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Tips for Maximizing Your Hotel's Visibility on the GDS Channel - By Lana Tettelbach - 0 views

  • Hotel bookings are on the rise, and travel agent bookings are growing–more than doubling since April.
  • Solutions like GDS Media provide hoteliers with increased exposure to over 425,000 travel agents searching for certain locations and amenities.
  • GDS Tips: What you should know 1) Update traveler safety and cleanliness certifications
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  • ) Target ads to domestic agents without travel restrictions
  • 3) Use two versions of creative in your ads
  • ) Start GDS Media for future travel dates only
  • Hold rates and utilize added amenities
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    This article gives 5 tips on ways to maximize a property's visibility on GDS channels. As more regions and tourist hot spots adjust to new safety COVID-19 protocols, bookings are starting rise. With 400,000+ travel agents searching for the best options for their clients, it is important to standout to get the booking. It helps if the hotel updates their travel/safety guidelines, so guests know the property is taking their safety seriously. By targeting ads in domestic areas without travel restrictions, the hotel is getting the most "bang for their buck" with their marketing. This article recommends using two separate creative in your ads: one focusing on offers/promotions and one featuring safety/cleanliness. It suggests marketing for future stays a few months in advance, because as travel restrictions start to ease more people are looking ahead to their future travel needs. It emphasizes the important of holding rates and using added amenities to help reduce price slashing and look more attractive to potential guests.
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Impersonally personal: Guest connection through technology | Hotel Management - 0 views

  • After an estimated $28 billion dollar sector bleed through COVID-19, hoteliers and hospitality professionals are facing record challenges. The first is the challenge of adaptation. Increased health and safety demands have created new barriers to normal operation. Most barriers require more staff or more capital, and with the concurrent decreased revenues and restrictions on personnel, owners are left at an impasse.
  • Next comes the challenge of maintaining client connections. Public concern has skyrocketed, motivation to safeguard finances is at an all time high, and maintaining physical distance compromises customer care to no end. After decades of perfecting the art of personalized guest interactions, the path forward is daunting and unclear.
  • Smart tech makes it possible to execute new health and safety protocol without needing more staff or impossible capital.
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  • Smarter Cleaning Solutions One of the more intuitive applications, technology offers huge potential to solve the greater need for thorough cleaning and dependable sanitation without obliterating profit margins or compromising the safety of the janitorial team. From product design to virtual checklists, many tech vendors have stepped up to offer their services in this arena.
  • Pure employs a seven-step process to equip any space with purified, allergy-free air and ensure complete elimination of invisible toxins.
  • LightStrike’s Germ-Zapping Robots are another great example of tech-improved safety. Used first by the Westin Houston Medical Center Hotel, the robots can be used to sanitize guestrooms and common areas, reducing the threat of the virus.
  • Smart tech solutions can be integrated into personalized guest technology, whether at the time of check in or during their stay, allowing guests to learn as much or as little about the precautions their host is taking. With the option to request more attention in certain areas, cleaning can, for the first time, be a customizable experience.
  • Most bookings are made online and the check-in process is moving in the same direction, with many hotels investing in facial-recognition technology.
  • Some platforms can integrate with any access-control system, allowing it to be part of a more personalized guest experience.
  • Concierge apps are becoming standard, and most hotels are extending in-app offerings to include unlocking the doors, contacting room service, and ordering from the hotel restaurant. The Solay Mobile App is allowing guests to book pool chairs or beachside reservations ahead of time and from a distance. The same philosophy can be applied to gym use, pool time, and restaurant management.
  • Social Media and Social Good Social media is the best avenue to keep potential guests informed and motivated.
  • many hotel owners have stepped up to be of service where they’re needed, and they’ve used various forms of social media to spread the word about their offerings. 
  • Industry leaders are capitalizing on smart solutions, using new technology to rise to new demands and foster deeper client connections. Far from impersonal, tech offers new ways to offer a tailored guest experience. As a permanent part of the new industry normal, smart tech should be embraced and pursued as another opportunity to excel in guest accommodations. 
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    The article is about how technology solutions can be a great investment and reduce capital to face the challenge of "new normal" adapatation and safety demands. Using technology such as as self-check-in, digital key, robots for sanitation of public areas, and social media to promote could result in less payroll costs and maximize revenue.
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How restaurant POS innovation puts guests in the driver's seat| Webinar | Fast Casual - 0 views

  • The growth of order and payment technology is nothing short of a revolution
  • revolution has been brewing for years, the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated it.
  • restaurants can prepare for the increasingly contactless and cashless era
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  • post-COVID environment, customer expectations are changing, new labor challenges have emerged and POS now applies to both sides of the counter.
  • 78% of customers are keen to return to the restaurant experience.48% of customers want to reduce wait times by ordering ahead on mobile.66% of customers prefer to order directly from the restaurant.73% of customers prefer cashless payment.
  • One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic was the 40% growth Mastercard experienced in contactless transactions
  • Mobile orders are 20% higher than in-restaurant purchases.
  • Research indicates 54% of casual dining, 48% of family dining and 50% of fine dining restaurants launched QR codes in 2021.
  • 44% of diners prefer to use kiosks at their favorite restaurants, and 71% would rather use a self-service kiosk at QSRs than engage with staff.
  • 70% lift in meal delivery spending.
  • labor shortage, a challenge that preceded the pandemic but has exacerbated it.
  • One of the goals of technology is to give customers more control of the guest experience
  • A POS today should include the following functions: omnichannel experience, integrations and extensions, frictionless checkout, contactless EMV payment and data reporting.
  • The order management system should include a kitchen display system, an order status board, text alerts and a QSR automation interface.
  • The business integration system should include the following: third party delivery, back of house, digital signage, ticketing, stored and loaded value, loyalty, payments and financial systems.
  • Integration of different technology providers is a challenge that many restaurants now have to face
  • "Technology enhances our digital guest connectivity, supports our virtual brand growth and improves our in-restaurant dining experience."
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    In this article you will be able to see the different types of technologies that restaurants have incorporated post-covid.
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Cloud vs On-premise PMS for hotels: which one is better? - CiHMS - 0 views

  • On-premise Property Management System requires a significant number of “on property” hardware compared to the Cloud-based one. It gives the hoteliers total control: data and the system, system configurations, networks, updates, and changes are all yours to decide
  • Running the On-premises PMS means hoteliers must maintain a dedicated server room, which also needs an effective cooling system and an around-the-clock support team to keep everything up and running smoothly
  • With the cloud computing vendors, the PMS providers would be responsible for most of the IT operations expense. The hoteliers can also get the advantages from the cloud computing vendors’ highly available servers, at their optimal performance.
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  • The hidden cost includes hardware server costs, additional IT staff expenses to manage the system infrastructure, maintenance fees (yes, more maintenance fees), and the expenses of other 3rd party software integrations
  • A cloud-based PMS has a much lower entry cost. They charge a fixed monthly subscription model, with a small initial setup fee. No server cost, maintenance fee, extra human resources cost, lower energy bills and is an extremely affordable budget for small and medium scaled hotel businesses
  • Although you can set up your On-premises PMS to be accessed from an off-site workstation or device, remote access can be affected by various factors. Getting real-time data can certainly be challenging, especially not at the speed that cloud-based PMS delivers
  • Undoubtedly, On-premises PMS is still ahead of the Cloud-based system when it comes to the number of integration capabilities, the flexibility of built-in reports that got customized, added over the years. 
  • a security breach can happen, losing your internal data, your brand reputation, revenue loss is unavoidable. 
  • It explains the widespread adoption of cloud-based systems. The only thing you have to hold responsible for is your Internet connectivity which is basic infrastructure any hotel should already have in place. In fact, the switch to cloud-based PMS is not impossible for the existing On-premises system.
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    When it comes to deciding whether you should switch to cloud computing or remain with on-premises PMS, it all depends on your company. Many people fail to see the hidden costs associated with on-premise PMS such as hardware costs, IT staff to manage the infrastructure and expenses coming from 3rd party software integrations. Although on-premises PMS can be more customizable for companies, cloud-based systems are dominating. They reduce costs, are highly accessible in real time, fees are consistent, and are highly secured.
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Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Selects AWS as Its Preferred Cloud Provider to Enhance Guest E... - 0 views

  • Today, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company, announced a global collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a hotel franchising company, to upgrade its technology infrastructure and develop and deliver new guest services across its 21 hotel brands — including Days Inn, La Quinta, Microtel, Ramada, Super 8, and Wyndham.
  • Today, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company, announced a global collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a hotel franchising company, to upgrade its technology infrastructure and develop and deliver new guest services across its 21 hotel brands — including Days Inn, La Quinta, Microtel, Ramada, Super 8, and Wyndham.
    • ldevaul
       
      This is HUGE!
  • putting it on track to achieve its goal of running 90% of its infrastructure in the cloud.
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  • xpanding its presence in the cloud will enable Wyndham to focus on growing its core hotel franchise business—seamlessly integrating new properties into its network—while leveraging AWS’s proven global infrastructure to help meet demand where it arises post-pandemic during the peak summer travel season. 
  • For example, Wyndham will use AWS machine learning to help optimize over 90,000 daily rate changes across its approximately 9,000 hotels to help maximize occupancy rates that vary according to factors such as location, weather, and time of year.
  • In addition, Wyndham will use AWS to develop new digital services for guests to automate check-in and leverage AWS partners to deliver customized offers during hotel stays, such as recommendations on local attractions, restaurants, and entertainment. 
  • Looking ahead, Wyndham will use AWS to remain agile and adapt to rapidly changing guest and market needs with plans to use AWS machine learning to drive demand with greater personalization and more timely and relevant guest offers.
  • “By moving the majority of our workloads to the cloud, Wyndham was able to rapidly respond to the changing business conditions brought on by COVID-19, and now we’re positioned to scale our operations as different parts of the world begin to reopen.
  • “The hotel industry has faced a series of rapid changes recently, yet by running on AWS Wyndham gains the insights and agility it needs to support its franchisees, transform its customer engagement, service, and business models, and remain an industry leader,”
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    This article announces the global collaboration between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc. This collaboration is going to allow the Wyndham to upgrade their infrastructure tech and deliver an entirely new way to experience customer service. What I found to be very interesting, besides Wyndham being 90% cloud based, was that AWS is going to help the hotelier develop a new way for guest to automate check-in and leverage AWS partner to deliver customized offers. It will be able to recommend local attractions, restaurants, and entertainment.
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Disruptive Innovation: Are we There Yet? - 2 views

  • both likes and fears the concept of disruptive innovation.
  • used by
  • The term ‘disruption’ is widely
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  • Disruptive innovations are however differentiated from sustaining innovations
  • influenced by the theories of Harvard professor Clayton Christensen
  • . 3-D printing of buildings will allow accommodation hosting opportunities to develop and disappear very quickly in new areas
  • , according to changing destination popularity, or to extend capacity following a surge of visitors, for example.
  • t disruption means to academics – and some business leader
  • We like to experience new ways of traveling and creativity in cooking dishes; at the same time, we may be somewhat anxious or even afraid of getting into a self-driving car or eating something cooked by a robot chef.
  • Society both likes and fears the concept of disruptive innovation.
  • a provocative marketing campaign may be seen as ‘disruptive’ as an affordable-luxury hotel concept with shared bathrooms.
  • fear or hope of emerging disruption is exaggerated and misleading.
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    The author holds that the public have ambivalent attitudes of disruptive innovation,and the current understanding of its effects is inaccurate,the article mentions Uber and Airbnb as the example. This article gives the explanation that it is a form of breakthrough that takes place in a rapidly changing market. In the academic aspect, influenced by the theories of Harvard professor Clayton Christensen, It's different from continuous innovation Finally the author show 2 examples of potentially disruptive innovation in hospitality: 3D printers and virtual reality
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    This article gives a clear understanding on what disruptive technology is in the hospitality industry. It explains how our society craves for more "what's new?" or what a business can do to stay ahead of its competitors but are sometimes afraid of the outcomes and although we cannot see the future, we can give it a try while hoping for the best. They provided current examples such as Airbnb and how they sustain innovation effectively by capitalizing and improving the efficiency of the system.
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    The article discusses how technology can potentially disrupt the market in positive ways. The article also uses examples of what would not be considered market disruption and used Uber as an example of this. IF we were to however have self driving cars this would be a significant market disruption.
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Why Germ-Zapping Robots and AI Technology Could Be the Future For Cruise Ships - 0 views

  • Cruise lines have arguably been well ahead of the game when it comes to new technology in the travel industry
  • -- even before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in March and led to a global suspension of operations.
  • What COVID-19 has done is to add a more 'urgent' element that will force the industry to speed up that process of adding to the passenger experience and enhancing health protocols."
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  • thermal imaging cameras to test passengers' temperature; the aim of the technology is to give a ship's medical team the information to decide whether a passenger should be allowed to board.
  • Royal Caribbean's fast track check in -- take a selfie and scan your own passport; Celebrity's facial recognition technology; MSC Cruises' artificial intelligence system, Zoe, an Alexa-like onboard assistant; and Princess' Ocean Medallion, a part-app, part token approach to customized cruising.
  • Princess Cruises' Ocean Medallion, for example, unlocks the door as you approach so guests don't need to touch their door handle. It was simply a luxurious feature pre-COVID-19; now, in our new world it, holds far more practical importance."
  • Another possible change passengers might see are disinfection tunnels leading to the terminal and an entirely biometric system operating in the terminal, according to Jennifer Willy, editor at the
    • mmoutsatsos
       
      In our discussion we talked about how to justify spending money on technology and I believe this article does a good job at showing all the different tech the different cruise lines were investing in and how it todays day with COVID it has become money well spent. We also talked about disruptive innovation and how if a company doesn't adapt it will fail. The cruise industry see the move to things become touchless and have already taken steps to meet expectations.
  • Apple and Google both are developing track and trace apps, which can alert crew whether someone has been near an infected person.
  • "Most likely to be rolled out first across most cruise lines and port terminals is temperature scanning, for example, thermal imaging using infrared to detect elevated skin temperatures, not only at embarkation, but for monitoring throughout the cruise."
  • One of the aspects that we might lose, at least in the short term, is the personal touch --
  • "There are systems for air purification and pathogen removal for the whole terminal facility that could be implemented, along with UV lighting, and the obvious thermal imagining for temperature checks,"
  • touchless tech. This is already used widely by the lines in the form of apps, which allow you to do a whole variety of things -- often without the need to log onto onboard Wi-Fi.
  • ct as a keycard to open your cabin, to order and pay for drinks; make bookings at restaurants, shows and the spa; book shore excursions, check your account, track your loved ones or even control the lights and temperature in your cabin.
  • "For instance, a ship could use virtual queueing apps to limit how many people are able to go to a certain area at any given time, which would make certain there is no crowding at a lunch buffet, in the fitness center or at the pool.
  • MSC Cruises' geo-location wristbands mean you can find your friends or family wherever they are on the ship (using your app), rather than meeting them at a central point somewhere.
  • Ocean Now on some of Princess Cruises' ships, passengers can order food, drink and a selection of other products and receive them in a different location, away from other passengers or shopping areas.
  • "Royal Caribbean's Bionic Bar cocktail maker was surely little more than a publicity stunt when it was conceived but it now seems a prophetic move by the cruise line. People will be understandably worried about food and drink preparation -- and shared buffets in particular - when they return to cruising. We may see an increase in automation as a result."
  • Most of the major lines have been running with enhanced technology for a couple of years.
  • could cruise lines introduce some of the changes that are already being pioneered at hotels such as limited housekeeping, no room service and surfaces devoid of many items to help with cleaning?
  • whose LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots (they've been likened to R2D2) are already being used in hotels, restaurants, food processing facilities, and office buildings -- and it has built protocols for cruise ships.
  • The robots use broad spectrum UV light to quickly decontaminate rooms and public spaces.
  • Xenex, Texas Biomedical Research Institute tested the robot against the virus that causes COVID-19 and it killed it in two minutes.
  • worried about touching surfaces in your cabin, just ask Zoe to look up information or power items on or off for you – MSC Cruises' voice activated Alexa-like speaker is in every cabin onboard MSC Bellissima and MSC Grandiosa, and is likely to be retrofitted onto other ships in the fleet.
  • "Voice tech will become important in the new touchless world too. Rather than having to turn off the lights or lower the blinds by hand, just ask 'Alexa' to do it for you,
  • "It will be an expensive time for cruise lines when they can least afford it. Lifelong cruise lovers will return after the pandemic ends but convincing new people to give a cruise a try may rely on ships becoming as touchless as possible."
  • I think onboard technology will augment the ways guests can communicate and interact with the crew, rather than replace them."
  • "Once again, completely replacing a human being is unlikely, and handing off conversations will be an important step."
  • Royal Caribbean found out to its cost in 2014 when it first introduced tablets for waiters to take orders, and were hit with a deluge of complaints because it meant waiters were buried in their screens
  • Cruising is all about the personal attention and relationships built with crew and other guests. 
  • "Personal contact with the ship board staff is and always has been a very important component of creating memorable experiences. The cruise product cannot eliminate that essence of the cruising experience.
  • He added: "Otherwise it will be just transportation from one place to another."
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    This article talks about the different technology cruise lines have implemented and the future technology they plan to include as they move for a more touchless approach to certain things.
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Cashless Payments Are Essential for the Hospitality Industry's Relevance | Hospitality ... - 1 views

  • Cashless payments are essential for the hospitality industry, as they not only create a more convenient experience for guests and tourists, but help hotels stay ahead of the curve and expand into new revenue streams.
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    Unattended POS post-pandemic has become essential for hotels to increase their revenue by providing more convenience to the consumer. Due to the shortage of staff, guests can be left feeling that there is lack of service to provide for instance snacks and meals. In addition due to the shortage of skilled workers, the unattended POS can check out the guests at any time of the day.
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Generative AI Will Change Your Business. Here's How to Adapt. - 0 views

  • you’ll just see: “What do you want to do today?” And when you tell it what you want to do, it will likely offer some suggestions, drawing upon its knowledge of what you did last time, what triggers the systems knows about your current context, and what you’ve already stored in the system as your core goals, such as “save for a trip,” “remodel our kitchen,” “manage meal plans for my family of five with special dietary needs,” etc.
    • kellym64
       
      Now this will help with various things in the future and help search be narrowed down by past search bar items.
  • For example, for an airline brand that leveraged AI to decide on the “next best conversation” to engage in with customers, we set rules around what products could be marketed to which customers, what copy could be used in which jurisdictions, and rules around anti-repetition to ensure customers didn’t get bombarded with irrelevant messages.
    • kellym64
       
      This will also help the hotel industry if a front desk agent is having trouble finding a way to connect with guests. It can help narrow down appropriate questions to ask the guest.
  • Some companies have created new positions for chief customer protection officers, whose role is to stay ahead of potential risk scenarios, but more importantly, to build safeguards into how product managers are developing and managing the systems.
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Hilton Hotels Hit By Payment Malware - 0 views

  • Hilton has revealed that some of its payment systems have been infected with malware that organised the theft of targeted customer informat
  • ion.
  • nfected POS (Point of Sale) systems in hotels.
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  • i
  • we identified and eradicated unauthorised malware that targeted payment card information in some point-of-sale systems at our hotels
  • 54 North American locations were compromised by point-of-sale malware
  • hospitality service providers face extraordinary challenges with customer data security at point of sale (POS)
  • often the weak link in the chain and the choice of malware,
  • Encrypting the data in the card reading terminal ahead of the POS eliminates the exposure of live information in vulnerable POS systems
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    This article is about the POS system at Hilton hotels and how it was breached by malware that put consumer data at risk. I found this article interesting because Hilton does not use unattended POS systems, which are what are most commonly targeted in information phishing attacks. This is definitely something that affects all aspects of the hospitality industry, and we know that consumer data is very sensitive. Hotels and other hospitality agencies are trusted to maintain high levels of confidentiality. It would be interesting to see how such a malware would have affected a smaller company with less counterattack resources.
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E-Waste: Five Billion Phones to Be Thrown Away in 2022 - 0 views

  • In the past two months, Apple, Google, and Samsung have all launched their newest devices with the hope of getting consumers to upgrade ahead of the winter holidays. However, the companies and their clients may also be adding to a growing environmental problem—namely, that of electronic waste or e-waste.
  • The International Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) announced last week that in 2022, 5.3 billion mobile phones will be thrown away
  • Precious minerals not extracted from waste electronics, such as the copper in wire or the cobalt in rechargeable batteries, have to be mined. This further adds to the ongoing problem.
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  • These devices offer many important resources that can be used in the production of new electronic devices or other equipment, such as wind turbines, electric car batteries or solar panels—all crucial for the green, digital transition to low-carbon societies.”
  • Official United Nation’s data indicates that the world generated a staggering 53.6 million metric tons in 2019 alone. Of that, only 17.4 percent was recycled.
  • Τhe International Telecommunication Union has set a target to raise that to thirty percent by next year. The reason is because e-waste is one of the “fastest growing and most complex waste streams that affects both human health and the environment, as it can contain harmful substa
  • To improve conditions, the International E-Waste Management Network, run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Taiwan EPA, held a workshop for eleven countries in 2018.
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    This article addresses the growing environmental, financial, and political issues involved with e-waste. It provides predictions on the future of e-waste if it continues at its dangerous rate. An analysis of e-waste and how it can be reduced is also included.
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Disruptive Innovation in the Hospitality Industry | SevenRooms - 8 views

  • DI refers to a significant change that fundamentally alters an industry.
  • DI can take many forms, including product and service innovations, as well as changes to operating processes and business models. What they all have in common is a commitment to continuous improvement and growth. The goal is to always be on the lookout for new and better ways to serve the customer and lead the market.
  • Leveraging contactless ordering and payments, operators can collect more data on their guests. These details seamlessly flow into your point of sales system, as well as your guest database to track spent and historical data.
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  • Streamlined SMS messaging directly to guests, for example, can be used to automate communications
  • Marketing automation
  • for example, can retarget guests with targeted marketing campaigns, triggered by certain thresholds dependent on preference, spending habits and other guest traits.
  • DI, however, can help you reconnect with your customers and revive your business. You’ll just be doing it in a new way
  • DI is an ideal way to reach your guests even after their dining experience at your venue has concluded.
  • The hospitality industry is truly a people-focused field.
  • COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the global economy
  • Your customers will have peace of mind in knowing they won’t have to expose themselves to unnecessary risks when visiting your property
  • Every day, new technologies and systems are being developed to help businesses adjust to the new normal.
  • That makes hospitality much more of an essential service than many people may realize.
  • Yet of all the industries impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, the hospitality industry has been among the most affected.
  • quicker and more convenient
  • open the door of contactless communication, decrease likelihood of table abandonment and prevent overcrowding
  • This helps tailor the guest experience and personalize your communications with guests, resulting in increased loyalty and retention!
  • Disruptive innovation, however, is a powerful weapon in the industry’s arsenal, not only allowing professionals to survive in ordinary conditions, but also to thrive in extraordinary ones.
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    The article I chose was based on disruptive innovations (DI) in a post pandemic world. In this article DI is represented as a necessary change through the additions of increased safety measures by implementing contactless ordering and payments to keep not only the guests safe but staff as well. This article describes how DI will not only give customers a stronger sense of safety but also give staff the opportunity to collect more data on customers in turn enhancing the guest's possible future experiences. This is just one example of how DI is helping to make customers experiences better during the COVID pandemic.
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    The article speaks on the effects COVID has had on the hospitality industry and how disruptive innovation will help businesses adjust to the new normal. As a business owner, you must always be aware of the new and upcoming trends to keep up with the market and servicing the consumer. Disruptive innovations will expedite your long wait times at restaurants or bars with SMS messaging, it will allow for an easy self check in/check out process. Any process that will make the consumers way of living easier, will have a significant effect.
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    The article discusses how the pandemic and COVID-19 has hurt global economic growth. Despite the pandemic closing many restaurants, new technologies systems are being installed to help those businesses adjust to the new normal. In the world of business, disruptive innovation refers to a significant change in the way a business operates. In addition to product and service innovations, business processes and business models can also be affected. Even if the virus is having an effect, people still need to eat, travel, and have a way to sleep and shower when they do so. Payments and ordering via contactless technology can help business owners reconnect with their customers. This industry is inherently people-oriented. The application of disruptive innovation to this field allows professional to flourish in unusual circumstances.
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    this article talks about how COVID 19 helped speed up the process of many innovations taking over antiquated systems with a modern approach. and now that we have we will never go back. "DI can take many forms, including product and service innovations, as well as changes to operating processes and business models." basically it just disrupts the systems that was already put in place with systems that work better for today. "Leveraging contactless ordering and payments, operators can collect more data on their guests. These details seamlessly flow into your point of sales system, as well as your guest database to track spent and historical data." the restaurant i work for never use to do delivery services but COVID made them disrupt their system and innovate in order to make money and stay afloat. by using delivery dudes and easy packaging and simplifying the menu we have been able to increase our revenue and stay ahead of the curve which happens to be ghost kitchens.
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    New advancements in technology and the hospitality and tourism industry have led to the collaboration of both sides to create better guest experiences. By using new technological products in the hospitality industry, guests can have contactless interactions to reduce their health concerns, brought on by the pandemic, as well as increase a business's productivity at the same time. The new innovations can also give more data on guest interests and help businesses learn more about their audience to make better decisions later on.
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    "Disruptive innovation is nearly as old as the hospitality business itself." A post pandemic world has taken a new direction towards contactless service, and DI technology has played a huge role in how we now operate going forward. Sevenrooms is a online reservation software similar to open table that allows for a seamless reservation process. It tracks data such as how much a guest has spent, how frequent they visit and even table preference. "This helps tailor the guest experience and personalize your communications with guests, resulting in increased loyalty and retention." Sevenrooms also uses an SMS messaging feature to notify guests about any updates to their table, which allows them to enjoy themselves freely while waiting instead of being crammed up in the front of the restaurant.
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New technology coming to cruise ships in the next few years | Miami Herald - 2 views

  • Wristbands, which open doors, come for an additional price but are free for children.
  • The app will also have facial recognition to allow crew to identify passengers. Other features include way-finding navigation — like Google Maps for ships, — the ability to make purchases, request services, book excursions and plan daily activities in-app. The MSC for Me app will also offer suggestions based on guest preferences.
  • The Miami-based cruise line announced earlier this month a new Cruise Norwegian app that will allow passengers to check in ahead of their vacation, book excursions, make dinner and show reservations, and purchase drink packages or other amenities. Unlike the Carnival or Royal Caribbean versions, the app doesn’t change the physical embarkation process, but it does offer the option to go paperless with the documentation needed to go aboard.
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  • Like Norwegian, it will rely heavily on an app component, that, like Carnival, will also be available on interactive screens around the ship, in addition to mobile devices and stateroom TVs. And, like Royal, MSC will have a smart watch with geo-location that is also connected to the app.
  • In January, Carnival revealed the result of an 18-month project aimed at making the cruise experience more intuitive. Instead of largely relying on a smart phone, the company chose to build a “medallion.” The quarter-sized, two-ounce disc contains passenger information, incorporates geo-location services and is personalized with each cruiser’s name and sail date. It can be carried in pockets or worn on wristbands or pendants for an additional cost.The medallion interacts with the whole of the ship, which will be retrofitted with thousands of sensors and interactive screens, and miles of cable.
  • In the short-term, those innovations will looks like this: Guests will check-in through facial recognition technology — not check-in counters, thus eliminating lines. On board, passengers will be able to sign up for excursions, order drinks and make dinner reservations from a new Royal Caribbean app that also will enable crew to find passengers based on facial recognition. The app will partner with Royal’s WOW Bands, similar to Disney’s MagicBands, to open stateroom doors. And, thanks to RFID tags on luggage, guests will also be able to track the progress of their bags to their rooms. As with Carnival, the more passengers interact with the technology, the better equipped the app will be to offer meaningful recommendations.
  • For example, as guests approach their stateroom doors, the door senses the medallion and unlocks it for them. A digital photo wall senses a passenger’s approach — thanks to the medallion — and adjusts to show the cruiser his or her vacation pictures. After a guest requests a drink, either on an interactive screen, a smart phone or other device, crew can find that passenger wherever he or she is on the vessel because of the geo-location in the medallion.The operating system behind the medallion is Ocean Compass, an online vacation profile that passengers create before sailing, where they input their preferences; during the trip, they can add information via onboard screens and personal devices. Crew can also access passenger profiles in Ocean Compass, allowing them to offer relevant suggestions and address passengers by name.
  • Beyond that, Royal Caribbean plans to add virtual reality and augmented reality into the passenger experience. These concepts might transform cabin interiors with images of a starry night or a peaceful sunset displayed on screens on the walls, ceiling and floors. It could also transform dining by introducing virtual reality glasses that can transform the venue into a new landscape based on the cuisine passengers are eating.
  • But with the new technology will likely come privacy concerns. Much of the software cruise lines are introducing also involves capturing passenger information and using it to curate suggestions about what to do.
  • It’s already happening. In 2014, Starwood Hotels announced plans to start using smart phones as hotel keys, with the help of an app and Bluetooth connection. Hilton this year discussed plans to build a “Connected Room” in 2018, which will allow guests to control features of the room through an app, including lighting, entertainment and temperature.
  • It elevates the experience for everyone, not just the highest paying passengers, and not just on its best and newest units. I think it will become the norm...eventually the cruise industry and, not just the cruise industry, but other places, other tourism [entities].
  • The technology aims to ease irritations: the long lines to embark or disembark, crowded bars, the impersonal feeling of a mass congregation of people.
  • Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and MSC Cruises — have all come out with tech that promises to make cruising a less cumbersome experience. Most of it incorporates facial recognition and geo-location.
  • In the next five years, the new normal in cruising is going to be a better-connected voyage that will largely do away with lines and waiting — some of the factors that deter travelers from cruising to begin with.
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    The article revolves around new technological concepts that the main cruise lines are adding to the cruising experience. While they have heavily focused on the ships hardware, they want to implement new software that will make the experience more enjoyable and simpler for guests to enjoy. Carnival, would like to implement a "medallion" called the Ocean Compass, that is crossover between the Disney Magic Band, and the band seen at the Universal Volcano Bay water park. It fits the Disney aspect, because it holds information,can open doors, and links guest pictures to the technology. It is similar to Universal, because it informs guests of when to attend something, so that they do not have to wait in a line. Royal Caribbean, likes the band idea that Disney presented, and wants to make bands of their own, that have similar functions that the Ocean Compass from Carnival has. In addition, Royal Caribbean wants to expose their guests to Virtual Reality. They hope to create an immersive experience for their guests, from the comfort of their rooms. Norwegian and MSC are mostly developing smart phone applications, that allow guests to check-in, book excursions, and open rooms. It is obvious that Disney developed a great idea with combining a "magical" band and phone application. The concept is so successful, that other players want to utilize the same formula. Let us see how well it works in the cruising industry.
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Recap: How the Cloud Provides More Efficient Hospitality Operations - 0 views

  • cloud technology can improve many facets of hospitality operations, boosting efficiency, streamlining operations, and improving the guest experience.
  • “Think about the cloud as the Lego bricks to build every possible digital solution for every common use case in your industry.
  • kitchen monitoring. The refrigerator temperature i
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  • e’re possibly already in the second generation of cloud where we go beyond storage and computing. We’re now moving up the stack. The next stage is stitching services together at a higher level so that as a customer, you don’t have to build it all yourself. And the second piece is to bring in partners who have the expertise, and who build into the cloud.
  • waste reduction, sustainability, also, the health guidance you have in the kitchen
  • put a sensor in your kitch
  • provide data analytics and then we can add predictive maintenance
  • the power of being able to develop, test, and iterate quickly by utilizing cloud technology for hospitality
  • “The great thing about our industry is that we actually have our customers in-house. I can speak to them, I can ask, ‘Hey, how did you like that process? How did you like to check-in? How did you like our booking engine?’ We can do live A/B testing actually and with this cloud environment, it is easy for me to try things out to easily plug it in and plug it out and see what’s working and what’s not. I can only encourage our industry to do this more. And maybe also, to ask hotel tech providers to make this possible to have some kind of testing period available.
  • a lot more people adopting cloud products who had the necessity of changing things because of the last two years when COVID struck o
  • s important to take an iterative approach.
  • organizational change. And there’s a lot of training to be needed,
  • encouraging forward-thinking team members can be a great way to boost retention and employee satisfaction. “We can also see that our business or our industry is losing a lot of very talented people. And that’s where also this change management can help
  • 91% of 1000 Travel hospitality leaders we interviewed indicated that digital cloud transformation is essential for their business, yet only 29% indicated that their business is currently ahead of the curve
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    This article summarizes a panel conversation about cloud functionality and how it can help in the hospitality industry. They point out that hospitality outlets can use cloud tech for operations, efficiency, guest experience, kitchen monitoring, waste reduction, sustainability, data analytics, predictive maintenance. They highlight that while 91% of hospitality leaders say that cloud is essential, only 29% would say that their company is on track, and that companies need to bring along employees for the advancements.
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Cloud Computing: Explained for the Hotel Industry - 7 views

  • if you want a more efficient, streamlined back office and happier guests, then “the cloud” can help you meet your goals
  • cloud-based applications are usually a lot cheaper than traditional systems.
  • cloud computing is when you use programs, store files, or access data via the internet rather than on your hard drive.
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  • When an application is “cloud based” it means that it lives on third party servers.
  • Avoids costly and painful installations
  • Eliminates negative depreciation (in fact, the software gets better with age, since updates can be made at any time) 
  • Pushes software companies to consistently earn customer loyalty with innovation and great service
  • No discussion of cloud computing in the hotel industry would be complete without mentioning Cloudbeds, the first property management system startup in years to serve 1 million beds with its software.
  • Hotels that use Cloudbeds log into it directly in a web browser like Internet Explorer or Chrome. This is a big advantage for hotels because you can access the application on any device.
  • When a system is cloud-based, it can innovate faster because changes can take effect immediately.
  • Implementing cloud-based software can make your operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences.
  • Another reason for Cloudbeds’ rapid growth is that their software can easily integrate with other tools. Cloudbeds has an extensive marketplace of integration partners, including Whistle, TrustYou, and Oaky, that it can connect to via an API. Because everything is located in the cloud, a hotel doesn’t need to download any programs or plug-ins to add a new integration. These add-ons can offer upgrades and analyze reviews, among other things, so you can improve guest service and even earn incremental revenue.
  • if you want a more efficient, streamlined back office and happier guests, then “the cloud” can help you meet your goals
  • if you want a more efficient, streamlined back office and happier guests, then “the cloud” can help you meet your goals
  • Implementing cloud-based software can make your operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences.
  • “The cloud” wasn’t created overnight; instead, decades of technological evolution led to cloud computing.
  • Requires minimal upfront investment
  • a cloud based hotel software company like Cloudbeds might choose to rent space with a company like Rackspace to host their application (and yours) or alternatively they might use a service like AWS. 
  • One of the biggest misconceptions about cloud computing is that files and applications don’t live on physical storage servers.
  • AWS tends to be more scalable for fast growing applications but as end users your guests won’t notice the difference so it’s really a matter of preference.
  • If you’ve ever edited a Google Doc or uploaded files to Dropbox, then you’ve leveraged cloud computing.
  • If you use Microsoft Office, you might create a PowerPoint on your laptop (local storage), but when you save the file, it gets uploaded to your Microsoft OneDrive, which is housed in the cloud.
  • Benefits of Cloud Computing
  • lower switching costs for buyer
  • you can sign on securely via any web browser - even if you’re off-site.
  • t the same time, users can submit feedback to Cloudbeds about any bugs or glitches, which the Cloudbeds team can resolve quickly.
  • you may even save some money in your IT budget
  • your hotel can implement a new system seamlessly
  •  
    Cloud computing offers a more efficient way for hotels to keep up with data and programs for their company. When a hotel uses cloud computing, they are able to create more of a positive experience for their guests. It also is extremely helpful to use a cloud-based system because hotels could access their cloud-based application on any device. Cloud-based software also gets better with age because the updates can be made at any time so this will get rid of negative depreciation.
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  •  
    cloud computing is when you use programs, store files, or access data via the internet rather than on your hard drive One of the biggest misconceptions about cloud computing is that files and applications don't live on physical storage servers. When an application is "cloud based" it means that it lives on third party servers. Cloud computing provides several advantages over traditional computing: Avoids costly and painful installations Requires minimal upfront investment Allows software companies to focus resources on R&D/innovation Eliminates negative depreciation (in fact, the software gets better with age, since updates can be made at any time) Offers the ability to cancel at any time (plus has lower switching costs for buyers) Pushes software companies to consistently earn customer loyalty with innovation and great service integrate with other tools...These add-ons can offer upgrades and analyze reviews,PIE revenue management tool, a channel manager, a booking engine, and more operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences
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    This article explains what cloud computing is, the evolution behind the technology, and how the hotel industry uses cloud computing. Cloud computing can benefit hotels because they can use any device to log into cloudbeds on web browsers.This type of technology can make everyday operations more efficient, save employee time, and create an overall positive guest experience.
  •  
    This article explains what we've learned of Cloud Computing. The evolution to its upcoming may have taken a while but now it is here to stay. The use of Cloudbeds in the hotel industry has made operations more efficient, save time and money on employees and improves guest experiences. Cloudbeds has expanded its property management system to include: PIE revenue management tool, a channel manager, and more. The use of Cloudbeds is accessible through any web browser, this makes it efficient if you were working at home. Cloud computing is the next innovation we will see more of in the hospitality industry.
  •  
    This article introduces you to cloud computing and its evolution. It also explains how the hotel industry can benefit from using cloud services. "Implementing cloud-based software can make your operations more efficient, save time for your employees, and create more positive guest experiences." Through the use of CloudBeds, a hotel employee can sign on and use property management software securely from any web browser.
  •  
    This article talks about the use and benefits of cloud based software for the hotel industry. It gives a simple explanation of how the cloud works. The major point that I found interesting is the usage of this software and how it is easier for hotels to stay up to date because any update in the system happens in real life at the moment without having to update individually every terminal
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    The article discusses the hotel industry's adoption of cloud computing. By using cloud computing, you can use programs, upload files, and access data over the internet instead of storing them locally. Cloud computing and local storage are used together in some applications. In addition to hardware, software, training, and maintenance, IBM offered an extensive range of services. Due to Cloudbeds' ability to integrate with other tools, they have experienced rapid growth. Integrations can offer upgrades and analyze reviews, among other things, so you can provide better service and increase revenue. By implementing cloud-based software, hotels can stay ahead of the competition, save time for employees, and give their guests a better experience.
  •  
    This article describes what cloud computing is, and what it isn't, so people understand how it can be seen in the industry. The storing of data on the internet has been a huge innovation as it expanded storage beyond the typical storage offered on a device. By switching to this new technology, businesses may minimize future investments as the technology tends to work for many years and only requires quick updates. By researching what your business and customers need, you can make the right choices on whether this investment is worth it or not for your property.
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FirstEnergy Stadium and Cleveland Browns Charge Ahead with Evolv Technology's AI Weapon... - 1 views

  • FirstEnergy Stadium is using Evolv Express® to reduce lines at both of its south entrances, the two most-traversed entrances for Browns games, while also providing enhanced security.
  • Built with powerful sensor technology and AI, Evolv Express identifies weapons, enabling security professionals to focus on addressing potential threats and not be distracted by manually screening every fan entering those gates.
  • Evolv data provides Insights® that informs staffing to improve stadium security posture and enable the busiest entrances to be properly managed and supported.
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  • By streamlining the entry and security screening processes, fans arrive at the south gates with the ability to not break their stride or open their bags while receiving the highest levels of public safety.
  • Since employing Evolv, the fan entry experience at Lower.com Field has vastly improved, which has led to Evolv becoming its official fan screening provider.
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    In the fast pace environment of ingress of guests into an event, life safety is unable to take a back seat. Venues are having to adapt processes to ensure guests do not wait in long lines and go through the antiquated magnetometers and wanding process while keeping a safe environment for the guests.
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How AI is Making Gambling Safer - BetMGM - 0 views

  • AI can be found in our day-to-day lives in everything from your social media news feeds to Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri.
  • Automated customer support can use the wealth of data it has access to — including gaming preferences, billing history, gaming habits and performance — to come to a conclusion about how best to assist you with logical, empathetic and personalized responses.
  • AI initiatives are being developed to create an environment for more responsible gaming for the future.
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  • for example, AI could be used as a tool to keep gamblers hooked by using data to predict and manipulate their behavior.
  •  
    AI in the casino industry is already running rampant. They are usually ahead of the curve when it comes to testing out new tech and AI was not left off the list. The article mentions a few ways AI is making gambling safer, yet also states the downsides of it which I enjoy as a reader. AI gives you customized experiences for the players, white-glove level customer service, and can even assist in the early detection of cheaters.
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McDonald's Big Mac ATM | PYMNTS.com - 0 views

  • McDonald’s has spent the better portion of the last year developing and implementing strategies to bring the global fast-food franchise into the 21st century. Other global competitors have beaten McDonald’s to the punch tech-wise — Starbucks, Domino’s and Taco Bell, for example, are years ahead of Mickey D’s when it comes to ordering online and using digital tools to enhance the consumers’ experience.
  • But the fast-food giant is playing quick catch-up with its in-store tech, mobile ordering and delivery initiatives — and is doing so by taking a page out of Snapchat’s playbook by blending unattended retail with marketing.
  • That’s right. McDonald’s got its hands on a vending machine.
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  • the Big Mac ATM will dispense two new sizes of burger — the Mac Jr. and the Grand Mac — free of charge. In lieu of payment, hungry customers will “pay” with their Twitter handles and get a free lunch. The machine will generate a tweet on the user’s account while they eat.
  • First, consumers are drawn in by the hype factor
  • Second, it’s free food.
  •  
    Technology in the Fast Food Industry, McDonald's Big Mac ATM is free, short-term and Customers friendly. This new method of dispensing food to the public is convenient and it help improve guest experiences versus in store production
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Are hotels and outdoor concerts any safer since the Las Vegas attack? | PBS NewsHour - 0 views

  • By now, many details of that October evening in Las Vegas are well known: the lone gunman in a 32nd floor suite atop the Mandalay Bay Hotel, the arsenal of firearms, the terrified concertgoers below.
  • For the first time in Coachella’s 19-year history, organizers used surveillance drones to monitor the vast grounds of the festival.
  • A separate Gallup poll taken days after the Las Vegas shooting found that 39 percent of Americans are “very” or “somewhat” worried that they, or a loved one, will be a victim of a mass shooting.
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  • The Las Vegas attack was, however, the first mass shooting at a hotel in the U.S., and it served as a reminder that attacks on entertainment events are a worldwide emerging threat
  • The attack Paddock carried out — from a hotel with robust security and a state-of-the-art surveillance system — left many industry insiders and security experts stunned.
  • In a 2017 Gallup poll, 38 percent of U.S. adults said they were less willing to attend events with large crowds out of concern the events could become a terrorist target.
  • For months ahead of the festival, a security company called Emergence also trained Goldenvoice security and police officers in “predictive threat analysis,” a security technique that focuses on spotting signs of trouble and disrupting attacks before they take place.
  • And as security costs for hotels and event promoters increase, concertgoers in the U.S. may see slightly higher ticket prices
  • Police say Stephen Paddock planned his attack in Las Vegas at least a year in advance. In the days leading up to the shooting, Paddock was able to bring more than 23 rifles into his hotel room, set up a hidden camera in the hallway outside of his room, and drill L-brackets into the 32nd floor stairwell door and his suite to delay police from entering.
  • After the shooting, Wynn Resorts, Hilton and Disney Resorts all changed their internal policies regarding do-not-disturb signs
  •  
    High profile hotels near large events have had to respond to events such as mass shootings since the 2017 Las Vegas attack where a guest used as hotel room to carry out the shooting. Concert venues and large hotels are now using surveillance drones and predictive threat analysis to enable their staff to recognize patterns that could indicate signs of trouble. Security costs at large venues are expensive, and they are being passed on via ticket prices. Hotels need to evaluate their need for an active shooter plan and evaluate their "do not disturb" policies and train their staff to alert management when they are unable to enter a guest room, or when they recognize something out of the ordinary.
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GDS Technology : Overview, Pros Cons and the Future Ahead - 0 views

  • If you want to gain better marketing exposure without shelling out for additional marketing costs, investing in a GDS is a wise decision. The system places your property in front of numerous clients without dipping into your marketing budget
  • - GDS also reap the benefit of reaching untapped segments for your property.
  • Another perk that comes with a GDS is the ability to update product information in real time.
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  • As the industry becomes more collaborative and more inclusive, so does the technology. Some GDS firms are recognizing the need to include non-GDS, independent hotels in their searches in order to offer a better range of choices.
  • In addition to the positive economic outlook, the technology of GDS itself is proving to be a powerfully tool. With greater reach and increased visibility, GDSs make the jobs of agents easier, and in an information- based industry, ease of work is a high selling point. The GDS will have many more obstacles to face in its evolution, but the future looks bright for this inclusive booking software.
  •  
    The article discusses the pros and cons of the GDS. It also addresses the role it plays for helping smaller businesses in standing out to a large group of potential customers. Furthermore, the GDS has gone through many changes since the 1970's, but it is still thriving and overcoming new obstacles today.
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