What’s the secret to achieving top ranking on TripAdvisor? - By Daniel Edward Craig

Many hotels aspire to achieve top ranking in TripAdvisor’s popularity index, but HKHotels in New York dominates the charts, with all four of its properties in the top five rankings. Did they pay someone off at TripAdvisor? Write bogus reviews or complex algorithms? ...more

Nobody Asked Me, But... No. 61 - By Stanley Turkel, MHS, ISHC

The Plaza and the Pierre; La Quinta’s Backward Step ...more

Keys to Success - Hospitality Conversations - By John Hogan

When planning topics for columns, I assess issues and concerns that face hotel owners, managers and professionals. In 2009, I considered a series of columns that would include specific insights from professionals who serve the industry in a variety of roles. For several reasons, I decided to defer the new series, to be known as my 'HOW TO' columns until 2010. While the economy is still lagging behind where we hope it to be, I am confident that delivering optimistic and realistic messages can have a positive impact on the industry’s forward direction. ...more

New Officers Elected to Hotel Brokers International’s 2010 Board of Directors

Members of Hotel Brokers International (HBI), the nation’s largest brokerage organization with more than 30 offices coast to coast, today announced the organization’s newly elected 2010 board of officers and directors. Tony DeGeorge, CHB, of Greene, Canfield, DeGeorge, Ltd. will succeed Jeffrey W. Westgor, CHB, of Westgor & Associates, Inc. as president. ...more

Measuring Your Hotel's Online Reputation By Service Attributes

Your online reputation is the aggregate of guest reviews posted online. And, this refers to more than a few travel review sites. Guest reviews are posted on hundreds of travel review websites and an equal or greater number of non-travel social websites and blogs. ...more

How To Use Google Buzz. The Unofficial (and Frequently Updated) Guide.

Buzz is Google’s new social network and it’s already created a stir. There have been concerns over privacy but all in all, the reaction has been very largely positive. This article is a simple guide explaining how to use the service. ...more

Google Buzz Has Completely Changed the Game: Here’s How

The Social Analyst is a weekly column by Mashable Co-Editor Ben Parr, where he digs into social media trends and how they are affecting companies in the space. ...more

The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University's Hilton Lecture Series Marks 20 Years, Examines Club Industry

Near the end of 2009, The School of Hospitality Business hosted the 20th annual Hilton Lecture Series, established in 1991 by Dr. Ray Schmidgall, Hilton Hotels Professor of Hospitality Financial Management ...more

New HFTP Conference Focuses on the Growing Demands of Hospitality Professionals

Recognizing the growing demands of the hospitality professional, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) has created the HFTP Development Conference. ...more

Flyte Systems In-Room Flight Information Aids Travelers at Snow-Bound Crowne Plaza Dulles

Historic blizzard conditions have snowbound guests watching flight updates from the safety of their rooms ...more

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Featured on the Cvent Supplier Network to Target Group Meetings Business

Cvent, the leader in group business lead channels for hotels and the premier provider of event management, site selection, and sourcing solutions for meeting and event planners, announces a marketing alliance with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants on the Cvent Supplier Network. ...more

STR Reports Performance Of Luxury Hotel Spas For Year-End 2009

Luxury hotel spas showed mixed operating results for the full year 2009. The summary Spa STAR data shows that the Average Treatment Rate (ATR) was reported at US$135.39, a 4.5 percent decline compared with full-year 2008. For full-year 2009, Average Treatment Room Utilization (ATRU) increased 3.5 percent to 31.1 percent. ...more

Thank Goodness 2009 Is Over - December 2009 Canadian Lodging Outlook

Published in conjunction with STR (Smith Travel Research) and endorsed by the Hotel Association of Canada. This publication summarizes occupancy and average room rates from major cities in Canada. ...more

Canadian Occupancy, ADR, RevPAR - Week Ending February 6, 2010

Published in conjunction with STR (Smith Travel Research) and endorsed by the Hotel Association of Canada. This publication summarizes weekly occupancy and average room rates from major cities in Canada. ...more

STR reports US performance for week ending 6 February 2010

In year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy ended the week virtually flat with a 0.8-percent decrease to 48.4 percent. Average daily rate dropped 4.8 percent to finish the week at US$95.34. Revenue per available room for the week fell 5.6 percent to finish at US$46.14. ...more

STR reports Canada performance for week ending 6 February 2010

The Canadian hotel industry posted mixed results in the three key performance measurements during the week of 31 January-6 February 2010, according to data from STR. ...more

STR Global Releases Performance Results for China

Dramatic declines in China’s hotel performance during 2009—underscored by revenue per available room (RevPAR) falling 26.2 percent compared with a year ago—contrast strongly with the continuing good performance of the Chinese economy. ...more