Whether you own several hotels or are thinking about purchasing your first motel, hospitality and lodging industry information resources are necessary to make sure you run your business effectively. Without the right hotel reference materials, you may inadvertently break laws.

Hotel and hospitality resources can help you understand new ideas and trends within your industry. These ideas can help you take your business to the next level.

You can use hospitality information to:

1. Increase your business. Even if you don't want to purchase additional properties, with the most current hotel reference materials, you can learn ways that you can get more customers to stay at the property you do own.

2. Take your business in a new direction. If you are not satisfied with the current results of your business, you may need to shake things up a bit. A good hotel guide can give you ideas to change your business and make it more profitable.

3. Compete in your local area. A steady stream of hotel research helps you to understand what your competitors are doing and how you can outshine them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start your hospitality research with the government

Before you purchase a hotel, it's a good idea to understand travel and tourism trends to see if you're purchasing a viable business. Obviously, a hotel in a popular tourist area is going to be busier than one in a small town. However, with the right knowledge, your business can thrive wherever you are.

I recommend: The Office of Travel & Tourism Industries offers many research programs that help you learn about the industry. They make it easy for you to learn the latest tourism industry news when you sign up for their free newsletter.

Get hotel industry information from popular industry magazines

Hotel industry magazines are a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest industry news. Find a few magazines that you enjoy and keep them in the break room of your hotel so that all employees can benefit from the hospitality information inside.

I recommend: Check out Hotel & Motel Management, which contains articles about industry trends that can help your business succeed. You may also be interested in the Hotel Business Review, which is a magazine aimed at the hotel executive.

Learn new lodging industry news at trade shows and expos

There are many trade shows in the hospitality industry that can help you expand your business greatly. Attend a trade show that specializes in your area of interest.

I recommend: Attend the Hotel eMarketing Conference to learn how to increase sales through proper online marketing endeavors. The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show is another chance to learn from industry leaders.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Create a small library of hospitality and lodging industry information resources and keep it available to all employees. There should be something that can benefit all levels of employees.