The Role of ICT in the Hotel and Tourism Industry (Research Proposal Sample)

The Role of ICT in the Hotel and Tourism Industry
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Table of Contents
TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u 1.0 Abstract. PAGEREF _Toc409097501 \h 3
2.0 Introduction. PAGEREF _Toc409097502 \h 3
2.1 About Information Communication Technology [ICT]. PAGEREF _Toc409097503 \h 3
2.2 How ICT has changed the Hotel and Catering Industry.4
2.2.1 Destination reviews.4
2.2.2 Making online bookings.5
2.2.3 Managing communications with staff and customers6
2.3 How does the Research Relates to Existing Literature?7
3.0 Research Objectives8
4.0 Methods and Access9
4.1 Research Philosophy.9
4.2 Research Strategy.9
4.3 Population and sampling.10
4.4 Data Collection Methods.10
4.4.1 Survey.10
4.4.2 Interviews.10
4.5 Analysis of Results.11
4.6 Credibility of the Research.11
4.7 Access.11
5.0 Research Ethics11
5.1 Confidentiality and Anonymity.11
6.0 Resources12
7.0 References13
1.0 ABSTRACT
The rise of information and communication technology has opened a whole new platform. Smartphones and apps are the tools currently used by businesses to reach out to both existing and new clients. In the hotel and tourism industry, the ICT has provided myriad opportunities for growth. In the past, people had to que in Airports to schedule flights, to make bookings, and to check in. The tourism industry was also faced with overlapping challenges. It hard to rely on hired agents who directed visitors, tourists, and travelers to respective destinations. Currently the ICT infrastructure is used for distinct purposes such as giving destination reviews and specifications, handling online bookings, and managing communication with the staff and customers. The ICT h into various forms; websites, smart gadgets, computers and the internet. This integration has enabled businesses in the tourism industry to boost operations and to manage direct interactions with potential customers. This research paper looks at the impact of ICT in the tourism industry under three primary segments; introduction, literature review, and methodology. The introduction section covers the overall implications of ICT on the tourism industry, the literature review examines how scholars and experts view the impact of ICT, and the methodology examines the framework and the direction the research will take in discussing the impacts of ICT.
2.0 ABOUT INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
The rise of ICT can be linked to the emergence of the internet that allowed people from all over the globe to share on a single platform. The internet, commonly underscored by the World Wide Web, made it possible for devices to be synched and led to the emergence of popular platforms; websites, emails, and social media networking sites. Currently there are other special platforms including Skype, Facetime, and real-time streaming all of which expand the use and the application of ICT (World Youth Report, 2003). The integration of all these platforms has created a unique culture [the internet culture] that is commonly shared by young people. However, a special application of ICT has been in businesses. The fact that the internet is currently used by 88% of the world’s populace means that enterprises can access clients online, manage interactions with customers - and give details about their services, products, and goods. Information communication technology also works at the interest of businesses because of both hardware and software components (World Youth Report, 2003). Nowadays virtually every business has a computer network, some have developed websites, blogs, and e-commerce platforms. Many also have cloud spaces for the storage of critical information and data that is central to day-to-day operation. The information communication technology presents itself as an important platform for managing operations, building relationships, overseeing processes and managing critical interactions within and across the business. In the hotel and tourism industry, above developments have allowed enterprises to advertise respective destinations to global visitors. This is achieved through ads, through reviews, and related models. The tourism and hotel industry has, for the first time, been able to examine the varied offerings by their competitors (IRMA and Khosrow-Pour, 2003). This way, it is possible to make developments that are well-suited to travelers, tourists, and explorers. The next section of this research looks at three primary applications of ICT; destination reviews, making online bookings, and managing operations in tourism and hotel settings.
2.1 Destination Reviews
Perhaps the greatest tool of communication for any hotel or tourism enterprise is its web presence. The development of any hotel relies on its ability to take pictures, to moderate these images, and to address the overall view of the business to potential customers. Destination reviews are articles, publications or even reports that give a general overview of the travel destination. These reviews address; the sites to be visited, the activities that can be undertaken, respective rates and prices, accommodation facilities, transport networks, foods and delicacies. Destination reviews have gone ahead to offer travel coupons on regular visitors since hotels may be willing to give offerings to customers such as travelers, tourists, and explorers. It is important to note that destination reviews are the backbone. They paint the picture of a given destination and some may allow people to scrutinize the information about this specific site. A platform like m.trip.com enable clients, customers, and visitors to share experiences of their travels through apps (Tauten and Solomon, 2013). Tourists can share videos, tutorials, and trip experiences in twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Destination reviews therefore remain instrumental for any hotel [or tourism enterprise] that is willing to advocate specific tour offerings to clients located thousands of miles. For example, a travel destination in Malindi [Mombasa, Kenya] or one in Switzerland, may post customer reviews and their stay in this specific locations. When a traveler in Canada, United States or even Germany reads these reviews, they can make an informed judgement about the destination. Alternatively they can scrutinize the sites and determine how relevant the destinations are to individuals travel needs.
2.2 Online Bookings
Decades ago, travelers had to contact respective agents for travel bookings. Agents would charge booking fees and travelers could only access travel information via mail or conventional means of communication. Bookings were handled manually. Destination agents could reach out via phones, make direct inquiries, record them down, and forward the information to the hotel or tourism centers. The emergence of the internet and ICT resources now makes it possible for clients to make online bookings, to make changes and adjustments, and to review set rates (Thomas, 2013). In online bookings, clients record information about their visit, period of stay, preferred sites, intended budgets, and other information. Tourism destinations allow travelers to make booking arrangements and to download tickets right from their desktops. A visitor located in Massachusetts can print an original travel ticket for a destination in Zanzibar. The destination knows about the booking and makes phone calls to confirm from the client and to make other important inquiries. It is important therefore to note that ICT infrastructure has streamlined relationships and interactions between enterprises and intended customers. Direct bookings provide the convenience for securing travels, it cuts costs when destinations lower charges, and gives the much-needed certain that a business is waiting for a client. This research therefore believes the impact of ICT in the tourism industry cannot be undermined. Online bookings present a central aspect of any tourism or hotel business, and the fact that it has been necessitated by ICT makes it a sermon every travel destination would like to hear.
2.3 Managing Communication and Operations
Consider a five- hotel with a thousand staff located in different locations. Some of these enterprises are located in high-demand touristic areas like Dubai, Switzerland, Mombasa, Caribbean, and Turkey. During off-seasons, the staff disperses and the hotel has to make contact when the high season approaches. The ICT platform enable hotels to post notifications on the official website. These notifications come in various forms; return notices, salary adjustments, organisation values, and operational schedules. Most importantly for ICT is the ability to store data for employees regarding their qualifications, experiences, training, and academic pre-requisites. This way enterprises are able to identify employees to lay-off and the personnel to retain. The gradual development of ICT also assists enterprises to design work schedules, operational reports, and tour guides through software applications. Software programs have further extended their use; they can be applied to bill customers, to keep track of staff information, to disburse salaries and allowances, and to make communications with stakeholders. Sources support that highly digitized hotels are able to cut on operational costs and to enhance revenues and profits (Chabbra, 2013). A majority of tourism businesses also report easier working schedules and faster communication; electronic mail, facetime, Skype, and related applications. This research therefore champions that hotels could be critically incapacitated without the existence of ICT resources which segments in various tenets; e-mail, software, application programs, apps, online portals. The integration of ICT resources makes it possible to contact customers, to manage direct relationships, and to enhance interactions with the staff and employees.
3.0 LI...