fran worrall
Phishing Attacks Are Increasing: These Steps Can Help Prevent Them
Fran Worrall | February 1, 2024
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Technostress and the Guest Experience, Part 2
Fran Worrall | December 21, 2023
By Fran Worrall Last week, in part 1 of this two-part series, Hotel Online talked with Samuel Lee, Ph.D., professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), about technostress and the guest experience. Lee, a faculty member at UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, led a research team that co-authored a groundbreaking study entitled Technostress and Hotel Guests: A Mere Hurdle or a Major Friction Point?, which examines the anxiety hospitality consumers experience as a consequence of technology use. The study is among the first to explore the concept of technostress in consumer behavior, namely hotel guests, as opposed to ...
Technostress and the Guest Experience, Part 1
Fran Worrall | December 14, 2023
By Fran Worrall The hospitality industry is increasingly dependent on technology to enhance the guest journey. Indeed, in recent years, hotels have allocated enormous financial investments to the implementation of solutions—from mobile keys to self-service kiosks--designed to streamline the delivery of guest services. Technology is changing the face of the industry, but at what cost? In many cases, it enhances the guest journey; yet in other cases, it introduces challenges that frustrate consumers and lead to dissatisfaction. Last year, Samuel Lee, Ph.D., Mehmet Erdem, Ph.D., Eda Anlamlier, Ph.D., Chih-Chien Chen, Ph.D., Billy Bai, Ph...
Merging High Tech With High Touch to Create a New Hospitality Paradigm
Fran Worrall | March 22, 2023
By Fran Worrall Hotels that achieve the right mix can improve operations, guest loyalty and profitability One of the key challenges facing today’s hoteliers is that of high tech vs high touch. Does technology conflict with personalized service? Is it possible to offer both during the same visit? And can hotels that utilize technology in favor of human interaction achieve guest loyalty? According to Chekitan Dev, PhD, a distinguished professor at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, technology and humanity not only can co-exist but also can work together to create an exciting and engaging guest experience. ...
Technology Plays a Key Role in Reducing Travel-Related Stress
Fran Worrall | January 3, 2023
Q&A with Mike Gathright of Hilton By Fran Worrall Streamlining the guest journey is top of mind for any hotelier. Hotel Online recently sat down with Mike Gathright, senior vice president of customer experience at Hilton, to learn what types of technology enable smoother and more stress-free guest stays and to find out what the brand is doing to make guest service more efficient. Gathright oversees reservations, guest services and support, as well as Hilton’s digital channels, including website and mobile app, property and contact center. HO: Briefly discuss your recent survey, The 2023 Traveler: Emerging Trends that are Inno...
Although Pre-Pandemic Profitability Will Remain Elusive, the Industry Will Make Strides Toward Recovery in 2022
Fran Worrall | January 5, 2022
By Fran Worrall As the new year begins, industry experts are increasingly hopeful about the state of hospitality. After almost two years of an unprecedented downturn and despite ongoing effects of the pandemic—including the emergence of new COVID-19 variants and increased consumer awareness regarding health and well-being—2022 looks to be more promising as the industry figures out how to fulfill guest expectations without compromising safety. HU/HO recently sat down with three hospitality insiders—Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) President & CEO Bob Gilbert, Knowland CEO Jeff Bzdawka, and Kalibri Lab...
A Flurry of Hotel Tech Company Mergers and Acquisitions Marks the End of 2021
Fran Worrall | December 2, 2021
By Fran Worrall Since early 2020, the hospitality sector has witnessed a sea change. The worldwide disruption triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic forced almost every technology company in the industry to review their portfolios, reassess their strategies and redirect resources into areas with the greatest growth potential. Some businesses became targets for opportunistic deals, while others struggled to operate in ‘new normal’ mode. Yet for companies with solid balance sheets and a willingness to take calculated risks, the pandemic provided unprecedented opportunities for growth through mergers and acquisitions. Mergers enabled some ...
How Hotels Are Getting Back to the Business of Meetings
Fran Worrall | January 26, 2021
Although in-person events may look different, the outlook is optimistic By Fran Worrall With the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine, can the return of meetings and conferences be far behind? Although the pandemic has no doubt changed the way events will be held—at least for the foreseeable future—most hoteliers and industry experts are feeling optimistic. In fact, many properties and meeting planners are already glimpsing signs of life after COVID. “We’re seeing an increase in inquiries, especially in the second half of 2021,” said Blair McSheffrey, vice-president of global & hotel sales at Sonesta, who attributes the uptick...
