Due to increasing weight being given to to environmental and social impacts of business, greener computing alternatives are becoming more and more attractive. Going green computer-wise includes more than using green materials in production. It also extends to reduction and control of energy during production and use as well as disposal and reuse of devices.

With the expected boom of mobile internet users, investing in the right technology for eMarketing and proximity marketing will be key in personalizing guest booking and experience. Using smart technology products (wearables etc.) will also create competitive advantage.

With proper management, the perception of AI/robotics as a block to personal touch can change to a perception of convenience and luxury. The key is to use the right mix of technology and person-to-person interaction giving guests the option to choose how and when they want to interact. Both should help to enhance, not only operational efficiency but, build stronger guest connections before, during, and after their visit.

OTAs identified an unmet customer need and created digital destinations that became the first stop for prospective travelers. Unfortunately, the very thing that made OTAs the original travel disruptors- the ability to aggregate digitized data to create economical, do-it-yourself travel planning - could be what gives rise to another innovative disrupter: Google.

Wendy's plans to 1) reimagine the restaurant experience for customers and employees by improving business analytics and reporting 2) create new ways of ordering food through mobile, web, and other touchpoints at the restaurant 3) provide a next-gen restaurant experience.

As an example of VR use for sustainable tourism, on October 16, the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Florida debuted the first of its kind, full-motion, 360-degree, interactive VR experience of the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibition. In order to preserve this historic site, less than one million visitors are allowed in each year. On-site use of VR tech for a synchronous guest experience is also being explored and has the potential to be disruptive to use of tour guides. Plus, VR technology provides such rich immersive travel experiences that traditional marketing tools like pictures or standard print ads cannot match.

In The Proven Principles Podcast, Ron Swidler explains the future of hotel bars and food & beverage operations - it's robots! This is a part of a larger presentation on the Hotel of Tomorrow" - https://www.hospitalitynet.org/video/69001240.html https://hoteltechnologynews.com/2020/09/the-hotel-of-tomorrow-project-showcases-future-design-and-technology-concepts/ Clearly MSC Cruises anticipated this and included a hefty chunk of capital expenditure budget for this technology investment. They also tried to incorporate the 'human touch' so ingrained in hospitality interactions.