Future of ecommerce
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Future Of Ecommerce Article - Internet & E Commerce Ecommerce Articles - 1 views
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Ecommerce commonly known as (electronic marketing) e-commerce or Ecommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks.
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TechnologyTechnology is the most important factor in Ecommerce rapid growth
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Ecommerce was totally dependent on computer technology just a decade ago, but not now. Mobile phones and handheld PCs can access internet just like PCs do.
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EasinessAnother major factor is easiness.
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Competition between Ecommerce (online sellers) is so great that you could order anything with same day delivery option.
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Price FactorPrice is another factor you can compare prices with rest of the world
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Safety / GuaranteeAlmost every online seller provides safe product delivery guarantee.
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Online Gift ShopsOnline gift shops are one of the best domains of Ecommerce.
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You can book gifts like flowers, cakes, perfumes, stuffed toys, mobile phones etc and send it to your loved ones in anywhere in the world.
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With time Ecommerce graph will keep inclining as it exploits the nature of human psychology like comfort ness, easiness and tension free shopping.
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E-commerce is based on the process of buying and selling products or services on the internet or other computer networks. Ecommerce rapid growth in these last years can be accounted to very important key factors, such as: Technology, thanks to this important factor now computers are not the only way for ecommerce, you can also use mobil phones and handheld PCs to make any transaction. Easiness, is another important factor, thanks to it you can order anything with the same day delivery option. Price factor, with ths option you can compare prices with the rest of the world so you can decide which is more convenient for you. Safety/Guarantee, online sellers provide safe product delivery guarantee. Online Gift Shops, you can book gifts like flowers, cakes, perfumes, stuffed toys, etc. and send it to your loved ones anywhere in the world. Thanks to their focus on comfort ness, easiness and tension free shopping ecommerce will keep going further and improving their sales. -
Yea, I agree with you. Ecommerce proved its significant based on the fact where time is important. In the commercial markets, time plays an extremely important role to both the business and consumers. From the business perspective, with less time spent during each transaction, more transaction can be achieved on the same day. As for the consumer, they will save up more time during their transaction.
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E-commerce companies see business growth in smaller cities - Tech News - IBNLive - 0 views
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Non-metros play a vital role in the growth of e-commerce segment in the country primarily due to ease of purchase...
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eBay Census 2011, a study on the Indian e-commerce landscape released last year, as many as 3,311 Indian cities shopped online between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. Of this, over 1,267 were non-metro cities
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non-metros buy due to non-availability of products.
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E-commerce firms still expect their business to boom once broadband connectivity across country as planned under National Broadband Plan is delivered and ecosystem for broadband on mobile is developed
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This article mainly speaks of the positive influences that non-metro cities can have on the income of e-commerce companies. Due to the remoteness of some of these cities, e-commerce is a convenient way for them to purchase some products that would otherwise be unattainable. Although these e-commerce companies see the potential in these smaller cities, they believe that once broadband becomes widely available to the world their sales will increase in all aspects. The convenience of broadband in wide regions would give new locations the potential to buy and sell online.
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HFTP's Guestroom20X features technologies from VingCard Elsafe and Axxess Industries, a... - 0 views
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Hotel rooms are ready to go high-tech with new security products that can enhance the guest experience.
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While they are at the door, guests will find Axxess Industries’ IP Video Intercom. It replaces the more commonly used peephole
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Shea said security technology has been a long-time development, but not implemented in hospitality – until now.
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Although these enhancements are beneficial to hotels worldwide, some wonder whether hotels are buying the technology and ultimately, implementing them.
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the future of hotel technology is unclear, but moving forward requires a certain factor.
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HFTP calls the developments showcased in the Guestroom 20X , “game-changing for the hospitality industry, opening a new avenue for delivering personal guest services efficiently and with ease.”
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We’re seeing a technological revolution in hotels,”
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A final security enhancement to the guest room is Ovation Networks’ EcoManaged, an energy management system. With Wi-Fi monitoring, the system measures and detects CO2 in the room and adjusts the room temperature as necessary.
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Hotel rooms are ready to go high-tech with new security products that can enhance the guest experience. As the organization Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) prepared the 2012 guestroom exhibit Guestroom 20X for last week's HITEC tradeshow, the group sought new ways to make the room more modern, efficient and self-serviced. - ...4 more comments...
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As we can see technology is rapidly making its way into our field. This article explains how technology implemented in the guest rooms allow the guest to have a more personalized experience and feel that there belongings are also secure in the hotel. "The key thing is to provide something that's valuable to the person that uses it, the person that administers it and the person that supplies it," said Shea, whose firm's technology is one of many showcased in the futuristic room. This is very true considering that technology is not cheap and a lot of money has to be put into this new technological wave, but the consumers seem to be paying the money. Overall, technology is changing our industry and our companies either have to embrace it, or be left behind.
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According to this article, hotels are coming up with new and more secure ways to make guests feel safe and comfortable. This can be extremely important for women traveling alone, or people with children. This article describes several new security features that can be added to hotel rooms that serves guests efficiently and with ease. The first new technology device is a Mobile Key Solution. Guests will be able to receive their room number and room key via their mobile phone or computer allowing them to bypass the front desk altogether. Also, at the door, it is equipped with IP Video Intercom that can replace the peephole. This intercom can routed to any device in the room and it can be accessed using mobile phones. Also inside the room is a high-tech safe that features four unique solution for providing extra security. Other security features are sound recognition smoke alarms and CO2 detectors. Right now, technology companies are ready to install new products, but there is question as to whether hotels are buying the technology. It is my opinion that as technology continues to advance, security will have to advance as well. Security for guests information, and personal safety will have to increase. More advanced room key technology is definitely a priority. There are too many issues with room keys and this can be a giant security issue. It is my opinion that we will start to see new security technology entering hotels in the near future. -
High-tech security products and hotel rooms can enhance the guest experience. The article introduced some new technology related to the hotel room security, including the door's Mobile Key Solution lock, RFID and mobile-friendly NFC technology, Axxess Industries' IP Video Intercom instead of the peephole. What's more, with IP connectivity, guests can answer the intercom using their mobile phones, also the new generation safe with RFID contactless, electronic lock. The most inspired tech is the Ovation Networks' Eco-Managed, an energy management system. With Wi-Fi monitoring, the system measures and detects CO2 in the room and adjusts the room temperature as necessary. With all these new technology integrations, guests security can be more insured and personalized, and provide hotel customer quite new experience. -
New technologies poised to change guest experience. Hotel rooms are ready to go high-tech with new security products that can enhance the guest experience, they are making the room more modern, efficient and self-serviced. As we can see, the future of hotel technology is unclear, but moving forward requires a certain factor. In a hotel room, first and foremost, the guests will be able to open the door's wireless software, in this way, they will securely receive their room number and room key and makes it easy for them to check-in or check-out. In addition, guests may answer the intercom using their mobile phones. And they will feel more safe with the electronic lock to provide anti-cloning technology. Finally, guests will notice the SafeAwake Smoke Alarm Aid, it will alert guests when a smoke detector is activated which will give guests much more safe. Although these enhancements are beneficial to hotels worldwide, some wonder whether hotels are buying the technology and ultimately, implementing them. The technology is changing, the customers are embracing. -
Hotel rooms are ready to go high-tech with new security products that can enhance the guest experience. As the organization Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) prepared the 2012 guestroom exhibit Guestroom 20X for last week's HITEC tradeshow, the group sought new ways to make the room more modern, efficient and self-serviced. -
This article covered information on the projected security of the future in hospitality. The Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) were working on developments that they planned to showcase in the HITEC tradeshow last year. These developments, collectively recognized as the Guestroom 20x, were expected to make hotel rooms more efficient and modern. These developments included obtaining rooms and keys without front desk interaction, video intercoms to replace peepholes, reinforced room safes, and a smoke alarm aid to properly alert guests in case of fire. There were also talks of an energy management system in the rooms included. The developments seem to be a start towards a changing way of hospitality. I believe that these developments are great options for hotels in the future. Of course, there are always risks that must be recognized. These risks could even be the downfall of the developments. Technology's ability to fail or malfunction is too constant at this time. System glitches, hacking possibilities and power outages could inconvenience these developments as well as inconvenience the guests at the hotel that use them. My main concerns lie with the option to obtain rooms and keys through PCs and mobile phones, the smoke alarm aid and the energy management. One technological failure could cause any of these to cease operating, which means that guests could be locked out of their rooms, in danger if there is actually a fire (or inconvenienced because of a malfunctioning alarm), or inconvenienced because of a nonworking room temperature gauge. These issues could lead to many problems for the hotel that hosts these developments. So, the companies should analyze these issues before installing these developments.
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shared by dlcrawford on 05 Feb 20
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Council Post: 15 Things Every Business Should Consider Before Buying Enterprise Software - 0 views
www.forbes.com/...ore-buying-enterprise-software
business buying enterprise software hospitality tech
shared by dlcrawford on 05 Feb 20
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you need to talk to people who are already using it. And the biggest question you should ask them is what happens when things go wrong.
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Before closing a deal, use the software with the data and in the environment intended
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Using them in context is key in determining if the software performs the desired function, handles problems correctly, and deals with the scale and scope of the data you plan to process.
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You are not purchasing software -- you are investing in creating more efficient and productive business habits for your employees
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7. Make Sure You Can Get Your Data Out
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incorporate reputation, stability, R&D and references into the decision-making process
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"How will this software investment enhance my services to benefit my customers’ businesses?
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There should be a clear upgrade path that allows scaling and coverage of an expanded scope
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This article lists a few additional items to consider when making software purchasing decisions. Many of the considerations were listed in the lecture, but there is an additional perspective to why that consideration is important listed here.
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Data Mining: What is Data Mining? - 3 views
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For example, one Midwest grocery chain used the data mining capacity of Oracle software to analyze local buying patterns. They discovered that when men bought diapers on Thursdays and Saturdays, they also tended to buy beer. Further analysis showed that these shoppers typically did their weekly grocery shopping on Saturdays. On Thursdays, however, they only bought a few items. The retailer concluded that they purchased the beer to have it available for the upcoming weekend. The grocery chain could use this newly discovered information in various ways to increase revenue. For example, they could move the beer display closer to the diaper display. And, they could make sure beer and diapers were sold at full price on Thursdays.
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Data warehousing is defined as a process of centralized data management and retrieval. Data warehousing, like data mining, is a relatively new term although the concept itself has been around for years.
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ata mining is primarily used today by companies with a strong consumer focus - retail, financial, communication, and marketing organizations. It enables these companies to determine relationships among "internal" factors such as price, product positioning, or staff skills, and "external" factors such as economic indicators, competition, and customer demographics. And, it enables them to determine the impact on sales, customer satisfaction, and corporate profits. Finally, it enables them to "drill down" into summary information to view detail transactional data.
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WalMart is pioneering massive data mining to transform its supplier relationships. WalMart captures point-of-sale transactions from over 2,900 stores in 6 countries and continuously transmits this data to its massive 7.5 terabyte Teradata data warehouse. WalMart allows more than 3,500 suppliers, to access data on their products and perform data analyses. These suppliers use this data to identify customer buying patterns at the store display level. They use this information to manage local store inventory and identify new merchandising opportunities. In 1995, WalMart computers processed over 1 million complex data queries. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is exploring a data mining application that can be used in conjunction with image recordings of basketball games. The Advanced Scout software analyzes the movements of players to help coaches orchestrate plays and strategies. For example, an analysis of the play-by-play sheet of the game played between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, 1995 reveals that when Mark Price played the Guard position, John Williams attempted four jump shots and made each one! Advanced Scout not only finds this pattern, but explains that it is interesting because it differs considerably from the average shooting percentage of 49.30% for the Cavaliers during that game.
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How does data mining work? While large-scale information technology has been evolving separate transaction and analytical systems, data mining provides the link between the two. Data mining software analyzes relationships and patterns in stored transaction data based on open-ended user queries. Several types of analytical software are available: statistical, machine learning, and neural networks. Generally, any of four types of relationships are sought: Classes: Stored data is used to locate data in predetermined groups. For example, a restaurant chain could mine customer purchase data to determine when customers visit and what they typically order. This information could be used to increase traffic by having daily specials. Clusters: Data items are grouped according to logical relationships or consumer preferences. For example, data can be mined to identify market segments or consumer affinities. Associations: Data can be mined to identify associations. The beer-diaper example is an example of associative mining. Sequential patterns: Data is mined to anticipate behavior patterns and trends. For example, an outdoor equipment retailer could predict the likelihood of a backpack being purchased based on a consumer's purchase of sleeping bags and hiking shoes.
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Size of the database: the more data being processed and maintained, the more powerful the system required. Query complexity: the more complex the queries and the greater the number of queries being processed, the more powerful the system required.
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This article highlights the topic of Data Mining and the way in which companies use it to become informed and discover new ways to become more effective. Data Mining can be used to increase revenue, cut costs and identify growing trends. This article will feature key examples from major companies such as Oracle, Wal-Mart and the NBA, all of which use Data Mining to enhance their business performance.
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shared by mknig011 on 11 Sep 17
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E-Commerce for the Hospitality Industry - 0 views
themoscowtimes.com/...the-hospitality-industry-11256
hospitality hotel technology business mobile tech
shared by mknig011 on 11 Sep 17
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The Internet has consolidated itself as a very powerful platform that has changed the way we communicate, and the way we do business.
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The hospitality industry has always been among the first to capitalize on new technologies.
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E-commerce has been defined as "the buying and selling of products and services by businesses and consumers over the Internet.
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With hotel e-commerce, the landscape of the hospitality industry is forever changed.
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The growing importance of e-commerce in the modern hospitality industry has created an urgent need for simple solutions to manage companies' online presence.
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Accelerating Internet usage worldwide The Internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel Most travelers research hotel reservations on the Internet Social media and online hotel reviews are an increasingly important decision factor The web is the preferred media source for travel information, favored 17:1 over television and 6:1 over newspapers and magazines.
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Smart hoteliers need to keep a sharp focus on the fundamental shift in ways customers are seeking information and channels that drive maximum return on investment. Here is a list of the basic e-commerce strategies that will help to get the best from the Internet world.
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Search-friendly web site design.
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Improve conversion and usability.
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Hoteliers need to ensure that they are using the full potential of the Internet.
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E-commerce is currently one of the most important buying and selling platforms. As a result of conducting business via the internet there's plenty of competition in terms of online presence. In order to make it a smooth process for customers and a company to conduct business with one another there are a few e-commerce strategies that will assist in doing so. For starters it is most definitely important for hoteliers to maintain a search-friendly web site design, improve conversion and usability, and ensure that the website is mobile device friendly. As online bookings continue to rise, word of mouth via the internet steadily increases, and internet advertisements takes precedence over T.V, it is now most important for hoteliers to use the internet to conduct business. However, it is even more important for them to do so in the most influential manner.
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The Growth of e-Commerce and Hospitality Marketing | Smartling - 0 views
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The growth of e-commerce has had a dramatic effect on travel and hospitality marketing.
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Today’s travelers rely more on travel apps and websites to conduct their own research and compare prices.
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E-commerce companies have numerous opportunities to grow in the years ahead. However, smart planning to serve international markets is key.
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As consumers increasingly ditch the middleman in favor of conducting their own travel research, it is important to keep up and offer them helpful, localized, translated content that will inspire them to make the leap and confirm their travel plans—with you.
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The growth of e-commerce has had a dramatic effect on travel and hospitality marketing. While consumers once relied on travel agents and other intermediaries to help book and research trips, a number of developments from the growth of sites, such as Airbnb and Google's high-ranking display of travel results for specific geographic terms, is leading a change in the way consumers buy travel and hospitality services. Therefore, marketing techniques are changing too. -
This article is very interesting to me and what stood out was when it talked about how today's society, travelers rely more on travel apps and websites to handle their own research and compare prices. The upside for the hospitality technology industry is that there are more companies selling directly to the consumers. Their is an increase in competitive e-commerce environment industries which offers extensive applications to offer everything from owner-listed accommodations to discounted flights. A strategy a company would use is by standing out by offering a wider range of localized content assets in multiple languages. In the article the role of content in e-commerce travel is the research of travelers to conduct an extensive background check and research when creating travel plans and making bookings. In the years to come e-commerce companies plan to grow extensively and serve the International markets . I believe that hospitality sites that offer significant amount of information in the consumers native language and have applications and websites that are responsive on mobile devices are more likely to stand out from their direct competition. -
This article talks about the importance of electronic business and the new advances that affect the way that business is done; the growth of sites is changing the way consumers buy travel and hospitality services. As a result, marketers are changing strategies to become successful in this very competitive environment, differentiating themselves offering a wider range of localized content assets in many languages to reach consumers globally. Smart planning and optimizing mobile applications to serve the international markets are the keys that lead to success.
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What is Proximity Marketing and How does it Work? | Beaconstac - 0 views
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Proximity marketing is all about marketing to your consumer at the right place, at the right time, with highly relevant and personalized notifications.
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opt-in to enhance their customer experience using proximity marketing technologies
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These tools work best when they are used by brands to better understand the needs and wants of their customer base, as well as notable patterns in buying behaviour.
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Proximity marketing enables businesses to better understand wants/needs of customers and buying behaviors.
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Proximity marketing with beacons involves setting up a Bluetooth enabled mobile device at a particular spot within the range of the beacon and passing information in the form of text, images or video via the respective mobile app. There are a number of must-haves required to employ this marketing technique.
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Again when it comes to beacon deployment there are a number of factors to consider, starting from available power arrangements to choosing the right kind of beacon
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Factors to consider with beacon deployment: starting from available power arrangements to choosing the right kind of beacon
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the communication occurs in 3 quick steps
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The communication occurs in 3 quick steps: device detection, permission request, content upload
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There are a host of technologies are being leveraged to implement proximity marketing campaigns.
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There are a host of technologies are being leveraged to implement proximity marketing campaigns - QR codes, WiFi, NFC, Geofencing, RFID, BLE beacons
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This article gives further insight into Proximity Marketing. As the article states, "Proximity marketing is all about marketing to your consumer at the right place, at the right time, with highly relevant and personalized notifications." By collecting consumer data, the consumer experience will be enhanced. This is because companies can now take a deeper dive into analyzing the buying patterns and the wants/needs of consumers. This type of marketing can work through beacons, QR codes, WiFi, NFC, and Geofencing. RFID
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"Proximity marketing with beacons involves setting up a Bluetooth enabled mobile device at a particular spot within the range of the beacon and passing information in the form of text, images or video via the respective mobile app. There are a number of must-haves required to employ this marketing technique. They are: 1. First of all, the consumer should be using a Bluetooth-enabled mobile device at the location where the proximity marketing technique is being applied. 2. A beacon must be deployed in the area where the consumer is currently located, in order to send out and receive marketing messages or other information."
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What Is Cloud Computing? A Beginner's Guide | Microsoft Azure - 0 views
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Top benefits of cloud computing Cloud computing is a big shift from the traditional way businesses think about IT resources. Here are seven common reasons organizations are turning to cloud computing services: Cost Cloud computing eliminates the capital expense of buying hardware and software and setting up and running on-site datacenters—the racks of servers, the round-the-clock electricity for power and cooling, and the IT experts for managing the infrastructure. It adds up fast. Speed Most cloud computing services are provided self service and on demand, so even vast amounts of computing resources can be provisioned in minutes, typically with just a few mouse clicks, giving businesses a lot of flexibility and taking the pressure off capacity planning. Global scale The benefits of cloud computing services include the ability to scale elastically. In cloud speak, that means delivering the right amount of IT resources—for example, more or less computing power, storage, bandwidth—right when they’re needed, and from the right geographic location. Productivity On-site datacenters typically require a lot of “racking and stacking”—hardware setup, software patching, and other time-consuming IT management chores. Cloud computing removes the need for many of these tasks, so IT teams can spend time on achieving more important business goals. Performance The biggest cloud computing services run on a worldwide network of secure datacenters, which are regularly upgraded to the latest generation of fast and efficient computing hardware. This offers several benefits over a single corporate datacenter, including reduced network latency for applications and greater economies of scale. Reliability Cloud computing makes data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity easier and less expensive because data can be mirrored at multiple redundant sites on the cloud provider’s network. Security Many cloud providers offer a broad set of policies, technologies, and controls that strengthen your security posture overall, helping protect your data, apps, and infrastructure from potential threats.
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If anybody here is interested to learn even more about cloud computing this is the perfect guide for you. It gives you a breakdown of the cost, pros and cons and much more. This article is also by microsoft which is a top 2 technological company on earth. It is a very educational post that will increase your knowledge on cloud computing and what the future holds for this interesting form of storage and information. -
Top benefits of cloud computing Cloud computing is a big shift from the traditional way businesses think about IT resources. Here are seven common reasons organizations are turning to cloud computing services: Cost Cloud computing eliminates the capital expense of buying hardware and software and setting up and running on-site datacenters-the racks of servers, the round-the-clock electricity for power and cooling, and the IT experts for managing the infrastructure. It adds up fast. Speed Most cloud computing services are provided self service and on demand, so even vast amounts of computing resources can be provisioned in minutes, typically with just a few mouse clicks, giving businesses a lot of flexibility and taking the pressure off capacity planning. Global scale The benefits of cloud computing services include the ability to scale elastically. In cloud speak, that means delivering the right amount of IT resources-for example, more or less computing power, storage, bandwidth-right when they're needed, and from the right geographic location. Productivity On-site datacenters typically require a lot of "racking and stacking"-hardware setup, software patching, and other time-consuming IT management chores. Cloud computing removes the need for many of these tasks, so IT teams can spend time on achieving more important business goals. Performance The biggest cloud computing services run on a worldwide network of secure datacenters, which are regularly upgraded to the latest generation of fast and efficient computing hardware. This offers several benefits over a single corporate datacenter, including reduced network latency for applications and greater economies of scale. Reliability Cloud computing makes data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity easier and less expensive because data can be mirrored at multiple redundant sites on the cloud provider's network. Security Many cloud providers offer a broad set of policies, technologies, and c
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Sweden is Buying Garbage from European Neighbours | Energy | RESET.org - 0 views
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Waste is a much-needed fuel for Sweden right now, something they seemingly don't produce enough of, leaving them with no other solution than buying waste from neighbouring Norway.
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Sweden recycles over 99 percent of its total waste in one way or the other and less than even 1 percent makes it to landfill. Sweden has been incredibly successful with its recycling programme while about almost half of all household waste is burnt and turned turned into energy through the incineration plants.
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Sweden benefits in more ways than one from this deal, mnn.com states: “Norway actually pays Sweden to take its excess waste, Sweden burns it for heat and electricity, and the ashes remaining from the incineration process, filled with highly polluting dioxins, are returned back to Norway and landfilled.”
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5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever - 0 views
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Expertise: No one knows everything about travel, no matter how deeply they are involved in the industry.
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Emergencies: This is the one most applicable to the average occasional travel.
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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.
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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“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!
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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Reason number 6: Better Trips Your trip is better all around when you use a good travel advisor!
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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.
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5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever
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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!
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Using Location-Based Advertising with Text Message Marketing | Modern Restaurant Manage... - 1 views
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optimize communications to specifically target people in close proximity with advertisements.
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Data shows 83 percent of marketers feel their campaigns are more effective with location-based marketing and see higher response rates. The majority of marketers use location-based advertising to personalize their customer experience and create hyper-engaged audiences. 74 percent of marketers see an improved return on investment and 70 percent see an increased lift.
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Brands can collect data about their customers’ buying habits and demographics
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Beacons use small physical objects located in specific areas. Programmed to detect signals from user mobile devices in range, the beacons trigger servers to send in-app or SMS ads.
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Geo-aware targeting uses real-time location data from mobile service providers to deliver ads via app or SMS to customers within so many feet of the store.
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Location based advertising is proven to be very effective. Brands can connect with customers in the area, offer discounts/sales, engage with them and collect data about buying habits and demographics.
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Hospitality unions have spent a decade fighting to protect workers, bu - 1 views
www.fastcompany.com/...meant-to-protect-hotel-workers
hospitality workers cloud-based systems employee safety wireless networks Software solution legislation
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cheap gadgets might bring new problems
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The hospitality industry is in the process of introducing remote panic buttons in an effort to address the widespread issue of violence and sexual assault against hotel staff
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20,000 hotel properties in Canada and the United States have committed to providing an estimated 1.2 million employees with Employee Safety Devices
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all housekeeping staff to carry a panic button device on them at all times
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low-quality versions of the technology that pose significant privacy and security risks to the people who carry them. Weak password protections and a lack of encryption leave users vulnerable to cyberattacks, which could render the devices unusable—or, worse, be used to invade hotel employees’ privacy
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58% of hotel workers and 77% of casino workers have been sexually harassed by a guest. Nearly half have had guests answer the door naked or expose themselves, and nearly 15% have been cornered.
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casino giants MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment agreed to equip nearly 38,000 hotel staff with safety devices during contract negotiations
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the CEOs of a number of major hotel chains—including Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham—joined the pledge
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Safe but insecureThe discovery of vulnerabilities in certain versions of this technology may pose a potential challenge
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lack of encryption that compromised the device’s security
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the software powering the tracker was hosted on a cloud-based service, which it used to communicate with a mobile application. But the cloud software didn’t require any authorization. A hacker could connect to the service and “instruct any tracker in the world to do things,” he explains.
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Among the vulnerabilities a hacker could exploit are the ability to see the real-time location of users and to gain access to built-in microphones and cameras
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That poses a problem for the hotel industry, Hron believes, because establishments not bound by union or legislative requirements may buy inferior devices without vetting them properly, merely to satisfy new regulations. “Each hotel is buying these devices themselves—it’s not like some central authority is giving these devices to hotels,” he says. “My guess is [some are] going to buy a cheap device, and in this case, it’s pretty reasonable to think that there aren’t any analysts doing security checks on them.”
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The lack of clear legislation also leaves workers vulnerable in jurisdictions that don’t explicitly ban employers using the devices to track the movements of hotel staff
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technology isn’t capable of real-time tracking because it runs on WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy, or BLE, and only transmits a signal when activated. Other devices that utilize GPS or WiFi connectivity, however, have the ability to transmit real-time location data on an ongoing basis
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“The technology has to work every time, but the product only works if the right policies, procedures, and personnel are put in place that allow the system to function as a system
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While the initial reason for the solution was to address sexual assault, there are other things that happen to housekeepers in hotel rooms as well,” says Ogle. “We’ve had team members that have had medical issues themselves, or found guests in rooms with medical conditions that were asking for assistance
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Providing precise location data to first responders in the event of an emergency actually has the potential to save lives, but the technology will only be adopted if users believe it is being used appropriately
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The major hotel chains are influencing legislation and also now requiring employee safety devices (ESDs) to make the workplace safer for employees (i.e. room service attendants or housekeepers) who find themselves alone in guest rooms with ill-intentioned guests. ESDs can also be appropriate for large resorts with beach personnel, activities personnel, or other positions that find themselves in enclosed, or remote areas with less security. Not every hotel has a security department that can constantly monitor cameras and ESDs. Will these devices present more strain on hotel wireless networks? That depends. Hoteliers need to consider whether these devices will be provided by or monitored through their keylock vendor, through their guest room entertainment vendor, or through a wireless provider. Could there be a benefit to an ESD interface with the PMS? I'm not finding an obvious answer. Hotels, varying in room count, are providing ESDs that range from whistles to wireless to BLE or RFID enabled. Hotel owners and management companies have the responsibility to research the most appropriate solution for their hotel without undermining the safety and privacy of their employees and their hotel networks.
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How To Choose A Property Management System - 0 views
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There is a misconception that all PMS are the same. Although basically, they have similar functions, they are not the same. PMS used for restaurant cannot be used in a hotel, and PMS used in a bed and breakfast and that in a luxury hotel are different. It is important to choose the most appropriate PMS for a property. Managers need to consider some things before purchasing a PMS. First, what are the specific needs of your particular businesses? Second, the PMS that a hotel buy cannot have too many weakness compared with its strengths, because too many weakness will make the purchasing a poor choice overall. Third, the cost of purchasing a PMS cannot conflict with financial budget. Even if a manager did all three above, it is inevitable that the PMS you bought are not perfect, however, this imperfection is acceptable.
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Uniform Marketing New Restaurant Technology of the Future - 0 views
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When Superior Uniform Group (sug) began manufacturing uniforms in 1920, chances are no one in the company ever thought it would launch a media division more than nine decades later.
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Through a licensing agreement with Eyelevel Interactive, the division offers advertising panels with mobile action codes that can attach to uniforms with Velcro. Customers can scan the mobile action codes, or MACs (similar to the QR codes that many quick serves are including with marketing materials) with their smartphones using popular apps like Microsoft Tag, Android’s ZXing, and various iPhone apps.
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“What we’re doing is taking the uniform, which is [traditionally] a utilitarian item used to identify employees, and turning it into a flexible and effective point-of-purchase advertising system,” says SUG CEO Michael Benstock.
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Of course, the interaction encouraged by such a uniform amounts to more than just looking. Customers would have to wave their phones in the vicinity of an employee’s uniform (in many cases, the employee’s back) to scan the MAC. It’s safe to assume a few customers and employees might find this kind of interaction a little uncomfortable, but de Mattei says none of the brands he is negotiating with have raised serious concerns.
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McDonald’s would not confirm to QSR whether it is working with SUG or planning to roll out interactive uniforms. Subway spokesman Les Winograd says the company believes the concept of interactive uniforms has “merit,” but “they are not something we are actively looking at right now.” Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold says the Denver-based chain isn’t exploring the option, either. It remains to be seen whether interactive uniforms make sense for quick-serve restaurants. The glaring concern is an obvious one: crewmembers strive to serve their menu items quickly, and having customers scanning employee uniforms may slow down service
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“My overall opinion of QR codes is really favorable,” he says. “I’m completely convinced that they are very powerful in what they can do for a brand. It’s a big opportunity, but I wonder if uniforms are the place where we’ll see this pop in [quick service].”
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In the article "Would Your Crew Wear Mobile Apps?" it talks about a new way of advertising through uniforms. On the back of a crew members uniform there is a QR code and the customer just has to scan the code it shows them coupons and deals the restaurant is promoting. I feel that this way of advertising is easy and fun; people love using technology and what better way to incorporate it then by using your Smartphone! In the article they asked different fast food restaurants if they would use this product and although they thought it was a good idea they felt that it would be taking away from a fast paced environment. In the article it states that traditional media is not what it use to be, ""There are billions of dollars being spent on it, and [traditional ads] are driving consumers to the stores, but at that point consumers still don't know what they're going to buy." Overall, I feel that this product would bring in a lot of customers and it's a great way to advertise things on the menu, I'm all for this idea!
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Steps to Buying a Human Resources Information System - Featured Article - Workforce - 0 views
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she urges HR professionals to first look for a tool that will integrate with any existing systems, including payroll, then make a list of the features they want to automate, including recruiting, performance management, time entry and compensation.
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Fewer data errors, more-efficient recruiting, better performance management tracking and shorter time to fill vacancies are also measures that define the business value of an HRIS, Carney says.
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The actual cost of your HRIS will vary wildly depending on the modules you choose, number of employees, the vendor, the robustness of the offering and whether you go with an installed or software-as-a-service model.
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Software-as-a-service products are another option.
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These systems require no maintenance and come with automatic upgrades, making them a cheaper and easier choice.
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"Pay close attention to the support features when reviewing HRIS demos," she says. "Otherwise on Day One, you might find out you don't have the technical skills to use it."
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This article discusses the factors that are considered when deciding on selecting a human resources information system. They are extremely useful for streamlining processes and maintaining a database on employees and policies and procedures of a company. They are easy to integrate with other existing systems such as a PMS system of a hotel. Depending on the features and services chosen the costs will vary among systems, it all depends on the customization done on the system. The system can include such features as payroll, recruitment and compensation. It can also cut down costs on keeping a full HR staff.
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Online Marketing - Fancy a career in Hotel Internet Marketing? | The Hotel Internet Mar... - 0 views
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The future promises to be bright for this growing niche in the hotel industry…so if you’re among the rare breed of hospitality professionals that gets a glint in your eye every time the Internet is mentioned…you may just want to consider hopping on to the online marketing bandwagon!
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The future of e-commerce in the hospitality industry is guaranteed to be a bright one. And the savvy hotel emarketer has a lot to gain, including room to grow, experiment and "wow" (from SEO to SEM, blogging to social networking, there's plenty to keep the eager hotel eMarketer busy experimenting). But what about those in the industry just climbing on-board, especially employees in hotel operations and those struggling to make sense of the opportunities and challenges presented by the Internet? What can hotel eMarketers do to ensure interest and support at hotels? How do you create a culture of understanding and mutual growth? The answer is simple…create interest, excitement and buy-in at your hotels.
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ULTRA Luxury Exchange Hosts Inaugural Conference for the Industry's Leading T... - 0 views
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The nation’s top luxury travel advisors and suppliers attended the first annual ULTRA Luxury Exchange (ULTRA) at Turnberry Isle Miami June 2-4, 2013.
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“There is a true shift in affluent travel trends and this group has helped us define it at this exclusive event.”
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Attendees also took part in moderated panel discussions titled, Capturing and Capitalizing on the Millennial Luxury Traveler,
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Throughout the three-day program, a common theme within each discussion and panel surrounded the growth of the millennial generation within the luxury travel industry.
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The art of personalized customer service and authentic experiences, play an increasingly integral role within the luxury market.
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Here BusinessWire, via The National Post, discusses the Inaugural Conference for the travel industry's leading travel advisors. The conference was hosted by ULTRA Luxury Exchange, which is led by a staff of global travel industry experts with decades of experience in the luxury travel industry and event management. Behind the ULTRA Luxury Exchange, is Questex Hospitality + Travel who developed and curated the conference. Questex Hospitality + Travel is the world's largest multinational media, event and eCommerce company which serves the global and hospitality industry. The multi-day conference brought together the "greatest minds in the luxury travel advisor community," according to Ruthanne Terrero of Questex. New travel trends were discussed through key-note speakers, presentations and moderated panels. Topics included, "Capturing and Capitalizing on the Millenial Luxury Travel", "The Art of Customer Service", and "The Rising Trend for Butler Service in Luxury Hotels." The millenial generation was the main topic for discussion with a growth in buying power in the luxury travel industry. The privileged conference attendees will have exclusive access to the formal research presented in the conference to reference for the future.
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Sabre and United Airlines sign new distribution and merchandising agreement «... - 1 views
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Sabre and United will co-develop solutions using next-generation technology that will permit United to offer more relevant personalized offers to their loyal customers. These advancements will also better promote and disclose the unique value of the airline’s different fare and ancillary products and services to travel agents with additional descriptive text and graphics for enhanced on-screen merchandising within the Sabre Red Workspace and through Sabre Web Services.
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Sabre, one of the three largest Global Distribution System signs a long-term agreement with United Airlines. This agreement would allow customers to provide ancillary products and services to customers through the Sabre market place. With United airlines and Sabre joining forces they will use the latest technology allowing both companies to provide more personalize products and services to customers. Sabre will market United Airline ancillary products including air fares and economy plus seats to passengers that buy products and services from Sabre in a way that would differentiate United Airlines products from that of its competitors. Other Global Distribution systems such as Amadeus and Travelport are presently making it a standard policy, mandating airlines to provide ancillary products and services to GDS. American airline one of the major airline who for a long time was reluctant to market its ancillary products through GDS is now one of the many airlines that are presently jumping aboard the GDS wagon. The airlines are beginning to see the benefit of expanding their brand globally through GDS and reaping substantial revenue beyond the sale of air fares.