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Guests want smart technology, but security concerns remain | Hotel Management - 0 views

  • More than 96 percent of hotel guests travel with a smartphone and nearly 46 percent of guests travel with at least two smart devices, representing a 10 percent increase in just two years
  • More than 80 percent of guests indicated a desire to wirelessly cast content from their devices onto guestroom televisions and more than 90 percent of surveyed hoteliers agreed that today's guests would prefer to be offered wireless casting abilities, rather than traditional video-on-demand services.
  • With hotels around the world universally experiencing diminishing profits from VOD, the survey points to entertainment platform functions that hoteliers can deploy alongside wireless casting in order to regain these revenues
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  • more than 60 percent of surveyed guests indicated that they would like the ability to order amenities and services via the guestroom television, if given the option. Sixty-five percent of guests would like to be able to surf the internet on the TV entertainment system
  • Another 61 percent of guests also indicated a preference to access information on available hotel services, such as restaurant hours, via the guestroom television.
  • 65 percent of guests are “highly concerned” about inputting usernames and passwords into a guestroom television app, according to HIS. 
  • As voice becomes the preferred interface for guest and staff interactions with technology in hotels, there must be safeguards in place to ensure that no data falls into the wrong hands,
  • The same is true for protecting hotels’ proprietary data from disclosure
  • Hoteliers have a duty to protect their guests personally identifiable information and we’ve built our technology atop the leading natural language processing platforms to ensure they meet this duty.
  • How are you protecting the privacy of my guests? Are recordings associated with our guests’ personally identifiable information?
  • How are you protecting the security of my hotel’s proprietary data?
  • Many travelers have unique accents or dialects that aren’t well understood by popular voice assistants. Does your solution improve the accuracy of interactions? 
  • How are you measuring return on investment? How will your solution drive efficiencies and increase revenues?
  • Can I easily change and update interactions with my guests once deployed?
  • Without the right integrations, even the best product can add complexity and cost. Hoteliers need to make sure any vendor they consider has the integrations they need to set their team up for success.”
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    The article reports that the great majority of hotel guests desire to have state of the art innovation for their convenience, such as casting and voice interface technology. The type of innovation stems largely from guests being able to use their laptops or phones on the TV, while also access hotel services such as restaurant hours and possibly food services from the same interface. They assert. however that it is important for hoteliers to know how guests may be able to keep their identity hidden from potential practices such as "integration with the platform that may use this data for remarketing", integrate a system that can understand an manage foreign accents. It also brings up concerns of how to measure return on investment, showing a increase in revenue and that it is possible to update the interactions with guests once the technology is deployed.
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Tech Innovations That Are Changing The Hospitality Industry - Social Hospitality - 1 views

  • Technology has come a long way.
  • the hospitality industry now looks for other ways to appeal to an increasingly “been there, done that, got the t-shirt,” not-so-easy-to-impress clientele. And cutting-edge technology seems to be the answer.
  • Durham, North Carolina’s Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, for instance, has introduced high-def, flat-screen LG televisions to its rooms.
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  • since providing guests with the same high-quality viewing experience they would enjoy in their homes, the hotel has improved its customer satisfaction rating by eight percent.
  • seems that every generation enjoys top-notch television viewing.
  • Seattle Hotspot boasts rooms “with heat-detecting body sensors that indicate to housekeeping staff when a room is occupied…a 21st- century ‘do not disturb’ notice.”
  • the Hotel 1000 in Seattle has found a new way to determine if your room is, indeed, occupied.
  • the biggest drain on hotel utilities is unnecessary heating and air conditioning and that the installation of energy controls throughout a property could “shed utilities costs without compromising quality.”
  • A new initiative by the Four Seasons, however, involves an innovative new bed that enables guests to customize their sleep experience.
  • hese beds include three mattress toppers that can be switched in mere minutes, offering a Signature, Signature Firm, or Signature Plush sleeping experience, and a Gel Touch Foam Center that absorbs extra heat in order to ensure maximum comfort.
  • the Aloft Cupertino Hotel in Silicon Valley recently introduced its first robotic staff member, a butler named “Botlr.
  • Botlr can be found delivering amenities to guests throughout the property donning his custom-fit butler uniform.
  • Thanks to new innovations and advancements in current technology, hoteliers can provide guests with modern conveniences that surpass even their wildest dreams
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    Nowadays, there is an abundance in advanced in-room features making their way into the world's most modern hotel rooms. Some of those inventions, integrated recently in some hotels in the U.S., are explained below. Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park, in North Carolina, offer its guests a better hotel experience through a TV with fast reboot time. This TV provides a top-notch television content and delivery, and has the latest high-resolution options and features. Due to its level of delivery that guests are accustomed to have in their own homes, it is expected for guests to feel more comfortable and homey during their stay. Hotel rooms in Loews Hotel 1000 in Downtown Seattle are equipped with heat-detecting sensors, which scans the room for body heat so that housekeepers don't accidentally enter the room. This high-end technology with an infrared signal scans the room to detect body heat and notes 'do not disturb' when occupied. It is particularly useful when guests forget to leave a sign when entering the rooms at night. Seems like the world's most advanced hotels are getting very creative with their in-room technology. Another example for that is the beds of Four Seasons Hotels which are customizable to guests' preferences, designed to support better sleep. Recently, numerous Aloft Hotels and Element Hotels across the United States feature their own robot butlers. With help of Botir, items can be easily delivered to the guests rooms within minutes. The purpose of using robotic assistants is to send a robot to deliver shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste or so by the front desk. This way, the human hotel staff can serve customers personally when necessary. In my view, in the customer-driven hospitality industry, the use of in-room technology can make guests feel more comfortable and feel "at home". These new technologies have been helping the hospitality industry grow in innovative and tech-enhanced ways to deliv
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Mobile Communication Trends Within the Hospitality Industry | News | Hospitality Magazi... - 0 views

  • Now devices are evolving to keep up with the ever-increasing introduction of specialized mobile-applications for every field, particularly hospitality.
  • Push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) has already impacted wireless communications and hardware development with the introduction of Bluetooth equipped two-way radios, transitional gateways for hybrid systems and smart phone adoption.
  • Mobile apps are being developed daily to fulfill sector-specific needs and are easily accessible over internet (Wi-Fi)
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  • PoC is a more affordable communications method than traditional land mobile systems,
  • Lately, new software technologies are acquired as fast as they’re launched.
  • Consequently, manufacturers are creating devices that look exactly like radios on the outside, but are really 4G phones on the inside.
  • Hardware devices that control multiple communication outlets at once, yet are smaller than ever before will soon emerge.
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    Push-to-talk over celluar (PoC) has impacted wireless communications and hardware development globally in the hospitality industry. There is a growing rend toward the use of mobile messaging apps among hotels, casinos, stadiums, and other venues. The Internet of Things (IoT) has ultimately been the forefront of wireless innovations and mobile apps are being developed on a daily basis to satisfy sector-specific needs. Being easily accessible over Wi-Fi or broadband networks allow great reach and consistent connectivity. Manufacturers are staying relevant through developing joint solutions with other companies to meet end user demands. For example LMR radio and smart phone makers have been working with PTT app firms as well as network providers to satisfy the amount of PoC demand. The trend on replacing two-way radios with smartphones has been seen; however, some are reluctant to change. Some manufacturers have created devices that look like traditional radios but ultimately are just 4G phones on the inside. As soon as safety, productivity, and response time are improved and stable, this transition will become commonplace. In the very near future, through the use of Bluetooth technologies, hotels will send keys directly to smartphones for guests who wish to skip the check-in process.
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    This article reflects on how communication is now being done through our mobile devices. With so many innovations occurring with technology there are new ways to communicate. The introduction of wireless bluetooth has impacted the push to talk. It's important to keep up with the new innovations in order to stay relevant and not fall behind. The idea of merging devices, in regard to radio is the next big thing. I believe it's important to continue the trend of technology because it helps improve communication and customer experiences. Mobile-applications will at one point be assigned to a certain job and that's how communication will take place. For some it may be a bluetooth piece for others it may be a small microphone attached to the clothing.
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Technology Innovation Brings Electricity to the Hotel Industry - 0 views

  • Hotels’ total energy consumption costs can be 6 percent of the operating cost and utilities cost continue to rise.
  • While other energy-reducing technologies have produced limited results, cogeneration appears to be a technology that will meet expectations.
  • It’s a technology that has significant corporate investment behind it so we expect to see continued research and development to improve the technology and lower its pricing. 
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  • The primary reason for a change to cogeneration would be financial savings.
  • he current payback for the investment is right at three years and it is expected that timeline to continue to decrease. 
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    This article focuses on the technology innovation regarding electricity in hotels. The article states that the total energy consumption costs for hotels will continue to rise. Luckily, there is an energy saving technology that is worth investing in. Cogeneration, which the article states is known as "combined heat and power (CHP), helps minimize the heat and power from a single fuel source". It takes natural gas and converts it to electricity. This helps the hotel use heat for areas of their operation. This technology supplies 95% of the electricity needed for a standard hotel. Besides helping the hotel's electricity, heat, and power system be more efficient, the CHP helps with financial costs. According to the article, investing in a CHP will bring a payback in about 3 years and this time expected to decrease. This means hotels will receive a return on their investment in a shorter period of time. In my opinion, this is great technology to invest in. It not only helps with financial savings but it is also better for the environment. The business will benefit from it because it helps with operations. Also, consumers will be more likely to want to stay in a hotel with an energy efficient system. It goes hand in hand with the Go Green initiative that has proved to be successful and consumer driven. In all, investing in technology is a risky business. For this specific energy saving technology, I believe it is worth investing in. The cogeneration would be ideal for "hotels with 100 or more rooms, high electric rates, hot water heating system, and high use needs".
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CloudBasedvsDesktopBased_PMSHotels.pdf - 0 views

shared by marble_bird on 09 Jul 20 - No Cached
  • Even though keeping up with the modern developments in IT sector is crucial for the success and competitiveness of a hotel, it is usually very hard for new technologies to be accepted and implemented.
  • On the example of hotel property management system (PMS) and comparison between features of its older desktop-version and new web-based programs, this research aims at finding out at which stage and how effective is usage of cloud technology in hotels.
  • Constant innovation in hardware, software, and network developments and applications means that only dynamic organizations that can respond efficiently and effectively to these innovations, will be able to outperform their competitors and maintain their long-term prosperity.
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  • It is crucial for tourism and hospitality practitioners to proactively incorporate new technologies into their businesses as these will improve service quality and differentiate their products and services.
  • In order to be able to follow the increasing guests' requests for qualitative services, it is mandatory for hotel management to constantly work on improving its functions and operations. For this it is necessary to keep track of innovations in sectors outside the hospitality, like IT sector that works on creating, developing and introducing new technologies
  • Hospitality is one of targeted sector that is considered appropriate for application of cloud technologies and services. Hotel Management System or widely known as Property Management System (PMS) is one of the system where IT practitioners saw the chance for improvement by ''moving it to the cloud''.
  • Hotels will be forced to upgrade their current systems so that they can respond to various and changeable guests' habits and requirements. However, until today, there was not enough academic papers related to usage of cloud technology in hospitality industry even though this sector is under continuous changes caused by usage of new technologies which made search, evaluation and payment of the hotel rooms easier than ever.
  • After comparing the two groups of hotels, from which one was using desktop PMS and other group cloud- based PMS, the results of the research were derived and presented. In conclusion of the paper, challenges with which the hotels are facing and which affect their decision of starting to use cloud- based technology as well as recommendation for future work will be discussed.
  • As stated by the Sharif (2010), cloud computing is the latest technology that is being introduced by the IT industry as the next (potential) revolution to change how the internet and information systems operate. The term “cloud” was probably inspired by IT text books’ illustrations which depicted remote environments (the Internet) as cloud images in order to conceal the complexity that lies behind them (Sultan,2010).
  • The goal of a new computing world is to develop software for millions to consume by easily accessing it over a network. Cloud service providers are making profit by charging consumers for accessing these services.
  • Products offered via this mode include the remote delivery (through the Internet) of a full computer infrastructure (e.g., virtual computers, servers, storage devices, etc.); the building blocks of an IT enterprise.
  • Services provided in this category include CPU processing on demand, virtual Web hosting, and storage on demand. The most notable vendors are Amazon’s EC2, GoGrid’s Cloud Servers, and Joyent.
  • With cloud computing, services and applications that were managed locally in the past requiring hardware, operating systems, web servers, as well as teams of network, database and system management experts are now provided remotely by cloud providers under this layer.
  • Cloud computing services can be adopted by firms in three different forms (Goscinski and Brock, 2010):
  • Public clouds - online applications that are open to everyone for free, such as Google
  • Private clouds - involves firms deploying key enabling technologies, such as virtualization and multi-tenant applications, to create their own private cloud database
  • Hybrid clouds - mix of the previous two types that are emerging with the intention of providing clients with a level of “control” over their resources
  • The cloud offers enterprises the option of scalability without the financial commitments required for infrastructure purchase and maintenance.
  • Reallocating information management operational activities to the cloud offers businesses a unique opportunity to focus efforts on innovation and research and development. This allows for business and product growth and may be even more beneficial than the financial advantages offered by the cloud.
  • These investments and efforts for a new technology to be presented open a new progress circle of technology advancements and it continues in the same way.
  • When creating software or an application for a hotel, IT personnel have to possess a certain level of flexibility, openness and creativity. On the other hand, hotel employees are expected to have more insightful and openminded approach towards new ways of performing business operations, sometimes take risks and have experiences with using different programs and applications.
  • A hotel's PMS can gather and keep valuable information about hotel guests by incorporating business intelligence tools which help hoteliers organize and make sense of the gathered data. Regardless of whether room reservations come from Online Travel Agency, Global Distribution Systems or by telephone, all of them are gathered, stored and managed in the PMS.
  • low investment costs were main reason for hotels from Group B to decide in favor of cloud based version.
  • Business intelligence options provide hoteliers with a threedimensional view of guest data, which allows easily statistical reporting and increased hotel management efficiency.
  • The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in practical usage of the two types of PMS systems – cloud based and classical (desktop) ones.
  • On the question about the reasons for using the current PMS type in hotels, answers of Group A were based on usage of their current PMS for years and on the fact that employees in all hotel departments were used to work on it. As time passed by, hotels upgraded their system to new versions for several times and additional customization was implemented with regard to hotel preferences.
  • Hotels from Group B were consisted of relatively new boutique hotels that operate for more than a year and from those that were not using any kind of PMS solution (they were using Excel tables and creating reservation records manually). The reason why hotels from this group wanted to use cloud PMS was a desire to try the latest technology used in hospitality industry.
  • Other reasons for using it were: PMS could be reached from any place where Internet connection is available, simple but effective design with lots of visual solutions, more options to enter the important information and the fact that it is working not only on any PC but also on any mobile device due to its mobile applications.
  • Simplicity of the cloud based property management system allows it to be productive. Cloud based PMS's can operate on any advice that has a web browser and the companies are putting their efforts to make it even more friendly on smaller devices like tablets and smart phones.
  • The similar amount of initial investments were confirmed by the Group A. Being considered as great amount of money for newly opened and small sized hotels to invest, management decided to try out the cloud version which allows access to this system based on monthly subscription with very little or no investment cost, depending on the solution provider.
  • After initial investments in the system implementation, hardware, software and training of employees, every year hotel makes a one-year-based contract for additional support services and, if needed, extra training. Support is provided any time a hotel reports an issue or malfunction by directly connecting to hotel's computer through remote programs.
  • Changes are made either for each hotel at a time, or after releasing new version, when provider try to convince all the current users to upgrade to it. Upgrade is provided by the extra charge, so these costs should be also considered during planning investments in classical PMS.
  • Regardless of which type of system they used, all participants were very careful about and interested in the matter of data security.
  • However, it is totally different situation with cloud based system, which is mainly open system where all authorized users and providers from outside have access to. Of course, it is up to hotel management to whom the authorization rights will be given and being an open system it makes support, development and innovation activities much easier. Cloud based PMS are hosted on some of the world's best known servers so there is no need for additional computers to be used as servers.
  • Although there are some great differences in functions and way of managing regarding classical and cloud based system, both have their advantages from which hotels do not want to give up.
  • One of the biggest advantages of cloud based PMS for the Group B is the fact that this system can be directly integrated with hotel online booking engine. This is considered as a great advantage for the hotels that besides having functional web site, wish to maximize use of its online booking engine, receive more online reservations directly from the guests and gain more profit.
  • Such a functional connection between hotel’s PMS and online reservation system allow hotels to have a social media integration as well. This means that hotels are able to receive online reservation through their Facebook page as well as receive direct links to its page from the biggest review sites such as TripAdvior.com.
  • In this paper two different approaches and perspectives on usage of cloud based and classical hotel management systems were exposed. Hotels from Group B have shown a tendency for usage of new technologies and readiness to adopt and continuously learn about them.
  • Among factors, affecting why hotel prefers one system over another, are type and size of hotel, through which channels are guest reservations coming, previous experience with IT stuff and different programs, etc.
  • Cloud based program can help them in order to update prices and room availability information to hotel's booking engine. This prevents overbooking, provides easily management of CRM functions and information, with no first investment costs or extra expenses which results in revenue increase.
  • Hotels that use classical PMS pay a great attention to the security issue because they do not want to risk opening their hotel for external intervention. In recent years we can find in media lots of evidence of information linkage from system that had much higher security measures than an average hotel.
  • Measuring the performance of cloud-provided services is another challenge for the hotel management, primarily due to the lack of measurement standards.
  • While investigating the previous knowledge about the other system solutions, hotels in Group A have claimed lack of information about the cloud technology and its solutions.
  • Even though IT stuff in these hotels has some basic knowledge about it, it is still not enough to convince the other managers about its benefits. Therefore it may be concluded that, besides trying to overcome the above mentioned challenges, developers of cloud based solutions to hotels should also work hard on training the potential clients about the positive aspects and correct usage of cloud technologies.
  • Lack of measurement standards for cloud-provided services in general as well as for hotels is another important limitation due to which qualitative research was conducted. Authors’ recommendation is that academicians should focus more on topics of cloud computing, cloud solutions for other business operations and on defining measurements standards for cloud services.
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    This article, published in 2015, covers a study performed in Turkey to analyze factors in hotels that lead management to prefer desktop-based PMS over cloud-based PMS or vice versa. The study uses qualitative research to determine the reasons for the usage of PMS and the advantages and disadvantage of either system. The study found that, among others, significant factors that contribute to the form of PMS implemented by mangement may include the size of the property, reservation channels, and prior level of IT experience.
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Innovation Challenges in Hospitality - 0 views

  • The biggest development in recent years has been that of big data. While it seems that every company in today’s marketplace owns customer data, it’s only those who do something with it that gain a competitive edge.
  • Voice search is transforming the booking process, making it increasingly easy and convenient for customers to search for their next stay, without having to type a single word.
  • One such way is in providing a deeper level of personalization within the booking process.
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  • it’s no longer about simply providing a guest with a room, but providing them with a seamless experience
  • Another growing trend is the use of technology to enhance the guests’ stay. Modern guests are increasingly looking for high-tech experiences, and many are willing to forego traditional amenities to get them
  • the industry has had a dramatic environmental impact, from construction processes to energy and water consumption
  • keep in mind that sustainability goes beyond environmental management. To truly support long-term sustainable development, companies need to think beyond water and energy-saving methods and consider their impact on economic progress and social development – promoting health and well-being, gender equality, stimulating entrepreneurship and supporting local communities.
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    The Article disscuss the challenges in innovation in hotels, this include different aspects and argues that the industry is a bit late adapting and untilizing technologies compared to other industries. it gives example of the booking services of an airline and a hotel. which clearly gives strong indication that the clients in the market now days tend to look for a more personalized services which can be offered through the hotel booking system. another aspect of the article covers the side of sustainability, that is not limited to saving water or energy level but on a wider aspect also.
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Out of Line: How Restaurant Operators Can Utilize The Cloud To Maximize Performance | H... - 0 views

  • 71% say the ability to integrate with other systems is driving their POS purchase decisions, according to HT’s2 2023 POS Software Trends Report.So, when restaurant operators go looking for ways to innovate, they’re inevitably met with a need to throw out all the current capital investments to get to the needed improvements - a proposition that results in difficult ROIs.  On top of these impossible economics, the upgrade process is incredibly time-consuming and massively expensive. Updating such a massive and integral part of the business can take years, multiple decision makers and tens of thousands of dollars per store. 
  • Switching to cloud-based technology used on legacy hardware can be an incredibly smart option for restaurant owners who want to improve business operations without long delays and costly hardware overhauls. The restaurant point-of-sale (POS) system, using access to cloud-based data and seamless software updating, can bring important innovations to operators without the wait and expense.
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    This article discusses the aging restaurant (POS) systems which are quickly becoming a blocker to new initiatives. However this is where cloud based software comes into play by maximizing performance. It brings innovations to restaurant operators without the wait and expense. The older (POS) system are not so innovative. The upgrade process is very expensive and time consuming. The cloud based system integration can enhance overall efficiency leading to improved guest service and higher profitability.
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Leading Through Disruption in Hospitality - 2 views

  • Ninety per cent of all the data created by mankind … has been created in the last two years
  • Virtual reality (VR) also allows users to get 360-degree views of a hotel’s facilities
  • HotelTonight. This platform targets people seeking to make last-minute hotel bookings and helps participating hotels maximize their occupancy rates
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  • Advanced technology can make life easier, but it cannot replace human beings
  • All in all, disruptive innovation is undoubtedly resulting in challenges for the hotel industry. At the same time, it is also a ‘wake-up’ call for hoteliers to turn these challenges into opportunities and competitive advantages
  • New business models such as alternative accommodation (Airbnb, HouseTrip, etc.) and ride-sharing platforms (Uber) are also changing the public’s perceptions to traditional hospitality businesses
  • Technology helps make the world connected and transparent.
  • In short, it’s all about the amount of effort hoteliers are prepared to make to keep their service commitments to their guests. 
  • Disruption brings with it uncertainty through unexpected consequences. People are nowadays more prepared to check themselves in at the airport, use self-service cashier lines at the supermarket, or order food via a mobile app.
  • In hospitality, people’s expectations are also changing. Long queues to check in at the hotel become unacceptable; unresponsive or slow room service lead to negative hotel comments on TripAdvisor; and some expect 24 hours’ housekeeping even in a budget hotel
  • Technological disruption in the hotel industry is therefore challenging but it also brings with it significant opportunities. Due to the large numbers of internet users, including mobile, online review platforms, attract lots of traffic which, in turn, means plenty of business potential for the online travel agencies (OTAs) in particular.
  • Like it or not, technology will always keep progressing and hotel brands could turn such tech challenges into their competitive advantages.
  • No matter how much technology has impacted the hotel industry, hospitality – and the human touch – will always exist and should never be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).
  • A machine can cook dishes exactly to order, but it cannot experience how the guest feels; a robot might be able to deliver a pot of hot water to a hotel room, but it is unable to tell whether the guest is feeling unwell; an advanced voice control system could make it easier to order room service, but it cannot tell whether the guest enjoys the meal.
  • Many hotels have hired a designated team to respond to selected online reviews with personalized messages because they know the reviews represent ‘real feedback’, not the type of comments which effectively ‘threaten’ hotels with a bad review in a bid to get something for nothing. However, many hotel managers are afraid of getting bad reviews and either choose to ignore them or give a refund. There are many ways to handle this ‘disruption’ and run the business; the key is to find the right way.
  • Hoteliers should be prepared to seize those opportunities, while looking to improve their services and enhance their hospitality offerings.
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    This article dives into the ways that technological innovation is disrupting the hotel industry. Hoteliers are struggling to keep up with guest needs and demands. Technological innovations, while a necessity, can never replace human touch. This rapid change represents a challenge and opportunity for the industry to overcome.
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    Technology advances at a rapid pace. While automation is occurring, it will not replace the element of the human touch. Managers should decide what will provide the best service to their guests.
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    This article explains the technological advances in the hospitality industry and how this has been attributed to being a crutch for the industry and/or a burden. With the utilization of technological software such as kiosks, automated checks in's, and mobile ordering, the hospitality industry has had a disruption in the product that they are offering. The article also undergoes the understanding of taking the implementation of technology and the human interaction and combining them to work cohesively in the hospitality industry. Understanding that it is a balance that both must intertwine in order to find success in hospitality.
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    In this article, all the incredible sides of innovative technology within the hospitality and tourism industry are highlighted and discussed. Along with the discussion of what some of the newest technology is, it touches on how it positively and negatively affects the industry. For example, the article talks about how the average person is so much more willing to go about self-service check-ins and hotels and airports, as well as ordering from a kiosk at a restaurant. From this, while it can be super convenient for the customer, it can also cause extreme damage to the business. Because so much of the industry has transformed to just being at the will of your fingertips, it leaves customers forgetting that not everything comes with instant gratification. "Long queues to check in at the hotel become unacceptable; unresponsive or slow room service lead to negative hotel comments on TripAdvisor; and some expect 24 hours' housekeeping even in a budget hotel", a quote from the article reads. The article also talks about how while there can be many negatives, there are equally as many rewarding positives. For example, "Due to the large numbers of internet users, including mobile, online review platforms, attract lots of traffic which, in turn, means plenty of business potential for the online travel agencies (OTAs) in particular". One of the main points in the article talks about how even though many hospitality jobs are being taken over by computers and AI, the one thing a robot will never be able to grasp and give is human interaction. "A machine can cook dishes exactly to order, but it cannot experience how the guest feels; a robot might be able to deliver a pot of hot water to a hotel room, but it is unable to tell whether the guest is feeling unwell; an advanced voice control system could make it easier to order room service, but it cannot tell whether the guest enjoys the meal". In conclusion, while there are indeed many disruptive changes that have bee
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Hotel Industry Trend: Mobile Proximity Marketing Gives Hoteliers and Their Advertisers ... - 1 views

  • ction via the guests' mobile devices-only now, it won't be by dialing a number or sending a text message.
  • intera
  • Proximity marketing is one of the most effective advertising tools to become available for hoteliers
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    • Henrique Rodrigues
       
      The following article analyzes the relationship of mobile proximity marketing in the hotel industry and how it is very innovative in shaping different ways to interact with hotel guests and to drive revenues. Many things have changed in the last 10 years in the advertising and marketing industry as mobile devices became more of a pocket computer. Different technologies have been developed to use the full interaction possible with the customers and marketing had to be quick to make its own changes. The inception of proximity marketing allow the companies to be more effective and develop an interactive engagement. By changing the methods of communication, marketing can deliver and offer more information than it could ever be done before. One of the main ideas behind is to entice the customers and offer them exclusivity, giving the guests what they want. In exchange, hotels get to retain more loyal customers and also gain data and statistics that will help the hotel to stay relevant at all times. At the end of the day, the main goal is increasing customer engagement, exclusivity and interaction. So far it has been working just fine.
  • hoteliers can also measure the response of their advertisements, and advertising messages can be tailored based on the hotel or advertising partner's needs in real-time
  • this interactive marketing engagement is the marriage of digital and mobile marketing used to deliver content to guests' mobile devices in a contextually relevant environment
  • The messages are automatically delivered to the guest's cell phone whenever they approach a certain distance (from 3 to 300 feet) of the TV in their room, or any digital signage in the hotel property,
  • Proximity marketing has tremendous revenue-producing potential, allowing hotels to deepen their connection with guests, encourage more loyalty and greatly improve the customer experience:
  • new opportunity for hoteliers to increase revenues by advertising to a captive audience that craves information and interaction
  • it is clear that the future of hotel marketing is ready to evolve
  • offering hotels and advertisers increased customer engagement, interaction and exclusivity. B
  • y adding proximity marketing into the mix, hoteliers can encourage guests to react to an advertisement immediately, create repeat business, and in turn generate larger ROI for hotel advertisers.
  • allows digital signs to 'talk and interact' with nearby mobile devices, providing mobile users with information and incentives at exactly the time they need them
  • Proximity marketing provides a tool to reach guests beyond just traditional advertising campaigns by adding to existing digital signage and television advertising
  • As hoteliers search for new marketing tools to increase interaction with their guests, and advertisers switch budgets from traditional advertising to newer, more interactive "new media",
  • an exclusive offer, rich media, loyalty promotions and incentives and a great deal more.
  • Proximity marketing offers hoteliers capabilities that traditional advertising never could alone, which is why it is such an effective marketing for hoteliers.
  • Two of the fastest-growing marketing channels today are mobile devices
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    This article discusses proximity marketing within the hospitality industry. Proximity marketing is a growing useful tool. Hotels are among those utilizing proximity marketing. As noted in the article and highlighted in yellow, proximity marketing allows the hotel to reach there guest after they check in. Following check in your phone can be used as increased access to the hotel. Proximity marketing is an enhancement which leads to increased innovation. Per the article proximity marketing is one of the most effective advertising tools to become available for hotels. Through proximity marketing messages are transferred to the guest cell phone. The cell phone access has the ability to lead to increased revenue. The hotel and guest can interact in new ways. This form of marketing caters to guest engagement, provides a new method of communication and allows for guests to receive information. Proximity Marketing is an innovative tool that I believe will continue and grow as the years continue.
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    This article serves to illustrate the effectiveness of proximity marketing as it is a way for businesses to carefully curate their messages based on customer interactions and in turn increase revenues through specifically targeted advertising campaigns. This digital marketing technique is designed to boost customer engagement and interaction and will enable the company to gain valuable insights to customer behavior.
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    Discussed are the uses of proximity marketing for the hotel industry. The ability to reach guests while on property and informing them of the services that are available as well offering special pricing and other incentives for returning to the property are all useful tools.
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    MUST READ! This is a powerful summary of proximity marketing - and how it applies specifically to hotels. The article is rich in statistical data on how many guests use their cell phones, have a cell phone and what the opportunities are for a hotel to use this data. Interesting stat - 98% of guests turn on their TV within 5 minutes of entering their room. What a captive way to reach out to your guests!
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    Proximity marketing allows hoteliers to reach their guest in a more innovative way. When entering a hotel lobby or bar, a push notification can be sent to them advertising the brand. It can also be done in the hotel room via their TV. With an increase in cellphone usage, 91% of Americans will be easily reached electronically.
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    Mobile proximity marketing in my opinion will continue more vigorously in the future . This is a captive audience for the hotel to connect with its guests to upsell , inform , drive business to the brand and its affiliates as well as a great tool for guest retention . Undoubtedly , the cell phone has replaced Ipads and computers in the movement for vacation guests for example . A guest would usually not take their laptops to the pool area but will more often than not , take their cell phone. A popup Ad while walking by the boutique or an outlet can stir emotions to visit or purchase that was never planned.
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    This article discusses how, using proximity marketing and hotels can deliver relevant content to guests' mobile devices at moments of maximum influence, in a contextually relevant environment. With proximity marketing, hotels can advertise to a captive audience without leaving their property or hotel rooms. Messages can be tailored according to the hotel or advertising partner's needs in real-time.
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What's new in POS systems? | Technology content from New Hope 360 - 0 views

  • more and more POS keyboards are being replaced by all-in-one touch screens, which save space and are less susceptible to dirt and liquids. Often, these touch screens are paired with new LCD screens that clearly display register totals and broadcast special offers and other store information. The screens can also show personalized ads based on a shopper’s purchase items or customer loyalty information, similar to customized coupon systems already in place at many store checkouts.
  • “Point-of-sale technology has evolved from a cash register to a computerized solution that includes the point of sale, back office, inventory control, reporting and more,” says Robert Symmonds, president of Alberta, Canada-based POS software company Auto-Star Compusystems. “Today, retailers will find POS systems designed to help them save time, reduce costs, improve accuracy, control inventory and manage customers.”
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    It's clear that part of POS system innovation is technology innovation-iPad & iPhone scanning; self-check in and out function, etc. However, the author clarified what customers want and look forward are not only technology but service. Even though the service doesn't seem to be provided by staffs, the new technology meets needs of new generation of customers, who are independent and looking for more personal service. So the purpose of a successful POS system is to make restaurant management more efficient, prevent theft and create great experience for customers. 
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Hotel software pioneer heads to the Cloud - 1 views

  • Since 1994, protel hotel software has raised the bar for innovative state-of-the-art software solutions, proving a keen insight into the requirements and needs of hoteliers
  • protel hit the ground running by introducing the first property management system with a graphic user interface
  • protel was the first to offer a complete front office application on a mobile touch screen device
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  • more than 4,000 clients use Cloud solutions by protel
  • web-based applications can be accessed through an Internet browser on different types of devices regardless of operating system or native language.
  • credo
  • protel hotelsoftware
  • "Eighteen years of experience and the constant exchange of ideas with 11,000 clients and partners have taught us what the industry needs. We believe that employing new technologies for hotel systems creates innovations that accelerate the industry's growth and substantially benefits clients and guests
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    A German hotel software company, protel, has been an iinnovative leader in the software PMS since 1994. Protel became a leader in the hospitality software field by introducing the first property management system with a grpahic user interface (GUI). Once companies began going mobile, they again were the first to offer a complete front office application on a mobile touch screen device. Protel offers several web-based applications that can be assessed through the internet on any type of device, any operating system and in any language. This particular articel I found interesting because I had never heard of the company but they have paved the way for many of the large hotel franchises to utilize mobile based apps for their hotels. With so many of the larger hotel chains, I would imagine that they would have been one of the original innovators of the mobile web based technology but instead it was a German company that helped pave the way for the hospitlaity industry.
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Bartech to Unveil Latest Innovations in Automatic Minibar Technology at Equip... - 1 views

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    Show marks two decades of continued advancement in automatic minibar technology and industry firsts available only from Bartech Bartech, a world leader in automatic profit-generating minibar solutions for the hospitality industry, announced today that it will be showcasing its comprehensive product line at Equip'Hôtel 2012, taking place November 11-15 at Porte De Versailles in Paris, France. In addition to their already extensive selection of customizable automatic minibars designed to maximize revenue and save hoteliers time and money through increased efficiency, Bartech will also be introducing three new product solutions this year at Hall 2 Booth D56. These recent innovations include the energy efficient Neobar, a stand-alone eTray and new web-based minibar management software.
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    Efficient, energy-saving, increase profits, not only is the development trend of the hotel, but the overall trend of the economy. Bartech seize troubled refrigerator consumes high for the hotel industry, which proposed innovation. These recent innovations include the energy efficient Neobar, a stand-alone eTray and new web-based minibar management software. Now only be reflected in terms of technology and design of energy-saving, I believe that the next phase of development will be more evident in the near future, our effort will be put into the research and development of new materials, smaller resource consumption, durable and lasting.
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Red Robin CIO Drives Change Through IT Management - 0 views

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    Statistically speaking, CIOs don't become CEOs. But it's not because they don't want it. Research shows that nearly half of CIOs aspire to become chief executive, but only four percent actually get there. Much more frequently, CEOs for the world's top companies - about half in fact - come up through C-level financial or operating roles (Vanson Bourne, 2012). Chris Laping, CIO of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (www.redrobin.com), strongly believes this is because technology executives are too often focused on engineering and IT solutions to embrace their most valuable leadership quality: the ability to manage change. Technology leaders, he believes, possess powerful project management skills that can and should be leveraged across the business for even the most non-IT initiatives, with the particular role of being agents for change. Laping's official role at Red Robin is indicative of that practice: he's the company's senior vice president of business transformation and CIO. In that role, he oversees the company's technology, learning and development, enterprise project management and operations services teams. In this exclusive interview with Hospitality Technology, Laping shares how the technology team has taken on a business transformation role at Red Robin, and describes his overall vision for IT leaders. But it's not something CIOs are handed; they have to drive it, says Laping. Driving this change, perhaps, will also help more CIOs chase down their chief-executive dreams. HT: Let's start with some definitions: "business transformation" and "change agents" are pretty heady buzzwords that get tossed around executive boardrooms. What does business transformation really mean? LAPING: If you look at a classic Wikipedia definition of business transformation, it talks about people, process and technology. So when you push change through people, you usually do that through training. If you want to change business performan
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Five Major Trends in Property Management Systems - Agilysys Blog - 0 views

  • s property management systems
  • , with  features that enhance efficiency, improve control over processes, enable faster delivery of services, and engender guest loyalty.
  • Trend #1: Cloud computing
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  • Trend #4: Mobile optimization
  • Trend #3: More powerful guest history
  • Trend #2: Product specialization
  • Trend #5: Tighter systems integration
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    This article provide us with 5 major trends of PMS in hospitlaity industry. As mentioned in the passage,innovative technology increasingly enables hoteliers to boost revenues and profitability and serve guests in unique and personalized ways. Which lead to PMS 's new development. First trend of PMS is Cloud Computing: lower operations costs and improved elasticity, which broads PMS utilization. Second trend is product specialization: more and more unique products offered by hospitality industry to meet customers' demands instead of traditionally selling sold as one  application to customers. Third trend is  more powerful guest history: more specifc data to record guest history vistings and so forth, which makes hospitality industry to deliver more valuable personal service. Forth trend is  mobile optimization: online booking through app for instrance, allows guest to check everything whenever and wherever. Last trend is tigher system integration: sensible systems integration enable to make exchanging process of data more fluently to gain more competitive advantage for hospitality industry. So far,we can clearly see that as more specific and unqiue service and product come out, the technology in hospitality industry come to be more details and channels for transferring infornation become the major issue of innovation.
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Resorts Drive Revenue with High-Touch Innovative PMS | News | Hospitality Magazine (HT) - 0 views

  • Maestro goes above and beyond PMS by delivering revenue generating tools and expert services that enable independent operators to maximize revenue, increase productivity and keep guests coming back
  • Maestro also empowers multi-property hotel groups with enterprise-wide system solutions that deliver true centralized management controls on a single database.
  • his enables closer property coordination, cross-property booking and upsell capabilities, and consistent guest recognition at all touch points for all properties.
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  • Maestro's Web Connection suite increases profitability and reduces costly third-party dependency with direct bookings
  • he ResWave real-time, integrated booking engine enables guests and groups to book rooms, suites, activities, amenities, spa and dining online, from mobile devices, Facebook, landing pages, and email campaigns.
  • operators are turning to hosted systems to reduce staff, trim hardware investment, simplify PCI-compliant cardholder security, and ensure 24/7 access to property data.
  • Maestro delivers a robust, stable hosted solution that increases profitability and productivity. Managers and ownership teams may access the property’s system at anytime from anywhere to always connect with their operation.
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    This article is about the Maestro Property Management Suite which allows properties to optimize their revenue by having access to centralized control and innovative capabilities. this system enables a property to lower costs; permitting guests to  have real-time direct booking for not only rooms but also, other services such as amenities, dining, and such. Maestro offers secure and accesible system which seems to be allowing companies, such as The Snow King Resort, to increase revenue and improve the services offered to guests and groups. 
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Innovations in Hospitality: Hotel Technology, Restaurant Text Message Marketing, Mobile... - 1 views

  • Innovations in Hospitality: Hotel Technology, Restaurant Text Message Marketing, Mobile Services
  • A hotel’s primary reason in investing in technology is to boost revenues, increase guest satisfaction and improve operating efficiencies.
  • Restaurants marketing through text messaging offer competitive advantages on the mobile channel most used by guests: text messaging.
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  • Guest can make reservations, search for nearby restaurants, be informed of important events in the hotel and also they can use it to purchase via the help of m-commerce solutions.
  • Surveys say the business traveler is more interested in mobile services offered by hotels when it comes to guest check-in and check-out.
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    Restaurant Message Marketing is growing extremely quickly.  It is increasing revenues for restaurants.  By opting-in, clients can receive coupons from the restaurants automatically.  With the added use in smartphone technology, this is a e-marketing strategy that many hospitality firms will look to implore in the near future.
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SUBWAY® Digital Grows Global E-Commerce Capabilities W - 0 views

  • the new team will be dedicated to the expansion and customization of unique e-commerce and omni-channel platforms for the sandwich chain.
  • SUBWAY® Digital is building the framework for a comprehensive digital strategy around the world. With the creation of SUBWAY® Digital, the newest division for SUBWAY® restaurants, the brand is looking to add at least 50 jobs this year, and up to 150 total over the next few years, including five on the new team in Vancouver.
  • “Being the only provider that has deployed online ordering at such a large scale, in multiple countries, has put us in a great position to pursue our mission of providing convenience while bridging the in-store and online experience for brands and customers alike - a real omni-channel approach,” says Jason Strashek, Avanti’s founder and CEO.
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  • “This reinforces our commitment to attracting top technology and digital marketing talent,” said Carman Wenkoff, SUBWAY® restaurants CIO and Chief Digital Officer. “This will bring our commerce platform of enhancing engagement and building loyalty to the next level and will allow us to deliver value to the market quickly.”
  • Avanti Commerce is an Order, Payment and Customer Engagement platform for restaurant chains of all sizes. By empowering the customer to Order & Pay at a time and location of their choosing, restaurants help mitigate capacity constraints while strengthening customer loyalty and driving recurring purchases.
  • The innovative platform extends a restaurant’s storefront through Apps, the Web, and other innovative customer facing channels… Anytime, Anywhere. 
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    This article show cases Subway Digital's recent acquisition of a 20-person team from Avanti Commerce. This team's main focus will be the expansion and customization of an innovative e-commerce and onmi-channel platforms. Apart from that, the team is also developing a new program for in-restaurant kiosks.
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DevOps and right-speed IT | Deloitte University Press - 0 views

  • Dupress
  • Forward-thinking CIOs are embracing delivery models that distribute agile experience more evenly across teams, seeking to optimize enterprise IT at a speed that’s right for the entire IT organization.
  • Leading organizations are building on the simple two-speed IT mindset and recognizing they must be able to support a continuum of speeds in order to dial in the right approach for a specific initiative, with the underlying disciplines, capabilities, platforms, and talents to appropriately support the actual breadth of business needs.
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  • Right-speed IT must address three broad categories: procedural, architectural, and organizational. Let’s move beyond rhetoric and dig into each area
  • Right-speed IT is an acknowledgement that IT departments need more ammunition to organize, interact, and deliver value to the business.
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    This article expounds how important the speed of IT is in order to effectively balance business value, risks, and technical feasibility. The article continues to explain how the speed of IT should be as fast as possible unlike traditional single-speed delivery models that work well for high-torque enterprise operations did not work well for high-speed innovation. According to the article, a growing number of CIOs realize that projects often require additional gears that meet their specific needs and cadences. With investments in foundational and flexible procedural, architectural, and organizational domains, right-speed IT can help turn simplistic models and philosophical discussions into concrete value. In conclusion, CIOs are finding a balance between high torque enterprise IT and high-speed innovation IT can allow companies to optimize technology operations.
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What Dominated Hotel Technology in 2016, and What's Next? - 0 views

  • Pressure to heighten the guest experience is driving all kinds of innovation in hotel technology
  • Consumers are wowed by new technology, and expect the latest gadgets they use at home and on-the-go to be a regular part of their travel experience.
  • Guest-facing apps have drawn well-earned attention as part of a larger trend toward enhancing the guest experience
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  • Best Western also rolled out VR to train employees in guest interactions.
  • Guest room controls were a hot area for hotel technology investment last year, and show no sign of slowing in 2017.
  • Brands are using AR for innovative uses such as translation services, wayfinding through interactive wall maps and even virtual decor.
  • hotels are also investing in mobility on the back end
  • Other emerging technology catching hoteliers’ attention include RFID for asset tracking, interactive walls and displays, and robotics.
  • Expect incubators to become one of the bigger trends in hospitality as brands seek to discover the tech that resonates with their guests.
  • hotel CIOs are kicking up investment in digital customer engagement in 2017, rising from 32 percent in 2016 to 52 percent
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    Increasingly, consumers expect their travel experiences to include the latest and greatest technologies that they experience in their daily lives. This is driving increased investment from hospitality (esp. hotelier) CIO's in digital customer engagement. Top technologies include virtual/augmented reality for consumers as training of employees; voice activation in hotel rooms and common areas as well as for coaching staff; mobile apps for booking, check-ins/check-outs, IRD orders, and front-desk communications, as well as back-end management of labor, inventory, and customer relations; RFID asset tracking; interactive displays; and robotics. All of these trends culminate in Innovation Incubator hotels like M Beta at Charlotte Marriott City Center where technologies are rapidly prototyped and guest feedback is provided in real-time to help drive decisions about which technologies represent the greatest value to cutting-edge hoteliers through guest engagement.
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Hotel Giants Work Together to Launch RoomKey.com, an Innovative New Hotel Search Engine... - 0 views

  • Finding the right hotel is complex and, unlike booking a flight or reserving a car, it is a personal decision process - one which no one understands better than hoteliers.  We believe Roomkey.com will provide consumers with an innovative resource that will give them unprecedented confidence in their booking decisions
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    Six of the world's leading hotel companies, Choice Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International Inc. and Wyndham Hotel Group, launched Roomkey.com, an innovative new online hotel search engine. It enables consumers to search and book directly with the hotel, and it gives consumers confidence that they have made the right choice by providing accurate hotel information straight from the source. The brain behind this project is John F. Davis III, Chief Executive Officer of Room Key, who is a highly experienced hospitality industry visionary with a history of entrepreneurial successes. The technology platform for RoomKey.com was acquired from hotelicopter, an innovative flexible hotel search and direct platform, which allows Room Key to evolve and enrich the user experience quickly. Additionally, hotelicopter's affiliate platform provides destination marketing organizations with a hotel marketing platform that helps drive more direct bookings to their local hotels, now under the Room Key Solutions brand. Shafiq Khan, Senior Vice President of eCommerce, Marriott International, said, "Room Key's new and unique offering will embody the best of what hotel company websites offer consumers, giving them confidence in their booking decisions - a personalized and welcoming experience that offers flexibility, accuracy, and benefits of booking with the hotel companies' proprietary sites." Now is time for consumers to use new "Rom Key"and make their way to hotel rooms around the world.
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