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Contents contributed and discussions participated by jmore044

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jmore044

Why hotels are getting on board with sustainable development - JLL Real Views - 1 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4083128.html

technology sustainability smart

shared by jmore044 on 26 Nov 17 - No Cached
  • jmore044 on 26 Nov 17
     
    This article touches on the reasons the hospitality industry has enveloped into the trend of "sustainability". As "going green" catches on and becomes mainstream, hotels feel the pressure as a result due to the high energy and water consumption rates of the industry. Hospitality is a competitive marketplace and it has a social responsibility to the environment. Hand in hand with "going green" is the initiative of also helping those in need. Many hotels are now donating food that would otherwise go to waste and growing their own herbs with the intention of employing locals to oversee the operations.
jmore044

Homeland Security Warns Against Threats to US Infrastructure | By Bob Braun - Hospitali... - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4085234.html

shared by jmore044 on 06 Nov 17 - No Cached
  • Hotels rely on third-party vendors to help run their properties efficiently, and often must give them access to sensitive guest data. This leaves hotels vulnerable to cyber attacks; they're only as secure as their vendors are, and may find themselves directly liable for a data breach
  • on a single day, several well-known hotel brands and managers, including Four Seasons, Trump Hotels, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos and Loews Hotels all announced that customer data may have been compromised as a result of a security failure. Each of the incidents is related to Sabre Hospitality Solutions' credit card data breach in its SynXis hotel-reservations system,
  • . In analyzing the breaches, there is something that is common to almost all incidents: the vulnerability was not with a hotel, its manager or brand, but with a vendor.
  • jmore044 on 06 Nov 17
     
    This article describes how often, the security breaches that hotels suffer are actually not a result of their own lack of security, but that of their third party vendors. Brands such as Four Seasons and Hard Rock Hotels have suffered breaches because of security failure from their reservations system, SynXis. The challenge is that to the guest the fault lays with the brand, and the brand thus suffers from the loss of loyal guests.
jmore044

The Hotel Owners Playbook for Choosing the Right Technology Systems - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4085112.html

shared by jmore044 on 28 Oct 17 - No Cached
  • There are many ways to make a bad hotel technology decision, but only a few ways to make a good one. To help you out with this process, StayNTouch has created a handbook titled, The Hotel Owners Playbook for Choosing the Right Technology Systems, featuring the top attributes for hotel owners to consider when shopping for any new hotel technology system
  • Considered the market leader in developing the most innovative solutions for the hospitality industry, StayNTouch, has gathered insights from consultants, technologists, and their own team of experts to develop the most important requirements to make your technology choices much clearer.
  • Highlights in the handbook include: The features you really need (and those you don't) Ease of use, training and implementation Pricing and SSAs Platform/mobile compatibility Expert service and support
jmore044

How To Keep The Heart Of Your Hotel Beating | By Margaret Ady - Hospitality Net - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4084555.html

shared by jmore044 on 23 Oct 17 - No Cached
  • Technology is the beating heart of the hotel. Without a PMS, how would we even begin to serve guests? Without distribution channels, how would guests book rooms? Without a CRM, how would we create loyalty? Right now, most hotels get away with disorganized technology, because they've had no choice. Legacy systems haven't meshed with new cloud-based systems and a patchwork of different technologies for different purposes have been cobbled together. As with cooking, everything works better when all the moving pieces work together because no one tool does everything on its own.
  • different systems that must integrate in order to keep a hotel running. And the biggest problem is that they rely on one another, but they don't play well. They don't integrate, at least not with ease. We have each of these systems with its own data, and one system's data isn't talking to another system's data without complicated intervention. It's a mess.
  • The ramifications of a fully integrated tech stack are many. Creating custom applications becomes a possibility because integration is no longer a setback. Guest outreach can be personalized (for real this time). Service levels can be improved—and monetized
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Further, the benefits of a tech ecosystem of this nature include consistent data security and faster communication between technologies.
  • We are at a critical juncture in the hotel industry, one that requires that our growing number of technologies begin working together seamlessly, that our essential tools are aligned. The beating heart of hotels depends on our redefining the way we organize our technology in a way that we can successfully build upon.
  • jmore044 on 23 Oct 17
     
    This article captured my intrigue in that it effectively compared Julia Child's words in the kitchen being the heart of a home, and how an organized kitchen allows for the operations to run smoothly. In a hotel alike, the heart of the hotel is technology and it is important to keep the heart beating by running efficient, interfaced, and integrated systems. Moreover, this is the reason service lags in the hospitality industry - because we continue to run on a myriad of systems that do not work well with one another. Should we begin investing in systems that sync and run well with one another, service and efficiency would improve.
jmore044

A third of restaurant operators say they lag in tech use - NRA - 1 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4076217.html

shared by jmore044 on 10 Oct 17 - No Cached
  • Technology can help boost productivity and efficiency in restaurant operations, but it's important to choose the right processes and systems to make sure it doesn't make the customer experience more complicated," Riehle said
  • Adoption of technology among restaurants is higher in some areas, such as using a POS system, having a website and offering Wi-Fi to guests, the research found. Other areas are less common, including tabletop and kiosk ordering and payment stations, mobile payment and smartphone apps. There are fairly significant differences in adoption among segments and ownership categories, however. "Franchisees and chain-operated restaurants have a higher rate of technology adoption, likely because of the resource network they can tap into through their brand. Independent restaurants have to basically start from scratch on things like smartphone apps and POS systems," said Annika Stensson, the NRA's director of research communications and co-presenter of the session. "Similarly, limited-service restaurants are more tapped into technology, likely because of their emphasis on speed and off-premises business. Online ordering, smartphone apps and mobile payment are much more common in quickservice eateries than tableservice restaurants," Stensson said.
  • jmore044 on 10 Oct 17
     
    This article touched on many of the points discussed this week as it relates to POS systems for restaurants, and whether or not they are beneficial. As the article explains, it is important to evaluate the type of restaurant and whether or not it would make the customer experience more complicated rather than simplify it. The article also includes a poll on the types of restaurants that consider this type of technology lagging vs. leading. A limited, fast service restaurant is going to find that these types of technologies improve their service vs. a tableservice restaurant that feels technology of this sort negatively impacts their service. Essentially, you must choose the right systems and processes in accordance with your type of restaurant/establishment.
jmore044

Why Are Hoteliers Taking Their Properties to the Cloud? - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4083738.html

shared by jmore044 on 06 Oct 17 - No Cached
  • 96% are investing in cloud-based property management systems.
  • Utilises the Internet to store information and enhance functionality Low investment costs Simplifies and streamlines day-to-day activities Expandable to include additional tools and features Accessible from any computer or mobile device Supports a seamless guest experience Saves hoteliers time and money Helps hoteliers put their focus back on the guest
  • The research from Software Advice also found that 62% of hoteliers purchasing cloud-based management systems are doing so because of problems with their current software. The reasons they cited: It's outdated. It can't be integrated with other technology, meaning it's not able to support a seamless guest experience. Ironically, it's even missing features essential to efficient property management. Cloud-based systems, by contrast, are modernised, expandable, and easy to integrate with online marketing platforms. There are systems tailored to address hoteliers' needs, starting with the most basic front-desk applications and extending to advanced add-on options. Some cloud-based systems enable hoteliers to control their distribution channels with a channel manager. Some even facilitate direct bookings with a customizable, brandable booking engine.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • A core benefit of and key selling point for a cloud-based property management system is that it simplifies day-to-day activities (think one-click check-in and check-out) and streamlines processes. So not only is this technology simple to use, it also renders the daily tasks of managing a hotel, as numerous as they are onerous, simpler to execute.
  • By taking their properties to the cloud, hoteliers are able to save themselves time and money and put their focus back on their guests, on reaching them with marketing activities and improving their overall experience. Hoteliers also give themselves the freedom to leave the desk, to travel, to attend conferences, to be anywhere other than their place of work. It's an especially appealing aspect, because hoteliers are people too.
  • jmore044 on 06 Oct 17
     
    This article overviews the reasons why more properties and brands are investing in cloud-based property management systems. In addition to their cost efficiency, enhancement in functionality, and the ability to store information on the "cloud" thus making it accessible from multiple locations, it seems what is driving most hoteliers to purchase these platforms (62%) are the problems they are currently facing with their current software. These outdated systems cannot be interfaced or integrated with more modern, current technology that these properties are adopting. This then, translates to a less seamless work experience. Cloud-based systems on the other hand, are not only modern and easier to use, they are also "buildable" and some even enable hoteliers to control their distribution channels with off-site managers who can still tap into the platform.
jmore044

A Necessary Evil: A Look at The OTAs - Hotelier Magazine - 0 views

www.hoteliermagazine.com/ssary-evil-online-travel-agent

shared by jmore044 on 16 Sep 17 - No Cached
  • So, what’s the issue? For one, the whopping commissions the massive web-based entities take, routinely in the 20- to 30-per-cent range
  • Consider also the slew of limitations OTAs impose on their partner hotels regarding details such as the cutoff point at which unsold inventory is restored to the property for its own sales efforts. And their very presence irks a lot of hoteliers, who grumble that they’ve lost control of their own assets, a reality made even more bitter because they invited the snakes into their own meadow. “In my humble opinion,” sighs Jeff Froehlich, director of Sales and Marketing at Vancouver’s Shangri-La Hotel, “Hotels created the monsters that are OTAs.”
  • The net result, says Estis Green, whose company conducts hotel data analytics, is that hotels can’t really compete on price alone anymore. It’s why, in today’s new reality, competition is a game played with other factors, including value-added services, rates based on multiple nights’ occupancy or other inspired — even desperate — offers devised by hoteliers.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • The ultimate trick to navigating the new landscape is for hoteliers to gain a better understanding of their customers, and to apply that knowledge in a way that’s mindful of the distribution channels that deliver them.
  • Hotels won’t give them any parameters at all, he points out, and a different pricing model will have to emerge. “They won’t necessarily take commission or such, but they might charge you just to drive people to your site. It’s a scary idea.
  • Certainly OTAs are a high-cost channel, but every channel has fees, and the potential in any market is different based on those channels. An independent hotel on the beach is probably using an OTA more than a branded five-star urban hotel that has its own loyalty program.
  • The optimal channel is one that leads directly to the hotel itself. The dollars spent by guests who book through a hotel’s website are pocketed by the hotel. To that end, operators might improve the look of their websites, include better content, post quality photos and generally ensure the site is superior to the competition. Additionally, they might spend some time contemplating value-adds: including free breakfasts, complimentary room upgrades and late check-ins. Loyalty programs also serve as powerful anchors for an increasing number of hotels. When someone buys a room through an OTA, he doesn’t enjoy the benefit of added points to his standings with the property.
  • Online travel agents are evil, Froehlich says, but necessary. “There’s no point trying to put the monster back in the box.” And no one is disputing OTAs’ right to real estate in the hotel universe. The notion that OTAs have grown too big for their britches notwithstanding, says Le Saint Sulpice’s Di Re, doesn’t mean hoteliers are talking divorce. “We have no choice,” he shrugs, conceding the fact the online agents have massive marketing power. “You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”
jmore044

Why GDS will remain a crucial booking channel for hoteliers in 2017 and beyond - 0 views

www.sabrehospitality.com/...remain-crucial-2017-and-beyond

shared by jmore044 on 08 Sep 17 - No Cached
  • The majority of bookings via travel agents and travel management companies are GDS bookings
jmore044

Award-Winning Naples Grande Beach Resort Selects Cloud5 for Hosted Telephony - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4082129.html

network

shared by jmore044 on 15 Sep 17 - No Cached
  • cloud-based telephony system for guests and staff, and future-proof its voice network. T
  • Naples Grande Beach Resort now enjoys integrated voice communications with enhanced call routing across the property, PMS integration for seamless guest service, and a future-ready infrastructure, featuring a cloud-based system that will not depreciate or degrade over time
  • "With Cloud5's hosted solution, our systems are always current with the latest software functionality, without the need to purchase future expensive upgrades or interrupt hotel operations. We're always operating with the most advanced features that allow us to deliver fast, reliable guest service across our expansive resort. This upgrade has even reduced monthly telecommunications expenses which adds value directly to our bottom-line."
  • jmore044 on 15 Sep 17
     
    Naples Grande Beach Resort (a personal competitor for my property) has upgrades its PBX system and chosen Cloud5, a cloud based system that allows for on-going integration that does not degrade over time. As stated in the article, "With Cloud5's hosted solution, our systems are always current with the latest software functionality, without the need to purchase future expensive upgrades or interrupt hotel operations. We're always operating with the most advanced features that allow us to deliver fast, reliable guest service across our expansive resort. This upgrade has even reduced monthly telecommunications expenses which adds value directly to our bottom-line.". This very statement intrigued me as I recall when my property transitioned to HotSOS for our PBX software. Like most other softwares, integration with Opera our rooms system was a challenge and it was not without hiccup and initial challenges. Because it is not cloud based, the property does need to purchase upgrades and re-install in individual areas throughout the property. Our Sales team does however, work off an internet based software - Salesforce - and it allows not only for easier and seamless integration, but it also allows us to access it from home. It will be interesting to see how Cloud5 changes the guest experience for those at Naples Grande and how many other companies will begin moving towards this format of system.
jmore044

No More Excuses - It's Time For A Change | By David Turnbull - Hospitality Net - 2 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4083420.html

shared by jmore044 on 29 Aug 17 - No Cached
  • Technology is not static, it's flexible, and just like processes and services in hotels, it needs to adapt to quickly changing guests expectations and market demands and, if possible, anticipate them.
  • Scalability and adaptation to market changes must be a hotel's mantra when choosing a technology provider.
  • For one, there is too much friction between softwares. Integrations are the weak link of our industry. Even for some of the best tech companies, integrations can involve months of development and testing to create stable connections
    • jmore044
      jmore044 on 29 Aug 17
       
      This article discusses the importance of hoteliers to understand and accept technology as flexible and not static. It examines how hoteliers need to be able to "do what they do best" - exceed customer expectations - and how technology software's are intended to leverage this with flexible and adaptable features for each unique hotel. The challenge lays in the integration and interfacing of these systems. With too much friction between software, integration typically involves months of implementation. This creates challenges as the ever-evolving world of technology continues to develop, and hospitality companies continue to remain in the background. All in all, it is crucial for our industry to understand that our coming technology needs to be able to operate unilaterally in order to allow the industry to do what it is meant to do - improve service quality - especially in the midst of an ever-evolving technological era.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • They should consider their technology systems as platforms (rather than servers in the basement) that can be constantly optimized, tweaked and adjusted.
  • Flexible pricing models allow hotels to be nimble, adding or removing parts they don't need, in order to keep their technology lean and cost efficient for any property size.
  • Hoteliers need to be able to do what hoteliers to best - meet and exceed their customer's expectations. To do this however they need to work with vendors and an entire technology community that promote greater interoperability, flexibility and open access to the data needed to power their guest experience.
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