HOSPITALITY TRENDS
businesswire | May 19, 2023
Global payments provider Elavon has partnered with The Digital Line (TDL) on a voice-activated solution for the hospitality industry.
The solution – Audico – utilises the Amazon Alexa device to deliver a variety of voice-driven services. Elavon is the exclusive payments provider for the Audico solution in hospitality, globally.
Hemlata Narasimhan, Elavon Merchant Services President in Europe, says, “Virtual assistant technology is the future of hospitality, and we’re thrilled to be powering the payments behind Audico. This is all about improving the customer experience, and a large part of this is seamless payments. We’re pleased to be partnering with Amazon’s approved partner The Digital Line to make this happen.”
Audico is unique in the UK market, and has already been implemented at the world-famous Ascot Racecourse in Southeast England, where premium customers can call for betting services, order food and drinks, and purchase merchandise from their private boxes all with a few simple words to Alexa. The audible command is then relayed to staff as a Card Not Present transaction, and payment is made using a pre-determined account preference such as a credit card.
Audico is also being explored as a room service solution in hotels, and in premium hospitality areas at other venues and stadiums, as well as providing a landmark series of services in the health care industry.
George Vaughan, The Digital Line’s CEO, says, “This partnership represents a unique opportunity for two recognised brands to collaborate on initiatives that will revolutionise multiple business verticals, including hospitality, venues and health care, delivering a level of digital transformation not seen before.”
About The Digital Line
A commercial research, information, and technical innovation consulting firm, The Digital Line (TDL) has a specific interest in venues, hospitality, retail, education, and healthcare. TDL offers a full range of professional services to help companies in various industries create their plans for upcoming technological endeavours and support the deployment of critical projects in a more creative and cost-effective manner.
TDL also collaborates with cutting-edge businesses, products, and institutions, placing it at the forefront of the latest wave of technical advancements and because of its intelligent integration of private, public, and academic entities, is able to push the limits of disruptive digital technologies.
Read More
TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
businesswire | May 30, 2023
Summer travel is set to explode, with 85% of adults planning to travel this summer, up 5% from last year’s post-pandemic high. As millions of Americans head online to research and book their summer travel, FullStory today released the results of a consumer survey that examines the digital preferences and behaviors of U.S. consumers.
The survey provides new proof that digital dominates travel planning, but not necessarily in the ways that brands may expect. Nearly 8 in 10 (78%) Americans always or frequently research and book at least some portion of their trips online. And 44% research and book the entirety of their travel plans online, from airlines to hotels to activities. Once they hit the road, half (48%) of Americans say they rely heavily on mobile travel apps.
High earners making more than $150,000 a year are even more likely to rely on digital channels for planning, with 83% always or frequently researching and booking online. Almost half (49%) lock in every piece of their trip online before departure.
Income aside, the majority of travelers (57%) would pay a premium for a guaranteed flawless digital experience. They’re more interested in practical enhancements like interface/navigation improvements (23%) and technical stability and reliability (17%) over buzzy features like AI chatbots (7%) and augmented reality (6%).
“Digital properties are the most prevalent way customers make travel decisions and transactions, so travel brands can’t afford any digital missteps,” said Darren Kennedy, SVP of Customer Experience for FullStory. “Our research continues to show that customers are loyal to experiences, not brands, and they’re searching for brands to do the basics really well – even more than ones that offer fancy new features. With so many trips almost entirely planned online in advance, brands need to start channeling empathy for the digital consumer and proactively find and fix digital issues before they impact customers.”
FullStory’s survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers, conducted online in May 2023, is the latest in a research series that addresses key questions in the travel digital experience:
Does the digital experience enhance or detract from the overall travel experience? Three-quarters (75%) of Americans surveyed say that digital makes the travel experience better. But some travel sites fare better than others. Hotel sites rank highest for digital experience, while car rental sites score lowest among travelers.
How common are bad digital experiences, and what is at stake? Travelers have low tolerance for digital struggles and are one click away from booking elsewhere. More than half (55%) say they are likely to book with another travel provider when they are frustrated with a site or app. With nearly 21% of respondents always or frequently struggling when booking or researching online, there is a significant opportunity for travel providers to improve the digital experience they deliver to customers.
What makes for a good travel experience? According to another recent FullStory survey, the #1 factor to ensure a great digital experience in 2023 is the ability to “quickly accomplish what I came to do” — a priority for 81% of Americans. However, only 26% of U.S. consumers describe the digital experience as “simple,” with 21% saying the experience is “stressful” or “difficult.
About FullStory
FullStory's digital experience intelligence (DXI) platform empowers businesses to deliver the best digital experiences across their websites and apps. Teams from product and engineering to marketing and customer support use FullStory to save time and money, innovate confidently, and ultimately grow revenue. Built on a patented DX Data Engine, FullStory transforms previously unnoticed, unstructured, and unindexed information into actionable DXI. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, with regional teams in London, Hamburg, Sydney, and Singapore.
Read More
TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY
businesswire | May 04, 2023
Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) (the “Company” or “Sphere Entertainment”) today announced it has completed the sale of its 66.9% majority interest in Tao Group Hospitality to Mohari Hospitality, a global investment company focused on the luxury lifestyle and hospitality sectors.
The completion of the sale follows a successful bidding process with multiple parties, which reflects that since the Company acquired a majority interest in 2017, Tao Group Hospitality has transformed into a global powerhouse in entertainment dining and hospitality. As previously disclosed, in connection with the sale, Sphere Entertainment has also entered into a multi-year agreement with Tao Group Hospitality for ongoing consulting, marketing, and support services.
About Sphere Entertainment Co
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a premier live entertainment and media company. The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere venue is currently under construction in Las Vegas. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a companion streaming service, MSG GO, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming.
Read More