Of the 387 hotels and 188 hotel apartments registered by the Dubai Government Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing at the end of 2011, 48% were within 2km of one of five shopping malls, proving just how well developed the relationship between retail and hospitality has become.

By Claudette Covey: Starwood's legacy in the region dates back to 1973, and the company currently operates 34 hotels with 24 hotels in the pipeline. It aims to have 100 hotels under operation, development and management contracts signed by 2015 with eight out of nine Starwood brands flying their flag in India.

By Masha Vapnitchnaia: At most hotels you check in for a night's sleep. At these rarefied stays, you'll want to stay up all night…

By Market Metrix: About 10+ years ago hospitality companies began to conduct employee engagement surveys. At that time they were all paper based. Today more and more hotels, restaurants and casinos are having their employees take these same engagement surveys online. Sure there are some challenges, but the advantages are attractive.

By Rudy DeFelice: This approach is based upon focusing your efforts on people that know and care about you and what you have to say, then empowering them to spread the word through their networks. Since everyone spreading your message, starting with you, has an authentic relationship with their networks, your message has a distinct advantage over the undifferentiated messages we're all bombarded with every day. So use that advantage.

By William Bellis: In layman’s terms, responsive design generally means that a website (one URL/website address) responds to the device or screen on which it’s being viewed.  The site morphs to better accommodate the resolution and size of the screen — from site layout, to size of imagery, even to the amount of copy in some instances.  So whichever of the four screens — PC/laptop, tablet, smartphone or Internet TV — a travel shopper is using, the site will look custom built for that screen.

It seems with every passing year, a new and innovative spa trend is revealed, from bathing in beer to salt-iodine caves mimicking the effect of the Black Sea. And the spa treatments tipped for 2013 look set to be just as inventive, from 'mindfulness massages' to vitamin C-infused showers.

By Genevieve Shaw Brown: The latest tech trend in the hotel industry is taking tech away. Or, at least, giving guests a place to take a break from their gadgets. Last month Marriott and Renaissance began testing "Braincation Zones" at eight hotels across the Caribbean and Mexico, providing guests with designated tech-free areas. The Braincation Zones differ between properties, but all are located in quiet areas with beverages, technology-free games and stress-free tips for guests to take home with them.

By Vivian Giang: According to a survey conducted by Deloitte Consulting, only 37 percent of Gen Xers said they plan on staying with their current employers once the economy improves, compared to 44 percent of Gen Y and 52 percent of baby boomers (via MSNBC).