‘Book direct’ is the war cry of hotel owners, management company executives, chain CEOs and many marketing consulting groups. Like real war, the costs and benefits must be evaluated, particularly by those who will be paying for it – hotel owners. This is even more critical for a war that is unwinnable. “Wars are won […]

Having represented management companies and owner/developers in projects ranging from five-star mixed-use luxury branded resorts to limited-service highway franchised hotels, I have had the opportunity to work on many branded management agreements, third-party management agreements (non-branded) and franchise agreements. From my years of experience, I’ve compiled a list of key terms and tips for you […]

On a daily basis, I have the opportunity to interact with dozens of salespeople in a wide variety of locations. Over the years we have somehow gravitated from partnering with customers in building long-term relationships and account understanding to now taking orders in a more clinical, impersonal and highly transactional environment. However, customers still require […]

In dispute resolution it is important to recognize that emotions among and between the parties will run the gamut…from anger, fear, grief, humiliation, frustration, and even fatigue to elation, gratification, and appreciation. Mediators often find themselves in a paradoxical position – on one side encouraging and empathizing with productive and often intense emotions, and at […]

As a veteran hospitality consultant working out of Vancouver, British Columbia, I’m privy to some very interesting cases and projects throughout the Northwest that require highly creative solutions. Here is one instance that ended up a triumphant success because it creates an entirely new revenue stream for the property – one that would be foreign […]

Work-life planning is a perennial stressor. Not only are we overbooked, but we’re also trying to eat healthier than in past decades, save the planet, buy local and exercise more vigorously, while at the same time indulging ourselves and traveling adventurously.  We are looking for any and all ways for our needs to be met […]

Recently I was asked to address a group of hospitality school students on the topic of career success. My career started as an assistant coffee shop manager in a hotel restaurant and ended as an Executive Vice President. My task was to explain how I made this happen. Admittedly my success was a lot about […]

In my three prior articles on alternative dispute resolution, I discussed mediation, expert determination and arbitration. Resorting to the court system may be necessary only because the parties in their agreements did not provide for the resolution of disputes by one of the three alternative dispute mechanisms. Even so, as the dispute devolves to one […]

Start discussing a technical topic and watch as people’s eyes glaze over, even if those people are fully aware that it’s something they should be paying attention to. Embarking on a path toward a more sustainable and energy efficient hotel operation qualifies as one of these ‘glazed’ subjects, so to eliminate any possibility of eyelid […]

In arbitration, a neutral third party, or, more commonly, a panel of three parties, the “arbitrators”, are called upon to resolve the issue, to render a binding decision, as a judge might render, after a process that is similar to a court proceeding.