By Reece Gladstone
Not only are India and China expected to dominate the Asian travel market place, but perhaps even the world if current trends are any indication. Read More >

For travel destination marketing, it is all about the presentation: what we say, how we say it, and how we choose to deliver the message. Read More >

By John Hendrie
The word "service" appears in quotation marks, because, as we know, this may be a misnomer for certain segments of the hospitality industry. Read More >

By Danny Levinson
Seven hotels are scheduled to open by the end of 2006 in Beijing, an additional 10 in 2007 and 12 in early 2008. In all of China, 107,725 guestrooms are currently under construction. With phenomenal hotel growth comes the need to find suitable employees to fill the thousands of jobs created by China's tourism boom. But the need for qualified candidates far outstrips the availability of trained employees, especially in the critical roles of public relations and marketing in hotel companies. Read More >

By John Hendrie
Naturally, we want to incentivize our hospitality managers, push for results, and drive for the numbers. The bottom line is how we evaluate performance, what pleases our stockholders, and, theoretically, encourages our stakeholders. But a "pay for performance" scheme is not always the best way to encourage results in the hotel industry. Read More >

By John Hendrie
Plastic utensils at a fine dining establishment? Ratty signs, unmowed grass, poorly clipped shrubs at the entrance to your resort? Bad! Regular paper, four-ply toilet tissue, 60 watt bulbs at your eco property? No green here! Naugahide booths at your bistro? Mighty retro! Not on your life, you say. May we introduce you to a Brand misfired, to sensibilities affronted, to missed opportunities. Read More >

By John Hendrie
Synergism is an abused word, much like networking, but it captures the essence of what must prevail to have dynamic business success in your travel destination. Read More >

By Denis Horgan
Several years ago, the area vice president of a major international hotel chain sought my advice with respect to problems at one of his company's major resort hotels. The hotel had been receiving a large number of complaints about the price of wine at its F&B outlets; the complaints were along the lines of, "We prefer wine, but we drank beer with our meal because of the outrageous prices you charge for wine. We won't be back!" Read More >

By Danny Levinson
With the increase in online hotel bookings comes a new responsibility from the hoteliers to realistically and truthfully present their hotel's attributes to consumers. I have been burned on a number of occasions by hotels who misrepresented themselves online.

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By John Hendrie
Our hotel terminology has become more bellicose and contentious as we compose, frame and wage our efforts for consumer awareness and recognition of our various brands.

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By Bernie Primack
It is often a bone of contention for the Executive Chef–certainly in elite properties–to want his reporting line to go directly to the hotel GM. But in many cases the Food and Beverage Director is normally charged with the responsibility of overseeing things like the changing of seasonal menus, special guest chef programs, and making sure costs are acceptable.
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Do you remember that famous Bobby McFerrin song from 1986 called Don't Worry, Be Happy? This anthem from the last century seems flat for this decade, but we hear Hospitality folks humming the tune–a little like Nero fiddling, while Rome burns.

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For travel agencies and overseas tourism bureaus, the urge to grab Chinese travelers is just as intense as international consumer products' desire to have each of the 1.3 billion Chinese buying their products. Dollar signs appear in the minds of travel professionals when they think of planeloads of Chinese disembarking in their nations. Outbound Chinese travelers represent a very lucrative market.
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Tree huggers, hippies, woodchucks–we have lots of derogatory labels for people who try to save the environment. But how about also calling them Savvy, Successful Hospitality Business People?
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China's Hainan offers a tropical island paradise at the southern tip of China with beautiful beaches and year-round sunshine. Its many undeveloped areas enable tourists to see water buffallo, rice paddies, and fishing boats parked on the sand. Sanya, the island's key attraction, is destined for change, though, and will continue to evolve as a vacation destination for years to come.
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