Hospitality Headlines
June 18, 2009
Nationwide Prank Calls Wrecking Havoc
Recently, hotel employees and guests at eight properties around the country have been receiving panicked phone calls informing them of a fire in the building, urging them to follow their instructions about how to combat it. These calls are all very similar: a frantic man urges the hotel desk worker or guest to set off a fire sprinkler, sound an alarm or break windows.

Actions taken by employees and guests following the caller’s instructions have resulted in up to $50,000 in water, computer, and infrastructure damage. Cases have recently been reported in Alabama, Arkansas, California, and Nebraska.

To find out what you can do to minimize future damage at your property, click here.

5 Creative Steps Hotels are Taking to Beat the Recession
from eHotelier
The recession has stimulated many hoteliers to use some creative ways to drive sales. Their focal point is to create ways to capture sales in the most cost-effective means possible, with the quickest results possible. Let's face it, few hotels are flush with money right now.

New CHA Program Study Materials Available from the Educational Institute
from NYSH&TA
The Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) is the most prestigious, globally recognized certification available to a hotel general manager or hospitality executive. It identifies you as part of an elite group of hospitality professionals, who by combining education and experience with dedication to the industry have achieved a high level of expertise. The Educational Institute has new and improved study materials available for the CHA program. Content includes: CHA Exam Preparation Booklet, along with a CD that includes all three volumes of CHA resource materials. It gives candidates the opportunity to assess their knowledge and experience by individual competency, and then directs them to the specific resource by volume, chapter, and subject for study and review. The CHA Exam Preparation Booklet and CD are available as part of the CHA enrollment fee of $650, or $450 for AH&LA members. For additional information, visit www.ahlei.org/cha, or call the Professional Certification Department at 888-575-8726 or 407-999-8100. For additional information, visit www.ahlei.org/cha, or call the Professional Certification Department at 888-575-8726 or 407-999-8100. More

Meet The Hotel Tweet
from Hotels Magazine
The latest must-use social media site is Twitter, and its potential applications for hoteliers are endless. Facebook remains the king of online social media, but it is the microblogging site known as Twitter that is the undisputed Internet darling of the moment. More

5 Creative Steps Hotels are Taking to Beat the Recession
from eHotelier
The recession has stimulated many hoteliers to use some creative ways to drive sales. Their focal point is to create ways to capture sales in the most cost-effective means possible, with the quickest results possible. Let's face it, few hotels are flush with money right now. More

“Thriving” and Just “Surviving” in a Depressed Economy: Tips for the Independents
from Hospitality Net
After almost fifteen years of “feast”, the depressed economy, worldwide, has contributed to a dramatic drop in demand and many hotels are operating at significant losses. To respond to the changed conditions, most hoteliers lowered rates and reduced expenses. Although that is a necessary short-term strategy, on its own, it is not enough to generate profits and to compete with large chains and brands that have the greater financial resources and staying power. More

Economy Can't Stop Sustainability Movement
from Hotel Interactive
Going green has become such a priority among hotel brands, developers and customers, even a downtrodden economy isn’t putting the kibosh on hoteliers’ plans to invest in sustainable practices. More