Hospitality and Restaurant IT News – July 28, 2014
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In the news, Disney World provides some insight into the future of mobile payment technology, while Kimpton Hotels is undergoing a digital overhaul that places guests first. Another article offers up tips on building engagement and sales in the digital space, and two QSRs leverage Walmart locations to increase their brand exposure.
To Understand Mobile Payment Technology, Head to Disney World
This article from Skift examines one of the biggest questions in the retail/consumer/shopping industrial complex: Will any of these new mobile payment or automated service projects really stick, or will they just drive people crazy? Looking at the Magic Bands RFID program at Disney with an eye to the future of mobile payment, it concludes that “Most likely, we’re in a shaking-out phase. Some systems will work well in some places. Some will flop. Disney clearly has at least one system that works, like magic.”
Kimpton Hotels takes a guest-first approach to digital overhaul
Kimpton Hotels has unveiled a reinvented, fully responsive Web experience that incorporates content from a recently launched travel blog while providing features such as a universally available booking pathway, according to Mobile Commerce Daily. It also scraps legacy content, and sitemaps in favor of a freshly imagined content structure, carefully curated images and a more streamlined accommodation search. It allows users to navigate between, and compare Kimpton’s hotel portfolio in a myriad of ways – by city, amenities, restaurants, and descriptions, while reflecting the hotelier’s design and personality.
What Restaurants Need to Know About social Media
This article from The Nation’s Restaurant News offers tips on building engagement and sales in the digital space. From engaging in two-way conversations with social media followers, to remembering that engagement, consistency, and participation are the three crucial elements to a successful social media campaign, this article provides some useful guidelines for creating a winning platform.
How two QSRs leverage Walmart locations for brand exposure
This article from qsr.web examines how two QSRs, Checkers and Philly Pretzel Factory plan to expand their footprints inside of Walmart stores nationwide to gain brand exposure and to offer customers even more speed and convenience. Checkers targeted Walmart because its customer base is similar. Like Checkers PPF fits well within the Walmart landscape because they’re both value-based companies.
Restaurant and Hospitality Talking Points
Congress took a major step toward reauthorizing Brand USA, a global marketing program to promote the United States as an international tourist destination. The program, which the legislation would reauthorize, is funded through a fee paid by international visitors. Now the travel and tourism bill moves to the Senate. The National Restaurant Association supports the reauthorization of Brand USA and sent letters urging members of the House and Senate to vote for the bill.
According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurant sales dip slightly in June after record high. Eating and drinking place sales totaled $46.8 billion on a seasonally-adjusted basis in June, down from May’s $47 billion, but up more than $100 million from the previous sales volume peak in March.