HOTELMARKETING.COM

More technology, more connectivity challenges for hotel marketers

June 28, 2012 | Hotel Marketing

As more and more technologies are introduced for hoteliers to both maximize operating efficiencies and wow guests, connecting those technologies to one another presents more of a challenge.

Getting technology tools to interact with each other - whether it be for distributing inventory, collecting guest data or offering the guest a seamless check-in experience—is a must for hoteliers. Today, however, many technologies operate on different platforms and don’t “speak the same language.” Different brands require varying languages and different vendors offer their own unique connectivity plugs.

For that reason, a number of organizations are working toward uniformed connectivity standards. The goal is to have all hotel technologies operating on the same platform so hoteliers can “plug and play” technology tools and have seamless connectivity. Technology providers are encouraged to build their software with “open standards.”

Open standards “allow trading partners to swap out modules,” said Valyn Perini, CEO of the OpenTravel Alliance, an organization with the mission of solving problems inherent with connecting multiple systems within travel distribution. For example, one vendor might accept PayPal for credit-card payments while a partner technology vendor might not.

Get the full article at HotelNewsNow.com

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