Throw out the three ring binders
Mobile technology is also affecting the realm of hotel staff, including marketing teams and meeting planners to name a few.
Both the sales/marketing staff and event planners are now able to carry every bit of information related to a special promotion or meeting around the hotel through a tablet, or even on their cell phone. This can often include literally hundreds of Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) that no longer need to be printed and carried around in those old heavy three-ring binders. By using software like DropBox or a PDF Reader, a mobile device easily replaces the three ring binders.
Meeting professionals can save precious minutes when there is a crisis by having all the information they need at their finger tips, no matter where they are on the property. This can result in better customer service and less confusion from updated BEOs.
Hotels and meeting planners are also using mobile devices to garner real time information from their guests and making immediate changes. Using social media, hoteliers can communicate with those writing about their stay at a hotel by offering a simple “Thanks for staying with us” message back or quickly fixing customer service issues raised online.
Social media on mobile devices is also great for last minute marketing deals at hotels. For example, if the bar is empty tonight, the hotel can send out immediate specials via a meeting’s app, tweet, text and other social media outlets. Those following the hotel feel like they’re getting an insider’s deal, while the hotel bar is getting more business than it would have.