SUMMARY
One of the simplest but important goal in the hospitality industry is guest satisfaction. Guest satisfaction comes from good customer services; therefore, it's always best to put your guest first. Reading this article [exemplify] the focus on putting their customer & culture first. A franchisee of one of La Quinta started a simple ideal called "Here For You" which branched off into the company's newly defined culture & experience. CEO, Wayne Goldberg, of La Quinta took his time to explain at a conference of their brand "Here For You." He want the brand to signify the way of life at each La Quinta. The goal of this brand is to look at everything from the views of the guest. The little things always count to them, which cause the avoid of bad experiences for their guest. Training, from the GM to every employee, is need to continue on with their brand. Therefore, these events held by the CEO helps La Quinta pursue their goal & drive to being there for every guest. Many La Quinta hotels are being renovated with newly defined values in which we bring comfortable & attracting atmosphere to their guest service. At the end of the day, the main focus will be serving great customer service to leave their guest with high quality experiences.
REFLECTION
This article grasp my attention because I work at a hotel & always look forward to helping my job progress with customer service; whether learning something new or gaining ideals to bring to the table, I'm always found of reading articles like this one. This article also relates to the hotel I currently employed in, which is the Crowne Plaza hotel. Just by a simple ideal of defining culture to the hospitality industry, La Quinta turn their ideal into a goal that positivity helped their industry. Also, it will leave many guest with good expectation to experience the quality of good guest service. The CEO of La Quinta explain to what one of their hotel's brand was known for, in which entitle: "Here For You." This goal is to look at everything from the perspective of the guest, such as the small things that may cause a bad experience for some guest. There is always room for improvement in every hotel. At the Crowne Plaza hotel, our brand is "To Ensure Excellent Service" which we focus on making sure the guest have the best help, the right answers to every question, find everything convenient, & keep everyone satisfied with a smile on their face. The better guest service, the better experiences that are to expect. Its all about the guest, therefore, guest will always come first.
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Stoessel, Eric. (11 March 2011). La Quinta Puts Customers, Culture First. Retrieved 17 April 2011, from Lodging Hospitality. http://lhonline.com/news/la_quinta_here_for_you_0311/
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
What will the Guestroom of the Future Look Like?
SUMMARY:
Hotel is known for being a home away from home. Many hotelier seek comfort in customer service, the quality of the rooms & the overall environment when commuting at their hotel of choice. Also, we are all aware of the advance of technology in the hotel industry. Therefore, as years goes on, we tend to wonder on how will hoteliers adapt to the constant change in hotels. It serves into this article where Associate Editor, Christina Volpe, wrote about on how the future outlook of hotel guestrooms will look.
If you tend to travel to many hotels due to business, pleasure or different occasions, it is important to wonder how your guestroom will look. It is always about the experience that you earn at hotels. And hotel rooms tend to constantly change no matter where you go. Now, with the enhance of technology, how convenient would it be to have a computer that talks in your room? The progression of computer interaction are liable to serve great purpose in the hotel industry. In a few years from now, it will be a new phase of vocal recognition in which we will lose our old ways with typing on a computer to now vocally interacting with a computer. There are many application for this type of technology in the hotel industry. In addition to the new look in hotel rooms, it will make things easier to have your personal device interact within your guestrooms. This look will conduct with using your mobile device to do certain things in your room. This growing trend of technologies will impact the guestrooms in a great way. Also, they are looking into making radio frequency identification (RFID) much easier for guest & that will also improve to the growing trend of guestroom technologies.
REFLECTION:
There is really no greater feeling than actually feeling like home when you are a guest at a hotel. It makes things easier to enjoy & relax, which is worth the traveling experience. After a long day traveling & you are finally checked in, you look forward to just getting well acquainted in your room. We usually experience the same technologies & necessities in every guestroom we commute in; however, hotel rooms constantly change. Even the type of technologies in the hotel industry is constantly changing. How easy & convenient would it be if your room was voice interactive?
This article grasp my interest when it focus on the future outlook of hotel rooms. The growing trend of guestroom technologies will invest in giving computers that are able to communicate with every guest. This new phase of voice recognition in guestrooms will impact the hotel industry tremendously. I find that investment proactive, convenient & amazing. Also, guestroom technologies are creating trends that give your own personal device interaction with your rooms, such as your mobile phone can do certain things in the room. I'm starting to realize how guestrooms are making guest become more lazier when it comes to move around in your room. And there is nothing wrong with that improvement. It just give guest more comfort to enjoying their room with less trouble. I look forward to this new phase of guestroom technologies.
Volpe, Christina. Associated Editor. (2011, March 08). What will the Guestroom of the Future Look Like?. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/What-will-the-Guestroom-of-the-Future-Look-Like-66628
Hotel is known for being a home away from home. Many hotelier seek comfort in customer service, the quality of the rooms & the overall environment when commuting at their hotel of choice. Also, we are all aware of the advance of technology in the hotel industry. Therefore, as years goes on, we tend to wonder on how will hoteliers adapt to the constant change in hotels. It serves into this article where Associate Editor, Christina Volpe, wrote about on how the future outlook of hotel guestrooms will look.
If you tend to travel to many hotels due to business, pleasure or different occasions, it is important to wonder how your guestroom will look. It is always about the experience that you earn at hotels. And hotel rooms tend to constantly change no matter where you go. Now, with the enhance of technology, how convenient would it be to have a computer that talks in your room? The progression of computer interaction are liable to serve great purpose in the hotel industry. In a few years from now, it will be a new phase of vocal recognition in which we will lose our old ways with typing on a computer to now vocally interacting with a computer. There are many application for this type of technology in the hotel industry. In addition to the new look in hotel rooms, it will make things easier to have your personal device interact within your guestrooms. This look will conduct with using your mobile device to do certain things in your room. This growing trend of technologies will impact the guestrooms in a great way. Also, they are looking into making radio frequency identification (RFID) much easier for guest & that will also improve to the growing trend of guestroom technologies.
REFLECTION:
There is really no greater feeling than actually feeling like home when you are a guest at a hotel. It makes things easier to enjoy & relax, which is worth the traveling experience. After a long day traveling & you are finally checked in, you look forward to just getting well acquainted in your room. We usually experience the same technologies & necessities in every guestroom we commute in; however, hotel rooms constantly change. Even the type of technologies in the hotel industry is constantly changing. How easy & convenient would it be if your room was voice interactive?
This article grasp my interest when it focus on the future outlook of hotel rooms. The growing trend of guestroom technologies will invest in giving computers that are able to communicate with every guest. This new phase of voice recognition in guestrooms will impact the hotel industry tremendously. I find that investment proactive, convenient & amazing. Also, guestroom technologies are creating trends that give your own personal device interaction with your rooms, such as your mobile phone can do certain things in the room. I'm starting to realize how guestrooms are making guest become more lazier when it comes to move around in your room. And there is nothing wrong with that improvement. It just give guest more comfort to enjoying their room with less trouble. I look forward to this new phase of guestroom technologies.
Volpe, Christina. Associated Editor. (2011, March 08). What will the Guestroom of the Future Look Like?. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/What-will-the-Guestroom-of-the-Future-Look-Like-66628
Monday, March 28, 2011
Are Smartphones Winning the Hotel Check-In Debate?
SUMMARY
We all know that technology plays a major role in our society today & the advance of technology will always continue to grow. Most people nowadays owns a smartphone which have great features & it comes well in handy. In this article, the main focus was on phone apps for your smartphone in which correlates into the hospitality industry. When many people check-in at their destination hotel, there is a possibility that there will be a long line waiting to check-in. Many people are ready to check-in & head to their rooms as soon as they can due to the length of their travels. Now the author, Gustaaf Schrils, VP of IHG, mentioned about the debate on using apps to improve the speed of "check-ins." Apparently, smartphone apps seem to be a great opportunity to enhance the speed. It was stated that "apps are important links to customer service & support.." & most travelers can agree.
Since there are many apps created, the debate with having a check-in/check-out app for the hotel industry may be a smart ideal which benefit hotels & customers. For example, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently conducted a real world application called OpenWays in which was basically an app so when a guest check-in, all you do is register on the phone & once you arrive to your hotel, you place a certain call & put the phone to the door just to open it. It seem so advance & that is the ideal/debate dealing with smartphone apps. It is all about improving & creating a simple, easy & fast lifestyle for travelers in the hotel industry. Maybe in a few years we will start hearing & seeing more about the advance within smartphone apps being used for check-in & check-out instead of using kiosks.
REFLECTION
Being that I am an employee at a hotel & I realize how long the lines can form for checking-in, it become a hassle. Also, I am not a fan of having guests wait too long because it draws complaints or dissatisfaction. Therefore, reading this article gave me a good aspect to look forward to seeing what technology features will be presented in the future of the hospitality industry. The article was a debate about creating smartphone apps for check-in/check-out at hotels. Even though many hotels have kiosks, but the advance of technology (smartphones) can be effective for when checking-in at a hotel. I feel that there are many great applications on my iPhone, so why not have an app for checking in-&-out? I feel that this technology improvement will make things simple, easier & faster.
For example, in the article, InterContentinal Hotels Group, recently conducted a real world application called OpenWays which was basically the first mobile-based front desk bypass solution. If a guest wanted to register for a hotel, normally, you can just call up the hotel or do it online; however, OpenWays look further into improving that type of method. All you would do is call or register online, then give the system your number. Once that is complete, you will receive a text message with your room information. Upon arrival, you do not have to worry about going to the front desk agent, so all you do is head to your room, call a special toll-free number & when it validates the guests' information, you place the phone to the door lock to enter your room. This seem so effective & easy in which I would not mind using an app like that. However, the ideal may have a negative aspect toward people who do not own smartphones. Also, it can be a security issue for the hotel industry, if you are not aware who is checking in-&-out of the hotel. All in general, I like the ideal & also look forward to smartphone apps dealing with checking in-&-out in the hospitality industry, but I'm also prepared for down side to this ideal.
----
Schrils, Gustaaf. Hospitality Technology. (2011, March 15). Are Smartphones Winning the Hotel Check-In Debate?. Retrieved March 14, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/Are-Smartphones-Winning-the-Hotel-Check-In-Debate-71375
We all know that technology plays a major role in our society today & the advance of technology will always continue to grow. Most people nowadays owns a smartphone which have great features & it comes well in handy. In this article, the main focus was on phone apps for your smartphone in which correlates into the hospitality industry. When many people check-in at their destination hotel, there is a possibility that there will be a long line waiting to check-in. Many people are ready to check-in & head to their rooms as soon as they can due to the length of their travels. Now the author, Gustaaf Schrils, VP of IHG, mentioned about the debate on using apps to improve the speed of "check-ins." Apparently, smartphone apps seem to be a great opportunity to enhance the speed. It was stated that "apps are important links to customer service & support.." & most travelers can agree.
Since there are many apps created, the debate with having a check-in/check-out app for the hotel industry may be a smart ideal which benefit hotels & customers. For example, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently conducted a real world application called OpenWays in which was basically an app so when a guest check-in, all you do is register on the phone & once you arrive to your hotel, you place a certain call & put the phone to the door just to open it. It seem so advance & that is the ideal/debate dealing with smartphone apps. It is all about improving & creating a simple, easy & fast lifestyle for travelers in the hotel industry. Maybe in a few years we will start hearing & seeing more about the advance within smartphone apps being used for check-in & check-out instead of using kiosks.
REFLECTION
Being that I am an employee at a hotel & I realize how long the lines can form for checking-in, it become a hassle. Also, I am not a fan of having guests wait too long because it draws complaints or dissatisfaction. Therefore, reading this article gave me a good aspect to look forward to seeing what technology features will be presented in the future of the hospitality industry. The article was a debate about creating smartphone apps for check-in/check-out at hotels. Even though many hotels have kiosks, but the advance of technology (smartphones) can be effective for when checking-in at a hotel. I feel that there are many great applications on my iPhone, so why not have an app for checking in-&-out? I feel that this technology improvement will make things simple, easier & faster.
For example, in the article, InterContentinal Hotels Group, recently conducted a real world application called OpenWays which was basically the first mobile-based front desk bypass solution. If a guest wanted to register for a hotel, normally, you can just call up the hotel or do it online; however, OpenWays look further into improving that type of method. All you would do is call or register online, then give the system your number. Once that is complete, you will receive a text message with your room information. Upon arrival, you do not have to worry about going to the front desk agent, so all you do is head to your room, call a special toll-free number & when it validates the guests' information, you place the phone to the door lock to enter your room. This seem so effective & easy in which I would not mind using an app like that. However, the ideal may have a negative aspect toward people who do not own smartphones. Also, it can be a security issue for the hotel industry, if you are not aware who is checking in-&-out of the hotel. All in general, I like the ideal & also look forward to smartphone apps dealing with checking in-&-out in the hospitality industry, but I'm also prepared for down side to this ideal.
----
Schrils, Gustaaf. Hospitality Technology. (2011, March 15). Are Smartphones Winning the Hotel Check-In Debate?. Retrieved March 14, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/Are-Smartphones-Winning-the-Hotel-Check-In-Debate-71375
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Luxury Hotels Rent Rooms By The Hour
REFLECTION
If you're looking forward to spending a few hours in any upscale hotel on any special day, the title of this article will spark your interest because it sure sparked my interest. As I read this article by Kitty Yancey, she basically spoke on how upscale hotels are looking forward to renting out their rooms by the hour for a lesser amount than their actual price for one night. Some upscale hotel industries are looking forward to making their rooms convenient for not just lovers, but also business people, shoppers or people who are waiting for a late plane. Even though upscale hotels rooms are still a bit expensive, but half of the price is not a bad deal. Everyone would love the experience of a luxury hotel.
Later in this article, it shift into the subject "love hotels" in which are hotels that are romantically decorated & made for certain guest who look forward to have a lovely, romantic day/night. "Love hotels" are commonly popular in Japan. Now it was mention that many young people live with their parents, which a love-hotel can be a good ideal for them to get away & spend some romantic time with their significant other. This is really a good ideal in which love hotels would include a discreet reception desk where you don't have to show your face. Therefore you get all the privacy needed. I feel that many hotels will begin promoting love hotels & it may work worldwide for the hotel industries
SUMMARY
Just by reading the title of this article, grasp my attention. I am a big fan of finding out about staying in luxury hotels. For example, walking down South Beach-Miami, Florida, my friends & I decided to stop by an upscale hotel called The Setai. Even though the outside appearance of this hotel was not that appealing but once I got a small tour of the hotel, I fell in love. This was one of a kind, luxury hotel you don't see everyday. From the front-of-the-house settings to the rooms, it was a very comfortable place. Therefore, I proceed to ask about the price. From what the front desk agent told me, it was $800 a night. I was surprise. Now from reading this article, I would love for this ideal of renting rooms by the hour to be effective for The Setai Hotel. I would not mind renting out any upscale hotel. Just renting a nice, luxury room for a special day with that significant other, can be romantic and fun to my prospective.
Now about the "love hotel," I actually like the ideal which fall in subject with renting luxury rooms by the hour. Its very catchy & romantic for the lovers who like to impress their significant other to a nice place in a good atmosphere. I feel like this ideal will grow in the future & many hotels will promote "love hotels" & let guest rent rooms for that. I know whenever I own my hotel, I would not mind investing in to putting something like that in my industry
Yancey, Kitty. USA TODAY. (2011, March 3). Luxury Hotels Rent Rooms By The Hour. Posted March 3, 2011, from USA TODAY: http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/03/trend-luxury-hotels-rent-rooms-by-the-hour/145870/1
If you're looking forward to spending a few hours in any upscale hotel on any special day, the title of this article will spark your interest because it sure sparked my interest. As I read this article by Kitty Yancey, she basically spoke on how upscale hotels are looking forward to renting out their rooms by the hour for a lesser amount than their actual price for one night. Some upscale hotel industries are looking forward to making their rooms convenient for not just lovers, but also business people, shoppers or people who are waiting for a late plane. Even though upscale hotels rooms are still a bit expensive, but half of the price is not a bad deal. Everyone would love the experience of a luxury hotel.
Later in this article, it shift into the subject "love hotels" in which are hotels that are romantically decorated & made for certain guest who look forward to have a lovely, romantic day/night. "Love hotels" are commonly popular in Japan. Now it was mention that many young people live with their parents, which a love-hotel can be a good ideal for them to get away & spend some romantic time with their significant other. This is really a good ideal in which love hotels would include a discreet reception desk where you don't have to show your face. Therefore you get all the privacy needed. I feel that many hotels will begin promoting love hotels & it may work worldwide for the hotel industries
SUMMARY
Just by reading the title of this article, grasp my attention. I am a big fan of finding out about staying in luxury hotels. For example, walking down South Beach-Miami, Florida, my friends & I decided to stop by an upscale hotel called The Setai. Even though the outside appearance of this hotel was not that appealing but once I got a small tour of the hotel, I fell in love. This was one of a kind, luxury hotel you don't see everyday. From the front-of-the-house settings to the rooms, it was a very comfortable place. Therefore, I proceed to ask about the price. From what the front desk agent told me, it was $800 a night. I was surprise. Now from reading this article, I would love for this ideal of renting rooms by the hour to be effective for The Setai Hotel. I would not mind renting out any upscale hotel. Just renting a nice, luxury room for a special day with that significant other, can be romantic and fun to my prospective.
Now about the "love hotel," I actually like the ideal which fall in subject with renting luxury rooms by the hour. Its very catchy & romantic for the lovers who like to impress their significant other to a nice place in a good atmosphere. I feel like this ideal will grow in the future & many hotels will promote "love hotels" & let guest rent rooms for that. I know whenever I own my hotel, I would not mind investing in to putting something like that in my industry
Yancey, Kitty. USA TODAY. (2011, March 3). Luxury Hotels Rent Rooms By The Hour. Posted March 3, 2011, from USA TODAY: http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/03/trend-luxury-hotels-rent-rooms-by-the-hour/145870/1
What's The Secret To A Speedy Drive-Thru?
REFLECTION
Due to the fact that sometime, I prefer waiting in a drive-thru line than getting out of the car & walking in any fast-food restaurant, I found this article interesting to read. It pretty much gave the basic key factors on making every customer's drive-thru experience a positive, fast one. In this article, Keith Solomon, who is the owner of NEF#1 LLC/Popeyes, who came up with an ideal to make drive-thru experiences more profitable & faster. Therefore, he came up with a challenge for many drive-thru businesses to see which restaurant are able to assist customer's the fastest through their drive-thru. Now that meant for these businesses, fastest time, fewer mistakes. However, the challenge/contest was to last four consecutive weeks, in which at the end of those weeks, the manager of that restaurant would win a cash price as well as the employees. It was not much but it gave a drive to the employees to do a great job & assist their customers as quickly & helpful as possible. At the end of the challenge, the main factor that made the "secret" to a speedy drive-thru, was on how the technologies worked for these restaurants (less mistakes made, better & quicker service) & also the employees (better, dedicated staff, great service).
SUMMARY
I actually admire on what this article spoke about due to the fact that I related to my daily experience in drive-thru & also my work ethic. The Popeyes owner gave his franchisees a challenge for their restaurant to see which drive-thru works the fastest. Once that was determine, a good cash reward was giving out to the manager & the employees. This form of reward gave the company more dedication to achieve their owner's goal & as well please the customers who come through drive-thru. I know I have good & bad experiences with drive-thru. I sure hate slow drive-thru; therefore, the quicker I'm in a drive-thru, the better it is. I would always come back to that restaurant if the drive-thru work within my need. In addition to that, I also related this article to my hotel job. The quicker we are able to check-in a guest on a busy day/night, the easier things may function and the guests are able to be patient since the check-in process will not take that long. Everything works well when customers are satisfied & employees put the effort to make sure the customer stay satisfied.
Solomon, Keith. Hospitality Technology. (2011, March 3). What's the Secret to a Speedy Drive-thru?. Posted March 1, 2011, from HospitalityTechnology.edgl.com: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/What-s-the-Secret-to-a-Speedy-Drive-thru-70953
Due to the fact that sometime, I prefer waiting in a drive-thru line than getting out of the car & walking in any fast-food restaurant, I found this article interesting to read. It pretty much gave the basic key factors on making every customer's drive-thru experience a positive, fast one. In this article, Keith Solomon, who is the owner of NEF#1 LLC/Popeyes, who came up with an ideal to make drive-thru experiences more profitable & faster. Therefore, he came up with a challenge for many drive-thru businesses to see which restaurant are able to assist customer's the fastest through their drive-thru. Now that meant for these businesses, fastest time, fewer mistakes. However, the challenge/contest was to last four consecutive weeks, in which at the end of those weeks, the manager of that restaurant would win a cash price as well as the employees. It was not much but it gave a drive to the employees to do a great job & assist their customers as quickly & helpful as possible. At the end of the challenge, the main factor that made the "secret" to a speedy drive-thru, was on how the technologies worked for these restaurants (less mistakes made, better & quicker service) & also the employees (better, dedicated staff, great service).
SUMMARY
I actually admire on what this article spoke about due to the fact that I related to my daily experience in drive-thru & also my work ethic. The Popeyes owner gave his franchisees a challenge for their restaurant to see which drive-thru works the fastest. Once that was determine, a good cash reward was giving out to the manager & the employees. This form of reward gave the company more dedication to achieve their owner's goal & as well please the customers who come through drive-thru. I know I have good & bad experiences with drive-thru. I sure hate slow drive-thru; therefore, the quicker I'm in a drive-thru, the better it is. I would always come back to that restaurant if the drive-thru work within my need. In addition to that, I also related this article to my hotel job. The quicker we are able to check-in a guest on a busy day/night, the easier things may function and the guests are able to be patient since the check-in process will not take that long. Everything works well when customers are satisfied & employees put the effort to make sure the customer stay satisfied.
Solomon, Keith. Hospitality Technology. (2011, March 3). What's the Secret to a Speedy Drive-thru?. Posted March 1, 2011, from HospitalityTechnology.edgl.com: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/What-s-the-Secret-to-a-Speedy-Drive-thru-70953
Monday, February 21, 2011
iPads Replacing Restaurant Menus, Staff
SUMMARY
Bruce Horovitz, the editor for USA Today, wrote an interesting article about how, clearly, technology is advancing even in the restaurant chain. Nowadays & well off in the future, technology is definitely playing a big role in the hospitality industry in which now iPads are being place at restaurants. He made it clear in the beginning of the article that customers that visit this restaurant is not only visiting for the food, wine or beer, but surely for the iPads that are used at the restaurant. One of the many restaurants that will start this great & interesting technology change will be Torrance. It was stated that the new chain Stacked were placing iPads in three of the Southern California units in May 2011. One, out of the two co-founders of this great ideal, Paul Motenko, mainly believe that in the future of restaurant ordering & design may be digital. Therefore, placing the iPad will attract particular groups such as young people. However, it will not be easy walking off with these iPads in the restaurant, due to the alarm they carry with the it. So it is just best to use the iPad for what it is for & enjoy placing your own meal & creating/designing your personal burger.
REFLECTION
To be honest, the title of this article sparked my interested to read it. I realize the advance of technology is growing faster than I imagine; therefore, to read an article about how the founders of this ideal are placing 100 iPads in certain restaurants is amazing. One of the ideals of placing iPads at certain restaurant is to attract the young people, which the younger crowd love seeing new technology. I clearly agree with how the founders are approaching with the ideal & at the same time, focusing on the growth of technology within their chain. I do not mind sitting at my favorite restaurant & ordering my meal through an iPad. I find that very convenient & intriguing. This will draw me closer to that restaurant & continue inviting friends over. This is a great business abstract to any restaurant chain due to the fact that it will draw attraction to their company, as well as work toward their customers & the growth of technology
Horovitz, Bruce. USA Today. (2011, February 18). iPads Replacing Restaurant Menus, Staff. Retrieved January 21, 2011, from USAToday.com: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-02-16-ipadcafe16_ST_N.htm
Bruce Horovitz, the editor for USA Today, wrote an interesting article about how, clearly, technology is advancing even in the restaurant chain. Nowadays & well off in the future, technology is definitely playing a big role in the hospitality industry in which now iPads are being place at restaurants. He made it clear in the beginning of the article that customers that visit this restaurant is not only visiting for the food, wine or beer, but surely for the iPads that are used at the restaurant. One of the many restaurants that will start this great & interesting technology change will be Torrance. It was stated that the new chain Stacked were placing iPads in three of the Southern California units in May 2011. One, out of the two co-founders of this great ideal, Paul Motenko, mainly believe that in the future of restaurant ordering & design may be digital. Therefore, placing the iPad will attract particular groups such as young people. However, it will not be easy walking off with these iPads in the restaurant, due to the alarm they carry with the it. So it is just best to use the iPad for what it is for & enjoy placing your own meal & creating/designing your personal burger.
REFLECTION
To be honest, the title of this article sparked my interested to read it. I realize the advance of technology is growing faster than I imagine; therefore, to read an article about how the founders of this ideal are placing 100 iPads in certain restaurants is amazing. One of the ideals of placing iPads at certain restaurant is to attract the young people, which the younger crowd love seeing new technology. I clearly agree with how the founders are approaching with the ideal & at the same time, focusing on the growth of technology within their chain. I do not mind sitting at my favorite restaurant & ordering my meal through an iPad. I find that very convenient & intriguing. This will draw me closer to that restaurant & continue inviting friends over. This is a great business abstract to any restaurant chain due to the fact that it will draw attraction to their company, as well as work toward their customers & the growth of technology
Horovitz, Bruce. USA Today. (2011, February 18). iPads Replacing Restaurant Menus, Staff. Retrieved January 21, 2011, from USAToday.com: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-02-16-ipadcafe16_ST_N.htm
Monday, January 31, 2011
Handheld POS Serves 1,300 Guests Per Hour at Dinner & Movie Concept Chain
SUMMARY
I was interested in reading an article by Darek Health, about Studio Movie Grill, one of an upscale cinema chain where you can sit down & enjoy a wonderful dinner while watching a movie. I find that to be very relaxing & entertaining. Now Studio Movie Grill is based in Dallas, Texas, where there are many other locations of innovated full-service bar & food cinemas as this company; however, Studio Movie Grill managed to invest in handheld POS (point of sale) systems for their food-service operation. You don't see this every day in many cinemas in which having handheld POS can suit your desires better with order food. Before, the handheld POS at Studio Movie Grill, the company would have to use pen & paper which proved to be slower. Now that they switch to wireless handhelds, the company's service began to increase rapidly. It is stated in the article that each Studio Movie Grill location now serves an average of 1,300 customers per hour. This new investment in handhelds enabled the company to reduce food-service staff & increase the service in which the average amount of money each customers spends. In the beginning, the company tried investing in PDAs, but they had smaller screens with short battery life & bad food-service operation. Therefore, the change that set up & upgrade to the Socket Mobile's (SoMo) 650 handheld computer & Digital Dining software; which included larger screens, long battery life & good wireless connections for a better food-service operation. This change was a great move. This improvement for the company formed greater efficiencies in fast food-service operation in which the company will continue to grow. I definitely will expect other companies to invest in mobile handhelds in their food-service operation. It is a great investment!
REFLECTION
I chose this article for a few reasons. One of the reasons were due to the fact that I love learning about how new technology or operations can improve a company in many ways. The second reason was due to the fact that I've been to an innovated cinema like Studio Movie Grill & realize the type of food-service. And lastly, I just learned about POS (point-of-sale) system so I'm interested to learn about the development in our society. Now I truly believe that technology is growing rapidly so more & more companies are adapting to these changes, whereas reading the article showed that investing in handhelds POS was a great move for Studio Movie Grill. It definitely increase their service in which gave them a better average of customers served in one hour, as to what the number is stated from the article's title. Also, I remember back in the days, I went on a date to an innovative cinema like Studio Movie Grill & from reading this article, I realize there were no handheld POS service which made the service slow even though we were still able to eat & enjoy the movie. But now that I am aware of mobile handhelds for these cinemas, I would prefer to be able to use one for my food-service. I realize point-of-sale systems are very convenient & helpful for every customers desires, especially when it comes to fast food-service operations. I've been to a couple of restaurants with handhelds POS & I like that type of system. It also set competition for other companies in different locations. Therefore, the investment for handheld POS is never a bad ideal.
I was interested in reading an article by Darek Health, about Studio Movie Grill, one of an upscale cinema chain where you can sit down & enjoy a wonderful dinner while watching a movie. I find that to be very relaxing & entertaining. Now Studio Movie Grill is based in Dallas, Texas, where there are many other locations of innovated full-service bar & food cinemas as this company; however, Studio Movie Grill managed to invest in handheld POS (point of sale) systems for their food-service operation. You don't see this every day in many cinemas in which having handheld POS can suit your desires better with order food. Before, the handheld POS at Studio Movie Grill, the company would have to use pen & paper which proved to be slower. Now that they switch to wireless handhelds, the company's service began to increase rapidly. It is stated in the article that each Studio Movie Grill location now serves an average of 1,300 customers per hour. This new investment in handhelds enabled the company to reduce food-service staff & increase the service in which the average amount of money each customers spends. In the beginning, the company tried investing in PDAs, but they had smaller screens with short battery life & bad food-service operation. Therefore, the change that set up & upgrade to the Socket Mobile's (SoMo) 650 handheld computer & Digital Dining software; which included larger screens, long battery life & good wireless connections for a better food-service operation. This change was a great move. This improvement for the company formed greater efficiencies in fast food-service operation in which the company will continue to grow. I definitely will expect other companies to invest in mobile handhelds in their food-service operation. It is a great investment!
REFLECTION
I chose this article for a few reasons. One of the reasons were due to the fact that I love learning about how new technology or operations can improve a company in many ways. The second reason was due to the fact that I've been to an innovated cinema like Studio Movie Grill & realize the type of food-service. And lastly, I just learned about POS (point-of-sale) system so I'm interested to learn about the development in our society. Now I truly believe that technology is growing rapidly so more & more companies are adapting to these changes, whereas reading the article showed that investing in handhelds POS was a great move for Studio Movie Grill. It definitely increase their service in which gave them a better average of customers served in one hour, as to what the number is stated from the article's title. Also, I remember back in the days, I went on a date to an innovative cinema like Studio Movie Grill & from reading this article, I realize there were no handheld POS service which made the service slow even though we were still able to eat & enjoy the movie. But now that I am aware of mobile handhelds for these cinemas, I would prefer to be able to use one for my food-service. I realize point-of-sale systems are very convenient & helpful for every customers desires, especially when it comes to fast food-service operations. I've been to a couple of restaurants with handhelds POS & I like that type of system. It also set competition for other companies in different locations. Therefore, the investment for handheld POS is never a bad ideal.
- Health, D. (2011, January 13). Handheld POS Serves 1,300 Guests Per Hour at Dinner & Movie Concept Chain. Retrieved January 31, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/case-studies/Handheld-POS-Serves-1,300-Guests-Per-Hour-at-Dinner---Movie-Concept-Chain65986
Monday, January 24, 2011
Hotel Retrofitting: How to Avoid Falling into a Money Pit
SUMMARY
Eric Rahe, principal of BLT Architects, and Bob Voth, executive vice president of PHY Engineers Inc., recently create an article that dealt with building new hotels in old buildings. In the hospitality industry today, there are many hotels that are structured from existing buildings and that plays a cost of things being affordable and easy to use certain technology. Now these two gentlemen were looking forward to repurposing existing buildings in urban environments and restructuring these buildings into hotel. However, they believed that remodeling building always have three challenges when it comes to properly using certain technology. One of the first issues were knowing what is currently in the building. In urban environments, many time the old buildings that are trying to be used as hotels are old apartments or offices. Therefore, there can be difficulty renovating an old building that's been renovated in the past by different architects. The cost of breaking down walls and other things can be a bit expensive. The best way to deal with this problem would be to use 3-D laser imaging technology that can help identify certain structure issues befor the designing process. This way can limit the cost of constructions.
The second issue that this architect and engineer faced was incorporating systems in small spaces. In other words, old buildings may have small systems which may limit a few things due to small spaces. By far, this can be a big challenge to renovate an old building to a hotel since certain requirements for that building must be met.
The last issue was, of course, creating a modern experience for the guest. Service is very important in the hotel, therefore, many guests would expect high-tech, nice hotel rooms. Even though when it comes to renovating old buildings into hotels, some hotels were not build to have many wired for modern technology, so many wiring must be fixed in one single location in the rooms. Within this issue, Rahe and Voth believe that lighting was often the biggest challenge when it comes to wiring. However, just by a wireless radio frequency system, that limit the amount of wires that need to be used. In that case, the developing process became easier and pleasing for the guest and operators. As long as you were aware of the old structures, reusing that building to a hotel can work out just the way you want it.
REFLECTION
The reason I chose this article because I work at a hotel that's been reused into a new hotel. When I was hired at the Crowne Plaza, I remember being told that the Crowne Plaza was an old building before just two years ago. It took a whole year just to renovate it from an old building into a hotel. However, the building still deals with certain structure issues. Just like from the article, it deal with incorporating system in small spaces. In a few rooms, the wiring for technologies are literally located in one single location of the room. Even though it is reuse and made better, guests would have to deal with the old structures. For example, some light switches are located outside the guest's bedroom than on the inside of their bedroom. Many guests are confused by that mix up, so we, as employees, make sure they are aware of where to locate certain things in the rooms they book. Also, even though the Crowne Plaza is renovating from an old building to a new hotel, it still face need of constructions. There will always be something new to add in every building. I sure agree on the challenges E. Rahe and B. Voth faced when it came to reconstructing an old building into a hotel. It has a whole lot of reconstruction to be done just to please every guest and operator.
Rahe, E. & Voth. B. (2011, January 4). Hotel Retrofitting: How to Avoid Falling into a Money Pit. Retrieved January 23, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/Hotel-Retrofitting--How-to-Avoid-Falling-into-a-Money-Pit65728
Eric Rahe, principal of BLT Architects, and Bob Voth, executive vice president of PHY Engineers Inc., recently create an article that dealt with building new hotels in old buildings. In the hospitality industry today, there are many hotels that are structured from existing buildings and that plays a cost of things being affordable and easy to use certain technology. Now these two gentlemen were looking forward to repurposing existing buildings in urban environments and restructuring these buildings into hotel. However, they believed that remodeling building always have three challenges when it comes to properly using certain technology. One of the first issues were knowing what is currently in the building. In urban environments, many time the old buildings that are trying to be used as hotels are old apartments or offices. Therefore, there can be difficulty renovating an old building that's been renovated in the past by different architects. The cost of breaking down walls and other things can be a bit expensive. The best way to deal with this problem would be to use 3-D laser imaging technology that can help identify certain structure issues befor the designing process. This way can limit the cost of constructions.
The second issue that this architect and engineer faced was incorporating systems in small spaces. In other words, old buildings may have small systems which may limit a few things due to small spaces. By far, this can be a big challenge to renovate an old building to a hotel since certain requirements for that building must be met.
The last issue was, of course, creating a modern experience for the guest. Service is very important in the hotel, therefore, many guests would expect high-tech, nice hotel rooms. Even though when it comes to renovating old buildings into hotels, some hotels were not build to have many wired for modern technology, so many wiring must be fixed in one single location in the rooms. Within this issue, Rahe and Voth believe that lighting was often the biggest challenge when it comes to wiring. However, just by a wireless radio frequency system, that limit the amount of wires that need to be used. In that case, the developing process became easier and pleasing for the guest and operators. As long as you were aware of the old structures, reusing that building to a hotel can work out just the way you want it.
REFLECTION
The reason I chose this article because I work at a hotel that's been reused into a new hotel. When I was hired at the Crowne Plaza, I remember being told that the Crowne Plaza was an old building before just two years ago. It took a whole year just to renovate it from an old building into a hotel. However, the building still deals with certain structure issues. Just like from the article, it deal with incorporating system in small spaces. In a few rooms, the wiring for technologies are literally located in one single location of the room. Even though it is reuse and made better, guests would have to deal with the old structures. For example, some light switches are located outside the guest's bedroom than on the inside of their bedroom. Many guests are confused by that mix up, so we, as employees, make sure they are aware of where to locate certain things in the rooms they book. Also, even though the Crowne Plaza is renovating from an old building to a new hotel, it still face need of constructions. There will always be something new to add in every building. I sure agree on the challenges E. Rahe and B. Voth faced when it came to reconstructing an old building into a hotel. It has a whole lot of reconstruction to be done just to please every guest and operator.
Rahe, E. & Voth. B. (2011, January 4). Hotel Retrofitting: How to Avoid Falling into a Money Pit. Retrieved January 23, 2011, from Hospitality Technology: http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/top-stories/Hotel-Retrofitting--How-to-Avoid-Falling-into-a-Money-Pit65728
Sunday, January 16, 2011
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