john smallwood
Debunking Common Myths About AI: Why Human Hotel Staff Are Still Irreplaceable
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | September 17, 2024
By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook September 2024 As technology evolves, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a valuable tool across industries, especially in hospitality. However, with this rapid advancement, misconceptions about AI's role in replacing human workers have also surfaced. Conversational AI systems like Annette, the Virtual Agent™ (Annette) from Travel Outlook, complement rather than replace human staff. Dive in below as we address some widespread myths and explain how AI supports hotel teams in providing an exceptional guest experience. Myth 1: AI Systems Work Right Out of the Box A misconception i...
Navigating the Complex World of Conversational AI – Part 4
John Smallwood | August 28, 2024
Why Hoteliers Can't Afford to Ignore AI: The Impact of Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent™ By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook August 2024 Over the past couple of months, we've explored the evolving role of conversational AI in hospitality, particularly focusing on Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent™ by Travel Outlook. This series has highlighted Annette's advanced capabilities, which include handling complex guest requests, personalizing interactions, and providing multilingual support. These features have positioned Annette as a critical asset for hoteliers looking to enhance guest experiences and streamline internal operat...
Navigating the Complex World of Conversational AI – Part 3
Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ | August 7, 2024
Elevating Hotel Operations with Conversational AI By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook August 2024 Recently, we explored how conversational AI, particularly Annette the Virtual Agent™, enhances guest experiences by understanding complex requests, personalizing interactions, and providing multilingual support. In the third part of our series, we will explore Annette's ability to handle a multitude of frequently asked questions (FAQs), route calls to internal departments, and seamlessly transition guests to live agents when needed. Dive in below as we explore the advanced capabilities of Annette, and how she helps your hotel...
Navigating the Complex World of Conversational AI – Part 2
Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ | July 16, 2024
AI's Role in Hospitality: Enhancing Guest Experience with Conversational AI By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook July 2024 As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a powerful tool that allows hoteliers to unlock new levels of efficiency. Not all AI is created equal, and what works for one industry may not work for another. In our previous post, we explored the fundamental questions hoteliers should ask when considering AI solutions, focusing on how AI can provide guests with a warm, engaging, and personalized experience. Continue reading below as we dive into the conversati...
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...
Navigating Today’s Persistent Labor Shortages in Hospitality
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | February 22, 2024
How technology can help the hospitality industry traverse these turbulent waters and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever. By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook February 22, 2024 – In the dynamic hospitality industry, where guest satisfaction reigns supreme, the persistent challenge of staffing shortages has reached a critical juncture. According to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), a staggering 67% of hotels are grappling with staffing shortages. This scarcity of personnel is not merely an inconvenience; it is a significant impediment to the industry's seamless operation. Despi...
Travel Outlook Partners With Thrio to Advance the Travel Industry Customer Service Experience
Travel Outlook The Premier Hotel Call Center | September 7, 2023
With Thrio's Revolutionary Cloud Contact Center Technology, Travel Outlook Is Taking Consumer Reservations and Customer Service to the Next Level SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO (September 2023): Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™, is pleased to announce a partnership with Thrio, a revolutionary contact center platform that’s making waves in the customer service industry. As the first and only call center certified by the Kennedy Training Network (KTN), Travel Outlook uses a unique, industry-leading sales approach developed exclusively by KTN to train their reservations specialists. With the KTN system, Travel Outlook closes up to ...
AI Is Here to Work With Your Employees, Not Replace Them
Travel Outlook the Premier Hotel Call Center™ | February 21, 2023
Why Hotels Are Now Adopting Zero-Labor Solutions By John Smallwood Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a buzzword in today’s information age. It’s the way of the future and changing how we do business. AI is all around us. It’s in our phones, our cars, and in our homes. In business, AI has captured the interests and imaginations of executives across multiple industries. Not all artificial intelligence is created equal, and the pursuit of artificial achievement may be common, but realizing its full potential is still rare. Continue reading below to learn why. The State of Travel in 2023 The ongoing travel boom was p...
