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 Frances Cha: It's a tough life, being one of 36 anonymous reporters for Conde Nast Traveler magazine's annual Hot List.Evaluating hundreds of new hotels around the world, testing rooftop pools, drinking signature cocktails and flickering a judgmental eye over superlative properties. Yet again this year, that indefatigable crew managed to get through the job. The magazine's 17th annual Hot List Issue rounding up the best new hotels of 2013 hit newsstands on Tuesday.

By Chadner Navarro: Whether you need a recovery trip on the heels of spring break or a haven from other people's cranky toddlers, some hotels and resorts remove that unpredictable variable of youth and allow for a special kind of exclusivity: adults-only properties.

By Dana McMahan: If you think professional photographers only tail the glitterati, think again. A luxury that wouldn't have occurred to most travelers a few years ago, vacation photography is growing in popularity to capture the trip of a lifetime.

By Stephanie Orma: With tablets linked to sleep disorders and media multitasking habits frying our brains into unproductivity, vacations should provide a break from tech addiction. Many hotels cater to society’s digital obsession, outfitting every inch of their estates with the latest gadgets and high-tech room controls. But others offer the opposite – an unplugged hideaway far from any blinking screens.

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.