Looking back...

I can't believe this is the last post! I remember trying to look for something interesting to write every week. Sometimes, I had to rush because I remembered the fact that I had a blog due Sunday night. Sarah and I always asked each other in Stats class what we did for our blog. Before I took this class, I did not know so many people blogged about what they thought.
Before I took this class, I wanted to remain the old way and stick to writing on paper. However, I realized there are so many technology tools that I can use! Some of them were very convenient too! I was sort of afraid that technology was taking over the world. My brother wanted the latest technology tools and that scared me A LOT.
To tell the truth, if it were not for blogging, I would not have looked at any hospitality news. It did annoy me sometimes because I had to write a blog in addition to the other homework I had not done over the weekend. When I look back, it was worth it because I got to know many cool tools. It was also interesting to see what other people wrote about. Blogging has helped me update on what is important in the hospitality and events industry.

Going Green

One of the top ten hospitality and meeting trends is "going green." "Greening up your IT systems can save you money in the long run while boosting your karma at the same time." With technology, it is easier to be environmentally conscious and provide efficient service. So, start with the guest rooms. Most guests do not stay in the hotel rooms for long. Many hotels have programmable on/off timers or sensors used for lighting in low occupancy areas. However, not many hotels have the same system for air conditioners. Think about how much money is wasted when the air conditioner is kept on!
Incomm offers a thermostat that can sense when a guest is in the room. If there is no movement in the room for a certain amount of time, it will turn off automatically. Even though it might be slightly cold or hot when the guest enters, it will not take long to warm up or cool the room since hotels rooms are not the size of a gigantic mansion.
Another issue is solar electric energy becoming the major source of energy in the future. Hotels with flat roofs can establish panels that produce solar energy. The Carlton Hotel in San Francisco has flat panels for solar electric energy on their roof. I was surprised to find a hotel that actually operates on solar energy.
A huge area we must accomplish is recycling! I only thought about typical recycling, but this article also stated that properties that run a lot of different technologies is wasting e-waste or electronic waste. Since hotels have to keep up with the technology-savvy tools, the amount of technological garbage is unbelievable. For example, changing TVs to flat-panel TVs is an issue these days. All these hazardous materials have to go in the garbage bins.
It is important to improve technology tools in the hotel, but we must remind ourselves that not all technology tools save the environment.

GoConcierge

No need to shuffle through books to find what your guest wants. GoConcierge eliminates the need for logbooks, binders, and clutter. GoConcierge is a web-based solution for concierge and other departments including guest services, front desk, shpipping and receiving, and restaurants to track guest activities and preferences. Guests want service to happen the moment they request it. GoConcierge increases the ability to operate and deliver customer service faster and efficiently. Hotel's commitment to provide highly personalized service has allowed technology to develop. GoConcierge allows guest requests and information to be all in one location. The hotel can easily track past requests or information about guests. Functions include shared task calendar, multiple languages, customized databases, driving directions & map, confirmation letters, guest profiles, multiple department tracking, extensive reporting, email & text messaging, custom forms, and 7 day/24 hour support. For example, the calendar is color coded, which makes it easy to highlight open, pending, and closed tasks. Instead of taking minutes to locate a reservation or note, it takes just seconds.

uWink

How technology-savvy is the hospitality industry going to get? I came across an article called "uWink Wins Hospitality Technology's Berakthrough Award Overall Technological Innovation." I became curious and searched for it to see what it actually was. uWink, Inc. has made a touchscreen device that can be placed on each table in restaurants. This would replace the menus. The guests would be able to self-order, play games alone or with a group, watch movies, and pay with this touchscreen. The guest's experience would all happen with this device.
The restuarant would be able to upsell and promote effectively almost 100% of the time, improve speed of service and order accuracy, raise labor efficiency by placing employees in other areas that need improvement, and reduce cash theft or loss by encouraging credit cards. Also, restaurants can post promotions and advertising on uWink to increase brand awareness. The benefit of technology is being able to offer multilingual service. uWink is translated into 11 different languages for the conveninence of customers.
The first uWink restaurant opened in Woodland Hills, California. Guests' have mixed opinions about this restaurant. While it was an innovative idea, it takes away the experience between guests and servers. Also, it decreases the need to talk to others. "All the games are casual. None take longer than 2-3 minutes to play." Some guests who are not technologically advanced would have problems with the device. Also, if the computers had an error or were down, there would be no menus to substitute. It would bring attention in the beginning, but it could fade away in the future. Many young people were in favor of the technology, but others preferred the menu in front of them. While it is a good way to upsell and promote, I do not know if the guets will be more satisfied. I do not know whether it is the speed guests prefer or the experience as a whole since interacting with the guests is another crucial element in the bundle.

Mondrian Beach gets TiVoed

Guests want the same comforts of home in their hotels, and added to that, they want more than just a TV and a comfy bed. Customers demand more luxurious technology tools in their rooms. While Westin offers Wii in their fitness rooms, Morgan Hotel Groups offer something new with the TV. "TiVo Inc., the creater and leader in television services for digital VCR and Morgans Hotel Group Co,. announced that they are bringing the luxuries of in-home entertainment to hotels by oferring the TiVo service in al rooms throughout Morgans' newest property, Mondrian in South Beach."
When people travel, they miss TV programs that they watch at home. Joe Miller, Senior Vice President, Consumer Sales and Distribution for TiVo Inc. said, "When traveling, schedules can be unpredictable and television choices inhotels are typically limited, making it far more difficult to watch your favorite programs...until now. For the first time in any hotel, guests of the new Mondrian in South Beach can enjoy the TiVo service right in their rooms. While some people focus just on traveling and seeing the destination, some people want to watch their favorite TV shows when they return to the hotel at night. TiVo allows users to record, pause, and rewind live TV shows and use wishlist searches to find their favorite shows. Even though internet is becoming prevalent these days, TVs still remain as an entertainment when one goes on vacation. Hotels do not lend computers, but every room has a TV. Guests love to relax and watch TV after a tiring day of tour.
TiVo shows that hotels are striving toward technology-friendly environment. Customers love new technology-savvy tools. TiVo is perfect to show that there is a new feature in the hotel.

Guest Room 20X

Hotel rooms are becoming more technologically-savvy than ever! I introduce you to Guest Room 20X (2010). According to research, there are more than 40 different technologies featured in the room. Guestroom 20X was built by producers of HITEC, the Hotel Industry Technology Exposition and Conference. Hotel companies are progressively accompanying modern technology into their rooms to make every bit of customer’s experience unique and convenient. For example, Guest Room 20X has large windows that are curtain-free, but they still offer guests privacy by having people not able to look into the room from outside. At the exhibition, Guest Room 20X featured self service check-in, bed without mattress, whirlpool, remote control flame free candles, automatic shower cleaning system, floor washing robot, and many other interesting technology tools that I have not encountered before. They also offer Fonekey for the door lock, which I have talked about in my blog.
While these concepts are still in prototype, they are in the process of development. It is incredible how quick hotel technology is changing; you do not want to miss anything. Even though Guest Room 20X still needs more polishing to do; when this is finished, it will be a new era for the hospitality industry.

Hotels Lock It Up

When you are traveling in another country, it is important the room is locked properly. Most mid and high-end hotels accomodate magnetic strip key cards. Some hotels transfer credit cards into room cards for the convenience of customers. With the increasing demand for higher security, suppliers are responsible for providing the best locking system for hotel guests. Room keys not only have to be easy to use, but aesthetically pleasing for the guests. “Contactless locking solutions that rely on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and near field communication (NFC) cell phone compatibility are two solutions that are poised to be the next innovations in door-locking security.” With the RFID, it only requires guests to hold up a key card, wristband, or fob to the reader in order to gain access into the room. This prevents occurrences of key card demagnetization. The device is simple and easy to use for the guests. Another option is using a NFC-enabled cell phone to unlock the room. This is prevalent in Europe and Asia. “NFC is a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology which enables the exchange of data between devices over a distance of about 4 inches.

Quickness and easiness is not the only good part about these devices. RFID and NFC allow guests to skip the check-in line upon arrival and go straight to their rooms, using their cell phones to unlock the room. Upon arrival, guests will receive a short message which includes a booking confirmation and room number, with an encrypted room key access code that unlocks their door with their cell phone. Also at the end of their stay, guests can use their cell phones to check-out through an NFC-enabled in-room television or an NFC-enabled hotel kiosk. There is no need to stop at the front desk to check-in or check-out.

FoneKey, VingCard, and Kaba Ilco are one of the suppliers that offer this service. VingCard offers RFID lock at The Plaza in New York City. Regal Enclave and Executive Enclave in Mumbai, India are using this system. Guests love new technological tools. When it is easy and quick, guests will love more. By providing better service for guests, hotels are able to advertise themselves to the world. Sooner or later, FoneKey will be expanding its services to many hotels in the states.

Hotels Lock It Up by Christina Volpe