TECHNOLOGY’S EFFECT ON HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS

The changing face of technology has played an integral role in the development of the hotel and restaurant industry.

According to (Balachandran,2005) today, around the world traveling laptop users access the Internet at a variety of places and environments including their homes, corporate offices, and even at public places of congregation such as conference venues, airports, shopping malls and hotels.

Food and beverages industry has been so much influenced by technology. Restaurants use technology as their marketing tool (Walker and Walker, 2014). According to (Koutroumanis, 2011) There has been significant improvement in the technological build up in the restaurant industry as well. In today’s era restaurants have shifted from the cash register as the premier technology to today’s high tech online reservation systems. Customers can now use automated ordering systems to orders their meals and drinks. The new technology empowers the customer to do everything from placing their customized order to paying their bill from a kiosk located on their table (Tanyeri, 2007).

The use of internet to book through online will continue to grow. The number of U.S. travelers booking and researching online increased with over 50 percent to 114 million people (Charles Sturt University 2014). Many restaurants are creating their own web pages and they also use social media to be able to communicate with their customers and market themselves. Some restaurants like McDonald has put its touch screen order-and-pay kiosks at Europe and US to speed service and cut lines in the restaurant. Some hotel managers have adopted cashless payment systems via the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) in order to offer a variety of payment options.  RFID utilizes computer chips and antennas, allowing the chips to wirelessly communicate with a receiver. In the hotel industry RFID systems are being integrated with POS systems to process credit card and debit account transactions (Brewer 2013).

Hotel and Restaurant owners should take advantage of these current and future technological innovations for their growth.     

REFERENCE

Charles Sturt University. (2014). (Online). Available at:   http://hsc.csu.edu.au/hospitality/hosp_240/comp_units/SITHIND001B/4372/sectors.htm#meet. ( Accessed at 10/04/2014)                                                                                                           

Koutroumanis.A.D. (2011) Applied Business and Economics Vol.12 (1) Technology’s impact in the Restaurant Industry. University of Tampa

Tanyeri, D.(2007). High tech takes on small business. Restaurant Business.

 Acharya.S and Medepalli. A (2013) Emerging Trends in Hospitality (online) Real Results Magazine, Vol 8 Available at jda.com/realresultsmagazine. Accessed 10/04/14.

Walker.J.T, Walker.J.T, (2014) Introduction to Hospitality Management.4th edition. United Sates of America, Pearson Education Limited.

Balachandran et al (2005). Wireless Hotspots: Current Challenges and Future Directions. Business Media. Netherlands.

Brewer.P (2013), Current and Future Technology Use in the Hospitality Industry .Las Vegas. United  State of America.

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ONE OF THE HOSPITABLE CITIES

Introduction

Imagine yourself sitting in a park on the Seattle waterfront, a latte and a Marion berry scone close at hand. The snowy peaks of the Olympic Mountains shimmer on the far side of Puget Sound, while ferryboats come and go across Elliott Bay. It's a sunny summer day, not a cloud in the sky. It just doesn't get much better than this, unless maybe you take in a 9:30pm summer sunset from the Space Needle or the Olympic Sculpture Park and then head to a brewpub. No wonder people love this town.

Things to Do

For a bottom-to-top tour of Seattle, join the Underground Tour and hide out beneath the streets of historic Pioneer Square, then later take an elevator to the clouds at the Space Needle. Between these extremes, you can walk the waterfront, watch salmon climb the fish ladder at Ballard Locks, see fish fly at Pike Place Market, and sail off into the sunset. If the Space Needle isn't spacey enough, visit EMP/SFM, a museum dedicated to rock music and science fiction.

Active Pursuits

If you visit Seattle and don't get out on the water while you're in town, you're missing out on what makes this city so distinctive. With Lakes Union and Washington, Elliott Bay, and Puget Sound surrounding the city, you'll have ample opportunities to go boating. However, the quintessential Seattle outing is a paddle around Lake Union in a sea kayak. You'll paddle past houseboats, see floatplanes, and even have the chance to tie up at a waterfront restaurant.

Eating & Drinking

In a city where people discuss the merits of oysters from different local bays and anxiously await the annual return of Copper River salmon, it should come as no surprise that Pike Place Market, with its fishmongers and food stalls, is one of Seattle's top attractions. A day spent noshing in the market can be a foodie's dream come true. Visit such popular dining districts as Capitol Hill and Ballard, and you'll quickly learn that this is a city obsessed with eating locally. (Trip Adviser)