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In class we spoke about how the internet has an impact on small businesses and how small businesses are having a hard time being compared to the bigger businesses. This article talks about how they are being ranked in the search engines. When a consumer goes online to search for a product, he or she will like at what the article refers to as an established brand such as hp or dell in computers oppose to smaller brand names which although theyre known theyre being bypassed by these big brand names. The article talks about the "bid per click" bases that business advertisers use to promote on google. This makes it hard for a smaller business to compete with a bigger business because of their promotion level. It is very expensive.

This will become a big trend for hospitality industry. Since the front desk department or room service is always busy during peek hours, and to be able to get a hold of them is extremely difficult; this technology will cut a lot of tasks for the hotel and make the guests feel much more convenience.

This is a great example of success by implementing new technology in business. It is important to recognize the right tools to use to grow. I also think using the "big name" as Sabre Hospitality Solutions can help make decisions easier as the company is famous for it's kind of business.

The new Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World is using the InvoTech Systems Inc. UHF-RFID Uniform System to provide real -time tracking of the 7,000 plus uniforms required for their staff. the system is able to track all uniforms by utilizing a waterproof RFID tag that is attached to each custom made piece for "automated tracking and record keeping." RFID tags are installed as the employee is issued their uniform. The uniform is then passed over the counter to the employee and the tracking system automatically records the pieces as they are being issued. The system is able to count hundreds of articles in a matter of seconds and insures that all uniforms are properly accounted for. The software system also monitors use and laundry cycles to facilitate replacement when required. By investing in the InvoTech System the Four Seasons Orlando is ensuring employee accountability and also reducing labor expenses associated with manual handling of uniforms.

Hotels around the world are looking for way to cut unnecessary expenses and costs, and are increasingly turning to technology to find a solution to this problem. InvoTech Systems, Inc. has introduced RFID to the JW Marriott Hotel Santo Domingo (in the Dominican Republic) in order to keep track of linens and staff uniforms. RFID (radio-frequency identification) is a growing method in the hospitality industry to collect, store and manage data. All losses will now be accounted for and that will reduce the purchase of replacement uniforms and linens. It is a great way to increase revenue as the hotel will be able to allocate more funds to other pressing matters such as making guests' stay more enjoyable; funds that previously would have had to be disbursed to replace missing linens and uniforms. Also, thanks to handheld readers, this technology is portable and the software seems to be fairly user-friendly.

The use of RFID to track employee uniforms is a phenomenal idea! When people hear RFID they usually think of the ability to fill a shopping cart and walk out while having funds automatically withdrawn from an account or applied to a credit card, but this use is innovative and a sure-fire way to reduce costs associated with inventory loss. At my previous property, the uniform department found that uniforms not being returned was so rampant that they eventually just accepted it as a cost of doing business. The department didn't even attempt to have items returned and employees of the department were always shocked when someone returned an item, especially after leaving the company. Needless to say, this practice probably cost the department a very pretty penny.

The article talking maining about the issues that companies have in investing into technology without having a set plan. Mr. Estis-Green, among others, stated that they see an industry that is very innovative but lacking direction in its approach to investing in the correct technology. The main issue is seems to follow throughout the article is that these companies are following trends instead of figuring out if said technology would mix well with the brand vision. A first, the implementation of technology within a business was used more as a tactic but it has become more popular that is has changed the way the guest experiences service at a hotel, from POS systems to a front desk check in. It's driving the way hotels run their business. I think that the biggest issue with investing in technology is controlling the way its used within a hotel. With technology becoming bigger and being implemented within larger hotel brands, it is changing the service experience which affects the loyalty of a guests. Taking that into consideration, I think that it causes internal competition within the vision that a hotel original sets out to provide and what other hoteliers are doing to gain that loyalty. As mentioned in the article, i think that the best way to have a vision and trend coincide is to find a way to personalize it to its convenience and effectiveness.

MODULE 7: This article is about the growing trend of quick-service brands implementing mobile and kiosk ordering for their customers. For major quick-service brands like McDonalds, Burger King etc. they've started to implement self-service kiosks or mobile apps allowing their customers to pre-order their meal and pick it up without waiting in a long queue line. At the base of this ever-growing trend, the trend is very similar to when banks started to provide self-servicing ATMs. According to the article in the next three years most of any quick-service brand that has multiple locations on a regional and/or national scale will have implemented a mobile ordering system within their operations. While taking this into consideration, quick-service restaurants need to be careful in how these mobile apps are perceived by people who isn't using it. Some may think that using the mobile app promotes those people to "skip the line", which can cause some negative feedback. With that said, now these quick-service brands need to satisfy their customers who don't use the mobile app so that they don't feel obsolete for not partaking in the trend before. With this growing trend, these quick service brands will not only have to think about their customers walking in their locations but also for the potential customers that are walking on the streets with their mobile devices.

At a recent even at NYC, the CEO of Hilton, Christopher Nassetta, announced that the Hilton team is developing meeting focused hotels as a means to get the upper hand on event management. These hotels are being built with events such as conventions and business meetings in mind while constructing a five-star property. Thus, a new brand, Signia, was created as a means to improve upon flexibility in its architecture, as well as more daylight, modern design, and more spacious volume, as well as an upgraded culinary experience, and technologies that help run meetings more efficiently, likely updates in their event management system. This premium quality is something that has been constantly asked by them from customers. In the future they are planning to stretch out internationally.

Twenty Four Seven Hotels has moved all their properties to Aptechs PVNG software. PVNG is a cloud-based enterprise accounting software. Aptech is a software company that has 100% hospitality specific software systems. Twenty Four Seven hotels has had no issue with this software as of yet they have only been seeing the positives of the software, the staff finds it very easy to use as well as the vice president of finance for the chain. twenty four seven hotels portfolio also includes Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt brands. this could see major hotel brands switch to more cloud based technology if this chain continues to be successful with it

This article talks about the hotel industry and the inside scoop on their efforts to getting back out their and marketing themselves after COVID-19. There are a few things they need to consider while they are beginning to strategize their plan. One of them is timing. If the company remained staff, then they may begin marketing faster than those that furloughed employees. In that case, they may need to get that together before they invest in marketing. Another item to consider are their goals. Companies must think about what they can afford. They need to think about if they are able to have some leeway and able to take things slower, even if it means breaking even for a while or does your company absolutely need to be at the same profitability level pre-pandemic? Another consideration would be regions. Certain regions were hit harder than others. Therefore, recovery will be by a case by case basis. Some regions will be able to market and get back to business faster than others. Yet another consideration is channels. This refers to social media and other types of media in order to market. Travelers follow many travel pages on social media, therefore this should be a priority when trying to ramp up customer traffic again. All-in-all, the travel and hotel industry will make a comeback. Although it will be a slow comeback, the industry will prevail just as it has before.

RFID, event applications, wearable technology, virtual reality, and social media are upcoming popular uses for event planners. With RFID event planners are able to keep better track of the guests attending the event as well as keeping them more involved. I first heard of this a few months ago when attending an event and it described that a chip with RFID was placed inside the wristband-type ticket. For me, the most interesting thing is the wearable technology! Imagine an event where you can have directions given to you or a layout of the event right on your wrist! Also, the watch can notify you of events happening within an event or you can see order your food or see the menu. To know that soon enough it will be a norm for everyone to have some type of wearable technology and that event planners can truly get the guests involved through this use is exciting.

This article introduces four new advances to technology that help ease the process of event planning. Projection mapping, 5G, Branded multi-use apps, and event diagramming.

This article shares the technology innovation with meeting/convention operations and how these technology help offer better guest satisfaction.

An excellent article that discusses how companies have changed their social media approach during Covid. Instead of selling the destination or the experience itself, hotels are trying to sell the concept of safety and security. Also, the article goes into detail about flexible date plans and more, all being advertised through their social media accounts. Overall, social media is still as important as ever, but the way companies approach it has changed drastically.

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.

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.

This article focuses on six trends that are redefining the hospitality industry. These trends are; gamification of travel planning, virtual reality tours, going contactless, chatbot as digital concierge, IoT for room control, and location-based services. Companies must evolve in the world of technology in order to meet customer demands. In effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, travelers now prefer self-service such as contactless check in. The incorporation of this technology, minimizes huma error and maximizes efficiency. Gamification of travel planning: By using game like templates in their websites, travel companies are able to capitalize on human motivation. When customers able to get rewards, brand awareness, customer loyalty, and revenue are improved. Virtual Reality Tours: Virtual reality tours help travelers to enjoy their future destination before they arrive. They also help with brand experience as they create mental imagery and presence. Going Contactless: Contactless check in, mobile keys, and digital payments all increased by 66 percent due to the pandemic. This however, is here to stay as this decreases staff dependency. Chatbot as a Digital Concierge: Chatbot is a simple way to meet guest demands 24/7. With FAQ, guests can get an answer to their question in a matter of seconds at any time of the day without needing to leave their room. IoT for Room Control and Customization: IoT allows guests to have a home away from home by personalizing their rooms by changing the color of the lights, temperature, etc. Location-Based Services: With location based services, travelers are able to find activities and amenities wherever they are staying. This can offer more intuitive local recommendations without needing staff assistance.

Hello Alejandra. I really enjoyed reading this article, thank you for sharing! Although I am a germaphobe, and number three (Going contactless) appealed to me on a certain level, the points that stood out to me the most were; number two (Virtual reality tours) and number four (Chatbot as a digital concierge). I am one of the individuals who check reviews of places before I make a reservation but taking the virtual reality tour would give me more assurance of the property because individuals have different expectations and standards so what may be appropriate for them, may not be for me. The Chatbot as a digital concierge is quite convenient for both guests and hotels, hence it will ensure a more comfortable and relaxing stay.

This article discussed the pros and cons of mobile proximity marketing and how to possibly overcome the downfalls of the type of marketing.

privacy concerns, complex management, excessive opt-ins, conversion issues

There can be many benefits and negatives to introducing new technology into your company. While it can be interesting to see new marketing methods for a company, these results can also be temporary. A company wanting to integrate these new marketing methods into their business will have to identify if their audience would react well with this new form of marketing and make their choices based on those results.

This article discussed research done on the integration of AR into shopping experiences and highlights the discrepancies between company and customer perceptions. While companies seem to continue to be hesitant to invest in AR technology, consumers are certainly chomping at the bit to try it out. In the survey done for this article it would appear that AR technology is incredibly helpful for virtual try on especially during the pandemic as in store shopping has slowed down and even when in stores consumers would be hesitant to try on clothes or makeup that had been touched by someone else. The results showed that this virtual try on experience was especially helpful for lesser known brands as the ease of trying on virtually meant people often tried brands beyond those they would usually purchase. For hotels this could mean greater interest even without a large brand backing so AR technology could be important for smaller independent hotels. For hotels AR technology could not only help set them apart from other hotels but also could increase consumer confidence during booking as it takes a little bit more out of the mystery of booking a hotel room. Giving guests the ability to "walk" the hotel and visualize where they fit in could definitely increase bookings.

"E-proDirect takes an important step in uniting the company by launching a new common brand identity. It reflects a combination of the company's innovative product line, as well as their success as one of the true pioneers in the hospitality industry."

This article contains information in regards to the technological advancements within the hospitality industry. According to the article, brands are considering the option of outsourcing technology, in detail, their software. The brands are coming to the realization that maintaining company software is not a strength they have and that it is costly. Currently, the brands are considering Software as a Service (Saas) platforms to meet their technological needs. However, the search for the perfect fitting platform continues. I believe the option of outsourcing technology could prove to be beneficial for the brands. By trusting someone else with the technological aspects, it gives the businesses room to focus on their strategies and core competencies . This would result in profittable gains for the companies. However, I suggest that all risks are weighed before a decision is reached.

"Patrick Pacious of Choice describes how technology can help hoteliers be more profitable. LOS ANGELES-Steve Joyce, CEO of Choice Hotels International, knows today's hotel owners have more options when it comes to partnering with a brand or, for that matter, remaining independent." This article struck my attention as most brands do outsource their technology development. This is an innovative approach at gaining the upper hand in the industry. The idea of making a cloud-based PMS system is ingenious, yet risky at the same time. I find a lot of hotels are scared to approach the cloud world for reasons of data privacy & security, as well as, the thought of information being saved into an invisible world. I have to wonder, just how risky is it to give hotel managers that type of remote access, when no one is clear what the future holds? If that individual loses his or her job, voluntarily or involuntarily, user access privileges need to be revoked immediately, and even then, is it already too late? I have to admit, being the first brand to develop an online booking app deserves accolades. In most cases, I would have to guess (based on experience) that mobile apps account for 3-5% of hotel bookings or revenue. While that may not seem like a large number to some, what should be considered is that fact that those 3-5% are taking stress off of front desk or reservations staff. Phones can get hectic and having the ability to book a room at your fingertips while pumping gas or stopping for dinner makes a world of a difference to the clerk that is working alone on a Friday night, or a reservation agent located in a central office half-way across the country that doesn't know the area well, other than the few details loaded into GDS or listed as a point of interest log. Not only does this help the hotel staff and the guest travelling down the road, it increases guest loyalty to the brand. Th mobile apps are all brand specific (other than your third party travel agents and si

Mobile users are not just playing Angry Birds or checking the local weather, 38% have used their mobile devices to plan a trip and 60% of respondents said they have downloaded travel apps on their mobile devices, according to a TripAdvisor survey. While travelling, 62% of travelers said they use their mobile devices to research restaurants. 51% check their flight status and 46% research attraction, 28% have checked in to a restaurant, hotel or attraction using their mobile device while on a trip, according to TripAdvisor. (travelmole, May 2011). A research conducted by PhoCusWright shows that 75% of frequent business travelers (those making at least five trips a year) are smartphone owners. About half of frequent leisure travelers have smartphones. There's more than enough evidence for the hospitality industry to use mobile apps, and some hotels have already started and are successfully doing it.