September 29, 2023
Siegel Sez
Beautiful weather and a great group of consultants at the Jonas Hospitality Consultants gathering with all wearing hats for some reason!
In today’s Siegel Sez, Doug Rice in his Definitely Doug column shares part-two of his look at experiences that travelers book, and how hotels leave so much money on the table. Technology solutions might often seem complicated, but the rewards are there. It is quite a read. Doug delves into the many revenue possibilities available that promise nice rewards with minimal investment, some require no investment other than time. Nothing wrong with happy guests, right? We thank Doug for sharing his expertise.
September and then October the industry event schedule is amazing, often nonstop. We always do our CIO Summit Labor Day week and that starts us off. By the way, if you are not a subscriber to Hospitality Upgrade, please do so now at
www.hospitalityupgrade.com/subscribe. The review that Sage Hospitality’s Jeff Parker wrote for this year’s CIO Summit is amazing, everybody in the hotel industry should read it. The issue will be out in a couple of weeks so please subscribe now to receive it in print or digitally.
That was the first week of September and then a couple of weeks later it was off to The Lodging Conference in Scottsdale, which is an amazing event. I just love the opportunity to interact with the money people, and since my picture floats around the industry it was fun that so many I didn’t know (but did know me) said hello. Conversations with those who buy and sell hotels and their thoughts on technology go all over the place. A great experience and an amazing show, I was so glad I could attend.
After The Lodging Conference in Scottsdale, it was off to San Diego and the beautiful Rancho Bernardo Inn, which I have now stayed at four times over the years. Jonas Hospitality invited me to their consultants’ gathering and it was a great event. I am always honored to be invited with many of the industry’s leading consultants where vendors share their vision of the industry and the role they play in it. Jonas Hospitality was eye-opening, and with new products coming it was great that they shared it with us. I thank them for inviting me!
October is G2E, IMEX, the HFTP Annual Conference and the Fifth Annual Native Nations Gaming & Hospitality Security Conference. I just love this time of year when there are so many face-to-face gatherings that are much more valuable than the world of Zoom, which I am beginning to hate. Then again, that’s me.
Here now is part two of Definitely Doug’s look at generating revenue from guest experiences along with the latest industry technology news. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you-know-what. Go WAFLR!
Rich
rsiegel@hospitalityupgrade.com
Definitely Doug
Experience Matters! (Part Two)
In my last blog, I introduced the topic of software that enables hotel guests to book local experiences. I cited potential key benefits, including commission revenue, guest satisfaction, reduced staff workload, and new direct bookings.
This week’s continuation provides information and questions you may want to ask when evaluating products to incorporate local experiences into the guest journey. It is a complex topic, so I will start with general questions, and then dive down into details in key areas. What matters to you will differ based on your objectives, types and locations of hotel(s), and existing technology stack.
There are dozens if not hundreds of vendors in this space, far more than the 22 with which I spoke (Alliants, Amadeus Discover, BookingWhizz, Crave, E-DestinAccess, FareHarbor, GettinLocal, GetYourGuide, Holibob, Houstr, iSeatz, iVeew, Lokalee, Mount, Neorcha, OccasionGenius, OwnOutdoors, Planaday, Restaurent, Runnr.ai, Travel Curious, and UrVenue). Their products are evolving quickly, so any attempt to provide a list of vendors offering specific capabilities would be incomplete and quickly outdated. If you want to offer experiences for your hotel, I recommend constructing a Request for Information that covers the factors below (and any others) that matter to you. Use that to narrow the field to a handful of products that best fit your specific requirements and existing technologies; then do a more detailed review of those.
This article builds on concepts and terminology introduced in the prior one, so if you have not already read it, I recommend doing so before you continue.
Click here to read more of Doug’s column Experience Matters! (Part Two)
Douglas Rice
Email: douglas.rice@hosptech.net
Twitter: @dougrice
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ricedouglas
Experience Matters! (Part Two)
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- VENZA Hires Stephanie Murphy as Staff Accountant
VENZA, a leading provider of data protection and regulatory compliance solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced that it has hired Stephanie Murphy as Staff Accountant. In this role, she will provide support to the Controller in optimizing financial processes to ensure the highest level of service to VENZA clients.
www.VENZAgroup.com
GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- APS Celebrates 100th Interface Milestone
Above Property® Services (APS®), Services, a leading provider of hotel and travel technology solutions provider, has announced that it has reached a significant milestone with the launch of its 100th interface. The company’s robust suite of property management system (PMS) integrations now includes connections to most major hotel technology suppliers, making it one of the most comprehensive offerings in the industry.
aboveproperty.com
RESERVATIONS & DISTRIBUTION
- Travel Outlook Partners with MosaicVoice to Bring the Power of Artificial Intelligence to the Hospitality Industry’s Leading Call Center
Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™, is pleased to announce a partnership with MosaicVoice, a groundbreaking AI call center solution that offers real-time guidance to agents. MosaicVoice and Travel Outlook partnered to develop a revolutionary tool for Travel Outlook’s call center agents to help them handle hundreds of global clients while providing on-site level customer service.
traveloutlook.com
- Stoney Creek Hotels Partners with Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center, to Boost Voice Revenue and Increase Guest Satisfaction
Travel Outlook, The Premier Hotel Call Center™, is pleased to announce that Stoney Creek Hotels (Stoney Creek), a group of 12 unique, privately owned and operated inns and hotels, has partnered with Travel Outlook to provide voice channel services for Stoney Creek. Known for its highly personalized and effective service, Travel Outlook was chosen to enhance customer service and to take advantage of upselling opportunities for the Stoney Creek brand.
traveloutlook.com
REVENUE MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS
- IDeaS’ Award-Winning G3 Revenue Management Software Now Available in Spanish and French
IDeaS, a SAS company, a world leading provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, announced its flagship product, G3 Revenue Management Software (RMS), is now available in Spanish and French. The software is already available in English, German, and Chinese, with Japanese to quickly follow in the future.
ideas.com
GUEST FACING TECHNOLOGY
- PPDS Launches New Philips Professional Soundbar Bringing Powerful Audio Experiences to Hotel Rooms with Philips Mediasuite TVs
PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips professional displays and dedicated AV software solutions, is delighted to announce the launch of the powerful two in one Philips Professional Soundbar HAL5023 with built-in subwoofer, designed for Philips MediaSuite TVs.
www.ppds.com
- Closing the Feature Gap with Nonius TV: Cloud vs. On-Premise
Nonius TV has been offering a Cloud version since 2022, and we’re excited to announce that we’ve now aligned the features to simplify your decision-making process between the two options: Cloud and On-Premise.
noniussolutions.com
MARKETING
- Cendyn Elevates Their Hotel Digital Marketing Offering with Seamless Integration of Google Performance Max for Travel Goals
Cendyn, a catalyst for digital transformation in the hospitality industry, is excited to announce the game-changing
with Google Performance Max for Travel Goals. This integration marks a pivotal moment for its customers, promising to reshape how they connect with their audiences and drive conversions across their digital channels.
cendyn.com
BACK OFFICE
- M3 and Trintech Release New Enhancements to Streamline Financial Processes
M3, one of the hospitality sector’s #1 cloud-based accounting, financial, and data management platform in North America, and Trintech, a leading global provider of cloud-based financial close solutions for the Office of the CFO, have
introduced a new API connection that seamlessly connects M3’s trial balance with Trintech’s Adra Suite.
m3as.com
PAYMENT PROCESSING
- Shift4 Partners with Give Lively to Offer Powerful Fundraising Solution to Nonprofits
At the Global Citizen Festival, Give Lively, a ground-breaking nonprofit fundraising platform, and Shift4, a leader in integrated payments and commerce technology,
announced a partnership to the significant benefit of nonprofit organizations across the United States, too many of them burdened by cumbersome and expensive fundraising platforms.
shift4.com
OPERATIONS
- Innovation Meets Efficiency: The Powerful Integration of TTI Scanning Solutions, RMS North America, and Solonis
TTI Scanning Solutions, Solonis, and RMS North America, are thrilled to announce the successful integration of their cutting-edge technology solutions. This integration marks a significant leap in how hotel and accommodation providers manage operations, enhance guest security, help prevent chargebacks, and have a “Do Not Rent” list that can be shared with sister properties.
ttitel.com
SECURITY
- VENZA Champions Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023
VENZA, a leading provider of data protection and regulatory compliance solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced that it has signed on as Champion for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023.
www.VENZAgroup.com
- Highpointe Hotels Expand PCI, Data Protection Efforts with VENZA
VENZA, a leading provider of data protection and regulatory compliance solutions for the hospitality industry, today announced that the Highpointe Hotel Corporation has chosen it to provide expanded cybersecurity and compliance services. The agreement will deliver an array of premier products to Highpointe, cementing their strong commitment to maintaining exceptional security standards.
www.VENZAgroup.com
- CANVAS Hotel Dallas Becomes First US-Based Property to Adopt Next Generation VingCard Novel Locks by ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, a leading provider of advanced security technology for the hospitality industry, has announced the first successful US-based deployment of its VingCard Novel door lock solution by CANVAS Hotel Dallas.
www.assaabloyglobalsolutions.com/hospitality
ARCHITECTURE & INTEGRATION
- Operto Accelerates PMS Connectivity with Hapi Integration Platform
Hapi, the hospitality industry’s leading platform for fast and cost-effective connectivity between technology systems, has announced a new integration with Operto, a hospitality operating system that allows hoteliers to centrally manage portfolios and automate workflows across both the back and front offices. Through the integration, Operto can ingest data from the industry’s leading Property Management Systems by writing to a single Hapi API.
www.hapicloud.io www.operto.com
HOSPITALITY EVENTS AND ASSOCIATION NEWS
- PAS to Sponsor “A Deep Dive into the USALI 12th Edition” at HFTP’s Annual Convention October 19, 2023
- AHLA Foundation Names Julienne Smith As 2023 Peggy Berg Castell Award Recipient
- HSMAI Foundation Launches Century Campaign Fundraising Initiative
- INTELITY to Exhibit at Global Gaming Expo 2023 in Las Vegas
- HFTP Announces February Dates for Inaugural Digital Horizons 360 Symposium, an Exclusive European Event Exploring Emerging Hospitality Technologies
- American Hotel & Lodging Association and Hotel Association of Canada Announce Expansion of Green Key Global Sustainability Certification Program in Canada and the U.S. through Joint Venture Partnership
- AHLA Foundation Announces Expansion of Initiatives Aimed at Elevating Women in Hospitality
- HSMAI 2023 Sales Leader Forum Set for Long Beach, California
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For more information on Hospitality Events and Association News for 9/29/2023
MARKET REPORTS
- Double Digit Growth In Global Hospitality Industry For Q4, With Europe Leading The Way
There is a sense of buoyancy in the global hospitality industry as we head into the fourth quarter of 2023. According to new Demand360 business intelligence data from travel technology leader Amadeus,
global hotel occupancy levels up to the end of August 2023 have been an average of 10% ahead of 2022. For the fourth quarter of 2023, worldwide on-the-books occupancy data reveals that reservations are trending 11% ahead of those seen in 2022.
amadeus-hospitality.com
- Travel Recovery Continues as Hoteliers Embrace Upselling with 70% Increase in Summer 2023, According to Mews Data Snap
Mews, an industry-leading hospitality cloud, today
released the Mews Data Snap, a real-time measure of hospitality’s performance during the summer of 2023 (June, July, and August). The report also compares this year’s data to summer 2022 to pinpoint how the hospitality sector is changing.
mews.com
PIQUED OUR INTEREST
- The Rising Demand for Independent White Label Operators
- Hotel Bookings via Mobile Device Continue to Edge North
- Five Ways Technology Can Ease Staffing Pressures
- Hoteliers Test 'Elasticity' of Fees on Amenities
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For more information on Piqued Our Interest for 9/29/2023
And now for the You-Know-What...
