Glowing https://glowing.io/ Stay Personal. Sat, 01 Jun 2024 09:03:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Glowing.ai Launches a Groundbreaking Generative AI-first Customer Expansion Platform with Select Globally Admired, Luxury Brands https://glowing.io/glowing-ai-launches-a-groundbreaking-generative-ai-first-customer-expansion-platform-with-select-globally-admired-luxury-brands/ Sat, 01 Jun 2024 09:03:42 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17588 Hong Kong, May 30, 2024 – Glowing, a leading US-based software company offering a Generative AI-first platform designed for globally admired, luxury brands delivering world-class experiences along with Rosewood Hotel Group, one of the world’s leading global lifestyle and hospitality management groups, is excited to announce the launch implementation of its innovative new Generative

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Hong Kong, May 30, 2024 – Glowing, a leading US-based software company offering a Generative AI-first platform designed for globally admired, luxury brands delivering world-class experiences along with Rosewood Hotel Group, one of the world’s leading global lifestyle and hospitality management groups, is excited to announce the launch implementation of its innovative new Generative AI Guest Expansion (GX) platform, which includes Artificial Intelligent communication, such as guest messaging, patterns and insights, along with bespoke experience management. 

Glowing customized core components of its new GX platform to Rosewood according to its brand communication standards, which has proactively enhanced the guest experience at the hotels. Rosewood has seen a significant increase in operational efficiency and usage rates of over 100% month-over-month since they started using GX technologies and methodologies last year.  Further, although the volume of guest communication has nearly doubled in one year, efficiency has dramatically increased, including a significant decrease in responsive times from team members back to guests of near 20%.

The Glowing GenAI-enabled platform is founded on three core pillars: “Copilot”, which was built to improve operational efficiency and quality, “Patterns & Insights”, which unearths hidden, valuable and actionable insights for management, as well as “Bespoke Experiences”, which allows for never-before tailoring of the guest experience.  Glowing’s platform combines state-of-the-art AI technology with customer experiences and learnings, setting a new standard in the luxury hospitality space and boldly forging ahead in the current evolution of the meaning of delivering world class services and experiences in the era of AI. Glowing’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation is evident. With Glowing’s GX platform, Rosewood addresses fast, efficient guest-staff interaction to meet and exceed service expectations while breaking language barriers by connecting with international guests in their preferred language.

“There is so much noise around Generative AI and the potential and future promise of what AI can do for globally admired, luxury brands aiming to deliver memorable and world class experiences.  With Glowing’s new platform, we are taking the lead in partnership with Rosewood to define and revolutionize the future of customer experience in the hospitality space. Take our AI Tonely component, for instance, that consistently crafts messages to guests in Rosewood’s specifically defined brand communication standards, as well as can check every human-drafted message to ensure consistency in communication tone and voice before being sent to any guest.  All this, by the way, can be done in any language.  And all this, while significantly enhancing Rosewood’s team member efficiency,” says Jasen Lew, CEO of Glowing.ai. “We are excited that the Rosewood Hotel Group was one of the first to take advantage and leap with us to effectively use AI and see the value and how our platform enhanced their customer and employee experiences.”

Rosewood Hotel Group, Chief Information Officer Taywin (Tex) Khampasri stated, “It’s been over one year since we started on the journey of building our exclusive Generative AI communication and bespoke experience management in partnership with Glowing and our global IT operations team along with the service team at our brand’s flagship Rosewood Hong Kong. We wanted to co-create a Generative AI-enabled guest engagement platform to inspire our guests and associates and to help drive our brand to the next levels of innovation and efficiency. This not only allows our hotel teams to better communicate with our guests in multi languages and in a style specially to our brand. We can fully customize their experience across our many dining and wellness outlets during their stay. We use Glowing’s GX platform to create uniquely contextual responses then our hotel team reviews all messages before it is sent to guests. By doing this, we maintain our brand standards while striking a balance between high tech and high touch.  We will continue to implement technologies like this to better serve the next generation of Rosewood guests and associates who are looking for more seamless digital experiences.”

Glowing’s GX is rolling out to other properties of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, starting this Summer of 2024.

Glowing invites all globally admired luxury brands who aim to deliver world class experiences, including luxury hotels and properties to learn more about Glowing’s new GenAI solution by contacting Glowing to schedule a product demonstration with a company representative at ai@glowing.io.

 

Contact Information:

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Can a GenAI Messaging Platform Help with Hotel Employee Training? https://glowing.io/can-a-genai-messaging-platform-help-with-hotel-employee-training/ Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:28:33 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17582 For hotel general managers, ensuring that your staff are well-trained and up to date on the latest customer service and having a hub where you can get on-the-job training and practices is essential for outstanding guest experiences and operational efficiency. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), a new question arises: can a GenAI messaging

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For hotel general managers, ensuring that your staff are well-trained and up to date on the latest customer service and having a hub where you can get on-the-job training and practices is essential for outstanding guest experiences and operational efficiency. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), a new question arises: can a GenAI messaging platform aid in the training of hotel employees?

The Challenge of Traditional Training Methods

Hotel training methods have traditionally involved a mix of hands-on training, in-person seminars, and digital courses. While these methods have merits, they come with constraints such as scheduling challenges, variable learning paces, and the need for training updates to stay current with industry standards and expectations. Also they are limited in that they usually don’t allow for immediate feedback and/or questions needed to personalize and help your employee elevate their learnings. When I’m learning, I like to ask a lot of questions and like to better understand any additional informative (guest) experiences to be better prepared and better at my job. If designed right GenAI can be that instructor or teaching assistant needed which opens up more time for other employees who don’t have to be the always beck and call of every new employee. It is pretty standard that most new employees always gravitate to the person that is more likely to answer their questions about guest situations without a lot of frustration. Having GenAI be that situational instructor will again free up that employee to concentrate on their guests.  

Introducing GenAI Messaging Platforms

GenAI can help leverage advanced AI to simulate conversations and scenarios that hotel employees might encounter or while on the job gain knowledge on how to better serve the guests needs through various situations. Once implemented AI can learn about your hotel and the environment it shares with your employees. This technology can provide interactive, scenario-based training that is scalable and adaptable to various learning styles. It will also lead new employees on the right path to solving guest issues or how to better serve them in a capacity that luxury requires. 

Benefits of GenAI for Training

  1. Personalized Learning Experiences: GenAI platforms can adapt to an individual’s learning pace, providing extra practice where needed and challenging employees who progress quickly while on-the-job. It can also be a ready assistant to the new employee by offering top-notch recommendations in any language needed.  
  2. Safe Environment to Make Mistakes: Employees can practice real-life situations without the fear of making mistakes in front of guests, which can enhance learning and confidence. 
  1. Accessibility and Convenience: With GenAI platforms, training can be accessed from any device at any time, making it convenient for staff members who have varying shifts and responsibilities.
  2. Instant Feedback: AI can provide immediate feedback, allowing hotel employees to learn and correct their mistakes in real-time. It can also allow for questions to be asked to better enhance their overall learning experience.
  3. Cost-Effective and Scalable: Once in place, GenAI solutions can reduce training costs by minimizing the need for in-person training and accommodation expenses. This allows other employees to continue with their day-to-day without the burden of getting new employees up to speed. Another area this can help with is that if a new employee doesn’t work out long-term, AI allows the training investment to be minimal. 
  4. Continuous Learning: The hospitality industry is continuously evolving, and AI training can update its programs to teach the latest best practices and standards without the need for major overhauls. 

Challenges and Considerations

While the advantages are compelling, there are also challenges to recognize. GenAI is not a complete substitute for human interaction, particularly in a hospitality setting that values genuine personal touch. AI, while highly efficient, will more than likely need to have an employee with that specific hotel knowledge to be around to help guide the AI process. On that note, it is crucial that the platform is regularly monitored and updated by experts to ensure that it is providing relevant and high-quality training that aligns with brand standards.

Additionally, some employees may be more resistant or less adept at engaging with AI technology, so a hybrid approach complemented by human trainers could be necessary.

Implementing GenAI Messaging in Hotels

For maximum effectiveness, hotel general managers should consider the following steps:

  1. Evaluate Training Needs: Pinpoint areas where GenAI could make the most impact and start small, perhaps with front desk operations or housekeeping protocols.
  1. Select the Right Platform: Choose a GenAI messaging platform that is reputable and aligns with the specific training needs of your hotel.
  2. Pilot the Program: Before rolling out across the hotel, test the platform with a pilot program to gauge effectiveness and gather feedback.
  3. Supplement GenAI Training with Human Interaction: Ensure that GenAI is part of a broader training strategy that includes mentorship and human touchpoints.
  4. Monitor Progress and Iterate: Use data analytics within the GenAI platform to track progress and adapt the training based on performance and feedback.

Conclusion

While a GenAI messaging platform offers many benefits that can revolutionize how hotel employees are trained, it is not without its challenges. For hotel general managers, the key will be to integrate this technology into a comprehensive training program that respects the balance between technological efficiency and the human element of hospitality. With the right approach, GenAI has the potential to enrich employee training, leading to more effective, confident, and capable staff ready to elevate the guest experience to new heights.

Hospitality is, after all, about people serving people. AI, when used correctly, can ensure that those individuals are well-equipped to deliver the best service possible.

Click here to get more information and to see Glowing’s messaging and GenAI solution in action.

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Can GenAI Support Your Multilingual Guests Better than Your Team? https://glowing.io/can-genai-support-your-multilingual-guests-better-than-your-team/ Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:45:58 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17580 As stated in earlier blog posts, the luxury hotel industry is synonymous with outstanding service and exceptional guest experience. General Managers, Operational and Marketing leaders of such establishments understand the significance of personalized touchpoints that make guests feel valued and cared for. But in a world where travel knows no borders, how crucial is multilingual

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As stated in earlier blog posts, the luxury hotel industry is synonymous with outstanding service and exceptional guest experience. General Managers, Operational and Marketing leaders of such establishments understand the significance of personalized touchpoints that make guests feel valued and cared for. But in a world where travel knows no borders, how crucial is multilingual support in enhancing the guest experience? And how can GenAI help?  We believe it’s very important and we’ll explain more in this blog. 

Understanding the Global Guest

Today’s luxury hotel guests are often well-traveled and have great communication skills, hailing from various corners of the globe while multitasking through several communication platforms. They expect seamless experiences from the moment they book to the time they say goodbye. Communication is at the heart of this experience. It bridges the gap between diverse cultural expectations and the personalized service that luxury hotels strive to provide for each guest. In fact Intercom reports that 29% of businesses state they have lost customers for not providing multilingual support

Offering multilingual support isn’t merely a value-added service; it is an essential component in ensuring your guests feel understood, respected, and at home. Ultimately leading to high guest satisfaction experiences and more likely the valued-guest returns to your luxury establishment. 

The Competitive Edge of Language Diversity

A hotel that supports multiple languages through guest services can provide comfort in familiarity to a valued-guest. When guests know that there’s staff who speak their language, anxiety over potential misunderstandings or being unable to express preferences diminishes. This sense of ease translates into more positive reviews, repeat visits, and a reputation as a truly international destination. This not only includes person-to-person exchanges through guest services, but also through any messaging platform such as WhatsApp, WeChat, or SMS which are increasingly being used by luxury hotels to facilitate communication with guests. These platforms allow guests to send inquiries or requests at their convenience and receive prompt responses from guest services staff.

But beyond guest satisfaction, there’s the undeniable benefit of standing out in an increasingly competitive market. A hotel that demonstrates linguistic versatility showcases a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, placing it a notch above competitors who may not offer the same level of consideration.

Investing in Multilingual Staff, Technology and GenAI

The question then isn’t just whether to offer multilingual support, but how. Hotels have options such as employing multilingual staff, providing language training to current employees, or investing in technology like real-time translation devices and apps. These messaging technologies make it easier to communicate with their guests as you don’t have to hire employees to speak their native language, but rather the messaging platforms have easy to use translator apps integrated in the respective tools. 

With the advent of GenAI, translations have taken a step-up as now translations are based more on semantic meaning than actual words…

Outfitting your team with the right tools can go a long way. It shows initiative in meeting guest needs proactively. Furthermore, it empowers your staff, equipping them with the confidence to handle diverse guest interactions adeptly.

Culturally Informed Service

Understanding language nuances goes hand in hand with cultural competence. Luxury hotels that invest in multilingual support often find that they must also educate their staff on cultural sensitivity. Doing so ensures that cross-cultural communication is respectful and appropriate, which is just as important as speaking the same language. As GenAI evolves this will become easier and easier through messaging platforms giving the employee the necessary tools to effectively communicate to their high valued guests. 

Measuring the Impact

Before implementing any multilingual strategy, it’s important to measure your guests’ needs. Analyze your customer data—are there significant numbers coming from particular language backgrounds? Collect feedback on whether guests would value multilingual services. Such research will not only inform investment in this area but will also help tailor the approach to the specific languages your guests speak.

Conclusion

For luxury hotels striving to deliver the utmost in guest satisfaction, multilingual support is not just beneficial—it’s essential. It reflects a global-mindedness and a sophisticated level of service that resonates with cosmopolitan guests.

In a connected world, language is more than a medium of communication; it’s a tool for connection and understanding. By emphasizing multilingual capabilities, your hotel speaks volumes about its dedication to guest comfort and excellence in hospitality.

Remember, each interaction in a guest’s language is a step closer to a lasting relationship. Generous investment in multilingual support today could be the key to your hotel’s enduring success tomorrow.

Takeaway Thoughts for Hospitality Leaders:

  • Assess the linguistic diversity of your guests and anticipate their communication preferences.
  • Provide multilingual training for staff or adopt technology that aids in translation.
  • Recognize the importance of cultural sensitivity alongside language skills.
  • Analyze the ROI of multilingual capabilities through guest feedback and satisfaction scores.
  • Lead the charge in offering inclusive, personalized experiences that make every guest feel at home.
  • GenAI can help with translations as translations are based more on semantic meaning than actual words.
  • As GenAI evolves, translating to their guests will become easier and easier through messaging platforms giving the employee the necessary tools to effectively communicate to their highly valued guests. 

Is your hotel equipped to converse with the world? Perhaps it’s time to speak the language of your guests.

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Will GenAI Change the Customer Experience in Luxury Hotels… for the Better? https://glowing.io/will-genai-change-the-customer-experience-in-luxury-hotels-for-the-better/ Wed, 03 Apr 2024 20:48:37 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17576 The hospitality sector thrives on personalized services and exceptional experiences—none more so than the luxury hotel industry. General Managers and their staff spend countless hours working with guest accommodations through their communications whether it is on the phone or through messaging platforms understand that time responding to inquiries is extremely important. It is these carefully

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The hospitality sector thrives on personalized services and exceptional experiences—none more so than the luxury hotel industry. General Managers and their staff spend countless hours working with guest accommodations through their communications whether it is on the phone or through messaging platforms understand that time responding to inquiries is extremely important. It is these carefully curated interactions that set luxury accommodations apart and yet are so time consuming for the staff which could be spent on other customer and guest needs. That being said, there is a new employee at the front desk and its name is GenAI—or generative artificial intelligence. The big question though is what impact will GenAI have on the overall customer experience? Will GenAI help or become a nuisance to the hotel staff and in return for guests?

The Role of AI in Luxury Hospitality

Generative AI, in the context of luxury hotels, is an emerging technology that has the potential to revolutionize how guests are served in so many formats. From tailored concierge services enabled by machine learning to automating mundane tasks to free up staff to provide more high-touch interactions, AI could and more likely will represent a new chapter in hospitality. However, adopting any form of automation, especially in a service-driven industry like luxury hospitality, must be approached with caution and understanding. 

Understanding Generative AI

Before we address its implications, it’s crucial to understand what GenAI signifies. In brief, GenAI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can generate text, voice, images, and even video content in response to user prompts such as messaging through chat apps and emails. These systems can improve over time, learning from interactions to provide more contextually relevant and personalized responses at a quick rate. Meaning GenAI can provide a quick base as opposed to a hotel employee looking up an answer or figuring out how to quickly respond to a guest in a courteous and helpful way that signifies the luxury brand that they represent. 

Enhancing Personalization Through AI

For General Managers, the allure of GenAI lies in personalization and the speed in which the personalization happens. Imagine that AI remembers a returning guest’s preferred room temperature, favorite table at the restaurant, preference to visit the spa or gym, and even the time they like to be woken up at—before they even walk through the door. These small yet significant details could elevate the guest experience from excellent to exceptional which can have an immediate impact on the General Manager’s bottom-line.

Streamlining Operations with AI

GenAI could also radically streamline operations, from inventory management to predictive maintenance. By predicting and preemptively addressing issues before they affect guests, hotels can ensure that their visitors’ experiences are seamless and disruption-free. It could also mean that GenAI could help streamline questions coming in through escalations of urgency such as a broken AC/Heat thermostat, or no hot water in the shower to something that might not be as urgent such as time the spa opens in the morning or confirm a reservation at the hotel restaurant. GenAI can also streamline the guests agenda by understanding each guest’s preferences such as proactively scheduling spa treatments, restaurant reservations, taxis to the airport, etc. Through all these examples, you can see that GenAI can have a major impact on operations leading to happier guests.  

The Potential Pitfalls

However, with every silver lining comes a cloud. Over-reliance on GenAI could depersonalize guest interactions—something antithetical to the ethos of luxury hospitality. The key lies in finding that perfect synergy between human warmth and machine efficiency. After all, an AI might anticipate needs, but it can’t replicate the genuine human connection that comes from a warm greeting or a smile from a staff member who truly cares. It can however set the stage for the hotel staff to quickly engage with guests by setting the table with recommendations, but in the end the staff would have to jump in to reassure that the needs of the guests are truly met and jump in where necessary to tie up any of the loose ends. 

Training Staff to Complement AI

We are writing another blog that focuses on this subject in a little more detail. The idea of GenAI should be looked at as a professional assistant or copilot that instead of potentially replacing any hotel staff, AI rather should help complement them by taking over simplistic tasks that free up real humans to deliver high-quality, personalized service that no AI or machine could match. Training employees to work alongside AI as well as tapping into how AI could help train new employees on how to essentially respond to guests, but also allowing them to free up time so that they can concentrate on more important tasks while gaining on-the-job experience. 

Staying Competitive with AI Adoption

GenAI offers such considerable competitive advantages that not incorporating it to some degree puts any luxury hotel at risk of falling behind. Can you imagine a competitor who can speak the same language as a guest, who can respond to a guest in seconds and not minutes, who is immediately accountable to the guest for anything needed. The challenge is to wield AI as a tool, as an assistant to your team, almost another employee, but not as a crutch. AI helps ensure that luxury hospitality needs are met and that it helps continue to provide experiences that are richly human at heart. And are absolutely necessary!

Conclusion

The question isn’t whether GenAI will change the customer experience in luxury hotels, but how luxury hotel leadership such as General Managers, Operations, and IT who can balance the technological advancements of AI with the timeless traditions of hospitality can reap the obvious rewards in customer satisfaction and operational excellence. We want to make clear that in the luxury hotel industry, the human touch will never go out of style—AI should simply enhance it, assist it, but not replace it. 

The Way Forward

Luxury hotel leaders must now ponder how to integrate GenAI thoughtfully and sensibly within their service delivery models. When deployed with care, GenAI could certainly change customer experience for the better; a high-tech feature serving a high-touch purpose. In the hands of a forward thinking hotel management team, GenAI is an instrument that amplifies the craft of luxury—an ally in the pursuit of service beyond the ordinary.

What are your thoughts on the integration of GenAI in luxury hospitality? How do you believe it should be harnessed to improve customer experience without losing the personal touch? Share in the comments below.

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Most Used Messaging Apps in 2022 https://glowing.io/most-used-messaging-apps-in-2022/ Mon, 20 Jun 2022 20:53:27 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17469 In our age of hyper-communication and hyper-connectivity, it is hard to imagine our lives without the convenience of instant messaging communication. It is also evident that there has been an increase in the usage of instant messaging applications during the midst of, and emerging from, the Covid-19 pandemic.  According to a study conducted at the

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In our age of hyper-communication and hyper-connectivity, it is hard to imagine our lives without the convenience of instant messaging communication. It is also evident that there has been an increase in the usage of instant messaging applications during the midst of, and emerging from, the Covid-19 pandemic. 

According to a study conducted at the beginning of 2022, it has been observed that the frequency of messages being sent during the beginning of the pandemic back in 2020 is 2.58 times higher than the average number of messages sent per day pre-Covid times. Even now, people are still opting to use instant messaging to contact not only their family and friends, but also businesses.

We have searched on the commonly used messaging applications out there and understand why they are used by a lot of users.

Whatsapp

Whatsapp is one of the most popular messaging applications that has approximately 2 Billion users in 150 countries. Whatsapp application allows its users to send messages, photos, videos, and files to their contacts. Whatsapp also allows businesses to have their own official Whatsapp Business Account where businesses can create profiles, communicate with their guests, and send automated messages.  In a study conducted and released in 2022 by Meta, more than 1 billion people interact with a business over WhatsApp PER WEEK.

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is the next messaging application that follows after Whatsapp with registered users of around 1.3 billion worldwide. Same as Whatsapp, you can send messages, videos, files, and other multimedia files that you want to send to other users. Businesses have also integrated their digital marketing strategy into Facebook Messenger due to its average open rate of 70-80% which is significantly higher compared to emails.

WeChat

Originating in China, Wechat is the social platform that not only connects most Chinese people across China but also because of its gaining popularity, connects a million users outside of China. It is what you call a “multi-purpose app” as you can do so many things in the application from making payments to online shopping. On top of the fact that WeChat is the de facto social media platform in China. Most of its users are from China and have around 1.2 billion active users per month.

Line

Line is known to be the most popular and widely used messaging application in Japan and Taiwan. Back in 2011, when Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami, this application was developed to be used as an alternative to the telecommunications network that was damaged. Line  has around 178 million active users per month.

Viber

Another popular messaging application worldwide is Viber which was founded in Israel and bought by the Japanese company, Rakuten. It gained popularity due to its secret chat feature, and encryption. You can send messages, photos, videos, and voice calls in this app, and even allows businesses to create their own “Public Account” to communicate to their customers. They have around 260 million active users per month.

Telegram

Telegram is fairly new to the messaging application market as compared to its competitors, but it continues to have more users registering to its platform. You can also send messages, voice and video calls, photos, videos, and other files. It also has a feature called “self-destruct” for messages and files where you can set a time after they have been opened or read by the receiver. They have around 200 million active users per month, and its popularity is in certain European countries, but growing globally due to its emphasis on security and privacy.

About Glowing.io

If you want to utilize messaging as a mode of communication for your customers or clients, then platforms such as Glowing.io provide an opportunity for your business to directly communicate with your clients across all of the popular messaging platforms we have mentioned in this article. 

Glowing.io aims to provide an easy, yet impactful solution for any business to help drive engagement, and loyalty with ultimate impact on both the top and bottom lines. Glowing.io’s platform will make communication with your clients easy, simple, and personalized, as communication starts with each guest’ preferred messaging platform, from which there are many.

Authored by: Anjanette Rosauro

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Messaging in the Hospitality Industry https://glowing.io/messaging-in-the-hospitality-industry/ Thu, 12 May 2022 18:10:46 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17462 The beginning of 2022 was a great start for many hotels as signals for a new year of hope for the hospitality industry can be seen with more countries opening up their borders to tourists and at the same time, loosening the countries’ imposed travel restrictions.  Despite the good news for the hospitality industry, there

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The beginning of 2022 was a great start for many hotels as signals for a new year of hope for the hospitality industry can be seen with more countries opening up their borders to tourists and at the same time, loosening the countries’ imposed travel restrictions. 

Despite the good news for the hospitality industry, there are still challenges, such as labor shortages to provide services to the guests staying on property. Especially now with increasing guest expectations, hotels need to stay on top of all of those expectations without affecting daily hotel operations.

Popularity with Messaging

Messaging continues to rise in popularity among mobile users and has become one of the most preferred ways to communicate with anyone. Especially during the pandemic with international borders closed, the only way to keep in touch with others has been through messaging. 

As of 2022, it has been estimated that there are currently at least 6.6 Billion smartphone users, or around 84% of the world population. This number continues to increase as the years pass, and we now see and understand how essential messaging has and will become. Messaging provides convenience to both the customers as well as those organizations, especially in service-driven industries, such as shopping malls, airports, and even the medical industry, have started to adopt messaging in their organizations.

Messaging in Hotels

Hotels need to keep up with their guests’ demands and this can be achieved with the use of messaging. Hotels that have adopted messaging as a way to communicate with their guests on their property are known to have higher guest satisfaction ratings and in turn, it helps to improve the day-to-day hotel operations. Harris Poll conducted research that showed that 77%  of consumers are most likely to have a great perception of a business that offers texting as a service channel to their customers.

One of our client brands which has adopted the Glowing.io platform, which enables easy messaging with their guests in their properties, did a comparison between the guests who messaged during their stay to those guests who did not message during their stay.  This brand found that those guests who did message the hotel during their stay scored 10 points higher in their overall satisfaction scores compared to those guests who did not message the hotel.

The hospitality industry prides itself on providing exceptional experiences for its guests during pre-stay until the guests’ departure. However, the adoption of messaging elevates the guest experience to another level without having to compromise the personal touch for each guest. For the guests, messaging also offers a simple, convenient and safe option to reach out to the hotels directly to send their messages or requests.

The hotel employees are already loaded with many responsibilities and we do not want to put more load on top of those. If a property adopts messaging, it will help to lighten the hotel employees’ workload by minimizing the need to answer phone calls or respond to emails. Through messaging, they will also be able to get all the details of the guest requests, assign them to the concerned department and get a response within just a few seconds.

Communicating with Travelers

Travelers nowadays prefer an option where they can directly contact the business directly via messaging as they do not want to be waiting for an email response or being put on hold during a phone call. They want an option that will get them an immediate response from the property.

Messaging also gives the hotel a chance to make their guests aware of what they offer in the hotel. Hotels can also use messaging as an opportunity to promote their onsite services or any current promotions they have to each of their guests.  A study conducted by Codebreaker  found that there is an 8x higher redemption rate when a business presents a promotion through messaging as compared to emails.  Messaging is not only more convenient and provides for better service, but also can help drive top-line revenue.

About Glowing.io

Messaging platforms such as Glowing.io provide an opportunity for all hotels to directly communicate with their guests from any popular messaging platforms such as SMS, Facebook, Whatsapp, WeChat, LINE, Telegram, and Instagram. Glowing.io aims to provide an easy, yet an impactful solution for hotels to help drive engagement, and loyalty with ultimate impact on both the top and bottom lines. Glowing.io’s platform will make communication with the guests easy, simple, and personalized while at the same time supporting the hotel for more efficient daily operations.

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Hospitality Marketing After the Pandemic https://glowing.io/hospitality-marketing-after-the-pandemic/ Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:53:27 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17452 The hospitality industry is recovering faster than ever. This is especially true as COVID-19 cases continue to drop, spurring many individuals to venture more frequently out of their homes and even embark on long-delayed travel plans. As a result, market analysts say that the global hospitality market will increase in worth from $3,952.87 billion to $4,548.42

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The hospitality industry is recovering faster than ever. This is especially true as COVID-19 cases continue to drop, spurring many individuals to venture more frequently out of their homes and even embark on long-delayed travel plans. As a result, market analysts say that the global hospitality market will increase in worth from $3,952.87 billion to $4,548.42 billion between 2021 and 2022.

This slow and steady growth is a perfect time for businesses in the industry to lay the foundation for post-COVID operations. Marketing will be the heart of a business’ success in this endeavor. It will help hospitality companies share their stories, spark conversations, and boost attention to their brands, creating momentum for business growth moving forward.

Yet a brand’s messaging will also have to change if businesses want to meet new customer expectations that have been similarly transformed by the pandemic. Here are a few differences hotels and other hospitality businesses can expect and should make to this end.

An emphasis on cleanliness

Most customers are hyper-aware of the fact that COVID-19 is still around. To increase their confidence in your business, consider sticking to the same cleanliness protocols required during the height of the pandemic and emphasize to your guests that you do so — not just in your marketing content, but also in your business’ direct interactions with potential and existing customers. You can even go a step further by disclosing the exact cleaning products that you use: 70% of travelers and 1 out of every 3 diners will be more likely to book a room or eat a meal at hotels and restaurants that do so, especially if the cleaning product used is a recognizable brand.

Integrated tech for safety

This same customer drive for cleanliness is also fueling their demand for contactless travel. That being said, implementing and broadcasting a contactless experience will go a long way today, when building customer loyalty is paramount. This can begin with omnichannel booking services and digitalized room key distribution during the check-in process. Curating a dedicated app or opening your social media channels to answer guest concerns before, during, and after their stay can further add to the contactless experience. Aside from enforcing social distancing protocols at your restaurant, you can even avoid overcrowding at the bar by sending drinks straight to hotel rooms with video instructions on how to mix them. These innovative services can enhance the customer experience and make your advertising strategies more compelling.

 

Featured local experiences

As people resume traveling, they’re more likely to first dip their toes in the water. That being said, you may want to tap into local audiences before expanding your reach outward. At the same time, your business may begin seeing guests that have passed this phase. In this case, you may want to highlight the local tourist experiences available in your area. For example, gym personnel can host running tours of your area, and your chefs can offer workshops exploring the local cuisine. Businesses can alert or notify their customers of special events or promos to keep them updated with the local scene. Such activities can make your business more unique and better able to compete with larger, more uniform hotel chains.

An enhanced online presence

With more people online as a result of the pandemic, companies are constantly bombarding them with advertisements. Consequently, it’s not enough to simply post regular promotions of your services online. Successful online marketing strategies work by making customers trust your brand. Build this trust through relevance and authenticity. Directly engage with customers by opening conversations with them on social media and hosting online contests to boost engagement. We’ve also emphasized that using effective messaging platforms to gather feedback can further help improve your services while making customers feel that you’re a caring brand that’s open to their suggestions.

Today’s customers highly value brands that are transparent and go the extra mile to meet their needs. By adopting the above changes to your messaging in your marketing strategies, you can reach their standards easily.

Specially written for glowing.io

Authored by Ruth Janice

The post Hospitality Marketing After the Pandemic appeared first on Glowing.

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Glowing and Metacraft: Introducing a New Metaverse in Minecraft https://glowing.io/introducing-a-new-metaverse-in-minecraft/ Mon, 24 Jan 2022 02:49:15 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17439 As advances in technology are made, it is vital to take advantage of them in order to continue to persist as a corporation. This is why Glowing has decided to take communication to the next level through the creation of a Metaverse, Metacraft.   What is a Metaverse The traditional perception of a Metaverse is

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As advances in technology are made, it is vital to take advantage of them in order to continue to persist as a corporation. This is why Glowing has decided to take communication to the next level through the creation of a Metaverse, Metacraft.

 

What is a Metaverse

The traditional perception of a Metaverse is a 3D environment that is interacted through a VR or AR headset alongside some controllers similar to VRChat. However, the actual definition is much broader. A Metaverse is simply a virtual environment where people are able to interact (TIME). This more plain description can be applied to many virtual communication platforms that exist today such as Slack and Discord.

 

What makes Metacraft Unique

Metacraft takes the traditional Minecraft experience and enhances it through strategic usage of various plugins while retaining much of the vanilla experience. Metacraft accommodates various kinds of playstyles without causing conflict. Players have the option to spend months of their lives gathering resources and people to ultimately launch a massive siege as a collective nation against neighboring towns. Or spend years gathering a devoted group of builders to gradually build the largest and most detailed structure throughout the entire world.

Metacraft links the Minecraft platform with other communication networks such as Discord and Facebook Messenger in order to enhance the player experience and connect the virtual world with the physical world. Players that are active within Metacraft have the ability to contact those that are in the physical world through Metacraft’s integrations which allow messages sent within the virtual space to be relayed to people’s phones and group chats. The Metacraft team also will create historical animatics based on the events that occur on the server. Major events such as wars, the completion of great builds, and diplomatic events will all be cataloged in order to promote the player base to continue to ignite events that will keep the community engaged.

 

About Glowing, Inc.

Glowing, Inc. is the leading US-based software company that specializes in AI-enhanced omnichannel guest engagement solutions. For some of the world’s leading brands in hospitality and other verticals, Glowing provides an intelligent and unified platform to overcome the complexity of in-the-moment messaging and enhance the guest experience–helping them win guest satisfaction and loyalty.

For more information, please visit www.glowing.io

 

About Metacraft

Metacraft is a Minecraft server that enhances the Minecraft experience by allowing wildly different playstyles to thrive on the same server. This is done through a harmonious balance of claim protection that allows combat-oriented players to grief while supporting builders in maintaining their builds.

For more information, please visit www.themetacraft.tk

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The Role of Communication in the Hospitality Industry’s COVID Recovery https://glowing.io/the-role-of-communication-in-the-hospitality-industrys-covid-recovery/ Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:46:02 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17429 One key industry that was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was hospitality. Strategies used to prevent the virus from spreading such as social distancing, stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, and community lockdowns have all resulted in the temporary closure of businesses in the hospitality industry. From restaurants to hotels, almost all businesses in hospitality experienced

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One key industry that was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was hospitality. Strategies used to prevent the virus from spreading such as social distancing, stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, and community lockdowns have all resulted in the temporary closure of businesses in the hospitality industry. From restaurants to hotels, almost all businesses in hospitality experienced a sharp decline in revenue and had to brave the economically tumultuous times. The pandemic has also been especially harsh to those who work in the hospitality industry, as reports show that at least 15.9% of the industry’s workers remain unemployed as of January 2021.

But now that the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic, businesses in hospitality are also starting to bounce back. In this post, let’s discuss the important role of communication in helping the hospitality industry recover.

Understanding the role of communication
Businesses in the hospitality industry will have to rebuild a professional relationship with their customers, employers, and stakeholders. Since the pandemic has temporarily forced them to close their doors, most will have to strive to find these connections again if they want to thrive in a post-pandemic society.

One way hospitality businesses can regain the trust of those they transact with is by becoming more transparent and keeping their communication channels open. In addition, it’s also best for businesses to impart how they’ve handled the crisis and detail the steps they’re taking as the world moves on from COVID. Doing so allows businesses to give their customers a full view of how the crisis has affected them, which then encourages customers to build empathy and support a business’ recovery efforts.

Through effective communication, businesses can reinstate the lost trust between them and the customers. They should always listen closely to what their customers have to say with regards to COVID and other health concerns. Businesses can monitor for any sentiment change within their audience by closely observing their communication channels such as email, service chats, and social media pages. Being mindful of what the general public has to say can help hospitality businesses tailor-fit their marketing plan, as well as package their COVID-recovery messages without sounding too desperate, needy, and unprofessional. In addition, good communication can also help boost the confidence of future customers as businesses can make it clear that they take safety precautions seriously.

How to communicate effectively during these precarious times
So how exactly can hospitality businesses communicate effectively during these distressing times? For one, hospitality businesses need to hire the right people if they want to reassure their customers and regain the trust of their investors. Professionals who can help hospitality businesses today are those who are trained in corporate communication. These individuals are responsible for maintaining the reputation and image of an organization, and are involved in planning, organizing, controlling, and leading a business’ communication strategy. When looking for a corporate communications manager there are many qualifications to look out for, with universities tailoring degrees, such as liberal studies, to focus on modern communication methods. Those who take a degree in liberal studies are taught how to communicate effectively, drive culture, and design strategies solve workplace challenges. Hiring these professionals will help hospitality businesses stay true to their brand and inject an understanding, empathic, and accommodating tone of voice ⁠— all of which are needed in today’s corporate messaging and advertising.

Another key role that is crucial in helping businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic are professionals with good marketing skills. These professionals can help hospitality businesses create engaging and professional marketing strategies that reinforce how an organization prioritizes the safety and security of everyone within the establishment.

Aside from competent employees, hospitality businesses should also have access to an effective messaging platform. This will assist in driving better outcomes for both the business and its customers. With extensive customer profiles, automation features, and omni-channel connectivity, such applications will make it easier to interact with clients, boosting customer engagement as well as business performance.

By now, hospitality businesses should understand the important role communication plays in their journey towards recovery. While we may be on track towards a fully reopened economy, it’s worth noting that nothing is permanent. So, those in the hospitality industry should be quick on their feet to adapt to sudden changes and effectively communicate with their customers, which keeps them in check and not lose their hard-earned trust.

 

Specially written for Glowing.io

Authored by Ruth Janice

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Glowing.io Now Available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace https://glowing.io/glowing-io-now-available-on-oracle-cloud-marketplace/ Sun, 28 Feb 2021 20:24:45 +0000 https://glowing.io/?p=17423 The integration between Glowing and Oracle Hospitality OPERA property management system (PMS) enables clients to automatically leverage Glowing’s messaging capabilities along with the contextual guest information from the PMS Las Vegas, NV – February 28, 2021 – Glowing, Inc, the leading provider of omni-channel guest messaging and a member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), today announced

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The integration between Glowing and Oracle Hospitality OPERA property management system (PMS) enables clients to automatically leverage Glowing’s messaging capabilities along with the contextual guest information from the PMS

Las Vegas, NV – February 28, 2021 Glowing, Inc, the leading provider of omni-channel guest messaging and a member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN), today announced Glowing.io is available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace and can be integrated with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure – Opera Cloud PMS. Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a centralized repository of enterprise applications offered by Oracle and Oracle partners.

 

The Glowing.io (https://glowing.io) platform enables hotels using Opera PMS to contact the guests via WhatsApp Business, WeChat, Messenger, SMS and/or a number of other popular global messaging platforms and to stay connected throughout the guest journey. The hotel can also broadcast messages to guests checking-in/checking-out on a specific date or based on their in-house status.

Oracle Cloud Marketplace is a one-stop shop for Oracle customers seeking trusted business applications offering unique business solutions, including ones that extend Oracle Cloud Applications. Oracle Cloud is an enterprise cloud that delivers massive, non-variable performance and next generation security across a comprehensive portfolio of services including SaaS, application development, application hosting, and business analytics. Customers get access to leading compute, storage, data management, security, integration, HPC, artificial intelligence (AI), and Blockchain services to augment and modernize their critical workloads. Oracle Cloud runs Oracle Autonomous Database, the industry’s first and only self-driving database.

“We are pleased to partner with Opera,” says Jasen Lew, CEO of Glowing.  “We have numerous joint customers, and with this two-way integration, we can offer those hotels the integration that will drive demand and increase conversions, keep operational impact low, improve the overall guest experience, and drive occupancy and revenue. Glowing’s participation in Oracle Cloud Marketplace further extends our commitment to the Oracle community and enables customers to easily reap the benefits of Glowing.io platform. We are excited in our combined abilities leveraging the power of the Oracle Cloud to help achieve our clients’ business goals.”

“The cloud represents a huge opportunity for our partner community,” said David Hicks, vice-president, Worldwide ISV Cloud Business Development, Oracle. “Glowing’s commitment to innovation with the Oracle Cloud and quality execution to help our mutual customers receive cloud-enabled COMPANY’S PRODUCT FUNCTIONAL CATEGORY solutions ready to meet critical business needs.”

 

About Glowing, Inc.

Glowing, Inc. is the leading US-based software company that specializes in AI-enhanced omnichannel guest messaging and engagement solutions. For some of the world’s leading brands in hospitality and other verticals, Glowing provides an intelligent and unified platform to overcome the complexity of in-the-moment messaging and enhance the guest experience–helping them win guest satisfaction and loyalty.

 

For more information, please visit www.glowing.io.

 

About Oracle PartnerNetwork

Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) is Oracle’s partner program designed to enable partners to accelerate the transition to cloud and drive superior customer business outcomes. The OPN program allows partners to engage with Oracle through track(s) aligned to how they go to market: Cloud Build for partners that provide products or services built on or integrated with Oracle Cloud; Cloud Sell for partners that resell Oracle Cloud technology; Cloud Service for partners that implement, deploy and manage Oracle Cloud Services; and License & Hardware for partners that build, service or sell Oracle software licenses or hardware products. Customers can expedite their business objectives with OPN partners who have achieved Expertise in a product family or cloud service.  To learn more visit: http://www.oracle.com/partnernetwork

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For more information:

Ribhu Chawla

Glowing.io

+1 650.389.9810

ribhuchawla@glowing.io

 

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