Hospitality Technology

This article is a good one about the cloud and how the hotels are finding benefits with using it. The benefits that they are seeing is that the cloud allows them to move their hardware off of the property to a central location to be operated. Another point they focused on is how it allows hotels to run their software and hardware more efficiently and it is also a lot cheaper. They have found that it allows them to get rid of IT in the hotel. They also touched on the cons and one being that if their is no internet or not enough internet connection there will be problems. Another issue is security.

This article is a good one about the cloud and how the hotels are finding benefits with using it. The benefits that they are seeing is that the cloud allows them to move their hardware off of the property to a central location to be operated. Another point they focused on is how it allows hotels to run their software and hardware more efficiently and it is also a lot cheaper. They have found that it allows them to get rid of IT in the hotel. They also touched on the cons and one being that if their is no internet or not enough internet connection there will be problems. Another issue is security. Many people feel that as complicated the industry is, it is somewhat important for hospitality type businesses to have the cloud. With having the cloud, this will ensure that the systems are always updated. A point that stood out to me was how the La Quinta saved 30-50% in telecommunication at each of their locations. Many hotels will find themselves using the cloud in the future

This article introduces a profitable e-commerce for hotel. A mobile app which can help customer makes reservation of same-day hotel room on their mobile rather than on the internet. This app helps customer book same-day hotel with the deep discounts, and it also helps hotels sell their unsold room at the end of the day. Compare with book hotel room on the internet customer can book wherever and whenever through this app. This mobile app also bring more new customers to hotel, about 91% of the customers who use the mobile book hotel rooms had never stay in the hotel before. Customer should first conforms his location when he uses the Hotel Tonight app. After select the city the mobile will show a list of hotels can be chosen with the price and one-word description. Customer can choose the hotel he wants and uses his Facebook account to complete the reservation. Those hotels list on the mobile app are three-star rating or higher rating hotels with good reviews on popular travel web site. The hotel discount will not appear in the app until noon in order to make sure the hotel manager can sell their rooms at higher rate.

It says the sooner the service is provided to the guests, the guests will more satisfied with the hotel. The telecommunication can help to reach the goal, for example, the system will determine which room need to be cleaned or not, the security camera also is a telecommunication system.

From my point of view, Mtech tracked service can really help the managers to save the cost on the management fees.

The article talks about the new technological advancements Red Lion Corporation has made in order to make customers do their reservations on the website of a company, to learn about their destinations, etc. Employing new search optimization engines, mobile platforms and interactive map technologies really advances this company in all the aspects.

Telecommunication is an area in the industry that has driven the productivity of all employees and the efficiency of processed information and future growth. One of the examples of telecommunication would be the PBX voice switch which can be used to facilitate data and video communication, enhancing security. Offering a competitive advantage the PBX has become more then just a voice switch, since its improvement housekeeping is able to moderate the room status directly from the room and guest can choose to checkout by dialing out in the room. Inclusively, systems can be interfaced with videophones which allow the user to see and decide on the visitors they would allow entering their room using VoIP (Voice over IP). VoIP provides cost efficiency, productivity, customer capabilities and enhancing access to information. Another useful form of telecommunication is wireless paging systems where it keeps employees from different departments accessible incase of any emergency. In my opinion, telecommunication has been a great advantage in the industry. It has improved in various ways through out the years and it continues to grow and allowing the customer experience to become a one of a kind with the efficiency that it offers. Guest is able to become more independent during their stay even when checking out of their rooms. Telecommunication has even provided employees with more ease at work by creating a system where housekeeping department is able to press a button on the phone of the room, which changes the status of the rooms immediately instead of having to inspect the room and then change status on the computer system. I still believe this new technology is great, but I stand firm that the older crowd (baby boomers) and those that do not speak the language (English) still prefer the human interaction for instance, at checkout time. The Y generation is more prone to be excited about all these new gadgets and independent ways of getting things done.

Telecommunication provides many benefits for hotel. It makes the housekeepers' work easier by change the room status in room rather than on computer system. And each user have separate number, so the outside call will directly received without go through the operator. Hotel does not need to hire a telephone operator.

This article pretty much outlines the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computers in general, but it speaks of how hoteliers don't fully understand what a cloud is, much less trust to use one. It goes on to explain how cost effective the start up for a cloud network is in terms of hardware, software and time. But, in long term, the monthly payments for web hosting, software hosting, storage, etc are never ending. Although at least these costs are such that you can plan ahead for. There is also a greater vulnerability to hacker attacks in the cloud. Redundancy is an issue as well, since clouds are hosted in a single data center. The article ends with a warning on service providers and the importance of finding the right one for you and your needs.

This is a very informative article and a good source that gives me basic understanding of cloud computing. Some of the aspects of the cloud are same as I expected and some are not. As companies or people using cloud computing don't have to purchase software and equipment to store or manage data, and to upgrade servers frequently, the cloud is a cost effective and efficient alternative. However, it will increase companies operating expenses as it requires monthly bills which might be costly depending on usage.

hospitaltiy tech communications

Restaurants have been turning more to high tech tools to better their services. A restaurant in Chapel Hill, NC has given its wait staff iPods and iPads to take food orders instead of writing with a pen and paper. Guests can look at photos of the dishes to help them make their decision and when the order is complete, the server can send it wirelessly to the kitchen.  This is a great way to increase customer service and overall satisfaction on both ends. It reduces wrong orders and is a green incentive as it eliminates much of the restaurant's paper use. However, it is a pricey investment to make. The restaurant owner in Chapel Hill said he expects to recover the cost in the long run through reduced expenses on paper and pens.  The wait staff reported they liked this new way of taking orders because they don't have to worry about their writing being illegible or their hand cramping up from writing so fast. It is beneficial for the customers in that it is a more interactive way for them to order and get something they have a better chance of liking since they can see photos. It also eliminates problems seeing a printed menu in dark lighting. Additionally, orders are processed right away so guests don't have to worry about their food taking a long time to come out because the server either forgot to put it in or they were running around doing other things before getting to the POS station. 

"Technologies and evolving social values and trends will combine to establish a new era of collaborative travel over the next decade and beyond , according to "From chaos to collaboration: how transformative technologies will herald a new era in travel" a report developed by The Futures Company and commissioned by Amadeus."

Article discusses a new study recently commissioned by GDS Provider Amadeus outlines the Future of Travel. Article summarizes in six key areas where technology innovation can be deployed. I am in total agreement that depth of experience rather than breadth of experience will transform the travel experience. Social check-in apps like SCVNGR and game mechanisms can enhance the visitor experience in a destination greatly. I was under the impression item #4 had already happened with the rise in use of social media and user generated content review sites like TripAdvisor, but the article maybe supports that this is a trend not likely to go anywhere soon. Those who wish to read the study can access it here directly... http://new.amadeusblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/From_chaos_to_collaboration.pdf

There are several benefit of cloud computing, including low upfront costs, minimal IT infrastructure and easy across multiple properties.

Cloud computing is regarded as a good tool for hotel. It could convert capital expenditure to operational expenditure, access to the latest version easier, and remove infrastructure management. However, there are several questions need to be asked when choose a software supplier.

This article talks about Guest Review System from Lodging Interactive. It is a cloud-based system enabling a website to collect guest reviews directly, manage & reply to guest reviews from one easy system, receive real-time guest review alerts, and view & download online reports. Besides, it enables travelers to share their reviews on Facebook with their network of friends. The price of Guest Review System is $750 per year. In addition to its Guest Review System, Lodging Interactive's Chatter GuardTM Service helps hoteliers monitor what people are saying about their brand 24/7.  Nowadays, many cloud-based programs are coming out and it actually has brought lots of benefits to companies but users still need to be aware of the risks of cloud computing system such as possibility of data spill when it's hacked, impossibility of data control when server goes down.

With tourism increasing in Cambodia, the partnership between FCS and Quoc Khoa Networks is expected to enhance guest satisfaction. FCS is the a top provider of hotel technology products and services.

This article emphasizes the shift in marketing from a "one-way marketing model" to a "two-way dialogue." This shift to digital marketing is also effective in providing marketers with much insight about their target markets that was not as readily available in the past. This article also discusses the importance of return on investment (ROI) when selecting an advertising campaign.

As you might know there are three learning styles - Visual, Auditory and Kinestetic. People use all three modalities to receive and learn new information and experiences. However, one of these styles is normally dominant and it defines the best way to remember new information. More then 90% of information we get by vision so visual effects are a great way to receive higher productivity in your business. Basicly, the consumer is searching for two things: an escape from routine and new experiences. So if you use more unusual, bright, vivid pictures, videos and/or 360 tours to show on your website and other visual effects which will imply on idea of new, unexpected experience the customer will be surprised and really attracted by your service. The results can be enormous. « -- Total unique visitors to the hotel website will increase an average of 13%. -- Rich content click-through (to booking engine) rates 4 to 5 times more than static images. -- Rich content generates post-impression activity (return visits) rates twice those for non-rich content and 46% more sales for those activities compared to non-rich content. -- The bounce rate (number of visitors abandoning site after viewing only one page - homepage orlanding page) improves by more than 5 percentage points.» And all of the above is not just statistics it's a power of psychology and online marketing.

I definetely agree with this article. Older advertising outlets such as as magazines and television spend insane amounts of money to create visually stimulating advertisements. Those types of media have a much more captive audience than internet source have. Super Bowl commercials have to be memorable and stimulating, or their viewers will leave the room for more chips, but they do have their thirty seconds of air time. On the internet, a company may have 3 seconds and other advertising is present on the same page at the same time. To compete in this new higher level of competition, websites have to work extremely hard and be highly innovative. Visua effects are definetely a valuable tool.

This is a really great article! Visual marketing aids and 360 tours really give the customer a sense of comfort in the product, service, and/or experience they are paying for.

Nowadays, M-commerce and mobile marketing provide great opportunities in the hospitality industry. Hotels can utilize mobile commerce to hold reservations, promote hotel events, and also can increase general awareness of their rates and services. Currently, mobile technology continues to expand throughout Africa. A large amount of people use smart phones and 2G phones of low cost that allow consumers to surf online. Therefore, an increasing amount of people in Africa are using mobile technology to book reservations and make transactions. Some hotel brands aim to control this market and increase profit. For example, France base hotel group Accor has yet to enter the mobile competition in Africa and start to make a difference. Actually, there are lots of advantages to promote mobile as a channel. On the one hand, it brings lots of convenience to the customer to access all the hotel information and make a reservation wherever and whenever they are. On the other hand, it brings benefit to hoteliers too. The mobile booking process in fact saves online travel agency commissions. Guests can directly book from the hotel instead of from a third party. It can help hotels gain more profit, reduce cost and allow for easy access to hotel reservation website.

Smart companies are taking full advantage social media by interacting with customers in innovative ways.With the advent of the Internet, marketers have access to the technology to customize products and communicate directly with smaller target markets. The Internet is now firmly established as a marketing tool. It serves as an integral part of the marketing mix, serving as a digital distribution channel as well as an electronic storefront.

Nice article. E-procurement solves alot of small everyday problems of hospitality industry. Not only does the Internet facilitate the sharing of information, it simplifies the process for the end-user as well, and reduces infrastructure and transaction costs. The shared nature of the Internet distributes the infrastructure costs across large groups of potential customers,

"TravelCLICK, Inc. the leading provider of emarketing solutions for the hotel industry. This results are from a three year old survey that demonstrates travel agents continue to increase their reliance on Global Distribution Systems (GDS) promotions for hotel bookings. Conducted for TravelCLICK by Phoenix Marketing International, the online, biannual survey included 500 travel agents from 30 countries, representing the four major GDS systems-Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, and Worldspan. The study finds that 41 percent of travel agents worldwide are using their GDS platform more often than in the past, while 30 percent are using the GDS shopping displays more often. When asked about their awareness of GDS promotional messages, 55 percent of travel agents recalled seeing promotional messages in the past three months. Of this group, 52 percent made a booking at a hotel shown in the promotional message they saw, while 68 percent requested more information by looking at the click-through screen attached to the promotional message, and more than 70 percent looked inside the GDS systems for more information. "

Hotels are using new technology in order to exceed customer satisfaction by using digital signage that inform to the guest of the real departures and flights from the local airport and no local. This digital flight board is also used to inform the customers of the local or nationwide weather, hotel events, and news, just to mention some of its use. It is called FlyteBoard; also the flights information can be seen through the guest in room television and ipads all this is touch screen interaction.

This is such a waist of funds just like as everything Hilton does...Guests can access all that information from their in-room TV - that will probably be more comfortable, than to look for this TV flat-super-screen somewhere in lobby, then standing their in front of it, navigating touch screen, when 20 other people are waiting to check their flight...

REPORT FROM THE U.S.-To say that social media sites such as Facebook are top of mind for hotel marketers might be an understatement. But during the first half of 2011, many companies began realizing real dollars by incorporating booking engines on their Facebook fan pages as a way to convert engaged customers. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Hilton Worldwide and Choice Hotels International , all of them are incorporating booking engines on their Facebook pages, and often with favorable results.