john smallwood
Embracing the Efficiency of AI Powered Tech
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | June 9, 2022
How AI Can Facilitate Better Interactions Between Hotel Guests and Employees By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook June 2022 Whether management likes to admit it or not, hotels are riddled with inefficiencies. Hotel staff and guests’ interactions are vital in the hospitality industry. Premium service must be hands-on, friendly, and executed with a personal touch. But at times, these interactions can slow down or hinder guests during their stay. Front desk staff may be doing their best to focus on the guests in front of them, but when the phone rings, they must show the caller the same level of service and respect that they...
How High Labor Costs Are Taking a Toll on the Hospitality Industry
John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook | May 4, 2022
The real impact on guests when hotels reduce services By John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook May 2022 Over the last decade, labor costs have risen sharply. After the pandemic, labor shortages are plaguing businesses across the world, and the hospitality industry is no exception. Demand for workers has never been higher, yet universal labor shortages persist, causing problems for hotels, despite a sharp rise in travel. Two years removed from the pandemic; travel is back in a big way. Hotels everywhere are preparing for what is sure to be a record-breaking summer of travel, but they’re doing so with one hand tied behind their ...
8 Qualities of Top Performing Hotel Call Center Agents
Travel Outlook | November 17, 2021
How to pick a call center that’s right for your property Hotels in 2021 have a lot of catching up to do. 2020 and the first half of 2021 presented the hospitality industry with a whirlwind of challenges that still linger today. The road to recovery is just ahead, and many hotels are starting to rethink their sales strategies going forward. The events of 2020 forever changed the way we travel. Traveler’s want hospitality delivered on their terms, and it is up to hotels to pivot to meet those needs. One way hotels are rising to the occasion and meeting the needs of travelers is by utilizing a professional hotel call center to man ...
Hospitality on Their Own Terms
Travel Outlook | October 27, 2021
Travelers Expect More, Here’s How Hotels Can Keep Up As the hospitality industry begins to step out of the shadow of the COVID Pandemic, one question remains after a year-and-a-half of uncertainty, “what do travelers want now?” The events of 2020 forever altered the way we travel. While the industry has been able to successfully adapt after the hardships of the last year, we must address the fact that travelers’ wants and needs have changed. Every aspect of travel was impacted by the events of the last year, from how travelers book their stay to what they expect out of their hotel experience. So, how can hospitality professional...
Brand Loyalty Supersedes Channel Loyalty
Travel Outlook | September 14, 2021
Why Hoteliers Should Embrace Loyal Customers, Regardless of What Channel They Use In the hospitality industry today, convenience is everything. Given the events of the last year, there’s no reason for hoteliers to prefer their customers come to them exclusively through their own channels. Instead, hoteliers should accept that customers have their own preferred channels and realize that customers can show brand loyalty without channel loyalty. The reality of travel in 2021 is that travelers have options when it comes to how they book and where they stay. Securing brand loyalty should be prioritized over channel loyalty. After all, if one...
Travel Outlook Launches ExpressRez®, an Innovative and Affordable Call Center for Inns and B&Bs
Travel Outlook Premium Hotel Call Center | August 26, 2021
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO (August 26, 2021): Travel Outlook Premium Hotel Call Center (“Travel Outlook”) announces the launch of ExpressRez®, an affordable voice reservations service for inns, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rental management companies. ExpressRez® is a simplified and cost-effective service to enable any small property to optimize voice reservations, enhance customer service, and maximize call conversion. ExpressRez® (US Patent 10,257,358) resulted from Travel Outlook addressing challenges faced by inns and B&Bs that want to use a third-party central reservations service in an original and sophisticated way. The ...
Hotel Call Centers and Storytelling
Travel Outlook | July 15, 2021
How Independent Hotel Call Centers are Outshining Many Hotel Brands Using Customer Feedback When you think of call centers, your first thoughts may be of elevator music hold tunes, generic pre-recorded dial-in options, and of course, insincere agents. When it comes to properly trained hotel call centers, that could not be further from the truth. As I’ve written in a previous story, The Return to Genuine Hospitality, call centers and call center agents are valuable tools for hoteliers that have the potential to increase bookings significantly, while freeing up hotel staff to focus on the current guests' experiences. Additionally, p...
The Future of Independent Hotels
Travel Outlook | June 23, 2021
Why Some Travelers Will Go the Extra Mile for a Unique Hotel Experience As travel has slowly returned to normal, it’s clear that we are on the brink of an enormous travel boom. Of all the recent travel trends that have emerged, one is particularly promising for independent hotel owners, and that is that more and more travelers are straying away from hotel chains. Travelers in 2021 no longer want the same travel experiences as their friends and neighbors. They want a unique vacation handcrafted for their trip. Travelers are moving away from large chain resorts and towards individually owned and operated hotels. The trend of seeking out ...
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