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kenziemoody

Technology in the Hospitality Industry - Have We Gone Too Far? | By Court Williams &amp... - 3 views

  • The hospitality industry is changing, and is rapidly becoming super high-tech.
    • kaylaabad
       
      The hospitality industry is changing, and is rapidly becoming super high-tech.
  • On arrival at their destination, guests no longer need to wait in line for the key to their room. They can now check in and out using electronic kiosks, online and mobile check-ins. Automated payments and the use of smartphones for keyless entry, making requests, online purchases, or even placing room service orders makes self-service an attractive option.
    • kaylaabad
       
      Arrival technology - On arrival at their destination, guests no longer need to wait in line for the key to their room. They can now check in and out using electronic kiosks, online and mobile check-ins. Automated payments and the use of smartphones for keyless entry, making requests, online purchases, or even placing room service orders makes self-service an attractive option.
  • With the advent of technology, however, many activities previously performed by live humans have been replaced by automated methods, mainly in the attempt to streamline functionality and improve service
    • kaylaabad
       
      With the advent of technology, however, many activities previously performed by live humans have been replaced by automated methods, mainly in the attempt to streamline functionality and improve service
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  • With the rising popularity of online reviews, hospitality guests now have the ability to research any venue to see what others have posted.
    • kaylaabad
       
      Pro:With the rising popularity of online reviews, hospitality guests now have the ability to research any venue to see what others have posted.
  • Both review websites and social media platforms have become active gateways to global opinion, and travelers use these extensively to help them decide where to book
    • kaylaabad
       
      Pro:Both review websites and social media platforms have become active gateways to global opinion, and travelers use these extensively to help them decide where to book
  • Technology is shaping how lodgings and restaurants are found and booked
    • kaylaabad
       
      Technology is shaping how lodgings and restaurants are found and booked
  • Improving a guest's experience depends on the ability to identify the individual guest's preferences. The best way to determine these is by collecting data from first-, second- and third-party sources, combining and analyzing it effectively.
    • kaylaabad
       
      Data has enhanced guest experience: Improving a guest's experience depends on the ability to identify the individual guest's preferences. The best way to determine these is by collecting data from first-, second- and third-party sources, combining and analyzing it effectively.
  • Theoretically, it should improve the customer experience, particularly through the use of data collected by using the various technologies
    • kaylaabad
       
      Theoretically, it should improve the customer experience, particularly through the use of data collected by using the various technologies
  • We have also seen the emergence of cost-saving technologies that not only focus on guest loyalty but also reduce fixed costs and overheads.
    • kaylaabad
       
      Pro: We have also seen the emergence of cost-saving technologies that not only focus on guest loyalty but also reduce fixed costs and overheads.
  • statistics that show an undoubtedly positive response to technology,
    • kaylaabad
       
      Technology in the industry is well received
  • Biometric authentication offers the most secure method of proving identity that's currently available, and the hospitality industry has been quick to realize the need for this level of safety.
    • kaylaabad
       
      Technology has improved security: Biometric authentication offers the most secure method of proving identity that's currently available, and the hospitality industry has been quick to realize the need for this level of safety.
  • guests can now control all the functions of the room from a single device
    • kaylaabad
       
      Pro: guests can now control all the functions of the room from a single device
  • two-thirds of U.S. hotel guest respondents felt it was either "extremely important" or "very important" for hotels to continue investing in technology to enhance the guest experience.
    • kaylaabad
       
      two-thirds of U.S. hotel guest respondents felt it was either "extremely important" or "very important" for hotels to continue investing in technology to enhance the guest experience.
  • it seems travelers of all ages are keen to make the most of online hotel reservations and reviews
  • hey understand the need for (and value of) using technology to support the guest experience, and although they are rapidly embracing many aspects of this brave new world, they still need to be able to consult with a human being if required.
    • kaylaabad
       
      They appreciate t hey understand the need for (and value of) using technology to support the guest experience, and although they are rapidly embracing many aspects of this brave new world, they still need to be able to consult with a human being if required.
  • it seems travelers of all ages are keen to make the most of online hotel reservations and reviews
    • kaylaabad
       
      it seems travelers of all ages are keen to make the most of online hotel reservations and reviews
  • he experience is now facilitated by technological factors,
    • cleon087
       
      The key word is facilitates, I think that technology has enhanced experience but should never replace the hospitality warm feeling aspect.
  • Baby Boomers who look set to remain the most prolific travelers for the next two to three years, and see if the numbers support the theory that technology has improved the hospitality experience.
    • cleon087
       
      I think that technology is becoming a necessity in the hospitality industry. There is a need to be up to date. Especially if you want to attract the new generation of travelers.
  • But is it really an improvement, or has the industry gone too far? Do these changes enhance the guest's experience, or have we forfeited the true meaning of the word "hospitality" in the process?
    • cleon087
       
      I think that the industry is just simply evolving with the times.
  • how much is it taking away from the guest's personal experience?
  • shows the reviews for companies in the hospitality industry are considered 48% more important and valuable than in other industries, which indicates the target audience takes online reviews exceptionally seriously
    • cleon087
       
      I think that this just leads to different opportunities. Now you can show off on your social media how great your hotel is and its advantages. The only negative is how easily someone can write a negative review that might not even be true.
  • from notifications about special deals to managing their loyalty program account.
    • cleon087
       
      Investing in a well designed app for your company is crucial now.
  • The benefits of automation will soon become crystal clear.
    • cleon087
       
      This just helps improve the service and you will still need someone at the front desk.
  • Guests can stream SHOWTIME shows for free through the app, without needing to input credentials or create a subscription. Anyone who prefers not to download the app can operate the same controls using a simplified, in-room remote device.
    • cleon087
       
      I feel like this just enhances the experience and makes it more personal.
  • These have taken off extensively, with research showing one half of millennials, 26% of Gen Xers and 12% of Baby Boomers consider themselves "travel hackers," which means they believe they know all the best ways to use technology for good deals. Chatbots on booking websites enable the user to ask questions without even getting up from the sofa.
    • cleon087
       
      People are spending more time looking for the perfect hotel and for the best price. I know I do this whenever I travel and most of the time becoming a member for something like the Marriott, will end up being the best deal.
  • e, for example, the system can automatically send the conference itinerary and a map of the meeting spaces to his or her device.
  •  
    The Hospitality industry have been greatly impacted over the years by the advancements made in technology. Customers have everything assessable by the click of a button or utilization of an app. Various software is being created to provide for quick and easy service but in turn takes away from the personal experiences.
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  •  
    "All of this indicates that while a hotel offering a truly connected experience is likely to be full of very happy, empowered guests, we can't quite replace the human touch completely just yet." Though technology is taking over the industry, it is important that we not lose or completely replace the humanity of the industry. While technology has enhanced the employee experience and guests do appreciate it, they also like to know that they have a human waiting for them should they have any issues. All in all, technology has improved the industry by enabling a more personalized and empowering experience and increasing the safety of the guests and employees.
  •  
    This article is about the new advances in technology and investing whether it has been taken too far. It analyzes the new advancements such as apps where reservations are made. These new technologies have been made to enhance experience but not replace the warm feeling that hospitality gives you. The article concludes that we haven't taken it too far, instead it has made guest experience better. Especially when it comes to checking in, and not having to wait a huge line when you just want to get to your room.
  •  
    As we learned this week, technology is impacting the hospitality industry. As the article states- "improving a guest's experience depends on the ability to identify the individual guest's preferences." This reminded me of the Smart Bar video we watched this week. Technology can enhance the quality of experience. However, depending on the businness/ company- most people would be unwilling to put a an investment into tech unless they see a significant uptake from the technology. Even though technology plays a major role in the industry, it has not completely took over human interaction.
anonymous

Are customers' reviews creating value in the hospitality industry? Exploring the modera... - 0 views

  • reviews
  • positive effect on hotel revenues
  • outside popular destinations
  • ...39 more annotations...
  • online visibility
  • user-generated reviews
  • 240 small and medium-sized hotels
  • online retailers have thus been gaining increasing market power in influencing customers’ purchases (i.e., Inversini and Masiero, 2014, Silva, 2015, Yen and Tang, 2015) and have improved market transparency and uncertainty for travellers (Toh, Raven, & DeKay, 2011). For this reason, their role is now considered an infomediary (Chen, Yang, & Wang, 2015) because their capability to add value in transactions depends primarily on collecting and processing information about prices, destinations and travellers’ reviews.
  • positive effect on hotel revenue growth
  • outweighed by a negative effect on gross profit margins.
  • managerial implications discuss how hotels should use social media features according to a strategic view based on pursuing the horizontal and vertical differentiation of their services in an attempt to create more economic value from their online visibility and to protect profit margins from the intermediation in their customer relationships.
    • anonymous
       
      MIS idea of how to actually use the information giving from this style of data mining
  • Online reviews provide additional information for travellers to mitigate the uncertainty about the quality of a hotel and about its fit to their needs and preferences on accommodations and destinations.
  • 50,115 user-generated reviews on TripAdvisor,
  • shake up long-lasting reputations through reviews posted by unmonitored influential opinion makers
  • Internet can be a value-destroying mechanism for small businesses and can deter hotels’ capacity to defend profit margins
  • empower buyers
  • ncrease the degree of rivalry among firms that sell and distribute their products/services
  • bargaining power
  • First, online ratings can have a beneficial effect on the occupancy rate of rooms, which is especially important for larger hotels that bear a greater cost of idle capacity, especially in off-peak periods. Second, visibility on social media can allow hotels to apply a price premium thanks to greater economic value generated by market transparency, the reduction of the search costs for both parties involved in the transaction
    • anonymous
       
      Hypothesis broken into 2 parts
  • brand image of hotels,
    • anonymous
       
      Potential here for bad press. Viral videos of mistakes/ misinformation etc.
  • maller hotels with opportunities for market growth in segments in which they have a limited market presence
  • exploring the relationship between online visibility and the creation of economic value in terms of increase of sales and profitability for a panel of 240 Italian small and medium hotels
  • ive million registered users who visit the platform 30 million times per month on average
  • we consider only the profitability (the value appropriation achieved through online visibility) and not the increase in sales (the value generation achieved through online visibility) because hotels’ market positioning affects a hotel’s capability to appropriate the economic value brought by online visibility and influences hotels’ ability to negotiate the infomediation fees, which in turn impact hotels’ profitability.
  • social networking (i.e., the opportunity that users have to connect with people with similar travel interests, needs or experience) and knowledge sharing
  • travellers can more easily find persons who share similar travel preferences and needs. In a similar way, a user consulting travellers’ reviews can see if the reviewer is a member of his/her friends’ social networks on other platforms, such as Facebook.
  • beyond allowing hotels to improve their room occupancy rates, online visibility may allow hotels to apply price premiums.
  • respond strategically to online reviews
  • positive relationship between online visibility and sales
  • three different forms.
  • first is the rating assigned by users, who can express their evaluations on a quantitative scale.
  • rates given by users are distributed over the scale.
    • anonymous
       
      Think amazon review
  • number of reviews that users give to hotels
  • we may expect that online visibility on social media – seen as a composite measure of the three above-mentioned elements – can positively impact hotels’ revenue growth
    • anonymous
       
      hypothesis
  • hotels’ market positioning between their online visibility and profitability.
  • Online visibility has a negative effect on the gross profit margin of a hotel.
  • Consequently, high star-rating hotels apply price premiums for their superior quality and attract less price sensitive customers, who have a higher willingness to pay for quality
  • we expect that less price sensitive customers are willing to pay more for hotels with higher customer ratings on infomediation platforms because they perceive these hotels to be more valuable
  • The relation between online visibility and sales profitability is stronger for hotels with high star-rating.
  • iche tourism appears to offer a more meaningful set of experiences, given the knowledge that tourists’ needs and wants are being met
  • “what makes a tourism destination truly competitive is its ability to increase tourism expenditure, to increasingly attract visitors while providing them with satisfying, memorable experiences, and to do so in a profitable way” (p. 2).
  • However, a number of studies have reported that online user-generated reviews are perceived as more credible than traditional word-of-mouth when they come from persons with similar attitudes and preferences
    • anonymous
       
      Hate this.
  • Hotels in niche destinations are thus better positioned to extract more economic value from online visibility.
  •  
    This article analyzes how user-generated ratings have a positive impact on hotels revenue growth. It looks at this through three different methods: one, ratings that the uses provide, two at how those ratings are "distributed over the scale," and three, the number of reviews that hotel receives. The article observes 240 small to mid scale hotels in Italy. Some issues we see come up revolve around the subjectivity of user-generated reviews and how that can positively and negatively affect hotel occupancy and interest. Ultimately, it appears that hotels that already have a high star rating will benefit most from these user-generated ratings because they have a stronger bargaining tool. The other benefactor are small, niche hotels whose increase viability and unique qualities help it in encouraging new tourism and high level experiences.
rrodr658

How Virtual Reality (VR) can Enrich the Hospitality Industry - 3 views

  • Through this, users can experience a virtual recreation of different aspects of travel, from the flight, to arrival, to some of the key sights.
  • These tours can be made available on hotel websites, allowing guests or potential guests to take a look at their hotel room, or other parts of the hotel, before they book or before they arrive.
  • allowing customers to look for flights, compare hotel prices and book rooms through a virtual reality headset.
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  • Within the hospitality industry, VR has become particularly important, because of the amount of information the average customer needs before they will actually book a hotel room. Rather than reading through descriptions, which may or may not be trustworthy, it offers customers the chance to experience things for themselves.
  • Virtual reality is a computer technology, which utilises images, sounds and physical sensations to make users feel as though they are physically present in a virtual world. Virtual reality technology typically makes use of VR headsets and this equipment enables users to look around and immerse themselves in a digital environment.
  • Virtual reality, or VR for short, is one of the biggest emerging technology trends and the business world is gradually coming to terms with the various opportunities it provides. For those in the hospitality industry, virtual reality has particular appeal, because it can digitally transport potential customers to a hotel or travel destination.
  • While many of the applications of modern virtual reality are entertainment-based, businesses are increasingly getting to grips with VR’s potential as a marketing tool, delivering important information to potential customers in a way they can actually experience, and stimulating multiple senses in the process.
  • allows customers to experience a virtual recreation of a room within a hotel, or take a look at one of the nearby attractions. Essentially, this allows the hotel industry to benefit from the type of ‘try before you buy’ marketing
  • Virtual reality hospitality strategies can help to improve the quality of experience provided at almost every stage of the customer journey. Yet, this can be taken to the next level by embracing the metaverse
  • allow customers to experience nearby attractions once they have arrived, adding to the hotel experience itself.
  • is one of the biggest emerging technology trends, and the business world is gradually coming to terms with the various opportunities it provides.
  • Virtual reality is a computer technology, which utilizes images, sounds, and physical sensations to make users feel as though they are physically present in a virtual world. Virtual reality technology typically uses VR headsets, enabling users to look around and immerse themselves in a digital environment.
    • rrodr658
       
      VR definition/explanation
  • allows customers to experience a virtual recreation of a room within a hotel, or take a look at one of the nearby attractions. Essentially, this allows the hotel industry to benefit from the type of ‘try before you buy’ marketing
    • rrodr658
       
      VR experiential marketing
  • Virtual Travel Experiences
    • rrodr658
       
      one of the main reasons how VR is being used in hospitality and tourism. VR travel experiences such as tours.
  • Trainees can improve their housekeeping skills in realistic virtual settings and gain valuable insights through interactions with lifelike avatars. VR allows trainees to learn from mistakes, even serious ones, without the anxiety of real-world effects.
    • rrodr658
       
      VR used as a training tool to help staff improve and refine their skills. It allows for virtual simulations to happen and practice possible outcomes.
  •  
    Virtual Reality is enhancing the way travelers can decide if they want to book their hotels, by allowing them to take virtual tours of the hotel or experience local attractions via virtual trials, some of these examples include checking out local beaches, even simulated scuba diving. Some of these 36o videos are truly remarkable and I can see how this can encourage guests into booking their trips because it certainly makes me want to try all of these activities.
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  •  
    This article discusses the ways VR is utilized in the hospitality industry. It then goes to explain how potential clients can have virtual visits before actually booking.
  •  
    The article is providing examples for the technology of Virtual Reality (VR) and its ability to boost the hospitality Industry. VR has been used more as an entertainment tool but it is now progressively seen as an useful and important marketing tool, as it delivers life like experiences through stimulation of the senses.
  •  
    Virtual reality is a computer technology, which utilizes images, sounds, and physical sensations to make users feel as though they are physically present in a virtual world. For those in the hospitality industry, virtual reality has particular appeal because it can transport potential customers to a hotel or travel destination. The full potential of virtual reality within the hotel industry is only just being recognized.
  •  
    This article goes over how VR/AR is currently impacting the hospitality and tourism world. The main reasons for its big impact on the industry and how the technology is being applied. It mentions examples and touches a little bit on the metaverse topic. It also has a separate article that explains further on AR & AI in the hospitality industry.
Camila Calcines

Smartphone VS Tablet: Prep Your Hotel For a Mobile Future | Top Stories | | Hospitality... - 0 views

  • In 2011, mobile was responsible for $2.6 billion in travel bookings. By 2013, the number is projected to be $8 billion
  • tablet users are much more likely to purchase something (62% versus 47%) or book travel (41% versus 29%) on their devices than smartphone users.
  • Sixteen percent of mobile users will not return or wait for a website to load if it takes too long and 6% will go to a competitor’s website
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  • Understanding that the tablet and smartphone experience can be vastly different is important to the way you may want to market to your target audience.
  • the tablet market is expected to grow to more than 300 million
  • smartphone and the tablet experience are not one in the same and both are important.
  • Time and delivery is very important for mobile guests and the capability to manage reservations through mobile devices provides increased mobility to the modern day traveler,
  • The most challenging part of optimizing for both smartphones and tablets is in the execution.
  • Regular testing and monitoring of your mobile site can ensure that customers are getting the best experience.
  •  
    In this era of technology I think the hotel industry should of accommodated their customers with an excellent mobile site experience. As read in the article, "In 2011, mobile was responsible for $2.6 billion in travel bookings," and the numbers are increasing exponentially by year. Mobile devices are becoming so popular to book travel because todays customer lives a high-paced life and is always on the go. So I think it is extremely important that travel industries understand the customer and targets them accordingly in order to form that customer loyalty. With the popularity of tablets, the smartphone is gaining harsh competition because a tablet user has a smartphone and when it comes to booking travel they would most likely use their tablet because it is more accessible and the screen is bigger and easier to read. The smartphone and tablet experience is completely different because in essence you are targeting different audiences. The tablet user wants to see bigger icons and more visibility on the bigger screen, while the smartphone user wants to have a quick information session where she/he can view everything on the go. I think the travel industry should focus on execution in order to give the tablet and smartphone user the best mobile experience. With that said, the only way to ensure that positive feedback is through "regular testing and monitoring of your mobile site…"
bnort002

How to Build a Brand for Your Mobile App: Strategies, Tips and Examples - 2 views

    • bnort002
       
      Some other things to consider would be: Is the app easy to use, will it appeal to all users or the target market, and will your colors/logo/design be able to grow and mature with the Brand you are creating.
    • bnort002
       
      Some Brands do not allow much creativity or changing of the Brand. For example, when I worked for Hyatt, you had to follow everything that was within the Brand Standard. It you couldn't find it in their Brand database you could not use it. Working for a family owned or private company you have more flexibility with promoting their brand and you can have more creative pull such as with an App.
  • Gamificatio
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  • Social networks are first of all the big channel of brand awareness and brand recognizability so don’t neglect their influence.
  • All these details shape the positive user experience and support brand loyalty with happy users.
  • Personalization and Onboarding
  • not only should mobile apps offer high quality of their performance but also build up strong brands to stand out.
  • brand is an image created with a set of distinguishing features and promoting awareness and recognizability of the product or service on the market, it’s what people think and know about it
  • Talking about mobile apps, the important thing to think about is the correlation of the logo with an app icon
  • how users will perceive the app interacting with it: its visual image, its communication and its reputation
  • Keywords
  • Descriptor keywords
  • Brand keywords
  • Brand-Plus keywords
  • Help and Support
  • Landing Pages
  • Choosing this direction, remember two things:
  • – opinion leaders mostly care about their audience and reputation so they won’t promote what they don’t like or don’t find good for their audience, even rejecting profitable offers.– opinion leaders and brand ambassadors will waste your money if the product is half-baked. You may get the big traffic from the campaign and attract many users but if they get something with numerous bugs or lorem ipsum here and there instead of real copy, it will have a bad influence on the brand image in general. Positive experience first. Presentation and promotion after it.
  •  
    This article brings up some great points on building your Brand on a mobile App. As a whole, we are attached to our cell phones and using apps for everything. Creating a Brand for your Mobile App is a must have in our industry and it is the direction most hotels, cruise ships, and resorts are taking when you are on property/ship. Personalization and Onboarding is important to the user as they want to be able view their interests/preferences/needs. By providing a personalized experience (interactive maps, videos, etc.) via App we hope to provide the most positive guest experience. As the article states, providing a positive user experience creates happy users which results in Brand loyalty. The end result is always to capture repeat business and Brand loyalty.
Jia Kim

Choosing the 'Right' Mobile Solution to Maximize Bookings - 0 views

  • it is apparent that having a mobile site is critical to having a successful hotel marketing campaign
  •  
    This article says about the right mobile solution to maximize bookings. It is apparent that having a mobile site is critical to having a successful hotel marketing campaign. Most hoteliers have to design a mobile-friendly site, it's not an option. The more positive user experience created, the more bookings expected. User friendly application surely influence the users' purchasing decision. Thus, the hoteliers need to optimize various devices in order to keep users engaged from the moment of searching to researching and to booking. Two kinds of solution was introduced. One is Responsive design solution which enables one site to fits all kinds of device from desk top, lap top to smart phone or tablets. It is not necessary to optimize teh contents for each device so easy to manage the contents and images on the site. Second type is Multiple site solution or traditional mobile site. This solution is ideal for hotel sites that have many pages within the site. Building a seperate site in order to cater to mobile users who are interested in specific information. It is important to acknowledge that which device the guest is using to optimize the contents. To be short, providing an optimum user experience is very important to convert visitors into guests.
lflor087

7 Applications of Augmented Reality in Hospitality Industry | Analytics Steps - 1 views

  • augmented reality it works in enhancing the experience and satisfaction of the customers. 
  • The prime concern of this industry is the best customer experience while providing their services.
  • Augmented Reality or AR is an interactive experience or enhanced version of the real world to be presented in a more understandable way with the help of computerized tools.
  • ...42 more annotations...
  • can open up various opportunities for a better and smooth customer experience.
  • enhance the physical surroundings by making them more interactive. 
  • stay rooms can have a 3-dimensional display feature on the portal so that the visitors can have a look at them in a realistic way while they are booking
  • extended information provided to them for further detailing enabling them in better choices and decision making by having a 360 degrees virtual tour before being physically present.
  • make the maps more reliable and informative but will make the visits more convenient and informative for the customers. 
  • this is not just a tool to provide a better customer experience, this can be used by the management to maintain the guests and give out accurate instructions and details on the AR-based portal. 
  • This technology is predominantly being used in the hospitality industry to make the people exploring the premises have various wireless connectivity opportunities using their smartphones only. 
  • can help in getting details about the guest and their preferences and choices.
  • This will help in generating a personalized experience for the guest as well as make the process of allotment convenient for the staff. 
  • The users can get related information about the machines and areas under maintenance and also about the estimated time taken in resuming the facility so that they can feel transparent enough with the inconvenience.
  • can call for room service or whatever they need in a rather uncomplicated and hassle-free way in the language of their choice. 
  • Hospitality is a service-based deal.
  • The hotels can enable augmented reality-based games in their premises to keep the visitors engaged and entertained throughout.
  • Augmented Reality or AR is an interactive experience or enhanced version of the real world to be presented in a more understandable way with the help of computerized tools.
  • digital tools like - animations, graphics, sounds, etc. to be able to create an amalgamation of the real and the virtual worlds to be able to get a detailed view of what is present or the necessary information related to it which is put on. 
  • can be accessed via smartphones and internet-based devices. This can be done via scanning a barcode printed on real-life items to get an artificial view of them or by applications specially crafted for specific purposes.
  • 1. Interactive Hotel Rooms 
  • Also augmented reality-based interfaces are capable of providing a lot of information to the guests or to the staff that they might need, this makes the process as easy as pointing the camera to a real thing which might then connect to the related server to fetch the required information. 
  • Augmented reality can be used by hotels to enhance the physical surroundings by making them more interactive.
  • The stay rooms can have a 3-dimensional display feature on the portal so that the visitors can have a look at them in a realistic way while they are booking a room or seeking to grab a service. 
  • 360 degrees virtual tour before being physically present. 
  • 2. Map Features 
  • Hotels and resorts around the tourist hub can have this feature where the visitors can point their smartphones to a map to get a view of the other places of interest and their timings with other details nearby
  • 3. Gamification 
  • The hotels can enable augmented reality-based games in their premises to keep the visitors engaged and entertained throughout.
  • Hotels can engage in games like treasure hunts by taking them to a virtual platform, improvising the features as per their discretion which can be played on their premises.
  • 4. Beacon Technology
  • Beacon Technology works by the Bluetooth-based interface somehow connected to the concept of augmented reality which allows the people operating to send related information when the users are in specific locations. 
  • This technology is predominantly being used in the hospitality industry to make the people exploring the premises have various wireless connectivity opportunities using their smartphones only. 
  • 5. Guest Recognition
  • guest recognition can become the catalyst in providing relatively better and convenient services to them.
  • Augmented reality-based applications can help in getting details about the guest and their preferences and choices. IoT based cameras can be used in connectivity with the AR setup working by providing the details about the guest and their previous stays, the services they took, room preferences, food preferences, etc.   
  • 6. Maintenance Information
  • The users can get related information about the machines and areas under maintenance and also about the estimated time taken in resuming the facility so that they can feel transparent enough with the inconvenience.
  • 7. Translation Facilities 
  • In such a case augmented reality can come to the rescue, for instance, the guests can point their smartphones at the various texts and guides or even the hotel menu, for instance, to get the related information with the option to choose from multiple languages.
  • Examples of AR in Hospitality   Starwood Hotels uses beacon technology to send the virtual keys to the guests which helps them in unlocking the room using their phones.   Holiday Inn has this feature where the guests can point their smartphones to see the realistically virtual depictions of famous celebrities in the hotel.   Premier Inn has rooms with maps installed in them enabling guests to point their smartphones at them to have information about the nearest points of attraction.    The Mansion uses AR-based brochures to display its accommodation facilities to its guests. 
  • AR can be put to use combined with other technological dimensions like IoT, big data, and virtual reality to maximize usage. Also, this is not just a tool to provide a better customer experience, this can be used by the management to maintain the guests and give out accurate instructions and details on the AR-based portal. 
  • e most hassle-free ways
  • ces in th
  • The host and guest mutual interaction seek to deliver and get the best servi
  • Hospitality is basically an umbrella term for multiple guests and host-based services like hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants, theme parks
  •  
    Augmented reality is flooding the hospitality industry with its many features. As stated in the article, "AR is an interactive experience or enhanced version of the real world to be presented in a more understandable way". Anyone is the hospitality industry knows and are aware of the convenience and satisfaction AR/AI/VI brings to both the guests and businesses. A great example mentioned is the article is how AR can aid travelers from out of the country where there is a language barrier. This provides an untroubled trip, and not to mention a safer trip for someone in a new country. A feature we are seeing a lot now-a-days and many hotels using is 3D models of their rooms and amenities. This allows the guest to tour and experience the hotel without even stepping foot in the hotel yet. AR/AI/VR provides a realistic experience as well as aids in collecting data for businesses and creating better and even personalized experiences.
  •  
    This article delves into numerous different uses augmented reality (AR) could have in hotel properties. AR is an interactive experience and/or enhanced version of the real world. AR has the abiliy to mobile with internet connection and cell phones. This article suggests interactive hotel rooms, maps, or even guest recognition. They even mentioned how Holiday Inn will allow for cameras on phones to show celebrities in the hotel or even Starwood Hotels utilizing beacon technology to send keys to guests smartphones.
galca008

Applying e-commerce principles to hotel websites | Travel Tripper - 0 views

  • If hotels want to succeed in a digital economy, hotel managers and marketers will need to embrace the key principles of e-commerce and apply them to their hotel websites. These principles include user experience, conversion triggers, and the travelers’ booking journey.
  • One of the first major principles of e-commerce for hotel websites is perfecting the user experience. This isn’t just about having a pretty website—it’s about how the user utilizes and interacts with your website.
  • Mobile bookings have increased tremendously in the last few years, making it crucial to have a mobile-friendly website and booking engine.
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  • The power of personalization also plays a hugely important role in improving user experience. In a study conducted by Infosys, 86% of consumers stated that personalization impacts the purchases they end up making.
  • One of the biggest things that hotel e-commerce managers can learn from OTAs is their mastery of conversion triggers, which are powerful tools used at pivotal points in the booking process that convince travelers to hit the “Book” button.
  • increasing the desirability of a product and making it appear limited in supply is a powerful conversion tactic that helps drive more bookings.
  • Consumer confidence and behavior is also heavily influenced by social persuasion. According to Econsultancy, 88% of customers look at reviews before they make a purchase.
  • From the homepage through to the booking page, reviews are clearly visible and strategically used to boost conversion rates at every stage.
  • Direct bookings are the most profitable revenue source for hotels, so having a healthy direct distribution channel through your website is an important part of any revenue management strategy.
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    I found this article very useful because it focus on the common complaint of hoteliers when it comes to paying commissions to OTA's. In order for hotels to attain direct bookings, they need to have a deep understanding of ecommerce and digital marketing. While online travel agencies (OTAs) have continued to flourish due to their understanding of conversion optimization and user experience, many hotels still have not adapted to this mindset. Therefore, if hotels want to compete and succeed in the digital economy, it is important to acknowledge key principles of e-commerce and apply them effectively to the websites. First, mastering user experience includes creating simple yet intuitive design including a clear navigation, easy to find information and a strong call to action. Next, constant A/B testing, which is a process that compares different versions of the same page to measure with converts best, helps hotels understand how to maximize the user experience. Personalization is another useful tool to elevate user experience, since 86% of consumers reported that personalization impacts their purchases. OTA's have been efficient in this area as they have been able to amass booking data and convert this to improve the shopping experience thanks to embedded cookies and marketing automation systems. Also, employing conversion triggers are powerful tools used at pivotal points in the booking process. Just as OTA's have been able to master these conversion triggers, hotels should learn from them to increase direct bookings. For example, creating a sense of urgency on the website, such as "only 4 rooms left", will appeal to customers. Social proof, which entails social persuasion, is a decision making tool, where customers can book their stay thanks to quick access to reviews. Best rate guarantees help boost bookings as well, since customers have the peace of mind that they do not have to sure elsewhere. Lastly, understanding the travelers' booking journey, such
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    This article researched the efficient strategies that OTA's use when getting customers to book through their site. The purpose is to give tips for improvement to hotel websites so that they can use their site appropriately to drive more bookings directly. My opinion is that the strategies used by OTA's outlined in this article are a perfect direction for a hotels' website to configure itself in the most efficient manner.
Hanlu Hu

E-Commerce for the Hospitality Industry | The Moscow Times - 6 views

  • E-commerce has been defined as "the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the Internet."
  • Accelerating Internet usage worldwide The Internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel Most travelers research hotel reservations on the Internet Social media and online hotel reviews are an increasingly important decision factor The web is the preferred media source for travel information, favored 17:1 over television and 6:1 over newspapers and magazines.
  • Adding real time search functionality to your site, capability to generate user reviews, launching contests helps to build fresh content and quality links
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  • Heavy graphics, animation and flash demos cause your site to perform slowly. Sites that are built keeping these guidelines in mind will deliver better user experiences, will perform better on search engines, and ultimately drive higher ROI.
  • As things stand now, mobile queries represent about 10% of all queries made on Google. People are using mobile devices to conduct searches, as well as share content, connect with friends and browse the web
  • Embracing social media. 93 percent of social media users expect companies to have a social presence. 85 percent of social media users want companies to interact with them on social sites. A well-planned social initiative can turn fans into brand evangelists.
  • The Internet has consolidated itself as a very powerful platform that has changed the way we communicate, and the way we do business.
  • The growing importance of e-commerce in the modern hospitality industry has created an urgent need for simple solutions to manage companies' online presence. Now that each hotel is involved in e-commerce, why is hotel e-commerce so important today?
  • We forget that the human brain can only consume limited information. It is important to take a holistic approach and prioritize information. Good web site architecture and organized content improves site usability and its efficiency when used with search engines.
    • yan xie
       
      It is true that we always forge how many information the human brain will take at once. Although the e-commerce is the good way for customers to know the new products and new service from the hotels, sometimes the hotels provide so much information to customers. It lets customers confused and does not know what the specifice products can meet their requirements. And sometimes, they feel some hard to understand your service so that they give up hotels service or new products to choose the one they are familiar. So how to make e-commerce usability and efficiency is a new point, which the hospitality industry company need to consider.
  • make sure your ad groups are made up of tightly knit keyword themes and that those keywords are reflected in your ad copy; ensure that your landing pages clearly reflect the offer promoted in the ad copy and includes clear calls to action and conversion factors.
    • yan xie
       
      As the point two mentioned, the customers cannot get so many information at once, and they also cannot search lots of information at once. So the keyword themes is also another important thing for company to do the promotion and ads. This ads need to have the keywords to clearly reflect the offer promoted for customers. In this way, the customers will catch the information as possible as they can.
  • Top e-commerce sites are continually testing new things. It's the only way to achieve continual improvement.
    • yan xie
       
      To do the continually testing new things is always a best development way for the developing company. If the company cannot test the new things in their e-commerce sites and e-commerce process, the e-commerce of this company will be far away from other companies. Company need to have the innovation to make some new things for their e-commerce and do the test all the time to select the best way for the business and customers' expericence.
  • hospitality industry has always been among the first to capitalize on new technologies
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    The hospitality industry along with the resourcefulness of the Internet has allowed the Russian hospitality industry to benefit and grow with the technology of e-commerce. E-commerce is defined as "the buying and selling of products and service by businesses and consumers over the Internet". This technology is significant due to its beneficial factors of lowering costs, accessibility, decision-making, and media exposure. As well, the article provides for methods and advice regards effective strategies to utilize the Internet. Primarily, the speed of the website's functionality is essential, along with providing compatibility of browsers, thus, allowing for a better experience for users. The information in the website should be efficient, allowing for real time search whether using a mobile phone or a computer. It was informative to read the multiple functionality, that social media is playing in the hospitality industry regards the exposure and marketability. E-commerce has change the market of goods and services, from a tangible experience to digital experience, through the use of online shopping estimated at $228 Billion in 2010, a third derived from the purchase of travel and flight websites, thus, demonstrating the importance of the Internet in relation to consumerism.
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    This article talks about why hotel E-commerce is essential today and how to go about having E-commerce work for your business/hotel. The article says, "The internet has consolidated itself as a very powerful platform that has changed he way we communicate, and the way we do business." This is the reason why businesses need to utilize the internet. According to the article these are the reasons that hotel e-commerce is important today: the internet is being used worldwide, the internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking medium, the internet is used, by travelers, to research hotels and their reservations, the internet is the home of social media and hotel reviews and the internet is preferred 17:1 over television and 6:1 over newspapers and magazines for travel information. It would be at a hotel's detriment if they do not utilize the internet and e-commerce. It isn't enough to use e-commerce for business but there must be an upkeep. It is extremely beneficial to research or monitor how customers and potential consumers are seeking information and what attracts them to a site. According to the article, e-commerce strategies that would 'help get the best from the internet world' are: 1. Search-friendly website design 2. Improving Conversion and Usability 3. Paid Search 4. Real time Search 5. Mobile Device Market 6. Social Media 7. Testing
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    This article mentioned why the ecommerce important for the hospitality industry. And also there are more things they hospitality industry companies need to know. Although the e-commerce is the good way for customers to know the new products and new service from the hotels, sometimes the hotels provide so much information to customers. It lets customers confused and does not know what the specific products can meet their requirements. And sometimes, they feel some hard to understand your service so that they give up hotels service or new products to choose the one they are familiar. So how to make e-commerce usability and efficiency is a new point, which the hospitality industry company need to consider. As the point two mentioned, the customers cannot get so many information at once, and they cannot search lots of information at once. So the keyword themes is also another important thing for company to do the promotion and ads. This ads need to have the keywords to clearly reflect the offer promoted for customers. In this way, the customers will catch the information as possible as they can. It is true that we always forge how many information the human brain will take at once. To do the continually testing new things is always a best development way for the developing company. If the company cannot test the new things in their e-commerce sites and e-commerce process, the e-commerce of this company will be far away from other companies. Company need to have the innovation to make some new things for their e-commerce and do the test all the time to select the best way for the business and customers' experience.
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    This article discusses about the application of e-commerce in hospitality industry. Internet has become a very powerful tool for customers when they are planing their travels. As the same time, it has become an important media for hotelierss to improve their businesses. Internet can provider a lot of online sources to customers when they make any dicisions. And how to make your web site become more competitive and attract more customers is the topic of this article. First of all, a good design for the web site is the most important thing for hotelierss. And the download speed is the basic factor. Quick download speed brings a good experience to users, and improves the ranking in organic search. Secondly, improving usability needs to be focused on by hotelierss. Large imformation may not be took in by users. You need to make your customers seethe most important information first. In other word, you need to prioritize your web site and make the imformation more understood. Paid search and real time search are also focused on by the author. Sometimes, paid search can make your hotel more compelling on the search engine. And some tips have been given in this articel to help the hotelierss to maximize conversions. Real time search is similar with paid search, and it needs compelling fresh content and quality incoming links on the web site. Maps, photo galleries, videos and press releases are creative ways to distrivute content on different channels. With more mobiles customers using, mobile represent about 10% of all queries make on Google. Hotels can exand the mobile market and improve the download speed of their site by avoid heavy graphics and flash, making their site is mobile compatible. Social media is in the same condition with mobile. Customers need more connections on social sites, so they want companies to interact with them through the social media. The last point is testing. Every new thing needs a lot of tests. It can provides changes and improvement for
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    The article discusses power of internet and how different it is from magazine and television ads. "In terms of time your travel websites are available for are accessible for a longer period of time, the flexibility that the content can be changed without asking someone,if you have a content management system." Also travel websites will help your business potentially reach a wider audience. Another big advantage of having a travel website is it's availability even when your business is closed or no one is available to answer your phone. Everyone knows that there are so many time zones, and the visitors can come from any part of the world. So having a travel websites gives your travel business visibility for all 365 days of year 24x7.
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    In hospitality industry, customers are constantly seeking new sources of information to help them make decisions before purchasing services. E-commerce in hospitality industry is about the online buying and selling services. And it's become such an important source for the company and customer. Hospitality businesses are all involved in the trend. Smart hoteliers need to keep a sharp focus on the fundamental shift in ways customers are seeking information and channels that drive maximum return on investment. This article listed several basic e-commerce strategies that will help hoteliers to get the best from the Internet world.
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    As new technological advances are being made, the hospitality industry has always been among the first to capitalize on new technologies. The term e-commerce has been defined as the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the internet. Now that hotels are involved directly with e-commerce it becomes even more important today because of the accelerating internet usage worldwide,the internet is still the lowest cost channel for booking, many travelers make their travel decisions via the internet. Embracing social media, 93% of social media users expect companies to have a social presence and 85% of social media users want comoanies to interact with them on social sites. A well-planned social iniative can turn fans into brand evangelists. This article dealt mainly with a brief introduction of what e-commerce is in terms of its defining and what it means to the hospitality industry. With more and more people utilizing the internet each day, the potential to have a person book a hotel room greatly increases. Several search engines have advertisements relating to many hotel companies offering specials and customers will see these ads and book. With more technological advances bound to come into play, its only a matter of time before the practice of e-commerce is taken to another level.
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    Over the last decade the population of Internet users has increased rapidly. The hospitality industry has always been among the first to capitalize on new technologies. E-commerce has been defined as "the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the Internet." With hotel e-commerce, the landscape of the hospitality industry is forever changed. Online sales are an important part of the business. The growing importance of e-commerce in the modern hospitality industry has created an urgent need for simple solutions to manage companies' online presence. Now that each hotel is involved in e-commerce, reasons why is hotel e-commerce so important today may because the accelerating internet usage worldwide, the Internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel, and social media and online hotel reviews are an increasingly important decision factor.
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    E-commerce has become more and more important in our daily life, because many customers today prefer to use internet to help them make decisions. In hospitality industry, e-commerce also plays an important role, as internet is a very cheap and convenient booking channel and many people use the internet intensively. There are many e-commerce strategies for hoteliers, such as making friendly web site design, embracing social media, etc. As e-commerce has so many advantages, I think e-commerce is an opportunity for hoteliers to grasp. It is important for hoteliers to use different strategies to get the best from the internet world.
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        This article introduced the function of ecommerce and the ecommerce effect for the hospitality industry. The author listed some important reasons about why hotel ecommerce is so important:1)Accelerating Internet usage worldwide.2)The Internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel. 3) Most travelers research hotel reservations on the Internet. 4)Social media and online hotel reviews are an increasingly important decision factor. 5) The web is the preferred media source for travel information, favored 17:1 over television and 6:1 over newspapers and magazines. This article also listed some basic e-commerce strategies that will help hoteliers to take advantage of ecommerce from the Internet world. 1) Search-friendly web site design.2) Improve conversion and usability 3) Paid search. 4) Real time search - natural ranking.5) Mobile.6) Embracing social media. 7) Test, test, test. Top e-commerce sites are continually testing new things.      In a summary, the author suggest smart hoteliers need to keep a sharp focus on the fundamental shift in ways customers are seeking information and channels that drive maximum return on investment. Moreover, hoteliers have to constantly learn and look for ways to harness the power of new developments and trends.
Patty Ferrer

Is Orbitz steering Mac users toward pricier hotels? - CNN.com - 0 views

  • (CNN) -- Is Orbitz trying to get Mac users to book higher-priced hotels?
  • "What we have found is ... that Mac users are 40% more likely to book four- or five-star hotels than PC users," Harford said. "That lines up with (the fact that) Mac users are typically more willing to spend more money on higher-end computers."
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    The equipment we use in technology such as out computer is not a determent of what prices we pay. Orbitz is showing mac users higher prices on hotels simply because they use a mac instead of a PC. The CEO states thats not a fact but facts prove that mac users are 40 % most likely to book a 4 or 5 star hotel. The engineers from Orbitz are experimenting with predicting what the consumer will search for and not giving mac users a higher price on hotel nights. Technology has now become a sterotype is how consumers are feeling by the futy posted in twitter. At the end of the day the consumer can search for different hotels prices and rooms no matter if a mac or pc user.
claudecole

Smart Hotel Technology & Proximity Marketing | Optimove - 0 views

  • Use automated check-in courtesy of geofencing. By utilizing geofencing – a virtual ‘fence’ around a specified location – hoteliers can provide guests with the option to check in as soon as they’ve landed (or when they’re nearing the hotel) by sending a push notification to their smartphone that takes them to the relevant check-in screen in the hotel’s app. 
  • So when a guest has checked in, and for the duration of their stay, beacon technology can detect when guests are near their room via their smartphone and unlock the door
  • Once in their room, that same technology can deliver all manner of wonderful a-ha moments – from switching on the lighting when guests enter, to turning on the air-con, to setting just the right room temperature
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  • An immersive guest experience creates loyal customers, expanding the reach of your brand as they share their experience, and helping increase revenues as a result.
  • t’s never been more critical to reach customers with hyper-personalized content – aka, the right offer, at the right time, and in the right place.  
  • Location-based marketing also provides opportunities to partner with local businesses and take advantage of geofencing so when guests are nearby, say, a local restaurant around dinner time,
  • Check-out courtesy of proximity marketing is the perfect opportunity to give your guests a frictionless send-off, and if you’re smart, an offer or two to help them remember you by
  • Using beacons, hotels can provide their guests with digital maps that track their location in real-time, and deliver them to their desired destination, minus the frustration.
  • Proximity marketing enables the savvy hotel brand not only to stand out in an ultra-competitive marketplace but to build valuable, meaningful connections with customers that foster loyalty over the long term.
  • 74% of guests value hotels/resorts that customize messaging and offers 88% of guests want a hotel app that delivers a personalized CX 
  • Immediate conversions by engaging customers when they’re most likely to respond. Better app engagement, enabling hoteliers to ship relevant, valuable messages that guests want to receive – when they want to receive them. Increased retention – by shipping hyper-personalized content, app users are more likely to hang around to see what’s coming next. 
  • 95% of guests believe their chosen hotel should be making efforts to introduce them to local culture (I-AM) 
  • the entire in-room experience can be elevated from mediocre to marvelous via the humble beacon, helping to make the guest experience memorable and elevating the chances that they’ll be back next year.  
  • But there’s another benefit to location-based check-in. As well as providing a hassle-free experience for guests, the use of location-based technology means hotel staff can be notified when guests are on their way, giving them the opportunity to prepare for their arrival (being there to ‘meet and greet’, having room keys available if required, or even having a welcome drink at the ready for that ultra-personal touch!). 
  • Beacons inside hotel rooms can identify when guests are back at base, and, coupled with additional insights courtesy of your analytics platform, provide the perfect offer for in-room services.
  • More and more hotels are using geofencing and beacon technology to help guests find what they’re looking for via their smartphones
  • The optimum guest journey is made up of many delightful aha-moments, which when woven together create the ultimate travel experience.
  • Responsive, personalized, valuable interactions that meet individual needs, and introduce them to new experiences. Location-based targeting can help deliver these critical micro-moments.  
  • he important thing to remember? Yep – personalization. If your analytics tell you that a guest was a frequent spa-user during their vacation, you could send them a voucher for spa products to take home with them. Just a thought.
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    Proximity marketing is a hotel's current powerful tool for elevating guests' experiences. It is imperative for a hotel to have a fun, interactive, and easy-to-use app that creates a better stay for its guests. Some benefits include geofencing, room entry and room controls, and hotel navigation. These factors all go hand in hand in creating a seamless and memorable hotel stay.
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    This article goes into detail about the utility of proximity marketing in terms of adding guest experience within the hospitality industry. It also details how guest retention can be increased by the ability to use analytical data in order to gain insights on guest trends allowing for a memorable personal touch. Another major point made within the article details the importance of hospitality companies promoting local experiences outside of the venue itself and proximity marketing allows for local businesses and attractions to be highlighted.
vmorr026

Technology in the hospitality industry - exploring the very latest trends - 3 views

  • Nowadays, hotel guests who travel with devices such as phones, tablets and computers no longer see Wi-Fi as a perk, but as a must-have when they check in at a hotel. Hotel guests expect to be able to connect to the internet seamlessly and without too many interruptions, leading hotels to invest in better, faster Wi-Fi infrastructure so that people can do business and use their technology devices with ease when they book their stay. Hotels are also starting to move away from user pay models. In the past, hotels could charge exorbitant rates and guests knew they would have to pay if they wanted to go online. Installing and maintaining a hotel-wide wireless network may be coupled with costs, but many leading hotel groups have started to install high density Wi-Fi and started to offer in-building mobile phone coverage as guests have come to expect these services during their stay (not only for themselves, but also for their guests if they are hosting a conference or function at the hotel). It might not yet be financially feasible for hotels to completely abandon the user pay model, but many of them are re-thinking their current infrastructure and pricing models.
  • Technology is advancing at a faster pace than ever before, and this is changing both the expectations of patrons as well as the way in which the hospitality industry conducts its business. Some of the trends in industry are leading to great improvements and savings for hospitality industry companies; while some are changing how hotel developers plan their buildings, infrastructure, management structure and staffing requirements.
  • Near field communication (NFC) technology is the next-generation short-range high frequency wireless communication technology that gives users the ability to exchange data between devices.
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  • This technology is also ideal for self check-ins by guests at hotels as well as the next trend in this article: smart room keys.
  • Hotels will increasingly install smart room access systems that allow guests to unlock their doors by simply swiping their phones across a keyless pad on the door. Starwood (owner of the Sheraton, Weston and “W” hotel chains) has already upgraded 30,000 room locks across 150 hotels with this system and Hilton will be implementing a similar system at 10 of their US properties this year. In 2016, they will be deploying the smart room key technology globally. This technology will mean that guests don’t have to worry about picking up keys and front desk staff won’t have to issue new keys in the event that a guest loses their room key. Another innovative way to offer a keyless experience is through fingerprint-activated room entry systems and retina scanning devices. Retina scanning is even more accurate and secure than fingerprint scans and hotels like the Nine Zero Hotel in Boston have already installed an iris scan system in place of key cards to control access to the hotel’s presidential suite.
  • Some hotels are already offering more futuristic experiences, with robots delivering any items ordered through room service to a guest’s door. A boutique hotel that is nestled between Apple’s headquarters and other tech companies, called Aloft Cupertino, has a robot butler called Botlr that is able to move between the various floors of the hotel in order to take items such as toothbrushes, chargers and snacks to guests. These types of digital systems not only make it easy for hotel staff to deliver items to guests, but it also offers a forward-facing digital experience to people who stay at the hotel. Infrared scanners are now also used to minimise disruptions relating to housekeeping (which is a common complaint from customers). Instead of hanging a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on doors or having cleaning staff wake up traveling guests with knocks and phone calls, hotel staff can take a more innovative approach by using infrared scanners that will detect body heat within a room and tell cleaning staff that they should rather come back later if the room is currently occupied.
  • Digital conference facilities Besides being able to offer high density Wi-Fi for conferences and meetings, hotels also need to be able to offer access to audio-visual (AV) and digital facilities for conferences. While the amount of AV and digital equipment that goes into a typical conference room is fairly minimal, staging companies are often hired for various projects in order to equip the facility as required.
  • Mobile communication and automation In many airports, it’s no longer necessary to stand in a queue to check in and people are expecting the same kind of easy, technology-driven check-ins at hotels. Guests want to be able to do everything from checking in at a venue’s automated kiosk to ordering room service with a digital device instead of standing in queues and moving around the hotel premises to order food.
  • Cloud services Being able to provide entertainment on tap and mobile content has led to the trend of hotels investing in cloud services. While hotels want to be able to offer digital content, they don’t necessarily want to invest in IT infrastructure and IT staff, making cloud computing the ideal solution.
  • Feedback on social media Technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives and hotel developers need to realise that almost any person checking in at a hotel, resort, spa or lodge, will have a smartphone in their pockets.
  • Converged LANs to support multiple services Converged local area networks (LANs) will also help hotels to create more intelligent buildings. A variety of computer-based building services can be automated in order to control lighting, refrigeration, air-conditioning and heating. Besides reducing energy consumption, converged LANs can also be set up to provide a smarter, more personal experience. If a guest is known to prefer his or her room temperature at 18°C with the lights dimmed to 65%, for example, this can be programmed before the guest checks in at the hotel.
  • Integrated, seamless experiences Technology doesn’t mean that customer experience can only happen online and through devices, check-ins and online comments. All of these experiences need to be part of an integrated, dynamic system so that the guests’ experiences are at the forefront of the marketing and  operational team’s mind.
  • Marketing, management and hotel developers can no longer work in silos and these technology trends are giving them the opportunities, tools and solutions they need to create memorable experiences that can lead to positive change and growth in the industry.
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    With technology evolving and changing at a fast pace it is changing both what consumers expect and how the Hospitality industry responds to these expectations as well as how they do business themselves. The article highlights the many trends in the Hospitality industry. These trends include the improving and overhauling of a Wi-Fi network, conference rooms that offer Audio visual equipment, Smart room keys and many other different trends.
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    In today's world we are surrounded by technology; however, sometimes we do not realize the extreme of which we are surrounded by until we stop and look around. The Hospitality industry is quickly adapting to the technologically world we live it. I read an article written by Jeff Robinson, Technical Director for Aurecon titled "Technology in the hospitality industry - exploring the very latest trends". This article was beyond interesting because it touched on some on the way technology has already changed the hospitality industry and ways it will be changing it for the future. Robinson tells us in his article that "some of the trends in industry are leading to great improvements and savings for hospitality industry companies; while some are changing how hotel developers plan their buildings, infrastructure, management structure and staffing requirements". This means its not only about the bottom dollar, but the experience of each guest when they stay at the hotel. Robinson also states the obvious fact that travelers these days do not see Wi-Fi as a perk, but more of a must have. Full access to audio-visual is also on the must have list especially for business meetings and conferences. What I found most interesting from Robinson's article was the introduction of the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This technology give you the ability to share information from a short-range frequency wireless communication. This technology is also ideal for self check-ins by guests at hotels as well as smart room keys.(Robinson) Hotel room keys have come a long way. From an actual key, key card in which you insert, to a key card you simply pass close to the reader and now the birth of the smart key. "Smart room access system allow guests to unlock their doors by simply swiping their phones across a keyless pad on the door.". (Robinson) Now how awesome is that. Robinson also talks about other new technology just as the future of hotel in room entertainment, hotels offering
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    It has been well described and defined that technology impacted the hospitality industry in which it has advantage and disadvantages. The update and development of software creates a change in the business. This justifies that better software leads to better customer service. For this development has given most business opportunity to grow as they give them better tools.
angelicamm6

http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2443/paper04.pdf - 0 views

    • angelicamm6
       
      There are some relations between publisher, advertiser and user according to the sustainable development principle in web advertisement context in e-business. The following principles should be adopted: * The publishers should use users' knowledge and experience in case of form of advertisement and propose advertisements, if they constitute their source of income. * The publishers and advertisers should allow users, i.e. the recipients of content, portals or websites, to make the decision in case of invasive or not interesting advertisement.
    • angelicamm6
       
      Table 1. Reasons of ads blocking grouped by categories
    • angelicamm6
       
      The research methodology included the following steps:
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    • angelicamm6
       
      Apart from banner advertisements, there are also the following types of advertisements: * top layer - advertisements displayed only once in the form of an animation with its sound on by default, * brandmark - it is a variety of a pop-up advertisement, * interstitial - an advertisement displayed as a 10-second full-screen animation, * floating ad - a specific type of a moving advertisement which floats over the website and browsed content, encouraging users to click on it (it can be perceived as a harassment), * watermark - a form of an online advertisement displayed as a background, * trick banner - an advertisement which is actually a form of deception or fraud. It contains a text encouraging the user to click it and which takes the user to a different, infected website.
    • angelicamm6
       
      Table 2. Blocking ads divided into age groups
    • angelicamm6
       
      According to the survey results, about 60% of the surveyed users aged 18-24 block ads: * Age group 18-24 - 56,30% of Internet users block internet advertising, * Age group 25-34 - 32,80% of Internet users block internet advertising, * Age group 35-44 - 9% of Internet users block internet advertising.
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    The articles focuses on the idea of web authors posting free articles and compensating it with ads. But users have ways of either blocking the ads or not really getting ads they care for. Does this defeat the purpose of having free web pages, or are user just beating the system.
patrick021

E-Commerce Innovations With Applications for Hospitality - 0 views

  • With a variety of online visitor tracking tools out there, hotels and similar businesses can monitor individual customers when they visit their site, and tailor their offers and recommendations based on their behavior.
  • Almost every industry has their buyer personas, and the hospitality industry is no different. You’ve got your once-a-year family travelers, your regular businesspeople, and so on. Once these buyer personas are created, hotels and casinos can tailor their marketing efforts to reach one
  • the traveler’s journey is complicated, and can very from person to person. It means that there is much more competition online, and hospitality industries have to compete to get shoppers’ attention
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  • One such avenue is through retargeting. This is the process whereby shoppers who have visited a website are displayed adverts for that site even after navigating away from it. It can also be employed when a shopper adds a product or service to their cart, but then abandons it before paying.
  • With recent advances in 360-degree photography, hotel websites can now offer virtual tours of their rooms and venues. This lets any potential customers to see first-hand (almost) where they will be staying before booking.
  • one of the most simple tactics is to use ticker counters to denote how many rooms are available for certain dates, with the number steadily decreasing as they get snapped up. Urgency is a powerful motivator of action, and a countdown is perfect for conveying that.
  • As ecommerce grows ever more popular, online businesses are given more and more options to capitalize on psychological triggers to turn potential customers into sales. There are a number of these available out there, from storytelling, to building a sense of community.
  • Ecommerce is also a great medium for utilizing social proof. This is the leveraging of user-generated reviews and testimonials to convince dithering customers to commit to a purchase. By sharing customer sentiment in emails or on websites at the point of sale, brands can head off any concerns that shoppers might have with authentic testimonials.
  • The arrival of ecommerce has transformed the way thousands of industries do business
  • From retail and finance to construction and agriculture, more and more businesses are embracing the ecommerce boom
  • Ecommerce is opening up new avenues for businesses all over the world across a variety of industries. Hospitality has a lot to gain from adopting new technology and ecommerce innovations. Use smart tech to help you market experiences. And don’t forget to invest in data and personalization to drive up conversion rates
  • Ecommerce is opening up new avenues for businesses all over the world across a variety of industries. Hospitality has a lot to gain from adopting new technology and ecommerce innovations. Use smart tech to help you market experiences. And don’t forget to invest in data and personalization to drive up conversion rates.
  • Improved customer experience, targeted advertising, streamlined marketing processes — the benefits for brands are almost endless.
  • commerce is opening up new avenues for businesses all over the world across a variety of industries. Hospitality has a lot to gain from adopting new technology and ecommerce innovations. Use smart tech to help you market experiences. And don’t forget to invest in data and personalization to drive up conversion rates
  • Today’s consumers are increasingly demanding a more personalized service in their ecommerce experience.
  • London’s Strand Palace Hotel offers their guests such an experience, with the option of navigating through their restaurant, cafe, lounge, gym and more, all without ever even setting foot in the hotel.
  • VR is already being experimented with by a number of big-name brands.
  • Another innovation offered by ecommerce is selling to segmented buyer personas. These are imagined creations of your most common types of customer, built on consumer data that takes into account how and why they shop with you.
  • This is a useful technique employed by a number of online stores.
  • allowing them to target anyone who abandoned their cart before paying by displaying relevant ads and sending emails with special offers and discounts. By ‘chasing’ consumers as they browse the web, online businesses can ensure that they follow up on any missed sales.
  •  
    This article provides a detailed account of the variety of ways that E-Commerce can be used within the hospitality industry. With the advent of the Internet and new and improved technology, it has become much more imperative for companies to remain competitive in this space. From VR to targeting, as well as online tracking, there are a variety of tools that hospitality firms can employ to attract customers via the Internet. As the Internet is the primary resource that people utilize to shop for hospitality products such as hotel rooms, airfare, etc... it is incredibly important for companies to remain on the cutting edge in regards to their marketing online and attracting and retaining customers.
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  •  
    This article talks about how e commerce is opening up new roads for organizations everywhere throughout the world for many different industries. The hospitality industry has a ton to pick up from embracing new technology and web based innovations such as e commerce. By utilizing such technology, this has helped hotels offer virtual tours, generate more reviews, and create more online businesses by marketing experiences. As applications such as TripAdvisor, Amazon, Expedia and many many more, these have created a more personalized hotel shopping experience and has aided in tracking a traveler's booking journey.
  •  
    E-commerce as a standalone concept is one that has revolutionized all business done throughout the world. However, when it comes to hospitality, it becomes more and more intricate. Innovations within the scope of the hospitality industry have made it very easy to track a potential guest and lead them to our resort/hotel/theme park/restaurant, etc. If a guest is looking for a romantic getaway repeatedly on our site, then we can better tailor a search for them so they can enjoy quality time with each other. This is done through the use of what are called cookies. Cookies are small files that are saved on your browser when you first start searching on any given site. These files allow companies to use target marketing and aim at you, knowing what you like. Another great way that e-commerce has evolved for us here in the hospitality industry is that we can now offer our guests virtual reality tours of our rooms and commodities from the comfort of home. This allows us to show off our properties while the guests decide without having to make the trip beforehand.
  •  
    Applications today has made the hospotality industry florish. It has given the industry several opportunities such as a better hotel shopping experience, selling to buyer personas, tracking buyer history, and virtual reality tour of the hotel.
  •  
    The hospitality industry is faced with numerous responsibilities when it come to the satisfaction of guest. with the tremendous acts of growth within trends it is often difficult for vendors to keep up with the trends. some of the new trends that are being introduced include personalized features which is playing a major role today. Another major trend is now called virtual reality. I think this trend is a great addition to the industry because it allows customers to virtually place the item in their home to see if it fits their style. Also with the pandemic situations with can help with the idea of social distancing .
  •  
    The innovations of e-commerce with application in hospitality is becoming a growth trend for this industry. Many more guests are interested in the experience of personalized attractions and the creativity of what brands has to offer. Many merchants are creating a tool that allows the software to remind shopper/guest about what left in the carts to reduce the number of missed sales.
jbrit055

Augmented and Virtual Reality in HoReCa - 0 views

  • Recent statistics prove that AR and VR are here to stay
  • under the conditions of isolation extended reality technologies seem like a light at the end of the tunnel
  • AR serves as a tool to enhance the physical environment (for instance, the hotel and its rooms), or reproduce the experience of exploring the location.
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  • Augmented reality helps the hotel staff simplify the booking process by allowing the customer to experience an augmented model of the room.
  • they can be provided with the needed information in a contactless manner at any convenient tim
  • Virtual Reality cannot replace the feels of a real vacation but it can provide a clear understanding of what you should expect.
  • A valuable point for implementing VR is the emotional experience it brings to customers.
  • The joy of the VR experience is doubled by the opportunity to explore the travel destination before they purchase the tickets.
  • 360 video
  • Disabled people have more possibilities to discover new locations than ever before.
  • VR technology allows customers to search for destinations, compare hotels and other accommodations, and finally book rooms using a virtual reality headset.
  • ustomers explore virtual hotel rooms, experience local sights, and book a room effortlessly instead of basic scrolling and clicking on a website.
  • hotels are looking for ways to stand out and surprise their guests
  • Many hotels use virtual reality hotel tours as an opportunity to showcase their hotel rooms via interactive elements.
  • With the help of a smartphone camera, users can see additional information on hotel comfort as well as local benefits.
  • VR journeys can also provide a priceless opportunity to explore the world for people who are unable to travel.
  • VR headsets
  • They are small, wireless transmitters that work through Bluetooth to send signals to other smart devices nearby.
  • In a nutshell, they connect and pass on information to customers when they are in specific locations.
  • a virtual key to guests
  • help guests navigate
  • AR interactivity gives restaurants and other businesses the possibility to deliver digital experiences in a personal way, without risking the health of their customers or employees.
  • AR Food Menu with 3D View
  • AR-menu is not only an entertaining element for clients but also provides them with details like portion size, nutrition information, ingredients, allergens, and the number of people the dish can be served to.
  • AR-filters for social media that show immersive virtual experiences with the restaurant’s dishes.
  • Virtual renderings allow customers to see what their custom orders will look like without coming into the business in person
  • experience marketing
  • to make customers experience the product from the moment they enter the front door.
  • you can provide your customers with an AR experience while they are waiting for their order which makes the waiting time more entertaining
  • For restaurants, it not only helps people get more new customers but also allows restaurants to train their employees
  • Virtual Reality is an appropriate solution for decreasing the cost and improving the speed and productiveness of workers’ education.
  • Virtual Reality technology is promising not only for employees training but also for franchise development and marketing, analytical opportunities, and accelerated employee hiring.
  •  
    This article explained the benefits of AR, VR, and AI in the hospitality and tourism industry in order to enhance guest experiences and create smoother work operations. The implementation of this technology seems to be happening more due to the pandemic and hospitality companies are learning the best ways to use them to match the new needs of guests.
amoon008

Artificial Intelligence for Hotels: 9 Trends to Know | Cvent Blog - 0 views

  • using artificial intelligence for hotels is “not just a matter of gaining a competitive advantage; it’s imperative in order to stay in business.
  • “94% (of C-level executives) reported that artificial intelligence would ‘substantially transform’ their companies within five years
  • 49% of survey respondents say that the hotel industry ranks right in the middle at a grade of “C” for artificial intelligence implementation
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  • Hyperdynamic pricing allows booking engines to automatically search social media, past user data, and even world news to display rates that maximize earning potential.
  • Improve revenue management and help save the environment with energy, water, and waste-monitoring tools.
  • Chatbot translators can quickly identify languages used by website visitors based on their location. They can also translate scripts on the fly and manage simultaneous guest inquiries from all over the world
  • AI is already changing the guest experience across the travel lifecycle, including the on-property experience
  • Consider chatbots for your hotel if you’d like to create consistent guest experiences and free up time for front desk staff to provide the best possible service for guests who are physically present. 
  • Hotels such as the Radisson Blu Edwardian in London and Manchester use artificial intelligence concierges to check guests in or out, order room service, and answer questions 24/7
  • Artificial intelligence is used in the hotel industry for revenue management, guest experience, and the automation of daily operations.
  • Cvent Passkey for Hoteliers uses smart technology to maximize the sales potential of existing business, improve the booking experience, and seamlessly organize all related departments.
  • Machine learning (a subset of AI) makes it easy to automatically collect, store, and analyze data from across a variety of online sources. 
  • "Wow" event planners with products such as Cvent Event Diagramming — an intuitive tool used to create 3D diagrams of event spaces.
  • Hilton and IBM teamed up to create Connie (named after Conrad Hilton), the first in-person customer service robot for hotels. The AI model can learn from guests and adapt over time while answering questions, fulfilling simple booking tasks, and improving its own speech over time. 
  • Hospitality recruiters are using machine learning to hire hotel employees in ways that go beyond the outdated resume model. Using personality profiles of existing team members and gamification-based tests, IHG and other top hotel brands have recruited thousands of employees. 
  • Keep an eye out for the tools, gadgets, and platforms that aren’t available now but are set to create a noticeable impact on the industry
  • Look out for passports with guest health information built in so medical professionals on or offsite can quickly access information such as their medical history, current medications, and allergies in an emergency.  Stay tuned for star ratings for hotel guests so properties can see information about their past stays. Look forward to robots as support staff to help ease the burden of late-night shifts and the effects of a high turnover industry. 
  • While AI robot concierges, room service delivery, and cleaning machines have the potential to replace 25% of today’s hospitality workforce, experiments such as Henn na Hotel in Japan
  •  
    This article mainly describes the current main trends of artificial intelligence in revenue management, guest experience, and daily operations. AI's concierge service, chat robot translator, ultra-dynamic pricing, forecasting utility, team booking software review data collection, intelligent function charts, and intelligent recruitment are the main manifestations of future technological development. Through these artificial intelligence, the hotel can simplify some service procedures, provide more personalized and improve the guest's staying experience. But at the same time, we must also realize that intelligent technology cannot completely replace employees.
  •  
    "AI is already changing the guest experience across the travel lifecycle, including the on-property experience."
sherylehlers

Open Hospitality: Transitioning The Hotel Industry To A Cloud Ecosystem With Open Integ... - 0 views

  • The hospitality industry is witnessing a revolution as several hotel chains and brands embrace modern cloud systems to reduce hardware footprints, enhance customer experience and maintain data safety
  • With the rise in demand for technology to unlock better guest hospitality experiences, hospitality-focused technology innovation is also gaining momentum
  • hotel owners can invest additional cash in innovating hospitality technology to develop and improve core competencies and strengthen the management of hotels and franchise brands.
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  • Cloud computing plays an integral role in the evolution of the hotel industry by offering prompt and easy implementation solutions
  • The transition to cloud technology is mainly driven by the opportunity to scale business operations and revenue growth while providing a seamless guest experience
  • Cloud-based PMS for hotels comes with prompt and economical implementation, effective data security, reduced overhead costs, improved efficiency, user-friendly features, immediate customer support, universal access and better connectivity
  • Open API ensures better data-sharing capabilities between hotel management applications by streamlining hotel operations and user experience
  • Cloud computing plays an instrumental role in ingesting, processing and protecting customer data to power a seamless customer experience driven by data
  • Cloud-based solutions can be integrated to provide customized services to guests, ranging from intelligent keyless experiences to self-check-in and checkout.
  • global hotel industry is moving to an experience-driven paradigm, with technology-led initiatives
  •  
    The hospitality industry is finally realizing the advantages of Cloud Computing and are transitioning to it. Hotels want to deliver better guest experiences by providing contactless experiences from checking in to checking out. The on-premises PMS system is moving to the Cloud. This offers better security, reduced costs, universal access and much more.
dbonn009

Why Personalization Is the Future of Hotel E-Commerce – Skift - 2 views

  • he hotel industry has an opportunity to transform the direct booking process using website personalization. Doing so can help deliver a more efficient and customized booking experience, resulting in better conversion ratios and the opportunity to further cultivate relationships with guests.
  • Personalization in the hotel industry has ceased to be a trend. Today, it’s an obligation.
  • Back in 2015, American Express Travel reported that 83 percent of millennials would allow brands to track their habits in exchange for a more customized experience
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  • And earlier this year,
  • Deloitte Consulting published the white paper
  • noted that “–truly knowing your guests –what they have told you, what they request, what you have learned, and what should be implied –should yield larger results.”
  • using new technology-driven tools to help them streamline the booking process and create a more seamless guest experience.
  • When potential guests are shopping on a hotel’s website, there’s a clear opportunity before a booking is made for properties to demonstrate the acute attention they’ve paid to individual guests’ preferences. This is accomplished by using website personalization technology, allowing hotels to automatically and intuitively suggest particular room categories, package types, and even rates tailored to each user’s expectations.
  • he results of these improved personalization efforts are numerous, including higher booking probability, increased user satisfaction, and a greater likelihood of repeat visits to the website, leading to better brand loyalty. Taking these steps can even offer hotels a further tool to take more control of their distribution decisions, rebalancing their e-commerce strategies between direct and non-direct channels.
  • Building Loyalty is an Investment
  • over-relying on OTAs for cash customers hurts profitability.
  • Today’s personalization technology can also help hotels to optimize the conversion rates for direct bookings.
  • If this analysis shows that more users are bouncing from the site instead of booking, it may be time to consider new tools.
  • “When users leave a hotel’s website, they’re likely to have forgotten the details after visiting multiple other hotel-related sites,” he noted. As Upneja believes, personalization tools are one method to prevent this. “Appeal to them on the spot with personalized offerings like the right price, the right room category and the right amenities before they can move on.”
  • Personalization tech is increasingly an essential tool to rethink online bookings. But in order for it to succeed, there needs to be alignment between the personalization of the booking experience and the hotel’s curation of more traditional on-site amenities like service and design.
  • That site is available on both desktop and mobile, and in English and Spanish, the primary languages spoken by the hotel’s two main markets.
  • Using IP addresses also enables the Viceroy Los Cabos to personalize resort packages to users in locales suffering from bad weather.
  • “Ideally we want to sense that behavior and adapt the site for them, showing them customer reviews, social media posts, food and beverage photography – things that we know will be a strong call to action for the customer to continue through to making that reservation.”
  • Today’s hotelier recognizes the value that personalization has on the guest experience. The more guests feel that every aspect of their experience was tailored exactly for them, the greater the likelihood that they will spend more on property and return again and again.But in today’s competitive market, truly savvy hotel executives realize that it is no longer enough to only customize during the guest stay. Personalization needs to extend to the booking process, where the right tools give hotels the means to increase conversions, build better loyalty and customize content in order to deliver more direct bookings.
  •  
    On my previous article about Oraculo, the world's first predictive algorithm for hotels, I described how personalization in hospitality is no longer a trend but an obligation. By posting this new article I wanted to dig a little deeper into tailoring guests needs through e-commerce. In 2015, American Express Travel reported that 83% of millennials would not object to have their habits tracked if they get a more customized experience. This strong message has prompted the hotel industry to develop and implement website personalization technology that suggests, intuitively, specific room categories or packages to online lookers. Since building loyalty is an investment, improving the direct booking ratio is now the main goal of the industry. From experience, when I travel I try to stay at the same hotel and book directly from the hotel website. The most important thing to me when I shop around is furniture and bathroom. Although these are not generally specified in detail in room descriptions, the brand I'm loyal to is usually very consistent with my needs. If new technology would give me a more personalized stay somewhere else I would definitely change my membership. I have friends who don't travel much except for vacation and long weekends. They are lookers who go to online travel agencies (OTA's) and bounce from site to site trying to find the perfect place. The article explains this newer technology will be crucial to prevent lookers from bouncing to other websites, and encourage them to book directly from the hotel and avoid OTA's. The idea is to make it so personalized that it will be appealing on the spot. These new technologies not only can tailor room types and resort packages based on IP addresses, but it can customize your TV programming based on your web history. Personalizing the guest experience during the stay is no longer enough. Data shows that in order to build loyalty and make the customer return, personalization has to begin in the booking pr
  •  
    This article describes how personalization of eCommerce can bring better profits, because it is helping guests personalize how they would like their stay. This is more efficient for the guests because it is ensure they get what they want, like if they want to be around certain theme parks, or if they want their rooms a certain way. They even have options where you can fit guests language barriers, like if they speak only spanish they can change the language so spanish speakers can also ensure they have their preferred stay.
  •  
    This article explains the importance of website personalization. Here, vital information is stored for current and future use of consumers. It is important for industry professionals to have access to this information but protect it from reaching outside entities.
marble_bird

Recognizing-events_4.0.pdf - 1 views

shared by marble_bird on 22 Jul 20 - No Cached
  • The purpose of this research is to explore and define the digital maturity of events using the Industry 4.0 model (I4.0) to create a definition for Events 4.0 (E4.0) and to place various relevant technologies on a scale of digital maturity.
  • These surveys and the thorough literature review that preceded them allowed us to map the digital technologies used in events to levels of a digital maturity model.
  • This study has responded to calls from the academic literature to provide a greater understanding of the digital maturity of events and how events engage with digital technology.
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  • We found that engagement with technology at events and delegate knowledge satisfactorily coexists for and across a number of different experiential levels. However, relative to I4.0, event research and the events industry appear to be digitally immature.
  • Events are in the midst of rapid social and technological change. With a growing variety of technological means, the industry is fast-paced and increasingly delivered to a discerning consumer market while finding ways to connect with consumers through technology
  • Digital technology is the thread of the fabric of organisations (Li et al., 2018). It is an increasingly important part of how they engage with their customers.
  • Moreover, engagement with events as fans, spectators, delegates or organisers can be augmented with digital technology by improving access and sociability capabilities, refining the personalisation of events, and thereby creating enhanced experiences.
  • As we advance into what many in business and academia consider to be a fourth industrial revolution, the capacity to control and exchange data electronically has extended our ability to create, edit, maintain, transmit and retrieve information.
  • I4.0 can be described as the digitisation and automation of the manufacturing environment. It also creates digital value chains to enable the communication between products, their environment and business partners. Digital applications have impacted the tourism sector too giving rise to ‘Tourism 4.0’
  • The events industry is an ideal environment to benefit from the implementation of a widespread digitised approach with numerous organisations empowering managers and improving the overall event experience with the integration of extensive ICT practices and systems.
  • With the more widespread adoption of digitalization in event delivery and as the supply chains of all events become intertwined with technology, we can learn how the digital maturity of events in the 21st century is shaping event management and event control.
  • The team set out to answer the following research questions: RQ1. Can digital maturity in events be defined? If so, RQ2. How should the levels of digital maturity of events be classified with regard to the digital maturity of the events industry and the development of event management theory?
  • Successful events are no longer measured by simply achieving a respectable attendance, a great deal more engagement is manifest through digital technologies
  • Successful events require organisers to create something that is considered by those who attend as a valuable and memorable experience (Pizam, 2010; Tung, 2011). Creating memorable event experiences can be described as being dependent on a number of factors including creating regular attendee engagement, providing appropriate activities, relevant subject matter, topical and contemporary focus and targeted to a sizable receptive audience.
  • technological factors being one of the most important areas of demand for companies along with the implementation of I4.0. SMEs (Small to medium enterprises) are [lagging] behind in developing strategies to implement new solutions.
  • The development of digital maturity in events can be compared to smart tourism, which Gretzel et al. (2015) expressed as a logical progression from traditional activities. Smart tourism is characterised by an ability to transform large amounts of data into enhanced tourist experiences and increased destination competitiveness thanks to the interconnection of the different stakeholders through latest ICT advancements
  • As the components of I4.0 become more prevalent in the events industry, much value can be obtained from understanding how businesses are adopting new levels of digital engagement in order to engage their audiences
  • it is prudent to suggest that the survival, and future success of events can depend upon digital maturity and transformation
  • owever, dealing with digital maturity requires careful attention as Neuhofer (2016) urges caution advising that applied technology solutions have proven to have the ability to create or destruct the value of the experience.
  • I4.0 therefore acknowledges the impact of connected computers with the key constituents being cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things, cloud computing and cognitive computing
  • highlighted that the use of communication networks globally has risen dramatically and become ubiquitous due to the rise of smartphone ownership. This has been fuelled by social media, apps and faster broadband speeds to create a networked society
  • By combining the Internet of Things data and big data (extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions), event managers are able to create a competitive advantage.
  • As event companies develop new and innovative ways to connect, the events themselves are absorbing aspects of I4.0 at every stage of the process; pushing the boundaries of event experiences far beyond the physical world
  • They are used to promote events before, during and after delivery and are used to gather data and inform decision-making. Generating responses from an event can be achieved using a number of methods and through both qualitative and quantitative data.
  • With the advent of big data and analytics, new sources of valuable data are available to guide decision-making processes in a more informed manner. Businesses were once looking at historical data, but advances in database technology and system processes have led to near real-time data collection and analytics
  • Failure to adopt aspects of digital technology does not necessarily suggest a poor experience or the end for those businesses less digitally mature; not every event business relies on this kind of data support to survive. Instead, this research provides an opportunity to better understand where event businesses do engage and more importantly, how communication between non-digital and fully integrated individuals/businesses can be improved.
  • Digital maturity and transformation today differs from previous periods as it not only provides the change in the main business processes but also reveals the concepts of smart and connected products through service-driven business models
  • Our analysis begins with an attempt to uncover the potential challenges, on-going developments and various strategies that will provide the events industry and academics with a forward-facing approach to the growth of technology within events. By including industry professionals and academics, the research contributes to bridging the gap between practise and academia.
  • Because the research and empirical data collection includes industry perspectives, we believe this research will provide value to event managers, marketers and practitioners around the world who wish to understand more about the digital maturity of events.
  • After conducting the social media analysis (1), it became evident that the discussions appeared to be around topics that utilise digital technology rather than the technology itself. Furthermore, and probably a reflection on the value of the group, a lot of the data included questions about understanding the topics rather than providing usable information to our research.
  • We did not have detailed information about the precise characteristics of the individuals who contributed to the dataset of posts. However, to an extent, their roles listed in LinkedIn were informative. These included events consultants, social media managers, marketing professionals, EventTech managers, CEOs at tech companies and events students.
  • Although this response rate of 52 academics may be considered low, this did allow for the creation of the initial insights into the E4.0 concept and crucially it provides a starting point to better understand the levels of the developing digital maturity model.
  • The most referenced themes were social media, marketing, apps, GDPR and mobile. The top 14 themes are shown in Figure 1 below.
  • The results of the thematic analysis reveal the most pertinent events and technology topics in this group in the time period specified. The most common topics were social media and marketing. Marketing appeared alongside other topics as a verb, a noun and an adjective. This certainly influenced its prominence.
  • This statement reinforces the knowledge and general use of social media during events. Mobile and event apps were recognised as presenting opportunities to enhance events and were considered to be a permanent part of events.
  • Carefully managed and fully integrated data and digital systems including social media, apps and CRM create digital value chains to enable the communication between events, their environment, and business partners.
  • Event organisers invest heavily on social media engagement and expect a great deal in return through social media retweets, tagging and sharing of images. However, it is just as important to understand if delegates consider technology at events that important.
  • Our expert respondents were asked if they considered the events industry to be at the cutting edge of technology. Responses were largely supportive of the suggestion that it is. 64% agree, 22% neither agree nor disagree and 14% disagree.
  • Online registration/digital booking was very familiar with 65% ‘extremely familiar’ with the technology.
  • The survey also collected a selection of qualitative data as respondents were asked to if there were any specific examples of connected/digital technology considered to be essential to the delivery of an event that had not been discussed in the survey. Significantly, 23% answered no to this question.
  • With regard to the digital maturity of the events industry affecting the development of event management theory, the literature review indicates that academics are making contributions to theory and a broad understanding of digital technology exists.
  • industry appears not to be digitally mature. Also, our findings suggest that relative to I4.0 not all events are digitally mature. Therefore, the ‘digital immaturity’ of the events industry may be having some effect on event management theory
  • It became evident from the survey that many respondents suggested they were not familiar with technology that they would all have experienced.
  • The results from the survey suggest that widespread academic understanding of technology at events is extensive. Some digital technology is considered routine, while other comprehensively used technology appears to be unfamiliar to the end user.
  • The growing digital maturity levels form the foundation for E4.0 and will contribute to what Gerbert (2015) described as greater efficiencies and changing traditional relationships among suppliers, producers, and customers.
  • Therefore, satisfaction from the event comes down to providing delegates with the right communication levels they need to complete their individual objectives. This can range from the most basic social engagement to the gathering or observation of big data. Events are evidently a melting pot of experiences and goals and not all of them demand the highest levels of technology to complete.
  • Artificial intelligence has the ability to provide events with endless systems that sense, learn and decide throughout the delivery process though many gaps exist.
  • The data also indicates that there is good knowledge across all types of digital technology. This is reassuring for the development of education as the events industry embraces digitalisation
  • However, as more value is placed on the use of digital technology and events mature through greater access to technology, we see the emergence of an E4.0 era.
  • Thus, this model anticipates that events will grow in their digital maturity to level E3 and E4. Thus, digital technologies may become sufficiently embedded so that data related to one element of an event will be used to inform other elements of an event in real time
  • Online registration and wearable technologies such as delegate smart badges are superficial digital experiences and only considered as a process rather than as a fully perceived digital experience.
  • Our findings indicate that digital communications have enabled a shift in the content of events, marketing and the use of social media as a communication tool before, during and after the event.
  • On the limitations of our research, one might argue that engagement with technology, or indeed lack of it, does not provide evidence of the immaturity of digital technology in events. However, the digital maturity model that we propose is principally informed by the literature on digital technology and events.
  • This research has provided a revealing perspective on the use of digital technology in events. It has built on theory that has been previously developed in this and similar subjects of research, such as business and tourism. From this, the research can claim a number of contributions. It (i) provides an empirical investigation into how event businesses and individuals engage with digitally technology at events, and (ii) it provides a definition of E4.0 and other preceding levels that contribute to digital maturity.
  • Our research has shown that event delegates are aware of the ability to communicate in a reciprocal process with technology rather than through a linear/top down process. This in itself is evidence of E4.0. Furthermore, this research highlights how industry is continually striving to optimise the delegate/event relationship through apps and other technology. The industry’s on-going mission to create deeply flexible communication opportunities is eliminating the possibility of gaps in the communication process in order to optimise delegate engagement at events.
  • A broader discussion on potential issues such as IT & data security, skill-sets, expensive production costs and outages; these are significant problems within internet and cloud-based technology. Furthermore, the emerging topic of E4.0 itself requires both conceptual and empirical development.
  • This research has shown that there remains a great deal to discover about the use of technology at events and many opportunities exist for further research from academics and practitioners working together to provide mutual benefits for both industry and education.
  •  
    This article covers a study performed to determine the digital maturity of events. The research conducted reveals that the majority of industry professionals are aware of technology in events. The study ultimately finds that events have a low digital maturity, but high potential for advancement. The article also addresses the limitations of the study performs and agrees that additional research should be performed to determine the relevance of technology in the events industry while acknowledging that digital engagement is not necessary or conducive to every type of event.
  •  
    This article has discovered the fact that the event industry was digitally immature. It also introduced a new concept which is called E4.0 into the academic literature. The article is meaningful since it has filled a gap in the literature relating to events and digital maturity and responded to some of the calls for research. The authors were also planning to make further research on E4.0, events, and digital maturity. They have mentioned that the studies on E4.0 itself were also requiring deeper research.
cleon087

How technology is transforming hotel point-of-sale systems | Hotel Management - 3 views

  • Technology has transformed point of sale into point of experience
  • elf-ordering via their smartphone by the pool or wherever they happen to be and increased guest satisfaction with guest payment
  • Because the staff members have appropriate intelligence readily in their hands, personalization can happen
  • ...21 more annotations...
  • easy to summon service in “non-F&B” areas
  • The card data is processed only by the payment gateway to/from the acquiring bank and only the final transaction approval code is passed to the POS, without the card data
  • The hotel F&B space continues to show growth, with overall consumer spending increasing 4.9 percent in 2017 and showing a robust 5.5-percent annual growth since 2011
  • associated mobile apps have the potential to increase top-line [food-and-beverage] sales in hotels by 5 [percent] to 10 percent without significant costs
  • hotel food-and-beverage revenue per occupied room increased 1.6 percent during 2017. F&B RevPOR reached $105.56, up from $103.93 in 2016, according to STR.
  • POS vendors have moved away from storing card data on their application and network. Many vendors no longer pass through or process any card data on their POS systems. Rather, they link and integrate to certified payment gateways. Payment devices are encrypted and secured, and client card data is always encrypted and totally separated from the POS terminal.
  • Technology is allowing for an extreme and pronounced change in point-of-sale systems
  • Mobile POS provides several benefits for hotels and guests alike. With mobile POS, the speed of service is dramatically increased because the staff can bring mobile ordering directly to guests, anywhere on property
  • POS technology has been a great partner in these efforts by making POS systems easier than ever to use, and mobility plays a role in impacting the increase in consumer spending, Wisell said
  • Call-for-service technology, deployed tableside and in under-serviced areas such as lobbies, coupled with mobile ordering apps, offer hotels an opportunity to increase sales
  • Mobile POS also lays the groundwork for future integration with artificial intelligence or customer-relationship-management systems.
  • “Hotels can spend millions of dollars on a remodel but if they don’t have the right point of experience, it can still result in a one- or two-star rating,” he said.
    • cleon087
       
      This shows that importance of POS, and how it can transform a business for the good or bad.
  • Mobile is now
    • cleon087
       
      People are starting to expect this, they even want more of a variety of different ways to pay that can be determining if you get business or not.
  • Hinojosa said
    • cleon087
       
      Were always looking for a way to make the experience more personalized and this is one way.
  • with
    • cleon087
       
      When guest get their food quicker and accurately this helps the experience and revenue.
  • they are the face of the property
  • u recognize them and are honored they are here with you again.”
  • “Whenever a guest is seated in the lobby and wants a take-away coffee, they can order one and not only when a staff member notices the guest in a restaurant,
    • cleon087
       
      This is really good because it is hard as a front desk agent to give attention to the guest since the moment they step in but with this they can request their snack or drink that they want.
  • While there is interest in the potential of AI and chatbots for roomservice and self-service ordering, these are not yet ready for a widespread rollout at this time, Wisell said.  
  • “Data scientists can be used in the back of the house on the kitchen side, too—optimizing the production line,” he said. “Looking at the analytics behind the performance will reduce the wait times in the front of the house.”
    • cleon087
       
      This will optimize performance
  • hotels don’t want to cross the line into creepy.
  •  
    Mobile POS has boosted F&B growth due to the ability to complete sales much faster and from non-F&B serviced areas of the property. The mobility contributes greatly to the increase in customer spending. With this mobility, companies must ensure compliance with PCI standards, and ensure that no credit card information is stored directly on the POS terminal. The article also touches on the subject of tokenization, and the usage of technology to secure a "token" rather than actual card data aids in reducing security risks.
  • ...4 more comments...
  •  
    This article was about how technology has had a great influence on point of sale systems within the hospitality industry. According to a senior director of product manager at Agilysys, Mike Hinojosa, he states that technology has transformed point of sale into point of experience. I personally agree with this because lately I expect hotels to have the latest in technology when it comes to POS and when I encounter a poor POS I automatically think they lack in providing the best for their guests. This article talks a lot about how mobile POS provide benefits for both parties and how it has increased guest satisfaction. "With mobile POS, the speed of service is dramatically increased because the staff can bring mobile ordering directly to guests, anywhere on property." According to this article, POS systems help boost F&B spending growth and they have become more secure throughout the years. "The hotel F&B space continues to show growth, with overall consumer spending increasing 4.9 percent in 2017 and showing a robust 5.5-percent annual growth since 2011, according to Technomic". It's said that mobile POS has helped F&B growth because it gives users the ability to into quicker sales and in different areas throughout the properties. For example, a waiter walking around a pool taking orders instead of having the guests walk to the poolside bar to place an order. Collecting payment has also become safer and easier with POS systems because of the PCI standards.
  •  
    Technology is allowing for an extreme and pronounced change in point-of-sale systems. The speed of service for the guest in a hotel has dramatically went up because of point of scale systems. It is more convenient and quicker for guests to get things or to order things.
  •  
    This article is about the employment of technology in the hospitality industry.
  •  
    This article is about how technology is transforming the POS experience by providing a more advanced security solution and a mobile platform. The article highlights how this new technology supports both the client and staff experience. The technology also provides a financial benefit in increasing sales by 5% and reducing cost by 10%.
  •  
    POS Technology has developed majorly over the past years. Growing developing offering mobile devices that can help workers pace themselves and generate more sales. These programs also offer extra data security to protect the clients information against fraud. This device is perfect for sport arenas, bar, golf course and more open outdoor and large venues that cater to voluminous crowds.
  •  
    This article is about the benefits of technology in POS systems. It shows how the technology can personalize the experience of the guest by having them be able to order from the moment they step into the lobby. The article also discusses how all the technology is good but in the hospitality we are walking on a fine line that we don't want to cross to creepy with biometrics. Technology offers efficiency in speed and will give a better experience. Not only this but it talks about how POS is becoming more secure, and how people want to pay in different ways.
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