Hotel Operations - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 9

2 min

Ross Sneddon of Rocco Forte Hotels Named Pastry Chef of the Year at 2026 Catey Awards

🍮 Ross Sneddon, Executive Pastry Chef at The Balmoral in Edinburgh and Brown’s Hotel in London, was named Pastry Chef of the Year at the 2026 Catey Awards on July 7, 2026. The Catey Awards are the UK’s top hospitality awards. Ross, who has been with The Balmoral since 2015, oversees pastry programs at two Rocco Forte Hotels. His role includes mentoring emerging pastry chefs who have succeeded globally.

3 min

Time Audit Reveals Revenue Managers Spend 25 of 40 Weekly Hours on Non-Decision Tasks, Urging Process Optimization

⏳ For five days, track your time in 30-minute blocks across three categories: Assemble (10 hours), Decide (15 hours), and Prove (15 hours). Of 40 hours, 25 are spent without resulting in a decision. Forecasting is overlooked, leading to inefficient time use. Aim for 3 hours assembling, 30 hours deciding, and 7 hours proving. Analyze your logs and propose changes to your commercial director to optimize time management, rather than relying on new software.

4 min

JMI Realty Selects Avion Hospitality to Manage Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown, Emphasizing Founder-Led and Local Expertise

🏨 JMI Realty selected Avion Hospitality to manage Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown. The criteria included being founder-led, Texas-based, familiar with Hilton Garden Inn, and capable of improving guest service. AI helped assess potential operators through guest service scores. Avion ranked highest. Economic terms were considered after identifying the best fit. JMI's approach highlights the importance of aligning operator capabilities with hotel needs before negotiating terms.

7 min

65% of Hotels Face Staffing Shortages Despite Efforts to Improve Wages and Benefits, AHLA Reports

🏨 Staffing shortages challenge the hospitality industry, with hotel employment down nearly 10% from pre-pandemic levels. Despite higher wages and expanded benefits, 65% of hotels report shortages (AHLA, 2025). Turnover incurs high costs, but 42% of it is preventable through better management (Tatel & Wigert, 2026). Leadership practices, like transparent communication and fostering psychological safety, can mitigate burnout and improve retention, crucial for maintaining service consistency and enhancing guest experiences.

4 min

Hotels Should Adopt Portfolio Management to Maximize Corporate Account Value, Shifting Focus from Volume to Long-term Returns

📈 Hotels invest thousands of hours in negotiating rates and managing corporate accounts, yet often overlook assessing account value. A Portfolio Allocation Framework suggests evaluating accounts on return, growth potential, risk, and strategic value, rather than revenue alone. A practical scorecard rates dimensions like revenue contribution and growth, guiding investment decisions. A shift from habitual account management to strategic portfolio management can significantly enhance long-term returns and optimize sales team efforts.

5 min

Cogwheel Marketing Advocates for Hotel Marketing as Revenue Infrastructure to Boost Long-Term Equity and Direct Bookings

📈 2 days ago, Sienna Crawford from Cogwheel Marketing highlighted how hotel marketing should transition from short-term campaigns to revenue infrastructure. This shift changes marketing from an expense to an investment, enhancing asset valuation and reducing OTA dependency. The marketing funnel includes display ads with a 67% ad recall, SEO with 39%, and metasearch with 7%. Expedia data reveals travelers spend 71 days planning before booking. Expanding focus beyond the booking window can significantly influence guest decisions.

2 min

School Nutrition Association Conference Highlights Five Cost-Effective Employee Recognition Strategies for K-12 Operators

4 September 2026

📑 In Charlotte, North Carolina, during the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference, five cost-effective employee recognition strategies were shared. John McTear from Oakley Union Elementary names menu items after staff. Montgomery Public Schools’ Johnna Rembert-Beard uses a "Wow Wheel" with perks like half-day offs. Handwritten notes, candy bar awards costing $30, and newsletter shoutouts are other methods. These initiatives enhance team morale without significant expense.

2 min

Presidential Commission MAHA Advocates Scratch-Cooking in Schools; Culinary Experts Offer K-12 Nutrition Tips at SNA Conference

4 September 2026

🍳 At the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference in Charlotte, Sharon Schaefer and Corrie Clark from The Culinary Institute of America shared strategies for incorporating scratch-made meals into K-12 menus despite labor and cost challenges. Key tips included using scoops instead of measuring cups, choosing versatile plain yogurt, utilizing watermelon rinds, defrosting and mashing fruit in bags, and applying the "rule of threes" for flavor balancing.

5 min

65% of Hotel Guests Choose Accommodations Based on Breakfast Service, Influencing Brand Reputation and Revenue

3 September 2026

🍽 65% of customers choose hotels based on breakfast service; 91% prefer breakfast in the hotel, with 83% considering it essential for a positive experience. Online visibility boosts when breakfast is offered and reviews are positive. 95% of people read online reviews that influence decisions. Hotels enhancing breakfast service see increased satisfaction, reputation, and profits, with the Franco Grasso Revenue Team studying 2000 hotels over 15 years showing significant brand strength from improved breakfast offerings.

Hotels Can Boost Bookings by Using Online Travel Agents: 11 Tips for Effective Revenue Management

📅 OTAs, like Expedia and Booking.com, are crucial for hotel revenue, offering self-service travel bookings. They connect vendors and customers, unlike hotel metasearch engines such as Trivago. Ten tips to boost bookings include using a distribution manager, maintaining price parity, and leveraging OTA promotions. Additionally, relationship-building with market managers and utilizing marketing tools are essential strategies. OTAs play a vital role in reaching diverse markets efficiently, contrasting with direct hotel website bookings that avoid commission fees.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.