Tag Archives: Credit Cards

by Ida | July 20, 2015 · 11:10 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “6 Ways to Prepare For the Next Downturn”

â€œProviding an exceptional guest experience is the best investment any hotelier can make. This is why we as a brand have rolled out a membership-wide training program all about the importance of unlocking the personalities of the staff and the story of the hotel when guests stay,â€ she said.

Good times continue to roll for the global hospitality sector with growth in the travel and tourism industry expected to increase by 3.9% this year, according to Ernst & Youngâ€™s â€œGlobal hospitality insightsâ€ report for 2015.

But in the cyclical fashion of the industry, the upswing canâ€™t last forever.

So what should hoteliers be doing now to prepare for the inevitable down cycle, and how much can investing in their products and services now set them up for not so good times in the future?

For Eric Danziger, president and CEO of Debut Hotel Group and Hampshire Hotels Management, preparation now is absolutely key to success in a future downturn.

â€œHoteliers should be pragmatic, preparing for when it is a bit more difficult to get those much-needed guests through a propertyâ€™s doors,â€ he said. â€œHoteliers that are prepared with a product and with services that guests value, appreciate and are willing to pay for will be ahead of the game.â€

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1IflBgM

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Filed under Employee Practices, Finances, Guest Issues, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Social Media, Technology, Training

Tagged as Boutique Hotels, Credit Cards, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Employees, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality News, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel News, Hotel News Now, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Security, Surveillance, Technology, training program, TripAdvisor

by Ida | July 14, 2015 · 10:10 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Three Rules of Renovation”

â€œIn an era when the next big tech invention seems to arrive every week, we recognize that our guests require us to stay on trend,â€ Spillett says. â€œWe know that traveling can take its toll and sometimes leaves us vulnerable, without the comforts of home. These comforts increasingly fall in the technology category, so we make every effort to ensure that our guests have convenient access to the latest tech amenities and services.â€

Lodgingâ€™s current robust performance is creating a competitive environment when it comes to product freshness. The industry fundamentals have never been better, and these conditions are driving a flurry of construction projects, rebranding and conversion activity, and renovations of every scope throughout the United States.

In the last three years, an estimated 1.2 million hotel rooms have been renovated, representing more than 20 percent of the existing supply, Lodging Econometrics (LE) data reveals. According to Bruce Ford, LEâ€™s senior vice president and director of global business development, the number of renovations will likely trend downward as strong hotel operating profitability discourages owners from making rooms unavailable while being renovated. However, for those hoteliers willing to take the plunge and make some upgrades, here are some key takeaways for making the best renovation decisions for your bottom line.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1MrH4ks

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Filed under Hotel Industry, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Technology

Tagged as Credit Cards, Design, Employees, Green Energy, Green Lodging, Green Technology, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality News, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Design, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel News, Hotel Renovations, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, Hotel Technology, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Lodging Magazine, Managing Risk, Motels, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Renovation, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Security, Sustainability, Technology

by Ida | July 9, 2015 · 11:23 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Cuts to Per Diem Rates Could Mean Less Business for Hotels”

However, not only does this policy penalize the men and women who ensure our national security on a daily basis, but it also threatens to erode the morale of the workforce and will mean less business for hotels and firms that cater to federal travelers. These same companies are extremely supportive of our military and veteran communities, and they too will face negative effects of this policy.

As Congress and the Administration make decisions on how to reduce fiscal spending, there is a basic set of principles they must follow to make sure the policies enacted are fair and balanced. While cuts in spending are guaranteed to have an adverse effect on at least one group or geographical area, a 2014 policy on per diem rates for military personnel and defense civilian employees who receive temporary duty assignment (TDY) for long-term periods failed to be either fair or balanced. It affected service members and defense personnel in my home state of Hawaii to a far greater extent than the small amount of savings it contributed to the budget. That is why I made it my top priority in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act and was successful in including the provision in the bill that reversed this ill-thought-out policy.

Defense spending heavily supports Hawaiiâ€™s economyâ€”nearly 20 percent, according to a study by the RAND Corporation. This economic contribution falls second only to our tourism industry, which adds approximately $14 billion to the stateâ€™s gross domestic product every year. Therefore, dedicating support to preserve and enhance these industries is a top priority for any politician representing the state. Reversing policies with unintended consequences that negatively affect these industries, along with the almost 20,000 Department of Defense civilian employees in the state, also should take
top consideration.

For more: http://bit.ly/1HfjYKh

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Filed under Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as Congress, Credit Cards, Department of Defense, Employees, Fiscal Spending, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Insurance, Liability, Lodging Magazine, Managing Risk, Military, Mobile Technology, Motels, P3, Per Diem Rates, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Risk Management, Security, Surveillance, Technology, Washington Dispatch

by Ida | June 18, 2015 · 8:34 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Hoteliers Need to Own Their Property Website”

While low cost and minimal fees are an appealing draw, rental websites are a classic example of a scenario in which one gets what one pays for, but in this case, possibly even less since the ownership of the site and what hoteliers are putting funds toward is not theirs at the end of the day. This doesnâ€™t even take into account the additional shortcomings seen from rented hotel websites such as no search engine optimization, little service or support following the initial set-up, a limited number of site pages, photos or content and so on.

The hospitality industry has seen a number of agencies offering hoteliers a low-cost, low-budget website that they can rent. It has been widely noted that these agencies, which promise all of the bells and whistles associated with investing thousands of dollars and development resources, often leave hoteliers in the lurch after the deal is done.

Why? A number of reasons, but perhaps the most important is that agencies that rent hotel websites do not provide hoteliers with true ownership of their content which becomes problematic as explained below.

It should come as no surprise that a hotelâ€™s digital assets should be owned by the property, however, the subject of digital ownership seems to be overlooked by hoteliers doing business with rental agencies. Hoteliersâ€™ ownership should reach past the physical ownership of their property to include their digital content and here is why:

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1FoRs6F

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Filed under Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Technology

Tagged as Credit Cards, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Digital Branding, Digital Marketing, Employees, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Branding, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Marketing, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel websites, hotel workers, hoteliers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, Online Branding, Online Marketing, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, search engine optimization, Security, Surveillance, Technology, Theft

by Ida | June 16, 2015 · 10:16 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Protect Your Property from Common Industry Scams”

To prevent any type of scam, Bragiel suggests that hoteliers establish reliable contacts within banks, businesses, and the hotelâ€™s credit card processor. That way, if questions of authenticity arise, the front desk staff can turn to trusted sources. â€œWhen in doubt, we always encourage our members to check with the folks they have relationships with,â€ says Bragiel

It could be disguised as a typical guest interaction: Someone checks in under a corporate account that does not require a credit card, only for management to later realize the guest was not an employee of the company. Or, it could be someone whose credit card fails to go through, so he or she provides the clerk with a false authorization code. Both of these scenarios are common lodging industry scams, pulled by con artists who exploit front desk protocols to get a free stay, and oftentimes managers donâ€™t even know what happened until the guest is long gone.

Fraud is a growing issue in the United States, with retailers losing $32 million in 2014 to credit card scamming, up from $23 million in 2013, according to a recent Business Insider report. For hoteliers to avoid becoming a victim of one of these cons, it is important that they not only recognize the signs of common industry scams but also learn how to be proactive in protecting a property from vulnerability.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1GKYRTh

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Filed under Crime, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Training

Tagged as Arrest, Credit Card Scam, Credit Cards, Credit Fraud, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Employees, Fraud, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Scams, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Lodging Magazine, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, Online Scams, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Scams, Security, Surveillance, Technology, Theft

by Ida | June 11, 2015 · 9:14 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “3 Ways the Hotel Industry is Changing”

â€œWeâ€™re under attack right now,â€ he said. â€œWeâ€™re under direct attack. Weâ€™ve got Expedia and Orbitz planning a merger. They have 75% of the online marketplace. This is like the Klingons and Romulans teaming up together.”…David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western International, said he is not surprised to see consolidation among online travel agencies considering that some hotel companies are consolidating, too.

J. Allen Smith has a problem.

â€œI keep feeling: â€˜What should I be worried about?â€™â€ the president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts said Tuesday during a general session â€œThe leaders forumâ€ panel at the 37th annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference.

â€œYouâ€™re mindful of a plethora of risks. None of them seems to be materializing in a way that seems to be disrupting anything, but you have to be mindful of them,â€ he said

Smithâ€™s comment succinctly summed up the sentiment on Day Two of the NYU Conference. With the industry hitting on all cylinders, it can be difficult to find things to be concerned about.

Difficult, but not impossible it turns out, as top leaders from around the industry discussed their biggest concerns in this part of the cycle. One of the recurring themes throughout the three-hour long series of morning general sessions had to do with how the hotel industry itself is in transition.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1MsNG1s

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Filed under Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Social Media, Technology

Tagged as Best Western International, Credit Cards, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Digital Branding, Digital Marketing, Employees, Expedia, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Guest Experience, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, hotel companies, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel News Now, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, Online Branding, Online Marketing, Online Marketplace, online travel agencies, Orbitz, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Restaurants, Risk Management, Security, Surveillance, Technology, Theft, TripAdvisor

by Ida | June 1, 2015 · 11:51 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Is Your Hotel Properly Collecting and Preserving Incident Related Evidence ?”

Videos can make or break a case. For example, in one case, video footage clearly showed that the plaintiff initiated the fist fight that was at the heart of his lawsuit. The video would have absolved the hotel from all liability, but the hotel failed to properly preserve this key piece of evidence.As a result, the case had to be settled instead of vigorously defended. Further, as digital surveillance systems continue to become the industry standard, judges have been less forgiving when it comes to claims that the pertinent footage was either lost or never preserved.

By the time a case reaches an attorneyâ€™s desk, all too often pertinent evidence either has been lost â€” or was never collected in the first place. Californiaâ€™s statute of limitations for a personal lawsuit is two years; consequently, an attorneyâ€™s first involvement in an incident on your property usually happens more than two years after the incident has occurred. If your hotel or resort has not properly gathered and preserved evidence, it becomes very challenging to recreate what transpired. Hence, it is imperative that; your hotel have formal written evidence retention policies; that first responders and security teams are properly trained on how to gather the evidence; and that hotel staff take steps to ensure that this evidence is preserved. Failing to collect and preserve evidence can turn a defensible case into a major settlement.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1FPnjkz

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Filed under Crime, Employee Practices, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Insurance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as Arrest, Credit Cards, Crime, Crisis Management, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Death, Document Retention, Employees, Evidence, Fire, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Incident, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Illnesses, Incident Report, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Pool and Spa Safety, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Security, Spoliation of Evidence, Surveillance, Swimming Pools, Technology, Theft, Videos

by Ida | May 28, 2015 · 11:02 am

Hospitality Industry Conference Update: “California Hotel Owner Conference”

Come out and see Brad Durbin from Petra Risk Solutions in the educational session:

Hotel Cyber Liability: Â Claim Trends & Cost Analysis

Last year’s Hotel Owner Conference was a huge success! Â So back by popular demand, join the California Hotel & Lodging Association, June 11-12, 2015 at the historic, state-of-the-art Silverado Resort & Spa, in the world-famous Napa Valley. The conference will bring together hotel owners, brands, brokers, CEO’s and other hotel industry experts for a conference all about networking, deal-making and high-level education.

For more: http://bit.ly/1PQrLri

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Filed under Conferences, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as Arrest, California Hotel & Lodging Association, Credit Cards, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Death, Employees, Fire, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Branding, Hotel Conference, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Marketing, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Illnesses, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, Online Branding, Online Marketing, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Security, Surveillance, Swimming Pools, Technology, Theft, Videos

by Ida | May 18, 2015 · 10:00 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Update: “Hotels Work to Curb Harrowing Trend of Sex Trafficking in Metro”

“O’Meara, an attorney, is Nebraska’s new human trafficking coordinator. He wants people to be aware so victims can be rescued…”What happens is the victim is convinced by the trafficker (that) the only value the victim has as a human being is the ability to make money through commercial sex acts for the pimp,” O’Meara said…Omaha’s upscale Magnolia Hotel was the first to train hospitality workers to spot sex trafficking.”

Local law enforcement is trying to educate hotel workers to recognize signs of sex trafficking. The hope is to rescue women often caught in a cycle of abuse, violence and neglect.

“I was petrified to go outside,” Melissa said.

She said that for more than three years, she was forced to sell herself for money.

“The brain-washing, psychological games — it takes years,” Melissa said.

She wants Omaha to know that prostitution is slavery, with a pimp in charge of every move.

“I just wasn’t allowed out of his sight,” Melissa said.

Her message is the same one shared as part of a new pilot program in Omaha, which trains hotel workers to spot and report sex trafficking.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1Jtnwg7

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Filed under Crime, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as ABC, ABC News, Arrest, Credit Cards, Crime, Death, Domestic Violence, Employees, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Human Trafficking, Human Trafficking Coalition, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, Notre Dame Sisters, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Safety, Security, Sex Trafficking, Sexual Abuse, Surveillance, Technology, The Guardian Group, Training

by Ida | May 15, 2015 · 2:08 pm

Hospitality Industry Conference Update: “Hospitality Law Conference”

Hospitality Law Conference

Presented by Anderson Kill and Petra Risk Solutions: Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at The Cornell Club in New York

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1RdDoqn

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Filed under Conferences, Hotel Industry, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as Arrest, Credit Cards, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Death, Digital Media, Employees, Fire, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Branding, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Law, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel, Hotel Conference, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Marketing, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Illnesses, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Marketing, Mobile Technology, Motels, New York, New York City, Online Marketing, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Pool and Spa Safety, Pool Safety, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Security, Surveillance, Swimming Pools, Technology, Theft, Videos

Tag Archives: Credit Cards

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Three Rules of Renovation”

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Cuts to Per Diem Rates Could Mean Less Business for Hotels”

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Hoteliers Need to Own Their Property Website”

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Protect Your Property from Common Industry Scams”

Hospitality Industry Risk Update: “Is Your Hotel Properly Collecting and Preserving Incident Related Evidence ?”

Hospitality Industry Conference Update: “California Hotel Owner Conference”

Come out and see Brad Durbin from Petra Risk Solutions in the educational session:

Hotel Cyber Liability: Â Claim Trends & Cost Analysis

Hospitality Industry Crime Update: “Hotels Work to Curb Harrowing Trend of Sex Trafficking in Metro”

Hospitality Industry Conference Update: “Hospitality Law Conference”

Hospitality Law Conference

Presented by Anderson Kill and Petra Risk Solutions: Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at The Cornell Club in New York

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Tag Archives: Credit Cards

Come out and see Brad Durbin from Petra Risk Solutions in the educational session:

Hotel Cyber Liability: Â Claim Trends & Cost Analysis

Hospitality Law Conference

Presented by Anderson Kill and Petra Risk Solutions: Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at The Cornell Club in New York

Like us on Facebook!

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