Planning a meeting in Las Vegas or attending a convention in Las Vegas and having to organize satellite events?
Las Vegas: The Heart of Hospitality
Las Vegas is a destination city known for delivering the ultimate in hospitality quantity and quality. With the countless mega resorts and other fabulous hotels lining the Strip and populating the surrounding areas, there is always somewhere grand to stay and play. In this issue, take a look at what hospitality trends experts say will be popular and implemented in the hotel world as 2013 marches on. Then learn about at the grand new renovations and facelifts happening all over town, and take a closer, more in-depth look at the history and new developments in the Vegas hotel scene away from the Strip in the newly reinvigorated and increasingly vibrant Downtown Las Vegas.

Hospitality Trends 2013
As the economy slowly continues pulling itself out of the hardest times in recent memory and more people begin to travel again to target destinations like Las Vegas, hotels are responding to the needs and wants reflected in a new kind of guest who believes that quality experiences without the fluff are once again worth the splurge. Concerned not only with their own finances but also their personal impact on the local economy, many guests consider both before they book. In the search for the right hotel, many are seeking out simplicity, comfort, a sense of optimism, uniquely satisfying experiences and technological connectivity. With that in mind, see what experts say are the hospitality trends for 2013.

— Authentic, Personal and Welcoming
Say goodbye to quirky gimmicks and fancy flourishes and hello to authentic, tasteful experiences that people really want. The extra expense tacked on to a room price to cover in-room, bone china coffee service or legions of bellmen expecting tips is something guests don’t need to have if it means a better deal on a room. Getting rid what people could take or leave can lower the room cost and therefore drive up occupancy. Increasingly, trends show that guests would rather experience something straightforward, simple and pared down where they feel an almost personal connection with the room and the staff. In addition, lobbies are becoming less a guest throughway and more a place to gather and socialize. New hotels are including long tables, accessible power strips and inviting aesthetics that encourage people to walk right in and stay a while.

— Comfort and Functionality

From guestrooms to bathrooms, the trend is heading toward comfort and functionality over glitz and glam. Rooms will begin to feature more “comfort pieces,” such as a big fluffy couch layered with cushions, accent rugs and wall hangings. Expense no longer equals luxury in the bathrooms either as hotels turn away from fancy marble and gold fixtures toward more spacious layouts that are more functional. Increasingly popular are freestanding tubs, walk-in showers and double sinks with lots of counter space.

— Colorful Décor and Lighting
Traditionally, the standard room has been neutral in tone with color added through art and accents, but those proportions are changing in the coming year. Newer hotels are instilling an underlying feeling of optimism into their designs in bright colors accented with sophisticated punches of black and white. Also adding to the color palette and ambiance is lighting—more importantly mood lighting. Instead of just an all-or-nothing switch, some hotels are installing dimmer switches in every guestroom. Easy to implement, this simple touch gives guests control over the entire spectrum from bright, functional light to soothing, mellow shadows depending on their needs.

— Real Food for Real Tastes

Although the attraction of having a big-name celebrity chef at the hotel-kitchen helm has not passed, that name is becoming less important than the quality of what reaches the table. The same Food Network influence has made guests desire unique food experiences, but few still dare to venture away from familiar favorites. More and more, the average hotel diner wants chefs that can manipulate known foods with their ability, imagination and innovation in a way that stretches the boundaries of culinary comfort without breaking them altogether.

Food also is changing in hotels to meet expectations for dietary health and local sustainability. Health-conscious hotel customers want to know the calorie and fat count and whether the food on the menu is organic, gluten free, Kosher or low in sodium to meet and respect their diet restrictions.

Guests looking for a sophisticated experience also care about the origin of the ingredients. Not only is it more authentic and simply tastes better, using food locally purchased, grown or produced works on many levels: it shows the hotel’s commitment to the health of the local economy and sustainability efforts, the local community in turn promotes the hotel as a valued partner, and guests tend to connect more with the property, the restaurant and their experience overall.

— Augmented Web Content
More often than not, people immediately go online to research hotel options, so if the website is limited in information, visually unattractive or difficult to navigate, it can turn away potential guests, especially new ones. Because of this, hotels are working to improve the utility of their websites to effectively convey their advantages and invite direct bookings right then and there.

To do this, hotels are going beyond listing the hotel address and amenities by incorporating photos, videos and extended usable content. Stock photos are no more; hotels are hiring professionals that specialize in architectural photography to accurately portray the property and its unique design elements. When used properly, videos prove to be a vital element for hotel marketers on the Web. Replacing videos that simply walk through the lobby and rooms, are video stories that showcase interesting or useful information and highlight the unique features of the property or the surrounding area. Other popular video elements include interviews and testimonials of staff and guests.

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