A strategy to encourage direct bookings…and do some good at the same time
A few weeks ago, I signed up for a new Amazon program that allowed, at no cost to me, a portion of my purchase to be donated to a charity of my choice. All I had to do was start my shopping at...
View ArticleService of Silence in hospitality industry
When my partner and I were operating a small surfing inn, which was located in a remote fishing village in China, we always struggled with the poor internet and cellphone signals in that area. At that...
View ArticleWhat will the future hold?
I read an incredibly interesting paper by Bain and Co. a few weeks ago titled "Labor 2030: The Collision of Demographics, Automation and Inequality", and it really got me thinking. Here is a snippet:...
View ArticleLocal Services, a trend or big business for hotels?
With the recent popularity and innovations in share economy apps such as Airbnb and Uber, hotels and other industries in the tourism realm, are facing a new entrant to the hospitality market....
View ArticleWhat’s So Great About Wellness Hotels?
When the first wellness-inspired 'EVEN Hotel' by IHG opened in 2014 I remember thinking, "It's not for me but there must be a bunch of people that are looking for something like this." In retrospect, I...
View ArticleOTAs VS. Direct Bookings
The debate over OTAs vs. direct bookings is often a common one with many hoteliers. The growing popularity travelers using online travel agencies make OTAs became a part of booking strategies in...
View ArticleThe Truth Behind Booking Your Hotel and Plane Ticket Through OTA’s
In today's tourism industry, online travel agencies have become increasingly more popular for generation after generation of travelers. Sites such as Expedia, Hotels.com, Kayak, Travelocity, and many...
View ArticleDesign Matters, Again and Again
As one of the few people in the hospitality industry with a background in design, it strikes me that the concept of design has been lost in the process. With investors and operators focusing on...
View ArticleHigh Turnover Rates In The Hospitality Industry: A Challenge From Hotels To Spas
I will not lie about having extensive knowledge about the industry I plan to earn two degrees in. The truth of the matter is that I have seen very little of the industry with only obtaining internship...
View ArticleFixing Las Vegas’ Millennial Problem
Last month I was an invited instructor for the Casino Resort Management course within the University of Houston's Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. This was one of many...
View ArticleStealing Thunder: A New Service Recovery Strategy To Impact Customer Loyalty...
Dissatisfied customers are likely to share the negative experience with 8-10 people; and 13% share the incident with at least 20 people (De Tienne et al.). Moreover, the rise of electronic or "digital...
View ArticleStarship Autonomous Food Delivery Robots Deployed at University of Houston
A fleet of 30 Starship autonomous delivery robots has been deployed at the University of Houston, home to over 53,000 students, faculty and staff. In partnership with Chartwells Higher Education, UH is...
View ArticleA ‘Global Hospitality’ Evolution: UH Hilton College Changes Name
The University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management has changed its name to the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership. Since hotel industry icon...
View ArticleUH Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership Launches...
HOUSTON - As dean of the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, Dennis Reynolds is constantly looking for the newest technologies and innovations to keep his...
View ArticleAnger Over COVID-19 Layoffs Keeping Hospitality Workers From Returning to Jobs
HOUSTON - Researchers at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership say many skilled hospitality workers who were furloughed or laid off during the COVID-19...
View ArticleUH Study Finds Luxury Shoppers Opting for High-End Experiences Over Goods
HOUSTON – In an ever-evolving, post-pandemic world, more and more consumers of luxury goods are opting for unplanned, high-end experiences instead, according to researchers at the University of Houston...
View ArticleUH Study Identifies Most Important Factors in Hotel Guests’ Acceptance of AI...
Over the past couple of years, Artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly improved hotel operations and efficiency by automating processes such as booking and contactless check-in, allowing staff to...
View ArticleThoughts on the CoStar Class Action Lawsuit
As someone who is a huge fan of hotel data, I had long used STR’s resources (as well as others) to maximize revenue at the hotels where I was working. Since transitioning into education about 10 years...
View ArticleZürich’s Hospitality Approach: The Key to Happy Guests
A few weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to visit Switzerland to attend the Young Hospitality Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland. I spent my first two days wandering Zürich, the largest city in the...
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