Information Systems for Hospitality Business
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Information systems are a very important aspect of management in the hospitality business, yet they are one of management's biggest challenges. It can seem somewhat like rebuilding a ship at sea, because normal operations have to continue while the new ones are set in place. The changes can be very important, but integration of the new systems without disturbing customer service often requires a delicate balancing act. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss management and information systems in hospitality with an added focus on particular systems that are being adopted by various hotels around the world.Technology for hotels can be expensive, but it seems to be driving the industry at the present time, as hospitality professionals scramble to provide the best service possible to their customers. The hospitality industry has been somewhat slow to adopt useful technology, with a 2000 survey showing that only 27 percent felt that there are positive aspects to taking on sophisticated technology (Cline and Warner, 2000, p.2). Most hotels now include technology strategy as an aspect of their company's general business plan, with the most interest being shown by the chief financial officer. Of the highest concern, especially among the smaller and mid-sized hotels, is that the vendors of the technology services be dependable (Cline and Warner, 2000, p.2). Many executives believe that over time, service providers of technology will greatly consolidate, so that hotels
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e customer, assuming that customers will not book with the hotel unless the information is given in their own language (Fastbooking, p.1). Fully two-thirds of the world does not speak English, and yet almost all booking engines are written in English. According to research, about 20 percent of business booked at hotels, at least in the U.S., is done in a language other than English. Among user hotels in the UK, about 25 percent of all business is booked in a language other than English (Fastbooking, p.1). Fastbooking translates all the information needed for the customer to make a booking, including the customer's own information, the amenities in the room, and even converting the currency into that which is familiar to the customer. If there is a special rate for several nights, but other nights have a different price, all that information is translated for the customer as well. This puts the hotel ahead with quantum leaps because the rates, packages, currency denominations, and amenities of the rooms are all there in the correct language (Fastbooking, p.2).
The hotel's web site is the lowest-cost, highest return distribution channel for reaching the customers, and if the language is correct, the chances are much better th
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Cline Warner, Quality Management, Hilton Hotels, Entertainment's Opryland, Trend FX, English Fastbooking, , Pegasus Solutions, Molina Bacchus, Dallas Founded, information systems, terry 2003, revenue management, hospitality industry, property management, pegasus solutions, cline warner 2000, trend fx, warner 2000, central reservation, cline warner, hotel information systems, retrieved december 9, december 9 2003, terry 2003 p2,
Approximate Word count = 3140
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page)
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