Articles
Browse our latest articles, insights, and resources.
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Essential Hotel Check-In Tips for Smart Travelers
Smart Traveler Check-In Checklist: What 17 Years in Hotels Has Taught Me After 17 years running hotel in British Columbia , I can tell you this: the first 15 minutes after you open your room door are the most important of your entire stay. This is when you catch problems, fix expectations, and set yourself…
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First-Time International Travel: 9 Costly Mistakes to Avoid
First-Time International Travel: What No One Tells You Before You Book I’ve spent the last 17 years running hotels and watching thousands of guests walk through the lobby for their first international trip. I’ve seen the jet-lagged, the over-packed, the under-prepared, and the “I had no idea that was a rule” crowd. This guide is…
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Living Like a Local Instead of a Tourist (Cheaper and Better)
Living Like a Local Instead of a Tourist: A Better Way to Travel in Retirement If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve earned something most people only dream about: time. Time to linger over coffee, to ride the tram to the last stop, to sit in a quiet square and simply watch a place breathe.…
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Cutting Breakfast: A Smart Hotel Strategy
Cutting continental Breakfast: A Smart Hotel Strategy In hospitality, there is an unspoken pressure to keep up with the “amenity arms race.” If the property down the street offers a continental breakfast, you feel obligated to match it. If they add a waffle iron, you feel the need to add a pancake machine. After many…
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Why Frequent Travelers Prefer Hotels Over Airbnb
: How Frequent Travelers Actually Decide If you travel a lot, you already know: the “Hotels vs Airbnb” debate isn’t about vibes on social media, it’s about what works for a specific trip. I work in hospitality, travel constantly, and book for other people all the time. Here’s how I really think about it when…
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Hotels vs Airbnb: Real Costs, Safety, and Comfort Compared
Hotels vs Airbnb: A Candid Guide for Global Travelers The old choice used to be simple: hotel or hostel. Today, for most destinations on earth, it is hotel or Airbnb (or similar short-term rentals). I have worked with both sides of the hospitality world, and the honest answer is this: neither is “better” overall, but…
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The Hotel Operator’s Guide to Seasonal Staffing
The Hotel Operator’s Guide to Seasonal Staffing Across every region and market segment, seasonal hotels face the same structural challenge: a short, intense trading window with very little room for error. Whether the property is a boutique hotel in Southeast Asia, a beach resort in Europe, a safari lodge in Africa, or a mountain inn…
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Hotel Guide to Tour Bus Groups: From Lobby Chaos to Smooth Runs
Managing Tour Bus Groups: What No One Tells You Every summer, the tour buses roll in: engines idling, guests stretching, tour director scanning your lobby to see if you’re ready or already behind. If you manage a hotel, you know those 40–50 people stepping off the bus can either be controlled profit or controlled chaos.…
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Hotel Overbooking Strategies to Minimize Guest Loss and Fallout
The article outlines effective strategies for handling hotel overbooking situations to retain guest loyalty. It emphasizes the importance of preparation, clear communication, and prompt compensation when a guest must be relocated. By owning mistakes, providing a solution, and following up, hotels can turn a challenging experience into an opportunity for enhanced guest relationships.
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Mastering Guest Relations: Dealing with Difficult Hotel Guests
How to Handle Difficult Guests: Real Scenarios and What to Do After 17+ years owning and operating hotel in BC, I can tell you this: difficult guests are part of the job, not a sign you or your team are failing. What matters is how you handle them. The goal isn’t to win every argument;…