Search Blog

About Marc Budie

During my day job, I am technology director at Quadriga, the trusted partner to many of the world’s leading hotels. I am charged with...

Read More about Marc...

Categories

Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

« Older Entries

Are hoteliers making the most of their captive audience?

Posted on: 28-Jul-2010
Source: BBC.co.uk

Source: BBC.co.uk

As I mentioned last month, we recently commissioned some independent research into the habits of UK business travellers and it seems that as many as 68% of respondents do little more than work, sleep and channel hop in their rooms.

This got me thinking, surely this reinforces for hoteliers what a great opportunity they have to promote facilities to this captive audience, who are already spending a significant amount of time using the in-room TV.  The summer of sport  for example, provides a great platform for hoteliers to run themed promotions around key events, via the in-room TV, to entice guests to experience other services within the hotel.

Imagine if you could provide information on where the Tour de France or Golf Open is showing in the hotel, flag up a special offer on golf lessons, or highlight a ‘Taste of France’ dining promotion, via the TV.  By using the TV to effectively market these leisure and restaurant facilities, hoteliers can create additional revenues. In parallel with this, they also engage and improve communication with their guests. 

It’s certainly food for thought!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Communication, Guest, Hotels, Technology | No Comments »

Social TV – taking guest satisfaction to the next level

Posted on: 09-Jun-2010

Social tv

I recently read an article by Richard Kastelein discussing why he feels that social TV was born to be in the hotel industry. The piece outlines how technology is a great way to get guests interacting with each other potentially asking other guests for recommendations or suggestions of things to do in the hotel or local area, via a hotel social network. And I would have to agree with Richard.

Over the past 10 years, we have seen the role of the in-room TV evolve from being just a box through which to watch movies and listen to the radio, to a means of pushing information about hotel services and facilities to guests downloading content and providing an alternative revenue stream. Indeed, we are already working with a number of hotels to enable them to offer this enhanced level of service, via our guest communications portal, Sensiq.

For the lucrative 25-45 age group that hotels are targeting, technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity and when staying in a hotel, they expect that little bit extra. With social networking very much on the rise among this age group, as a way of interacting, sharing and recommending anything from the best bars to the latest films, transferring this capability to the hotel rooms seems to be a logical step forward.

And I think there are potential benefits of this type of application to hoteliers. Not only would hotels be providing guests with superior services and social TV content, but they potentially have the opportunity to build demographic profiles (subject to the usual data protection legislation) that could complement data from their loyalty schemes, providing more opportunities to increase guest satisfaction and revenues.

But hey that is just my opinion, and I would be interested to hear your views, and experiences, of social TV. Feel free to comment below.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Communication, Entertainment, Guest, Hotels, Interactive, Portal, Promotion, Technology, Television | No Comments »

Embracing the iPad to enhance customer service

Posted on: 04-May-2010

Source: www.topnews.in

While doing my regular internet trawl, I came across a press release by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts about how it will be embracing the iPad. InterContinental is trialling the device with concierge teams in selected hotels, with the aim of enhancing the level of advice they offer guests. The iPad will be used to provide interactive maps and directions, video recommendations and instant booking confirmations.  If the trials prove successful, the iPad will be rolled out globally.

I personally think this is a great idea. It is a perfect example of a hotel that isn’t afraid to explore new technology in a bid to create the ultimate guest experience and ultimately deliver business value.

But, can hotels replicate that experience in the room – for jetlagged guests that might be looking for information during the small hours, or when the concierge desk is busy? Guests demand and deserve the same quality of service, no matter whether the delivery mechanism is personal or digital.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Technology | No Comments »

How will the iPad impact internet service revenues for hotels?

Posted on: 23-Apr-2010
US consumers queue to buy the iPad

US consumers queue to buy the iPad

 Apple’s iPad recently went on sale in the US and, to no great surprise, was met by rapturous excitement by consumers. Whether you are an Apple fan or not, it is difficult to argue that the launch of this product isn’t a big step forward with regards to portable personal media devices. My motto is that the best technologies are the ones that are easy to use and accessible, and the iPad certainly fits the bill.

From a hotelier’s perspective though, how will the launch of this new device impact internet service revenues?

The internet and viewing experience provided by the iPad will be of a much higher quality than other gadgets on the market. As such guests will expect hotels to provide a standard of internet connection that will support the device and enable them to use it as they would at home. The problem is, if hotels continue to provide the internet for free, devices like this will make it more and more difficult for them to carry the cost and provide a good experience to all guests, driving the need for even more bandwidth.

If consumers expect the internet for free and hotels are still feeling the knock-on effect from the tough economic climate, the real question is; who will pay for this increased bandwidth?

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Internet, Technology | No Comments »

HOSTEC Europe

Posted on: 24-Mar-2010

Source: www.hostec-europe.com/

My colleague Roy Higgins, regional sales manager for the UK and Ireland, attended this year’s HOSTEC Europe and talks us through his highlights from the event:

It was a great event. Not only did I get the chance to show off Sensiq to the attendees, but I also got to catch up with some old acquaintances.

The main talk of the show was the need for hotels to put the “wow factor” back into their offering and many are planning to do this through the use of technology. The stands of LCD television suppliers were particularly popular, and most GMs and hotel operators seem to think that ‘bigger is better’.

Just 3 years ago it was common for hotels to have a 20 or 23 inch LCD in a room. Fast forward to now, and you’d be hard pushed to find a screen less than 26 inches, and that is in a budget hotel. Five star hotels used to specify 32 inch LCDs now they want anything from 32-44 inches.

Most homes now have the latest LCD, HD-ready technology sitting pride of place in the living room. And with guests expecting hotels to have, at the bare minimum, the same technology as they have at home, it is good to see the industry responding to these evolving needs.

Roy Higgins, regional sales manager for the UK and Ireland at Quadriga.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Hotels, Technology, Television | No Comments »

First Sensiq installations

Posted on: 11-Mar-2010

Doubletree by Hilton, Bristol South, Cadbury House

I have some exciting news – two hotels in the UK, Doubletree by Hilton, Bristol South, Cadbury House and Ramada Encore London West – have become the first to install our new communications portal, Sensiq.

Rather than just blowing our own trumpet, I asked the hotels’ general managers for their thoughts:

Mark Hands, group general manager at Doubletree by Hilton Cadbury House, says: “What differentiates us from our competitors is the attention to the detail and added benefits we give our guests. As the premier hotel in the region, we aim to give our guests a unique experience when they stay with us, and Sensiq enables us to offer a much more personalised internet and TV service. We’re also keen to capitalise on the unique promotional tools within the portal to encourage guests to use the on-site spa and leisure club facilities, which will help drive additional revenues.”

Ronald Little, general manager at the Ramada Encore London West, adds: “Guests are used to having the latest technology at their fingertips at home and in the office, and quite rightly expect hotels to keep pace. Sensiq offers them a huge selection of content and a highly intuitive browser-based interface to enable them to quickly and easily access the information and entertainment they are looking for. All in all, it really has ‘wow’ factor.”

It’s a pleasure to work in partnership with these hotels on the very first Sensiq installations, and I look forward to working together with them into the future.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Communication, Hotels, Portal, Technology | No Comments »

Business travellers get animated

Posted on: 16-Feb-2010

We’ve just released details of the most watched films and listened to albums of 2009 in 200,000 hotel rooms across Europe, and it makes for interesting reading…

The top ten watched movies through Quadriga’s Genesis internet and entertainment platform in 2009 were:

  1. Madagascar Escape 2 Africa
  2. Quantum of Solace
  3. Angels & Demons
  4. Yes Man
  5. Bolt
  6. The Hangover
  7. Tropic Thunder
  8. Monsters Vs. Aliens
  9. Kung Fu Panda
  10. Bride Wars

And the top ten listened to audio albums through Quadriga’s Genesis platform in 2009 were:

  1. Beyonce, I Am Sasha Fierce
  2. Kings of Leon, Only By The Night
  3. Mariah Carey, The Ballads
  4. Radio 1’s Live Lounge
  5. Pink, Funhouse
  6. Michael Jackson, Dangerous
  7. Roxette, 20 Greatest Songs
  8. Coldplay, Parachutes
  9. R&B Love Songs 2008
  10. 100 Piano Classics

Comedy and animation certainly seem to be the overriding criteria for business travellers when they choose a film, with action thrillers coming a close second. When it comes to music, the divas are leading the way with a bit of rock thrown in for good measure.

I’m not much of a cartoon fan myself to be honest, but Quantum of Solace tops the list of my favourite films of 2009, alongside Star Trek.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Content, Digital, Entertainment, Guest, Hotels, Internet, Technology | No Comments »

Finally we can buy the iPad

Posted on: 02-Feb-2010
Source: www.i.gizmodo.com

Source: www.i.gizmodo.com

Even weeks of speculation surrounding Apple’s new iPad didn’t ruin the feverish excitement when Steve Jobs finally unveiled it last week. What first struck me is how thin and light it is, at only 0.5 inches thick and weighing just 1.5lbs – an ideal new portable gadget for business travellers. 

Some analysts claim it’s nothing more than a larger version of the iPhone. That aside, the fact that it converges web, email, music, watching videos, playing games, manipulating pictures and reading e-books via a beautifully designed touch screen shows how extraordinary this device is.

It’s clearly very fast, easy for the user to hold and manoeuvre between the different applications and is definitely affordable.  Apple quickly made its mark on the mobile phone industry, selling 41 million iPhone handsets in just three years, so it’ll be fascinating to see how the iPad fairs in a very competitive tablet market. 

I don’t think it’ll be too long before we see business travellers turning up at hotels demanding WiFi and 3G support for this impressive gadget.  Congratulations Apple, this is a really inspiring piece of technology and I personally can’t wait until I can buy one in the shops.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Technology | No Comments »

Sensiq, the intelligent guest portal

Posted on: 18-Dec-2009

Sensiq-original_Ambilight

You may remember us unveiling our next generation technology concept at HTNG Lisbon, back in October. We’ve been busy talking to current customers, other hoteliers and industry analysts in the meantime, and their feedback has been hugely positive. We’re also seeing more column inches devoted to the trend towards more internet content being delivered through the television.

Today, we’re formally launching our new guest communications portal, named Sensiq. You can find a video and lots of information about it over at the Quadriga website.

Our first two Sensiq hotels are up and running in the UK, with more being rolled out in other European territories in the New Year. If you’re interested in discussing the portal and its potential to transform the guest experience, do feel free to contact me directly at marc.budie@quadriga.com.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Communication, Content, Guest, Hotels, Next generation, Portal, Technology | No Comments »

Are TVs the PC of the future?

Posted on: 20-Nov-2009
Source: www.itechnews.net

Source: www.itechnews.net

According to a recent BBC article, by 2015 more than 12 billion devices will be capable of connecting to 500 billion hours of TV and video content – pretty astounding figures.

But what really struck a chord with me in the article is the comment made by Eric Kim, the digital home group boss at Intel, who said:

“Don’t make my TV act like a PC. This is what we hear consistently from the consumer.” 

Although I agree with Eric that the television will never become a true PC, it will however be able to deliver more and more internet-based content, almost like an enhanced digital Teletext service. We are slowly seeing TV vendors adding internet browsing capabilities to their television sets: some are opting for Java, others the Yahoo framework and some are using CHTML.

The issue that needs addressing is how to provide users with access to internet-based  content via the TV – which they would typically access via a PC, in an easy and intuitive way, so they can enjoy a relaxed TV viewing experience. To date Teletext has been successful because it is clear, simple and fast – the technology is there, it just needs to be utilised.

Eric Huggers, director of the BBC’s Future Media and Technology, sums up the future of TV perfectly in the same piece: “Think of TV as an opportunity to give consumers a gateway to infinite choice.”

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Technology | No Comments »

« Older Entries