| Kishen Mangat: How do you see the Internet impacting operations
in the hospitality industry?
Zack Neumeyer: I see the Internet offering three primary areas
of support in the hospitality industry:
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guest service applications,
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communications, and
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operational tools.
There are a myriad of guest service applications, which can supplement
a hotel�s human service delivery by providing a broad range of customized
concierge services. These can range from a directory providing access
to local restaurants, entertainment, and services with real time advertising
of events and offerings, to providing the guest with customized media content
which mirrors they�re needs (imagine checking in to a Beijing hotel and
immediately having access your hometown newspaper). Communications
support is both internal and external and revolves around inexpensive and
efficient access to the Internet and voice communication worldwide.
Operational support applications include inventory management tools, training
tools, and business to business purchasing applications among many others.
KM: What is the most important application of the Internet for
hospitality?
ZN: The Internet doesn�t have applications for hospitality �
people provide hospitality! The Internet provides a tremendous tool
to allow our associates to focus on the critical interaction with the guests.
We can use Internet tools to support our guest services, freeing up more
time for person-to-person interaction, to enhance communication, and to
support our operations through many applications.
KM: What are your thoughts on the opportunity of working with
STS?
ZN: I am very excited about the opportunity to work with STS
for a number of reasons. STS� approach to Internet applications is
�pipe� indifferent. That is, there are a number of competing technologies
to provide internet access to the room: television, telephone for
the consumer traveling with a laptop, in-room pc�s, and telephone devices.
STS� approach is to provide superior content, which is rigorously focused
on the needs of the guest, brand, and operator regardless of how technology
is delivered to the room. The combination of their understanding
of the industry, technology, and flexibility, makes them an ideal partner
to work with Sage in designing Internet solutions.
KM: How would you sum up the hospitality industry�s approach
to technology?
ZN: The hospitality industry has not typically been characterized
as innovative. This is changing as leadership across the industry
is focused on using rapidly evolving technologies to provide a better experience
to our guests. The real impact from a consumer�s perspective won�t
be felt until there are common solutions which the guest can expect in
all hotel rooms: brand-wide, market segment-wide, or industry-wide.
Sage looks forward to participating in the industry as it moves rapidly
to providing a higher level of service to our customers through use of
internet tools. |
STS
Communications is an Application Service Provider dedicated to the hospitality
industry and business traveler. Utilizing the Internet, STS is providing
information services to enhance the hotel guest stay, creating additional
guest loyalty. STS develops turnkey packages of Internet applications for
the guestroom environment.