By Mark Johanson: It looks like North Korea’s “Hotel of Doom” will live up to its name after all. German luxury hotelier Kempinski made the shocking announcement last November that it would open at least 100 rooms at the 105-story Ryugyong Hotel by the end of 2013. This week, amid growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, it made the less shocking revelation that it had pulled out of the project.
Was Hotel Marketing Always This Complicated? Part I
By Jason Price, Executive Vice President at HeBS Digital: A walk down memory lane for old timers while a primer for new comers to the field of hotel marketing.
Your Competitors Are Probably Not Who You Think They Are
By Bob Fitzpatrick: Who are your competitors, really? The list of hotels your guests consider booking might surprise you.
Four ‘Bad Leader Behaviors’ That Affect Productivity, Profits
When looking at the corporations reporting lower-than-expected earnings, you need to read between the lines. They are not going to admit that the reason is a failure of leadership, but 99 times out of 100 that’s what it is.
Experiential Hospitality: Doing More With Less
By Osvaldo Torres Cruz, Hotel Butler and Experiential Hospitality Consultant: The above title refers to the character of the hyper- competitive current hotel market and how hotels should apply many more resources to promote their products and associated services and above all, capture the attention of new customers (prospects) as the only way to grow as a company in the market.
Five Stars Fade as Hotel Profits Top Luxury
By Nadja Brandt: Developers are shunning luxury hotels in the U.S. as room rates fail to rebound to peak levels and profits are squeezed by the costs of offering swanky amenities such as spas and trendy restaurants.
The Rising Middle Class Fuels Hotel Boom in China
By Tom DiChristopher: If there's one U.S. industry that's found a home in China, it's the lodging business. But with more Chinese joining the middle class and staying overnight for business or pleasure — the sector is hot, maybe too hot, experts say.
Ten Eco-Friendly Yet Stylish Hotels in Americans’ Favorite Destinations
By Tatiana Rokou: "Eco-friendly efforts don't have to end at home," says Taylor L. Cole, APR, travel expert for Hotels.com. "Savvy travelers are seeking accommodations where they can have a comfortable stay while conserving the Earth's valuable resources.
More Hotels Recycle Left-Behind Toiletries
By Barbara DeLollis: Increasingly, those little bars of soap abandoned every day in guest rooms are finding a new home. This week, Hyatt Hotels Corp. became the latest hotel operator to officially encourage its 475 properties to recycle toiletries through Clean the World, the 4-year-old organization started by two road warriors who wondered what happened with all the soap they'd regularly leave behind in hotels.
Business Travel On Upswing as Consumers Look for Value
By Claudette Covey: Despite the challenges of the economy, budget cuts and new travel fees, business travel has been on the upswing over the past five years, according to Embassy Suites fifth annual business travel survey. Only one in five survey respondents has travelled less for business since 2008.
