The Food Cost Percentage-Decomposed - By Joe Dunbar
Too much attention is placed on inventory accuracy. Most people miss the finer points of determining their food cost percentage. Clearly, the sales figure which dominates the formula should take center stage. A very close second is the purchases figure. The inventory obsessed need to take a different view. ...more

Inventory Control - Decomposed - By Joe Dunbar
A decade before spreadsheets, inventory forms would be produced from copiers each count period. The count team would often take their counts with no knowledge of the previous count or the current replacement cost. Once the sheets were turned in to the office, a team of accountants would update the unit costs and extend the counts to reach a value. ...more

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Independent Hotel Web Sites Marketing Winners and Losers - By Neil Salerno
Just about every month, I hear from independent hotel owners and managers with questions about marketing their properties on the Internet. Their questions cover many aspects of Internet marketing; web site design, how to improve traffic to their site, pay-per-click and other forms of electronic advertising, online booking engines, developing a link strategy, or simply, how to work with third-party aggregators and the GDS. ...more

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Turning a Transaction into a Relationship - Creating the Memorable Experience - By John R. Hendrie & Brecca Loh
The Check-in at the Front Desk: a mechanical, soulless interaction, prompted by computer inquiry, dictated by robotic responses, and final direction down that dark corridor. Food Service: bland presentation, perfunctory placement of entrée, and perhaps a disinterested, 'Bon Appetite'. ...more

Is Your Hotel A Mess? By Kirby Payne and Bill Gillette
In virtually all the hotels we've served - the good and the bad - these commonalities are almost culture issues. If we find two or three of the good (or bad) aspects, we usually will find more - again, good or bad. Here are ideas where to look. ...more

Pay Me Now, Or Pay Me More Later - By John R. Hendrie
A National Law Firm called me last week, seeking permission to use some comments I wrote in an article published last Summer, 'Ready for Pluckin'. ...more

Mission Impossible It Ain't! - By Gene Ference
Skills that are necessary for you to reach the productivity demanded at your property or in your department can be separated into Professional & Organizational Skill Sets. Use the FMDC as the ultimate performance feedback & professional growth tool. ...more

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WTTC announces 2006 Travel & Tourism forecasts for Middle East
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) released its 2006 Travel & Tourism forecasts for the Middle East today at an inaugural meeting of the WTTC Middle East Chapter. ...more

Weekly U.S. lodging performance for the week of Apr 23, 2006 - Apr 29, 2006
Weekly summary of Occupancy, ADR and REVPar for the United States. ...more

Spain is Hotting up for hotel investors
Spain is back on the map for hotel investors, according to research from Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. The level of transactions will remain strong and in the mid-term, Spain is positioned to become one of Europe's hottest transaction markets in 2006. ...more

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AAA Evaluation Procedure: Is It Fair? - By Harry Nobles
AAA's current evaluation and rating policy is actually quite simple: an anonymous and unannounced evaluation is conducted annually. The final diamond rating for the next AAA TourBook cycle, normally 12 months, is based on that evaluation. ...more

UNLV Research Points The Finger At What Kept Customers Away From Wendy'S After Infamous 'finger In Chili' Incident
UNLV Research Shows Connecting Emotionally To Consumers May Have Helped Repair Damage Brought on by Finger in Chili Scheme ...more

Foodservice Design - Hood Problems: Not Just Smoke And Mirrors - By Lee Simon
Normally I try to avoid discussing technical subjects in this column, but there is one subject that I just could not hold off on any longer. Exhaust hood systems, located in all types of foodservice establishments, are incredibly complex. ...more

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Teen Survey Shows Alarming Lack of Global Destination Knowledge
Research Conducted in Advance of AAA Travel High School Challenge Shows Need for Increased Study of Travel and Destinations ...more

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