Quoting Higher Rates and Overcoming Objections Regarding Rate/Availability Restrictions
Doug Kennedy | February 6, 2024
Education
Ready for Chip & Pin? Maestro PMS Certified for Chip & PIN Credit Card Processing in North America
Maestro Property Management Solution | October 29, 2014
Did You Know That Fraudulent Credit Card Transaction Liability Shifts in October 2015? Here's What Hoteliers Need to Know to Protect Themselves Markham, ON - October 29, 2014 - Maestro PMS announced the Maestro Property Management System Suite (PMS) is certified for Chip & PIN processing for North American hotel operators. Maestro will provide support for multiple payment card processing providers that accept Chip & PIN payments. Maestro PMS is the leading provider of solutions that increase revenue and create efficient, profitable operations for independents. For a demo of the Maestro Property Management Suite please contact M...
PGA National Resort & Spa Receives Certified Guest Service Property Designation
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | October 23, 2014
Orlando, Florida, October 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has awarded the PGA National Resort & Spa the designation of Certified Guest Service Property. The property, located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, completed AHLEI's Guest Service Gold® training and certified all 29 front-line employees as Certified Guest Service Professionals (CGSP®) to earn the designation. Sheila Hills, Human Resources Training Manager for the resort, ran two different training sessions in order to make the training accessible to all of the employees from multiple departments who participated. "Everyone seemed to real...
Restaurant Customers Are Ready to Use Guest-Operated Payment Technology, Says Cornell Study
The Center for Hospitality Research | October 22, 2014
Ithaca, NY, October 22, 2014 - As the U.S. restaurant industry gradually rolls out guest-operated payment technology, a Cornell study finds that restaurant guests are enthusiastically ready to use smartphones and table-top tablets to pay their bill. In a survey of nearly 1,300 U.S. consumers, the study found that the consumers rated paying with technology significantly higher than the traditional payment method that involves handing over a credit card. The study, "Ready and Willing: Restaurant Customers' View of Payment Technology," by Sheryl Kimes and Joel Collier, is available at no charge from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Resea...
Cornell Studies Demonstrate How Eye Tracking Creates a Window to Consumers’ Thoughts
The Center for Hospitality Research | October 17, 2014
Ithaca, NY, October, 2014 - A recent exploratory study sponsored by the Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at Cornell University sheds new light on how consumers choose hotels by demonstrating how to use eye tracking paired with in-depth interviews to uncover precisely what prospective guests look at-and think about-while they are searching for lodging online. Until now, the reports published about how people choose hotels online have mostly been based on surveys or on capturing clickstream data to map how users navigate from page to page. This new study, which is explained in a pair of reports by researchers Breffni M. Noone and Ste...
Carver Hotel Group Taps Robert Dann to Lead Expansion
Carver Hotel Group | October 15, 2014
ATLANTA, GA - October 15, 2014- Carver Hotel Group (CHG) has named Robert (Rob) Dann as partner and Chief Operating Officer, according to CEO Joel Carver. A 30-year industry veteran with an exceptional track record in strategic planning, portfolio/asset management, and operational execution, Dann previously served as Chief Operations Officer of Campus Crest Communities in Charlotte. Prior to that, he was president of Minneapolis-based CSM Lodging, where he oversaw a portfolio of 38 hotels generating $165 million in revenue. "In developing strategic expansion plans for spring boarding CHG to the next level, we looked for an exceptio...
PolyU Study Finds Online Customer Reviews Key to Understanding Customer Satisfaction
PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management | October 14, 2014
14 October 2014 - Online customer reviews can provide crucial aid to hotel managers in understanding the drivers of customer satisfaction, argue Professor Rob Law of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors. In an article published recently, the researchers examine the content of online hotel reviews, identify the hotel features to which customers attach most importance, and highlight those features with which customers are most and least satisfied. The analysis, suggest the researchers, reveals a number of areas that hotel managers may wish to consider in the drive to "imp...
Maestro Launches eLearning; Flexible Online Training Quickly Boosts Staff Productivity
Maestro Property Management Solution | October 7, 2014
How Do You Keep Staff and Management Skills Sharp? Log In for Easy-to-Use eLearning Modules That Stream 24/7 to Any Mobile or Desk Top Device Markham, ON - October 8, 2014 - NORTHWIND-Maestro released a new eLearning tool that boosts staff productivity with online tutorials, documentation, and streaming videos for quick, flexible mastery of all Maestro Property Management modules whenever busy schedules permit. Maestro eLearning includes a management dashboard that allows supervisors to design eLearning agendas for any module and track staff progress. NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS is the leading provider of solutions that increase revenue and c...
Educational Institute Partners with Aspire. People. Performance. Profits. on Leadership Development
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | September 30, 2014
September 2014, Orlando, Florida-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) is partnering with Aspire. People. Performance. Profits. (Aspire) to launch a new series of leadership development programming designed to strengthen hospitality leadership. The program delivers tools for industry leaders to enhance their leadership effectiveness through alignment, focus, and understanding of Aspire's proven processes for learning and development. Called "The Art of Leadership," these programs will support the ongoing practice and reinforcement of six core leadership behaviors identified by Aspire over 20 years of experience ...
PolyU Study Finds Promotion-Focused Advertising Increases Firm Risk for Restaurants
PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management | September 26, 2014
26 September 2014 - Advertising expenditures lead to increased risk for publically listed firms in the US restaurant sector, argue Dr YongHee Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors in a published research paper. The researchers analyse the financial data of firms listed as 'retail-eating places' by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and find that contrary to intentions, advertising expenditure actually increases total and firm-specific risk. Restaurants, they argue, need to change the focus of their advertising from short-term promotion-related gains to the ...
HFTP Establishes First Asia Footprint at Hong Kong Polytechnic University
PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management | September 17, 2014
Austin, Texas, USA (September 17, 2014) - This week Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) opened the HFTP Asia Research Center in collaboration with the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The purpose of the new office is to expand HFTP's presence in the region by providing further education and professional development to hospitality practitioners in Asia. To facilitate this initiative HFTP has donated $100,000 USD and will establish a student exchange scholarship, a faculty research development fund and an applied research fund. "Hong Kong Polytechnic Uni...
Brands’ Hotel Ownership Doesn’t Always Limit Management Opportunism, says Cornell Study
The Center for Hospitality Research | September 16, 2014
Ithaca, NY, September 16, 2014 - As one way to limit opportunistic behavior by hotel managers, many hotel brands have adopted a policy of owning a particular hotel. But a study published by the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research finds that, contrary to the conventional wisdom, the level of managers' opportunism goes down when a third-party owner is involved, rather than when the brand owns the property. This is based on an analysis of management opportunism with regard to the brand at 49 brand-owned hotels compared with 247 hotels owned by a third party. The study, "Strategies for Successfully Managing Brand-Hotel Relationships," b...
NYSH&TA Receives Certified Guest Service Partner Designation
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | September 16, 2014
Orlando, Florida, September 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has awarded the New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association (NYSH&TA) with the designation of Certified Guest Service Partner. New York is the fourth partner state association (PSA) of the American Hotel & Lodging Association to achieve this status. NYSH&TA represents 1,300 member businesses and individuals in the lodging and attractions industry. Its mission is to provide a strong voice for the New York state hospitality and tourism industry and to protect and enhance the financial welfare of the industry. To earn the de...
AHLEI’s Revised Trainer Development Program Now Packaged with Certification Exam
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | September 10, 2014
Orlando, Florida, September 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has revised and expanded its Trainer Development Program, adding new content, offering a web-based version of the training, and packaging both the print and web-based versions of the program with the exam for the Certified Hospitality Department Trainer (CHDT®). Topics include how adults learn, how to prepare for and create training, how to lead one-on-one and group training, and how to follow up on training. There are also sections on e-learning, communication, and orientation. "Cascading information throughout a hospitality organization ca...
Broken Hotel Management Contracts Can, and Do, End Up in Court, says Cornell Report
The Center for Hospitality Research | September 9, 2014
Ithaca, NY, September 9, 2014 - When the world financial crisis hit, many hotel management contracts were terminated, often without the managers' prior knowledge or consent. However, now the bill is coming due-and it can run to millions of dollars. A report from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) explains how courts calculate the damages that result when a hotel management agreement is terminated without the manager's consent. The report, "Calculating Damage Awards in Hotel Management Agreement Terminations," by Jan A. deRoos and Scott D. Berman, is available at no charge from the CHR and also from the Cornell Center for ...
Taylor’s University, Malaysia Becomes New Educational Institute Global Academic Partner School
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | September 3, 2014
Orlando, Florida, September 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has signed a five-year Global Academic Partner (GAP) agreement with Taylor's University in Malaysia, enabling the school to provide AHLEI courses in that country. Taylor's University Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr. Pradeep Nair shared that this development is an exciting one for the university. "Through this partnership, Taylor's University will be the point for interested hoteliers in Malaysia to sign up for AHLEI education and training programs. By being a partner of AHLEI, we hope to raise the profile of the hospitality industry in the country ...
International Body of Hotel Professionals to Establish Asia Research Office at PolyU
PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management | August 26, 2014
26 August 2014 - The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) have come together to sign an agreement to collaborate for the further development of hospitality finance and technology in Asia. The agreement was signed by Mr Frank Wolfe, HFTP Chief Executive Officer and Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean and Chair Professor at the SHTM premises today (26 August). Under the agreement, the two parties have agreed to establish a joint research office in an effort to enhance the education and professional development of hospitali...
PolyU Study Finds Education and Social Networking Key for Convention Attendees
PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management | August 15, 2014
15 August 2014 - Convention attendees value opportunities for education and social networking more highly than features relating to the convention site itself, according to Dr Jinsoo Lee of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a co-author. In a recently published article, the researchers identify the sensitivity of attendees to a multidimensional conceptualisation of value. The ultimate objective, they note, is to provide suggestions for convention planners on how best to cultivate attendees who are sensitive to not only functional value but also emotional and social value, thus g...
New Educational Institute Case Study Walks Students through Accounting Tasks
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | August 13, 2014
Orlando, Florida, August 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has published a new learning resource to help hospitality management students better understand the many ways accounting is used at a hotel property. SeaSpray Hotel: An Integrated Hospitality Accounting Case Study shows students how managers and department heads use managerial accounting concepts and techniques in the daily operation of a hotel. The case study was written by Gurprit S. Chhatwal and Jean Abbott, who teach at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. The extended case study presents a narrative that follows newly-hired controller Sa...
HFTP Members Now Receive Discounts on PCI & PII eLearning Modules
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) | August 11, 2014
AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (August 11, 2014) - Last month, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) announced to its members that the Venza Group is helping to expand the association's educational resources. Members are now eligible to receive a discount on courses related to PCI-DSS, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Security Awareness offered by the Venza Group. These courses are also pre-approved for CHAE and CHTP educational maintenance requirement education credits. HFTP offers two professional certifications, the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE) and the Certified Hospitality Technology Profess...
PolyU Launches 2nd “Tomorrow’s Guestrooms” Competition at Hotel ICON; Themed “Room of the Future”
School of Hotel and Tourism Management | August 11, 2014
11 August 2014 - Following the success of the first round of "Tomorrow's Guestrooms" Competition last year, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) announces design as the theme of the upcoming competition. The "Tomorrow's Guestrooms Design Competition - The Room of the Future" will be held from 1 September to 31 December 2014. There is no one-size-fits-all template for design, with the hospitality industry as buoyant as it currently is the talk always turns to what is next - what is the hotel room of the future? Hotel ICON is in many ways a project of the future as it educates ...
Can’t We Just Get Along? How Brands and Hotels Can Work Better Together
Chekitan S. Dev | August 8, 2014
by Chekitan S. Dev, Ph.D. Successful brands, and hotels that belong to them, depend on a win-win relationship between the hotel and the brand. A Cornell report finds that this relationship can be fraught with challenges. The report's author, Professor Chekitan Dev, identifies these challenges, examines how the challenges can affect performance, and provides strategies to overcome these challenges to create a mutually beneficial relationship. A free copy of the report can be downloaded at: https://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/pubs/reports/abstract-18063.html ...
New Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics Shows Hoteliers How to “Do the Math”
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | August 7, 2014
Orlando, Florida, August 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and STR (Smith Travel Research) have collaborated on a new professional designation, the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA). The Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics is the only hotel-related certification for industry professionals focused on analytics. It provides recognition that the holder has a thorough knowledge of the foundational metrics, definitions, formulas, and methodologies used by the hotel industry. Core content areas for the CHIA include: Hotel Industry Analytical Foundations Hotel Math Fundamentals Propert...
Educational Institute Offers New Edition of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Textbook
the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) | August 1, 2014
Orlando, Florida, July 2014-The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) has published a new edition of Hospitality Sales and Marketing by James R. Abbey, Ph.D., CHA. This textbook, which is used in numerous college and university hospitality management programs, goes beyond theory to focus on a customer-oriented and practical approach for effectively marketing hotels and restaurants. The book explores the "Four Ps" (price, product, promotion, and place) as they relate to specific market segments, providing a customer-focused perspective. Illustrations and exhibits include hospitality industry forms, checklists, advert...
LEED Certified Hotels Obtain Superior Financial Performance According to New Cornell Study
The Center for Hospitality Research | August 1, 2014
Ithaca, NY, August 1, 2014 - A new study from Cornell University has found that hotels gain a revenue benefit when they are certified under the LEED sustainable building program. By comparing LEED certified hotels with a competitive set of non-certified hotels, the study found substantial increases in average daily rates and revenue per available room for the LEED hotels. The study,"The Impact of LEED Certification on Hotel Performance," by Matthew Walsman, Rohit Verma, and Suresh Muthulingam, is available at no charge from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) at the School of Hotel Administration. "The hotel industry has e...