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tcale003

5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...d-a-travel-agentmore-than-ever

Travel advisors agent air expertise emergencies

shared by tcale003 on 26 May 20 - No Cached
    • tcale003
      tcale003 on 26 May 20
       
      Travel agents are considered travel advisors or consultants. Large corporations still use travel advisors for their travel needs. Travel consultants are needed for a multitude of reason including their expertise.
  • Travel agents are even more important to luxury travelers, who ironically often think they know a lot about travel and rely on their own misguided sense of expertise. But while a good agent is so vital that it is simply foolish to plan a high-end trip on your own without one, they can also help travelers of all budgets.
  • pros of using an agent: “They can find crazy deals”; “They will be your advocate”; “They’ll take care of the little things”;
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • The reality is that while it was widely predicted that the internet was going to kill off travel agents when digital tools were placed at every traveler’s disposal, that just hasn’t happened, for several good reasons.
  • a good travel advisor can often save you money.
  • true experts” and “They don’t usually cost extra.”
  • My tech savviest friends use travel advisors, and so does every major corporation - because it is the smart thing to do.
  • “Information overload, thousands of new hotels on the scene, all sorts of new cruise ships, passport and visa issues, weather, transit strikes, political unrest, natural disasters, travel insurance, travel providers going out of business, it’s never ending. How does one navigate all of this? To avoid the travel landmines that lay in front of you, you need to get a great travel advisor!
  • “They’re
  • good travel agents prefer to be called travel advisors, or sometimes travel consultants, and those are both totally accurate, but since most people still think of the industry in terms of travel agents
  • “Travel agents are a thing of the past - they primarily booked tickets and beds. Travel advisors have taken on a much more complex role - part psychologist, life coach, executive producer, concierge, fixer, dream maker, and ‘Blink Blink’ genie, with the multitude of services that they provide.”
  • Emergencies:
  • Expertise
  • VIP Connection
  • Extras
  • Better Trips
  • tcale003 on 26 May 20
     
    There are many reasons one still needs a travel agent. They are now called advisors or consultants because of what they can do and their knowledge. These advisors can assist with a multitude of things including emergencies, getting great deals on trips, They will be your best advocate when issues arise and at no extra cost to the consumer. In addition, a good travel advisors save you time and money on trying to plan you own trip. Travel agents who just booked flights and beds are a thing of the past, travel advisors play a much more complex role and provie a great variety of services.
teresastas

5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...d-a-travel-agentmore-than-ever

shared by teresastas on 09 Sep 21 - No Cached
  • The major search sites routinely leave out flights (lots of them) and even entire airlines. A lot of the flights they do show are ones you don’t want, starting with “basic economy” fares that hit you with tons of restrictions and fees, so the price you see isn’t the one you end up paying, along with connections way too short or way too long, ones that no responsible travel agent would let you book.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 09 Sep 21
       
      This is a very good point that is often overlooked. Southwest Airlines is one of those who do not publish their fairs on most of these OTA searches.
  • The reality is that while it was widely predicted that the internet was going to kill off travel agents when digital tools were placed at every traveler’s disposal, that just hasn’t happened, for several good reasons.
  • “They can find crazy deals”; “They will be your advocate”; “They’ll take care of the little things”; “They’re true experts” and “They don’t usually cost extra.”
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 09 Sep 21
       
      I think that the general public believe that TA's cost extra to use. For the most part that isn't true...unless it's a cooperate travel.
  • ...15 more annotations...
  • Travel agents are a thing of the past - they primarily booked tickets and beds. Travel advisors have taken on a much more complex role - part psychologist, life coach, executive producer, concierge, fixer, dream maker, and ‘Blink Blink’ genie, with the multitude of services that they provide.
  • Anything that causes cancelled flights (or cruises, etc.) means hassles, but the people who get through this process the most smoothly and the ones who get rebooked first and get the few available seats out of Dodge are usually the ones who used a travel agent. It’s that simple. First off, you actually have someone to call, versus long lines at banks of airport phones masquerading as “help desks.” But good agencies are constantly monitoring their clients’ flights and they usually know about your problem before you do - and often have a resolution before you even call them.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 09 Sep 21
       
      They make a good point about having someone to call.
  • Expertise: No one knows everything about travel, no matter how deeply they are involved in the industry.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 09 Sep 21
       
      Reason #2: Expertise
  • Emergencies: This is the one most applicable to the average occasional travel.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 09 Sep 21
       
      Reason #2: Expertise
  • It is important to remember that these advantages are not just for luxury travelers. Good travel advisors do not just know what the best hotel is, they know what the best hotel is for you and your budget and can help you find the right fit.
  • Connections: Whether you are trying to book space at a coveted 8-villa safari lodge in Africa or get a room in a top Paris hotel during Fashion Week, most hoteliers keep emergency inventory and guess who gets it? The travel advisors they have known for years who book a lot of guests and send them a lot of business.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 09 Sep 21
       
      Reason #3: Connections
  • “Travel advisors provide our clients with access: access to people, places, and experiences that could never be replicated, much less imagined. A great travel advisor has invested time and relationships in creating their ‘black book’ of contacts and relationships, so that when their clients travel, they are treated as a VIPs, not just a credit card number.” In my experience, everyone likes being treated like a VIP.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 09 Sep 21
       
      I think this lends itself to who your travel agent is and what they are most experienced in. I couldn't agree that all travel agents are going to give their clients VIP experiences.
  • “Information overload, thousands of new hotels on the scene, all sorts of new cruise ships, passport and visa issues, weather, transit strikes, political unrest, natural disasters, travel insurance, travel providers going out of business, it’s never ending. How does one navigate all of this? To avoid the travel landmines that lay in front of you, you need to get a great travel advisor!
  • Extras: When you get more than you expected for the same price, that’s a great deal, and with travel advisors this happens all the time.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 13 Sep 21
       
      Reason #4: Extras
  • “The millennial generation specifically may have seen their parents use a travel advisor, but don’t feel like they need one - until they are deep in the spiral of research. By shifting gears to planning with an expert, they feel liberated from the immense pressure of choosing the ‘best’ resort - because we’re cutting through the noise of all the conflicting opinions they’re seeing online.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 13 Sep 21
       
      This is a great point. I know first hand that when booking an actual vacation it can be so much easier to have an expert weed out the options they know won't work for you.
  • Air: If you are trying to buy the cheapest round-trip economy ticket from New York to Dallas, even the best advisors probably can’t get it for less than you can buy it online, though you still have to deal with all the pitfalls of the online travel sites and you will lose the safety net advisors provide when things go wrong. But in a couple of other cases, buying your air through an agent can actually save you money, or miles, or both.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 13 Sep 21
       
      Reason 5: Air Fare You will usually be able to find the cheapest economy online but there are times when a travel agent might be able to save you fees on airlines.
  • It just doesn’t seem possible, but it is, real tickets, same airline, better seats, less money. I don’t know how they do it, and frankly I don’t care, but if you know who to call this happens all the time (if you are not a client of SmartFlyer booking your vacation or business trip, they will charge you a fee to do the legwork and find you great deals on premium and mileage tickets, but in almost every case I’ve seen, it still saves you money).
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 13 Sep 21
       
      This is a great travel tip!
  • Better Trips! At the end of the day this is the bottom line, the big win you get with a good travel advisor. They know more than you do, they are better connected, they have access to benefits you can’t get yourself, and they can match and often beat any prices you find. They plan a better trip and then provide a safety net.
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 13 Sep 21
       
      Reason number 6: Better Trips Your trip is better all around when you use a good travel advisor!
  • Travel advisors take the overwhelming amount of information out there and distill it into the key points that apply to you - the best hotel/destination/tour for your interests, your budget, and your time frame.
  • 5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever
    • teresastas
      teresastas on 13 Sep 21
       
      We have been discussing a lot about the role of GDS's and OTA's it has become clear that the role of the traditional travel agent has evolved. The question of what is the role of a travel agent and why should we still use them has come up a lot and this article breaks down the answer giving 5 reasons why we still need travel agents. The reasons are listed as emergencies, expertise, connections, airfare and extras. All of these reason collectively make a better trip all around. After reading this it makes me want to book my next vacation through a travel agent!
amcqu004

What will ChatGPT mean for the travel industry? | PhocusWire - 1 views

www.phocuswire.com/t-mean-for-the-travel-industry

travel industry AI chat technology hospitality hotel

shared by amcqu004 on 15 Jan 23 - No Cached
  • ChatGPT (which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a free artificial intelligence chatbot that has incredibly human-like communication skills (and a fee-based premium version in development)
  • Microsoft is reportedly considering a $10 billion investment in ChatGPT owner Open AI according to multiple media outlets.
  • Because of this, tech companies are seeing value in data-driven personalization solutions and ChatGPT fills that need. It can help save companies time and money to allocate resources to solve more complex and specific problems.  
  • ...22 more annotations...
  • With a large dataset already in place, integrating this technology into our platform could hyper-personalize search results for travelers and supports our vision of offering open-ended, flexible search options. 
  • saved more than eight million hours in agent time, allowing travelers to resolve issues faster with self-service. 
  • but the technology is still in a relative state of infancy
  • ChatGPT really captured everyone's attention when it launched,
  • - it's already dividing opinion with responses that can range from entertaining and creative to glaringly inaccurate
  • It's too early to say whether the likes of ChatGPT can truly emulate those very human instincts.
  • First, people need to recognize that it's not generating anything new as much as scraping and regurgitating the internet
  • Every single tour operator, even single hotel, every transport company now has the same opportunity to be as productive as a company much bigger than themselves. I see that as a commodity – everyone has access to it therefore, in some ways, where’s the value. But it’s the most productivity-enhancing thing I’ve ever seen. 
  • However I don’t think that’s the real impact. I think that’s just the start of the game. Once AI starts to get into the actual experiences – not just tour experiences but hotels, airports… the ability to speed up and enhance the actual experience, especially in something that is not a good experience at the moment like an airport, is going to be quite dramatic.And the real game changer... is once the general public has it, it changes everything. You are a tour operator, and you create itineraries. The consumer can now do exactly the same thing as you and do it in real time. And 1,000 people can create 1,000 different experiences tailored to what they like. So the creation of a travel experience on the ground, which tour operators have dominated, is going to be disrupted by travelers being able to do it themselves. 
  • it’s not the live data, it’s not up to date, the facts may not be 100% and it doesn’t have geolocation.
  • The weakness at the moment is it’s only scraping data through 2021. So
  • This could make entirely new businesses or it can destroy businesses.
  • will save hundreds of thousands of dollars on freelance costs, so there's big disruption to come.
  • For basic service copy – simple product descriptions, basic articles, email campaigns, that sort of thing, it's going to be very useful for brands and very painful for content creators.
  • There’s some interesting use cases that we hope to explore such as improving automation and responses for common customer service requests through chat (and eventually even speech and video), as well as concierge-like services to recommend travel destinations, create personalized itineraries and the like.
  • . So there are issues with accuracy and truthfulness, and it needs human expertise to fact-check the output.
  • ChatGPT might herald a revolution in automated content creation, but I also think it could create a new premium for genuine human expertise too.
  • ChatGPT has been trained with information existing until end of 2021. Travel is a super dynamic category where this morning’s information is no longer relevant a few hours even minutes later. Inventory availability, prices, category of rooms/seats/cars change by the minute. You need good old-fashioned technology like CRS, WBE, RMS, etc. to handle these dynamics, not ChatGPT.
  • Google can provide a much better AI-powered chatbot than ChatGPT that spews much better answers in milliseconds, but how are they going to make money?
  • Specific to ChatGPT, I believe that this technology will eventually be used in conjunction with a brand’s own content, in addition to the internet as a whole, so that it can be trained and customized by the brand to answer questions.
  • What’s also really interesting is how this once again demonstrates that the most disruptive innovations often come from outside the travel industry.
  • ChatGPT is gaining that trust in its ubiquity and daily usage, so I think travelers could be much more likely to accept its itinerary recommendations without nearly as much research and shopping around. This has implications for human agents too.
  • amcqu004 on 15 Jan 23
     
    ChatGPT is a new technology that is hoping to take over the travel industry. It is an AI product, similar to google, which will generate answers to questions that travelers may have via a chat service. It is meant to replace tour guides, travel agents, and concierge experts and can either save business time and money, or create chaos and the need to speak to an expert human instead. Like all technology products, there is always room to improve and grow in the initial stages, and not all roles are better off being completed by a computer, rather than a human. Although AI may have access to more information at a quicker pace, and may even be able to write better than most people, some companies believe that the possible errors and inaccuracy provided by ChatGPT will make content creators and human expertise way more valuable. ChatGPT accesses data from 2021 and prior, which means it is not current and up to date. This is a major flaw that will need to be improved.
Le Chai

MICROS and PayPal Collaborate Globally to Deliver Better Mobile Experiences - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4061886.html

e-business technology hospitality

shared by Le Chai on 16 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • As part of the collaboration, MICROS will establish a Center of Excellence to provide subject matter expertise to support the building, activation and collaborate to optimize merchant and consumer experience.
  • we were able to quickly integrate PayPal with several popular MICROS hospitality and retail POS platforms, and have the ability to support a mass scale deployment of the solution to merchant locations around the world,"
  • We are happy to provide our clients with yet another innovative way to accommodate the digital wallet consumer, and we look forward to strengthening and expanding our relationship with PayPal."
  • Le Chai on 16 Sep 13
     
    This article describes a new strategic MICROS integrate with PayPal to enable better payments experiences for consumers. It can establish a system to provide expertise support and also quickly integrate with other platforms and support a mass scale deployment around the world. 
Qianlin Wang

The Evolution of HR Systems: Update from HR Technology Conference 2010 - 0 views

www.bersin.com/...echnology-Conference-2010.aspx

Technology hotel software HIRS

shared by Qianlin Wang on 21 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • "Integrated Talent Management" is officially the new product category
  • With the exception of Softscape (which was built to work together), most of the product sets in the market come from multiple acquisitions, so each vendor is going through a range of product roadmaps to build an end-to-end solution.
  • As the market shifts in this direction, companies are now differentiating themselves with the newer areas of talent management:  analytics, workforce planning (a new beachhead), onboarding, and social networking.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • The Next Generation HRMS Market is Emerging
  • There are three real ways companies upgrade or replace their HRMS.
  • They do a "forklift" replacement.
  • They build a mid-level software layer to slowly replace the HRMS.
  • They build a middle-ware solution that co-exists with the HRMS.
  • First, the market for integrated talent management software has now taught all HR departments that data integration is far more valuable than we might have believed.  
  • Second, there is a tremendous amount of innovation now flowing into the HRMS market.
  • Qianlin Wang on 21 Nov 12
     
    There are few processes about how to select a HRIS technology. What is the degree of flexibility and scalability that the HR information technology software provides? HR professionals should determine if the software can import data from multiple Excel spreadsheets, databases, and paper documents and the level with which it can interface with all kinds of systems and data. Will the HR information technology be able to grow and scale with the organization? Is the HR information technology software able to integrate with other systems? HR can obtain greater efficiencies when data and other employee information entered into one system can be shared with another system. Who is responsible for implementing, or building, the solution? What level of training is involved? HR should have a clear understanding of the level of training and technical expertise that will be required and the amount of time expected. If training is involved, is there a charge? What types of maintenance and upkeep are required? What security measures are built into the HR information technology? If the software is available online, through an ASP or SaaS model, the provider should offer daily backups, backup servers, and added protective layers. Will employees be able to enroll in benefits plans and make changes in real-time to their personal data and plan choices? The system should clearly present the plans available and enable employees to make selections at their convenience, simplifying these actions throughout the process with wizards.
marylauren1717

MELODIKA.net - Players Network signs Ascent Solutions to develop its "NextGenTV" Broadb... - 0 views

www.melodika.net/index.php

network solutions broadband television social

shared by marylauren1717 on 22 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Players Network (OTCQB: PNTV), a Global New Media and Entertainment Company, announced today it has entered into an agreement with software engineering firm Ascent Solutions to develop the company's next generation proprietary broadband-based content distribution and social media platform.
  • The Platform is based on a cutting edge business model that incorporates forecasted online consumer trends and usability.  This new generation software design allows for content to be monetized through a variety of methods including subscription, merchandising, micro-transactions, services and targeted advertising.
  • This innovative upgrade of our proprietary platform software will establish the worldwide standard for how large and small media companies can begin to monetize content over broadband and any interconnected, digital device.
  • marylauren1717 on 22 Jan 13
     
    Players Network will be entering into an agreement with Ascent Solutions, a software engineering firm, to up their social media game and develop their "company's next generation proprietary broadband-based content distribution." To enhance their Branded Lifestyle Video Channels which can be viewed simultaneously by users on all digital devices, Ascent Solutions will be implementing an Enterprise Web Platform meant for large scale global distribution.  By analyzing online consumer trends, Ascent Solutions will assist in monetizing their content through methods such as subscription, merchandising, etc. Ascent Solutions helps the gaming and hospitality industry find the right technology for their businesses.  I believe today's modern-day companies emphasis and reliance on social media and telecommunications can all benefits from the services offered by Ascent Solutions. With a nationwide footprint and local services, Ascent can help large and small media companies alike monetize content over any interconnected, digital device. With expertise in the gaming and hospitality industry, with major clients such as Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Speedway Casino. Ascent keeps up with technology trends and can further any business model.
TIAN LIU

New App Creates a Network of Brands and Concierge Expertise on iPads | Products | Hospi... - 0 views

hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/...cierge-Expertise-on-iPads79422

network hospitality

shared by TIAN LIU on 23 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • More than 100,000 users have experienced the app to select wine and food pairings. In the initial project, a Personal Sommelier was delivered on an iPad that can help consumers expertly explore wine and food pairings even before they dine at a restaurant. The results were positive for large brands and independent operators alike.
  • Promotion through the Apple App Store – more than 2 billion apps are downloaded every month, making a mobile app strategy more important than an Internet advertising strategy. Uptown gives mid and high tier brands superior access to this exploding distribution channel.   Cloud based back-end which enables world-wide seamless updates of new brands and content.
  • TIAN LIU on 23 Jan 13
     
    Mobile users are not just playing Angry Birds or checking the local weather, 38% have used their mobile devices to plan a trip and 60% of respondents said they have downloaded travel apps on their mobile devices, according to a TripAdvisor survey. While travelling, 62% of travelers said they use their mobile devices to research restaurants. 51% check their flight status and 46% research attraction, 28% have checked in to a restaurant, hotel or attraction using their mobile device while on a trip, according to TripAdvisor. (travelmole, May 2011). A research conducted by PhoCusWright shows that 75% of frequent business travelers (those making at least five trips a year) are smartphone owners. About half of frequent leisure travelers have smartphones. There's more than enough evidence for the hospitality industry to use mobile apps, and some hotels have already started and are successfully doing it.
Wei Ding

TripAdvisor CEO discusses fake reviews, Google#.Txg1IKe1ZQ8.diigo - 0 views

www.hotelnewsnow.com/...-discusses-fake-reviews-Google

shared by Wei Ding on 19 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • Wei Ding on 19 Jan 12
     
    Nowadays, TripAdvisor play an important role in tourism industry. Most of people will review TripAdvisor ranking and then make their own holiday arrangements. On-line user review rankings are important in contemporary society. As the TripAdvisor president said, trip advisor is a honest person's opinion. TripAdvisor website plays the role of trusted intermediary for the independent traveler. However, some hoteliers concern about their personal reputation. I read another article that hotel owner Duncan Bannatyne complains the consumer resource is bad for business. For example, if a hotel was reported for bad bug exist, this definitely is a fatal effect on hotel reputation even this hotel already take proper action to kill all bad bugs. On the other hand, as TripAdvisor CEO stated, "Ninety-eight percent of our audience when we surveyed 'Do you trust the reviews,' the answer was 'yes' because they read the reviews, they go and they stay and it matched expectations. The system works." TripAdvisor also take '"most of hoteliers" concern into their consideration, they have a decade of expertise at catching people who are try to spam their system.
  • Mirta Echazabal on 20 Jan 12
     
    From my experience in the industry. I know how much people really depend on trip advisory to help them decide on where to stay when they choose the destination they will be traveling. But I have heard stories on how the Owner of the hotel I used to work for would write on trip advisor amazing comments of the hotel to bring more crowd in and then he would invite his friends to write in trip advisor as well. This makes me question how real are all these comments posted in trip advisor. If you think about it, anyone can make up a profile and fill out a comment about a specific hotel. What makes us so sure about this website overall?
paige rosenberg

Travelers returning to travel agents - 1 views

beverlydangelomarried.htdf.net/...ers-returning-to-travel-agents

shared by paige rosenberg on 26 Jul 12 - No Cached
  • paige rosenberg on 26 Jul 12
     
    People are starting to use travel agents again, research shows that travel agents showed a 51% revenue increase with an expect of 94% to make a profit. When people travel to exotic destinations is when they tend to use travel agents, and this is the future where more people are traveling all over the world. The internet is a useful took for gathering travel infromation, the counsel and expertise of a travel agent is invaluable. But when people use the interent for the information and get to there destinations and something goes wrong, they have nobody to go to if they need help. Travel agents are evoloving again!
sophia edwards

Industry Rebound Reflected Through Increased Interest in Hotel Accounting, Business Int... - 0 views

hospitality-1st.com/...M3HotelAccounting-061912.html

shared by sophia edwards on 18 Jul 12 - No Cached
  • sophia edwards on 18 Jul 12
     
    M3 Hotel Accounting is the industry leader in hotel-specific accounting software, processing over $8 billion in financial transactions annually. The company was founded in Gainesville, Georgia in 1998 from one of the oldest and most successful hospitality companies in the industry. This experience, coupled with its software development expertise, has allowed M3 to develop an integrated suite of hospitality accounting products, including AccKnowledge, M3 Link, payroll services and document imaging, allowing hotel owners, operators and managers unsurpassed access to the information they need most. Based on the information i read the company for the last 12 month has been running there product in the United Sates and Canada and have seen a 15 % increase in sales. Take a look at the article to get more information on the company and details on each of the accounting services they provide
danikafox

Information risk management solutions provider Paladion raises $10M more from Nadathur ... - 0 views

www.vccircle.com/...vider-paladion-raises-10m-more

hotels Hospitality software information technology business

shared by danikafox on 19 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • nformation risk management solutions and services provider Paladion has raised $10 million (just over Rs 60 crore) in fresh funding from Nadathur Holdings, an investment firm of Infosys co-founder NS Raghavan, and an early backer of the company.
  • he information security market is entering an exciting phase and we aim to bring a host of new offerings and value to the market,” said Rajat Mohanty, CEO, Paladion.
  • Paladion provides a spectrum of information risk management solutions
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • According to the company, it is one of the largest information risk management solutions and services providers in Asia with an annual revenue run rate of $35 million. With this capital infusion, Paladion also plans to consolidate its leadership position in Asian markets and pivot to a global canvas with security intelligence technology and cloud security services.
  • danikafox on 19 Jun 14
     
    Paladion, a cyber security intelligence platform, has been incredibly successful with its services. Its most recent success was its' raising of ten million dollars in fresh funding from its investment holders. This capital will be put towards advancing the security system, building a comprehensive cloud security services platform, and global expansion of multiple Security Operation Centers. The company already provides an array of information risk management solutions and services. And its industry expertise includes sectors like banking-finance-insurance, IT & consulting, R&D, and telecommunications. Paladion is on the track for prolonged success and will continue to grow as more advancements are made.
fotan001

Oracle completes Micros acquisition, forms new global business unit | Computerworld - 1 views

www.computerworld.com/...-new-global-business-unit.html

shared by fotan001 on 17 Sep 14 - No Cached
  • Micros will form the basis for a new global business unit at Oracle focused on hotels, food and beverage, and retailers, led by Mike Webster, who is now head of Oracle's retail business unit.
  • With the addition of Micros, Oracle will increase its top-line revenue and have new opportunities to cross-sell its products to the Micros installed base. It can also pick up brand-new customers, given that many hotel and restaurant chains are looking to replace aging systems.
  • In addition, Oracle can look to pair its portfolio of data-analysis technology with the vast amounts of information flowing through Micros POS systems and applications, thereby generating insights into customer behaviors, likes and dislikes, and the relative performance of products and services.
  • fotan001 on 17 Sep 14
     
    I find this very exciting for the Hospitality industry as both Oracle and Micros have been groundbreaking and their joint venture will bring new innovations for Hotels, Food and Beverage outlets, retailers, etc. I especially found interesting how they plan to use Oracles data-analysis technology and all the information which already exists in Micros POS systems. As we talk about personalizing experiences and being able to use data already collected to the companies advantage, it looks like Oracle is one step ahead with this acquisition and looks to specifically tap into it.
  • danalbert on 19 Sep 14
     
    This sounds like a great match. With Micros' expertise in the industry and Oracle's expertise in big data, it looks like a win, win for both companies and the industry as a whole. Could this create a monopoly and force prices up for the industry? Maybe. It could also be the beginning of more modular systems across the industry.
avila031

Cloud hotel software Vs. Installed hotel software - SabeeApp Blog - 0 views

www.sabeeapp.com/...ud-hotel-software-vs-installed

technology software hotel cloud

shared by avila031 on 29 Sep 18 - No Cached
  • But a hotel management system can be effective only if it provides a wide scale of features. This ensures versatile services that can fit the wider range of customers.
  • they are often not affordable for small and mid-size properties with limited budgets.
  • e very common stereotype is that after the change to cloud-based software all data will be easily accessible by “bad people”. In other words, data won’t be secure. But hoteliers should not forget that such systems are working with well-secured servers and have necessary certificates to protect sensitive data.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • For big hotels and hotel chains installed software might work perfectly as the business is pretty much going inside the hotel. But for smaller accommodation businesses mobility is value #1. Small hotel owners are managing everything by themselves. Therefore they need to have access to the system from any part of the world. During their holidays they must see if new reservation arrived or if they need to adjust the price. Apartment rentals most of the times don’t even have reception and has to follow up their reservations while being anywhere else. For such people and for such businesses cloud hotel software solutions are the key component for success. They can have professional technology that big hotel chains are using, just for more affordable price and better flexibility.
  • avila031 on 29 Sep 18
     
    This is an article that compares the new form of cloud property management systems versus the original installed in the property PMS. It compares the features missing from both ends such as the fact the installed PMS can not get free upgrades but it does not require IT expertise. The article makes a great point in stating that both systems can be great for a small business, where as most people assume only an installed PMS works for a small business because it is the more affordable option but because of the fact that one person is usually running the small business they can benefit from having access to the PMS from anywhere which is only capable from a cloud PMS. It is also important to remember that when moving to a new system it can not be assumed to be exactly like the previous system.
tricc003

The GDS=Good, Darn Sense | By Mark Lewis-Brown - Hospitality Net - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4091315.html

hospitality technology hotel GDS travel

shared by tricc003 on 24 Jan 19 - No Cached
  • Today, hoteliers spend most of their time trying to 'beat the OTAs' by focusing primarily on increasing their direct bookings; that's a fantastic tactic BUT it's not the only one that you should be using to boost your property's occupancy, ADR and RevPAR, while cutting the cost of acquisition
  • While it has been overlooked by many hoteliers, the GDS is still a very viable booking channel - and one that you should reintegrate into your revenue management strategy today!
  • he use of travel agents is, once again, on the rise - in fact, 2018 was actually nicknamed the "Year of the Travel Agent" by some - as they are now highly valued for their expertise and prized on their ability to build complex, multi-stop itineraries quickly, affordably and with little fuss.
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  • "hotels' direct bookings increased by 0.8%, whereas the GDS channel increased by 1.3 % during the same period, a rate that is 60% greater."
  • hotels pay a fee of about 20 percent on a booking when they sell a room on a global distribution platform,"
  • With the GDS, you have the opportunity to sell your rooms in bulk (hello, corporate bookings!) and, via travel agents, your property will have visibility to even more potential guests. Win/win!
  • The cost of acquisition of a booking from the GDS/travel agents is lower (than the OTAs) AND it gives your property visibility to a whole new segment of travelers: corporate and/or luxury travelers.
  • tricc003 on 24 Jan 19
     
    Currently Hotels are trying to maximize their direct bookings and minimize the use of GDS & travel agents. However, this may not be beneficial in the long run because the use of travel agents is on the rise again. Travel agents are not only valued for their expertise, but appeal to the luxury segment of travelers who will bring high rates.
uhey77

Despegar acquires Mexico's Best Day Travel Group for $136M | PhocusWire - 0 views

www.phocuswire.com/pegar-acquires-mexico-best-day

Mexico travel

shared by uhey77 on 04 Feb 20 - No Cached
  • Argentina-based online travel agency Despegar is boosting its position in Mexico with the purchase of Best Day Travel Group for $136 million.
  • this makes the transaction the largest in the Latin American travel intermediary space in terms of revenue and will allow it to increase its revenues by 25%.
  • 75% of Best Day’s revenue is generated in Mexico
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  • 95% - of its revenue comes from the sale of packages, hotels and other travel products sold direct to consumers online and through call centers and at more than 200 kiosks.
  • “This is a significant milestone in our consolidation strategy that started with the acquisition of Viajes Falabella,” says Damian Scokin, CEO of Despegar.
  • We are acquiring a company with a solid strategic position and a successful track record that provides significant opportunities to strengthen Despegar’s presence in Mexico and to grow its business to customer value proposition.”
  • Despegar says a portion of the purchase price is payable on a deferred basis and includes a variable component of about +/- 10% based on future performance. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2020.
  • uhey77 on 04 Feb 20
     
    Founded in 1999, Despegar went public in 2017 and now operates in 20 countries. Despegar's unique competitive levers combined with Best Day's expertise in wholesale hotel offerings and destination services, will further enhance the value proposition. Best Day also has strong partnerships with leading travel vendors.
mitchlaferriere

Cayman Islands Newest Addition, the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa, Manages Uniform Inven... - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4084226.html

shared by mitchlaferriere on 23 Aug 17 - No Cached
  • InvoTech Systems Inc. announces the recent implementation of its Uniform System at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa, located on the Cayman Islands, west of the Caribbean Sea. InvoTech Systems is the leading provider of advanced Linen Management, Laundry and Uniform Systems that increase profitability for hotels, resorts, casino operators, sports arenas, convention centers and theme parks.
  • The InvoTech Uniform System provides accurate and real-time inventory information of all staff uniforms to monitor and maintain uniform assignments to employees and ongoing purchases efficiently. The InvoTech System is used to assign each uniform item to specific employees and track the daily uniform requirements for all divisions and departments
  • The InvoTech Uniform System is a paperless "green" system.
  • mitchlaferriere on 23 Aug 17
     
    This article focuses on the implementation of the Uniform Systems software, developed by InvoTech Systems Inc., the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa in the Cayman Islands. The Uniform Systems software is designed to streamline the management of employee uniforms, which are an extremely necessary commodity at any property, especially luxury products which strive for exceptional appearances. The system both monitors and maintains employee uniform assignments while simultaneously easing uniform purchasing. All of this is achievable by the grand opening of the property, which requires mass assignment and disbursement of employee uniforms. InvoTech prides itself on the expertise, professionalism, and courtesy with which its Installation and Training Team operates. Uniform Systems also follows the trend of environmental consciousness in hospitality by being paperless. Aside from the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa, InvoTech's clients include some of the largest names in hospitality, including but not limited to MGM, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott.
vanessavioli

Choosing the right IT and cloud services provider post-Covid: A guide - Cloud Computing... - 1 views

cloudcomputing-news.net/...es-provider-post-covid-a-guide

shared by vanessavioli on 23 May 21 - No Cached
  • Now, as most economic indicators begin to trend positive, companies are once again ramping up their IT projects. Long term solutions are necessary at the scale required for sustained operations and cost effectiveness.
  • In this article, we look at three options – IT consulting firms, IT outsourcing companies, and cloud systems integrators
  • There’s also the reality that many of the larger consultancies really aren’t positioned to efficiently or cost effectively help organisations implement necessary IT strategies. Their areas of expertise lie in assurance services, taxation, management consulting, advisory, actuarial, corporate finance and legal services, to name a few.
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  • They may have the staff to take on something like a cloud migration or cloud-native application development project. But technology implementation is not a strategic part of their business, so they aren’t necessarily eager to take on these types of projects — particularly if they aren’t of a scale that would allow them to make a sizable profit.
  • They have to rely on proven, repeatable methodology to remain efficient — even if it’s at the expense of better project outcomes for their customers.
  • Companies that specialise in IT outsourcing aren’t faring much better than the big consultancies. While they may be more cost effective than a large professional services provider or consultancy, many potential clients are becoming hesitant about working with them.
  • That’s not to say there still isn’t a place for the large technology consulting firms or IT outsourcing companies. But for companies that want the flexibility, scalability and cost benefits that cloud services provide, working with a company specialising in cloud technologies – as a true, long-time strategic business partner, rather than just a point-in-time technical resource – may be the optimal solution.
  • A viable option may be to go with a mid-sized company that specialises in technology implementation — particularly in the areas of cloud migration and cloud-native app development.
  • Cloud systems integrators are able to be more innovative than larger companies that have no wiggle room for experimentation or exploring new methodologies.
  • These companies develop solutions that can meet current requirements and adapt as those new requirements emerge. For many, their work for a customer is just the beginning of a much longer partnership that will evolve to help that customer continually leverage cloud technologies to meet changing needs.
  • However, many of the cloud-centric companies have chosen to focus their efforts on specific platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft, enabling them to gain familiarity with and expertise in the many tools and services those particular platforms offer. They can effectively leverage those resources to help their customers implement targeted, effective solutions.
  • Like the large technology consulting and professional services companies, the IT outsourcing companies also tend to rely on standard processes that can be repeated over and over to keep costs down. There’s no room for innovation.
  • Pandemic or not, hiring a big-name IT consulting firm often comes with an equally big price tag. Forgoing work with these higher-priced companies or simply cancelling projects reduces expenditures.
    • vanessavioli
      vanessavioli on 25 May 21
       
      Cost is something that is a very serious part of any technological consideration by management. Will that investment be worth it in the long run and pay for itself. Smaller businesses cannot afford a misstep.
  • Few, if any, industries escaped the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Even in the technology sector, where change is a normal part of business, many professional services and technology consulting firms struggled to cope with the disruption.
    • vanessavioli
      vanessavioli on 25 May 21
       
      COVID-19 was/is the ultimate disruptor. It affected every single industry, but affected the hospitality industry in the most profound ways.
  • Yet another potential downside: larger firms tend to be less agile than their smaller counterparts. While they sell innovation to their customers, they are often too big and cumbersome to embrace the new ways of working and thinking that they promote on the consulting side.
    • vanessavioli
      vanessavioli on 25 May 21
       
      It is interesting that it actually takes larger businesses to adapt to new technology, however once again it must come down to cost. Revamping a large company technologically is extremely costly and a very long complicated project.
  • jspie001 on 23 May 21
     
    This article provides insight on three various types of IT providers and there methodologies. It definitely emphasizes the benefits of specialized companies that focus on cloud computing as their IT service and business model and their ability to b=continually adapt to the changing environment and their desire to create long term relationships. It also talks about how larger IT companies are more focused on strategy rather than implementation of systems. It also talks about how the larger IT companies are much more focused on their own profit than providing services to the client and how cheaper off shore IT companies basically provide the same services at a lesser quality
Angelica Saez

Information Technology: A Boom in the Hospitality Industry. : 4Hoteliers - 1 views

www.4hoteliers.com/...3336

shared by Angelica Saez on 20 May 20 - No Cached
  • Selecting the right type of system is most important for any hotel operation.
  • Most of the hotels use special software made for hotels which are generally called as Property Management System (PMS). PMS comprise of both front end and back end solutions. There are various other solutions which are not part of PMS but, get interfaced with the PMS.
  • Good IT personnel should have the knowledge of all the three components, i.e., System (flow of each activity), Software (that translate the activity in measurable terms both quantitatively and qualitatively) and Hardware (Media through which we can see these activities). All this should reflect in primarily guest satisfaction, staff satisfaction, management satisfaction and owner satisfaction.
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  • While choosing the system, proper evaluation of the PMS has to be made. Evaluation must be in terms of User Friendliness, Menu Driven navigation, Key defined access, Lesser number of key strokes, Easy access to required data, Visual Impacts, Meaningful reports, various levels of security access, possibility of customization at the user level etc.
  • Today, computers do magic for the front end staff enabling them to devote more time in attending guest requirements in a pleasing way without compromising the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
    • Angelica Saez
      Angelica Saez on 25 May 20
       
      Today working in a hotel it is very useful to use computers. They are very helpful and are able to resolve a lot of things for guests.
  • System requirement for each facility differs and it should preferably be a cost effective solution. It is not necessary that all hotels require most expensive computer systems. Small hotels needs a simpler systems than the big operations where complicated services, standards, data assimilation and decision making tools are required. Many big operations require various interfacing such as Telephones, Internet, Interactive Television, Door Locking system, Yield Management, Global Distribution System, Visa/Master Card etc.
    • Angelica Saez
      Angelica Saez on 25 May 20
       
      Having the right IT personnel working in your hotel is very important because if something went wrong they are there to fix it.
  • While choosing PMS software for a property, one has to derive the guest needs in the front end on one side and needs of the management and the owner at the back end on the other side. Staff should be able to use the system comfortably in achieving both the ends. One has to set the right parameters in the system that can be used to create meaningful reports that helps in decision making easier and faster at all levels. This, as said before, requires expertise and knowledge of all three components of IT.
  • anonymous on 20 May 20
     
    A good information technology system consists of three parts, namely system, software and hardware. Choosing the right system type is the most important for any hotel operation. Choosing the right system requires expertise in hotel operations. Good IT personnel should have knowledge of all three components, namely the system (the process of each activity), software (software that can quantitatively and quantitatively translate activities) and hardware (the media through which these activities can be viewed). All these should be mainly reflected in guest satisfaction, employee satisfaction, management satisfaction and owner satisfaction. Proper training is the key to effective implementation. Many times, the hotel does not fully use the software. Although the system can provide various reports and usages, they have not been fully utilized due to lack of proper training and induction in the use of software.
hlope066

Cloud vs. On-Premise PMS (with Comparison Chart) › WebRezPro - 1 views

www.webrezpro.com/s-premise-pms-comparison-chart

technology hospitality software Tech

shared by hlope066 on 05 Jun 20 - No Cached
    • abroo041
      abroo041 on 05 Jun 20
       
      This article is talking about the main differences between a cloud-based PMS versus an on-premise PMS. It is a blog post from webrezpro which is a web-based PMS provider, so the post is slightly biased, however it does provide a lot of information on the pros and cons of both systems.
  • The right choice is the one that aligns with your business’ operational requirements and future objectives, and your comfort levels with the technology.
  • Property management systems — both cloud-based and on-premise — are designed to automate a property’s operational processes, from front desk to back office, for greater efficiency
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  • When it comes to the big differences between the two, it boils down to deployment and technical requirements, cost and accessibility.
  • Data is stored on a server located at the property. This means that data and hardware maintenance and security are the responsibility of the property.
  • A reliable Internet connection is important.
  • On-premise systems require significantly more on-property hardware than cloud systems
  • While vendors of on-premise PMS may offer guidance determining the suitability of existing hardware or purchasing new items, the technical requirements of an on-premise system add considerable cost to implementation and maintenance, and benefit from in-house IT expertise.
  • All the property needs to access the PMS is a computer or mobile device, a stable Internet connection and a Web browser. No in-house IT skills required!
  • With an on-premise system, data security is the property’s responsibility.
  • Anti-virus software is generally a good idea for any computer accessing the Internet
  • Cloud software vendors have the expertise and budget to implement robust security measures and procedures
  • On-premise hotel management systems are a traditionally expensive investment that can cost a mid-sized hotel $10,000 to $20,000 or more for the software licence (additional licenses normally need to be purchased for each additional workstation), plus annual maintenance fees, as well as significant hardware and IT costs
  • typically based on a monthly cost of around $5 to $10 per room, and normally a one-time setup and training fee (approximately $500)
  • Modern on-premise PMS can be integrated with external systems such as call accounting software, point-of-sale (POS) systems and in-room entertainment systems but it is a complex process that requires manual technical work and additional hardware (for example, a dedicated computer between the PMS and interface system).
  • Cloud PMS are much more easily integrated with external systems,
  • While it is possible for on-premise systems to be accessed remotely from an off-site computer, this ability requires additional technical setup, including installation of a Citrix or Terminal server onsite
  • Because cloud PMS are deployed online, the system is accessible via a secure login from any computer or mobile device connected to the Internet, anywhere in the world.
  • On-premise systems typically face lengthy development cycles compared to cloud-based systems and require expensive upgrades to remain current.
  • Upgrades are frequent and usually free with cloud-based systems and can be deployed instantly.
  • Cloud PMS make a lot of sense for independent lodging operators who are passionate about hospitality rather than technology.
  • hlope066 on 03 Nov 21
     
    PMS are designed to create greater efficiency. Both on-premise and a cloud-based systems have similar core functions. The differences are on-premise software must be physically installed on all computers that will require access. The server holds all of the data, which is located on the property. The security of the data and the maintenance of the hardware is the properties responsibility. Cloud software's security is in the hands of the company who owns the software. When it comes to the big differences between the two, it comes down to deployment, technical requirements, cost, and accessibility.
cvera019

Event Technology Companies Join Forces to Create EventTechHub | TSNN Trade Show News - 2 views

www.tsnn.com/...oin-forces-create-eventtechhub

hospitality technology IT events

shared by cvera019 on 12 Nov 17 - No Cached
  • Four event technology companies have teamed up to create EventTechHub, a collaborative initiative featuring fully integrated digital solutions designed to make event planning more efficient, increase attendee engagement and grow event revenue opportunities.
  • “Event and meeting planners constantly point out to us how hard it is to find vendors (and) even after they have selected the ones they like, it is hard to manage them,”
  • They need multiple accounts, export and import files, pay them separately and hope they are compatible with each other. EventTechHub addresses this need and allows event planners to source and manage vendors easily. This makes things easy for everyone involved in the process.”
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  • There is an overabundance of apps on the market, each with a distinct functionality (and) the need to implement multiple apps can become cumbersome, confusing and cost-prohibitive for most planners,” Wynant said.
  • He continued, “Our innovative technology not only has the ‘cool factor’ of turning smartphones into microphones but the event planners who used Tap To Speak report a 400 percent boost in audience engagement during their live events. We seamlessly integrate into the Eventinterface event program and itinerary feature – turning the audience mobile devices into feedback machines. This way, Eventinterface and Tap To Speak provide real-time audio and text communication, polls and surveys to the planners, speakers and attendees of the conference or event. The combination of our respective areas of expertise in combination with modern event technology gives even more power to event planners to make their events even better.”
  • “Combining the expertise of four event-industry leaders is a truly exciting prospect,” Arzoni said. “We’re ready to play our role in ensuring ETH is invaluable for anyone in the event and meeting planning industry.” Combined, EventTechHub’s founding companies have served more than 1,500 events of 25-30,000 participants in 40 countries for companies including Google, Applebee’s and Johns Hopkins University, which have worked with one or multiple EventTechHub solutions.
  • cvera019 on 12 Nov 17
     
    This contribution between major event planning companies can really make a difference in the way vendors are found and managed. The new platform will address event planner's concerns and bring new innovative ideas to the sector.
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