Tech Talk

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Definitely Doug 6/9/23: Hotels Fighting Trafficking: The Role of Technology
Posted: 06/09/2023

This week I want to address an important issue for the hospitality industry, albeit one that technologists have not historically had on their radar. They can potentially play a significant role in addressing the issue, which is human trafficking, and more specifically sex trafficking.

In my last column, I reviewed some key trends in autonomous mobile robotics for hotels, and dove into three categories of delivery robots in more detail – room delivery, food delivery, and heavy-lift robots. This week I will round out the topic with several other robot types and applications, as well as general guidance for evaluating, acquiring, and adopting mobile autonomous robotics. If you have not yet read part one, I recommend going back and doing so before continuing below, as some of the introductory material is important background to what follows.

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Best Practices for Hotel & Resort Operators in Pool Season 2023
Posted: 05/25/2023

With the arrival of warmer weather and summer fast approaching, hospitality operators are gearing up for another pool season. This year, technology is at the forefront of driving booking revenue and taking operational efficiency to the next level. Modern technology platforms (such as hospitality’s newest technology category – the Property Experience Management System or PXMS) are providing brand new capabilities that unlock new strategies and approaches to filling the pool with satisfied guests.

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The Growing Role Technology Plays in Hotels and Restaurants
Posted: 05/25/2023

In the past few years, hotels and restaurants have grown into hubs for entertainment, leisure, and human connection. In an effort to best serve their guests, operators have begun rethinking their technological investments and working to adapt to recent shifts in consumer preference and operations. To ensure that guests have the best on-site experience possible, brands are increasingly looking to new technologies to make their experiences more convenient and comfortable. Advanced property management systems (PMS) and point-of-sale (POS) systems can increase operational and staff efficiency, while also meeting changing customer expectations for a high-value but relatively low-touch experience.

This week I will return to a topic I have covered before, because it has, within the last 12 to 18 months, become one of the hottest-growth categories in hospitality technology. That topic is autonomous mobile robots – specifically, ones that can move around the facility as well as perform specific tasks. Many of these products were launched pre-Covid but were often seen at the time as more of a marketing gimmick than a legitimate operational solution.

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What Helps Hotel Websites Have the Best Visiting Experience?

03/06/2015

by Nimesh Dinubhai

It is true that reviews on TripAdvisor, OTAs and social media play a role in helping leisure travelers make a purchase decision, but a large majority of these travelers still visit the hotel website to learn more about the hotel they are going to book. This means it is important to design a convincing and effective website, but exactly what do hotel website visitors want to see in a website? Do you really understand what makes the difference between bouncing and booking for visitors to your hotel website? If you ensure that your website has the following elements it will work just fine.

1. They want to see hotel insider pictures: The statistics show that hotel websites with over 100 photos may increase the likelihood of booking enquiries by 238 percent compared with hotels that have no photos on their websites. Be sure to add clear descriptions of each room along with high quality photos of different areas in the rooms to help make it easier for your guests to create a perfect visual in their mind. Don't forget to share other insider pictures – show them what the breakfast area is like, or how the front porch looks. Consider the selling points of your hotel to find unique features to display. Always include consistent imaging from your hotel website through the booking process.

2. They want to see the hotel prices/tariff: Be as explicit as possible about your prices and tariff. You have to take guesswork out of the picture by clearly mentioning what you charge for different rooms and what is included in the package. Don't forget to mention if you charge per person or per room. Clarify if the guests will have to pay any reservation fee. Tell them if taxes are included in the price or not. Be sure to make your promotional offers as visible as possible. Creating discounts for longer stays, especially in the off-season, is a great way to maximize your revenue. Make it easy for groups to find tariff details about accommodations and specials for retreats, meetings and weddings.

3. They want to see an easy booking process: Even if you've drawn the customer in through photos, descriptions and prices, you may lose them if they find it difficult to complete the booking process. A complex and distracting booking engine will lead to confused and frustrated guests. A booking engine with simple grid display, coupled with a few click booking processes will enable visitors to book instantly. Make sure the booking engine displays important information about rooms. The booking engine should work seamlessly on mobile devices and should give your potential guests some info about additional services such as Wi-Fi, family rooms, airport pick-up and more.

4. They want to know about your location and what makes it special: Fill your guests in on your location and the logistics of getting to wherever they want to go. Explain what type of experience they will have in and around the area. What opportunities will await them when they leave your hotel in the morning? Write about your location in relation to all the fun things a traveler would want to enjoy in your area. This may include museums, restaurants, wineries, universities, golf courses, natural wonders, airports, conference centers and more. Visitors come for different reasons, so be sure to paint a picture of all things they could be doing while staying at your hotel.

5. They want to know about the best events in and around your location: You can entice your guests and even make them stay longer by including a calendar of activities on your hotel website. Tell them everything about shows, concerts, antique car shows, athletic events and anything else that you think your guests would want to know about. Help them decide exactly when they want to come to your hotel to enjoy certain events.

6. They want you to be approachable with quick contact details: Giving your guests easy access to your support department will help get more bookings. Be clear about your contact details – this gives credibility to your hotel website and allows people to contact you to clarify any confusions they may have about making a reservation.

Always bear in mind that several website design components have the potential to convert site lookers into room bookers. Your website is usually the first opportunity for a potential guest to learn about your property. Grab this engagement opportunity with both hands and be sure to take advantage of everything that would give your potential guests the best visiting experience.

About The Author

Nimesh Dinubhai
President
Websrefresh

Nimesh Dinubhai completed his studies in 2003 and launched Websrefresh to help businesses grow their ROI. He also owns two Arizona hotels, one of which earned the Historical Hotel Award in 2014.