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The opportunity to improve utilization of predictive personalization in hospitality marketing is vast. A role that was previously fulfilled entirely by a human is now able to be translated into the digital world. There are a number of reasons that marketers are not yet excelling at the use of this data to provide results, the greatest of which is that clearly defined goals are necessary to narrow down the specific data that is needed in order to create a program that produces the desired result. We still have a long way to go before we know how to fine tune marketing according to digital activity but a starting off point is to use location markers to customize email and website marketing to the area in which the user is interested.

Citi International is a popular Budget Hotel in Karol Bagh. It caters to both business and leisure traveller. Citi International is a top choice amongst Karol Bagh budget hotels. It is located at walking distance from Karol bagh metro station.

Heartland Payment Systems has recently partnered up with ToGo Technologies to offer mobile and online ordering payment solutions for restaurants. The companies are actually focusing on expanding their market reach by targeting smaller franchises that typically could not afford the hardware and software cost of purchasing such technology. QSRs are hopping on the tech bandwagon. The article gives the example of Taziki's Mediterranean Café, which is a fast casual restaurant with 35 locations. Their guests have easily made the transition from manual to digital ordering. Like others in this market space, Heartland Payment Systems is offering a cloud-based product that is highly customizable. The software takes into account a litany of restaurant industry standards and methods, such as "takeout, delivery, curbside pickup, catering, order from the table, and gift and loyalty." By giving restaurants various templates, they can work on optimizing mobile solutions, including pay-ahead options for quick service. Moreover, their system integrates and tracks key metrics and analytics, improving data mining and collection efforts. More and more businesses are turning to data collection as a means of increasing efficiencies and decreasing waste. With the amount of waste it must deal with regularly, the restaurant industry is a great market to target with data-driven technology. Heartland Payment Systems already has a history of working with the hospitality industry, so it a recognized name. By partnering with ToGo Technologies, they will be able to provide a quality, whitelabel mobile solution for restaurants looking to stay ahead of the pack with technological advances. Heartland will actually be demonstrating their software at the Food Service Technology-Next Gen conference next weekend at the Sheraton in New Orleans, Louisiana for those interested in this product.

Marriott is seeking to become the Red Bull of the hotel industry. While I first thought that this meant that it wanted to become synonymous as a brand with hotels generally, as Red Bull's brand is with energy drinks, what Marriott is actually pushing for is a sophisticated eMarketing strategy. The company is focusing on content marketing by developing and producing (in-house or through contract) its own videos, shows, web series, movies, musical events, etc. and distributing it through their network of properties. The distribution strategy will focus on using Marriott's 4,000 rooms, which are located across 78 different countries globally. In addition to pushing content through in-room TVs, Marriott will also use its rewards program and mobile app to distribute what it produces to its consumers. Marriott does not plan to abandon its print or online advertising; it is simply adding another platform to increase and diversify its global reach and strategy. The ultimate goal is to fill rooms, but with Millennials, creating long-lasting, individual, memorable experiences is important to overall brand loyalty. Thus, content marketing provides a means by which Marriott can offer original, targeted content to its consumers. In the future, it can become a full-fledged development studio providing complete content for its consumers, in turn pressuring companies like Netflix, Hulu, etc. In the short-term, producing content and releasing it through their app will allow Marriott to increase brand awareness, loyalty, and the overall guest experience. Over time, Marriott is not simply pushing a product or service; they are building meaningful relationships with their consumers.

Neon is a new app designed by Eventbrite to be used by Event Planners in order to help organize the events they are coordinating. The app is available for iPod, iPad and the iPhone making it conveniently accessible through one's mobile device. The app allows event organizers to sell tickets in advance to an even as well as provide last minute deals to fill all remaining spots. The app even allows payment to be taken right from the event organizer's mobile device. The app also allows the user to manage guest lists and even helps those who have access to the app to make customer service decisions so that disgruntled guests are not sent to a different location to settle ticket disputes. With all the data the app collects even organizers are able to see important data pertaining to popularity of certain events as well as price variations. The app was designed to be used in dark places. This feature, along with many others makes it user friendly and it is helping event organizers to keep track of important data that will allow them to better assist customers in the future.

I think I'd need to see it in action. The Forbes article sounds a lot like an Eventbrite press release. I like the idea in principal, but it almost sounds like too much to jam into a single app. Tickets sales, venue status, customer service, revenue tracking.,,, Deployed and linked across multiple tablets, each with it's own purpose and/or scattered across the event venue (with users in some sort of identifiable uniform), I can see it being useful. This also seems like a bit of a departure from straight tickets sales. Who else is in the market space? I'd be interested if Ticket Master is also coming online with event software.

SocialTables is one of the latest and most successful hospitality start-ups. It is essentially a hospitality SaaS. It was founded by Dan Berger, an event-planner turned programmer. Founded in 2012 and based in Washington D.C., one of the premier corporate hospitality locations in the US, the start-up has recently raised $8 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, and followed by Thayer Ventures. This funding adds to the previous $1.6 million the company raised, which helped them streamline their event planning tools. According to its website, SocialTables is a cloud-based solution that offers event diagramming, seating, and check-in tools for event planners. The software can make room layouts that event planners can use to show clients, compose detailed seating charts and arrangements, and it offers a fast check-in app. All of this is done on a colorful, intuitive, cloud-based site with mobile integration. In two years, SocialTables has grown considerably. It has over 2,500 customers and 30,000 users. Additionally, two-thirds of its customer base is actually composed of venue-owners, including major corporations like Hyatt Hotels and Caesar's Entertainment. Academic institutions like Harvard Business School and The Ohio State University also subscribe to SocialTables. Additionally, one-third of its customers are private party planners. SocialTables is becoming an affordable, customizable, tech-progressive solution for event planners of all levels. Industry leaders like Hyatt and Caesar's already subscribe to its services. In the future, I think that the start-up should focus on increasing its ability to provide affordable and capable solutions for private event planners, particularly in the wedding category. While that is an extremely competitive and saturated market, SocialTables could provide an industry-leading software solution and use its credibility to entice private planners into its cloud-based ecosystem.

NASCAR has many green initiatives to talk about. As the 2014 Daytona 500 was ready to run NASCAR was trying out four hydrogen fuel cell generators to power cameras that take video from different staging areas during the race. These fuel cells replaced diesel-powered generators which reduced greenhouse gas emissions, noise and vibration. NASCAR has teamed up with the Department of Energy to further their use of new green solutions in racing events. They have also added EV charging stations at their corporate office locations in Daytona Beach, Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina and Concord, North Carolina. To show their support of electric automobiles. The NASCAR corporation continues to look for ways to be more environmentally friendly while improving the customer experience at their events.

Hilton Hotels have invested $500 million on smartphone technology that allows guests to book their stay, check in from their cell phone, pick a room from ones that are available and request additional amenities be delivered to their room upon arrival. The biggest opportunity for guests is the ability to log on the day before their arrival and choose which room they want. They not only choose a type of room but they also choose the location.

MICROS Systems, a leading provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, is pleased to announce that Morgans Hotel Group has chosen to implement cloud-based MICROS OPERA across its hotel portfolio, which includes 13 locations. The solution will be hosted in the MICROS US Datacenter. MICROS OPERA Property Management Solution (PMS) will be implemented initially at Hudson in New York, and is planned to be deployed at all Morgans Hotel Group properties by the end of 2013.

Morgans Hotel Group recently made a decision to use Micros Opera for their PMS system at all 13, and growing, locations. They made their decision based on the needs of their company and what the future has in store for them. Based on the article, I would say they probably did a lot of research before officially deciding what program to use. When comparing options, I can honestly say that no PMS system or similar is perfect. There will always be something that can be improved and there will always be different pros and cons with each one, it's a matter of determining what is important for your company and what will be beneficial for the future. As frustrated as I may get with some of these systems, I would say Opera is one of the most widely functional systems to use. I have noticed that Micros is good at listening to feedback and seeing where they can improve. If it's feasible, you can usually expect an update somewhere that will help increase their functionality.

The Doubletree Dallas/Richardson hotel did a total overhaul of the security system and reopened. They choose the VISIONLINE and Signature RFID by VingCard to meet the travelers' demand of security, efficiency and reliability. What's more it is a cost-effective system which facilitate reliable wireless two-way communication by the host security and PMS systems. The VISIONLINE is a security control from the central location, utilizing RF-online communication capabilities that eliminate the need to travel to each guest room. The Signature RFID, advantages included remotely cancelling guest and staff keycards with one click, or identifying and changing low batteries communicate with multiple rooms at once, reducing the number of network components required for installation and so on. For the company, it is ease and exclusivity. The staff can maximize their efficiency to spend less time on maintenance and more time on customer service, increased reliability and performance at an affordable cost, highly reliable security, unprecedented convenience and ease-of-operation, decreasing the overall workload.

Like any industry, the field of tourism and hospitality must be competitive and technologically advanced. The article addresses six technological trends within the hospitality industry. 1. Virtual reservations - A significant number of patrons reserve their hotels via a computer or mobile device. Thus travel booking websites have become more popular. 2. Virtual check-in and ordering - Check-in kiosks cut down on customer wait time (long lines, short staff, etc.). More hotels and restaurants will be making use of these technologies. As technology advances, consumers shouldn't be surprised to see more futuristic options such as voice recognition, fingerprint and retina ID. 3. Travelers with multiple devices - Hotels have to be conscientious of this fact in terms of room design, public (hotel) space and structure. Customers want to feel secure that they (and their devices) can be properly accommodated. 4. Hospitality staff with multiple devices - This trend is a win-win for employees and customers. Employees can better meet the needs of their customers no matter their location (poolside, bar, lobby, etc.). Also, by collecting data, businesses have a better understanding of customer needs and preferences. Customers have the freedom to be more mobile (in any area of the hotel) without feeling disconnected or not being able to have their needs met. 5. High tech meeting and public space - Hotel meeting rooms and lobbies are receiving technological make-overs to accommodate users who rely on multiple devices. This is great for business as it creates an environment that is conducive to conducting technologically advanced meetings and conferences in a comfortable setting. 6. Online reviews - These reviews are crucial to businesses as well as consumers. On the business end, companies will be able to gauge their effectiveness in all areas via honest customer feedback. Consumers have the opportunity to make better choices after reading reviews based on ot

FIFA has paid noticeable attention to the environmental impact of the World Cup since the 2006 World Cup and green management has increased with every World Cup since with the biggest plans already staged for years 2018 and 2022. The Green Goal environmental program has been in effect since 2005 when FIFA partnered with Local Organizing Committees (LOCs) in order to champion green initiatives. This program has been adapted for every World Cup since. The program combines the resources of host cities, governmental departments, local environmentalists and international partners. Now, FIFA is implementing green initiatives into the bidding process for 2018 and 2022 by requesting information pertaining to the reduction and control of negative environmental impacts from bidders prior to making a decision on where to host the World Cup. In my opinion, FIFA has adequately worked towards environmental sustainability over the past ten years and has powerful plans to continue and improve green initiatives going forward. Previously, the indoctrination of the Green Goal program in 2005 laid the foundation for green goals and growth. Each subsequent World Cup has relied on a Green Goal program to set and measure environmental initiatives. Also, FIFA has already begun working on the Green Goal for 2018 and 2022 by requiring potential host destinations to incorporate environmental sustainability into the management structure of the mega-event. Management is required to set measurable objectives in six key areas: water, waste, energy, transportation, procurement and climate change. In addition, potential host destinations are required to plan and explain how they will incorporate stakeholders and the community via an Environmental Advisory Board. All of these aspects must be outlined in the bid submitted for consideration by FIFA and will be weighed heavily during the host location decision process.

FIFA's decision to use involved green standards as part of the bidding process for World Cups 2018 and 2022 is ingenious. The rigorous standards and expectations eliminate cities that are unwilling or unable to do the research and prep work required for the environmental concerns associated with such a large and prestigious event. However, these same circumstances caused increased competition between the remaining cities and come with some sort of financial cost. The increased competition between potential host cities and the associated higher costs pertaining to the implementation of green strategies may be seen as negatives to involved commercial/government entities and community conservatives. The following comparison explains how this may be so. Companies often design buildings with minimal closets despite having a large need for storage space. The philosophy behind this is "closets don't make money." On the contrary, entertainments space (i.e. Casinos), larger sales floors (i.e. Car Dealerships) and management offices are all spaces in which money is generate and therefore income is maximized by maximizing the "money-generating space" and minimizing spaces (i.e. closets) that do not do so. Similarly, green initiatives guarantee extra expenses and do not generate a significantly increased income. Some entities may view green initiatives as "closets." In conclusion, FIFA is a powerful force in the green initiative campaign. The organization has worked tirelessly the last 15 years to implement and improve environmental initiatives related to the World Cup. Despite the outside chance that a significant portion of the population will view green initiatives as costly non-necessities, I believe that FIFA's Green Goal program will be a success. It provides an expanding platform for each subsequent Word Cup by requiring environmental initiatives to be implemented at the management level and begin at the earliest point possible: bidding.

The hospitality industry is experiencing a technological transformation. Current technology is improving and being put to better or new uses. According to this article in Hospitality Magazine, there are seven technologies that are taking the industry by storm. 1. Online Booking Systems I agree with the many industry insiders that now consider an online booking system essential. Penetrating the online marketplace is an absolutely mandatory part of the formula for success. However, opinions differ when it comes to how to accomplish this aspiration. As expressed in the article "Taking back control of the direct channel for hotels" posted on the class ScoopIt!, using online travel agents as a properties online booking system has easy setup and maintenance but lacks true customization and can put a sizable dent in profit margins, but building and utilizing a 100 percent customized system does not necessarily grant instant access to hundreds of travels sites on the web. Over all, I am of the opinion that online travel agents are still the best option-for now-because the pros out way the cons. 2. Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) Primarily used for mobile or self-ordering, EPOS systems can replace waitresses' use of paper orders and remote/hidden POS systems. In my opinion, this streamlines the look of the restaurant floor and provides better and more instantaneous service. Panera Bread uses self-order tablets as some of their locations that allow customers who know what they want to order traditional menu items quickly and independently. Having used this system, I find it more of a novelty than a convenience because the system isn't exactly self-explanatory. Currently, the technology is much more enjoyable as an aid to waitresses where the restaurant can experience increased efficiency and a higher standard of service while guests can experience the "that's cool" factor without the frustration of having to navigate the service themselves.

3. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) CRM technology provides efficient electronic storage and management of contracts and customer information and many versions also feature cloud-based applications that provide easy access to frontline employees. Electronic storage and online back-up are not totally new ideas (i.e. the floppy disc) and despite the long way these technologies have come is, in my opinion, not enough to do away completely with paper back ups. Even with electronic files, my previous property kept basic papers for 1 year and more sensitive files for much longer. Basically, CRM technology is something we should utilize more, but I doubt many will do away with a paperback up system anytime soon. 4. Marketing Automation Automatic email and text communications have been made possible by the development and improvement of marketing automation technology. Having worked with this type of technology, there is not an overabundance of companies/technologies from which to chose; however, the technology available various greatly in effectiveness and quality. In my opinion, Constant Contact is the best marriage of quality and ease of use for marketing automation technology available. This type of marketing can really step us a properties game, but beware of poor performing products. 5. Social Media According to the article, photos are the most popular posts by social media users, but the arena has become a bonafide space for reviews. While sites such as TripAdvisor and Expedia provide a niche arena for travel/tourism/hospitality related communication, general social media sites also invite open, unfiltered discussion. Whole social media is BIG, it is important for companies to assess and utilize only the social media outlets that their demographic are actively using.

6. Smartphones Smartphones are already super convenient. They are constantly being integrated and synced with our daily lives. Applications such as Apple Pay, in combination with CapitalOne, have provided another level of integration. Currently, there is talk and work on guests being able to use their cell phones as hotel room keys but I wouldn't be surprised if in the future we will have QR Code or RFID storage for our driver licenses, insurance policies and other important information. 7. Smart Appliances A part of American households for sometime, smart appliances are beginning to make their way into the hospitality industry. Luxuries such as electronically controlled blinds, thermostats, lights and more are something we can expect to see in hotels sometime in the future. My biggest concern is the time between now and implementation because while these products are available for purchase by consumers directly, they have not taken off nor seemed to gain any ground in the typical household. Could the hospitality industry be just as slow to adopt these technologies? I believe that it is likely so-mainly due to the high cost of implementation. In conclusion, technology is still advancing and most industries are feeling the pressure to update existing technology and adopt new technology. In the hospitality industry this is especially true.

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This article is all about Global Distribution Systems (GDS) in the hotel industry. The author defines GDS as an "advanced network of travel agents who specialize in selling and booking travel products, including hotel rooms and packages." The purpose of GDS in hotels is to broadcast their rates, availability and packages onto the network that way everyone is viewing the same thing, it is smart of the GDS operator is within the industry that way they have a better understanding on how to manage different properties. The article mentioned a few reasons why a hotel needs a GDS, some are to help increase revenue and to market other markets. In my opinion as a manager it is very important to know your audience and what your target market is. Many hotels outsource marketing teams and you need to be sure that you are proving them with the correct marketing and you have to be open to branching out to another market if you are not doing well with sales. When selecting a GDS, the article recommends that it have the following requirements: pooled inventory, commission-free structure, integration capabilities, comprehensive reporting, and the ability to target specific markets. I believe these are all very important especially being able to access booking data reports and having the ability to target specific markets. As a manager, you know always know how your occupancy rate of the hotel is and why it is suffering. Could it be because of different crowds that are coming in? Is it a new hotel in the area that is cheaper? You must know all of this in other to compete and be successful in this industry. The benefits of partnering with a hotel GDS are "your exposure will increase significantly, connecting to agents if quick and affordable, you no longer have to deal with manual booking entries, you can make better decisions for your hotel, and you will be able to discover interested travelers from every location around the world." I believe this is very important because a

GDS also knows as global distrbution system is an advanced netwrok that us used by travel agents who sell and book travel products such as hotel rooms and packages for customers. Pretty much, when a hotel operator connects with a GDS, the operator will have access to all agnets within the GDS network such as, Booking.com, Expedia, Hotes.com, and so much more. Hotels that partner with GDS, will be able to promote their rates availability and packages to the GDS network which will then allow travel agent to finalise all reservations to their clients by having the accessibility to the GDS network. Hotels should and need GDS as their distribution strategy because, the number of bookings generated through a GDS generally outpaces that of direct bookings, revenue increases largely because the GDS places the hotel's information, availability and rates in prominent locations where it is easy for travel agents to find this valuable information, the GDS can help hotel managers uncover new market segments to promote their products to, and so much more.

This article is about the possibility of hotel replacing the tradition landline telephone with digital personal assistant like the Amazon's Echo. Like with any technology, there will be concerns with security. Because with a landline phone, a guest can location can be pinpointed in case of an emergency. The technology that improves the guestroom phone will like replace the telephone with an Alexa/Siri-like device that will meet the guest service needs. This new technology will adhere to every traveler's needs, allowing the guest to have products that they normally uses at home. Eventually, the telephone will be quickly replace by hotels that are jumping at the chance while some hotels will slowly adapt to the ever-growing trend. But at the end of the travels still want a landline phone in their room. Most newer hotels are using VoIP which is saving hotels a lot of money for not running cables. Some hotels still prefer to use a traditional analog telephones that are connected to the internet or a router. With the newer telephones guest will have the ability to place the telephone anywhere in the room whereas with the older that is primary stationary in the nightstand connected by the a cable. At the end of the day, the main goal should and always make things easier for both the guest and hotel.

E-Marketing/ digital marketing help businesses in the hospitality and tourism industry grow and succeed. This article focuses on the importance of e-marketing/digital marketing for the restaurant industry. The article mentions that over 70% of smartphone users access restaurant information on their phone, therefore promoting the restaurant online through a website, social media or e-mail marketing can help drive business. The first way digital marketing can help restaurants would be to develop the brand's story and identity. Secondly, having the restaurant be active and engaging on social media will help build customer loyalty and interaction. Another advantage to digital marketing is sharing menu items, pictures of the restaurants and showing guests having fun online develops visual content and can entice and attract customers. Another point made in the article was to keep the restaurant information such as hours, promotions and restaurant contact info up to date. Incorrect information can lead to customer frustration and loss of business and profit. Another benefit of e-marketing is the ability to offer incentives to the customers and bring them in the door. It is especially important to reward loyal customers. Another benefit listed is to review and interact with customers on platforms such as Yelp and Facebook. All in all, digital marketing is beneficial for business growth not only restaurants, but any business in the hospitality and tourism sector.

This article touches upon the importance of being versatile and modern in the Hospitality Industry. Mobility is the key to creating meaningful relationships with customers that will make them want to return to your location. They will want to return not only for things like rewards and discounts, but because they genuinely like to stay the duration of their trip at your hotel. To help aid this, things like mobile PMS Systems are becoming more widely used. The front desk agent doesn't have to stay at the front desk anymore, they can walk freely within the lobby and interact with guests all while having access to their PMS System. The same goes for other team members who usually stay behind the scenes, they're more accessible to the guest which creates better bonds. It was said that mobility is the key to engaging employees with the guests, this is because any employee is able to step out of their primary duties and enter/ take information from other departments within the hotel. It's not conducive for a hotel to run all systems from one central location, instead using a system on an ipad or portable device yields the greatest outcome. It allows each department to work together towards a common goal. Just because someone is in housekeeping doesn't mean a guest won't put in a front desk related request, this system allows all departments to flow as on. This software can help bring a hotels customer satisfaction rates to a new level.

This article is about mobility in the hotel and travel world. The mobility focuses on the guest experience and making it easier for guest. Systems and technologies that inns require to work their business have, now and again, been the noxious power behind the scourge of visitor encounter lack of concern. In the event that the framework expects you to be stuck behind a front work area or utilize some out of date telephone framework to refresh the status of a room, at that point, shockingly, the worker is just doing as best as the framework can convey. Today, the majority of the introduced property administration frameworks require a front work area, just like the case with purpose of offer.

MODULE 7: This article is about the growing trend of quick-service brands implementing mobile and kiosk ordering for their customers. For major quick-service brands like McDonalds, Burger King etc. they've started to implement self-service kiosks or mobile apps allowing their customers to pre-order their meal and pick it up without waiting in a long queue line. At the base of this ever-growing trend, the trend is very similar to when banks started to provide self-servicing ATMs. According to the article in the next three years most of any quick-service brand that has multiple locations on a regional and/or national scale will have implemented a mobile ordering system within their operations. While taking this into consideration, quick-service restaurants need to be careful in how these mobile apps are perceived by people who isn't using it. Some may think that using the mobile app promotes those people to "skip the line", which can cause some negative feedback. With that said, now these quick-service brands need to satisfy their customers who don't use the mobile app so that they don't feel obsolete for not partaking in the trend before. With this growing trend, these quick service brands will not only have to think about their customers walking in their locations but also for the potential customers that are walking on the streets with their mobile devices.