Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 21 | Page 76

INDUSTRY WATCH Infor applications cover the entire hotel software spectrum: revenue management, mobile apps, property management, finance, BI/analytics, human resources (HR), customer relationship management (CRM), point of sale (POS) and maintenance management. It appears that HR Group isn’t the only hotel company discovering intelligent ways to improve its position in the hospitality industry. OTA Insight, the cloud-based data intelligence platform for the hospitality competitor discounting plans via a simple side-by-side comparison dashboard. The Compare Module Functionality will be the latest in a string of recent developments from OTA Insight, including Secondary Compset, Members’ Only Rate Tracking, Mobile Rates Tracking and Multi-Property Rate Management, which have been added to Rate Insight in recent months. “As hoteliers continue to strive to maintain an edge in an increasingly competitive landscape, it’s important for OTA Insight to continue to innovate and deliver advancements that support hoteliers,” said OTA Insight’s Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Gino Engels. “With our latest development, hoteliers can gain quicker, more meaningful insight into their competitors’ discounting strategies across different rate and room types, helping them refine their pricing and stay ahead of the game.” W London – Leicester Square has also announced its IT transformation in order to provide the ultimate guest experience. OTA Insight’s Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Gino Engels industry, has announced the launch of an industry-first enhancement to its Rate Insight tool, the company’s market- leading rate intelligence solution for global hotel chains, local brands, management companies and ownership groups. The company’s new Comparison Module Functionality is a rate-type comparison feature that will remove the need for timely report generation and analysis and allow hoteliers to easily understand and evaluate competitors’ discounting strategies at the click of a button. The Hotel has unveiled a multi-million-pound transformation of all of its 192 guest rooms and suites. As part of the W brand’s mission to fuel its guests’ lust for life, the hotel’s renovation shatters the traditional concept of luxury through its provocative new look paired with innovative in-room technology to give guests full control of their stay. “W Hotels has consistently been at the forefront of innovation – reinventing and rewriting the rules of hospitality wherever the W sign lands,” said Jenni Benzaquen, Vice President of Luxury Brands – Europe, Marriott International. “The transformation of W London – Leicester Square merges the latest technologies in hospitality and the music industry with boundary-breaking design, offering our guests the ultimate experience in-room, in our newly renovated public spaces, as well as connecting them with what’s new/next in this dynamic city.” The hotel is the first in the UK to embrace the full DigiValet technology – one of the most advanced tablet-based systems in the industry, which allows each guest to be in control of their stay right from check- in. Upon entry, music and lighting greet the guest to offer a truly immersive and memorable stay. All settings are adjustable and customisable to guest preference. A user-friendly tablet controls the in- room temperature, lighting and media, including personal streaming services at the touch of a button, while also showcasing a taste of the music being made and played across London. The hotel is therefore utilising technological advancements to ensure guests have the most innovative and up to date experience which is tailored to their needs as a result of technology. n As a market-first feature, this latest development will enable hoteliers to analyse different rate variations, including length-of-stay, public vs. member rates, mobile vs. desktop rates, meal plans, best flex vs. lowest rates, number of guests and much more, and extract detailed 76 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com