How guest use of travel technologies is influencing hospitality trends There is this sort of race that seems to be happening in the hospitality industry. As hotels continue to focus on luxury and convenience, they are placing their attention on new forms of technology for their guests. Every new renovation mentioned in industry publications seems to be centered around or riddled with interactive touch screens or engaging video boards. It seems that in the struggle to gain and retain guest loyalty, technology might be the key hotels are hoping will make the difference. With cell phones and laptop applications like Skype, long-distance plans for in-room phones are outdated. And business centers are great for printing, but almost every traveler has their PC in their messenger bag. The demand for traditional technologies is disappearing. So, what technologies are guests really looking for? In some ways, it seems that guests are looking for unobtrusive technologies like digital reader boards. Digital reader boards are technologies that can be overlooked – in a good way. People don’t say, “Oh hey, check out that sweet reader board.” They just use it –– check their meeting location and time. They know what to do with it. …
Enjoy better health and new cultures by eating local cuisines We are all familiar with shows like “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives” or Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods.” Aside from popularity, these shows are really on to something. Food is such a central part of the culture of a place, both internationally and regionally. (You don’t go to Maine for the best catfish.) Food is an integral part of the travel experience. Food is a way to get to know a place. In Japan, eat the best ramen of your life; in New York eat a hot dog from a cart. In Italy, try every flavor of gelato. The types of food, the way you eat them, and when and why are all part of experiencing a place. If you stick to chains and familiar entrees everywhere you go, you are missing out on one of the biggest pleasures of travel. In many countries, there are traditional foods you really only eat for special occasions. Most of us are well acquainted with the Christmas turkey, but have never heard of a mooncake –– a delicious treat you must try if you are ever in China for the Mid-Autumn Festival. If you know …
I remember a lady from a job long ago who I absolutely loved working with – if she said she was going to do something, it always happened. If anyone asked her to do something, she was always receptive and positive and glad to do her job. I decided early on that I had great respect for her, and I’ve held it all this while. She was a great example to me that I’ve gladly followed. But we all know people who have the opposite effect –– “lead by example” has always been something I’ve believed in; you can lead the people around you either in a positive way, or negatively. Kind of like that one fruit in your fridge crisper drawer that was there just a little too long and turned into something you didn’t recognize. You take it out, throw it away and carefully check everything that was near it. What you find, a lot of times, is that that one bad fruit has had an effect on everything in the drawer. People can be a lot like that with their attitudes. I write about customer service and the importance of excellence and professionalism when dealing with customers. But what about our co-workers and generally …
Because remembering isn’t the only benefit of journaling while you travel When we travel, we take in a lot of everything all at once. Our outlook is different. The ordinary things we overlook at home are fascinating. Our senses exaggerate what we perceive in those daily items and rituals. This new perspective is great for our wellbeing and attitude. It’s why people travel to learn or vacation to take a break. We think differently when we aren’t home. But later, it’s hard to recall all of it –– the rooms you stayed in, the meals you ate, the people you met and the things you saw. Benjamin Disraeli, a nineteenth century novelist and British Prime Minister, famously said: “Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” Our minds have a funny way of embellishing details and leaving others out entirely. Journaling is a great way to help you remember your trip and share it with your friends and family. You can keep all the details and stories of your trip in one convenient place. This is one of the most obvious advantages of journaling, but there are some great benefits …
Sometimes the best thing you can do is find places you didn’t know you were looking for We live in a strange time when you think about it. We’re not exactly living in the future science fiction prepared us for –– no flying cars or teleportation. But still, the way we travel is certainly shaped by our familiarity and use of technology. Think about GPS navigation systems and smartphones with Google Map apps. With enough battery life, it’s virtually impossible to not get where you’re going. The days of wrong turns are basically behind us. Not getting lost is convenient, and it sure saves a lot of time, but sometimes it’s a lot less fun. Martin Buber, a 20th-century philosopher, said: “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” I like that. Sometimes our technology narrows our focus too much. We don’t make wrong turns to find the best greasy spoon or the greatest flea market, because we are always so concentrated on following directions and getting where we’re going. We are so conscious of our precise destination that we aren’t aware of our location — we aren’t curious about what’s outside of the car window or …