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yimengliu

Why Social Media Marketing Is Important For Any Business - 0 views

  • Did you know that social media marketing has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing? Or that 84% of B2B marketers use social media in some form? No matter what you sell and who you sell it to, using social media as a marketing tool can help you grow your brand and pad your wallet.
  • Social Media Is THE BEST Tool to Connect with (and Learn from!) Consumers & Industry Leaders
  • The Importance of Social Media Marketing for Brand Image
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  • The Right Social Media Marketing Strategy Can Help You Slay the Competition
  •  
    16 Reasons Why Your Business NEEDS Social Media Marketing
  •  
    This article is described reasons that business need social media marketing. Currently, social media influence of the enterprise's finance and reputations. Most of the company would like to choose social media as of Advertising used, which can help the company save the expense and attract more customers. For every business, the most expensive cost is advertisement. The fast and easy way to introduce the business is using the advertisement. Social media may improve the marketing abilities at a lower cost than the traditional advertising. Furthermore, the importance of social media marketing is brand image.
natashacastro

Sustainable hotels: how hotels can reduce energy costs - 1 views

  • n the hotel industry there is an urgency not only to go greener but also to become more tech-friendly, according to recent research by energy leaders E.ON.
  • The first stage is to check the rate at which they’re paying for energy, and to get a greater sense of how much their business is affected by this cost. The second is to address the easiest fixes to bring that cost down – such as replacing inefficient bulbs or heaters and minimising wasted heat or light. The third is to put energy at the heart of the business’s strategy and to make committed investments that promise long-term reward, such as installing solar panels, or investing in waste heat-recovery systems to slash heating costs.
  • The changes in travelling habits and the demands of guests will have a significant impact on hotels both small and large,” says Phil Gilbert, director of energy solutions at E.O
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  • “Cutting down waste, using smart technology to manage buildings and possibly generating their own power are all options for hotels to consider, and E.ON can help throughout the whole process, from concept to management.”
  • is now ready to invest significantly in energy solutions across other hotels in the Thwaites chain.
  • Getting to grips with energy costs is important for all businesses, and minimising the impact that rising energy prices will have is important for every organisation’s long-term security.
  •  
    This article discusses the push that is happening for hotels to "go green" and "tech-friendly". Travelers have more of a preference for eco-friendly/tech friendly hotels when booking. For example, guests now prefer wifi more than complimentary breakfast. Another example that guests are searching for sustainability usage was important to them. In a survey done one in five woule stay in a boutique hotel if it used renewable energy sources. The article examines the desires for guests and their preferences for hotels and how hotels can adjust to this change. To meet these demands, hotels can address what are easy fixes such minimizing wasted heat or light. Another way hotels can hop on in this movement is by investing in systems that are eco-friendly such as waste heat-recovery systems. Investing in energy solutions will meet customer demands and help save the environment.
jalilahst

OYO UK hotels go live on Sabre's SynXis platform to grow reach and focus recovery - 0 views

  • More than 80 OYO hotels in the UK, representing more than 2,500 rooms, are now connected to all major GDSs through Sabre's advanced hospitality solutions.
    • jalilahst
       
      OYO hotel & homes connected its first group of hotels to Sabre's SynXis
  • SynXis Central Reservations optimizes global distribution channels and enables greater scale and operational efficiency by delivering rates and inventory to all major GDS systems and online travel agencies (OTAs) through direct connections and switch partners.
    • jalilahst
       
      SynXis increases efficiency by delivering rates and inventory to all major GDS systems and OTAs directly to partners.
  • This first collection of OYO independently-owned UK hotels to be made available on Sabre range in size from 10 to 110 rooms and cover a wide range of areas and price points.
    • jalilahst
       
      OYO's first collection of hotels to make it to Sabres GDS.
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  • they are now available to book through Sabre's own GDS as well as others, corporates, travel management companies, and almost 900,000 travel agents and tour operators globally, significantly increasing the distribution channels and revenue opportunities for the selected properties.
    • jalilahst
       
      This gave OYO hotels a global distribution reach.
  • The intention is to make further UK OYO properties available to book via Sabre's SynXis Platform, as the portfolio continues to grow and as more hotels reopen following lockdown restrictions.
  • We are delighted that a wide range of OYO's UK hotels are now bookable via Sabre's SynXis CRS, making it easier for international and domestic corporates, travel agents and travel management companies, among others, to book our affordable accommodation around the UK,"
    • jalilahst
       
      OYO's intentions
  • OYO's new partnership with Sabre will drive a new distribution strategy in the UK, which will support OYO's asset partners and wider business goals,"
  • We look forward to working closely with OYO as it benefits from the SynXis Platform's distribution and retailing solutions
  • he portfolio combines fully operated real estate comprising more than 44,000 hotels with over 1.2 million rooms.
  • he company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences
  • Sabre's technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually
  •  
    OYO Hotels & Homes was a young hotel startup in 2013. Now it holds 44,000 locations and over 1.2 million in rooms. Sabre Corporation is one of the leaders in technology and software that powers the global travel industry. Sabre's SynXis increases efficiency by delivering rates and inventory to all major GDS systems and OTAs directly to partners. OYO Hotel & Homes connected its first group of hotels to Sabre's SynXis. This partnership with Sabre has given OYO the global tools to reach a global market. The platform has given them the power to book through Sabre's own GDS as well as others, corporates, travel management companies, and almost 900,000 travel agents and tour operators.
dulvanesei

StayNTouch and Design Hotels Partner to offer Intuitive Cloud PMS and Contactless Techn... - 0 views

  • StayNTouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management
  • software (PMS) and contactless technology
  • this collaboration with StayNTouch is that we will be able to offer our hotels innovative contactless technology and a cloud PMS that supports maximum operational flexibility, scalability, cost-efficiency, and a smoother guest experience.
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  • StayNTouch provides a fully cloud and mobile hotel property management system (PMS) that enables hotels to raise service levels, drive revenues, reduce costs, and ultimately captivate their guests.
  • Intuitive and powerful cloud PMS accessible on any device, anywhere, anytime. Robust solution that streamlines operational efficiencies, drives revenue, and enhances staff productivity. 
  • PMS-integrated guest self-service smart kiosk. Streamlines the check-in, key retrieval and check-out processes by letting guests skip the line and get on with their stay.
  • PMS-integrated guest mobile check-in & check-out. Enables a seamless and contactless guest welcome and departure experience. Allows hotel to generate revenue with automated upsells and upgrades.
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    This article is about the Design Hotels, which is an independent Marriott brand, has recently partner up with StayNTouch, a global cloud hotel PMS and contactless technology. StayNTouch will be providing their cloud PMS, guest Kiosk, and guest mobility, all to more than 3000 boutique Design Hotels. The Design Hotels will benefit from this partnership by having them raise their service level, drive revenues, and reduce costs.
jspie001

Every Hotelier in Every Role Must Now Understand Technology | - 0 views

  • Gone are the days when a GM or rooms division manager could pawn tech problems or new integrations off to IT personnel. Yes, those technical wizards are still instrumental to the smooth functioning of all parts of the tech stack. Two such areas where these managers will forever be vital are cybersecurity and building two-way software connections or using APIs to bring data from one system into a central hub.
  • Traditionally, only IT directors, GMs, asset managers and owners have had the privilege of attending tradeshows focusing on tech, but perhaps there’s room here to motivate team members from other departments by letting them attend once in a while
  • Embracing tech must start at the top for acceptance at the lower rungs to occur, and thus both owners and GMs should encourage new tech discussions within executive committee meetings
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  • As has often been remarked about the pandemic, many of the resultant trends affecting hospitality are ones that would have transpired regardless, but that the evolution occurred over a matter of months and not years
  • While you likely have little power over what schools teach their students, all younger or new hires should be screened for their aptitude and attitude towards enterprise platforms
  • Senior executives must know tech – no exceptions – with some form of testing, oral or written, that assesses a broad understanding of core software and common physical devices, required prior to signing on any new director or team leader
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    This article highlights the need for technology innovation to be more inclusive within the sector. It focuses on senior level roles but also emphasizes the importance of including all levels within the evolution of the industry. It also highlights that these changes would have occurred with or without the pandemic but was expedited because of it. It speaks about including lower levels of management with invitations to trade shows and other technology exposition in order to include a larger net of point of views and perspectives. It also highlights the need for further automation in order to help with large scale global issues like climate change and continuing touchless actions like check ins to maximize efficiency and the guest experience.
emmajeenie

How the Cloud is Shaking up the PMS Landscape: New Skift Research - Skift - 2 views

  • Integrations to the PMS is one area that has seen anything from despair to anger among hoteliers and integration partners.
  • Integrations to the PMS is one area that has seen anything from despair to anger among hoteliers and integration partners.
  • need information that is stored in the PMS, requiring to connect (i.e. integrate) with the PMS for access.
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  • although the majority of hotels are using Windows-based OPERA v5, which requires an on-premise database.
  • the PMS vendor sends out an engineer and/or representative to visit the hotel to install the software and train the staff.
  • between $10,750 and $14,750 for a PMS software license and training,
  • Cloud property management systems are generally sold using the software as a service (SaaS) model,
  • hosts the data and software in the cloud, and there is no need for physical hardware at the property.
  • Hybrid models continue to exist where hoteliers can have some aspects of their software and data storage on-premise, with others in the cloud.
  • Apaleo stands out for its focus on third-party integrations over building proprietary features.
    • emmajeenie
       
      Cloud based infrastructure is taking over the previous legal systems. Cloud computing has had a major impact on the PMS sector but intergrading it has been somewhat of a challenge. Things have shifted from On-premise to hosted and now cloud.
  • Technological advancements have allowed for new entrants into the property management systems space to offer a viable alternative to incumbent legacy systems. Those systems might be scrambling for now, but they’ll catch up. All this can only be a good thing for the PMS and hotel tech space in the long run.
  • . Legacy systems are now working hard to roll out cloud-based products and convert their customers onto these systems.
  • Hardware costs came down drastically with the advent of the PC
  • Hyatt is one major hotel chain that requires its hotel owners to use an OPERA hosted system.
  • With the move to the cloud also came an increased focus on simplifying integrations.
  • Market leaders Oracle OPERA and Protel are clustered together around the midpoint, both offering a strong proprietary feature list and extensive integration
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    The article talks about the effect that cloud computing has had on property management systems. Particularly, PMS integrations.
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    My opinions on this article are based on my own experience with PMS systems, specifically Oracle Opera. It has been a terrible experience over the years trying to solve any type of issue with Opera and the support is existent but very limited, which makes it difficult for an average front desk agent to even understand what is going on. With Cloud-Based PMS systems, it would definitely need to be crucial to develop excellent customer service that will actually help with things go wrong with the PMS system.
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    New entrants into the property management system have provided better alternatives to the legacy systems. Integrating those systems has been somewhat a challenge but in the future they(Cloud system) may well be the norm.
emmajeenie

Attacked by Ransomware, Many Companies Opt to Pay Up - CFO - 1 views

    • emmajeenie
       
      The demanded ransom is often a moderate amount that would pale in comparison to the recovery and reputational costs for a company that refuses to pay.
  • Hospitals, for instance, are frequent targets of these kinds of attacks, in part because people’s lives are on the line so they have to make quick decisions.
  • , in a ransomware attack the data isn’t released or leaked or sold. On the contrary, in most cases, data and infrastructure aren’t compromised at all; its owner just can’t access them.
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  • y rose 41% from 2018 to 2019 to more than 205,000 globally, according to newly published data.
  • the security firm Coveware estimates the average payout for those that did was about $85,000 during last year’s fourth quarter, and more than $190,000 in December.
  • its leaders give in — and pay the ransom.
  • Organizations have more to lose financially from the inability to conduct business than they do from just paying the ransom
  • It’s like the plot of a James Bond movie: Hackers take control of a global organization’s computer systems and threaten to destroy its records, steal its intellectual property, and drain its bank accounts unless a hefty ransom is deposited into an untraceable offshore bank account by the end of the day.
  • ” the ransom is likely a significantly smaller amount than what it may cost to address a threatening public issue or the time and money necessary to rebuild the confidence in a brand or company.
  • Experts suspect that the actual number of ransomware attacks is much higher than the reported number, citing reasons ranging from fear of job loss, investor withdrawal, and reputational damage
  • Moreover, while public companies are required to report cyberattacks to regulators, private organizations are under no such mandate. Reporting attacks to law enforcement often may cause lengthy investigations
  • A hacker can keep repeating a ransomware attack until the security flaw is fixed or they are caught or reported.
  • Organizations can undertake a few basic defensive actions to mitigate the impact of a ransomware attack. Frequently backing up data and storing it on different networks is one way,
  • reducing the number of outside apps the system uses, fixing software vulnerabilities immediately, and properly training and educating employees on what to look for and whom to alert if something appears suspicious.
gaston326

Computer Says 'Yes' - The Impact of IT Investment | Ideas for Leaders - 0 views

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    IT investing is a very 'grey area' subject as there are so many different routes a company can take in terms of what exactly to invest in. There are many questions that needs answers before money is allocated to these investments like: what kind of return should we expect and exactly how much will be going into said investment and will it affect our other departments?
mtedd003

Meet the Soaring Demand for Unattended POS in the Restaurant and Retail Verticals - Dat... - 0 views

  • One of the latest trends that have made it necessary for solutions providers businesses to adapt is the booming unattended POS trend. The global interactive kiosk market saw record growth in 2018, reaching $9.22 billion and a 17.6 percent growth rate — which exceeded the growth rate in 2017.
  • Last year, McDonald’s announced a plan to install self-service kiosks in 1,000 of its stores per quarter.  Taco Bell planned kiosk installations in more than 6,000 locations, and Subway included self-service kiosks in its “Fresh Forward” initiative to transform customer experiences.
  • Furthermore, 60 percent say they’d visit restaurants more often if they had self-service kiosks.
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  • Erba Collective, a Los Angeles cannabis dispensary, installed self-service kiosks that accepted cashless payments to reduce wait times and increase customer turnover.
  • It’s the right solution for today’s consumers: Consumers value their time, and waiting in line can destroy an otherwise great customer experience.
  • It’s the right solution for today’s businesses: Merchants are facing mounting challenges ranging from rising labor costs to new competition. Self-service kiosks can help businesses do more with the same staff, minimizing the labor required for order taking or checkout.
  • o provide unattended POS solutions, you will need to speak with your vendors or find new partners that offer the types of hardware you need. It’s also vital that you work with a payments partner with expertise in managing unattended POS transactions.
  • EMV chip technology will help prevent card fraud.
  • part of their omnichannel strategies
  • If your goal is to be a total solutions provider and meet all of your customers’ needs
  • one-stop shop.”
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    Unattended POS is growing global trend which industry leaders will soon have to adapt in their business place. Quick service restaurants are quickly adapting to this change as it reduces wait time and increase in customer return rate. Other key benefits for businesses are the decrease in labor costs & minimal errors when processing guests' request. Ideally, merchants must speak with vendors to customize the self-service kiosk and to ensure they are in compliance. In the end this will expand revenue and efficiency.
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    Unattended POS machines hit a global growth of $9.22 billion in 2018 from 2017, and is still climbing. The unattended POS machine has shown to be particular popular in the quick service restaurant sector. McDonald's has announced a plan to put 1,000 self-service kiosks in their stores per quarter. Taco bell and Subway have also announced they will be adding the kiosks in their stores as an initiative to offer a heightened customer experience. The machines have come with the benefits of reduced wait time and faster customer turnover. POS growth is attributed to aligning with today's consumers' expectations. Customers value their time and rising labor costs can be eased with the machine as it expedites transactions and covers tasks not relied on by human interaction.
Lymaris Collazo

REPORT: STATE OF HOTEL INDUSTRY SIX MONTHS INTO COVID PANDEMIC | AHLA - 0 views

  • The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) today released an analysis on the economic and human struggle  of the hotel industry six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, with millions of employees still furloughed or laid off and travel demand lagging far behind normal levels.  
  • Key findings of the report include: Four out of 10 hotel employees are still not working. Almost two-thirds (65%) of hotels remain at or below 50 percent occupancy, which is below the threshold at which most hotels can break even and pay debt. Consumer travel remains at all-time low, with only 33 percent of Americans reporting they have traveled overnight for leisure or vacation since March and just 38 percent saying they are likely to travel by the end of the year. Urban hotels are suffering the most and facing collapse with cripplingly low occupancies of 38 percent, significantly below the national average. COVID-19 has left hotels in major cities across the country struggling to stay in business, resulting in massive job loss and dramatically reducing state and local tax revenue for 2020 and beyond.
  • “While hotels have seen an uptick in demand during the summer compared to where we were in April, occupancy rates are nowhere near where they were a year ago. Thousands of hotels can’t afford to pay their mortgages and are facing the possibility of foreclosure and closing their doors permanently,” said Rogers.
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  • As a result of the sharp and sustained drop in travel demand, industry leaders say hotels are now facing the harsh reality of deciding whether to close their doors permanently.
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    In this article you will find a analysis released by The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) which states the crisis of the hotel industry during this past 6 months and how sales have been declining and the results of this in the Amercian economy.
sanchezgema_

5 Technologies Hotels Should Be Investing Into For 2020 | By Andrew Metcalfe - Hospital... - 0 views

  • A recent study of 2,000 people conducted by Guestline, looked how people book their hotels and the factors involved in room cancellations. It was found that over a quarter of people take into high consideration the quality and detail of a hotel's website (such as photographs and information) before making a direct booking online1.
  • Investing money into your websites simplicity in all stages of the guest journey will help acquire traffic, increase conversion rates and drive more people to book direct. The simplicity of website use (including less re-directs) will result trustworthiness of the potential customer. Hotel management may also find reporting efficient with less redirect windows to consider.
  • An investment in secure payment gateways protects the data of hotel guests, and the hotels credibility. For example, if a guest was to see the wrong value on an invoice, they may become wary of how secure that hotel's payment system is and look elsewhere. A secure payment gateway also checks in advance whether the credit card exists and is covered which could reduce chargebacks. This way, the hotelier can make sure that the booking via the credit card is genuine and at the same time protect the guest's data.
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  • Carefully choosing the right time to upsell a guest's hotel booking is crucial to a hotels' additional revenue stream. After a booking has been made there is a fresh window of opportunity to upsell, as guests will reflect on their budget spend and perhaps feel there is room to spare on extra luxuries and see what they may be missing out on.
  • Having all the data in one system makes presenting and acting on the data much more effective. For example, Amazon don't deliver packages 100% of the time but the rest of the experience they control, making it so easy for people to buy from them. Hotel systems will need to move this way in order to provide similarly strong guest experiences." Says Andrew
  • In a recent survey of 2,654 consumers by the Travel Leaders Group, 78% of respondents said they would like to see self-service kiosks more widely available for check-in2.
  • Omni channel platforms enable you to centralise operational systems, take back control of your revenue flow and transparency of guest data, so hotel management can focus on creating the best experience for customers.
  • Consumers are becoming accustomed to self-service systems as they appear across retail, leisure & transport industries. Another study, suggested that guests favour hotel self-service check-in's as it provides a faster service, results in more privacy and waiting time/lines are much shorter3. Hoteliers could consider how their core data system might be centralised as much as possible in order to make it a less complex & more efficient guest journey from booking to check in. Technology such as guest portals can be efficient for customers to retrieve their invoices quickly and will centralise all the data for the hotelier.
  • many of these will create options to drive people to your website but also more competition. If you can show your offering more easily, make booking slick and then integrate it to an onsite experience it will encourage guests to use you for converting their search to a reservation.
  • Upselling is an important aspect of hotel revenue
  • Hotel payments have adjusted to new legislation and as the move towards a more integrated guest experience aspects through check-in and checkout, invoice retrieval march on the payment aspects will have to dovetail seamlessly and accurately.
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    This article talks about the 5 technologies hotels should be investing into for 2020 in order to stay competitive. The technologies are website simplicity, upselling tech to boost profitability, secure payment systems to increase consumer confidence & credibility, self service and automated check-in, and an omni platform which centralises operations.
  •  
    Hotels are taking new major steps into tech integration as more and more developments are constantly being requested by guest and made by property owners. These I.T investments can help these properties majorly and help increase guest satisfaction. One advantage that many companies can use is it up selling aspect to help push sales. Investing in secure payment options helps with data security and gives the hotel credibility.
  •  
    -Website simplicity -Upselling technology to boost profitability -Secure payment systems to increase consumer confidence and credibility -Self service and automated check in -An omni platform which centralizes operations -In a 2,000 people study, a quarter of people take into high consideration the quality and detail of a hotel's website before making a direct booking online. -Website simplicity acquires traffic, increases conversion rates and drives more people to book direct. -Upselling can happen subsequently through nudge marketing via emails, push notifications of even on arrival at the hotel. -Investment in secure payment gateways protects the data of hotel guests and the hotels credibility. -Also checks in advance whether the credit card exists and is covered which could reduce chargebacks. -In a survey of 2,654 consumers, 78% of respondents said they would like to see self-service kiosks more widely available for check in. -Self check in is faster service, more privacy, and waiting time/lines are much shorter. -Omni channel platforms enable you to centralize operational systems, take back control of your revenue flow and transparency of guest data, so hotel management can focus on creating the best experience for customers.
abroo041

Pros and Cons of IoT Trends in Hospitality | Smart Meetings - 0 views

    • abroo041
       
      This article discusses the pros and cons of technological advances in the hospitality industry. The pros vary from safety to personalization for guests. The largest con discussed is the possibility for hackers to intrude from multiple technological platforms. The article concludes that technological advancements are necessary in hospitality and that they are the future of our industry. Instead of being afraid, industry leaders must take the necessary precautions to ensure the best and safest use of these advancements.
  • “IoT has the power to increase guest satisfaction, decrease unnecessary costs and labor and increase productivity.”
  • By keeping up with smart home technology, they can help guests feel comfortable and make accommodations for their needs.
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  • uses sensor data to recognize hazardous trends and alert the appropriate maintenance engineer before the issue escalates.
  • Mobile can be seen as a front and back-of-house application.
  • Personal data can be used to provide a special touch to hotel guests and make their stay special.
  • As the IoT market matures, vendor consolidation will likely occur, creating a smaller number of vendors with more cohesive system offerings.
  • Each device incorporated into a hotel’s digital infrastructure can be exploited by hackers.
  • That being said, one incident shouldn’t lead hotels to fear IoT in hospitality or all together. IoT is the way of the future and it’s unavoidable.
  • It’s a way to increase customer satisfaction and be ahead of the competition while still preparing for the worst situation that could happen.
kmira026

Why You Should Take a 'Wait-and-See' Approach to New-Product Launches - 0 views

  • While most inventors would love to create something completely new, that's not always necessary. Often, it's enough -- and a brilliant marketing tactic, even -- to imitate your rivals and then add a few tweaks.
  • Pandora used imitation and a delayed launch to woo paid streaming-service users with the promise of a more personalized experience.
  • Instead of being first to the marketplace, being last may actually present more opportunities and stability.
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  • Regardless of the solution they eventually offer, entrepreneurs who hang back can avoid early fatal flaws that interrupt fantastic consumer experiences.
  • Poor marketing, uber-techiness and overspending.
  • 1. Watch, look and listen.
  • 2. Use negative sentiment to your advantage.
  • Capitalize on negative press swirling around your competition by waiting to release a similar product.
  • While we love a story of bold innovation, innovation doesn't always keep the lights on. Sometimes, it's far wiser to come in second or third where the spotlight is less blinding -- there, you can see where you're going.
  • 3. Differentiate yourself through great execution.
  • As you read through social media posts and dig into articles on your competition's products, figure out where things went awry. Make sure you don't stumble over the same roadblocks.
  • Apple has merely found a smoother path to streamline a service people want and already use
  • Lyft and Uber have been entangled in a fight like this for a while.
  • When President Donald Trump's travel ban rather circuitously led to #DeleteUber momentum, Lyft took advantage of the opportunity to outshine its rival. Not only did Lyft donate to the American Civil Liberties Union, but it has also enjoyed a 7 percent increase in customers since January 29. Lyft wasn't hasty, and it swung with the popular sentiment pendulum.
  • You might think you have a revolutionary product, but what if the market disagrees? If your top competitor just released a similar product and its sales are flailing, you owe it to yourself to analyze what's happening. Could it be that the market for your product just doesn't exist yet? If so, how can you pivot so you can produce an actual game-changer, not a wannabe?Segway knows all about this challenge: It discovered its product's market was limited by cost and individual desire. By the time it was put to bed, it was no longer a technological marvel -- it was just a punchline. Chances are good that leaders of a company waiting to market a Segway-like creation put plans on hold when they saw the fallout and chose to execute their innovations differently.4. Do the common uncommonly well.
  • leapfrogged over the issues plaguing its competitors, solidifying itself as a smarter, less-glitchy solution for music lovers, thanks in part to what it's calling the Music Genome Project.
    • kmira026
       
      benefit of wait and see approach
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    This article goes into being patient when it comes to launching a new or similar product. Many companies try to be a trendsetter but sometimes taking the backseat is much beneficial. Startup and trial and error runs are ultimately decreased. Reviewing the feedback of others on social media outlets can help make sure you don't stumble over the same issues.
  •  
    This article explains why a wait & see approach is sometimes the best approach for some companies before launching a product in a very competitive market which already has a company providing the same product to consumers. Many companies have waited to see what issues consumers are complaining about when their competitors have launched a product to later launch a better product better than that if the competitors. Such companies are Pandora versus Apple Music, Lyft versus Uber, Apple Cash versus Venmo, QuickPay, and Square Cash.
anonymous

Royal Caribbean is rolling out a digital transformation and looking for top tech talent... - 0 views

  • It includes a mobile app that uses AI to act as a digital assistant, wayfinding to help passengers navigate around a ship's many pathways, VR and AR experiences in dining and arcade games, skipping check-in lines due to facial recognition technology in port, and using a wearable device or smartphone to automatically unlock cabin doors for the cabin's occupant.
  • big investment into the tech staff to support its digital transformation.
  • "I'm a big believer that you don't just wholly outsource your innovation to another company.
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  • finding talent within our company and using those leaders to help build their teams as well as augment with really key strategic partners where necessary."
  • ship design and beyond
  • The facial recognition feature will probably begin with QR codes and evolve to facial recognition,
  • mobile app
  • allows passengers to see their cruise schedule and what's available on board on a day-to-day basis
  • allow you to register in the app, check in via the app, upload your selfie to be able to use our facial recognition boarding, book shore excursions, dining, et cetera, and then we'll continue to add capabilities. We have x-ray vision [VR] and digital games built in,
  • even if we build a great app, that every aspect of the technology works flawlessly
  • The digital component is referred to as Excalibur within the company, in order to emphasis the power and importance of the technology,
  • technology is simply moving so quickly, that nobody can afford to do the perfect app
  • won't be able to continue to upgrade and that will affect all technology advances. So we've shifted to a non-proprietary approach
  • improving the technology of its ships is because it's essential to stay afloat.
  • required to stay competitive in the world we live in.
  • Data analytics
  • difficulty has been in making intelligent use of that data
  • climate control to lighting and opening and closing the curtains.
  • Technology is such an important driver today,
  •  
    In 2017, Royal Caribbean announced they were making a huge investment in technology that will make the cruisers' experience easier, more seamless and a lot more fun. They are developing a new app that will first include a cruise schedule and on-board activities. This app will eventually grow and include registration, excursion bookings and facial recognition plus games built in. Royal Caribbean believes to stay competitive you need to stay on top of technology and include it wherever you can. As of this article, the app was available on 2 of their ships and will hopefully be added to their entire fleet (including all 6 of their brands) within the next few years. The company believes in creating this technology from within the company and outsourcing as little as possible.
khadija2050

Council Post: Nine Ways Tech Companies Can Stay Ahead Of The Curve - 2 views

  • Technology is changing at an exponential rate, with new software and systems emerging constantly
  • The fast pace of technological advancements requires businesses in the field to spare no effort in staying up to date with the changes or, indeed, being at the forefront of change, if they want to stand out and be successful.
  • ways in which tech businesses can be prepared for change and stay ahead of the curve.
  • ...20 more annotations...
  • Embrace The Discomfort
  • Be receptive and adaptive to change, however uncomfortable that may be.
  • Tech execs need to disrupt the current thinking within an enterprise, they need to be agile in decision-making, take risks and keep up with the innovation ecosystem.
  • Respond Rapidly To Change
  • Technology executives need to be able to respond rapidly to this change, not let it overwhelm them
  • Be Disruptive And Agile
  • It is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your team.
  • Focus On Innovation
  • Innovation isn't about managing at scale. It's about focusing on the one key product that will win an industry
  • Not Be Afraid To Ask 'Dumb' Questions
  • Be Innovative And Proactive Instead Of Reactive
  • With the rate technology advanced in the past, executives needed to be flexible and adaptable
  • Technology leaders need to innovate, to be proactive rather than reactive. The ones who will be successful are the ones who will find new, creative ways to use technology to make their teams better
  • Understand Scale
  • Technol
  • From the internet of things to artificial intelligence, the tech space is ever-evolving and is doing so at breakneck speed
  • his is how critical items, especially in cyber defense strategies, get missed or simply incorrectly configured. Leadership is knowing when your team needs help
  • he best thing I can say will bring success to any technology exec is to get a coach.
  • Their coach helps them be accountable, bounce ideas around and will be there for them when they need advice and support.
  • Are their technologies and teams going to scale to the challenges they are facing today and tomorrow
  •  
    This article looks at the ways that companies can use to remain ahead of the curve in technology. Such ways include being receptive and adaptive to change, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their teams, responding to change quickly, as well as being disruptive and agile. The article also encourages businesses to pay attention to innovation, and to be proactive and innovative, instead of reactive.
  • ...2 more comments...
  •  
    This is a great read. When a company is willing to see where they can improve (just like anyone in life), it gives them a better edge at being successful. If they turn a blind eye to growth and change, they do not realize how detrimental this can and will be to their company.
  •  
    I thought this article was very informative and useful for companies who are innovative and like to think ahead. It is important to be adaptive and flexible when change arises. It is also important to be quick when responding.
  •  
    This article was very interesting and informative. It is eye-opening to the business owner because it mentions ways in which companies can be steps ahead from the competition. This is important for a company because as things change and evolve, a company needs to be able to adapt to the circumstances to be able to survive and not be replaced by another company.
  •  
    the article explains how companies can stay ahead of the curve in technology and outdo their competitors
ovila009

Global distribution system (GDS): Complete guide for hotels - SiteMinder - 1 views

  • More than 600,000 travel agents plug into the GDS every day on behalf of companies to book flights, hotels, car rentals and destination activities.
  • Despite the growth of third party online travel agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com and Expedia, the GDS remains the number one way to promote your hotel to the corporate travel market globally.
  • A GDS is a worldwide conduit between travel bookers and suppliers, such as hotels and other accommodation providers.
  • ...62 more annotations...
  • The history of global distribution systems dates back to the 1960s when a more sophisticated method was needed to keep track of flight schedules, availability, and prices
    • anonymous
       
      This is how GDS started back in the day in order to keep track of things however nowadays it is used for so much more.
  • Hoteliers are always looking at ways to increase their reach to attract more customers, increase revenue, and make a profit
    • anonymous
       
      Hence why GDS is so beneficial for hotel companies and other industries.
  • As soon as a reservation is made on the GDS or an online booking website, the channel manager instantly reduces inventory across all channels, including the hotel’s own website, and automatically delivers the reservation details back into the PMS or central reservation system (CRS).
    • anonymous
       
      Reservations are now made quick and easy with this system. It gives customers a pleasant experience.
  • There are several major global distribution systems that house and process the majority of data from hotels, airlines, and other distributors. These include Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, Worldspan, Apollo, and Pegasus.
    • anonymous
       
      Here we can see some examples of GDSs.
  • The Apollo reservation system was used by United Airlines until 2012, when it switched to SHARES, a system used by its former Continental Airlines subsidiary.
  • Sabre is seen as a pioneer for online travel agencies, corporate booking tools, revenue management, and web and mobile itinerary tools, to name a few.
  • Galileo traces its roots back to 1971 when United Airlines created its first computerised central reservation system
  • created by other airline groups in an attempt to gain market share in the computer reservation system market.
  • Worldspan is a Travelport platform, and is the technology leader in web-based travel eCommerce, offering solutions for all facets of travel business online. As a leading GDS, Worldspan provides travel distribution, technologies and services for thousands of travel companies worldwide, including travel agencies, corporations, travel suppliers and travel websites.
  • Amadeus has the biggest global footprint of any of the GDSs, with a potential reach to millions of guests.
  • Abacus was founded in 1988 and became a leading provider of travel solutions and services in the Asia Pacific region.
  • Pegasus Solutions pioneered the hospitality reservations industry.
  • The best systems will connect your hotel directly to the world’s most prominent GDSs
  • Using a software provider to tap into the GDS saves a lot of money and time.
  • Essentially, the GDS can increase hotel bookings and revenue by placing hotels on more ‘supermarket shelves’ globally.
    • anonymous
       
      It gives hotels the ability to expand and increase the number of customers they get by exposing them more internationally.
  • there are still more bookings being generated through the GDS than through hotel websites.
  • The GDS is indeed a unique and direct marketing tool for your hotel.
  • booked quickly and efficiently.
  • The GDS can help hotel managers uncover new market segments to promote their products to
  • More travel agents are relying on the GDS to find the best places for their clients to stay.
  • the GDS improves search positioning and displays your brand messaging during the search and booking process
  • Hotels generate more revenue through a GDS because it places the hotel’s information, availability and rates in prominent locations where it is easy for travel agents to find.
  • you can market all of your rooms to all of your distribution channels at one time.
  • Your GDS should help you maximise your bookings and increase your revenue
  • the capability for the GDS to integrate completely with your existing PMS, online booking engine and channel manager.
  • help you make the best decisions regarding your marketing strategy and distribution plan.
  • discover and tap into the most powerful and motivated market segments.
  • trial the GDS for a short time and measure results before continuing your subscription.
  • Because cruise travellers rely heavily on travel agents for their trip arrangements, it’s highly likely any hotel bookings will also be made through this channel.
  • A GDS is a worldwide conduit between travel bookers and suppliers, such as hotels and other accommodation providers
  • Cruises tend to rely on more conventional channels like travel agents to reach and convert guests.
  • With the cruise industry currently in a state of growth, it represents a chance for hotels to get a slice of the revenue.
  • It appears travel agents are driving most of this success, with 70% of cruise bookings made via this channel.
  • Cruises do all the hard work to book their guests but often they will arrive a day or two early or depart a day or two after their cruise, booking at hotels for the extra time.
  • Most prominent is your hotel description
  • you eliminate the frustration of signing up with each individual platform, and you can connect to all of the top providers without paying the individual fees.
  • The GDS is often used to tap into the corporate travel market because it has the ability to present hotels, flights, and car rentals in one simple interface which is convenient.
  • Live rates and availability are sent from a hotel’s property management system (PMS) directly to the GDS and online booking websites via a channel manager.
  • What are the major GDS systems?
  • here are several major global distribution systems that house and process the majority of data from hotels, airlines, and other distributors. These include Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, Worldspan, Apollo, and Pegasus.
  • There are several major global distribution systems that house and process the majority of data from hotels, airlines, and other distributors. These include Amadeus, Sabre, Galileo, Worldspan, Apollo, and Pegasus.
  • Amadeus GDS
  • Sabre GDS
  • Galileo GDS
  • Worldspan GDS
  • Apollo GDS
  • Abacus GDS
  • Pegasus GDS
  • – like the ones mentioned above – so you don’t have to worry about signing up to each one
  • individually.
  • In one fell swoop you can access all the retail and traditional travel agents you want:
  • There are a few specifications which will greatly aid successful GDS connectivity: Being centrally located Being located close to an airport Room capacity of more than 20 rooms Lodgings that are set up for corporate markets and not affected by seasons
  • Here’s a checklist to ensure you’re using the GDS to its full potential:
  • 1. Pooled inventory
  • 2. Commission-free structure
  • 3. Integration capabilities
  • 4. Comprehensive reporting
  • 5. Ability to target specific markets
  • 6. No lengthy contracts
  • 7. Simple and affordable connection
  • Essentially, the GDS can increase hotel bookings and revenue by placing hotels on more ‘supermarket shelves’ globally. This approach is particularly effective at capturing international corporate travellers. You can gain lucrative international corporate business, particularly if you’re near a major airport gateway or close to government or commercial enterprises.
    • yoevelyn
       
      This article goes into how to optimize the use of GDS for a hotel operation and the author touched on a point we have discussed in the class before: how to market your local hotel to an international audience. The author suggests that adding your property to a GDS can be a cost-effective way to bring those international business travelers, specially if your hotel is near an airport.
  • The number of bookings generated through a GDS generally outpaces that of direct bookings
  •  
    This article goes in depth into GDS. It explains the concept of the GDS is and how eaxctly it works. It also gives examples of some major GDSs. It talks about the benefits of using GDS in hotels.
  •  
    The global distribution system in the hospitality industry is beyond vital in the act of keeping the ball rolling. GDS provides live products and offers to travelers across the globe. Whats really amazing about GDS is that live availability and rates are transferred through a channel manager directly to online booking sites. This allows guests to acquire the best rates the soonest as opposed to waiting to call a hotel or resort to see what they have and at what price.
  •  
    This article shows us everything we need to know about Hotel GDS. It includes GDS in the hotel industry, GDS work way in travel, seven major GDS systems, the way to access leading GDSs with GDS software, GDS conditions of use, benefits of connecting hotel to the GDS, and how to use the GDS to capture cruise travel bookings at hotel.
kimmumford

Europe To Be A Favorable Destination For The Growth Of Smart Stadium Market | Marketsan... - 1 views

  • The global smart stadium market that was estimated to be worth USD 4.62 Billion in 2016 is projected to reach a value of USD 17.32 Billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of 30.2% during the period 2016–2021.
  • On the basis of deployment model, the on-demand deployment model is anticipated to take up the largest share in this market as well as grow at the highest rate in the coming years, since the organizations are nowadays focusing more on reducing operational costs along with improved efficiency, high security and low maintenance, and easy installation, among others.
  • Other factors like increasing demand for cloud services, data center services, network services, and its reliable and efficient integration are further said to be driving the services market.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • , Europe is expected to hold the largest share, thus dominating the global smart stadium market in 2016, whereas the Middle East and Africa is the fastest-growing region.
  • The worldwide market for smart stadiums is experiencing huge growth, mainly owing to the following factors: Rising trend of digital transformation and adoption of IoT technologies Increased focus on attracting home viewers Growing demand for better customer engagement and experience Upcoming national and international sports events across the globe like 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar Increasing government initiatives for smart building projects Growing need for modernization of network and telecom infrastructure
  • On the flip side, inability of traditional stadiums to match up with the smart stadium technology and low investments in smart technology by the stadium owners in its deployment are the major factors that may hamper the growth of this market.
  • global market for smart stadiums include Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China), Intel Corp. (U.S.), NEC Corp. (Japan), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), International Business Machines Corporation (U.S.), Fujitsu (Japan), Johnson Controls (U.S.), Tech Mahindra Ltd. (India), Volteo (U.S.), and GP Smart Stadium (the Netherlands).
  •  
    Smart stadiums are growing in popularity around the world. In 2016 was estimated to be 4.62 million dollars and is expected to grow by just over 30% by 2021. There are different models available when designing a smart stadium. The on-demand deployment model will make up the largest share of the market. The leader in the growth of smart stadiums are Europe, Middle East, and Africa. There are six factors contributing to the growth of smart stadiums. However, there are two factors that are hindering the growth of smart stadiums. One of these factors is the investment. There are at least ten major corporations that are offering smart stadium solutions. Five of the ten corporations are based in the United States. However, there are some smaller companies that are forming partnerships to help stadiums implement the new technology.
jackyreis

The Cybersecurity 202: Facebook disclosed a major hack very quickly. But the alert was ... - 0 views

  • The Cybersecurity 202: Facebook disclosed a major hack very quickly. But the alert was short on details.
  • It took just three days for Facebook to notify authorities and the public that  hackers had compromised as many as 50 million user accounts on the social media platform.
  • Facebook leaders did not have enough information to paint a clear picture of the hack and the risk to its users during the announcement.
  • ...12 more annotations...
  • Europe’s new privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation, imposes massive fines on companies if they don’t notify privacy regulators about a data breach within 72 hours. The rule took effect in May and applies to any company with E.U. customers. U.S. lawmakers have proposed similar a 72-hour rule to replace the patchwork of state data breach laws that exist here
  • The company said Friday it had notified European data privacy regulators of the breach, in accordance with GDPR. Shortly after doing so, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, the watchdog that monitors Facebook’s GDPR compliance, said Facebook’s disclosure “lacks detail” and criticized the company for being “unable to clarify the nature of the breach and the risk for users at this point.”
  •  Equifax waited six weeks to reveal that the Social Security numbers and other sensitive information on 143 million Americans had been exposed in a data breach. Uber waited a year to reveal a hack affecting tens of millions of drivers — and just last week paid a $148 million settlement in connection with the incident. Yahoo also paid a fine earlier this year for waiting two years to tell investors that Russian hackers stole information on 500 million users. 
  • Wray stressed that cyberattacks and theft of intellectual property can inflict long-term damage on American companies,
  • No country poses a broader, more severe intelligence collection threat than China.
  • The Energy Department on Monday announced awards of up to $28 million to help fund 11 cybersecurity research projects to strengthen the defenses of America's critical energy infrastructure,
  • Karen Evans, the assistant secretary for the department's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, said “energy cybersecurity and resilience” is one of the “most important security challenges” that the United States faces.
  • “The frequency, scale, and sophistication of cyber threats have increased and attacks can be much easier to launch,”
  • “Cyber incidents have the potential to interrupt energy services, damage highly specialized equipment and threaten human health and safety.”
  • The Senate Commerce Committee should hear from consumer privacy experts as lawmakers consider whether to develop data privacy legislation, a coalition of consumer and privacy groups said Monday
  • And while civilian agencies generally face the most lopsided age disparities, the importance departments place on building a long-term talent pipeline varies greatly
  • That means federal technologists at or approaching retirement age outnumbered their 20-something counterparts roughly 4.6 to 1.”
  •  
    This article highlights the importance of announcing a security breach quickly, and explains the argument on whether it needs to be carefully analyzed before releasing the breach. It explains the importance of releasing the understanding of a hack as quickly as possible to maintain people's information (i.e. bank information) safe.
chunxia gao

Green Initiatives: Cost, Achieving ROI Challenge Hotels · Environmental Manag... - 1 views

  • The biggest challenges or barriers hoteliers face in implementing green lodging practices: 1. Having enough capital to invest
  • The biggest motivations for implementing green lodging practices: 1. Environmental benefits and building guest loyalty (tie)
  •  
    This is a three year old survey on Green Intiatives by American Hotel & Lodging Association. It talks about : (a) Challenges or barriers faced by hoteliers. (b) The biggest motivation for implementing green lodging practices. (C) The top ten things hotels are doing well relating to green initiative. (d) Top ten green things hotels can improve on.
  •  
    The American Hotel & Lodging Association's Green Assessment Survey results reveal the top 10 green initiatives hotels are enacting, the top 10 motivations for implementing green lodging practices, the top 10 green things hotels are doing well and top 10 green things hotels can improve on. In the challenges and barriers part, the biggest one facing in implementing green lodging practices is having enough capital to invest; in addition the whole world is in financial crisis now. Money is a big problem. As we know, before implement green practices, hotels need large amount money to buy equipment and need a lot of time to train employees to use it. In high season, they are busy to serve guests, to earn money. In low season, they may have time but no money. In the motivation part, environmental benefits and building guest loyalty rates to first place. But I think most hotels deciding to implement green practices are because financial savings. In addition, implement green practices can preempt government regulations and improve hotel reputation. It is also a good way to advertise. To do and not to do lists, hotels should keep and improve their recycling and reuse program and pay more attention to the power save program.
  •  
    This is a great article that collected all top 10 related to GREEN. It makes me realize what we are doing well and what we need to improve in the future. And also it lists the top 10 challenge that we are facing. I agree with you that implement green practices can preempt government regulations and improve hotel reputation.
Rochelle Perez

Bartech NeoTray Provides Safe and Convenient Point-of-Sale for Generating Post-COVID Gu... - 1 views

  • Las Vegas - Bartech, the leader in automatic minibar solutions for the global hospitality industry, is fulfilling a growing need in the post-COVID 19 hotel environment through its proprietary NeoTray solution, which allows non-refrigerated items to be securely offered to hotel guests through an automated point-of-sale within the safety of the guestroom. As hotels worldwide seek out ways to continue to provide for guests' needs in the new socially distanced travel experience, Bartech's NeoTray provides a solution for presenting non-traditional items for purchase, such as PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) like masks and hand sanitizer to help ensure guest health and safety.
  • Bartech's NeoTray is an ideal solution to this new guestroom-centric travel experience, allowing the property to generate much-needed in-room revenue, while offering a convenient and valuable guest service. With a clear, protective sealed lid, the NeoTray allows products to be attractively and conveniently displayed to encourage purchase, optimizing the potential for in-room revenue. The unit can also be sanitized and visibly sealed with a sticker to provide added guest assurance and confidence in the property's commitment to their wellbeing.
  • The NeoTray utilizes Bartech's industry-leading automatic minibar technology, enabling wireless communication via Wi-Fi or the built in ZigBee antenna. This wireless operation allows usage data to be sent directly from the unit to the hotel's Property Management System (PMS), providing a digital record of any openings of the sealed unit. In this way, only the units that have been opened need to be serviced and cleaned between guest stays, minimizing staff visits to the guestroom. This promotes less physical contact between guests and staff, while minimizing labor costs and further ensuring guest safety. All charges are posted in real time to the guest folio within the PMS, ensuring accurate charges at checkout.
  •  
    Bartech and it's propriety NeoTray creating a way to have a minibar in a hotel room that allows guests to feel safe and increase revenue for the hotels.
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