Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways Selects RateGain to Get AI-powered Pricing Insights
New Delhi, Sep 06, 2022: RateGain Journey Applied sciences Restricted (RateGain), a worldwide supplier of SaaS options for journey and hospitality, introduced right now that Jazeera Airways, the second-largest provider in Kuwait, has chosen RateGain’s AirGain product to dynamically alter costs with real-time, correct, and high-quality airfare knowledge.
Jazeera, one of the vital fashionable airways within the Center East, continues to assist an intensive community of routes connecting its locations throughout the Center East and past. Jazeera Airways presently flies to 49 locations working a dependable fleet of Airbus A320 aircrafts. Its dedication to high quality service and tailor-made flights has made it a number one alternative for these searching for hassle-free journey.
AirGain has been particularly designed to assist income managers adapt to the post-pandemic world by providing essential market insights and aggressive intelligence in an easy-to-consume and quick-to-understand UI permitting income groups internationally to make the proper pricing selections and unlock new income alternatives day by day.
With growing airfares and resumption of worldwide journey, Jazeera wished to make sure that it is ready to give essentially the most aggressive airfares throughout all forms of fares. AirGain was capable of meet the wants of Jazeera and supply knowledge throughout all sort of fare households, making it the popular alternative over incumbent intelligence suppliers within the airline business.
Commenting on the partnership Antony Oliver Fernandes, Assistant Vice President of Income Optimization & Community Planning, Jazeera Airways stated, “As journey comes again amid uncertainty pushed by inflation, pricing precisely turns into extra essential for airways. This can’t be doable and not using a dependable answer that gives 24×7 assist and real-time intelligence that’s simple to know and act. AirGain fulfills all of those standards for us and was the proper alternative for our staff.”
Vinay Varma, AirGain Senior Vice President, RateGain added, “The previous practices of income administration are getting out of date within the put up pandemic world and the business is in direct want of recent methods to seize the dynamic change in demand and costs. {Our capability} to get real-time costs precisely and shortly, will assist the staff at Jazeera airways to unlock new income alternatives and maximize their margins by providing the very best costs to their clients day by day.”
AirGain is an progressive SaaS-based airfare pricing intelligence product designed to reinforce the income & operational effectivity of the airways.
To know extra go to https://rategain.com/travel-software/airfare-intelligence-solutions/
About RateGain
RateGain Journey Applied sciences Restricted is a worldwide supplier of SaaS options for journey and hospitality that works with 2200+ clients in over 100 international locations serving to them speed up income technology by way of acquisition, retention and pockets share growth. Based in 2004 and headquartered in India, right now RateGain works with High 23 of 30 Resort Chains, High 25 of 30 On-line Journey Brokers, and all the highest automobile leases together with 8 International Fortune500 firms. RateGain is among the world’s largest processors of digital transactions and value factors for the journey and hospitality business and is the most important Software program as a Service (“SaaS”) firm within the hospitality and journey business in India. It provides journey and hospitality options throughout a large spectrum of verticals together with resorts, airways, on-line journey brokers (“OTAs”), meta-search firms, trip leases, package deal suppliers, automobile leases, rail, journey administration firms, cruises, and ferries . For extra data, please go to www.rategain.com
Ahead Trying Statements
Statements on this doc referring to future standing, occasions, or circumstances, together with however not restricted to statements about plans and goals, the progress and outcomes of analysis and improvement, potential challenge traits, challenge potential and goal dates for challenge associated points are forward- wanting statements primarily based on estimates and the anticipated results of future occasions on present and growing circumstances. Such statements are topic to quite a few dangers and uncertainties and are usually not essentially predictive of future outcomes. Precise outcomes could differ materially from these anticipated within the forward-looking statements. The corporate assumes no obligation to replace forward-looking statements to replicate precise outcomes modified assumptions or different elements.
Media Contact
Ankit Chaturvedi
VP, Advertising
RateGain
Air India Selects RateGain to Grow to be Globally Aggressive with Actual-time Pricing
Delhi, Aug 17, 2022: RateGain Journey Applied sciences Restricted (RateGain), a worldwide supplier of SaaS options for journey and hospitality, introduced at this time that Air India, the flagship provider of India owned by India’s largest conglomerate the Tata Group, has chosen RateGain’s – AirGain product to dynamically regulate costs with real-time, correct, and high-quality airfare knowledge to compete globally with main airways
As a flagship provider, Air India presents connections to shut to 90 locations to over 30 nations throughout Asia, Europe, USA, Canada and Australia working one of many largest home and worldwide networks on this planet. It maintains a fleet of 113 plane working over 500 each day flights.
As gasoline costs and inflation proceed to extend prices for airways, vacationers have gotten value acutely aware and in search of the most effective airfares. This strain on prices in addition to traveler desire is creating a necessity for pricing knowledge that can enable Air India to precisely perceive market shifts, monitor aggressive technique and perceive the best worth every time.
AirGain presents actionable insights to rapidly react to market worth change and keep forward of the competitors by means of its scalable and intuitive analytical capabilities. Airways achieve aggressive intelligence by analyzing market knowledge in real-time. As well as, AirGain’s potential to trace historic tendencies and monitor fare adjustments on the most-profitable routes makes it simple for Income and Industrial groups to remain on high of each market improvement.
Commenting on the partnership Aruna Gopalakrishnan — Govt Director Company Affairs — mentioned, “Air India is targeted on turning into probably the most aggressive airways on this planet and expertise will play a giant position in it. RateGain is understood for serving to the world’s largest journey corporations, and is anticipated to be taking part in a job in making Air India the popular alternative of traveler.”
Bhanu Chopra, Founder and Chairman, RateGain added, “It’s an honor for RateGain, to be a expertise associate with Air India. AirGain represents the change that airline business and its pricing groups are making to counter world volatility and we’re sure that our knowledge will assist Air India obtain the identical. At this time, Air India represents the aspirations of a billion individuals and we at RateGain are delighted to be a part of this journey.”
AirGain is an revolutionary SaaS-based airfare pricing intelligence product designed to boost the income & operational effectivity of the airways. it presents very important pricing insights & real-time aggressive intelligence knowledge that may allow the airways to provide you with a sturdy income technique with the most recent market insights.
To know extra go to https://airgain.ai
About Air India
Based by the legendary JRD Tata, Air India had pioneered India’s aviation sector and the airline’s historical past is, in actual fact, synonymous with the annals of civil aviation in India. Since its first flight on October 15, 1932, Air India has unfold its wings to change into a significant worldwide airline with a community throughout USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Far-East, South-East Asia, Australia and the Gulf. The airline additionally has an intensive home community, together with far-flung areas of India’s North-East, Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Air India has been a member of Star Alliance, the biggest world airline consortium, since July, 2014. India’s first worldwide finances provider, Air India Categorical was launched in 2005 to satisfy the necessity for reasonably priced companies on brief and medium haul routes- connecting smaller cities on to the Gulf and South East Asia areas. Air India, together with Air India Categorical, has all the time been taking part in a pivotal position in standing by the Nation in its hour of disaster. In an epic mission, Air India has been evacuating stranded individuals from everywhere in the world from and to India within the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak by means of the Authorities’s Vande Bharat Mission and Air Transport Bubble flights.
About RateGain
RateGain Journey Applied sciences Restricted is a worldwide supplier of SaaS options for journey and hospitality that works with 2200+ clients in over 100 nations serving to them speed up income era by means of acquisition, retention and pockets share growth. Based in 2004 and headquartered in India, at this time RateGain works with Prime 23 of 30 Lodge Chains, Prime 25 of 30 On-line Journey Brokers, and all the highest automotive leases together with 8 International Fortune500 corporations. RateGain is likely one of the world’s largest processors of digital transactions and worth factors for the journey and hospitality business and is the biggest Software program as a Service (“SaaS”) firm within the hospitality and journey business in India. It presents journey and hospitality options throughout a large spectrum of verticals together with motels, airways, on-line journey brokers (“OTAs”), meta-search corporations, trip leases, package deal suppliers, automotive leases, rail, journey administration corporations, cruises, and ferries . For extra data, please go to www.rategain.com
Media Contact
Ankit Chaturvedi
VP, Advertising
RateGain
Invasivorism because the Subsequent Meals Pattern for Resorts
The English language certain loves its neologisms. (Do not look this one up in your dictionary. It isn’t there…but.) The one within the title provides an ‘ism’ onto ‘invasivore’ the place this latter phrase is ascribed to species which have been unintentionally or purposefully launched right into a international setting the place there are not any pure predators to maintain their numbers in verify, thus diminishing biodiversity. Foremost examples are the African cane toads which have ravaged the Australian continent and the zebra mussels which have equally turn into endemic to the Nice Lakes.
Particular to you, it is necessary for hoteliers maintain tabs on these types of developments as a result of, within the related development of worldwide local weather change, prospects will proceed to demand extra from their journey manufacturers to assist foster a tradition of sustainability. Proper now, environmentalism is essentially a value-add to make visitors be ok with their resort picks (with the power to command just a few further {dollars} in charge for the privilege). There might come a time quickly, although, when sustainability is scored and companies failing to get a superb grade are shunned by potential bookers.
Invasivorism for resort eating places quantities to placing these meals on the menu as a method to:
- Assist construct an financial system across the farming and the consumption of invaders
- Scale back the stigma of consuming these species by reworking them into palatable dishes
- Elevate consciousness for the necessity to cull invasivores to carry indigenous species again into stability
- Supply some extent of differentiation to assist with the advertising and marketing and PR of your F&B program
- Spherical out a brand-wide sustainability initiative that includes quite a few departments
As you’ll be able to already inform, the primary of those 5 is hardly simple at current as a result of the provision chains simply aren’t there. This may change. Assume again round twenty years when the phrase ‘authentically native’ was first gaining steam. Stocking stock from native suppliers again then required a lot of effort as a result of every relationship needed to be arrange one-to-one and we simply did not but have the crucial mass of adjustable producers to cost-effectively interact in small batch productions.
Now, dwelling native, shopping for native and consuming native are all however the expectation from resorts, though they nonetheless require a hefty load of setup and care. We foresee invasiveness taking an analogous trajectory with resorts benefited from their bigger procurement networks to reap the benefits of this pattern.
Private demand for local weather motion typically begins with an consciousness marketing campaign for the ‘charismatic megafauna’ like a reminder about how few pandas there are left, a information story concerning the current extinction of the northern white rhino or a video of an emaciated polar bear struggling to seek out stable footing on a patchwork of half-melted ice blocks. Likewise, invasivorism will begin with a ramp up in entry to and the edible acceptance of one of many largest provocateurs. Our guess is on the 4 kinds of Asian carp invasive to the Mississippi river system – slimy and a ache to debone, however nonetheless an acceptable substitute for salmon or tuna when minced and sauced.
Not merely a soylent inexperienced various, invasivorism has applicability for haute delicacies, too. Individuals go for subtle superb eating experiences not solely to achieve satiety but in addition to be impressed by the chef’s wild, esoteric ingredient mixtures in addition to having one thing to speak about with pals on the subsequent feast. This final motive might as properly be referred to as bragging rights, so give your eating places one thing to brag out.
To shut, to merge collectively the haute delicacies component with the notice and schooling ones, you might be approaching an expertise that may be labeled as ‘transformative’ – leaving the visitor higher off than after they arrived at your resort. By selling the ingestion of meals that aren’t native to a land – in sharp distinction to native consuming and the direct reverse of indigenous consuming – you might be inspiring your prospects to reframe the environmental dialog and making them really feel good within the course of for his or her lively contribution .
If you happen to construct sufficient of those sustainability-related experiences into your model – of which invasion is one attainable inclusion – your visitors will adore you for it and be keen to pay above marketplace for the chance to stick with you.
Larry Mogelonsky
Resort Mogel Consulting Restricted
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Inns can’t forcibly acquire service prices from clients, says senior official
“Charging service prices from clients will now value the resort and restaurant house owners. If a buyer needs to pay a service cost of his personal free will, then it’s a completely different matter however resort house owners can’t forcibly acquire service prices from clients,” Further Secretary within the Authorities of India (Client Affairs), Nidhi Khare informed ANI.
She additionally knowledgeable that the authorities have launched a helpline quantity ‘1915’ for the shoppers.
“If a buyer is a sufferer of extortion, then the Nationwide Client Safety Authority has issued a helpline quantity for such clients for complaints, which would be the helpline quantity 1915,” she added.
Khare discovered it stunning and referred to as it double prices on clients.
“Service cost is added to no matter meals is served after which GST tax is levied on the overall quantity which is a double whammy on the purchasers,” she famous.
The rules issued by CCPA on Monday stipulate that resorts or eating places shall not add service prices robotically or by default to the meals invoice. No assortment of service cost shall be executed by some other identify. No resort or restaurant shall power a shopper to pay a service cost and shall clearly inform the buyer that the service cost is voluntary, elective and on the shopper’s discretion.
No restriction on entry or provision of providers based mostly on a set of service prices shall be imposed on shoppers. The service cost shall not be collected by including it together with the meals invoice and levying GST on the overall quantity. The rules might be accessed by clicking on the hyperlink.
Leveraging the Power of the Metaverse
Written by: Juliette Girardin
Event risk management is critical to ensuring the safety and security of attendees, personnel and the venue. It takes time and effort to identify, assess and mitigate possible risks to an event’s success. Yet, because most events are constructed over a few days and only happen once a year, it is difficult to think of all the possibilities. With the rise of the metaverse, the work of risk managers may become more effective and secure. The metaverse is a multi-user virtual area in which people can engage with each other and with virtual items in a completely immersive and interactive environment. The metaverse’s potential applications are numerous, and one area where it can be especially effective is in enhancing risk management in events.
The hospitality industry, particularly the events sector, is no stranger to risk management. Event organizers have to deal with a multitude of risks ranging from security, health and safety, financial, legal and reputational risks, among others. However, traditional risk management systems sometimes fall short because they rely on antiquated methods such as paper-based forms and checklists, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
The metaverse, on the other hand, provides a unique opportunity to enhance risk management in events by creating a virtual space where organizers can simulate and test different scenarios, identify potential risks and develop appropriate mitigation strategies. Here are some ways in which the metaverse can help improve risk management in events:
Virtual simulation and training
The metaverse can be used by event organizers to simulate various scenarios and test their risk management strategies. For example, organizers can simulate a fire or a terrorist attack and train staff on how to respond to such situations. This can help reduce the risk of panic and confusion during an actual event.
Real-time monitoring and response
The metaverse can also be used to monitor events in real-time, using sensors and other technologies to detect potential risks such as overcrowding, security breaches or equipment failures. This can help event organizers to respond quickly and effectively to any potential issues, minimizing the impact on attendees and the event itself.
Data analytics and risk modelling
The metaverse can serve as a platform for data analytics and risk modeling platform, allowing event organizers to analyze data from previous events and identify potential risks. This can help develop more accurate risk assessments and enable organizers to implement more effective risk management strategies.
Improved communication and collaboration
The metaverse can also improve communication and collaboration among event organizers, personnel and other stakeholders. By creating a shared virtual space, organizers can work together to identify potential risks and develop appropriate responses. This can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that risks are managed effectively.
In conclusion, the metaverse provides a unique opportunity to enhance risk management in events by creating a virtual space where organizers can simulate different scenarios, monitor events in real-time, analyze data, and improve communication and collaboration. By leveraging the capabilities of the metaverse, event organizers can develop more effective risk management strategies, ultimately creating safer and more secure events for attendees.
This blog post was awarded Second Place in the Spring 2023 HFTP/MS Global Hospitality Business Graduate Student Blog Competition presented by the HFTP Foundation. The blog posts that received the top scores will be published on HFTP Connect through July 2023. Learn more at HFTP News.
Juliette Girardin is a graduate student of the Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business, a partnership between the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and EHL.
Research Shows Hotel Guest Sentiments on Technology Have Improved Over Time
By: Agnes DeFranco, Minwoo Lee and Jihye Min
May 11, 2023 marked the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Indeed, the pandemic has had an impact on the perception of technology usage among hotel guests. The need to safeguard hotel guests and employees during the pandemic accelerated the adoption and acceptance of various technologies in hotels. In 2020, HFTP sponsored a survey to gauge how guests view technologies in hotels. Now that the pandemic has officially ended, we thought an update on this topic would be of interest.
Over the last few years, many hotels adopted contactless check-in and check-out, allowing guests to easily bypass the front desk and use their smartphones to complete such tasks, reducing physical contact. Instead of sanitizing and recycling key cards, mobile key access via smartphones also reduces touchpoints. Inside the guest rooms, many technologies have also been upgraded such as voice-controlled assistants and smart devices for guests to control lighting, temperature and entertainment, without touching surfaces. Contactless payments have also gained popularity, minimizing the need for physical cash handling and again, reducing touchpoints during the payment process.
So, do guests like hotel technology better than before, or not? A total of 1,002 participants answered a survey in 2020 and 1,211 participants shared their opinions in 2023. Let’s take a quick dive and see if general sentiments have changed.
In terms of demographics, the most significant change revealed an increase of the 30-39 year age group from 18 to 31 percent of people who responded to the survey. In addition, 31 percent reported their most recent trip taken was in the last three to six months, with another 27 percent stating less than 3 months and 20 percent stating seven to nine months. Undeniably, travel is gradually coming back. While half of the participants in 2020 are members of loyalty programs, only 37 percent stated so in 2023. A typical stay is still two to three nights (58 percent in 2020, 62 percent in 2023), with upscale and upper upscale categories welcoming over 50 percent of the participants.
Drum rolls! The most encouraging part about technology in hotels can perhaps be summarized in this table of positive and negative statements regarding technology usage. With a scale of “1” = “Strongly Disagree” to “7” = “Strongly Agree,” a higher score is more preferred for the positive statements while a lower score is preferred for the negative statements.
| POSITIVE STATEMENTS | Average Pre-Covid | Average Post-COVID |
| I am confident I can learn technology-related skills. | 5.96 | 6.39 |
| I am able to keep up with important technological advances. | 5.10 | 5.67 |
| NEGATIVE STATEMENTS | Average Pre-Covid | Average Post-COVID |
| I have difficulty understanding most technological matters. | 2.77 | 2.11 |
| When given the opportunity to use technology in hotels, I’m afraid I might damage it in some way. | 2.80 | 2.54 |
| I have avoided technology because it is unfamiliar to me. | 2.84 | 2.15 |
| I hesitate to use hotel technology for fear of making mistakes I cannot correct. | 2.98 | 2.17 |
| Technological terminology sounds like confusing jargon to me. | 3.03 | 2.00 |
| I feel apprehensive about using technology. | 3.47 | 2.12 |
We have assuredly become more adaptable and technologically savvy during the pandemic. Hotel guests are more confident that they can learn technology-related skills, sending an already high score of 5.96 to 6.39. While keeping up with important technological advances was positive at 5.10 pre-COVID, that score also significantly improved to 5.67. Regarding the negative statements, while the scores ranged from 2.77 to 3.47, (good news in the pre-pandemic era), the scores for all six negative statements dropped to 2.00 to 2.54. This indicates our hotel guests are less negative about technology, experience less difficulty understanding most technological matters, and are generally not as apprehensive about using technology in our hotels.
The difference between the pre- and post-COVID scores are all statistically significant, indicating that these changes in sentiments are real and not likely due to chance.
A detailed white paper exploring voluntary hotel technology use among guests, their overall satisfaction regarding hotel technology, brand loyalty and changes in sentiment among subgroups will be published in July, following HITEC Toronto 2023.
So, enjoy HITEC in Toronto, where you can learn more about all the new technology there is to enhance the guest stay experience, as well as hotel productivity and profitability. And stay tuned for more research.
Agnes DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE, CHE, CHIA, CAHTA is a professor and the Conrad N. Hilton Distinguished Chair, and Minwoo Lee, Ph.D., CHIA, CHE is an assistant professor, at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Management, University of Houston. Jihye Min, Ph.D., CHIA, CAHTA is an assistant professor at the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism, University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.
Why Ease of Use is the Core of any Booking Engine?
Are you in the market for a new booking engine for your hotel website? With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to determine which one is right for you. One key factor to consider is ease of use. In this blog post, we’ll explore why ease of use is the core of any booking engine and what to look for when evaluating this important feature.
First and foremost, an easy-to-use booking engine benefits both you and your customers. For you, it means less time spent managing and troubleshooting your system. For your customers, it means a smooth and hassle-free booking process, increasing the likelihood that they will complete their reservation with you.
So, what should you look for when evaluating the ease of use of a booking engine? Let’s break it down into a few key areas.
1. Setup and Implementation
One of the first steps in using a booking engine is setting it up and integrating it with your website. This process should be straightforward and well-documented, with clear instructions and support available if needed. Look for a booking engine that offers a user-friendly setup process, perhaps with a wizard or guided installation. Ideally, you should be able to get up and running quickly without having to hire a developer or technical expert.
2. User Interface
The user interface, or UI, is the visual aspect of the booking engine that your customers will interact with. A well-designed UI should be intuitive and easy to navigate, with clear instructions and minimal distractions. Look for a booking engine that offers a clean and modern interface, with simple and straightforward steps for customers to follow. If the UI is confusing or cluttered, it may lead to frustrated customers or abandoned bookings.
3. Flexibility and Customization
While ease of use is important, you also want a booking engine that can be customized to meet your specific needs. Look for a system that offers flexibility in terms of pricing, availability, and room types. Ideally, you should be able to easily adjust rates and availability, add or remove rooms, and set up packages or promotions. A booking engine that allows for customization can help you better tailor your offerings to your guests’ needs and preferences.
4. Support and Training
Finally, it’s important to consider the support and training that comes with your booking engine. Look for a provider that offers responsive and helpful customer support, whether it’s via email, phone, or live chat. Additionally, make sure that there are resources available to help you learn how to use the system effectively. This might include documentation, tutorials, or even on-site training.
In conclusion, when evaluating a booking engine, ease of use should be a top priority. Look for a system that offers a simple and intuitive setup process, a clean and modern user interface, flexibility and customization options, and responsive customer support. By prioritizing ease of use, you can provide a smooth and seamless booking experience for your customers, leading to increased conversions and happier guests.
Key takeaways
- An easy-to-use booking engine benefits both you and your customers.
- Look for a booking engine that offers a user-friendly setup process, a clean and modern user interface, flexibility and customization options, and responsive customer support.
- Prioritizing ease of use can lead to increased conversions and happier guests.
Spotlighting Past Hall of Fame Inductees
Recognized for being industry pioneers, inductees to the HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame are the individuals behind much of the hospitality industry’s technology developments. Since 1989, 51 innovative and influential professionals have been selected to be a part of this venerated group, and this Spring, nominations are once-again being accepted for 2023 nominees. The deadline to apply is April 17, with inductees recognized at the upcoming HITEC Toronto on June 27.
Jeff Edwards, also a 2023 inductee, said, “Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a true career honor, as it is a recognition by my industry peers. I am pleased to be alongside a group of outstanding professionals, each with their own specialties all culminating in the excellence and progress of the hospitality technology industry.”
Inductees are a true encapsulation of the past, present and future of our industry, having been extensively involved in the role technology plays. Because of this, we asked inductees to discuss their perspective on the industry. We talked about the challenges — old, new and ongoing — what technologies have had an impact and which will continue to bring change to the hospitality industry.
What follows is an insightful conversation with a group of inductees. Participants include: Dave Berkus; Richard Brooks; John Burns; Fraser Hickox; Ted Horner; Jon Inge; Michael Kasavana; Douglas Rice; and Harbans Singh. [Original interview conducted in 2015, edited and shortened for HFTP Connect.]
Notable IT Challenges
There is no question that change is one of the defining features of technology, and as professionals who started in this industry more than four decades ago, many of our participants went from zero to 100 percent integration. In the early days, if you can believe it, one of the largest hurdles to overcome was getting management to visualize the benefits of technology tools.
Brooks says, “Perhaps the greatest consistent challenge I encountered was just the acceptance of technology in our industry. For many years technology was viewed as a ‘necessary evil,’ or a tool that had not reached sufficient functionality and maturity to be a truly competitive asset to hospitality managers.” And because there was not sufficient support for technology, it took some time for technology companies to gain a foothold and stay in business long enough for their products to gain acceptance.
Time and technology did move forward, with technology developments leading to a size reduction of hardware — hello PCs and mobile media — and the improved functionality of systems. The challenge then came in the form of disconnected systems: the POS didn’t match the CRM, etc. Rice explained, “We operate in a world with hundreds or thousands of vendors, most of whom don’t play by common architectural rules that would make it easier for hotels to bind them together in a cohesive way. So there are lots of loose ends that each hotel group (or even individual hotel) needs to try to tie together as best they can, which often isn’t a good or cost effective solution.”
Never-ending Challenges
Today technology is an essential business element and with its ubiquitous qualities, it also brings ongoing challenges. Not surprisingly, high on the list is data security, if the news is any indication. “Security is an obvious one, though not so much that it doesn’t end, as that we didn’t use to worry about it at all. Now we have to, and the problem will continue to get worse every year,” declares Inge.
Then there is the fact that technology development still moves at lightning speed. There continues to be the challenge of keeping up with changes, maintaining functionality with upgrades and convincing executives to continue to make the investments.
“Each seven to 10 years, there is a new generation of technology that challenges suppliers of systems to upgrade or rewrite in orders to remain current and fend off new competitors who are starting with a clean slate and no massive user base to service, a reality that distracts R&D developers of current solutions from concentrating upon only the next generation,” explains Berkus. “Hospitality technology vendors and users must learn to be agile and adapt to change — or suffer a loss of leadership or even relevance. This form of creative destruction has continued to ravage the industry from its technology beginnings and provides openings for new companies with new ideas periodically to shake up this industry.”
Keeping up With Technology Innovation
In a discipline that has been experimental, new and evolving; keeping up-to-date depending on information sharing amongst practitioners.
Horner explains, “The only way to stay current is to attend as many industry events as possible, as face-to-face contact is the best way to liaise with industry colleagues and get the information you want directly. HITEC is the first date in my diary and this year is my 27th in succession.”
He further explained, “Methodology to solve problems only comes with experience and if you have a good global network of contacts this helps as you can reach out to discuss with them what they did to solve a problem. Also, I have found common sense is a great starting point in looking to solve issues and sometimes this is lost in the desire to solve a problem quickly.”
Singh agrees, “In terms of problem solving, the key issue is to identify what the problem is. It seems like a no brainer, but many times the problem is not understood. The key to solving the problem is to look for the right resources, knowing who can help you address the issue; or if not, point you in the right direction.”
Another notable way to build knowledge is to accept the guidance of others. Hickox says, “I am fortunate to have a number of mentors who would freely exchange their thoughts on what was evolving from their labs. With this information I was able to undertake further research and determine how it may be applied within the industry.”
Final Reflections
As participants wrap up the conversation, they have some final thoughts to share:
Kasavana said: “Nothing can impact the way a hospitality business is planned, conducted or managed than a sound technology roadmap.
The industry has a promising future given the progressive evolution of sophisticated property management systems, food service management systems, and guest and non-guest operated interfaces.”
On hospitality professionals, Burns is intrigued by, “The need by hotel management staff for strong leadership, mental agility, despondency and a willingness to repeatedly reinvent their teams and their objectives.”
Read this full interview in the HITEC 2015 Special Report.
Nominate a technology pioneer for the 2023 Hall of Fame by April 17, 2023.