Travel Outlook Premium Reservations Call Center
Helping the Hotel Industry’s Staffing Shortage Problems With Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent™
Travel Outlook | September 8, 2022
Over the last decade, labor costs have risen sharply. In 2022, labor shortages are plaguing businesses across the world, and the hospitality industry is no exception. Demand for workers has never been higher, yet universal labor shortages persist, causing problems for hotels, despite the sharp rise in travel. Two-plus years removed from the pandemic, and travel has come back in a big way. Hotels everywhere had a record-breaking summer of travel, but they did so with reduced capacity thanks to ongoing labor shortages. With rising wages and the supply of workers still at historically low levels, hotels are struggling to stay afloat during...
Get Ready for The Next Intelligent AI-Powered Voice Bot
Travel Outlook | February 15, 2022
An Advanced Technology System Providing Instant Guest Service While Reducing Fixed Labor Expense In 2022, industries across the country are facing critical staff shortages that threaten to cripple their day-to-day operations. Despite the hospitality industry recovering from the disastrous events of the past two years, staff shortages still plague many hotels. Staffing shortages can negatively impact guests’ experiences, deter future reservations, and lead to a significant loss in business. If you’re looking for a way to reduce your fixed labor expenses without falling victim to typical problems associated with staff shortages, conside...
Human Interaction – The Hallmark of a Luxury Travel Experience
Travel Outlook | August 25, 2021
In an Increasingly Digital World, The Importance of Human Interaction Remains High in the Hospitality Industry The last year has changed the way the world operates, and obviously, the travel industry has been impacted significantly. Now that 2020 is behind us, the industry has been reignited, with the demand for travel soaring to new heights. If you’ve flown recently, you would have noticed that airports are once again full of life. All types of travelers are taking to the skies and the road in search of much-needed adventure and relaxation. Travelers embarking on their first trip since 2020 will notice that many aspects have chan...
The Return to Genuine Hospitality
Travel Outlook | April 21, 2021
Why the First Touch Point Sets the Tone for Your Brand In a digital age, when a potential guest picks up the phone to make a reservation, they expect a personal touch on the other end. Chances are, they’ve exhausted all digital booking avenues and are seeking true customer service by a trained professional. The consequences of not having a professional call center backing your reservation department could be detrimental to your business. Additionally, the benefits of having a trained call center serve your business could take it to new heights. Having a professional call center with highly trained agents who know the ins and outs of...
Ground Zero and Your Brand’s Image
Travel Outlook | March 25, 2021
John Smallwood President Travel Outlook Your Hotel’s Call Center is Your Brand’s First Impression In today’s consumer world, a brand’s image carries as much weight as the brand's service. Without branding, there would be no sure-fire way to differentiate yourself from your immediate competition. Imagine shopping for groceries in a store without branding. There would be no way to identify your favorite snacks among dozens of identical items. A brand’s image gives the company personality, relatability, and encourages brand loyalty. For hoteliers, your brand’s image can be made or broken by your reservation d...
Capture Direct Bookings 365/24/7
Travel Outlook | January 12, 2021
The Real Advantage to Outsourcing Voice Reservations John Smallwood, CEO Travel Outlook January 2021 As we move forward positively into 2021, the hospitality industry is rethinking its strategies. A main priority will be to carefully review how bookings are made, and the cost associated with each booking method. Now is the time to ensure bookings made through your voice channel are always made promptly, professionally, and profitably. Hotels and the bottom line Missing bookings can dramatically affect a hotel’s bottom line, especially when the reservation opportunity was a direct booking thr...
Why Independent Call Centers Often Outshine Hotel Brands
Travel Outlook Hotel Reservation Call Center Services | October 7, 2020
Most hotels have suffered a major decline in sales leads from reliable digital channels. Can the voice channel pick up the slack and drive direct bookings? Doug Kennedy, President of the renowned Kennedy Training Network, certainly believes it can. In the following interview, Kennedy discusses why the voice channel matters more than ever, and how hotels can convert more phone inquiries. He also discusses why well-trained independent call centers often outperform hotel brands. Interviewer: What are the most interesting and rewarding parts of your job? Doug: I would say the most interesting part is that I get to work with an incr...
The Imminent Influx of Call Volume
Travel Outlook Hotel Reservations Call Center Services | June 9, 2020
Get the Most Revenue from Each Call The hospitality industry has never faced a challenge quite like this. COVID-19 has brought the industry to its knees, and despite lockdown measures being steadily eased, it’s clearly going to take time for the hospitality sector to recover. Yet travel demand will inevitably grow (as we’re now seeing in our call volume at Travel Outlook), which means US hotels need to capitalize on all new reservation inquiries. But will hotels have enough onsite staff to pick up the phone? Reassuring guests in uncertain times Some US hotels have already started reopening their doors, but occupancy levels remai...
