What separates your hotel from another? (In the case of Motel 6 and Hotel 8, it's the number "7".) We asked hospitality leaders what makes a successful property at the second annual Bisnow Lodging Investment Summit last week in DC.

It often boils down to connectivity, social areas, and Wi-Fi. Thats how you get Gens X and Y to your hotels, according to Interstate Hotels CEO Jim Abrahamson (center), snapped with Constellation Energy VP Greg Fox and Aimbridge Hospitality CEO Dave Johnson at the Washington Hilton. Theres also an amenity creep, Jim points outthink tea sommeliers and ice curators. (Fact: Any guy who rubs the ice on his body is also an amenity creep.) Create personality around your hotel, he sayscustomers are willing to pay for creativity.

Food and beverage operations are also a big attraction, especially if it involves a celebrity chefbut there can be drawbacks, warns Vornado SVP Fred Grapstein (right, with CohnReznick partner Gary Levy andCrescent Hotels CEO Michael George), especially if its not a symbiotic relationship and the restaurants idea of customers isn't the same as yours. Customers are also willing to pay for sustainability, and there are tools out there to enhance their experience, Greg points outlike key-card driven systems that control room lighting and temperature. But some hoteliers havent embraced green practices due to perceptions about cost and payback time. Theres more BLIS coverage in Bisnow'sHotel Sheet.