Most Clicked AH&LA SmartBrief Stories
1. Sales mistakes that set up prospects to just say no
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 03, 2008
Sales professionals can inadvertently set themselves up to fail by delivering a poor pitch and actually opening the door for objections that prospects may not have even considered on their own. Remember: Use the pitch as a springboard to uncover a prospect's needs and wants, so that you can better position your offering as the ideal solution. Manage Smarter (08/28)
2. Departing Wyndham exec to get $2.2M severance
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 04, 2008
Steven A. Rudnitsky, outgoing CEO of Wyndham Worldwide Corp.'s lodging unit, will receive about $2.2 million in cash severance, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rudnitsky is scheduled to leave the company Sept. 30. Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (09/03)
3. Most New Orleans hotels close ahead of Hurricane Gustav
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 02, 2008
Only a handful of New Orleans hotels remained open early this week as Hurricane Gustav struck the city. Although most properties were closed and secured, a few hotels housed support personnel and media representatives. The Ritz-Carlton and Starwood's W hotel, Sheraton on Canal and the Westin New Orleans Canal Place were among the hotels that closed. Los Angeles Times (free registration) (09/01)
4. Hotel oddities range from too much soap to bidets
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 05, 2008
A frequent hotel guest offers a list of hotels' most annoying oddities. They include useless signs, too much soap, sky-high minibar prices, and bidets. MSNBC (09/03)
5. Marriott pulls out of major San Diego hotel project
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 03, 2008
Marriott Corp. has dropped out of a plan for a 1,929-room hotel at San Diego's Ballpark Village. The hotel would have been the West Coast's largest; delays in city approval and uncertainty in the market were blamed for Marriott's departure. San Diego Union-Tribune (08/30)
6. 10 tips for hotel sales
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 05, 2008
Success in the hotel business depends on the perfect mix of professionalism and the human touch. A list of 10 strategies for success includes taking time to think and plan, listening closely, returning phone calls within 24 hours and positioning yourself as a problem-solver for your clients. 4Hoteliers (09/05)
7. Poll: Have you ever requested a room change more than once during the same stay?
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 02, 2008
Look for the results of today's poll in the Editor's Note section of Thursday's AH&LA SmartBrief and in AH&LA's e-Newsletter.
8. Hotels in Texas city find tight market for experienced managers
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 02, 2008
Hotels in Frisco, Texas, are facing a tight labor market. Many new hotels and restaurants have opened in the area, draining its supply of seasoned managers. Frisco will add about 600 hotel rooms and more than 200 jobs before the end of 2008, and some companies are contacting hospitality programs to recruit workers. Dallas Morning News, The (09/01)
9. Column: For some guests, switching rooms is routine
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 02, 2008
Some guests request room changes several times after checking into a hotel, The New York Times' Geraldine Fabrikant writes. While some simply want the best room for the price, hotel managers note that others are out to get an upgrade. Guests also say that tipping desk clerks can help improve their chances of getting an upgraded room. New York Times, The (08/31)
10. Hotels increasingly make efforts to go green
AH&LA SmartBrief | Sep 03, 2008
Hotel chains that are making extra efforts to go green include Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Starwood, especially its Element brand. The Hilton in Vancouver, Wash., and the Orchard Garden Hotel in San Francisco are two hotels that have been built or renovated to achieve LEED certification. Hospitality Net (09/02)
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