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Kevin Sepulveda

Cruise Ship Apps are Dramatically Improving the Cruise Line Experience - Here's How - T... - 0 views

  • "Beyond supporting travel needs, these apps are providing convenience. In the old days, when you wanted to make a restaurant reservation or if you lost your bill, you had to go someone's desk and stand in line and wait. Now you can just do these things from your phone.
  • some of the new apps provide interactive ship maps, locations of the various activities onboard, menus for the day's meals, onboard spending calculators and even language and currency conversion assistance geared toward the various exotic ports a ship may be pulling into.
  • Some of the other functions that come with the cruise line designed apps include being able to track your luggage from when you first board the ship until your suitcase arrives at your room, and booking restaurant reservations.
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  • Mast says one the best apps out there right now is Royal Caribbean's Royal iQ app, which allows users to make dinner plans in advance, book shore excursions, reserve evening entertainment, manage dining reservations, schedule times for onboard activities, and modify reservations.
  • All of this is really just the beginning, when it comes to onboard cruise ship apps. According to Mast, Spencer-Brown and others, the technology and its potential is still in its infancy. The next few years will continue to bring more innovation and convenience. But already the apps have made a significant change in the quality of a cruise experience for many travelers in the increasingly complex and dizzying world of cruise ships.
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    Cruise ships are creating software applications to enhance the guest experience. Long lines and long lines are a thing of the past with new software which bring excitement to the guest without running the adventure. With significant companies hopping on the software/guest experience, it's easier than ever to stay connected and get the most out of a cruise vacation.
cleon087

Three Ways to Overcome Hotel Accounting Challenges - 3 views

  • Adopting a cloud-based reporting system can offer seamless labor monitoring and management from clock-in to paycheck while giving hoteliers on-demand management of earnings to manage transactions in real time.
  • Adopting an operations management platform that allows hoteliers to import data into one centralized dashboard combines critical accounting and performance data to aid hoteliers in identifying trends and making more informed decisions.
  • . The global travel industry shows no signs of slowing down any time soon, so hotels must incorporate cutting-edge technology to streamline operations, optimize labor management, and access critical data while preparing for the next unexpected event.
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  • Whether the needs are short-term or necessitate a longer plan, hotel-specific accountants can scale on demand to offer the needed expertise and ramp up quickly.
  • oteliers are turning to robust accounting tools and hotel-specific accounting partners to balance these challenges. Below are three ways that smart accounting solutions can address unique needs of hotels.
  • Most hoteliers have access to an array of data sets, including STR reports, PMS data, guest satisfaction surveys, comments, and financial data from multiple properties.
  • Managing payroll is a constant challenge, so it’s critical for hoteliers to have a way to monitor daily labor costs, manage overtime, oversee daily payroll transactions, and have access to simple reporting functions
  • Hotels live or die on the ebb and flow of fluctuations in their business. In-house accounting teams are regularly affected by a variety of foreseeable events such as seasonality, portfolio turn-over, and one-time events, but also unexpected events such natural disasters.
  • fastest growing sectors in the world
  • to threats from multiple fronts
  • ncreased importance on price, quality, and the level of services
    • cleon087
       
      They're looking for more value for their buck and being more critical.
  • can help increase revenue, minimize costs, and maximize profits without affecting service quality.
  • . One hotel can have part-time, full-time, and tipped employees
    • cleon087
       
      This is what makes our business so unique. Every employee, even IT should be prepared for interacting with a guest.
  • Hoteliers may have a difficult time deciphering what story the data is telling and which levers to pull to remedy an issue or to replicate success.
    • cleon087
       
      Sometimes too much data can also be a negative thing. You want to focus on the numbers that are crucial.
  • Adopting an operations management platform that allows hoteliers to import data into one centralized dashboard combines critical accounting and performance data to aid hoteliers in identifying trends and making more informed decisions.
    • cleon087
       
      Receiving the information in one place can really impact the business for the better in order to make better decisions.
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    This article jumps into some challenges facing the hotel industry with respects to accounting. It touches on various topics we have gone through as a course, and ends with an emphasis on technology.
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    Thank you for sharing. I found it a good read as it gives a brief description on some of the different platforms that are out there.
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    The article goes into detail about ways to overcome accounting challenges in the hotel industry, ranging from Cloud based programs to report labor, to having back-up accounting teams as workloads can increase due to seasonality and holiday stays.
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    Due to the changes in the industry the accounting branch of hospitality has had to encounter several changes. They are turning to robust accounting tools and hotel-specific accounting partners in order to figure out all aspects. Accounting information is now mostly online and all digital therefore changes need to be made since the common way of keeping records was papers.
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    Hospitality businesses are becoming more and more profit-focused and guests are thinking that higher prices mean higher level of service. This simply isnt so. Perhaps not all hotels have the same amenities and activities, however, all hotels and resorts should have more or less the same exemplary service so that prices become less of an issue in the future.
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    This article is about the hospitality businesses are becoming more cost- and profit-conscious and guests are placing increased importance on price, quality, and the level of services they receive. These unique challenges require hotels to be nimble, educated, and equipped with the latest technology to streamline processes and drive financial performance. Owners rely more and more on financial benchmarking data to ensure they are getting the most out of each asset and each management contract. Hoteliers are turning to robust accounting tools and hotel-specific accounting partners to balance these challenges.
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    Accounting for hotel properties is the backbone that holds the property to its up filling standard in the hospitality industry. These departments are often faced with major setbacks on a daily bases that require special attention, whether its to balance book, handle unexpected turn overs and natural disasters. However due to many technology advances many properties are installing software that easily and better assists the accounting department from constant overwhelming situations. Systems that allow other department to help with monitoring overtime, payroll and transactions.
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    This article talks about the need for hoteliers to be up to date with technology. By having systems that have all the data in one place, helps owners make better decisions. Also having an accounting system that helps with making decisions and offer the proper tools is imperative. When it comes to accounting it is important to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
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    Although I'm not a 100 percent fan on the cloud base systems, technology is ever changing and i somewhat believe that we should keep up with it providing that it is in out best benefit personally or from a business security point of view. We see how this article reveal to us challenges and how technology helps alleviate some of them.
hankunli

Hotel Accounting Software: Why Do Hotels Need Specialized Vendors Like M3? - 0 views

  • Accounting as a hotelier is a time and resource intensive process. Finding the right hotel accounting software can make or break your business – and potentially lead to efficiencies and cost-saving that can vault you ahead of your competitors.
  • Built by hoteliers, exclusively for hoteliers, the platform allows franchisees access to their financial and operating information in real-time with user-friendly reports
  • Accounting and business intelligence were burdensome processes that were preventing the brand from reaching their growth goals. Rather than continuing to focus on the older, expensive computer infrastructure, the company was interested in taking a proactive approach to manage assets and generate returns for owners
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  • Working to handle the needs of 24 properties, Coakley & Williams Hotel Management Company's two-person IT department found it was spending much of its time responding to simple requests for information
  • Additionally, by utilizing the Benchmarking tool in Operations Management when considering new properties, HP was able to view a quick snapshot of where the potential hotel compares with like brands in the system
  • After adopting a streamlined staffing model, HP Hotels needed to manage the bulk of their accounting above property, which would eliminate the need for full-service accounting staff at the hotel level
  • The solution directly addressed C&W’s needs by allowing each of its managed hotels to access its financial information directly and providing the ability to look at the day-to-day performance of each hote
  • Prior to the adoption of the M3 platform, the IT department, was spending up to 50 to 60 percent of their time serving as backups for information requests. Now, C&W’s IT staff says it spends less than 5% of its time on hotel-related issues, allowing the department to offer its services to other clients as a way to generate revenue for the company
  • Functionality: Allows each hotel to access its financial information directly and provides the ability to look at the day-to-day performance of each hotel. Business impact: The access to real time and individual hotel-specific information led to a 55% reduction in resources spent by IT on property-specific requests. This allowed IT to offer additional services to clients and generate additional revenue for the compan
  • On August 29, 2005, everything changed. Hurricane Katrina tore through the Mississippi Gulf Coast, destroying much of the Biloxi office of Encore Hospitality as well as flooding their IT room. Deploying their disaster-recovery plan, the team righted ship and ultimately moved to Dallas, TX, deciding on a location that was less at-risk for natural disaste
  • By implementing M3’s products and solutions, Encore was able to downsize its IT department to just two team members, and the offshore accounting team has been reduced to a few associates who input hotel accounting data remotely into Accounting Core
  • It’s evident that M3’s platform allows for resource efficiency as well as real time business intelligence and analytics, and the outcomes above speak to that fact. Adopting the M3 platform allowed for each company to streamline their headcount and accounting process, compare properties in real time, and secure their data in the event of a natural disaster. In the ultra-competitive landscape of hotel management, M3 has provided a leg up to HP Hotels, Coakley & Williams, and Encore and helps to ensure each company will stay ahead of the pack for years to come
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    This article references the specifics of the M3 platform, which is a more efficient accounting software for hoteliers. After several test runs, M3 has proven to help several properties streamline their accounting process, track data in real time and cut costs where possible.
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    M3 is a useful hotel accounting software that can be used on mobile devices, according to the illustrations. As mentioned in this article, accounting software can do things that generic providers can't, like delivering actionable business intelligence. For M3, it also gains the property managers more benchmarking insight and turned a management company's IT department into a profit center that offers service. Furthermore, by replacing the IT department with two employees and a cloud-based accounting system, it saved a large sum for a management company.
yijingyang

Didi gets $500M from SoftBank to develop autonomous driving technology | PhocusWire - 0 views

  • Ride-hailing platform Didi is hoping to accelerate the development and use of autonomous vehicles as a result of landing a $500 million investment round this week.
  • Didi claims it is the largest ever fundraising round in China for the autonomous vehicle industry. To-date Didi has raised $21.7 billion in capital.
  • Previous Didi investment rounds to support the core ride-hailing business hit a high of $5.5 billion in May 2017.
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  • Didi says it plans to "deepen cooperation with global upstream and downstream auto industry partners towards mass production of autonomous driving vehicles."
  • Testing of vehicles is not far away for Didi, with open-road licenses secured in the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou, as well as California in the U.S.
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    Didi gets $500M financing for the development of autonomous vehicles. This is the largest ever fundraising round in China in autonomous vehicle technic. And the testing of autonomous vehicle in China is one its way. Didi already get the permit to test in serval cities in China and California.
jenelleforbes

How Virgin Voyages Plans to Be Environmentally Friendly | Travel + Leisure - 1 views

  • Virgin Voyages has announced two eco-friendly partnerships focusing on responsibly sourced and sustainable products aboard its first ship, the Scarlet Lad
  • The first partnership, with Intelligentsia Coffee
  • will offer guests on the Scarlet Lady a complimentary custom brew of coffee at all bars and restaurants on board the ship, as well as crafted espresso drinks at the ship’s coffee bars.
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  • The second partnership is with Emerald Brand, which will provide unique, Tree-Free and plastic-free products, including bath tissue, facial tissue, hot cups, paper towels, napkins, straws, bottles, bags, and other items.
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    Virgin Voyages which is the new adults only cruise line from Richard Branson is one of the most sustainable cruises in the industry. Sustainability is the core of Virgin Voyages values. Virgin Voyages actively seeks out partners that are green and sustainability friendly as well like Intelligentsia Coffee and Emerald Brand. Intelligentsia Coffee will be served complimentary on Scarlet Lady which is Virgin Voyages first ship. Intelligentsia uses a direct trade model which means that they purchase directly from the growers from coffee producing regions. Emerald Brand produces tree free and plastic free products such as bath and facial tissue, straws, bottles etc. Virgin Voyages will no have any single use items on their ships. In addition guest will be have filtered and sparkling water complimentary on board from Natura filtered water filing stations.
sharline86

This Week in Green Tech: How COVID-19 Will Affect the Renewable Energy Industries > ENG... - 0 views

  • Economic recessions tend to result in lower energy usage as travel and energy consumption decrease.
  • This will create cash flow problems for utilities, which will be exacerbated by the fact that many low-income customers will likely struggle to pay their utility bills for a while.
  • It’s likely that projects already underway will be completed, but concerns about the future may delay some utilities’ plans to increase their renewable energy portfolios.
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  • ome of that funding will undoubtedly be invested in smart grid technology (essential to large-scale sustainable energy) and
  • microgrids, which frequently make use of renewable energy sources.
  • Economic uncertainty will likely lead many consumers to delay large capital expenditures, causing a temporary downturn in rooftop solar installations.
  • Residential sales and installations will continue, however, which leads to concerns about worker and customer health and safety.
  • Some analysts estimate that wind farms, which normally operate at 95 percent capacity, could drop to just 85 percent capacity due to travel issues related to COVID-19. And much like solar, new wind farms could be delayed because of factory shutdowns, travel restrictions, and investor concerns.
  • In general, we can expect the renewable energy industry to experience a slight setback during the next year or two, but it’s already gained enough momentum to keep moving forward, regardless of short-term slowdowns.
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    Engineering.com explores how renewable energy industries will operate post COVID-19. With focus on: Utilities, Solar, & Wind Power.
abroo041

The Advantages of Hotels Using a Global Distribution System (GDS) - 0 views

    • abroo041
       
      This article discusses the advantages of GDS in the hospitality industry. It allows companies to update their data in real-time and allows travel agents and online travel agents to share this information with their customers. GDS's are beneficial to companies because they can reach new markets, and increase revenue. They are beneficial to travel agents because they provide instant updates, growth in their businesses, and a heightened ability to reach and serve the corporate market.
  • The main purpose of a global distribution system is to help travel agents search for hotel accommodations that fit a set of criteria.
  • It is a business-to-business system used by companies to stay on top of real-time data about the availability of travel arrangements, such as hotel rooms, to sell them to customers planning to travel.
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  • help hotel managers uncover new market segments to promote their products.
  • GDS Hotel bookings often result in multiple nights stays.
  • it places the hotel’s information, availability and rates in prominent locations where it is easy for travel agents to find. It helps hotels maximise their bookings during any given time period while also reaching powerful travel markets that are willing to spend money in order to book the best room available.
  • Agent increase in use of GDS systems over the past 2 years:USA- 30%, Latin America- 49% , Europe & Middle East-47%, APAC-64%.
  • agents have access to live rates and availability
  • The number of bookings generated through a GDS generally outpaces that of direct bookings.
  • GDS is an important mix into larger properties’ distribution channels.
atutt002

How to Build in Redundancy for a Reliable Network - 0 views

  • Redundancy is the installation of additional or alternate network devices, communication mediums or equipment in your infrastructure
  • switches, network devices and equipment, an alternate Internet source, phone and VOIP backups, and alternate power sources.
  • Installing a commercial grade generator that can provide power to critical servers and systems.
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  • Another option is to have a backup internet service provider (ISP) that can be used when the network running the VOIP phones goes down
  • A single point of connection could be damaged or inadvertently cut, so having a second point of connection serves as a backup.
  • Building redundancy into your network and having a network failover plan should help you avoid downtime that could cost your business productivity and money.
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    This is an excellent article about redundancy and how to provide backups in the case of system failure. The article is not specifically targeted towards the hospitality industry but its recommendations for preparation in case of emergency are especially applicable to the service industry -- specifically to 24-hour establishments like hotels.
jchac014

The Impact of E-commerce on the Travel Industry - 0 views

  • 5 Ways Ecommerce has Benefited the Travel Industry
  • In the past few years, a tremendous change has come about within the travel and tourism industry and e-commerce has completely changed the concept of how people choose the way they travel around too.
  • E-commerce has played the vital role in enhancing the travel industry. Service providers and consumers, both are now enjoying the feasibility of it.
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  • 1. Online Booking
  • 2. Managing Recessions
  • 3. Automation and Networking
  • 4. Additional Global Market
  • 5. Ease of Accessibility
  • The industry of travel and tourism is now dependent on E-commerce, it provides practical ideas to implement and plan anything in advance from cheap solo travel excursions to hefty family holiday packages.
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    The demand for e-commerce has increased over the years, and has played a vital role in the travel and tourism industry. The article lists five ways e-commerce has helped the industry grow by making operations and online booking more feasible.
blevi022

Southwest Airlines Expands Corporate Booking Through the GDS – Skift - 0 views

  • For the first time, the majority of the airline’s content and booking capabilities are available in global distribution systems (GDS) at an industry-standard level of participation, instead of at a basic booking level.
  • In August 2019, the airline announced that after nearly 50 years in operation, it would significantly expand the amount of content it offers in the GDS through agreements with Travelport and Amadeus
  • Nearly every other major U.S. airline is in all three of the main GDS providers: Amadeus, Travelport, and Sabre, at an industry-standard level of participation. Prior to this May’s launch, Southwest only offered limited participation in Sabre and Apollo
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  • This strategic move has been a long time coming for Southwest and its corporate travel buyers — and it’s more important than ever during such a turbulent time.
  • Additionally, the airline is partnering with the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) to ensure the expanded offerings act in accordance with industry standards and to efficiently manage the reporting and settlement of tickets booked through the Travelport and Amadeus channels.
  • August 2019, the airline announced that after nearly 50 years in operation, it would significantly expand the amount of content it offers in the GDS through agreements with Travelport and Amadeus. The move to make the majority of its fares available in the GDS marks a big step forward for the airline in how it reaches business travelers and provides a more consistent customer experience for its corporate travel
  • Southwest Airlines is one airline that has its eyes set on a rebound to emerge stronger on the other side. One way it plans to do so is by shifting its distribution strategy. For the first time, the majority of the airline’s content and booking capabilities are available in global distribution systems (GDS) at an industry-standard level of participation, instead of at a basic booking level
  • uthwest Airlines is upping its corporate travel game by significantly expanding its presence in the global distribution system (GDS) network. This is set to enhance the relationship between the airline and its corporate buyers and agencies.
  • Nearly every other major U.S. airline is in all three of the main GDS providers: Amadeus, Travelport, and Sabre, at an
  • Prior to this May’s launch, Southwest only offered limited participation in Sabre and Apollo. Most corporate bookings were made on Southwest’s direct channels: SWABIZ, its corporate booking channel, and the Southwest API direct connect. Those that did book within the GDS were unable to perform
  • The process was not only atypical for a major U.S. airline, but was often frustrating and more costly for corporate buyers and agencies.
  • The agreement will give both Amadeus and Travelport industry-standard access to Southwest’s fares and functionality, like allowing travel managers to change and cancel flights through the system without having to pick up the phone and call the airline directly.
  • This move was in direct response to customer feedback. For the past few years, we’ve been told that the GDS is the preferred channel among business travelers and corporate travel buyers for booking travel. But it’s a timely shift as well. This new channel strategy will put Southwest in a strong position when a recovery begins,” h
  • The key benefit of the GDS is that it allows us to perform the booking in a standard workflow. The ability to serve our clients will be more efficient, and it will ultimately result in allowing us to offer a more effective and comprehensive service.”
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    This article is about Southwest expanding their GDS game. They are going to enhance their relationship with travel agencies and corporate customers.
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    Southwest Airlines had long resisted using GDS. It has been known for only allowing direct booking through its website. Last year, Southwest began to significantly increase the amount of tickets offered through GDS. This is viewed as good move for Southwest to help increase sales for the Corporate Travel market. This shows that GDS continues to have a use and airlines who did not use them are now willing to use them to help sell their inventory especially in the wake of COVID-19.
rhoff019

Could hotel service robots help the hospitality industry after COVID-19? -- ScienceDaily - 0 views

  • Results showed that while service robots are anticipated to increase efficiency and productivity of hotel activities, they may also pose challenges such as high costs, skill deficits and significant changes to the organizational structure and culture of hotels.
  • There is now even more interest in developing innovative ways of deploying service robots across all economic sectors to limit human interaction.
  • many industries are having to reinvent processes and systems to cope with a new isolated way of life.
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  • Robotic interaction in hotels could facilitate more socially distanced models of operation to enable a safer and faster reopening and recovery of some hotels.
  • During the lockdown period it is likely that hotel managers will be planning for a 'fresh start' in the recovery and rebuilding period after the social isolation restrictions have been lifted
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    Robots can increase efficiency and productivity in hotels, but they also pose challenges which include cost, skill deficits, and changes to the culture of hotels. With the COVID-19 pandemic there is more interest in developing these robots in hotels to limit human interaction. These systems would require someone for upkeep to the robots and software involved.
abroo041

10 ways smart technology is reshaping the hotel industry | Hotel Management - 2 views

  • In many ways, the hospitality industry is leading the charge in the adoption of smart business technology.
  • Smart energy-management systems can reduce hotel energy costs by up to 20 percent and generate some of the fastest payback periods in the industry (between 12-24 months).
  • As we move toward 2020, we can expect to see more hotel properties leveraging a variety of smart tech to reduce operational costs, improve guest experience and exploit new sources of revenue.
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  • smart technology will continue to make it possible for hotels to predict and personalize several guest services based on previous visits and aggregated guest data.
  • From operations to guest experience to marketing, smart hotel technology offers a variety of cost savings and revenue opportunities, and it is enabling hotel owners to reach new levels of profitability.
  • One of the main benefits of smart technology is how it aggregates data and makes it actionable.
  • Smart Reserved Parking
  • Smart Roomservice
  • A single leaky toilet can cost as much as $840 per year. Add to that the cost of water damage that occurs until the leak is detected.
  • Not only can guest data be used to help better accommodate guest needs, but in conjunction with occupancy sensors, it can also be used to automate guest interactions throughout their stay, reducing both friction points and labor costs
  • “Big data is great when you can use it to take action—whether that’s tackling a new market segment or adjusting your rate plans to compete against your competitors. However, the biggest concern around big data and the necessary data harboring is the safety around it.
  • Hotels now can use smart sensors and hotel apps to allow guests to reserve parking spots in advance of their visit and to have their space assigned upon arrival.
  • will save hotels the labor cost of manually managing parking inventory and it will give guests a smoother experience
  • By enabling guests to check in remotely through their mobile device, hotel owners can better predict/manage their staffing needs and save considerably on labor costs.
  • offer appropriate upgrades/upsells, and provide them with a more personalized guest experience
  • saving costs from printing environmentally harmful plastic keycards and its eliminating the hassle of managing keycard inventory that is prone to loss and demagnetization.
  • Smart occupancy sensors will also help hotels push menu notifications to smartphones at optimal times when the guests are in their rooms
  • Data opportunities of smart technology offer hotels a more complete picture of their guests than ever before. Hotels that leverage data insight are the ones that will continue to succeed in the face of increased competition from Airbnb
  • A hotel’s online ratings can not only help predict future bookings, but they offer owners valuable insight into how well a property delivered on guest expectations.
  • The successful properties will be the ones that invest in collecting and analyzing it in an actionable fashion.
    • abroo041
       
      This article discusses the different technological advances that are making major impacts in the hospitality industry. Some of the things discussed are very common, such as mobile check-ins, and have already been implemented in most hotels. Some of the advances, however, are recently making their way into hotels worldwide. For instance. smart energy management. This is when older lighting and HVAC systems are replaced with more energy-conscious, electronic-based ones. This not only saves the hotel thousands in the long run, but it also helps to protect the environment and reduces harmful waste.
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    This article includes ten ways smart technology is reshaping the hotel industry. Smart energy management, predictive maintenance, smart guest experience, big data protection, smart reserved parking, remote check in and check out, mobile room keys, smart room service, smart marketing practices, and online reputation management technology are all highlighted in this article.
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    This article talks about how smart technology has lead hotels to adopt new trends that have helped reduce costs and improve services. Trends such as smart energy management systems and online reputation management has enhanced operational efficiency and customer experiences. Both customers and businesses have benefitted from IT technology as it improves communication, reservation and guest service systems.
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    This article outlines 10 smart technologies used in the hotel industry to become a "green" hotel. They list and explain smart energy, predictive maintenance, smart guest experiences, big data, smart reserved parking, remote checkin/check out, mobile room keys, smart room service, smart marketing and online reputation.
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    This article is about 10 ways that smart technology can help and reshape the hotel industry that would be beneficial in the long run.
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    This article explains 10 ways of smart technology in the hospitality industry. 1- Smart Energy 2- Predictive Maintenance 3 - Smart Guest Experiences 4 - Big Data and Big Data Protection 5 - Smart Reserved Parking 6 - Remote Check-in/Check-out 7 - Mobile Room Keys 8 - Smart RoomService 9 - Smart Marketing Practices 10 - Online Reputation Management Technology We all know most of these, but Smart reserved parking caught my attention because I've only seen this once where hotels now have smart sensors and hotel apps that allow to reserve parking spots in advance and it reduces labor since there's not really a valet person assigned. It proves guests a smoother experience from the moment they pull in.
mmilian

Life House launches management company for independents | Hotel Management - 1 views

  • To support owners in particular need of support following COVID-19 impact, Life Hospitality is offering no transition fees and no management fees until 2021.
  • The company plans to continue hiring staff at the corporate level as its managed pipeline of both independent and Life House-branded hotels continues to grow across the U.S., and soon beyond, Dunn said.
  • create a completely new operational model that allows for a robust, lean operation to hotel owners
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  • Life Hospitality is able to take over existing hotels in as little as one week and train staff on its intuitive software in a single day, materially decreasing transition costs and preopening costs for owners
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    Interesting read about up and coming Lifehouse Hotels and how they are waiving management fees for this year and looking to expand their hotel management software to hotels that are not part of their brand. Lifehouse currently has five hotels in Miami.
Kevin Sepulveda

The Newest Tech on Cruise Ships - The New York Times - 3 views

  • “Most cruise lines now offer downloadable apps which really allow cruisers to tailor the cruise experience to them.”
  • Guests on the Edge can upload a selfie to the app, and the company’s facial recognition software will automatically check them into the cruise, allowing them to bypass long check-in lines. Cruisers can see their itinerary, and link their reservations with other guests’ to make plans together onboard. The app also allows passengers to see entertainment and dining options, and information about activities on the ship.
  • On Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, which just underwent a $165 million upgrade, guests can use an in-app remote for their TVs and use the app to unlock their stateroom doors.
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  • Guests can use the medallion to pay for meals and to settle bills through an app downloaded to their phones.
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    Major cruise ship companies are using MIS strategies to interact and improve guests experiences onboard. The idea of asking guests to disconnect from their technology is slowly fading as that very technology is becoming an integral part of the cruise ship experience. Remaining connected is becoming the new expectation, and cruise ship companies are using guests technology to everyone's benefit.
irinadolgopolova

6 0cBenefits 0c 0cof 0c 0ca Food & Beverage 0cPOS 0c 0cSystem 0c 0c 0c - 1 views

  • An effective POS solution for restaurants, bars or food service at attractions, entertainment and leisure venues can streamline a restaurant’s activities, saving time processing orders and money due to potential human error and customer loss.
  • The great thing about restaurant, entertainment or fun center POS systems now is that as they revolve around cloud-based software, the costs to upgrade to update is much lower as the equipment is already there and ready to go.
  • Once you’ve set up your entertianment POS or fun center POS system you must transfer your menu into the POS software to enable your servers to quickly record the customer’s order and allow for the customer to be charged the correct amount. To make the most out of the inventory management you will additionally have to record existing levels of stock, and how much each item on your menu depletes the respective products within your inventory. This will also mean that you must consistently update the inventory levels when they are replenished.
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  • Waiters have continuous mobility around the restaurant, while clearly communicating and recording orders. This gives the customers the convenience of table side ordering, whilst also allowing the orders to recorded and distributed seamlessly.
  • Another great benefit of using a entertianment POS or fun center POS system is that it avoids a lot of human errors in the communication between the waiters and the kitchen or bar staff. The cloud based system means that the orders are clearly recorded for the staff, forgoing any potential penmanship or shorthand issues.
  • Inventory management is another great feature of the entertianment POS or fun center POS system and it will allow your business to keep up to date with its inventory levels and knowing exactly when to restock their goods.
  • Through the continuous tracking of your levels of inventory, you’ll be able to identify trends in how each of your individual levels of stock are used in specific times. Not only can this aid in the planning and managing of stock, but it will also identify which products are popular within specific times of the year. This is valuable information and can be effectively utilized through your promotion and marketing, enticing more people to your family entertainment centre.
  • A entertianment POS or fun center POS system with a modern payment processor can allow your business to stay up to date with the majority of businesses, accepting credit cards and allowing customers to use their tap and go cards or functions like Apple Wallet and Google Pay. A entertianment POS or fun center POS system will also greatly improve the overall speed of the checkout process, making hard copies of orders expendable and recording them digitally in real-time.
  • Theft control may not seem like a particularly pressing issue, especially if your products are behind the counter and require customers to order and pay for them before accessing them. Regardless, a entertianment POS or fun center POS system will make you aware of any potential issues of theft through tracking what is ordered and what is paid for.
  • It is important to have set measures for staff to follow in recipes, which allows you to see how much inventory is actually left compared to how much should be left based on the inventory management system.
  • it can also be utilized in the building of customer relationships. Collecting customer details, namely an email address, will mean that you can communicate with past customers after their visit.
  • Managing an entertainment business requires a great deal of organization throughout all levels of the business. POS systems offer a great range of benefits aiding in the simplification of many business processes, from inventory management to staff management.
  • Clearly managing time clocks, scheduling which employees work each shift, keeping payroll up to date are all tasks entertianment POS or fun center POS can potentially assist with.
  •  
    In this article the food and beverage POS systems are described and discussed. The author explains why POS systems are important for the restaurants and entertainment centers, how to build those systems, how much would it cost to the businesses and what POS is exactly. Other than that, the benefits of installing POS systems are pointed.
kburn039

Welcome: The Comparison Between General Purpose Application Software and Function-Speci... - 0 views

  • Application software are designed to help us to perform a singular or multiple related specific tasks. They're also often called software applications, applications or apps
  • There are two types of application software which is the General Purpose Application Software and the Function-Specific application software.
  • 1) The General Purpose Application SoftwareGeneral purpose application software packages are generally tools that provide specific capabilities, but not in support of a specific purpose.
    • kburn039
       
      General purpose application software is the most common used. A good example of this would Microsoft Office.
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  • Word-Processing Software
  • Spreadsheet Software
  • 2) Function-Specific Application Software
    • kburn039
       
      Function-Specific Application Software is a software where it has only one use. The use will be very specific and will not have multiple uses. A good example of this software would be Adobe Photoshop.
  • Computer-Aided Design Software
  • Supply Chain Management Software
  • Enterprise Resource Planning Software
  •  
    This article outlines the differences between General Purpose Application Software and Function-Specific Application Software.
biancafavilli

ECommerce in Hospitality and Tourism Industry - 1 views

  • New technologies are providing different channels for marketing and management that improve the capabilities of society. And computers are providing faster and more reliable processing with lower cost continually.
  • In Hospitality and Tourism industry, hardware, software, information management, and telecommunications systems have allowed for the processing and information flow amongst organizations. The way in which tourism organizations take advantage of IT tools may determine their future success in the marketplace [4]. We consider the importance of the trend of Information Technology by implementing an effective IT system for advertising, distribution, encouragement and co-ordination of the industry. It is important that Hotel Industry take the lead of the emerging technologies to improve management abilities and develop business plans focusing on the most efficient income of delivering value added products to clients.
  • B2C transactions involve business-to-customer interactions.
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  • B2B transactions involve business-to-business.
  • B2E transactions involve a business and its employees.
  • C2C transactions involve two or more consumers (customer-to-customer).
  • The industry can make profits to many countries and pull foreign currencies into the country.
  • The travel distribution system is currently facing many changes as online agencies such as Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia, etc. have introduced a way to access travel suppliers directly via the worldwide web. In general, Global Distribution Systems have not shown much of an effort toward targeting on-line customers. As an alternative, Customer Relation Systems have remained trustworthy to their travel agency distributors.
  • The Internet is not the full solution to success in the Hospitality and Tourism industry. However, the Internet is the “overall business answer” across industries
  • The success of the Hospitality and Tourism industry will depend upon the abilities to identify and answer quickly to current and potential customer needs
  • Starwood Hotel Group was standing ahead of other Hotels to offer a online “virtual tours” of its properties. This feature provides a site visit to potential guests without having to travel to each property. And now, many well-known hotels are also providing this promotion feature for stand top of the roles to attract potential customers.
  • Google presented the vision of Internet marketing is likely to grow by 2015. Some of them are worth to be informed and aware about.
  • 50% of ad campaigns will include video ads bought on a cost-per-view basis 50% of ads will be bought using this real-time bidding technology to tailor experiences for different viewers Smartphones / mobile phone will be the number one screen for digital brands to engage users There will be at least 5 metrics that advertisers will regard as more important than the “click” 75% of web ads will be “social” in nature such as facebook. Therefore, Ads will be shared, discussed, subscribed to and recommended Multimedia formats enable great creativity and interaction – these will grow from 6% of display ad impressions to 50%, especially for brand building campaigns Digital display advertising is going to grow to a $50 billion industry This forecast shows that competition to attract potential customers via worldwide web will be more and more drastic.
  • World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that over 1.5 billion tourists would take international journeys in the year 2020.
  • Another e-Commerce model such as Auction style-pricing models are becoming customer preference, where the customer are able to control the price of the products and services to be consumed.
  • Airlines have a stronger straight link to customers as they compete directly against travel agents [23]. Furthermore, they could have stronger control over the customers due in part to the e-ticketing. In this respect, online technology has replaced the travel agency by adding value via fare shoppers, promotions, and personalized recommendations
  • Customers are almost guaranteed that they will obtain the best price by negotiating via an online agent such as Priceline. But a shortcoming to all of this is that the customer will not understand all of the normal benefits of air tickets as they are sacrificed via online auction purchases. For example, in many cases the travel ticket does not permit any changes or accrual of or without significant penalty charges.
  • Online companies have more of a chance at success in Hong Kong due to the dense population, strong education systems, high credit card and cell phone usage. This leaves room for the future development of the next Priceline or Travelocity in Asia which could pose a major threat to hospitality & tourism organizations. Based on the high volume cell phone usage in Hong Kong, Mobile commerce should be a new trend on next stage. [29]
  • As low cost computer real-time data, fast speed internet access, voice and video communications become a reality, travel agencies may no longer be needed. On the other hand, the Internet challenge can also mean chance. Hotel owners and operators who understand and master e-commerce or m-commerce challenges will be able to jump ahead of online threats from large players such as Priceline. Otherwise, many will find themselves out of business.
  • Information Technology tools have allowed travel intermediaries to expand their role in the industry by presenting opportunities to venture into other markets on a geographical level.
  • Not only should hoteliers focus on the business traveler, but they should also consider whether there are other types of potential target customers as we may find that both young and older generations were sitting in the Internet shops utilizing online services during their vacation as well.
  • Organizations have to invest in the expertise and equipment (Hardware, Software) for building a strong IT base at first.
  • Internet security has been a major issue surrounding the Internet community.
  • Governments are currently addressing Internet based global commerce by considering rules of conduct, guiding principles, laws and taxation. [*30]
  • Today, hotels are distributing their product via more and more channels. How they keep control of availability and price, maintain a consistent level of customer service, in addition to keep their distribution partners up to date at the same time has becomes a complicated and expensive process.
  • The core transactions of our business involve intimate face-to-face interactions, which have certain limitations in regard to the use of e-commerce in the hospitality industry compared with other enterprises
  • It is important to take a look at how Internet technology will affect the future of the tourism industry. Most IT tools are being utilized
  • The hospitality & tourism internet future suggests a universal system where property management systems will eliminate the need for expensive on-site computer hardware/software.
  • Future success for hospitality & tourism companies depends upon their abilities to identify a target market and the strategic opportunities available for survival and growth.
  • It is crucial for hospitality & tourism organizations to stay on top of the roles of the major online players that are posing a serious threat to the industry such as Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia, Yahoo, etc. Their role in the future of hospitality & tourism marketing is crucial to the survival of Hoteliers.
  •  
    This article highlights the different aspects that e-commerce brings to society. It highlights the many ways that e-commerce has affected the Hospitality Industry and the things that can be done about it, and it also highlights the economical and political impact that e-commerce might have on the future of our society (especially the hospitality industry).
anonymous

Managed WiFi Hotel Solutions, Benefits, Features | Blueprint RF - 1 views

  • Yet, adding IoT solutions or hosting large conferences may strain your existing system. Your tech amenities won’t deliver a high return on investment without a stable and secure wireless network.
  • Overseeing your WiFi system is a full-time job. It requires time and financial resources to update infrastructure, replace old equipment, and patch firmware.
  • Fortunately, managed WiFi providers solve your wireless dilemma with tailored recommendations.
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  • What does managed WiFi mean? With managed WiFi, you outsource your wireless network to a third-party vendor.
  • Hotel owners switch to a managed WiFi service to preserve time and financial resources while providing a secure and reliable guest WiFi network. Managed solutions offer features, like reporting options and capital planning assistance, that support your current and longterm goals. 
  • In short, your managed WiFi network runs seamlessly in the background. Your IT team isn’t overburdened with infrastructure improvements. And management has access to advanced analytics and reporting features to adjust bandwidth and predict future needs. 
  • Enterprises turn to managed service providers for their “skilled human resources, infrastructure, and industry certifications.”
  • With managed WiFi services, your provider develops a secure wireless network and monitors it 24/7/365. You pay a monthly fee, which helps you avoid unexpected expenses.
  • For many hoteliers, the best part of a managed WiFi service is that you can simply call for help. Your provider remotely evaluates your system. They perform updates, identify hazards, and work with you to troubleshoot minor issues. From afar, a managed WiFi provider can even boost a nearby signal as a temporary patch during a device outage. For challenging problems, a certified technician visits your location and resolves the issue. 
  • The system learns, tracks and adapts to your guest and property needs without forgoing essential security and privacy protocols.
  • top managed WiFi providers also offer options like:  Conference management features handle VLAN configurations, bandwidth shaping, extra ports, and even online scheduling and resource guides for events.  24/7/365 customer support services assist your hotel staff and hotel guests for positive experiences with your high-speed wireless network. 
  • It no longer makes sense to employ a full staff to manage your hotel’s wireless network. Instead, partner with a reputable managed WiFi service provider dedicated to the hospitality industry.
  •  
    The author presents the argument that optimum performance of a hotel's wi-fi network is critical to a hote and that the demands of IoT, large conferences and the need to update infrastructure require constant oversight. It is argued that outsourcing the hotel wi-fi network to a managed WiFi provider has many advantages over placing the burden and responsibility on the hotel IT team. In my opinion, the article makes a strong case for engaging a managed WiFi provider. What would have been a useful addition to the article is how hotel's should go about managing and overseeing the provider that they engage.
sabrinajalane

https://blog.datumize.com/examples-of-innovation-from-the-hotel-industry - 0 views

This article underlines the importance of innovation in the hotel industry. This article provides five different examples of what market leaders are doing to make their hotels unique. Some are eco-...

technology hospitality hotel tech travel green

started by sabrinajalane on 06 Sep 20 no follow-up yet
tredunbar

Securing the Big Game: Emerging Technologies for Event Security - Police Chief Magazine - 0 views

  • Interconnectivity
  • there is still much work to be done to ensure seamless interconnectivity, communication, and data sharing among systems and technologies
  • high-tech solutions like advanced video surveillance with video from multiple sources—venues, traffic cameras, and more—that will be fed directly into first responder vehicles and a fully integrated security operations center to provide situational awareness
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  • Large security operations centers must also all be integrated and interconnected
  • Every new technology and device used to secure an event adds to the growing list of devices deployed to secure the event, which must be able to communicate with each other and with security operations centers
  • Communication
  • Both public-private partnership models can help deter crime
  • When law enforcement is able to tie systems in together and make sure officers can communicate with each other, this leads to faster response times, improved communication, and better overall safety and security
  • forging public-private technology partnerships for sharing video and other information is an excellent way to improve security for these events
  • There are a lot of different entities that must work together. As such, cost becomes a factor, as do installed legacy systems, as well as the argument that one size can’t possibly fit all
  • Mobile technology has in many ways alleviated some of these concerns
  • Video Surveillance
  • A primary technology that is used to deliver security for high-profile events is video surveillance
  • Despite the possible deterrence factor, the main goal of video systems is to provide situational awareness
  • A smart camera or sensor deployed in a particular location can provide early warning that something may be about to happen in that area
  • Identifying and Securing the Perimeter
  • Smart traffic technology with capabilities such as incident detection could alert law enforcement to further investigate a particular area of interest or to work with transportation teams to more quickly respond and clear the way faster to avoid increasing congestion and related incidents
  • Surveillance cameras are now equipped with technologies that allow them to be those eyes and ears for law enforcement
  • When it comes to actually planning out and selecting the technologies to be deployed, another positive trend is more cooperation because city-wide systems are coming into play
  • Having the technology for law enforcement to support big public venue events is challenging, but, in many ways, public and private entities are now working collectively to get the most out of the resources they each have available
  • Computer analytics solutions have evolved to a point where these technologies are readily available and relatively easy to deploy
  • The day is coming when smart city technology will be more reality than concept
  • deploying the right mix of advanced technology and best practices for cooperation and public-private partnerships between various stakeholders, law enforcement can help ensure that the trend of safety and security at high-profile sporting events
  •  
    This article focus on using smart city technology to assist law enforcement with securing big city sporting events. The article highlights the need for seamless interconnectivity with local law enforcement technologies in order to streamline response time. Communication and video surveillance are all enhanced by the use of emergent security technology that allows for officers to work with other agencies and the community to keep large events safe.
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