With research by eMarketer revealing travel consumers spend more time on digital media – 6.41 hours a day compared to 5.30 hours a day for all other media, including TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines, hoteliers now have to implement more defined digital corporate and marketing strategies, as well as more technologically advanced amenities within the hotel room, to stay ahead of the curve.
“Covid-19 has undoubtedly accelerated the need to invest in technology to appeal to today's digitally-savvy online travel consumer. The implementation of immersive technologies that provide guests with virtual 3D tours, apps that allow them to enter their hotel room, change the temperature, call the elevator, book excursions and order room services will be vital in helping hotels recover and stand out from their competitors," said Fayad.
“With a new wave of technology entering the industry, it is imperative we have the people in place to recognise and implement the changes to stay ahead of the competition”
– Joseph Fayad
TIME Hotels has undertaken a range of new technology upgrades to appeal to tech guests. These include everything from digital menus and digital in-room collaterals to a mobile app, launched in partnership with hospitality solutions provider Neorcha, which provides the user with room access, room controls, and restaurant and spa bookings.
The hotel management company has also implemented an easy-to-navigate mobile app to capture more direct bookings through a seamless system and capitalise on the increase in guests booking direct via mobile devices.
Guest satisfaction is also addressed through a software tool that allows the guest services team to instantly manage all guest requests and problems by assigning the appropriate department to effectively and efficiently carry out any actions required.
Addressing Covid-19, TIME Hotels has not only launched their Sanitised & Ready protocol in partnership with hygiene solutions provider Diversey, but they have also introduced a range of contactless initiatives, which amongst others, includes contactless check-in and check-out.
The company has also revealed plans to implement digital training to ensure team members can steer strategies relating to the digital technology environment.
“Staff training and advancing the careers of those within TIME Hotels has been one of the fundamentals of our success over the years. With a new wave of technology entering the industry, it is imperative we have the people in place to recognise and implement the changes to stay ahead of the competition,” said Fayad.
TTN is the most established trade publication in the Middle East distributed on a controlled circulation basis to members of the travel and tourism industry.
Published monthly by Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group, the region’s foremost trade publisher, TTN is aimed at professionals in the industry, from travel agents to airline and hotel personnel.
TTN provides in-depth and extensive coverage of relevant issues in the Middle East and North Africa as well as in other parts of the world. Travel related news, analysis, and new appointments together with information on up-coming exhibitions, marketing and promotional campaigns are presented in an innovative and striking colour tabloid.
Every issue also contains a collation of international and regional news and topical features of interest to readers.
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