Group items tagged

Apple has created momentum for POS enhanced technology with it's announcement of the new Apple Pay platform. No longer will customers need to search wallets or purses for cash or credit cards to buy products, no longer will customers wait for and sign receipts. This new e-wallet tech will allow users to make fast transactions using their Apple smart phone. Major retail establishments such as McDonalds have signed on to promote and provide the necessary catalyst to make this technology mainstream. The benefits are very clear, with the increased transactional speeds promoting better customer service and also increased throughput at the retail counter. And this will also enable smaller companies enhance their profitability by utilizing such an easy purchase platform. How does this new tech work? Very simply, it users "near-field communication technology or NFC, which allows for the transfer of small amounts of data between two devices held closely to one another." Just tap your iPhone to the terminal and the transaction is complete. The concern for data security still exists, however "Industry experts will be watching as customers road-test Apple Pay." Apple Pay and similar products from Apple's competitors are the future. Businesses that embrace this technology will be in the enviable position to cater to tech-savvy customers and will see increased revenue as a result.

I found this interesting interview of Tina Hoang-To by Jeanette Mulvey. Tina describes what led to the creation of Wedding Spot (the stress of her own wedding) and the growth her company is continually experiencing.  Wedding Spot allows couples to browse, price and compare wedding venues around their preferred location, eliminating the stress of having to visit a high number of different places in order to get of quote. As she described it, I realized it was very similar to what Yelp does for restaurants and bars.  I am not currently planning a wedding but I went browsing through the website and in my opinion this can prove to be an invaluable tool for brides and grooms to be as it saves them time and reduces their stress. It also has a feature that allows users to set a budget.  As more venues join Wedding Spot, I am sure it is only a matter of time before it is a necessary first step to planning a wedding and choosing a venue. 

The role of travel agents has changed drastically over the last 30 years. When once you needed a travel agent to do all of your bookings for you, you now have access to all of these tools and can create your own travel experience. Therefore, today's travel agent needs to be tech savvy and must keep up with the trends and provide their clients with the most up to date travel information. They also must have an online presence, specifically social media that shows their "personality" and helps with marketing. As long as agents can keep up with the ever changing technologies, clients will go to agents for the "human touch" and real first hand experience.

The article titled "Deciphering ROI from tech investment can be complicated", explores how technology can be challenging within the hotel industry. It is important to note that hotels need to understand what components they need to include, and which are simply a waste of money. According to the author, "Some technology trends are elements that hotels need to survive, while some technology is simply a fad". It is important to keep an eye on consumer trends to filter out what will actually enhance guest experience. Nowadays, guests and staff need mobile needs to optimize their work processes. For some processes and technologies, the ROI may be almost immediate, but for others, they still require more time to see the investment. In terms of investing in technology, do you think room automation is always necessary? In my personal opinion, the more perks a room has, the more it may enhance the customer experience. Ultimately, it all depends on the hotel, its size and its investment opportunities.

This article discussed how to pick the best technology for your company thus maximizing your ROI. Some technologies are necessary while others are just a fad and it is important to determine what your company needs. Guests are also demanding more tech advancements from hotels, the personal touch is not as important anymore. Mobile and digital payment tech is becoming more and more important. Lastly it is important to note that technology will not always fix a problem, it is up to the company to determine what the issue is and then learn how to implement technology that will assist, not just expect it to resolve on its own.

Very interesting article that makes us question whether specific technological add-ons are must haves versus nice to haves to separate us from our neighbours. It also shows us that we cant often times quantify from an ROI perspective. It begs the question, does technology really set a hotel apart and how.

The articles discusses about the eight major function of PMS. The PMS has become on of the key factors for the operations in hotels. The system literally connects all the departments of the hotel under one umbrella. It is easier faster and useful for any hotel organization. The PMS should include these 8 parts: Dashboard: The dashboard should be simple and easily understood by the employees, this will make the check in and check out process quick, even in restaurants the staff would be able to handle orders from the guest quickly. Sales and Cancellation: This will provide a better daily picture about functioning of the hotel rooms. Calendar: This function will help in tracking the booking, noting down occupancy for a particular day. Housekeeping: The housekeeping department would be able to have a proper track of rooms, dirty, clean, dirty vacant and occupied. The housekeeping staff would not have ton call at the front desk all the time to check status of a particular room. Best available rate: The system will give a broader image of rates which needs to be set for the future months, comparing the sales from previous years. Direct booking engine: This what all the hotels wants, to save commission which needs to be provided to the third parties.

This article discusses the reasons why properties across the globe have adopted Property Management Software to provide them more efficiency. It highlights the benefits that can be seen in PMS programs. Real-time access to information being a benefit with cloud based systems because you are able to access all the information in one place and from anywhere. These software solutions are also time saving due to the manpower time that is saved from tasks that are automated. Another benefit is the security features that are put into place by the developers of the software. Lastly, mentioned in the article is scalability and money saving. Being able to alter your software to your companies needs will save you money and also allow you to expand or take away things you don't need. You will also save money in the labor that would otherwise be needed without the system. In my opinion, property management softwares are a must in the hospitality industry, and finding the right one that will fit your needs should be carefully picked. Cloud solutions are now and the future of PMS solutions.

This article explains hotel revenue management and how to streamline the revenue of your property. Revenue management is the marketing and selling of your hotel products to guest. It could be the selling of rooms or additional products your hotel may offer. Every traveler wants to see the value of there dollar spent.

This article touches on GDS bookings and bookings via Expedia specifically. It is one of the most well-known websites used by consumers. Many don't know that cutting out Expedia and selling rooms via GDS systems only costs hotels about 10% of the share, which is much lower than the usual standard for bookings through other agencies. Some data from travelport showed that there was a 30% growth in GDS direct bookings in 2014. Some brands are taking GDS properties from their sites because they feel they don't offer the level of customer service they require. With this example it's clear to see that the relationship between the hotel, GDS systems and sites like Expedia, can get very complicated. Expedia acts as the middle person between the GDS systems like Pegasus and the customer using the site for booking. Each outlet provided for bookings has pros and cons, so it is best to do your research on what is best for your hotel.

This article is about innovative technology within the hospitality industry. It highlights the industry's top 10 advancements in technology and explains how these advancements have transformed the hospitality industry for the better. The article also mentions peer to peer networks, such as the company Airbnb, and how these companies are affecting the industry's approach to travelers.

This article details the up and coming new trend of restaurants offering customers the ability to be able to pay at their table. The article details the various pros and cons associated with the type of service and how it can benefit the customer as well as the employees of a restaurant establishment. While not perfect, there are many pros associated with a pay-at-the-table service that are hard to ignore, and it is my humble opinion that this kind of service will continue to catch on into the near future. Customers are increasingly looking for new ways to utilize technology to their advantage to be able to get in and out of a restaurant and pay-at-the-table technology definitely allows that. The companies that adopt this kind of technology will increasingly see their profits grow as well as their table turn increase.

A human resource information system (HRIS) is a software used for managing employee information while aiming to increase their engagement and productivity. Overall, an HRIS system is made up of the following components: a database, financials, time & attendance, recruitment, and training/development. The tools available in these allow for automated processes, data storage, handling of payroll, benefits, employee recognition programs, track work absences and tardiness, manage job applications, referrals, and interview requests, assist scheduling, employee communication, performance tracking, and goal setting. The costs involved when adopting a HRIS include software, setup, consulting, and support fees.

This article talks about the different types, components, benefits, and costs of a human resource information system. The two categories of HRIS are human capital management (HCM) and while the components include financial, time and attendance, recruitment and onboarding, employee management, company database, and training and development. The benefits include increased automation of human resource, employee self-service, centralized employee communication, and more important insights.

The operations of HR can now be managed easily and efficiently through the use of HRIS. It captures and stores information in a timely manner and facilities HR duties such as; recruiting and training. One of the key features are: better analysis leading to more effective decision-making and more meaningful career planning and advice at all levels. Having a HRIS which can be customized for small and medium-sized organizations all while providing a high level of security is essential.

A HRIS Software, also know as Human Resource Information System is the integration of information technology into human resources with the help of HR software for small and medium size of businesses, allowing electronic operations of HR activities and processes. An information system that provides means of acquiring, storing, analyzing and distributing information to forge a centralized view of the data that an HRM or HCM requires.

This gift hunt utilized a mobile shopping assistant app, Nate, to engage customers with various brands. Using location based marketing through QR codes, players found brands and then received information or promotions about the brand.

This article introduces what is e-waste and the main reason for the surge in e-waste. It also introduced the current recycling status of e-waste and the harm caused by the informal recycling of e-waste, such as heavy metal poisoning and financial information leakage. In addition, measures to address the proliferation of e-waste were also discussed.

It has become necessary for more proper and formal recycling of e-waste as it is economical and environmentally beneficial for companies. China decided to accept less e-waste from other counties and as a result there is more e waste going to other countries in south east Asia damaging their environments.

This is an article that goes through the history of bookings from the early 1900s through to today. It walks through the players in the industry, the changes in technology and the factors impacting the changes. It discusses the rise of the Computer Reservation Systems and subsequently GDSs, ultimately bringing readers to todays OTAs.

With California being prone to droughts, hotels are taking small steps to save water and become more environmentally friendly. This article takes us through several hotels around Los Angeles that are taking steps such as removing water from their water fountains and replacing the water with agave and drought-tolerant succulents. Their goal is not just to save money or water, but to create an eco-friendly image to appeal to environmentally friendly guests. These renovations are costing the hotels money, but officials expect the investment to pay for itself in about 17 months.

"Now a new kind of commercial drone phenomenon has taken off in the United States. People now use small quad copter drones to even shoot photos and videos for their weddings. What seems like a stranger than fiction phenomenon is actually a new craze across the country." The wedding and hospitality industry finds itself forced to conduct business illegally because the FAA is holding onto an outdated rule that essentially states drones cannot be used as part of a commercial enterprise. From Disney's recent application for four drone-related patents, to the ever-widening array of hospitality connected, drone-related applications (parking lot security, large event coverage, wedding photography, etc), the industry finds itself in a quandary. Does it forego use of drones and wait for an FAA ruling (no earlier than September 2015) and risk being left behind by the early adopters, or does it seize upon and expand the use of drone technology while risking the ire of a powerful government agency? In all likelihood, the market will speak with its wallets, forcing regulators to ultimately play catch-up with an industry that is on the verge of a technology driven explosion.

This article greatly described the importance and significance event management has for the tourism industry. Special events definitely draws individuals in to multiple destinations, which delivers a huge boost for the tourism industry.

This article talks about how different types of events are important for tourism. Events such as mega, hallmark, major and local events attract more tourists such as the olympic games or the Superbowl. Some destinations are visited only for special events, driving more tourism to that destination. As tourism has become very dependent on effective event management, small events such as arranging tours in a destination have led to an increase in tourism. The development of tourism and the introduction of new destinations reveals the huge perspectives for the growth of event management. The majority of most social activities, such as festivals, and other recreational events have become possible due to the successful event management and the travelers that they attract.

Event Management can be both local and global, it is the management of various activities including conventions, meeting and other major activities. Tourism is not considered a part of event management; it is classified as a set of tourism related activities. Tourism is thus divided into various niche activities. No matter what tourism type you choose, event management will always be a part of the activity. There are various types of classifications. Events may be condsidered Mega, Hallmark, Major or local. It is necessary to recognize the importance of events to the tourism product, and as such, you should never take for granted the need for proper and effective coordination. It is also important to note that events such as cultural activities also aid in destination development. A key factor in having these events is to promote the destination and attract more visitors, particularly at times in the season when things are slow. The introduction of events can serve to stimulate local economies and draw attention to unseen parts of the destination, as well as aid in the building of infrastructure in those communities. It is also important to note any event requires significant planning, the who, what, where and how allows a better understanding of how a proposed event may impact a destination's image and can help with building a stronger global brand. The significance of tourism in event management is centered around possible offshoot activities such as tours and entertainment or any other economic benefits that maybe be derived beyond the event itself. By creating such signature activities, it is likely that you broker relationships with visitors, which could likely create loyalty to your brand.