In 2011 some 150,000 Chinese tourists made it to Britain, compared with 3.6m visitors from France. Their numbers are growing fast, though, rising by 35% from 2010 to 2011 and 20% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2012, according to VisitBritain, the national tourist board. With China's total outbound market likely to be three times as big as Japan's by 2020, according to the Boston Consulting Group, the British government is reluctant to miss out on a lot of potential shoppers. To meet the needs of this growing group, some hotels are starting to ape department stores by catering specifically to Chinese tourists.

By Caroline Cooper: The recruitment process can be costly, so any business that wants to try to get it right first time with a minimum of disruption. So what exactly can you be doing before a vacancy even exists, or once your search is on, to attract and hire the best people to your business?

By Robert Mandelbaum: The way travellers communicate on the road has changed dramatically over the years, and these changes become evident when analyzing the revenue earned by U.S. hotels from their guests for use of telecommunication devices and services. In lodging industry parlance, "telecommunications revenue" includes monies received from the guest use of hotel room phones, fax machines, and internet connections.

By Miriam Salpeter: Job seekers should not forget in-person networking. No matter how useful online networks are, candidates who use those tools as stepping stones to meet people in person will access opportunities and resources beyond those available online.

By Paul Brady: You're probably doing something wrong if you can't give your product away. An authoritative new report from global consulting firm Deloitte has put the travel industry on alert, declaring the death of brand loyalty. Of the 4,000 frequent travelers surveyed, only two in five people said they "always" want reward points, miles or upgrades.

By Julie Joyce: We've been talking about social media for what seems like ages now. However, unless you've seen it grow from the ground up, it's not an immediately clear concept – you and your clients may not be on the same wavelength. One concept that can still confuse the heck out of clients is social media link building. So let's dig into why social media matters, which networks/platforms have value and which don't, and methods of using social for your own link efforts.

By Rosemary McClure: In Shanghai, guests at the Peninsula Hotel will greet the Chinese New Year by snaking through the lobby doing a lion dance. In Bangkok and Beijing, they will celebrate at the Peninsula's afternoon tea. And in Hong Kong, they will watch the city's colorful holiday fireworks show explode over Victoria Harbour while sipping Champagne on the Sun Terrace.

By Anne Sweeney: Social media gurus are busy posting New Year's Resolutions with tips for making the most of the latest apps, new sites, and marketing opportunities in 2013. There is great advice out there and some dynamic new social media platforms to consider. They are perfect for hoteliers who have embraced Social Media, established their brand, gained qualified fans and followers, understand the basics and post useful and relevant content on a regular basis. Our resolutions are made for those who don't

By Alan Campbell: It pains me to say it, but too many of the general managers I have come across during my career prefer the desk to the guest. Guests ask questions, are emotional at times, interrupt routine, and want things. Desks, on the other hand, are solid, smooth, shiny, reliable, and commanding. Desks hear everything, but never talk back.

By MarketMetrix: In an earlier post (How Guests Select Hotels Around the World – Global Results), we talked about the reasons people all around the world choose a hotel.  Now let’s take a look at how drivers of hotel choice change from one global region to another.