TODAY: HOTECH 2020 Delivers the Future of Hotel Technology, confusion and concern about changes to airfare distribution and Wherefore Art Thou, Minibar?.

HOTECH 2020 Delivers the Future of Hotel Technology
Wednesday, 31st October 2018

The Asian hotel sector is rapidly evolving and a hotelier’s ability to attract the right guest, at the right time, for the right price, has never been more challenging, and the need for advanced operating systems has never been greater.

But what are the technologies that will actually add value to a hotelier’s business today? What are the market trends supporting travel industry growth, and what systems exist to help target these opportunities in the future? >>

Sustainability set to shape new standard of tourism stats
31 Oct 2018 : After successful pilot studies to produce credible and comparable data, the initiative is on track with its aim of getting the MST framework adopted as the third international standard on tourism statistics >>

Understanding Etihad’s agile transformation journey
31 Oct 2018 : Etihad is currently running two tracks - one for running the organization as usual and one for innovation and Etihad Aviation Group’s Tristan Thomas explains what sort of foundational capabilities are being set up in retailing and ecommerce to remain relevant to a global audience and what specifically is being done for China >>

Confusion and concern about changes to airfare distribution
31 Oct 2018 : With airlines changing the way they market and provide access to content, New Distribution Capability (NDC) promises both benefits and potential challenges for corporate travel programmes >>

End of summer coincides with profit hit at UK hotels
31 Oct 2018 : Profit per room at hotels in the UK fell by 4 percent in September, as a summer marked by GOPPAR growth came to a halt and demand levels shifted toward a more business-led mix >>

First edition of ILTM China launches today in Shanghai
31 Oct 2018 : The first ILTM China will take place in Shanghai in October 2018, exclusively inviting buyers and planners of outbound luxury travel from China. The new event, announced in 2017, was originally planned for approximately 100 exhibitors, but due to great demand, the show has already grown to include some 200 exhibitors >>

HIGHLIGHT ARTICLE

Wherefore Art Thou, Minibar?
Wednesday, 31st October 2018

Forget the soda and peanuts: What kind of experience can you pull out of the minibar? Is the minibar on the way to joining room keys in the Museum of Hotel Artifacts?

The New York Times thinks so, along with closets and desks, however not so fast, says GQ magazine, which says they’re becoming tiny destination bars that can serve you in your bathrobe >>

Be in the Know About the Competitive Field
When done well, Competitive Intelligence (CI) can help uncover unmet customer needs, identify new markets, and predict what a competitor is going to do. It can also help you stay abreast of trends and changes, or decide whether to invest in new product development. Gathering competitive intelligence is not a one-time project; it should be an ongoing process.

The competitive landscape, market, customer requirements and trends continually change, so it is important to keep your CI and CI processes up to date >>

Just Back from Havana, Cuba
I recently took a trip to the beautiful Cuban capital, where I was immersed in their local culture and discovered the historic city, maybe it’s something they put in the mojitos, but this trip is unlike any other >>

The Importance of Social Media For Restaurants
According to a Cornell University study, 59 percent of chain restaurants and 79 percent of independent restaurants use social media: It’s a booming marketing tactic that over a few short years has helped restaurants gain greater brand recognition and attract new guests >>