Hospitality Technology

This article focused in how robots, specially drones, will affect the food industry. Drone delivery services are already being tested in Los Angeles which costs 30% less than traditional deliveries. In addition to drone delivery, by using cashless transactions and lowering labor hours, food delivery services could be used twenty four hours a day.

This article discusses how AI paved the way for some new hospitality innovations in India, one of the world's leading economies in hospitality services. It talked about how although the coronavirus was set to be a huge setback for the industry, India's ability to innovate helped it stay on track with profits similar to what it had seen in previous years. It went on to talk about 4 significant changes that really influenced profits and sustainability and concluded by summarizing the huge potential of AI to positively impact the industry.

I really enjoy reading about how the rest of the world is also adapting to AI/AR. I wonder if this will make people feel more comfortable traveling to other places around the world that they never thought they would travel. Im wondering if that AI/AR experience will change peoples minds.

what I enjoyed about this particular article is that it actually not only explains the concepts of AR and VR and hw they elate to AI but also how it contrasts them: see the highlighted excerpts in quotes below; "Augmented Reality Definition Augmented Reality (AR) is the overlaying of computer-generated objects upon the real environment. The application recognizes some element in the real environment and then places objects in relation to it with differing levels of interactivity." And, "Virtual Reality Definition Virtual Reality (VR) is a completely digital experience that is viewed inside a closed visual environment. It may also include physical elements from the outside world such as movement, temperature, and sound." I discussed these contrasts in my academic journal in which VR is a completely digital experience in most cases, although there can be some physical animation involved that may be perceived as a type of AI or AR incorrectly. it does however allow a greater margin that the its counterparts to create a complete fantasy world that has no similarities with reality whatsoever. Ai however presents a more reciprocal thinking addition to the equation which in my opinion at some point will blend seamlessly with VR. AR on the other hand in a way does this by allowing the concepting of augmenting the reality by definition. They all have advantages and limitations, to where these are pushed will be the real question in the future.

In this article, BigHospitality describes 12 tech predictions that will take place in the restaurant sector. With advances in AI, robotics, and payment technology, the impact will effect the restaurant space to shift towards adopting these technologies for everyday use. Such technologies are: harnessing AI to provide menu recommendations depending on user, robotic waiters and kitchen equipment, intuitive dining rooms, and using biometrics for payments.

Robots became very relevant and significant with the rise of Covid-19. There was an increased demand outside of the hospital sector and in industries such as hospitality. While many are "germ-zapping Roombas" others offer things like concierge services. Covid-19 made "cleanliness a luxury". However, the cost has always been a factor and can be "upwards of $125,000" for one disinfecting robot. The market is looking to grow by more than "$5.5 billion by 2027 for UV disinfecting robots" alone. While some countries like Japan have used Robots for a while, it hasn't always been successful, but it is now becoming a norm in the industry to obtain them for service. Some makers say that robots are meant to "work beside people rather than replace them." Some researchers say that large cities like Vegas are at risk of jobs being automated at more than 60% in the Hospitality sector. This could wreak havoc on employment and harm those that are most vulnerable those living in poverty or just above and women of color. Those in official positions with the government do not take the threat of automation as seriously as they should when it comes to sectors that rely heavily on employing many people but are turning toward automation. I definitely viewed an uptick in the use of a variety of technologies to he;p clean and sanitize buildings. While I never came across a robot, I know that there was an emphasis on various low-tech devices to help clean. I think while there are certainly positive outcomes of using robots in service-oriented positions within the hospitality sector, I dare say we should be concerned if we start using them more than people. And while the Pandemic certainly helped push us towards accepting technology in day-to-day and in work, it shouldn't be the end all. I would like to further read as to why Henna Na Hotel in Japan had such a disappointing result from their all-robot hotel. I think it could shed some light on the do's and don'ts of robot usage.

I really enjoyed reading this article. It gave lots of insight for the future of AI. I actually came across a website called chai.ml which is an online chatbot. You can talk to literally any kind of chatbot. From ones that make itineraries for you for wherever you go, to ones who want to experience a breakup situation. Its pretty neat but also really weird. I can for-see jobs being lost after playing around with that website.

This study was about adoption and automation of AI in hospitality. It gives great insight on the process as well as what people think of AI and their opinions. In addition to that, this study goes into different techniques that were used to understand how and why AI should be implemented. Human interaction cannot be beat, along with personal touch and humans can't remember everything a computer can, but if you have robots and humans working together you can get the best of both worlds. Smart technologies are now and the future.

This article is about Proximity Marketing and the many different specific ways it may be applied. These applications include: QR Codes, WiFi, NFC, RFID, Geofencing, and BLE Beacons. In all of these cases, it is vital to proximity marketing that there be an end-user mobile device (such as an iPhone or Android) as well as location-based technologies. We are all fairly familiar with QR codes as those have become widely used during the pandemic. What we may not have considered though, is how logging into a WiFi gives a lot of information about you to the business, as well as a future means of communicating with you (assuming you made an account and/or gave them important information such as an email address). Geofencing is also really cool because it allows companies to set up a virtual boundary that collects data from mobile devices that pass through that boundary. This allows a business to truly know what kinds of consumers go in and out of whatever establishment the geofence outlines.

This article on internet marketing for the tourism industry provides great tips on how businesses operating in this industry can connect with their customers and appeal to them visually to encourage them to visit their properties. Through various sources and mediums (photos, videos, online business listings, blogs and articles, social media, and email marketing) greater exposure can be achieved at a reduced price when compared to the traditional ways of marketing.

Proximity Geofencing marketing allows company to micro-target people based on where they go. Digital geofences can be placed around the perimeter of a location and will send passerby's advertisements regarding that location. Beacons run off bluetooth resulting in more indoor use due to range capabilities.

Thanks for sharing this article on Proximity Marketing Geofencing Versus Beacon Marketing. I learned quite a bit from this post, for example, the benefits of Proximity Geofencing Marketing; particularly, a) the ads will continue for up to 30 days after persons leave the location, b) this technology is compatible with multiple types of devices and c) less set-up time is required.

Biometrics usage in the hotel sector have been ramping up. Biometrics links a user's I.D. and credit card information with biometrics like a photo or fingerprint and this tech can be used throughout the hotel for things like in-room purchases and access to the gym and pool. Using biometrics allows the hotel staff to focus on being hosts.

Note: my above post is comprised of highlighted excerpts and intended to be in quotes but the editing tab is not working accordingly. No plagiarism is intended and credit goes to the authors of the posted web page. Nelson AS DESCRIBED ; this is the fundamental problem with the proximity marketing process. The fact that this is some sort of "subliminal" type of messaging through push marketing, that not only send out ads but collectively gathers personal data, should be an area of concern for everyone utilizing a smart device. "Our in-app features enable you to reach the right customer and push the right message at the right time and at the right location BLE iBeacons for accurate mobile proximity marketing. Analyze customer patterns, dwell times, measure performance, promotions, track conversions and customer retention & loyalty better understand your customers & increase your foot traffic, sales and revenue."

Geo-targeting is a step above geo-fencing and like that of Proximity marketing is a digital marketing technique meant to geographically target consumers within a set of parameters. The purpose of this is that while digital marketing has been around, is being used and the future of it is quite relevant it requires companies to adapt using various methods of marketing to reach the consumer. And geography is an area that is highly required. And unlike geo-fencing, geo-targeting is more generalized in the locale. It is asserted that companies need to have a better understanding of their guests at a basic level than before. "Hotels can no longer take a blanketed approach---understanding where a guest is coming from and the impact of a hotel's digital footprint" is just as important. A reason hotels might want to use geo-targeting is that direct business captures "95% more revenue than that of indirect channels". Interested enough many guests book last minute and that accounts for 72% off mobile bookings. Geo-targeting relies on revenue to determine its success. One issue noted is the use of VPNs can create miss-targeting when users are receiving messages from a location they are not in. Several things to note are prioritizing a focus on existing and prior guests because they cost less than advertising to new guests. Secondly, using CRM can create personalization through guest profiles and add an extra special factor to their experience. One example shown was Denny's and it showed an increase in visits. Geo-targeting is a marketing strategy that can help companies stay relevant.

This take on proximity marketing is interesting in that it requires a little more thought in implementation because you aren't just narrowing it down to a specific locale, you are creating a wider net to catch people in. That means you have to have a broader understanding of who you are catching which would be multiple targets that may not be alike, but have similar needs. They used the pandemic as an example of how it benefited them to use geo-location, While not marketing to a whole section of the US they targeted a more localized net ( a state away) but not too narrow as to leave out a specific target. It showed some success in that they were able to save money and help bring brand awareness to a different type of consumer. They not only target those locally but "neighbors" and I know that I as a new guest appreciate seeing local people utilizing a product or service and come back for more because it gives me an idea that the product or service or both is appealing to guests. This also helps hinge on the word of mouth of the customer. That is an additional positive aspect of this type of marketing. Seeking local rather than national or global customer-created brand devotion.

This article touches on the advantages of using biometric digital identity verification in hotels. Guests that have traveled a long way are going to be exhausted and irritated if they need to stand in a long check in line. Using digital identification can not only help speed up the check in process, but also make it more secure. Front desk workers will not have to worry about mixing up documents or mishandling the guest's sensitive information, and will also be freed up to focus on other tasks. This can also help the hotels avoid chargebacks or fraud, as they can prove the guest was there and the added encryption will help stop identity theft.

I like how this article broke down proximity marketing and which tools it targets for different consumers. I also enjoyed the graph is used for popular proximity marketing solutions. This article helped me understand this concept a bit more and in an easy way

This article talks about research surrounding analysis of global proximity marketing. The article categorizes several things such as sales, revenue, cost structure, and more. It includes data on some of the most well known companies in the world, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and more. This research is important because it provides a business overview of the sustainability of proximity marketing and discusses its implications for the marketing and sales industries, which hospitality falls under.

This article is about how hospitality and tourism have been reshaped through IT, eMarketing and how it has helped prove sales, information, made destinations more popular and also help travelers plan. eMarketing also is a massive platform for word of mouth. This study also shows what helped eMarketing become what it is. When certain things are typed into search bars, this data is collected and used for eMakreting and to target specific groups of people.

This article is about the integration of social media in marketing for restaurants, and particularly how that has adapted and changed as a result of the pandemic. The article gives a brief introduction with some statistics outlining the particular usage of social media by different generations and how they make decisions regarding the content they see on that social platform. It then goes into detail about how Instagram is the primary platform that leads to success for restaurants marketing. It then takes a slight turn and explains that many consumers are looking to give their business and attention to entities that take social or other stands and seem to have a genuine care for making the world a better place. It has also been shown that outsourcing of marketing has reduced as a result of the pandemic and the need to save money during the hard times. Additionally, there is something that consumers find appealing about the genuine marketing that an internal employee is able to do on a platform such as instagram. The article concludes that even though the pandemic has been a terrible thing, it has forced restaurants to become more proactive and innovative in their marketing strategies.

According to the World Economic Forum, more than 50 million tons of e-waste are produced each year. E-waste is a serious threat to our environmental viability and our public health. The toxic chemicals and heavy metals that go into developing electronics seep into the soil, pollute groundwater, and release atmosphere-warming hydrocarbons when burned Educate yourself on what gets put into your electronics. Solving the e-waste crisis is only possible if we understand the scale of its environmental impact. Consider whether or not you actually need that phone or computer upgrade. The longer you hold onto your current devices, the more electronics will be kept out of the waste stream. The way you take care of your devices on a daily basis makes a big difference in how well they work and how long they last. If the time comes to part with that old computer or phone, make sure to dispose of them responsibly by donating your e-waste

This Human-I-T article on 5 Ways You Can Reduce E-Waste is a powerful one. The simple practice of unplugging my fully charged computer and phone, and regularly cleaning them are major takeaways for me from this article, to expand the lifespan of my devices. Additionally, donating gadgets that are no longer useful to lower-income households is something that I can implement since all my older electronics are stored in a cabinet at my home which will eventually be discarded. Thank you for sharing this article!

I really enjoyed this as its helped me understand how important it is to be vigilant of your electronics and how you dispose of them. Especially with the videos watched this week, it's good to have this source to go back to. Lots of great takeaways and people should be more aware of this.

This article on "Sustainable Hospitality Technology Made Possible" gives detailed tactics on how properties can lower their energy and consumption costs, and reduce waste which ultimately leads to protecting the environment. As explained in the article, this sustainability shift did not occur overnight, but rather through a progressive process that encompasses corporate social responsibilities and consumer sentiment.