own or operate a restaurant there are inherent risks and responsibilities that you are undertaking.  It is important that you take every measure to minimize these to protect yourself and your employees from possible injury, harm, litigation and financial loss.

By Maddy Fuller: Instagram has taken the social sharing world by storm and this visual platform is not about to slow down, so it’s time for you to determine how your hotel can get with the picture, literally, and start taking advantage of the benefits that this social media marketing channel has to offer.

Plans for new 'superprisons' mean some of the UK's most famous old slammers could get a new, very different, lease of life … as boutique hotels. It's a model that has proved popular elsewhere.

By feature writer Alan Campbell: It has been a ride and I have had a lot of fun along the way, but now the reigns must be passed to the next generation of hoteliers – the new crop, the young and those that are restless to become the next hotel magnates. The industry is marching on to a new tune. I guess you could call it techno music.

By feature writer Doug Kennedy:  When you listen to reservations sales calls these days it is easy to recognize that most of the conversation is focused exclusively on the room or accommodation.  What I hear most often is sales agents who are obtaining the caller’s dates, number of people, and number of beds needed. Instead, today’s reservations and front desk agents should be first trying to find out more about the caller’s travel plans and “the story” behind their call.   Agents should be trying to find out if the caller is interested in details about the overall experience by asking a question like the following

By Daisy Carrington: Few hotel features ignite debate quite like the minibar. For some they represent a luxurious indulgence, for others daylight robbery with high prices and poor choice.

U.S. hotels are poised for significant gains in all the major metrics in 2014. According to the recently released June 2013 edition of Hotel Horizons®, PKF Hospitality Research, LLC (PKF-HR), is projecting that U.S. hotels will enjoy a 7.7 percent increase in revenue per available room (RevPAR) in 2014, along with a 15.4 percent boost in net operating income (NOI).

According to the UN World Travel Organization (UNWTO), China is now the world's number one tourism source market in terms of spending, surpassing Germany and the United States. In 2012, China's expenditure on travel abroad reached US$102 billion. China is now Starwood's second largest source of travelers behind only North America and in 2012 outbound Chinese travel to its hotels grew by 20%. Already the largest feeder market to Starwood hotels in Asia, China is by far the company's fastest growing travel market. According to van Paasschen, accelerated Chinese outbound travel is impacting business around the globe, and last year 95% of Starwood's hotels across nearly 100 countries welcomed guests from Greater China.

Tired of cookie-cutter hotel rooms? Check out our list of the top 10 extreme hotels in the world. Here you'll find unique offerings across the globe, including a converted bullfighting ring in Mexico and an underwater hotel in the U.S.