Professional Documents
Culture Documents
We all know that the hospitality industry is often defined as the sectored system
of innovation and production! Technology has played a substantial role in
achieving economic growth by garnering economic means for consumers to
travel. The augmentation and contribution of air travel as a means of transporting
tourists to different locations is an important contribution of technology to the
hotel industry. The evolvement and progress of AI with information technology
has had a tremendous impact on the hotel industry which also includes the world
of hotels.
This, in turn, has helped airlines to reduce costs and get closer to the customers
by increasing their outreach. The boundless public use of the Internet has created
a number of conditions that have been game-changers in both beneficial and
detrimental ways to the modern travel agency. While computers have been an
integral part of the hotel agency, since their widespread adoption, the Information
Age has brought considerable new benefits. Few enterprise-level software allows
1
hotels under specialized programs which are dedicated exclusively to managing
their businesses and organizing their database.
3. Self-Service Booking: One of the largest impacts on the travel industry (which
comes under the hospitality industry) has been the rise of online or e-booking.
Customers looking to book a trip no longer need to visit an agency they can go
online to companies such as Expedia, Make my trip or Priceline and book an
entire trip themselves. Airlines and hotels themselves also have cut off the travel
3
agent altogether by allowing customers to book tickets and lodging directly from
their sites.
Each of the Hotel brands has to come up with a unique pitch and specialized
services which can cater and appeal to customers in a range of ways.
In the eyes of most consumers, most services offered by hotels are relatively the
same so hotels must strive to find a competitive edge as a way of standing out
from the crowd. As a means of attracting repeat business, a key weapon in most
hotels’ arsenal is technology.
As such, although the technology is there, the hotels themselves have their task
cut out when it comes to leveraging technology to beat the competition.
Data containing the check in and check out times, hotel rates, facilities and
amenities on offer, as well as other vital information allows guests to make
informed choices.
4
2. Online Reputation
Let’s discuss the numbers before we start the discussion of the importance of
Online reputation management for the Hotels.
Customers now see beyond the self-marketing pitches and are more likely to take
official communication, even if it is accurate with a grain of salt.
Guests are more in charge of their check out processes, and they can also make
online payments if they wish to.
Some hotels even allow guests to unlock their rooms using their smartphones,
which eliminates the long and tedious check-in process.
Likewise, it is also easier for guests to check out, which allows them to avoid the
reception altogether.
5
4. Information Systems in the Hotel Industry
Greater use of IT in the Hotel industry has ensured easier entry of the Information
Systems even in Budget hotels.
Information systems were previously a thing only in the reach of luxury hotels.
Commoditization of software has made it easier for even Limited Service Hotels
and Select Service Hotels to have guests experience enhancing and analytics
software installed on top of the regular point of sale software.
We have another post dedicated to the Information Systems in the Hotel industry
that discusses this in detail.
Conclusion
Hotels can now focus on providing quality Hospitality services and best
experience and leave the rest to the Information Technology.