hotels articles

If it’s a restful Florida vacation you’re looking for, consider heading for the Panhandle and Gulf Coast area. Here, you can fish, golf, hike, bask in the sun, take in some interesting museums and have a laid back good time.

When you’re planning your visit, be sure to book a vacation rental in the area. Staying in a Panhandle vacation condo or villa is the perfect antidote to cookie-cutter hotels and motels and offers you the opportunity to not only enjoy your own cooking and activities timetables, but provide you with all the conveniences of home as well.

There’s a lot to do and see in the Panhandle of Florida. This area is known for its world-class beaches and golf courses and its interesting mix of history and nature.

If you visit Pensacola, you’ll surely want to visit the famous National Museum of Naval Aviation. This museum is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and is home to more than 140 restored aircraft from the Navy, Marine and Coast Guard. There are more than 290,000 square feet inside and more than 30 acres outside to explore and understand this country’s aviation history.

After all that walking and exploring, take some time out at one of Pensacola’s pristine white beaches. The Pensacola beach areas include the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is 16 miles of beautiful, undisturbed beach.

In Destin you can enjoy all of Florida’s simpler pleasures – golfing, sightseeing, white sand beaches, and fishing. A good seafood meal will likely be included in any visitor’s activities as well. If you made the wise decision to book a Florida villa or condo rental, you can buy some wonderful fresh seafood and cook it on your grill “at home” after a long day of enjoying Florida’s Panhandle region.

In this beautiful area of Florida, the beaches are well known to be white, sandy and surrounded by emerald waters. These beaches are prime territory for sunbathers, who enjoy the quite, placid waters and undisturbed beaches. If you want more activity, consider the variety of water sports available here – from snorkeling to parasailing, you can find it here.

Heading for the Panama City area of the Panhandle? After unpacking your bags at your Florida vacation rental, head for the beaches, golf courses or interesting destinations.

Water sports and activities fill the calendars full in Panama City. You might choose to go scuba diving or deep sea fishing. You might enjoy Alvin’s Big Island, where you can see live sharks and alligators and have lunch at the same time. Head to the Ebro Greyhound Park where you can watch greyhound racing, or go crazy being a kid at Great Adventures Amusements Co., where you can drive a bumper boat or go kart, go bungee jumping or spend a few nickels on the midway.

Whatever you choose to do in Florida’s Panhandle, it’s sure to be fun and sun filled. Each night you’ll enjoy the restful sleep you get at your condo rental. Then you’ll be ready for more activity in the morning – however you like it.

Oh the joys of traveling. Most of us have had both good and bad experiences over the years, but what usually kick starts the trip off to either a fine or poor start is the accommodation. It’s so important for the owners of holiday lodgings to create a welcoming feeling on arrival. Whatever the type of business, there’s never a second chance to make a first impression, and the hotels and motels of the world are certainly no exception to that rule.

Obviously, all the glossy brochures and posters promoting the hotels and motels are going to create great visual impact, but just how much of what we see in these illustrated ads actually bear a resemblance to the places in reality?

The search for fine hotels and motels starts by knowing how to locate them. Years ago this was no easy feat as all we had to go on were a few brochures and a bit of a hard sell from the travel agents. Thanks to the internet, those methods are now in the dark ages of travel and tourism.

The best thing about the booming travel industry world wide is the availability of the hotels and motels that have sprung up literally everywhere. An abundance of places to stay has created some healthy competition among hoteliers and that can only be good for customers in terms of both the quality and affordability of available lodgings.

If you already know you destination or general geographical preference, you can simply hop online and log onto Google or one of the other great search engines out there. With Google at your disposal, just type in your destination and within a millisecond you’ll have a whole bunch of hotels and motel to browse through based on your search terms.

On my last trip to Orlando, I made great use of the World Wide Web a few months prior to the trip. It was so easy to find a choice of 4 and 5 star hotels and up-market motels to choose from. Each one of the hotels and motels that I short listed had their won website. It was just fantastic to get recent pictures of the layout, the rooms, the restaurants and the recreational areas, plus of course, the latest prices and promotions. A few of these places actually had online virtual tours which gave panoramic scrolling views of the establishment.

Whether you are someone who travels a lot on business or just a care-free holiday-goer who loves to take trips, I strongly recommend you do all your searching for hotels and motels online. Even if you have some loyalty in places you’ve stayed for years, why not jump online and see what’s available? You’ll be truly amazed at the variety in quality, location, and cost that’s around these days. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the terrific promotions that get thrown out there from time to time, and yes, many of these special deals are available to internet booker only.

Condo hotels, also called condotels, are a relatively new concept in vacation home ownership. Rapidly gaining popularity, numerous condo hotels are now being built in Florida, Las Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, the Caribbean and many other locales around the U.S. and the world. To help illustrate the unique qualities of condo hotels, here’s a look at how they compare with traditional condos.

AMENITIES

Condos - The average condo has a community pool and some common areas.

Condo Hotels - A condo hotel has many of the amenities you would find at a four- or five-star hotel. In addition to a pool (or pools), there is probably an on-site restaurant (possibly several), a lounge, a full-service spa, a state-of-the-art exercise facility, poolside bar, etc. The amenities in a condo hotel are far greater than what you would typically find in a condo.

FURNISHINGS

Condos - Condos are usually sold unfurnished. You may decorate your unit as you like, and you pay for all furnishings.

Condo Hotels - A condo hotel unit is delivered to you completely furnished, typically with high-end furniture, appliances and fixtures selected by a professional interior designer. All units are decorated the same, more or less, much like hotel rooms. Condo hotel units are delivered user-ready upon receipt. The cost for furnishings is included in the price of the condo hotel unit.

SERVICES

Condos - You are responsible for your own housekeeping and unit upkeep. Services are usually limited to maintenance and possibly security.

Condo Hotels - You get daily housekeeping as you would in a luxury hotel. You have access to room service, concierge services, maintenance services and check-in services. The vast majority of condo hotels are operated by big-name hoteliers like Ritz Carlton and Hilton, the consummate professionals when it comes to customer service. Most of the same services available at their high-end hotels are offered at their condo hotels.

LOCATION

Condos - Condos can be found in almost every major market across the country. Some condo developments are in resort areas, while others are not.

Condo Hotels - At this time condo hotels are only available in a handful of locations, all of which are major vacation destinations or highly desirable cities, such as South Florida, Las Vegas and Chicago. Condo hotels are usually built on the most desirable pieces of land such as on a golf course, overlooking the ocean or in the heart of a major city.

PRICE

Condos - Prices for condos can start as low as $70,000.

Condo Hotels - Units start at $200,000, and most are substantially more. An oceanfront four- or five-star condo hotel unit can cost $500,000 to over $1,000,000.

RENTAL INCOME POTENTIAL

Condos - You have the option of renting out your unit when not using it. However, you are responsible for finding your own renters, preparing the unit for those renters, dealing with any maintenance issues that arise and collecting the rent. The condo association’s approval may be required on renter issues. You keep 100% of the rental revenue.

Condo Hotels - All details are handled for you. When you’re not using your condo hotel unit, you simply place it in the rental program. Renters would be found for you, and all aspects of the renters’ stay would be handled by the hotel management company. The entire process would be hassle-free for you.

You would receive a portion of the rent revenue, typically 40%-50%; the balance would go to the management company. Because the condo hotel most likely is a national or international hotel chain (such as Hilton or Ritz Carlton), it has a global sales force, multimillion dollar marketing campaigns, loyalty programs, a centralized reservation system and a strong Internet presence, all of which suggest that the property’s management would probably have better success at keeping your unit rented than you would as an individual condo owner.

APPRECIATION POTENTIAL

Condos – Whether your condo will appreciate or depreciate depends strongly on its location. Because there are so many condos on the market, the rules of supply and demand often help keep prices down. For the same reason, condos can be hard to resell.

Condo Hotels – Because condo hotels are a relatively new type of property investment, they are limited to just a handful of locales across the country. The supply is small and demand is currently high and growing, all of which contribute rapid and significant appreciation. Another factor to keep in mind when reselling a condo hotel unit is that you’re selling not only the actual unit but also the luxury lifestyle that comes with an amenity-filled, high-service property.

Many condo hotels are sold out in pre-construction. Often the developers, sensing the high demand, will themselves raise prices many times before all units are gone.

For example, The Mutiny condo hotel located in Coconut Grove, Florida was the first condo hotel to be built in South Florida. From the time the developer began accepting deposits until it sold out in pre-construction, there were nine price increases. People who bought early did exceptionally well.

Traveling these days certainly can be a hassle. Everything from long lines to airline delays can cause travelers unnecessary and unfortunate inconveniences. Prior to your travels, considers the following ten tips and you will have a greater chance of limiting the hassles of traveling.

1. Know what to pack – Take some time to review the Transportation Security Administration’s “Permitted and Prohibited Items” list. You can find the list on the Transportation Security Administration Website located at http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1254.xml

2. Call the airport ahead of time to verify flight times – Don’t rely on the airlines to notify you of delays or flight changes. Travelers can contact their airline directly or their travel agent to ensure their flight is on-schedule.

3. Be prepared and schedule proper time for travel to the airport – Traveling can cause anxiety, which causes travelers to forget necessary travel items. Consider all-inclusive travel kits to avoid forgetting the essential personal items.

4. Secure a seat assignment prior to check in – This will prevent unnecessary problems during over-booked flights.

5. Secure your valuables – Traveling continues to be one the top times that people fall victim to crime. Travelers should limit the amount of cash they carry and use credit or debit cards when possible. Credit and debit cards offer a higher level of protection than carrying cash.

6. Check the destination on your luggage tag – Ask the ticket agent or curb assistant to double check the tag on your luggage. This can prevent your luggage going somewhere other than where you will be!

7. Research your destination point – Travelers should research their destination point prior to traveling. Being familiar with major highways, climate, customs, and points of interest will help traveler avoid unnecessary situations.

8. Be aware of unclean hotel rooms – There have been rising complaints about unwelcome insects in hotel rooms, according to pest control businesses. Demand fresh sheets from hotel management or carry portable silk bed sheets. Additionally, inform hotel management if you find any insects or unwanted messes in your hotel room.

9. When traveling for business, compare the cost of renting a car to utilizing taxicabs or public transportation. Travelers may find it convenient to rent a car; however, rental car costs can sometimes include exuberant “extra” fees.

10. Remember your agenda – Traveling in new places can sometimes be distracting and take away from the purpose of the trip. While on business, make sure to write down the times and places of your business. This will help to ensure you are not late to business meetings.

Motivating employees, especially highly competitive employees like inside and outside salespersons and telemarketers, can be a challenge. Sure, everyone likes cash, but what if you could offer a incentive that was worth more than cash? That’s what travel incentives are all about.

What do you think would generate more excitement among your employees; offering $50 to the person who sets the most appointments in one day, or offering a 3 day and 2 nights hotel stay in Hawaii including airfare? I’ll bet that you didn’t have to think about that for too long. The Hawaii trip wins hands down.

I’ll also bet that you’re thinking “sure, I would love to give away a travel incentive deal like that, but how can I afford it?” Prepare to be shocked. You see, travel incentive coupons sell for pennies on the dollar. The key to success in offering travel incentives is their perceived value, not their actual cost to you. The truth is, most travel incentive coupons cost under $10 each. That means that instead of giving away $50 in real money, you’re spending less than $10 and giving away something that’s worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

Travel incentives are coupons good for real travel to desirable destinations. There are no gimmicks. The travel industry authorizes distribution of these coupons through approved brokers. Depending upon the offer, these certificates can be redeemed for air travel, cruises, hotel stays, and lots of other travel opportunities.

Hotel and airline operators know that they will rarely be booked to 100% of their capacity. Rather than have empty seats or rooms, they offer free travel deals. They know that the vacationer is going to spend more money on food, sightseeing, and other products and services during their stay, so the free travel offer isn’t a dead loss. In addition, airline and hotel management is counting on the fact that the guest will have such a good time that they will come back some other time and pay full fare.

This means that travel incentives are a triple win. The airlines win, the hotels win, and you win by offering a productivity incentive with a perceived value many times greater than the actual cost. You’ll be a hero with your employees and productivity will soar.

Where to buy travel incentives

You should only buy your travel incentives from an authorized travel incentives broker. That way you are assured of receiving genuine certificates that are good on major airlines and at quality hotels. There are a lot of inferior travel offers out there, and you don’t want to disappoint your employee by sending them to a second-rate hotel on an unknown airline.

One of the other advantages of dealing with authorized brokers is that they are able to offer you the ability to combine different travel incentive coupons to create even better packages. For example, you can combine a 3 day, 2 night, 3-star hotel package with a $500 spending certificate in some cities.

Another popular combination is to create a getaway package that includes dream vacations like a 4 or 5-star hotel package that’s combined with a free round-trip airfare travel coupon. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Stop offering boring bonuses and give your best performing employees the travel vacation of their dreams. Ordering travel incentive coupons is easy, inexpensive, and can be done 100% on-line.

Are you making a hotel reservation in the near future? If you are, chances are that you will be making the hotel reservation online. Internet reservations are easy to make and you can compare a number of different hotels at the same time so that you can make a decision based on price, amenities and location. However, there are some things that you may want to consider if you are making a hotel reservation, especially if you are traveling with a group, or you want to have a business conference in conjunction with the stay, or even if you are traveling with children.

Although your first thought when making a hotel reservation is probably to jump on the internet, you may want to call the hotel as well. If you are hosting or organizing a business conference it can be extremely helpful to talk to the hotel management in person so that you can get a clear picture of what is available. If it is local, you should plan on making an in-person visit before you make the hotel reservation.

Another reason that you might want to call is if you have special needs. If you have a large family or group and you want adjoining rooms or a discounted rate, it may be helpful to call the hotel and see what the possibilities are. If you are an individual with disabilities, you should make sure that the hotel can accommodate those special needs when you make your hotel reservation as well.

Deciding where to make the hotel reservation is important. If you need to be in a specific location, you should look for a hotel which is central to activities that your group would be interested in. If you are simply traveling for pleasure, and the location does not matter so much, you may want to go to an all-inclusive travel website and see if there are any package deals that appeal to you. If you will be staying long term (more than a week or two) you should find out if there are hotels which have kitchenettes or laundry service.

What is the future of hotel industry as it relates to the use of technology?

Do you envision greater use of artificial intelligence in satisfying customer needs?

Will there be fewer public contact careers?

In the age of rapid dynamic changes especially since last three decades, when more and more technical innovations began to penetrate in our life and make it more comfortable, it would be incorrect to think that hotel management and other services won’t get any imposing changes.

Not that many people believed not so long ago that they’ll use card looking keys in hotel to open their rooms, or that they’ll be able to book places in the hotel without even using a telephone, but just using internet.

It’s getting obvious now that these changes will penetrate more and more and we’ll meet them in the sphere of hotel management also. The usage of computers and internet will make a great favor to the hotel registration staff in customer’s service so that they’ll be able to access the hotel database and connect with other hotels or services very quickly. It can be later used in gathering the information about future customer and making an analysis of his preferences and finding the way to answer and satisfy all of his demands, without even talking with him about that.

Most of modern math based computer software is able to make such kind of analysis but this technology is still on it’s way to wide usage.

Artificial intelligence systems that manage the individual houses have been already introduced and start being used world wide. The same kind of systems that run and manage all the processes in the clients room can be used as well. Special light and sound sensors can give the information to the hotel staff if the customer can be disturbed (showing if there is light in the room and how quiet is it in the room) without putting a tag on the door, also special sensors can control the temperature, the level of air pollution so that the maid can find out when it’s appropriate to clean the room. It’s also understood that innovations will be used to make the staying more comfortable and they will refer to as many details of life as it’s possible to imagine.

The great advantage of the technology that it gives more opportunity to feel what is called privacy, and less contact with staff; that sometimes in not really wanted by the customer, but has to do. At the same time it will make thee work of the hotel staff much easier as well as it will reduce the range of their responsibilities. The technological control of hotel management will reduce the number of misunderstandings between the clients and staff as well as with people who want to contact the client (in the cases when the staff is not able to figure out if the client is in the hotel or not). In many cases this systems of artificial intelligence control will reduce the amount of expenses that the hotel spend on staff, supplies and simple it will save a lot of time.

But at the same time this innovations may be acceptable not to all of hotels. Upper class hotels, such for aristocracy won’t accept all of this changes so quickly, because of the traditional way of thinking of the customers, of those for whom traditions, and rituals are to be observed.

Before the introduction of all technical innovations the specialists should make a basic research weather the innovations contradict or not the concepts of the clients about management and hotel services.

Orlando is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the US. Located in Central Florida, Orlando attracts close to 50 million people every year. This is the reason why Orlando resorts have been thriving and are presenting more and more attractions to tourists. Orlando has a great weather averaging 72 degrees and is thus ideal for outdoor activities. Family resorts, luxury resorts, town homes, vacation rental homes, vacation rentals and villas are the different kinds of accommodations available in Orlando.

Orlando luxury resorts provide the perfect reason for having a great time with family or friends, or even just alone. They can be a great getaway for just the weekend or even a fortnight. Most resorts have so many appealing amenities that they make you come back again and again.

Orlando luxury resorts are popular for two things: golf and spa treatments. Almost every resort has its own golf courses and spa treatment facilities in-house along with other leisure facilities like fitness centers, hot tubs, dive-in movies, face painting, hair braiding, whirlpools, volleyball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, miniature golf greens, game rooms, live entertainment, children play areas, video arcades, theme parks, fishing, canoeing, parasailing, shopping, cultural activities, gourmet dining, and activity centers.

Orlando luxury resorts vie with each other to provide the most picturesque layouts comprising of waterfalls, water slides, beautiful tropical landscaping, native palm trees, exotic flowers, unique décor, tropical birds and other charms. They also offer several services like different dining options, transportation services, personalized services, beverage services, club-house facilities, golf instruction, and so on.

Some of the most popular luxury resorts in Orlando are: the Sheraton World, LuxuryResorts, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott etc. The Internet is a good source of information for Orlando luxury resorts. There are several websites of the luxury resorts which provide information about their latest offerings. You can also compare offers and prices and choose the best ones. These sites are also updated regularly with latest offers. However, check for reviews of these luxury resorts. Reviews may be posted on some specific websites on the internet or they may come from someone who has visited Orlando and is willing to give some first-hand advice.

Orlando has always been a very popular holiday destination. Located in Central Florida, Orlando attracts close to 50 million people every year. This is the reason why Orlando resorts have been thriving and are presenting more and more attractions to tourists.

Orlando resorts provide the perfect reason for having a great time with family or friends, or even just alone. They can be a great getaway for just the weekend or even a fortnight. Most resorts have so many appealing amenities that they make you come back again and again. Orlando has a great weather averaging 72 degrees and is thus ideal for outdoor activities. Family resorts, luxury resorts, town homes, vacation rental homes, vacation rentals and villas are the different kinds of accommodations available at these resorts.

Each Orlando resort has its own private centers for fun and adventure. Many Orlando resorts provide world class amenities like golf courses, spas, fitness centers, hot tubs, pool side activities like dive-in movies, face painting, hair braiding, etc, whirlpools, volleyball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts, miniature golf greens, game rooms, live entertainment, children play areas, video arcades, theme parks, fishing, canoeing, parasailing, shopping, cultural activities, gourmet dining, and activity centers.

Orlando resorts vie with each other to provide the most picturesque layouts comprising of waterfalls, water slides, beautiful tropical landscaping with native palm trees, exotic flowers, unique décor, tropical birds and other charms. They also offer several services like different dining options, transportation services, personalized services, beverage services, club-house facilities, golf instruction, and so on.

One of Orlando’s premier attractions is its Orlando golf courses, which are more than 150 in number. Orlando is home to one of the best golf courses. This is one reason for the success of Orlando resorts.

Orlando resorts are also suitable for business meetings and conferences. Most resorts have highly professional conference rooms with sophisticated equipment.

Orlando resorts are ideal for a relaxing and peaceful getaway. They have different offers of prices to make it affordable for everyone. Prices range from $75 per person to $1200 or even higher, depending upon the amenities available. There are also special offers and discounts like 4 days and five nights for $250 and so on. Some resorts offer 2/3/4 bedroom fully furnished vacation homes for families. Those prices start at $100. Most resorts do not allow pets but there are some which do. The Internet is the best source of information for Orlando resorts. There are several sites that provide facts about these resorts. You can also compare offers and prices and choose the best ones. These sites are also updated regularly with latest offers.

Orlando has always been a very popular holiday destination. Located in Central Florida, Orlando attracts close to 50 million people every year. This is the reason why Orlando resorts have been thriving and are presenting more and more attractions to tourists.

Orlando family resorts provide accommodations of all kinds: luxury resorts, town homes, vacation rental homes, vacation rentals, and villas. These can be 2/3/4 bedroom accommodations. They are ideal for having a perfect family vacation or a reunion. They offer several services like different dining options, transportation services, beverage services, club-house facilities, golf instruction, and so on.

Kids can enjoy a variety of activities like sandcastle building in the beach; face painting, hula hooping, poolside manicure and pedicure; sand volleyball or basketball; dive in cinema; water slides; hair braiding, whirlpools, tennis, miniature golf, video arcades, game rooms, live entertainment, theme parks, fishing, canoeing, parasailing, shopping, gourmet dining and other activities.

Rooms are furnished with all modern amenities like coffee maker, iron and ironing boards, high speed internet access, mini-bar, movies, daily newspaper, hair dryer, work desk, phone with speakers and data port and voice mail facilities. Family rooms comprise of a balcony or a patio with a breathtaking view, sofa bed, surround pillows and comforters and cable TV with remote control.

Prices of accommodations at the Orlando family resorts vary greatly depending upon the facilities, amenities, special offers, the season, etc. Prices range for luxury resorts from $179 to $349 for a single night stay. Prices of ordinary non-luxury rooms start from $100 onwards. There are also special offers and discounts like 4 days and five nights for $250 and so on.

The Internet is a good source of information for Orlando family resorts. There are several websites of these family resorts which provide information about their latest offerings. You can also compare offers and prices and choose the best ones. These sites are also updated regularly latest offers. However, check for reviews of these family resorts. Reviews may be posted on some specific websites on the internet or they may come from someone who has visited Orlando and is willing to give some first-hand advice.