TOP 100 IDEAS Do's and Don'ts Hotel Technology 3.0 Part 2

Posted: 15 Jul 2011 | 9:44 am

Following Part 1 of our Top 100 list on hotel technology, find the list of Do Not or Don'ts...

DO NOT...

1. Use Walkie Talkies in public areas without issuing staff with discreet ear pieces

2. Deploy connectivity aux or connectivity panels without having in-room cable kits

3. Put a bedside clock that makes a ticking sound

4. Charge for local phone calls unless you really have to

5. Make it difficult to use a mouse on the Guest Room desk by using one with a glass surface - put a mouse mat in the drawer

6. Automatically do dynamic currency conversion on credit card transactions - have the customer approve in advance

7. Charge exorbitant rates for printing in the business center

8. Issue replacement room keys without first seeing a valid photo ID

9. Allow staff to use thumb drives in work computers

10. Print reports - circulate PDF versions only

11. Send faxes when you can send PDFs with emails

12. Use worn out ribbons on printers - especially Point of Sale printers in F&B outlets

13. Assume your backup power generator will auto-start if there is a mains power failure. Test it

14. Print folios - email them

15. Use paper registration cards - use electronic ones

16. Install both wired and wireless internet in your Guest Rooms when doing a new installation. Just having Wi-Fi is acceptable by most people and will save you money

17. Assume all guests use an iPod, iPhone or iPad - believe it or not, there are other successful products in the marketplace

18. Put "last updated..." on your website if you don't do it frequently

19. Put the number of visitors to your website - no one really cares

20. Put a chair at the desk which is difficult to pull out or is uncomfortable to sit in - even if it looks nice

21. Just limit guests to connect two items to the Wi-Fi in the guestroom - often guests carry many more devices, especially if a couple are staying and with kids

22. Clutter the desk with collaterals and printed materials - make them digital and multi-lingual - e.g. in Chinese

23. Just believe that by putting loads of technology into your hotel that the guest experience will be enhanced or that the guest will appreciate it

24. Place a loudspeaker in the bathroom unless it has a volume control and the sound quality is good

25. Just rely on the technology to operate your business - it will fail and at the worst possible time. Make sure you have a contingency plan in place for ALL systems and test it periodically

26. Change any configuration on a guest's computer unless they ABSOLUTELY agree and you have a written record of the changes made

27. Have multiple phones in the Guest room unless your really need to

28. Allow iPods, MP3 players or similar devices in the workplace to be connected to your computers

29. Print anything - only have electronic versions of all your collaterals

30. Make it complicated for guests to use your technology - they may only stay one night and have no time to learn how to use all the gadgets

31. Overcharge for IDD calls - see if you can connect your PBX to a VOIN (Voice over Internet) service to reduce the calling costs

32. Lend guest's headsets in the gym unless they have been pre-sterilized

33. Allow social networking connections on workplace computers unless it's for work

34. Have water pipes inside your computer room or data center

35. Just have a single cooling source for your Data Center - have a backup

36. Have so many TV channels that it's difficult for the guest to quickly access what they really want to watch and make sure then it's re-switched on, it goes back to the last channel watched and only re-sets upon check-out

37. Put a CD/DVD/Blu-Ray player in the Guest room unless there is already a disc inside for the guest to quickly listen to or watch

38. Operate a 1-button Call Center unless the staff who take the call are full trained to handle ALL queries

39. Put a 4-in-1 copier/scanner/printer/fax machine in the guestroom with just 2 or 3 sheets of paper inside for the guest to print on - include at least 20 sheets

40. Use a cloud printing service to the in-room printer you are providing - some guests are bound by company confidentiality policies not to send data outside of their network and so cannot use such services, even if they are hosted by a reputable company - just add a USB cable

41. Have electronic curtains/drapes unless they can be opened/closed from the bed as well as via a wall switch

42. Put a hairdryer in the bathroom that is underpowered - and don't hide it

43. Put a reading lamp at the bed which is so powerful and direct that it can burn your Guest's forehead

44. Adjust the temperature in the Guestroom if the guest sets it at a certain level. Only reset it upon check-out.

45. Use Flash on your website unless you really have to - not all popular Smartphones or Tablets can handle Flash

46. Only put a keycard reader on one side of the elevator car if you have floor call buttons on both sides. And from time to time, check they both work

47. Install an LCD TV in such a away that the Guest cannot access the connectivity ports and by doing so, they can directly connect their own devices for playback

48. Create an app for your Hotel just for the sake of it - and all it does is make reservations. Let it be informative about your property and a guide to all the various services and amenities you provide. It will after all be be your Shop window in the palm of someone's hand and directly reflect your brand values.

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