Hotel

  • Most Topular Stories

  • Room Key Adds Inventory Through Travelocity and Drops Beta Tag

    Front Desk
    Eric Stoessel
    11 May 2012 | 7:53 am
    The coming together of six of the biggest and most competitive hotel companies to create Room Key showed just how important it was to the founding partners to create a lower-cost alternative to OTAs. Yesterday, Room Key removed its beta tag and officially launched to consumers with several new features, including inventory from the unlikeliest partner: Travelocity. Yes, you read that right. Room Key — the brands’ meta search-engine answer to online travel agencies — worked out a deal with the big, bad wolf. And it was a smart move, and one that shows CEO John Davis is running Room Key,…

  • Innkeepers, Do you respond to positive reviews?

    Chefforfeng's Weblog
    Chef Forfeng
    11 May 2012 | 7:03 am
    In my daily reading yesterday morning I came across this article: What Hoteliers And Restauranteurs Can Learn From The “Ford Fiesta Movement” By Tom Costello  http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000392/4055989.html. I highly suggest you read it first and then come back here. The point about brand advocates is very important to take to heart. It brought to mind the same question that I keep getting asked by innkeepers, at conferences, on the phone, by emails, by twitter and on my blog. “Do we or should we respond to every review, especially positive reviews?” Various…

  • For hotels, online reputation management starts on property

    The latest from Daniel's blog ...
    Daniel Edward Craig
    14 May 2012 | 12:34 pm
    They say reputation is what people say about you after you leave the room. For hotels, reputation is what guests say after checkout. more.. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • New ADA regulations in effect

    AH&LA SmartBrief
    16 May 2012 | 12:13 pm
    AH&LA obtained a 60-day extension to the pool lift compliance date and DOJ is weighing a possible six-month extension in orde -More- 

  • Raise a Glass: Sheraton Launches New Wine Program

    Hotel News
    16 May 2012 | 2:40 pm
    For travelers seeking out a special wine-tasting experience, they can now test and sample some of the finest varietals at Sheraton hotels around the world.
 
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    Hotel News

  • Raise a Glass: Sheraton Launches New Wine Program

    16 May 2012 | 2:40 pm
    For travelers seeking out a special wine-tasting experience, they can now test and sample some of the finest varietals at Sheraton hotels around the world.

  • Spate of Lawsuits Flows From Nashville Inundation of 2010

    16 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    Gaylord Entertainment Inc., whose Nashville hotel and entertainment properties sustained more than $250 million in flood damage two years ago, and others are charging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Weather Service with negligence and failure to act during the event.

  • Marriott Vacations Worldwide Owner Services Recognized for Excellence in Customer Service

    16 May 2012 | 10:25 am
    "It is this dedication that has enabled us to reach high levels of success operationally and to consistently increase our customer satisfaction scores." Owner Services is home to more than 650 associates worldwide and focuses on providing excellent customer service to more than 420,000 Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and ... (more)

  • Deutsche Bank Analysts Begin Coverage on Marriott

    16 May 2012 | 6:21 am
    The firm set a "hold" rating on the stock. A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on MAR.

  • Guilty plea entered in slot machine scheme

    16 May 2012 | 2:16 am
    The brother of a former analyst for the state's largest casino company pleaded guilty Tuesday in an elaborate slot machine scheme to unlawfully win $863,895 on the Strip.
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    HotelChatter -

  • New York: Will The Hyatt Union Square in NYC Still Open in July?

    juliana
    16 May 2012 | 1:52 pm
    We've been tracking the opening of Hyatt Union Square in New York for quite some time now, getting excited about the good eats coming to the hotel and the funky guestroom designs. But the question remains--when will this hotel open?According to NYC & Company, the city's tourism organization which also tracks the development and openings of new hotels, the hotel should open in July. But we're not seeing so many good signs for that.For starters, there's no website and of course, no reservations are being taken. Also, it looks like the hotel has a few key staffing positions to fill, like that of…

  • While Sheraton Partners Up with Wine Spectator, Four Points Remains the Place for BestBrews

    juliana
    16 May 2012 | 1:12 pm
    If you're staying at a Sheraton Hotel this summer, expect to find a new sort of happy hour in their lobbies. USA Today reports that Sheraton has partnered up with Wine Spectator magazine to create a Social Hour where guests can sample premium wines with high grades from Wine Spectator. Beyond wine-tasting (sorry, no full free glasses will be poured), Sheraton will also unveil a new menu, Sheraton Selects, that pairs food with certain wines.The Social Hour program is set to go worldwide with Sheraton Hotels in Phoenix, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago kicking it off next week. The rest of…

  • Shanghai: Gazing Out from The 91st floor at Park Hyatt Shanghai

    JasonD
    16 May 2012 | 10:30 am
    Few things are more coveted among hotels than claiming the title of "World's Tallest Hotel". However, just as "World's Tallest Building", chances are something just that little bit taller will be built soon enough. So is the case for Park Hyatt Shanghai, located on floors 79-93 of the Shanghai World Financial Center, tallest hotel until The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong opened (which is set to be eclipsed yet again by the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai). That didn't stop us from popping in and taking the express elevator up to the lobby on floor 87 and restaurant 100 Century Avenue (named after the…

  • Tucson: Maybe We Should Start Taking TripAdvisor's 'Style' Recommendations With A Grain Of Salt

    ASchechter
    16 May 2012 | 9:30 am
    Just the other day, we were planning out an upcoming trip through Arizona, and we decided to browse some hotel reviews on TripAdvisor; specifically, places in Tucson. But just as we were about to scroll down through the list of results, we noticed a row of boxes at the top of the screen with labels like "business," "romantic" and "trendy," each of which corresponded to different categories of hotels. Or, as TA calls them, "styles" of hotels. We dubiously clicked on the seventh one, which yielded four results. And, while we can't say anything bad about them, by no stretch of our imagination…

  • Florence: Florence Is Having A Renaissance, As Far As Hotel Social Media Goes

    ASchechter
    16 May 2012 | 9:15 am
    Eventually, it's going to get pretty boring writing (and reading!) about every single hotel that launches a partnership with LobbyFriend, the newest hotel social media and city guide app to set the hotel world on fire. But for now (we hope), the excitement is still there... If for no other reason than that LobbyFriend is so darn secretive about which hotels they've partnered with! The Lungarno Collection, a boutique family-owned consortium boasting four hotels in Florence, Italy, will be the first European hotel brand (and only the second worldwide, that we know of) to offer the technology.
 
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    Marriott on the Move

  • China's "Nobility of Nature" - Bees, Honey & Clean Water

    Marriott on the Move
    15 May 2012 | 6:04 pm
    A Sustainable Way of Life  I want to take you on a trip via video to China’s Sichuan Province and introduce you to two young girls who live in the village of Guanba.  They know how important it is to protect their local rivers and streams.  One of the girls is 13-year old Dan Liu and the other is her sister Ying, who is 9. Their village is part of an innovative project called “Nobility of Nature.”  Two years ago this month, Marriott International and Conservation International partnered with the local provincial Chinese government.  The program promotes…

  • Awards of Excellence

    Marriott on the Move
    9 May 2012 | 9:31 pm
    My father often said “take good care of the associates and they’ll take good care of the customers.”  That’s at the heart of how we do things at Marriott every day.  Our associates around the world put people first - whether it's inside the hotels or outside in the communities they serve.  Every associate has a commitment to teamwork, excellence and the Spirit to Serve.  But there are always a special few who really shine.  To recognize their terrific dedication, once a year we invite them to Headquarters and put on a special awards ceremony in their…

  • What's an Executive Chairman?

    Marriott on the Move
    30 Apr 2012 | 9:03 am
    I don’t have an opportunity to hand out many business cards, but my new card says “Executive Chairman.”  You don't see that job title popping up on careerbuilder.com. You might be wondering what my new job is all about.  I guess you need 40 years of experience as CEO.  It doesn’t hurt to have your name above the door. In applying for the job, I told our board of directors I’m ideally suited for the position.  They never asked for my resume'.  But if they had, here it is: I worked in the accounting office when I was 14 sorting invoices and doing…

  • This Isn't Your Dad's Courtyard Anymore

    Marriott on the Move
    23 Apr 2012 | 3:22 pm
    If you haven’t been to a Courtyard hotel lately, check out the slide show of photos below. As one magazine described it, “This isn’t your dad’s Courtyard.”  A few years ago, we started our “refreshing business” project.  Now, we’ve reached a milestone of five hundred hotels with a new look and feel.   Ben Franklin once said, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”  Courtyard didn’t just change in one area.  It took on a total redefinition of its lobby space to meet the changing needs of business travelers and it continues to…

  • Cleaning up the Red Sea One Dive at a Time

    Marriott on the Move
    22 Apr 2012 | 3:25 pm
    IN CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY The Sharm El Sheikh Marriott Red Sea Resort sent me a video of their recent community service project.  The hotel associates cleaned up the beach, but didn’t stop at the water’s edge.  They strapped on scuba tanks, dove into the sea and hunted for buried garbage.    Sharm El Sheikh is a beautiful resort destination located in south Sinai Egypt.  The beaches are golden and the water clear. It’s like swimming in an aquarium and now it’s a cleaner aquarium. The yearly beach and underwater cleanup project brings the entire…
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    OPUS Hotels' Blog

  • Bird is the Word

    Nicholas Gandossi
    10 May 2012 | 6:53 pm
    If you had to guess how many times the online game Angry Birds  is played every month, what number would you guess? Well when I asked my 82 year old Dad, he said,  “What the beep is Angry Birds?”  My 12 year old daughter on the other hand, when asked, guessed 2 million,  which was significantly closer than my Dad’s response… The real answer is 23.4 million, per a recent blog at gameindustry.com.  Crazy when you think about it.  Then I started to wonder how much OPUS Vancouver contributes to that monthly number, now that we have an iPad in every one of our hotel…

  • Have you ever stayed in the Penthouse?

    Nicholas Gandossi
    3 May 2012 | 1:08 pm
    We’ve all dreamed of being upgraded to first class on our overseas flight, or whisked up to the penthouse when we arrive to check into our regular room.  The reality is that most of the time our dreams are crushed and we spend our flights sitting snuggled up to the stranger on our left and entertaining the baby on our right. This month, we’re all about making that long awaited dream come true for our guests.  We’re offering our opulently designed penthouse suite at an unheard of $399 rate.  To celebrate the occasion we’re even giving one loyal friend an indulgent and complimentary…

  • Keep the Dream Alive- OPUS Vancouver Playoff Giveaway

    Nicholas Gandossi
    17 Apr 2012 | 6:02 pm
    To celebrate the huge success of our beloved Vancouver Canucks this season, we are giving away a signed Alex Burrows jersey! If When the Canucks make it past the first playoff round, we will give away another amazing prize package each time Vancouver eliminates a team. Expect the prizes to get even MORE fabulous as each round continues! Enter to win 2 ways: 1. Leave a comment on our blog, telling us who your favorite Vancouver Canucks player is. 2. Tweet the following: “I entered to win a signed Vancouver #Canucks jersey from @OPUShotel http://bit.ly/IZEu41 RT to enter!” We will draw a…

  • Team OPUS aka Team Fit

    Nicholas Gandossi
    17 Apr 2012 | 3:04 pm
    10 kilometers, that was the required distance to drag my body along to cross the finish line, so I could say that I completed the annual Vancouver Sun Run.   Yes, it wasn’t a marathon, but when you’re 45 years old,  running and finishing a 10 km run feels a lot different than when you did it back in your 20′s or 30′s.   What spurred me on was the great energy from the other 50,000 runners gathered this past Sunday; and especially from our very own Team OPUS Vancouver runners.   From our Chief Engineer who clocked in a fantastic  time of 45 minutes, to our…

  • Are you ready for Mother’s Day?

    Nicholas Gandossi
    5 Apr 2012 | 6:48 pm
      Yes, Mothers Day is  just around the corner.  Sunday May 13 , the big day where we collectively recognize and celebrate just how important and special our Moms are.  With that in mind, here is an idea that some restaurants in Vancouver are doing that may interest you.  Select restaurants, including our very own  Cento Notti,  are collecting anywhere from 10% to 35% of their  sales on Mothers Day, to be donated to BC Children s Hospital.  With 90 cents of every dollar raised going directly to fund specialized medical equipment for infants and kids, you…
 
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    Saturday Briefing

  • Innovations and Revolutions in Education

    admin
    12 May 2012 | 5:02 am
    BY DR. RICHARD KELLEY — Very recently, I had the opportunity to attend a seminar and presentation by Salman “Sal” Kahn, a 35-year old Bangladeshi-American who, almost singlehandedly, is turning the world of education upside down. By creating new concepts … Continue reading → To read the entire article please click the article title above.

  • Outrigger Guam Resort Host Appreciation Party

    admin
    12 May 2012 | 5:01 am
    BY KRISTIN RAMOS — On Friday, April 27, the Outrigger Guam Resort (OGM) familia (family) celebrated its long awaited and much anticipated Annual Host Appreciation Party. This year’s theme, “Prom Night” was complete with a Royal Court. In addition to … Continue reading → To read the entire article please click the article title above.

  • Outrigger Laguna Phuket Employees Recognized

    admin
    12 May 2012 | 5:01 am
    BY PATCHAREE CHANANTHO (KHUN PAEW) — The Outrigger Laguna Phuket recently recognized employees for their exemplary work: Supervisor of the Quarter • Khun Manasit Phupongpitpat Khun Manasit has been with the property since pre-opening, hired as a Technician. Since that … Continue reading → To read the entire article please click the article title above.

  • Nothing Can Stop the Sand Masters!

    admin
    12 May 2012 | 5:01 am
    By Peter Hopgood — Well, we made it!That’s what I said with a sigh of relief when all was done with the filming of the Travel Channel show “Sand Masters” at Outrigger on the Lagoon – Fiji in early February. … Continue reading → To read the entire article please click the article title above.

  • WET & WILD Weekend in Waikīkī!

    admin
    12 May 2012 | 5:01 am
    By Conchita Malaqui This past weekend was a whirlwind of activity in Waikīkī for the Waikiki Beach Walk® team! Paws in the Plaza – Waikiki Beach Walk® hosted the second Paws in the Plaza, on May 5. This is a … Continue reading → To read the entire article please click the article title above.
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    WordPress.com News

  • Stay In The Conversation

    Beau Lebens
    15 May 2012 | 6:01 pm
    It’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment…

  • Look at These Gorgeous Blogs

    Sheri
    15 May 2012 | 1:05 pm
    We’ve added a user showcase where you can view stunning customizations made by people just like you. From complete redesigns with CSS to adding pizzazz with Custom Fonts to clever use of options like background and header, this showcase will spark your imagination and inspire creativity. Discover details about what each showcase blog is doing with WordPress.com themes and customizations by clicking a thumbnail to see a colophon-style list of credits on the left. We’ve also updated footer links so blog owners can show off the types of customizations they’ve made and visitors can…

  • Photo Blogging 101, Part 1

    Erica V.
    14 May 2012 | 10:00 am
    Spring is in the air. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get started on a photo blog. Creating a photo blog is a wonderful introduction to blogging on WordPress.com or an opportunity to refresh your current site. Ready to get started? You can sign up for a new blog right over here. Getting started Photo blogs, sometimes called phlogs, use pictures instead of words. While many photo bloggers choose a type of photo that they want to focus on, such as portraits, others use their photo blog to document their life’s events. Photo blogs come in a variety of styles, including…

  • New Themes: Just Desserts and Oxygen

    Michelle Langston
    10 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    Happy Thursday! We’ve added some exciting new themes to our ever-growing collection, and we’re happy to tell you all about them. First out of the oven is…Just Desserts. Yep, that’s a theme! Designed by Andy Rutledge, Just Desserts is a deliciously stylish premium theme that’s perfect for blogs centered on food. With its responsive, single-column layout and unique presentation of images and posts on the front page, Just Desserts gives you a delectable canvas on which your mouthwatering photos and text can really shine — even when viewed on smaller mobile devices…

  • Find Friends Who Use WordPress

    Nick Momrik
    1 May 2012 | 2:32 pm
    Are you curious to see how your friends are using WordPress? Give the new and improved Friend Finder a try to connect with your Twitter, Facebook, and Google contacts who have WordPress sites! After authorizing WordPress.com to use your Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to find your friends (don’t worry — none of this account information is saved!) you’ll see a list of people you know who have WordPress sites. Click Follow and each time your friend publishes a new post it will show up in your Reader under Blogs I Follow. If you have multiple blogs, make sure to set the…
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    Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

  • Chelsea Hotel Tenants’ Association Reaches Settlement with Chetrits

    Anonymous Blogger
    14 May 2012 | 8:53 am
    Legends has obtained a copy of the consent order in the tenants’ association’s lawsuit against the Chetrits (Judith Childs, et. al. vs. Chelsea Dynasty LLC, et. al. and NYC Department of Housing and Preservation).  The Tenants’ Association represents approximately 35 of the 98 tenants remaining in the building, and approximately 31 of the 69 remaining units.  The tenants association sued, basically, to force the Chetrits to remediate the mold and other hazardous conditions in their apartments (some of which resulted from the recent demolition) and to perform any further…

  • No Room on The Inn: DOB Denies Permit for Proposed Chelsea Hotel Rooftop Addition

    Anonymous Blogger
    7 May 2012 | 5:44 pm
    Good news from DOB: according to Matthew Katz of dnainfo.com they have denied the Chetrit's a permit for the rooftop addition due to inconsistent and inadequate information about the plan provided by the Hotel's current owners. The problem, it seems, is that the building is overbuilt. Basically, it has too many square feet and is too tall for the space, according to current zoning regulations. (The current building was grandfathered in.) So any proposed additions would only add to the problem. Look for the Chetrits to attempt to get around this problem in one way or another. We spoke…

  • Local Politicians Visit Chelsea Hotel to Denounce the Chetrits

    Anonymous Blogger
    6 May 2012 | 12:27 pm
    CB4 Chairman Corey Johnson addresses the Hotel's concerns at press conference earlier today in front of the Chelsea Hotel. State Senator Tom Dunane, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, New York State Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, and CB 4 Chairman Corey Johnson were all present.  Several politicans mentioned issues related to the Tenant's Association Lawsuit against the Chetrits, addressing such concerns as asbestos abatement, mold, hazardous conditions during construction and demolition and in general poor living conditions for the tenants.  Johnson addressed the…

  • Worthless, Uncool, Quasi-Mystico-Artistico “Cultural” Event to be Held at Chelsea Hotel

    Anonymous Blogger
    3 May 2012 | 9:07 am
    As if we needed reminding that the Chelsea is over!  After Patti Smith retained her integrity by cancelling her management-sponsored concert for the Chelsea Hotel tenants, King and Grove (the management company run by Ed Sheetz and Ben Pundole) vowed that they would continue to hold “cultural” events at the hotel.  We are pleased to announce that they have kept their word.             Oddly, Chelsea residents, who had planned to protest Smith’s concert with a die-in and book burning, were not invited to this…

  • Zaldy and Dmitry Throw "End of Chelsea Hotel" Art Bash

    Anonymous Blogger
    30 Apr 2012 | 10:38 am
    Every month we lose more of our neighbors.  Zaldy and Dmitry turned their apartment into an art gallery for their final week at the Chelsea.
 
 
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    HOTELMARKETING.COM

  • Mobile and its impact on hotel revenue management

    markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com
    16 May 2012 | 2:05 am
    Hotel marketers have so far not observed material differences in booking patterns between the online channels - brand web, online travel agent and mobile. What's more, the increasing trend to mainly offer last-minute exclusive deals via third-party mobile platforms cannot be a sustainable strategy.

  • Top luxury travel trends in China

    markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com
    16 May 2012 | 2:04 am
    The rise in private property of Chinese people along with the appreciation of Yuan has induced this growing demand of luxury travel. There are millions of millionaires in China with personal wealth of RMB 10 or more, and they are 15 years younger on average compared to the travelers in Europe and America.

  • Americans warming up to summer travel in 2012

    markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com
    16 May 2012 | 2:03 am
    Compared to 2011, more Americans are planning to kick-off the summer with a Memorial Day weekend excursion this year; however, they are conscientious about travel expenses, according to a new Deloitte survey.

  • How to capture early bird summer travel bookers

    markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com
    16 May 2012 | 2:02 am
    With summer just around the corner, there’s no time like the present to develop a strategy for reeling in summer vacation travelers. Now is the time to begin targeting those diligent users who are actively planning their summer vacations.

  • New Facebook study shows brands how to build engagement

    markus.busch@hotelmarketing.com
    16 May 2012 | 2:01 am
    To better understand what makes a successful Page post, Facebook recently conducted an internal study to discover which topics generate the most engagement. The study shows that speaking about subjects related to your brand is the best way to generate engagement.
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    Hotel F&B Observer

  • Guard Your Secret Recipe, Not the Secret Service – Maybe

    Meg McDonough
    20 Apr 2012 | 9:07 am
    Use trademarks to protect the brand identity of your company, and keep your recipe a closely guarded secret

  • Why Distributor Produce Will Never Be The Same As Local Produce

    Geoffrey Sagrans
    18 Apr 2012 | 9:07 am
    I always get a good chuckle when they run that Dominos Pizza commercial where a sample panel of people are brought to a tomato field. The walls pop down and the panel realizes that they are surrounded by acres of red, ripe tomatoes. The idea is that these vine-ripened tomatoes go into the [...]

  • Alternative Sweet Future: Part 2

    Peter Gebauer
    18 Apr 2012 | 8:46 am
    The search for healthy, natural sweeteners sometimes seems to involve a whirlwind of information. Stevia goes back to 1997, when the FDA was actually seizing stevia products and threatening to arrest the owners of stevia companies. But today, as mentioned in Part 1, stevia is widely accepted as a safe, natural sweetener. That doesn’t make it [...]

  • Inside Scoop: Being Wrong the Right Way

    Chase LeBlanc
    12 Apr 2012 | 1:49 pm
    And now I will shed some light on a—not so little—secret of organizational life. There are some over-eager beavers, who deftly scramble up the political and positional ladder, seemingly salivating at the prospect of power. Their mastery of corporate gamesman/woman-ship does not guarantee that they are the “sharpest knives in the drawer.” All too often, [...]

  • Buzz About Hotel F&B Social Media Patterns (SMPs)

    Fred DeMicco
    6 Apr 2012 | 3:36 pm
    These days you have to be scanning the environment to see what guests are saying about you on social networks. Be Proactive You have to these days to protect your turf. There are “best practices” for Online Social Media (OSM) management being used to scan to see in real time what quests are saying about [...]
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    eHotelier Global Hospitality News

  • Hotel News in Brief

    15 May 2012 | 7:09 pm
    Hospitality industry news in brief..........

  • For Hotels, Online Reputation Management Starts on Property

    15 May 2012 | 7:08 pm
    By Daniel Edward Craig: How is everything going with your stay? It's a question asked all too rarely, and yet it strikes me as one of the most important a hotel can ask its guests these days.

  • Great Ways For Hotels To Target International Travelers Online

    15 May 2012 | 7:07 pm
    By Ashely Stevens: According to a recent survey by the World Tourism Organization, there were over 940 million international tourist arrivals worldwide in 2011. Almost 60 million of those travelers are coming in to the United States. This presents a huge market that hotels in the US should be sure to target in any online sales strategy. International travelers tend to book early, stay longer, and rarely cancel, all attributes that make international travelers ideal candidates for staying at your hotel.

  • The Future of Travel Search: New Media Change Landscape

    15 May 2012 | 7:06 pm
    The emergence of social media sites which foster quick and updated information. It has become a part of every discretionary traveler since these sites are home to unlimited information. They show even more interest because of its accessibility. Even mobile booking has become easier with the addition of network capabilities in phones. It has become a common theme in executives, as well as the leisure travelers.

  • How to Boost Workplace Creativity

    15 May 2012 | 7:05 pm
    By Anita Campbell: Have you ever worked at a big corporation? If so, you're probably familiar with the infamous "suggestion box"-that anonymous place where employees are supposed to submit ideas that never get read (or, if they are read, are never acted on). Or perhaps you recall the cautionary tale of the poor sap who came up with an idea that saved the big company millions, only to be rewarded with nothing more than an acrylic plaque.
 
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    Happy Hotelier

  • Lola Lo-Lo-Lo-Lo Lola – Not what you Think!

    GJE
    14 May 2012 | 5:10 pm
    See this Quirky Bicycle? Rather than resting on its side standard or a back standard, it rests on its front standard in front of a shop in The Noordeinde in The Hague. Lola? Off course when I hear or see “Lola” I associate that immediately with the famous Kinks song “Lola“, but this is not about that Lola and maybe I’m too old for you to remember this;-) The name of the shop is Lola Bikes and Coffee soon daringly being opened officially in the posh Noordeinde in The Hague directly opposite the Lion’s Den of the huge Dutch coffee brand Douwe Egberts. A…

  • Impressions of Today’s 070 Twitterlunch in The Hague by 020

    GJE
    24 Apr 2012 | 4:52 pm
    Location just next to The “New” Church of The Hague which dates back to 1658 Birdies were necessary to keep the tweeps focussed Excellent sandwiches and soup by Pavlov KeesBteA had had his hair sharply coiffured for the occasion. The Organizing Trio. Thanks! Twitterlunch The Hague Yesterday Dutch Government resigned after Geert Wilders withdrew his support for the minority Government led by Mark Rutte. Today there was a big debate in Parliament here in The Hague whether or not to have new elections and before or after the summer holidays… But for me the most important event…

  • The End of the Wilders Era?

    GJE
    21 Apr 2012 | 4:33 pm
    The End of the Wilders Era? As you may know, my hometown The Hague is the center of Dutch Government. Today Geert Wilders left the coalition talks that lasted already 7 weeks and were aimed to create an acceptable package of cutting expenditure by Dutch Government. Wilders stated he withdrew his support for the minority Government led by Mark Rutte. Less than two years, on another platform I presented Rutte (left on the photo) and Maxime Verhagen (right on the photo) as our new Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister when they started this adventure. Both with the typical Geert Wilders hairdo.

  • America’s Cup World Series in Naples

    GJE
    14 Apr 2012 | 3:21 pm
    Team Energy Wins First Naples Fleet Race Photo AC The Spectacle is back with AC 34 For quite some time I’d left the America’s Cup for what it was: A court room affair. It was not very clear where they were heading. Returning to them again I see that Larry Ellison who is the defender of record with his team Oracle, has made some clever moves to bring spectacle back to the race courses. The 34th America’s Cup brings the competition for the oldest trophy in international sport back to the United States: New boats, a new format for the racing and television and web coverage as…

  • Happy Easter!

    GJE
    8 Apr 2012 | 5:29 am
    And a Happy Easter to you all! Happy Easter! is a post from: Happy Hotelier. Would you like to subscribe to my newsfeed, or my weekly newsletter?
 
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    Travel Blog - Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique & Luxury Hotels

  • How to… fare bella figura: the Finishing School guide to faking it in Italy

    Lucy
    14 May 2012 | 12:15 pm
    You’re in Italy. You’re armed with an insider guide (ours, hopefully). You know *all* the best places to go. So why are your attempts to order an afternoon coffee on a sunlit Roman piazza ridiculed? Why does requesting parmesan for your spaghetti alle vongole earn you instant presentation of the bill? And why, at the next ristorante, do you wait 45 minutes to settle up? There are obvious answers (your pronunciation; cheesy clams are revolting; you didn’t ask) but, to pass yourself off as a seasoned Italy buff, you’re going to need more help. Which is why we’ve…

  • Oundle Mill: hotel of the week

    Sarah
    11 May 2012 | 12:20 pm
    This week, we’re lusting after all things green, fresh and springy. We want to eat butter-dipped asparagus, plump peas, tender lamb and citrus puddings. We also want the sun to shine. Though today’s hotel of the week can’t guarantee the latter, it can provide all of the former, thanks to its tempting new spring menu. Please be upstanding for the very lovely Oundle Mill hotel in Northamptonshire… Style Mill with a gloss Setting Serene on the Nene Why this week? To celebrate its new menu, the hotel has a host of foodie events and extras in the planning, including…

  • Globetrotting beauty: Crème de la Mer brand aficionado Taj Giles shares her world view

    Lucy
    8 May 2012 | 12:51 pm
    Crème de la Mer has become a beauty icon: editors rave about the skin-plumping, glow-enhancing properties of the original Moisturizing Cream, even coining the phrase ‘Crème de la Mer skin’ to describe a flawless complexion. So legendary is its efficacy, staff at certain glossy magazines have even been known to remove their heels to sprint for review samples. Luckily, Smith members won’t have to resort to such unseemly tactics, because we have teamed up to bring you an exclusive Crème de la Mer offer. In the spirit of sharing, we persuaded globe-hopping UK brand manager…

  • New for May: Smith hotels in Italy, Jamaica, Australia, Thailand, Spain, New York and Devon

    Rachel
    8 May 2012 | 9:25 am
    This month, we ventured to Italy where we found an eco-friendly farmhouse, Masseria Cervarolo hotel in Puglia, and Torre Fiore Hotel Masseria, a former fort in Basilicata. Over in Spain, the family-run Primero Primera hotel in Barcelona won us over with its mid-century style, and in the UK, we relaxed in traditional British fashion at Combe House hotel in Devon. Then we headed to the Caribbean, where we took our cue from James Bond and went sunning in style at Goldeneye hotel in Jamaica. In New York, we found the glamorous side of Gotham at the new Nomad Hotel and hung out at the very hip…

  • L’Andana Hotel in Tuscany: hotel of the week

    Rachel
    4 May 2012 | 11:33 am
    Looking for relaxation, refined dining and perhaps even some springtime sunshine? Escape to L’Andana Hotel in Tuscany, where the spa staff stand ready to soothe and the menu’s overseen by world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse (we can’t guarantee endless days of Tuscan sun, but we’re pretty sure it’ll be warmer than rainy old England). Style Tuscan hunting lodge Setting Sublime solitude Why this week? Smith members can save with our L’Andana Hotel offer: extend your Tuscany break with three nights for the price of two. And, classic car fans will want to be in…
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    Hotel Law Blog

  • Hotel Lawyer from Meet the Money® -- Lodging Industry Investment Council (LIIC) announces its top 10 challenges for hotel industry in 2012

    10 May 2012 | 12:07 am
    By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 9 May 2012 Along with Mike Cahill of Hospitality Real Estate Counselors (HREC) and Sean Hennessey of the Lodging Investment Advisors, I am privileged to be one of the co-chairs of the Lodging Industry Investment Council (LIIC). LIIC is the hotel industry "think tank" whose membership owns or operates many billions of hotel investments, and involves all aspects of the industry. LIIC Annual Survey I am grateful that Mike Cahill takes responsibility for analyzing LIIC's annual survey of lodging…

  • Meet the Money® conference talks about Hotel loans and equity investment, creating value with hotel value-add and repositioning, hotel opportunistic investment, deal making and much more

    9 May 2012 | 11:41 pm
    By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 9 May 2012 Hotel Lawyers in Los Angeles at JMBM's Meet the Money® 2012 The hotel lawyers at JMBM'S Global Hospitality Group® were out in force and mingling with about 350 hotel industry leaders that joined us in Los Angeles this week for the 22nd annual Meet the Money® 2012 conference. What is different about Meet the Money®? There is a lot to like about this conference. We are not in the conference business, and we don't make a profit on this event, so we run the conference at the highest…

  • ADA compliance and defense lawyer alert: Charles Schwab settles claim over website accessibility

    7 May 2012 | 5:36 pm
    By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 07 May 2012 Hotel Lawyer ADA defense alert: Charles Schwab settles claim over website accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act On May 2, 2012, Charles Schwab & Co. announced an initiative to make its website more accessible for all customers, particularly those who are blind or have sight disabilities. This high-profile development was part of the settlement of a claim by Kit Lau, a Charles Schwab customer for more than 25 years. While many have focused on the Americans with…

  • EB-5 ALERT: California's new TEA approach will discourage EB-5 investment in California

    4 May 2012 | 6:58 pm
    By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 04 May 2012 EB-5 LAWYER ALERT: California has adopted a new TEA policy as of April 30, 2012. It will severely affect California's ability to compete for EB-5 financing. My partners, Catherine Holmes and Victor Shum, have alerted us to an important new development that will affect new development projects in California. The State of California has decided that it will not certify any new "targeted employment areas" or TEAs under the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program. If you develop hotels and…

  • Join us at Meet the Money® in Los Angeles May 7-9, 2012. Get the latest on debt and equity financing and what's up in the hotel industry.

    1 May 2012 | 3:49 pm
    By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com 01 May 2012 Hotel Lawyer in Los Angeles at Meet the Money® 2012 My staff and I are making final preparations for the 22nd Annual Meet the Money® conference and I couldn't be more excited! This year's theme is "Rise above the global financial tempest" and our speakers are ready to share the experience, knowledge and insight that enables them to find financing, create value and get deals done in the midst of our current global challenges.
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    Front Desk

  • The Hotel Business Hits a Pothole

    Ed Watkins
    14 May 2012 | 1:36 pm
    My guess is most of you are believers in small government and lower taxes. There’s a lot of sentiment in the U.S., as is being played out in the national election cycle, against raising taxes to fund government functions many deem unnecessary. Getting lost in this widespread mood of austerity is a major function of government that, if not addressed, could have major negative effects on the hotel industry and perhaps your business. As colorful Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says, the nation is “one big pothole.” Put another way, the nation’s roads, bridges, tunnels and other…

  • Room Key Adds Inventory Through Travelocity and Drops Beta Tag

    Eric Stoessel
    11 May 2012 | 7:53 am
    The coming together of six of the biggest and most competitive hotel companies to create Room Key showed just how important it was to the founding partners to create a lower-cost alternative to OTAs. Yesterday, Room Key removed its beta tag and officially launched to consumers with several new features, including inventory from the unlikeliest partner: Travelocity. Yes, you read that right. Room Key — the brands’ meta search-engine answer to online travel agencies — worked out a deal with the big, bad wolf. And it was a smart move, and one that shows CEO John Davis is running Room Key,…

  • A Lesson From a Hotel Industry Tragedy

    Ed Watkins
    7 May 2012 | 2:04 pm
    On Feb. 18, well-respected state hospitality association official Tom Sponseller disappeared from his office in Columbia, SC, the first event in a long, multi-faceted tragedy that undoubtedly could have been prevented. This tale is a pertinent lesson for anyone in the hotel business—or any business—who serves on boards of directors of industry organizations or non-profit charitable groups. As executive director of the South Carolina Hospitality Association, Sponseller was the executive in charge of the group’s finances. As many overworked, overstressed executives do, over time he placed…

  • Evolving AAHOA Still a Force in Lodging

    Eric Stoessel
    4 May 2012 | 7:30 am
    After 23 years, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association is still going strong. Founded in 1989, AAHOA continues to grow and this year will top the 11,000-member mark, an amazing number. What those 10,000-plus members represent in the industry is even more impressive: more than 20,000 hotels totaling $128 billion in value. For proof of that, you didn’t need to look any further than yesterday’s opening general session that included an industry leaders panel with moderator Buggsi Patel of BHG Hotels, Navin Dimond of Stonebridge Companies, Bharat Patel of Sun Development, Vinay Patel of…

  • Public Companies Signal Strong Year for Hotels

    Ed Watkins
    1 May 2012 | 8:11 am
    If the first quarter is any guide, the U.S. lodging industry may be destined for a record-breaking year. Like most of corporate America, U.S. public hotel companies had a great start to 2012: improving profits, rising occupancies and rates and, most impressively, strong gains in RevPAR. Both hotel brand companies and ownership groups posted solid numbers in the first quarter. Wyndham said RevPAR at its domestic hotels rose 9%. Starwood, whose profits quadrupled from a quarter earlier, saw North American RevPAR increase by 7.1%. For Marriott, the RevPAR gain was 6.8%, while its group bookings…
 
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    Today @ Hilton Anaheim

  • Hilton Anaheim Decrees Orange County Moms to Be “Queen Mums” for Mother’s Day

    hiltonanaheimnews
    18 Apr 2012 | 4:39 pm
    Traditions from Merry Olde England and the U.S. Highlight Moms’ Special Day  ANAHEIM, Calif. – April 18, 2012 – Mothers may just think they’ve crossed the Pond to merry olde England when they arrive at Hilton Anaheim for a truly unique Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch, Sunday, May 13, served from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. [...]

  • Hilton Anaheim launches the Suite Slumber Facebook contest

    hiltonanaheimnews
    9 Apr 2012 | 10:00 am
    Hilton Anaheim launches the Suite Slumber contest on Facebook with weekly opportunities for couples or families to win a personalized stay in a luxury suite worth approximately $1,000. WHAT:  Win a relaxing spa getaway tailor-made for two, a children’s slumber party in the Vista View Lounge or a family weekend bash with dinner for four. [...]

  • Hilton Anaheim Appoints Dane Gorup as Director of Food & Beverage

    hiltonanaheimnews
    5 Apr 2012 | 1:49 pm
    ANAHEIM, Calif. –April 4, 2012 – Hilton Anaheim today announced the appointment of Dane Gorup as director of food and beverage.  Dane Gorup will report to Shaun Robinson, general manager, and will be responsible for raising the profile of the hotel’s main food outlets including Mix Restaurant, Mix Lounge and Pool Bar & Grill as [...]

  • The Hilton Anaheim Receives Green Seal Award!

    hiltonanaheimnews
    30 Mar 2012 | 4:54 pm
      We are proud to announce that our hotel has recently become the largest hotel in Southern California to be awarded the Green Seal™ Bronze certification for its dedication to environmental stewardship. Green Seal is a Washington D.C. non-profit organization that provides science-based environmental certification for environmental and sustainability practices. “This coveted certification establishes our [...]

  • Hilton Anaheim, The Best of the Hotels in Anaheim

    drstuck
    16 Feb 2012 | 6:33 pm
    Orange County is the ideal family vacation destination and home to an array of world-class theme parks. The mild, year-round weather creates the perfect climate for enjoying the fun-filled destinations from the ever-popular and classic Disneyland® Resort to the old west town and roller coasters found at Knott’s Berry Farm® Theme Park. Orange County’s 42 [...]
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    Just Checking In

  • Bluegrass is coming to OBX!

    16 May 2012 | 11:18 am
    I love it when a new event enters an area and has the potential to become an annual event.  Such is the case with the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival October 5 - 7, 2012.  Landmark Hotel Group's Comfort Inn Oceanfront North in Kill Devil Hills and Comfort Inn Oceanfront South in Nags Head are hotel sponsors for what appears to be a heck of a fun, wholesome, foot-stompin' weekend! To begin planning your visit to the beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina for this event, visit the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival Website!

  • Rewards Points Benefit Charitable Organizations!

    6 Feb 2012 | 3:51 pm
    As a Priority Club Rewards member, I was pretty stoked to see that PCR points could be donated as charitable contributions to organizations like the Red Cross to assist in urgent relief efforts in places such as Japan and New Zealand.Kudos to IHG and Priority Club Rewards.  For those business travelers who rack up so many rewards points that they don't know what to do with them, or for those members who enjoy the perks IHG hotels provide Priority Club members, but typically don't do much in the way of redeeming points, here's a fantastic option for you! Details on the Red Cross and…

  • Happy Holidays from Landmark Hotel Group!

    24 Dec 2011 | 4:03 pm

  • Happy Hotel People

    23 Nov 2011 | 8:00 am
    Meet the staff of the Candlewood Suites Virginia Beach, as well as the senior management team of the Landmark Hotel Group, and a video that has become quite a hit with Candlewood Suites Virginia Beach guests... as well as anyone else who's had the chance to view it!

  • 10 Years After

    9 Sep 2011 | 10:10 pm
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    Free Food & Beverage Magazines and Downloads from alltop.tradepub.com

  • Brandjacking in Hospitality: What You Need to Know

    4 May 2012 | 2:00 am
    Read this paper today, and learn what this study of five global hotel brands reveals: that partners and competitors are seriously undermining marketing ROI online, using the brand itself as a competitive weapon.Request Free!

  • Poultry International

    20 Apr 2012 | 5:50 pm
    Established in 1962, Poultry International is viewed by commercial poultry integrators as the leading international source of news, data and information for their businesses. Poultry International reaches a global audience of 20,000+ poultry decision-makers in 142 countries.Request Free!

  • Watt PoultryUSA

    18 Apr 2012 | 2:50 pm
    WATT PoultryUSA is the only resource focused on the entire integrated poultry market, delivering relevant and timely information to industry professionals across the poultry supply chain. WATT PoultryUSA uniquely covers the U.S. broiler and turkey markets from a global point of view while providing readers in the U.S. with a comprehensive, forward-looking perspective.Request Free!

  • The Top 3 Ways a Postage Meter Can Save Your Business Money

    4 Apr 2012 | 8:20 pm
    Whether it's saving time, cutting back on gas expenses or simply not overpaying for day-to-day office expenses, postage meters help improve business performance, accuracy, accountability and image. Gain valuable savings on Priority Mail® and Express Mail®. Stop guessing weights and overpaying on postage.Eliminate costly, time-consuming trips to the post office. Gain better control of your postage--and better tracking of usage. An in-house postage meter can help even the smallest business save both time and money, increase efficiency, and help make the most of every dollar. Learn why postage…

  • Nutritional Outlook

    1 Apr 2012 | 2:20 am
    Published nine times per year, each issue analyzes developments in regulations, ingredients, quality control, manufacturing technology, packaging, marketing and new products.Request Free!
 
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    eConnect News

  • Summer Travel Forecast Sunny For U.S. Travelers | TripAdvisor Reports

    16 May 2012 | 6:45 am
    TripAdvisor®, the world"s largest travel site*, today announced the results of its annual summer travel survey of more than 1,800 U.S. respondents. Eighty-six percent of travelers are planning leisure trips this summer, up from 81 percent that traveled last summer.

  • Wyndham Rewards Adds Dream, Night and TRYP by Wyndham Brands to Loyalty Program

    16 May 2012 | 6:33 am
    Wyndham Hotel Group today announced that Wyndham Rewards®, the world"s largest lodging loyalty program as measured by participating hotels, has added the Dream®, Night® and TRYP by Wyndham™ hotel brands to its stable of earning and redemption options. With these brands, Wyndham Rewards not only broadens its reach with uniquely designed properties in some of the most well-traveled locations around the world, but allows its members the benefit of staying and redeeming with properties that represent the full scope of Wyndham Hotel Group"s portfolio.The Dream hotel collection offers an…

  • Hyatt Announces 2012 Beijing Architecture Forum

    16 May 2012 | 6:01 am
    Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that the "2012 Beijing Architecture Forum" will be held in Beijing on Thursday, May 24. Coinciding with the "Pritzker Architecture Prize", which is often called "the Nobel Prize of architecture," the conference will be co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal People"s Government and the Hyatt Foundation; and jointly organized by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University. It aims to provide a unique opportunity to gather many of the world"s most recognized…

  • Top luxury travel trends in China | tourism-review.com

    16 May 2012 | 5:33 am
    China is one of the biggest countries of self made millionaires and billionaires and it has managed a strong position on financial map of the world. The number of millionaire and billionaire has increased considerably and that has a positive impact on the luxury travel industry of China. Many of the rich people are taking trips around the world with better facilities. The demand for business class travel and costly destination with shopping opportunities has increased among the affluent class and at the same time they are demanding to stay in well known hotels with all sorts of modern…

  • Mobile bookings are booming but are revenue managers keeping up? | By Ritesh Gupta

    16 May 2012 | 5:30 am
    Interview: When it comes to bookings mobile holds great promise but there are challenges for revenue management (RM) professionals. Chinmai Sharma, Vice President, RM at Wyndham Hotel Group lets EyeforTravel’s Ritesh Gupta in on what to beware of. Sharma believes revenue management (RM) specialists have so far not observed material differences in booking patterns between the online channels - brand web, online travel agent and mobile. But since that mobile is still a nascent channel for booking rooms, differences could emerge over time and RM specialists should keep a close eye on trends.
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    The Ring Hotel Blog

  • A real ‘fashionista’ or a ‘fashion sapper’?

    theringhotel
    16 May 2012 | 7:10 am
    Being a top model she wore designs of the boutique Etoile in the early 60’s and brought fresh air into the Viennese society. Together with Mr. Noever she founded the legendary Section N in 1971 and with this initiative she positioned urban design on a very unconventional way, from lamps and furniture from Achille Castiglioni or Marcel Breuer to styrian felt shoes and ethno-fashion from Asia. The exceptional collection of Katarina Noever can now be seen at the Wien Museum from February 2nd until May 20th. Enjoy designs from Missoni, Armani and Issey Miyaki, from Viennese designers like…

  • An image book as social network …

    theringhotel
    26 Apr 2012 | 10:30 am
    There is a new social network, active since Spring 2010, which apparently causes a ‘hype’ in the web 2.0. We are talking about the site pinterest.com. We had a look at this site, it is a network focusing on visual communication, a platform that collects links to various images and videos but also a portal where one share and provide recommendations and/or suggestions to different products. The basic function is the possibility to collect images on a pin board and share these with other users, just like the main page of ‘Pinterest’ says: ‘Pinterest is an on-line pin board ……

  • Interview with Doris Darling

    theringhotel
    19 Apr 2012 | 10:10 am
    You could ask yourself, why posting something about lamps? Are lamps interesting to post about? Lamps in particular could be interesting but we think the ‘brain behind’ the lamp itself is far more interesting. We met with ‘Doris Darling’ a couple of weeks ago in a small bar at the 2nd district in Vienna … and after a small chat we immediately said that we should promote her on our blog, creative as she is … 1. Please try describe yourself in just 5 words freestyle-perfectionist, curious-ignorant, playful-thinker, steady-spontaneous, seriously-sunny 2. Tell us a bit about…

  • The Fox House …

    theringhotel
    12 Apr 2012 | 10:52 am
    Last week we walked through the 7th district in Vienna and discovered a building with the name The Fox House … we were a bit curious as there were many people in and outside this building and we actually did not know why … We looked at their website and Facebook page and discovered a great initiative which we think we should post on our blog. 365 – The Fox House is an institution that supports street and urban photography and documentary photography of design and fashion. Until the end of 2012 the building is used as ‘cluster’ for the creative industry, which means that…

  • Interview with Silvia Gattin (silviagattin.com)

    theringhotel
    5 Apr 2012 | 10:40 am
    Ever been to a ‘hidden sale’? No? Well, we neither, and we received an invitation from a lady that does organize such ‘hidden sales’ in Vienna. As always we looked at the website and discovered that there is more she offers then just the ‘hidden sale’ … and as we liked the ‘hidden sale’ and the idea behind it we asked her for an interview, read and enjoy! 1. Please try to describe yourself in 5 words that fit to you! - joie de vivre - organized - analytic - always open for adventures - excuse me, where is the dancefloor? 2. Tell us a bit about your site and what it is…
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    Chefforfeng's Weblog

  • Innkeepers, How to get ahead in Social Media

    Chef Forfeng
    11 May 2012 | 4:13 pm
    One of the most frequent questions I get from Innkeepers, and from all types of businesses including insurance agents, photographers and real estate agents to name a few, is: “How do I come up with consistent content and stay on top of consistent posting.” Staying on top of posting, means putting down time on your calendar and then religiously posting it online. Whether it be an online or desktop based spreadsheet, a print day runner/daytime with a calendar or post it notes stuck to your computer, If you get into a regular habit of sticking with a posting schedule, then it becomes…

  • Innkeepers, Do you respond to positive reviews?

    Chef Forfeng
    11 May 2012 | 7:03 am
    In my daily reading yesterday morning I came across this article: What Hoteliers And Restauranteurs Can Learn From The “Ford Fiesta Movement” By Tom Costello  http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000392/4055989.html. I highly suggest you read it first and then come back here. The point about brand advocates is very important to take to heart. It brought to mind the same question that I keep getting asked by innkeepers, at conferences, on the phone, by emails, by twitter and on my blog. “Do we or should we respond to every review, especially positive reviews?” Various…

  • Reputation Management for Lodging, Maine Innkeepers Association

    Chef Forfeng
    30 Apr 2012 | 1:27 pm
    This past week, Scott Thomas from Brewster House (http://www.brewsterhouse.com/) and I gave a seminar to the Maine Innkeepers Association (http://www.maineinns.com/) on reputation management. Following are the two powerpoints used, the handout and the page notes from my portion of the lecture. The Handout sheet is at the bottom of this post and has some tips and links for managing your online reputation. Reputation Management for Lodging Maine Innkeepers Association Part 1 View more presentations from Forfeng Designs (my powerpoint) Reputation Management for Lodging Maine Innkeepers…

  • Do you really know if your violating Facebook’s terms of service?

    Chef Forfeng
    26 Apr 2012 | 3:56 pm
    Unfortunately many social media networks don’t make their terms of service clear. And because using it and setting accounts up is not straightforward and intuitive, many businesses go against the platforms terms of service without even being aware of it. Facebook is one of the worst that a business has to try to navigate what to do, and what not to do. Facebook cracks down hard on businesses when they have found terms of service violations, and because so much time is spent on Facebook promoting a business, the last thing anyone wants to happen is Facebook takes their account down,…

  • Why it pays to sleep around for Bed and Breakfast owners

    Chef Forfeng
    24 Apr 2012 | 9:05 am
    I wrote a post awhile back about Viewing your restaurant from a customers perspective, and it occurred to me after spending a weekend away at a very nice B&B, to wonder how many innkeepers have actually stayed (and not just one night) in every single room in their own B&Bs. I mean packed their bags and literally “checked in”. I bring this up because, as an example, the B&B I just stayed at recently had wonderful hosts, a delicious breakfast, comfy beds and great amenities, but the toilet paper holder just wasn’t very functional. Every time someone went to use the…
 
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    London Hotels Insight

  • London hotels bring in the boys in whites.

    Jules
    16 May 2012 | 10:06 am
    Bukhara in Delhi - "The Best Indian Food In the World" apparently! With the Olympics and Jubilee getting closer the competition between London hotels is really hotting up!  Two hotels have even resorted to bringing in the big boys in whites, having recruited two famous chefs to get things steamy in the kitchen, following in the footsteps of Claridge’s. First up was the Sheraton Park Tower who announced they were to host the “World’s Best Indian Chef” Manjit Gill from the highly acclaimed Bukhara restaurant which is located in the ITC Maurya hotel in Delhi.

  • Graduation is a family celebration with Base2Stay.

    Holly
    14 May 2012 | 3:40 am
    Base2Stay Kensington is now offering a Graduation Celebration Package to help make the day extra special Base2Stay Kensington is helping to make graduation the proudest and most important day of any student’s life and a real family celebration. The hotel’s special graduation celebration offer encourages prospective graduates to book their friends and family a room for the night at a budget-friendly rate, so that they can celebrate the special day in style. Guests will be welcomed in one of the hotel’s 67 rooms with mini-kitchens close to the bustling Earls Court area of London,…

  • Montague on the Gardens opens ‘secret garden’.

    Jules
    11 May 2012 | 3:34 am
    Afternoon tea served in the enchanting 'secret garden' of the Montague of the Gardens based on a best of British theme Last winter the Montague on the Gardens created a ‘winter wonderland’, turning its outside terrace into an alpine ski lodge with a BBQ and cocktails to create the perfect apres ski environment.  Well now it’s summer and the luxury boutique London hotel has teamed up with floral designer and fragrance creator Kenneth Turner to create a stunning outdoor space set to be the location for fabulous alfresco dining in the capital. Book direct with the…

  • The May Fair introduces the Ebony Suite.

    Jules
    9 May 2012 | 3:30 am
    The uber trendy May Fair hotel has just unveiled a new room, The Ebony Suite.  The suite is the latest addition to The Collection, a set of 45 suites already envied by fashion-forward central London hotels - one of which was apparently used to host Kate Moss’s famous 3 day birthday party. The Ebony Suite is a one bedroom suite which comes with a large lounge area equipped with a huge 52″ TV, sofa, King Sized bed, walk-in wardrobe and large terrace with views over London. Book direct with The May Fair Hotel at the best guaranteed rate But it’s in the bathroom where things…

  • Premier Inn continues the assault on London.

    Jules
    7 May 2012 | 5:10 am
    The Kitchen serves the famous Premier Breakfast Budget hotel group Premier Inn, which recently announced 30 minutes of free WiFi in all its UK hotels, is planning to open a massive 20 new hotels at sites across London over the next 2 years.  The next will open next month and is the group’s most central hotel yet.  Located at number 1 Leicester Square, the 85 room hotel will be within walking distance of many attractions and enjoy easy access to the city’s transport network. Whilst the thought of staying in the heart of Leicester Square may scare some guests, the new Premier…
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    The latest from Daniel's blog ...

  • For hotels, online reputation management starts on property

    Daniel Edward Craig
    14 May 2012 | 12:34 pm
    They say reputation is what people say about you after you leave the room. For hotels, reputation is what guests say after checkout. more.. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • So you’ve been asked to give a presentation …

    Daniel Edward Craig
    7 May 2012 | 11:30 am
    For many, stepping in front of a crowd to speak is about as appealing as stepping in front of a speeding train. And yet if you can whip those nerves into submission it can be an enjoyable, enriching experience—sometimes even for the audience too. more.. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Who do travelers trust most for trip information? Other travelers.

    Daniel Edward Craig
    23 Apr 2012 | 11:40 am
    Nielsen's latest Global Trust Survey provides telling data for prioritizing travel marketing activities. more.. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • The future of search for travelers – a concierge embedded into your glasses?

    Daniel Edward Craig
    5 Apr 2012 | 9:46 am
    The secretive Google X lab just released this video introducing Project Glass. Essentially these are glasses with a computer discreetly embedded into them. A stream of information is projected onto the lenses and the user controls what he sees with his voice.  This is just a prototype. There's no word on when they'll be released. Cool and scary at the same time. I foresee a ban on using them while driving. Even using them while walking might be perilous. But imagine, you could... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

  • Search just got even more social on TripAdvisor

    Daniel Edward Craig
    2 Apr 2012 | 12:17 pm
    Recently, TripAdvisor made several significant modifications to the scope, organization and categorization of content on the site. The changes are part of a larger trend: the increased socialization and personalization of search. more.. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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    LUXGetaway

  • Hyde Bellagio – Vegas’ Newest Party Scene

    Michael
    10 May 2012 | 1:33 am
    Regular visitors to Las Vegas know the Bellagio Hotel is one of the finest luxury resorts in the entire city. This past New Year’s Eve the Bellagio was made even better with the grand opening of the Hyde Bellagio, the most anticipated new nightclub from world renowned lifestyle developer SBE. The Hyde brand from SBE combines unparalleled style and sophistication with energetic nightlife to create one of the most spectacular environments. The Hyde Bellagio will continue that tradition in grand style. By day Hyde Bellagio is an exclusive lounge well fitted for the classic and…

  • Ritz Carlton Announces New Mobile Apps

    Carmen
    6 May 2012 | 7:59 pm
    The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain has always strived to create the most comfortable and pleasurable experience for guests, so it’s no surprise they have introduced their new mobile app for IPhone and Android devices. The app goes well beyond the basic functions of finding and reserving hotel rooms. It fully integrates with the entire Ritz-Carlton experience to truly enhance your stay. The app connects you with the Ritz-Carlton World Concierge service, provides push notifications to keep you informed of what’s going on at the hotel, and allows you to easily find out about happenings in…

  • L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon a Destination of its Own at Four Seasons Hotel New York

    Michael
    1 May 2012 | 2:54 am
    Restaurant Background New York’s E. 57th St. is home to the Four Seasons Hotel and its famed L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon restaurant. The restaurant was opened in September 2006, after a 2-year quest by owner Ty Warner to bring founding Chef Joel Robuchon and his world-class French cuisine to New York City. Since its opening, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon at Four Seasons has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards including a 2-star rating in the 2011 Michelin Guide, a 3-star rating from the New York Times, the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant of 2007, and…

  • LUXGetaway Announces Top 10 Hottest Luxury Travel Brands for 2012

    Michael
    20 Apr 2012 | 2:29 am
    Our panel of travel experts has chosen the top luxury travel brands of 2012 within each respective category. We call this list the LUXList.  And our winners are… The 2012 LUXList 1. Domestic Airline: Virgin America Virgin America’s inflight experience continues to be unparalleled by the competition. 2. International Airline: United Airlines The merger with Continental Airlines is complete, and now provides one of the most complete global route networks in the world. 3. Hotel Company: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Starwood has had strong growth in new and existing markets within 2011,…

  • St. Regis Announces Partnership with Bentley Motors

    Michael
    20 Apr 2012 | 12:32 am
    St. Regis, one of the premier names in the Starwood Hotels & Resorts family has announced a new partnership with luxury auto maker Bentley Motors. The partnership will also include hotel properties that are part of Starwood’s The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts division. According to the announcement the hotels will be using Bentley vehicles both for house fleets and special driving programs aimed at residents and hotel guests. Bentley represents the ultimate in luxury vehicles combining unparalleled style and quality, making their cars the perfect match for the unrivalled…
 
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    Hospitality Law Check-In

  • The Tale of an Ousted Hotel Manager - Understanding the Mal-Alignment of Interests of Hotel Owners and Hotel Managers

    Tara Gorman
    9 May 2012 | 2:09 pm
    The facts of the Turnberry Case are more like something we’d see in a James Bond movie than in real life. But then again, fact is stranger than fiction. In real life, can a hotel manager be ousted from a hotel without notice and cure - even with a carefully crafted hotel management agreement in place? Our Greenberg Traurig colleague Michael Sullivan discusses what it all means in the Hotel Business Review journal.    

  • Rethinking the Membership Sell List

    Glenn Gerena
    16 Apr 2012 | 12:41 pm
    How does a club with refundable memberships avoid (in the case of a new club) or deal with (in the case of an existing club) the problem of having to pay a resigned member more than what a new member pays when the membership is reissued?  This problem can arise when the membership price falls or if the club allows new members to pay their joining payment in installments.  A club could face severe financial consequences if it regularly must pay to resigned members more than it takes in. The club can charge a transfer fee or increase the transfer fee, reducing the amount that a club…

  • Delaying the Compliance Date for Swimming Pool Lift Requirements

    Tara Gorman
    2 Apr 2012 | 1:54 pm
    Authored by Robert S. Fine, Esq. On March 15, 2012, the Attorney General signed a final rule extending the date for compliance with the ADA’s new accessibility to swimming pool requirements (e.g., pool lifts) sixty days to May 21, 2012.  Shortly thereafter, the Department issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to make the extension a total of 180 days which would bring the compliance date to September 11, 2012.  Many in the hotel industry were hoping that the new rulemaking would result in less onerous requirements, especially for existing swimming pools. While no one can…

  • Time is on Your Side - ADA Pool Lift Regulations Suspended for 60 Days for Existing Pools

    Tara Gorman
    16 Mar 2012 | 10:10 am
    The hard deadline of March 15, 2012, for compliance with the ADA Standards for Accessible Design with regard to existing swimming pools, wading pools and spas has been suspended for 60 days.  Attorney General Eric Holder extended the date for compliance with Sections 242 and 1009 of the ADA Standards for Accessible Design until May 15, 2012, according to an official statement from the Department of Justice.  Let your voice be heard.  Attorney General Eric Holder is seeking public comment on whether more time is needed to allow pool owners and operators to comply with the…

  • Is a Resigned Member Still a Member?

    Glenn Gerena
    12 Mar 2012 | 11:31 am
    Club management often assumes that once a member resigns, he or she is no longer a member.  The answer is not always so simple.  Club membership documents rarely answer this question directly. Club membership documents usually require a resigned member to continue to pay dues after resignation for some period of time, whether it be to the end of the membership year, for 12 or 24 months, or, in the case of a refundable membership, until the resigned membership is reissued by the club to a new member.  The membership documents also often (but not always) permit the resigned…
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    Are Morch - Hotel Blogger

  • How To Win Hotel Customers And Influence Brand Identity With Social Media

    Are Morch
    9 May 2012 | 8:57 am
    Social Media and New Media is providing Hotels with access to new exiting market segments. Are Hotels effectively dipping into these market segments today? Research show that online booking for Hotels is increasing rapidly. My friends at buuteeq show in their research that online bookings has grown close 50% over a 10 year period. And as much as 61% of Internet users in the US research online before they make an educated booking decision. Primary research is done through search and reviews. This indicates that one of the more important strategies for Hotels to have in place is Reputation…

  • The Hotel Social Media Hub

    Are Morch
    2 May 2012 | 11:31 am
    New market segments is evolving from Social Media. Hotel Customers is utilizing new media to make an educated booking decision. Booking Patterns from Independent Hotels in 2011 showed us that as much as 72.9% of the guest that booked a reservations came from various search engines. A resent survey from eMarketer shows that guest type in the Hotel web url directly has the highest booking conversions. This indicates that if the guests know, like and trust your Hotel there is a higher percentage of direct booking. And very often these guests is also the most loyal guests to the Hotel. What can…

  • Can’t Keep Up? 3 Powerful Facebook Tips To Spark Your Hotels Engagement

    Are Morch
    25 Apr 2012 | 11:30 am
    Define your Strategy a. Know your Hotels story Was is it that the walls can tell your customers? Be authentic, be unique, be personal and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. When your Facebook network start know, like and trust you then they will share, like and comment in your Facebook Timeline. b. Know your Social Targeted market segment Go beyond the Like and learn a little more about your followers. How do they want to connect with your Hotel. Is there more to it then just Like? If you have 375 Likes and just 1 of them ever made a reservation with your Hotel what is the rest of the 374…
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    Rethink Hotels

  • The Rise Of Mobile Email Usage

    raj
    7 May 2012 | 11:27 am
    Mobile is leading the way in how we are interacting with the internet. We are not only using mobile phones for taking pictures & posting status updates;the change in consumption is also happening to emails. -88% of the people check …

  • Staying Ahead Of “The Social Media Curve”

    Guest
    10 Apr 2012 | 11:37 pm
    This is a guest post by Tom Costello of Igroupadvisors It is often said that hoteliers and restauranteurs are “two years behind the curve” as it relates to social media but in today’s marketplace they can’t afford to overlook the importance …

  • How Do Images Influence Website Conversion?

    raj
    3 Apr 2012 | 11:47 pm
    Images are very effective in generating interest, showcasing your product and drive a person to a call to action. Adding images to a site also leads to an increase in time spent on the site. This is because a visitor …

  • Revenue Management Strategy, Starts With the Right Product

    Scott
    19 Mar 2012 | 8:28 pm
    We have all heard the old motto of Revenue Management: Selling the Right Room To the Right Guest On the Right Night At the Right Rate Through the Right Channel While there has been some changes over the years the fundamentals remain the …

  • Creating Fans: An Unstoppable Strategy For Reputation, Revenue And Talent

    raj
    12 Mar 2012 | 11:00 am
    Hospitality is a business of providing service consistently. There are multiple points when a guest interacts with a hotel. This can be online when they were searching for rates or over the phone when making the reservation. Once the booking …
 
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    JustLuxe: Hotels News

  • Rio de Janeiro Named World's Most Expensive Hotel City

    JustLuxe
    15 May 2012 | 6:19 am
    It might come as a surprise to some, but Rio de Janerio was just named the world’s most expensive major city for a hotel stay, according to a new study done by travel booking site Hotel Reservation Service (HRS). From January through March of 2012, the average cost for a night in the Brazilian capital was £192.88 (approx. $300) which is almost a 50% increase from the same three-month time period in 2011....via JustLuxe.com

  • Peaceful Privacy at The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn

    Ray Pearson
    11 May 2012 | 11:25 am
    This serenely luxuriant inn, all but hidden behind lush landscaping, is the epitome of excellence. While evoking the aura and opulence that once attracted the brightest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the inn today offers an even greater amenity to its guests: restful, pampered privacy....via JustLuxe.com

  • Five-Star Marrakech Hotel an Exotic, Urban Oasis

    Carol Driver
    10 May 2012 | 2:53 am
    We wind our way around one of the frenetic souks in Marrakech, sun rays beating down on our faces and traders in all directions wanting to tempt us into perusing their wares. My husband and I trek on, past the veiled women selling their henna designs, past the autumnal hued spices, and past the stalls bursting with magnificently decorated plates, glasses and teapots....via JustLuxe.com

  • Sleep Beneath the Sea in Futuristic Underwater Hotels

    Sara Cardoza
    9 May 2012 | 4:25 am
    Deep Ocean Technology, founded in 2010 in the Polish city of Gdynia, is combing modern technology and visionary greatness to create a luxury hotel experience like none other. The groups of innovators behind the company are comprised of engineers and scientists who are making the dream of living underwater a dream-come-true. The mystery of the ocean depths will shortly become the scenic backdrop during a stay at one of the Water Discus submerged hotels and resorts....via JustLuxe.com

  • La Monnaie Art & Spa Hotel | An Art Lover's Escape in France

    Sean Hillen
    9 May 2012 | 3:36 am
    La Monnaie Art & Spa Hotel couldn’t be in a much better location bfor those wishing to soak up the picturesque, French Atlantic coastal town, La Rochelle. The recently-renovated centuries-old hotel, a former Royal mint in medieval days, lies along a narrow cobblestone street, just 200 yards from the town’s quaint horseshoe-shaped harbor and the many boats bobbing in its waters....via JustLuxe.com
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