Ever want to run your own hotel and boss people around, but sounded like too much work?

Well, now you can – on Facebook. To be precise, you can get a taste of it with “My Marriott Hotel (TM)” – a facebook game just launched by Marriott International.

As of now, the game is focused on running the hotel’s kitchen. Gamers can create their own restaurant, hire staff, buy stuff for the kitchen and direct incoming orders from the restaurant to the chefs.

You get points for happy customers, and lose points for poor service. You can even choose a General Manager to work under.

The game is meant to attract prospective recruits to apply for jobs with Marriott. It can be played on the company’s  jobs & careers page on Facebook.

The game can be played in five languages, and Marriott says they’re planning to use social media gaming to fill as many as 50,000 jobs by the end of this year.

Marriott is also planning to add other hotel departments to later versions of My Marriott Hotel, and a mobile phone version is also scheduled for next year.

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On Wednesday February, 16, the newest addition to The Ritz-Carlton family opened its doors in Toronto, becoming the only Ritz-Carlton in Canada.

Naturally, The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto will provide guests with luxury befitting its name. Guests can expect beautiful views, elegant architecture and decor, and a full-service spa providing unique pampering experiences.

But what made this hotel opening really unique was the way it was shared with people all over the world through social media. Over 200 people watched on the dedicated Livestream Channel on Facebook as the ribbon was cut and the first official guest was handed the first official key. As one of those viewers, I can say that it was pretty neat to be able to participate remotely in this event from my home office in Central Florida and it definitely made me more likely to put the property on my “must-see” list.

If you missed the live stream, check out their Livestream channel soon for video of the event.

The Ritz-Carlton brand has been active on social media networks for some time. Individual properties, such as the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, have their own Facebook pages for guests and fans alike. The RitzCarlton twitter account is very active and actually interacts with other twitter users (and not just guests), something you don’t always see from hotel brands in social media.

Congratulations to The Ritz-Carlton, Tornoto!

Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton

Two things are high on my must have list for hotel rooms:

• plentiful and easy to access outlets so I can plug in my traveling library of electronic devices
• good light in the bathroom so I can accurately apply my “too much for daytime, but perfect for me” eyeliner

You might think luxury hotels would always have these two oh-so simple features, but you’d be wrong. It’s hotels that cater to business travelers that always seem to come through for me.

I’m pleased to say that the magical place where you can find all of these delights is in my backyard: the Marriott Napa Valley Hotel and Spa.

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While the debate over exactly how useful twitter & facebook are to travelers for finding the right place to stay is still ongoing, there’s no doubting the value of the summer deals that hotels are offering exclusively to their Facebook Friends.

The newly opened Trump SoHo New York has a remarkable exclusive offer via Facebook - 24.6% savings to the first 246 people to book a stay to be completed in the month of July.

The offer plays off their street address – 246 Spring Street. All you have to do is visit their facebook page, show your appreciation by ‘liking’ it, grab the promo code ( TSF1) and go book your stay.

Hotel Gansevoort in New York has a discounted rate for Facebook fans with $40.00 off of your rate and a special welcome amenity.

The Beacon Hotel in South Beach has a Facebook Fan Special (on left bar, below the pics) - 15% discount on the entire stay, and two complimentary welcome mojitos. Promo code FACE. 

Ceiba Del Mar, an 88-room boutique hotel in Puerto Morelos on the Riviera Maya in Mexico is offering an exclusive ’ Twice as Nice’ special for their Facebook friends. Book a stay between Aug 10-23, and Ceiba Del Mar will double the length of your stay free of charge, and throw in a $100 spa credit. Use promo code AUGX2.

Joie de Vivre is offering Facebook Fridays each week, wherein promo codes posted for their boutique hotels in California are time-limited and expire at a set time on the same day. 

The Travelocity Roaming Gnome has an exclusive $150 discount offer on facebook, for a flight+hotel package to England, with a Virgin Atlantic flight and accommodation at the Melia White House London. Promo code VIRGIN150. Book before June 30.

Also for London, Red Carnation Hotels is offering tweekends – exclusive last minute promotions at their six luxury London family-run boutique hotels – for fans and followers on Facebook.