How A Hotel Property Management System Improve Client Service

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.

Managing programs are now all computerized. Establishments need to have information on a wide variety of issues at their fingertips. One of the main purposes of such a program is to manage the bookings. Bookings are complex because the establishment does not want empty rooms. The program therefore manages waiting lists and cancellations, allowing the owners to take steps to keep the occupancy rate up.

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.

When buying a managing program, it is important to make sure that it will satisfy all the needs of the establishment. It must allow for all the components, such as bookings, accounts and maintenance, to interact with each other. This prevents duplication and it saves time. It also helps if the program is user friendly because the hospitality industry is well known for its high staff turnover.

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.

The importance of ongoing support simply cannot be overemphasized. No software should be considered if it is not accompanied by an extensive support agreement. Hospitality establishments simply cannot afford to be off line. It is also vital to choose a program that can be upgraded at a later stage and it may be wise to opt for software that can service multiple sites.

In these modern times with the internet, instant communication and instant gratifications no hospitality establishment however small, can afford to ignore the importance of electronic managing programs. They must be able to react to enquiries and demands instantly. Keeping a register on the counter simply does not work any longer.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment