By Tatiana Rokou: Here's a rundown on what travellers can expect to see in the new year, as proposed by USA Today.

By Ruth Hill: Travellers with a love of luxury are joining the nation's record number of visitors — 3.5 million in 2012 — to this epicenter of the Holy Land. Hotel investors and developers are answering the heightened demand for rooms with several new upscale hotels which will open this year. Here's a sampling.

By Melanie Nayer: Food & Wine recently named their top hotels for food lovers, which range in concept from celebrity chefs to fancy vending machines. I've added a few of my favorite hotels for food to their list. Whether you're into private picnics, extraordinary room service or feasts fit for a king, these hotels are sure to fit any palette.

By Bryan K. Williams: As we begin 2013, I’ve decided to put together a compilation of my articles about the 5-Star service experience. Hopefully, they will help to re-ignite your commitment to provide consistently engaging service. Wishing you and your team continued success in 2013!

By Lily Lin: In business, any top sales executive or contract negotiator could testify on the importance of understanding their clients’ or opponents’ paralanguage. After all, hotel business is people business. People communicate – verbally and nonverbally. It is only natural that hotel staff should acquire a good understanding of nonverbal communication and be able to identify their guests’ emotional state as well as their likes and dislikes.

By Andrea: The New Year is upon us and many of us will be making yet another load of New Year's resolutions, having still not learned by our previous failure to keep them (for example for me: must not drink so much, must actually go to the gym instead of just paying for it, etc….).In a spirit of helpfulness then let me suggest some resolutions for hotel owners and managers, at the risk that some of them may merely reflect my own quirks and foibles.

By Jeff Weinstein: Marketing communications firm JWT has released its Things To Watch in 2013 Food & Beverage Report. This is part of its eighth annual forecast of key trends that will drive or significantly impact consumer mindset and behaviour in the year to come.

By Molly Hannon: Berlin now has 13 restaurants with Michelin stars, the most of any city in Germany. The stars, many bestowed in the last few years, are a signal that the country’s culinary landscape has shifted from Munich and Hamburg.

By Nancy Trejos:  Hotel lobbies are starting to feel more like coffeehouses or French salons in a bid to lure guests and neighbours.

By Julie Bawden-Davis: Keeping employees happy and productive in a tough economy may not be an easy task, but your business is sure to benefit when you incorporate these tactics for creating motivation in the workplace.