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Singapore Airlines shows how to act small and win big

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

What sets a company apart from the competitors? A legendary CEO? An competitive advantage on price or marketing? Probably, but there are also other companies that win big by focusing on tiny little things. DoubleTree and Singapore Airlines are two examples.

Marriott program encourages guests to tip housekeepers

Suzanne Mason Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

When you first enter your hotel room, what do you usually see? A door sign hanger welcoming you to your room or perhaps a piece of chocolate on your pillow? What about an envelope to leave a tip for your housekeeper? It might sound strange, but if you're staying at a Marriott property in the next couple of days, you might be in luck.

US travel industry is now the master employer

Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

The next time you search for the top employers in the U.S., don't be surprised to see the travel and tourism industry in a prominent position. Yes, the industry that saw so much pain during the downturn is not only bouncing back quickly but also generating jobs steadily.

It’s all about you: The value of ongoing education

Pat B. Josten Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

In my 20-plus years of booking travel, I have learned many valuable lessons. Of late, to my great surprise, I have learned a rather obvious one: It's all about me! Consequently, I offer this advice to you: It's all about you, my fellow, highly valued travel consultants.

Avenue of the Giants makes a giant impression

Laura Weaver Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Through our extensive travels in our motorhome, one place has made such a significant impression that I feel it should be a must-see on everyone's "bucket list." It's a place so unusual, so unspoiled, so profound, that I'm certain you will agree. Though we have seen many spectacular sights and experienced some pretty amazing things, we have found nothing quite as awe-inspiring as this — California's redwoods.

Is personal space disappearing from the travel industry?

Danielle Manley Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Over the past couple of weeks, three different planes have been diverted from their original flight plans because of unruly passengers. These disruptive individuals weren’t threatening the safety of the other passengers. While each flight disruption was different, the cause of the problems were all the same: an invasion of personal space.

The case for complexity

Anne Rose Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Go easy. Take it easy. Easy does it. Nice and easy. We are constantly exhorted to do things the easy way. But is the easy way the best way? When designing your next client itinerary, why not consider the harder, more complex and more comprehensive path? There are multiple benefits to this approach as a travel agent, despite being more time-intensive.

Machines serving people: A continuous debate

Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Every time when a machine replaced labors in an assembly line, we gave a big round of applause. Now, when machines are replacing the service staff in hotels, shall we make a big toast to celebrate a new revolution? Or shall we mark it the beginning of "the end of humanized service" in the hospitality industry? As customers, we probably have had enough negative experience with those automatic services provided by machines, such as calling the cable or telephone companies. Now that Starwood is introducing a "Botlr," or robotic butler to the Aloft Hotels, will the hospitality industry follow the same path of other businesses, offering more "cold" automatic services?

FAMs can be profitable in many ways

Anne Rose Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

FAMs are not free trips or cheap vacations. They are a terrific opportunity for travel agents, but they also carry obligations and responsibilities if you want to make them profitable and productive. Use FAMs to explore new destinations of interest, to investigate emerging niche markets, to personally experience hotels and activities that interest you, and to sample the quality and delivery of services by prospective vendor partners.

Rising airfares threaten the travel industry’s recovery

Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

While the travel and hospitality industry has been upbeat about finally the tide turning after the recession, there is a lot of wariness underlying this sentiment. The chief cause for this is the airfares that have been steadily rising — despite several low-cost carriers coming onto the scene — and the mergers that have dominated the industry.

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