Mobile technology is no longer something we are simply anticipating and the development of new technologies and ideas has brought about higher expectations from your potential guests.
With the increase in smartphone use and android applications, it’s evident: the mobile trend is here…and it is here to stay.
This explosion of the mobile web over the last 10 years places an important burden on hoteliers to implement a mobile-ready website. Why? The growth of mobile usage among the travelling public is increasing at an astonishing rate. The statistics speak for themselves – the number of mobile subscribers will surpass 5 billion in 2010, over 70% of the population. Every day, more and more people are surfing the internet from their mobile devicefor travel related purposes.
By not being a part of the mobile world, your hotel has limited exposure and will miss out on reservations. Research demonstrates that around 10% of hotel guests with mobile phones with data plans have used them to reserve rooms. Furthermore, mobile bookings are expected to exceed $1 billion in 2010.
Smartphone users are technically savvy and expect to be able to interact with your hotel via their mobile devices. If your hotel does not have a “mobile ready” website,you run the risk of losing business to hotels that do provide access to their information in a convenient and easily accessible format. Your hotel must therefore develop a mobile strategy in order to keep up with these growing expectations, as well as to reap the benefits this new technology brings with it.
The growth of mobile use within the travel industry means some hoteliers are left behind. How can you keep up?
“You can’t literally translate the conventional website for the wireless world,” Starkov said during the European Hospitality Technology Educational Conference. “There are many limitations, primarily (which) come from usability and the inability to organize huge amounts of content on your mobile Web.”
The trick is to keep it simple by getting a mobile-ready website designed and developed for viewing on mobile screens. Include only the most important information relevant to consumers on-the-go. It is vital that the functionality and navigation is clear and includes call-to-actions that give your site the best chance of converting your mobile visitor into a paying hotel guest.
Presenting this information in an easy-to-read format and avoiding the use of multiple images is vital to keep your mobile audience engaged with the site. You must also consider the differences in mobile devices - some phones support Java, others don’t. Compatibility with iphone is important but make sure your website is optimised to work on any phone that has the internet.
A recent EyeforTravel report states that the use of mobile in travel distribution is “unavoidable” and is “the key to success of any travel business in the future.” Whilst a standard website is vital for desktop users, a mobile website is crucial for smartphone mobile users.
Mobile websites and applications are designed specifically for mobile use and are made so your guests can effectively navigate through your website. By ignoring this fundamental requirement, your hotel may be missing out on reservations.
Δευτέρα 31 Ιανουαρίου 2011
Πέμπτη 27 Ιανουαρίου 2011
Build your own hotel empire online!
For anyone who has ever wanted to start their own hotel empire, Hotelopia, the online hotel booking specialist, has created its first dynamic online game ‘Super Booker’, offering customers the opportunity to create a virtual hotel, fill it with guests and win thousands of pounds worth of real hotel stays.
The game, to be promoted by email, can be accessed by logging onto Hotelopia-game.com whereby customers are invited to register participation and create their own user personality, ranging from Playboy to Adrenaline Junkie, and then go onto build their own virtual hotel in sensational holiday hotspots including Acapulco, Bangkok and Miami.
The objective of the online game is to fill the hotel by inviting as many guests as possible. As more guests check into the property, so the hotel grows and rises through the ‘star’ rankings. The hotelier with the greatest number of guests wins the first prize of a £3,400 hotel voucher, the second most popular wins a £1,200 voucher and third pockets £600 in hotel stays from the £6,000 jackpot.
Participants have until the end of February 2008 to play and can log onto the site at any time to check their ranking and see how they fare against other hoteliers taking part. Throughout the gaming period, participants will receive updates from Hotelopia to ensure they optimize every opportunity to stay ahead of the pack.
Sotiris Damianos, sales and marketing director at Hotelopia.co.uk said:
“Superbooker will be promoted virally as friends pass the link to improve their chances of winning.
“The game will offer everyone a fun way of interacting with our brand and there are benefits to playing - the fact everyone who registers to play ‘wins’ is a key feature we insisted on.”
In addition to prizes available, Hotelopia will randomly select five winners, who will each pick up a real £200 hotel voucher to use on Hotelopia.co.uk. Furthermore, everyone who enters to play Super Booker automatically receives a discount voucher to use on any booking on the Hotelopia website.
Sotiris added: “We are sure it will capture the imagination of our customer base, and at the same time offer the opportunity for the most competitive to win thousands of pounds worth of real hotel stays.”
All winners and participants are able to use their winnings or discount vouchers to book from over 25,000 hotels in 900 destinations, in a massive range of five star to budget properties.
For further information on Super Booker and to start playing now, log onto Hotelopia-game.com . For further information on Hotelopia, log onto Hotelopia.co.uk.
The game, to be promoted by email, can be accessed by logging onto Hotelopia-game.com whereby customers are invited to register participation and create their own user personality, ranging from Playboy to Adrenaline Junkie, and then go onto build their own virtual hotel in sensational holiday hotspots including Acapulco, Bangkok and Miami.
The objective of the online game is to fill the hotel by inviting as many guests as possible. As more guests check into the property, so the hotel grows and rises through the ‘star’ rankings. The hotelier with the greatest number of guests wins the first prize of a £3,400 hotel voucher, the second most popular wins a £1,200 voucher and third pockets £600 in hotel stays from the £6,000 jackpot.
Participants have until the end of February 2008 to play and can log onto the site at any time to check their ranking and see how they fare against other hoteliers taking part. Throughout the gaming period, participants will receive updates from Hotelopia to ensure they optimize every opportunity to stay ahead of the pack.
Sotiris Damianos, sales and marketing director at Hotelopia.co.uk said:
“Superbooker will be promoted virally as friends pass the link to improve their chances of winning.
“The game will offer everyone a fun way of interacting with our brand and there are benefits to playing - the fact everyone who registers to play ‘wins’ is a key feature we insisted on.”
In addition to prizes available, Hotelopia will randomly select five winners, who will each pick up a real £200 hotel voucher to use on Hotelopia.co.uk. Furthermore, everyone who enters to play Super Booker automatically receives a discount voucher to use on any booking on the Hotelopia website.
Sotiris added: “We are sure it will capture the imagination of our customer base, and at the same time offer the opportunity for the most competitive to win thousands of pounds worth of real hotel stays.”
All winners and participants are able to use their winnings or discount vouchers to book from over 25,000 hotels in 900 destinations, in a massive range of five star to budget properties.
For further information on Super Booker and to start playing now, log onto Hotelopia-game.com . For further information on Hotelopia, log onto Hotelopia.co.uk.
Παρασκευή 7 Ιανουαρίου 2011
How Twitter Has Changed the Face of Customer Service.
Social networking can be a useful tool for providing customer service within your companies customer relationship management (CRM) program.
Integrating more channels of communication with your patrons can only offer genuine support. Twitter is just one example of social networking that can bring you and your customers closer together. Connecting through social networks promotes quick and comfortable dialogue that benefits all parties.
A Web-based approach to CRM applications offers lightening fast services for both the company and the customer. Tweets are messages comprised of 140 characters or less. They are short, direct, and to the point, and incorporate useful business strategies for handling customer issues. For small inquiries and questions, twittering may be the best route. Problems are resolved efficiently, and solutions are offered with care.
In addition, time is managed more efficiently because your support staff can offer simple solutions in minutes. For more complex problems, customers can be referred directly to a knowledgeable staff member.
Overall, Twitter proposes some useful tools for providing excellent customer service. Here are a few reasons why Twitter might be a good addition to your company:
Have You Heard The Rumor Going Around?
Track what people are saying on Twitter. Simply enter a keyword that directly relates to your business, and find out. Good or bad, your company can benefit from knowing what people think about the products and services that you offer. This information can provide valuable insight into the customer’s point of view. With this kind of information, your company can decide what areas need improvement and where you excel. Customers are often very candid, but use this to your advantage.
Make New Friends, But Keep the Old…
Searching current conversations on the Web works, but it can be a passive approach. Ask your customers to follow you on Twitter. Promote you customer service tactics to patrons by placing a shortcut on your website. Customers do not know you are using Twitter until you make this information known. So, spread the word. This can be very useful for your staff, but only if customers know it is available. Be proactive instead of reactive, and ask customers to check out your page.
Be a Chatty Cathy!
Twitter is all about encouraging dialogue. Customers want to talk about the products and services that they use. Engaging in conversations with your customers creates a sense of community. Through discussions, companies bridge the gaps between customers they hold in high regard and themselves. Twitter is all about persuading customers and sales representatives to exchange ideas and thoughts in a non-threatening manner.
Integrating more channels of communication with your patrons can only offer genuine support. Twitter is just one example of social networking that can bring you and your customers closer together. Connecting through social networks promotes quick and comfortable dialogue that benefits all parties.
A Web-based approach to CRM applications offers lightening fast services for both the company and the customer. Tweets are messages comprised of 140 characters or less. They are short, direct, and to the point, and incorporate useful business strategies for handling customer issues. For small inquiries and questions, twittering may be the best route. Problems are resolved efficiently, and solutions are offered with care.
In addition, time is managed more efficiently because your support staff can offer simple solutions in minutes. For more complex problems, customers can be referred directly to a knowledgeable staff member.
Overall, Twitter proposes some useful tools for providing excellent customer service. Here are a few reasons why Twitter might be a good addition to your company:
Have You Heard The Rumor Going Around?
Track what people are saying on Twitter. Simply enter a keyword that directly relates to your business, and find out. Good or bad, your company can benefit from knowing what people think about the products and services that you offer. This information can provide valuable insight into the customer’s point of view. With this kind of information, your company can decide what areas need improvement and where you excel. Customers are often very candid, but use this to your advantage.
Make New Friends, But Keep the Old…
Searching current conversations on the Web works, but it can be a passive approach. Ask your customers to follow you on Twitter. Promote you customer service tactics to patrons by placing a shortcut on your website. Customers do not know you are using Twitter until you make this information known. So, spread the word. This can be very useful for your staff, but only if customers know it is available. Be proactive instead of reactive, and ask customers to check out your page.
Be a Chatty Cathy!
Twitter is all about encouraging dialogue. Customers want to talk about the products and services that they use. Engaging in conversations with your customers creates a sense of community. Through discussions, companies bridge the gaps between customers they hold in high regard and themselves. Twitter is all about persuading customers and sales representatives to exchange ideas and thoughts in a non-threatening manner.
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