CURRENT TRENDS

GREEN HOSPITALITY

According to Travel Industry Dictionary (2013) green hotel is “a lodging establishment that has made a commitment to various ecologically sound practices such as saving water, saving energy and reducing solid waste”. In 2008, the American Hotel and Lodging Association announced that its main importance was the greening of the hospitality industry (Kasavana, 2008). Taking an environmentally friendly method is trendy, outstanding and cost effective. Kasavana (2008) continues that green meetings, green hotels, green convention centers and green suppliers are all aspects of the hospitality industry.

WHY GREEN HOSPITALITY

Going green is important because: when water saving equipment are introduced, low –flow toilets and 1.6 gpm dishwashing valves the water bills are reduced dramatically. Being green means that guests and all staff are healthier as the poisonous chemicals, odours in the air or food consumed by guests is well taken by the green aspect (Green Hotels, 2013).

A research by Jones (2002:43) clearly supports that recycling and energy conservation programmes help firms to save money. Further work by Mensar (2004:432) supports this claim that “going green was introduced not only as a popular consumer trend but also as an opportunity to save money for the organisation”.

MEASURES TO BE TAKEN

A Toronto Hotel has gone green by recycling stained tablecloths into napkins (Kasavana, 2008).Kasavana (2008) further states that in tropical areas solar energy is used for lighting and heating water and also the hotels in general are making cloth laundry bags from retired sheets

“Many hotels place a printed card on the pillow of an unmade bed asking guests to indicate their preference for bed making. This can save gallons of water and energy” (Kirk, 1996:42).

Research by, Middleton (1994:134) states earth friendly cleaning products must be used when cleaning bar areas or public areas. Additional a hotel in Pennsylvania has a 400 foot garden and produces healthily vegetables for its restaurant (Kasavana, 2008).

A research conducted by the Internal Hotel Environment Initiative shown that 90 percent of hotel guests ideal to stay in a hotel that is concerned for the environment (Mensar,2004:430). Green hospitality is an aspect of paramount importance. It is only through the implementation of the 3 Rs-reduce, re-use and recycle, firms will be able to reduce on their bills, minimise inventory wastage, conserve energy consumption and be economical (Kasavana 2008). As future trends customers are now requiring green aspects in menus and in the rooms.

 

REFERENCES

Green Hotels (2013)

http://www.greenhotels.com/  (Accessed :10 April 2014).

Kasavana, M. (2008) Green Hospitality

http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp?ID=307 (     (Accessed:10 April 2014)

Kirk, D. (1996) Environment Management for Hotels, Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.

Mensar, I. (2004) Management Practices In Us Hotels, Atlanta, Georgia State University.

Middleton, T.C. (1994) Marketing In Travel and Tourism,2^nd edn. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.

Jones, P. (2002) Introduction to Hospitality Operations: An indispensable guide to the industry,2^nd edn. London: South Western Cengage Learning.

Travel Industry Dictionary (2013) Green Hotel [Online],  http://www.travel-industry-dictionary.com/green-hotel.html (Accessed: 15 April 2014).

 

 

 

 

TECHNOLOGY  IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
 

Watkins (2013) indicates that “technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes especially in industry like hotel industry”. Cooper et.al (2005:410) stresses that   keeping up to date on the latest trends in hospitality technology everything from in-room entertainment is important. Hotels everywhere are up-to-date with trends like WI-FI, Social media, providing meeting places with high tech equipment. Technology helps in marketing, interaction with clients, create ease by taking care of guest needs in a fast and efficient manner hence hotels are no exceptions not to invest much on technology.

MEETING SPACES GO HIGH TECH

Studies by Jones (2002:57) and Watkins (2013) indicates that technology such as video conferencing has made it easier to communicate in meetings. They continue to highlight that clients are able to make more requests for their meetings days before meeting starts and also on the day their requests like more flip charts, change in temperature in the room through high tech. Menus and beverage list contents are constantly being influenced by trends, fads (Lillicrap, 2010).

                                             RESTAURANTS GO HIGH TECH

The restaurants nowadays are making use of special equipment in the preparation of food. The use of coffee making facilities and the use of opera for billing guests. This equipment makes food to be prepared quickly and service to be provided efficiently. The use of vending machines is gaining popularity in restaurants businesses. The use of a specialized oven by pizzerias to cook their pizzas quickly (Clark, 2014).

ONLINE BOOKINGS

According to Word Press (2014) the rapid growth of the internet and marketing hotel rooms has transformed how firms do business. In 2002, it was estimated that 25 percent of hotel bookings were from the internet. Word Press (2014) & Fergus (2009) both agree “Hotel bookings have become very sophisticated than ever before. Anyone can book a hotel room in a simple step with the help of internet. Increasing number of social media such as Facebook, tweeter and websites like trip advisor help both the customers and the hotels non-customer.” Reservations have been made easy through online bookings.

                                           THE OFFICE AWAY FROM OFFICE

Small businesses who have not booked with the hotel on accommodation basis are able to book conference rooms for their meetings at the hotels. It could be on a full day or half day basis. Conference equipment like projectors and flip charts are provided.  (Watkins, 2013) 

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Hotels are now making use of the Facebook as a way of advertising themselves (Watkins, 2013). It could be upcoming events like valentine’s dinner. Social media also helps that companies are able to interact with their clients on issues like technology, space design.

 

                                                                  REFERENCES

 Clark, W. (2013) Restaurant PEST Analysis [Online],                          

Available at:http://www.ehow.com/info_7911098_restaurant-pest-analysis.html (Accessed 17 March 2014).

Cooper,C.,Fletcher,J.,Fyall,A.,Gilbert,D.&Wanhill,S.(2005)Tourism:London:Pearson Education Limited.

Fergus, J. (2009) New Trends in Hotel Room Service [Online],

http://www.executivetravelmagazine.com/articles/new-trends-in-hotel-room-service    (Accessed 01 April 2014)

Jones, P. (2002) Introduction to Hospitality Operations: An Indispensable guide to the industry.2^nd edn.London: South-Western Cengage Learning.

Lillicrap, D. & Cousins, J. (2010) Food and Beverage Service, 8^th edn. London: Dynamic Learning.

Watkins, E. (2013) Trends in Hospitality Technology [Online],

https://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Article/10764/10-trends-in-hotel-technology

(Accessed 18 March 2014). 

Word Press. (2014)PESTEL Analysis [Online],

 Available at:  http://pestleanalysis.com/(2014) (Accessed 12 March 2014).