Management

Hotels are often sympathetic to their surrounds, offering amenities and experiences that are appropriate to their location – but how important is a hotel’s connection to place and history, particularly given Australia’s rich and complex past?

As anyone who has worked in the profession of hotel sales and catering sales for 10 or more years knows, the skill-set required to be a top performer is quite different these days. Today's sales superstars still have to have exceptional 'people skills', which today is more formally referred to as emotional intelligence.

A poor hotel experience is no laughing matter but a new survey turned-up some notable write-in responses highlighting the cause of some very bad nights.

Australia’s peak hospitality organisation, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA), and tourism accommodation body, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), welcomed the certainty provided by the Fair Work Commission (FWC)’s announcement on the transitional arrangements for penalty rates.

All room maids, you would assume, know how to put together a clean and comfortable bed…

“When it comes to privacy and accountability, people al-ways demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.” So said David Brin, the award-winning American scientist and science fiction author.

It has come to pass that the number of phone calls made has declined, and at most hotels the job of PBX Operator has been folded into the front desk. Guests now receive personal calls directly on their mobile phones, and hotel websites answer most basic questions that guests used to call about such as directions or transportation. In the meantime, the number of reservations booked online has increased while voice reservations have declined.

It’s common for guests to forget or misplace personal items while travelling, and often the first place they turn to is hotel reception – but where should hotels draw the line with personal guest supplies, and how much can guests really expect to get for free? AccomNews asked both budget and luxury hotels what items reception should have on hand.

How will it be delivered to your complex? FTTP, FTTN, FTTPD...what does it all even mean?

Nicky Griffiths is the new management rights owner of Catalina Resort, one of the Sunshine Coast’s finest family resorts, located on the beautiful shores of Maroochydore beach.