Michal Christine Escobar
Michal Christine Escobar is Hospitality Technology’s Senior Editor, with a concentration on the hotel industry. She has more than five years of experience as a B2B journalist. She is responsible for the hotel beat at the magazine and often writes about AI, VR, IoT and other emerging technologies affecting hospitality.
BLOG POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR
February 2019
Feb 08
A Digital Facelift: Micro Apps Yield Macro Results
With the advent of home sharing websites and short-term vacation rentals, many hotels and resorts have struggled to grow revenue.
ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR
May 2021
May 12
As Travel Picks Up, Hotels Need to Start Rethinking the Guest Experience
Improve air quality, UV disinfection, and wearable tech could all become standard in a post-COVID world.
May 12
Revenue Management: Look Ahead to Avoid Being Left Behind
Until recently, Big Data was the key element missing, but highly necessary, to complete and perfect the modern revenue management processes, revenue management systems and strategies.
May 12
How Hospitality Companies Can Prepare for a Travel-Friendly Summer
With concerns about potential cancellations and heighted questions about COVID-19 policies and restrictions, brands should consider having an easy channel to change or cancel bookings and provide accessible answers to frequently asked questions about current policies.
May 11
New Hospitality Brand to Focus on Tech
Led by former Holiday Inn CEO Ken Hamlet, Olive Tree Hotels and Resorts is investing substantially in technology.
May 11
Radisson Hotel Group Renews Partnership with SGS
Continues global application of the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol as part of the Group’s ongoing global commitment to cleanliness and safety.
May 11
Hopper Launches 'Stay the Night' Hotel Booking Feature
New feature offers consumers a simple way to book great last-minute rates.
May 10
How Hotels Can Develop an Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Verification System
Should hoteliers decide to implement a vaccination or testing requirement, the key will be developing an adaptable and scalable verification system.
May 10
Life House Arrives at the Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton
New York-based boutique hotel operator Life House Hotels has announced the addition of the Maidstone Hotel and Maidstone Restaurant in East Hampton, New York, to its growing portfolio of award-winning luxury properties across the
May 10
MAC Address Randomization: Is Passpoint the Solution or Just Part of It?
While both Passpoint and DPSK are valid solutions to some of the issues facing the hospitality industry, there are also many scenarios that they do not cover, and they are not the best fit for all brands.
May 10
Resorts World Las Vegas Announces Partnership With Cryptocurrency Exchange Gemini
This partnership aims to make Resorts World Las Vegas one of the most crypto-friendly resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.
May 07
Why Video and TV Should be Top of Mind for Hotel Marketers in 2021
As brands strategize, budget, and plan for the long-awaited travel season, don't forget to take into account audience behavior and analytics for a targeted multiscreen plan of execution.
May 06
Three Ways to Optimize Your Mobile F&B Implementation
From allowing guests to save their credit card on file for future use while also incorporating “autofill” capabilities for common information, optimizing your hotel's F&B platform will make a huge difference to guests.
May 06
Making the Case for Smart, Sustainable Hotels
Guests are looking for hotels that are people-centric by offering technologies that advance sustainability, safety.
May 05
Caesars Entertainment Posts Encouraging Occupancy, Revenue Numbers
Weekends in Las Vegas are sold out for the foreseeable future.
May 05
Open Architectures Can Help Hotels Rebound After Pandemic
Migrating operations to the cloud and tapping into available integrations via an open architecture will help to solve interoperability challenges, while also bringing down costs and speeding time to market.
May 04
How Digital Forms Can Help You Prepare for an Influx of Guests
From online surveys to digital cleaning lists, online forms can help allay guest fears while ensuring their health and safety.
May 04
Integrations are Key to an Innovative Group Sales Strategy
Just as your revenue system would not function properly without a tight integration to your PMS, neither will your sales and catering system.
May 03
9 Ways AI-Powered Tools Can Help Drive a Travel Revival
From customer service to fraud prevention, AI will help put travelers at ease.
May 03
A Timely Step by Google to Accelerate Recovery for Hospitality
The search engine has added an organic list that allows travel suppliers more visibility for free with more extensive booking options, thus theoretically leveling the playing field for all suppliers.
April 2021
Apr 30
Increase in Travel Leads to Need for Increased Safety Technology
With 85% of guests wanting hotels to reduce direct contact, hotels should consider technology investments.
Apr 30
Generate New Revenue in the Pandemic Economy: Guest Wi-Fi Monetization Strategies
Today, most hotels monetize their own networks by using them to drive bookings and loyalty programs, but the hotel industry can do a better job of delivering users to their destination with less friction and frustration.
Apr 28
Tao Group Hospitality Combines with Hakkasan Group
The newly combined company operates 61 entertainment dining and nightlife venues in 22 markets across five continents.
Apr 28
Navigating the Food Supply Chain: Common Issues and Technology’s Role
Restaurants experience everyday issues within the food supply chain, including evolving consumer demands, product availability and reliable transportation.
Apr 27
4 Benefits of Casting for Extended-Stay Hotels
Casting is a secure, low-cost option that gives guests what they want and when they want it.
Apr 27
When It Comes to Employee Safety, ‘Don’t Wait’ to React
Hotels are opening and travelers are returning; Hotels must equip staff with employee safety devices to avoid potential safety risks.
Apr 26
Hoteliers: Do You Know What Motivates Your Guests to Travel?
While travel brands should absolutely personalize their messaging based on insights, marketers must first understand travelers’ mindsets, not just preferences.
Apr 26
Restaurants: Ditch Third-Party Marketplaces for Direct-to-Consumer Solutions
Direct online ordering and delivery provides both the financial relief restaurants need, along with full access to their own customers’ data and relationships.
Apr 26
The Age of DVLED: How Bigger, Brighter, Bolder Displays Are Changing the Hospitality Landscape
One of the biggest advantages of DVLED technology is the ability to customize the design to fit nearly any specific need, resulting in virtually unlimited size and viewing distance.
Apr 23
Hotel Marketers: Embrace the Shift to First-Party Data
As the shift to first-party data evolves, hospitality companies still have time to properly prepare their marketing strategies by adjusting their expectations, setting new KPIs and implementing privacy-first data compliant tactics.
Apr 22
Why Hotel Receptionists Should be Paid $500k a Year
Front desk staff have the unique opportunity and ability to turn guests into high-profit loyal customers; don’t waste their time and talent on data entry that is easily automated.
Apr 21
IHG Hotels & Resorts Announces Digital Check-in is Available Across U.S. & Canada
Built on the cloud-based IHG Concerto platform, digital check-in provides a safe, streamlined experience as guests return to travel; and supports IHG’s Stay with Confidence program.
Apr 21
SURVEY: Half of Americans are Likely to Take at Least One Summer Vacation in 2021
Vacationers plan to spend big with 43% saying they'll spend more than $1,000 and 20% saying they’ll spend more than $2,000.
Apr 20
Addressing MAC Randomization: The Case for Passpoint in Hospitality
MAC authentication via captive portal has serious security shortcomings and makes onboarding IoT guest devices cumbersome at best; MAC randomization can disrupt the user experience and hamper revenue opportunities for the hotel.
Apr 19
Do Not Disturb: Navigating Guest Privacy Around Vaccination Status
Before they spend a night on property, should guests be made to prove they are vaccinated or that they have tested negative for COVID-19?
Apr 16
CASE STUDY: Marriott Gaylord Opryland Upgrades Video for Enhanced Risk Management, Security, Efficiency
Installation of 1,500 cameras, some in 4k, allows resort to quickly mitigate false claims and protect against liability from other potential lawsuits.
Apr 16
3 Tech Solutions for a New Era of Hospitality
App-based services providing telehealth, virtual queuing, and a virtual front desk are three options which should be at the forefront of hotels’ minds moving forward.
Apr 15
How Hotels Are Diversifying Their Offerings to Generate Revenue During COVID
Hotels have gotten creative during the last year in repurposing and selling their guestrooms and event spaces.
Apr 14
Marriott Bonvoy and Uber Announce Partnership
Hotel loyalty members can earn points towards free nights at both it hotels and home rentals when ordering food delivery on Uber Eats and requesting select Uber rides
Apr 13
How Digitally Enabling Your Frontline Employees Has Become a Necessity
Mission Ridge Ski and Board Resort shares how it kept its teams communicating during COVID-19 and how it is helping them to prepare for reopening in the upcoming season with minimal employee turnover.
Apr 13
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection Welcomes Sage Hospitality Group as New Founding Member
Sage is joining a group of six other founding members: like-minded hotel owners and operators committed to working in cooperative competition to lift the independent hotel industry and provide incomparable experiences for travelers.
Apr 13
RH-ISAC Announces New eCommerce Campaign for Retail, Hospitality, and Travel Sector
Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, PerimeterX, SecurityScorecard, Tala Security, and The Media Trust join forces with the RH-ISAC to address eCommerce concerns within retail, hospitality, and travel industry.
Apr 12
Five Tips for Surviving Unsteady Occupancies
From tracking the right metrics to clustering operations, these core principles will help hoteliers navigate the current unpredictable market.
Apr 09
Z-Wave: Hospitality’s Alternative to WiFi for IoT Networks
Connected devices can crowd a hotel’s Wi-Fi frequency, causing bandwidth, interference, and reliability problems. Z-Wave works differently by operating in an entirely different frequency band.
Apr 08
Expedia Group Launches COVID-19 Advisor Tool to Track Global Travel Restrictions and to Help Restore Confidence In Travel
Expedia, Hotels.com, ebookers, Orbitz, Travelocity, Vrbo, and Wotif adopt the latest technology to support travel partners and ensure a frictionless experience for travelers.
Apr 08
Carnival's MedallionNet Redefines Remote Working
Every Princess cruise ship will feature land-like connectivity making remote working, distance learning and more available to all guests. With an access point in every stateroom, as well as all public areas, guests can move freely around the ship as they work without any frustrating signal drops.
Apr 07
Why Investors are Betting on Hospitality Tech
After being turned on its head, it's clear that the hospitality industry will never be the same. However, this disruption has created the perfect conditions for innovation and new companies to emerge, and investors are paying close attention.
Apr 06
A Look Back at the Digitalization of Hotel Management
Executives from Charlestowne Hotels discuss how 40 years of technology advancements have revolutionized the way hotels are run.
Apr 05
How One SaaS Company is Leading the Industry to Contactless, Guest-Centric Transactions
Virdee, whose name is a play on VRD, saw an urgent need for solutions to help hotels achieve operational efficiencies and cost savings in a contactless environment. Its growing popularity shows the hospitality industry has taken note.
Apr 05
Aclaimant CEO: We Want to Help Every Business Be an Expert Risk Manager
The hospitality industry is facing one of the most litigious periods in history due to the pandemic. Technology can help hotels and restaurants to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to managing risk.
Apr 05
Six Ways Hospitality Can Make a Post-Pandemic Pivot to Leisure
Hoteliers need to change the way they think about their business—customer experiences, marketing, sales, customized content, loyalty programs, and both the “pre-travel” and “post-travel” phases of the customer journey.
Apr 02
Booking.com Fined $560k for GDPR Violation
Booking.com took 22 days to report a data breach in 2019 when GDPR mandates that data breaches must be reported within 72 hours.
Apr 01
HFTP Forms Global Hospitality PII Management Task Force to Develop Guidance on Secure Data Collection and Use
The growing use of high-tech interfaces and digital applications such as AI and facial recognition in hospitality operations present a need for thorough, hospitality-specific direction on data management, thoughtfully developed by the experts who implement the solutions.
Apr 01
MURTEC 2021: Get a Sneak Peak at Taco Bell’s Tech Roadmap
From edge computing to the connected restaurant, native e-commerce, and IoT, MURTEC attendees get a look behind the scenes at what’s happening now and what’s on the horizon.
Apr 01
Burritos or Bitcoin: Chipotle to Give Away $200k in Free Burritos and Bitcoin to Celebrate National Burrito Day
The brand is teaming up with Stefan Thomas, the tech founder who notoriously lost his Bitcoin login worth $387 million earlier this year, and calling upon fans to enter for a chance to win on April 1.