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Whether travelers are seeking freedom or flexibility, new friends or more "me-time," the solo travel market will only expand as more people begin to feel comfortable with the idea of exploring alone. Whether travelers are exploring on their own or hitting the road with loved ones, we're dedicated to helping them enjoy the best of every destination and feel part of a global tribe of curious, passionate explorers.

In the article, "Travel Agents Increase Use of GDS to Book Hotel Rooms," it talked about how the leading global provider of revenue is generating solutions for hotels, it shows how important GDS platforms are to travel agents. "84 percent of respondents indicated that they were using their GDS platform the same amount or more often than in the past, with 35 percent stating that they are using GDS more." Back in 2009, when the last study was conducted, about 26 percents of travel agents said that they used their GDS platform more often than in the past. This study also states that the annual GDS shopping displays will be over $50 million in 2011, which will increase more than a million bookings compared to 2010. There was another survey that was done and they surveyed different travel agents from across the world that were subscribed to a major GDS system. In the survey the travel agents indicated that promotional messages are effective and often prompt bookings. Out of the travel agents they surveyed, 66% said that they were aware of the "promotional messages requested addition information by looking at the screen attached to he promotional message." From this survey it showed that promotional messages are an excellent way to reach travel agents and from reaching the agent, they also reaching the customer, it's a win-win reaction.

I enjoyed the part about brand and promotional messaging, that is always a lure for me. When I see an attractive offer, evern If I'm not interested in booking or going to the destination, I often click on it anyway just to see the offer. It is a very effective marketing tool.

An article which discusses 6 major technology investment trends within the Hotel industry that are key to staying competitive for modern hotels. The article takes into account several aspects of information technology, including security, mobile data, and even energy conservation, and goes into considerable detail about why each is important.

In 2016 many different hotel brands will begin to feature mobile bookings and check in options, to room access. This new feature will be a vital in helping with the check in and check out process. This will help alleviate the pressure off the front desk when the hotel occupancy is at its highest. 84% of operators are planning to get the technology in 18 months. However, in my opinion this will be really good because working in the hotel industry for 7 years i witnessed front desk being very overwhelmed with guest check ins. With the latest technology in 2016 the mobile check in feature can make everyone's life a bit smoother providing a seamless process to an amazing stay at your hotel of choice.

As this article mentioned, more and more travel agents use GDS to reserve hotel rooms. Finding from the research, it clearly demonstrated the importance of GDS for travel agents and more agents chose it as the searching tool. At the same time, for the hoteliers, it is also an opportunity to make use of GDS to influence travel agents. In addition, promotional message assist to increase sales. In my opinion, I think travel agents and GDS are not competitors, they can make up each other's disadvantages and cooperate with each other.

An article talks about very intelligent system created for the businesses and specifically for event and meeting planners, which calls for communication after the events and discussion of various topics such as how to improve the next projects.

Very nice idea, to exchange experience in order to make the service better. I wish it was used in many other spheres.

It is a really good idea.The ability to add guest to a hybrid network in a secure and controlled way helps company achieve our goal of connective a social community for sponsors, speakers and delegates around all our events that spans across the entire lifecycle in a very cost-effective manner.

The ATRIO is a platform that would make big changes in the hospitality industry. ATRIO will be installed at the boutique Hotel Diva of Personality Hotels which will make a competitive advantage among its competitors. "The ATRIO platform represents the most significant technology development to occur in the global hospitality industry in the last 25 years." By implementing ATRIO to the property it is assumed that the service and financial goals will exceed expectations. Larry Hall, President & CEO of PAR Springer-Miller states "We look forward to the world coming to know Personality Hotels as an operator of some of the finest lifestyle properties in the world and the launch client for ATRIO, the platform that moved an industry." ATRIO will follow cloud computing which will bring significant financial benefit to Personality Hotels "Deploying ATRIO in the cloud helped reduce our implementation costs considerably," said Lembi-Detert President & CEO of Personality Hotels.

After years of struggling in negative business environment, according to a study conducted by Hospitality Technology, restaurants report that technology investment is back. Survey reveals 25% of respondents will replace POS System in next 5 years. 

The Oyster Bay Beach Resort is a highrise hotel in St. Martin that promises guests white-sand beaches, "breathtaking" views of the Caribbean and a "paradise found."But Jack Permadi says he found more than that when he stayed at the property recently.

This article is a good one that demonstrates how GDS are now more often used than times before. The article states that the 2011 Global Travel Agent GDS study demonstrates how important GDS platform and shopping Displays are to the travel agents. They stated the 84 percent of those who took the survey stated that they are using the GDS just as much or even more than they did in the pass and 35 % of these stated that they were using it more than they did in the pass. The article explained how these numbers have greatly increased since 2009 where only 26% agents admitted that they used the GDS systems more than before. This study is 2011 reaffirmed Travel Click's projection, which was that GDS hotel bookings would surpass %50 million in the year 2011. This was far more than that of 2010. The article goes on to explain how the GDS will improve the booking and services of the industry all around. Furthermore, the article went on to explain a worldwide survey conducted for agents who were among the largest GDS in the world and some 495 responses were collected. The survey was conducted by Phoenix Marketing International, which is and independent marketing research firm Travel agents were indicated that promotional messages were effective and prompt during bookings and 66% of these agents request additional information about it. While, 68% of these agents looked into the GDS for more information. After this survey was complete the agents who were aware of promotional messages, 46% of them made North American bookings within 3 months as a result of the promotional messaging and 44% made non- North American bookings. The survey itself shows that promotional messages were and excellent way to get the agents interested. In the article it is quoted how the promotional messages acts in a chain reaction to reach the agent and then the customer, which allows sales all over the world.

GDS provides a perfect virtual marketplace for travel inventory sellers such as hotels, airlines, and car rental systems to showcase their wares to a global Internet travel audience. The GDS is a natural outlet for hotels, resorts, and even smaller inns that want to increase revenue and online marketing exposure. As the GDS channel produces one of the highest average daily rates of any booking channel, there is a huge opportunity for hoteliers to influence travel agents through the GDS at the point-of-sale.

Yes, GDS is of great importance for tourism development. It provides such a huge market of tourism information for customers, airlines, hotels, travel agents and any parts included in the tourism. Someone said that GDS will end travel agent, however, in my opinion; they have their own advantages and will supplement each other in the future.

A significant change since the study in 2009, it says that there is a significant change that more than 26 percent of travel agents stated that they used their GDS more often. It means that GDS has become more and more important in the hospitality industry, since the generation has changed to 80's. Travel agent has once again confirmed their confidence in GDS shopping.

Even though the wine industry was once considered more of a "boy's club", woman are now leading the way in the growing Natural Wine Movement as a market dedicated to organic ingredients and sustainable practices continues to emerge. This is largely due to the fact that women outnumber men as the lead consumer of wine in both retail and restaurant bottle purchases, as well as several studies that suggest that woman eat/drink more nutritiously than their male counterparts. This has led to organic and biodynamic wines growing at rates between 10 percent and 20 percent per year in volume from 2013 to 2016, and organic vineyards almost tripling word wide over the last decade. Being in charge of the Beverage Ordering and Menu Creation at my restaurant, I have seen first hand the increase demand for organic and biodynamic wines. It has become so prevalent that I have begun printing menus with asterisks to highlight which of our wines fall into either of these categories. According to a Mintel Study, 60 percent of millennials and 55 percent of Gen-Xers are concerned about harmful ingredients in their food and groceries. With millennials constituting for 36 percent of wine consumers, according to a report by Beverage Dynamics, it is a essential that both the restaurant and wine industries continue to cater and adept to our consumers wants and needs. It would only make sense that Women are the ones leading this growing trend, as they constitute the majority of the market for it as well.

This article outlines how hotels are trying to become eco-friendly sustainable and still able to paramount guest needs. With this initiative, modern consumers are showing a definitive preference for experiential purchasing over material goods.

16 Reasons Why Your Business NEEDS Social Media Marketing

This article is described reasons that business need social media marketing. Currently, social media influence of the enterprise's finance and reputations. Most of the company would like to choose social media as of Advertising used, which can help the company save the expense and attract more customers. For every business, the most expensive cost is advertisement. The fast and easy way to introduce the business is using the advertisement. Social media may improve the marketing abilities at a lower cost than the traditional advertising. Furthermore, the importance of social media marketing is brand image.

This article explains how due to Covid-19 more and more companies for developing and investing in contactless technology for customer experience.

The article titled Mobile Key: It's the new reality for hotels by Esther Hertzfeld, discusses the various aspects of the implementation and utilization of the mobile key technology in hotels. The mobile key technology is a Bluetooth enabled lock that a user can open with their mobile devices. The popularity and demand for mobile key entry in hotels is skyrocketing. However, hotels can't implement them as fast as the guests demand and desire them. It will be easier for hotels that are being built from scratch to integrate the feature than established hotels switching over to this new technology, but I believe they will eventually. In the article it states that guests rate the hotel 7 points higher with mobile key cards. Higher reviewed hotels will bring in more guests thus increasing hotel revenue. The utilization of the mobile room key allows the guest to check in on their phone remotely. Once the guest arrives to the hotel they can go straight up to their room without having to stop at a front desk. This gives the guest a more personalized and efficient experience, which I agree with. In my opinion being able to walk into a hotel and go up immediately to my room is ideal. I have not stayed at a hotel yet that has used the mobile key feature but I imagine it is great. I think all hotels in the future will run on mobile key entry. The article states there will be a learning curve for the guests and staff initially. It will be important to educate guests who don't travel often and guests in general. It stated that some people might feel embarrassed if they don't use the mobile key correctly and need to return to the front desk. That could be very frustrating to some guests who come to their room and then have to go back downstairs to talk to the front desk if something goes wrong. It is also stated that there will be awareness and comfort challenges with the front desk staff. I believe that mobile key entry is the future of hotel technology. It will take