How is the Economy Affecting Travel?

Reporter Fatimah Zulkifli went to the LA Times Travel and Convention Show to check out just how the economy is affecting the travel industry. ...more

Ten Tips for Negotiating Hotel Contracts

When you're ready to sign the contract with your venue, do you know what to look out for? ...more

Should My Hotel Use Facebook Ads?

Our clients often ask us if they should use Facebook ads. Many hotels are skeptical about using the ads and question if they will be effective or not. We recommend that hotels do use Facebook ads, but that they do so with clear goals in mind, and that they follow best practices when it comes to designing, targeting, testing, and tracking their ads. ...more

Social Media for Hotels: Taming the Beast - By Daniel Edward Craig

If anything strikes fear in the hearts of hoteliers these days, it’s social media. Seemingly overnight, we’re expected to tune in to dozens of websites each day to make sure no one has badmouthed us or posted an embarrassing video. If they have, we’re obliged to respond in a courteous, guest-is-always-right manner, knowing that everyone is listening - travelers, clients, media and the competition. No pressure there. ...more

Do You Really Need New Customers? -What Hospitality Businesses Can Learn from Retail - By Ragsdale Hendrie

Many in the Hospitality Industry felt they knew everything about the Customer Experience. Even the very definition of Hospitality percolated with terms like care, attention, excitement, relaxation, special, nourishment for the body, soul and spirit – all oriented to that special cachet, which was ours alone. And, others started to borrow on our expertise, particularly with an emphasis on Customer Service. However, we still owned the distinction, and it rang throughout our Brands. ...more

Obama Administration Appoints NTA Board Member to 2010-11 U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board

NTA Secretary/Treasurer Nick Calderazzo of RMP Travel has been appointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which serves to advise and develop plans for the Obama administration on issues of travel and tourism. ...more

Scandic Announces CEO Change

Scandic announced that Frank Fiskers, who has been CEO at Scandic since 2007, will leave his position after the summer. The process of recruiting a new CEO to Scandic is expected to be finalized during the coming months. Once the new CEO is appointed, Frank Fiskers will join the Board of Directors of Scandic and continue to be an investor in the company. ...more

Hilton Signs New Property In Cairo

Hilton Worldwide has signed a Management Agreement with High for Touristic Projects for the new-build Hilton Heliopolis in Egypt's capital Cairo, scheduled to open in 2014. ...more

HBI to Host 2010 Webcast Conference Series

Buoyed by the success of a recent study, Hotel Brokers International (HBI) announced today, the planning of a series of Hotel Investment Webcasts throughout 2010. ...more

Dar One, New ARTEH® Hotel in Morocco

The elegant Dar One, located at the heart of the Medina, in Marrakesh, is now an ARTEH® Hotel. ...more

ING Clarion To Brand Miami Hotel As “Hyatt Miami At The Blue”

ING Clarion Partners announces the branding of The Blue, a recently opened 240-room luxury condo hotel in suburban Miami, as “Hyatt Miami at The Blue” with the engagement of Davidson Hotel Company as the hotel’s new operator.  ...more

Hitwise February 2009 Travel Category Report

38.92% of all visits to the online 'Travel' industry went to the top 10 websites for the month of February, 2010. 48.19% went to the top 20 websites and 69.58% went to the top 100 websites. ...more

2009: Another Year That Confirmed the Internet As the Only Growth Channel in Hospitality - By Max Starkov

The latest eTRAK Full Year 2009 report on hotel bookings by channel yet again confirms that today, the online channel is the only growth channel in hospitality. In the difficult economic environment, when travel supply outweighed travel demand by far, Internet bookings for the top 30 hotel brands increased by a remarkable 6.6% in 2009 vs. 2008 (eTRAK). ...more

New NYC Hotel: Gansevoort Park Opens Summer 2010

Triplex Rooftop Pool Complex, Spa, Ballroom, Dining and Retail Under One Roof ...more

National Competition Allows Future Hospitality Leaders to Shine

Thirteen teams of high school hospitality students will compete for a national trophy and thousands of dollars in scholarship money at the seventh annual National Lodging Management Program Competition April 15-17 in Orlando, Florida. ...more

Senators McCain and Lincoln To Speak At AH&LA Legislative Action Summit

Summit To Conclude With AH&LEF Dinner Tribute Honoring Stewart Bainum ...more

Travel Industry Entrepreneur And Philanthopist Recognised With Community Award

Veteran travel industry entrepreneur, hotelier and property developer, Mr. Joginder Sanger was recently awarded the Community Award at the House of Commons, in recognition of his outstanding lifelong dedication to philanthropic work in the United Kingdom and abroad. ...more

VIDEO: Page Position: How to Optimize Conversions Online Using OTAs

VFM Leonardo, the leader in online visual content distribution for hotels, has launched a new episode on VTV Channel: Page Position: How to Optimize Conversions Online Using OTAs with Jean Francois Mourier, Founder and CEO of RevPAR Guru. ...more

OpenTravel Alliance Announces New Sessions for 2010 Conference

Distribution in the Long Tail, Innovation in Customer-Facing Sites and Apps ...more

Knowland Database Exceeds 300,000 Groups with Booking Needs

Massive Database puts Thousands of Customized Leads at Clients’ Fingertips ...more

Intelity's ICE Wins at Hotel Technology Next Generation Event

Intelity Interactive Customer Experience (ICE) claimed the 2009 Most Innovative Hospitality Technology Runner-up title at this year’s Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG), a global trade association that fosters cutting-edge technology development, conference in Orlando, March 1-3. ICE was the highest placing guest service technology in the Innovation of The Year category. ...more

STR Reports US Performance for Week Ending 27 February 2010

In year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy ended the week with a 2.5-percent increase to 55.3 percent. Average daily rate dropped 4.7 percent to finish the week at US$96.06. Revenue per available room for the week fell 2.3 percent to finish at US$53.15. ...more

STR Reports Canada Performance for Week Ending 27 February 2010

In year-over-year measurements, the industry’s occupancy increased 3.4 percent to 58.4 percent. Average daily rate increased 13.2 percent to finish the week at CAD$140.65. Revenue per available room for the week rose 17.0 percent to CAD$82.16. ...more