Brad Lewis has been named executive director, PCMA Education Foundation and Head, PCMA Education and the new 2011-2013 strategic plan becomes more member and education focused.

Many hotels overlook the opportunity to upsell guests to higher-priced options.

The average social-media spend for marketers whose primary objective is to obtain customer loyalty was $88,000 last year, according to national survey results jointly released by Colloquy and the Direct Marketing Association.

The timeshare industry is known for its marketing savvy, so it makes sense that this segment hit the ground running when it came to adopting social media strategies. Most timeshare brands and associations are using social media outlets to strengthen the bond with their most critical mass--current timeshare owners.

Three out of ten cell phones in use in the U.S. are now smart phones with Internet connectivity, and nearly two in ten travelers have downloaded a travel-related app.

Timeshare experts share some best practices for social media success that apply across the board.

The Travel Buyers Survey, released by Maxvantage, shows that 60 percent of respondents think the meetings industry is gradually improving and feel it is stable. The survey also shows that since January 2010, the drop in hotel rates started to level off and in second quarter hotel rates showed signs of stabilization.

The first step in understanding the business of prospecting is to be sure we know what the term refers to in our hospitality industry. There is so much confusion among hotel properties as to how managers and salespeople interpret the term “prospect.”

Branded and independent properties are experimenting with new promotions this summer.

Nearly 40 CHART conference attendees help build a home in New Orleans.