Shadow Mountain Lodge

Shadow Mountain Lodge

Whisk yourself away to Shadow Mountain Lodge in Ruidoso, New Mexico. There are plenty of trails for hiking and courses for golfing. When you get back, you can take a soak in one of their whirlpool tubs and watch the deer nibble the grass (it’s always dinnertime if you’re a deer!).  Shadow Mountain Lodge has […]

Five Habits of a Successful Hotelier

Whether you’ve been running a hotel for decades or are brand new to the game, reflecting on your practices as a hotelier is always a valuable exercise. Nobody’s perfect, but taking the time to consider your methods and improve where you can points you in that direction. Curious if you’re doing everything in your power […]

Social Media Dos and Don’ts: A Hoteliers’ Guide

It’s doubtful any hotel owner in this day and age needs to be convinced of the importance of social media marketing (it isn’t 2004 anymore or even 2014). But acknowledging the need to be on social media platforms isn’t enough. You need to make sure you’re doing it right. Here are the most important social […]

Happy Employees = Happy Guests: How to Increase Staff Engagement

While the pandemic may be winding down, and people no longer swarm the toilet paper aisle, labor shortage is still a significant challenge for lodging operations. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), 85 percent of its member hotels remain understaffed.  And without staff, there is no hotel. Technology can increase efficiency so […]

Getting to Know Your Guests: How to Gather Guest Data

In our digitally connected world, consumers expect increasingly personalized service from the businesses they choose to deal with—especially from those in the hospitality industry. To stand out in such a competitive market, hotels need to provide individually relevant (and therefore memorable) guest experiences, the key to which lies in guest data. Guest data has long […]

How an Independent Motel Can Be a Lodging Superstar

When we think of a roadside motel, we don’t think of a business with five-star service and amenities. Ironically, that’s why independent motels are uniquely positioned to surprise and delight; guests don’t expect it.   Designed to serve roadtrippers with convenient, affordable accommodation, motels are the preferred choice for many travelers—travelers who expect to get nothing […]

Social Media Tune Up: 5 Tips for Hoteliers

While various channels may change and disappear, social media is here to stay. It’s like the blackberry bush in your garden. You can pull the roots up all you want, but it isn’t going anywhere. You may as well harvest the berries.  More than half the world uses social media for everything from baby updates […]

7 Signs it’s Time to Change Your Hotel PMS

Change can be daunting, especially when it involves time, resources, and complex decisions. For busy lodging operators, disrupting the status quo may not fit into your demanding schedule.  But if that schedule is fraught with inefficiencies, and you’re struggling to keep up with daily tasks and guest expectations, something’s gotta give before your bottom line […]

Getting in on the Health Kick: Wellness for Independent Lodgings

Recent events have highlighted the importance of looking out for ourselves and others. An Ipsos survey discovered that 62 percent of Americans care more about their health than they did pre-pandemic. Both leisure and business travelers look for experiences that enhance their personal wellness regimes when away from home and use this criteria to choose […]

A Shoulder Season Checklist for Independent Hoteliers

Shoulder season is gearing up with more guests than ever willing to be flexible with their dates and stretch their vacations into fall in search of a deal. Post-pandemic, with more people ready to travel and able to work remotely, shoulder season is no longer the sleepy catch-up period it used to be. Make sure […]

Parry Lodge

Parry Lodge

Located in Kanab, Utah, Parry Lodge is only minutes away from the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and Lake Powell. Hike, swim, or simply enjoy the natural beauty of Red Rock Country. For all you film buffs out there, Kanab is also home to plenty of Hollywood history. John Wayne and Frank Sinatra have both […]

Building Blocks for a Stronger Hotel Business

Did you know that modern buildings constructed within earthquake zones are built to sway during an earthquake? While the foundation is firm, there’s enough flexibility to allow the wave of the earthquake to move through it.  Does your hotel need to be seismically upgraded, metaphorically speaking? With the right kind of foundation, you’ll have a […]

Extraordinary Hotel Experiences to Attract Guests in the Wake of Covid

Snowshoeing Couple

It’s not enough to just offer hotel accommodations anymore. These days people are looking for experiences. The trend was there before COVID-19 but was amplified due to travel restrictions. When more people than ever are partaking in staycations by being a tourist in their own town, they’re looking for more than a home away from […]

How to Boost Hotel Holiday Bookings During a Pandemic

COVID Christmas At Hotels

The holidays are coming! While travel is not yet at near-normal levels, there are many reasons and occasions people will choose to stay at hotels throughout the winter season, from visiting loved ones and wanting a change in scenery to celebrating traditions and creating new ones. Now is the time to consider and amplify all […]

Top 5 Pandemic-Era Technologies

Pandemic Era Hotel Tech

We’ve seen many changes and pivots in the hotel industry in the face of COVID-19. Fortunately, there are existing innovations within hospitality that have made managing pandemic regulations and protocols more manageable. As normal travel volumes return in the future, the widespread adoption of pandemic-era hotel technologies will become the standard as they have proved […]

Is Your Hotel Ready For Summer Vacation 2021?

Summer Vacation

Summer is around the corner and with it the ubiquitous summer vacation. While things will still look a little different this year, a boon of guests is expected. Summer is still months away, and yet vacationers are already planning their trips to fulfill what they’ve been dreaming about.  Whereas normally travel bookings are made on […]

10 Creative Ways to Repurpose Hotel Spaces to Increase Revenue

Hotel Cinema

Hard work and creativity is part and parcel of an independent hotelier’s job—and never has this been more true! We can’t overstate how difficult this past year has been for hotels worldwide. Yet independent hotels have demonstrated the art of the pivot time and time again to come up with unique ways to use hotel […]

Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Located in the heart of Canmore in the Canadian Rockies, the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn offers 62 tastefully furnished rooms and suites including some that are pet friendly. A wide range of amenities are available onsite including complimentary continental breakfast, a Tesla charging station and free parking. The Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn has just started […]

Your Hotel Digital Marketing Checklist

Digital Marketing Checklist

Over the last few years, digital marketing has become an increasingly important component of hotel marketing strategies. Never has this been more true as hotels develop their COVID-19 recovery plans. From SEM to OTAs, there are a lot of digital marketing bases to cover. Whether you outsource or conduct your own digital marketing, this checklist […]

A ‘Boomer’ Travel Checklist for Independent Hotels

Boomer Traveler

As COVID-19 vaccines roll out, the tourism industry is injected with optimism. Soon, safer travel will see the return of guests who, we may add, are in desperate need of a vacation! An impending travel boom will be led by the Boomers, according to G Adventures. In the western world, this generation of retirees between […]

Alpine Meadows Lodge

Alpine Meadows Lodge

Located in Golden, British Columbia, Alpine Meadows Lodge is situated on a 70-acre wooded area at the foot of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The main lodge boasts 10 comfortable guest rooms and two chalets are also available for guest stays. Guests of the main lodge enjoy complimentary continental breakfast each morning and those staying in […]

PMS and POS Integration for Smoother Sales & Happier Guests

Restaurant Guests

Integration of core hotel systems is key to streamlining daily operations and enhancing the guest experience. Thanks to cloud technology, system integration is easier, faster and more effective than ever, empowering hotels to automate processes for improved efficiency, better customer service, and a deeper understanding of guests. Two important hotel systems that work better together […]

How to Create a Welcoming Hotel Lobby During COVID-19

Covid-19 Hotel Lobby

From happy hour to work stations, communal coffee to business socials, recent years have transformed hotel lobbies into social hubs. But, with COVID-19, many hotels have traded in the hub-bub for hub-blah.  Yet your lobby remains as the heart of your hotel. With a little ingenuity and sanitized elbow grease, you can still create a […]