Technology in Hotels Essay Example for Free

Technology in Hotels Essay With the rapid pace of technological advancements and the fast rate of implementing it into everyday life, people need the latest IT facilities. They demand this from hotels as well. But the industry has always been lagging behind the needs, not being able to offer the latest advances in technology. Now management has started to take note of the guest’s needs and is aware that technology is a very competitive advantage and is starting to adjust their strategies in consequence. Boutique hotels offering sci-fi levels of technology are starting to emerge and may be prefiguring the future of hospitality as a whole. I Introduction With technology advancing now faster than ever before, everyone needs and demands using the latest technological means just to survive. Such is the case in the hotel industry too, especially in the upper-class and boutiques hotels area of the market. With hotels always lagging behind other sectors in adopting new IT systems ( PLUGGED IN, 2009; Buick, 2003), keeping the pace with customers’ demands becomes a pressing issue to hospitality providers. This problem is acknowledged by the players in the industry, being debated in trade-specific publications, conferences and academic literature. There are two sides of the use of technology in hotels: â€Å"back of house† systems (property management systems, revenue management systems, internal control instruments etc.) and technology that is used directly and mainly by the consumers. The following review aims to put the current technological state, future trends and most pressing issues of the hotel and hospitality industry i nto perspective. II Literature review The newest trends in the hospitality industry show an emphasis on the experience delivered to the customer and not so much on the tangible aspect of the product. With the service sector beginning to dominate the world’s economies, there is a growing concern on delivering meaningful, memorable customer experiences (Meyer and Schwager, 2007). This can be seen from a practitioner’s point of view with The Ritz-Carlton Hotels Company, which prides its self with becoming an â€Å"experience and memory creator† (Nixon and Rieple, 2010). The next generation of clients demands continual technological updates for every business and personal user and hotels often can’t keep up the pace. Property owners are understandably reluctant to renovate as often as needed to support the latest technology, meaning major renovations never happen often enough to keep the tech-crazy guests satisfied (Russ, 2008). No longer are people going to hotels to experience something new, but hoteliers are looking at guests as technology consumers and supply little more than the average customer demands (Freed, 2010). The use of modern technology can help hotel employees deliver a service of better quality and also enhance the stay for guests by satisfying their needs, thus creating a better all-round experience. This view, however, is not unanimous across the whole of the industry. Even though 82.4% of managers believe that IT is important for increasing customer satisfaction (Brewer et al, 2008), they also worry that the benefits provided by investments in technology are not as high as expected (ITGI, 2007). Research shows that companies around the world are losing out on their investments because they can’t derive sufficient value from these investments in IT (Bowen, Cheung and Rhode, 2007; ITGI, 2007). Value from IT can be defined as a function whose primary focus is delivering the promised benefits (Mathe, 2009) and as a provider of strategic, informational and transactional benefits (Gregor et al, 2006). Therefore, all definitions show that value added by IT leads to successfully achieving business goals and strategies. So a contradiction appears between managers’ beliefs and actions. The majority is certain IT helps their organization but has failed to fully take its benefits yet. Customer satisfaction with the hotel begins shaping before the service is provided, with the process of making the reservation preceding it. The new trends using of mobile platforms such as smart phones, tablets and laptops for shopping (Gupta, 2012) dictate that these means of communication should be targeted by hoteliers. The number of mobile users researching travel options on their mobile devices is expected to grow by 51% in 2012 and another 15% by 2013 (Saio, 2012). A market study by Reuters Synovate Global (plugged in) shows that 47% of potential clients demand the latest technology from the hotels they choose. Also, one third of guests assess a hotel by its website and 50% do research and comparisons online, before making their choice. The same report found that seven out of ten consumers would rather stay in a less expensive hotel and that hi-tech facilities are the top criteria in choosing a hotel. The latest study conducted by Motorola Solution, Inc. (2011) concludes that information technology (IT) spending in the hospitality industry is expected to have increased in 2011, with guest experience being the primary driver for investments. And yet, 57% of the industry’s leaders admit they don’t know how to launch, track and achieve mobile platform success (Eyefortravel, 2012), proving the same contradicting views towards technology. This proves one of the critical challenges for hotel technology managers is convincing upper management to approve investing in the latest technology (Petiza, 2011). According to Gregor et, al. (2006) the failure to measure the value added by IT is due to measurement errors, management practices and time lags between the investment and ROI. The alignment of IT with business strategy and its use may allow competitive advantage to be achieved (Levy and Powell, 2005; Peppard and Ward, 2004). The same opinion is presented in a study conducted by Amadeus (2011), which states that if hotels are to secure growth in the next three years they must align strategy and IT priorities. Peppard and Ward (2004) suggest that IT has become pivotal to the existence of most organisations and that should the technology used by organisations come to a halt, they would cease to function. Now that the importance of using technology is recognized unanimously there are two schools of thought emerging: the first believes that IT should be present to aid the guests inconspicuously from the shadows and the other approach that puts technology in the forefront of the operations and makes it the core theme. Choosing one or the other dictates the whole strategy of the hotel or company. Some guests are not comfortable with technological changes in the lobby, in the room or when trying to make a booking (Withiam, 2007). Others, as shown above, need and demand hi-tech facilities from their hotels. After choosing the market you target, the strategy should be adjusted in consequence. A tool for creating market segments based on consumers’ opinion on technology is a so-called Techno logy Readiness Index (TRI) (Verma et al., 2007). This is a 10 question survey that guests should fill in (Appendix 1). This measures their view of technology on four dimensions: optimism, innovativeness, discomfort and insecurity. Tech-focused individuals are usually thought of in terms of their willingness to innovate, but the research behind TRI measures the extent to which people think IT helps improve their life (optimism), or if they feel overwhelmed by technology (discomfort) or whether they don’t trust devices to operate correctly (insecurity). The over-technologic approach can be best seen in boutique hotels. Taking the forefront in this arms race is somewhat easier with smaller, non-chain, exclusive hotels because they don’t have to maintain the same standards in thousands of rooms across hundreds of hotels around the world. An article by Myers (2011) showcases the latest boutique hotels that offer now desk-free check-in aided by tablet PCs, hybrid cars with Wi-Fi for the guest, 42 inch LCD TVs (The Upper House Hotel, Hong Kong), retina scans just to enter the room (Nine Zero Hotel, New York), touch-screen room controls and bedside iPads (Establishment Hotel, Sydney) or Wii exercise rooms where guest can play virtual tennis (Le Parker Meridian, New York). The latest trends in hotel technological development include converging technologies that complement each other to reach the common goal of customer satisfaction. The hotel room would automatically set itself up to the guest’s unique tastes, based on the pervious information provided through guest profile forms. When the front desk clerk checks-in the guest or the guest checks-in using the self service kiosk in the lobby, the lights in the room automatically turn on and the thermostat sets itself to the users preferred temperature. The entertainment system turns on, playing the guest’s favorite music, TV program or radio station. These services would please the guest but also reduce energy costs by keeping everything turned off when the guest is not using the room. The list of computer operated can include such luxurious services like automatically drawing a bath to be ready at a certain time or automatically open the drapes in the morning in order to wake the guest with natural light and not the old fashioned wakeup call. (Russ, 2008) In order to offer a variety of payment options, some hotel managers have adopted cashless payment systems via the use of radio frequency identification (RFID). RFID utilizes computer chips and antennas, allowing the chips to wirelessly communicate with a receiver. In the hotel industry RFID systems are being integrated with POS systems to process credit card and debit account transactions (Kasavana, 2005). Some hospitality companies even accept biometrics, such as fingerprints, iris scans, facial scans or hand geometry analysis systems to increase physical or data security. III Conclusion Customers are more demanding from hotels in terms of technology than ever. They need it for entertainment, business, communication and socialization. And with technology advancing in a rampant pace, people more aware of the latest gadgets and devices and techno-fear decreasing as new generations come along using technology from infancy, hotels are being pressed into making monumental investments more often just to cater to the technological needs of the guests. Added to these there are the other investments to be made in â€Å"old fashioned† hotel operation, property management systems etc. Studies show that even though customers demand it and managers recognize its importance the hotel industry is still lagging behind in offering the latest IT facilities. However, there are innovative boutique hotels that have reached an almost sci-fi level of technology. These hotels are shaking the position of the big hotel chains and are attracting more tech-crazy guests. On the other side there are hotels that focus more on the environment, nature with a more traditional approach. Both have their own well established market segments that usually don’t overlap because of being on different ends of the spectrum. Only the future can say of this arms race to demand and provide more and more technological means will prove effective. It is commonly known that too much of something can become harmful.

Assertive Behavior: Your Perfect Right, a critical evaluation. :: English Literature

Assertive Behavior: Your Perfect Right, a critical evaluation. The name of this book is â€Å"Your Perfect Right† and it was written by Robert E. Albertini and Micheal L. Emmons both with Ph.D. from the Califronia Polytechnia State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. Both authors seem to be working in this book for several time because they have published several editions and had several printings of the book. Also, Robert E. Albertini and Micheal L. Emmons were Counseling Psychologist and Professors according to this third edition; in fact, in cooperation with other doctors from other universities such as New York University, University of North California, and University of Missouri they got pretty good contributions in the creation of this excellent book. The authors thanked to John Vasconcellos, who was memeber of the California State Legislature, for placing their work in the context of his educational and humanistics concerns and for his thoughtful foreword. The authors describe the reason why this book was written arguing the next point: We must begin to value and reward the assertions of each individual, acknowledging the right of self expression without fear or guilt, valuing the right to and opinion, and recognizing the unique contribution of each person. The preparation and knowledge of both authors are demostrated in the well developtment of the subjects and how they attempt to explain you what an assertive behavior is. The main propouse of this book is to instruct to the readers to develop a more choose appropriate and self-fulfilling responses in a variety of situations. As they defined in the book assertive behavior enables a person to act in his or her own best interest, to stand up for herself or himself without undue anxiety, to express honest feelings comfortably, or to exercise personal rigths without denying the right of others; for instance, this book is written for those who wish to develop a more enhancing personal existence on their own, and for those who will be instrumental in faciliting the personal growth of others. The book shows that research has shown that learning to make assertive responses will inhibit or weaken the anxiety previously expriences in specific interpersonal relationships; also, the fact to stand up for yourself and do things on your own initiative, can reduce appreciably anxiety or tenseness in key situations, and increase your sense of worth as a person. The book is divided in two parts: the first one explains you the differences between non-assertive, agressive and assertive behavior and gives you examples; also, they show you step by step how to adquire and assertive behavior in life. In the second part is designed to fill the need for a

Health Promotion and Preventions

Health promotion and disease prevention are processes that enable individuals to improve their health. Health promotion seeks to increase an individual’s control over their health by addressing behavior under the control of the individual. Disease prevention is associated with medical and public health activities to prevent diseases. Health promotion and disease prevention have been utilized in the U. S. health care system for many of years and extensive research has been done on which preventive measures are most likely to protect individual health.Studies have also been done on what degree can preventions contribute to controlling costs of health care. Research supports the effectiveness of the preventative measures such as immunization, some forms of screening, avoidance of a high-fat diet, regular moderate exercise, as well the avoidance or cessation of exposure to tobacco. But research has also shown that preventative measures increase, rather than reduce, health care cos ts. Research has shown that preventative interventions preserve function and extend lives.Studies have shown immunization to be a good example of a prevention that promotes individual health and longevity. The benefits of immunization can been seen in young people and in the elderly. For decades the elderly have been receiving vaccination against influenza and it is also commonplace for young children to receive inoculations for diptheria, tentanus, pertussis, polio, meningitis-causing Haemophilus influenzae, measles, mups, rubells, and hepatitis B. 1 A study from the Netherlands demonstrates the health benefits of the elderly receiving annual influenza vaccination.The findings from the study were that the those who received annual vaccination experienced a reduced mortality risk of 24 percent and it was estimated that the vaccination prevented one death for every 302 people vaccinated. 1 Immunization has also eradicated diseases that once threaten the lives of children in the U. S. , as illustrated by the history of the disease pertussis. Between 1934 and 1943 there were on average 200,000 annual incidence of the disease, including over 4,000 deaths. After the introduction of childhood vaccination for pertussis in the 1940’s, reported cases drastically declined and reached a low of 1,000 in 1976. Research has also shown that some types of screening are good examples of preventative measures that effectively protect individuals. Screening is a strategy used to detect a disease in individuals who are without signs or symptoms of that disease. Between the early 1970s and 2000, use of the Pap test decreased incidence and mortality from invasive cervical cancer by 40 percent in the U. S. 1 The screening is almost an ideal because it is inexpensive, convenient, effective in detection, and cervical cancer is highly curable when detected early.The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force also strongly recommends screenings for colorectal cancer, high blood pressur e, and Chlamydia infection. 1 As significant as disease prevention, health promotions in lifestyle and risk reduction in the areas of tobacco, body weight, diet and exercise have been shown in studies to protect individual health. The most important of these studies that show the benefit of lifestyle preventative practices are the Framingham Heart Study and the Nurses’ Health Study.The Framingham Heart Study has been a main source of information regarding an individual’s attributes that lead to cardiovascular disease. The early findings of the study identified smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose intolerance as risk factors for heart disease. 1 Before the study it was thought that heart disease may be unpredictable. Recently findings show that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is a characteristic predictive of heart disease. The Framingham study had major implications on lifestyle in regards to physical activity and diet as preventative practices.It showed the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was less common in physically active individuals. The study also showed that being overweight is associated with risk factors such as lower levels of high-density lipoprotein, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The Nurses’ Health Study found similar results regarding the effects of diet and lifestyle on heart disease. The study concluded that among women, adherence to preventative practices involving diet, exercise, and abstinence from smoking is associated with a very low risk of coronary heart disease. The health risks of certain diets have also been the subject of many studies. Trials have shown that consumption of trans fatty acids produces factors that are predictive of heart disease. 1 Alternatively, studies have concluded that a preventative practice of a diet rich in non-trans fats, whole-grains, abundant fruits and vegetable, and adequate in omega-3 fatty acids offered significant reduction in heart diease. 1 Health prom otion and disease prevention has also been thought as a means to control health care costs in the US.It is seems logical to assume that health care cost would be reduced by individuals avoiding illness and that illness detected early are less expensive to treat. Research has shown that some preventative measures may reduce health cost, but many actually increase health care cost. The work of the economist Louise B. Russell offers very informative cost effectiveness analysis of the preventative practices of vaccination. 1 Russell studied a campaign during the 1960s to inoculate children against the measles shortly following the introduction of an anti-measles vaccine.She calculated the cost of the immunization intervention to be the sum of the cost of administering the vaccines and the cost of treating people who contracted measles, which included children that may have missed the vaccine or for who the vaccine was ineffective. Russell’s findings were that the intervention sav ed 973 lives and prevented 3,000 children from being mentally retarded. She also found that campaign reduced absenteeism from school and work due to measles by 34 million days.She concluded that the intervention cost $31 million, but saved $200 million in institutional care for children who would have become retarded had they not been vaccinated. This type of preventative measure can be seen as very cost effective. Russell also concluded that other vaccination programs weren’t cost effective. She found that a small pox vaccination administered to 37,901 people because of a threat of bioterrorism attack resulted in 85 hospitalizations, 10 life-threatening diseases, 2 permanently disabilities, and 3 deaths. This intervention proved very costly since there wasn’t a bioterrorism attack.The preventative measure of screening also proves to increase cost of health care in the US. The costs of screening include the diagnosis, medication, doctor visits, and treatment of side ef fects. Additional cost also result from the increased life expectancy of the individuals who are successfully treated. Conversely, if an individual isn’t screened the individual’s death result in the end of incurring health care costs. Screening for colorectal cancer, the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the U. S. , also revel an increase in the cost of health care.The American Cancer Society recommends that colonoscopies be the preferred method of screening. In 2005 colonoscopies amounted to 60% of all colorectal cancer tests. 3 But colonoscopy is expensive and carries a higher risk of serious complications that other screening choices. Cost benefit analysis of cervical cancer screening also illustrate the increase in health care costs. Studies by a research team in Georgetown University indicated that Pap tests reduced deaths by 75% when done every three years and the cost per quality-adjusted life year gained would have been $11,839.The study also found that a more aggressive treatment resulted in deaths reduced by 95%, but the of a cost per quality-adjusted life year gained would increase to $76,183. 1 Health promotion interventions in lifestyle offer uncertain cost-effectiveness and cost impact. A case can also be made that tobacco control increases the costs of health care and that smoking itself is an effective cost control. Smokers due require more medical care when they are alive, but upon the death of smokers, saving can be realized in nursing homes expenses, and the unutilized pension and Social Security benefits.Cost effectiveness analysis is not a complete approach to view health promotion and disease prevention. Though costly, preventative interventions in immunization, screening and lifestyle have been found by research to protect individual health. Cost effectiveness analysis should then rather be concerned with comparing alternative interventions. A good example of this type analysis is of colorectal screening, in which recommendation was for the intervention that would save the most lives at a given expenditure level. Russell said it best that â€Å"even when prevention does not save money, it can be a worthwhile investment in better health, and this- not cost savings- is the criterion on which it should be judged. †1 1. Greenwald HP. 2010. Health Care in the United States: Organization, Management, and Policy 2. Stampfer MJ, Hu FB, Manson et al. 2000. Primary prevention of coronary heart disease in women through diet and lifestyle. N Engl J Med 3. Subramanian S, Bobashev G, Morris RJ. 2010. When budgets are tight, there are better options than colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Health Affairs

The Human Resources Code �� 533-042 Evaluation Of Elderly

The rights described in this chapter are cumulative of other rights or remedies to which an elderly individual may be entitled under law. 4) Texas Human Resources Code  § 533-042 - Evaluation of Elderly Residents, which states: (a) The department shall evaluate each elderly resident at least annually to determine if the resident can be appropriately served in a less restrictive setting. Can Mr. Grant receive appropriate Medicare healthcare services at his home? If not, Why? Is Mr. Grant’s medical condition so severe that he can no longer have visitations to his home? (b) The department shall consider the proximity to the resident of family, friends, and advocates concerned with the resident s well-being in determining whether the resident should be moved from a department facility or to a different department facility. (c) In evaluating an elderly resident, under this section and to ensure appropriate placement, the department shall identify the special needs of the resident, the types of services that will best meet those needs, and the type of facility that will best provide those services. (d) The treating physician shall conduct the evaluation of an elderly resident of a department mental health facility. The appropriate interdisciplinary team shall conduct the evaluation of an elderly resident of a department mental retardation facility. (e) The department shall attempt to place an elderly resident in a less restrictive setting if the department determinesShow MoreRelated_x000C_Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis355457 Words   |  1422 Pagesretrieval systems, or in any other manner—without the written permission of the publisher. Thomson Higher Education 10 Davis Drive Belmont, CA 94002-3098 USA For more information about our products, contact us at: Thomson Learning Academic Resource Center 1-800-423-0563 For permission to use material from this text or product, submit a request online at http://www.thomsonrights.com. Any additional questions about permissions can be submitted by e-mail to thomsonrights@thomson.com. Printed