Group items tagged

The article is about what was happening today with some Twitter accounts, such as Former President Barack Obama, Mike Bloomberg, Bill Gates, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian West, Warren Buffett, and Jeff Bezos. Apparently the accounts were hacked and were asking people for money. It is a clear example of cyber attack with Twitter's account.

Module 3: This article focuses on the importance of GDS systems during the challenges of COVID-19. With an emphasis on travel agents using the GDS, hotels will be able to continue to thrive and survive. According to the article, " travel agents will play a key role in connecting hotels and travelers, especially given the flexibility and changes that may be required of travelers in the coming months." This article provides insights for hotels to best optimize using a GDS for travel agents to find them. The article states, "Rate parity is important to 89% of travel agents worldwide - if they see a better rate elsewhere, they'll actively book away from your property." I believe using a GDS will be the only way in the future to continue to travel and save money. Tripadvisor is my go to when it comes to finding out about a resort and which website has the best rate for the same room.

The article's main point ties into the third question on this week's discussion: is there a need for the GDS today? Hoteliers have recently been focusing on the OTA sales channel, which leads them to ignore their high-value, corporate guests, and guests who like to use traditional travel agents. The main reason for this is because hoteliers do not want to pay the fees associated with GDS's; however, they are still paying commission fees to OTAs. On average, hotels pay a 20% fee to a GDS when a room is booked, which is typically less than what is paid in commissions to the top OTAs. So why do they still use OTAs and pay the fees? Because they work, and GDS's work also. By eliminating a tried and true method such as the GDS, you are shooting yourself in the foot by getting rid of an effective channel that was bringing in revenue. The author argues that a GDS is still useful in creating more visibility and increased revenues from bulk bookings, travel agents, and especially from corporate and luxury travelers. Corporate and luxury travelers are less concerned about price and typically pay higher rates. They also spend more on ancillary charges in the hotel, which leads to recouping some of that money spent on fees. Given this perspective, I would agree with the points made in the article and how the GDS is still a viable system to be used today. It is especially important to gain exposure to corporate travelers, which is a big market that you don't want to leave untapped.

Underboeck Software International, a hospitality industry-related watch group, discusses five industry trends to watch out for that were critical in 2014 and were expected to continue being important into 2015 and beyond. Its main focus appears to center around information technology and the path in which key target markets utilize this technology to perform functions associated with their hospitality needs.

The article reveals how tablet devices offer many advantages to hotels, because many business processes become more and more independent of location. Allowing your employees to work more effective is the main objective for the hospitality and tourism business. A few examples: Hotels can use iPads as "floating front desks", offering guests mobile services like check-in or check-out. iPads could even be employed as support work stations to reduce demand peaks. The ability to having a floating front desk and being able to accomodate guest is beneficial." The app offers access to guest relevant functions of the property management system like booking services. It also offers access to location based services, advertising local events and facilities, and to the hotel's social networking sites" Having the application to allow guest to have 24 hour service is a convenience comparable to none.

         This article introduce us a new hotel software technology, the iPad property management system. Nowadays the table devices offer many advantages to hotel. Ipad is a good example for the table device use in hospitality industry. A German company design a PMS on iPad for hotel, its name is protel Air. Use this device, hotel can provide the mobile service like check-in and check-out to support the employee's job. Protel Air is a full-service solution and a true "Software-as-a-Service" application, that is hosted in a secure data centre environment. The only requirement of this device is the Internet; it can update and maintain the date through Internet. It also protects the data by its security system. They also design an application called protel Voyager for guests. It offers access to location based services, advertising local events and facilities, and to the hotel's social networking sites. The protel Voyager will encourage guests to report positive feedback.          I think to use new technology to help the operation of hotel is a good idea. Even it will cost some money to purchase the equipment and training the employee. It will save time for the employee especially in the peak season. My only concern is the app for guests. Guests may not use to this kind of new technology. They prefer the human service more. But it is worth to try.  

German protel hotelsoftware presented the world's first property management system for the iPad. The tablet devices give hotel a lot of benefits.  It helps the hotel reduce demand peaks, and offer guests more convenience. Protel doesn't need the support of additional hardware and installation. it can run in the internet browser. One of Protel's product is Protel Voyager, which is designed as a web app, the customers do not need to install this app, because it can runs in the mobile browser. It offers access to guest relevant unctions of the property management system like booking services. It also offers access to location based services, advertising local events and facilities, and to the hotel's social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook or You Tube.  

Sustainability has been a primary focus for many hotel companies around the world. There are many initiatives that are being created other than your everyday recycling. Fairmont Mayakoba has implemented a tour in which guest can assist in the transplant of coral to help their growth. Hosteling International USA has also become the first of it's kind to develop a system that monitors shower to last at most seven minutes in it effort to conserve water. These are just some of the many ideas that are taking into effect to further progress sustainability within hotel operations.

As guests are getting more environmentally friendly, being sustainable is an important aspect of hotel operations. Before they book a hotel, a lot of guests will look for or read about the hotel's social responsibility program. Hence, going green would bring in more revenue by attracting more guests.

This article explains several ways that hotels and resorts are helping in the fight for sustainability. Some resorts have completely eliminated the use of air conditioning and other ways to get energy for running electricity. For example, the Jade Mountain resort in St. Lucia has designed all their rooms to be open-air rooms which allows for breezes to come through the rooms and ultimately cool down the rooms. This, in turn, eliminates the need for air-conditioning all together. Some hotels are even offering classes on how to live a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. Hotels and resorts have worked towards saving coral reefs, energy and water conservation, preserving food and re-purposing waste, and creating eco-minded communities.

Rwanda is seeking to engage the technology industry in a conversation to generate ways that e-commerce can be used to help the Tourism and Hospitality sector recover in the wake of COVID-19. This will be an online conversation on June 4 to find ways the technology already has or could create to help tourism. It notes how digitization has been important to other sectors of the economy during the pandemic including sectors such as education and Healthcare. By leveraging technology it is hoped that ways can be found to stimulate the tourism industry

This article is talking about the history of hotel technology. Also, it records the significant innovation of the invention in hospitality. And I recognize the technology changes our life a lot. We are always moving forward without any notice.

This article takes you through why your restaurant may want to switch to a Cloud-Based POS. There are many positive attributes associated with making the switch, such as; data accessibility, cheaper operating costs, easier upgrades, less frequent downtimes, increased security, and adaptability. If you are a growing business, the Cloud would grow with you.

Cloud based POS systems can be apprehensive at first, but we are always satisfied once we are able to se the technology work to keep the business safe, effiecient and also more profitable. Cloud based POS systems are speedy and saves a lot of time which frees up staff to do other things in the establishment.

This article discussed the benefits of switching from a localized POS system to a cloud-based restaurant POS. The article touched on how cloud-based systems provide real-time data and how that instant data could provide a management team real-time solutions. You can save so much time and money by identifying issues before they even arrive. I found it very interesting that with cloud-based systems you have the "ability to add on a mobile POS unit that provides a number of benefits." With this option, your servers do not have to run back and forth to a POS station. They simply have the option in the palm of their hands. It also decreases the time spent waiting for a check or credit card to return to the table. This not only increases guest satisfaction, but helps with table turnover. The article also touched on how cloud-based POS systems are "better enabled to grow with you." They are super adaptable and the article mentioned that restaurants can update their menu whenever, launch new loyalty programs, and help with more precise inventory tracking. This article also touched on setup, increased security, staff accountability, and the ability to make better business decisions due to the cloud software being able to provide extensive business insights. Finally, the article touched on POS cost and how " upfront costs are kept to a minimum and monthly subscription fees are lower." It also ended with a case study about Homegrown Hospitality Group and their switch from Aloha to Upserve Cloud-based POS. It was very interesting and I'd recommend everyone read the brief two paragraphs about how the switch changed their business trajectory.

After a recent announcement by President Biden, new mandates are being put in place requiring any U.S. employer that employs over 100 people to require vaccines within the establishment. This new action plan was developed in response to the widely spreading delta variant and is hopefully going to be curb the infection and hospitilization rates. Although many of the specifics have not yet been revealed, it can be assumed that organizations will be required to maintain current and up to date records of vaccine status for all employees for the coming future.

Even though this article is from 2019 it is still extremely relevant today. POS systems are found in most hospitality outlets and the chances for a security breach are high. I have often thought when I had my credit card to a waiter and they are gone for 10 minutes are they copying the number, is it being added to a database that can then be hacked? The importance of having the proper securities in place, the proper malware and security software is really important. Having had a catering company for 20 years I had to do PCI compliance tests every 6 months and for years I just handed it over to my IT to do the test. He would suggest things to make us safer and since it usually cost money I would shake it off. It wasnt until the credit card processing company i was using had a security breach that I realized how important these PCI rules were. It is something going forward I will always pay attention to!

Disruptive Innovation in Hospitality Human Resource has been introduced in the new market more than the existing. The Researcher acknowledges the disruption that may have an effect on customers. However, the author references justify that disruption allows a better way of hospitality human resource

Disruptive Innovation: Self-checkout

Consumers generally say they want to buy products that are more environmentally sustainable or socially responsible.Effective societal marketing treats the social responsibility aspect as an extra benefit to choosing an already fine product. The company needs to give customers what they want either way by including healthier options.

Cyber-attacks has become an increasing problem within the US and the lack of unfulfilled jobs regarding cyber security poses just as big, if not bigger, of a problem. All states, besides Maine, are in dire need to fulfill jobs across the private business sector and government related positions. At this point, many companies, including the government, offer free training (acquiring proper certifications) in hopes of gaining more employees to help with the fight against cyber war.