Lodging Daily News

I purchased a nine-room boutique Inn in 2002 and for the past six years I have sold empty rooms during my off-season for trade dollars. As a result, I have generated $50,000 in value that I use to trade for basic hotel supplies and guest amenities. All of us who own small, independent lodging properties recognize the importance of cash flow during slower seasons, yet the value of an empty room can be measured by

Cheryl Rowley began design when she was only 20 years old. Now, 37 years later, the veteran hospitality designer has closed up her studio, Cheryl Rowley Design, in Beverly Hills, Calif., to move on to the next chapter of her life. Over the years, Rowley has become well known for high profile projects such as Hotel Palomar, The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, Epic Hotel & Residences in Miami, and theWit in Chicago. Rowley was also a

Along with the millions of travelers that pass through hotel doors each day comes a multitude of breakfast preferences. Trying to satisfy everyone’s taste is a challenge, which is why breakfast programs must constantly evolve to meet guest expectations. Ron Pohl, senior vice president of brand management and member services for Best Western, says the availability of breakfast, especially when it’s free, is often a deciding factor when guests choose a hotel. Best Western members

In order to prevent high costs for bed bug eradication, hotels must know how to consistently inspect rooms for signs of infestations. One in five Americans has had bed bugs or knows someone who has encountered them, according to a survey by the National Pest Management Association. Moreover, 80 percent of Americans are afraid of encountering them in hotels, the survey says. And, they have reason. While last summer’s coverage of bed bugs exploded to

In a recently completed study, lodging industry experts contributed their views on smart grid technology adoption and its future as an energy management solution in the U.S. lodging industry. Smart grid technology was defined in the study as the application of digital technology to the electric power infrastructure. Such technologies can be found today in energy management systems, demand response systems, load balancing systems, renewable resource generation integration, and others. There are several reasons why