Selasa, 03 Juni 2014

The Importance Of A Hotel Property Management System

By Marci Glover


Worldwide tourism has shown tremendous growth. Many people are more affluent and traveling long distances is no longer a deterrent. Many countries also do whatever they can to encourage visitors because for many tourism is an important part of the economy. Hospitality establishments have also mushroomed everywhere. In such a competitive environment it is important to implement to make use of an advanced hotel property management system.

In these modern times everything is computerized. One of the main components of any tourism managing program is to keep track of bookings. It is not only a matter of keeping record of which guests are booked and at what dates, but waiting lists, cancellations and changes to bookings must be monitored very carefully. If this is not done the rooms that could have been occupied will remain empty.

Hospitality establishments have no choice other than to prioritize the needs of some guests and clients. A tour operator, for example, provides the establishment with much more income than a single guests staying a few days. Priority clients therefore receive preference and the managing program must make provision for such interventions. It is also important to keep track of the personal preferences of valued regular guests.

Tourists are fickle and they want prompt and efficient service. They do not want to be delayed when arriving or departing. The program must therefore allow the staff to collate and produce guest accounts quickly. The program must be able to be updated throughout the stay of the guests. For example, charges from the bar, the restaurant and the laundry must be added to the bill as soon as the service is provided.

Some large hospitality groups use custom designed software for managing their operations. However, there are a variety of products available for smaller establishments. When evaluating different programs, it is important to make sure that it is integrated. This means that all the various components of the program need to communicate with each other, eliminating the need for duplication.

No establishment can make sensible decisions if they do not have access to extensive management information. That is why any program worth its salt will make provision for reports on all aspects relevant to the establishment. Statistics and trends can help the owners to make better decisions regarding maintenance, marketing and cost control.

Because no establishment can afford to be off line it is vital to make sure that the prospective supplier is willing and capable of providing extended support. They must also be able to personalize the system to the requirements of the establishment. It is always best to buy software that can be upgraded when it becomes necessary. It may be a good idea to test various systems for a while before deciding.

The hospitality industry has no choice but to embrace modern technology. Tourists want information instantly. Requests remaining unanswered for just a few hours may cost an establishment business. A managing program can help all hospitality establishments to stay abreast of industry developments and to provide better service to their guests. Without the use of technology they simply cannot hope to compete, especially not in the global market.




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