Skip to main content

Home/ Hospitality Technology/ Group items matching "card" in title, tags, annotations or url

Group items matching
in title, tags, annotations or url

Sort By: Relevance | Date Filter: All | Bookmarks | Topics Simple Middle
blevi022

How is Point of Sale Software Changing in 2020? : Tech : Tech Times - 1 views

  • a retail POS system is like a Midas touch to your business; it enhances it and enhances it for good, adorning it with golden profits. 
  • The idea of POS software is simple. It excludes every chance of human errors and inconsistencies, holds back your company's loss, and increases the productivity of your checkout counter
  • It has been a high time since businesses have advanced from conventional cash registers and card swiping machines to cloud-based POS Systems. The very retail POS systems have proved to be a business bliss encouraging greater flexibility, brilliance, and control in business terms
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • Some restaurants which have adopted such highly technical software have observed some fine changes in their business sales. For instance, a restaurant adopted a cloud-based POS system; this allowed the restaurant owner to split bills, quickly scan the items they are searching for in the menu, track server performances and process online orders, train employees, look for trends, and build customer directories. This obviously led to positive results and increased their overall sales by 30 percent. 
  • here are a few ways you might want to behold to believe that POS systems have changed in 2020 for the better
  • Integrating The Transactions Into One Through Shared Commerce
  • A Step Towards Cashless Business Schemes: Mobile POS
  • With revolving time and turning generations, most customers prefer to make payments through their mobile wallets. The statistics suggest that by 2025, 75 percent of all transactions will be cashless, assuming the hyped popularity of mobile wallet systems. Therefore, looking upon such predictions requires the businesses to notch up their technical sides and promote cashless transactions.
  • POS Systems Have Advanced To Feature CRM
  • The featuring of CRM has tended to increase sales, boost revenue, and help the business outgrow itself. Where the previous form, if POS systems only tend to provide general and basic data insights regarding customer behavior, the new integrated POS with CRM gives more advanced and clear visions on customer insights.
  • POS Systems With The Mighty Powers of Big Data
  • The big data feature tends to provide you insights on how the performances of your business, how many deals you closed, and how many sales you made. It also analyzes how wl you are doing on an annual level. It accounts for your profits to compare each month, thereby making you aware whether your performance is improving or degrading.
  •  
    This article provides an overview of the ways POS systems are advancing and evolving in 2020. It goes on to explain the most important developments in POS.
biancafavilli

ECommerce in Hospitality and Tourism Industry - 1 views

  • New technologies are providing different channels for marketing and management that improve the capabilities of society. And computers are providing faster and more reliable processing with lower cost continually.
  • In Hospitality and Tourism industry, hardware, software, information management, and telecommunications systems have allowed for the processing and information flow amongst organizations. The way in which tourism organizations take advantage of IT tools may determine their future success in the marketplace [4]. We consider the importance of the trend of Information Technology by implementing an effective IT system for advertising, distribution, encouragement and co-ordination of the industry. It is important that Hotel Industry take the lead of the emerging technologies to improve management abilities and develop business plans focusing on the most efficient income of delivering value added products to clients.
  • B2C transactions involve business-to-customer interactions.
  • ...27 more annotations...
  • B2B transactions involve business-to-business.
  • B2E transactions involve a business and its employees.
  • C2C transactions involve two or more consumers (customer-to-customer).
  • The industry can make profits to many countries and pull foreign currencies into the country.
  • The travel distribution system is currently facing many changes as online agencies such as Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia, etc. have introduced a way to access travel suppliers directly via the worldwide web. In general, Global Distribution Systems have not shown much of an effort toward targeting on-line customers. As an alternative, Customer Relation Systems have remained trustworthy to their travel agency distributors.
  • The Internet is not the full solution to success in the Hospitality and Tourism industry. However, the Internet is the “overall business answer” across industries
  • The success of the Hospitality and Tourism industry will depend upon the abilities to identify and answer quickly to current and potential customer needs
  • Starwood Hotel Group was standing ahead of other Hotels to offer a online “virtual tours” of its properties. This feature provides a site visit to potential guests without having to travel to each property. And now, many well-known hotels are also providing this promotion feature for stand top of the roles to attract potential customers.
  • Google presented the vision of Internet marketing is likely to grow by 2015. Some of them are worth to be informed and aware about.
  • 50% of ad campaigns will include video ads bought on a cost-per-view basis 50% of ads will be bought using this real-time bidding technology to tailor experiences for different viewers Smartphones / mobile phone will be the number one screen for digital brands to engage users There will be at least 5 metrics that advertisers will regard as more important than the “click” 75% of web ads will be “social” in nature such as facebook. Therefore, Ads will be shared, discussed, subscribed to and recommended Multimedia formats enable great creativity and interaction – these will grow from 6% of display ad impressions to 50%, especially for brand building campaigns Digital display advertising is going to grow to a $50 billion industry This forecast shows that competition to attract potential customers via worldwide web will be more and more drastic.
  • World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that over 1.5 billion tourists would take international journeys in the year 2020.
  • Another e-Commerce model such as Auction style-pricing models are becoming customer preference, where the customer are able to control the price of the products and services to be consumed.
  • Airlines have a stronger straight link to customers as they compete directly against travel agents [23]. Furthermore, they could have stronger control over the customers due in part to the e-ticketing. In this respect, online technology has replaced the travel agency by adding value via fare shoppers, promotions, and personalized recommendations
  • Customers are almost guaranteed that they will obtain the best price by negotiating via an online agent such as Priceline. But a shortcoming to all of this is that the customer will not understand all of the normal benefits of air tickets as they are sacrificed via online auction purchases. For example, in many cases the travel ticket does not permit any changes or accrual of or without significant penalty charges.
  • Online companies have more of a chance at success in Hong Kong due to the dense population, strong education systems, high credit card and cell phone usage. This leaves room for the future development of the next Priceline or Travelocity in Asia which could pose a major threat to hospitality & tourism organizations. Based on the high volume cell phone usage in Hong Kong, Mobile commerce should be a new trend on next stage. [29]
  • As low cost computer real-time data, fast speed internet access, voice and video communications become a reality, travel agencies may no longer be needed. On the other hand, the Internet challenge can also mean chance. Hotel owners and operators who understand and master e-commerce or m-commerce challenges will be able to jump ahead of online threats from large players such as Priceline. Otherwise, many will find themselves out of business.
  • Information Technology tools have allowed travel intermediaries to expand their role in the industry by presenting opportunities to venture into other markets on a geographical level.
  • Not only should hoteliers focus on the business traveler, but they should also consider whether there are other types of potential target customers as we may find that both young and older generations were sitting in the Internet shops utilizing online services during their vacation as well.
  • Organizations have to invest in the expertise and equipment (Hardware, Software) for building a strong IT base at first.
  • Internet security has been a major issue surrounding the Internet community.
  • Governments are currently addressing Internet based global commerce by considering rules of conduct, guiding principles, laws and taxation. [*30]
  • Today, hotels are distributing their product via more and more channels. How they keep control of availability and price, maintain a consistent level of customer service, in addition to keep their distribution partners up to date at the same time has becomes a complicated and expensive process.
  • The core transactions of our business involve intimate face-to-face interactions, which have certain limitations in regard to the use of e-commerce in the hospitality industry compared with other enterprises
  • It is important to take a look at how Internet technology will affect the future of the tourism industry. Most IT tools are being utilized
  • The hospitality & tourism internet future suggests a universal system where property management systems will eliminate the need for expensive on-site computer hardware/software.
  • Future success for hospitality & tourism companies depends upon their abilities to identify a target market and the strategic opportunities available for survival and growth.
  • It is crucial for hospitality & tourism organizations to stay on top of the roles of the major online players that are posing a serious threat to the industry such as Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia, Yahoo, etc. Their role in the future of hospitality & tourism marketing is crucial to the survival of Hoteliers.
  •  
    This article highlights the different aspects that e-commerce brings to society. It highlights the many ways that e-commerce has affected the Hospitality Industry and the things that can be done about it, and it also highlights the economical and political impact that e-commerce might have on the future of our society (especially the hospitality industry).
biancafavilli

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

  • Couple that with the fact that in the next two to three years hoteliers are expected to invest seven to eight percent more on cloud technology
  • Additionally, increased accessibility, greater profitability, and user-friendly dashboards make cloud-based software enticing for hoteliers
  • For starters, cloud-based hotel software has the ability to host a property management system (PMS) from a remote location, allowing hoteliers to access their property data from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. This feature is unique to cloud-based software and eliminates the need for hoteliers to be physically present at their property to be able to check in on daily management operations.
  • ...22 more annotations...
  • Cloud-based hotel software has been shown to boost productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness
  • Additionally, through the centralization of operations, hoteliers can eliminate the need for on-premise servers at each property
  • In fact, the hotel group, Triple C Hotels and Resorts, reported a 60% savings on software costs when they switched to Cloudbeds’ cloud-based hospitality software
  • For example, Cloudbeds hospitality software implements periodic auto-logoff features that require users to re-enter their password, two-factor authentication for an added level of user verification, and automatic removal of guest credit card data after 14 days
  • The high-level security standards followed by cloud-based hotel software is due in part to its rigid compliance with PCI requirements.
  • Unlike locally installed software, one of the more attractive elements of using a cloud-based hotel software system is the ability to adapt, grow, and integrate with future trends
  • Unlike conventional hotel software models that require hoteliers to purchase licenses and hardware, cloud-based hotel software is sold as a service that enables clients to add on as many or as few tools and features as needed.
  • In fact, a study by Frost and Sullivan showed that businesses can cut IT costs in half by implementing cloud-based computing solutions to customer support.
  • ability to host a property management system (PMS) from a remote location, allowing hoteliers to access property data from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. This feature is unique to cloud-based software and eliminates the need for hoteliers to be physically present at their property to be able to check in on daily management operations.
  • Eliminate the need for manual data sharing and processing
  • Give staff more mobility and accessibility around the property
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Cyber attacks and tighter regulations on privacy policies have made the need to protect guest information more important than ever. This topic is a main concern for those considering switching to a cloud-based PMS system since data servers are hosted off premises.
  •  
    Cloud-based hotel software is able to host a property management system from a remote location which therefore allows hotel staff to access data from wherever they are in the world. It is showing positive signs of increased efficiency and overall cost-effectiveness.
  • ...4 more comments...
  •  
    Cloud-based software is the future of the entire hospitality industry. The benefits of having this software heavily outweigh the cons. It would allow employees to better assist guests with check-in/out processes and it would also give them increased mobility throughout the system, accelerating the services we can offer to our guests. In addition, cloud-based systems allow for better data storage, giving us the tools we need to be prepared for returning guests and their accomodations.
  •  
    Providing the best customer service is the goal of any hotel. It is what attracts your guests to return and suggest your hotel to others. Imagine a software that eliminates the need for hoteliers to be physically present to check on daily management operations or even automate mundane daily tasks, allowing staff to spend more time attending to guests and improving the customer service experience. This software is known as cloud-based hotel software. This software is not sold as a product; it is sold as a service that allows hoteliers to add on as many or few features as needed, making it completely customizable. Cloud-based software is hosted by a vendor's server and gives hoteliers a scalable system that is flexible and easily updated across multiple properties simultaneously. A great key feature to this software is that the system is able to adapt, grow, and integrate with future trends. Flexibility is so important in this generation because new technologies are constantly being innovated and staying up with trends is a great way to satisfy your guests. Cloud-based software has shown to boost productivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. What more could you ask for?
  •  
    The cloud based hotel software is a great addition to he hospitality industry because it gives the hoteliers a chance to be flexible with their stay. It gives the staff member a more relief on updates of property housekeeping status. Cloud based technology gives advantages of moreover frequent updates and enhancements for hoteliers inquiring.
  •  
    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.
  •  
    A general trend is that hoteliers are considering to use cloud-based systems more. Data have proved that hoteliers will invest more in cloud technology. Cloud-based hotel software can provide its users with many benefits like cost-efficiency, increased accessibility, and user-friendly dashboards. Furthermore, it makes remote/offsite information sharing and real-time offsite management possible. With a cloud-based system, staff can spend more time on guests and improving service. For security issues, cloud-based systems upgrades often and therefore reduce the risk of being hacked. Cloud-based systems are also enough flexible to meet the future needs of users. In sum, cloud-based technologies can help the hospitality businesses to deal with the changes better.
  •  
    Hotels are beginning to transition to cloud-based software because they are realizing the great impact it has caused on their business. The article mentioned, "in the next two to three years hoteliers are expected to invest 7-8% on cloud technology". This percentage exhibits how hotels are going to be ran in the future. Cloud-based software has brought positive impact to a hotel business such as "increased accessibility, greater profitability, and user-friendly dashboards". All of these benefits have caused hotels to run their business smoothly bringing back satisfied guests. This software allows check ins/out to be more quick and gives easy access to areas in the hotel for employees. Another gain received by using this software is that its cost-effective. It has been disclosed that a hotel has saved "60% on software costs". Using this software has saved a hotel a lot of money that can be used to satisfied guest more. Security on data is more secured using cloud-based software because the vendors take it seriously making it harder for hackers to retrieve information. Some hotels may halt to install new technology such as cloud-based software but with all the benefits it has given to other hotels, this is going to be the future for the hospitality industry.
lethannelson268

A Primer on Human Resource Information Systems - businessnewsdaily.com - 0 views

  • With a good human resource information system in place, your HR department can collect and parse workforce data to streamline processes. By putting all relevant HR data in one location, an HRIS can make sure your business is properly organized and compliant with existing regulations. When looking for an HRIS, consider features such as automated applicant tracking functions, payroll processing and customizable reports for your business. This article is for any small business owner, employer or HR professional interested in learning about human resource information systems and their potential benefits.
  • HRIS software (also known as a human resource management system, or HRMS) organizes all kinds of worker-related data points, including sensitive identifying information like a worker's age, gender and address; an employee's workplace information like their title, pay scale and department; the benefits they've opted in to; and their timecard and time-off requests.
  • allows your HR leaders to work on new initiatives that could benefit your overall company.
  • ...14 more annotations...
  • an HRIS creates an easily searchable database of items that administrators can access in seconds.
  • It helps HR staff work efficiently.
  • A good HRIS will be immediately visible to any new hires, since the platform can help with the talent acquisition and onboarding process, while existing employees will be able to manage their timecards and request vacation time more easily through the system.
  • The moment you notice a bottleneck in HR should be the moment you consider adopting an HRIS.
  • A good HRIS gives you, your HR department and your other employees access to contact information for anyone on the team.
  • Once hired, that new employee can use the HRIS to go through company-sanctioned training modules and continue the onboarding process.
  • With an HRIS in place, both parties have a centralized location to track their 401(k) plans, manage their healthcare plans and make adjustments when able.
  • Through an HRIS, managers can track staff's time and attendance, while employees can use the system to clock in and out, request paid time off, and track their paychecks.
  • Through an HRIS, you can create meaningful reports that highlight where your company is succeeding and where it can improve.
  • Operational HRIS: These systems try to reduce – if not eliminate – the repetition in filing and organizing employee data.
  • Tactical HRIS: These are employee-facing systems by nature.
  • Comprehensive HRIS: As the name suggests, a comprehensive HRIS closely organizes and examines human resource files.
  • Strategic HRIS: A strategic HRIS deals with the entire workforce rather than just employee-facing functions.
  • Paid accounts range from $1 to $20 per user per month, depending on other factors like features and add-ons.
  •  
    This article covers everything you need to know about an HRIS including benefits, types, and pricing. An HRIS is a great way to keep information organized, frees up time for HR employees to take on more important tasks, ensures compliance. and makes it easy for employees to see time cards, vacation time, etc. You should consider getting an HRIS when you start to see growth in your company, and it soons becomes a hassle to handle HR by hand.
  •  
    This article describes what a HRIS is, as well as the vast benefits of using one in your small business and when businesses should consider getting it.
mannypjr

5 ways COVID changed events and hospitality - 0 views

  • five examples of how businesses have pivoted their services to provide safe ways for people to connect, eat and be entertained
  • Taking conferences online:
  • Then the coronavirus hit and super-spreader events such as business conferences were suddenly off the cards.
  • ...15 more annotations...
  • Using conferencing platform Hopin, SaaStock can see how long attendees are tuning in for, which talks they’re watching and how many people they’re networking with via the platform’s chat roulette-style function.
  • Forging digital connections:
  • The events and social working space had been wildly popular from the get-go, with 275 members and a waiting list of more than 4,000.
  • Ethel’s now has the opportunity to go international. Since launching four months ago, there are now more than 1,000 digital members, stretching as far as Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Taking takeaway seriously:
  • For D&D London, the challenge was to make sure this experience was on par with what customers of hip haunt Bluebird were used to.
  • In June, the team decided to make the most of this and set up a rotisserie outside the restaurant, creating a sense of theatre and letting the smell waft down the King’s Road.
  • D&D plans to continue experimenting with at-home dining.
  • Leveraging live-streaming:
  • MelodyVR, a US company that creates virtual reality music experiences, has had to rethink how it does business.
  • MelodyVR launched its newly kitted-out, COVID-secure studio and an events series, dubbed Live From LA, featuring artists such as John Legend, Cypress Hill and Nelly.
  • Self-isolation stations:
  • European hospitality brand 25hours Hotels saw occupancy crash from 95 per cent to zero.
  • could book into a room with high-speed wifi, a work station and complimentary Nespresso coffee.
  • Marti says the office offering will stay until business is back to normal levels.
  •  
    This article looks at 5 ways that hospitality has changed to survive. It looks at 5 examples of how businesses have pivoted their services to provide safe ways for people to connect, eat, and be entertained by taking conferences online, forging digital connections, taking takeaway seriously, leveraging live-streaming, and self-isolation stations.
anonymous

Cybersecurity: A Hospitality Industry Reality - AETHOS Consulting Group - 0 views

  • Cyber thieves are crafty and persistent in finding ways to breach security to gain access to personal information. The hospitality industry, hoteliers, restaurants and other such businesses that rely on the use of personal information to provide service to their customers are particularly at risk.
  • Initial steps in the risk-management process Hospitality companies should first focus on developing a robust internal risk-management program, including the establishment of strong policies and procedures; training and insurance can reduce the chances of a data breach and mitigate the damages if a breach occurs.
  • In general, an organization should review the following areas to begin developing a well-rounded risk-management program: Corporate security policy Asset classification and control Personnel security Computer-network and management protocols for vulnerability System access controls Privacy and regulatory compliance
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • Then, ask yourself, “What does our company have in place to mitigate our exposures?”
  • Do we have an effective privacy policy?
  • Do we have an effective privacy-breach response plan?
  • Do we continuously test our disaster-response and business-continuity plans?
  • Franchise concerns
  • Franchise agreements should address several important data-security concerns, cyber-insurance, breach notification and PCI (payment card industry) compliance.
  • Franchise agreements should require franchisees to purchase a specified amount of cyber insurance coverage in the event of a data breach.
  • In addition, the franchisee should be required to promptly notify the franchisor of all breaches in security and immediately notify the franchisor of all breaches of sensitive information.
  • The franchisor may also want to consider being notified of any impermissible uses or disclosures
  • Cyber attack realities The ramifications of a cyber breach could be both financially and operationally catastrophic to any hospitality company. Losses could include costs associated with litigation expenses and fines as well as defense. The cost of business interruption and loss of income could be debilitating.
  •  
    This is an article providing a very high-level introduction to the potential risks faced by the hotel industry from cybersecurity. It outlines some initial steps that hotel companies might consider in their risk-management process and also gives some very specific examples of risk related to franchise contracts.
jasdhami95

How Hotels Can Use Proximity Marketing - Hotspot RevenueHotspot Revenue - 1 views

  • When hotel guests access the internet, Hotspot Revenue grabs their attention with thank you messages, upsell messages, promotional messages, loyalty reward offers or social media messages.
  • Hotspot Revenue’s smartphone heat maps provide real time analytics on your guests’ walking paths and dwell times
  • The tools include Beacons, Near Field Communications, WiFi, Geo-Locational Targeting and others.
  •  
    A new method on how to gather consumer data in hotels or long-term traveling sites in order to capitalize on the amount of consumer spending. There are new loyalty reward offers that are being displayed to those consumers with "specials" and discounts, so that the hotel and store can benefit together off a collaborative marketing effort. This reminds me of the way Uber is able to use VISA in the offers portion to give cash back in Uber credits if its customers were to spend money with the same credit card that is linked to the account. The best of both worlds.
teresastas

5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever - 0 views

  • The major search sites routinely leave out flights (lots of them) and even entire airlines. A lot of the flights they do show are ones you don’t want, starting with “basic economy” fares that hit you with tons of restrictions and fees, so the price you see isn’t the one you end up paying, along with connections way too short or way too long, ones that no responsible travel agent would let you book.
    • teresastas
       
      This is a very good point that is often overlooked. Southwest Airlines is one of those who do not publish their fairs on most of these OTA searches.
  • The reality is that while it was widely predicted that the internet was going to kill off travel agents when digital tools were placed at every traveler’s disposal, that just hasn’t happened, for several good reasons.
  • “They can find crazy deals”; “They will be your advocate”; “They’ll take care of the little things”; “They’re true experts” and “They don’t usually cost extra.”
    • teresastas
       
      I think that the general public believe that TA's cost extra to use. For the most part that isn't true...unless it's a cooperate travel.
  • ...15 more annotations...
  • Travel agents are a thing of the past - they primarily booked tickets and beds. Travel advisors have taken on a much more complex role - part psychologist, life coach, executive producer, concierge, fixer, dream maker, and ‘Blink Blink’ genie, with the multitude of services that they provide.
  • Anything that causes cancelled flights (or cruises, etc.) means hassles, but the people who get through this process the most smoothly and the ones who get rebooked first and get the few available seats out of Dodge are usually the ones who used a travel agent. It’s that simple. First off, you actually have someone to call, versus long lines at banks of airport phones masquerading as “help desks.” But good agencies are constantly monitoring their clients’ flights and they usually know about your problem before you do - and often have a resolution before you even call them.
    • teresastas
       
      They make a good point about having someone to call.
  • Expertise: No one knows everything about travel, no matter how deeply they are involved in the industry.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #2: Expertise
  • Emergencies: This is the one most applicable to the average occasional travel.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #2: Expertise
  • It is important to remember that these advantages are not just for luxury travelers. Good travel advisors do not just know what the best hotel is, they know what the best hotel is for you and your budget and can help you find the right fit.
  • Connections: Whether you are trying to book space at a coveted 8-villa safari lodge in Africa or get a room in a top Paris hotel during Fashion Week, most hoteliers keep emergency inventory and guess who gets it? The travel advisors they have known for years who book a lot of guests and send them a lot of business.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #3: Connections
  • “Travel advisors provide our clients with access: access to people, places, and experiences that could never be replicated, much less imagined. A great travel advisor has invested time and relationships in creating their ‘black book’ of contacts and relationships, so that when their clients travel, they are treated as a VIPs, not just a credit card number.” In my experience, everyone likes being treated like a VIP.
    • teresastas
       
      I think this lends itself to who your travel agent is and what they are most experienced in. I couldn't agree that all travel agents are going to give their clients VIP experiences.
  • “Information overload, thousands of new hotels on the scene, all sorts of new cruise ships, passport and visa issues, weather, transit strikes, political unrest, natural disasters, travel insurance, travel providers going out of business, it’s never ending. How does one navigate all of this? To avoid the travel landmines that lay in front of you, you need to get a great travel advisor!
  • Extras: When you get more than you expected for the same price, that’s a great deal, and with travel advisors this happens all the time.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason #4: Extras
  • “The millennial generation specifically may have seen their parents use a travel advisor, but don’t feel like they need one - until they are deep in the spiral of research. By shifting gears to planning with an expert, they feel liberated from the immense pressure of choosing the ‘best’ resort - because we’re cutting through the noise of all the conflicting opinions they’re seeing online.
    • teresastas
       
      This is a great point. I know first hand that when booking an actual vacation it can be so much easier to have an expert weed out the options they know won't work for you.
  • Air: If you are trying to buy the cheapest round-trip economy ticket from New York to Dallas, even the best advisors probably can’t get it for less than you can buy it online, though you still have to deal with all the pitfalls of the online travel sites and you will lose the safety net advisors provide when things go wrong. But in a couple of other cases, buying your air through an agent can actually save you money, or miles, or both.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason 5: Air Fare You will usually be able to find the cheapest economy online but there are times when a travel agent might be able to save you fees on airlines.
  • It just doesn’t seem possible, but it is, real tickets, same airline, better seats, less money. I don’t know how they do it, and frankly I don’t care, but if you know who to call this happens all the time (if you are not a client of SmartFlyer booking your vacation or business trip, they will charge you a fee to do the legwork and find you great deals on premium and mileage tickets, but in almost every case I’ve seen, it still saves you money).
    • teresastas
       
      This is a great travel tip!
  • Better Trips! At the end of the day this is the bottom line, the big win you get with a good travel advisor. They know more than you do, they are better connected, they have access to benefits you can’t get yourself, and they can match and often beat any prices you find. They plan a better trip and then provide a safety net.
    • teresastas
       
      Reason number 6: Better Trips Your trip is better all around when you use a good travel advisor!
  • Travel advisors take the overwhelming amount of information out there and distill it into the key points that apply to you - the best hotel/destination/tour for your interests, your budget, and your time frame.
  • 5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever
    • teresastas
       
      We have been discussing a lot about the role of GDS's and OTA's it has become clear that the role of the traditional travel agent has evolved. The question of what is the role of a travel agent and why should we still use them has come up a lot and this article breaks down the answer giving 5 reasons why we still need travel agents. The reasons are listed as emergencies, expertise, connections, airfare and extras. All of these reason collectively make a better trip all around. After reading this it makes me want to book my next vacation through a travel agent!
isabelladlp

Confidentiality in the Hospitality Industry - 0 views

  • No specific laws govern confidentiality in the hospitality industry, but your contracts and policies should clearly dictate what degree of privacy customers can expect.
  • Hospitality businesses routinely swipe customer credit cards and may gain other sensitive financial data, such as a customer's bank account information.
  • If you inadvertently leak this data, you could be legally liable for your negligence, resulting in costly lawsuits.
  • ...18 more annotations...
  • If your connection isn't password protected, anyone can access the system.
  • And even with a password, computer-savvy network users can gain access to another user's data.
  • Hospitality workers don't have any special legal authority, so they can't physically restrain a customer. Instead, they should call the police if they suspect criminal activity.
  • Your company's confidentiality policy can educate customers about the amount of privacy they can expect.
  • If you promise a customer a specific amount of confidentiality and then break that agreement, you've broken your contract and can be sued.
  • No one can contract to engage in illegal behavior, and if someone is in immediate danger, it's your duty to take steps to protect him.
  • It also establishes guidelines for employees to follow, and a clear policy can even protect you against lawsuits.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court has established that hotel customers have a "reasonable expectation of privacy" in hotel rooms.
  • You can't enter or search a guest's room without her explicit consent, but guests are not entitled to any special privacy
  • As a business owner, you value the privacy of company secrets and procedures, which is why you expect your employees to maintain some standard of confidentiality
  • confidentiality in employment is implicit, regardless of whether employees have signed an agreement.
  • If a member of your staff violates this explicit or implicit agreement, the penalty for breach of confidentiality can be severe and long-lasting.
  • an employee who signs this type of agreement agrees that a violation of confidentiality is also a violation of the employment contract. The penalty for breach of confidentiality isn’t restricted to employees who have signed confidentiality agreements,
  • if you own a computer security company and an employee’s laptop is stolen, and that employee didn’t encrypt sensitive data on that computer per company policy, it could constitute a breach of confidentiality.
  • Healthcare privacy is essential, not only to protect a patient’s right to decide who has access to sensitive information but also to protect doctors and other healthcare professionals from malpractice claims.
  • Theft is a violation of criminal law that in some instances can be punishable by a stiff fine or imprisonment.
  • As a business owner, you would report the theft to law enforcement, and the state or federal government would charge your employee with the crime.
  • Employers will not look favorably on any prospective employees who were terminated due to a confidentiality breach, or convicted of a crime related to that type of violation.
wenjieyang

8 POS Trends & Technologies Shaping the Future of Retail - 0 views

  • A POS—or point-of-sale—system is an invaluable business tool that has replaced the traditional cash register with constantly evolving, tech-driven solutions.
  • mobile and cloud-based POS transactions enable businesses to make sales from anywhere.
  • Cloud-based POS technology: Today’s POS software is often cloud-based, meaning you can access your POS software and all of its data from any compatible device at any time.
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • POS technology makes it possible for small businesses to accommodate these complex buying behaviors, letting them compete with larger companies with bigger budgets.
  • POS technologies continue to empower retailers to create a more seamless customer experience across all touchpoints.
  • mPOS systems: Many cloud POS options also have a mobile component, or an mPOS, so associates can meet customers where they are and make sales on the floor.
  • When you accommodate additional payment methods with a flexible, tech-forward POS, you can accommodate more customers—and encourage more sales in turn.
  • While credit and debit cards remain popular, usage is expected to decrease gradually as consumers access ever-expanding payment options
  • Having a POS that provides personalized shopping experiences is important
  • POS software captures valuable information with every transaction, so you can build customer profiles that help you learn more about your clientele. Over time, you can personalize automated campaigns through your POS, enabling your associates to access customer profiles at checkout or on an mPOS.
  • POS data is valuable for more than just getting to know your customers and their communication preferences. The metrics from your POS can also reveal information about your business’ staff, products, store layout, foot traffic, and returns rate—among other metrics.
  • Choosing a POS system that lets your customers subscribe to products or services makes it easy for them to keep their favorite products in stock while effortlessly maintaining brand loyalty.
  • many of the best loyalty program software options integrate with POS systems and make it easy for customers to sign up for rewards.
  • With increased mobility, data analysis, and security, POS technologies are becoming an integral part of every retail business.
mrodr1442

The Future of Hotel Technology and Touchless Hospitality - 1 views

http://sco.lt/82nB4K Its amazing the amount of advanced technology has changed the hotel industry over the years with touchless being a top notch service for many hotel guests. You can walk into a ...

hospitality hotel travel Tech

started by mrodr1442 on 25 Aug 21 no follow-up yet
isabelladlp

How the Internet of Things (IoT) can Benefit the Travel Industry - 2 views

  • While it technically includes absolutely everything that is connected to the internet, the term is more typically used to refer to everyday physical devices, appliances and other ‘things’ that have been fitted with internet connectivity
  • This effectively turns them into ‘smart’ objects, capable of ‘talking to’ or interacting with one another
  • the Internet of Things can enable further automation, more personalisation, and a greater customer experience.
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • 1. Personal Control
  • to enable a greater degree of personalisation within hotels, and on flights, and this is primarily provided by enabling customers to control more appliances or services through a centralised device
  • 2. Seamless Travel
  • In hotels, the check-in process can be made seamless, with hotels sending electronic key cards to guests’ phones which, when used, automatically check them in without them ever having to stop at the front desk
  • 3. Smart Energy Saving
  • Sensors automatically detect the levels of natural light in the room, reducing the power of light bulbs in the process, meaning less energy is wasted and high powered lighting is only used when light levels are low enough.
  • 4. Location Information
  • The IoT can also be used to gather accurate data about the number of people using specific hotel facilities at different times, so that staffing levels can be optimised.
  • 5. Maintenance & Repairs
  • Away from hotels, the Internet of Things can also be deployed to allow airlines to fuel aeroplanes more efficiently, or replace parts at the right time, striking the ideal balance between gaining maximum value and maintaining safety.
teresastas

Understanding The Cloud: Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing for Hotels * Shiji Insights - 1 views

  • The most immediate positive of cloud computing is If you implement a cloud-based software for your hotel, it can be accessed from any computer you’d like– your software and data is no longer limited to one back office computer.
    • teresastas
       
      For me this is the most biggest reason why cloud computing is a positive move for the Hospitality industry.
  • One of the most immediate, positive aspects of cloud computing is that the actual computing, or processing, is much faster.
    • teresastas
       
      2nd reason that could computing is good for the industry. Processing is much faster and makes real-time tracking much easier.
  • when you have something sitting in the cloud, there is usually a respective API that will allow for different software to communicate and exchange date as needed. This lowers the I.T. requirements exponentially, not to mention makes it easier for future expansion upon the software. 
    • teresastas
       
      While I somewhat agree that it's becoming easier to integrate different API's but it still can be a struggle to have different apps work together. Especially the newer ones.
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • If your software is in the cloud, you won’t have to worry about it being compatible with your computer.
    • teresastas
       
      Although there isn't any compatibility issues for the most part I do know that there are times that old tablets can't support certain apps so I wouldn't say this is an entirely true statement.
  • Hardware fails are easy to remedy
  • Cloud-based tech just takes up less space on computers.
  • If not safeguarded properly, cloud-based tech can be vulnerable to external infiltration.
  • Your cloud-based tech can only go as fast as your internet speed.
  • We recommend this trick we’ve seen some hotels employ: Purchase an external data card or dongle from your local cellular carrier and keep it handy as a backup. Yes, it may have a monthly fee, but that’s
    • teresastas
       
      This may not work for every need but it is something that could at least keep a couple of areas up and running. It's also what I have for my company.
  • If fails centrally, all users are down
    • teresastas
       
      I would say this is probably one of the biggest issues with Cloud computing because it's entirely out of your hands when it happens.
  • Cloud computing isn’t a slam dunk solution for hoteliers. There are some technical hurdles or at least some things to consider when deciding to use cloud-based technology for your hotel.
  • But for most hoteliers, cloud-based technology is a major win.
  • Understanding The Cloud: Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing for Hotels • Shiji Insights
    • teresastas
       
      This article breaks down the pros and cons of cloud computing for Hotels. Pros are that devices can be used anywhere with internet connection, that the processing power is faster, that it makes it easier to connect with other systems, that there are limited compatibility issues on hardware and hardware fails are easier to remedy. The con's are listed as security issues (although I'm not sure I totally agree with this), relying on internet connections, the need for backup connectivity, and if it centrally fails then you have downtime that is out of your hands.
khiyara_00

https://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp/?ID=483 - 0 views

  • The advent of call accounting systems (thanks to deregulation) enabled hoteliers to easily mark up calls to a profitable (some say too profitable) level.
  • The guest now has a variety of choices for communicating including fax over the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, calling cards and now even Internet-based phones. All these alternatives offer a less expensive means of communicating than using the traditional hotel guestroom phone and other services such as fax.
  • Cellular phones have become so widely used that some cell phone providers have had trouble keeping up with the demand
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • With more guests carrying laptops than ever before and Internet business activity rapidly increasing, the guest must have the best connection available. HSIA also relieves the congestion on the PBX caused by modem calls.
  • No matter what cell phone the guest may carry or what service provider is used, no wireless connection is as good as a land-line connection.
  •  
    With technology advancing, hotels are putting their best effort to keep up with new ways of telecommunication. As mentioned in the article, the fax machine used to be the most popular way of telecommunication back in the day. Now hotels have been trying to figure out the best ways to gain guest to use their telecom infrastructure since the fax machine has become outdated. The problem is guest don't want spend a lot of money making a phone call so the hotels have had to create packages for guests to use the phone. They would include unlimited calls and high-speed internet for a certain amount a day which could attract some guest but not all. Guest don't find the need to use their phones because mostly everyone has a phone, tablet, or pocket computer. Hotels can catch the guest attention by the internet because none of these devices are no good without internet connection. Making packages with unlimited calls and high speed internet is a start to reeling in guest. It all comes down to what can the hotel offer in means of telecommunication that a guest's device cant. One concept they have is the land-line has much better connection and speed. Having that speed and connection is very important to a guest. It is going to take time and trial and error but there are always alternate ways to reel guest in to use their ways of telecommunication.
  •  
    This article discusses technology and how it can be upgraded for guest use. It also mentions how to appeal to guest because they may come with their own devices. It gives suggestions on service packages and bundles that can be given to aid their telecommunication.
mcont036

Cybersecurity guide for the hospitality industry - Help Net Security - 1 views

  • A practical cybersecurity guide from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can help hotel owners reduce the risks to a highly vulnerable and attractive target for hackers: the hotel property management system
  • allowing hotel owners to control and limit access to their PMS and protect guest privacy and payment card information.
  • According to a recent industry report, hospitality ranked third among industries compromised by cybersecurity breaches in 2019, and the industry suffered 13% of the total incidents.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • About two-thirds of these breaches were attacks on corporate servers, which often store guest information and communicate with on-site property management systems.
  • The design protects data moving within this environment, and it prevents user access to the various systems and services.
  • “Zero trust principles mean access is not granted to devices or user accounts based solely on their physical or network location or who owns them. Instead, authentication and authorization of both subject and device are required before users can access a network’s resources
  •  
    The National Institute of Standards and Technology created a practical cybersecurity guide to help hotel owners protect their PMS from hackers. Hotel owners can learn to protect the privacy of the data stored in their systems, which is highly vulnerable. The guide also advocates for the zero trust principle, which dictates that access to a system is never fully granted, but must be continually evaluated through authentication and authorization.
nashalsiddiqi

Take It From Ritz-Carlton: Data Is Nothing Without the Personal Touches | CustomerThink - 0 views

  • the Ritz-Carlton uses a CRM system. Coined “Mystique,” the Ritz-Carlton database is used to track information such as guest preferences, frequency of visits and issues that have come up for guests during their previous stays.
  • While the data is helpful in understanding an individual guest’s relationship with the brand, the data is only as good as the staff’s willingness to leverage it to create ongoing, memorable and unique experiences for the guest.
  • according to NPD Group, a market research company, almost 50 percent of the consumers who described themselves as highly loyal to a brand were no longer loyal to that brand a year later. So how does a business maintain loyal customers? In a nutshell, by not leaving it solely to technology, such as complex CRM databases, but instead making loyalty and customer engagement an integral part of each employee’s daily focus and communicating about it daily
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • At line-up, the Ladies and Gentlemen celebrate stories of exceptional service; share new information from the Mystique CRM database; hear presentations on business success factors, such as the importance of driving customer engagement is presented, and research results from customer engagement surveys. And they discuss the information on the Credo card.
  •  
    The article discuss Ritz Carlton experience with their own CRM system called Mystique, it also argues that a CRM system and technology are not enough to gain customer loyalty but also needs a different level of customer engagement.
  •  
    The article discuss how did Ritz Carlton introduced a new CRM system named mystique to develop a more personalized service for the clients focusing mainly on data collected through the hotel employees by observing guests behavior or by asking the guest directly. However, the article also discusses the importance of human interaction regardless to the system it self.
kesca010

Using Proximity-based Technology At Events - Eventeem - 0 views

  • Proximity-based technologies provide brands unique opportunities both to interact with customers and deliver content straight to their devices.
  • Proximity-based technology is the perfect way to add interactivity to a campaign, through both content delivery, as well as other, more campaign-specific methods.
  • Beacons act as geographic points, where a device which meets the appropriate criteria e.g.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • This can range from a notification of deal offers, a tactic used by US supermarket giant Target in over 50 stores nationwide, to a small piece of content.
  • Sharing-based Loyalty Card:
  • A live Competition:
  • A “Second Screen” Experience:
  •  
    This article speaks about the tole of Proximity based technology in events. It covers the benefits it brings and how it can work for companies. They present great examples on how companies have successfully used this technology.
nbrac002

Could wristbands turn festivals into games? - BBC News - 0 views

  • Wristbands have long been synonymous with music festivals, but what was once a simple, colourful loop of material now increasingly contains contactless technology. This allows music fans to pay for food, drinks or merchandise but festival directors are now taking the technology further, into the realm of "gameification".
  • Festival director Ben Robinson says it will allow visitors to check-in at stages, talks and stalls, creating a "mission log" they will be sent after the event, listing what they saw and giving further information.
  • Ultimately, he hopes to turn festivals into immersive gaming sites - something akin to Pokemon Go - where, alongside enjoying the festival site, visitors can unlock exclusive rewards. This might include entry to a restricted area for visiting a number of check-in points or free dishes if enough food is purchased.
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • linking the wristbands to interactive apps and existing technologies, such as augmented reality, to give attendees something beyond the usual festival experience.
  • which is also used in contactless bank card payments,
  • The danger is that you get analysis that tells you 80% of your audience went to see Band X so you should book loads of bands that sound like Band X," he says
  • data can stop exposing you to that thrill of hearing something new and different."
  • "It's simply a device that will tell us how many people bought how many beers and at what time and such like [which is] data that a standard EPOS (electronic point of sale) system would track."
  • and experts also question the security of the system.
  • so somebody could duplicate it - and as it's contactless, you only need to be within a certain proximity.
  • "Also, the visitors are potentially being profiled and this is viewed by the security community as an invasion of privacy."
  • The system they are using provides only "blind data", he says, which means there is "no GPRS [and] no tracking"
  • "That is where people load money on that they never end up redeeming. Most retailers view this as an excellent stream of effectively free money... but it is scamming the punters who are already paying an on-site premium."
  • He says they use "a global encryption standard used by the military... that has only ever been hacked or cloned in a theoretical situation, never in real life" and only use any data collected for "assisting visitors with customer service enquiries".
  •  
    This article explains how music festivals are innovating their use of the RFID bracelets to create a more immersive guest experience. These bands, on top of being used as a cashless payment system, entry pass, and VIP entrance, festivals are now looking to use these bands to in creative ways including linking them to apps and augmented realty technologies to "gameify" the experience. Possibilities include having check- in sites to collect points for real- life prizes, allowing entrance to specialized areas, and creating mission logs so guests can remember their experience.
cingram21

Managing Payments: How Embedded Fintech will Fuel Travel Revenues | PaymentsJournal - 2 views

  • These companies’ payments systems provide greater efficiencies for hotel owners, such as contactless payment and seamless accounting; they also provide financial services capabilities to owners and banks via embedded finance.
  • Embedded fintech is technology that enables embedded finance, into a financial institutions’ product sets, websites, mobile applications, and business processes via APIs by allowing banks access to a new customer base
  • To meet the demands of travel in a reopening world, these payment systems should also include a state-of-the-art terminal, transparent fees, built-in reporting, analytics, security, and world-class (in-house) support so hoteliers can to focus on their guests rather than time-consuming payments acceptance and reconciliation.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Further, cloud based payments systems are often integrated in Property Management Systems, (PMS)
  • Discover and seamlessly connect to 3rd party apps and services and a channel manager to sync rates, availability and details across 100s of channelsManage revenue by optimizing rates, tracking competitors, and providing insights & analytics,Connect to a booking engine to drive commission free bookings and the payment system, which alleviates manual credit card entry, lengthy verification processes and seamlessly rolls up accounting and tax preparation.
  •  
    FinTech is a hot topic and this Journal article touches on the developments of FInTech in the hotel. The standout line touches on how cloud payments can, "connect to a booking engine to drive commission-free bookings and the payment system..."
xrive007

How Restaurants Are Using Technology to Deliver Better Customer Service - 0 views

  • The next frontier for social media and smartphones may well be the restaurant table.
  • So far, restaurants have been slow to take to technology, but a few chains are breaking new ground.
  • Mobile ordering.
  • ...19 more annotations...
  • This is one area where fast-food chains are in the forefront.
  • iPad order kiosks
  • Facebook ordering
  • Why wait in line if you can file your order at a kiosk immediately, and then sit down and relax?
  • Diners
  • This may be the biggest technology leap coming in the next year, as nearly 100 percent of restaurant owners say they plan to have a Facebook presence by next year.
  • This is a fairly low-cost add-on to make, and it has the potential to grow sales, which always gets a restaurauteur's attention.
  • Digital menu boards + smartphones
  • Tabletop e-waiter & checkout
  • Hand them a restaurant iPad they can self-checkout on where their card doesn't leave their sight, and they're happy.
  • it even suggests additional items to order, and the company reports it cuts 7 minutes off the average diner's stay.
  • Games while-u-wait
  • Watch for fast-food restaurants to change menus more often, because digital menu boards make it so much easier than manually changing prices and items.
  • Online coupons
  • Digital signage also allows quick-serve restaurants to provide entertainment and interactivity while you wait in line
  • Tech-savvy diners expect elegant solutions that work
  • restaurants that can get it right, integrating technology that makes customers happy and turns tables faster will be a no-brainer.
  • Gaming industry sources report McDonald's is projecting gesture-enabled games onto restaurant floors for kids to play while they wait for Happy Meals
  • More restaurants are using digital coupons, and diners gobble them up
« First ‹ Previous 581 - 600 of 624 Next › Last »
Showing 20 items per page