Founded by John and Cynthia Hardy, the sustainability philosophy of Bambu Indah developed from its origin. Only two trees were relocated to accommodate eleven antique century-old Javanese houses, while new structures including the lobby, restaurant and new houses showcase their passion for bamboo as an alternative to rainforest timber. Bamboo takes three years to grow to full maturity and has the strength to scaffold even Hong Kong’s skyscrapers.

Service issues are sometimes unavoidable, but when you put the safety of a customer at risk, the least you can do is show empathy and make some service recovery efforts. Amtrak's negligence during a recent trip shocked me, but their response to my complaint left me speechless.

The best loss prevention tactic is to personally know the ins and outs and stealing tactics out there. 

"In short, companies must bear in mind that ‘speed of service’ contains two critical elements: speed and service." Gallup Report

"Africa is probably to China what Asia was to the U.S. While the U.S. leveraged Asia's labor, China is leveraging Africa's commodities."

As markets get saturated with all the brands under the sun, hotel management companies are developing new brands to cater to developers’ demands. Take an already cluttered brand architecture with existing brands that might have confused identities and positioning, and throw a few new ones in the pot. You get the idea.

Are young Filipino workers motivated by pay alone?Or might they also be motivated by other factors? Is there an opportunity to grow and succeed financially in the hospitality industry Without leaving their home country?

Which platform is appropriate for your brand? It depends on your market, your positioning, and your brand. 

How people travel is changing and hotels and other destinations have to adapt their offering as such to attract and build long term loyalty. Here are our thoughts on trends moving forward - from staycations to Airbnb, food tourism to voluntourism.

Sure, I like a hotel that listens to my preferences, but when it starts assuming that I like girly magazines and pink-toned furniture because I'm a single female traveler, I have to think twice about how intuitive it actually is.

When developers are trying to outdo each other by spending more on design, services and amenities, I wonder 'Is silence the new luxury?'

If you're going to enforce a dress code to keep people well dressed, then arm your door with a fashionista, not a bouncer with spare Crocs.

With the growing number of certifications is the growing list of uncertainties.

Being proactive and measuring your hotel’s carbon footprint in one form or another is commendable. But regardless of how you measure it, who you do it for or why you do it at all, be transparent about your methodology and overall CSR strategy. Written clearly and concisely, a CSR report can speak volumes.