Hospitality Development, Acquisitions & Owner Consulting Services
Our consultants are experts in maximizing asset value for hotels, restaurants and bars in all phases of the pre development and investment cycle
With vast experience in operations and at ownership levels, Cayuga’s consultants guidance will assist in planning and execution, and maximize return on investment.
Learn MoreQuestions to Answer Before You Sell
Learn MoreCayuga’s consultants bring experience in working with parties in all facets of development and aid in bringing even the most complex visions to successful development.
Learn MoreCayuga’s consultants develop accurate, reliable evaluations for a range of property types to assist developers and owners in maximizing their investments.
Learn MoreCayuga’s consultants are expert analysts of markets and market conditions and will identify risk and opportunities to achieve development objectives.
Learn MoreTodays’ business environment is anything but normal. Business disruption during and in the recovery following the peak of the global pandemic has created anguish in all areas of the industry. Cayuga’s experts in financial acquisitions, investment analysis, buying and selling assets, hotel asset development and transactional matters are ready to assist.
Whether seeking to buy an existing property, develop from the ground-up or review your existing hotel operations with a goal to enhance value or prepare for hotel disposition, our experienced consultants can help.
From land use issues, financial viability, mergers and acquisitions, hotel contract negotiations and agreement review, determining whether a hotel investment meets the goal of the investor, Cayuga’s consultants will add sound insight to managing the complexity of restaurant, hotel, inn or resort ownership.
Beginning with initial exploratory discussions through to opening a new or repurposed property, our team provides developers, owners, financial institutions and operators expert guidance every step of the process.
Connect with an Expert
Let Us Match Your Project Needs with an Expert Consultant or Team of Consultants
Quick Response
Submit an inquiry with your needs and obtain a prompt response.
Meet your Perfect Match
Allow us to partner you with a consultant(s) with industry experienced talent.
Our results speak for themselves
Contract and work directly with that consultant through completion of the project.
Meet Our Hospitality Development, Acquisitions & Owner Consulting Services Consultants
Stephen Lipinski
Restaurant Profitability, Expert Witness
Dan Voellm
Asset Management & Valuations
Ken Edwards
Receivership, Asset Management, Training
Ken Widmaier
Asset Mgmt, Operations, LOI/HMA Review
Eric Rubino
Acquisitions/Investment/Deal Structuring
Jay Landfair
Asset Management/PIP/Project Management
Joseph Cozza
Catering Sales & Event Operations
Simon Turner
Expert Witness, Asset Mgmt, Transactions
Fred Neuville
Chef, Restaurateur, Operations
Sean Skellie
Hotel Development & Marketing Analysis
David Sarner
Franchise Development & Brand Expansion
Stewart Kiely
Design/Project Management/Sustainability
Charis Atwood
FF&E Project Planning and Management
Simon Fricker
Luxury Boutique Hotelier & Restaurateur
Frank Schuetzendorf
Food & Beverage Concept Development
Charles Oswald
Asset Management, Acquisition Strategies
Jon Peck
Acquisition Advisory & Asset Management
Javier Leon
Engineering, MEP Review, CapEx Planning
Mandy Murry
Independent Hotel Coaching
Larry Spelts
Hotel Development & Repositioning
Perry Smith
Restaurant & Club Operations, PR, Branding
Jim Lopolito
Restaurant, Catering & Country Club
Joanne Richardson
HVAC, Digital Bldg Tech, ESM Strategies
Greg Riehle
Legal, Risk Management, Arbitration
Tom Lambrecht
Debt Restructuring, Loan Packaging
Preston Rideout
Nightclub and Dram Shop Expert
Walter O'Connell
Hotel Valuation & Cost Segregation
Gary Isenberg
Hotel Owner Advocacy & Development
Jeff Hope
Finance, Operations & Risk Management
Cory Falter
Supplier and Hotel B2B Sales & Marketing
Shirley Whelan
F&B Concept Development & Management
Michael Pleninger
Hotel Development & Management
James Miles
Independent Resort Ops & Development
Ted Torres
Development & Construction Management
Janet Eason
Marketing and Branding
Read More Hospitality Development, Acquisitions & Owner Consulting Services Articles and Case Studies
The Hospitality Customer You Didn’t Train For
Fundamentals in Accident Training Shaping how well we execute service to our guests is a primary function of hotel and restaurant training. ...
Road Trippin’ is the Vibe as Travel Slows Across the U.S.
The news is bleeding with travel gloom and discouraging numbers for the hospitality market. Headlines tout softening and consumer spending coming to...
Hotel Renovations: When to Go Big
Most owners and prospective buyers try to reduce their hotel’s Capex spend associated with PIP or Renovation work and with good reason-...
Hoteliers: For Those About to Rage….
From Dylan Thomas, I quote: “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” You...
Hotel Sales is High-Touch: Are you under-resourced to compete?
As we begin to ask questions specific to the hotel sales team – their strategy, tactics, sales initiatives, business development, client engagement,...
Time Off for Salaried Employees: Are You Navigating the Legal Maze Correctly?
“Can I have the day off without pay?”, asked the manager. Amanda was the new Sales Manager. She wanted a few days...
An Immediate Way to Drive Revenue to Your Hotel’s Top and Bottom Lines
Who wouldn’t want to make a few hundred thousand more in immediate room revenue and see most of that go to the...
Creating the Wow Factor in Hospitality
We have all heard of the Wow Factor. We see it in architecture, the view, the interiors of a resort or in...
Food Truck Innovation: Bridging Hospitality Traditions and Modernity
As a consultant in the restaurant and hospitality sector, I am seeing some dynamic changes – especially post-covid that are having a...
Menu Price Increases Need a Quick Reverse Course
When industry people get together to talk about hospitality there is never any shortage of enthusiasm. Topics of discussion often include new...
Why a Hotel Needs Parametric Insurance
Parametric insurance dates back several decades. There was a need for more efficient and timely risk transfer mechanisms. A suitable parameter or...
Spa Revenue Management: The Art of Pricing Optimization for Spa Services
Effective pricing strategies are the cornerstone of spa revenue management. While price controls are still largely a manual endeavor in the spa...
The Blame Game: When Marketing Blames Revenue Management and Vice Versa
The Duel of Perspectives Picture this: Marketing campaigns are in full swing, beautifully crafted, and meticulously executed to entice guests. Meanwhile, the...
Six pitfalls for full-service hotel development
Part 1: Two pitfalls for full-service hotel development Hotel development is a complex undertaking. It requires little of the skills to operate...
How to Price Buy-Outs of Smaller Hotels in Leisure Markets
Small properties (one hundred rooms or less), especially upper-upscale and luxury boutique hotels in destination markets that are principally leisure with higher...
5 Practical Ways to Create Instagrammable Spaces in Your Hotel
In the age of social media dominance, providing an experience that’s not only memorable but also shareable is crucial for attracting and...
The Next Achievement in Hotels: Quiet Luxury
“IFYKYK” is the unspoken acronym for quiet luxury. It has sprawled beyond HBO’s ‘Succession’ fashion and is now very much the center...
Capex and PIPs – What We Learned From Industry Experts at the Hunter Hotel Inv...
Embarking on a hotel renovation? Armed with a Property Improvement Plan (PIP) but unsure where to start? We’ve got you covered with...
STR Trends in the Hospitality & Lodging Industry
Our clients typically want to understand the current and past trends of the lodging industry and how it may impact their project...
Redefining Business Mobility: Insights into Travel and Office Trends for 2024
During his recent conversation with Ryan Embree for the Hospitality Trailblazers series on the Suite Spot podcast, President and CEO Charles E....
5 Keys to a Restaurant Opening with Opening Checklist and Budget
The restaurant business is a juggling act: exciting, social, you learn new things every day and you get instant gratification daily. Proper...
Unlocking the Secrets: The Unseen Forces Behind Hospitality Brand Success
Forget everything you thought you knew about branding. Unfortunately, there is a common misconception about what branding actually means. While a logo...
ALIS 2024: Key Insights
The Americas Lodging Investment Symposium has just concluded, and Aperture Hotels CEO Charles Oswald is back with key takeaways from this year’s...
To Save Lots of Money ($$$) in Federal & State Income Taxes You need an Appr...
As Sophisticated Lodging Professionals, you know the Tax Savings strategy and benefits of a Quality Cost Segregation Study. You know, and understand,...
Top 5 Hotel & Lodging Market Trend Predictions
#1 Stability Travel demand is likely to stabilize in 2024 benchmarking record occupancy and rate. Current trends indicate that the industry is...
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants Panel: Evolving Technology and Revenue Strategy
During the Cayuga Hospitality Consultants Annual Conference 2023 in Dallas, a panel discussion was hosted around “Evolving Technology and Revenue Strategy”. Moderator: Stephanie Smith,...
Fireside Chat: Navigating the Hospitality Legal Landscape
Robin Zeidel spent four years in book publishing before following in her father’s footsteps by getting a law degree. When a Wall...
A Tale of Two Panels: Insights from the Frontlines of Hotel Operations and Inves...
In recent weeks, I had the unique opportunity to delve into current dynamics in the world of hotel operations and investments through...
Retailing for Success in 2024: Beyond the Hotel Room to Increase Bottom Line wit...
RevPar is no longer only tied to room revenue at your property- it’s the total square footage. This is not groundbreaking news,...
Navigating Hotel Social Media Trends in 2024
In the fast-paced world of hospitality, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. As we step into 2024, the landscape...
Deep Dive into Hotel Acquisitions: Understanding Industry-Specific Elements
In the world of real estate, hotel acquisitions stand apart, blending the intricacies of property deals with the dynamics of the hospitality...
Why a Model Room is Needed for Your Hotel Construction Project: Learnings from C...
Having managed the model room process for hotel projects for over two decades, imagine my appreciation for a whole show dedicated to...
Hotel Case Study: Executive Search Turned Full Investment Analysis
Setting the Stage A 363 room hotel and conference center was purchased early in 2021, but one year later, there remained significant...
The Dark Side of Revenue Management: Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls
The Temptation of Hidden Fees Rate Manipulation Let’s face it; we’ve all been tempted to play with rates to boost revenue. It’s...
Successfully Combining Maintainability and Sustainability in Your Hotel
Juggling maintenance and sustainability in a property is a balancing act between deciding what level of maintenance we want to achieve and...
Video: Cracking the Hospitality Startup Code and Standout in a Crowded Market
Navigating the intricacies of the hospitality industry can be daunting, especially for startups looking to make their mark. Hotel vendors and suppliers...
Why Professional Bartenders Still Matter
“A Professional Bartender is someone who can do his or her best work when he or she doesn’t feel like it.” —...
Hotel Development: Pencils Down
Hotel supply grew a meager 0.5% in 2022 and is forecasted to grow just 1% on average for the next three years,...
There is Money in those Greens – Cost Segregation Studies of Golf Courses, Gol...
As the saying goes, especially in this competitive market, ‘you need to make money and save money’ in order to survive! As a golf...
Control the Process to Get the Best Deal on Hotel Insurance
A common question for hotel and restaurant operators is: How do I get insurance that effectively covers my operation for the lowest...
Leveraging AI through Expert Partnerships
In today’s rapidly evolving world of technology, there’s often a palpable fear of the unknown that can overshadow the excitement of human...
Building a Comprehensive Fraud Awareness Program: Five Essential Elements
In today’s rapidly evolving and positive COVID business landscape, the specter of fraud, corporate malfeasance, and unethical behavior looms large. In response...
Unlocking Excellence: The Power of Bespoke HR Solutions and Training Consultanci...
In the dynamic landscape of the hospitality industry, the pursuit of excellence and innovation is not merely a goal, but an imperative....
Rethinking Holiday Posts: Are They Worth It?
As a B2B marketing consultant to hospitality companies, LinkedIn is one of my most important tools. Companies can post content on the...
ChatGPT Hack for Hospitality: 5 Minute Video
Two of our Cayuga Hospitality Consultants, Cory Falter and Perry Smith, got together to discuss the potential opportunities to leverage AI in...
Direct Group Business: The New Frontier for Hotel Sales Teams
As the business world continues to evolve, hotel sales teams are presented with an opportunity to capture direct group business. From understanding...
The Annual Asia Pacific Hotel Operator Guide (HOG) Tenth Edition!
This guide is the most established publication in the industry in Asia Pacific to guide investors and owners in understanding the scale,...
Creating a Great Hotel Culture: Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a tragic reminder of how quickly things can spiral out of control when leaders...
Residential Concierges: An Overlooked Hospitality Niche
The Challenge of Residential Concierge Services in Luxury Multi-Unit Buildings Living in a luxury multi-unit building has its perks: some are more...
The Dining Experience of the Future
Restaurant Industry Challenges and Opportunities The future of the restaurant industry has so many compelling challenges and opportunities facing it. Our team...
Case Study: Operations Assessment & Financial Analysis
Challenge: Newly Acquired Hotels A private equity firm had recently acquired a hotel management company and three hotels in El Paso – Holiday...
Joseph Cozza Appointed Partner at Cayuga Hospitality Consultants
SARASOTA, FLA. MAY 20, 2023 Cayuga Hospitality Consultants is excited to announce that Joseph Cozza, based in Farmingdale, NJ, has joined the team...
ChatGPT Accelerates the Evolution of SSI/DID for Personalized Travel Experiences
An article published by Phocuswright suggested that the evolution DID/SSI, Decentralized Identifiers and Self Sovereign Identity, would transform a fragmented travel experiences market...
Case Study: B2B Marketing for Management Company
The Challenge: Sharing a TrevPAR Success Story This mid-sized hotel operating company had outperformed other similar businesses during the pandemic in total...
Case Study: Driving More Direct Leads to the Resort
The full-service resort located in the rolling hills of Appalachian Mountain region has been struggling with generating sufficient quality leads. The resort’s...
Do We Need to Reimagine Hospitality Industry Norms to Attract and Retain Employe...
A Collaboration of Cayuga Hospitality Consultants Experts report on the hospitality industry’s “sacred cows” and the need to conduct a careful evaluation...
Are we Heading Towards a New Luxury?
It does seem that there is a shift towards a new definition of luxury, particularly among the younger generation of consumers who...
Top 10 Tips for New Consultants
Put aside the Nuances of Corporate World Transitioning from the corporate way of doing things to the realities of the consulting world...
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants Panel: Rethinking Technology
In November 2022, Cayuga Hospitality Consultants led a panel about rethinking technology. Stephanie Smith, Partner at Cayuga Hospitality Consultants and CEO of...
The Future of Hotels
Hotels have always been a high-touch low-tech business. Today, and into the foreseeable future, hotels are moving away from the pure ‘people...
Increasing Relevance and Profitability In the Lobby Market
With Gen Y and Gen Z now representing more than half of hotel guests, their lifestyle choices drive their hotel selections and are...
Have You Noticed What is Missing from the Full Service Hotel Experience?
Whether you are an industry professional, an experienced, or a casual traveler you have probably noticed a lot of things missing in...
Events and Meetings Are Back But They Better Be Better
In person, live events and meetings are coming back fast but they better be better! By better I mean more engaging, creative,...
An Applicant Tracking System Revolution
It’s Time To Reset Your Online Applicant Tracking System Filters NEVER COMPROMISE HIRING RIGHT THE FIRST TIME Spending on marketing to fund budgets...
Florida Jury Awards $5.6 MM For Alcohol-Fueled Pool Party Injury
A Florida jury awards $5.6 million for a spinal cord injury sustained during an alcohol-fueled pool party at the Retreat in Gainesville....
Not All Short-Lived Depreciable Property is Captured in a Cost Segregation Study
Personal Property Appraisal & Cost Segregation Studies – Powerful Tools! Congratulations! You have acquired your #hotel, #motel or #resort. Now it is...
If Restaurants Start Operating Like the Airlines
The past several years have not been kind to the restaurant industry. Covid certainly was traumatic on many so levels and with...
Squeezing Out the Last Drop: For Better or For Worse
Time machine with me back to 2018 and 2019 when the revenue tap continued to loosen up and 5% YoY growth was...
My Dad “The Unsung Hospitality Hero”
How do you describe someone that has spent their life giving all that they have for others particularly when no-one is watching? This type...
Three Questions and a Funeral
The U.S. hotel transaction market looked to be downshifting as we closed out 2022. The first part of 2022 had 3 times...
The Trifecta of Lodging Acquisition Studies
Congratulations! You have acquired a new Lodging Property. After months, or years, of due diligence, you have finally closed on your newly...
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants Discuss Future of Events
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants got together with other members to talk about their area of expertise, projects, and work as well as current...
Bonus Depreciation Fading Away
Bonus Depreciation is fading away over the next 5 years. With the help of the IRS Section 179 Deduction and still powerful...
Leading Through True Adversity, A Brooklyn Hotel Story
Just Our Normal Routine Our Tuesday started at the only full service hotel in downtown Brooklyn, Sam Ibrahim the General Manager and...
Like Alice, It’s Time to Pass through the Looking Glass
When Alice, of Alice in Wonderland, in Lewis Carol’s second book, Alice Through the Looking Glass, began to wonder what the world...
Hotel Sales & Marketing: The Modern Landscape
When COVID 19 broke out it disrupted travel patterns like never before. For the first time in a very long time consumers...
5 Things to Consider when Choosing a Hotel Brand and Operator
Signing up a hotel operator can be a daunting task to some, while others consider it almost trivial. We believe a careful...
How Generation Age Groups Impact Hospitality
Previously, we tied together how employee culture and the employee links in the service profit chain. The total employee experience drives customer...
The Unsung Heroes of Hotel Food & Beverage
The unprecedented exodus of hospitality workers in the Great Resignation has created gaping holes in the daily schedules of hotel restaurants across...
The Gen Z Dilemma
Imagine, 50 years ago, walking in to your manager’s office asking them whether you can work from home for a week? Or during an annual review (if any) you raise some concerns about your work-life balance and that your personal life is affected by the workload on your shoulders. Or as a customer, you ask your supplier about their "Go Green" policy, or charity and social responsibility. activities?
Is This the Next Generation of Hotel Restaurants?
What the travelling majority wants today when staying at a hotel is, simply put, an effective way to order what they want and when they want. Today’s hotel customers have already highly adopted to the mobile world.
Six Golden Mantras for Managing Human Resources Post-Covid
Pivoting into the new hospitality normal is something that never in my thirty plus year hospitality career would I have envisioned where...
The Cataclysmic Event Blowing Dormant Employer Issues Wide Open
The entire employee service-profit chain rests on how we take care of our employees, which is part of an employee culture vibrating through everything we engage with our workforce. That whole ethos is the culture we create to lead others - based on how our employee’s experience is -v- how we think we care for and guide them.
4 Keys to Managing Responsible Alcohol Consumption in Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants and bar owners face a precarious balancing act when it comes to serving alcohol. Balancing Alcohol Sales vs Responsibility On one...
The Power of Your Own Device – The Impact of Covid on Hotel Technology
Jens Busch has vast experience in the luxury service sector over the past two decades. As he reflects on the changes observed...
Less Will Cost More: Top Challenges Facing the Lodging Industry 2022
Its January 2022, cold in most of the U.S., and we are all dreaming of our next vacation. Spring break? Can we...
3 Ways to Calculate Valuation for a Hotel Appraisal
When buying or selling a hotel, there are many steps to conducting a hotel appraisal. Previously, we highlighted the needed market research...
F&B Reset 2022: 5 Mistakes to Avoid when Opening a Restaurant
Opening a restaurant, especially in the current pandemic context, can be a very daunting task. Not only does it become more difficult...
The Revenue Management Discipline’s Need to Adapt and Not “Go Back to No...
During COVID-19, ownership groups and management companies took organizational decisions that impacted the effectiveness of Revenue Management. As business ramps up and...
Preparation Is the Foundation for Achieving Settlement in Mediation
Mediation is becoming a “must” in many states prior to a judge hearing a case. Coming prepared for mediation will limit anxiety, expedites the negotiations, and has been proven to result in a higher chance of a resolution of the dispute.
How to Properly Handle Fraud and Harassment Allegations in Hospitality
When it comes to responding to allegations of wrongdoing, few hospitality managers are adequately trained on how to respond. Hospitality Fraud &...
A Practical Guide to Hotel Appraisals
As hotel lodging performance continues to recover from the effects of Covid-19, there have been increasing signs that investors are again buying,...
Could there be a Pandemic Silver Lining for the Hospitality Industry?
Our industry, like many others, has experienced a very rough past 20 months (to say the least) and is now on a...
3 Lessons Learned doing Task Force at a Resort in 2021
A recent task force assignment sent me to a high end resort in Florida as Food & Beverage Manager. While there still...
One Door Closes Another Door Opens
But all to often there is a long hallway in between for the “hotel world”… Where it all Began One never knows...
The Hospitality Employee Conundrum and How to Adapt
As we come out of the pandemic, the conundrum of finding and retaining hotel employees has reached new levels. Prior to the...
The Tale of Two Hotels in COVID Times
Many of us are starting to get back on the road and experience travel again while trying to figure out the new...
Hotel Fraud Training: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
In the mid-sixties the movie ®The Good, the Bad and the Ugly starring Clint Eastwood was released. The movie is about a...
Independent Hotels Can Leverage Factors That Influence Hotel Decisions to Steal ...
The top factors influencing a guest’s choice in hotel accommodation according to STR Research in May 2021 are: location, price & value...
To Deflag, Or Not to Deflag. That is the Question
As the lights begin to brighten on a dimmed world of the post-COVID era, the hospitality and tourism sectors have started to...
How to Lead “Undercover Boss” Style in Today’s Hospitality Ind...
“The First Thirty Days” There is a lot of movement in hospitality leadership positions today. You need to seize the moment when...
2021 COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Update for the Hospitality Industry by Grey Hospit...
Remember this grim tale…. The lodging industry is estimated to report a 50 percent, nearly $125 billion-dollar loss in 2020 making this...
COVID-19 Forces Hotel Revenue Management To Evolve: Breaking Down Silos And Maxi...
Each economic crisis, in 1990, 2009 and now 2020, has forced changed in the hotel revenue management discipline. The most recent disruption,...
Impact on Workers’ Compensation in Hospitality Due to Covid-19
Hospitality businesses need to understand how claims under Covid-19 will impact their business and their peer group. Any claims paid out will...
Swashbuckling Hotel Sales: Stand and Deliver, or Perish
Harsh words, Matey. Yet, as a Hotel Sales Professional, best to heed them. Beyond the ravages of a global pandemic, is the...
Time to Evaluate your Restaurant Takeout Revenue?
The idea of putting idle kitchens to better use is not a new one. People have been sharing their kitchens in off...
Five Essentials for Present Day Hotel Operations
It has been one year since the historical COVID-19 pandemic made its debut, affecting the entire population and economies around the world....
New Competition and Short Term Solutions for Food Service Establishments in 2021
When we compare satisfied employees with good pay the hospitality industry has been in a condition of instability even before the pandemic....
Tips on How to “Inspire” Others in the Hospitality Industry
We’ve all heard the sayings “Look at the Glass Half Full” and “Turn Lemon into Lemonade”. Given the uniqueness of the past...
What To Do About Hospitality Commercial Insurance due to COVID-19
ALL hospitality operations have been adversely impacted. Insurance is something we don’t think about, until we have to. Step 1: File an...
Build a Great Team by Breaking a Mirror?
Think that breaking a mirror is bad luck? If you want to build a really strong team in your foodservice operation, you...
Stress Test Before You Invest: Hotel Demand
The pandemic has created challenges for hotel owners like none they have ever seen. STR reports that U.S. hotel profits fell almost...
Mastering Meetings a Post-COVID World
Hybrid is the New Meeting Standard As the event industry progresses, there will be an emergence of new technology. This will allow...
Artificial Intelligence Meets Hospitality
Let’s face it, the world is technology centric – there is no going back. As we move past the setbacks of 2020,...
Stress Test Before You Invest: Hotel Supply
For better or worse, the decimation of the hospitality industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has piqued the interest of...
What We Can Learn from Our Restaurant Pandemic P&L
There are silver linings in the restaurant industry even though the industry was decimated by the pandemic. From Labor to controllable expenses, here is how to change your mindset.
10 Food and Dining Trends for 2021 and Beyond
Every year industry professionals and thought leaders and every food related newsletter puts out their list of trends. It’s important to pay...
Hospitality Experts Predict 2021 Trends
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants don’t always agree, but when asked to predict the future of hospitality, everyone felt the same: Don’t expect recovery...
How to Manage in a Diverse Union Labor Environment
We have all had jobs that make us better leaders in our industry. Earning the respect from your team members doesn’t just happen, you need to work for it each and every day. This has never been more real than when you work in a diverse union labor market.
Can Emotions Aid in Dispute Resolution and Mediation?
In dispute resolution it is important to recognize that emotions among and between the parties will run the gamut…from anger, fear, grief,...
Identify Red Flags for Hotel Fraud
Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth are commonly referred to as “The Seven Deadly Sins”. In the world of forensic...
Hotel Receivership Case Study: 48-Hour Deployment Due to Bankruptcy
During crisis times, the hospitality industry becomes fragile as demand is driven by guests. Conditions that affect guests also affect the business....
Reset, Release, Pivot… Think Beyond to Move your Hotel Forward
Be bold in repurposing your hotel's assets - from rooms to meeting space to kitchens - to keep your hotel in survival mode until post pandemic levels of demand for hotels and events return.
Mastering The Art of The Interview in Today’s Job Market
There is a reason why professional athletes practice so often. It isn’t that they don’t know how to play the sport they...
How to Properly Leverage Demand Based Staffing in Hotels
What we have learned, is that we are all looking at the way hotels are staffed differently. Differently from both perspectives, the employer and the employee.
Digital Marketing Performance Evaluation in the Covid-19 Pandemic
In conjunction with The Hotel School at Cornell University, William Carroll published this white paper on October 1, 2020. As a consulting...
Time to Open Up the Buffets
The buffet has been an integral part of many restaurant and other hotel food operations. For now, the buffet is just taking...
Covid-19 Pandemic Impact Report for the Hospitality Industry by Grey Hospitality
Why is Congress dragging their feet? This is the reality… the lodging industry is estimated to report a “50 percent, nearly $125...
5 Considerations for a First Time Hotel Buyer
As liquidity pressure mounts on current owners, quality hotel opportunities are certainly going to come on the market (or off-market) at deep discounts, but the window of opportunity is likely to be brief.
5 Scary Topics for your Next Hotel Strategy Meeting
The absolute best Hotel Strategy Meetings are many things – engaging, animated, results–oriented, productive, decisive, relevant, and maybe even enjoyable. We like...
Handling Online Hotel Reviews in COVID-19
Hotels are seeing an uptick in negative reviews during Covid. The dynamics and the traveler are different now. Here are some strategies to managing your online reputation now.
The Power of Routine and Creative Thinking
When combined on a daily basis, these 3 forms of activity (Maintenance Routines, Growth Routines, Creative Thinking) can lead to developing a dynamic and highly productive operating system.
Five Marketing Techniques Hoteliers Can Count On
Hospitality marketing teams have a tough job to do these days. Pivot, pivot – and pivot again. As we all know, the...
How Switzerland has Avoided Mass Layoffs in Hospitality through “Kurzarbeit”
Swiss hospitality leverages short time working arrangements to avoid huge layoffs. It worked before in times of crisis and seems to be paying off in 2020.
How Hospitality Can Get Back To Business
A few months ago, travel forecasts were optimistic, growing, carefree. Consider the following developments: New brands were being introduced at a never...
Recovery Following 9/11: A Case Study to Apply to Today’s Pandemic
The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester is a national historic landmark built in 1926. This 15,000 square foot building seated 1800 people....
Leadership & Legacy: How Will You Be Remembered?
We all crave good leadership and/or want to be that “person”. Especially in times of crisis when chaos seems to be swirling...
Crisis Management for Pandemic, Hurricane or Terrorist Threat
What Makes for Successful Crisis Management? Whether you are responding to a potential pandemic, a natural catastrophe or a terrorist threat the...
Hotel Strategies to Target Drive Market Post Pandemic
With hopes of transient drive market visiting hotels first, it is time to get creative to stimulate travelers that have been stuck at home.
Managing the Risk of Fraud During COVID-19
When I decided to write this article, I picked up my laptop and headed to a neighborhood café to start my draft…...
10 Ways Restaurants Can Survive and Thrive through the Pandemic
The restaurant industry is not dead. It just became a temporary tragic victim within a global traumatic condition that threatens its very...
What Will the Travel Recovery Look Like after COVID-19? 4 Things to Know
When, and how quickly, people get back to vacationing and traveling on a regular basis will most likely be determined by how safe they feel doing so. It’s the perceived safety that will be the ultimate determinant of when that travel recovery begins and also how robust it will be.
Confronting Food Industry Conditions During COVID-19
The damaging impact of COVID-19 upon the food industry is here and the aftermath may be a long road of corrections. There could...
Covid-19 Impact Report for the Hospitality Industry by Grey Hospitality
There is no doubt that in March and April of 2020 presented some of the toughest times for the hospitality industry- EVER-...
9/11 & COVID 19: Hotels and Soul and Sales and Survival
Today, someone asked me, “So, how does this compare to 9/11?” “This,” I offered “is much worse.” Much worse. Like most all...
The Gift of Resetting and New Beginnings
No doubt that today's situation brings a lot of anxiety and uncertainty, but if we are able to take a more holistic approach to this whole new reality, soon enough we would realize that it's a new beginning physically, mentally and spiritually for all of us.
Hotel Marketing Crisis Management Successes, Do’s and Don’ts
Over the years I have lived and worked through numerous crisis’s that have led to economic downturns – Gulf War (early 90’s),...
Five Consultants from Cayuga Hospitality Speaking at Lodging Stream
The Lodging Stream Conference is the first virtual hospitality conference of its kind to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic. On April...
Are You Managing F&B Effectively During COVID-19?
Are You Managing Effectively During COVID-19? If you are a manager of a private club, restaurant, or other foodservice business, you may...
Reduce restaurant theft with better onboarding and reporting practices
These restaurant fraud prevention techniques, if properly and consistently implemented, can be most effective in preventing and detecting employee misconduct. They can also help reduce the risk of other misconduct, such as harassment.
Hotel Revenue Management Opportunities in a Dynamic and Challenging Landscape
William Carroll partnered with Phocuswright to conduct an extensive, qualitative study on the evolution of revenue management across the hotel landscape through roundtable discussions and phone interviews with revenue management professionals.
Hotel Development: Boutique Hotels vs Chain Hotels
Boutique hotel supply and demand is growing at a much faster pace than traditional branded hotels. According to the 2019 Boutique Hotel...
10 F&B Trends and the Next Big Bang for the Buck
Originally published at HOTEL ONLINE on Feb. 2018. Published here with updates and permission from author. Food and beverage has witnessed health...
6 Menu Pricing Tips to Maximize Your Restaurant or Bar’s Profitability and Cus...
Originally published at eHotelier in Oct. 2018. Published here with updates and permission from author. Giving your customers the option to find...
Responsible Growth, From An Operators Perspective
Over the years and in various roles I found myself in serious disagreements with a brand’s development and hospitality feasibility group. Sure,...
OS&E Design Takes Center Stage, Successful Brands Don’t Let it Become an ...
Imagine a hotel is a doll house. Go ahead. Pick it up, shake it around and turn it upside down. What happens?...
Successful Bar Operations – Lessons Learned the Hard Way
A story about firing a bartender who was great for profits, but not at following policies. Back in the day, when I...
5 Ways to Combat Hotel Fraud
Nearly $4,000,000,000,000 (trillion) dollars were lost from businesses around the world due to fraud in 2016. The typical organization loses 5 percent...
How to Avoid Lost Hotel Revenue After a Disaster
Disasters are inevitable. So, do you know what reports you will need to determine lost revenue after a disaster? From a hotel...
Hotel Owner Vs. Debt Service, How To Prepare for the Downturn
A hotel Owner faces many obstacles as revenues decline. As the economy slows and new supply enters the market, cash flows deteriorate, and tensions rise. Ensure you are aligned with the brand, lender and management company sooner than later.
Retained versus Contingency Search: A Tale of Two Methods
There are two prominent styles for helping companies fill the gap: Retained and Contingency executive search. Each has its own pros and cons so educate yourself before entering into a relationship with a recruiter, consultant or firm.
5 Ways your Menu Pricing Strategy is Hurting your Profit
Do not make these 5 mistakes when determining the menu pricing strategy for your restaurant. Marketing efforts on social media along with front of house training can be easily overlooked.
10 Questions to Ask Before The Next Travel Recession Strikes
Have you thought about the next travel recession or are you just enjoying the good times? Get Your Contingency Plan Ready For...
Hotel Pricing Strategy: Price Rates in Number Other than 9 or 4
For the love of incremental revenue, please say goodbye to the 4’s and 9’s with your hotel pricing strategy. Why do hotel...
8 Reasons Why Hotels Should Offer Valet Parking
Would you like to transform your hotel’s parking to become a highly profitable part of your hotel that attracts additional customers and revenue and improves your customer satisfaction? Expanding your valet parking can help you increase your hotel’s parking revenue, profit and customer satisfaction.
A Quarterback for the Digital Services Playbook
Just like a winning football team, hospitality owners need a winning digital services playbook, great coaches and a quarterback to execute the plan.
10 High-Level Hotel Digital Marketing KPIs for GMs and Sales Teams
You don’t have to be a digital marketing expert to look at high level reports and find trends for your hotel. Briefly review monthly reports and start asking better questions of your vendors, partners and team. If you don’t have someone on your team with the skill set to dive deeper, find someone who does. Here are 10 high level KPIs to analyze when you are not a digital marketing expert good for a General Manager or Director of Sales to keep handy.
The Art of Luxury in Hospitality
Defining luxury in today’s world can be misleading. What is the true meaning of luxury and a luxury experience and how do we create it in today’s hospitality industry?
Transformational Leadership in the Restaurant Industry
In looking at all the factors affecting the business, a strong case can be made that highly effective leadership is the primary determiner of restaurant success. This article proposes a path of transformational leadership for restaurant entrepreneurs to adopt as a way to maximize their chance for success.
How to Make Your Brand Stand Out
Seems easy, right? Pick a cool name, design a stellar logo, and you’re good to go. Wouldn’t it be nice if it...
Restaurant and Hotel Safety: Preventing and Managing Accidents and Incidents
When it comes to restaurant and hotel safety, hospitality owners must be proactive in addressing the threats to their business. In terms of preventing and managing accidents and incidents, this means developing and implementing a system of safeguards that minimize exposure. This article will focus on accidents and incidents due to slips and falls, cuts and burns and foreign objects found in food.
Digital Marketing Timeline for New Hotel Opening
A new hotel opening or changing of flags has so many moving parts. As an owner or manager overseeing this transition, you are...
Camp Foodservice Consulting Case Study – Improved Service, Satisfaction, S...
Surprise Lake Camp Case Study A Unique Foodservice Consulting Assignment Surprise Lake Camp (SLC) in Putnam County New York desired improved food...
Sexual Harassment in the Restaurant Industry: Pervasive and Preventable
This past year has seen a flood of allegations and admissions of sexual harassment in the restaurant industry. It’s been clear to...
The Challenges Restaurants Face in Going Green and What to Do
The transformation of the foodservice business model to incorporate restaurant sustainable practices is not simple, but momentum is making it easier and more important than ever. Using carefully established strategies have proven to both produce a profit bonus and enhance community image to operators who use them intelligently.
Concentrating on Restaurant Expense Loss
Restaurant expense loss controls and regular management can be the difference between restaurant success and failure. Bringing in a third-party to review all expense categories, purchase and receiving processes and policies, maintenance and operating procedures will result in increased profits.
Is Your Hotel Sales Training a Train Wreck?
Hotel sales training must be seen as an investment and not an expense. Done properly it can increase the revenue that your hotel is currently seeing. Consulting firms can help establish effective hotel sales training techniques to improve productivity and profitability.
Case Study: Restaurant Profitability in an Established Operation
Regardless of the number of years a restaurant and/or bar has been operating, having a check-up can bring efficiencies into line, improve guest experiences, restaurant profitability and employee performance.
What the Millennial told me about Hotels…Dude!
How to gain loyal millennial hotel guests - or guests of any generation? It's about genuine humility in service, impeccable cleanliness, creative thoughtful design, authentic knowledge of your neighborhood, and the guest, who is the purpose of our enterprise, our livelihood, and why we love hotels.
Take Your Guest Reservations Back Offline
How can we as hoteliers drive more guests to book direct which is our most profitable booking channel? The relationship between OTAs and hoteliers isn't a perfect marriage but there are ways to make the best of it and put more money back in our pockets!
Obstacles in Restaurant Performance and the Transition of Responsibility
Obstacles can be a significant constraint on restaurant performance, Eliminating obstacles that directly affect employee performance can result in better service, gratified staff, and reduced turnover.
Why Do You Need a Hotel Quality Assurance Audit?
Engaging an experienced hospitality professional to perform a hotel quality assurance audit takes a property review a step further by not only providing the analysis, but also defining sustainable solutions.
Brush & Co. Lodging Notes and Random Thoughts – March 2018
Hospitality consultant Scott Brush presents his monthly industry update. Find the latest on hotel business trends, hot topics and interesting analyst and industry expert opinions and projections.
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants Announces New Services Division – Hotel Qua...
Cayuga Hospitality Consultant's Hotel Quality Assurance findings and Hotel Operations Analysis reports and recommendations include strategies to assist our clients in developing next steps for sustainable improvement.
Should the Mix of OTA Room Nights Be…?
OTA's may in fact have an effect on EBITDA, but how much might it cost to replace foregone OTA room nights with non-OTA room nights to sustain occupancy?
Cayuga Hospitality Consultants Announces Custom Solutions Division
Cayuga Custom Solutions for the Hospitality Industry has been developed to meet the need for assistance in managing complex business challenges.
Service, Profit or Both? It’s All About the Balance
Hotel service excellence is an integral part of your success and it can be the differentiating factor. The point is that you can’t win with service alone; you have to get the other parts right as well. To be successful, the operator must understand his or her customer expectations, and consistently meet and exceed those expectations.
Hospitality CapEx Math 101 – Useful Life
Understanding how useful life affects hospitality property CapEx costs and decisions will help owners achieve highest and best use of their capital dollars.
The Relationship Between LEED Hotel Design and Guest Satisfaction
The goal of this paper is to highlight those actions that can change the experience of the customer during their stay by the design in the guestroom. Emotional design is one such tool.
A Lodging Industry Consultant’s Nightmare
A lodging industry consultant must show the client how you can have a positive impact on his/her business and put it in dollar terms to greatly improve your chances of getting hired.
The Million Dollar Question – Cocktail Profitability and Recipe Deviation ...
Achieving, maximizing and sustaining cocktail profitability requires a foundation in fact, not conjecture. Bar math, production cost and recipe deviation rates dictate cocktail profitability.
Hotel Management Agreements – Agency Relationships
Owners and management companies have a very murky legal environment where hotel management agreements are accompanied by contradictory and uncertain principles of common law.
Death of A Hotel Salesman: A tale of our times…
The current state of affairs in the hotel sales world, and specifically the DOSM, is bad, and in jeopardy of relevance. Here are 11 ideas to combat complacency.
Sustainable Profitability in a World with OTA’s
The Colombian hotel market is currently in a price war with ADR falling, occupancy flat, room supply growth exceeding demand growth and OTAs are thriving in this environment. How then does a hotel achieve sustainable profitability?
The Illusory Indemnification
The major US hotel brands (e.g., Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, InterContinental…) have become truly global in the past 20 years and many of...
OTA Value: It Depends on How You Play the Game!
When the OTAs, hotel managers and asset owners focus on growing total market and/or specific destination demand, long run profits for all can be sustained.
Iran as a Major Opportunity for US Hotel Brands and Developers
By: Shirin Heidary and Albert Pucciarelli of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP Hyatt, InterContinental, Hilton, Sheraton – these United States hotel brands...
How Recent Florida Worker Compensation Changes Will Impact Your Operations
Making hotel insurance simple, and saving you money in the process. You may be aware of this recent judgment, maybe not. Either...
The Four-Pillar Imperative of Hotel Positioning
Your positioning should be reflected in everything you say and do, your service standards, enhancements, resource allocation, capital decisions, sales and marketing approach, human resource policy and budgeting.
The Pros and Cons of Mediation in Hotel Disputes
As a lawyer involved for over 30 years in the drafting and negotiation of contracts for the hospitality industry, I can assure...
Control the Process to Get the Best Deal on Hotel Insurance
A common question for hotel and restaurant operators is: How do I get insurance that effectively covers my operation for the lowest...
There Are No Stars in Hospitality
No stars…we need everyone! In the hospitality industry more so than any other, knowing how to replace the individual excellence model in...
Engineering 101… Getting The Most From Your Engineering Department
If I have learned anything after twenty years of managing engineering departments it’s this: the most successful engineers thrive in an environment...
When to Use Expert Determination in Hotel Disputes
When we think about alternative dispute resolutions, our first thoughts are likely go to mediation and arbitration. For these situations, a neutral...
Bundling a Portfolio to Reduce Onerous Insurance Requirements
Hospitality operators borrow money from lenders in various manners. Whether you borrow from a local community bank or complete a commercial mortgage...
Spa Management: Challenges and Opportunities
The operation of a successful spa demands a combination of operational skills, systems and creative promotion. No longer is it possible to...
Upsurge in Global Terrorism Is a Red Flag for Hospitality Industry
It is readily apparent that terrorist and active shooter events around the world have experienced s dramatic increase of late. Up until...
Case Study: Hotel Energy Management at the Ritz Carlton – Naples, Florida
Click here to download a PDF version of this case study, complete with graphic analyses. PROJECT SUMMARY The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company embarked...
Case Study: Using Social Media and SEM to Drive Group Business
Before I started my own business, I was heavily entrenched in the Marriott International corporate brass, where group meetings business accounts for...
The Battle for ‘Book Direct’ May Be Won, but the War Will Not
‘Book direct’ is the war cry of hotel owners, management company executives, chain CEOs and many marketing consulting groups. Like real war,...
Where Have All the Real Salespersons Gone
On a daily basis, I have the opportunity to interact with dozens of salespeople in a wide variety of locations. Over the...
Unorthodox Hotel Space Repurposing to Create New Profit Centers
As a veteran hospitality consultant working out of Vancouver, British Columbia, I’m privy to some very interesting cases and projects throughout the...
One Size Does Not Fit All
Work-life planning is a perennial stressor. Not only are we overbooked, but we’re also trying to eat healthier than in past decades,...
Ten Keys to Career Success
Recently I was asked to address a group of hospitality school students on the topic of career success. My career started as...
Energy Management 101
Start discussing a technical topic and watch as people’s eyes glaze over, even if those people are fully aware that it’s something...
Best Practices for Hotel Arbitration
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.
Hotel Brand Conversions
In hotel brand conversions, two factors seem to drive the financial results for converted hotels—the relative strength of the brand and the fit between the brand and the property.
Hotel Management Agreements
Dealing with Hotel Management Agreement key provisions at the LOI stage is essential to knowing whether or not you have a deal. It is better to know this prior to all the sturm and drang among the lawyers over the definitive agreements. No point in kicking the can down the road only to find out that in addition to the loss of time and incurring of legal fees from the negotiation of the definitive agreements, there is no deal.
Public Adjusters and Coverage Attorneys for Hotel Property Insurance
Buying hotel property insurance is already a complicated process even before you factor in all the divergent stakeholder demands. It is your fiduciary responsibility as the manager who lives and breathes your hotel on a daily basis to protect all the underlying assets.
Ten Hotel Sales Basics
For a great hotel sales effort, hoteliers need to be reminded of basic principles. They also need to be reminded that sales is a ‘group’ process that requires the engagement of the broader hotel team.
Ten Warnings On Hotel Energy Savings
With years of experience helping owners and operators with their hotel energy savings goals, I’ve developed a list of ten observations on various products and services that together form a broad guideline to follow when getting planning underway.
Tunisian Terrorism Attacks a Red Flag for Hospitality
Tourism is an ideal target for terrorists, as the impact is felt globally. Local government, hotel groups and related industries must find ways to protect their investments and clientele. Immediate action is necessary to deal with the current situation.
Service Excellence From The Inside Out
How do you define service excellence in your company? Here’s how you can judge if you have the right corporate culture in...
Pennies From Heaven Flowing Straight To Your Bottom Line
No Risk Solution To Lowering Credit Card Processing Fees How did I reduce the credit card processing fees for one of my...
Revisiting Investment Decision Making In The Gaming Industry
Now that the gaming industry has experienced its first round of loan defaults, it is time to revisit fundamental investment decision criteria....
Uniform System Of Accounts For The Lodging Industry Provides Essential Guidance ...
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) interviews Ralph Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE, vice chairman of the Financial Management...
Caring For Guests In Times Of Growing Terrorism and Active Shooter Threats
The TIX Group is composed of former high-level officials from Israel’s security community. The TIX mission is to share Israeli experience in...
Hotel Management Agreements: Incentive Fee -The Stuff of Negotiation
Hotel management agreements among the large branded management companies follow what by now has become the standard formulation for fees, at least...
Branding Hotels
The hotel industry has become a complex, fragmented, global, competitive brand business. There is an urgent need to fill “gaps” in our knowledge of brand management to help the industry improve brand performance.
Keep the Social Media Buzz – Buzzing!
Managing your social media buzz can take 30 minutes to an hour a day, tops. While this may seem like a lot, many customers are making their choice based on what they see and read. Chat with your team; seek and enlist someone that is passionate about this, and let them go at it. Use these tips, and you will see fruitful rewards!
It’s Not Easy Being Green
Kermit the frog gets quoted quite often for this famous line. And although there really is no other way than being green,...
One Word That Can Change Your Restaurants Bottom Line
Film buffs will remember that in The Graduate, the one word of advice Mr. McGuire offers to Benjamin is ‘plastics’. If there...
Leadership: The Basis For Management
The concept and practice of leadership as it applies to management carries a fascination and attraction for most people. We all like...
The Battle For ‘Book Direct’ May Be Won, But The War Will Not
‘Book direct’ is the war cry of hotel owners, management company executives, chain CEOs and many marketing consulting groups. Like real war,...
Hotel Revenues Not Subject To Absolute Assignment Of Leases And Rent
A Silver Lining in the Dark Clouds of the Great Recession? While it takes an accomplished clairvoyant to predict where RevPar 1,...
The Four Seasons Aviara Resort Case
Four Seasons Uses an Arbitration Clause to Defeat an Owner’s Request for an Injunction to Terminate its Management Agreement This Stroock Hospitality...
Do You Think Like A Leader Or Manager?
As you may know, there is considerable discussion in the literature and at various forums about factors that distinguish a “Leader” from...
CMBS Non-Recourse Loan Guaranties
The country’s largest commercial real estate organizations credit commercial mortgage backed securities (“CMBS”) with leading the United States out of the nationwide...
Update Your Strategic Plan
Dramatic changes in availability and cost of financing and the economic slowdown brought about by the financial market crisis have extended the...
Illegal Immigration: Today’s Challenges And A Way Forward For Employers
The hospitality industry is under increasing pressure from a dramatic shift in US government strategy to enforce existing illegal immigration law. While...
Impact On Commercial Real Estate Lending Of Dodd-Frank And Basel
Earlier articles in this series have reported on precedential judicial decisions affecting those involved in commercial real estate: a court decision that...
IFRS And The Hospitality Industry
The SEC recently released a proposal that could lead to required use of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by U.S. publicly traded...
A Sense of Arrival, A Sense of Departure
Most hoteliers intrinsically understand the concept of a sense of arrival. Broadly defined, this is that glorious moment (or what’s intended to...
Make Sure The Right Contingency Plans Are In Place
I once met with a hotel owner, not long after taking over management of his group of hotels, to tell him how...
Task Force Operations… Filling The Void In Hospitality Leadership
As a long-time hospitality executive I did not even know what ‘task force’ was until I was in the job! It sounded...
Making It Rain: Understanding the Experience Paradigm
The “guest experience” is possibly the most talked about aspect of the industry. Delivering a great (memorable, unique, motivating, etc.) experience is...
