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jwilc019

MultiBrief: How hospitality will become more sustainable in 2020 - 1 views

  • It seems that hotel sustainability is going to top all hospitality trends in 2020.
  • creating innovations to contain the current wasteful way of living. The development and deployment of green technology will help proactive businesses drive change.
  • Preventing waste will be a predominant theme across all sub-sectors.
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  • “three-zero-concept” approach, which entails prioritizing energy management and lower emissions; using local construction materials and skills; and introducing life-cycle management into the building process.
  • Heat exchangers that use the exhaust heat to preheat water — an innovative way to achieve waste heat recovery — will grow in number.
  • According to research, hotels must reduce their carbon emissions by 66% by 2030 to ensure that growth in the sector is sustainable
  • To achieve the goal of reducing resource use, pollution, and waste hotels are installing high-resolution resource monitoring. They are also coming up with more apps that can engage staff and guests in sustainability and food waste reduction.
  • Eco-friendliness is no longer a nice-to-have concept. It has now evolved into a must-have
  • According to the U.N. World Tourism Organization, the number of eco-inspired trips taken by the end of this year will be close to 1.6 billion worldwide.
  •  
    This article was pre-COVID and budgetary restraints I fear will force many initiatives to be placed on the back burner for a while. What I really liked about this article is that it shows the hospitality industry being a driving force in sustainability technologies and taking accountability for amount of resources it uses and waste it produces. I found the "three-zero-concept" particularly interesting for new builds, since it takes a ground-up approach to sustainability. It talks about education and training for staff, which is extremely important for sustainability initiatives to be successful. The article highlights different protocols being used to lower waste, emissions, pollution, and natural resources used.
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.
mannypjr

The Best HR Practices in the Hospitality Industry - 0 views

  • the quality of your customer services and staff responsiveness has a direct impact on the image and reputation of your hotel
  • Hotel executives need to devise a well-managed and robust talent management strategy that creates a culture of ongoing development, high performance, and organization-wide commitment to providing top-notch service in a practical way.
  • recruiting, hiring, and retaining skilled and experienced employees
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  • Many hotels are incorporating web-based solutions to optimize their key management functions in order for managers, HR executives, and employees to shift their focus to other high value activities.
  • Within just a year, the hotel experienced significant positive results in terms of better alignment and lower turnover.
  • scale, magnitude, duration, and strategic importance
  • hotels are cultivating talent pools internally and preparing their employees to assume leadership roles whenever the time comes.
  • The senior management needs to outline such customer service values of their hotel, and ensure that their staff at all levels has clear understanding of how their individual actions contribute to providing these values.
  • senior executives also need to empower employees to ensure they deliver them in a way that adds values to the customer experience.
  • experience and knowledge must be readily available to employees, and must be proactively delivered to the right person at the right time.
  • they need to reinforce core messages through timely advice, which should be both practical and inspirational.
  • Each employee needs to know this change is going to affect their work, what they are expected during and after the transformation process, on what basis their performance will be measured, and what is the altered definition of success and failure.
  •  
    This article outlines some best practices in the hospitality industry. These include: Talent Mgmt. & High Levels of Customer Centricity, Executing Enterprise-Wide Transformation, and Lessons from Industry Leaders.
khadija2050

What is an Human Resources Information System (HRIS)? A Full Guide - 1 views

  • used to collect and store data on an organization’s employees.
  • be cloud-based
  • . This means that the software is running outside of the company’s premises, making it much easier to update.
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  • these systems are also called Human Capital Management systems, or HCM. In this article, we will use the terms HRIS and HRIS systems interchangeably.
  • keeps track of changes to anything related to employees
  • ability to offer self-service HR to employees and managers.
  • This includes material for the identification for employees in case of theft, fraud, or other misbehaviors, first contact information in case of accidents, citizens identification information for the tax
  • one plac
  • the tracking of data required to advance the HR and business strategy. Depending on the priorities of the organization, different data will be essential to track. This is where the HRIS comes in.
  • Record-keeping
  • time and attendance data from employees
  • Payroll automates the pay process of employee
  • is benefits management
  • This software handles all the company’s recruiting needs. It tracks candidate information and resumes,
  • allows HR to track qualification, certification, and skills of the employees, as well as an outline of available courses for company employees. This module is often referred to as an LMS, or Learning Management System, when it’s a stand-alone
  • talent pipeline and having replacements available
  • having employees and their direct supervisors manage their own data
  • involves the analysis of this data for better-informed decision making. We’ll explain more about this in the section below.
  • databases that record a company’s transactions. An example of a transaction is when an employee joins the company.
  • It includes modules on talent management, workforce rewards, workforce management, and work-life solutions.
  • They simply haven’t been designed for this. In addition, not all HRIS systems have all the above functionalities build-in.
  • as it means that data is dispersed into multiple systems. In order to report data, a new layer needs to be added on top of all HR systems to report and analyze the HR data.
  • These include Workday, Oracle, SAP, ADP, Ceridian, Kronos, and more. Listing all the HRIS suppliers would be impossible, so we decided to explicitly mention the four HCMs that are considered to be leaders.
  • they offer different suites including recruiting, learning, performance management, and an e-learning LMS.
  • Workday is arguably one of the best-known HRIS out there
  • These are systems that keep track of a company’s resources, which include among other things financial assets, orders, and people. In 2011, SAP acquired SuccessFactors,
  • . They are
  • HR, payroll, and talent management. Systems include time and attendance, onboarding, performance management, compensation, succession
  • on-the-job training to HR professionals in the use of the system. This function is usually in the IT arm of the HR department.
  • provides support for the HRIS. This includes researching and resolving HRIS problems and being a liaison with other parts of the business, like finance/payroll.
  • This means improving the employee experience in using the systems, coming up with user-friendly innovations, and implementing new policies to be reflected in the system.
  • IT is useful to understand the intricacies of the system while HRM helps to understand the processes that the HRIS is supporting.
  • the specific demands of the different stakeholders inside the company are inquired about.
  • you choose an implementation partner,
  • Here the functional and technical requirements for infrastructure,
  • a core test team is created.
  • communication plans need to be created, and Frequently Asked Question and other support documents created to benefit the software implementation and uptake.
  • the system can Go-Live. Feedback needs to be constantly collected and training material updated with the evolving systems. Cons
  •  
    the articles gives a detailed definition of the HRIS and the benefits it presents to companies . it also touches on different platforms that companies decide to choose to work on the HRIS.
dlevine4195

The Dilemma between Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in the H... - 0 views

  • there is a humongous dilemma between AI & EQ in hospitality because the industry is all about "PEOPLE".
  • Firstly, it is imperative to understand that technology is extremely important and will help any business to envision and reach goals.
  • hospitality industry, hotels are rapidly adopting AI to maximize profits, guest retention, and overall performance, and more importantly to analyze guests and varying trends using data analytics.
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  • continuous experience with virtual meetings and events, work from home, and the so-called technology-driven life, these guests will expect HUMAN-TOUCH, HOSPITALITY, EMPATHY, MOTIVATION, and more importantly HIGH-END SATISFACTORY SERVICE with integrated technological solutions.
  • In order to achieve all these expectations, hotels should consider training staff to improve their EQ so that they can deal with any situation or use their EQ to make decisions when AI is unable to answer guest's queries or special requests, etc
  • . Furthermore, due to rising customer loyalty, employees can emphasize highly personalized touches and anticipate what a guest needs before he or she actually says them, unlike the AI which is programmed to respond only to certain inputs.
  • Personalization:
  • Reputation Management:
  • rtificial Intelligence is here to stay forever, but only as a dynamic helping tool or as an assistant for humans in the HOSPITALITY industry.
  • Predictive Analytics:
  • Sales & Marketing:
  • Revenue Management:
  • The future is optimistic where an integrated EQ & AI skills are needed to better optimize and provide guests an out-of-the-world experience
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    This article discusses the connection of Emotional Intelligence and Artificial intelligence and how it will positively impact the future guest experience. It will allow the human touch to still be present with the productivity of robot collecting data or analytics.
hlope066

Cloud vs. On-Premise PMS (with Comparison Chart) › WebRezPro - 1 views

    • abroo041
       
      This article is talking about the main differences between a cloud-based PMS versus an on-premise PMS. It is a blog post from webrezpro which is a web-based PMS provider, so the post is slightly biased, however it does provide a lot of information on the pros and cons of both systems.
  • The right choice is the one that aligns with your business’ operational requirements and future objectives, and your comfort levels with the technology.
  • Property management systems — both cloud-based and on-premise — are designed to automate a property’s operational processes, from front desk to back office, for greater efficiency
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  • When it comes to the big differences between the two, it boils down to deployment and technical requirements, cost and accessibility.
  • Data is stored on a server located at the property. This means that data and hardware maintenance and security are the responsibility of the property.
  • A reliable Internet connection is important.
  • On-premise systems require significantly more on-property hardware than cloud systems
  • While vendors of on-premise PMS may offer guidance determining the suitability of existing hardware or purchasing new items, the technical requirements of an on-premise system add considerable cost to implementation and maintenance, and benefit from in-house IT expertise.
  • All the property needs to access the PMS is a computer or mobile device, a stable Internet connection and a Web browser. No in-house IT skills required!
  • With an on-premise system, data security is the property’s responsibility.
  • Modern on-premise PMS can be integrated with external systems such as call accounting software, point-of-sale (POS) systems and in-room entertainment systems but it is a complex process that requires manual technical work and additional hardware (for example, a dedicated computer between the PMS and interface system).
  • Cloud software vendors have the expertise and budget to implement robust security measures and procedures
  • On-premise hotel management systems are a traditionally expensive investment that can cost a mid-sized hotel $10,000 to $20,000 or more for the software licence (additional licenses normally need to be purchased for each additional workstation), plus annual maintenance fees, as well as significant hardware and IT costs
  • typically based on a monthly cost of around $5 to $10 per room, and normally a one-time setup and training fee (approximately $500)
  • Anti-virus software is generally a good idea for any computer accessing the Internet
  • Cloud PMS are much more easily integrated with external systems,
  • While it is possible for on-premise systems to be accessed remotely from an off-site computer, this ability requires additional technical setup, including installation of a Citrix or Terminal server onsite
  • Because cloud PMS are deployed online, the system is accessible via a secure login from any computer or mobile device connected to the Internet, anywhere in the world.
  • On-premise systems typically face lengthy development cycles compared to cloud-based systems and require expensive upgrades to remain current.
  • Upgrades are frequent and usually free with cloud-based systems and can be deployed instantly.
  • Cloud PMS make a lot of sense for independent lodging operators who are passionate about hospitality rather than technology.
  •  
    PMS are designed to create greater efficiency. Both on-premise and a cloud-based systems have similar core functions. The differences are on-premise software must be physically installed on all computers that will require access. The server holds all of the data, which is located on the property. The security of the data and the maintenance of the hardware is the properties responsibility. Cloud software's security is in the hands of the company who owns the software. When it comes to the big differences between the two, it comes down to deployment, technical requirements, cost, and accessibility.
xrive007

Robots Replacing Humans Leading to Big Job Losses: Report | PEOPLE.com - 1 views

  • Rapid Rise in Robots Replacing Humans at Work Leading to Big Job Losses in Next 20 Years: Report
  • whirring robotic machine has replaced baristas
  • these non-human replacements
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  • are rapidly changing the workplace
  • expected to erase or greatly change half of all jobs within the next 20 years,
  • This,
  • may lead to a worsening of social and economic tensions
  • Some of the robotic changes are already in plain view worldwid
  • automated cooking pots have replaced chefs
  • robots have replaced bartenders and waiters
  • Those who will be particularly affected by changes in the way we work
  • are low-skilled, part-timers in the gig-economy or the young
  • tremendous impact machines have had on job loss.
  • The OECD Employment Outlook does not envisage a jobless future. But it does foresee major challenges for the future of work
  • An antidote to this, suggests the OECD, is more training and governments increasing worker protections
  •  
    This article is about how far we are getting with technology in the restaurant business. It shows some examples of places that have acquired some of these innovative technologies.
mmorr116

Why a College Student Developed a Hotel Housekeeping Robot | Hospitality Technology - 0 views

  • Recently, Maidbot announced its partnership with RB (Reckitt Benckiser), a health, hygiene, and nutrition company and the makers of many world-renowned brands including Lysol, Dettol, Harpic, Finish and Mucinex. Maidbot is partnering with RB to drive greater confidence in the hospitality and commercial real estate industries by innovating cleaner, more hygienic experiences for guests and employees alike.
  • The two companies will collaborate to develop innovative commercial cleaning solutions which will drive the commercial robotics revolution and transform the commercial services industry. 
  • Micah Estis Green founded the company when he was a student working as a room attendant at The Statler Hotel on Cornell University’s campus. While cleaning rooms, he realized housekeeping is a hotel’s highest variable cost and that room attendants have the highest rate of injury.
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  • Green also saw similar issues in other types of commercial real estate with demanding cleaning operations. So Green created Rosie the robot (Yes – named after The Jestons’ maidbot!) to vacuum commercial floors so that humans could focus on more meaningful and enjoyable work.
  • as hotels and other companies began to use Rosie – something interesting happened. As the team designed the hardware and navigation software to optimize Rosie’s cleaning function for varied environments, they uncovered demand for predictive data that could provide significant added value to management.
  • Rosie can track environmental data from temperature and humidity to Wi-Fi signal strength. Rosie evolved from being a commercial floor cleaning robot to an indoor mobile data platform - mapping indoor data over physical space. Rosie’s cleaning skills combined with her data tracking has made her a valuable asset to many hotel properties.
  • Operators have seen an increase in efficiencies in room and public space cleaning, so they have derived value in changing operations accordingly. Additionally, the robot captures actionable data that can help mitigate lost revenue from guest complaints - ie. poor Wi-Fi in a room will lead to a guest complaint which could lead to a discounted rate - which has an impact on the top line for operators.”
  • “COVID has had an unprecedented impact on the service industry and operations have changed drastically,”
  • Rosie can help alleviate the strain that increased an increased task list may cause. Rosie can also tackle public spaces -- like lobbies and corridors -- to clean consistently and support house aids so they can tackle higher touch and guest-focused tasks. 
  •  
    Interesting article! This robot Rosie, was created by a student while working as a housekeeper at a hotel. He saw that majority of accidents reported by housekeeping staff were injuries sustained from vacuuming. Later they found that Rosie was much more capable at performing other duties than housekeeping. Due her data storage capabilities she became useful in tracking environmental data, temperature, humidity and WIFI signal strength. No doubt this type of green technology has had a tremendous impact on the overall guest experience and increase in revenue.
ivonneyee

Modern Management Technologies in the Hospitality Industry - 2 views

The article talks about how it's worth investing in proximity marketing to increase the speed of a customer's decision, increase engagement, and eloyalty. The article states that marketers who know...

amcqu004

What will ChatGPT mean for the travel industry? | PhocusWire - 1 views

  • ChatGPT (which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a free artificial intelligence chatbot that has incredibly human-like communication skills (and a fee-based premium version in development)
  • Microsoft is reportedly considering a $10 billion investment in ChatGPT owner Open AI according to multiple media outlets.
  • Because of this, tech companies are seeing value in data-driven personalization solutions and ChatGPT fills that need. It can help save companies time and money to allocate resources to solve more complex and specific problems.  
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  • With a large dataset already in place, integrating this technology into our platform could hyper-personalize search results for travelers and supports our vision of offering open-ended, flexible search options. 
  • saved more than eight million hours in agent time, allowing travelers to resolve issues faster with self-service. 
  • but the technology is still in a relative state of infancy
  • ChatGPT really captured everyone's attention when it launched,
  • - it's already dividing opinion with responses that can range from entertaining and creative to glaringly inaccurate
  • It's too early to say whether the likes of ChatGPT can truly emulate those very human instincts.
  • First, people need to recognize that it's not generating anything new as much as scraping and regurgitating the internet
  • Every single tour operator, even single hotel, every transport company now has the same opportunity to be as productive as a company much bigger than themselves. I see that as a commodity – everyone has access to it therefore, in some ways, where’s the value. But it’s the most productivity-enhancing thing I’ve ever seen. 
  • However I don’t think that’s the real impact. I think that’s just the start of the game. Once AI starts to get into the actual experiences – not just tour experiences but hotels, airports… the ability to speed up and enhance the actual experience, especially in something that is not a good experience at the moment like an airport, is going to be quite dramatic.And the real game changer... is once the general public has it, it changes everything. You are a tour operator, and you create itineraries. The consumer can now do exactly the same thing as you and do it in real time. And 1,000 people can create 1,000 different experiences tailored to what they like. So the creation of a travel experience on the ground, which tour operators have dominated, is going to be disrupted by travelers being able to do it themselves. 
  • it’s not the live data, it’s not up to date, the facts may not be 100% and it doesn’t have geolocation.
  • The weakness at the moment is it’s only scraping data through 2021. So
  • This could make entirely new businesses or it can destroy businesses.
  • will save hundreds of thousands of dollars on freelance costs, so there's big disruption to come.
  • For basic service copy – simple product descriptions, basic articles, email campaigns, that sort of thing, it's going to be very useful for brands and very painful for content creators.
  • There’s some interesting use cases that we hope to explore such as improving automation and responses for common customer service requests through chat (and eventually even speech and video), as well as concierge-like services to recommend travel destinations, create personalized itineraries and the like.
  • . So there are issues with accuracy and truthfulness, and it needs human expertise to fact-check the output.
  • ChatGPT might herald a revolution in automated content creation, but I also think it could create a new premium for genuine human expertise too.
  • ChatGPT has been trained with information existing until end of 2021. Travel is a super dynamic category where this morning’s information is no longer relevant a few hours even minutes later. Inventory availability, prices, category of rooms/seats/cars change by the minute. You need good old-fashioned technology like CRS, WBE, RMS, etc. to handle these dynamics, not ChatGPT.
  • Google can provide a much better AI-powered chatbot than ChatGPT that spews much better answers in milliseconds, but how are they going to make money?
  • Specific to ChatGPT, I believe that this technology will eventually be used in conjunction with a brand’s own content, in addition to the internet as a whole, so that it can be trained and customized by the brand to answer questions.
  • What’s also really interesting is how this once again demonstrates that the most disruptive innovations often come from outside the travel industry.
  • ChatGPT is gaining that trust in its ubiquity and daily usage, so I think travelers could be much more likely to accept its itinerary recommendations without nearly as much research and shopping around. This has implications for human agents too.
  •  
    ChatGPT is a new technology that is hoping to take over the travel industry. It is an AI product, similar to google, which will generate answers to questions that travelers may have via a chat service. It is meant to replace tour guides, travel agents, and concierge experts and can either save business time and money, or create chaos and the need to speak to an expert human instead. Like all technology products, there is always room to improve and grow in the initial stages, and not all roles are better off being completed by a computer, rather than a human. Although AI may have access to more information at a quicker pace, and may even be able to write better than most people, some companies believe that the possible errors and inaccuracy provided by ChatGPT will make content creators and human expertise way more valuable. ChatGPT accesses data from 2021 and prior, which means it is not current and up to date. This is a major flaw that will need to be improved.
vriverol

Cloud computing is booming, but these are the challenges that lie ahead | ZDNET - 0 views

  • According to a recent report by tech analyst Gartner, worldwide consumer spending on public cloud services is forecast to grow 20.7% to $591.8 billion in 2023, up from $490.3 billion in 2022. That's compared to the 18.8% growth forecast for 2022.
  • The technical expertise needed to support the rapid adoption of cloud is something hiring managers need to think about as they head into 2023
  • The lack of cybersecurity staff – which is facing a dual challenge of extreme demand and high rates of stress and burnout-related attrition – has become particularly acute over the past year
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  • Hewitt says the rise of hybrid cloud has raised specific challenges for security by creating more potential entry points for malicious code and similar threats.
  • ar threats.
  • Managing risks properly will require an empowered IT leadership that is given a say in strategic decision-making processes – something you'd might assume is a given, but continues to be a complaint among tech leaders.
  • "Higher-wage and more skilled staff are required to develop modern SaaS applications, so organizations will be challenged as hiring is reduced to control costs," wrote Sid Nag, vice president analyst at Gartner.
  •  
    As spending on cloud services jumps up almost 21% from last year, everything seems to be positive for this fast growing technology. It is, however, facing some challenges along the way that companies are going to need to take into consideration when spending on these services. Making sure they have a well qualifies and capable team to keep these services secure without burning them out is one of the concerns employees are bringing up in recent conversations. The security and safety of the data held by these services is very important, and needs to be prioritized in the day to day decisions made by all companies that utilize these services. Threats and malicious code taken advantage of by hackers is ever growing, and requires a constant, educated team with empowerment to protect to constantly watch out for these threats. Cloud computing still continues to grow, and is still a great advancement in business, but it also still needs to have it's threats carefully assessed and addressed to make sure it remains secure.
emilywest5

Automation and artificial intelligence in hospitality and tourism | Emerald Insight - 0 views

  • Human knowledge, services and robotics applications were the most significant factors influencing automation and AI implementation. Practitioners and researchers in the hospitality and tourism industry could apply the proposed framework to develop sustainable strategies for implementing and managing automation and AI. The proposed framework may also be useful in future studies examining AI implementation in the hospitality and tourism industry.
  • Smart technologies like automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have become important elements of hospitality and tourism
  • Hospitality and tourism firms use smart technology to dynamically enhance consumer experience (Buhalis and Sinarta, 2019). Smart hospitality and tourism have provided opportunities for firms to enhance their operations and productivity, resulting in higher quality products and better processes for delivering services to customer
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  • Although hospitality and tourism organizations have already implemented smart technologies such as AI and robotics into their business activities (Epiknetworks, 2018), the companies adopting them are still limited owing to the individual, organizational and external environment barriers.
  • Researchers still need to engage better, investigate and understand these nascent developments (Murphy et al., 2017), and limited studies have examined the implementation challenges.
  • Technological development plays a vital role in tourists’ decision-making processes. Digital technologies and cyber-physical systems may even act as extensions of a tourist’s self (Stylos, 2019). Several researchers have focused on the importance of including AI in tourism education (Murphy et al., 2017) and to be prepared for technology shifts in their industry
  • They also suggested that employees in the hospitality and tourism sector should study robot design and machine learning to link changes in technology to the international tourism industry.
  • In future, tourism will take place in a robonomic economy and tourists will demand a high-touch service experience
  • The use of smart technologies such as chatbots usually receives positive feedback and the benefits of this technology outweigh the challenges (Buhalis and Yen, 2020). The advancement of novel technologies involves a process of knowledge management, including maintenance, disruption and change. This needs the integration of technologies and institutions and results in the growth of new values and services (Vargo et al., 2015).
  • Service providers need to think critically about how AI applications in hospitality and tourism might affect people’s use of the service. They should also consider what needs to be changed to ensure that robots and employees work together seamlessly to augment the service experience (Buhalis et al., 2019). Smart technologies and AI could disrupt services in the hospitality industry, altering customer engagement plans and expectations (Helkkula et al., 2018).
  • Hospitality software has moved from local to server-based to Web-based to cloud-based platforms (Leung, 2020). The future smart infrastructure with high-speed networks enables efficient data exchange amongst databases in real time and therefore immediate service (Buhalis and Sinarta, 2019)
  • Technologies tested in previous studies have been improved by highly interactive systems, increased capability and a more user-friendly interface, so examining perceived interactivity of technology has become more important for advanced robot acceptance models (Go et al., 2020). Ivanov et al. (2019) stated that robotics was not introduced early to the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, because of the complexity of human reactions to customer needs.
  • Customers must experience feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction interacting with the robot. Customer attitudes are shaped by experience, and employee skills depend on education and training, as well as the company’s needs (Ivanov et al., 2019). Robots are expected to eventually overtake humans for cognitive tasks, with human input only required for duties requiring empathy and emotion
  • Intelligent agent technology is one of the most useful methods for supply chain management because it combines social ability, intelligence and collaboration (Alsetoohy and Ayoun, 2018). Alsetoohy et al. (2019) claimed that current procurement practices lack coordination and proactivity between suppliers and buyers, intelligent tools for finding suitable suppliers, performance evaluation and automation
  • By pairing robots and humans, service delivery can be optimized, leading to increased productivity and reduced costs
  •  
    This study was about adoption and automation of AI in hospitality. It gives great insight on the process as well as what people think of AI and their opinions. In addition to that, this study goes into different techniques that were used to understand how and why AI should be implemented. Human interaction cannot be beat, along with personal touch and humans can't remember everything a computer can, but if you have robots and humans working together you can get the best of both worlds. Smart technologies are now and the future.
kjeewan

Application of AI and robotics in hospitality sector: A resource gain and resource loss... - 1 views

  • Stringent implementation of social distancing has increased the significance of robots in the hospitality sector to avoid the contagious spread of COVID-19.
  • Service automation and AI enable the hotel industry to provide customised, memorable, and cost-effective services [13]; amplifying their diverse usage more than humans can achieve for certain jobs.
  • Many hotels across the globe have implemented AI and robotics in their operations. Imminently, AI and robotics are going to change the decision making and operations managed in organisations [19]
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  • This robustness of AI and robots appears to be useful when serving quarantined customers at hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic [24,25]. One may claim that guest requirements have changed as they expect modern technology-based products and customised services [26]. Innovative technology and risk reduction practices attract customers [27].
  • To date, customers also look forward for advanced technology products and customised experiences [26,34]. Therefore, the hospitality sector has adopted advanced robots and AI to meet consumer demands [35]. The future foresees heavy use of AI alongside humans [36] at workplace, but human behaviour towards AI and robots remains untapped [37]. Use of AI and robots cannot be avoided in the future and it is already established that the implementation of these modern technologies increases employee TI, thus highlighting the need to identify key factors that can mitigate the influence of these technologies on employees' TI.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) reflects the ability of a system to interpret external data appropriately to drive learning, as well as to use them to accomplish specific goals and tasks while adapting them as per circumstances [46]. It was known as a facilitator of tasks that is mechanical, but to date, it is recognised as a facilitator of tasks involving thinking and analytical capabilities. Accordingly [47], contended that due to the recent technological advancements, AI agents do not have the ability to handle tasks involving thinking and analytical skills. Robots are any machine introduced into the production process and can perform the tasks previously performed by workers [48].
  • The COVID-19 outbreak has enhanced the use of AI and robotics to avoid the threat of virus spread. Similarly, new technologies, i.e., AI, service automation, and robotics, are being used extensively in the hospitality and tourism industry. When AI and robots are applied in the hospitality setting, different benefits, such as cost reduction, accuracy, and speed, can be attained [35]. However, the utilisation of AI and robotics has created job insecurity among the employees of hospitality [42].
  •  
    The COVID-19 outbreak has enhanced the use of AI and robotics to avoid the threat of virus spread. Similarly, new technologies, i.e., AI, service automation, and robotics, are being used extensively in the hospitality and tourism industry. To date, customers also look forward for advanced technology products and customized experiences. Service automation and AI enable the hotel industry to provide customized, memorable, and cost-effective services; amplifying their diverse usage more than humans can achieve for certain jobs.
earagon22

PCI and PSD2 Compliance: Why Are Hotels on the Hook? - 0 views

  • In September 2019 the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) went into effect and applies any businesses who could potentially engage with European customers. Even businesses with little international business should
  • In September 2019 the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) went into effect and applies any businesses who could potentially engage with European customers. Even businesses with little international business should
  • Established in 2006, PCI stands for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which contains guidelines for accepting, storing, and processing credit card information
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  • These days, cyber security and regulatory compliance aren’t just necessary skills for the IT team. Every hotel manager - even the “non-tech savvy” ones - must understand these crucial components of data protection in order to protect their businesses.
  • A few rules of thumb include using PCI-compliant POS and PMS providers, storing both digital and paper data securely, and limiting access to sensitive data to only the employees who truly need it.
  • Examples of these guidelines include using an online checkout/payment page controlled by a licensed 3rd-party service provider, storing credit card data via a 3rd-party “vault” provider rather than in your own system, and masking the full credit card number on receipts, showing only the last 4 digits instead.
    • earagon22
       
      As an example, if guests book through a 3rd-party like Expedia then I at the front desk see an Expedia card not the guest's card. The card I see is pre-loaded with the amount of the stay ONLY. Even then, I cannot see the 3rd party's full cc number. I only see the last 4 digits just like guest credit cards.
  • “The attack on Marriott was hapless and still has many gaps to fill on what actually happened. A popular entry point for adversaries is through email spoofing. This tactic is used in phishing in order to get malware onto a target network to then move laterally across all systems,” Ryan Cornateanu, Application Security Engineer @ CrowdStrike.
    • earagon22
       
      This attack mentioned compromised cc details, passport numbers, and dates of birth for 300 million guests in their database. This happened in 2014. https://hoteltechreport.com/news/marriott-data-breach#:~:text=And%2C%20the%20financial%20burden%20is,the%20largest%20data%20breaches%20ever.
  • because of increased payment security, the amount of chargebacks will likely become much lower, which is something all hoteliers can celebrate.
  • In September 2019 the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) went into effect and applies any businesses who could potentially engage with European customers. Even businesses with little international business should still comply, since regulations like these are often mirrored in the United States and other countries soon after.
  • PSD2 includes enhanced guidelines for online payments and the handling of sensitive data to reduce the risk of credit theft, fraud, and security breaches. One major change is the requirement of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for online transactions. With SCA, rather than simply typing in a credit card number and clicking “pay,” consumers will need to provide a second layer of authentication, which could be a PIN code or an SMS verification code, before the payment can go through.
  • Guests book nearly three-quarters of hotel reservations online, so PSD2 will likely impact every hotelier as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) becomes a requirement for payment processing.
  • Are any charges processed after the guest has checked out, such as minibar chargers? To prevent any hiccups with payment after check-out, charge an authorization on the guest’s card for the full incidental amount and have the guest provide two-factor authentication in person, such as chip-and-pin, when the guest checks in.
    • earagon22
       
      A property rule where I work is that each guest must insert or tap their cc at check-in in order to follow this rule and we take an incidental hold each night. Guests that have not traveled for years are surprised by incidental holds which makes sense based on when this was implemented.
  • The key takeaway here is that transactions initiated by the hotel at a time when the guest isn’t present won’t comply with PSD2 requirements.
  • protect consumers’ sensitive data, and, as a result, every merchant that uses credit card information must follow these rules, from small businesses to large corporations.
  • By partnering with a trusted technology solution and investing in PCI and PSD2 compliance now, hoteliers can prevent the potential catastrophe that could come with the theft of sensitive data.
  •  
    PCI compliance is a crucial and necessary set of guidelines that all hotels must follow. The Payment Card Industry Security Standard was created in 2006 and outlines rules regarding accepting, storing, and/or processing card information. These rules were put into place to protect consumers sensitive information. For example, in 2014 Marriott hotels was attacked and 300 million guests information was compromised. This attack led to new regulations being put into place, the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2). These regulations take into account international customers and enhanced guidelines for sensitive data.
claudecole

AI in the hospitality industry: Benefits, applications, and use cases - 1 views

  • Science-fiction once claimed that humans would one day live together with robots who would make our lives easier.
  • In recent years, AI is becoming increasingly vital in the hospitality industry owing to its capacity to do traditionally human tasks at any time of day. This might save hoteliers a lot of money, minimize human mistakes, and allow them to provide better service.
  • Customer service is especially important in the travel sector, as hotels often live or die depending on how they treat their clients. The options for improving this element using AI are nearly limitless, ranging from improved personalization to targeted recommendations.
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  • The introduction of AI has drastically altered hotel operations. The tremendous number of jobs that front-desk employees are expected to handle demonstrates how different the situation would be without artificial intelligence.
  • A phone system with AI can intelligently route calls. Basic queries can be answered by chatbots on the internet. Remote check-in systems that are AI-connected can allow customers to check into their rooms using a smartphone app without ever having to stop at the front desk
  • To use the data you have on your hotel’s behalf, you must first sort, organize, cleanse, parse, and transform it into something that humans can understand. To put it another way, you must find a means to delete inaccurate or duplicated data, arrange it so that it makes sense, and then present it in a human-readable style, such as charts and graphs.
  • AI, on the other hand, enables personalization on a far deeper level, affecting the very core of the guest experience. It also helps you save time, money, and effort by enhancing efficiency.
  • For example, an AI chatbot linked to your Facebook Messenger can answer queries from visitors and collect basic information to save in your database. This information can then be utilized to tailor future interactions with the guest. You might design special offerings that cater to their specific needs, such as child-friendly accommodations, all-inclusive stays, or experiences that include a hotel room as well as tickets to nearby events or shows.
  • AI may assist you in ensuring that you get it right while also increasing efficiency and accuracy. You won’t have to look very hard to find proof of this. You almost certainly employ both a property management system (PMS) and a point of sale (POS) system. Both of these use AI to assist you to handle bookings, offering add-ons, and adding them to customers’ bills, among other things.
  • Artificial intelligence embedded in the software you use every day, such as your PMS and POS, allows for greater efficiency, a stronger relationship with your visitors, and, ultimately, greater hotel success.
  • Hilton Hotels’ First Robot Concierge, Meet Connie.
  • AI chatbots, for example, have been popular on social media platforms to allow customers to ask questions and receive near-instant responses, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hotels benefit from this because it allows them to achieve response speeds that are nearly difficult to achieve through human-to-human interaction.
  • Predict passenger flow using predictive analytics and machine learning to avoid airport overcrowding.Based on the current operational state, as well as prior data and patterns, machine learning can be used to assess the probability of delayed departures.By studying typical baggage mishandling and breaking points, conditions, and settings, developers can leverage machine learning skills construct a virtual assistant to proactively track baggage.
  • AI and machine learning can be used to incorporate real-time feedback into workflows. This can help assess whether or not a guest is happy with their room.
  • RPA is capable of automating dull and repetitive operations. AI is capable of detecting demand patterns, forecasting corresponding prices, and even calculating human resource requirements.
  • Hospitality businesses can use AI and machine learning to determine which aspects of their loyalty program appeal to clients and which are deal breakers. By examining emotional activity, sentiment analysis (which uses Natural Language Processing) can help organizations comprehend positive, negative, and neutral viewpoints.
  •  
    This article details the increasing and already abundant role that AI technologies are playing in the day-to-day operations of hospitality companies. It goes into depth about how these advancements are using analytical data to provide a better guest experience while also taking information from outside sources to focus on aspects of the operation that need improvement or things that are being well received. The process of AI implementation has also allowed for the customization of guest experience allowing guests to be catered to 24/7 offering insights and calculated suggestions.
mattiebell

Barbados: Transforming Through Innovation and Sustainability - 1 views

  • The country has embraced technology, is leading the way in the green economy transition (what the United Nations defines as "low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive") and is now a pioneer in implementing solar energy.
  • Digital Nomad Visa program
  • Today the country is working toward becoming a value-added economy by utilizing its natural resources for product development.
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  • To foster international business, Barbados has implemented fiscal measures such as fixing the value of the Barbados dollar (BBD) to the U.S. dollar, contributing to price stability and a stable national economic climate.
  • Barbados has a strong telecommunications industry and a highly educated workforce, making it an appealing destination for international business.
  • Barbados' robust information and communications infrastructure and its government's support and encouragement for innovation, has created the perfect environment to grow its national tech sector.
  • During the past decade, Barbados has had a clear development strategy focused on green economic growth. It has set the ambitious goal of transitioning to a fully renewable economy by 2030.
  • Furthermore, Barbados boasts a diverse range of ecosystems, including coral reefs, rain forests and wetlands, which provide visitors with a wide array of ecotourism activities such as snorkeling, hiking, bird-watching and wildlife viewing, making it a popular destination for eco-conscious travelers.
  •  
    This article talks about the development of sustainable technology and how it relates to tourism in Barbados. It mainly discusses new technologies and how the country plans to create more business opportunities that promote tourism but also help the economy to thrive. The main takeaway is that the country hopes to become a fully renewable economy by 2030. It has many different natural resources and business opportunities that will allow for the skilled labor that is necessary to do so.
vriverol

The Power of Social Media in the Hotel and Hospitality Industry - UP Hotel Agency - 1 views

  • According to Revenue Hub, 97% of millennials share photos on social media during travels, whilst 71% of travel agencies report better interactions with consumers when committed to a social media strategy. 
  • By providing engaging content that encourages interaction from followers on these channels – such as photos or videos of hotel amenities or local attractions – hotels can make a lasting impression on prospective guests even before they step foot inside the lobby.
  • Using targeted ads on social networks like Facebook allows hotels to reach potential customers who may not be aware of their business yet
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  • It’s also important to not just talk at people, but engage in conversations where possible – this helps build relationships between potential customers and creates loyalty towards your brand over time
  • You can also leverage influencer marketing by partnering with relevant influencers who have already built up a large following among potential guests
  • By responding quickly to inquiries through channels like Instagram Direct or Facebook Messenger, hotels can demonstrate excellent customer service skills which will further strengthen relationships with existing customers while also attracting new ones.
  •  
    Majority of millennials use social media to share their travel experiences with their friends. Social media is a very important tool in this day and age for the travel industry and hospitality. Engagement with potential guests online sets a more positive first impression, and can lead to more bookings and exposure. Social media also allows businesses to reach a larger audience by using targeted ads on different social media platforms. Tracking these ads can help improve the marketing strategies to see which ads are providing more traffic. Having a strict and consistent schedule of posting content can also be helpful, as it shows potential guests engagement with the community, especially if there is a lot of interaction in comments, as well as giveaways thrown in to the mix. Businesses can also partner with influencers to show off their locations for them to their massive followings. This increases the awareness and showcases the property to a large audience that may not have seen it otherwise. Social media, if used properly, can be a great tool to engage with existing and potential guests. Communication and engagement build loyalty, while broadening the audience spreads awareness.
chadidscha

Cyberattacks are surging. CT's workforce isn't keeping up - 0 views

  • A growing wave of cyberattacks is threatening governments, businesses and everyday residents. Across the globe, there is a critical shortage of skilled professionals to guard against these criminals.
  • The state’s cybersecurity workforce increased by only 1 percent between 2015 and 2020, which was the seventh slowest rate in the nation, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By comparison, the ranks of these key professionals more than doubled in a dozen states over that timeframe.
  • Globally, cybersecurity experts are in extraordinarily high demand. An analysis from Cyberseek, a public-private partnership that measures cybersecurity workforce shortages in the United States, notes the talent gap is severe in every state besides Maine.
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  • Nationally, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs is estimated to be 464,000, including 3,800 in Connecticut, according to Cyberseek, which is backed by a subdivision of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
  •  
    Cyber-attacks has become an increasing problem within the US and the lack of unfulfilled jobs regarding cyber security poses just as big, if not bigger, of a problem. All states, besides Maine, are in dire need to fulfill jobs across the private business sector and government related positions. At this point, many companies, including the government, offer free training (acquiring proper certifications) in hopes of gaining more employees to help with the fight against cyber war.
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