If you wanted to stay in a hotel you used to have to call to book it or you would just simply pass it on the interstate and pull in. Now there is an intricate booking system on several popular sites such as Expedia or Travelocity that help you with this process. These sites are designed to make the process easier.
However what they are really doing for you is so much more. A lot of times where you decided to stay was a bit of chance. You didn’t know much about a hotel. If it was a chain like Best Western you might trust the name and expect a certain product. You would choose it because you felt that the place came with some integrity only to show up and have dirty sheets or run down looking rooms.
“Technology plays an important role in the hospitality and tourism industry. Both customers and businesses can benefit from advances in communication, reservations and guest services systems. Technology allows continuous communication and streamlines the guest experience, from reservation to checkout.” smallbusiness.com
There was no way for a person to know anything about the hotel prior to it. Now these travel sites help you with this. Every hotel has a rating and on top of that rating people will write reviews. It is an easier way of seeing what your getting yourself into and also a way to keep the industry on its toes
Hotels have to make sure their standards are kept because the public will know if they are not and the platform for people to complain is so much larger. Sites like Expedia are visited every day by thousands of people, a couple of bad reviews and your hotel will certainly get by passed for one that comes with many nice things said about it. People are more likely to listen to what their peers say and with the help of these websites they can.
“…are now being replaced by what customers say on third party travel and hotel sites like Expedia and Trip Advisor. Therefore past visitors to your hotel are now influencing the decision making process of your future guests. “ ehotelier.com
With the economy the way it is people are conservative with their money. They want to know they are getting the best deal possible. These sites also make it easy to compare prices. If your prices are high but your reviews are bad something does not add up. The public can make sure they are getting what they paid for or make your business pay for it if they don’t.
"New York University Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management. Both say the hotel industry needs to think differently about how it does business, even after it gets back to a firmer financial footing."NewYorkTimes.com
The internet has a powerful affect on many aspects of our lives. The fact that these sites give a person more control over their situation is a good thing. It puts the power back in the consumers hands. People can be more informed on their choices and less worried about how things will be when they get there. Which for anyone who travels knows this can be a big deal.