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Sunday, May 25, 2014

How A Hotel Property Management System Improve Client Service

By Marci Glover


In most parts of the world tourism plays a very important part in the local economy. Great efforts are made to lure visitors to specific countries and regions. Visitors have to sleep and they have to eat. Therefore hospitality establishments have been developed wherever there is a steady stream of visitors. The industry is very competitive and hospitality establishments need to make sure that they are managed meticulously. That is why most establishments make use of an advanced hotel property management system.

Most managing practices are computerized. Hospitality establishment need to keep a host of information. One of the main purposes of managing programs is therefore to keep track of bookings. They need to know who will be arriving and when guests will be departing. They also need to be able to keep detailed notes on the special requirements, such as special diet needs. Most establishments also keep detailed records of the special preferences of regular guests.

Most reputable hospitality establishments focus very strongly upon repeat bookings. Regular visitors, celebrities and tour operators that use the establishment regularly therefore receive preference. It can be complex to manage the various rates that apply to different customers. A managing program makes this easier and also helps the staff to make provision for the personal preferences of special guests and to make sure that important clients receive priority service.

The tourism industry is extremely competitive and the hospitality industry even more so. Guests do not want to be delayed when they arrive or depart. They want their bills to be presented on request and they do not want to deal with mistakes. The managing program must therefore allow staff to keep all bills updated at all times. It must also allow for input from various departments of the establishment.

Large companies that own or manage chains of establishments often have special software designed to address their specific needs. Other establishments need to select a product from the shelve. It is vital to evaluate the available programs carefully before making a decision. Is must allow for integration between the different components of the program and it must be simple to share information.

Management information is critical to the profitability of any establishment. The chosen software should therefore not only store records, but also produce a wide variety of reports and statistics. Some of the more sophisticated programs allow users to define to type of report they want. This information can be extremely helpful in planning purchases, in making decisions regarding upgrades and to develop marketing strategies.

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.




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