HOSPITALITY CONCEPTS

TOPIC; CURRENT MARKET TREENDS IN HOSPITALITY

TECHNOLOGY

Technology is a powerful tool to change that offer chances for greater competences and integration for better-quality guest service (Walker and Walker, 2014).

 Rauch (2014) states that hotel bookings have come to be very sophisticated than in the past because guests can book a hotel room in a modest way with the help of an internet. Increasing number of social media such as face book, twitter and websites also help both hotels and customers. Self-service technology has made a marvellous effect on restaurant marketing (Cole, 2008). According to Walker and Walker (2014) technology has helped restaurants in product development as there is increased shelf life of foodstuffs through preservation, meat and dairy produce alternatives. Wine chilling technology is used to allow restaurants to provide extra cool beer to their clients and this will lead to exceeding customer expectations. Beverage dispensers are also used to allow customers to serve themselves with beverage without having waiters or waitresses to serve customers. Rauch, 2014 indicates that this technology allows customers to place their own orders without the need of servers.

Furthermore, Jones (2002) states that technology is a crucial matter in accommodation as it creates a room for change within the establishment through the use of channels of distribution for hoteliers and other service providers. A channel of distribution is the way in which a hotel communicates with its customers and those channels include advertising through a variety of media such as television, direct mail and central reservations offices. The rapid growth of the internet and the marketing of rooms directly through Hotel Company websites will allow customers to deal directly with the hotel and as result customers will pay less by booking directly and hotels will have reduced costs of distribution and commission. Technology also makes it easier for small independent hotels to compete with larger chain hotels.

REFERENCES

Rauch, R. (2014) Top 10 Hospitality trends. [Online]. Available at: http:// research-methodologet.net /Hilton-hotels-pestel-analysis /

Walker, J.R. & Walker, J.T. (2014) Introduction to Hospitality Management.4^th edn.United States of America: Pearson Education Limited.

Jones, P. (2002) Introduction to Hospitality Operations: An indispensable guide to the industry. 2^nd edn. London: South-Western Cengage Learning.