Technology

The battle of the bookings: How hotels can work with, not against OTAs

12-Oct-2016 By Hannah Thompson & Emma Eversham

As the industry gears up for two major hotel events in the next few weeks, experts have agreed that online travel agents (OTAs) may not be the ‘necessary evil’ they are made out to be, and may actually offer many features designed to help, rather than...

TECHNOLOGY

Age of the restauroids: Will robots become a reality in restaurants?

12-Sep-2016 By Joe Lutrario

They’ve been predicted for decades, but are we about to see robots finally become a reality in the dining room and kitchen?

Marriott launches social marketing programme M Live in Europe

26-Jul-2016 By Emma Eversham

Marriott International's real-time social marketing initiative M Live is being launched in Europe following its success in its US, Asia Pacific, Caribbean and Latin American regions. 

IHG: Travellers hold misconceptions about hotel bookings sites

09-May-2016 By Emma Eversham

Hoteliers could be facing a tough battle to encourage guests to book rooms with them direct after a survey revealed that 76 per cent use online travel agents (OTAs) because they believe they will guarantee them the best rates. 

APRIL FOOL

OpenTable app launches 'lickable' food pictures

01-Apr-2016 By Emma Eversham

Online restaurant reservations provider OpenTable has unveiled new 'lickable' technology which allows diners to taste dishes from their favourite restaurants.

Restaurants and hotels rank low on Twitter response survey

29-Mar-2016 By Emma Eversham

Restaurants and hotels have been criticised for taking too long to reply to Tweets sent by customers and giving a poor quality response when they do.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to protect your hospitality business from cyber crime

29-Mar-2016 By Oliver Pinson-Roxburgh

Oliver Pinson-Roxburgh, systems engineering manager for EMEA at Trustwave, looks at some of the steps hospitality business owners can take to protect their hotels, restaurants and pubs from the increasing risk of cyber crime. 

Hotel Marketing Association partners with HOSPA

10-Mar-2016 By Emma Eversham

The Hotel Marketing Association (HMA) has signed a management agreement with the Hospitality Finance, Revenue Management and IT Professionals Association (HOSPA) to provide hospitality marketing expertise to its membership. 

Hospitality neglecting 'silver surfers' for millennials

01-Mar-2016 By Helen Gilbert

The hospitality industry is failing to cash in on tech-smart ‘silver surfers’ by focusing the majority of digital marketing effort and spend on millennials. 

Pubs and bars witness steep rise in contactless spend

29-Feb-2016 By Helen Gilbert

Contactless payments in pubs and bars leapt up by 188 per cent in 2015, latest figures from Barclaycard show.

Hotelympia 2016 identifies industry trends

24-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

The growth of free-from food, de-formalised dining and the kitchen as theatre are some of latest trends in the hospitality sector that will be explored in more detail at Hotelympia 2016. 

Mode Aparthotel by Bridgestreet coming to UK in 2017

12-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

Mode Aparthotel by Bridgestreet is set to launch in the UK in 2017 having started operations to open the concept across Europe.

VIEWPOINT

Edmund Inkin of Eatdrinksleep on why hotels don't always need to invest in the latest technology

12-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

Edmund Inkin is joint owner of Eatdrinksleep, the company behind the Felin Fach Griffin near Brecon and The Gurnard's Head and The Old Coastguard in Cornwall where technology takes a back-seat. He explains why.

SiteMinder reveals highest revenue-generating hotel booking platforms

10-Feb-2016 By Emma Eversham

Booking.com has topped a list of booking platforms generating the highest revenue for UK hotels last year. 

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists revealed

03-Feb-2016 By Liam Garrahan

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has announced the finalists for its Awards for Excellence, paying tribute to businesses and individuals who are at the top of their game with customer service and practice.