Would You Like a $20 Credit or Extra Reward Points for Your Hotel Stays? How about a Full-Body Scan in Airports?

Today’s Travel Watch in the Wall Street Journal reported two trends (by Sarah Nassauer). One is about hotel housekeeping service, the other is about full-body scans in airports.

According to this report, many Westin and Sheraton hotels now offer guests $5 credit for dining in their restaurants or 500 points per night for up to three consecutive nights if they opt out the housekeeping service. The Marmara Manhattan gives guests $20 credit per night if they do not use housekeeping service for three days. I think this is a great idea because it not only offers an alternative to guests but also helps properties cut operation costs. In luxury hotel segment, cleaning a room may cost an average of $22, which includes labor, laundry, worn-out of linens, and other amenities. Starwood calls this “Make A Green Choice” program. I can see guests who concern about the environments or want to have additional discounts will take advantage of this offer because it helps save soup, water, energy, and money.

Another update is more airports use full-body scanners. Some airports require all travelers to go though scanners, while others only ask selected passengers to do so. I guess this is a trade-off between safety and hassle-free travels. This could seem good news to Obama’s high-speed rail project because we can easily predict more people will choose to travel by train rather than air if trains run in “high-speed.” The question is how fast can a train run? (You may read more in my yesterday’s discussion on Obama’s high-speed rail project via http://linchikwok.blogspot.com/2010/02/obamas-plan-of-high-speed-rail-not.html).

References:
The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704259304575043160856596220.html

Picture was copied from http://www.gnationalgroup.com/hospitality.htm

Comments

Luxury vs. Millennials and Their Technology: The Ritz-Carlton (By Julia Shorr)

Embodying the finest luxury experience, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC has been established since 1983. In 1998, Marriott International purchased the brand offering it more opportunity for growth while being independently owned and operated. They are known for their enhanced service level as the motto states, “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen”. The luxury brand now carries 97 hotels and resorts internationally and is attempting to keep the aspects of luxury while keeping up with the trends of the technologically improving generations. The Varying Demographics of the Target Market The Ritz-Carlton’s typical target market includes: business executives, corporate, leisure travelers, typically middle-aged persons and elders, and families from the upper and upper-middle class section of society . This infers a large range of types of travelers in which all are similar in that they are not opposed to spending extra for the luxurious ambiance. However, w...

Is It OK for Hotel Staff to Wear Piercings and Tattoos?

Time has changed. I see more and more college students wearing piercings and tattoos nowadays, but is it OK for hotel staff to wear piercings and tattoos? The answer is “no, no, no.” According a report at USAToday.com, customers across the board do not want to see any hotel workers with pierced eyebrow, pierced tongue, tattooed arm, or nose ring. Some may argue that tattooed and pierced workers may seem more acceptable in edgy boutique hotels as compared to the big franchised hotels, but the survey results did not find any differences among a variety of lodging products. Many respondents believe people who wear visible tattoos and piercings are taking a high risk of their professional lives. If you stay in a hotel, do you mind being served by tattooed and/or pierced staff? What if you are the one who makes the hiring decision? References: USAToday.com: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010 Picture was downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010P

How to Convince AI that You Are the Best Candidate for the Job

Last week, we discussed how more companies used AI to screen resumes and analyze job candidates’ performance in the initial interviews. We called for companies’ attention to the potential AI biases in hiring . This week, we will visit what job candidates can do to help AI pick us and recommend us for hiring. A. Writing a Resume Tailored to AI Screening First and foremost, job candidates must thoroughly research the job and the company to understand its job descriptions and organizational culture. From there, they can: Write the resume in Word and submit it as a Word document instead of a PDF file. Select a straightforward format and avoid using graphics, charts, or complex layouts that could confuse AI. Use headings effectively to help AI pick up the content it seeks, such as “Relevant Job Experience” and “Education.” Strategically pick the relevant keywords that match the job descriptions as the job candidates describe what they perform(ed) at work. Highlight their achievements a...

Linchi Kwok, Ph.D.

Search This Blog