Got this idea from another thread.
We use technology to increase productivity-- to lower expenses, increase output, and make the overall business run better.
Some of the things we do in our biz:
1. Use our website to drive reservations. It gives lots of info, and gives potential guest the option to either call us or use . . .
2. Online booking- a HUGE timesaver. Allows the guest to pick their room and add-ons (rose petals on the bed, bottle of sparkling wine, etc). We have this tied into our . . .
3. Property management software (aka "PMS"), which keeps track of all of our reservations, has an auto-upload to the online booking system (for rate changes/updates), and also downloads all of our online reservations. Also calculates our ADR (average daily rate), as well as our occupancy rates, and allows us to do forecasting. Easily one of the biggest time savers we have.
Other tech time savers/productivity enhancers:
4. Templates for in-room guest cards. All of these are personalized to each guest (by first name) but this is tied into our PMS, which has this info.
5. Brochures that describe parts of our property, or nearby attractions. These are made "in house", and address the issues/questions that guests have about their rooms, or how we operate (ie, when and where breakfast is served, where to get coffee/tea 24/7, when/where we have afternoon wine & cheese, where to get maps and winery tasting passes, etc)
6. Signs. I know, not very techie. But a few well-placed signs do wonders in reducing the number of calls the innkeepers get. Examples:
"Spa Tub Reset" (answers the q: "My spa tub doesn't work. What do I do?"
"Spa Tub goes through a cleaning/sanitizing cycle about 30 minutes after you turn it off. Please don't hit "reset" or "off", as this will just reset the timer, and it will come on again 30 minutes later!"
Welcome sign on front door that tells how to get hold of us if we don't answer door.
Sign on both doors that gives late arrival instructions.
Our entire late arrival process is automated-- except for the phone call to guests that explains what to do when they get here.
Our food menu is on a schedule (ie, every Saturday breakfast we serve Savory Bread Pudding), so innkeepers really know the recipes (saves lots of time) and we know which ingredients to order each week. This also cuts down on food waste.
We have a guest computer (aka "business center") w/a printer that allows guests to print out their own boarding passes, check emails, etc. HUGE time saver.
******
I can add more, but you see where I'm going w/this.
How have YOU specifically used technology to simplify your life, automate your business(es), and use less labor?
-Russ H.
We use technology to increase productivity-- to lower expenses, increase output, and make the overall business run better.
Some of the things we do in our biz:
1. Use our website to drive reservations. It gives lots of info, and gives potential guest the option to either call us or use . . .
2. Online booking- a HUGE timesaver. Allows the guest to pick their room and add-ons (rose petals on the bed, bottle of sparkling wine, etc). We have this tied into our . . .
3. Property management software (aka "PMS"), which keeps track of all of our reservations, has an auto-upload to the online booking system (for rate changes/updates), and also downloads all of our online reservations. Also calculates our ADR (average daily rate), as well as our occupancy rates, and allows us to do forecasting. Easily one of the biggest time savers we have.
Other tech time savers/productivity enhancers:
4. Templates for in-room guest cards. All of these are personalized to each guest (by first name) but this is tied into our PMS, which has this info.
5. Brochures that describe parts of our property, or nearby attractions. These are made "in house", and address the issues/questions that guests have about their rooms, or how we operate (ie, when and where breakfast is served, where to get coffee/tea 24/7, when/where we have afternoon wine & cheese, where to get maps and winery tasting passes, etc)
6. Signs. I know, not very techie. But a few well-placed signs do wonders in reducing the number of calls the innkeepers get. Examples:
"Spa Tub Reset" (answers the q: "My spa tub doesn't work. What do I do?"
"Spa Tub goes through a cleaning/sanitizing cycle about 30 minutes after you turn it off. Please don't hit "reset" or "off", as this will just reset the timer, and it will come on again 30 minutes later!"
Welcome sign on front door that tells how to get hold of us if we don't answer door.
Sign on both doors that gives late arrival instructions.
Our entire late arrival process is automated-- except for the phone call to guests that explains what to do when they get here.
Our food menu is on a schedule (ie, every Saturday breakfast we serve Savory Bread Pudding), so innkeepers really know the recipes (saves lots of time) and we know which ingredients to order each week. This also cuts down on food waste.
We have a guest computer (aka "business center") w/a printer that allows guests to print out their own boarding passes, check emails, etc. HUGE time saver.
******
I can add more, but you see where I'm going w/this.
How have YOU specifically used technology to simplify your life, automate your business(es), and use less labor?
-Russ H.
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