| tionally, hotels were largely dependent on cards and | | | | for the next few months with only a few clicks on the |
| paperwork at the front desk to keep in touch with old | | | | computer. |
| and current customers. They were largely at the | | | | The advances in information technology extend well |
| mercy of the desires of vacationers to arrive, and on | | | | beyond booking, however. The internet is essential for |
| their own efforts and staff to be ready for potential | | | | vacationers who wish to contact those back home, |
| surges or long droughts of occupancy. Luckily, such | | | | and for those traveling on business to get in touch with |
| inconvenience and old-fashioned methods are long | | | | the office. Therefore, wireless internet has become a |
| since past, thanks to advances in information | | | | very common and very useful service for hotels to |
| technology. | | | | provide. Many business minded persons even require |
| The first area in which information technology became | | | | that a hotel offer internet services so that they can |
| important was in regards to billing. Old-fashioned | | | | keep working while on the road. Luckily, such services |
| paper-based book-keeping was time consuming and | | | | are easy to provide, as all that is required is a wireless |
| inefficient, and was not able to quickly tell a hotel | | | | router and various devices to ensure the entire hotel is |
| owner what the situation of their hotel was. Luckily, | | | | filled with the network. Modern advances in wireless |
| advances in modern record keeping allow for a hotel | | | | internet also allow for the wireless internet provided for |
| owner to keep track of what they have on hand, how | | | | hotel visitors to be used to network the hotel itself. |
| much of it they have, and how much it costs. | | | | Security cameras, door locks, and other devices |
| Accounting is complicated, but advanced accounting | | | | essential to hotel security and safety can be wired into |
| software, especially that tailored to the unique needs | | | | the network, so that staff are alerted whenever a |
| of the hospitality industry, helps to enable hotel owners | | | | door is propped open, a fire alarm goes off or |
| to make smart decisions. Services and products that | | | | suspicious activity occurs. Though the hotel guests are |
| are no longer used can be quickly cut off to save | | | | wholly unaware of it, this sort of added safety and |
| money, while those who show demand can be | | | | security keeps them safe, and in the event of a |
| increased in quantity or modified so as to reduce the | | | | problem they will most certainly appreciate the benefits |
| heavy usage. | | | | of such a system. |
| Most hotels are familiar with booking rooms and | | | | As advanced as it is, information technology in the |
| reservations over the phone, but information | | | | hospitality industry is still going forward. Intelligent |
| technology has expanded well beyond that. Hotels can | | | | booking systems enable rapid and efficient guest |
| now work with various online travel companies and | | | | feedback, along with the ability to predict who is likely |
| booking services to have their rooms booked online, | | | | to use the hotel again and inform them via e-mail or |
| with no need to employ expensive staff. This also | | | | text messages when good deals arrive. Hotels with |
| allows a hotel to advertise their open rooms and | | | | room service or other guest services can offer their |
| special deals directly to persons who would be most | | | | menus online, allowing for quick updates, high-quality |
| likely to purchase them, instead of wasting lots of | | | | photos, and other ways to allow guests to see and |
| money advertising in an unfocused manner. High quality | | | | order services before they even arrive. There are also |
| information technology thus allows for better | | | | advances in terms of payroll and inventory which |
| arrangement and management of bookings in order to | | | | make information technology a valuable asset for |
| allow a hotel to better maximize occupancy, and to | | | | saving money and maximizing profits. The unique |
| know in advance when large groups or lean times are | | | | nature of the hospitality industry makes it a great place |
| approaching. This allows a hotel manager to make | | | | for new and emerging information technology, and |
| plans regarding temporary staff, good times to | | | | forward-thinking hotel owners and managers are |
| renovate or expand, or other concerns, because he | | | | always looking for smart equipment and software to |
| she can determine the state of their hotel currently and | | | | invest in. |