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.