Saturday, 31 May 2014

The Importance Of A Hotel Property Management System

By Marci Glover


The hospitality industry is incredibly competitive. The ability to travel quickly to any part of the world has opened up opportunities for tourism that never existed before. Of course, when visiting foreign climes visitors need somewhere to sleep. Because the industry is so competitive, establishments need to be very carefully managed. That is why it is necessary to make use of a sophisticated hotel property management system.

Managing programs are now all computerized. Establishments need to have information on a wide variety of issues at their fingertips. One of the main purposes of such a program is to manage the bookings. Bookings are complex because the establishment does not want empty rooms. The program therefore manages waiting lists and cancellations, allowing the owners to take steps to keep the occupancy rate up.

Most reputable hospitality establishments focus very strongly upon repeat bookings. Regular visitors, celebrities and tour operators that use the establishment regularly therefore receive preference. It can be complex to manage the various rates that apply to different customers. A managing program makes this easier and also helps the staff to make provision for the personal preferences of special guests and to make sure that important clients receive priority service.

Tourists are fickle and they want prompt and efficient service. They do not want to be delayed when arriving or departing. The program must therefore allow the staff to collate and produce guest accounts quickly. The program must be able to be updated throughout the stay of the guests. For example, charges from the bar, the restaurant and the laundry must be added to the bill as soon as the service is provided.

Some large hospitality groups use custom designed software for managing their operations. However, there are a variety of products available for smaller establishments. When evaluating different programs, it is important to make sure that it is integrated. This means that all the various components of the program need to communicate with each other, eliminating the need for duplication.

Management information is critical to the profitability of any establishment. The chosen software should therefore not only store records, but also produce a wide variety of reports and statistics. Some of the more sophisticated programs allow users to define to type of report they want. This information can be extremely helpful in planning purchases, in making decisions regarding upgrades and to develop marketing strategies.

Because no establishment can afford to be off line it is vital to make sure that the prospective supplier is willing and capable of providing extended support. They must also be able to personalize the system to the requirements of the establishment. It is always best to buy software that can be upgraded when it becomes necessary. It may be a good idea to test various systems for a while before deciding.

In these modern times with the internet, instant communication and instant gratifications no hospitality establishment however small, can afford to ignore the importance of electronic managing programs. They must be able to react to enquiries and demands instantly. Keeping a register on the counter simply does not work any longer.




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