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Motel.com has now launched an initiative to allow customers to search for green hotels. Before this plan was put into action, customers who possessed that green thumb were unable to decipher which properties would meet their sustainable criteria. With a new "green feature" search, Motel.com lists all of the Hotels and Motels that are considered Eco Friendly or friends of the environment which efforts such as conserving water, electricity and natural gas. These properties listed as Eco Friendly are certified by the Greenkey Eco-Rating System by Green Key Global. "The Green Key Eco-Rating Program and Green Key Meetings Program are graduated rating systems designed to recognize green hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental and fiscal performance." With Americans becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, stay in an Eco Friendly Motel or Hotel has become a priority. Indeed, when I travel, I like to stay at a hotel that is better than my home. With these new initiatives in the back of my mind, staying at a certified Eco Friendly hotel would definitely meet my criteria. 

Motel 6 deployed the Crossbeam X-Series security platform to ensure traveler security during the online reservations process without slowing the network or negatively affecting the user experience. The Crossbeam X-Series platform runs third-party, best-in-class firewall software to deliver high-performance, highly scalable protection for its e-commerce traffic. As the risk reduction strategy of Motel 6 is to use the best products on the market for all security applications, Motel 6 is expecting greater long-term benefits with Crossbeam.

What hotel call accounting does is to track, manage, and bill or allocate phone calls made by guests or employees. It has played a critical role in the lodging industry for decades. By the mid-1980s, call accounting was a very profitable source for most of hotels/motels because it generated thousands of dollars each month. However, hotel call accounting has been less important due to the presence of cell phones, decrease in long distance rates. At this point, hoteliers may wonder if they really need call accounting systems. The author emphasizes that hotel call accounting is still important and beneficial for hotels/motels in many ways: billing hotel guests for all phone calls, detecting phone misuse or abuse, decreasing billing errors, etc. Mostly, revenues from call accounting alone can cover the costs for phone equipment and service, so hotels do not take any risk. The author also stresses that call accounting has a bright future. Even though the importance of call accounting has decreased, hotels still need a way to track and bill phone calls to guests and departments as PMS and phone systems get more advanced, as Internet and VoIP are used more and more.

                  This article talks about the importance of call accounting in hotels. Call Accounting is a hotel's ability to track and analyze the phone calls made from its grounds.                   Call Accounting is a software that is still a necessity even though it no longer makes as much money as it used to. Warner says, "Now that cell phones are everywhere and long distance rates have significantly decreased, call accounting does not allow properties to bring in nearly as much revenue as before. For many hotels/motels, call accounting has been forced to take a back seat in their organization."       Call Accounting shouldn't be eliminated simply because the ROI is less. Tracking where a 911 call originated and providing quality customer service is more important than money. If you provide proper customer service, the money will come.          In another article on Ezine articles, Warner said, "Without a call accounting system, hotel managers do not have the information needed to quickly resolve guest concerns and may be confronted with headaches and disgruntled customers. However, by using a call accounting system, managers can have the added security and peace of mind that they have the information needed to help their guests and to understand, manage, improve, and control telephone activities."                  

As that GDS software keeps improving, features like chanel managment become available for B&B, hotels, motels, to manage customer services. This prove that the GDS is here to stay in the Hospitaliy industry, becouse the system keeps improving.

This article is an instruction on how to find out a suitable property management software. The core features the efficient PMS should have including guest management, housekeeping ,reservations, online booking and billing management. The Property Management software also allows the report issues they have noticed like repairs that need to be done. The author concludes that it is best to get the core product regardless of the size of the hotel.

I think that finding the perfect property management software for your company is absolutely vital because it is going to cost you a lot of money and time to learn how to use the new system and you do not want to purchase the wrong one. From basic motels to fancy hotels and resorts every place should have an effective property management system and one that suits their needs. A basic motel might need one but does not need one with all the bells and whistles that a fancy upscale resort would need.

This article introduces the importance of the PMS in the hotel. When the hotels choose the PMS software, the simple and smart one is a better choice. For most efficient system, it always includes guest management, housekeeping, reservations, online booking and billing management. The advantage of the PMS is less cost. The hotels choose a good PMS will not only save money but also manage the hotel in a wonderful condition. The PMS can help the hotel store data and keep track of the housekeeping that the manager will solve some problems between housekeeping and customers. In a word, choosing a good PMS is necessary for the hotel.

Most hotels can be entered without any restrictions. When traveling on business or pleasure, your hotel guest should feel safe and relaxed while they stay in your hotel. The hotel has to offer custom hotel security officers and patrol services, according to the location, image, and clientele of the hotel. Most international hotels have spent a considerable sum to ensure your safety and security. Fire safety equipment, CCTVs, and security patrols are often part of the hotel's security plan. Regardless of the level of security provided by the hotel, you need to become familiar with certain aspects of the security profile of the hotel. This will take on increased significance when you may be forced to stay at the only hotel at a particular location.

E business is a kind of new and advanced business method, providing more trade opportunity for firms and more convenient service for consumers. In recent years, with developing of the computer technology, and along with the prosperity of e business in worldwide, to win over more and more customers, hotel industry makes a huge revolution. Not only large chains but also the motels are able to provide online bookings from their own website. The system could automatically check and charge deposits on credit cards without any hotel staff intervention. Hence, more and more guests are active Internet users, a great majority of them already have purchased travel online. The reservation clerk could work 24 hours/7 days a week and never get in sick. The guest could make entire reservation easily and quickly. For hotel, work efficiency has improved and cost of labor has reduced.

Through this article, I learn that the Smart Hotel Software is very useful. It can help you manage the reservations, deposits, check ins, check outs, guest folios, payments, sales, housekeeping, maintenance and yield management, with a strong interface to many popular accounting systems. This software is suitable for independent and boutique hotels, resorts, motels, villas, apartments, hostels, and chartered yachts. For me, I think this software has 3 advantages. First, it will improve the customer service by having guest history at their fingertips, remember guest preferences and improve your guest experience. Second, it can increase the revenue by effectively managing reservations, rooms and rates with powerful Yield Management tools. Third, it will save costs by tying it all together.  Integrated systems: Website Bookings, Central Reservation Systems, Call Accounting Systems, In-room services, Back Office Accounting and more! Nowadays, some software becomes more and more popular in the hospitality industry. I think the manager need choose and use some good software to their hotels. It can make the employees work more efficiently and attract more customers.  

At most hotels, waste is created at upwards of 1 kg per guest per night - a large amount when multiplied by the number of hotels and guests around the world. Taking responsibility for the environment and local community has been an important part of the hotel industry. Hotels can make a significant impact on waste reduction and recycling.  Hoteliers have many opportunities to reduce waste by establishing waste prevention and recycling programs and by purchasing recycled products. Besides reducing waste and saving money, these actions can increase employee morale and customer satisfaction. Hotels and motels generate large amounts of highly recyclable materials, such as office paper, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, plastics, metals, and glass. Work with your waste hauler or recycler to arrange the details of your recycling program. Management should adopt an environmental policy to reflect how the company sees itself in relation to the environment, neighbors, and the people it employs and serves. Chains with multiple locations may want to encourage each hotel to evaluate and establish its own program.

The highlighted article gives the reader an idea of what to look for when shopping for a property management system. The author clarifies that there are systems for every type of hotels from the 500 plus rooms to small boutique hotels and motels. It is also stated that by using a property management system, a hotel becomes more efficient and able to better control inventory maximizing revenues. As mentioned, its very important to meet with the team to find out what are their real need in terms of pms to promote employee "buy-in". The real costs should be discussed as well as how training, support, back up, internet reliability and others.

I found this article very interesting as it covers some of the next technological changes the hotel industry would see. Hotel companies and property owners are spending lots of money to ensure they are able to satisfy modern day traveler's needs. As technology advances and more and more studies show travelers prefer to use their own mobile devices, companies have to constantly improve their mobile platform. Sooner or later hotels will have mobile keys that work via a phone on the customers phone or tabloid. Features like mobile keys, check-in, and communications via a mobile app will all require significant amount of investments by major hotel chains. All of these new types of feature also require more advanced security to protect hotel stayers while using the hotels' mobile apps. Over the long run the investment will pay off for large hotel companies as they will gain tons of data and data is very powerful and useful. I am interested to see how this affects small-scale motels as the investment in mobile platforms may not be feasible for an independent motel.

This article discusses six of the new upcoming trends in the hospitality industry in regards to technology. The first is mobile ubiquity - meaning the amount of usability of guests using mobile devices to check in, make a reservation, or purchase. The second is integrating mobile data and the integration of such valuable data. Third would be the Enabling of guest room technology, such as on-demand content and room features. Fourth would be Future-proofing networks and ensuring safety from hackers or malwares. Fifth would be beefing up security. Sixth would be energy conservation to save money on wastes and energy consumption.

Future proofing or building a more robust network infrastructure is the backbone and the most important part of any network model. It seems that newer buildings will have an advantage as they will have fiber optic installed as they are constructed which would be cheaper than replacing an entire existing copper network. This trend, will enable companies that have newer hotels to offer more services and meet the technological demand that their customers now expect.

This article focuses on new hotel apps, focusing on Recharge, that let you rent upscale hotel rooms by the minute/hour. As the article states, this is not a new concept and has been offered in the pass usually at motels. This app looks to change the demographic of those looking to rent hotels for a small amount of time. The app is already active in popular cities around the world, they aim to only work with 3-5 star hotels. I downloaded the app and thought the pricing was a little concerning, but it goes back to the demographic the app is targeting. Recharge aims to appeal to travelers with long layovers, business people looking for a quiet spot in between meeting, sight seers that may need a nap, and even mothers looking for a safe place t publicly breastfeed. Their pricing is right in line with their target demographic as the cheapest price is usually around $30 per hour, and there is always a service fee; the author of the article talks about staying in a hotel for 15 minutes and paying $65 dollars. Personally the pricing is a huge setback, but business wise it makes sense. You are covering the cost of housekeeping having to go in and reset the room, and front desk reprogramming the keys/ handling check in and check out. While I think the system could create a bit of a challenge for hotels in terms of making if something is ready and clean or not, it is another opportunity to increase revenues. This app especially during the slow season for hotels, could help them fill their less desired rooms, if only for an hour. It is similar to a restaurant way of thinking "How many times can we flip this table (room) in peak hours". I may not use the app, but if I was traveling with friends and splitting the cost, I would definitely take the opportunity to pay a few bucks to nap in a 5 star resort.

The lodging industry is one of the most popular in the hospitality industry. Bed and Breakfasts provide an alternative to hotels and motels by providing a literal home away from home experience. Unfortunately, the advertising and marketing of a bed a breakfast, according to this article, needs to upgrade. Email marketing would be a great addition to this sector of the industry to promote deals, updated breakfast menus, and etc. Giving customers an email blast every now and then can help. This can also increase customer loyalty. According to the article, it is a great way to keep customers engaged and up to date. The article promotes StreamSend, which is an email marketing software that helps with marketing by including vibrant imagery, videos, surveys, and other interactive elements (StreamSend). This is also said to be affordable and dependable, making it ideal for any industry including a bed and breakfast. I think this is a great start, specifically for those in the bed and breakfast sector of hospitality. The bed and breakfast brings airbnb and a hotel together with different amenities and not just another place to stay for the night. So it makes sense for the innkeepers to jump into email marketing to promote their business in different ways and to have more access to guests in regards to promotions.

I found this pdf file, titled 'The Tourism and Hospitality Industry Goes Green' online from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Department of Environmental Protection. It mentions why going green is good, and mentions areas such as cost savings, health, liability, environment, as well as public image. Further, it talks about what tourism and hospitality related companies can do to go green where it gives examples for employees in the (back) office, what one can do in restaurants/lounges/dining areas, as well as in the guest rooms. The pdf file also mentioned, which was new to me, that the American Hotel and Motel Association publishes material for the logging industry - which can also be accessed online - on what one can do to go green.

PMS is common in hotel operation since its powerful fuction which can be streamed into two parts involving reservation and revenue management. As we all know, reservation is the beginning of hotel operation and it is the first expression the hotel leave to any customers. Thus, it is important for us to pay enough attention to the performance of this system no matter what size of properties we operate. A competent PMS can provide efficient experience for both guests and operators in that it can help them finish some jobs always frastruated them before. Another contribution of PMS is the ability of revenue management which has been treated as the most important job for seniors in hospitality industry. Based on powerful PMS, managers can easily get any information related to current operation and budgeting issues. For these reason, PMS is an necessary installation for each hotel with specific features.

This article is describing the power of having a property management system in a business industry. The PMS can offer many advantages to its customers. Customers can access the system wherever they are and whenever they want. This article offers many software ideas that can help hotels running smoothly. For example, there is the InnQuest roomMaster 2000, which has the right features (reservations, reservations, guest services, etc) and offer the right tools to help run a hotel. Hotel staff can learn it quick as well. This system is secure which is very important in a business industry. It also talks about the Reservation Master. In hotels, reservations are important especially when it offers its guest the choice to do its own reservations on the internet. It is good for smaller hotel businesses like motels. Another one is the Maestro, which is a powerful PMS system that helps companies have full control of their files. Last but not least, there is the RoomKey, which is a system that can help a company to have the right to use and activate it wherever they are.

In today's hospitality market, efficient and timely control is determining the industry leaders. Hospitality software's tend to have hotel specific templates, forms, marketing promotions, training programs, menu analysis tools and financial tracking tools. They have many modules like: Hotel administrations, Hotel Front Desk Management, Hotel housekeeping, and Hotel accounting. They can be used in hotels, motels, inns, resorts, hostel, ranch, suites, apartments and bed & breakfast. We can get a lot of benefit from the use of software in hospitality industry like the Hotel Management Software are an excellent way to spend money since it is effective, saves time, provides convenience and avoids things like double booking and other minor mistakes that prove to be hazardous in the long run. And in order to be successful hospitality software should have User Defined Fields for high flexibility; high-quality graphical representation of rooms, and real-time statistics.

This article discusses a couple of ways in which hotels are extending themselves to go green. Specifically the article lists three ways in which these hotels are initiating themselves into going green, which are through low water consumption Power saving, and solid waste disposal. The article also discusses energy efficient lighting.  Along with discussing these processes, the article explains that its not easy to be green in this sector, but the hotel industry now has a new environmental conscience. This being great for hotels. its one step in opening a new way to help get our environment back to where it needs to be and with there being such a large scale of hotels why not get them in the best order that we can get them. 

As the article states"The hotel industry has long been associated with excessive waste: using powerful chemicals for cleaning and wasting energy for maintenance rather than being environmentally friendly. Moreover and as result of tourism industry growth, the demand for resources from the hospitality sector has exponentially increased. However, the new popularity of Eco Tourism has encouraged hotels to adopt new green practices that allow them to reduce their negative impact on the environment" The hospitality industry can help improve the environmental problems we are going through at the moment by simply adding: low water consumption, power saving, energy-efficient lighting and solid waste disposal. Furthermore, the guest are starting to become more aware and loyal to brands that are making changes to become green and there is where eco tourism starts and its getting bigger. In the future, all hotels will have to follow the LEED requirements which makes them follow certain rules to help reduce energy and go green. This will help the hotel managers and industry save money and at the same time help the environment.