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Renovating and creating the ‘3rd space’ to boost business
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesFrom restaurants, coffee shops, bars and lounges to megahotel brands, everyone is focused on becoming a comfort zone for clients. It is now important to invest in changes that will increase business figures (in terms of occupancy and revenues) and also strategies that will enhance the reputation as well as strengthen the loyalty program. What better way to do this than by creating a comfortable "third space" that draws clients in time and again, enriches their lives and in the process increases their loyalty for the brand?
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Travel industry expects record employment level in 2014
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed in a Jan. 10 release that the national unemployment rate fell from 7 to 6.7 percent in 2013, a definite positive turn of events. Riding on the tail of that report, the U.S. Travel Association announced that the industry has made up for 99 percent of the jobs lost during the last recession compared to the 86 percent of other industries.
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Family fun: Boosting your destination with American Girl
Chay Rees Runnels Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementYou may have more visitors than you think — if you count the 18-inch coiffed and impeccably dressed companions of the tween-and-under demographic. American Girl dolls, first introduced in 1986, are now helping to drive tourism to destinations across the country.
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Top tips for travel in cold weather
Suzanne Mason Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementRecently, the "polar vortex" dropped temperatures across the U.S. to negative digits. It also left thousands of people who were trying to reach their destinations stranded. Between Jan. 2-7, more than 27,000 flights were canceled. It is important to know what to do when you're scrambling to reschedule your flight or looking for accommodations while stranded. To stay ahead of "Old Man Winter," here are some tips when it comes to traveling in cold weather.
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Lessons learned in bus tours
Mark Hewitt Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementI have learned a few things during my many years as a coach driver, and I would like to pass some of them on in the hope that others will learn from my mistakes. Putting all of these tips together on one trip could turn it into one of your most successful trips of the year.
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New Mexico travel ready to blast off with ‘spaceopolis’
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementWhile New Mexico is a noted travel destination, the state brings in the majority of its tourists from the surrounding states where visitors can drive in or have quick flights to Albuquerque. But New Mexico is all set for luring more national and international tourists with a state-of-the-art "spaceopolis." A tiny desert town with a rather prophetic name, Truth or Consequences, will soon have more than rustic charm for visitors. It is slated to become the world's first space tourism venture, the core center of all space tourism.
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Abu Dhabi airport showing fast growth
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveAbu Dhabi International Airport is seeing the results of investment as traffic growth has come in at over 12 percent in the previous year, and passenger numbers are up almost 10 percent in the last month. November's figures saw 1.33 million passengers use the airport, and almost 12,000 aircraft movements. This boost reinforces the airport's position within the busy Middle East against nearby competitors at Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain.
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Spring training in the tour business
Shebby Lee Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementI like this time of year. Despite the weather outside, it reminds me of baseball spring training. There is no win-loss record to bring teams and owners down to earth. It is a totally level playing field, and every team is a winner. Rationality is out the door as unbridled optimism takes charge: This year we're going to go all the way. It is the ultimate state of denial. In the seasonal business of a receptive operator, this is our spring training.
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Wellness tourism continues growth into $439 million industry
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe rapid rise shows that more people are opting for focused tours and trips that will directly benefit their health in some way. The figures also show that almost 14 percent of all domestic and international tourism expenditures can be attributed to wellness tourism. The umbrella term includes medical tourism and hotel/resort/destination spas. The industry is expected to grow at 9.9 percent per year and reach the figure of $678.5 billion by 2017.
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Taking advantage of online reviews
Suzanne Mason Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementOnce upon a time, word of mouth was one of the most important ways to drive business. As technology has evolved over the years, word of mouth is no longer enough. With the click of a button, a consumer can either drive business to a hotel or drive it away by posting an online review.
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