According to the Luxury Institute's latest Wealth Report, the world's luxury consumers are reporting better sales and more positive viewpoints about luxury brands, including hotels.

While the headline news from last week's Best Western International Convention was the company's plan to describe its brand tiers more clearly, executives outlined additional areas of focus, including boosting its loyalty program membership and responding to customer feedback by improving breakfast offerings. BY EDITOR IN CHIEF STEPHANIE RICCA

Best Western plans to boost its brand clarity in the coming year by identifying key descriptors that explain the brand at each of its tiers in the midscale segment. BY EDITOR IN CHIEF STEPHANIE RICCA

This interaction with the customer is your last opportunity to demonstrate your concern for the guest and your overall character. In the days of in-room or automated check-out processes, the face-to-face interaction should be viewed as a rare occasion and a chance to build guest loyalty. BY ONLINE COLUMNIST JOHN ELY

The new “Guestiquette” site provides guidance on wedding guest etiquette topics and helps brides and grooms book and manage their hotel accommodations.

Build your biz: Get value out of your advertising agency; Loews Hotels' Jonathan Tisch on the power of sports travel; Promotion of the Week: Best Western

Online social network allows Marriott Rewards members to advise each other on getting the most out of travel and hotel stays.

Starting May 7, InterContinental Dubai Festival City will begin a summer of prize giveaways, launching the first treasure hunt in Dubai to be directed by Twitter alerts. Every second Thursday until August 13, the hotel will place a series of ‘Keast Tweets’ on its Twitter profile informing the followers of the location and time where they can collect their gift from InterContinental’s Chief Concierge, Adam Keast.

Courtyard is giving customers an extra perk when they book a weekend stay. Participating Courtyard hotels in the United States are offering weekend guests a $20 Target GiftCard good at more than 1,600 stores nationwide and at Target.com .

Beginning with the second paid stay, members will earn 2,500 MegaBonus Marriott Rewards points, up to a maximum 25,000 points at participating Marriott International hotels between February 1, 2009 and April 30, 2009. Registration is required and begins January 6, 2009.