EVENTFUL FOR IPHONE

Is it Saturday night and you don’t know what to do?

Now you can use the application for iPhone and iPod touch that allows to find the most exciting events in your town and in all over the world.

Jordan Glazier, the CEO of Eventful said in an interview that “Through its vast event-search capabilities and extensive integration with the iPhone, Eventful answers the needs of planning anyone’s social life, by enabling users to find things to do and friends to do them with, at any time and in any place”.

Through this application, it is possible to search for events, to buy tickets for events and also to see what your friends are interested in doing, thanks’ to the possibility to copy events from the Eventful Calendar to the Calendar application on the iPhone, to be always informed about your favourite performers.

The application is composed by five sections that can help the users to find what they need.

The first section is “Search”, that allows to find events, venues, performers or other users, in order to facilitate the organization of users’ free time.

The second section is the “Featured Pages”, through with users can obtain a selection of the most interesting events, related to their interests or location.

Another one is named “Track” that tracks all the events in users’ watch list and in their friends’ watch list. Moreover it indicates all upcoming events by customers’ favourite performers and location.

“Demand” is the section through with it is possible to demand users’ favourite performers to come in their city and to see the other demands throughout the world.

At last, but not the least there is the “Profile” section that enables to view and to edit users’ Eventful profile and to see the other profile and all the several comments about each event.

Eventful can show million of events to choose from and the tour dates for over 130.000 performers. Moreover it can suggest all the venues near the users.

This application that is available for free, will help everyone to better plan their free time, sharing tips and comments with friends and fans of user’s favourite performers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fFNaSsKa3s

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2008_July_10/ai_n27907295/

Key words: application, iPhone, iPod touch, events, performers, free time

Barbara Esposito, Francesca Nocerino, Carmine Andrea D'Orsi.

The new era in hospitality industry

Mobility is playing an increasingly important role in the hospitality industry both for distribution and operation. By 2015, over two billion people should have a Smart phone, according to a report from the firm Parks Associates. Those days, mobile device strategies are growing and diversified and tourists are already very active in research and hotel bookings.

Mobility is used at all stages. Indeed, according to a study by PhoCusWright, 68% of leisure travelers and 71% of business travelers shopped or purchased travel products using a mobile device in the last year. Among these visitors, half have conducts research to a hotel. One quarter of leisure travelers and a third of business travelers have booked with a mobile device.

Mobile technologies, as well as other distribution channels, are used before the departure, either for research or reservations. Indeed, large proportions of travelers are using their mobile device before the trip and while in transit. People often have a limit with their access to Mobile Web because of high user fees when traveling internationally so Wifi zones are very helpful for the used of mobile technologies.

For distribution in the hospitality industry, most major hotel chains have a mobile application which the principal use is the distribution, but where there are also retention strategies. With the application, users can also find information about services offered by the hotel. According to us, it is a competitive aspect to create a mobile application for a hotel. The application of the W chain is an example of application that stands out. To get you in the mood for a W stay, the app streams music created by famous DJs in Ibiza and gives you an option to listen to it at the moment or to purchase it on iTunes. The IPhone app enables the users to book a room, order room service, send a message through the app to request what ever you want and view special offers. Indeed, like demonstrated by Schaal, “if you select an Insider section of the app, there are options to “Order In” room service 24/7 and charge it to your room; an “I Need” tab to request towels, bedding and bath products; an “Anything Else” section for sending special requests or questions to hotel staff; and a “Treat Youself or Someone Else” button for pre-ordering things like chocolate-covered strawberries and sparkling wine1.” We love this application because it combines pleasure and utility.

Source: http://www.tnooz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/W2.jpg 

There is many other example of application for distribution. HotelTonight, the king of the principle of the last minute, proposes an application that shows offers of the day, at prices up to 70% off. In the event industry, QDelegate offers a solution for communication between hoteliers, event organizers, convention and participants. The application facilitates the planning of the event and the communication logistics during the meeting.

Mobility also creates a change in customer’s services. Due to mobile devices, some changes are present in the hospitality industry like the arrival of payment by a mobile device and automatic currency conversion, the emergence of virtual concierge, the substation of key hotel rooms for smart phones, room service from client’s smartphone which allows the client to be served anywhere in the hotel, to name only a few. A change that we think is interesting is the return of printed promotional materials, which allow the customer to scan a QR code to discover the news of the establishment and activities to do in the area. Mobile devices also allow hotels to change their installation of systems to control thermostats and lighting because the clients can control it with their smartphone. It is a good sustainable strategy in our point of view. There is also an application created by Lodgenet that turns your smartphone into a remote control in the hotel room. This application is very popular and is used in already 500,000 hotel chains like Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood, IHG and Fairmount. The application can also be modified by the hotel and add a section on the facilities and surroundings can be add. The customers can also get their bill, settle the bill, order and have touristic information with the app.

Instead of developing their own mobile application, managers can adhere to customized solution like InHotelApp. It allows the hotelier to provide practical information to its clients, without the need to have Internet access, which is very useful in our point of view because we don’t always have access to Internet or Wifi.

To conclude, we think that most changes related to mobile device will be easily integrated in the hospitality industry but some of them will represent a challenge. The industry needs to adapt its offer to the customer’s need and those days, it is all about new technologies.

Key words: mobile device, hospitality industry, mobile application, smartphone

Source: LEVASSEUR, Maite (2012). Levee du rideau sur la mobilite dans lindustrie hoteliere: Acte 1, April 5, 2012, from Reseau de veille: http://veilletourisme.ca/2012/04/05/levee-du-rideau-sur-la-mobilite-dans-lindustrie-hoteliere-acte-1/

Partnership between EasyJet and eNett Int to Create Secure Payments

Security and safety of payment procedure is always the most important feature of online bookings and reservation services of each company. Clients are aware of frauds, which can happen during the online personal and company bookings.

The airline companies are trying to find modern solutions, which would provide the most effective and safest ways to book online airline tickets. Therefore EasyJet, one of the most known low cost airlines, which based its generic strategy on cost efficiency, entered into a partnership with eNett International. ENett International is a payment solution provider, which came with the innovative idea of creating a virtual card to corporations and companies. The card is supposed to solve security issues, which can arise during the booking procedure. The product will offer IATA and non- IATA agents. The main, as already mentioned is to eliminate the credit card risks, such as card misuse for other purposes.

The main operations of the solution will be based on creating a unique virtual account number for each individual booking. This will reassure the client about the privacy and private information sharing. The Virtual Account Number details are automatically updated in the booking and can be produced in a variety of currencies (Travelmole, 2012).

The main aim of creating solutions for corporate travelers is the opportunities between the potential business travelers and EasyJet. Satisfied clients mainly focus during the reservation procedure on the payment step, which will be improved, simplified, shortened and secured. “EasyJet said the virtual card would reduce payment fees for all travel bookings and provide new revenue when agents book EasyJet Flexi fares”(Travelmole, 2012).

Additionally, the main target markets are TMCs, which are travel management companies, operating in the airline industry, which are highly dependable on the security and safety of bookings online. The simplification of the booking process must be visible to the clients, especially due to the partnership with eNett International.  The company highly values the partnership with EasyJet, and the employees strongly believe that the satisfaction of travel management companies will result in positive word of mouth and critique.

Clients will receive accounts payable reconciliation and reporting that is not available through any other means of payment. As Andrew Hodges, EasyJet Director of Sales, Distribution & Business said,   “we know how difficult it can be for TMCs and Corporates to reconcile bookings to payments which is one of the reasons why we chose eNett. Combined with process efficiencies from a fully downloadable tool that is integrated with easyjet.com and available on all major GDS, eNett’s VANs will make payments processing easier and more cost effective for us and the trade.” (eNett International, 2012).

However, the company should start thinking of implementing this secure product to all its bookings online, concerning mainly the individual markets. Simplification of bookings, payment costs reduction, reassurance of privacy are main factors affecting booking online.

Maria Hunova & Sylvain Sevenier

Key Words: Privacy, security solutions, eNett International, EasyJet, airline companies, TMCs

References:

Travelmole. (2012).easyJet launches virtual payment card for TMCs. Retrieved on February 20, 2012, from

http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2001113&c=setreg&region=2

eNett. (2012). eNett International and EasyJet release Virtual Card Solution to Eauropean agencies. Retrieved on February 20, 2012, from http://www.enett.com/Media/tabid/101/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/28/eNett-International-and-easyJet-release-Virtual-Card-Solution-to-European-agencies.aspx

Robot Prostitutes, the Future of Sex Tourism

Would you pay to have sex with a robot prostitute?

Credit: Digital vision / Getty Images

The story:

Ian Yeoman, futurist with an interest in tourism and Michelle Mars, sexologist at an University in New Zealand think someone will. Both wrote a paper entitled "Robots, Men and Sex Tourism".

The sex industry's problems, such as human trafficking, human degradation and the spread of sexually transmitted infections may be overcome by the technology with Robotic prostitutes.

Yeoman and Mars imagine what the red-light district will look like in the year 2050:

“Yub-Yum is Amsterdam's top sex club for business travelers where the entry costs are $10,000 for an all-inclusive service. The Yub-Yum is a unique bordello licensed by the city council and the special feature is that staff is not human but replaced by androids. Due to the increase of human trafficking in the sex industry and the incurable STI's such as HIV, the city had to find a solution. Amsterdam's tourist industry is built on an image of sex and drugs. The red light district considered as Amsterdam’s icon cannot be closed without detrimental affecting the tourism industry.  

The Yub-Yum offers a range of sexual gods and goddesses of different ethnicities, body shapes, ages, languages and sexual features. In 2049, the club has won numerous technology and innovation awards including the prestigious ISO iRobotSEX award. The most popular robot is blonde Russian called Irina, who is popular with Middle Eastern businessmen. The services of Yub-Yum guarantee an exciting and thrilling experience because all the robots are programmed to over perform services.

Between two consumers, the android is flushed for human fluids and the robot’s composition of bacteria resistant fiber does not allow Sexual Transmitted Disease's transfer to the next consumer.  The impact of Yub-Yum club has transformed the sex industry into a healthier sector without human trafficking problems. Maybe some human sex workers will resist and be opposed to this project to save their business as they cannot compete on price and quality. With the technologic sex industry, clients do not feel guilt because they actually have not had sex with a real person and therefore do not have to lie to their partner.

With the emergence of Internet pornography and online escort service, it is obvious the Digital Age has revolutionized the sex industry. In addition sexual taboos are changing and maybe sex robots may be the solution of sex tourism’s problems.”

The bloggers’ opinion:

Whether we like it or not, sex has been traded since forever. Prostitution is one of the oldest jobs of the World and unfortunately became part of Tourism. Some countries fight it (for instance in Thailand), while others try to regulate the business by legalizing or at least allowing prostitution in designated city areas, known as red light districts (such as Amsterdam, Netherland).

New technologies are making progress in all kind of sectors and Sex is also being "enhanced" by IT. Those types of robots prostitutes, even if not really realistic yet, will be helpful to avoid human trafficking and to reduce the spread of diseases. However, trading sex is easy money for the prostitute as well as the one “trading” the prostitute. That is why we doubt that those robots prostitutes will one day completely replace the real human prostitute. This kind of “advance technology” might also help foster the destination’s image: it might create a curiosity interest around the Red Light District and its new inhabitants. 

Let’s see in 30 years how Sex Tourism will evolve …

                                                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MeQcI77dTQ

By Laurene Deneve & Nina Phanatzis, on April 28^th, 2012.

Keywords: sex tourism, androids, prostitution, technology, robots, diseases, human trafficking

Nic Halverson (Aprl 2012): Robot Prostitutes, the Future of Sex Tourism. Retrieved from http://news.discovery.com/tech/robot-prostitutes-120423.html 

PHUKET BUSINESS: Artificial reefs key to mass tourism dive industry

This article deals with a new way of creating tourism memory in Phuket, Thailand.

More precisely, it is about designing sustainable underwater objects to enhance responsible diving, to sensitize customers with sustainability and leave them with great memories, as they are not used to dive and discover this type of reef underwater.

The company offering this project is called Reef Worlds and it is now in the concept stage for those projects in Phuket.

Reef Worlds was established 3 years ago and is based in Los Angeles, USA. It aims at working with resorts in order to create sustainable artificial reef systems with the best technology now available to reduce tourism pressures on natural reefs. It is about targeting mass tourism all around the world to combine conservation with tourism.

                                        Image by Reef Worlds

Dave Taylor, the Head of Development at Reef Worlds declared in the Phuket Gazette, “If you can create a tourism memory then you have won your game. You have won everything, because that’s a memory that never leaves a potential client, and they always come back to it”. (http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article12874.html)

This new concept would enhance an interest in sustainable artificial reefs, as many were already created by artificial-reef-building NGOs but were only dedicated to conservation and not to tourism.

Balnear stations such as Phuket have an economy mainly driven by tourism and these reefs would boost sustainable diving tourism.

How will they build these artificial reefs?

              Image by Phuket Gazette: "A rendering of what an iconic artificial reef might look like."

The aim is to build iconic forms underwater by using crushed rock from ancient coral beds and low PH concrete for their structures so that corals can adhere. This would attract the fauna the divers want to see like sharks or manta rays, blowing them away as they would approach the artificial reefs.

Reef Worlds will inspire themselves with iconic design forms that are used in the resort to then create a transition from land to ocean, based on the resort themes.

If a resort has ten designs, they will be able to have fifty shapes put into water as each individual piece can be stamped up to five times.

Theses pieces, created with the essentials of sustainability, would weight between 4,500 to 18,000 kilograms and are guaranteed to resist category five hurricanes.

Reef Worlds promotes ‘do not harm tourism’ and is looking for white-sand bottoms or crushed coral flats that are denuded of life. They provide 10 years of follow-up analysis for their reefs.

What would be the advantage of having submersive pieces for a resort?

These artificial reefs could be seen as a marketing tool as it is no frequent, no one else has it, and they are specifically branded to the resort. Of course, this has a cost: 
USD 100,000 for a three acre site for instance.

Is it worth the investment?

When diving, the customers will take pictures and videos to then spread them on social media networks, this enhancing the advertising of the site, of the resort. 

So our answer to that question would be ‘yes’ as we know the important impact of social media nowadays.

Our opinion is that this new technology could be a great way to preserve the natural fauna and flora as it is in danger with mass tourism and also to fix natural reefs when they have been damaged.

Also, it is a good way to create memories and to sensitize divers and tourists with sustainable artificial reefs, this could make them be aware of the importance of sustainability.

Moreover, in this process of sustainability, resorts could gain notoriety with their involvement regarding the oceanlife preservation. 

All in all, a new technology combining conservation and tourism = a sustainable step for a near future. 

Jennifer & William

Key Words: mass tourism, responsible diving, sustainable artificial reef, conservation, sustainability.

 

Source: article written by Isaac Stone Simonelli on April 27, 2012 and retrieved from

http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2012/article12874.html 

The Impact of the Always-Connected Travelers

 Because of the (r)evolution of technology, travelers’ behaviors have been modified, especially regarding the use of mobile phone. Mobile technology has evolved in a particularly quick and significant way in the last few years, representing now an alternative to several traditional devices and services such  as PCs, kiosks, boarding passes, etc. The change has reached the category of the travelers, who are now relying on this device during their entire journey and not only for “the pre-trip planning and booking”. Obviously, such a trend has direct repercussions on the travel industry which has to adapt to better answer the needs of its potential customers and to find new ways to attract and satisfy them.

Trying to understand the exact implications for the travel industry and to find how the suppliers and intermediaries intend to take advantage of the trend, Amadeus and Tnooz gathered a panel of experts. Their objective was to explore “the influence of mobile on traveler behaviors from pre-trip research and booking through the life of the journey as well as the business behaviors of the suppliers servicing this always-connected traveler”.

First, relying on a recent study led on the travelers’ attitudes toward airline companies; they proved that travelers are now using their mobile as a support during the whole “travel” process. Indeed, mobile applications are used during pre-trip (information, booking etc.), at the airport (plane delay, boarding gate, boarding pass, lost luggage procedure etc), on-board, in the destination (information, orientation, share experience…) and post trip (feed-back, share of experience again). Thus, the use of mobile technology as a support during the travel has to be taken into account not as being an advantage but as a full-fledged and inseparable element of the travel process. 

Such a trend is predicted to have direct influence over the GDS. Indeed, the more sophisticated and efficient the mobile devices are, the more the “connected travelers” will be in demand for “timely and accurate information”. Thus, to satisfy the high requirements of consumers, it is certain that GDS has to adapt and to provide fully functional travel servicing interface for mobile devices, a broadband available from everywhere and an efficient online booking tool. As we said, changes in travelers’ behaviors already had significant impact on the airline industry but they also concern the hospitality industry.

The “always connected travelers” have new needs that the hotel industry has to understand how to service and to meet.  Some major issues regarding this topic have been outlined by Choice Hotels*:

“      -    Guests want ubiquitous, fast connectivity

 -          Guests want myriad ways to interact with hotels

-          New opportunities from new connectivity with guests

      -          Looking forward in hotel-customer relationship"

Indeed, customers are more willing to bring their personal devices and content to their hotel rooms, and do not use gaming and films provided and charged by the hotels, which make a decrease in their revenues. Guests are more looking for a fast and high quality in room Wi-Fi connection. They also expect the hotels “to have a website, offer organic and not static reservations as well as provide pre- and post-stay communication”.

Even if at first sight it can appear as a challenge for the hoteliers, it might be a real opportunity for them. Indeed, such a close relationship with their customers, not only at check-in but during the whole process, will enable them to obtain more information about the guests and finally attract them with more customized products and deliver them with a better guest experience.

However, this will also influence the way hoteliers will have to handle CRM and force them to consider the new requirements of their guests using mobile services, such as data security, authentication issues, online payment etc.

 * Choice Hotels International is one of the largest and most successful lodging companies in the world, http://www.choicehotels.com/en/about-choice/aboutchoicehotels )

Key words: Travelers' behavior, mobile technology, travel industry, airline companies, hospitality industry, GDS

Source:

IT, A. H. (n.d.). Industry News. Retrieved from Hospitality.net: http://internationalmeetingsreview.com/news/external/73357

Ethics and Social Media: Where Should You Draw The Line?

Ethics is a very gray zone and needs to be navigated very carefully; it is more about the perception of what is right and wrong and for different people these perceptions will be different. There are more questions than answers and there is no definite end to this argument; in the end it really comes down to the user and the provider to define the boundaries. What do you think? Where do you stand in terms of this argument about ethics in social media?

Is there really a link between Social media and ethics? Are social media to blame for every unethical behavior observed in a company? This topic raises many questions. 

The study (done with U.S. workers only) conducted by the Ethics Resource Center (ERC), the National Business Ethics Survey (NBES), aroused the curiosity of the author Jay Shepherd, of Medical Center HR director Dwane Lay, and of Kristen Fyfe, senior communications manager.

This study shows that, overall, social networker tend to be more tolerant and open-minded than other workers. They question the actual and old ethics policies, and will develop relationship with other (colleagues, potential customers and partners) more easily. However, social media does affect their “perception of ethics” which is also influenced by employees’ background.

One of the issues raised is how other workers perceive their colleagues that are active social networkers. Most of people tend to think social networkers show more unethical behaviors at work than other workers.

Another issue is the “time-wasting” one. It is important to remember that social media are not the only “time-wasting” cause. The “time-wasting” issue existed way before social media appeared and it will exist long after they disappear. Among the factors we can find sports, coffee/cigarette breaks, morning/before work chitchat, etc. The only thing that differentiates social media from other factors is that they are measurable and transparent.

The main recommendation to prevent from dealing with unethical situations, would be to “be professional”, as Shepherd say, not only on the web but it every situation. Acting unprofessionally will inevitably leads to questionable and unethical behaviors.

Secondly, companies should make sure their employees have read and understood the policy as unsexy it may seem. It will reduce the risk that active social networkers (who “represent” the company on social media) talk unprofessionally bout the company or their colleagues.

Key words: social media, ethic

Source: http://mashable.com/2012/03/17/social-media-ethics/

Writer: France, Miki 

 The Menu of the future?

MenuPad is an interactive menu application specifically designed for the restaurant and catering industries which uses the Apple iPad, in replacement of a paper-based menu.

Despite its sophisticated appearance, there is no need to be a geek to get started with the MenuPad. A simple download from the apple store installing the app on your iPads and you’re ready to go! And for customers, MenuPad isn't just simple to use, it's also fun!

It is an easy solution to enhance dining experience for customers while reducing costs and increasing revenue for cafes and restaurants.

A Simple administratioN

 An intuitive web-browser administration system enables easy setting of MenuPad at first use so as to perform changes once launched.

Create your menu categories, add items and extra fields such as pictures and descriptions. Once your additions and changes are done, your iPads will automatically synchronize; and you can even set a time for changes to take effect.

Enhance YOUR CUSTOMERS dining experience

MenuPad will not only provide a unique and fun time to diners, it will also improve their dining experience.

In addition to its ability to provide more information about menu items and wine than a classic paper menu system, MenuPad will also reduce frustration for customers. Thanks to the call waiter function, they can summon a waiter whenever they want rather than spending time trying to catch their eye.

Customers can even place orders themselves, using MenuPad's interactive technology. This function will help decrease order errors and as such will result in reduced costs for you and an improved dining experience for your customers.

With the extra information at their finger-tips, customers may also order more food and drinks, helping to increase your cafe or restaurant's revenue. 

Customise and expand

You can easily provide a more professional touch by branding your MenuPad to suit your cafe or restaurant's logo and decor.

MenuPad is also designed to grow your business: the only requirement is simply purchase more iPads to expand as you need. You can also add more features - such as Sommelier wine matching guide, wine reviews, food reviews and online ordering. 

AN INTUITIVE MENU EDITOR

With the easy to use drag-and-drop interface right from your web browser, simply press the add new category option, and once you've added your categories all you need to do is to add your menu items.

Adding new menu items is simple, all you need to do is press add new menu item, enter in the relevant fields such as dish name, description, select an image to upload and your done.

Once you've added your entire menu content it will automatically sync up with the iPads on the time schedule you set in your settings panel.

WAITER FUNCTION

With 2 fingers simply tap the logo at the top of the screen and change the table number, help get it ready for patrons to use and see what they're ordering.

Use as a sales tool to help upsell meals and wines.

BRAND YOUR MENUPAD

MenuPad is so easy to upload your own restaurant brand and images of your food, simply login to the web interface and upload images to the specification listed on the MenuPad control panel, and your MenuPad will automatically update the theme designed for your restaurant.

Customize the help page with instructions in any language and use the off the shelf diagrams provided to all MenuPad clients upon request to make it easier to illustrate how easy it is to use.

POINT OF SALE INTEGRATION

MenuPad has been designed to reduce your staff's time and the chance of errors. A great example is MenuPad's integration with all major point of sale technology, which you can set up easily with the administration system.

If you don't have a point of sale system, MenuPad will also integrate with many receipt printers. In fact, it can be integrated with multiple printers: perfect if you need a backup printer  or     operate a receipt printer in the kitchen as well as at the cash register.

RECEIPT PRINTER ONLY

Don't have a Point-of-sale system, don't despair, MenuPad support Ethernet receipt printers, simply type in the IP Address of your printer and have the receipts printed out automatically.

Best of all, you can even add in multiple printers, so you can have a backup printer in case one runs out of paper or breakdowns, and with added functionality to choose how many receipts print out upon clicking the order button you can have 1 receipt printed out for the kitchen and another printed out for the cash registrar.

Keywords: iPad & App – Customer experience – Branding – Customize – Organization