This article written by George Koroneos describes how hotels have adapted to serve the business travelers that stay with them. Hotels all over have increased technology in order to attract business travelers to stay with them. They have realized that these business travelers need to keep working while they are traveling. New technology such as wireless Internet, fax machines, and printers are now available for the business travelers. These new amenities that are available come at a cost to the business traveler, but if it will help them get their work done then they will pay it. An example of one hotel that has gone entirely wire less is the Hilton in New York. They have been able to put wireless access into every room in the hotel at a fee of $9.95 for 24 hours. These hotels also introduced business centers inside their buildings that allow the guests to feel like they are in an office. These business centers are fully equipped with almost everything a business traveler would need including Internet access, faxes, printers, and computers with essential software. Another feature that these hotels are offering is the printing of boarding passes. These business travelers are usually on a time schedule and they do not want to be held up at the airport. With hotels being able to print put boarding passes it saves the traveler some time and hassle that they would go through in the airport. This feature is very attractive to business travelers when they are choosing a hotel. The last adaption that hotels have made is tracking who their frequent guests are and making sure that they are taken care of. They do this the same way airlines use frequent flier miles, which makes the guests continue to use the same hotel.
I believe that these hotels had to start catering to these business travelers because they are such a large part of our business. By adding these new technologies to our hotels it attracts more business travelers to stay with these hotels. I have noticed this change when I have stayed in hotels recently. Almost every room I have been in the last year has had a desk with an Internet connection nearby. These new technologies have changed the way that these business travelers are able to travel because they are able to work right through their stay. Years ago when a hotel wanted to advertise what amenities they have it would be mostly leisure amenities such as pools, saunas, and fitness centers. Most hotels still offer these amenities but I have realized that they are not advertised as much as wireless Internet or other technologies. These hotels have changed into second offices for business travelers who have to travel frequently for business. I believe that this is only the beginning of the process as well. Now that hotels have realized that this is an efficient way of attracting new customers I believe that there is no limit to what new technologies will be offered in the future.
Koroneos, George (2007, January/February). Catering to the business Traveler. Hospitality Publication
http://www.htmagazine.com/HT/archive/0207/toc feb07. shtml#
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2 comments:
This article is very interesting. Everywhere you go now hotels are trying to cater to the needs of business travelers. The fact that travelers can print out their boarding passes in the hotel before they even step foot into the airport, is so amazing. I also think that it is interesting to see the switch from Ethernet cords in hotels to wireless. It is very important for hotels to keep up with the new trends in hospitality. When choosing a place to stay, business travelers definitely look for a hotel that will have the same amenities as their office.
Therefore, it is extremely important for hotels to offer these items.
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