Hotel Operations

📍 1912 Hotels has taken over operations of Hotel Raphael in Vienna's 6th district, located at Wallgasse 23. The hotel, with 78 guest rooms, is ideally situated near the Raimund Theater and Mariahilfer Straße shopping area, catering to both leisure and business travelers. The company will manage daily operations and strategize the hotel's future positioning. This acquisition strengthens 1912 Hotels' presence in the DACH region, aligning with their mission to offer unique hospitality experiences.

💸 In 2026, net revenue in hospitality involves subtracting direct sales deductions from gross revenue. For example, a hotel with $100,000 gross revenue from 500 room nights at a $200 average daily rate subtracts $5,000 for returns, $3,000 for discounts, and $2,000 for allowances, resulting in $90,000 net revenue. Tracking is facilitated by reconciling daily through Property Management Systems (PMS) and using spreadsheets or revenue software for automation.

🏨 Recently, upon entering a hotel lobby, I observed a front desk agent engaged in phone scrolling, with little customer interaction. This highlights leadership issues: absence of service standards, lack of training, and no engagement culture. Effective leadership is key to correcting this. Leaders must set expectations, train staff, and recognize successes. Great hospitality is cultivated, not accidental. Leaders must ask themselves: in 30 seconds, what message does their front desk convey? #Leadership #Hospitality

📰 Founded in 2022, "It’s Personal Stories," led by David Kong, Rachel Humphrey, and Lan Elliott, launched a redesigned website featuring nearly 300 interviews with global hospitality leaders. The platform has garnered 750,000 YouTube views by offering free, experience-based leadership insights. Each 30-minute interview provides practical wisdom on themes like imposter syndrome, work-life harmony, and leadership habits. The podcast, named a "Top Hospitality Podcast," promotes authentic storytelling to inspire career growth.

📖 Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, discusses leadership principles. She emphasizes having a clear point of view as crucial for effective leadership, drawing from her early career with global fashion brands. Leaders should build trust by showing conviction and setting direction. For more insights, explore her journey from a 14-year-old housekeeper to CEO. Subscribe to Hospitality Daily for daily summaries and actionable insights. Follow on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram for more content.

🍴 Restaurants may suffer from "over-service," a concept explored by Dr. Yuchen Xu and Professor Catherine Cheung at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Their 2024 study found excessive service, such as kneeling and frequent plate changes, can stress diners, decreasing satisfaction and revisit intentions. Study 1 confirmed over-service increases perceived stress; Study 3 showed those desiring control most affected. Tailoring service to individual needs is recommended to counteract these effects.

📞 During customer service workshops, Shep Hyken explores the impact of repeatedly addressing the same complaints. The "Moment of Misery™ Grid" exercise identifies frequent complaints and evaluates response efficiency. Key metrics include first call resolution and the frequency and duration of repeat calls. An efficient system resolves issues on the first call, saving time and money. Each eliminated repeat call enhances customer satisfaction. Shepard Presentations, LLC emphasizes fixing problems promptly for optimal customer service.

📑 Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, discusses her leadership approach called “the box and the wavy line.” She highlights that disciplined operating systems, standard operating procedures, and financial rigor provide stability in volatile markets. Sarah argues that structure doesn’t stifle creativity but fosters innovation and growth. This framework is designed for hospitality executives to balance control, culture, and expansion effectively.

📚 Hotel sales teams struggle despite tech investments. Approved AI systems, display ads, and email marketing are not boosting market share. Key issues include generic sales proposals, ineffective CRM usage, and lack of mentoring. Only 20% of salespeople optimize their processes; 80% rely on inbound leads. Conducting sales process assessments reveals gaps in efficiency. Veteran sales skills have dulled, and younger staff lack mentorship, exacerbated by remote work. Solutions include training focused on today's sales skills.

🏝️ Stonebridge, a Denver-based company, will manage the Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe, in Montgomery, Texas. This 186-acre resort offers 335 guestrooms, 32 cottages, and 303 suites. It features 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, eight dining options, a fitness center, spa, courts, an 18-hole golf course, a waterpark, and an 80-slip marina. Located 45 minutes from Houston, it offers access to local golf, boating, and wineries. Stonebridge is enhancing its Margaritaville partnership.