Bowman’s Travel Brief: Experiencing New Things in a Familiar Place

if you love to travel, chances are you have a favorite destination you’ve frequently visited. A go-to happy place, if you will.But how often do you do the same thing over and over each time you visit?Sure, there’s nothing wrong with hitting the same beach time and time again, staying at the same resort, visiting the same attractions or eating at the same restaurant. After all, there’s a reason you fell in love with the destination. You want that familiarity because it can be so therapeutic to be in your happy place and away from the stress of everyday life.However, if you’re one to re-visit a city, town or even country, it’s imperative you try something new. It can be scary at times but stepping out of your comfort zone during your travels has the power to change you.

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Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is owned by the Indigenous Land Corporation and manages tourism and resorts on their behalf. With a strong commitment to social responsibility, all profits from our business activities go towards supporting Indigenous training and employment across Australia.

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Hospitality Management

Discover Top 10 Books on Hospitality Management to Elevate Expertise

Article | July 19, 2023

Elevate your expertise with these must-read hospitality management books offering a comprehensive guide to enhance your skills, providing industry trends-related insights and live cases & examples. In the constantly evolving hospitality industry, professionals must stay abreast of the latest trends and insights. Whether you are an industry veteran, an aspiring hospitality worker, or a student pursuing a degree in hospitality management, the right books can provide you with valuable knowledge and direction. The growth of the hospitality industry on a global scale has led to the emergence of a wide range of exceptional books that cover various topics. These include digital marketing strategy, e-commerce tourism, personal experiences, practical advice, and in-depth industry analysis. This curated selection of ten top books on hospitality management offers valuable insights into the industry, allowing you to stay ahead of the curve and enhance your expertise in the field. 1. Unreasonable Hospitality Author Name: Will Guidara For professionals in the hospitality and tourism sector looking to advance their knowledge of hospitality management, the book Unreasonable Hospitality: The Extraordinary Power of Giving People More Than They Expect is a must-read. One of the books on hospitality management written by Will Guidara, a former co-owner of the famous eatery Eleven Madison Park, it imparts essential lessons and insights from his journey to turn the struggling business into the world's best restaurant. Guidara emphasizes the transformative power of going above and beyond anticipation through extreme alterations, a strong collaboration between the kitchen and dining room, and remarkable, personalized kindness experiences. This national bestseller book encourages readers to discover the wonder in their work and produce incredible experiences for others with its captivating anecdotes and industry experts' wisdom. 2. Be Our Guest: Revised and Updated Edition Author Name: Theodore B. Kinni Be Our Guest: Revised and Updated Edition: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service (The Disney Institute Leadership Series) is one of the essential hospitality management books for industry professionals seeking to improve their customer service skills. Based on the renowned Disney methodology, this book emphasizes exceeding customer expectations beyond mere satisfaction. The book reveals exceptional business strategies that underpin the enchantment of quality service, using insights not typically found in conventional workplaces. Whether one works in hotels, restaurants, or any other hospitality-related industry, reading this book on hospitality management will help envision new opportunities and provide techniques for exceptional customer experiences. In addition, Kinni has published twenty books on topics covering sales, marketing and leadership, targeting hospitality management as the focused audience. 3. First Class Travel on a Budget: How to Hack Your Credit Cards to Book Incredible Trips for Less Author Name: Zachary Abel Discover the secrets for five-star vacation on a specific back pocket budget with "First Class Travel on a Budget: How to Hack Your Credit Cards to Book Incredible Trips for Less." In this insightful guide, Zachary Burr Abel shares his expertise in navigating airline loyalty programs, credit card promotions, and hidden travel fees. With actionable advice and humorous anecdotes, reading this hospitality and tourism management book will help professionals learn how to fly first class, find deals on rental cars and hotels, earn airline points, and maximize credit card rewards. This invaluable resource is a must-read for anyone in the hospitality industry looking to elevate their expertise in managing travel and providing exceptional guest experiences. 4. Hospitality Management People Skills and Manners On and Off the Job Author Name: Lyn Pont PhD For professionals seeking to start their career or improve their career in hospitality, one of the must-reads hotel management books by Pont is Hospitality Management: People Skills and Manners On and Off the Job. This hospitality book covers various topics, including service, relationships, integrity, communication, personal image, and creativity. Focusing on soft skills and the cultural expectations of guests, Pont provides practical advice and industry insights to help readers excel in their careers. Whether you're a seasoned executive or new to the industry, this treasure trove of information will equip you with the necessary tools to deliver exceptional customer care, represent your organization with professionalism and confidence as well as help you to stand out in the competitive hospitality industry. 5. Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events Author Name: Nigel G. Evans Strategic Management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events is a comprehensive guide designed to equip students in the hospitality industry with essential strategic management principles. This exceptional book bridges the gap between theory and practical through industry-based case studies and examples, offering a deeper understanding of strategic management in the context of tourism, hospitality, and events. The third edition of this book features updated international case studies covering SMEs and large-scale businesses integrated throughout to show the various applications of strategic management theory, big data, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and innovation. With accessible language and helpful features, this resource is a valuable tool for students seeking to enhance their knowledge and excel in the dynamic field of tourism, hospitality, and events management. 6. Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business Author Name: Danny Meyer One of the bestselling hospitality and tourism management books, Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business, is a book by Danny Meyer, an acclaimed restaurateur behind successful ventures like Union Square Cafe and Shake Shack. Meyer shares his invaluable insights on developing a dynamic philosophy called Enlightened Hospitality, which focuses on fostering strong relationships within the organization and delivering exceptional customer satisfaction. It is one of the influential hospitality management books that draws from real-life experiences and teachings applicable to anyone in the hospitality industry or any business sector. This motivational work, considered a landmark in the field, provides valuable lessons for managers, executives, and staff, enhancing their effectiveness and deepening their appreciation for achieving excellence in their work to improve hospitality experience. 7. Operations Management in the Hospitality Industry Editor Name: Peter Szende, Alec N. Dalton (Editor), Michelle (Myongjee) Yoo To improve operations and enhance hospitality management expertise, the book titled ‘Operations Management in the Hospitality Industry’ is an essential resource for the tourism and hospitality experts. This book covers various topics crucial to operational success in restaurants, resorts, and other hospitality establishments, as well as equips readers with fundamental techniques and tools for analyzing and improving operational capabilities. With its comprehensive approach, incorporating key theories, frameworks, and industry examples, the book offers valuable knowledge for students preparing for their careers and working professionals. 8. Event Management for the Tourism and Hospitality Author Name: Bonita M. Kolb If you are looking for a comprehensive guide, Event Management for the Tourism and Hospitality Industries is a book designed to equip readers and practitioners in the hospitality industry with the essential knowledge and skills for planning, managing, and evaluating events. This book covers various topics, including visitor segmentation, budgeting, promotion, and post-event assessment, while addressing contemporary issues such as environmental sustainability, cultural diversity, technology, and community engagement. Through international case studies, readers will gain real-world insights and learn how to connect events with local heritage and culture, delivering personalized experiences to visitors. It is one of the best hospitality management books that includes a practical approach and detailed event plan outline. 9. Tourism Management Author Name: Stephen J. Page One of the best books for hospitality management and tourism by Stephen Page, Tourism Management provides a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of tourism. Currently in the 6th edition the book offers a global perspective on the industry, and will not only benefit students pursuing a degree, diploma, or simply studying the subject, but it will also help professionals in the tourism industry. This book includes content on contemporary issues affecting businesses, enhanced sustainable development strategies to overcome climate change challenges, and a section with different perspectives from China and South America on using taxation to limit travel air behaviour. Furthermore, it combines textual content and features case studies with diagrams, and images, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of tourism management. 10. Hospitality Management: A Brief Introduction Author Name: Roy C Wood An easy-to-operate introduction for students of hotel and hospitality management and hospitality studies, Hospitality Management: A Brief Introduction offers a concise and comprehensive overview of the hospitality industry, making it an essential read for students new to the industry. Authored by Roy Wood, an expert in academia and practice, this book covers key areas such as employee relations, accommodation and food management, marketing and sales, industry strategy, management roles, education, and future trends. By drawing on a range of established research and incorporating the perspective of the hospitality consumer, Wood provides readers with a well-rounded understanding of the industry's realities and challenges. This book is a valuable resource for anyone studying or working in hospitality management. Summing Up The hospitality industry is transforming rapidly, driven by technological advancements, changing consumer expectations, and emerging trends. As we look to the future, hospitality professionals must proactively stay ahead of the curve and elevate their expertise. These hospitality industry books empower readers to navigate the evolving landscape, embracing innovative practices and sustainability and delivering exceptional guest experiences. By advancing their knowledge and embracing essential insights and strategies, hospitality professionals can position themselves for success in the dynamic world of hospitality management operations.

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Hospitality Management

Crypto Tourism: A Quick Guide

Article | July 18, 2023

Cryptocurrencies have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. They have progressed from a speculative asset class to one gaining widespread mainstream acceptance. And it's not just retail investors who are interested; cryptocurrencies are finding applications in various industries, including tourism. Yes, the travel industry, like many others, has warmed up to these virtual digital assets. It has even spawned a new type of operation, namely crypto tourism. Introduction to Crypto Tourism Crypto tourism is categorized into two broad groups: the first has tours and travel packages purchased with cryptocurrency. Emirates Airlines, the biggest airline in the UAE, has said it will soon accept bitcoin as a form of payment. Air Baltic, a Latvian airline, has also been accepting bitcoin for a long time. The second type of crypto tourism is trips and travel packages where crypto conferences, classes, or lectures are a big part of the schedule. You might not understand why someone would take a vacation to go to a lecture or learn about blockchain. Well, most people don't go on vacations like these. Instead, they focus on entrepreneurs and crypto fans who want to network, meet people with similar interests, and discuss business ideas. In addition to the usual sightseeing and relaxing, these crypto trips include talks by well-known speakers and industry veterans. Limitation and Scope Crypto tourism is a small market with few options, and only a small number of travel partners accept crypto payments. Also, the people who put on some crypto trips often use these events to sell ICOs and do other marketing. However, crypto tours are great for people who want to learn about cryptocurrencies, meet others interested in the same things, and relax. They are also great if you want digital money to pay for your trip. Then, you don't have to worry about currency exchange rates or losing cash. A Different Reality Crypto tourism might be niche, but it is a new reality in the travel industry. It allows safe transactions and innovative tours, which many businesses are keen about.

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Hospitality Management

How Corporate Travel and Expense Management Is Evolving Post-pandemic

Article | August 28, 2023

The travel industry is getting back to business, and demand has skyrocketed for travel technologies that make interactions possible between companies and corporate travelers. A recent Gartner survey reveals how 2020 affected CFOs with their corporate travel and expense management tasks globally. How will finance teams report and forecast expenses? How can corporate travel costs be managed? How to manage travel expense management processes effortlessly? Does this sound familiar to you? These were a few valid questions that kept companies engaged in finding answers during the pandemic. Many finance leaders want to implement proper corporate travel and expense management services and find solutions to bring consistency and clarity to their financial processes. While switching from manual processes to automated management systems can be difficult post-pandemic, with an efficient travel and expense management tool or software, your company can gain optimum benefits and stay productive in the future. This article will show you how it evolved through the coronavirus phase efficiently. Adoption of T&E Management Process for Seamless Work Experience An American Express survey found that 55% of the chief executives and senior financial managers ranked rising travel and expense costs as a top concern during the peak pandemic phase. Digital transformation of your processes is a critical strategy for spend management, and it ensures that employees are using the right product to get the best value. By adopting an efficient travel and expense management tool, your company can gain stellar benefits for your finance team to cater varied requirements, and keep a rigorous control over corporate travel spend. Before looking into how travel expense management processes are evolving post-pandemic, here are the benefits and value travel and expense management solutions offer. Also, this will further facilitate your finance team to manage the current corporate travel scenario effectively. Benefits of Travel and Expense Management Solutions The travel and expense management didn’t disappear during the pandemic. Instead, it accelerated its core value. The idea of integrating travel and expense management services with the help of big data in the travel industry is to leverage best practices for travel expense management that can help analyze and extract key information to diverse corporate travel finance functions. Travel industry leaders who are integrating effective travel expense management services in their corporate travel system have experienced the following benefits: Automatic processes of expenditure Data-driven decisions are smarter Time-saving mechanism Simplifies budgeting Ability to forecast more accurately Delivers better user experience Quick access to integrated data from expenditures Gain deep data visibility Higher rate of compliance with corporate policies in finance These significant upticks will benefit your company and will simultaneously improve your corporate travel policies. Understanding these benefits will help you identify how travel technology can help your company manage complex financial tasks that arose during the pandemic. According to a Gartner survey, a travel expense management system is essential as a key solution to manage the corporate travel economy. Any company, big or small, needs to control its expenditure to recover during the pandemic. Complex Forms of T&E Management Are Gone Legacy processes may get a job done, but they are more time consuming, error-prone, and do not provide visibility into travel spend. And when your travel and expense management process is slow and cumbersome, it can slow down the growth trajectory of your business. Corporate travel and expense management automation and its associated features like corporate travel policy, quick and easy booking, automated expense and reimbursement solutions, live credit card feeds, backup analytics capabilities, and more have taken precedence post-pandemic. These services offer more visibility into the travel spend of your employees. With top travel and expense management solutions, your finance teams can monitor and control costs and expenses in the long run. While many corporate travelers have started researching and organizing trips online, you need to add value to financial services by adopting automated travel and expense management solutions that work effortlessly. Core Focus Areas of Travel and Expense Management The post-pandemic era has seen a lot of companies embracing new and updated travel and expense management solutions to drive cost savings, and enable finance teams to have a better control over their road warriors. Here are some: Contactless Data Record Is the next Big Thing Travel and expense management systems allow employees to record all corporate travel bills and receipts through mobile apps and create expense reports immediately. Big data in the travel industry has played a significant role during the pandemic. Technology leaders have already experienced the benefits of travel and expense management. For example, TripActions’ travel and expense management platform uses data to learn about business travelers’ preferences, and predicts within 30 seconds what travelers are going to book with 90% accuracy. The advantage of big data to travel and expense management has already organized several effortless finance processes for corporate travelers to experience seamless budgets. Automation Is Crucial Integrating travel and expense management solutions could easily add to the unimaginable overheads that companies are experiencing. Automation is one of these solutions. Its integration in the travel and expense management system will give rise to a paperless world that will facilitate finance functions to build an audit trail. With this, it also ensures total compliance to keep the organization and its process fast. Agile Technology Is the Enabler Critically for the travel industry, agile technology has allowed multiple methodologies for incremental development in corporate travels, which has transformed the processes from rigid to flexible. The agile process in corporate travel and expense management allows analyzing tangible results on expense. The approach also provides the potential to change plans according to the requirements. For example, Lola.com, the agile travel management company is helping corporate travelers book, re-book, and take the task of expense reports off the table easily. Finance teams arrange travel policies in minutes and equally manage, control, and view expenditure effortlessly. In short, agile technology is making it much easier for travelers and companies all round. To address the use of agile technology in travel and expense management, Jeanne Hopkins, former CMO at Lola.com, the agile travel management company shares “Finance teams at Lola.com have tried managing, controlling, and got visibility into expenditures efficiently by implementing travel and expense management. Small and mid-sized businesses have to be fast and dynamic in the changing scenario of travel, so that actions like booking, re-booking, and managing corporate travel could be performed with efficiency and results in high productivity.” A Hassle-free Expense Management System Expense has been one common challenge with corporate travel programs. Integrating travel and expense management in your company can eventually introduce you to a hassle-free work solution. As the process involves collecting receipts from multiple sources, either from hotels, flights, or car rentals, travel and expense management solutions make it easier for a manager to look at all corporate travel costs at once. Also, in terms of future travel spend and potential savings, the capability of this management remains exceptional. Modern travel and expense management solutions also include self-service, real time, and easy navigation. For example, for travelers, Lola.com has a large inventory of flights and hotels that allow users to avoid going to various sites to compare fares, and save preferences, loyalty programs, and provides payment options in one place. Traveler profiles are automatically stored so that users can book with one click. The 24/7 support team then ensures easy booking and re-booking for its users without any delay. End-to-End Integration Is the New Order of Workforce End-to-end integrated systems in your company will help your finance team implement best practices for travel expense management. This will make it easier for your employees to initiate, approve, and pay each transaction out of hundreds within minutes, thereby creating a seamless task without any manual involvement. Travel and Expense Management Trends When you automate your travel and expense process, it will not only maximize your returns but, at the same time, it will minimize your spending. This will save you both time and money. Below are the reasons you will want to consider making a switch to automate from a manual process. Remove Guess Work from Expense Process For finance personnel in your company, the new travel and expense management system can be set up in five minutes. One of the travel and expense management tools, like Expensify, helps with easy expense tracking and reporting. Similar to this, SpendCatcher – a mobile application of MobileXpense.com that is infused with AI and deep machine learning extracts payment information with just one tap. Supplier-direct Bookings Companies whose employees use a corporate travel and expense management system can receive reports according to department, employee, direct travel supplier, hotel, or car rental company. This information helps managers analyze spending patterns by actively monitoring it with up-to-date information in one flow from various travel suppliers. In this case, Concur TripLink connects to corporate travelers for direct bookings across the borders. It gives visibility of bookings no matter where it is booked. True Visibility into Spending The corporate travel and expense report management system automatically flags and creates analyses of dashboards highlight hidden expenditure. This can be helpful to know: How much expenditure is going in personal corporate travel cards, and why Find expense categories easily Find out why expense is falling short and ask for details In this context, MasterCard International is rapidly approaching towards a smart, web-based expense management system to control spending, generate comprehensive spending reports, and accurately integrate purchase data. Thus, delivering business efficiently, quickly, and easily. Rise of Bleisure Travel Corporate travel and expense management also includes ‘bleisure travel’ for corporate travelers, those looking to combine business travel with leisure time. With agile travel and expense management tools, you can make quick changes in plans to keep your employees and finance team happy and productive while mapping the budget. In this case, Lola.com has made travel and expense management real by providing an effortless way to manage, book, and report on business plus leisure travel, by encouraging its employers to save most of their time and money. Travel technology offers a deserving platform with travel and expense management to companies for added efficiency and visibility over travel spend. As corporate travel businesses are returning rapidly towards their regular work scenarios, the travel industry will see a rise in revenue. Travel and expense management system will be one of the powerful remedies to the travel industry and will increase its scope to drive growth post-pandemic. According to the new Skift report, 88% of corporate travelers will drive travel technology company growth. 86% of corporate travel managers believe it. Put an end to complex budget management and legacy processes; it is time to know how to manage travel expenses in corporate. Frequently Asked Questions What is travel and expense process? The aim of the travel and expense process is the complete administration of travel expenses, including the recording of expenses, posting in Financial Accounting (FI), and allocation in Controlling (CO) and Funds Management (FI-FM). The process also involves the valuation of costs associated with business-related activities. Why is expense management important? Expense management is important for businesses because it helps employees to keep an accurate track of expenses. This caters to them to plan financial aspects for the future with more clarity and confidence. Capital flow is a daily process in any business, so to manage some significant amounts could get efficiently done through expense management and generate a profit. What is travel and expense management? Travel and expense management is a process that includes finance management by the employee when on a business trip or any expense is made for business goals. Each travel and expense management consists of detailed records of costs, expenditure, budgeting, and report submission.

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Hospitality Management

Overcoming Obstacles of Hospitality Management in Travel Industry

Article | July 24, 2023

Discover insights to overcome hospitality management challenges of the dynamic travel industry. Elevate customer experiences, optimize operations, and thrive in the hospitality and travel industry. Contents 1. Importance of Hospitality in Tourism Industry 2. Key Management Challenges in the Hospitality Industry 2.1. Personalizing Guest Experience 2.2. Seasonality of Hospitality 2.3. Rapid Shift in Market Trends 2.4. Retaining, Hiring & Managing Staff 2.5. Protecting Online Reputation 3. Significance of Implementing the Right Solutions 4. Conclusion 1. Importance of Hospitality in Tourism Industry Today, the culture of hospitality holds paramount importance, focusing on outshining businesses by delivering exceptional service quality. To achieve this, hospitality industries must prioritize providing superior and satisfying products to their customers. Hiring managers should seek individuals with an excellent service-oriented mindset, while the training process should center around cultivating a strong service culture within the organization. Graduates of tourism and hospitality management programs are increasingly occupying key positions within the industry. These professionals view themselves as dedicated individuals entering the realm of hospitality management. Their roles demand specialized knowledge and skills, ongoing professional development, and a commitment to benefiting the community and society. Hospitality and travel industry revolves around extending friendly treatment to guests and tourists, making it an indispensable sector within tourism. Understanding consumer behavior becomes crucial in making informed marketing decisions for tourism products and activities. To fully leverage the potential of the tourism industry, it becomes imperative to comprehend what challenges may and how to overcome them to make better decisions. 2. Overcome Key Management Challenges in the Hospitality Industry 2.1. Personalizing Guest Experience Personalizing the guest experience has become an increasingly crucial challenge in the hospitality and travel industry, particularly as traditional B&Bs face competition from emerging players like Airbnb. To stay competitive and retain guests, it is essential to go beyond providing basic services and amenities. Today's travelers seek unique, tailored experiences that resonate with their preferences and needs. By personalizing the guest experience, hospitality establishments can create a lasting impression and build strong customer loyalty. This involves understanding guest preferences and anticipating their needs before they articulate them. It can include personalized greetings, offering amenities or services that align with their interests, and providing recommendations tailored to their tastes. Effective communication is vital before, during, and after the guest's visit. Leveraging guest data and preferences allows targeted marketing campaigns, personalized offers, and follow-up communication that nurtures the relationship and keeps guests engaged. 2.2. Seasonality of Hospitality One significant challenge is personalizing the guest experience, especially when considering the seasonality of the hospitality and travel industry. During peak seasons, although businesses may thrive, there is often added stress on staff to cater to a high volume of guests. Effective stress management measures and caring for the team's well-being are essential to delivering exceptional experiences consistently. In contrast, during off-peak seasons, it is an opportune time to utilize the team's talents for activities such as enhancing social media platforms, updating the website, reviewing security measures, conducting staff training, and staying abreast of industry innovations. This proactive approach helps maintain competitiveness and prepares for the next peak season. 2.3. Rapid Shift in Market Trends In hospitality and travel management, a critical challenge is the rapid shift in market trends driven by technological advancements. The advertising and marketing landscape has undergone significant transformations, rendering previously successful strategies ineffective. To navigate these transformations successfully, it is crucial to maintain updated websites, actively engage on social media platforms, promptly respond to online reviews, and develop compelling advertising campaigns. Hospitality industry managers can collaborate closely with either an internal marketing team or a marketing agency to ensure that their brand voice and mission are accurately conveyed and represented across all social platforms. Consistency, accuracy, and responsiveness are paramount in achieving marketing success in the dynamic world of hospitality. 2.4. Retaining, Hiring & Managing Staff While retention, hiring and effective staff management is a challenge that extends beyond the hospitality and tourism industry, it holds particular significance in roles that involve direct interaction with the public, as they play a crucial role in delivering exceptional guest experiences. Hospitality and tourism establishments rely on staff members of the highest caliber at all levels, be it front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, tour guides, wait staff, or kitchen personnel. In addition to possessing the necessary skills, staff members must embody essential qualities such as integrity, compassion, and empathy to provide guests with the finest service. Regular training programs are crucial to align new hires with the vision and mission of the hospitality business. Furthermore, fostering a strong team culture is essential for retaining staff members who consistently go above and beyond for guests. 2.5. Protecting Online Reputation In the contemporary hotel and tourism industry, where customers openly share reviews, opinions, and complaints on online platforms such as OTA websites, Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor, and social media, safeguarding and managing online reputation has become a critical challenge. With 96% of Tripadvisor users considering reviews critical in their travel planning and hotel booking decisions and 83% referencing reviews before booking, effective reputation management is paramount. Thoughtful and timely responses to customer reviews are crucial, as 85% of TripAdvisor users agree that it positively influences their perception of the hotel. (Source: Xotels) Maintaining a high review score on OTA sites is essential to prevent potential guests from filtering out hotels with lower scores. Additionally, leveraging positive reviews and customer feedback on social media platforms can be done by showcasing average scores and using customer quotes on the hotel's website. Importantly, customers understand that mistakes can happen, but how a hotel responds to them matters. Swiftly addressing issues, providing courteous and considerate online communication, and rectifying problems extensively safeguard the hotel's reputation. 3. Significance of Implementing the Right Solutions Implementing the right solutions holds immense significance in hospitality management. It is essential to address various challenges effectively, such as personalizing the guest experience, managing seasonality, adapting to rapid market trends, retaining and hiring staff, and protecting online reputation. By implementing tailored solutions, hospitality professionals can strengthen their hospitality management businesses. Understand the significance of the solutions to be implied to overcome management challenges. Enhanced Guest Experience: The hospitality and travel industry thrive on delivering exceptional guest experiences. By addressing management challenges effectively, such as streamlining operations, optimizing customer service, and personalizing guest interactions, the right hospitality solutions can significantly enhance the overall guest experience. This, in turn, leads to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth, all of which are crucial for the success of any hospitality business. Improved Operational Efficiency: Hospitality management challenges often revolve around optimizing operational processes, managing resources, and ensuring a smooth workflow. Implementing the right solutions, such as advanced technology systems, automation, and efficient management tools, can significantly enhance operational efficiency. This results in cost savings, reduced errors, improved productivity, and better utilization of resources, leading to overall business growth and profitability. Effective Staff Management: The hospitality industry heavily relies on its workforce to deliver quality services. Staff scheduling, training, communication, and performance management challenges can be effectively addressed through the right solutions. Employee management systems, training programs, and communication tools improve staff organization, engagement, and productivity. When employees feel supported and empowered, they are more likely to provide exceptional service, leading to a higher guest satisfaction. Data-Driven Decision-Making: The hospitality industry generates vast amounts of data related to guest preferences, booking patterns, revenue streams, and operational metrics. However, deriving actionable insights from this data can be challenging without the right solutions. Implementing data analytics tools, performance tracking systems, and guest feedback platforms enable managers to make informed decisions based on real-time data. 4. Conclusion To achieve long-term success in the travel and hospitality industry, it is necessary to overcome hospitality management obstacles that businesses face. Through strategies such as personalizing the guest experience, effectively managing seasonality, adapting to market trends, retaining and hiring the appropriate staff, and protecting online reputation, hospitality businesses can differentiate themselves and develop customer loyalty. Through the strategic implementation of customized solutions, managers can navigate these challenges, enhance their guests' experiences, and drive long-term growth in the dynamic travel industry.

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Spotlight

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia

Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia is owned by the Indigenous Land Corporation and manages tourism and resorts on their behalf. With a strong commitment to social responsibility, all profits from our business activities go towards supporting Indigenous training and employment across Australia.

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Travel Technology

OneTravel by Fareportal Delivers Veteran's Day Travel Inspiration

Fareportal | November 08, 2023

Fareportal, featuring brands such as CheapOair and OneTravel, delivers online travel solutions focusing on global bookings through OneTravel. OneTravel's 'Going Places' blog suggests paying tribute to veterans by visiting parks, memorials, and museums on Veteran's Day. Veteran’s Day has undergone historical changes in its name and date, from its origins as Armistice Day to the fourth Monday in October and then its restoration to November 11. On the occasion of Veteran's Day, Fareportal's travel agency, OneTravel, is offering valuable insights for those seeking to commemorate this significant day and pay tribute to the individuals who have served in the armed forces. According to an article published by OneTravel's 'Going Places' blog site, there are several ways to observe Veteran's Day following its spirit, which include visiting various parks, memorials, and museums dedicated to honoring veterans. These locations encompass Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant (South Carolina), Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg (Pennsylvania), Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial Park in Window Rock (Arizona), National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago (Illinois), Liberty Memorial in Kansas City (Missouri), Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington (Virginia). Werner Kunz-Cho, Chief Executive Officer of Fareportal, stated, "At Fareportal, travel is our mission. We feel it is our responsibility to provide readers with useful information to aid in their travel choices." [Source – Fareportal] Furthermore, he emphasized that the 'Going Places' article offers excellent recommendations for destinations that align perfectly with the spirit of Veteran's Day, and whether one chooses to travel by air or road, there is an encouragement for all to explore these captivating destinations. The history of this observance is intriguing, encompassing its original name and the date on which it was observed. Initially established as Armistice Day shortly after the conclusion of the First World War, the holiday's appellation underwent an official transformation to Veteran's Day in 1954. Subsequently, in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, primarily aimed at creating three-day weekends for federal employees while stimulating travel and tourism. This legislative action resulted in the moving of the observance of Veteran's Day to the fourth Monday in October. The American populace exhibited a mixed response to this alteration of the date. In 1978, President Gerald Ford decided to reinstate the observation of Veteran's Day to its original date, November 11. This year, since it's a Saturday, Veteran's Day will be observed on the preceding Friday. Fareportal, a company hosting consumer travel brands like CheapOair and OneTravel, facilitates customer bookings through various platforms, including online and mobile applications, and provides airline partners with access to a broad customer base for booking international and domestic flights, hotels, and additional services. OneTravel, a part of the Fareportal family, is globally recognized for delivering comprehensive travel solutions to meet diverse traveler needs. With OneTravel, customers can find budget-friendly flight options, including business and first-class fares, make reservations for hotels and car rentals, and plan vacations to top global destinations.

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Business Travel

CellPoint Digital, Riskified Unite to Boost Fraud Prevention

CellPoint Digital | November 07, 2023

CellPoint Digital, a Payment Orchestration provider, has partnered with Riskified, a leader in ecommerce fraud prevention and risk intelligence, to enhance fraud protection for airlines and travel merchants. This partnership allows both companies to boost the value for their joint customers by improving fraud detection capabilities and enabling the use of multiple payment providers. Riskified's fraud management platform utilizes advanced AI and machine learning to protect online retailers from fraudulent transactions. Combined with CellPoint Digital's Payment Orchestration platform, this provides higher transaction approval rates, instant decision-making capabilities, and complete chargeback protection. Kristian Gjerding, Chief Executive Officer at CellPoint Digital, remarked, “Our partnership with Riskified represents a step forward in the world of online payments. Together, these platforms empower airlines and other travel merchants to optimize their payment processes while safeguarding against fraud risks, setting a new standard for secure and efficient ecommerce transactions.” [Source- Business Wire] Riskified’s ecommerce platform is a dynamic system designed to protect online retailers from fraudulent transactions. Built for accuracy at scale. It utilizes advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze and verify the legitimacy of each transaction. It also ensures secure and hassle-free online shopping experiences for customers while minimizing the risk of fraud for travel merchants. The travel merchants who use Riskified’s Chargeback Guarantee solution will not bear the cost of fraud chargebacks if Riskified approves a fraudulent transaction. Ravi Kumawasrami, President of Worldwide Field Operations at Riskified, stated, “Businesses should never have to choose between preventing fraud and providing a cohesive customer experience. Our partnership with CellPoint Digital enables airlines and travel merchants to avoid the dilemma while simultaneously streamlining their operations, increasing their revenue and creating a secure shopping environment.” [Source- Business Wire] Leveraging the integrated solutions offered by CellPoint Digital and Riskified, travel merchants, including airlines, can establish a robust safeguard against continuously evolving fraud threats. The Payment Orchestration platform from CellPoint Digital facilitates the integration of multiple payment methods and smartly routes transactions to increase acceptance while accommodating multiple PSPs and acquirers. Furthermore, this is enhanced by Riskified's sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning framework, which effectively identifies fraudulent activities in real-time by utilizing data from an extensive worldwide merchant network comprising over 2.5 billion past transactions. With CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform, airlines and enterprise travel merchants enjoy cutting-edge fraud protection, instant decision-making capabilities, higher transaction approval rates, and complete chargeback protection, thus enhancing the overall security and efficiency of the payment processes. About CellPoint Digital CellPoint Digital is a prominent figure in the fintech sector, specializing in payment orchestration. The core of its offerings revolves around a robust Payment Orchestration Platform, which plays a pivotal role in streamlining digital payment transactions. It caters to a broad spectrum of payment methods, from traditional cards to alternative options, and expedites the deployment of novel payment solutions. The platform also optimizes transaction routing, boosting conversion rates and reducing payment-related expenses.

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Travel Technology

Sonesta's Travel SOS Offers Relief for Holiday Travel Disruptions

Sonesta Hotels | November 06, 2023

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has launched a new service called Travel SOS to help travelers during holiday travel disruptions by providing information on room availability at the nearest Sonesta hotels. The service can be accessed via a dedicated hotline or online using a promo code, offering convenience and flexibility to travelers. Despite potential limitations such as room availability and location coverage, the initiative underscores Sonesta's commitment to exceptional service during peak travel times, potentially enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Sonesta International Hotels Corporation launches a new service, Travel SOS (Sonesta Overnight Stay), aimed at easing the stress of holiday travel disruptions. The service provides stranded travelers with information on room availability at the nearest Sonesta hotels during the busy holiday season. Travelers can access the service via a dedicated hotline or by using a promo code online. The initiative underscores Sonesta's commitment to exceptional service during peak travel times, offering peace of mind to travelers across its diverse portfolio of 17 brands and over 1,200 properties. Chris Trick, the Chief Marketing Officer at Sonesta, reportedly conveyed his optimism about the Travel SOS solution. He emphasized that Travel SOS exemplifies Sonesta's dedication to delivering superior service to travelers, especially during peak and challenging travel periods. He noted that the service, accessible via phone or online, offers up-to-date information on over 1,200 Sonesta properties, thereby providing travelers with reassurance. This allows them to relax and fully enjoy the holiday season. The new Travel SOS service launched by Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has its own set of potential drawbacks and benefits. On the downside, the service might be limited by the availability of rooms at Sonesta hotels, especially during peak travel times. If all rooms are booked, the service may not be able to provide the desired assistance. Additionally, the service might be less useful for travelers who are stranded in locations where Sonesta hotels are not present. On the upside, the service is designed to ease the stress of holiday travel disruptions by providing stranded travelers with information on room availability at the nearest Sonesta hotels. This is useful throughout the holidays. The service can be accessed via a dedicated hotline or by using a promo code online, offering convenience and flexibility to travelers. Furthermore, the initiative underscores Sonesta's commitment to exceptional service during peak travel times, potentially enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Travel SOS is crafted to be accessed with dial-to-book or click-to-book options, a dedicated Travel SOS hotline and a promo code STAYSOS for online reservations using Sonesta’s website's offers’ section.

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Travel Technology

OneTravel by Fareportal Delivers Veteran's Day Travel Inspiration

Fareportal | November 08, 2023

Fareportal, featuring brands such as CheapOair and OneTravel, delivers online travel solutions focusing on global bookings through OneTravel. OneTravel's 'Going Places' blog suggests paying tribute to veterans by visiting parks, memorials, and museums on Veteran's Day. Veteran’s Day has undergone historical changes in its name and date, from its origins as Armistice Day to the fourth Monday in October and then its restoration to November 11. On the occasion of Veteran's Day, Fareportal's travel agency, OneTravel, is offering valuable insights for those seeking to commemorate this significant day and pay tribute to the individuals who have served in the armed forces. According to an article published by OneTravel's 'Going Places' blog site, there are several ways to observe Veteran's Day following its spirit, which include visiting various parks, memorials, and museums dedicated to honoring veterans. These locations encompass Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant (South Carolina), Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg (Pennsylvania), Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial Park in Window Rock (Arizona), National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago (Illinois), Liberty Memorial in Kansas City (Missouri), Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington (Virginia). Werner Kunz-Cho, Chief Executive Officer of Fareportal, stated, "At Fareportal, travel is our mission. We feel it is our responsibility to provide readers with useful information to aid in their travel choices." [Source – Fareportal] Furthermore, he emphasized that the 'Going Places' article offers excellent recommendations for destinations that align perfectly with the spirit of Veteran's Day, and whether one chooses to travel by air or road, there is an encouragement for all to explore these captivating destinations. The history of this observance is intriguing, encompassing its original name and the date on which it was observed. Initially established as Armistice Day shortly after the conclusion of the First World War, the holiday's appellation underwent an official transformation to Veteran's Day in 1954. Subsequently, in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, primarily aimed at creating three-day weekends for federal employees while stimulating travel and tourism. This legislative action resulted in the moving of the observance of Veteran's Day to the fourth Monday in October. The American populace exhibited a mixed response to this alteration of the date. In 1978, President Gerald Ford decided to reinstate the observation of Veteran's Day to its original date, November 11. This year, since it's a Saturday, Veteran's Day will be observed on the preceding Friday. Fareportal, a company hosting consumer travel brands like CheapOair and OneTravel, facilitates customer bookings through various platforms, including online and mobile applications, and provides airline partners with access to a broad customer base for booking international and domestic flights, hotels, and additional services. OneTravel, a part of the Fareportal family, is globally recognized for delivering comprehensive travel solutions to meet diverse traveler needs. With OneTravel, customers can find budget-friendly flight options, including business and first-class fares, make reservations for hotels and car rentals, and plan vacations to top global destinations.

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Business Travel

CellPoint Digital, Riskified Unite to Boost Fraud Prevention

CellPoint Digital | November 07, 2023

CellPoint Digital, a Payment Orchestration provider, has partnered with Riskified, a leader in ecommerce fraud prevention and risk intelligence, to enhance fraud protection for airlines and travel merchants. This partnership allows both companies to boost the value for their joint customers by improving fraud detection capabilities and enabling the use of multiple payment providers. Riskified's fraud management platform utilizes advanced AI and machine learning to protect online retailers from fraudulent transactions. Combined with CellPoint Digital's Payment Orchestration platform, this provides higher transaction approval rates, instant decision-making capabilities, and complete chargeback protection. Kristian Gjerding, Chief Executive Officer at CellPoint Digital, remarked, “Our partnership with Riskified represents a step forward in the world of online payments. Together, these platforms empower airlines and other travel merchants to optimize their payment processes while safeguarding against fraud risks, setting a new standard for secure and efficient ecommerce transactions.” [Source- Business Wire] Riskified’s ecommerce platform is a dynamic system designed to protect online retailers from fraudulent transactions. Built for accuracy at scale. It utilizes advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze and verify the legitimacy of each transaction. It also ensures secure and hassle-free online shopping experiences for customers while minimizing the risk of fraud for travel merchants. The travel merchants who use Riskified’s Chargeback Guarantee solution will not bear the cost of fraud chargebacks if Riskified approves a fraudulent transaction. Ravi Kumawasrami, President of Worldwide Field Operations at Riskified, stated, “Businesses should never have to choose between preventing fraud and providing a cohesive customer experience. Our partnership with CellPoint Digital enables airlines and travel merchants to avoid the dilemma while simultaneously streamlining their operations, increasing their revenue and creating a secure shopping environment.” [Source- Business Wire] Leveraging the integrated solutions offered by CellPoint Digital and Riskified, travel merchants, including airlines, can establish a robust safeguard against continuously evolving fraud threats. The Payment Orchestration platform from CellPoint Digital facilitates the integration of multiple payment methods and smartly routes transactions to increase acceptance while accommodating multiple PSPs and acquirers. Furthermore, this is enhanced by Riskified's sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning framework, which effectively identifies fraudulent activities in real-time by utilizing data from an extensive worldwide merchant network comprising over 2.5 billion past transactions. With CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform, airlines and enterprise travel merchants enjoy cutting-edge fraud protection, instant decision-making capabilities, higher transaction approval rates, and complete chargeback protection, thus enhancing the overall security and efficiency of the payment processes. About CellPoint Digital CellPoint Digital is a prominent figure in the fintech sector, specializing in payment orchestration. The core of its offerings revolves around a robust Payment Orchestration Platform, which plays a pivotal role in streamlining digital payment transactions. It caters to a broad spectrum of payment methods, from traditional cards to alternative options, and expedites the deployment of novel payment solutions. The platform also optimizes transaction routing, boosting conversion rates and reducing payment-related expenses.

Read More

Travel Technology

Sonesta's Travel SOS Offers Relief for Holiday Travel Disruptions

Sonesta Hotels | November 06, 2023

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has launched a new service called Travel SOS to help travelers during holiday travel disruptions by providing information on room availability at the nearest Sonesta hotels. The service can be accessed via a dedicated hotline or online using a promo code, offering convenience and flexibility to travelers. Despite potential limitations such as room availability and location coverage, the initiative underscores Sonesta's commitment to exceptional service during peak travel times, potentially enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Sonesta International Hotels Corporation launches a new service, Travel SOS (Sonesta Overnight Stay), aimed at easing the stress of holiday travel disruptions. The service provides stranded travelers with information on room availability at the nearest Sonesta hotels during the busy holiday season. Travelers can access the service via a dedicated hotline or by using a promo code online. The initiative underscores Sonesta's commitment to exceptional service during peak travel times, offering peace of mind to travelers across its diverse portfolio of 17 brands and over 1,200 properties. Chris Trick, the Chief Marketing Officer at Sonesta, reportedly conveyed his optimism about the Travel SOS solution. He emphasized that Travel SOS exemplifies Sonesta's dedication to delivering superior service to travelers, especially during peak and challenging travel periods. He noted that the service, accessible via phone or online, offers up-to-date information on over 1,200 Sonesta properties, thereby providing travelers with reassurance. This allows them to relax and fully enjoy the holiday season. The new Travel SOS service launched by Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has its own set of potential drawbacks and benefits. On the downside, the service might be limited by the availability of rooms at Sonesta hotels, especially during peak travel times. If all rooms are booked, the service may not be able to provide the desired assistance. Additionally, the service might be less useful for travelers who are stranded in locations where Sonesta hotels are not present. On the upside, the service is designed to ease the stress of holiday travel disruptions by providing stranded travelers with information on room availability at the nearest Sonesta hotels. This is useful throughout the holidays. The service can be accessed via a dedicated hotline or by using a promo code online, offering convenience and flexibility to travelers. Furthermore, the initiative underscores Sonesta's commitment to exceptional service during peak travel times, potentially enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. Travel SOS is crafted to be accessed with dial-to-book or click-to-book options, a dedicated Travel SOS hotline and a promo code STAYSOS for online reservations using Sonesta’s website's offers’ section.

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Events