New Technologies and Hospitality Industry - Coursework Example

Running Header: New Technologies and Hospitality Industry Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: New Technologies and Hospitality Industry Introduction Hospitality industry consists of wide category of fields in service industry which comprises restaurants, theme parks, cruise line, lodging, transportation, event planning and other fields in the tourism industry. Hospitality is the relationship between a host and a guest. It can also be referred as the act or practice of being hospitable or generous to visitors. It is the entertainment and reception of visitors or guests in convections, special events or resorts. It also involves other services like tourism and travelling. Hospitality industry in most occasions depends on availability of disposable income as well as leisure time. The hospital industry is divided into several sectors that depend on required skill sets or work involved. The sectors include meeting and events, accommodation, entertainment and recreation, food beverage, gaming, visitors’ information, and tourism services (Economy-watch, 2010). Hospitality industry includes service sector work like food service and tourism. Hospitality industry is characterized by a large number of employees ranging from white collar to blue collar employees. The hospitality industry is a major service sector in the economy of the world. Hospitality industry can be classified into accommodation and entertainment sector. Accommodation sector includes resorts, inn, public houses, hostels, motels, serviced apartments, and campgrounds. Entertainments sector includes nightclubs, restaurants, and fast foods. The hospitality industry includes commercial activities like tourism activities including travel agents and airline cabin staff. Applied information technology in travel technology is included in the hospitality industry (Nykiel, 2005). Technologies in the Hospitality Industry The pace of change in hospitality industry accelerates with increasing renovations in the new technology innovations. New technologies and innovations lead to greater merchandising power and leverage for hotels of any type and size and at all places. Hotel companies and other hospitality industries are embracing new technologies in order for them achieve seamless connectivity as well as be capable to optimize the interactions with the customers. There is need for state-of-the-technology involvement in the hospitality industry as they emerge. Incorporation of new technology in the hospitality industry assists in increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the service delivery of this sector. Increased internet connectivity has been embraced by several hospitality industries as they try to increase their service delivery. Conference and resort centers have changed from being static structures to hubs that are interactive in terms of technology. New technologies add value while generating more revenues for hospitality industry. New technology is being used in hospitality industry to increase profits in the services organizations through developing a competitive edge in hospitality industry. Technology use in hospitality industry occurs in three areas. First, it is used for direct guest use that includes pay-per-view TV, via in–room phones as well as other in-room services. Secondly, it is used to support facility operations that include back office and supplier management, and front desk. Thirdly, it is used to manage channels of sales that include central reservations, demand-generation programs like promotions, advertising, outbound call centers, etc. and travel agents. Several technologies have emerged in the hospitality industry sector towards enabling industries perform better. Hospitality information technology is one such technology used towards enabling the organization to take full advantage of the market. Use of networks and computing systems and essentials is also another new technology that is being utilized in the hospitality industry. The utilization and application of hospitality information systems as new and upcoming technology has enabled the hospitality industry rise rapidly in giving and providing services to customers. E-commerce system is also another technology that is being utilized to enhance the rise of hospitality industry. In guest services sector, several client server technologies have emerged and they are currently being used. They are increasing the productivity and efficiency of the hospitality industry. Well integrated technologies are upcoming technologies that need to be embraced by these industries as older technologies become absolute. Well integrated systems are important in supporting database marketing and services for guests in these competition times. One-stop Guest Services is another type of technology that is being employed and utilized in the hospitality industry. Smart cards usage is also another new technology being utilized currently in the hospitality industry (Van der Wagen and Goonetilleke, 2007, p. 89). Technologies like restaurant management systems have enabled hospitality sector especially restaurants and hotels rise as they compete in this sector. Property management systems and interface is another technology that is being utilized greatly in enabling hospitality industry to be capable of coping with the new requirements that need to be given to customers. Another technology is the use and utilization of hotel global distribution systems and channels in their operations. Strategic hospitality technology investment is another technology that is being utilized to enable hotels become capable to utilize their chances of attracting customers as well as providing quality services in this sector (Olsen, West and Ching-Yick, 2004, p. 67). Hotel brands have dominated markets and have been considered as the newest technology in the hospitality industry. Electronic reservation tools and voice as well as marketing muscle have been used to showcase hotels properties mainly through broadcast media and high-cost prints. This technology assures customer and guests what they expect when they get into the hotel. Branding has played a major role in increasing sales and influencing customer directly making them move towards those hospitality industries that are well advertised and given enough information about. The branding technology has also enabled extensive development of these industries. This has branding technology and high-cost prints have increased sales and marketing hence increased number of customers. Branding technology has initiated another dimension in informing the customer or clients about the hotels and other recreational areas. Internet is another great technology that has emerged in hospitality industry and it is taking a lot of advantage as many fields or organization utilize them maximally. Internet technology has increased sales due to the extensive marketing they provide unto the organizations. Marketing in hospitality industry has been enabled by internet usage and utilization. Customers do not have to go to companies to know the information about the company but they only need to visit websites and get as enough information as they want. Internet provides all information required including the prices and time schedules as well as locations. Internet technology has played a great role in developing business in hospitality industry. Many hospitality industries have developed and improved their sales, marketing and management aspects due to internet technology. New upcoming technologies have tied up in enhancing the value of the customer. These new technologies have enabled improved competencies in the hospitality industry. Restaurant point of sale is a technology whereby software runs on computers. This is usually in form of touch screen terminals or handheld devices that are wireless. Point of sale technology helps businesses to track in real time their transactions. A typical point of sale software is capable of printing guest checks, process credit cards as well as other payment cards, run reports, and run reports. Point of sale technology is also used to print orders to bars and kitchen for preparation while other systems implement wireless pagers as well as electronic signature capture devices. In the fast food industry, registers are at the front counter and are configured for drive through order taking and cashiering. Front counter registers usually take and serve orders on the terminal while they drive through registers allowing orders to be taken at one or even more drive through windows, this is to be cashiered and even served at another. In hotel business, point of sale technology permits for meal charges transfer from dining room to guest room. This is mainly through a button or two; this may require to be incorporated with property management software. The check out system involves several components like general computer software, general computer hardware, checkout software, checkout hardware and other miscellaneous store hardware. Point of sale systems have assisted in increasing record sales in business in the hospitality industry. Hospitality information systems have enabled development, installation, increased sales as well as inventory control maintenance to hospitality industry. Hospitality information system has provided point of sale solutions as well as in information technology solutions. This new technology has arisen due to increased complexity in club and hotel environments. This requires a technological system that can manage cash, margins, pricing, costs as well as inventory. These technological systems have led to design of computer systems that are specific for Hospitality industry. Hospitality information systems and E-commerce provides essential information required to make business to succeed in today’s world. Hospitality Information Systems covers the used technology in every sector of hospitality industry while it emphasizes the management decisions necessary to execute or even implement technology in hospitality operations. Use of hospitality Information Systems and E-commerce by managers has enabled hospitality managers become effective in managing their business. Hospitality Information Systems and E-commerce has greatly contributed to the development of business especially in those hospitality industries where they have been adopted. Service improvement and provisions have increased as adoption of information systems take place. Customer service qualities has been improved rapidly as Hospitality information systems are adopted, increased service quality on customer means increased sales. Hospitality information systems have enabled hospitality industries increase the achievement of their laid down strategies including management of safety strategies. E-commerce has become a powerful channel for marketing business as well as communication especially for hospitality industries. E-commerce is the process of buying or selling services or goods over the internet by both consumers and businesses. E-commerce enables hospitality industries present their services in the webs and other internet services. This enables customer look for their favorite products or services and compare their prices as well. E-commerce is a good way that companies communicate with their customers. E-commerce has enabled e-booking through internet of the hotels rooms, and airline tickets among others. E-commerce has enabled consumer to have a wider selection range as they use internet to select the kind of services they want. E-commerce has also enabled more and better choices due to wide selection. Using internet enables the consumers to have a wider selection of the services they require. Using e-commerce technology has provided the consumer with more superior services than before; this is due to more convenient. E-commerce and hospitality information system has enabled increased sales within hospitality industry. These industries have enabled increased achievement of laid out strategies with this sector. E-commerce and hospitality information system has also enabled increased marketing as usage of internet increases. E-commerce is a technology that can assist in initiating strategic changes in enabling businesses to develop and expand even financially. E-commerce and hospitality information system is a technology that can enable quality management strategies to be achievable quickly. Hilton Hotels Corporation is such one hospitality industry that has enabled its consumer to get online solutions on the services provided. Internet and e-commerce has enabled Hilton Hotels Corporation to cut its middle men cost imposed on the consumers. Hilton has provided relevant values and integrity to customer as it tries to satisfy their needs. E-commerce strategy by Hilton has enabled consistency in brand integrity shaping. Sheraton is another hospitality industry organization that provides hotel services. It has used e-commerce to harness the corporate website (http://www.sheraton.com) for better usage by its consumers. Sheraton website has offered a fulfilling guest experience online. Sheraton and Hilton hotel chain have been extremely successful in their strategies on e-commerce (Lam, Leung & Wong, 2000; Leader-ga, 2003). Client server technology is another technology that has arose recently in the hospitality industry. Client-server technology enables clients to communicate with their servers without necessarily seeing each other face to face. It is a computer system that enables providers of services or servers to give requested services as requested by service clients. Servers and clients communicate over the computer network but on different hardware. Serve machine is connected to several client’s machines whereby clients requests for the services they want with client initiating communication while server awaits for the incoming requests. This client server technology has enabled increased laid down strategies in developing business as well as enabling increased sales and marketing strategies. Client-server technology has enabled initiation of strategies like increased customer service delivery. It has also enabled increased management of qualities by organization. These strategies have been achieved by invention of client-server technology especially service and quality management delivery. One-stop guest services are technology that has been adapted by several hospitality industries. Guests are able to access guest services through the use of in-room television remote control so as to select interactive services or programs. Guest can as well navigate through multi-media audio or video and automatically be connected to the outside services through a phone. This technology has also a personal computer incorporated that enables clients to access outside services and some more important information in the database. Guests are able to have access to the services and also fully access of services like ticketing, reservations, or retail services using guest data repository as well as access to service providers in the field. Intercontinental Hotels Groups (IHG) in Australia is one such hotel where such services are being provided. Intercontinental Hotels in Australia has adopted those new upcoming technologies in order to improve their services especially when providing services to customers. Intercontinental Hotel group has a well established client-server technology that enabled it in delivering quality services to the customers. Client-server technology has enabled intercontinental Hotel groups to increase their sales as well as their marketing volumes due to this interactive technology. Marketing using server-client technology basis has been successful and fruitful because of its effectiveness in quality services delivery. This has also enabled achievement of business development. Client-server technology is not only increasing quality delivery in Intercontinental Hotel but the whole hospitality industry as well. Many hotels have been capable of increasing quality service delivery to their consumers. The restaurant technology is another technology that has enabled hospitality industries and in particular restraints capable of managing the restaurants even more efficiently and effectively. This is through the use of computerization technology in controlling inventory, billing as well as ordering process. Chinese restaurants have in a great extent adapted this management system technology in their operations. This technology processes data as well as storing the data that results from this processing. Eventually, reports are generated from this data which assists managers in making and coming up with appropriate decisions in restaurant business. This is through knowing the number of customers who are available at a particular moment hence capable of deciding number of chefs and waiters who are required at any moment. This technology has enabled hospitality industry to save time with reservations that are automated. Services have been improved through guest databases that are powerful. Efficiency has also been increased through table management tools. This restaurant technology has enabled increased business development especially in restaurant sector (Sarah, 2006, p. 75). Restaurant technology has enabled increased efficiency and effectiveness within hospitality industry especially when delivering services to customer as well as quality service delivery to the clients. Restaurant has enabled restaurants be able to lay down their management strategies effectively. Quality service delivery strategies by many restaurants have been enabled by enabled by restaurant technology. Global distribution systems is a worldwide technology that is computerized reservation network and it is used to as a single access point for hotel rooms, airline seats, rental car among other related items that need to be reserved for clients. This is usually used by travel agents, large corporations and online reservation sites. Galileo, Amadeus, world-span and Sabre are the premier global distribution system operated and even owned by major airlines, car rental firms as well as rental firms as a joint venture (Samipatra, 2008, p. 34). It is also referred to as computer reservation system (CRS) or Automated Reservation System (ARS). Global distribution system is a technology that has enabled increased efficiency within organizations. Virgin Atlantic is one such airline and hospitality area where Global Distribution System has been of great importance. This technology has contributed greatly towards business development and expansion. Global Distribution System has enabled Virgin Atlantic airlines achieve its objectives and laid out strategies like increased customer services delivery efficiency (Michael, 2005, p. 77). E-marketing, this is almost as e-commerce enables business to achieve greatly towards creating awareness of their brands. It has enabled organizations to maximize their returns on investment (ROI). This technology has offered solutions to travel agencies, hotels and restaurants when it comes to marketing their services and products globally. This has enabled increased business development that is expansive throughout the globe to consumers through designed engine marketing. E-marketing technology facilitates customer relationship management by utilizing all customer related aspects including planning, and booking among others. Smart cards are small cards with integrated circuits and they are small in size i.e. pocket size. They are used for identification, application, data storage and authentication. Smarts cards technologies are used in hospitality industry to pay credits and other related financial issues including payment of bills in most areas of hospitality industry. The invention of smart cards has totally changed the methods of payments in the hospitality industry. Smart card technology has increased the effectiveness in financial sector in hospitality industries, consumers do not need to carry money in form of cash but they can use their smart cards to pay for their bills and other finances. Adoption of this technology has enabled increased efficiency in this sector. Financial management has been financed through the use of smart cards. Customer service delivery has been improved since the emergency of the smart cards. Other technologies that have arisen include synxis, this provides distribution technology as well as services in the hospitality industry. This technology has assisted greatly in driving right customers at the right price and time as well (Chris, 2005, p. 85). Conclusion Rise of variety of technologies is of great importance in ensuring the rise of efficiency and effectiveness of service deliverance in hospitality industry. Adoption of new technologies has enabled increased competition among several similar industries and organizations like tourism sector and hotels. Quality of delivered services has increased rapidly and notably as new technologies continues to arise. A technology like e-commerce has greatly improved the service delivery within hospitality industry. Other technologies like use of networks and computing systems have played a great role in meeting customer needs and requirements in hospitality industry. They have resulted to increased service delivery as well as increased quality of services. Hospitality information systems are another technology that has been utilized by hospitality industries recently as they try to meet customer requirements. Client server technologies and smart cards are other technologies that are playing a great role in fulfilling customer requirements. Their adoption has played a great role in hospitality sector in ensuring there is quality delivery of services. Hotel global distribution systems have contributed greatly in ensuring quality service delivery by hospitality industries. Restaurant management systems have in a great extent assisted restaurants in ensuring increased management of services in restaurants and hotels all over the world. Property management systems and interface and one-stop Guest Services have played a great role in ensuring there is quality delivery of services by the organizations and in particular restaurants and hotels. All those technologies have enabled hospitality industry to thrive with the rise of new technologies. Each industry from hotels and other service providers has adopted the new rising technology in order to ensure they deliver quality services and compete well in this hospitality sector. It is important that hospitality industries adopt the new management technologies that are coming up in order to deliver quality services to its customers. Hospitality industry requires adopting the upcoming new technologies in order to ensure increased sales and effective marketing. Use of upcoming technologies ensures quality management strategies. In order for a business to prosper and develop well in hospitality industry, there is need to adopt the new management technologies and customer service technologies as well. References Chris, H. (2005, November). Technology in hospitality-clash and collaboration. Journal on hotel and Restaurant management. 12(8), pp. 85-96. Economy-watch. (2010, January). Hospitality industry. Retrieved March 25, 2010, from http://www.economywatch.com/world-industries/hospitality/ Lam, C., Leung, F. & Wong, S. (2000, April). Restaurant Management System. Retrieved July, 23, 2009, from http://www.is.cityu.edu.hk/fyp/project2000/restaurant.htm Leader-ga. (2003, July). E-commerce in hotel industry. Retrieved April, 24, 2010 from http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/235226.html Michael, L. (2005, June). Hospitality and technology. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management. 7(2), pp. 77-85. Nykiel, R. A. (2005). Hospitality Management Strategies. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. Olsen, M, West, J. & Ching-Yick Tse, E. (2004). Strategic Management in the Hospitality Industry (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. Samipatra, D. (2008), Global Distribution Systems of Present times. Journal on hospitality industries technology. 12(4), pp. 34-45. Sarah, J. (2006). Hospitality in Australia. New Delhi: Career FAQs. Van der Wagen, L. & Goonetilleke, A. (2007). Hospitality Management Strategy and operations. (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education Australia. Read More

Hotel companies and other hospitality industries are embracing new technologies in order for them achieve seamless connectivity as well as be capable to optimize the interactions with the customers. There is need for state-of-the-technology involvement in the hospitality industry as they emerge. Incorporation of new technology in the hospitality industry assists in increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the service delivery of this sector. Increased internet connectivity has been embraced by several hospitality industries as they try to increase their service delivery.

Conference and resort centers have changed from being static structures to hubs that are interactive in terms of technology. New technologies add value while generating more revenues for hospitality industry. New technology is being used in hospitality industry to increase profits in the services organizations through developing a competitive edge in hospitality industry. Technology use in hospitality industry occurs in three areas. First, it is used for direct guest use that includes pay-per-view TV, via in–room phones as well as other in-room services.

Secondly, it is used to support facility operations that include back office and supplier management, and front desk. Thirdly, it is used to manage channels of sales that include central reservations, demand-generation programs like promotions, advertising, outbound call centers, etc. and travel agents. Several technologies have emerged in the hospitality industry sector towards enabling industries perform better. Hospitality information technology is one such technology used towards enabling the organization to take full advantage of the market.

Use of networks and computing systems and essentials is also another new technology that is being utilized in the hospitality industry. The utilization and application of hospitality information systems as new and upcoming technology has enabled the hospitality industry rise rapidly in giving and providing services to customers. E-commerce system is also another technology that is being utilized to enhance the rise of hospitality industry. In guest services sector, several client server technologies have emerged and they are currently being used.

They are increasing the productivity and efficiency of the hospitality industry. Well integrated technologies are upcoming technologies that need to be embraced by these industries as older technologies become absolute. Well integrated systems are important in supporting database marketing and services for guests in these competition times. One-stop Guest Services is another type of technology that is being employed and utilized in the hospitality industry. Smart cards usage is also another new technology being utilized currently in the hospitality industry (Van der Wagen and Goonetilleke, 2007, p. 89). Technologies like restaurant management systems have enabled hospitality sector especially restaurants and hotels rise as they compete in this sector.

Property management systems and interface is another technology that is being utilized greatly in enabling hospitality industry to be capable of coping with the new requirements that need to be given to customers. Another technology is the use and utilization of hotel global distribution systems and channels in their operations. Strategic hospitality technology investment is another technology that is being utilized to enable hotels become capable to utilize their chances of attracting customers as well as providing quality services in this sector (Olsen, West and Ching-Yick, 2004, p. 67). Hotel brands have dominated markets and have been considered as the newest technology in the hospitality industry.

Electronic reservation tools and voice as well as marketing muscle have been used to showcase hotels properties mainly through broadcast media and high-cost prints. This technology assures customer and guests what they expect when they get into the hotel. Branding has played a major role in increasing sales and influencing customer directly making them move towards those hospitality industries that are well advertised and given enough information about.

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