Overall travel spending is rising by 2 percent annually, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. business travel is expected to reach $295.7 billion in 2015. Millennial travelers are responsible for this rise as they take an average of three more trips each year than older age groups, and are 62 percent more likely to extend business trips into vacations.
This is good news for hoteliers but it raises the question, how prepared are they to handle this growth? According to a survey made by Softwareadvice.com last year, a staggering 25% of hoteliers are still using pen and paper to manage their unit, while another 16% aren’t using anything at all.
When asked what features they need in a hotel management system, more than three-quarters of hoteliers (both those with and without software) are looking for a solution that includes online booking capabilities, 75% request reservation management, housekeeping management (61%) and front desk management (58 %).
It’s clear that hoteliers want solutions that allow them to easily manage their units and that integrate with their existing online presence (website, Facebook page) with a clear purpose of attracting more clients. Most probable cause for them still using pen and paper is the fact that old hotel management systems were expensive and hard to operate with.
But with the rise of web-based systems like HoteloPro, independent hoteliers can get access to an affordable solution that can be up and running in a matter of minutes. The learning process is very easy, anyone with a minimum experience of using a computer being able run it. HoteloPro also has an online booking widget, but for a complete walkthrough of all features please visit this link.