Trends and New Technology in Hospitality for 2014. - Tuesday, 8th July 2014 at 4Hoteliers - 2 views
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A survey reports that 72 percent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations; in 2014, review sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp will continue to become more influential as users look for ways to make their world a bit smaller and more personalized.
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As members of the general leisure industry, hospitality businesses must therefore cater to the early adopters, the tech-savvy, and the novices in one fell swoop—and staying ahead of the curve requires an inexhaustible spirit and a knowledge of industry trends.
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As members of the general leisure industry, hospitality businesses must therefore cater to the early adopters, the tech-savvy, and the novices in one fell swoop—and staying ahead of the curve requires an inexhaustible spirit and a knowledge of industry trends.
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Like any industry, the field of tourism and hospitality must be competitive and technologically advanced. The article addresses six technological trends within the hospitality industry. 1. Virtual reservations - A significant number of patrons reserve their hotels via a computer or mobile device. Thus travel booking websites have become more popular. 2. Virtual check-in and ordering - Check-in kiosks cut down on customer wait time (long lines, short staff, etc.). More hotels and restaurants will be making use of these technologies. As technology advances, consumers shouldn't be surprised to see more futuristic options such as voice recognition, fingerprint and retina ID. 3. Travelers with multiple devices - Hotels have to be conscientious of this fact in terms of room design, public (hotel) space and structure. Customers want to feel secure that they (and their devices) can be properly accommodated. 4. Hospitality staff with multiple devices - This trend is a win-win for employees and customers. Employees can better meet the needs of their customers no matter their location (poolside, bar, lobby, etc.). Also, by collecting data, businesses have a better understanding of customer needs and preferences. Customers have the freedom to be more mobile (in any area of the hotel) without feeling disconnected or not being able to have their needs met. 5. High tech meeting and public space - Hotel meeting rooms and lobbies are receiving technological make-overs to accommodate users who rely on multiple devices. This is great for business as it creates an environment that is conducive to conducting technologically advanced meetings and conferences in a comfortable setting. 6. Online reviews - These reviews are crucial to businesses as well as consumers. On the business end, companies will be able to gauge their effectiveness in all areas via honest customer feedback. Consumers have the opportunity to make better choices after reading reviews based on ot