Virgin has a reputation for approaching industries as outsiders and adding a customer-focused pizzazz to anything it touches. Signs the company may move into the hotel industry could lead to interesting developments.

In one of my final duties for our In Your Shoes program at the Mystic Marriott (Conn.), I turned my back on my journalistic roots and went on a few sales calls.

One of my great fears in life has always been food service. So I walked into Day 3 of my In Your Shoes experience at the Mystic Marriott (Conn.) much less enthusiastic because it was filled with work in the kitchen.

Yesterday I learned that it truly takes a village to bring a hotel project to completion, even before the first stake is driven in the ground. The Hilton Columbus Downtown is a true collaboration between brand, owner, developer and city.

I couldn't have a real hotel working experience without trying my hand in laundry and housekeeping--the backbone of the hotel. And I learned a valuable lesson from the experience: I can't even cover a pillow.

Associate Editor Chris Crowell kicks off H&MM's In Your Shoes campaign live from the Mystic Marriott (Conn.), where he has already set out to win an iPod for offering exceptional guest service.

Some vendors were wildly impressed with the quantity and quality of prospective buyers; others expected more attendees. Here are the top five trends I noted at HITEC 2010.

Joe Long told me Kimpton is in the early idea stages of developing a 3½-star concept that would be specifically for markets like Cleveland.

The best new hospitality technology products launched at HITEC 2010 will help staff on hotel floors perform their jobs more efficiently. So far, it looks like iPad applications will be a hot topic.

I had the pleasure of touring the new Trump SoHo New York last week. The property, which opened in April, is an impressive addition to the fashionable and artistic New York district.

The Grand Opening of the expanded Grand Hyatt Belleview—on Seattle's east side—featured a gala celebration and a stunning fashion show.

Our editors take a look at recently renovated hotel properties, along with sponsored slides from our re:fresh partners.

People and places in and around the HD Boutique design show in Miami, September 2009.

Sponsors: Benjamin West & Audit Logistics. Our annual Track Days networking event in Colorado Springs was a great success!

They are back by popular demand! Hotel & Motel Management is happy once again to host executives from online hotel reviews giant TripAdvisor for a live online chat.

At the inaugural IHIF Asia Pacific conference, Shawn Dolley, head of sustainability, Aedas, explains that a successful green program has to be about more than gimmicks to expand the bottom line.

At the inaugural IHIF Asia Pacific conference, Terence Ronson, managing director, Pertlink, discusses guests' needs, from games to entertainment to working efficiently. Ronson says that designers need to be aware of how to incorporate technology to make it easy for guests to use it.

At the inaugural IHIF Asia Pacific conference, Simon Baxter, associate, EC Harris, talks about how operators, owners, and investors can benefit from greening their properties—and why looking at the longer term is a positive.

At the Asian American Hotel Owner's Association conference in Washington, D.C., in April, David Lieberman, senior reporter for USA Today, sat down with Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, to discuss the economy, managing personnel and issues affecting the lodging industry.

The HotelWorld Network put together a three-part video series of Welch's comprehensive and sometimes comical commentary.