Technology USA & Canada Opinion Articles

November 20, 2009

Is GDS Advertising A Good Investment For Hotels? | John R. Hach

While the online marketplace is gaining ground in channel mix for hotels, especially for established hotel companies, the Global Distribution System (GDS) still contributes significantly to hotel distribution revenue—approximately 27 percent, according to TRAVELCLICK’s latest eTRAK report. Also, GDS hotel promotions—appearing when agents search the air, car, and hotel availability screens within their GDS—continue to have a growing influence on bookings, particularly in today’s unsettled economy.

TravelClick, Inc.

United States

Opinion Article

November 2, 2009

The Teleseme - Press Your Order!

International hotels around 1900 were filled with inventions lavishly described in their promotional literature. Guests were assured that the air they breathed was the freshest possible, thanks to novel ventilating systems. Doors closed quietly on nonslamming hinges. Services were provided unobtrusively via the 'servidor, a compartment in the room door accessible by small doors on either side (still in use at The Peninsula in Hong Kong, for example).

The Most Famous Hotels in the World

United States

Opinion Article

October 26, 2009

Hoteliers and OTA's, Partners or Opponents?

The firestorm, which began when the negotiations between Choice Hotels and Expedia broke down on October 15th, stirred-up a lot of deep-seated feelings about OTA's and Expedia in particular. The article I wrote last week, with an alternative viewpoint from that which was presented by another Internet strategist, was well received, but it exposed some apparent sensitivities among hoteliers.

Hotel Marketing Coach

United States

Opinion Article

October 19, 2009

The Prisoner’s Dilemma, the Stockholm Syndrome, or a Case of Both?

This Just In... I have just heard through the industry grapevine that Expedia has cut off negotiations with Choice Hotels and has started removing Choice properties from its sites, Expedia.com and Hotels.com. Choice Hotels, similar to all other major hotel brands, has been working consistently to negotiate a renewal of a brand-wide wholesale agreement with Expedia.

By Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net

United States

Opinion Article

August 2, 2009

Global tech trends

Technology has always lent itself favorably to the notion that to survive in unprecedented times, innovation is the name of the game. Software and microchips are practically obsolete by the time they’re new—such is the pace of progress when measured in binary code. Rarely has the hotel industry been on the forefront of technological achievement, but that doesn’t mean savvy hoteliers can’t harness the power of high-tech tools to help them navigate the downturn. And that doesn’t mean they can’t plan for new innovations.

HotelNewsNow

United States