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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 looks at the benefits of proximity and its disadvantages. The author explores multiple reasons why modern businesses should use proximity marketing. For instance, it helps businesses to target ideal customers at the right time. it also improves customer experience, customer loyalty, and thus, creating a competitiveadvantage in the marlket. Conversely, it has some negatives. therefore, before implementing the technology, entrepreneurs should look out for ways to minize the demerits in order to gain the most from the technology.

It's clear that travel companies need to meet customers where they are-on mobile and social platforms-with experiences that fit seamlessly into their lives. Gen Z is the future, and travel brands that start to organize around their behaviors now will win with tomorrow's most valuable customers.

This article presents suggestions on POS selection for companies sized from small to large. I found this article really interesting and reiterates that the selection of the POS is going to be based on company needs/culture. Their research was extensive and conducted market research repeatedly, before suggestions were made. It also touched on the different pricing options, in addition to any special features the POS may offer.

This article talks about the best POS systems for 2020. What I found interesting is that the majority of these systems are cloud-based and offer integrated information services for a variety of industries, not just hospitality. A lot of the systems also are ipad based and work well with third-party POS hardware. They also have automated payment options integrated, for people who like to process payments electronically (i.e. Apple Pay). I think its important to know about these POS systems and what they can accomplish for hospitality companies.

In this article, they talk about the best pos systems to use for 2020. They list each pos system name and then summarize the benefits and give a full review. The first system they talk about is lightspeed, which Ipad pos system has solutions for retail stores, restaurants, and online businesses. It's fully mobile, so you can check inventory from anywhere in the store, show customers product images and descriptions, and ring up orders and accept payments on the sales floor or, for restaurants, tableside. The next system is Vend that has real-time reports, inventory management features, and access to various integrations that can help you run your business, save time, and boost sales. This POS software is suitable for nearly every type of retailer. Whether you run a clothing store, a sporting goods store, or a specialty service-based business such as a car wash or computer shop, Vend has the features you need. Touch Bistro is a simple and affordable POS system that focuses on the unique needs of restaurant owners, with tables, reservations, and delivery management features. It's suitable for all types of food establishments - fine dining, casual eateries, cafes, pubs, food trucks, and more. Lastly, there is eposnow has both retail and hospitality versions of the software are available, each with a robust selection of features to help you run your business. It also has more than 80 integrations, so you can add extra capabilities and connect to the business programs you already use.

The hotel industry is highly competitive and it is important to maintain an appeal to your customers and gain a competitive edge. Smart technology strategies is a way for a hotel to be able to ensure business and remain relevant to the target audience.

Checkmate is an app which allows customers to check into their hotel as well as communicate with them during their stay via their smartphone, According to Tnooz CEO Drew Patterson, there have been changes is consumer expectations. For instance one of the changes that his 41-employee company found was that customers, regardless of age, like communicating with the staff over a text-messaging style interface. Interesting enough, properties that have implemented such technologies, have been receiving higher guest satisfaction evaluations than before. The article mentions that one property for instance, had a 20% increase in customers satisfaction due to this kind of technology.

This article demonstrates the way how relationship between the airlines (United) and the technology companies which serve as middlemen is build. According to the estimations, the airlines pay to the gds's about $18 per round trip ticket reservation, which results in 7 billion in fees that are payed to the gds's annually. The air companies consider these fees unfair in regard of the gds' performance. To compensate for these payments as well as to promote direct bookings, the airlines (namely, Lufthansa) have added a surcharge for any external bookings. GDS's, however, fight back and start litigations against Lufthansa. The decision on this case will either stop such a practice, or force other airlines to follow LH and add surcharges for gds's too. Another problem that airlines experience with GDS's is the presentation of non-standard products that the airlines offer. For example, it took the GDS's several years to correctly display the Ecomy Skycouch by Air New Zealand (buy 3 seats at the price of 2 to sleep across all of them during the long-haul flight). United is going to introduce its Basic Economy Seats with no carry-on luggage and no qualifying miles. However, they are not sure that the GDS' s will be able to display this product to the customers in a proper way so that they could fully understand what they are buying. The reason for that is that GDS's are mainly reluctant to invest in technologies that are focused on product differentation. In this regard, it becomes more difficult to compare fares since different set of services is included in different products. Thus, the customers might be mislead. Moreover, there are antitrust issues with the gds's. The airlines claim that Sabre has a stranlehold on the US domestic market. Such position allows it to ultimatum the airlines and voluntary decide on search display order. The airlines expect the GDS's to be more prone to partnership ralations. This would imply the fair compensation for what they add to the

I found with this article that cyber attacks are becoming alarmingly more common than we have prepared ourselves for. Businesses now need to invest in their own cyber security department or, as the article suggests, apply a cyber security budget to each department. With security budgets predicted to increase 14%, money should be collected through the customers over a lifetime of the customer so that the budget is continually there. I found this article to stand out to me because I never thought of cyber security being so crucial, but it easily makes sense. I think a lot of business lack in providing the proper amount of security to prevent cyber attacks. Personally, I never heard of a cyber security department so this was new for me to read about.

This article describes the destructive effects of cyber attacks on enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. Because it does not have sufficient prevention and sufficient resources for disaster recovery. The most direct cause of current cyber attacks is that people open some risky websites or emails in the wrong place. For the hospitality industry, there is a large amount of customer privacy and sensitive information. Once attacked, its destructiveness is unimaginable. And to protect consumer data, most service industries just comply with local state laws, but most state laws have not made greater progress in information protection. Therefore, enterprises should protect themselves and their customers from cyber threats from the three aspects of their own network endpoints, disaster recovery and education.

This article explains how due to Covid-19 more and more companies for developing and investing in contactless technology for customer experience.

Cloud computing is ideal for the hospitality industry. There is no need for upfront hardware or software purchases. A hotel, for instance, pays for services as it needs them which gives it flexibility in expenditures. For hospitality businesses that are often seasonally operated, the cloud allows them to scale the services they need depending upon seasonal demands: Increase computing when busy, scale back when things slow down.

I like you opinion that is scalablility. It needs inclination probably. In technology field many Cloud computings are cooperating with estimations. It needs more view points to prove that it's a strength for Cloud computing. According to Cloud computing methods, some chances based on one register matching to one password are possible. I think it's a fresh era to talk about many computers operating together to consider whether some jobs for related people could work together. Thinking about more sensitive site of cloud network. They are efficient in bank running. I think it's a relative reason to help people to know more about scalability in Cloud computing hospitality area. To make it more appearing to customers, the manager should take a purchase options on the view side that I love it. It's multi task. It's enterprising. According to passages, many opinions could be choosing from tabs due to period and seasons. I want to make sure about scalability that clients and customers are good enough for them to make more multiple options to take a preference look. It's financial economic computing assistance too maybe according to cost I think. In words, I think technology should keep scalability to let other clients and customers to put favors on it. No matter Sundays or cruise days.

This article discusses how cloud computing is already taken into affect in the hotel industry. They used examples such as mobile check-ins using the online system. I can vouch for this because in my current hotel we use the mobile key service and this creates a contactless check in process. On our end of the stick we process the credit card on file and check them in and email the guest a welcome letter and advising they may use the mobile key to enter their room. This has benefited customer service experience especially with COVID still being a conflict in our industry. The cloud computing caters to the need of new access as this article states.

The articles talks about the many advantages of using POS systems over traditional cash registers.

The article give information regarding four global paths through which IT can impact hotel performance. The conducted research by doing a survey on 30 managers of hotels around different areas. The research was extensive and brought information that will be useful for IT and hotels in the future.

-Choose a custom POS platform. -Train your staff in the technology. -Maximize your restaurant management features. -Practice POS maintenance. -Integrate the POS system with essential software. -Legacy POS' are not customizable and are usually in old terminal computers. -Your staff can focus on making the most of the new POS system rather than learning to work around its limitations. -mPOS technology allow you to take payments wherever you are. -mPOS' have a familiar interface, streamlined systems, and support flexible customer interactions. -Staff should be trained with staff allocation tools, kitchen communication features, and customer databases. -For sensitive restaurant management tools, your POS should enable role-based user authorization. -Know your POS' tech support team, be aware of security measures in place, and review system update protocols with your staff.

Restaurants have always been an easy target for cyber security hackers, in particular, hackers who are looking for credit card and ID information. Restaurants provide hackers with a "wealth of client data" due to the high "volume of credit card transactions and CRM data available." Once given access, a hacker could simple install malware and duplicate all customer information. Already facing critical financial issues during Covid 19, restaurants large and small need to take a stronger presence in the protection of their data. If discovered to be the start of a breach, customers will tend to avoid that business. "Chipotle, for example...got devalued by about $400 million after they suffered a breach," and many small restaurants "go belly up six months after an attack." Below is a summary of the types of attachs restaurants face: 1. Unprotected Wifi 2. Social engineering and phishing attacks. This is actually the one that stood out to me the most because of how sophisticated these attacks can be. It is a reminder that we are all at risk, both the technologically challenged and gifted. 3. Malware 4. Covid 19 Scams 5. Grub hub scams 6. Supply chain scams *A particular issue for restaurants and commercial businesses right now as companies scramble to find new vendors who can supply them with the products they require. 7. Public Health scams 8. Government Stimulus scams 9. Technical support scams How can we fight against these? Here are the recommendations: 1. PCI compliance 2. Hire and IT security professional to conduct a risk analysis and if possible, keep on as a consultant or full time 3. Keep a secure network and change free passwords daily 4. Use the latest operating systems, force multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, and use encryption services for data storage and transfers 5. Install and use robust web-filters and security software programs 6. Maybe most important!!! Train your employees. 5.

This article talks about the 7 fundamental changes that are impacting travel agents. Specifically it speaks about the internet's role, self-service, forming new types of relationships with clients, social media, mobile access, digitization, and data/AI use.

This article lists of some common security breaches that hoteliers need to be aware of and prepare the hotel system for.

This article talks about how cybersecurity can critically affect hospitality businesses if they are not careful about what ways could attack their business.

As the article states, "Protecting the identity and information of a customer is paramount to the success of any business and hotels are no exceptions." Quite unfortunately, cybersecurity issues are some of the biggest obstacles that hotels are experiencing nowadays. With hacking attacks such as phishing and ransomware, hotels need to invest in increasing their cybersecurity as any breach can lead to a downfall in business loyalty and brand.

In this article it discussed the main green technologies used for hotel chains and independent hotel owners. In a bid to reduce carbon emissions ahead of possible future legislation, many hotels are adopting strategies to comply with stringent energy guidelines. Large hotel chais are making sure they go extra miles to ensure their green credentials are noticed. Green consultants and architects are employed and eco-friendly strategy for sustainable technologies are rolled out at the entire hotel groups.  Hotel architecture transform to more new green hotel developments which more fit in  with the local landscape as well as energy reducing technology apply for the roofing and building materials. Bio fuel heating replace for diesel and recycled water being used to irrigate hotel grounds. Some hotels are using ozone instead of chlorine in the pools. Other green energy management systems has become increasingly common. Green gadgets are proving a cost effective choice and can also reduce the impact of heavy guest usage on resources.Many Chins are minimizing waste by avoiding over-paced products and asking to deliver minimal wrapping.  Further cost effective measures can be applied to guest activities. They promote local restaurants and attractions within walking distance or only a short care journey away. Bicycles are offered for guests or endorse local tour firms which save on multiple car journeys.  Eco-friendly measures and green technology as part of hotel's general philosophy are well accepted. It also helps to ensure future goodwill and increase occupancy rates. It worth adopting a green technology policy to suit a hotel budget.

Through the article, I found that more and more companies and customers concern about green technology and it has became a heated issue for hotel chains and independent hotel owners. Then why do we need green technology in hotel industry? The answers varies: the general one could be that we need a green world and we should reduce the burden of our environment; for customers, I think we should try to protect the place that provides us beautiful view and nice mood and to make it more comfortable to live in; for hoteliers, building and operating hotels means more saving on energy, more profit,and higher reputation. Even through we have different points of view, we can work on the same theme. Then the problem came in: how to build and operate a green hotel. The author of this article gave me some ideas and I am sure green technology can be everywhere. For instance, large hotel chains can employ green consultants and architect and even launch test sites where they can assess the effectiveness of their green strategy. Professional architects can customize their design to fit the local landscape. From the beginning we can have the green roofing and building materials which can benefit us a lot later. The facilities and operation system can be energy saving by focusing on every detail such as the recycled water and bio fuel heating.  Besides in room technology can be green too. Hoteliers can also try to plan some actives that are environmental friendly for their guests.  Green technology can be applied to every step of building and operating hotels.It is meaningful for hoteliers to focus on the green theme. 

This article analyzes how user-generated ratings have a positive impact on hotels revenue growth. It looks at this through three different methods: one, ratings that the uses provide, two at how those ratings are "distributed over the scale," and three, the number of reviews that hotel receives. The article observes 240 small to mid scale hotels in Italy. Some issues we see come up revolve around the subjectivity of user-generated reviews and how that can positively and negatively affect hotel occupancy and interest. Ultimately, it appears that hotels that already have a high star rating will benefit most from these user-generated ratings because they have a stronger bargaining tool. The other benefactor are small, niche hotels whose increase viability and unique qualities help it in encouraging new tourism and high level experiences.