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Contents contributed and discussions participated by cleon087

cleon087

19 Event Trends You Need to Know for 2020 | Social Tables - 0 views

  • be dynamic, you have to be flexible, and–above all–you have to be in tune with attendee desires.
    • cleon087
       
      This takes a special person and not everyone can so this.
  • Meetings are growing and evolving rapidly, and each is an experiment in applying new methods to find a perfect formula.
  • predicts 5-10% growth in demand. At the same time, the development pipeline is slowing.
  • ...33 more annotations...
  • It’s also the spontaneous conversations that come with serendipitous networking.
    • cleon087
       
      It's important to be connected because that is what sets you apart.
  • nticipate higher rates, and book event space as early as possible.
    • cleon087
       
      Rates constantly vary and it is important to be up to date and book ahead of time.
  • At the same time, face-to-face time takes a hit — making it a more treasured commodity in our modern world.
  • redict it’ll grow about 2.41% in North America. CWT expects an even higher hike of 3.7%.
  • Planners should create ample private meeting spaces and “collision spaces.” Some events do this by providing fewer chairs than attendees. With fewer empty seats, they’re encouraging movement and interaction.
    • cleon087
       
      I like this idea because it makes people talk to each other and not be seating all the time.
  • Why? Well, take the speed of your current 4G LTE smartphone internet and multiply it by 1,000. (Think: putting the Millenium Falcon into hyperdrive.)
  • For events — especially large-scale events — sustainable initiatives are now the expectation.
  • Fast, reliable WiFi will soon become the norm, opening up new engagement opportunities and nontraditional venues for events.
  • “I think many hoteliers will be unhappy with the significant investments they are making now into cabling that will become obsolete just as soon as 5G launches.”
  • Apps present an opportunity for personalization and engagement at each stage of the event lifecycle.
  • Hotels and venues are developing sophisticated apps that enhance the in-venue experience. Whether it’s Wembley Stadium’s virtual tour guide or Marriott’s sophisticated in-app chatbot functionality, branded apps are adding value in multiple ways:
  • everage lobbies, rooftops, and other communal areas for networking events.
    • cleon087
       
      Depending on the type of the event, is what makes you decide what to highlight about the space or not.
  • Because today, 86% of consumers expect companies to act on social and environmental issues — and they’re more than ready to vote with their dollars.
  • 0% of event planners reported that their jobs require more experience creation than just 2-5 years ago
  • Content:
  • Destination
  • Technology:
  • 90% of respondents stated that event security should still be a top priority for the industry.
  • That could mean avoiding coastal destinations during hurricane season or avoiding certain areas of the city to ensure safety outside of event hours.
  • . Event diagramming software can help in this regard by allowing venues and planners to collaborate on a single source of truth
  • Security is a significant value add and a key selling point in initial communications.
  • you’re providing any personnel, such as security, custodians, and administrators.
    • cleon087
       
      It is also important to put this in your contracts and to initially discuss it as well.
  • ess furniture, fewer seats, smaller portions, less irrelevant decor… you get the picture. A
  • reate a step-by-step safety checklist for execution during on-site setup, and another safety checklist for the day of the event.
  • Less is more when it comes to the material.
  • It’s a movement that stands in direct opposition to the gaudy ballrooms of old
  • Have evacuation plan
  • c, open floor plans that make minimalism a possibility.
  • lassic combinations of whites and greys
  • ewer seats means more mingling.
  • lutter-free to promote a clean, open feel that keeps the focus on content.
  • Hotels, however, may find themselves scrambling to reinvent their event spaces. It could be time to rethink these spaces — along with lobbies and other communal spaces that set the aesthetic tone for the hotel at large
  • Larger chains should look to boutique hotels, which create visual identities that are often more closely aligned with the appeal that nontraditional venues offer.
  •  
    This article is about 19 event trends that event planners should be informed about. People are expecting different things from events that in the past years where not expected. Trends have changed, for example, it is a trend now to have minimalistic events instead of gaudy ones. Now people also expect creativity out of the event and to have a unique event. People also care about security of the event and fast WI-fi. All these trends are important to know and will continue changing with the years.
cleon087

Cybersecurity at Hotels: 6 Threats For Hotels to Manage - 0 views

  • That is often passwords and financial information; this scam is one of the oldest on the internet.
    • cleon087
       
      It is important to be informed of this type of attack as a hotel owner because your holding sensitive information.
  • taking information and certain systems hostage. The purpose of this attack was to gain financially from those who paid the demanded figure to free their data/systems.
    • cleon087
       
      A lot of times that ask for a ransom and you pay and still you don't get access back to your computer. Also they can take credit card information and use guest credit cards.
  • Every day regular items such as sprinkler systems to security cameras are vulnerable to hijack. After which, entire computer systems can be made to come crashing down.
    • cleon087
       
      Having access to cameras is concerning because this is sensitive information. They can get access to private areas of the hotel and use it to their advantage.
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  • And that means somewhere there is a weakness in the system which has been revealed by human error.
    • cleon087
       
      This is why it is important to invest in the security because you don't want your guest to experience this.
  • criminals use a hotels Wi-Fi to target business guests.
    • cleon087
       
      This is scary because people go to hotels to get a vacation and they trust the hotel.
  • ncourage guests to use virtual private networks (VPN) if they plan on conducting business with sensitive data.
  • Especially when there are criminals from all over the world trying to steal identities, and credit card data.
  • his crime is forever changing.
  • for hotels, an almost perpetual arms-race to secure both data and networks.
    • cleon087
       
      This is why it is important to be up to date.
  • Phishing refers to the sending/receiving of emails that appear to be from a genuine source
cleon087

Technology in the Hospitality Industry - Have We Gone Too Far? | By Court Williams &amp... - 3 views

  • he experience is now facilitated by technological factors,
    • cleon087
       
      The key word is facilitates, I think that technology has enhanced experience but should never replace the hospitality warm feeling aspect.
  • Baby Boomers who look set to remain the most prolific travelers for the next two to three years, and see if the numbers support the theory that technology has improved the hospitality experience.
    • cleon087
       
      I think that technology is becoming a necessity in the hospitality industry. There is a need to be up to date. Especially if you want to attract the new generation of travelers.
  • But is it really an improvement, or has the industry gone too far? Do these changes enhance the guest's experience, or have we forfeited the true meaning of the word "hospitality" in the process?
    • cleon087
       
      I think that the industry is just simply evolving with the times.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • how much is it taking away from the guest's personal experience?
  • shows the reviews for companies in the hospitality industry are considered 48% more important and valuable than in other industries, which indicates the target audience takes online reviews exceptionally seriously
    • cleon087
       
      I think that this just leads to different opportunities. Now you can show off on your social media how great your hotel is and its advantages. The only negative is how easily someone can write a negative review that might not even be true.
  • from notifications about special deals to managing their loyalty program account.
    • cleon087
       
      Investing in a well designed app for your company is crucial now.
  • The benefits of automation will soon become crystal clear.
    • cleon087
       
      This just helps improve the service and you will still need someone at the front desk.
  • Guests can stream SHOWTIME shows for free through the app, without needing to input credentials or create a subscription. Anyone who prefers not to download the app can operate the same controls using a simplified, in-room remote device.
    • cleon087
       
      I feel like this just enhances the experience and makes it more personal.
  • These have taken off extensively, with research showing one half of millennials, 26% of Gen Xers and 12% of Baby Boomers consider themselves "travel hackers," which means they believe they know all the best ways to use technology for good deals. Chatbots on booking websites enable the user to ask questions without even getting up from the sofa.
    • cleon087
       
      People are spending more time looking for the perfect hotel and for the best price. I know I do this whenever I travel and most of the time becoming a member for something like the Marriott, will end up being the best deal.
  • e, for example, the system can automatically send the conference itinerary and a map of the meeting spaces to his or her device.
  •  
    This article is about the new advances in technology and investing whether it has been taken too far. It analyzes the new advancements such as apps where reservations are made. These new technologies have been made to enhance experience but not replace the warm feeling that hospitality gives you. The article concludes that we haven't taken it too far, instead it has made guest experience better. Especially when it comes to checking in, and not having to wait a huge line when you just want to get to your room.
cleon087

Three Ways to Overcome Hotel Accounting Challenges - 3 views

  • 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.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • 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.
  •  
    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.
cleon087

How technology is transforming hotel point-of-sale systems | Hotel Management - 3 views

  • “Hotels can spend millions of dollars on a remodel but if they don’t have the right point of experience, it can still result in a one- or two-star rating,” he said.
    • cleon087
       
      This shows that importance of POS, and how it can transform a business for the good or bad.
  • Mobile is now
    • cleon087
       
      People are starting to expect this, they even want more of a variety of different ways to pay that can be determining if you get business or not.
  • Hinojosa said
    • cleon087
       
      Were always looking for a way to make the experience more personalized and this is one way.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • with
    • cleon087
       
      When guest get their food quicker and accurately this helps the experience and revenue.
  • they are the face of the property
  • u recognize them and are honored they are here with you again.”
  • “Whenever a guest is seated in the lobby and wants a take-away coffee, they can order one and not only when a staff member notices the guest in a restaurant,
    • cleon087
       
      This is really good because it is hard as a front desk agent to give attention to the guest since the moment they step in but with this they can request their snack or drink that they want.
  • While there is interest in the potential of AI and chatbots for roomservice and self-service ordering, these are not yet ready for a widespread rollout at this time, Wisell said.  
  • “Data scientists can be used in the back of the house on the kitchen side, too—optimizing the production line,” he said. “Looking at the analytics behind the performance will reduce the wait times in the front of the house.”
    • cleon087
       
      This will optimize performance
  • hotels don’t want to cross the line into creepy.
  •  
    This article is about the benefits of technology in POS systems. It shows how the technology can personalize the experience of the guest by having them be able to order from the moment they step into the lobby. The article also discusses how all the technology is good but in the hospitality we are walking on a fine line that we don't want to cross to creepy with biometrics. Technology offers efficiency in speed and will give a better experience. Not only this but it talks about how POS is becoming more secure, and how people want to pay in different ways.
cleon087

10 Property Management Systems To Look At In 2019 | By Matt Pliszka - Hospitality Net - 0 views

  • vast amount of problem-solving features in one place,
    • cleon087
       
      It makes it so convenient to have something all in one place. Especially with what is happening now with Covid-19, it is important for employees to be able to login from home.
  • rooms' management, channel management, booking engine, payment processing & analytics.
    • cleon087
       
      This keeps it organized because you have all your things connected. You want it all to be on the same page because you do not want a room to be double booked.
  • a simple calendar app, letting you sync your calendar reservations from Booking.com & Airbnb, solving one of the most common hotelier's organizational problems which are visualizing your property's schedule in one place. It provides an outstanding calendar app which can help you manage everything on the go.
    • cleon087
       
      This is important because your GM can access this from their own phone and be constantly updated.
  • ...12 more annotations...
  • e software integrates with many different solutions, including Zapier, letting you set up automated workflows in your business.
    • cleon087
       
      This is crucial for people that manage more than one property or have to keep up with a large hotel. It makes it easier to solve issues because you have easy access to information.
  • Guesty will let you set up automated messages, depending on the timing or other triggers such as cancellation or changes to the reservation system.
    • cleon087
       
      This adds the hospitality to things, you want your guest to know that you care. This is sometimes difficult to message all your guest when you have a large hotel.
  • c between numerous distribution channels in one place.
  • ou dive deeply into the competitiveness of your pricing of
    • cleon087
       
      This helps in setting the prices depending on the month and the day and on facts.
  • l your reservations available at a glance by using a single cockpit/dashboard
  • oftware solutions provided by Stardekk, you will also find a restaurant module, letting you manage a restaurant within your hospitality business.
    • cleon087
       
      This is great for establishments like an hotel that also has their own restaurant inside.
  • Hotelfriend offers an all-in-one hotel management solution with the focus on letting your sales team send and manage personalized offers for your hotel services
    • cleon087
       
      This is a nice feature because you can target people like businesses and large groups that need a special deal.
  • it's free to use in its basic version.
  • Something you should definitely be looking at if you're a smaller property management business, not able to set up a more advanced custom website
    • cleon087
       
      I like this because it is a program that makes it easy for family owned hotels or small hotels that need help.
  • Using the best technology out there will never mean you will suddenly turn your business into a successful one.
    • cleon087
       
      I really like the point that was made here.
  • Use the right property management system
    • cleon087
       
      I also like this point because it is important to find the fit for your business and guest.
  • LiveChat - a software to chat with customers visiting your booking page Buffer - software to manage and schedule your social media postings MailChimp - a software to automate your email marketing campaigns Pipedrive - a CRM to handle sales of your hospitality business Slack - an obvious-choice tool to help you communicate with teammates at your hotel
    • cleon087
       
      This makes it easy to reach your guest and maybe answer questions that will determine whether they stay at your hotel or not.
  •  
    This article is about different PMS, and what they can offer for your company. It includes features that would be good for a property that is large all the way to one that is small. It mentions different PMS that can send automated but personal messages to your guest. This article highlights the importance of picking the right PMS for your company because it all depends on the culture and guest that you have.
cleon087

Green IT | Green Hotelier - 2 views

  • Reducing energy, emissions and waste are concepts that have been around for many years, but one area that is often overlooked is information technology (IT).
  • it was estimated that 360 million computers were manufactured.
  • quiring over 10 times its weight in fossil fuels to make.
    • cleon087
       
      Computers waste a lot of energy and parts
  • ...30 more annotations...
  • 22kg of toxic chemicals, 240kg of fossil fuels and 1,500 kg of water.
  • consuming 15% of the total electricity used in offices
  • 50 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide, but only 13% was recycled. US Environmental Protection Agency
  • Reusing working computers is up to 20 times more energy-efficient than recycling them
  • hich utilises the naturally cool environment below ground to reduce power consumption, and increase energy efficiency.
  • o date, more than 28,761 IT assets have been recycled (waiting for latest stats), which equates to 629,408lbs of e-waste diverted from landfill.
    • cleon087
       
      I wonder where is the recycling actually taking pace
  • Big hotel companies have wised up to the costs involved in operating inefficient hardware and are driving system changes to cut wasteful expenditure.
  • nt. A data centre’s life expectancy is relatively long so it is imperative it is built to the highest standards in terms of efficiency as any excess energy use will lead to significant cost implications over the years.
  • most energy-efficient data centre possible.
  • Get the right equipment.
  • Only get the data storage capacity that is currently required and forecast for the lifespan. Many d
  • Don’t have servers or equipment that will not be used.
  • , such as water cooling.
  • allows a single user to access several physical devices on one terminal. A computing device dedicated to an individual member of staff or allocated for one software application is highly inefficient and expensive. Virtualisation consolidates resources, requiring less power and cooling.
  • cloud computing
    • cleon087
       
      We discussed this in class about the benefits of it.
  • e. Once you know what’s using the power, focus on why and whether it’s possible to reduce consumption. Spotlight on Fairmont Hotels & Resorts - T
  • into account not only the initial outlay cost of hardware, but also the running costs.
    • cleon087
       
      It's not only important to know the start up cost but what it cost to maintain it.
  • e up to 30% more energy, making it significantly more expensive when looking at the total cost of running that appliance during its lifespan.
    • cleon087
       
      It doesn't seem obvious but getting something cheaper will cost heavy in the long term.
  • investigate options to upgrade with the latest energy-efficient components to extend appliances’ working life and efficiency
  • Green labels
  • Data centres last 30-odd years and you can’t go back in and fix them, so they need to be efficient. Over time, this saves money as they run efficiently. Servers have to be Energy Star-compliant or I won’t even talk to vendors.”
  • is to reuse, not recycle
  • and flat screens often being replaced well before the end of their shelf life and ending up in landfill, it’s imperative that the most is made of these materials by reusing them productively.
    • cleon087
       
      Normally people just upgrade because something new came out instead of using it until it stops working.
  • Dumping e-waste on developing countries was until recently commonplace, and it has caused huge environmental problems and harm to human health in countries such as Ghana and China. But new legislation, including the EU WEEE Directive and the 2010 US Responsible Electronics Recycling Act, has stopped countries from being able to export e-waste.
  • dopted a scheme where the cost of recycling an electronic item is included in the purchase price. In Switzerland, they’ve been able to return all electronic waste to their place of purchase since 2005, and in the European Union, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan manufacturers must by law recycle 75% of the e-waste they produce.
  • Smaller, more efficient processors.
  • which have greater memory storage capacity while requiring less energy and space. They are due to be on the shelf in about three years.
  • pecialist data centre design.
  • all sizes are starting to view IT outsourcing as a viable option to gain flexibility and reduce short-term costs and increase transparency of cost structures and processes.
  • 6. Water cooling
  •  
    This article focuses on the importance of having green IT in business. It shows example of other hotels that have already adopted green IT. Not only this but it offers tips for businesses that are looking to adopt green it. It highlights the issue of recycling computers instead of reusing it . They recommend to use the appliance until it doesn't work.
cleon087

Travel Agents Are Increasingly Using Global Distribution Systems to Book Hotels - Skift - 0 views

  • shifting in a dynamic marketplace, they remain useful for travel agents around the world.
    • cleon087
       
      I really like how this line pertains to the discussion that we had this week. It proves that GDS still has a role only that its role is shifting.
  • using a global distribution system more than they did two years ago, le
  • Hotels pay a fee of about 20 percent on a booking when they sell a room on a global distribution platform, leading many to look for other distribution solutions like encouraging travelers to book direct online or using online booking sites
    • cleon087
       
      The hotel prefers getting all the profit thats whys they encourage the use of their websites and offer rewards to guest that do. My mom is a member of Marriott rewards program and most of the time can get a better deal from direct booking and save hours of searching.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • it helps hotels manage their presence on a variety of distribution platforms.
  • ely on the GDS as an essential operating system for conducting hotel research and booking reservations,
  • o generate incremental revenue and maximize revenue per available room through the power of the GDS.”
  • 63 percent of those polled indicated they tend to book away from hotels that don’t offer the best rate on global distribution system
  • said they will book the best deal they find regardless of the advertising content the systems push them.
    • cleon087
       
      This shows peoples motives and how they will spend their time looking just to save money even if it is just a few bucks.
  • It could also be that agents don’t make any commission on sites like Airbnb and Homeaway, so don’t have the incentive to book them for clients.
  •  
    This article discusses how travel agents are starting to increasingly use GDS to book for their clients. The article also talks about how people are looking for the best price and care more about that than the advertisement. Hotels want their guest to direct book through their website in order to not have to share profits with others. Hotels pay fees to be on these websites and travel agents are starting to use it more. The article emphasizes the role that GDS has come to evolve to.
cleon087

Hospitality Should Not Remain The Last E-Commerce Industry Regarding Prepayment - 0 views

  • High cancellation rate: According to a recent research by D-EDGE, over 23.5% of the bookings of independent hotels and 35% on-the-books revenue is cancelled before arrival.
    • cleon087
       
      This doesn't even give a chance for the hotel to serve the guest and build a relationship with the guest.
  • Fraudulent Bookings: As the booking is not engaging the end user, some hotels may be the victim of unscrupulous visitors booking long-term stays (20 days or more) just to feed their Visa's demands for example
    • cleon087
       
      You reserve rooms and are expecting this income but then it turns out to be a lie. Especially for a stay that is 20 days. I think it is crucial for hotels to come up with policies especially for extended stays.
  • widened the form of payment accepted.
    • cleon087
       
      This makes it more accessible and welcoming to all guest. If you make the payment process easier, it makes the booking easier and inviting to guest.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • 59%* of them will book somewhere again if they are able to pay quickly the first time.
  • D-EDGE and PayPal have partnered to enable hoteliers to accept payments quickly on their hotel website, from almost anywhere around the world, in a secure manner.
    • cleon087
       
      Whenever I see that a company accepts pay pal, it always gets me happy and more likely to buy. It is easier to pay and I trust that pay pal is secure.
  • The account creation process is very fast and hoteliers can then start accepting payment instantly on their booking engine from almost anywhere around the world.
  • 267 million active PayPal users around the world and offer them a simple way to pay i
  • rate can increase up to 87.5%** thanks to PayPal solution for mobile.
  •  
    This article is about the importance of changing the way payment is done in the hospitality industry. There are negatives to paying after you have completed your stay. It includes people canceling before stays and people booking without any intentions of staying at the hotel.
cleon087

How Cloud-based Hotel Software is Changing the Industry - 8 views

  • next two to three years hoteliers are expected to invest 7-8% more on cloud technology
    • cleon087
       
      This could be a determination if a hotel succeeds. It is important to not lag and instead adapt to the times.
  • an spend more time attending to guests
  • ransitioning to a cloud-based hotel software solution can seem like a daunting task at first
    • cleon087
       
      Not all bosses are even comfortable with technology to begin with so it would be difficult for them to spend the money to transition.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Accelerate hotel check-in / out
    • cleon087
       
      People value fast check in, especially someone that came to the hotel on a business trip and just wants to get to their room.
  • Eliminate the need for manual data sharing and processing
    • cleon087
       
      This saves a lot of time because you wont have to manually record data.
  • customizable
  • In an industry that is always changing, this kind of flexibility is priceless.
  • across multiple properties simultaneously
  • faster for operations, online booking and customer service.  
  • frequent security updates t
  •  
    This article highlights the benefits of switching to Cloud-based hotel software. One of the highlights is the reduction in cost, by switching it allows employees to focus more on service then repetitive tasks. This is also an attractive deal for hoteliers because they're allowed to check on important data from their house. This software makes it more efficient and soon all hoteliers will have to invest in a innovative software.
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