Percipia Collaborates With Amazon’s Alexa Smart Properties Hospitality to Launch VIVA+...
PERCIPIA | September 16th, 2024
The Top 7 Pain Points in Hospitality Procurement and How to Overcome Them...
Johannes Vocke | July 24th, 2024
MOLLIE Aspen Partners With Hotel Internet Services for Future-Proof WiFi and High-Speed Guest Connectivity
Hotel Internet Services, Inc. | August 6, 2024
Luxury boutique property adopts scalable network design to support new advances in smart internet technology. ASPEN, Colo. — August 6, 2024 — Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service provider of internet connectivity services and solutions for the hospitality industry, has announced the deployment of a sophisticated WiFi network upgrade for MOLLIE Aspen in Aspen, Colorado. A newly constructed luxury property designed to reflect the natural beauty of its mountain surroundings and offer refined comfort and convenience to its guests, MOLLIE Aspen selected HIS to design and implement a scalable network that would outperform typical Wi...
Why Recruiting Tech Talent in Hospitality Is a Challenging Task
EHL | August 5, 2024
This article was written as part of HFTP Digital Horizons 360 Symposium in Palma de Mallorca and also appeared in the inaugural issue of HFTPs magazine TechFin Hospitality. As technology is becoming gradually more important in hospitality, the industry is facing a significant challenge: a shortage of skilled IT professionals capable of navigating the complexities of modern day technology. Developing IT talent has become a pressing concern for hotels and resorts worldwide as they strive to harness the full potential of digital innovation. One of the primary issues facing the hospitality industry is the competition for tech talent. With ...
The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas and Amadeus Join Forces to Expand Hospitality Employment and Job Training
AMADEUS | August 1, 2024
The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas and Amadeus, together with the Culinary Union are pleased to announce a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas and Amadeus to support the continued post-pandemic recovery of the hotel industry and to connect hospitality workers with good union jobs and on-the-job training. The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas will add Amadeus’ HotSOS Housekeeping software solution to its training curriculum to provide job training to youth, adults, and displaced workers. This new partnership is the result of work by researchers from five universities who study the implementation of technology ...
Otelier Product Suite Now Available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace
Otelier | August 1, 2024
Integrating Otelier’s tools with Oracle Cloud applications allows hoteliers to centralize property-level data across their portfolio to automate back office tasks and turn analysis into action. ATLANTA, GA, August 1, 2024 – Otelier, a leading provider of back office automation and business intelligence tools and a member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), today announced that three Otelier solutions – DigiAudit, TruePlan and IntelliSight – are available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace and can be deployed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and integrated with OPERA Cloud via the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP). Oracle C...
AI 101: A Primer on How It Is Structured
HFTP | July 29, 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a term that dominates conversations in many contexts. However, many people struggle to provide an explanation of what AI is and how it functions. The release of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022 has reignited the hype surrounding AI, but this excitement is not new. AI has been a topic of interest since 1956, when John McCarthy organized a conference in Dartmouth, New Hampshire, where scientists gathered to discuss and explore the possibilities of AI. The term "artificial intelligence" was first used at this event, which marked the beginning of a field that has continued to fascinate and develop ever since. How is AI de...
AI in hospitality: Personalizing and Enhancing Guest Services
EHL Group | July 29, 2024
This article was written as part of HFTP Digital Horizons 360 Symposium in Palma de Mallorca and also appeared in the inaugural issue of HFTPs magazine TechFin Hospitality. In the fast-paced world of hospitality, guest service is undergoing a transformative shift, due to the further digitalization and the growing importance and integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Of course, some of these changes are happening at a very slow pace or have so far not been visible for the customers, but one thing is for sure, that the implementation of AI in guest services is developing rapidly. Where certainly big hotel chains are ...
Robotics, Hotels and Storytelling
PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management | July 29, 2024
With rapid technological progress and a renewed emphasis on health and safety in the wake of COVID-19, more and more Chinese hotels are relying on robotics to facilitate customer service provision. Yet we still know little about how such service robots influence customers’ brand experience – a critical determinant of hotels’ growth and profitability in today’s highly competitive market. Rising to this challenge, Dr Vincent Tung of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a co-researcher bridge the gap between tourism and humanities research to explore customers’ narratives of hote...
AI May Make Mistakes, But It Won’t Shoot a Customer
Shep Hyken | July 25, 2024
Customers are not yet 100% comfortable with AI technology. It still makes mistakes, which is frustrating. Consider these findings from our annual customer service and CX research (sponsored by RingCentral): 70% of customers said they would rather use the phone than self-service solutions including AI-fueled technologies like ChatGPT or voice recognition software. 63% of customers are frustrated when using AI or ChatGPT technologies. 56% of customers admit to being scared of AI and ChatGPT. Even with customers’ concerns and trepidation about interacting with an AI-fueled chatbot or voice recognition technol...
The Top 7 Pain Points in Hospitality Procurement and How to Overcome Them
Johannes Vocke | July 24, 2024
By Johannes Vocke, FutureLog Chief Financial Officer Siloed and fragmented procurement software often complicates the procure-to-pay process. Outdated solutions are typically expensive, inflexible, and inefficient, yet many organisations persist in using these antiquated systems. This reliance on old-fashioned procurement management systems hinders operational efficiency. A 2023 Procurement Insights report reveals that 80% of organisations still depend on manual or semi-digital tools to manage their P2P cycle. These businesses typically utilise ERP or accounting software—an approach comparable to using a flashlight to crack a nut. W...
Artificial Intelligence Agents as a Next Step for Hotel Tech
Adam and Larry Mogelonsky | July 24, 2024
By Adam and Larry Mogelonsky Coming out of HITEC 2024 in Charlotte, Generative AI (genAI), specifically large language models (LLMs) and generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs), are moving beyond only chatbots for use cases in the hospitality sector. These AI tools are primarily recognized for handling guest inquiries and managing standard room reservations. However, their potential extends far beyond these capabilities. The future of AI in hospitality lies in agents trained for complex tasks, offering advanced solutions across various departments such as HR, finance, sales, and marketing. Despite the promising advancements, there ar...
The Impact of Technology Trends on Transforming the Hospitality Industry
Ahmed Mahmoud | July 24, 2024
By Ahmed Mahmoud Digital transformation and the leverage of technology play an important role in today’s hospitality industry, especially in the post-pandemic era. Facing the challenges of labor shortage, the rising cost of operation, and the changes in consumer needs and behaviors, hospitality businesses need to pivot their services and products with the latest technology in order to keep their competitive edge. Every year, new technology emerges and dies. hotels either adopt them and thrive, or are left behind by their competitors, but technology doesn’t stop for anyone. Just like the hotel industry. In 2024, the hotel industry...
Is AI Over-Hyped? Or Do We Actually Need to Learn This Stuff?
Daniel Craig | July 23, 2024
After so much buzz about AI over the past two years, things have grown a bit quiet. Was it all just marketing bluster, or is generative AI still poised to transform how we work and live? For hoteliers, is it enough to dabble occasionally with ChatGPT or Gemini, or do you actually have to learn how to use these tools? To find answers to these questions, it’s helpful to look at the path new technologies typically follow from inception to mass adoption. Charting AI on the Hype Cycle Decades ago, Gartner introduced the Hype Cycle to map the maturation process of emerging technologies. The model is intended to help people and compan...
Harmonizing AI and Human Touch in Hotel Management: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities
HFTP | July 22, 2024
By Are Morch, Digital Transformation Coach for Hotels This article explores common pain points faced by hotel management and owners when integrating AI, along with actionable strategies to address them, all while maintaining a focus on the harmonious collaboration between technology and human expertise. In the era of AI, we must remember that the heart of hospitality beats with human warmth. The true power lies not in AI alone, but in its harmonious fusion with human empathy and creativity. This synergy elevates service, creating experiences that are both efficient and genuinely memorable. The Investment Hurdle Cost Concerns While A...
AI’s Impact on Hotels
CBRE | July 18, 2024
By Rachael Rothman, Jack Corgel, and Christine Bang Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology enhancements for hotels promise enhanced customer service, higher margins and expanded research and booking, with improved experiences for guests. Of equal importance is the likelihood that AI and broader technology improvements will materially shift the relationship between hotel brands, third-party management companies and hotel owners, as well as the relationship between the online travel agents (OTAs), metasearch platforms and the brands, owners and managers. Key Takeaways Potential implications of artificial intelligence and technology en...
AI’s Flight Path: The Emergence of the Chief AI Officer (CAIO) in the Hotel and Airline Industries
Ivana Johnston | July 15, 2024
By Ivana Johnston The "Chief AI Officer"—or CAIO—is one of the hottest new job titles in the corporate circuit, and both the hotel and airline industries are embracing this role to stay competitive in the digital era. LinkedIn reports that the number of companies with a “Head of AI” position has more than tripled in the last five years. When IBM and Dell cut the ribbon for their Chief AI Officers last year, the race was on, and it wasn't long before Accenture, Arizona's renowned Mayo Clinic, and WPP heard the call and announced their very own CAIOs. In 2023, President Joe Biden pulled all the federal agencies into the AI race, ...
The Impact of Advanced Technology on Employment
Christopher Martinez | July 11, 2024
As our world has evolved, so has companies' hiring process across the workforce. Advancements in technology, including artificial intelligence or AI, have changed how employers review applications. Many employers have become reliant on technology and AI to identify quality candidates, and such a practice has negatively impacted applicants, as the usage of AI technology to review applications has significantly decreased individuals’ chances for employment. With algorithms and AI being used to review submitted applications and evaluate applicant responses in online assessments, qualified individuals who apply for open positions can be reje...
Assessing the Digital Infrastructure of Your Hotels
CBRE Hotels | July 3, 2024
By Robert Mandelbaum, John Pomposello, and Adam Barry In 2023, U.S. hotels faced rising operating expenses outpacing revenue growth, resulting in declining profit margins. To combat this, hotels are leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction. Key areas of technological investment include employee productivity tools, automated guest services, and improved cybersecurity. Analyzing IT expenditures from 4,121 properties, CBRE found that IT costs represented a relatively controlled 1.4% of total operating revenue, despite a 7.4% increase in 2023. Higher IT spending was noted in Resort and Convention hotels due to their e...
Taking Hotel Guest Experience to the Next Level Through Technological Integration
Imke Burger | June 28, 2024
The hospitality industry has always been centered around providing exceptional guest experiences, aiming to create memorable and comfortable stays that leave guests eager to return. In recent years, technological advancements have introduced new tools and methods that significantly enhance this mission. Today’s travelers are more tech-savvy and have higher expectations, seeking not only comfort but also personalized and seamless experiences during their stays. This shift presents hotels with an unprecedented opportunity to elevate guest satisfaction and streamline operations simultaneously. By integrating cutting-edge technology into hotel ...
GrowthCurve Capital Acquires Duetto
Duetto | June 27, 2024
San Francisco, CA – June 27, 2024 – Duetto (“Duetto” or the “Company”), a leading provider of revenue management software for the hospitality industry, today announced that it has been acquired by GrowthCurve Capital (“GrowthCurve”). GrowthCurve is acquiring the business from affiliates of Warburg Pincus and other shareholders. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Duetto offers innovative solutions that simplify hotel operations and optimize revenue. With a focus on organic product development, data and integrations, Duetto connects disparate systems into a cohesive, efficient platform that drives profitability and g...
Navigating the Complex World of Conversational AI – Part 1
John Smallwood | June 27, 2024
Questions Every Hotelier Should Ask When Considering Guest-Led Conversational AI By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook June 2024 In the rapidly evolving hospitality industry, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become crucial for hoteliers looking to enhance guest experiences and stay ahead of the competition. As AI technology continues to develop, hoteliers need to ask the right questions to ensure they select the best guest-led conversational AI solutions for their needs. Not all conversational AI solutions are created equally, and what works for one industry may not be effective in hospitality. In this series, we d...
Clairvoyix Announces a World-Class Email Reservation Confirmation System for Oracle Hospitality’s OPERA Cloud PMS.
Clairvoyix | June 26, 2024
The latest OPERA Cloud/OHIP enabled solution from Clairvoyix allows properties to send worldclass reservation confirmations/modifications/cancelations emails directly from OPERA Cloud. LAS VEGAS, NV (June 26, 2024) – Continuing their strategic objective of leveraging the Oracle Hospitality Integration Platform (OHIP), Clairvoyix has added to their growing portfolio of OPERA Cloud enabled revenue driving solutions with a leisure email reservation confirmation system that complements their previously released OPERA Cloud Block Room Confirmation system. The Clairvoyix email reservation confirmation system allows hotel and resor...
Meyer Jabara Hotels Enhances Employee Communication, Collaboration With Beekeeper
Meyer Jabara Hotels | June 26, 2024
Employee engagement platform shares company information in real time and keeps everyone engaged with the MJH’s Journey culture, HR, leadership, and peers for optimal enterprise performance [Danbury, Conn., June 26, 2024] — Employee empowerment has always been a key operating principal for Meyer Jabara Hotels (MJH). To take its Journey culture to new heights this year and boost employee engagement, the owner and operator of 32 hotels has partnered with Beekeeper, the leading app for frontline teams. Beekeeper features an intelligent dashboard that connects property leaders and the corporate management team with all frontline emp...
Cloud5 Earns Third Consecutive Win as Mitel’s Hospitality Partner of the Year
Cloud5 Communications | June 26, 2024
Chicago, IL — JUNE 26, 2024, Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of IT solutions and services for more than 5,000 hotels across the Americas, has been awarded Mitel Hospitality’s Partner of the Year Award for Hospitality. This marks the third consecutive year that the provider has earned this designation, and it serves as the latest example of Cloud5’s dedication to leading-edge technology, industry expertise, and customer service. Presented during the annual Mitel Next Partner Conference, Cloud5 was recognized for its commitment to delivering modern, Cloud-based telecommunications solutions to the hospitality market, and for ...
RFID Hotel and ID&C Enhances Strategic Collaboration With Vingcard for RFID Credentials in US and Canada
RFID Hotel | June 26, 2024
Providers approved to supply RFID credentials for Vingcard Locks [Florida 26, 2024] – Avery Products Corporation is thrilled to announce an expansion of a strategic collaboration between its hospitality-focused businesses, RFID Hotel and ID&C, and Vingcard an ASSA ABLOY company. This collaboration cements Avery as an approved vendor within the US and Canada for RFID credentials, including key cards and wristbands, enhancing the convenience, security, and access control solutions for the hospitality industry. Vingcard, hospitality’s leading provider of hotel access solutions has now accredited Florida-based businesses ID&C an...
