Praise for President Obama's Travel & Tourism Strategy; Proposed Queens Convention Center is a Poor Idea; Hotel Rooms and Floors Created Just For Women; Quote of the Month
When one reads general business and industry publications, it sometimes appears that social media has grabbed the attention of many writers as the current trend and the topic needing additional coverage and insights. While it is very clear that social media has become a major force, the discussion groups in many LinkedIn hospitality groups include questions and answers on many additional topics. These include operations, hiring, training, development, customer service, technology and other areas.
The Internet and social media have placed a wealth of information at the fingertips of travelers. So we should be making better decisions, right? I put the theory to the test on a recent trip to Europe, when I went decided to visit Lyon for the first time. My needs were simple: a decent, reasonably-priced hotel in a convenient location.
In my continuing professional work as an educator, an expert witness for both plaintiffs and defendants, as a consultant, author and speaker, I clearly see that the need to understand and work with the law continues to grow. As owners and operators in hotels, restaurants, spas, clubs and other hospitality businesses, we must recognize what a litigious society we are and how to protect all parties to the best of our knowledge.
According to both consumer news and the industry press, the global economy continues to falter in many locations, yet there are signs of growth and optimism in certain market segments. While preparing this article, I elected to go in a slightly different direction and focus several pieces on identifying the most pressing issues facing owners and managers in hospitality today.
One of the key ingredients in the successful formula of the Experiential Hospitality is, without a doubt, the Guest Management Information, since knowledge of guests will enable us to design tailor-made experiences which will lead them to reach their hopes and aspirations.