Tech Concierge- A New Hospitality Career

Frequent changes in technology have led Crystal Cruises to develop a new position entitled Technology Concierge. The responsibilities of the technology concierge include helping guests with their use of iPods, kindle electronic readers, and other personal electronic devices. The technology concierge will also assist guests in the use of the ships 25 state-of-the -art computer center workstations.

New upgrades in technology in current times and in the near future are leading to the removal of human jobs; however Crystal Cruises has been instrumental in the retention of careers through the installation of opportunities of work in technology instruction and use. Tough economic times and cost-saving strategies lead hoteliers to determine whether or not to make cutbacks in staff; however it is necessary to make every effort to salvage human resources as in the case with Crystal Cruises.


Mercury News- Tech Concierge Article

Crystal Cruises

Digital TV Transition: A Hospitality Solution

The June 12, 2009 termination deadline for analog broadcast televisions has led hoteliers to explore facility redesign costs in regards to outlaying prospective operations with digital televisions. Hoteliers’ currently offering analog televisions have a limited chance in these tough economic times to find the most economic television offers for re outlay while providing enough aesthetics to present a competitive advantage.

Samsung Electronics has rolled out an exclusive hospitality digital television line including the 450, 457, and 550 LCD series. The television line can be tailored to all market segments from budget to luxury. The televisions’ offer a 60% power consumption reduction which in turn will provide cost-savings. The televisions’ slick and glossy design also provides guests with an at-home feeling experience.

Hoteliers looking to upgrade their facilities from analog televisions to digital televisions per the mandatory government mandate will find that the Samsung hospitality television line offers a cost-effective method to remain at a competitive advantage.

Newswire Korea: Samsung Hospitality TV's Article

SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd

Leave Your Chargers at Home

Travelers often forget to pack cell phone, camera, and/or laptop charges when away on business or leisure. Travelers’ conversely leave charges behind during lodging visits as an inventory of any lodging facilities’ lost and found/housekeeping department will display. Hotels must find a way to cater to guests needs for chargers as technology moves forward rather than relying on in-house inventory.

The Powermat, Ltd. Company recently showcased a new product at the January 2009 Consumer and Electronics Show- a wireless charger with the ability to charge iPhones, iPods, Blackberry’s and other mobile phones, GPS units, handheld games, and laptop computers. The unit allows users to plug in their unit to one of its ports, which simultaneously allows for the power charger to conduct electricity to repower the unit. The unit eliminates the use of power cords as its source of energy is created magnetically from the touch of a blackberry, etc. The unit may also be used as a power source rather then the traditional power strip, which would decrease the cases of electric shock as the unit can only be powered by the magnetic touch of an iPhone, etc.

A hotel which determines to outline its guest rooms with the Powermat charger/power strip will see improvements in space, as cords are eliminated, and electricity costs, as power is magnetically transferred through unit to source connectivity. The future may see a transition in the way items are powered and charged as the Powermat comes to the market in 2009.

Powermat Ltd.

VoIP: The New Hotel Phone System?

Hotels have long since used the PBX switchboard system and PBX operator as a source of phone communication. The advent of the internet has led to an alternative phone communication network know as VoIP. VoIP communication allows for users to employ designated internet connections in lieu of fixed phone lines. Proponents of the VoIP communication method argue that it provides a life cost significantly less than the PBX method would offer due to more efficient long and short distance call expenses.

Thing5 LLC, a provider of next generation voice solutions provider, currently provides VoIP service to 1,700 hotels in North America. Thing 5 LLC, in an effort to cut hotel long-term communication costs and allow for a transition from PBX to VoIP, currently offers potential hotels an agreement of paying a flat monthly service fee for its VoIP service. (Thing 5, LLC will waive the costs of materials and installation of the VoIP service). The company argues that an update of a current PBX system for modern use in a hotel would cost the hotelier over $30,000.

Tough economic times leave hoteliers with many cost saving and budget cutting questions to answer. A hotel transition from PBX to VoIP may provide significant costs in a Proprietor’s budget, however the owner must consider the added cost of retraining staff to manipulate the new technology, and the revenue lost from transition time during the upgrade period.

Tippit, Inc: Thing 5 VoIP Article

Thing5 L.L.C.

The Hospitality Company Website: A New Trend?

The state of the economy has led players in the hospitality industry to develop new marketing strategies with the help of IT to capture new clients and secure existing customers. Potential hospitality patrons are first captured through the reservations process as well as word of mouth. The reservations process in the hospitality industry previously involved consumers calling or walking into a hotel, restaurant, or other facility based upon chance, facility appearance, or word of mouth. The advent of the internet has led companies in the present-day to provide current and potential consumers a glimpse into their respective organizations. Online hotel websites, for instance, currently offer an outlook of amenities available, prices per relative room layouts, existing packages and deals, and easy access for on-line bookings.

Morgan’s hotel group has developed a website which is geared toward a particular segmented traveler. The hotel group has identified its clientele as consumers interested in hotel design and the origin of its particular hotel designers and used those ideals to provide a website offering commentary on its hotel designers and hotel designs. The Morgan hotel group has strayed from the current trend in hotel website offerings by targeting its marketing efforts at a clientele equipped with a more disposable income.

Hotels must determine in the impeding revamping of websites to hone in on a particular market as the Morgan hotel has decided, or to offer a broad array of prices and opportunities for consumers. The state of the economy will continue to play a key factor in hoteliers’ decisions to market price over features or vice versa in website development and design.

Fast Company: Morgan Hotels Blog

Morgans Group L.L.C.