Faculty In The Press
[BU Today] Choosing between an Airbnb and a Hotel This Summer? Here Are Some Things to Consider
School of Hospitality Administration’s Makarand Mody weighs in on how to decide what’s best for you It’s official: now that summer is here, travel season has arrived. According to Statista, the average American takes two to three vacations a year. That adds up to some serious domestic spending: this year, the US travel... More
[The Washington Post] Strangers are temporarily swapping homes to save cash and live like locals
Almost 20 years after Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz famously traded houses in the romantic comedy “The Holiday,” real-life home swapping is catching on. Brianna Horn spent a leisurely three weeks vacationing in New York City in October 2022 — watching a Halloween dog parade, attending a friend’s movie premiere and... More
[BISNOW] Investors Want To Buy Into Boston’s Improving Hotel Market, But Deals Are Still Scarce
As the weather warms, Boston is drawing not only flocks of tourists but also a host of hotel investors. Boston was ranked the fifth-most-attractive hotel investment market in the nation for 2024, behind New York City, Miami, San Francisco and Charleston, South Carolina, according to CBRE's Global Hotel Investor Intentions Survey. However, high... More
[BU Today] Does “Tipping Fatigue” Justify Paying Minimum Wage to Tipped Workers?
“Tipping fatigue has hit American consumers hard,” ABC News reported about the backlash to burgeoning gratuity requests for things such as takeout. Two-thirds of Americans have negative views of tipping, according to a 2023 survey. The Massachusetts legislature has until tomorrow, April 30, to place a tipping-related question on the November ballot; if it doesn’t, More
[AFAR] Michelin Unveils New Hotel Ratings, Michelin “Keys”
Only 11 hotels in the United States were awarded Michelin's highest distinction as part of the company's newly announced hotel rating system. The system is similar to Michelin's restaurant guide but instead of stars, hotels are given "keys": three denoting the top honor, or an "extraordinary stay"; two marking hotels that... More
My Secrets to Stamina – Interview: The Collaborative Leader, BU School of Hospitality Administration, Dean Arun Upneja
"Welcome to the 2nd quarter! So excited to have this guest on - Dr. Arun Upneja, the Dean of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration since 2013. Dean Arun is a forward-looking strategic thinker with an inclusive and collaborative leadership style. As Dean, he has embarked on a transformational change... More
[NY Post] Professor who super-commutes from LI to Boston explains why it’s less stressful than going into NYC daily
She’s trained for this commute. A professor who has super-commuted from Long Island to Boston for the past 10 years says she prefers the lengthy roundtrip Amtrak ride each week over the daily grind of going into New York City. Suffolk County resident Leora Lanz, who teaches at Boston University where she’s... More
[The American Bazaar] Padma Lakshmi receives Boston University’s 2024 ICON Award
ICON award recognizes innovators who create new and transformative paradigms in hospitality Indian American Emmy-nominated producer, television host, New York Times bestselling author and food connoisseur Padma Lakshmi has received the ICON Award from Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration. Lakshmi received the annual ICON award recognizing innovators who create new and... More
[Wall Street Journal] Should You Trust a Hotel’s Star Rating? Depends Where You Look.
In a sea of hotel reviews and star ratings, it’s hard to know who to rely upon. Here’s how to get a vetted measure of what you’re in for before a trip. For a five-day trip to Mexico with her college-age daughter, Arlana Keller of Calgary, Alberta, insisted they book a hotel... More
[GPB News] What is the new etiquette for tipping?
What are the new rules for tipping? Businesses that never seemed to ask for a tip before — like grocery stores, self-checkout machines and fast food restaurants — are now asking for one these days. To answer this question, it helps to understand the purpose of tipping and why requests have increased... More