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Avril Emmanuel

Future of Hotel Call Accounting by Jessie Warner - 1 views

www.evancarmichael.com/...-of-Hotel-Call-Accounting.html

shared by Avril Emmanuel on 05 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • Call accounting has been around for decades to track, manage and bill or allocate phone calls. By the mid-1980s, call accounting was a necessary and very profitable tool for almost all hotels/motels. Some properties made thousands of dollars each month with call accounting
  • Call accounting products allow hotels/motels to bill guests for all phone calls that the property will have to pay for, recovering costs (plus fair mark-ups and/or surcharges for amortized equipment/service costs, profits, etc., too, if desired)
  • Managers can also detect phone misuse or abuse, optimize phone system performance, allocate telecom costs by department or extension, set special rates for VIP guests, and decrease billing errors
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • is there a role – and a future - for hospitality call accounting? Do hotels/motels still need call accounting systems? The answer to these questions is a profound YES and YES!
  • Hospitality call accounting has a bright future
  • Gyujin Chae on 05 Mar 12
     
    What hotel call accounting does is to track, manage, and bill or allocate phone calls made by guests or employees. It has played a critical role in the lodging industry for decades. By the mid-1980s, call accounting was a very profitable source for most of hotels/motels because it generated thousands of dollars each month. However, hotel call accounting has been less important due to the presence of cell phones, decrease in long distance rates. At this point, hoteliers may wonder if they really need call accounting systems. The author emphasizes that hotel call accounting is still important and beneficial for hotels/motels in many ways: billing hotel guests for all phone calls, detecting phone misuse or abuse, decreasing billing errors, etc. Mostly, revenues from call accounting alone can cover the costs for phone equipment and service, so hotels do not take any risk. The author also stresses that call accounting has a bright future. Even though the importance of call accounting has decreased, hotels still need a way to track and bill phone calls to guests and departments as PMS and phone systems get more advanced, as Internet and VoIP are used more and more.
  • Avril Emmanuel on 20 May 12
     
                      This article talks about the importance of call accounting in hotels. Call Accounting is a hotel's ability to track and analyze the phone calls made from its grounds.                   Call Accounting is a software that is still a necessity even though it no longer makes as much money as it used to. Warner says, "Now that cell phones are everywhere and long distance rates have significantly decreased, call accounting does not allow properties to bring in nearly as much revenue as before. For many hotels/motels, call accounting has been forced to take a back seat in their organization."       Call Accounting shouldn't be eliminated simply because the ROI is less. Tracking where a 911 call originated and providing quality customer service is more important than money. If you provide proper customer service, the money will come.          In another article on Ezine articles, Warner said, "Without a call accounting system, hotel managers do not have the information needed to quickly resolve guest concerns and may be confronted with headaches and disgruntled customers. However, by using a call accounting system, managers can have the added security and peace of mind that they have the information needed to help their guests and to understand, manage, improve, and control telephone activities."                  
Jiaqi Xu

How to Generate Revenue with Hotel Call Accounting Software - 2 views

ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Generate-Revenue-with-Hotel-Call-Accounting-Software&id=94261

hotel technology

shared by Jiaqi Xu on 07 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • Jingyi Wen on 07 Feb 12
     
    Billing software is important for the hotel. It can helps the hotel account for telephone charges, Internet usage, equipment fees, surcharges and taxes in real time. With the declining of the telecom revenue the new call accounting modules should adapt to new market competition. Some of the hotel adjusting room rate to balance the telecom revenue lost. Even though the use of the telecom is declining, proper use hotel call accounting system can still bring profit. The accounting system can provide traffic reports identify grade of service, peak calling hours, and the number of trunks the hotel should have to run telecom smoothly. The calling accounting report can show where guests are calling. It is easy for hotel find its target market and negotiate better tariff plans. The call accounting system can make fewer mistakes than the night auditor. All calls are being record with the help of calling accounting system. Hotel should update the critical information in calling accounting system monthly and all the properties use the same tariff table and follow the same guidelines. In this way hotel can avoid inaccurate billing and lost revenue.
  • ...2 more comments...
  • Carl Miller on 09 Feb 12
     
    This is an interesting article as hotels have to adjust from guests using the room telephones and hotel internet to using their cell phones and mobile networks. Hotels do need to compensate for that loss in revenue but it is hard to charge much for internet service when guests can go down the block to Starbucks and get it for free. With these changes, it makes it even more important to hotels' bottom lines to have the right call accounting system in place making sure they don't miss out on any collectible monies. Good article Jingyi.
  • Fei Qi on 02 Mar 12
     
    This article is about how to generate revenue from the hotel call accounting system. Travelers involve the business travelers and family travelers all need to keep in touch with others. Therefore, it is important for sophisticated hotel billing software to account for telephone charges, Internet usage, and equipment fees. Sometimes your telephone charges could account for a larger cost than the room rate. The article also compared the old call accounting system and the new ones. Old call accounting system would generally been left in the back room logging long distance call records from a PBX serial port. Nowadays, hotel managers become creative in using new call accounting modules or more appropriately a communication management system .Properly utilization of a hotel call accounting system can help hotel generate high profits. Proactive hotel properties use call accounting reports to determine calling patterns that show where guests are calling. These statistics help the hotel target marketing and negotiate better tariff plans. As hotel provides more communication facilities, the communication management system will be required to account for hotel cell phones, calls made with authorization codes, internet service, hand held devices and other guest amenities.
  • Jiaqi Xu on 02 Mar 12
     
    Hotel call accounting software or hotel accounting software in short is a system records telephonic activity, translates it into relevant data and arranges it in reports, graphs, charts etc for analysis. In the hospitality industry, the call accounting software plays an important role as an interface between the hotel management/staff and the customers. Call accounting products allow hotels/motels to bill guests for all phone calls that the property will have to pay for, recovering costs.Managers can also detect phone misuse or abuse, optimize phone system performance, allocate telecom costs by department or extension, set special rates for VIP guests, and decrease billing errors.
  • Wei Ding on 03 Mar 12
     
    Using accounting system to generate revenue for hotel is a great way. Today, revenue management is strong relay on those more accounting system. Properly use accounting system can support hotel generate more profits. Also, proactive hotel properties use call accounting reports to determine calling patterns that show where guests are calling. All these data help the hotel target marketing and negotiate better tariff plans.
Yunfan Wu

The hospitality industry and call accounting - Business Intelligence Middle East - bi-m... - 0 views

www.bi-me.com/main.php

hospitality accounting business call revenue

shared by Yunfan Wu on 16 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • Call accounting, the ability to track and analyze phone calls, was originally invented in the 1970s as a way for businesses to manage phone usage within their organizations. By the early 1980s it had been adapted to the hospitality industry, allowing hotels and resorts to more easily track guest phone usage, recover telephone costs, and generate extra revenue through the resale of phone calls.
  • During the 1980s and 1990s call accounting systems were in high demand due to the fact that hotels could often generate thousands of dollars each month by marking up long distance calls.
  • In today’s world, major business and hospitality organisations strongly suggest that their properties use call accounting systems, and many require that their systems are up-to-date and accurate. They do this for four main reasons: (1) to recover the cost of long-distance calls, (2) to properly allocate, account for, and charge customers for phone usage, (3) to generate revenue through the resale of phone calls, and (4) to track phone calls made to and from their property for marketing, planning, and other purposes, and especially for handling and tracking emergency calls.
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  • When buying a call accounting system, hotel managers have three system choices: software, hardware, or web-based products. Web-based products tend to get quite expensive due to the monthly subscription fees which are based on the number of extensions and users. Software products are more flexible than hardware-based systems due to the added capabilities of the PC, but often require large amounts of memory to store and retrieve call data efficiently. Hardware or stand-alone systems appear to be the most popular form of call accounting systems in the hospitality industry due to the fact that the systems are quite small and can be stored in a closet or drawer. Stand-alone systems, like software and web-based products, will automatically post call records directly to the Property Management System for future retrieval.
  • Yunfan Wu on 16 Oct 13
     
    This article introduced what the call accounting system is and the development of this system in hospitality industry. It can help the hotels track the calls and generate revenue. There are three kinds of call accounting systems, which are software, hardware and web-based products. Each one has its own advantages. Hotels should make choice according to its necessary and budget.
Carolina Ferrer

Handling Reservations Calls Effectively | Hotel Industry Magazine - 1 views

www.hotel-industry.co.uk/...reservations-calls-effectively

reservations calls hotel software hardware hospitality

shared by Carolina Ferrer on 27 Aug 14 - No Cached
  • So a good starting point is to quantify how many calls are actually being handled on the front desk and more importantly how many are being lost due to under-staffing, poor training and/or non-existent technology.
  • What then are the guiding principles when establishing a successful reservations function?
  • Technology which supports – rather than prevents – sales may seem an obvious starter for 10 but the reality is that again most hotels are at best challenged by IT due to under-investment.
  • Carolina Ferrer on 27 Aug 14
     
    From answering incoming phone calls, checking out guests, taking payments, and processing reports for management, a front desk agent can't do it all. Today, many hotels can come to the conclusion that a high number of guests are booking through online channels, but they cannot lose sight of to business that can be made over the phone. If hotels do not accommodate to guests calling in, it may lead to lack of trust from potential and loyal guests. In order to solve this issue, Collins refers to a mantra: hotels must need to recognize that what get measured, gets managed. This can be done by measuring how many calls are actually being handled and measuring those that are being ignored by a front desk agent on a typical day. When calls get ignored or are rushed, any investment that a hotel put into advertising or content production could turn up to be a loss. If incoming calls aren't being measured now, eventually hotels will be in for a rude awakening. Collins mentions that technology can help solve this issue, but most hotels find it difficult to handle scenarios with IT due to a lack of investment. Collins stresses how important it is to have the appropriate software and hardware for employees to perform at their best for the hotel to reach it's goals. In order to better navigate and keep track of call volume, Collins states that the PMS provider may not be able to accommodate a hotels request; therefore, hotels may need to invest in additional hardware and software. In addition to this, hotels may need to find an additional information technology partner to help reach their monitoring and service needs. In my opinion, although smaller hotels may have an issue with having to invest in sufficient hardware and software, the benefits would lead to better business practices and a more efficient front desk staff. The benefits of a more efficient front desk are endless, especially when it comes to effective multi-tasting and creating memorable customer relationships
Lu Zhang

hotelsystemsoftware: How to Generate Revenue with Hotel Call Accounting Software - 0 views

hotelsystemsoftware.blogspot.com/...e-revenue-with-hotel-call.html

calling accounting CMS tariff updates

shared by Lu Zhang on 20 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • It is imperative for sophisticated hotel billing software to account for telephone charges, Internet usage, equipment fees, surcharges and taxes in real time.
  • Hotel telecom revenues are now declining at a steady rate of 3 to 6 per cent per year. Hotel general managers and comptrollers are forced to become more creative to meet bottom line objectives for communication.
  • Lu Zhang on 20 Feb 13
     
    Because the calling rates decrease, hotel revenue of calling decline. However, according to this article, hotel can get much profit when using call accounting system. Hotel could track the busy number or peak calling times to set up specific rates or charge plan to maximize revenue from call. Besides, night auditors should pay more attention on reconcile balance between calling bills and hotel calling record, and ensuring the calling accounting system keep the accurate rates for different guests or locations.
Chris Cardoso

Hotel Telecommunications Strategies - 6 views

www.hotel-online.com/...Mar03_Telecommunications.html

shared by Chris Cardoso on 28 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • No matter what telecommunications strategy a property takes, one thing is for certain, it needs to be a different one from the past.
  • The guest now has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones. 
  • Assuming that the wireless reception quality is acceptable, it is very difficult for the hotel to compete on a cost basis.
  • ...18 more annotations...
  • Given the hotel’s advantage in quality over the guest’s portable devices, the proper packaging of services will lure even the most avid self-contained guest back to using the hotel’s telecom services.
  • Hotels are unable to compete on price with devices that the guest has brought with him.  What the hotel can do is offer a better experience at a reasonable price to entice guests to use the hotel’s telecom infrastructure.
  • Attracting the Guests to Use the Hotel’s Telecommunication Services
  • The guest now has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones.   All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone and other services such as fax.
  • No matter what telecommunications strategy a property takes, one thing is for certain, it needs to be a different one from the past.
  • The guest now has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones.   All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone and other services such as fax
  • No matter what telecommunications strategy a property takes, one thing is for certain, it needs to be a different one from the past.
  • Attracting the Guests to Use the Hotel’s Telecommunication Services   Hotels are unable to compete on price with devices that the guest has brought with him.   What the hotel can do is offer a better experience at a reasonable price to entice guests to use the hotel’s telecom infrastructure. No matter what cell phone the guest may carry or what service provider is used, no wireless connection is as good as a land-line connection
  • Guests had little choice back then but to use the guestroom phone and grumble about the cost.
  • Assuming that the wireless reception quality is acceptable, it is very difficult for the hotel to compete on a cost basis .
  • Assuming that the wireless reception quality is acceptable, it is very difficult for the hotel to compete on a cost basis
  • Another concern among hoteliers is what can be termed the self-contained guest
  • Another concern among hoteliers is what can be termed the self-contained guest
  • Theoretically, the self-contained guest needs no hotel telecommunications services .  
  • Theoretically, the self-contained guest needs no hotel telecommunications services
  • Guests had little choice back then but to use the guestroom phone and grumble about the cost.
  • Hotels are unable to compete on price with devices that the guest has brought with him.   What the hotel can do is offer a better experience at a reasonable price to entice guests to use the hotel’s telecom infrastructure. No matter what cell phone the guest may carry or what service provider is used, no wireless connection is as good as a land-line connection
  • The early 1980s marked the beginning of an era of profitable hotel telephone departments.  The advent of call accounting systems (thanks to deregulation) enabled hoteliers to easily mark up calls to a profitable (some say too profitable) level.  Guests had little choice back then but to use the guestroom phone and grumble about the cost. This era has come to an end.  With few exceptions, most hotels have seen between a 15 percent and 25 percent drop in telephone revenues over the last five years.  The main reason for this decrease is guest choice.  The guest now has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones.   All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone and other services such as fax . A fax machine in the guestroom was considered a premium amenity for many years.  With the Internet explosion, however, the machines have seen less use.
  • weiwei lu on 28 Jan 12
     
    No matter what telecommunications strategy a property takes, one thing is for certain, it needs to be a different one from the past. The early 1980s marked the beginning of an era of profitable hotel telephone departments. The advent of call accounting systems (thanks to deregulation) enabled hoteliers to easily mark up calls to a profitable (some say too profitable) level.
  • ...6 more comments...
  • Qianlin Wang on 04 Sep 12
     
    Nowadays, people have many choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones. Hotel guests are restricted by the largest telecommunications service providers from making long distance collect and credit card calls to countries other than their home country. The guest is not able to complete his desired call from the guest room telephone. In addition to frustrated guests, this generates absolutely zero revenue to hotels. What the hotel can do is offer a better experience at a reasonable price to entice guests to use the hotel's telecom infrastructure. The hotel can use some systems to reach this goal, such as the BBG Communications. It can increase revenue for every international operator assisted call. It assumes all responsibility for billing and collection of all calls. It has over 500 multilingual, live operators servicing customers. The most important thing is there is no cost and risk to the hotel, because the BBG assumes all associated cost and responsibility.
  • Shuqiong Huang on 05 Sep 12
     
    This article is talked about hotel telecommunications in the 21st Century. No matter what telecommunications strategy a property takes, one thing is for certain, it needs to be a different one from the past. The early 1980s marked the beginning of an area of profitable hotel telephone department. Few years later, this area has come to an end. The main reason for this decrease is guest choice. Later on, guests have a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell-phones, calling cards and even Internet-based phones. All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone. With the time passed by, hotel telecommunications update and improve better and better. Nowadays, High-speed Internet access is fast becoming an expected amenity. This the revolution for hotel telecommunications in the 21st Century.
  • rebecca Bonet on 08 Sep 12
     
    This article that is written by Geoff Grisworld. Talks about how telecommications has changing in the 21st century. One of them being hotel. Hotel takes a big advantage in telecommication because there is always a change in the communication system. That is why hotel have to upgrade their system often. This is why hotelier organizes packaging deal when it comes to communication system from using the phone to HSIA. This is a few system that is always need to be change constantly, so the hotel can offer a better experience at a reasonable price while they are enjoying their stay.
  • Paige Hanna on 09 Sep 12
     
    This article speaks about the growth and development of telecommunication within the hospitality industry in the 21st century. "No matter what telecommunications strategy a property takes, one thing is for certain, it needs to be a different one from the past," the article states. Since the 80s hotels utilized their telephone department to offer a service for a profit. Because there was little to no competition with communication, this was profitable as guest pretty much had no choice but to use the phone service provided at a set cost by the hotel. Today, however, we see a shift in technology now where everyone has communication at their disposal via smart phones, Internet and other communication tools. With this happening, "it is very difficult for the hotel to compete on a cost basis." (Griswold) It also explains how high-speed Internet access (HSIA) is almost seen as an amenity anticipated by the guest and has worked in the hotels' favor. The article goes on to describe the "self-contained guest" that carries a smart phone, small printer, notebook computer and technology of their own which allows them to virtually have no use in the hotel telecommunications services. So what does this article suggest for concerns as such? Hotels are to attract guests to use their telecommunication services. By offering packaged deals at affordable prices, Griswold believes hotels will be able to be the ideal option for telecommunications services. After viewing this article, I realize how hospitality industry workers think about those they serve all the time and should always display it. Even though the hotel is trying to make money by charging for Internet and phone services, they wish to market the service as the best option for the guest. The Internet connection would be faster provided by the hotel over a smart phone is one feature they wish to advertise. This type of mentality is smart yet should be withheld throughout the industry and always show that the
  • Ling Xiang on 24 Jan 13
     
    The early 1980s marked the beginning of an era of profitable hotel telephone departments, because guests had little choice back then but to use the guestroom phone and grumble about the cost. Nowadays, guest has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones. All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone and other services such as fax. And high-speed Internet access (HSIA) is fast becoming an expected amenity in 21st century. Today hotels are unable to compete on price with devices that the guest has brought with him. What the hotel can do is offer a better experience at a reasonable price to entice guests to use the hotel's telecom infrastructure.
  • Karin Goodine on 26 Jan 13
     
    This article explains how much are creating incentives for hotel guest in an effort to get them to use the technology that the hotel provides.
  • Yawen Zheng on 26 Jan 13
     
    In modern society hotel need more attrahent thing increase revenue. The traditional way may lose competitiveness, like telephone services. Because almost everybody using personal cell phone and more and more people prefer to use internet to communicate such as email and skype. In my opinion if hotel build some telecommunications use internet such as physical skype phone and provide cheap service that may be attract more people to use that.
  • Chris Cardoso on 15 Sep 13
     
    With the emergence of "self-contained guest," hotel telecommunications departments must change its offerings because old strategies no longer apply. A self-contained guest is one that does not need the traditional amenities hotels would offer for telecommunications, such as fax machines and printers. Guests now look for a fast, free internet connection as an amenity. Some may not even need wifi, because they have a faster mobile service that they use. Even hotel telephones, guests no longer want to use the land line and pay hotel fees to make a call. Cell phones have eliminated that need (even for international calls). So hotels must not stay the same, and must change their strategies for producing revenue from their telecommunications department.
Jiabao Han

Selecting a Hospitality Call Accounting System - 1 views

www.business-phone-tools.com/spitality-call-accounting.html

shared by Jiabao Han on 08 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • The trick to selecting a hospitality call accounting system is to know how to eliminate unsuitable options quickly by asking the right questions.
  • The trick to selecting a hospitality call accounting system is to know how to eliminate unsuitable options quickly by asking the right questions. There's no shortage of supply just suitable solutions. Different properties have different requirements and we have yet to find a solution that fits every type of property from a hotel chain through to a single location motel. The best way to choose between the dozens of call accounting systems is to have a checklist identifying requirements in descending order from mandatory through to "nice to have." If a short-listed candidate doesn't satisfy a critical requirement waste no more time, move onto the next and repeat the cycle. The objective is to identify one or more call accounting systems that satisfy all mandatory requirements. It's only at that stage that cost should be considered. Cost is irrelevant if a "solution" can't do the job. If you're lucky enough to find two or more options that are fully compliant then cost becomes the final consideration.
  • Yu Zhai on 08 Feb 12
     
    This article introduces brief suggestions about how to select a hospitality call accounting system. And the best way is to have a checklist identifying requirements in descending order from mandatory through to "nice to have." Such as, (1). A call accounting software package must be proven and specific to the hospitality industry. (2). Because of the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) PBX (private branch exchange) has now superseded the TDM (time-division-multiplexing) PBX, so the solution needs to be compatible with hotels' existing PBX and whatever comes along in the future. (3). Hotels should choose different call accounting systems based on Single-site or multi-site businesses they have. (4). And the hospitality call accounting systems should integrate seamlessly with all major accounting software packages. (5). Software updates should be provided regularly (6). Competent 24x7 support is essential to assure hotels cost recovery and protect against revenue loss. (7). Software is easy to use and clearly but succinctly documented due to the high turnover of staff in hotels. And a web interface is a nice to have, but not an essential feature. Of course the best choice can vary because of different operation in hotels.
  • Jiabao Han on 15 Jul 12
     
    For hotel managers, there are dozens of hospitality call accounting options to choose from and depending on the nature of a particular operation the best solution will vary. This article offers a checklist for selecting a hospitality call accounting system.
Chengcheng Feng

Can VoIP Save Hotel Telephone Revenue? - 0 views

www.sunzu.com/...-hotel-telephone-revenue-70772

telephone revenue

shared by Chengcheng Feng on 06 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • This article describes VoIP and how it can be used by hoteliers to rebuild guest telephone revenue, reduce the expense of the hotel's own telephone service costs, enhance your guest service portfolio and add a differentiation factor against your competition.
  • In simplest terms, VoIP reduces the cost of international calls by using the public Internet instead of dedicated telephone operator facilities.
  • The caller places the call on a special desktop telephone connected to the Internet, through a computer with "soft phone" software or through a VoIP-enabled PBX.
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  • The most striking feature of VoIP service is the low cost of International calls
  • A new trend in hospitality is giving guests free limited or unlimited international calls.
  • If your property has a Wi-Fi wireless system for guests, you may offer guests the option of renting the new breed of Wi-Fi VoIP telephones. These look and work much like a normal mobile phone anywhere in your property where the Wi-Fi service is available.
  • The simplest and least expensive way to start offering VoIP service to guests is to use wireless VoIP handsets connected directly with a VoIP service provider.
  • Depending which country you are in, and which countries your guests are most likely to call - you should select your VoIP service provider based on the balance between cost and quality of service for the most important called countries.
  • Chengcheng Feng on 06 Sep 13
     
    This article describes the advantage of Voice-Over-IP Telephone (VoIP). By using VoIP, hoteliers can increase guest telephone revenue, reduce the expense of the hotel's own telephone service costs, enhance guest service portfolio and add a differentiation factor against competition. The reason why VoIP can reduce the cost of international calls is using the public Internet instead of dedicated telephone operator facilities. With the technology of VoIP, hotelier can even give guests free limited or unlimited international calls, which may attract more guests.
alibaba0512

Call Accounting Software for Every Enterprise | Dinamo Effect Technology Tips - 0 views

www.dinamoeffect.org/ware-for-every-enterprise.html

Call Accounting CMS

shared by alibaba0512 on 21 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Management of telephone charges, equipment fees, VoIP traffic, internet usage, and provider discounts is a difficult task. Most communication managers demand the necessary tools to allow administrators to monitor, evaluate, forecast and allocate communications management services and expenses.
  • Communications facilities are continuing to evolve at a rapid rate. Call accounting is generally the centerpiece of a complete communication management solution (CMS) to allow customers to track, process and allocate communications transactions (analog, VoIP and data).
  • Good call accounting software provides exception management reports which highlight long duration, excessive cost and misdialed calls.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Call accounting delivers expense account code, password or authorization code reports. These results can be automatically directed to accounting systems, spreadsheets, HTML, email and a variety of other formats.
  • alibaba0512 on 21 Feb 13
     
    By Call Accounting Software, manager can monitor, evaluate, forecast and allocate communications management services and expenses. 
Leann Taylor

Sceptre Hospitality Resources Names Thing5 LLC Preferred Provider of Call Center Servic... - 0 views

www.marketwatch.com/...all-center-services-2012-05-10

shared by Leann Taylor on 23 May 12 - No Cached
  • Sceptre Hospitality Resources, the hospitality industry's foremost top line revenue enhancement service provider, announced today their "voice services will be powered by Thing5 LLC", the leading provider of telecommunications and reservation services to the hospitality industry
  • They have a long track record of helping hospitality clients achieve consistent sales revenue growth.
  • "Thing5 is a managed telecommunications technology leader built on the strategy of offering comprehensive, Communication-as-a-Service (CaaS) and BPO Solutions for the Hospitality and Travel Industries"
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • Sceptre's Call Center Services' combined offerings will allow clients access to innovative and flexible services. The services cover full Central Reservations Office support, augmentation of In-House staff with overflow and after-hours reservation call support, to PBX operator calls, Click-to-Chat/Call, Email, concierge and loyalty program services.
  • Sceptre Hospitality Resources maximizes revenues for hotels and resorts
  • the company now serves more than 4,000 properties on its reservation platform
  • include MotionNotes, a video messaging platform, SpaLinx, a spa management and appointment booking application, HotelIQ business intelligence, custom internet marketing services and revenue management services.
  • Our technology, combined with our vast agent pool, allows us to offer the type of comprehensive solution that hoteliers need to optimize their voice reservations
  • combined offerings will allow clients access to innovative and flexible services.
  • maximizes revenues for hotels and resorts
  • specializes in electronic distribution, reservations connectivity, channel management, site and search engine optimization, revenue management strategies, reservation call centers and direct booking engines
  • interactive marketing programs, including website design, online advertising campaigns, social media solutions and other guest communication systems.
  • allow hotels to have access to powerful, cost-effective solutions that enable unparalleled control over the voice and online channels.
  • enable access to advanced analytics for all customer voice interactions including central reservations, on-property reservations, front desk and other business lines such as restaurants and spas.
  • offering better security and control
  • sophisticated reporting and intelligent routing tools
  • Ted Rood on 23 May 12
     
    Sceptre Hospitality Resources, one of the hospitality industries leading revenue enhancement service providers recently announced that they will be using voice activated services powered by Thing5 LLC. Their switch over to Thing5 is largely due to the fact that this company has been one of the leading telecommunication providers in the industry. Sceptre is hoping that the quality service Thing5 offers will help them achieve consistant sales revenue growth. Thing5 offers a wide array of services including complete reservation office support, after hours reservation call support, as well as concierge and loyalty program services to guests.  I think that by utilizing the services Thing5 have to offer, Sceptre will continue to be one of the bigger revenue enhancement service providers in the industry. The many features of Thing5 voice activation systems will allow for a better customer service experience. Guests will have full access to reservation services  as well as in-house staff and will also be able to book at any time of day or night with after- hours reservation call support. 
  • Leann Taylor on 24 May 12
     
    Sceptre is a company that provides useful resources to resorts and hotels to optimize performance and service; thus increasing revenues. Thing5 provides users with control over voice and online channels to provide better security and has better reporting tools. The two are among the most reliable and popular in their lines of business and are working together.
dstic005

Importance Of Telecommunication In Hospitality Industry | phone service for hotels - 2 views

phoneserviceforhotels.wordpress.com/...cation-in-hospitality-industry

technology hospitality software

shared by dstic005 on 31 Aug 18 - No Cached
  • zport003 on 31 Aug 18
     
    The article describes a telecommunication system required for all types of hotels, as good communication is very important for the hotel industry. The article proposes that hotels should install hospitality PBX, which is a telecommunication system that allows multi attendants to answer calls and allow multiple users to make calls. Installing this system in a hotel would help the hotel guests to easily communicate with the hotel staff without having to move from their rooms. The advantages of this system are that PBX can help a hotel to centralize PBX management, control, and standards, boost communication and interaction between the hotel staff and guests, and improve comfort for the guests for they do not require to go to the reception to ask questions or make orders. PBX also improves communication between the hotel staff and the between staff and managers as it provides several features such as call hold and allows making multiple calls.
  • dstic005 on 01 Sep 18
     
    The system, PBX (private branch exchange), is a computer that controls the communications on a branch line from the telecommunications company. It is the technology that allows lines to be shared and can save a company money.
  • tonycolon11 on 02 Sep 18
     
    The article talks about an important telecommunications system known as PBX (Public Branch Exchange) that connects guests and hotel employees in different departments with just the press of a button. I have had experience working with the PBX system personally in two of the three hotels that I have worked in; so I can understand both of the positive points and negative points of having a PBX system as well as not having a PBX system. When I was working at the Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables, we did not have PBX employees or a PBX department; all of the calls, outside and inside, the hotel came through to the front desk itself. We answered all calls and also transferred all calls to the respective departments if necessary. Despite not having a PBX department or employees, we still had the PBX system to make those transfers to the departments that were needed; otherwise we would take care of the guests and their issues ourselves. In addition, it helped those of us working within the hotel because it was the best way to contact managers and other respective employees. On the other hand, if someone is not trained to make the proper calls or transfers, then you are out of luck. I know that it is not exactly a hard job or task to train new employees on, but the fact still remains that the basic need to be taught and known as well as the other duties involved. For example, at the hotel I currently work at, the PBX employees not only handle phone calls, but they also packages coming to and through the hotel for guests and others in the hotel. Overall, I would see it as a vital piece of a hotel's inner workings/departments and it would be a major advantage when installed in any hotel.
jennifer amador

Tech Companies Leave Phone Calls Behind - NYTimes.com - 1 views

www.nytimes.com/...-leave-phone-calls-behind.html

shared by jennifer amador on 08 Jul 12 - No Cached
  • Quora is not the only social technology company that presents an antisocial attitude to callers
  • LinkedIn’s voice mail lists an alternate customer service number. Dial it, and the caller is trapped in a telephonic version of the movie “Groundhog Day,” forced to work through the original phone tree again and again until the lesson is clear: stop calling.
  • On the other end of the line, however, some people may not know how to Google, or do not want to use Twitter. These users may be older, or less technically adept, and they are finding the method of communication they have relied on for a lifetime shifting under their feet. It does not make sense, they say, that a company with products used by millions every day cannot pick up the phone.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Ms. Smith said she believed that large Internet companies might someday return to phones to set themselves apart from competitors. “The ability to call up and get a real human being — the companies who can do that and go back to basics are really the ones that will be winning out and humanizing their brand,” she said.
  • jennifer amador on 08 Jul 12
     
    This article discuss the fact that many online networking companies do not have a customer service phone number, and if they do they never answer their calls. Its pretty much impressive how large and well known companies such as Google,, Twitter, Lindin, as well as other are not targeting their customer service department to return back call or at least answer them. Nevertheless, emails are also another mean of communications among clients and companies but yet that is not improving at all. The message to all online search engines and networking companies is to please reply or response to their loyal clients.
ning sun

Hotel Concepts and 3CX integrate PBX with PMS - 0 views

soc.li/cyUg4q

shared by ning sun on 14 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • ning sun on 14 Feb 12
     
    With Hotel Concepts' Integrated Distribution Property Management System, hoteliers can now tie together the Brilliant PMRO PMS and the 3CX telephony system. Unique features of the 3CX Hotel Module now integrated with IDPMS and PMPRO include:1. the ability to automatically reset the guest PBX upon check-in and checkout, adding or removing the guest's name on the voicemail system and deleting any leftover recordings; 2. the option to block external calls to and from particular guestrooms upon request; 3.the scheduling of automated wakeup calls; 4.Guests' names are displayed to receptionists when making in-house calls; 5.Call billing automatically integrated into guest folios; 6.The ability for housekeepers to deliver status updates and execute minibar charges through guestroom PBX phones. With these special hallmarks, 3CX hotel module specified PMS in room amenity aspect and provide a lot of convenience and considerate design for customers as well as improve standard service quality of a hotel. Meanwhile it also bring revenues and profits without large costs for hoteliers. This will be a trend for hospitality development and technology enhancement.
sining

Hotel Technologies releases Bluetooth alarm clock radio | Hotel Management - 0 views

www.hotelmanagement.net/...etooth-alarm-clock-radio-15767

hotel bluetooth technologies clock radio

shared by sining on 24 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • This month the company known for bringing "the science of feeling at home" to hotels and guests is releasing a Bluetooth Alarm Clock Radio with Speakerphone for iPhone, iPad and iPod.
  • guests can dock and charge the device PLUS answer or end calls while using the unit's speaker for voice communication, as long as the guests' cell phone is Bluetooth-capable.
  • The HiP50 offers the ultimate in hands-free convenience and communication,
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • If consumers prefer to use their cell phones even when a landline is provided, it is safe to say that hotel guests will also prefer to use their mobile devices to communicate while in the room vs. the guestroom telephone.
  • sining on 24 Jan 13
     
    This article introduce us a new hotel guest room product called HiP50. The design company is called Hotel Technologies, this company is known for bringing "the science of feeling at home" to hotels and guests is releasing a Bluetooth Alarm Clock Radio with Speakerphone for iPhone, iPad and iPod. This Bluetooth -enabled unit puts guests' tunes in hotel rooms via the iHome digital iPhone/iPad/iPod alarm clock radio. Guest can listen to music via this device and answer the calls as long as guest's cell phone is Bluetooth-capable. This unit in hands-free convenience and communication, enabling guests to relax in their room, enjoy a room service meal, get dressed, work on a presentation, or pack for departure all while talking on the speakerphone." Recent research shows that there is a large number of American like to use the wireless telephone, and the number is increasing. This may means guest of a hotel may prefer use their own phone rather than the hotel's land line phone. So the company makes effort to developing in-room electronics and entertainment solutions to complement guest's experience. 
ypere044

Hotel guests spend more on telecom; 38% rise in past two years - USATODAY.com - 0 views

travel.usatoday.com/...1

hotel telecom Hospitality revenue

shared by ypere044 on 22 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • The way travelers communicate on the road has changed dramatically over the years, and these changes become evident when analyzing the revenue earned by U.S. hotels from their guests for use of telecommunication devices and services. In lodging industry parlance, "telecommunications revenue" includes monies received from the guest use of hotel room phones, fax machines, and internet connections.According to our research, telecommunications revenue at the average U.S. hotel in PKF's annual Trends in the Hotel Industry survey sample has declined by 79% since 2000.
  • Internet fees help drive growth in telecom revenue
  • Tiered Internet pricing: Here to stay?
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • to tell us about the state of the industry's telecommunications revenue stream - a stream that includes Internet fees.
  • Dandan Mao on 22 Jan 13
     
    "The way travelers communicate on the road has changed dramatically over the years, and these changes become evident when analyzing the revenue earned by U.S. hotels from their guests for use of telecommunication devices and services. In lodging industry parlance, "telecommunications revenue" includes monies received from the guest use of hotel room phones, fax machines, and internet connections."
  • Siyu Ma on 25 Jan 13
     
    This year, travelers are on track to pay U.S. hotels an estimated $1.95 billion in fees and surcharges - an amount that includes unpopular Internet charges. With this in mind, Hotel Check-In asked Robert Mandelbaum, the Atlanta-based director of information services for PKF Hospitality Research, to tell us about the state of the industry's telecommunications revenue stream - a stream that includes Internet fees.
  • ypere044 on 21 May 14
     
    Over the years, with technological and telecommunication advances the way we communication while on the road or on vacation has changed. I remember going on vacation as a child and being able to call my grandma from our hotel room once a day because we didn't want to spend too much money on calling back home or getting a voicemail from family members calling while we weren't in the hotel room. Over the years, this has changed dramatically. Now I can go on vacation and call, text, send emails, pictures, and videos to all my contacts with the use of my cell phone or with the use of my laptop in a WiFi area. This article gives insight on the revenue provided by telecommunications as told by Robert Mandelbaum a director of information services. He tells us that internet fees help with the growth of telecom revenue, as use of in room phones has decreased. This is just one way that the changes in technology have affected the industry. In this case, telecommunication advances have had a negative effect on the revenue in telecommunications but its only a matter of time until something new comes around and attempts to restore profit production. 
Yujia Xie

Hotel Med Park Chooses CloudPM & ProfitWatch - 0 views

www.virtual-strategy.com/...rk-chooses-cloudpm-profitwatch

hotel Accounting PMS

shared by Yujia Xie on 21 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Metropolis Technologies, Inc., a premier telemanagement and call accounting solution provider, is proud to announce Hotel Med Park’s decision to utilize ProfitWatch Call Accounting to provide accurate call reporting and billing. The deployment of the new system, implemented and managed by Metropolis partner Multi-Systems, Inc (MSI), has been designed to save the property money and simplify management for the hotel.
  • When the hotel terminated their franchise with Best Western in 2012, they had the opportunity to find a web based PMS that could integrate with their Global Distribution System (GDS) and Online Travel Agencies (OTA). They chose CloudPM, a new offering from MSI that provides hotels an affordable cloud-based property management system with full functionality and features. The system offers Med Park substantial savings in capital expenditures, increased operating efficiencies, and lower recurring expenses.
  • In addition to customized rate tables and dynamic guest call bill back, ProfitWatch includes features such as 911 triple alerts, which immediately alerts key personnel of an emergency incident, along with location details of the caller, for any emergency calls placed on the property.
  • Yujia Xie on 21 Feb 13
     
    As this article mentioned, Hotel Med Park chooses to use ProfitWatch to provide accurate call reporting and billing. This system is designed to save the property money and simplify management. They also choose CloudPM to provide hotels an affordale cloud-bases property management system with full functionality and features. In my opinion, this system is very convenient and correct to use for hotels. It can help minimize liability and boost revenues.
khiyara_00

https://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp/?ID=483 - 0 views

www.hospitalityupgrade.com/...magazine_Detail.asp

telecommunication hotel hospitality technology

shared by khiyara_00 on 30 Aug 20 - No Cached
  • The advent of call accounting systems (thanks to deregulation) enabled hoteliers to easily mark up calls to a profitable (some say too profitable) level.
  • The guest now has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones. All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone and other services such as fax.
  • Cellular phones have become so widely used that some cell phone providers have had trouble keeping up with the demand
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • With more guests carrying laptops than ever before and Internet business activity rapidly increasing, the guest must have the best connection available. HSIA also relieves the congestion on the PBX caused by modem calls.
  • No matter what cell phone the guest may carry or what service provider is used, no wireless connection is as good as a land-line connection.
  • biancafavilli on 30 Aug 20
     
    With technology advancing, hotels are putting their best effort to keep up with new ways of telecommunication. As mentioned in the article, the fax machine used to be the most popular way of telecommunication back in the day. Now hotels have been trying to figure out the best ways to gain guest to use their telecom infrastructure since the fax machine has become outdated. The problem is guest don't want spend a lot of money making a phone call so the hotels have had to create packages for guests to use the phone. They would include unlimited calls and high-speed internet for a certain amount a day which could attract some guest but not all. Guest don't find the need to use their phones because mostly everyone has a phone, tablet, or pocket computer. Hotels can catch the guest attention by the internet because none of these devices are no good without internet connection. Making packages with unlimited calls and high speed internet is a start to reeling in guest. It all comes down to what can the hotel offer in means of telecommunication that a guest's device cant. One concept they have is the land-line has much better connection and speed. Having that speed and connection is very important to a guest. It is going to take time and trial and error but there are always alternate ways to reel guest in to use their ways of telecommunication.
  • khiyara_00 on 06 Sep 21
     
    This article discusses technology and how it can be upgraded for guest use. It also mentions how to appeal to guest because they may come with their own devices. It gives suggestions on service packages and bundles that can be given to aid their telecommunication.
Xinghe Hu

Call Accounting - 0 views

www.rezstream.com/...call-accounting

Mobile tech

shared by Xinghe Hu on 21 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Xinghe Hu on 21 Feb 13
     
    Within RezStream PRO, there is a call accounting module that allow a business to track phone call details and transfer phone charges to guest invoices. Hotels often use call accounting software to track phone calls made in guest rooms and to assign monetary charges for customer billing purposes
brittsengl

HNN - Hoteliers adjust to new accounting guidelines - 0 views

www.hotelnewsnow.com/...t-to-new-accounting-guidelines

shared by brittsengl on 25 Sep 16 - No Cached
  • One goal of the new guidelines was to recognize the increasing globalization of the hotel industry, Temling said.   “Many of the changes are reflective of what’s happening in the world in our industry,” he said. “Chains based in the (United States) have generally adopted the guidelines; that’s not the problem. But we also hope chains domiciled outside this country will accept the changes outlined in the book.”   Some of the changes are small, but symbolic, Temling said. In previous editions of the book, accounting for some employee benefits reflected terminologies used by U.S. companies.   “Up through the 10th edition, we called it FICA or social security for employees’ benefits,” Temling said. “This time around we call it social benefit contribution, which is more universally acceptable.”   Large hotel companies might have more difficulty adopting the new guidelines than will smaller ones, said Michelle Russo, founder and CEO of Hotel Asset Value Enhancement, a hotel asset management and real estate advisory company. She is a member of the financial committee that created the latest edition.   “It’s actually harder for larger operators because they often have many divisions,” she said. Examples she cited affect reporting of telecommunications, labor and segmentation data.   “We created a new (information technology) department, and in a large company that is worldwide that operates on multiple accounting platforms, the mapping process is massive,” she said, adding that some companies have decided to defer adopting the new IT department guideline until 2016.
  • brittsengl on 25 Sep 16
     
    "One goal of the new guidelines was to recognize the increasing globalization of the hotel industry, Temling said. "Many of the changes are reflective of what's happening in the world in our industry," he said. "Chains based in the (United States) have generally adopted the guidelines; that's not the problem. But we also hope chains domiciled outside this country will accept the changes outlined in the book." Some of the changes are small, but symbolic, Temling said. In previous editions of the book, accounting for some employee benefits reflected terminologies used by U.S. companies. "Up through the 10th edition, we called it FICA or social security for employees' benefits," Temling said. "This time around we call it social benefit contribution, which is more universally acceptable." Large hotel companies might have more difficulty adopting the new guidelines than will smaller ones, said Michelle Russo, founder and CEO of Hotel Asset Value Enhancement, a hotel asset management and real estate advisory company. She is a member of the financial committee that created the latest edition. "It's actually harder for larger operators because they often have many divisions," she said. Examples she cited affect reporting of telecommunications, labor and segmentation data. "We created a new (information technology) department, and in a large company that is worldwide that operates on multiple accounting platforms, the mapping process is massive," she said, adding that some companies have decided to defer adopting the new IT department guideline until 2016."
  • ...1 more comment...
  • brittsengl on 25 Sep 16
     
    This article discusses the increasing changes in the world with globalization and technology. It tells how large and small hotels adjust to these new guidelines, the resort fee and management agreements.
  • brittsengl on 25 Sep 16
     
    This article discuses the changesin technology and increasing globalization in the world with a highlight on the hotel industry. It explains the guidelines large are small hotels take to adjust.
  • brittsengl on 25 Sep 16
     
    This article explains the changes and increasing globaliztion in the world and hotel industry. It explains the new guidelines and the procedures large and small hotels take.
sophia edwards

What is VoIP and Can You Benefit? - 0 views

www.usavetelecom.com/what-is-voip-benefits.shtml

shared by sophia edwards on 27 May 12 - No Cached
  • sophia edwards on 27 May 12
     
    After looking at telecommunication, i came across this article which broke down what Voice over Internet protocol (V.O.I.P) is. The article tells us with VoIP service, you are making and receiving telephone calls using the Internet.You do not have to be connected to the telephone company in order to make or receive a telephone call, as long as you have VoIP services and a high-speed Internet connection. I believe using VOIP can help save companies money on long distance and local calls depending on the company they decide to use. Do you feel VOIP will take over land phones? Take a look at this video it explains more to you about VOIP. http://youtu.be/o6CmqaVAf74
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