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Some of you may have heard the news about one hotel’s recent implementation of the strategy known as “The Envelope Please”, which is an envelope left in rooms to encourage gratuity for housekeepers. If you haven’t, there was a bit of hoopla about it.

It’s a simple concept apparently tied to Maria Shriver’s group, A Woman’s Nation, with the goal of promoting economic empowerment. The envelope is left in each guest room with a short message noting the opportunity to leave gratuity for the housekeeping staff who worked on a particular room. As the hotel chain explained:

“Hotel room attendants often go unnoticed, as they silently care for the millions of travelers who are on the road at any given time. Because hotel guests do not always see or interact with room attendants, their hard work is many times overlooked when it comes to tipping. The Envelope Please makes leaving them a gratuity simple and secure.”

Seems harmless enough, right? And this isn’t the first hotel chain to use a tip envelope. Some travelers say no, equating the practice to something resembling blackmail. For others, it prompts questions about the wages being paid to housekeeping staff members.

Of course, that’s not the stance all travelers take. Some feel that the implementation of “The Envelope Please” is a breath of fresh air allowing guests the chance to properly thank the housekeeping staff and ensure that their tip is going to the correct person every time. And some are not opposed to the idea, in theory, but would embrace the movement if some changes were made in how tips are dished out. For example, rather than a cash exchange, the option to add gratuity for the housekeepers onto their hotel bill would be more convenient.

So the question remains – to leave a tip envelope or not? What’s your stance? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

There’s a new epidemic hitting hotels hard. It’s called renovation fever. It wasn’t long ago that the hospitality industry was suffering through the Great Recession, when the focus shifted from “how can we be better?” to “how can we stay afloat?” Well, we’re happy to report that hotel renovations and refreshes are on the up-and-up – to a tune of $5.6 billion in improvements – and that’s only in the last year alone. Here’s what you need to know about the latest craze.

• Repeat after us – guestrooms, lobby, and food service. Those are the most popular areas of improvement being seen across the board.
• Plan for the fall and early winter months if you’re going to opt in to a refresh or renovation. On average, the slowest months for non-resort hotels are November – January, so that’s the ideal time to start your revamp.
• If you can’t afford to renovate, then refresh. With stylish case goods. You can update or upgrade your guest rooms without having to invest in complete furniture replacement. Adding hard tops to case goods might be an option as well.
• For another affordable renovation idea, think total room design schemes. Just as it sounds, this approach provides you with a full-room design package. All you do is choose, order and install.
• When it comes to food, consolidation is key. One kitchen that can serve all areas of food service without sacrificing quality has become the goal for many venues.
• Get your furniture counts right the first time. With renovations being popular right now, supplies are in high demand. Make sure you’ve got the numbers right so you can be sure the supplier has enough of the item in-stock to fit your order. Also, order domestic. Your furniture will generally be delivered more quickly and have lower shipping costs.
• Focus on the ‘third-space’. Rather than a distinct check-in area, bar, workspace and eatery, blend them beautifully into an all-purpose, all-inviting common space.

Voila! All the inside info you need to get on your way to a chicer, fresher version of your venue.

Do you have a great idea on how to freshen up a hotel or business? Click here to share your idea and you could win thousands of dollars worth of products from our FRESH Ideas flyer to outfit your venue!

Give your guests a good night’s sleep. Whether traveling or on an extended stay, everyone wants to sleep well. Here are some smart tips to help you create a great sleep environment.

1. Quality vs. Quantity
   It’s a widely held misconception that, when it comes to sheets, thread count matters most. In some cases, a 600-thread count set of sheets may not be as good as 400 thread count sheets. What really matters is fabric. High quality Egyptian cotton with a lower thread count may be just as good, if not better, than high thread count in a lower-quality fabric. The fabrics to look for are Egyptian cotton or pima cotton – also referred to as Supima.
2. Shut the Light Out
   It can be tough to promise a soundless sleep in a hotel given the nature of the business. People are up and down halls all the time, elevators are moving, ice machines churning out cubes. But, you can encourage sleep by outfitting your rooms with “black-out” curtains. The heavy material shuts out light, creating a dark, snuggly sleep den with a simple pull of the drapes.
3. Consider Scent
   If you really want to go the extra mile to ensure your guests are getting sound restful sleep, invest in some sleepy scents. Lavender is often associated with relaxation and sleep, but best of all is jasmine. A study revealed that a whiff of the fragrant flower reduces anxiety and has a calming effect. If the thought of placing living flowers in each room regularly makes your wallet shudder with fear, try a jasmine scented air freshener or linen spray.
4. Drown Out Sounds
   As we mentioned, it can be tough to guarantee a noise free stay, even if you place sleep troubled guests in optimal rooms. The simplest answer is a white noise machine. The devices can help drown outside noise and create a more soothing sleep environment for your guests. They come at a relatively inexpensive price. But, if you’re not up for equipping all rooms with one, try adding them as a service available upon request.

Well-rested guests are sure to be happier guests. Now that we’ve given you the tools to better sleep, it’s just a matter of which ones you’ll implement at your venue, and perhaps even in your own home. As mentioned, everybody wants to catch some quality Zs, not just travelers. Help them rest up and you will make a lasting impression.

Not every hotel is willing to embrace their guests’ furry and feathered counterparts. While that’s perfectly fine, those that do make room for pets may soon see an increase in booking.

Today, pets are a huge part of the average family dynamic. The thought of leaving Fido or Fifi at home or in a kennel while owners hit the road can evoke a pang of sadness. So much so that many pet owners opt to stay in a different hotel than originally intended just so their beloved pets can tag along. As of 2013, an estimated 61% of properties welcomed pets into their hotel.

In fact, hoteliers, both domestic and abroad, have gone so bananas over the influx of guests thanks to an open pet policy that they’ve started crafting elaborate packages tailored to the truly pampered pet. One Paris hotel offers a ‘Posh Dog’ menu complete with chopped filet of beef and a side of basmati rice. Stateside, some hotels offer exercise classes for both owner and dog to participate in, called ‘doga’, as well as spa treatments such as ‘pet-icures’. If this all sounds a little over the top to you, don’t worry – pet owners say there are really just a few key things they’re looking for when booking a pet-friendly hotel.

1. Pets-Accepted vs. Pet-Friendly
   Pet parents tend to show allegiance with a particular hotel or chain once they’ve found one that they like. If you’re going to advertise as ‘pet-friendly,’ it is important that you actually are pet friendly – meaning you don’t just accept animals if your guest happens to have one, but you welcome them.
2. Competitive Prices
   This, again, tends to relate back to ‘pet-accepting’ vs. ‘pet-friendly’. An elevated fee for a pet-friendly room is expected and completely fine with pet owners, but sky rocketing pet fees will not make for happy guests. This is seen as false advertising, in a sense. The high prices signify tolerance of pets rather than happily accommodating pets, so be sure to look at what other hotels are charging and keep your fees as competitive as you can afford.
3. Location, Location, Location
   Yes, this has to do with physical location. Pet-friendly hotels on grassy lots avoid the fear that pups will be left in desperate need of a grassy relief. Make sure your hotel has a suitable dog walk area, even if it’s just a grassy strip circling the building. Cooped up pups are no fun for anyone. Be sure to place pet waste stands throughout the walk space to encourage responsible pet-ownership.

Even if you are not an animal person, your guests may be, and it’s all about their experience. The more fun that they’re having at your venue, the more apt they are to remember it, spread the word, and return with Fido on their next trip.