Hotel Industry Trends - Technology

According to a recent Google whitepaper, the number of mobile users researching travel via their mobile devices is expected to grow 51% in 2012. The case is equally compelling for mobile booking in APAC, with more than 15% of travellers projected to book travel products and service by 2013.

Travel is one of those few and lucky verticals that is so broad and engaging that it actually works on various screens – but travel content and service providers need to be thoughtful about what to optimize for each screen and what to carry through to all to convey a consistent and integrated experience and message, says Katherine Bose, Director, Mobile Partnerships, Americas, TripAdvisor.

'From Chaos to Collaboration' research study, commissioned by Amadeus finds augmented reality, gamification, intelligent passenger records, biometrics to drive change in the next decade, heralding a new era of travel collaboration

Last year the economy remained in 'recovery mode,' allowing the industry to focus its efforts more on marketing to the travel consumer and less on scaling back budgets for the first time in several years.

TravelClick (www.TravelClick.com), a leading global provider of revenue generating solutions for hoteliers, will present three webinars for hoteliers on December 14th to review findings from its 2011 Global Travel Agent GDS Study.

Armed with powerful mobile devices, consumers and employees have become the force behind a wireless wave of change. Whether they are seeking discounted prices or looking to coordinate a sales campaign, these mobile end-users are growing impatient with companies that are still trying to control behavior and the sharing of information. Enterprises that fail to learn how to give up some of that control and innovate to meet the evolving needs of their constituents could soon find themselves in the back of the pack.

The Cornell Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) has issued two new studies. One report offers a framework for managers to analyze their information technology integration. The other is a tool that allows managers to simulate their service operations, so that they can analyze costs and service levels.

Lodging Interactive has recorded and produced over 50 marketing podcasts since 2007 and has made them available to the hospitality industry.

Tomorrow’s travelers will expect even more convenience and functionality from their mobile devices, and corporations and travel management companies must meet those needs or risk being left behind.

A recent Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) study has uncovered fifty-six percent of hospitality organisations planned to raise mobile investments to better equip their workforces, improve operational efficiencies and ultimately enhance the customer experience.