Nomadic Matt: I think travel makes everybody a more awesome person. We end our travels way better off than when we started. I’m not saying this to be conceited or egotistical; I’m saying it because I believe that travel is something that makes you not only a better human being, but a way cooler one too. The kind of person people gravitate towards and want to be around.

Mike Oppenheim, M.D: An FBI agent, a guest in an airport hotel, was suffering a bad cough. He informed me that this happened every year, and his doctor knocked it out with an antibiotic.

Barry Moltz: In sports, the star players don’t always make the best managers. Just because they can play first base doesn’t mean they can coach it. I failed in my last business where I selected the best salesperson to be the manager of my business development team. I figured if he could sell to our customers, he could lead others to do the same. Unfortunately, it ended in disaster when he failed to lead the team. He was so embarrassed that he quit and I ended up without a manager and a star salesperson.

Mack Shane: Pop-up hotels, bespoke itineraries, once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences and ‘braincations’ are among some of the travel trends predicted to shape 2013. According to analysts at Hotels.com’s trendspotting spring report, “experiential travel” will be top of mind among globetrotters this year, as consumers seek out itineraries that follow the roads less traveled.

By Gavin O’Malley: Smartphones and tablets are on track to capture nearly one in five online travel dollars by 2014.

Alan Campbell discusses what hoteliers should be looking for when choosing a site to build a hotel.

By Steve Cokkinias: A veteran of the hospitality industry, Steve has many entertaining stories up his sleeve. Each Wednesday he will share a story on ehotelier.

By Helen Leggatt: It's all about optimizing for mobile in today's on-the-go world. But, what about online surveys? According to SurveyGizmo's latest benchmark report, a significant rise in the number of surveys completed on a mobile device means they need a mobile makeover, too.

By Aoife Dowling: More than two-thirds of travel agents saw positive growth in hotel, resort and destination spa bookings last year, according to a new SpaFinder Wellness survey.

By Lola Pedro: As travellers' interest in environmentally friendly holidays continues to grow, so too does the number of innovative and luxurious travel experiences on offer.