Hotel Operations

🏨 In 2025, hotel pricing strategies include competitor-based, forecasting-based, length-of-stay, segment-based, incentive-based, cancellation policy, upselling, cross-selling, and rate-parity strategies. These methods help optimize rates and increase revenue by considering market trends, guest segments, and booking behaviors. Post-COVID, forecasting remains challenging, but with data-driven approaches, hotels can achieve revenue growth while ensuring competitive rates. Rate parity helps build guest loyalty by offering the best prices compared to OTAs, enhancing direct bookings.

🎵 At CREATE: The Event for Emerging Restaurateurs, Paul Blair, Tommy Ostrom, and Otto Othman discussed the critical role of music in hospitality establishments. Othman emphasized viewing a restaurant brand like a human to choose authentic music, though his idea of hip-hop for Pincho backfired due to unsuitable lyrics. Blair suggested selecting music based on customer preference, while Ostrom highlighted situational music choices, such as for Ohio State events. Blair also curated music for Graduate hotels, balancing local and universal identities.

📃 Oscar Serrano shares insights on leveraging operational experience for commercial strategy in the hospitality sector. Growing up in Majorca, a tourism hub, he emphasizes understanding operations to enhance guest experiences and business outcomes. His approach impacts sales, marketing, and brand development at UMusic Hospitality. This highlights the importance of focusing on the guest journey for commercial success.

🏨 Book your hotel 2 months in advance to find the best rates. Direct bookings can provide perks unavailable on third-party sites. Evaluate hotel reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor and Google Maps. Choose a location based on your trip's purpose—business travelers prefer proximity to convention centers, while leisure travelers may opt for entertainment areas. Consider hotel amenities and check cancellation policies. Join loyalty programs for potential free upgrades. Balance cost savings with your specific travel needs.

🏨 Who? Hotel website designers. When? Updated strategies for 2025. Where? Online hotel websites. What? Tips for creating engaging and effective hotel website designs. How? Use brand colors consistently, employ contrasting text colors, utilize a maximum of three fonts, and incorporate white space for clarity. Employing authentic images and personalized content is crucial. Test effectiveness with A/B testing and ensure mobile compatibility. THN’s platform provides tools, templates, and an image gallery to enhance design efforts.

🏨 Seasonal staffing in hotels involves hiring temporary workers during peak demand periods like summer or ski season. This ensures top-notch service when guest numbers spike, controls labor costs, and reduces burnout among full-time staff. However, challenges such as last-minute hiring stress and managing quality persist. Best practices include early recruitment, streamlined onboarding, and flexible cross-training. Tools like Mews' property management system aid in forecasting needs and simplifying operations.

📰 Andrew Arthurs, President and COO at Actabl, shares insights on career acceleration in hospitality by focusing on problem-solving over technology. As a former CIO, he emphasizes starting with the right questions to unlock opportunities and scale solutions. His approach aids in driving value and fostering career growth. For more insights, listen to the full episode and implement the strategies to enhance your business.

📈 Andrew Arthurs, President and COO of Actabl, discusses labor cost management in hospitality on a podcast. In October 2025, Arthurs emphasizes enhancing labor efficiency using cross-functional collaboration and data-driven decision-making. Two key articles by Arthurs address the industry's talent crisis and strategies for talent retention. For more insights, visit Hotel Effectiveness by Actabl or subscribe to Hospitality Daily for summaries and actionable insights from each episode.

💻 Andrew, in the hospitality industry, emphasizes the importance of networking and relationship-building for career growth. He notes the "network effect," which brings value to companies like Actabl through deep-rooted professional connections. Andrew compares Aimbridge's role in developing hospitality leaders to the "PayPal mafia" effect. He stresses the need to give back and nurture these connections, as demonstrated by leaders like Geoffrey Ballotti, CEO of Wyndham. This approach aids in identifying and fostering talent across the industry.

📖 Shanell Marinuzzi has successfully revitalized underperforming hotels by enhancing culture, boosting morale, and driving performance, all on limited budgets. This approach has been repeatedly effective, proving the importance of leadership and team dynamics in hotel success. Marinuzzi's insights are shared in a podcast episode, where listeners can learn strategies for improving performance in the hospitality industry.