Group items tagged

Facebook is becoming more and more popular around the world and it is becoming a social media requirement for companies to utilize for their customers. Grand Millennium Kuula Lumpur realized this and became the first hotel in Malaysia to use Facebook as a booking engine, allowing its 30,000+ followers to book hotel accommodations comfortably and in a secure environment with a special fans only rate. Friends of the hotel's Facebook page feel confident when booking through this mechanism because the page links directly to the hotel's real-time reservations system, allowing customers to check availability and book rooms instantly. This is all done without ever leaving the Facebook page. Sabre Hospitality Solutions understands the growth of social media and is helping hotels engage guests through this new technology by providing the most comprehensive social media optimization solution available. They are helping hotels build loyalty, tap into new market segments, build buzz and grow their business through online communities. This is a very important and relevant marketing tool for Malaysia because their total number of Facebook users at the end of 2011 grew to over 12 million.

Bartech offers an array of customizable automatic minibars that are designed to maximize revenue and save hoteliers time and money through increased efficiency. Bartech is also the only minibar provider to incorporate three different types of sensor technologies into their advanced product design, including infrared, magnetic and micro-switch. This allows Bartech minibars to use the most effective and reliable technology for each type of product dispensed, maximizing reliability and efficiency of the minibar operation and minimizing guest disputes.

The element by Westin brand for extended stay have revolutionized the market and found a niche for travelers who are environmentally conscious and eco-friendly. This brand uses green initiatives from design to construction and eventually during operation. Element hotels use this as a branding strategy but more hotels should adopt this model for conservation and to reduce expenses.

Malaysia and Southeast Asia is slowly but surely adapting strategic social media and e-marketing into their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This article focuses on the opposing views on how these tools are being utilized and adapted to help these small businesses. Scicom Education Group's head of Creative Services Vernon Adrian Emuang is confident that Malaysia is ahead of the games in terms of social media and "widespread public engagement". This may sound like a far cry considering that 64 percent of the SMEs in Mayalsia were not engaging in social media in 2012. Emuang emphasizes the impact that social media can have, considering that SMEs account for 99 percent of the 5 million registered Malaysian businesses. Zeno Group Malaysia's CEO told The Establishment Post that "lack of knowledge is holding back many of the SMEs. They feel they need not use social media for marketing purposes." Emuang also says that many of these companies are not implementing the proper technological infrastructure to support their ecommerce, should they receive an influx of traffic on their servers, etc. He even shamed the customer service that lacks the manpower to follow-up with the volume of customers. Many hotel and lodging businesses are adapting global initiatives, such as registering with Booking.com or Tripadvisor.com. These outlets allow ecommerce to flow to a much wider, international audience, boosting bookings and revenues at venues that wouldn't have otherwise. Julian Matthews, a famous Digital Media Trainer and Consultant, says companies are operating social media on a tactical rather than strategic level. The Trinetizen Media Sdn Bdn tells The Establishment Post that many companies aren't utilizing Social Media for crisis communication-something many companies we are familiar with fully rely on. In conclusion, social media adds accountability and reliability for the companies and their stakeholders.