| Technology, and the development thereof, is what | | | | access and system integration. There are also |
| drives practically every industry on the planet. While | | | | content management systems that help hotels get |
| the hotel industry may be largely reliant on service | | | | information out to the consumers, helping improve |
| and skill, technology also plays a big part when it | | | | marketing efforts on top of what is generally termed |
| comes to the overall operation of each establishment. | | | | as traditional marketing. |
| One good example of an important technology is a | | | | With the increasing sentiment of clients and |
| piece of software called the "property management | | | | consumers towards sustainability that can help save |
| systems." This software, called PMS for short, | | | | the environment, the development of "green |
| provides hotels with the luxury of automated | | | | technology" for the hospitality industry is now being |
| management of guest bookings. This includes point of | | | | thrust to the forefront. Green technology involves |
| sale, online reservations, and other things like what | | | | the use of smart and sustainable building design, |
| kind of amenities or services are utilized by which | | | | eco-friendly innovations, and energy efficiency. |
| guest or client. | | | | More and more green hotel technology can be seen |
| PMS software is an integral part of bigger hotel | | | | these days, albeit for those establishments that can |
| establishments-especially multi-property hotel | | | | afford to do so. For example, certain hotels make |
| groups-because of their sheer size. This technology | | | | use of wireless thermostats that can sense the |
| allows both macro management and | | | | occupancy and movement within a room. Those |
| micromanagement of nearly all aspects of a hotel's | | | | thermostats can then automatically adjust room |
| operations. Some high-end PMS suites offer extended | | | | temperature and settings. This helps save energy as |
| modules for specific areas of service, such as | | | | well as costs. Another example is the use of |
| catering and corporate enterprise. PMS suites can also | | | | electronic documentation between management |
| be synced with computerized energy management | | | | teams, a solution that effectively reduces the |
| systems in an effort to reduce energy consumption. | | | | consumption of paper unless absolutely necessary. |
| Other kinds of programs are used by different hotels | | | | The above technologies are basically employed by |
| for a variety of functions. There are some that | | | | most major top-tier hotels, simply because they can |
| provide aid in terms of measuring relevant hotel | | | | afford it. However, with current advances in |
| metrics and other analytic components that help | | | | technology, some innovations will be more accessible |
| drive the business. Some of hotels' online booking | | | | to mid-range properties. Without a doubt, technology |
| services are also driven by software called web | | | | plays an important part in all aspects of hotel |
| booking engines. Documentation, support center | | | | operation. From seemingly simple telecommunication |
| access, and remote training are among other types | | | | improvements to complete property management |
| of computerized programs being employed by hotels | | | | system suites, technology drives the service and |
| nowadays. | | | | makes a lot of things possible for hotels. It helps |
| Hotel technology is of course not limited to software. | | | | drive the business, making management easier and |
| There are also complex systems that are based on | | | | allowing a more customized and improved guest |
| hotels' IP telephone networks, used for easier guest | | | | experience. |