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aguar024

5 things shaping U.S. hotel investment | Hotel Management - 0 views

  • exceeding 4 percent during the second quarter of the year and strengthened by consumer confidence along with business investment,
  • doesn’t mean there are no clouds on the horizon, especially as all eyes watch what the Federal Reserve will do next.
  • tax-deferred exchanges, real estate depreciation and the mortgage interest deduction
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  • aware of the new 20-percent deduction, which has restrictions based on income and asset base but also offers upside for entities that qualify.
  • the bonus depreciation provision will phase out after 2023, but for now investors can expense personal property in real estate assets acquired after Sept. 27, 2017.
  • business interest deductions.
  • which has hit a 30-year high in the U.S.—in some markets
  • hat would mean average daily rate and revenue per available room would start to slow in those markets.
  • s up 2 percent year over year with almost 180,000 new rooms in the works as of June.
  • Transaction pace increased about 4 percent during the past 12 months ending in June
  • Home-sharing services are still top of mind for the hotel industry because many hotel guests have flocked to these accommodations.
  • t’s been hovering near 3 percent since
  • Capital is abundant now, but lending could tighten quickly if interest rates rise fast
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    This articles explaines in 5 different stages or factos how investment actions are taken in the hospitality and tourisim industry. According to Marcus and Milichap on september this year they wrote this article where it is apprecaible all the new trends and changes of how technology have affected positivitly the investment on the hotels and tourism industries this past years in the United States.
kcamp110

Historic Kansas City hotel undergoes tech upgrade - 0 views

"Technology services firm Velociti will deploy a number of upgrades and wireless technology solutions, which promise to better serve guests throughout the hotel's 216 rooms and 7,000 square feet of...

technology hospitality hotel

started by kcamp110 on 16 Jan 20 no follow-up yet
kuhang

Cybersecurity in Tourism & Hospitality: the urge of protecting customer data - NTG - 0 views

  • Organizations in tourism and hospitality have massive databases of personal data nowadays as they ask their consumers to leave their data for better and optimized services.
  • Cybersecurity is defined as the area related to computing and telematics that focuses on protecting the computer infrastructure and avoiding all types of threats, which put at risk the information that is processed, transported and stored in any device.
  • The accommodation industry is beginning to be aware of the relevance of this topic: if hotels do not manage this issue properly, they lose the opportunity to give the clients the reliability and security they need.
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  • n many cases, it is the employees themselves who fall into errors that expose the security of the hotel and the privacy of their clients through a lack of cyber security. Incorrectly shared passwords, professional accounts that link to personal devices or the dissemination of internal company information are some of the mistakes employees make. In order to correct these errors and ensure that they do not happen again, training and awareness-raising are the keys.
  • Employees must be informed at all times about the correct practices to be followed, thus avoiding making mistakes that in most cases have terrible consequences, both for the hotel and for the customers themselves.
  • For the peace of mind of the guests, the hotels should complete constant intrusion tests to evaluate the state of the systems, auditing their security from the point of view of possible external attacks. In order to make an optimal security assessment, it is best to carry out controlled attacks on the systems.
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    This paper mainly discusses the importance of network security in tourism and hotel industry. Due to the characteristics of the industry, it is inevitable for hotels to manage and protect their customers' personal data. Therefore, network security is very important for hotels. Then the author analyzes the reasons of the hotel data breach and puts forward solutions. The main approach is conduct network security training for employees and regularly evaluates the system status.
yvenisem

Going livestream: How in-person summits have become virtual events - 0 views

    • yvenisem
       
      My thoughts exactly, there is a missing element
  • So how can a business possibly recreate that kind of experience online?
  • there’s been increased dependency on technology to help support business continuity
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    • yvenisem
       
      I think the reason for this is that many people don't have the funds or time to travel long distances, but this format is much more accessible. Plus, it was free so that helps lol
  • adding that the online event had more than three times the usual number of registrations
    • yvenisem
       
      relates a lot to this week's discussion on relying on tech too much
  • (the virtual conference was free to attend this year, whereas it usually costs upwards of $1,000)
  • created 14 local events in various languages and time zones, with regional heads addressing their relevant markets.
    • yvenisem
       
      This is definitely much more accessible. This can also do well in terms of revenue for future events
  • switching to being an online speaker isn’t quite the same. “You don’t have the body language, you don’t have the eye contact,” she explained.
    • yvenisem
       
      This would be my main concerns in producing events. I feel like ther has to be a personal element to it instead of just looking at people through acomputer screen
  • vents organizers may be encouraged to film their speakers in a way that works better for a small-screen format, instead of the usual “dark room with a very small person,
    • yvenisem
       
      this could be a hybrid thing
  • “While online events might seem less permanent, there’s actually a much higher chance that any misdemeanors or breaches of copyright or online regulation will be captured or stored.”
    • yvenisem
       
      I never considered this, but this definitely has to be something to consider when in something like this
  •  
    One of the main reasons why I chose this article is because my industry is currently seein a huge shift in the way we do things that can either stay or have impressions in the industry after COVID. One of the main concerns when it came to in-person events going online is how we would be able to recreate the same experience. Several large events that see thousands of people had to convert to online platforms. For example, "in 2019, around 20,000 people attended SAP's Sapphire Now conference in Orlando". Imagine 20,000 people logging on to view the same same content an then some! In this case, the event saw larger audiences with "more than three times the usual number of registrations". Granted, the conference was free to attend this year. However, now that this conference was more accessible to people who in normal circumstance would be unable to attend due to time and fianancial constraints, it was a no-brainer that more people would attend. This bodes very well in terms of revenue for the future since if those extra 40,000 people enjoyed it, they would most likely be willing to pay for the service and consider the event and investment. I think the wider topic of the article is accessibility. Before technology, it was harder to bridge the gap between the haves and the have nots. Now that technology is becoming more accessible (in the first world), many are better able to see beneficial information. Not only that, but when considering the "14 local events in various languages and time zones", people are better able to cast wider nets. This article wasn't all good, however. One thing that many people have not adressed that I as an event professional am concerned about is the fact that going online is just not the same. A speaker said in an interview that it's harder to ready body language, which can impact how much a speaker is able to reach their audience. Another thing that has to be given intense consideration is the fact that there can be some legal ramifica
nbakir

How Hotel F&B Pivoted in Response to COVID-19, and What the Future Holds | By Court Wil... - 0 views

  •  
    This article focuses on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the hospitality industry, with a critical look into the approaches that hotels F&B have applied to combat the new challenges. It is apparent that businesses in this industry have been adversely affected by the fact that they are no longer allowed to host customers, and some have even been closed down. The main challenge is that the businesses have also had to adjust their operations, with respect to the provision of an environment where there is minimal contact between customers and the employees. This article reveals some of the feasible approaches that have been applied by some of the businesses to ensure they continue serving their customers. Some of the strategies include the development of contactless food delivery options, providing gift cars and certificates to entice the consumers to purchase discounted offers, and promoting online ordering for food and other products. "Since most governments are prohibiting food and beverage outlets from opening fully for dine-in guests, contactless food delivery options have gained momentum." (Williams, 2020). Such innovations are bound to be the only way for the players in the industry to survive. However, they also need to embrace the fact that they have to lay off most of the workers and to repurpose some of the facilities. The hotel industry has to continuously embrace the challenges being presented by the restrictive laws meant to enhance the safety of the people by preventing the spread of the viral infection. The amicable solutions should be the diversification of products and services to meet the new needs of the target markets, while also ensuring that the entities are not operating at a loss.
akallison93

Cleaning robots are powering an automation revolution in hospitality - The Washington Post - 0 views

  • While Vi-YO-Let, the product of a partnership with Denmark-based UVD Robots, might play cute tunes and light up as she moves, she has a serious job: disinfecting the air and surfaces around her. And she does so remarkably well: Her array of UV lights, which look like a bundle of lightsabers, kill more than 99 percent of viruses and bacteria, including the coronavirus.
  • More and more guests are requesting the robo-cleaning package
  • But as the pandemic rages into its second year, major brands are increasingly turning to the world of high-tech disinfection to strengthen their cleaning protocols
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  • It’s a trend that’s slowly transforming housekeeping — and accelerating the pace of automation in hospitality.
  • Until recently, only health-care workers would frequently interact with disinfecting bots, which cost upward of $125,000 each. It’s a steep investment, but if it boosts travelers’ confidence, it’s worth it,
  • The appeal to the hospitality sector of virus-slaying UV light is obvious. Hospitals have found Xenex’s patented machines kill “22 times more pathogens” when compared with a room cleaned to CDC standards alone, Miller said.
  • certain hospitality jobs, those where face-to-face customer service is a key part of the experience, were less vulnerable.
  • Today, travelers might stumble on UV bots anywhere from five-star hotels and convention centers to train stations and cruise ships.
  • Verified Market Research that projects the market for UV disinfecting bots will grow to more than $5.5 billion by 2027.
  • Some robot makers refer to these kinds of bots as “cobots,” a portmanteau of “collaboration” and “robots,” because they’re intended to work alongside people rather than replace them.
  • a report that predicted more than 60 percent of jobs in hospitality-dominated cities like Las Vegas could be automatable by 2035
  • Take the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. The iconic hotel, famous for hosting the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony, boasts in one promotional video that its Xenex robot staff “zaps every inch before your arrival,” leaving you a “pathogen-free sanctuary” where you’ll “rest assured you’re sleeping in the safest room possible.”
  • the pandemic is likely to accelerate the automation of jobs in sectors like hospitality.
  • “If they can develop driverless cars, if they can develop the whole variety of different things I saw there, certainly the jobs in our industry are going to change.”
  • Unite Here negotiates “extensive technology language” into its labor contracts. This helps ensure that workers can retrain for new skills, transition to other roles or at least receive severance pay if their jobs are automated out of existence.
  • Even as new technologies create new roles, some types of jobs may go away for good.
  • For now, even a state-of-the-art robot sometimes requires the delicate human touch.
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    This article explains how robotics in hospitality is becoming far more common because of Covid-19. They go into detail about how, right now, all robotics require the assistance of humans. But they also go into how that can change in the next few years. The better technology gets, the less need there is for human support.
jchac014

LG Electronics Partners with Hilton Hotels to Recycle Old TVs - 1 views

  • TVs are the largest contributor to electronic waste, which is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world.
  • To address this issue, Hilton Hotels recently teamed with LG Electronics to create a TV recycling pilot program.
  • The need for an e-waste recycling solution is urgent. Not only is the waste prevalent, but it’s also toxic.
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  • “Hilton is committed to minimizing waste by providing our properties with a sustainable solution for the proper disposal of their existing TV sets rather than sending them to a landfill where they can leak harmful substances in the environment,” says Judy Pines, director of sustainability and responsible sourcing at Hilton.
  • Working together, Hilton Hotels, LG and GSS recycled nearly 400 older flat-panel hotel TVs from the Hilton Newark Airport.
  • Each recycled TV set was replaced with a new 43-inch Energy Star certified LG flat screen TV. The program was successfully executed in four days and had a minimal impact on guests.  
  • The old TVs were transported to an e-Stewards-certified recycling facility in New York, where they were manually taken apart and sorted into various components. “Parts that cannot be dismantled efficiently are shredded into smaller e-waste pieces and eventually broken down even further,”
  • TVs contain valuable and reusable materials such as plastics, copper, gold and glass and approximately 99 percent of the TV components can be repurposed into new electronics
  • One option is a turnkey solution that includes the installation of new TVs, the removal of old TVs (50 unit minimum), TV programming and transportation to a recycling facility. The second option is for recycling services only and includes the removal of the old TVs and transportation of the old TVs to an e-recycler.
  • In addition to partnering with Hilton Hotels, LG has focused on making responsible recycling a priority.
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    TVs are the largest contributors to electronic waste. Electronic waste recycling solution is urgent because the waste is toxic. LG partnered with Hilton Hotels for a recycling program to efficiently recycle their old TVs without sending them to a landfill or somewhere overseas. Through the program, recycled TVs were replaced with newer 43" Energy Star certified LG flat screen TVs.
obena010

The Advantages of Hotels Using a Global Distribution System (GDS) - 1 views

  • Global distribution systems (GDS) have been a mainstay in the travel industry since travel agents began using the systems in the 1970s.
  • The main purpose of a global distribution system is to help travel agents search for hotel accommodations that fit a set of criteria.
  • They create a common entry point for multiple travel agencies and travel agents to access accurate information about travel reservation availability and prices.
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  • 1) Reach Market Segments Globally
  • 2) More Revenue
  • 3) Growth Opportunities
  • 4) Instant Updates
  • 5) Grow The Lucrative Corporate Segment
  • This little piece of technology saves time and will lead to greater exposure for your property
  • A lot of travel agents who specialise in corporate travel use a GDS to get their clients booked quickly and efficiently.
  • The GDS can help hotel managers uncover new market segments to promote their products. In many cases, hotel operators discover through the GDS that there are traveler market segments interested in the products that they couldn’t previously reach. Leverage this channel’s distribution reach to be seen in a travel ecosystem that can get you lucrative corporate & group bookings. GDS Hotel bookings often result in multiple nights stays.
  • GDS is an important mix into larger properties’ distribution channels. Improve your visibility to the one of the most profitable guest segment – the business client – and see your revenue grow.
  • sing a GDS? Glad you asked! Here are some ways that it makes a hoteliers’ job more effective and efficient.
  • A lot of travel agents who specialise in corporate travel use a GDS to get their clients booked quickly and efficiently.
  • A lot of travel agents who specialise in corporate travel use a GDS to get their clients booked quickly and efficiently.
  • A lot of travel agents who specialise in corporate travel use a GDS to get their clients booked quickly and efficiently.
  • Global distribution systems (GDS) have been a mainstay in the travel industry since travel agents began using the systems in the 1970s.
  • A lot of travel agents who specialise in corporate travel use a GDS to get their clients booked quickly and efficiently.
  • A lot of travel agents who specialise in corporate travel use a GDS to get their clients booked quickly and efficiently.
  • Global distribution systems (GDS) have been a mainstay in the travel industry since travel agents began using the systems in the 1970s.
  • Global distribution systems (GDS) have been a mainstay in the travel industry since travel agents began using the systems in the 1970s.
  • It is a business-to-business system used by companies to stay on top of real-time data about the availability of travel arrangements, such as hotel rooms, to sell them to customers planning to travel
  • sing a GDS? Glad you asked! Here are some ways that it makes a hoteliers’ job more effective and efficient.
  • A lot of travel agents who specialise in corporate travel use a GDS to get their clients booked quickly and efficiently.
  • Hotels generate more revenue through a GDS because it places the hotel’s information, availability and rates in prominent locations where it is easy for travel agents to find.
  • Agent increase in use of GDS systems over the past 2 years: USA- 30%, Latin America- 49% , Europe & Middle East-47%, APAC-64%.
  • Through the GDS, the agents have access to live rates and availability, and they can easily book rooms for their clients.
  • This little piece of technology saves time and will lead to greater exposure for your property
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    GDS has been around since the 1970s and is extremely beneficial for the hotel industry. It creates a common entry point for several OTA's and travel agents so that they can obtain accurate information about the hotels. 5 Benefits to GDS in hotels: Reach market segments globally, more revenue, growth, instant updates and growing the corporate segment. All these benefits of using GDS can result in greater exposure for the property.
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    With the growing of the travel industry the GDS is a great tool that many travel agents use to narrow the search of what exact details they are searching for. GDS is an efficient way for agents to promote their product and services. This tool helps with the aspect in business such as revenue generated, growth opportunities, and give instant updates on rates so there is no secret.
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    Five benefits of using a GDS's. Talks about reaching a global market, improving revenue growth opportunities and the ability to have live updates for prices.
jamigovaerts

Wireless communications solutions for the hospitality industry Telecom Communications, ... - 0 views

  • Differentiating your property through exceptional service is one of the best ways to attract and retain them.
  • Keep Guest Satisfaction At The Forefront
ryanrodgers2014

Broadvine Introduces New Products for its Platform: Broadvine Insights and Broadvine Es... - 1 views

  • With Broadvine Insights, our customers will be able to use additional data and analysis to better predict what is likely to happen instead of relying on historical data to guide their decisions
  • Broadvine's application platform provides real-time data and analysis for use in making more strategic and profitable decisions. By consolidating data from various property management systems, third-party data sources, time and attendance systems, and the accounting platform, owners and operators have complete revenue and statistical analysis reports and insights to make better decisions – all in real-time and across their portfolio.
    • ryanrodgers2014
       
      Broadvine offers a cloud-based business intelligence analytics tool to help hotels measure performance to maximize their revenue and operating efficiency. The system is a Software-as-a-Service, which means there is no software installed the hotel, and helps by eliminating the need for IT management . It works by collecting data from the hotels PMS, GL, Guest Satisfaction Scores, and other systems to normalize data and present it with a dashboard and other reports that are accessed online for the hotel and managers.
yvenisem

NYC Based eMenu Drives Restaurant Profits With iPad Menu Solution - Total Food Service - 0 views

  • The NYC based company makes the archaic experience of using traditional paper menus a thing of the
    • yvenisem
       
      definitely is starting to feel archaic in the 21st century
  • Patrons are given iPad menus and are still ordering through the server.
    • yvenisem
       
      Don't kow how this will still be able to work with COVID
  • restaurants can easily customize their menu to their own specifications and can make updates with a click of a button
    • yvenisem
       
      They can use this to modify restaurants according to their set audience, which can also serve to maximize revenue
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  • Among the more popular features of eMenu is the software’s ability to have multiple language options.
    • yvenisem
       
      Amazing feature that could be very beneficial for places like Florida where there are a lot of different languages being spoken
  • People eat with their eyes
    • yvenisem
       
      Many restaurants definitely lack a visual element. It's one thing to describe what is in the meal and another to see it and fantasize about eating it.
  • The fact that a steakhouse that is operating over 100 years decided just three years ago to work with eMenu speaks for itself
    • yvenisem
       
      Does seem very impressive. Good that people are moving with the times in order to stay relevant, no matter their success
  • No one will order another entree, but our eMenu strength is to entice people to order an appetizer, cocktail, side dish or dessert.
    • yvenisem
       
      The power of seeing food, I'll bet!
  • People with certain dietary restrictions can easily click a button and see options that are available for them.
    • yvenisem
       
      One of the best features in my opinon, especially since I'm eat more plant-based foods
  • A restaurant can use eMenu to feature and promote private rooms, catering packages, special events such as sports games, bands and more.
    • yvenisem
       
      Great for people to view while they are waiting for their food
  • Also, we offer a 3 month trial so restaurants can see results prior to making any long term commitment
    • yvenisem
       
      Very smart business move
  •  
    This article is about a company named eMenue International that offers a revolutionary way of allowing customers to order their food. Instead of the traditional paper menues, guests would be given iPads where they could view pictures and videos of the food that is available to order. This visual element was added in on the premise that people are more enticed by visual elements rather than descriptions of the meal. This technology was adopted by one of NYC's oldest steakhouses agter 100 years, which bodes very well for the business since checks increas by up to 9% after a couple of months. Some of the most valuable aspects of this new method of ordering is the ability for someone to view menue items in the native tongue, widening the range of customers restaurants can receive, increasing profits. Another thing to note is that this menue allows people to click on a tab that caters to their specific dietary needs. In terms of marketing, this could be great since it also offers the ability to showcase the different amenities in the restaurant whther that means meeting space or event packages.
kelseybarton

Protecting the Hospitality Sector With Security Intelligence - 1 views

  • A decade ago in 2009, hospitality was — by some reports — the most widely attacked industry of all. And while other industries have now surpassed it, a 2019 report by Trustwave still ranks hospitality as the third most-breached industry, accounting for 10% of all breaches.
  • the average hospitality data breach costs $1.99 million to contain, at a cost per record of $123. These high costs are due in part to the time needed to adequately respond to a breach. On average, it takes 200 days to identify a hospitality data breach and a further 75 days to contain it
  • attacks targeting the hospitality industry are mostly aimed at stealing payment card data.
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  • Why Is Hospitality So Hard to Secure?
  • 1. They often have large, complex networks.
  • 2. Customers are onsite — and attackers could be too.
  • 3. Staff churn.
  • 4. Franchising.
  • 5. Third-party risk.
  • Protecting the hospitality industry from cyber threats isn’t an easy job. Security professionals in the industry are tasked with defending highly complex networks with many endpoints against a constant barrage of attacks and a constantly churning workforce. On top of all of that, they have limited security resources to work with.
  • Comprehensive security intelligence helps security teams identify unknown threats to the organization, and make informed decisions about how and where to allocate time and resources for maximum effect.
  • Threat intelligence provides the context analysts need to quickly distinguish between valuable alerts and false positives, drastically improving their ability to respond to genuine cyber threats.
  • Threat intelligence can help security teams drastically reduce the time needed to identify and contain a breach by alerting them the moment stolen assets (e.g., guest or passenger data) are made available for sale via the dark web.
  •  
    (1 of 2) "The hospitality sector has always been a popular target for cyberattacks." This is the first line of this Recorded Future article published in January. The article discusses breaches that happened for both Marriott and British Airways and how this is a regular occurrence in the industry as it is such a big target with so many possible points that can be attacked. While the statistics for the hospitality industry have improved greatly in the last decade, in 2019, they were still accounting for 10% of all breaches. Not only does a breach affect the way an organization operates, but also it also severely effects their bottom-line and takes quite a but of time for them to recover. "According to Ponemon's 2019 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average hospitality data breach costs $1.99 million to contain, at a cost per record of $123. These high costs are due in part to the time needed to adequately respond to a breach. On average, it takes 200 days to identify a hospitality data breach and a further 75 days to contain it." The article continues by stating that hackers are typically seeking payment card data when compromising the hospitality industry.
  •  
    (2 of 2) The article then discusses the many reasons why it is so difficult for hospitality-oriented companies to secure their assets versus other organizations of similar stature. Some of these reasons include the large, complex networks which are typically publicly accessible and contain many customers in the databases, the fact that customers are always onsite and so are attackers, the high turnover leading to inconsistent training and sharing of credentials, franchisers owning the responsibility of security yet not knowing much about it, and the risk associated with all of the various third parties the hotels do business with. While intelligence has come a very long, "security professionals in the industry are tasked with defending highly complex networks with many endpoints against a constant barrage of attacks and a constantly churning workforce… [AND] they have limited security resources to work with." Comprehensive security intelligence systems are now capable of protecting many aspects of the organization. Some of these updated features include responding rapidly to security incidents, blocking online brand abuse and impersonation, managing third-party risk, reducing breach containment times, and better allocating security resources. Property data security is so important to the hospitality industry. If a business does not take the proper precautions to protect their systems and their customers, then it could lead to a devastating event for the business. While security intelligence has progressed within the last decade, a business needs to make sure that they have chosen a reliable agent to partner with who will produce consistent service. If the business keeps up with their system updates and protections, they should not have to worry about their security system failing.
ricardoa97

The role innovative technology will play in the hospitality industry post Covid - 0 views

  •  
    The article, "The role innovative technology will play in the hospitality industry post Covid", discusses the necessary technologies that will be needed to adapt to the post Covid world. The article listed innovations including; "turning to a cloud hotel solution, adopting touchless tech, managing channels better, adopt mobile hotel solutions, and choose user-friendly and advanced systems that offer a complete solutions." These innovations will redevelop the lost trust between the hospitality industry and the customers. For example, adopting touchless technology to minimize interactions with guests and make services more efficient. The company advertised throughout the article is Hotelogix which offers a cloud management solution for technological advances utilized throughout the upgrades in 2020.
teresastas

5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever - 0 views

  • The major search sites routinely leave out flights (lots of them) and even entire airlines. A lot of the flights they do show are ones you don’t want, starting with “basic economy” fares that hit you with tons of restrictions and fees, so the price you see isn’t the one you end up paying, along with connections way too short or way too long, ones that no responsible travel agent would let you book.
    • teresastas
       
      This is a very good point that is often overlooked. Southwest Airlines is one of those who do not publish their fairs on most of these OTA searches.
  • The reality is that while it was widely predicted that the internet was going to kill off travel agents when digital tools were placed at every traveler’s disposal, that just hasn’t happened, for several good reasons.
  • “They can find crazy deals”; “They will be your advocate”; “They’ll take care of the little things”; “They’re true experts” and “They don’t usually cost extra.”
    • teresastas
       
      I think that the general public believe that TA's cost extra to use. For the most part that isn't true...unless it's a cooperate travel.
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  • Travel agents are a thing of the past - they primarily booked tickets and beds. Travel advisors have taken on a much more complex role - part psychologist, life coach, executive producer, concierge, fixer, dream maker, and ‘Blink Blink’ genie, with the multitude of services that they provide.
  • Anything that causes cancelled flights (or cruises, etc.) means hassles, but the people who get through this process the most smoothly and the ones who get rebooked first and get the few available seats out of Dodge are usually the ones who used a travel agent. It’s that simple. First off, you actually have someone to call, versus long lines at banks of airport phones masquerading as “help desks.” But good agencies are constantly monitoring their clients’ flights and they usually know about your problem before you do - and often have a resolution before you even call them.
    • teresastas
       
      They make a good point about having someone to call.
  • Expertise: No one knows everything about travel, no matter how deeply they are involved in the industry.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #2: Expertise
  • Emergencies: This is the one most applicable to the average occasional travel.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #2: Expertise
  • It is important to remember that these advantages are not just for luxury travelers. Good travel advisors do not just know what the best hotel is, they know what the best hotel is for you and your budget and can help you find the right fit.
  • Connections: Whether you are trying to book space at a coveted 8-villa safari lodge in Africa or get a room in a top Paris hotel during Fashion Week, most hoteliers keep emergency inventory and guess who gets it? The travel advisors they have known for years who book a lot of guests and send them a lot of business.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #3: Connections
  • “Travel advisors provide our clients with access: access to people, places, and experiences that could never be replicated, much less imagined. A great travel advisor has invested time and relationships in creating their ‘black book’ of contacts and relationships, so that when their clients travel, they are treated as a VIPs, not just a credit card number.” In my experience, everyone likes being treated like a VIP.
    • teresastas
       
      I think this lends itself to who your travel agent is and what they are most experienced in. I couldn't agree that all travel agents are going to give their clients VIP experiences.
  • “Information overload, thousands of new hotels on the scene, all sorts of new cruise ships, passport and visa issues, weather, transit strikes, political unrest, natural disasters, travel insurance, travel providers going out of business, it’s never ending. How does one navigate all of this? To avoid the travel landmines that lay in front of you, you need to get a great travel advisor!
  • Extras: When you get more than you expected for the same price, that’s a great deal, and with travel advisors this happens all the time.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #4: Extras
  • “The millennial generation specifically may have seen their parents use a travel advisor, but don’t feel like they need one - until they are deep in the spiral of research. By shifting gears to planning with an expert, they feel liberated from the immense pressure of choosing the ‘best’ resort - because we’re cutting through the noise of all the conflicting opinions they’re seeing online.
    • teresastas
       
      This is a great point. I know first hand that when booking an actual vacation it can be so much easier to have an expert weed out the options they know won't work for you.
  • Air: If you are trying to buy the cheapest round-trip economy ticket from New York to Dallas, even the best advisors probably can’t get it for less than you can buy it online, though you still have to deal with all the pitfalls of the online travel sites and you will lose the safety net advisors provide when things go wrong. But in a couple of other cases, buying your air through an agent can actually save you money, or miles, or both.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason 5: Air Fare You will usually be able to find the cheapest economy online but there are times when a travel agent might be able to save you fees on airlines.
  • It just doesn’t seem possible, but it is, real tickets, same airline, better seats, less money. I don’t know how they do it, and frankly I don’t care, but if you know who to call this happens all the time (if you are not a client of SmartFlyer booking your vacation or business trip, they will charge you a fee to do the legwork and find you great deals on premium and mileage tickets, but in almost every case I’ve seen, it still saves you money).
    • teresastas
       
      This is a great travel tip!
  • Better Trips! At the end of the day this is the bottom line, the big win you get with a good travel advisor. They know more than you do, they are better connected, they have access to benefits you can’t get yourself, and they can match and often beat any prices you find. They plan a better trip and then provide a safety net.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason number 6: Better Trips Your trip is better all around when you use a good travel advisor!
  • Travel advisors take the overwhelming amount of information out there and distill it into the key points that apply to you - the best hotel/destination/tour for your interests, your budget, and your time frame.
  • 5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever
    • teresastas
       
      We have been discussing a lot about the role of GDS's and OTA's it has become clear that the role of the traditional travel agent has evolved. The question of what is the role of a travel agent and why should we still use them has come up a lot and this article breaks down the answer giving 5 reasons why we still need travel agents. The reasons are listed as emergencies, expertise, connections, airfare and extras. All of these reason collectively make a better trip all around. After reading this it makes me want to book my next vacation through a travel agent!
bruss031

Hospitality tech provider Jurny raises $9.5M | PhocusWire - 0 views

  • Los Angeles-based hospitality technology startup Jurny has raised $9.5 million in a round led by Mucker Capital, bringing its total raised to date to $12.45 million.
  • Founded in June 2020, Jurny provides SaaS and hardware solutions for independent hotels and vacation and short-term rental properties. 
  • Jurny Virtual also offers a virtual concierge, access control, guest screening, review management, accounting and 24/7 inquiry support.
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  • “Our mission is to help small- to medium-sized operators and hotel owners access a premium ecosystem that offers the benefit of economies of scale, not yet available to even some of the world’s largest hotel chains,
  • “Jurny Virtual is revolutionizing the industry by providing a premier service at a much lower cost
  • Jurny says it has more than doubled the number of units using its platform, with 635 unites in eight cities
  • on average, a 20% increase in revenue, 50% decrease in overhead costs and 2x net operating income (NOI) within the first 30 days of implementation
  •  
    The 2020 created SaaS platform Jurny has raised another 9.5 million dollars to help expand globally and reach more small-medium sized properties looking for enterprise level solutions. The technology comes at a much less significant cost than many competitors already existent in the space and continues to prove why smaller sized properties should consider the software. Many operators are seeing an average 20% increase in revenue and 2x NOI within the first 30 days of implementation.
isabelladlp

How the Internet of Things (IoT) can Benefit the Travel Industry - 2 views

  • While it technically includes absolutely everything that is connected to the internet, the term is more typically used to refer to everyday physical devices, appliances and other ‘things’ that have been fitted with internet connectivity
  • This effectively turns them into ‘smart’ objects, capable of ‘talking to’ or interacting with one another
  • the Internet of Things can enable further automation, more personalisation, and a greater customer experience.
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  • 1. Personal Control
  • to enable a greater degree of personalisation within hotels, and on flights, and this is primarily provided by enabling customers to control more appliances or services through a centralised device
  • 2. Seamless Travel
  • In hotels, the check-in process can be made seamless, with hotels sending electronic key cards to guests’ phones which, when used, automatically check them in without them ever having to stop at the front desk
  • 3. Smart Energy Saving
  • Sensors automatically detect the levels of natural light in the room, reducing the power of light bulbs in the process, meaning less energy is wasted and high powered lighting is only used when light levels are low enough.
  • 4. Location Information
  • The IoT can also be used to gather accurate data about the number of people using specific hotel facilities at different times, so that staffing levels can be optimised.
  • 5. Maintenance & Repairs
  • Away from hotels, the Internet of Things can also be deployed to allow airlines to fuel aeroplanes more efficiently, or replace parts at the right time, striking the ideal balance between gaining maximum value and maintaining safety.
ysu006

Advantages Of Cloud Computing For Hotel Industry - 0 views

  •  
    This article discusses the positive impact of cloud computing applications in the hospitality industry. Today, both large hotel chains and small and independent hotels are using cloud computing as a strong management tool. Cloud-based services are replacing the traditional and old systems at all levels, and cloud computing has reshaped the structure of the hospitality industry. The article lists four advantages of working with cloud computing in the hospitality industry: cutting huge business costs, improving and enhancing the guest experience, making direct bookings easy, and making remote work possible. Cloud computing is evolving rapidly, and its use in the industry will become the norm.
hlope066

Artificial Intelligence is redefining the Hospitality Industry- Here's how | SOEGJOBS - 0 views

  •  
    AI is changing the hospitality industry in several ways with more to come in the future. Popular now is cloud-computing, data analytics, and blockchain. Chatbots and more personalized guests experiences are being used by more and more companies also.
isabelladlp

Hospitality Marketing: 16 Must-Know Upcoming Trends for 2021 - 0 views

  • Hospitality marketing is centred on thinking about the business in terms of customer needs and their satisfaction.
  • If you want to attract more customers to your hotel or travel business, you need to efficiently advertise on different digital channels and be where your niche audience is.
  • One of the most significant hospitality trends to be aware of in the wake of COVID is the importance of highlighting safety procedures, hygiene policies and other decisions intended to protect your customers.
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  • However, due to the restrictions on mass gatherings and increased focus on remote work and video calling, business travel has been hit especially hard by COVID and some travel companies are placing a renewed focus on leisure
  • Make sure your destination or property is visible on distribution and communication channels that leisure customers use and highlight associated facilities.
  • However, with COVID reducing international travel, one of the biggest hospitality marketing trends involves placing a renewed focus on local custom instead.
  • Some companies in the industry are having success through offering food delivery as an experience, combining well-presented food with add-ons, such as candles, music playlists or other freebies.
  • Which demographics are still interested and making bookings, and which have fallen away? Which market segments are growing and which are taking longer to return? Is there any relevant geographical data to consider? Once you have insights into how customers are really behaving, you can adjust your hospitality marketing efforts accordingly.
  • While many businesses compete based on pricing, the reality is that many customers are happy to pay more for guaranteed quality, excellent service or a unique experience. Think about some of the things you can throw into your offering, in order to make it stand out from what rivals are selling.
  • These bots allow for rapid responses to customer questions, regardless of staff availability, and can provide support for multiple languages too.
  • This technology can be used during the booking stage, in order to offer support and encourage completion of bookings. Bots may also be able to up-sell and cross-sell, potentially helping your business to maximise revenue.
  • n fact, this marketing trend could soon eliminate the need for Internet users to press buttons or type their search queries online. Hotel guests can book a hotel room via their smartphone by just speaking to the device.
  • y returns and a steady stream of returning clients, you must compile analytics from online customer testimonials on review websites.
  •  
    Marketing has definitely changed to online marketing. No more are we printing flyers and putting them in mail boxes. This article gives a list of trends that will help the hospitality industry in 2020. All of them are eMarketing strategies that will help any hospitality business creating a marketing plan for 2020.
waldjustin13

How Green Rankings Benefit Hotels - 0 views

  • As consumers become more and more sensitive to environmental issues, the demand for green products and services continues to grow. In many industries, there is a lot of pressure for companies to go green and be more environmentally friendly.
  • conscientious travelers want to stay at conscientious hotels
  • the hotel industry has an incredible opportunity to actually make a difference in the fight for water conservation without sacrificing profits or the quality of the guest experience.
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  • Hospitality businesses save money in the long run when they go green
  • Travelers are seeking out eco-friendly places to stay
  • Environmental regulations are being enforced
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    Conscientious travelers want to stay in conscientious hotels. The hotel industry has developed the "GreenLeaders Program" to recognize hotels and B&B's that engage in environmentally friendly practices. The top reasons why the hospitality industry is going green: (1) long-term monetary savings, (2) meeting the needs of eco-conscious travelers, and (3) conforming to new environmental regulations.
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