Hotel consulting is an excellent way to get your hotel in perfect shape to provide top quality hospitality services to clients. There are many services that they can offer that will benefit you immensely. Hospitality consulting involves the counsel and expertise offered by professionals in the hospitality industry to accommodation operators, restaurant owners, club management, and other professionals in the industry. The hospitality industry has a range of fields that include lodging, restaurants, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise lines, and other such things. A consultant who specialises in the hospitality industry can provide assistance and advice in all these fields so your hospitality business will run smoothly.

Quality hotel consulting services will provide you with a strong relationship that will keep you aware and involved in the process of running this type of business. They will be more than able to handle a range of areas including strategy, feasibility studies, accommodation operations, technical inspection, quality audits, asset management, consulting, lender workouts, hospitality accounting, hospitality sales, marketing and advertising, information technology and human resources. One major service they provide is asset management and this includes advice to clients on the market, operations and financial management of a hospitality business to maintain or improve its value. They will seek opportunities to maximize cash flow while maintaining or improving the market position and physical characteristics of a hotel or resort.

Owners are dependent on management to deliver the goals and a hotel consultant will be able to handle management contracts, manage the manager, target performance, and control capital. They will use their extensive experience and the information they have gleaned from the business to make educated decisions about properties and will consequently ensure the highest level of profitability during the hotel asset management course. The act of managing a business is of the utmost importance to any hospitality business and a good hotel consultancy service will understand this and provide accordingly. The key steps involved in this include complete understanding of the property, management analysis, cash flow maximization, business planning, property visits and monthly reports. They will also provide the skills to turn around an establishment in decline and provide the assistance and skills necessary to change the performance and profitability levels required. Restructuring a failing hotel requires comprehensive and high level experience and expertise and it requires people who understand how to create a business that is sustainable and successful. Your business will thrive with the services that a quality hotel consultancy can provide.

I guess I’m still in the honeymoon phase of having been a grant writing consultant for a decade this year. When I set out on this journey ten years ago I was nervous about what striking out on my own might mean. Would I secure any clients? Could I keep them? And would I make any kind of decent money?

You might be having the same fears that I had if you’re thinking of making a go of consulting. The bright side though is that you have it a little bit easier than I did starting out. Many grant writers have now blazed a trail in consulting and have tips that will make success come easier and faster for you. In celebration of my tenth year, I’m so happy to share my top ones with you and hope that they’ll inspire you to make the leap yourself. I know what lies ahead for you – freedom from a “job,” more time with friends and family and the joy of working with nonprofit clients you personally want to see expand and grow in the community. Here’s my “starting out” plan just for you:

Tip #1 – Learn and absorb information that is helpful to you and the stage of business that you’re currently in.

Can we agree that we can be totally overwhelmed by information overload? It seems that everywhere we turn we’re bombarded with tips, tricks, how-to’s and strategies designed to make our life easier. The real trick to sifting through the information we need is to pay attention to what’s needed at just the right time – and ignore the rest. What I mean by this is that if you’re interested in a career as a grant writer, but lack the experience of writing grants, then you first want to learn and absorb all you can about writing winning grants. Don’t worry about how you’ll secure clients yet. Don’t worry about the name of your business. First things come first. I’ll borrow a policeman’s phrase here…proceed in an orderly fashion. Concentrate only on what you need at the time.

Tip #2 – Take what you learn and actually do something with it!

This is where I see some really potentially wonderful grant consultants choke. The books have been read. The training classes have been attended. Extensive notes have been taken. And there the books and notes sit…forlornly on the shelf gathering dust. Education has to be followed by action to make a dream come true, wouldn’t you agree? Please don’t be a statistic – take what you learn and do something with it. The nonprofit world desperately needs you and your expertise!

Tip #3 – Find someone willing to share with you exactly the next steps in starting your business.

Hey, you have this one covered! As I mentioned, there are so many wonderful grant consultants online that you can learn from and I’d also love to coach you to success. As I have continued to grow my business online, I admit that I too have coaches that I trust and admire and I’m happy to invest in them to show me an easier and quicker way of getting things done the way I want. Pick a grant consulting coach that you believe in and resonate with to groom you for consulting greatness.

Betsy Baker is a grant writer, consulting coach and national speaker and is founder of Your Grant Authority. She is dedicated to helping people jumpstart their own work-from-home career and helping nonprofits find a solution to finally end their financial struggles.

Many businesses are asking this question because they want an SEO or online marketing solution, but they don’t know where to start. How much can a SEO consultant handle and when should you use a big company? As an SEO consultant (I know it may seem biased), some small businesses ask me this question so I would like to answer, “I can handle any campaign”. The truth is, as a consultant I act as a general contractor similar to a home construction contractor. I am hands-on and I handle all of the important tasks for my clients. I have partners that help me where and when I need it so I can scale up or down, depending on the projects demands and the number of tasks I have. I also have a home office that makes my overhead for my business very low. That savings is passed on to clients because the big SEO firms need to pay rent for their big, cozy offices, big salaries for their management, and that cost gets passed along to the client by higher fees for services. I operate efficiently with technology doing many of my business tasks while I focus on my clients and making them successful.

Big firms often times only have one SEO expert (some have none) and a pool of low paid SEO associates that have limited experience in online marketing and business in general. They often work off of templates and guidelines that the SEO company gives them. This business model for big firms is necessary, but it doesn’t allow for much customization, competitive strategy, and new, fresh ideas that may reap huge rewards. Am I saying that big SEO firms strategies don’t work? No, I am not saying that at all, I am saying that they aren’t as efficient both economically and operationally as an SEO expert working with his own team because you might be assigned to a team with an SEO expert and you may not. What if you get the team without one, which is very likely? You aren’t receiving any value by putting the stewardess in the cockpit to fly the plane instead of the pilot. Ever been a client of a big SEO firm and you called and asked a question about SEO and you talked to three different people with three different answers?

I believe that the SEO industry should be made up of consultant professionals heading their own teams, not big firms because the big firm structure doesn’t offer the client any value because online marketing is different than offline/traditional marketing. In a traditional marketing firm you can delegate tasks better because you have people that are better trained from college, etc. With SEO, there are very few college programs or any educational programs to groom future SEO experts, so many of the experts today have learned by being successful. To become successful you need experience and finding real SEO talent is a hard thing (as many companies know) since many of them leave big firms because they become over qualified for them, and they become SEO consultants and work for non-internet marketing companies. As internet marketing grows, there will gradually be more and more qualified SEO experts.

When you have an SEO expert not only as your contact person for your campaign, but also the one updating the code, creating the strategy, and educating you about SEO; you have the best value for your marketing dollar. When you have that first meeting with an freelance SEO consultant, you know that person will be completing your campaign tasks, not some other low-skilled worker down the line that you will never see or talk to. I think that gives clients piece of mind and a sense of the client being a part of the team.

So if your company is looking for an online marketing solution or search engine optimization solution, look for a local small business SEO consultant [http://www.websiteop.com/internet-marketing] that is an expert and has a track record. You will save money, time, and you will receive results, an education, and a marketing partner you can call and they will actually know the answers to your questions.

Information Technology (IT) is a major contributor to business operations and allows a company to remain in line with their competition. Consulting is the process of providing advice in a specific area of business. Firms offer guidance on how to obtain the most efficiency from technology while meeting set objectives. Estimates, management, implementation, administration, and consultation are all part of these services. A consultant may be hired to gain external recommendations or to acquire more specialized knowledge in a specific technology area. IT consulting firms can also serve as temporary help on a project, during growth, or be used for outsourcing particular services. A firm focuses on building a strong client relationship where they clearly understand the expectations of all involved parties. They define precise roles for their employees as well as the client. Service providers assist clients in seeing the end result during the initial consultation phase. The client advises them of what is desired and then they provide the most optimal choices based on set goals. Solutions are designed to remedy client concerns, provide the appropriate amount of training, and deal with existing implementation constraints. Consulting is a very detailed process which a business can use to maneuver technology around future objectives.

IT Professional ServicesSupply a Vast Amount of Technological Support

IT professional services involve comprehensive amounts of initial planning where the scope of the project is defined. A client will describe what they need to advance their business and the firm uses this information to gain perspective on what is required to accomplish the stated goals. These changes typically affect specific processes or systems currently occurring within the business. Planning has to take into account every business aspect the proposed changes may affect. The provider may ask for system requirements or process documentation in order to learn how the company is currently operating. A firm provides support throughout the entire execution of a planned project including post-implementation maintenance.

IT professional services may be permanent or temporary depending on the current needs of a business. The purpose is to provide a client with a technology-oriented communication network that allows optimal efficiency for a business. Consulting services are typically associated with the networking aspects of information technology; however, many companies also offer broader management assistance involving data storage, remote solutions, or telecommunications. They help a client choose the right hardware, vendors, and services required to accomplish the desired end result. For example, in a client-server environment, the firm will assist in server, cable, and workstation selection. Businesses receive advice in regards to the software used for a specific project as well. This can entail combining software from various vendors or creating a customized package to ensure everything operates coherently. IT consulting firms work very closely with each client to provide a proper business requirement assessment. This process allows them to tailor all portions of the technology to provide a company with the most advantages. Any company considering these services can expect to develop a long-term relationship as well as a high level of expertise geared toward meeting defined needs.

It’s tough managing a team who is expected to do more with less. They’re stressed out and running fast. How can you be a great consulting manager-and be prepared for the onslaught of demands?

What makes a great consulting manager? In interviewing my clients about this, I found several qualities consistently rose to the top. Let me share them with you right now.

Top qualities for a great consulting manager include:

1. Listening

At the heart of true consultative skill is listening. What are individuals saying? And most importantly, what are people expressing non-verbally?

The best managers pay attention to communication at all levels. Verbal. Emotional. Non-verbal. Interpersonal. It is the broadest scope of listening that allows them to do their magic.

2. Collaboration

You can’t fake collaboration. You either believe in it…or you don’t. If at your core you believe that you can do things better without other people, it will show. If you are committed and passionate about collaboration, this also shows.

Great managers are rooted in collaboration. They aren’t just paying lip service to the words. They know that the best solutions arise out of team performance.

3. Visual Thinking

Consultative managers are active visual thinkers. They use visual communication to run meetings, display strategies, track projects and connect with customers.

If there is an area where visual thinking is not in play, they are open to finding out about it. One of the trademarks of a highly functioning team is a collaborative visual team room. This room is usually filled with charts, posters and sketches. It often contains whiteboards, flipcharts and areas for visual conversations.

4. Open and Honest

The best managers speak openly and honestly about what’s going on. They don’t mince words or play political games. What you see is what you get.

While this kind of communication style may not win them friends, everyone knows where he or she stands. There is a term called, ‘in the shadow of the leader.’ When the manager or leader is a candid communicator, this ripples out to the rest of the team.

5. No Barriers

A great consultative sales manager once told me, “I hate barriers. If someone in the organization says it can’t be done…I’m the first one to challenge it.”

Great managers fight barriers. They refuse to accept that things can’t be done.

6. Understanding and Anticipating

All managers strive to be understanding and anticipating of their team’s needs. Managers often are the bridge between senior leaders and teams. They are under intense pressure to achieve organizational goals and manage daily realities.

The best managers evaluate every single interaction with clarity and understanding. They perceive several moves ahead, much like a master chess player.

In addition, they have an eye out for individual and career goals. Rather than hold on to individuals, they are ready to create opportunities that help team members achieve their potential.

7. Learning and Leading

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

-John F. Kennedy

Learning and leadership go hand in hand. Great managers are avid learners. Whether from conversation, classes, workshops or websites…they are always learning.

The golden thread that runs through these values is clear. Great consulting managers have phenomenal communication skills. This shows up in one-on-one and group interactions.

Communication skills make the difference between a good and a great consulting manager.