Abstract
The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the most diversified and biggest industries in the world. Increasing trends of technology and innovation are expected to favorably influence the future scenario of the hospitality and tourism industry. Growing adoption of new technologies in these industries over the past few years has significantly reformed the services provided by the same. One of the major goals of the upgradation of services by the hotels or leisure segments is digitalization of services and personalization of customer experiences. In this chapter, state-of-the-art technologies currently being used in the hospitality and tourism sector have been discussed. This chapter further emphasizes how information technology is proving significant in keeping pace with the competitiveness in terms of services in the hospitality and leisure segments. In addition to all of the above, the chapter also focuses on the trends, impacts, and opportunities of information technology applications in the industry.
TopLiterature Review
Over the past few years, services have had a vital role in the economies of technologically advanced nations (Song, 2009). Introduction of innovative business models and technologies is significantly engaged in transforming the environment. Service innovation is best defined as the “introduction of something innovative into the life, timing, organization, as well as placement of what can be defined as the collective as well as individual processes which relates to the customers” (Cerović, 2019, September).
In today’s scenario, every industry is enduring a technology-driven transformation, including the hospitality industry as well. Innovative technologies have exponentially boosted the growth in market for the tourism and hospitality industries. Innovation is one of the key aspects for hospitality businesses which caters to the changing requirements and necessities, at the same time being relevant according to the time as well.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Leisure: The time when you are not working or doing other duties.
Customers: A person who purchases goods or services from another.
Tourism: The commercial organization and operation of holidays and visits to places of interest.
Innovation: Practical implementation of ideas which result in the introduction of new goods or services or improvement in offering goods or services.
Information Technology: Information technology is the use of computers to create, store, process, exchange, and retrieve all kinds of electronic data and information.
Hospitality: Relationship between a guest and a host, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.