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Capterra is a webiste that offers the proper research for businesses to look for a software that works best for them. The article discusses the most popular software solutions that works best for small hotels. The list of the software's discussed already included what reviewers loved, their advice for improvement, and cost. This is a great article for small hotels to look at because it is an easier way for them to select a software that suits them best.

These are the most popular software that are used by small hotels specifically

Smaller hotels run with tighter profit margins. This article discusses the 7 top softwares that are available to a small hotel that have many features i.e. front desk, bookings, food and beverage - all in one software application.

Compared to large hotel chains and airlines, the GDS can play a different role for businesses of smaller sizes. For small hotels, it may be beneficial to make use of a channel manager instead of depending on sales from a GDS. The article suggests to smaller hotels that channel managers, who work directly with travel agents, can mean more profit for your business. Using the GDS and a travel agency, you are technically paying 2 commissions. With a channel manager, you would only be paying one. Having this business relationship will cut out a middle man, and hotels with smaller budget will find this strategy more efficient.

I find this article a little misleading. The GDS are channels, can be managed by a channel manager, or in conjunction with, or separately but usually for smaller hotels require an intermediary. Accessing the GDS(s) are used less by smaller hotels for two main factors: 1. Costs and Fees 2. Scope of demand (driving the right customers). 3. Program Fees The article cites figures which have changed substantially since 2015, as of Q4 North American GDS growth was up 6.4% and ADR was up 4.2% YOY with 18.4% of all bookings coming through GDS. TravelClick, Inc. (2019, March 4) What isn't highlighted in the article was the fact that margin agreements with OTAs for smaller independent hotel range anywhere from 20-35% . If the article had done an actual cost comparison (access through intermediary to GDS instead of OTA) the 10% commission + access and delivery fee may have proven more profitable. It would have been better if they had done a little more comparative cost analysis. TravelClick, Inc. (2019, March 4). GDS Booking and ADR Growth Drive Strong Q4 2018 RevPAR Performance in Hospitality. Retrieved from https://www.hospitalitynet.org/performance/4092226.html

This article from the Little Hotelier talks about what exactly is GDS and the Channel Manager and which on is better for Small Hotels. Small Hotels should opt for the system that gives them what they need, but in their price range and for the size of their business.

Social media marketing is impacting the hospitality industry and if you don't already have a strategy you need to start one. You can do this by reviewing your goals which might include increasing engagement, brand awareness, analytics, acquisition, content marketing or customer service. Next you will want to pick a social channel to implement your strategy on and be creative with it. Whatever you decide strategy wise start small and build on it to reach new customers and build loyal ones.

This article is how to be successful in entering the event planning industry. It has tips from insiders on things they did to become successful. It states that networking is key. Volunteer and get to know people in all types of events from school functions to jazz festivals. People interested in the event planning field should join one or more associations in this field. Research should be done, for example read books, articles and learn what you can. If you want to be an event planner in the hotel industry then you should also learn the terminology, sales concepts, and gain a basic understanding into the the hotel/convention business. Last be realistic, this is not a 9 - 5, it is hectic and your schedule will fluctuate from event to event.

This article is inviting you into an event planners world and how they network to get the event set up. Its letting you know that you should know what type of event your attending and who is on your guest list. Knowing both of these can help you better to interact a make a party you attend or host a successful. This article gave me tips on how to socialize with anyone better and make the most out of the event you attend.

This is a great article about relatively new point-of-sales systems, that are implemented in a number of places worldwide. Have you ever experienced your card being swiped on iPad of a server when you ordered a coffee? No? And how about your iPhone to become a POS? You walk in a mall, scanning stuff, getting your groceries and the devise is offering you recipes with the food you're getting. The other trend is social POS. It post automatically on a facebook whatever you got in a mall in order for you to remember your shopping history in case you lose the track of your purchases.

It is amazing that all the customer transactions can be done through Ipad or Iphone. This technology create new shopping experience and may attract more young customers.

This article talked about how and why to use proximity marketing for your restaurant. They started off by talking about how many people have smart phones and how restaurants can use this to their benefit. There were a couple benefits of proximity marketing this article brought up that i thought were great ideas. The first being partnering with other business and restaurants to create combo deals. The other being just hoe in-depth you can personalize the experience using proximity marketing.

Proximity marketing can be used in many different ways in the hospitality business. For restaurants specificially it can help enhance the customer experience, increase customers, maintain loyal customers, boost sales, make customers want to keep coming and more. Proximity marketing allows restaurants and all the hospitality industry to focus more on their clientele and who they want to reach in many ways and can be a great tools for sales.

This article talks about technology can significantly reduce the amount of time and sweat you invest in delivering a seamless, successful event. Definitely . the planners will always be perfectionists and no matter what tools they have at their disposal, they will always suffer from a last minute panic attack about the seating plan. There are many benefits from effectively using technology to events By using software to help you manage your event, you can ensure that it runs smoothly and that nothing is forgotten.Taking advantage of event planning technology will save you both time and money in the long run. Staying below budget is an important concept to keep in mind when planning any event. You can save a lot of money by managing your budget with software programs that allow you to keep track of all your expenses in one central location. By using technology to manage attendee registration, you can track variables such as fees, food orders and send marketing emails to your list of attendees.Staying organized is probably the single most important aspect of planning a successful event, and the use of technology can alleviate a lot of stress from an organizational standpoint. The events your company puts on are a direct reflection its value, so you will want it to be the best that it can be

I totally agree with you that with the assistance of technology, event planning has become easier than ever before. It can help people stay organized, keep track of details, and make sure no stone is left unturned. Technology can also help people plan, analyze and budget for an event accurately and effectively.

The article I read was called, 'Why the Future of Online Hotel Marketing is Cloud-Based Utility Computing.' In the article, it says that technology is moving super fast these days and companies are trying everything they can to keep up, for example building websites and starting blogs, but they feel that it's not enough. Up until now companies could not manage all of their marketing efforts from one place but now they can and it's called utility computing in-the-cloud. "Utility computing is a broad concept that encapsulates cloud computing and software as a service (SaaS)."Some hotel owners feel intimidated because a website does not seem as permanent as owning something. One example that I really liked that they gave in the article was, "When I rent a movie from Blockbuster, I have a limited selection (whatever fits in the store) and when I'm done with the video, I have to return it and rent it again to watch it again." Compared this to Netflix, where you have access to hundreds of thousands of videos and you can watch them as many times as you want and for any long as you want for no additional cost. When you embrace SaaS, you gain million dollar technology that never grows outdated, compare this to a website that is only built on thousand-dollar technology and can get outdated, and it sounds like a great investment!

This blog post about event management software highlights how it's use is beneficial to your organization. One of the perks is that the software holds everything in one place, from registration to reporting, to payments and promotions. The payment section is also able to integrate with your invoicing system, and processing payments is also done securely. The software also has e-mail capabilities, in which allow you to send correspondence to your delegates, also with ease of grouping them to your liking. They also are able to provide a selection of reports that you may need. To conclude, EMS is a great tool to organize any and all events.

This blog post talks about how you can effectively reach your customer base through the use of email marketing, pre and post arrival. One of the benefits is being able to build guest rapport by creating a relationship through this channel. Sending them a few offers prior to arrival or a unique message to follow your twitter page creates this positive relationship and vibe about your brand. This leads to getting a farther reach on your online presence via social media and what not. This is a cost effective marketing channel that leads to more followers, more likes, and more brand awareness. Lastly, you can discover great guest feedback by sending post stay e-mail marketing. It has been reported that the majority prefer to receive a guest feedback e-mail rather than being stopped while they are checking out. This also opens the doors to opportunities, by keeping the relationship, creating customer loyalty, and reaching them through email marketing for special deals. The use of email marketing is one of the most cost effective and leads to the greatest ROI. It creates customer loyalty and leads to repeat business.

The article titled "3 Reasons Why Email Marketing is Essential for your Hotel" provides interesting points in terms of the impact of email marketing. Building guest rapport, specifically a personalized point of contact, is crucial for the guest to feel that there is a connection, and in turn will become loyal. According to the article, "Effective hotel email marketing starts the minute a guest has booked and nurtures your relationship with them long after their stay. It's a chance for you to build rapport with your guests-which translates into positive reviews and repeat customers". Therefore, how can hotels create a positive guest experience and environment? Email marketing, when used efficiently, such as through pre-arrival emails, will allow guests to feel appreciated and taken care of. In addition to this, email marketing is an excellent opportunity to extend the brand's online presence and receive guest feedback. Thus, email marketing should not be seen only as communication from the hotel to the guest, but a great start to a conversation.

RFID, event applications, wearable technology, virtual reality, and social media are upcoming popular uses for event planners. With RFID event planners are able to keep better track of the guests attending the event as well as keeping them more involved. I first heard of this a few months ago when attending an event and it described that a chip with RFID was placed inside the wristband-type ticket. For me, the most interesting thing is the wearable technology! Imagine an event where you can have directions given to you or a layout of the event right on your wrist! Also, the watch can notify you of events happening within an event or you can see order your food or see the menu. To know that soon enough it will be a norm for everyone to have some type of wearable technology and that event planners can truly get the guests involved through this use is exciting.

This article introduces four new advances to technology that help ease the process of event planning. Projection mapping, 5G, Branded multi-use apps, and event diagramming.

This article shares the technology innovation with meeting/convention operations and how these technology help offer better guest satisfaction.

Hospitality employees are faced every day with multi tasking which can lead to human error. AI has many benefits in making the majority of these tasks automated. Hatboxes will take a guests information, and record it into the database which will allow the staff to make the stay more personalized with information at hand.

The article simply describes the ways in which AI is apart of our everyday lives and how it has not only impacted us as individuals but in the hospitality industry. Years ago, when we thought of AI we would think of big robots but now AI is as small as a chip in an iPhone, or as intangible as data on a software. AI has enabled a deeper level of personalization to guest experience as well as added close to maximum efficiency in the data and intelligence realm. It allows for multiple processes to be happening at the click of a button, lessening the potential exhaustion of our human resources in these businesses. In my opinion, AI has brought exponential convenience to our everyday lives and although sometimes intrusive, it makes life easier. Being able to rely on a piece of technology to remember certain patterns and trends is convenient and efficient.

In this article, the author thoroughly discusses how artificial intelligence has severely impacted the hospitality industry. The author begins with a short description of what AI really is, stating "The term "AI" doesn't have to refer to an autonomous robot that handles the cleaning in your home. It can just as easily refer to the algorithm used to personalize the marketing emails you receive". They then go on to explain how AI can be and IS extremely helpful to the operations side of the hospitality industry. For example, when the front desk phone rings, AI can be implemented to intelligently reroute incoming calls to the correct department's line, alleviating some of the work off of the front desk staff who would've otherwise needed to stop what they're doing to answer the phone for something as simple as a transfer to a different department. Next is a section dedicated to how AI can personalize the guest experience. By collecting data on guests while they're using your website, you can show them offers and amenities at your hotel that are tailored to them. The example in the article states "You might make special offers that speak to their unique needs, such as child-friendly rooms, all-inclusive stays, or experiences that include a room at the hotel, but also tickets to events or shows in the surrounding area". All in all, AI is vital to the hospitality industry. It not only helps guests have the best experience they possibly can, but it also helps the staff with providing the best service they possibly can to the guests.

Just for fun for my fellow Tech group ... Are you dreading Valentines? Wondering why you are single? Well there is an app for that. Wot Went Wrong beta will help you find out why your ex left you. Fill out your name their name and it makes a questionnaire to send to your ex. Once they fill it out using the drop down adjectives and phrases you just might get the answer to the question keeping you up at night. Or you will realize that is why you left the tool in the first place.  Put the chocolate down! Be proactive! Actually, I just thought this was a funny app and wanted to share. ***Not responsible for any restraining order violations, unwanted make ups or horrible self actualizations. 

E-commerce is based on the process of buying and selling products or services on the internet or other computer networks. Ecommerce rapid growth in these last years can be accounted to very important key factors, such as: Technology, thanks to this important factor now computers are not the only way for ecommerce, you can also use mobil phones and handheld PCs to make any transaction. Easiness, is another important factor, thanks to it you can order anything with the same day delivery option. Price factor, with ths option you can compare prices with the rest of the world so you can decide which is more convenient for you. Safety/Guarantee, online sellers provide safe product delivery guarantee. Online Gift Shops, you can book gifts like flowers, cakes, perfumes, stuffed toys, etc. and send it to your loved ones anywhere in the world. Thanks to their focus on comfort ness, easiness and tension free shopping ecommerce will keep going further and improving their sales.

Yea, I agree with you. Ecommerce proved its significant based on the fact where time is important. In the commercial markets, time plays an extremely important role to both the business and consumers. From the business perspective, with less time spent during each transaction, more transaction can be achieved on the same day. As for the consumer, they will save up more time during their transaction.

This webpage is an explanation of all the effective ways you can market thru email in the hotel industry. Obviously if the guests received an email from your company is because they provided you with their email adress, meaning that they are interested. E- Marketing is not spamming. It is very proffesional. At the end of the guests stay, you can use e marketing tools to lude the guest back in your way. You can benefit from E-Marketing by upselling. It is a very powerful tool that can bring you a lot of traffic if you have a great business plan. E- Marketing is also important because you can get guest feed back and fix problems that might occur and also help them come back as well. E-Marketing has changed the hospitality industry in a great way. People no longer need to walk in to your hotel to find out information. If you have a great website, guests can quicly make their own assumptions. If a guest is coming back to the city, E-Marketing can lure them back in.

It is important to lay down a technology investment strategy that aligns with the specific goals of your organization and avoid investing in "pie in the sky" with no guaranteed returns. It will be easier to identify technologies that can help your business if you have a clear picture of where you're heading and what steps you must take to get there. Once you've set down your business strategy, you should appoint a member of your organization to track IT trends and advancements in the marketplace. Sit down with this person and list the sky technology areas they should be monitoring based on your business needs. Once you have projects in mind, talk to a trusted IT advisor and run a cost analysis. Create a short list of IT investments that you can not only afford, but will also help you achieve your stated business goals. Do a risk analysis of significant project you consider to undertake. Make sure the project is coming in on time and on budget. Finally, continue to update your IT investment plan and monitor new technology developments.

Great article talks about what companies should do if they want to invest the technology. Companies will surfer great risk if the company is blindness in investment. The company should firstly Clearfield their business strategy know what kind of the technology needed by the company. Advisor from professional people and the cost analysis is also important. Base on this analysis hotel can find better technology with less risk.

With the majority of bookings done through the internet, hotels need to find the best ways to make their websites attractive and engaging for a guest. Here are the ten e-commerce ideas that a hotel should strongly focus on. Number one, high quality images. A guest wants to see your property, and see the amenities that are offered. Provide a clear image of these items to them, so that they are aware of what makes the location great. Two, focus on the location's credibility. and build a reputation of trust for your location. Guests do not like to be fooled, so you must prove that you have integrity to gain business. Three, simplify the booking process. For many people it might not be an issue to navigate through the internet and book a room, but for some people it is. Make sure that the process of booking a room at your sight is very easy, and is comfortable for any guest. Four, integrate customer service channels. If your guests have questions before booking, then try to answer them as fast as possible. This works with the second step of improving credibility. Five, not only should you make the booking process simple, but the navigation process as well. Your layout should be clear, and guests should easily be able to figure out where it is that specific information is found. Six, have only one call to action per page. A call to action is a phrase that when clicked on, creates a certain thing to happen. Like clicking on a button that says "Reserve now", and then being led to a reservation page. It is important to only put one on a page, because several can seem cluttered and confusing. Seven, make the site friendly to cellular devices. Many of the reservations are done last minute, and on a cellular device. Make sure this is easy for your guests to do. Eight, the importance of PCI. There are many threats out there to our finances, and as a place of business it is up to you to secure the financial information of the guests, to avoid any fraud or theft. Nine, optimize o

In today's society it is extremely important for the hotel industry to make use of the e-commerce technology. This article focuses on the ten best e-commerce practices. Best practice number one is to use high resolution photos that are a true representation of your hotel. These photos should be frequently changed and of good quality. Secondly, show your guests that they can trust you and your website, by building credibility. E-commerce is designed to make the process better, thus, thirdly, ensure that it is easy to book a room through your website. The fourth best practice is to ensure that you are clear about ways that your customer can reach out to you for information. show that you are accessible. Next, the author mentioned the importance of making your website user friendly and easy to navigate. Additionally, have one call to action button so that customers are not confused as to where to make their selection or booking. Consumers are now using cellphones more to book hotel accommodations, thus, another best practice is to ensure that your website is mobile friendly. Internet security is a concern for consumers. Best practice number eight is to ensure that your website is secure for financial transactions. The ninth best practice is ensure that you make use of email marketing. Your website should have the ability to collect emails from each user. The final best practiced listed in the article is to use marketing techniques like persuasion elements that go the extra mile to convince guests to book their hotel. The ten best practices outlined were listed for hotel operates to analyze their website and identify ways to improve if necessary.

My company works specifically in the short term rental space, and I wanted to comment on number 9 and offer some insight and results from properly managing your email list. First and foremost, having an email list increases return customers to your platform or rental site by over 300%. Most companies in this space have spent countless hours creating and defining specific messages to potential guests, which begin from the first time they visit the site, all the way until they checkout. Each time these touch points, through email or other communications, increase the likelihood of the guest to use the rental company, condo association, or hotel year in and year out. A new method of communication that is being used industry wide is through text messaging. I believe that this form of e-commerce will enable faster delivery of information to customers and allow managers to personalize experiences at the hotel or property. This follows along the lines of remote locks and other services that are technology based rather than requiring personnel to execute, greatly reducing overhead costs.

This article is helpful in understanding property management systems (PMS), while providing beneficial features that they provide. A PMS should be "well-equipped to handle the entire guest journey." These systems enable hotels to provide a faultless guest experience throughout. A PMS offers features that facilitate processes for the hotel. For instance, this system provides a smart calendar giving hotels easier visibility to their reservations and availability. This system also provides reports and analytics for the hotel, such as sales reports, manager reports, and inventory availability reports. This system facilitates the jobs of the hotels employees, in turn creating a more consistent experience for the guests.

Anything worth INVESTING in that will assist in building your business is worth researching and looking into. Buying blindly is a very foolish thing to do. By doing your homework and comparing IT investments, you have the ability to see what is the best fit for your business. You can compare and customize what will be most beneficial for you and your company. This will force you to define what you need and see how it will benefit your establishment.