Innovation Celebrated in Marrakesh as UN Tourism Backs Next Generation of Startups
UN Tourism announced startup competition winners in Marrakech, with Beyond the Map taking top prize for AR-powered cultural heritage experiences.
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Oshakati Country Lodge in Namibia upgrades to Hotelogix cloud for operations modernization
Hotelogix, a globally leading cloud-based hospitality technology provider, announced that Oshakati Country Lodge and Burning Shore Hotel in Namibia has upgraded to its Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS). In addition, the Burning Shore Hotel, its sister property, has also migrated to Hotelogix. By moving away from an earlier on-premises solution, which is a well-established name in the industry, both properties aim to modernize their operations using Hotelogix's enterprise-grade solution.
How Grand Hotel Kintele in Congo Transformed Operations with Hotelogix
Nestled in the heart of Brazzaville, Congo, Grand Hotel Kintele stands as a beacon of luxury, renowned for its exceptional service and contemporary hospitality. Operating across two bustling properties, Grand Hotel Kintele has consistently focused on providing an unforgettable experience for its guests. However, managing large hotel operations can be challenging, especially when keeping daily operations running smoothly across multiple outlets, service levels, and locations. In 2017, the management took bold steps to tackle these challenges by forging a partnership with Hotelogix, embracing the power of modern technology to transform their hotel management capabilities.
GAIN & M&I Join Forces to Launch Tech Pavilion at M&I Fest Global, Marrakech
Growth Advisors International Network (GAIN) and M&I are proud to expand their partnership, transforming the technology and innovation landscape in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. This collaboration will debut at M&I Fest Global, held in Marrakech from March 16–20, 2025, with the launch of the Annual MICE Tech and Innovation Primer—a comprehensive guide to keep MICE suppliers and buyers ahead of the curve in technological advancements.
Hotelogix implements e-Invoicing for Tanzania hotels
Hotelogix, a globally leading cloud-based hospitality technology provider, has implemented e-Invoicing for Tanzania hotels through a Virtual Fiscal Device (VFD) vendor. With this, hospitality entities in Tanzania using Hotelogix Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS) can issue digital tax documents to comply with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) guidelines.
CHIC Implements Accor digital solutions across owned portfolio in DRC
Compagnie Hoteliere et Immobiliere du Congo (CHIC), the leading hotel owner and developer in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), at AHIF 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, announced the implementation of Accor driven digital solutions covering five hotels of the CHIC group, opening soon under under the Novotel and Ibis Styles brands across 4 cities, bringing 660 keys to the country.
Cloud5 Communications Responds to Ongoing Hospitality Market Rebound With Contact Center Expansion to South Africa
Cloud5 Communications, a leading provider of communications solutions and Managed IT Services for more than 5,000 hotels, MDUs, and commercial facilities across the Americas, has today announced the latest expansion of its contact center services with the opening of a new location in South Africa. Initially tasked with handling reservation calls for one of hospitality’s fastest growing North American companies, Cloud5’s South African contact center underscores the industry’s continuing rebound and will expand its offshore capabilities as market conditions continue to evolve.
BlackBrick chooses Mews to roll out its urban resort network
Mews, the leading cloud-based property management system (PMS), has been chosen by BlackBrick accommodation network to power their innovative vision of long-stay multi-destination hospitality.
The Saxon Hotel Installs Tech Savvy Upgrades
The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa is proud to share the brand-new technology introduced at the hotel to improve the guests experience: a bespoke mobile phone app for a contactless and touchless Saxon experience, a newly installed dynamic and energy-saving lighting system throughout the hotel, and virtual fitness and wellness classes that can be enjoyed in the privacy of guests’ own hotel suites.
Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel Implements Latest in Security Access and Digital Key Convenience by ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions through its reputation as a leader in hotel security innovation and together with regional distributor, Indian Ocean Visions Co. Ltd., have been selected by Novotel Convention & Spa Antananarivo Hotel to implement VingCard Essence door locks with Mobile Access. Aiming to represent the latest in comfort and modernity that Madagascar has to offer, the newly constructed 180-guestroom property can now ensure that its guests are protected with the industry's highest standard in security access technology while providing them with the contactless convenience of digital check-in and guestroom entry.
Caveau Announces Partnership with Sure Travel
Caveau, the personalized credit card vault technology designed to simplify financial transactions and safeguard personal and financial data, has announced a new partnership with Sure Travel, based in South Africa. The standardized PCI-compliant software and service custom-built for the travel industry provides a secure platform built upon Amazon Web Services (AWS) to limit dangers relating to processing, storing and transmitting credit cards and personal data in a GDPR, PCI and PII-friendly format. Caveau will deliver customized solutions to help Sure Travel meet critical new industry regulations and protect its customers, assets and public reputation.
Tech takes on travel
The last thing you're thinking about when putting your feet up on holiday is that you may be enjoying a break as a result of something as disparate to travel as data analytics, but, increasingly, that's the case. Behind the scenes, in tourism, there's a new wave of business strategy driven by technology processes, all generated to create a better experience for the visitor. At the forefront of this wave are teams of young IT geniuses, making the most out of the growth spurt in this dynamic sector.The technology infiltration is not a trend, it's here to stay. An outmoded way of thinking about the tourism sector is that it's spearheaded by front-of-house hospitality profes sionals, visitor-facing tour guides and operators and shuttle drivers with a mind map of their local areas. While those roles are central to the visitor experience, they don't tell the whole story.As the market develops it is becoming dominated by the younger segment of the population, aspirational, mobile-savvy travellers who research, plan and record their experiences from their devices. Up to 45 percent of all travellers are using their devices to do this, and this is what business operators are understanding. They have to stay ahead of their markets and provide the means for those travellers to travel according to their preferences. To remain successful in a competitive market, companies must be preemptive in their strategies.Larger tourism organisations such as airlines and hotel groups are harnessing the power of big data, information generated by and about their customers. Online transactions can provide a wealth of detail about your customer, fr om cookies generated by their web searching habits to the information they provide on booking and feedback forms. This data allows for targeted marketing strategies that are intimate and personalised. You can target customers based on their preferences – how, when and where they are likely to travel, based on their habits. The more they interact with you, and you with them, the more information is produced; multiply that by thousands, and you can see how useful the cloud becomes for storing and accessing all of this data. Then there are apps – for everything from research to booking and exploring in destination. Apps aid visitors by making their process of organising what they want to do much more efficient – the demand for easy-to-navigate apps to facilitate travel is huge. As are user-friendly websites that get results fast.The point is, IT professionals, designers, data analysts, advertising and marketing specialists, social media analysts and co mmunity managers are all becoming more central to the tourism sector, these careers dominated by young, creative people who understand their market. It's often relatively easy to develop the skills necessary for those careers by doing free courses online, so they are accessible to a new workforce who may not have the resources to study degrees. Their skills are bankable, however, and, within the right context, they can go on to lead teams and access senior positions in an economic climate that would see them battle to find employment.We're acutely aware that tourism is enjoying a period of growth in the Western Cape, despite many challenges. There's large-scale investment in hotel and conferencing properties, so the long-term prospects are looking good. Across the continent, even, international investment is following suit, and, as African nations join the race to get their countries connected, the pace is picking up. This rapid digitalisation presents rich o pportunities for young people seeking to maximise on the potential available by building businesses around strategies that are less about guesswork but around real-time data. We can study trends that show where areas of growth are and develop our strategies to meet needs even before our market is aware that those needs exist.Of course, we're not saying that the wealth of accumulated knowledge of older tourism professionals isn't of value – we need the brilliance of seasoned professionals more than ever before, to channel this hunger for technology and the marketing power it offers, we need leaders with vision who can motivate and direct the creative energy into strategies that benefit travellers.Those who will succeed are the forever-young who can relate to people of all ages, for those are our visitors, travel is an experience that rejuvenates and refreshes, always bringing new perspectives, so the people who work in tourism must have the desire to constantly evolve and maintain a fresh approach to life.It's not certain where the industry will be in ten or twenty years' time: after all, at the rate technology is developing, it would take a visionary like Bill Gates to predict how travel trends will change, but, for young people in South Africa, there's an opportunity that will endure, both for those that are in love with all of the possibilities technology offers and for those brave enough to step out as entrepreneurs.Next time you're on holiday, think of all the processes that got you there, from reading friend's posts on social media to booking online. Imagine the specialists working behind the scenes to make that happen. One doesn't always consider all the people whose contribution goes into you having a good time, but, if you do, you'll begin to see why there are so many career opportunities in tourism.
By Danny Bryer, Area Director, Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management, Protea Hotels by Marriott, Marriott
Palmeraie Resorts partner with iRiS Software Systems to blend tradition with cutting edge technology
Starting with the Palmeraie Palace - the group's flagship hotel – iRiS will be providing a responsive solution to enable guests to have hotel and brand information at their fingertips. This impressive service is available for any guest device: smartphone, tablet and laptop.
TrustYou Expands Presence in Southern Africa Through Strategic Alliance With Distribution Partner Rainmaker Digital
The world's largest guest feedback platform, TrustYou, places a higher emphasis on its presence in Southern Africa and introduces digital marketing expert rainmaker Digital as distribution partner. The Namibia-based company is specialized in managing and optimizing the entire digital presence and marketing for hotels, lodges, guesthouses, and tour operators located in Southern Africa. TrustYou's guest feedback platform and all of its features are now seamlessly included into the "5 Stages of Digital Success" program that rainmaker digital offers its clients. The partnership between rainmaker and TrustYou will assist hotels to: actively manage their reputation; optimize their digital presence and gain a higher online visibility; increase website traffic through Google to enhancing direct bookings; and ultimately achieve a better occupancy, translating into higher revenue and an improved ADR, RevPar, and EBIT. Hotels can explore the benefits of this partnership at WTM Africa, Booth A24, from April 19 to 21, 2017.
Tribe Hotel in Kenya embrace the cloud with Guestline solutions
Guestline solutions have been successfully implemented into Kenya, with The Tribe Hotel in Nairobi. With 215 rooms, the Tribe Hotel wanted a system that could serve as a multi property PMS with integrated Conference and Banqueting and EPoS all hosted in the cloud. They were looking for a company that offered support, development of the software and accessibili
TrustYou announces partnership with PLP Tourism and opens a new office in South Africa
Today, TrustYou announced its new partnership with PLP Tourism and its Managing Director, Ms. Thembi Kunene, to firmly establish its position in South Africa. The newly appointed partner will be representing TrustYou across the entire African continent. TrustYou’s online reputation management products and review data are used worldwide in the travel and hospitality industry. The newest addition to TrustYou’s product portfolio is TrustYou Stars, an advanced guest satisfaction survey tool that allows hotels to gain more reviews and enhance their content on Google.
Introducing The Underwater Room at The Manta Resort on Pemba Island, Zanzibar
Imagine yourself encapsulated within a turquoise blue bubble, watching shoals of reef fish swimming lazily by – sometimes in three or four layers of different species above the reef floor. This is the heart-stopping experience that awaits you in the underwater room. The floating structure, Swedish engineered, provides three levels, those above the water clad in local hardwood, and each an experience in itself.
DOCOMO interTouch Connects Sofitel Casablanca with unrivalled FREEDOM Internet New Generation Broadband Technology
SINGAPORE December 21, 2012: DOCOMO interTouch, one of the world's largest hotel technology service providers for the global hospitality industry, has entered a partnership with Accor to provide FREEDOM internet high-speed wired and wireless broadband services to the Sofitel Casablanca.
DOCOMO interTouch To Connect Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea and Spa with FREEDOM internet New Generation Broadband Technology
DOCOMO interTouch, one of the world's largest hotel technology service providers for the global hospitality industry, has announced a partnership with Accor to provide FREEDOM internet high-speed wired and wireless broadband services to its new flagship hotel, the Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea and Spa.
DOCOMO interTouch Connects 26 Hotels in Morocco with FREEDOM Internet New Generation Broadband
DOCOMO interTouch, one of the world's largest hotel technology service providers for the global hospitality industry, has just completed installation work to provide high-speed wired and wireless internet services through FREEDOM internet to 26 Accor hotels in Morocco.