Recently, Hopper, an OTA based in Canada, started to ask customers to pay a tip to Hopper as part of the booking. The tip is included automatically in the final price on the final payment page before completing the booking. The customer has to switch the toggle to the off position in order to not pay a tip.
Recently, there have been a lot of buzz and heated discussions about the impact and role of generative AI like ChatGPT in the hospitality industry and travel in general. From bold predictions that ChatGPT will revolutionize the industry and liberate the industry from the yoke of the OTAs to expert statements that it will lead to complete overhaul of the hotel tech stack and help solve labor shortages in hospitality.
When it comes to hotel tech, we may all agree that PMSs are at the top of the food chain. It s semantically already in the name itself: a PMS is the SYSTEM used to MANAGE your PROPERTY. This gives the software connotations of centrality in operations. However, a new wave of leaner systems is rising: PMSs are becoming "hubs" rather than all-in-one solutions, using open APIs to allow users to plug in other software and tools as needed. These systems are less about "managing the property," and more about integrating third-party software.
The recent announcement of Meta by Facebook along with Microsoft throwing their hat in the ring with Mesh is a clear indication of the virtual immersive experience that is coming to us faster than we anticipated. Maybe The Matrix is not so far in the future. However, even if the metaverse does not live up to the science-fiction dreams, it will become the key to digital experiences and a crucial element of the physical processes. While we can see immediate applicability of this technology in gaming and education, what can the hospitality industry expect from metaverse? In a world that offers unprecedented interoperability , Avatars could play an increasing role in leisure travel. From bookings and service provisions to selling properties, AR/VR and Avatars may replace physical staff or even manage a front office. If this were possible, the labour challenges within the industry could encourage the adoption of the metaverse faster than we expect. The business travel industry is made u
The recent announcement of Meta by Facebook along with Microsoft throwing their hat in the ring with Mesh is a clear indication of the virtual immersive experience that is coming to us faster than we anticipated.