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. Many hotels do not intend to take a lead in implementing new environmental technologies as hotel managers are not often well educated in these technologies, causing the hotel industry to lag behind in their us

Energy, water, and waste in the hotel industry

. Hoteliers can use technology in a number of ways, from taking guest reservations to saving energy and water in hotel guest rooms. Energy and water saving require environmental technologies. Examples of environmental technologies related to the hotel sector are a key-card system for energy saving, a centralized air conditioning system that can reset a guest-room's temperature to the hotel's established temperature when integrated with a building management system to save energy, and light-emitting diode (LED) lights and heat pumps. In addition, many advanced environmental technologies have entered the market such as solar heat pumps, solar control film, solar batteries, light pipes, energy efficient lighting, light sensors and dimmers (Chan, [17]), different types of food decomposers, and water-saving devices.

“three-zero-concept” approach, which entails prioritizing energy management and lower emissions; using local construction materials and skills; and introducing life-cycle management into the building process.

Heat exchangers that use the exhaust heat to preheat water — an innovative way to achieve waste heat recovery — will grow in number.

According to research, hotels must reduce their carbon emissions by 66% by 2030 to ensure that growth in the sector is sustainable

To achieve the goal of reducing resource use, pollution, and waste hotels are installing high-resolution resource monitoring. They are also coming up with more apps that can engage staff and guests in sustainability and food waste reduction.

Eco-friendliness is no longer a nice-to-have concept. It has now evolved into a must-have

According to the U.N. World Tourism Organization, the number of eco-inspired trips taken by the end of this year will be close to 1.6 billion worldwide.

B2B transactions involve business-to-business.

B2E transactions involve a business and its employees.

C2C transactions involve two or more consumers (customer-to-customer).

The industry can make profits to many countries and pull foreign currencies into the country.

The travel distribution system is currently facing many changes as online agencies such as Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia, etc. have introduced a way to access travel suppliers directly via the worldwide web. In general, Global Distribution Systems have not shown much of an effort toward targeting on-line customers. As an alternative, Customer Relation Systems have remained trustworthy to their travel agency distributors.

The Internet is not the full solution to success in the Hospitality and Tourism industry. However, the Internet is the “overall business answer” across industries

The success of the Hospitality and Tourism industry will depend upon the abilities to identify and answer quickly to current and potential customer needs

Starwood Hotel Group was standing ahead of other Hotels to offer a online “virtual tours” of its properties. This feature provides a site visit to potential guests without having to travel to each property. And now, many well-known hotels are also providing this promotion feature for stand top of the roles to attract potential customers.

Google presented the vision of Internet marketing is likely to grow by 2015. Some of them are worth to be informed and aware about.

50% of ad campaigns will include video ads bought on a cost-per-view basis 50% of ads will be bought using this real-time bidding technology to tailor experiences for different viewers Smartphones / mobile phone will be the number one screen for digital brands to engage users There will be at least 5 metrics that advertisers will regard as more important than the “click” 75% of web ads will be “social” in nature such as facebook. Therefore, Ads will be shared, discussed, subscribed to and recommended Multimedia formats enable great creativity and interaction – these will grow from 6% of display ad impressions to 50%, especially for brand building campaigns Digital display advertising is going to grow to a $50 billion industry This forecast shows that competition to attract potential customers via worldwide web will be more and more drastic.

World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that over 1.5 billion tourists would take international journeys in the year 2020.

Another e-Commerce model such as Auction style-pricing models are becoming customer preference, where the customer are able to control the price of the products and services to be consumed.

Airlines have a stronger straight link to customers as they compete directly against travel agents [23]. Furthermore, they could have stronger control over the customers due in part to the e-ticketing. In this respect, online technology has replaced the travel agency by adding value via fare shoppers, promotions, and personalized recommendations

Customers are almost guaranteed that they will obtain the best price by negotiating via an online agent such as Priceline. But a shortcoming to all of this is that the customer will not understand all of the normal benefits of air tickets as they are sacrificed via online auction purchases. For example, in many cases the travel ticket does not permit any changes or accrual of or without significant penalty charges.

Online companies have more of a chance at success in Hong Kong due to the dense population, strong education systems, high credit card and cell phone usage. This leaves room for the future development of the next Priceline or Travelocity in Asia which could pose a major threat to hospitality & tourism organizations. Based on the high volume cell phone usage in Hong Kong, Mobile commerce should be a new trend on next stage. [29]

As low cost computer real-time data, fast speed internet access, voice and video communications become a reality, travel agencies may no longer be needed. On the other hand, the Internet challenge can also mean chance. Hotel owners and operators who understand and master e-commerce or m-commerce challenges will be able to jump ahead of online threats from large players such as Priceline. Otherwise, many will find themselves out of business.

Information Technology tools have allowed travel intermediaries to expand their role in the industry by presenting opportunities to venture into other markets on a geographical level.

Not only should hoteliers focus on the business traveler, but they should also consider whether there are other types of potential target customers as we may find that both young and older generations were sitting in the Internet shops utilizing online services during their vacation as well.

Organizations have to invest in the expertise and equipment (Hardware, Software) for building a strong IT base at first.

Internet security has been a major issue surrounding the Internet community.

Governments are currently addressing Internet based global commerce by considering rules of conduct, guiding principles, laws and taxation. [*30]

Today, hotels are distributing their product via more and more channels. How they keep control of availability and price, maintain a consistent level of customer service, in addition to keep their distribution partners up to date at the same time has becomes a complicated and expensive process.

The core transactions of our business involve intimate face-to-face interactions, which have certain limitations in regard to the use of e-commerce in the hospitality industry compared with other enterprises

It is important to take a look at how Internet technology will affect the future of the tourism industry. Most IT tools are being utilized

The hospitality & tourism internet future suggests a universal system where property management systems will eliminate the need for expensive on-site computer hardware/software.

Future success for hospitality & tourism companies depends upon their abilities to identify a target market and the strategic opportunities available for survival and growth.

It is crucial for hospitality & tourism organizations to stay on top of the roles of the major online players that are posing a serious threat to the industry such as Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia, Yahoo, etc. Their role in the future of hospitality & tourism marketing is crucial to the survival of Hoteliers.

The PCI Security Standards Council claims that since March, malicious virus-related reports are up 475%. The reason for the uptick is that cybercriminals are trying to take advantage of rapid changes to the payment-card data environment. In addition, 41% of small businesses have said they’ve suffered breaches costing more than $50,000 to fix.

Contactless payment is one of the big changes within the payment data environment. Several restaurant companies – from chains to independents – are offering it because it reduces customers' physical interaction with the restaurant's POS system. As part of this move, some businesses have eliminated credit-card PIN numbers.

Eliot says malicious email is usually the easiest way for cybercriminals to access your networks. The emails typically show up as urgent requests for sensitive information, often pretending to be from the Small Business Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When the intended victim types in his or her credentials and clicks on a specific link or downloads an attachment, criminals are in.

Anyone looking for easy-to-implement security tips can try these six to start. Reduce areas where payment-card data is stored. The best way to protect against a data breach is to avoid storing any card information at all. With many small operators offering curbside pickup and accepting payment over the phone instead of through face-to-face transactions, it’s important they train employees not to write down payment card details. Instead, have them enter numbers directly into a secure terminal. Use strong passwords. Using weak and default passwords is one of the leading causes of payment data breaches among businesses. Effective passwords must be strong and updated regularly. The most recent guidance is: the longer, the better. Think of it almost as a “passphrase” rather than a password. Use it in the form of a sentence, but mix in different characters within the phrase. It’s much harder to break a long passphrase than it is a short, complex password. Weak and vendor default passwords often result in small business data breaches. Also, don’t repeat your passwords. Update your software often. Criminals look for outdated software to exploit flaws in unpatched systems. Timely installations of security patches are crucial to minimizing the risk of a breach. Whenever updates are available, use them. They will improve performance and close out some of the vulnerabilities cybercriminals are searching for. Enable two-factor authentication. It's so important for restaurateurs, especially where their POS systems or any of their sensitive databases are concerned, to have two-factor or multi-factor authentication enabled. If an instance where credentials are stolen occurs, there will be a second layer of verification the operator can rely on to potentially reduce the chances that information will be breached. Segment your networks. If you are going to store payment data, make sure your POS system has its own separate, secure network. Do not store sensitive documents on public cloud services such as Google Docs or DropBox. If you’re going to store sensitive documents, house them in an encrypted, locked down location.   Be hyper-vigilant. Criminals are going to try to take advantage of this pandemic situation as much as possible. You can protect yourself by not giving out sensitive information, especially within unsolicited emails. Don’t click on links you’re not expecting and do everything in your power to protect all sensitive information.

The right influencer should match both your brand values and the values of your audience, bringing an already-established crowd of relevant consumers to your digital door.

The audience's goal is to use that influencer's experiences to guide and inform them as they choose their next getaway destination - positioning your property as the place to be.

Educate Your Audience

Hotel guests can't get enough of reviews - the more in-depth, the better. An influencer can provide the most detailed content about your brand and the guest experience you offer through high-impact channels utilising video, blogs and photography.

The best influencers are seen by their audience to be unbiased and objective, which puts them in a position of authority and trustworthiness when it comes to purchasing decisions.

People follow influencers and engage with them because they believe they have a wider range of experience to better understand the brand, products and services they are talking about, similar to a professional hotel reviewer.

influencer marketing actively builds trust in your brand.

it's an ongoing challenge for hotels and hospitality marketing departments to keep coming up with something fresh and exciting - something their audience wants to see.

Good professional influencers really shine when it comes to this side of hotel marketing strategies. Not only do they have a deep understanding of what their audience (and therefore your audience) is looking for and what resonates with them, they are also creative specialists in finding fresh and entertaining ways to deliver this content.

leveraging their creative expertise is not only rewarding in terms of results, but helps to avoid critical missteps that can happen in a marketing strategy. You'll get more engagement, avoid the kind of faux pas that can cost you, and drive followers and leads to your website and social pages.

COVID-19 has made social media more powerful than ever before

Instagram, a primary platform for many influencers, saw some of the biggest increase in terms of use, with 2020 projections showing 14% growth - an additional 3 minutes of time per user on the platform per day.

One of the best ways of leveraging these changes in user behaviour work for your hotel marketing strategy is to get an established influencer who understands you brand and already has a relationship with your target audience to work on your campaigns.

Influencer Marketing is the Edge Your Hotel Marketing Strategy Needs

If your connection isn't password protected, anyone can access the system.

And even with a password, computer-savvy network users can gain access to another user's data.

Hospitality workers don't have any special legal authority, so they can't physically restrain a customer. Instead, they should call the police if they suspect criminal activity.

Your company's confidentiality policy can educate customers about the amount of privacy they can expect.

If you promise a customer a specific amount of confidentiality and then break that agreement, you've broken your contract and can be sued.

No one can contract to engage in illegal behavior, and if someone is in immediate danger, it's your duty to take steps to protect him.

It also establishes guidelines for employees to follow, and a clear policy can even protect you against lawsuits.

The U.S. Supreme Court has established that hotel customers have a "reasonable expectation of privacy" in hotel rooms.

You can't enter or search a guest's room without her explicit consent, but guests are not entitled to any special privacy

As a business owner, you value the privacy of company secrets and procedures, which is why you expect your employees to maintain some standard of confidentiality

confidentiality in employment is implicit, regardless of whether employees have signed an agreement.

If a member of your staff violates this explicit or implicit agreement, the penalty for breach of confidentiality can be severe and long-lasting.

an employee who signs this type of agreement agrees that a violation of confidentiality is also a violation of the employment contract. The penalty for breach of confidentiality isn’t restricted to employees who have signed confidentiality agreements,

if you own a computer security company and an employee’s laptop is stolen, and that employee didn’t encrypt sensitive data on that computer per company policy, it could constitute a breach of confidentiality.

Healthcare privacy is essential, not only to protect a patient’s right to decide who has access to sensitive information but also to protect doctors and other healthcare professionals from malpractice claims.

Theft is a violation of criminal law that in some instances can be punishable by a stiff fine or imprisonment.

As a business owner, you would report the theft to law enforcement, and the state or federal government would charge your employee with the crime.

Employers will not look favorably on any prospective employees who were terminated due to a confidentiality breach, or convicted of a crime related to that type of violation.

In fact, one hotel in Japan is already fully staffed by these mechanical marvels. However, robots will more likely be used to supplicate human interaction as opposed to replace it altogether.

7. ChatbotsChatbots and similar online widgets are now commonplace when visiting countless websites. In the same respect, they are beginning to revolutionise hotel technology and its associated amenities. These clever devices are set to offer guests a host of options. Some of those which are the most applicable within the hospitality industry include:Hyper-personalised search criteria and resultsA streamlined method for confirming a reservationAn excellent way to build brand recognition and loyalty.Marketing relevant products and services to the end userA final point to mention is that modern chatbots offer a language-agnostic edge. As they can detect and respond to numerous dialects, previous international barriers have been removed from the equation. This will lead to higher booking rates and an impressive return on investment (ROI).

Virtual Reality (VR)VR plays another important role; primarily in illustrating the amenities, services and rooms that a hotel has to offer. Virtual hotel tours/ 360 videos are a perfect example of this immersive trend. In fact, many professionals believe that this type of hotel technology is set to become compulsory in the not-so-distant future. The good news is that it is a cost-effective solution and virtual reality can be easily deployed within most scenarios.

There is no doubt that cutting-edge hotel technology is here to stay.

crucial

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sing robots for luggage transportation, security, room service and restaurant waiting.

attract additional sales

educe friction

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pre-set the amenities

competitive edge

In both Europe and the US, regulations are being released and revised to provide support to guests with disabilities.

With the increase in electronic distribution of hotel information and transactions, hotels are working to provide better information and service to guests with disabilities.

I can hear some of you now – what good can possibly come from creating an ‘association of associations’? Aren’t we just creating more overhead, more cost and more bureaucracy? In a word, no.

From my own perspective

I hate wasting our scarce

resources, and worse, wasting the resources of our members who volunteer their time to work for us

Other council member organization initiatives include a white paper authored by AH&LA, a payment technologies committee established by HEDNA, and the support by OpenTravel of needed XML specification changes as required by the industry.

thousands of companies worldwide provide hundreds of software applications to help hotels and hotel companies manage operations to provide better guest service.

three key technology issues that are having, and will continue to have, a direct strategic impact on the hospitality industry:

Search engine optimization is a great thin

PCI (payment card industry) complianceUnique identification numbers for hotelsSupport for guests with disabilities

‘holy grail’

y company has become critically important for the financial stability and market credibility of the hospitality industry.Members of the HTSIC have addressed this issue in a coordinated

Initiatives specific to distribution include the creation of standard room definitions and descriptions, guaranteeing accessible guest rooms and removing the accessible guest room from inventory when booked. HEDNA has worked on creating this vocabulary, and OpenTravel has revised its hotel schema, annotations and code list to reflect these changes.

And our biggest strength is our commitment to work together, to eliminate redundant work or conflicting positions, to be transparent and open in our dealings with each other, and to address the most important technological needs of the hospitality industry.

However, he said that because of their marketing dollars, OTAs had a huge impact that would affect consumer behavior—a belief that guests could get the best and cheapest price if they booked via third parties, helping to fuel OTAs’ market share and bringing the issue top of mind for hoteliers’ wallets.

Today’s consumer, thanks to online travel agencies and technology in general, are more sophisticated and educated than they were 20 years ago. That sophistication has touched many areas of the industry.

Enhanced consumer awareness has also led to niches within the industry, such as boutique hotels, extended-stay product and a focus on all guest types that has seen an emergence of new amenities, Rogers said.

“These demands have led to the prevalence of services such as high speed Wi-Fi, complimentary hot breakfast, expanded in-room technology and entertainment options, and fitness centers.”

Rogers said that some older hotels can’t keep up with the shift due to many select-service properties becoming higher end and providing all the amenities guests want.

He said select service will continue to be the industry’s preferred model moving forward because it contributes to higher profit margins and return on investment.

“As the technology and internet became more and more part of our society, it became more complicated to operate the hotels so there is a need for third-party operators and good franchisees,” Rogers said. “It impacted the smaller operators but delivered what the consumer was expecting.”

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By recycling their used equipment in bulk, the managers and operators of hotels across the country will help keep those products out of landfills, where the toxins and chemicals inside electronics can pose significant environmental risks to our soil, water, wildlife and even our personal health. The risks are real and well-documented.

Waste Management in the Hotel Industry

If guests arrive expecting the highest standards, it can make a bad impression to have computers that don’t work or furniture that looks run down.

a number of hotels have already proven they can establish successful recycling programs.

Cost savings alone should be a top concern for the hotel industry. It’s been estimated that hotel guests generate up to two pounds of waste per night. Because of the prohibitive cost of waste disposal services in New York City, for example, a hotel can spend up to $100,000 annually to get rid of their waste. If recycling can cut that down significantly, that can amount to significant cost savings. And a growing number of hotels are recognizing that they can manage their waste in a sustainable manner, including by recycling.

A smart approach would be to offer incentives for workers who provide waste-saving ideas that can be implemented and to educate guests about the hotel’s recycling and environmental policies.

The creation of a successful hotel recycling project offers a lot of long-term rewards that include: • cost savings; • strong public relations to their guests; • an engaging program for employees and even guests to become part of.

an IT audit and evaluation.  This is designed to detail an organization’s current technology landscape, how it performs and what additional needs exist.

Additionally, as portfolios become larger through acquisition across the globe, being able to limit disruption and deploy the best technology becomes even more important.

Finally, the hospitality industry is often slow to adopt new security measures, leaving it behind the curve in protecting against emerging threats and scams.  

One type of attack is known as malware injection. This occurs when malicious software is injected into a hotel's or restaurant's computer system. The malware can then be used to steal customer data or take control of the system

Fortunately, there are steps that the hospitality industry can take to protect itself from these types of attacks, including investing in robust cybersecurity solutions, educating employees about cybersecurity risks and best practices, which can help reduce employee mistakes that could lead to an attack, and staying up-to-date on cybersecurity threats and trends

To protect themselves, these businesses need to follow GDPR guidelines (General Data Protection Regulation), a set of regulations that European Union member states must implement to protect digital data privacy

The most important thing you can do is to use a unique password for each account. This may seem like a lot of work, but it's the only way to ensure that your data is safe

This ensures that if an attack does occur, critical information can be recovered quickly. Additionally, it is important to keep software updated with the latest security patches. Many attacks exploit known vulnerabilities, so by staying up-to-date, businesses can make it more difficult for attackers to access their systems

Keep scheduling, payroll, and the POS under one roof.

ntegrated solution shares data, so if a server enters her tip on the POS, it syncs with the other programs. And since these are cloud-based systems, you can create schedules from anywhere. Staff members can view schedule updates from their phone in real time.

QR codes on digital menu boards

pay using their mobile phone, using such apps as Apple Pay or Google Wallet.

Cloud-based platforms streamline a variety of tasks, including food ordering, digital menus, drive-thru operations, and kitchen management.

Digital POS systems make it easy for restaurants to manage a waitlist and tables. Customers can receive texts when their table is ready and place their orders while waiting.

POS devices and kiosks with ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate 99% of microorganisms.

Cloud-based tip processing lets employees receive credit-card tips on a prepaid card, reducing cash handling.

they can be provided with the needed information in a contactless manner at any convenient tim

The joy of the VR experience is doubled by the opportunity to explore the travel destination before they purchase the tickets.

360 video

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

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.

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

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

Many have pinpointed improved legislation, advancement in recycling technologies, increased education, and more convenient recycling programs for resolving the electronic waste crisis. Some companies have already jumped on the bandwagon toward finding improved recycling methods.

The Washington-based company behind Redbox and Coinstar has developed a line of ecoATM kiosks, where consumers can conveniently sell their old phones for cash on the spot where they already shop.

California’s Electronic Waste and Recycling Act of 2003 established four main purposes to manage the growing amount of E-waste.

facilitate the collection and recycling of covered devices,”

intends to eliminate E-waste stockpiles

make manufacturers report their efforts to increase the use of recycled materials.

end the illegal disposal of covered electronic devices

we need to focus more on reusing and donating electronics to a greater cause

Only twenty-five states have passed legislation in the last fourteen years.

E-waste is changing rapidly and legislation hasn’t kept up with the demand.

Encouraging reuse can simultaneously reduce E-waste in landfills and bridge the digital divide in low-income communities

Recycling centers don’t always recycle your old devices. It has been well documented (here and here) that most of them ship old electronics to other countries that don’t have strict environmental laws.

To foster international business, Barbados has implemented fiscal measures such as fixing the value of the Barbados dollar (BBD) to the U.S. dollar, contributing to price stability and a stable national economic climate.

Barbados has a strong telecommunications industry and a highly educated workforce, making it an appealing destination for international business.

Barbados' robust information and communications infrastructure and its government's support and encouragement for innovation, has created the perfect environment to grow its national tech sector.

During the past decade, Barbados has had a clear development strategy focused on green economic growth. It has set the ambitious goal of transitioning to a fully renewable economy by 2030.

Furthermore, Barbados boasts a diverse range of ecosystems, including coral reefs, rain forests and wetlands, which provide visitors with a wide array of ecotourism activities such as snorkeling, hiking, bird-watching and wildlife viewing, making it a popular destination for eco-conscious travelers.