In a recent article in Hotel Business, Klaus Kohlmayr — hospitality industry evangelist and thought leader, identified Knowland as one of the five top technology tools hotels need to accelerate recovery. As travel returns and hotels scramble to staff up to support the demand, technology can help. He said, “Now is the time to embrace the technology that will help fill this void. Hospitality will always be a people-first industry—on both sides of the front desk—but advancements in technology have enabled savvy hoteliers to do more with less while still maintaining both guest and staff satisfaction.”
The key question now is what technology will have the greatest impact on your recovery? Below is a excerpt from the article on how Knowland helps enhance hotel sales teams, rebuild sales pipeline and increase hotel profitability.
To read the full article on top tech solutions to help in recovery, go to Hotel Business.
Excerpt from Hotel Business.
Are salespeople still manning the front desk?
Meanwhile, hotels that haven’t turned to contactless check-in are likely still adjusting their staffing strategy. The reality is that in-person meetings and events (M&E) are returning faster than expected. With smaller staffs and shorter booking windows, sales personnel may still be manning the front desk of a hotel. For hotels that rely on group business as a key driver to profitability, it is time to readjust that strategy and ensure that the sales pipeline is recovering.
Staying ahead of demand by formulating a strategy to find and win group business through deep market and account intelligence will be a high value skill for hoteliers in the coming year. Knowland is a leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on M&E for the hospitality industry. With the industry’s largest historical database of actualized events, the company is poised to help hoteliers sell group bookings smarter and maximize revenue—especially in today’s environment.
It takes more than luck to bring in the right potential group business; it requires strategy and insight to focus limited resources on the business with the best fit. Moreover, it takes an investment not only in the right people, but the right technologies to ensure they are spending their time efficiently. In the past, RFPs were a key driver to fill the group business pipeline. Today, the market has shifted to prioritize different sources and will likely stay that way for some time.
When considering retooling the sales team, it will be paramount to take a hunter-style approach to sales. It will also require smaller teams have access to tools that increase the sales pipeline and boost the probability by helping them close new business.
If your hotel wants to leverage the top tools for recovery, schedule time with a Knowland sales expert.