Hotel Operations

📚 Brad LeBlanc, chief development officer at BWH Hotels, began his career in hospitality in 1988 after college, working initially at the Hotel Bentley in Alexandria. By 1995, he hired his younger brother, Brent, into the industry. Brent, EVP at Peachtree Group, learned the ropes knocking on hotel doors to promote Microtel Inn Suites. Despite an 8-year age gap, the brothers credit their father and industry mentors, like Mike Leven, for their success and commitment to hospitality.

📚 From Oct. 26-28, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Quore will debut Quore University, a learning management system. Piloted by over 600 hotels since August, it features 12 learning paths in English and Spanish, covering 42 job titles. The platform aims to enhance engagement, reduce churn, and improve guest experiences through gamification. Mobile access and certification portability allow training continuity across properties. Plans for global expansion and additional languages are underway.

🏨 Who? Hotel website designers. When? Updated strategies for 2025. Where? Online hotel websites. What? Tips for creating engaging and effective hotel website designs. How? Use brand colors consistently, employ contrasting text colors, utilize a maximum of three fonts, and incorporate white space for clarity. Employing authentic images and personalized content is crucial. Test effectiveness with A/B testing and ensure mobile compatibility. THN’s platform provides tools, templates, and an image gallery to enhance design efforts.

🏨 Countrywide Hotels expands its UK portfolio by managing the 171-room DoubleTree by Hilton Swindon, acquired by a private client. This upscale hotel includes a 24-hour fitness centre, free Wi-Fi, and digital key access. Dining is available at the 14Twelve Brasserie and Bar, with local ingredients. It offers 15 meeting spaces over 817 square metres, accommodating up to 390 guests. Darren Patt, managing director, aims to enhance guest experience and operational performance.

📈 Change in hospitality is inevitable. When? During crises. Where? In the hospitality industry. What? Evolution over revolution. How? By involving staff in gradual, inclusive changes to maintain guest trust and reduce staff turnover, crucial when industry turnover rates hit 70-80%. Why? Sudden shifts erode trust, while staff-inclusive evolution fosters stability and ownership. According to organizational psychology and Deming, staff participation in change enhances success. The industry must prioritize staff-first strategies for continuity. #HospitalityLeadership #ContinuousImprovement

🏨 Seasonal staffing in hotels involves hiring temporary workers during peak demand periods like summer or ski season. This ensures top-notch service when guest numbers spike, controls labor costs, and reduces burnout among full-time staff. However, challenges such as last-minute hiring stress and managing quality persist. Best practices include early recruitment, streamlined onboarding, and flexible cross-training. Tools like Mews' property management system aid in forecasting needs and simplifying operations.

📰 Andrew Arthurs, President and COO at Actabl, shares insights on career acceleration in hospitality by focusing on problem-solving over technology. As a former CIO, he emphasizes starting with the right questions to unlock opportunities and scale solutions. His approach aids in driving value and fostering career growth. For more insights, listen to the full episode and implement the strategies to enhance your business.

📈 Last week, a post on LinkedIn highlighted key business concerns for 2026: technology won't save your business without focusing on people; culture should be a strategic priority; and budgets must prioritize training, leadership, and cultural transformation. Engagement was high on ideas, but when asked about commitment and budgets, only three comments addressed accountability versus seven for technology and 20-30 for luxury topics. The industry faces repeated challenges by prioritizing convenience over meaningful action.

🏨 Hotel Equities will manage the 182-room Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina located in Atlanta, Georgia. This marks the first Hyatt Regency in their portfolio. Situated in the Perimeter Center district, this hotel offers a rooftop pool, three dining options, and event spaces. It is close to major corporate offices like Cox and Mercedes-Benz. Currently, Hotel Equities operates 13 hotels in Georgia, strengthening its presence in the state.

📈 Andrew Arthurs, President and COO of Actabl, discusses labor cost management in hospitality on a podcast. In October 2025, Arthurs emphasizes enhancing labor efficiency using cross-functional collaboration and data-driven decision-making. Two key articles by Arthurs address the industry's talent crisis and strategies for talent retention. For more insights, visit Hotel Effectiveness by Actabl or subscribe to Hospitality Daily for summaries and actionable insights from each episode.