Skip to main content

How Will iPhone Travel Apps Change Our Lives and the Way We Do Business?

Image
By
There is an app for almost everything. Would you agree? We have seen apps for bidding room price (Priceline.com), visual tours of a spa and a hotel (Fourseasons; with call-for-reservations functions), making or changing reservations with special requests (Choice Hotels and Omni Hotels), checking into their rooms up to 48 hours in advance (Hilton; with apps for different brands). What else can an app do for us?

Hyatt Regency Greenville, S.C. introduced an app to enhance guest service experience. It serves as a concierge in the hotel, allowing guests to see photos of the room service menu, search and get directions to nearby attractions, and order amenities. Room service? Is it necessary? According to the hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing, 80% of their guests use their handhelds to get to their hotel; the usage of guest services portal has increased by 300 – 400%; moreover, guests who use apps for room service spend 17 – 20% more compared to those who do not.

Obviously, apps have been changing customers' behaviors and the way we do business. The questions are: How far will apps take us? And how much impact will apps have on our business?

Sources:
1. Hotel-Online.com: http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2010_1st/Jan10_GBCblueHyatt.html (Picture of this post was also copied from this website)
2. Choice Hotels.com: http://www.choicehotels.com/mobile
3. U.S.A. Today: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/hotelcheckin/post/2009/11/exclusive-hilton-worldwide-to-lure-apple-iphone-users-with-new-apps/1
Labels:

Comments

  1. Linchi KwokApril 10, 2010 at 10:57 AM

    A follow-up news from U.S.A. Today on April 9, 2010:

    Small Luxury Hotels of the World launches iPhone app

    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/hotelcheckin/post/2010/04/small-luxury-hotels-of-the-world-launches-ipod-app-loire-valley/1

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Convince AI that You Are the Best Candidate for the Job

By
Last week, we discussed how more companies used AI to screen resumes and analyze job candidates’ performance in the initial interviews. We called for companies’ attention to the  potential AI biases in hiring . This week, we will visit what job candidates can do to help AI pick us and recommend us for hiring. A. Writing a Resume Tailored to AI Screening First and foremost, job candidates must thoroughly research the job and the company to understand its job descriptions and organizational culture. From there, they can: Write the resume in Word and submit it as a Word document instead of a PDF file. Select a straightforward format and avoid using graphics, charts, or complex layouts that could confuse AI. Use headings effectively to help AI pick up the content it seeks, such as “Relevant Job Experience” and “Education.” Strategically pick the relevant keywords that match the job descriptions as the job candidates describe what they perform(ed) at work. Highlight their achievements a...
12 comments
Read more

What Shall We Do When Job Seekers Cheat the AI Hiring Systems?

By
AI can streamline the hiring process, but concerns linger. For example, AI could perpetuate gender or racial biases in the hiring process , just like most human HR managers could do. Meanwhile, to increase the chances of being picked by AI, job candidates must prepare resumes and job interviews tailored to AI’s “preference.” When more job candidates understand how to convince AI that they are the best candidates for the job , can AI still make valid recommendations to hire the best-fit candidate in the pool? Then, if AI makes a mix of valid and invalid recommendations for hiring, will HR managers find it more challenging to select the right candidate for the job? The situation can get even more complicated if a candidate cheats the AI hiring systems. Cheat to bypass AI screening: Is it the cruelty of human nature? Job candidates are eager to get hired. Career coaches want to help. That is a good thing. Nevertheless, I have seen many free online tutorial videos teaching job candidate...
9 comments
Read more

Luxury vs. Millennials and Their Technology: The Ritz-Carlton (By Julia Shorr)

By
Embodying the finest luxury experience, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC has been established since 1983. In 1998, Marriott International purchased the brand offering it more opportunity for growth while being independently owned and operated. They are known for their enhanced service level as the motto states, “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen”. The luxury brand now carries 97 hotels and resorts internationally and is attempting to keep the aspects of luxury while keeping up with the trends of the technologically improving generations. The Varying Demographics of the Target Market The Ritz-Carlton’s typical target market includes: business executives, corporate, leisure travelers, typically middle-aged persons and elders, and families from the upper and upper-middle class section of society .   This infers a large range of types of travelers in which all are similar in that they are not opposed to spending extra for the luxurious ambiance. However, w...
4 comments
Read more