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Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn’t just a hotel app. To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center. What are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers?

Investment in Hotel Technology Pays Off with Increased Group Revenue Tuesday, July 10, 2012 by Sarah Vining Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn’t just a hotel app. To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center. What are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers? Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs At Hyatt Hotels with in-room HD TVs by Roomlinx Inc., guests are able make service requests, check email/weather, use the Business Center, print documents, and receive customized messages from meeting planners. Service requests like housekeeping and in-room dining are instantly sent through the system, improving the venue’s departmental efficiency. All of these virtual functions are hoped to appeal to new markets and drive group business. More efficient billing In the article, “Insert IACC blog post title URL” we learn that in 2012, meeting and group planners are prioritizing finance as very important during in their planning process (which made the top 10 list for the first time). Hotels making large investments in revenue management systems are taking advantage of new features that automate and process data to improve efficiency and increase revenue for properties. Virtual business centers Socialization through technology and food and beverage outlets is increasing revenue for TRYP by Wyndham in the NYC Times Square South property. Google TVs and access to Google Chrome laptops near the Gastro Bar in the hotel’s lobby offers guests an opportunity to enjoy a dining experience with the comfort of complimentary technology use. On-staff IT team When planners were surveyed, reliability was listed as a top concern of IT services in the white paper “What Do Planners and Trainers Really Want in Their Meeting Service?” All IACC-certified conference centers are required to have an on-site IT team to ensure technology functions properly. Now, the need for a knowledgeable IT team that really understands technology and can cater to individuals and group business is spreading to other hotel markets.   These impressive technology tools improve the guest experience and lead to a quick return on investment, especially in F&B. As we move beyond the discussion of required hotel Wi-Fi services, there will be a focus on technology amenities that provide the same comforts of home or the office. To increase group business, hoteliers are comfortable with this investment knowing there’s a return on investment with generated buzz/venue marketing and satisfied guests. Want to learn about other ways hotels are using technology to build relationships? Check out Enhancing Your Social Networking Site with a Social Concierge! to maximize social media and connect with guests, attendees and planners!

It’s time to take advantage of the immediacy, huge reach and visual appeal of digital media. Watch your audience grow, your reservation rates soar, and the positive reviews flood in when you invest in digital marketing for your restaurant.

By claiming your business listing on Yelp and Google and establishing a Facebook Page for your restaurant, you can monitor reviews and publicly (or privately) respond to customer complaints and queries.

Does your restaurant regularly offer promotions? Do you often have featured menu specials? Use your digital marketing to spread the word! Your website and social media are great avenues to promote them, which will help to build your audience and encourage repeat business.

Computer network security should be a concern for all

A computer network can simplify one's technical capabilities if they own multiple computers and the various technical equipment used to enhance computer functioning. When computers talk to each other through a network, tasks can be more efficient and people can save time and money, streamlining systems. Computer networks are great for home or small businesses, and can also be wide area networks (WAN) reaching across the world to bring shared technology to large corporations or global industries. Another important facet is computer network security which operators should be aware of when looking at networking through a WAN.

Computer networks are great for home or small businesses, and can also be wide area networks (WAN) reaching across the world to bring shared technology to large corporations or global industries. Another important facet is

allowing customers to order ahead

consumers today value personalized, contextual mobile engagement, built around their current location, interests and buying preferences.

80% of consumers prefer receiving personalized, context-aware branded content through their mobile app.

Proximity marketing exploits activities that consumers are already involved with — and enjoy — to offer retailers a new path to reach their audiences, affording a higher level of interactivity that didn’t exist before. Proximity marketing expands the scope of interactive marketing in public places — malls, food courts, cinemas, airports, etc. — to offer a more spontaneous and direct interaction. Think of it as taking location-based marketing to an even greater level of "local," and being contextually relevant in absolute terms. Proximity marketing allows retailers to leverage their strengths and create an even more memorable interaction for consumers and, by extension, motivate return visits and increase ROI.

function GetMidArticleAd(sAdPageName, sAdPagePosition, blRotatingAd) { $('#middlearticlead').html(''); $.ajax({ type: "POST", url: "../../LocalServices.asmx/GetAdByPagePosition", data: "{'AdPageName': '" + sAdPageName + "', 'AdPagePosition': '" + sAdPagePosition + "', 'RotatingAd': '" + blRotatingAd + "' }", contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8", dataType: "json", success: function(msg) { AjaxSucceeded(msg); }, error: AjaxFailed }); function AjaxSucceeded(result) { $('#middlearticlead').html(result.d); } function AjaxFailed(result) { alert(result.status + ' ' + result.responseText); } } function GetMidArticleAdById(sId) { $.ajax({ type: "POST", url: "../../LocalServices.asmx/GetAdById", data: "{'AdId': '" + sId + "' }", contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8", dataType: "json", success: function(msg) { AjaxSucceeded(msg); }, error: AjaxFailed }); function AjaxSucceeded(result) { $('#middlearticlead').html(result.d); } function AjaxFailed(result) { alert(result.status + ' ' + result.responseText); } } Hotels find savings, other benefits, in the cloud  

that which removes hardware off property to centrally located servers for on-demand functionality and accessibility

The goal in both cases? Get as much IT out of hotels as possible.

New features include ways to stop email tracking, burner emails, and a VPN competitor that obscures IP addresses.

Apple has introduced new iPhone features that restrict app access to personal data and advertised privacy heavily in television ads.

Apple’s privacy strategy is now part of its products: Privacy was mentioned as part of nearly every new feature, and got stage time of its own.

Beyond the realm of consumer searches, Deep Web technologies may eventually let businesses use data in new ways. For example, a health site could cross-reference data from pharmaceutical companies with the latest findings from medical researchers, or a local news site could extend its coverage by letting users tap into public records stored in government databases.

McDonald’s Corp. will replace all carryout bags and fountain drink cups with new packaging featuring quick-response, or QR, codes, to convey nutritional information for its food.

Text of the caloric and nutritional disclosures will be translated into 18 languages.

QR codes broaden access to McDonald’s nutritional information by pulling up specific online content on a smartphone Web browser once the user snaps a photo of the code with the phone’s camera.

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

The floodgates have opened – last week’s frenzy of activity, when Expedia and then TripAdvisor submitted complaints to the European Commission about Google, has clearly triggered something. To paraphrase, as both pretty much argue the same thing, the complaints centre on accusations of unfair practices in search which, the pair argue, is damaging the industry and consumers. No major surprises there, given that Expedia and TripAdvisor were original members of the FairSearch anti-Google lobbying group in the US. What raised just a few eyebrows was when, a few hours after TripAdvisor’s statement was released, ETTSA (European Technology and Travel Services Association) came out in support of the pair. ETTSA primarily represents the interests of the GDSs, as well as online travel agencies such as Expedia, Ebookers and Travelocity, in Brussels, but the decision to publicly back individual companies effectively puts the GDSs, under the umbrella of their representative body, also up against Google. Fast forward a few days and now Amadeus has decided to publicly back Expedia’s complaint to the EC.

Amadeus, alongside ETTSA, is particularly concerned about the likely impact of Google Flight Search, when it eventually expands outside of the current customer base of the US.

But for Amadeus, which just a few weeks ago saw its UK MD Diana Bouzebiba suggest again that Google needs partners in Europe, to now also come out in support of the anti-Googlers will speak volumes to those that have watched closely ever since June 2010, when Google first announced its acquisition of ITA Software. Clearly Amadeus is not expecting to be forming a major partnership with Google any time soon. Unless it is some kind of weird reverse psychology, of course.

Reservation Nexus is the most popular and most used all-in-one seamless reservation system for U.S. bed and breakfasts and inns. All-in-one systems are the future and are here to stay, replacing outdated synch or partial reservation systems. With Reservation Nexus you get all the tools you need to capture more reservations and run your inn with ease. From online bookings to guest management to built-in automated marketing, you get it all from Reservation Nexus. Come see why hundreds of bed and breakfasts and inns have switched to Reservation Nexus

Automated marketing done right is a recession buster. How great would it be if all your guests received a happy birthday and happy anniversary email card from you each year? Simply powerful! Schedule your email promotions and newsletters for the entire year and watch them go out. Automatically thank your guests for staying. Automatically send your guests directions and a map a few days before their arrival.

With Reservation Nexus , you will capture more reservations online from your website than from any other hotel software or bed and breakfast software system. You will be able to quickly record phone reservations and perform front desk duties. Personalized and professional emails automatically thank, welcome and congratulate your guests at the right time and throughout the year. You will have more time and more freedom to better take care of your guests as well as yourself!

The United States wireless network provider Meru Networks Inc is eyeing the Chinese market with the company expecting its revenues in the Asia-Pacific region to double in the next two to three years.

The country's thriving hospitality industry and higher education institutes will be the biggest customers for Meru

China has been one of the fastest developing markets for Meru because of increasing demand despite slowing gross domestic product growth

E-Booking The first role of the internet in the hospitality industry is online booking. As aforementioned in the past, travel agents were the most common source for booking hotel rooms and other travel components like flight tickets and travel tours. However, the internet has changed this; manual booking and reservations have been transformed to E-booking or online booking via Central Reservation Systems (CRS). As of March 2008, there are over 1.4 billion internet users (Internet World Stats, 2008) and according to the Computer Industry Almanac, this number is assumed to increase to 1.80 billion in 2010 (Clickz Stats, 2005). The Travel Industry Association in the United States stated that in 2002 about 64 million out of 619 million online users were online travelers and used the Internet to purchase travel-related services and products (Zhang, 2004, p.3). "Online leisure travel sales totaled $20.4 billion in 2002 and hotel booked online reached $3.8 billion" (Ibid). In 2005 the online travel revenue reached $27.7 billion in the U.S. alone and has steadily increased (Webmetro, 2005). Now imagine how big these figures would be on a global basis.

Another important role of the internet is the use of it as a marketing tool. Before a hotel can offer e-booking it has to set up its own website. The hotel can apply attractive designs and offer guests a virtual tour of the entire property and show various room types. This strategy is considered a minor but may get a lot of appeal from online users. The internet also allows hotels to reach more customers by using search engine optimization (SEO), which is a tool that helps increasing the traffic and page ranking in search engine results (Hotel Travel Check, n.d.). Another internet marketing strategy for the hospitality industry is electronic customer relationship management (eCRM), which are activities to manage customer relationships by using the internet and web browsers (Hotel Marketing, 2007).

By focusing on new methods of selling and engaging consumers or creating demand for hotels, several of these new channels are creating interesting segmentation opportunities.

These evolving channels can be categorized into three major types: new search models, mobile/last-minute models and new discount channels, dissecting the broader impact of social media when it comes to online bookings

Roomkey.com, which is similar to the TravelWeb portal of the past, represents the attempt of the brands to launch their own version of an OTA. While suppliers remain optimistic about Roomkey.com, it has yet to really catch the eye of consumers and still needs considerable improvements before it starts to offer a viable alternative in the eyes of the consumer.

Future of ecommerce

Ecommerce commonly known as (electronic marketing) e-commerce or Ecommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks.

TechnologyTechnology is the most important factor in Ecommerce rapid growth