Maximising Technology to Communicate was the latest topic for discussion in The Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School’s Leadership Series. The program connects an audience of staff, students, alumni and fellow industry members with hospitality industry professionals who discuss their career achievements, industry trends and professional experience.
Participants in the panel included:
Val Cook: Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Alumni Ambassador – Facilitator
Dr Juvanka Roberts – Account Manager, Client Services Cuscal
Mathew Stephens – Vice President, eHotelier
Here are some of the questions posed by the facilitator, Mr Val Cook, as well as students from the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School students and alumni from campuses in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Thailand, Malaysia and China. Participants interacted with this ive streamed discussion via YouTube by asking questions in real time via Twitter and Facebook.
- What are the drawbacks of the speed of communication?
- With all the information we are getting now, are we overcomplicating or overthinking and getting away from the basics that are hospitality?
- All areas of communication are important, do you think hoteliers should be focussed more on internal or external communication?
- Do you think the scandals regarding privacy are making customers more privacy oriented?
- What are the new technologies that hotels will need to adopt in this ever changing environment.
- There are number of cafes now talking about serving customer by using drones, how would you feel about being served by a drone?
- Do you think there has been a shift in the balance of power, as consumers now have a voice through the use of social media and how do hotels cope with the empowered guest?
- Is there a way that we can ensure technology doesn’t make hotels impersonal and what advice would you give to remain in touch with the customer?
- Often it appears people complain to get something for free, are we giving away compensation to satisfy the complainers and prevent them complaining on social media?
- Do you think technologies like Shazam can help businesses connect to consumers in new ways?
- With more technology hotels have to past on the cost to the consumer, are consumers happy to absorb the cost of the new technology?
- How do you ensure security within the hotel network and for the hotel guest?
- Should employees be empowered on Twitter and Facebook or should it be left to the hotel experts?
- How do you think Australia compares to the rest of the world in terms of technology innovation?
- When trying to keep all your stakeholders happy, sometimes innovation works, is it better to be the pioneer, or is it better to be second or third?
- Do you think smart watches are here to stay? What apps do you think will be developed?
- Do you think technology will become so advanced that it will replace service and how secure are our jobs?
eHotelier invites your comments and discussion on the questions posed on this interesting topic.
