By Ingrid Lin “You wouldn’t build anything in most parts of Asia without having feng shui consultants come in and help you.” – Neil Jacobs, the president of global hotel operations for Starwood Capital. Feng Shui: real, phony, or magic? The western world might consider feng shui to be a mystical and mysterious art, […]
By Courtney Suess, Makarand Mody, & Gabrielle Guarracino What words come to mind when you think of a hospital room? Chances are, your results might sound something like this: Stark. Sterile. Bare. Clinical. These don’t paint a very attractive picture, nor do they engender any comfort for those who find themselves needing to stay at […]
By John Murtha I was on temporary assignment recently at another hotel in our company that was between general managers. This historic property had joined us less than a year before I arrived and one thing that immediately impressed me was how quickly the associates had bought into our way of doing business. They operated […]
By Joseph Khairallah and Andrea Foster To investors, hotels are real estate. At the end of the day, why do investors put their money in hotels vs. other types of real estate? For the prospect of superior investment returns – the current operating cash flow and the reversionary value upon exit (sale) in excess of […]
By Amir Shani There is a growing recognition worldwide that the “war on drugs”—the sets of domestic and international policies that are intended to fight the illegal drug trade and discourage the production and consumption of psychoactive drugs—has been an utter failure. The Global Commission on Drug Policy (a panel of 22 world leaders including […]
By Michael Oshins The complexity and challenges of owning and operating a hotel have changed over the years. Traditionally most hotels were owned and managed by the same person (or company). In today’s marketplace, several entities can be involved, including owners, developers, management companies, brands, affiliations/consortiums and asset managers, resulting in a far more complex […]
By: Andrea Foster & Jenna Finkelstein Business is back for hotels across the United States with occupancy levels surpassing long-run averages and hotels raising room rates more aggressively. According to PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR)’s forecast, occupancy is estimated to be above the long-run average in 49 of the 55 U.S. markets they track, 14 of […]
By: Nicco Muratore Tastes, purchasing and consuming habits, cooking methods, and customer expectations; they’re all changing. The farm-to-table trend is a growing trend and for some, it’s a demand when cooking at home or eating out. Dan Barber’s book, The Third Plate, Field Notes on the Future of Food, reflects on the history of thriving […]
By Erinn D. Tucker In various parts of the United States, there is a significant workforce shortage because of an inadequate supply of workers with in-demand skills. Even though many Americans are graduating from high school and college, employers are concerned about the preparation and specific skills of new graduates. Unless major improvements are made […]
By John D. Murtha Doctors say that people who exercise, eat right, reduce stress, and have a balanced outlook on life stay healthy and live longer. So, could it be said that teamwork, having the right resources, maintaining a stable operation and fostering a productive culture will make a hotel healthier and more successful over […]