By feature writer Chris Martin: There's a growing push for hotels, resorts, and other hospitality properties to become more environmentally-friendly. Not so long ago, that meant shelling out precious cash to purchase energy-efficient equipment and supplies without seeing any financial benefit from these investments. But now, the "green industry" has evolved to the point where conversion project costs can be recouped quickly and energy savings can significantly affect a property's bottom line. Here are several ways to go green and save money in the process.

By feature writer Alan Campbell: We have come a very long way and learned some valuable lessons along the road. Let’s not lose sight of the reason we decided to enter into this business. If it were not for customers, we (the hotels) would not be here today.

By Asher Fusco: When Google rolled out its Panda algorithm update in February 2011, it upended search engine results pages (SERPs) in a major way, affecting 12 percent of all results. The algorithm adjustment essentially penalized low-quality sites and rewarded sites with engaging, high-quality content. Because Google is always changing its algorithms in minor ways, the threat of another Penguin or Panda update might not seem like much to worry about. But Google is currently busy preparing a major Penguin update that will have a major impact on SERPs, according to SearchEngineWatch.

By Ilya Pozin: Forget about your job title or profession – everyone is looking for ways to be more productive at work. It’s time to set down your gallon-sized container of coffee, toss out your three-page to-do list, and put an end to those ridiculously long emails you’ve been sending.

By Kim Painter: Anyone who has ever walked into a "non-smoking" hotel room and caught the distinct odour of cigarette smoke will not be surprised by the findings of a new study: When a hotel allows smoking in any of its rooms, the smoke gets into all of its rooms, the study suggests.

By feature writer Sarah Boisvert: Booking hotel rooms online is now a website feature all travelers expect. But the difference of getting a booking without a professional salesperson in the process and losing a customer means the booking process has to sell itself. One important aspect of successful online sales for the hotel industry is making it simple for your customers to book a room online. Here are a few guidelines to help you ensure your booking process is easy to use.

By Tiffany DeShazo: A second opinion is often recommended when a doctor has made a diagnosis.  It’s incredibly valuable in writing too.  Even if your second opinion’s fresh set of eyes doesn’t find any mistakes, you will feel more confident when sending out your e-mail or document.  A fresh set of eyes can make all the difference in avoiding unnecessary errors and helping your message effectively come through.

By Martha C. White: For years, most hotel restaurants could easily be dismissed as unremarkable and unsurprising, their menus seemingly unchanged from year to year. But lately, they have been following the lead of upscale restaurants and offering ingredients grown or produced nearby.