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Articles by Joe Vargas
The Gardener Who Got Cannabis Moms To Breathe: A Q&A With Stephanie ‘thegardentok’ Trenkamp
For a lot of people, cannabis content starts as a joke, a trend, a way to chase numbers. For Stephanie Trenkamp, it started as survival. She was a mom in her garage, lighting up after bedtime, trying to hold it together while figuring out how to help support her family without disappearing from her kids’ lives. Online, she tried everything. Beauty. Lifestyle. Whatever the algorithm seemed to want that week. None of it felt honest.
The 10 Most Powerful Data Trends to Watch in Hospitality In 2025
By Joe Vargas Although the evolution of technology has always moved at a fast, if not outright blistering, pace – this year in particular felt like a tipping point into a new era of data-powered breakthroughs and tech-enabled efficiency.
From Insights to Impact: How Data Literacy is Transforming Hospitality Operations
Here's a startling reality: While your property diligently collects endless streams of valuable data - from booking patterns to guest preferences, from operational metrics to revenue indicators - much of this golden intelligence remains trapped in digital silos, untouched and underutilized. Imagine a world where data-driven decisions aren't confined to corner offices, and where AI transforms the morning staff meeting from a recap of yesterday into a preview of tomorrow.
Thriving Through Innovation: How GenAI Reinvents Revenue Management
Witnessing the evolution of technology is an inevitable part of the modern human experience. The rapid introduction of new platforms and capabilities into our personal and professional lives brings a mix of excitement and apprehension. On one side, advanced technology delivers unprecedented convenience, efficiency, and personalization.
The Tipping Point of 2024: Data Takes Center Stage As the New Currency for Hospitality
2024 marks a tipping point for the hospitality industry - it's the year in which we witnessed a pivotal transformation where data has all but surpassed even dollars as the primary currency. It empowers informed decision-making, elevates operational efficiency, and guides budget plans. Without reliable data, hotel executives risk navigating blindly through an increasingly intricate and competitive landscape—a scenario that's not only irksome but downright dangerous and commercially reckless.
How Gen AI is Redefining Business Intelligence in Hospitality
Despite considerable investments in reporting and Business Intelligence (BI) platforms, 75% of employees steer clear of analytics tools in their daily workflows. The culprit? Most business users prefer direct insights over the tedious process of mastering new analytics tools. Traditional BI tools, while potent, demand a steep learning curve and significant time to yield actionable insights. Additionally, the data preparation process is an intricate task that necessitates specialized skills.
All-in-One Platforms: Convenience or Costly Mistake for Hotels?
The debate between “best-of-breed” and “all-in-one” solutions is not new; in fact, the war between these competing ideologies has waged on for many years, especially within the world of hospitality. On one hand, it’s rather easy to make a case for an all-in-one solution – if you can get everything you need, exactly as you need it, in one place, why would you divide and conquer?
Top 4 Reasons Why Leading Hoteliers Are Increasing Tech Spend in 2025
The global hospitality industry has been observing strong signs of recovery heading into 2025. With travel on the rise once more, hoteliers must strategize effectively to capitalize on this revival period by aligning themselves proactively with emerging trends. While macroeconomic uncertainties remain, the indicators indicate immense recovery opportunities for forward-thinking hoteliers.
Data-Driven Personalization: Are Hoteliers Missing the Mark?
As guest expectations for personalized experiences continue to rise, hotels face escalating pressure to deliver tailored content that resonates on an individual level. Instant gratification is now the norm, with guests anticipating that hotels will foresee their needs and preferences at every encounter. However, despite the prevalent adoption of personalization strategies, many hoteliers still fall short of these expectations.
Understanding Seasonal Trends in Groups & Events: How to Maximize Sales, Efficiency, and Experiences
Numerous industries exhibit distinct seasonal business trends. For instance, in retail, the Back-to-School period from August to September trails only the Holiday Season from late November to December in terms of sales volume. Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving in the U.S., signals the unofficial start of the Holiday shopping season.
Why Global Events Like the 2024 Olympics Are Transforming Hospitality
As the world tunes in, Paris has transformed into an electric hub of once-in-a-lifetime activity as the 2024 Summer Olympics officially commence. This isn’t the first time Paris has hosted the games – but it’s been 100 years since patrons from around the globe last descended upon the French capital to watch the world’s best athletes go head-to-head.
Sustainable Hospitality: Using Technology to Go Green Means More ‘Green’ for Hoteliers
In 2023, the World Tourism Organization spotlighted an impressive trend: a significant 73% of global travelers now prefer hotels that adopt sustainable practices. This shift is driving hotels to incorporate green technology extensively in their operations. According to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, by 2025, green technology will distinguish industry leaders in the hospitality sector.
Why Hotels Should Master the Fundamentals of Guest Experience Before Adding the Bells and Whistles
NBA legend Michael Jordan is famous for his thrilling game style, but he didn’t get there without mastering the basics of the sport. As he famously said, “You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down, and the level of everything you do will rise.” The same can be said for the hospitality industry.
Why Hotels Should Master the Fundamentals of Guest Experience Before Adding the Bells and Whistles
By Joe Vargas, SVP & General Manager, Infor Hospitality NBA legend Michael Jordan is famous for his thrilling game style, but he didn’t get there without mastering the basics of the sport. As he famously said, “You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down, and the level of everything you do will rise.” The same can be said for the hospitality industry.
Harnessing Data Lakes to Transform Guest Experiences and Drive Business Growth
Joe Vargas of INFOR discusses the transformative potential of data lakes in the hospitality industry, emphasizing that effective data utilization is crucial for enhancing guest experiences and driving business growth. He notes that while guests expect personalized and convenient experiences, many hotels struggle with data silos and inadequate technology integration.
Scoring Big: How Sport Tourism Impacts the Global Hotel Industry / Joe Vargas
The sports tourism sector is poised for dramatic growth over the next five years. Understanding this sector and ensuring that your hotel operations are ready is the key to success. By Joe Vargas, SVP & General Manager, Infor Hospitality Sports tourism, as it’s called, is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
Scoring Big: How Sport Tourism Impacts the Global Hotel Industry
Sports tourism, as it’s called, is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Hotel room rates on Super Bowl weekend soared 257% compared to 2023, the biggest year-over-year spike for a first-time host city in NFL history. According to hotel data and analytics firm STR, Southern Nevada’s 172,707 rooms (at 393 hotels) charged a record average of $768 from Feb. 9-11.
Serving Up Success: The Strategic Impact of Advanced Revenue Management Technology in Dining
Whether it's a Friday evening flight, a hotel during the holidays, or a taxi ride in a downpour, we have all been burned by higher-than-normal prices due to excess demand. Raising costs when businesses are busiest is the norm across the travel industry, for instance – but now, consumers are beginning to see these 'surge prices' in more sectors. When fast food chain Wendy’s announced that strategic pricing changes were coming, the media pounced on the story, labeling it surge pricing.
Choosing the Right Hospitality Suite - A Changing Landscape
By Joe Vargas Over the last couple of decades, hoteliers have been faced with two main options when upgrading hospitality management software: Acquire new point solutions that address specific challenges or adopt an integrated platform that manages multiple functions in one place. Another factor that hotels now must consider is whether to maintain legacy, on-premise systems or modernize software with the cloud.
Choosing the right hospitality suite – a changing landscape | By Joe Vargas
Over the last couple of decades, hoteliers have been faced with two main options when upgrading hospitality management software: Acquire new point solutions that address specific challenges or adopt an integrated platform that manages multiple functions in one place. Another factor that hotels now must consider is whether to maintain legacy, on-premise systems or modernize software with the cloud.
Point Vs. Integrated Hospitality Solutions: Which Approach to Tech Is Right for You?
The emergence of the tech stack was an important step for the hospitality industry. Adopting new applications—beyond the limitations of legacy, on-premise systems—has enabled hoteliers to kickstart their digital transformation efforts and unlock greater efficiency. But it can be easy to end up in the following scenario: Your hotel keeps running into new operational problems and acquiring applications to solve them. Before too long, the organization is juggling dozens of tools and IT contracts.
How Leading Hoteliers Can Put Their Tech Anxiety to Rest
Hotels are under a huge amount of pressure to digitally transform as a way to streamline operations and gain a competitive edge. Add renewed travel volumes, steep inflation, and persistent labor shortages to the mix, and hoteliers have every reason to experience elevated anxiety when it comes to their digital investments.
Leveraging Tech to Drive Employee Motivation, Guest Delight and Revenue
Guest satisfaction is one of the key drivers of success for any hotelier, determining repeat customers and, in turn, your bottom line. While guest-centered initiatives, like expanding your amenities, are often the focus of customer loyalty, employee well-being and job fulfillment are also critically important. The feeling of being surrounded by an engaged work culture is palpable for guests, and happy employees are more likely to deliver exceptional service.
In the Fast Lane: The Top 8 Reasons Hospitality is Marching Fast Toward Automation in 2024
2024 marks the shift to automation as hotels, venues, and restaurants march fast toward new technologies to transform guest experiences and reduce costs. From mobile apps and self-service kiosks to AI-powered platforms, automation is becoming ubiquitous across hotels, restaurants, and travel businesses. Recent surveys show that over 80% of hospitality operators are integrating automated systems to streamline operations, reduce human error, and optimize performance.
Wake-Up Call: How Staffing Shortages Spell Opportunity for Hoteliers
During the pandemic, around 70% of all hospitality workers in the United States were laid off. While travel volumes have largely returned to their 2019 levels, much of the industry’s labor force has opted not to return, choosing other opportunities and career paths instead. The severity of this issue has been highlighted in several reports.
Here's How Hoteliers Can Stay Competitive
By Joe Vargas When booking hotels, guest journeys look very different now than they did just a few years ago. Mobile-centric consumers and ever-evolving expectations for more options transform linear touchpoints into more dynamic experiences. Guest values and social influence also play a greater role, with social media outpacing agents, publications, and entertainment as the main source of travel inspiration.
Decoding the Modern Guest Journey: Here’s How Hoteliers Can Stay Competitive
When booking hotels, guest journeys look very different now than they did just a few years ago. Mobile-centric consumers and ever-evolving expectations for more options transform linear touchpoints into more dynamic experiences. Guest values and social influence also play a greater role, with social media outpacing agents, publications, and entertainment as the main source of travel inspiration.
5 Tech-Driven Hospitality Trends to Expect in 2024 and Beyond
As we approach 2024, the hospitality industry’s landscape is set to undergo significant transformations characterized by increased personalization, automation, AI, and cybersecurity, just to name a few. Moreover, these advancements will not only redefine the guest experience but also push the boundaries of what is possible in the sector.
5 Tech-Driven Hospitality Trends to Expect in 2024 and Beyond
— By Joe Vargas - SVP & General Manager, Infor Hospitality Visit us at HITEC booth 2125 29 November 2023 Source: Created by HN with DALL·E As we approach 2024, the hospitality industry’s landscape is set to undergo significant transformations characterized by increased personalization, automation, AI, and cybersecurity, just to name a few. Moreover, these advancements will not only redefine the guest experience but also push the boundaries of what is possible in the sector.
Why an Advanced POS Solution Is Necessary to Understand the Modern Consumer
It’s no secret that the restaurant and food services industries are constantly evolving, and businesses need the latest technologies to provide as much business value as possible while also meeting today’s changing consumer expectations. As businesses continue to grow and expand, it’s important to have technologies that provide scalability and ultimately future profitability and competitiveness.
Industry Changes Requires Modernization with Point of Sales
Consumer expectations are changing, and the restaurant and food services industry must also change. To change with the least disruption, it’s important to have a point of sales (POS) solution that moves at lighting speed to enhance operations and meet consumer demands. Not only does a modern POS fulfill today’s guests’ expectations, but it also helps employees succeed in their work to ultimately promote overall growth.
Industry Changes Requires Modernization with Point of Sales
— By Joe Vargas - SVP & General Manager, Infor Hospitality Visit us at HITEC booth 2125 8 September 2023 Photo: Infor Consumer expectations are changing, and the restaurant and food services industry must also change. To change with the least disruption, it’s important to have a point of sales (POS) solution that moves at lighting speed to enhance operations and meet consumer demands.
It's Going to Be Hot
By Joe Vargas The summer vacation season is heating up for hoteliers as travelers continue to compensate for missed vacations in recent years and treat themselves to bucket-list trips. Despite inflation, hotel demand in April was only 2% below 2019 levels and spending remained on par with 2022, according to the U.S. Travel Association. According to Deloitte's 2023 summer travel survey, half of Americans are taking a leisure trip that includes paid lodging.
Short-Staffed? Maintain Your High-Touch Hotel Experience with Cloud Solutions
Staffing shortages continue to plague the hospitality industry, and hospitality leaders continue to search for new ways to improve the employee experience, help workers become more efficient, and reward good work. A January survey of hoteliers by the American Hotel & Lodging Association revealed 79 percent of hotels were experiencing staffing shortages and 22 percent faced severe shortages.
Summer Travel Forecast for Hoteliers: It's Going to Be Hot
The summer vacation season is heating up for hoteliers as travelers continue to compensate for missed vacations in recent years and treat themselves to bucket-list trips. Despite inflation, hotel demand in April was only 2% below 2019 levels and spending remained on par with 2022, according to the U.S. Travel Association. According to Deloitte's 2023 summer travel survey, half of Americans are taking a leisure trip that includes paid lodging.
Summer Travel Forecast for Hoteliers: It's Going to Be Hot
How cloud hospitality solutions can help you meet demand and keep your cool — By Joe Vargas - SVP & General Manager, Infor Hospitality Visit us at HITEC booth 2125 12 July 2023 Photo: Infor The summer vacation season is heating up for hoteliers as travelers continue to compensate for missed vacations in recent years and treat themselves to bucket-list trips.
Don't Let the Bad Guys Steal Your Good Time.
There has been an increase in stolen items recently at vintage trailer rallies. Most of the items were cut from the cables that were “securing” them in the wee hours of the morning. Theft and other crime are not something we have had to deal with over the 15 years we have been camping. Many of the ideas in this article are good measures to stay safe while camping in general, and focus on preventing the theft of your personal property.
‘Why would anyone want to be a cop today?’
Reprinted with permission from Behind the Badge By Joe Vargas There is a potential law enforcement crisis getting ready to manifest itself in the next few years. The crisis doesn’t have anything to do with crime, police violence or civil unrest, but is at least partially a direct consequence of all three. Who wants to be a cop?
'One we'll never forget': Officer, dispatcher recall 'horrific' stabbing of 2 kids
In September 2009, dispatcher Kristin Kannard and Officer Cameron Knauerhaze received a call that's forever lodged in their memories Reprinted with permission from Behind the Badge By Joe Vargas Over the course of a career first responders will deal with thousands of critical incidents. These can be difficult, challenging and at times emotionally draining. These can be everything from family fights to fatal traffic accidents to even murder.
A letter to the American public: No simple answers for police leaders tasked with training law enforcement
Training is a necessity and should be an ongoing priority at every police agency, but getting it done is not as simple as it may seem Reprinted with permission from Behind the Badge By Joe Vargas Over the past few years, critics have pointed to the need for more police training as a solution to the shortcomings of law enforcement. I would agree training is a necessity and should be an ongoing priority at every police agency, but getting it done is not simple.
Vargas: Community activist, attorney left with egg on their faces after claims of sexual assault by state trooper proved false
Texas State troopers stopped Sherita Dixon-Cole on Sunday for allegedly driving while intoxicated. At the conclusion of their investigation, she was arrested and booked at the Ellis County Jail – an event typical of a normal day in the life a of state trooper. What happened next was inexplicable and a testament to the power of media to spread a totally untrue, dishonest, and cruel lie.
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