Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino Partners With Travel Outlook to Elevate Guest Service Experience
Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | October 2, 2024
Debunking Common Myths About AI: Why Human Hotel Staff Are Still Irreplaceable
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | September 17, 2024
Operations
The Essex Resort and Spa Partners With Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center, to Offer Its Guests Genuine Hospitality and a Friendly, Helpful
Travel Outlook The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | January 5, 2023
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO (January 2023): Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™, is pleased to announce that The Essex Resort and Spa in Essex, Vermont has joined the group of exceptional hotels enjoying the premium Travel Outlook voice services. In an increasingly digital world, a personal touch goes a long way, and a friendly and helpful voice can provide the definition of true hospitality. Callers are looking for sincere, direct assistance, not a generic response off a call sheet, and a properly trained call center agent will approach every call in this supportive way, matching the particulars of the hotel with the needs of the ca...
INTELITY Announces Updated Strategic Partnership With Unifocus, Formerly Knowcross
INTELITY | December 21, 2022
The updated partnership will provide new features for a stronger staff operations flow Los Angeles, CA (December 21, 2022) - INTELITY®, provider of hospitality’s leading guest experience and staff management platform, announced today an updated partnership with Unifocus, the global leader in hospitality operations software. Following recent revisions to Unifocus’s technology, the INTELITY integration is all new. Built on INTELITY’s R5 platform to take advantage of its industry leading capabilities, the latest integration includes richer synchronization of guest request details between INTELITY and Unifocus. “Partnering with INT...
Using Artificial Intelligence to Positively Impact Your Hotel
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | December 20, 2022
How Hospitality-Specific AI is Changing How We Do Business By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook December 2022 Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be a buzzword in today’s information age. AI is all around us. It’s in our phones, it’s in our cars, and it’s promised to be the way of the future. AI has captured the interests and imaginations of executives across multiple industries. I recently sat down with Adam and Larry Mogelonsky to discuss the importance of conversational AI and their recent article, Why Conversational AI Exemplifies the New Era of Hotel Operations. What I found was that not all artificial intell...
Virdee-Cloudbeds Connection Provides Fully Contactless Operations Platform
Virdee | December 15, 2022
The integration allows hotels and hosts to provide a completely contactless guest experience, including mobile or kiosk check-in, while improving guest satisfaction at each touchpoint. AUSTIN, Texas – December 15 – Virdee, which delivers digital check-in and virtual concierge services to the lodging industry, has announced an integration to Cloudbeds, an all-in-one lodging operations platform, that will provide hoteliers and hosts with an efficient end-to-end solution for providing contactless guest experiences. Virdee will be available as a new partner in Cloudbeds’ Marketplace. The Virdee Virtual Reception provides a fully cont...
Agilysys Announces Agreement With Marriott International to Deliver Its Cloud-Native Property Management System (PMS) Software Across Marriott’s
Agilysys | December 15, 2022
ALPHARETTA, GA — DECEMBER 15, 2022 — Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AGYS), a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions that deliver High Return Hospitality, today announced an agreement with Marriott International, Inc., (NASDAQ: MAR) to deploy its cloud-native property management system (PMS) software across Marriott’s United States and Canada luxury, premium and select service hotels over the coming years. Agilysys offers hospitality-focused innovation, the ability to provide diverse capabilities across different types of properties, and cloud-native technology that simplifies employee operations and enhances guest exper...
3 Tips We Learned From a Top Luxury Hotelier
INTELITY | December 13, 2022
From the latest Inside the Industry, redefining luxury with the inclusion of technology By: Matthew Lynch As a hotelier, you know there are many ways to define luxury. From a property’s physical space to its service culture standard, there’s no question that luxury lives in the details. But can you define a hotel as luxurious without modern, interactive technology? Perhaps luxury hotelier, Vaughn Davis, can offer some insight. With over a decade of experience at leading luxury lifestyle hotels in New York and Los Angeles, Vaughn is a forward-thinking, modern-day savant with exceptional vision and consistent attention to detail. A...
Kindred Spirits: Three Factors Independent Hoteliers Should Look for in a PMS Partner
Warren Dehan | December 13, 2022
By Warren Dehan The right team will encompass nimble reactions, personal support, and reliability; These traits will ensure the PMS vendor speaks hoteliers’ language and comes to the table with their own ideas to help meet operational goals Finding a high-quality technology partner may not get easier for independent hoteliers in the new year. Independent hotels are subject to operational challenges effectively served by only a select group of property-management system (PMS) providers, and they have increasingly relied on technology to manage their hotels, grow revenue, and communicate with guests. Unfortunately, the post-pandemic era...
Oracle Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape Worldwide Hospitality Property Management Systems 2022 Vendor Assessment
Oracle Hospitality | December 7, 2022
“Oracle Hospitality’s strategy around OPERA Cloud property management system puts the company in a strong position for the next phase of connected hospitality systems” AUSTIN, Texas – December 7, 2022 – Oracle has been positioned as a ‘Leader’ in the inaugural IDC MarketScape Worldwide Hospitality Property Management Systems (PMS) 2022 Vendor Assessment1. The report notes that Oracle Hospitality OPERA Cloud PMS “sets the bar as an example with all modules within the platform sharing a common data set and end-user experience and are secure, scalable, and globally available.” Where hoteliers have previously been hindered...
AAHOA Commends Best Western® Hotels & Resorts for Being Collaborative and Open-Minded With Respect to Fair Franchising Initiatives and Education
AAHOA | December 7, 2022
ATLANTA, Ga., Dec. 7 – AAHOA leadership, which represents the largest hotel owners association in the world with nearly 20,000 members, recently met with leaders John Kelly, Board Chairman; Larry Cuculic, President and Chief Executive Officer; Danny Lafayette, Board Vice-Chairman; Phil Payne, Board Secretary-Treasurer; Mike Merchant, Board Director; Ishwar Naran, Board Director; Viral (Victor) Patel, Board Director; and Stephen Wahrlich, Board Director, from Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, a global brand leader with a portfolio of 19 brands, and approximately 4,500 hotels across all chain scale segments. The focus of the meeting was...
Newpark Resort & Hotel Partners With Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center, to Increase Voice Channel Revenue and Improve Guest Satisfact
Travel Outlook The Premier Hotel Call Center™ | December 5, 2022
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO (December 2022): Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™, is pleased to announce that Newpark Resort in Park City, Utah has joined the exceptional hotels enjoying the premium Travel Outlook voice services. Newpark Resort understands that in an increasingly digital world a personal touch goes a long way, and a friendly and informative voice on the other end of the line is just what it takes to turn a curious caller into a repeat customer. According to Doug Kennedy, President of the Kennedy Training Network, “voice has become a forgotten revenue channel, and many hotel leaders have failed to recognize the i...
Increase Reservations and Lower Labor Cost by Harnessing Cutting-Edge AI Technology
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | November 29, 2022
How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Hospitality Industry By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook November 2022 If you were to ask 100 hotels what the greatest problem they face in their day-to-day operations is, they would all reply with a similar version of the same story— staffing issues. Staffing shortages have become increasingly problematic for hotels around the world. These issues started before the pandemic and were made exponentially worse by the last two and a half turbulent years. Despite a hotel's best efforts, staffing shortages are noticed by guests and often negatively impact their stays. For most hot...
Third Parties First: Why Hotel PMS Integrations Matter as Much as Its Operational Capabilities
Warren Dehan | November 29, 2022
By Warren Dehan Hospitality technology companies are integrating with more and more third parties, and these relationships are almost as valuable as the services they offer at the ground level What will be the next innovation to hit the industry, and will your hotel be able to accommodate it? “No man is an island,” and no property-management system comes prepackaged with all the capabilities needed to operate a hotel on its own. Successfully operating an independent hotel today requires a myriad of partnerships, and the same is true for offering a high-quality PMS platform. Technology is always changing, and operators should ask the...
Fully Mobile: Visual Matrix Integrates MOP Housekeeping Management System Into PMS, Expands Platform Capabilities
Visual Matrix | November 18, 2022
First Direct Integration in the Industry Using the New HTNG Express PMS API Specification Dallas, November 17, 2022 - Visual Matrix, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the hospitality industry, is becoming a completely mobile-first platform. The company today announced the full mobile integration of its MOP housekeeping solution into its award-winning PMS, part of a comprehensive feature expansion that includes the first direct integration in the industry using the new HTNG Express PMS API specification and coming in early 2023, a fully device responsive enhancement of its user interface. The enhancements empower ho...
Agilysys Brings Its Market-Leading Hospitality Cloud Solutions to Hotel Operators in the Middle East
Agilysys | November 15, 2022
Hospitality veteran Hussein Tawalbeh to lead sales and operations in the region from Dubai UAE ALPHARETTA, GA — November 15, 2022 — Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions that deliver High Return Hospitality, today announced it is bringing its Agilysys Hospitality Cloud solutions to the Middle East. While Agilysys previously has cultivated customers in the region through its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) operations in the United Kingdom, the company now has hired Hussein Tawalbeh, an executive whose hospitality expertise comes through a 20-year career in the region, to lead ...
Shiji to Power POS Technology for American Liberty Hospitality (ALH) in the United States
Shiji | November 15, 2022
Shiji Group continues its rapid growth in the Americas region signing POS master agreement with American Liberty Hospitality for Shiji's Infrasys Cloud POS. ATLANTA, Georgia, November 15,2022 – Shiji announced today that its product Infrasys Cloud Point-of-Sale (POS) has gone live at one of American Liberty Hospitality biggest properties in Houston, Texas. The American company decided to deploy Shiji Infrasys, a leading food & beverage enterprise solution provider of cloud point-of-sale for hospitality businesses across the globe, at Staybridge Suites Houston Galleria Area, a 318-room dual-branded Holiday Inn Express & St...
Recipes: 4 Reasons Why Your Operation Needs Them
David Lund | November 14, 2022
Introducing: Patrick CORE McClary If Your Challenge Is Food & Beverage Then – Meet Your Maker Everywhere You Look it’s Bleeding 🩸. The Patient is So Messed Up it’s Not Even Funny. It Will Never Fix Itself. You Need CORE On Your Side. Cost Operations Revenue Execute Patrick is a self-made star of the food and beverage trade. He knows and has seen it all. No problem or challenge is too big or too small. He can help you turn the page and make day-old bread sing again. Have a read and do yourself a favor. Reach out and talk to Patrick about how he can help you today. Recipes: 4 Reasons Why Your Operation Need...
Cut Labor Expenses Without Sacrificing Service
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | November 10, 2022
How Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent™ goes above and beyond IVR (Interactive Voice Response) systems By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook November 2022 Customer service is at the core of the hospitality industry. You won’t last long in the hotel business if you choose to cut corners and sacrifice service for the sake of profit. Unfortunately, in the modern, complex economy, too many businesses are forced to choose between providing quality customer service and running a sustainably profitable hotel. In the past, when hotels needed a better way to handle their increasingly large call volumes, they would turn to IVR (Inter...
Think Simplicity and Cloudbeds Partner to Streamline Cloud Communications for Hoteliers
Think Simplicity | November 9, 2022
Cloudbeds selects Think Simplicity as a preferred phone system partner; Think Simplicity will soon be available in the Cloudbeds Marketplace for a seamless integration BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., Nov. 9, 2022 — Think Simplicity, a cloud communication technology provider of all-inclusive voice and chat solutions for the hospitality industry, announced today a partnership with Cloudbeds, the fastest-growing hospitality management platform. The partnership will provide joint customers with the ability to leverage Cloudbeds’ best-in-class property management software (PMS) and Think Simplicity’s full-service cloud communications system seamles...
The Shepherd Hotel: A Case Study for the Meaningful Impact of Transformative Hospitality Technology From APS®
Steve Lapekas | November 8, 2022
By Steve Lapekas, Chief Operations Officer and EVP, Business Development for APS (Above Property Services) Our world runs on bold ideas – but bringing new ideas, especially those which aim to break the molds we’ve grown most accustomed to, is a feat that requires a great deal of heart. That is, perhaps, the best way to explain the evolution of The Shepherd Hotel – a one-of-a-kind luxury hotel located in downtown Clemson, which started as a big idea with an even bigger heart. Founded by Rich Davies, a third-generation real estate developer, and Rick Hayduk, a seasoned luxury hotel leader, the Shepherd Hotel not only fills a gap in the...
INSPIRE Entertainment Resort Selects Agilysys for Property Management (PMS) and Point-of-Sale (POS) Synthesis and the Ability to Elevate Guest Experie
Agilysys | November 8, 2022
Multiple Agilysys software systems on a single cloud-based platform will deliver operational efficiency and superior guest experiences across the soon to be largest resort entertainment complex in South Korea ALPHARETTA, GA & INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA — NOVEMBER 8, 2022 — Agilysys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AGYS), a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions that deliver High Return Hospitality, today announced a meaningful addition to its Asia-Pacific customer portfolio: Mohegan INSPIRE Entertainment Resort (“Mohegan INSPIRE”), which when completed will be the largest hotel-retail-entertainment complex in South Korea. Agilysys...
Storey Hotel Management Group Expands Partnership With Stayntouch to Power Fiji’s Award-Winning Nanuku Resort With Flexible Cloud PMS
Stayntouch | November 8, 2022
Storey Hotel Management Group chooses Stayntouch PMS to empower staff to deliver exceptional service through its intuitive user interface and mobile-first design Bethesda, MD | November, 8th Stayntouch, a global leader in providing cloud hotel management solutions and guest-centric technology, today announced an expansion of its partnership with Storey Hotel Management Group, the luxury boutique hotel and resort management company with 7 exclusive properties within its global portfolio. In addition to working with Stayntouch at its Ameswell and Park James hotels in California, Storey Hotel Management Group has once again selected Stayntouc...
Leader in Hospitality PMS Partners With Hotel Operations Innovator to Give Six JARO Hotels More Control Over Their Properties
Maestro | November 8, 2022
Maestro PMS is enabling more hotel communication capabilities through integration with RoomChecking via extensive API integration MARKHAM, Ontario, Nov. 8, 2022 — Maestro PMS, the leader in cloud hosted, private cloud and on-premise property-management systems for independent hotels and luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups, has partnered with RoomChecking, a hospitality software provider who has aggregated every aspect of operations and communication into a digital platform that can be accessed from anywhere on property. Through integration with Maestro, RoomChecking allows hoteliers to simplify...
Hotel Data Strategy: The First Step Is Admitting There’s a Problem
Jason Q. Freed | October 27, 2022
By Jason Q. Freed There are three stages of the hospitality data lifecycle, starting with adopting the cloud for digital document management. As an industry we've made progress, now let's unpack the work that remains to be done. To best understand where the hospitality industry stands in terms of its adoption of digital tools and cloud-based solutions, it’s important to step back and look quickly at the big picture. First, as far away as it seems, remember that the internet itself wasn’t a widely popular tool until about 20 years ago. But it changed the game so quickly for consumers that businesses scrambled to adopt their operat...
Cloudbeds Amplify, The New Digital Marketing Solution, Launches Worldwide to Help Lodging Businesses Win More Bookings
Cloudbeds | October 27, 2022
Cloudbeds releases globally available and fully-managed digital marketing solution with key metasearch partners including Google Hotel Ads, Tripadvisor and Trivago, to help lodging businesses boost their online presence and maximize revenue. (SAN DIEGO) — Oct. 27, 2022 — Cloudbeds, the hospitality management platform powering more reservations and happier guests for lodging businesses around the globe, announced today the global launch of Cloudbeds Amplify. The new fully-managed digital marketing solution is designed to equip independent lodging businesses with the visibility and resources they need to compete effectively online to win...
