By John Hendrie: It was suggested by an article in December’s CRM magazine that by 2014 some 10% to 15% of positive on-line reviews will be fake and paid for by companies hoping to influence the marketplace. This includes social media sites, as well, like Yelp and YouTube. That’s right, people will be paid to write good news about an establishment; they will not have been a guest at all. Let’s not forget that wily competitors may be doing just the opposite!
Properly Structured Incentives Motivate Transient Sales Staff
By Doug Kennedy: Many hotels have implemented reservations and front desk sales training and mystery shopping or call monitoring programs. While these essential components, it is also important to implement a properly structured incentive program to help further motivate the associates.
National Clean Off Your Desk Day
By Dr John Hogan: We all have our own ways of organizing ourselves, with the intent of making ourselves more efficient and able to handle our tasks. We organize our work space to use the blend of technology and paper and hope to make our lives more streamlined. There are designated “days” on many calendars for unusual “holidays”. One that caught my attention is the National Clean Off Your Desk Day.
Social Media Misses the Money
By Mike Waite: Younger people use social media. Older people not so much…unfortunately they’re the ones spending the most on travel. Do you want to ignore them?
Top 10 Hotel Wellness Offerings for 2013
Capitalizing on the omnipresent workout and diet fever of the new year and building upon popular health trends, luxury hotels around the world are introducing new wellness offerings to help their guests stay in shape. From workouts on the water to self-guided detox treatments, here are the top 10 hotel wellness offerings for 2013.
Mixed Fortunes Ahead for UK’s Hotel Sector, Says HVS London
This year will be another challenging one for the UK hotels sector and while London will again experience strong demand, the capital’s hotels are unlikely to achieve the premium rates they did during the Olympics and Paralympics. Russell Kett, chairman of hotel consultancy HVS London, says that despite this, 2013 could see an improvement for hotel transactions as buyer interest remains strong and some debt is becomes available.
Nine Signs You’re a Crummy Boss
By Lindsay Olson: If, as you storm through the office, instilling fear in the eyes of your staff, you're congratulating yourself on being an excellent boss, it's time to re-evaluate your opinion of yourself. If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, it's time for some serious leadership training.
Hotel Technology Trends To Watch For
By Holly Powell: The hospitality industry is changing and for the better. With new technology at disposal of hotel management, hotels can now more than ever offer consumers a fantastic and connected experience during their stay. 2012 saw many new developments within consumer technology and within the hospitality industry, and this consumer technology could pave way for new hotel trends during 2013 that benefit guests and increase business for hotels at the same time.
The Caribbeans 10 Coolest Hotels for 2013
The Caribbean is not short on terrific hotels. Every island — every destination — has a range of interesting, original, luxurious properties sure to satisfy any traveler to the region. But this year, we wanted to offer our take on 10 hotels worth visiting in 2013. To be sure, not every country is represented, and some have more than one on the list. And there are, of course, many great hotels that didn’t make it. But we felt that these properties represented the wonderful diversity of product that makes Caribbean travel unique.
A Moment of Zen, on the Go
By Jane L. Levere: According to a study released by Yoga Journal last month, the number of Americans practicing yoga jumped 29 percent, to 20.4 million — or 8.7 percent of American adults — since the previous study in 2008, when 15.8 million practiced. Hotels’ yoga initiatives represent their response to “travelers’ desire to lead healthier lifestyles,” said Henry Harteveldt, an analyst for Hudson Crossing, a travel industry consulting company.


