Mobile Technology Floods Hotel Industry in Post-PC World

It’s not enough to just say anymore that your hotel needs to keep up on the latest technology to compete. Things have moved beyond that. We live in a post-PC world and those who don’t realize this will be behind the eight-ball when it comes to providing the best guest experience. Boston East India Hotels has made this an absolute priority at our hotels: The Daniel and The Stonehedge Inn & Spa.

First, it is important to understand just what it means to live in a post-PC world. Basically, we are talking about the decline in personal computers in favor of the growing variety of devices out there that can handle similar tasks — smartphones and tablet computers in particular. This has led to a massive focus on mobility and connectivity and increased the importance of cloud-based services and consumerization of the user experience.

The hotel industry is not alone in feeling the change. Almost every industry is going through a re-invention of how enterprise technology is used, how business processes are deployed and how customers are engaged.

Restaurants have been re-seasoned by tablet point-of-sale systems and OpenTable. The transportation industry has been rerouted by train apps and the success of Uber. The retail sector has been restocked by game-changers such as iBeacon. The list goes on.

At Boston East India Hotels, we recognize the importance of social media and understand the need to make sure that the requisite attention is paid to this realm in our hotel marketing strategy, but we also know that the evolution of technology-on-the-go calls for innovative thinking.

As such, let’s take a look at a few important mobile trends for the 2015.

First, hotels cannot afford to be slow to react to website design and content in regards to how it shifts to fit mobile devices of all makes and models.

Second, as mobile sites grow to handle better images and video, improving the user experience, hotels must keep up with the content that fits guests’ needs and online behavior.

Third, if third-party booking engines hope to continue to have a role in the hotel sector they must improve the unsatisfactory transition from mobile site content to booking.

Fourth, customer relationship management systems need to be tied in with mobile device activity for a more accurate guest profile.

Lastly, better analytics are needed to track mobile sessions from individuals across desktop, mobile and offline access points.

Hotel companies that struggle to adapt to growing mobile technology demands either suffer from some sort of denial of its importance altogether or overlook the importance of the last critical mobile trend listed in particular. Namely, that a mobile strategy without analytics to capture and reveal patterns does not allow hoteliers to understand what their guests want ahead of time.

Today, 90 percent of travel bookings are done online — this is up from 58 percent just four years ago! In addition, other studies have shown that travelers complete about 45 percent of their searches for hotels on mobile devices. And critically, studies have also shown that 75 percent of leisure travelers and 87 percent of business travelers switch between devices during the planning and booking process.

If you are in the hotel business these numbers had better not be a surprise to you. And if they are — check your pulse because you might already be dead.

Talking Travel Trends: The Holiday Season set for Record Numbers

 

With travel costs dropping, this holiday season is expected to be a landmark one for travel. AAA projects that 98.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, a four percent hike over last year. This represents the biggest year-on-year jump in travel and predicts the most travelers for a holiday period since the travel giant started keeping track of such things, all the way back to 2001.

While it is nothing new for travelers to use the holidays as a time to visit family and, this year, a number of factors have industry insiders forecasting big numbers. Notably:

• Low gas prices are triggering more travel with the national average price of gasoline at the lowest level in five years and 69 cents lower than last year.
• The rise in the average Americans’ disposable income 3.5 percent over last year’s levels is prompting more travel.
• Low-cost airlines are driving down prices, with the average discounted round-trip airfares across 40 top domestic routes expected to fall seven percent this year, to $186.

“’Tis the season for holiday travel, and this year more Americans will join with friends and family to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year than ever before,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA president and chief operating officer. “While the economy continues to improve at an uneven pace, it seems more Americans are looking forward with increasing consumer confidence, rather than looking back at the recession. This is helping to drive expected travel volumes to the highest level we have seen for the year-end holidays.”

“Lower gas prices are filling stockings with a little more cash to spend on travel this year as travelers are expected to pay the lowest prices since 2009,” added Doney. “Lower prices are increasing disposable income and enabling families to set aside money for travel this year.”

This year the holiday calendar is also giving travel rates a boost, with both Christmas Day and New Year’s landing on a Thursday, creating an extra-long weekend for many workers. It also creates a holiday travel season that is one day longer than last year’s and the longest since 2008, which gives travelers more options for departures and return trips.

The added flexibility could be a key factor in the choice for many to travel.

TripCase reports that holiday travel trends this holiday season are also surprisingly headed south, with its flight arrival data showing that that the U.S. airports with the highest holiday change of pace actually are in warm weather climates. Hawaii (Kahului, Keohole and Honolulu), Florida (Palm Beach) and California (Palm Springs) all have a greater share of holiday traffic than off-season traffic this year.  JFK International airport, in New York City, is the only one of the top 10 airports in a typically cold weather climate, according to percent of annual traffic occurring during the holidays.

American Express released two different travel lists — one for Christmas and one for New Year’s — that back up TripCase’s assertions.

The Christmas list found that travelers are traveling to mostly warm destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Kahului and Los Angeles. Florida has five destinations in the top-10 and only New York and Denver are in cold weather climes.

For New Year’s, Fort Lauderdale is at the top with Orlando and Kahului, following. Other destinations include: Salt Lake City, Miami, Los Angeles and Denver.

Hospitality executives are sure going to be happy with the overall numbers for holiday travel:

• Holiday travel is expected to total 98.6 million, an increase of four percent from the 94.8 million who traveled last year.
• Nearly 91 percent of all travelers (89.5 million) will celebrate the holidays with a road trip, an increase of 4.2 percent from 2013.
• Air travel is forecast to grow one percent from 2013, with 5.7 million travelers taking to the skies.

Better still for industry business, AAA is predicting that most hotels are increasing prices and could be on track for record revenue for the holiday season.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase four percent from one year ago with travelers spending an average of $143 per night compared to $138 last year. The average hotel rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has risen five percent with an average cost of $108 per night.

The holidays are always the gift-giving time of year, but the booming travel predications are giving hospitality companies the best gift of all — the most travel business in years.

Thanksgiving Travel Trends and a New Tradition at The Daniel

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family, friends and all those around you who make life better and fill up your days with the pleasure of their acquaintance. Nothing beats that decadent Thanksgiving dinner spread filled with both the traditional fare that harkens back to this country’s early days and also family favorites that have made the holiday meal special over the years.

While thoughts of Thanksgiving past may conjure up warm memories of a crowded table at grandparents’ house, the increasing trend now is for Thanksgiving dinner out or for families to take the holiday on the road for an extra-long weekend vacation. AAA Travel is predicting that 46.3 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving holiday — the most since 2007.

At Boston East India Hotels, we are ever aware of the changing desires of our guests and customers. But we also wanted to jump at the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family and friends that fill up our days and for whom we are very grateful. That is why our Maine property The Daniel is offering a Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 27 at Coast Bar + Bistro. 

Our culinary experts are in the holiday mood and they created a very special menu for a family feast as good as grandmother used to make it, but updated to bring a special feel to Thanksgiving dinner this year!

Coast Bar + Bistro has set up a fixed-price menu for $36 per person, $18 for children 10 and under, and kids under 3 eat for free. More details HERE.

Here’s what Coast Bar + Bistro can offer you for Thanksgiving eats — a mouthwatering experience that will allow you to enjoy the conversation and company of family and friends, but let your mouth savor same seriously good food, prepared 100 percent in the spirit of the holiday.

First dig in to some Butternut Apple Bisque with Nutmeg Crème Fraiche or Salad of Seasonal Greens, Roasted Beets, Herbed Goat Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette.

Then loosen up those chops for three tremendous options.

Go for the traditional Thanksgiving bird with a Cider Brined Roast Turkey with Cranberry Apple Stuffing, Candied Carrots, Sautéed Green Beans, Home-style Gravy and Cranberry Compote.

Feeling in a pork mood? Try Maple Mustard Glazed Ham with Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Or finally, get the flavor of fall in a wonderful pasta package with Pumpkin and Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Cream Sauce.

And don’t forget to make some room at the end to top off the meal with a dessert of Traditional Pumpkin Pie or Dark Chocolate Layer Cake.

In honor of Thanksgiving, Boston East India Hotels has compiled a list of some of the most popular Thanksgiving trends over the last several decades:

• In 2013, led by advice from food gurus such as Martha Stewart and magazines such as Bon Appetit and Saveur, bruleed pumpkin pies were all the rage.
• In 2012, the kale craze pushed many traditional greens off the plate, with creamed kale being the most popular dish served.
• Turkey glazes dominated in 2010, with everything from molasses, pomegranate, maple, cider, soy sauce and even malt beer dousing everyone’s favorite holiday bird.
• Sudden reports of the dangers of undercooked stuffing inside turkeys around Thanksgiving in 2006 had cooks across America taking the stuffing out of the bird and going with pan-roasted dressing.
• Thanksgiving 2005 was the year that the pig tried to take over and as a result bacon-draped turkey was popular, with recipes such as maple-roasted turkey with smoked bacon.
• The year 2002 has the distinction of owning the most outrageous Thanksgiving trend in the last 20 years with the “turducken,” a boneless monstrosity composed of a chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey.
• Riding a late 1990s’ wave, balsamic vinegar took over 2001 Thanksgiving, with the dark liquid a popular glaze for everything on the table from carrots to sweet potatoes to squash to the turkey, itself.
• Right before the turn of the century the hip Thanksgiving trends might have gone a little too far. The result — truffle mashed potatoes, which rendered a timeless classic unrecognizable with copious truffle oil.
• In the mid-1990s, deep-fried turkey was all the rage, with the Food Network pushing the high-fat trend out across America.
• In 1995, the most recent Thanksgiving trends hit kicked off with an interesting note — faux turkey — as Tofurky, a vegan rendition of a roast turkey, stuffing included, was devised by an Oregon company.

We hope you will make your 2014 Thanksgiving trend to eat with us at Coast Bar + Bistro!

The Daniel at the Heart of Maine's Foliage Season

Camden Harbor, Maine (Photo by Cornexo)

Fall in New England is famous for many things, but above all else, is the yearly pilgrimage of the “leaf peepers” as they are known by some. It is the time of year when the color and beauty of New England foliage draws travelers from all over to see nature in its most vibrant state.

Mid-Coast Maine has its fair share of options to see colorful foliage and at our hotel The Daniel the staff is more than happy to help any fall enthusiasts find their way to visions of New England at its fall finest.

The foliage traditionally peaks around mid-October in the Mid-Coast region so you still have time to plan that perfect trip.

Maine’s state parks are some of the best places to target for leaf peeping.

Camden Hills State Park provides spectacular views of fall foliage and travelers can do so from the road to the top Mt. Battie, as well as from hiking trails on Mt. Megunticook and Bald Rock Mountain. 

The Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land in Hancock County near Sullivan and Franklin offers ambitious foliage enthusiasts hiking trails up Schoodic Mountain and Black Mountain that provide vistas on surrounding woodland, lakes and Acadia National Park across Frenchman's Bay.

For most, foliage viewing is traditionally an activity on the road and viewed through the auto window and Mid-Coast Maine has no shortage of options for a scenic foliage highway.

The Daniel recommends:

• Tourism Driving Tour: Windjammers & Water Views
  Start in Brunswick and head north along the coast to Camden, then inland to Unity and south through Union and Damariscotta State Park.
• Tourism Driving Tour: Acadia Harbors & Heights
  Begins in Bangor and then travel along the coast from Acadia National Park south, with many scenic lighthouse, water and wildlife viewing opportunities.
• Million Dollar View (Route 1)
  This stretch of U. S. Route 1 offers travelers unsurpassed views of the Chiputneticook chain of lakes including East Grand, Brackett and Deering.
• The Bold Coast Scenic Byway
  The 125-miles long Bold Coast route extends from the coastal fishing community of Milbridge eastward along the coast to Lubec, the easternmost town in the United States, and then scoops around Cobscook Bay to Eastport.
• Blackwoods Byway
  The towns of Cherryfield and Franklin, which serve as gateways to this byway, offer many good examples of 18^th century and 19^th century architecture, as well as the chance to experience rural small town life. 
• Schoodic National Scenic Byway
  This route passes through the only mainland section of Acadia National Park and beautiful Schoodic Point.
• Acadia Byway All-American Road
  Following Route 3, this byway follows Route 3 into Bar Harbor, and then follows the park loop road thereafter.

If leaves aren’t your thing there are plenty of other things to do as well.

The Coast Bar +Bistro has a killer lineup of music throughout October.

On Oct. 3 is James Good Eye offering up a unique blend of alternative and rock, inspired by Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Emmylou Harris, among others.

On Oct. 9, is Aaron Nadeau, a rising young artists from Maine who combines masterful guitar with his own blend of poetic lyrics.

On Oct., 10 is Andrew Yankowsky, a singer/songwriter from Portland, Maine, who specializes in a unique vocal style and a mix of folk, rock, reggae and jam music.

What we do expect at The Daniel is a busy fall season and the numbers back us up.

According to a recent consumer survey by AAA, the fall is a popular time to travel and that — depending on the region — as many as three of four people plan to take at least one, overnight trip of more than 50 miles in the next three months. AAA has also reported that as many as 45 percent of the public reports they prefer “off-season” based on the potential for savings versus peak travel periods.

Mark Jenkins, a spokesman for AAA, said that people like to travel in the fall because they can find great deals, a lot of this stemming to school being back in session, allowing for hotels and other attractions not being as crowded and lower rates. He added that fall travel prices can be at some of the lowest rates you can find all year.

New research from Enterprise Rent-A-Car suggests that brief road trips and long weekends — of which the fall is a popular time for — may actually be the most desired vacations of all, even more than the traditional vacation of summer weeks at the beach. Enterprise found that two-thirds of Americans prefer to take a one-day or weekend-road trip as opposed to the one-third who prefer to take a least a week-long trip.

Whatever your fancy, Boston East India Hotels and The Daniel are ready to be the center of your fall getaway!

The Hotel Business Center Resurrected for the Modern Traveler

Gone are the days of large hotel business centers with rows of computers and printers in a windowless room tucked somewhere on the third floor or in the basement. Today’s travelers are tech savvy and no longer need to hole up for hours in a dank cave to get work done, however, they still need some of the essentials a business center offers. That is why, at Boston East India Hotels property The Daniel, the business center was brought out of the dark and into the lobby, with a large window looking outside.

With natural light streaming in, the business center features simple modern décor, with a sleek dark desktop and a minimalist approach with just two computers and three workstations.

The business center is open 24/7 and offers computer access and free printing, as well as, a great location for those that need to work and want a quiet place to do so, but don’t want to be stuck in an interior room hidden away from civilization. Plus, it is adjacent to the 24-hour guest pantry. Late night hot pocket, anyone?

Our approach to the new business center at The Daniel is in line with the demand from today’s travelers.

There has been widespread reporting that the modern traveler prefers a scaled-down business center with two to four work stations, one printer and more immediate access to the lobby and other open spaces for meetings or phone calls. Trends have also shown that guests who use business centers at hotels are now typically getting in and out quickly, and no longer spend hours working there.

Rapid changes in technology have provided travelers with so many tablets, smartphones, travel-friendly laptops and other hi-tech devices that access to a computer in the business center is no longer a necessity just to stay in touch, but the need for a hotel to have a business center remains.

Currently, despite almost universal access to Wi-Fi at hotels, almost 90 percent of hotels still have business centers — though many, like The Daniel, have adapted their business centers to reflect the true needs of travelers.

For example, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has introduced a concept at some properties called “Technology Lounges,” which are adjacent to the lobby and feature wireless access, individual workstations, communal space and a four-paneled video wall.

Sheraton launched its “Link@Sheraton” at some properties for another spin on the technology lounge concept, though with more computers similar to the traditional business center. Sheraton does put its “Link@Sheraton” near the lobby and has included flat screen TVs.

While most hotels are still sticking to some sort of business center concept, there are some that have eliminated the business center all together. These typically choose to go with some sort of ramped up lobby environment that is described as replacing the functions of a business center. These computer-centric lobbies may include recharge stations and wireless access to a printer.

Some other examples of what different brands have done in recent times include:

• Wyndham Hotel Group launched a prototype that moves the business center into the lobby with computers available in open spaces with free Wi-Fi and typical lobby furniture.

• Westin Hotels and Resorts launched a flexible work space concept last year called “Tangent,” which has furniture that can be organized and moved to accommodate meetings and also has technology for videoconferencing.

• Kimpton Hotels has re-adapted old pay-phone banks into small partitioned workstations.

• InterContinental Hotels’ new EVEN hotels will have a “Hot Desk” rather than traditional business center, with two laptops and guests will be able to print wirelessly from the laptops or their own devices.

While approaches vary across the industry, many brands are figuring out what we, at Boston East India Hotels, already know about how the changing needs of today’s travelers. At The Daniel, we have answered our guests’ call for a new-style of business center that gives them all that they desire to keep up with work and does so in a comfortable environment that is central to the lobby hub of a hotel, with the most up-to-date technology products and services. Let’s hope work doesn’t take up all your travel time, but when it is necessary we have you covered!

Taking the Clock Radio to a Whole New Level with the Sangean WR-22

Just about every day you can check out a story or blog post on the newest in hotel technology trends. Many of these — property management systems, hotel management software, booking engines and the like — have significant back-end impact on guests. At Boston East India Hotels we are as tech savvy as any and use technology to make our hotels better and run more efficiently. But we also love to use new technology that is just flat out cool and can add to look and feel of the guest experience and make any stay even better.

One such cool technology is the Sangean WR-22WL Bluetooth/USB Table-Top Digital Tuning Receiver that we have in our guest rooms at The Daniel.

This is not your father’s clock radio!

The latest evolution of a product that changed the perception of home audio, the Sangean WR-22 has been praised for its detailed sound and for exceptional quality for a system of its size, just a mere 9.4 inches wide by 7.7 inches deep by 4.4 inches high.

What all The Daniel guests expect in a bedside clock/radio is handled with ease by the Sangean WR-22, but the device is so much more.

The Bluetooth-enable Sangean WR-22 allows users to listen to their favorite music wirelessly and simply from smartphones, iPods, tablets and PCs. No cables, no confusion and no frustration.

There is also a 3.5mm auxiliary input for other portable music players if desired, as well as a USB port for playing MP3/WMA files from a USB drive.

No matter how or where you store your music, the Sangean WR-22 can handle it and pump it back out through its tech-marvel, 3-inch 7W full range speaker that contains an enlarged magnet. It also has a ported bass tube specifically designed for dynamic bass compensation for richer bass and loudness compensation that gives better bass response characteristics, and helps the device deliver sound beyond its size. Music-heads will also love the rotary bass, treble and balance controls that can be used to further adjust the sound to specific liking.

To top it all off, the Sangean WR-22 is a sleek and modern upgrade on the traditional hotel bedside companion, with its smooth dark walnut finish, an extra-large, backlit custom LDC display with an adjustable dimmer, and an advanced AM/FM-Radio Data System tuner that displays information such as song titles and artists.

Additional features include snooze, adjustable tuning step, dual alarm timer by radio, buzzer or media so you can wake up to your favorite tunes.

Oh yeah, if you like, the Sangean WR-22 even has a fully functioning remote control, so all that cool technology can be harnessed from anywhere in the room.

Sangean Electronics has been pumping out products in the consumer electronics industry for almost 40 years, so it is no surprise that its Sangean WR-22 has received rave reviews from most major consumer products media outlets. The company is particularly known for its specialty receivers and the Sangean WR-22 is as special as they come.

Sangean’s advanced technology is why so many major brands rely on the company to produce their electronics for them and the reason why its own branded products are so well received.

Also, it is no surprise that users of the Sangean WR-22 say they love the system’s Bluetooth functionality, its ability to work easily with iPhone and iTunes, as well as the great sound from a small device.

At Boston East India Hotels we want to ensure that every guest experience is like no other and when it comes to in-room clock and music needs at The Daniel, the Sangean WR-22 was the only choice.