Where Do You Want to Be?

This issue is all about vision. 

No, we are not trying to predict the future. We’re no more in possession of a crystal ball than you are. We are attempting to identify industry trends that are moving us in the direction we want to go.

The first half of 2020 presented dual crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn, that demanded immediate action, the best near-term responses of which we were capable. For restaurants, that meant pivoting to off-prem solutions; for hotels, it meant scaling back operations while pursuing new safety and health protocols. Now, as our industry enters a period of reopening and reassessment, we can ask the bigger question: Where do we want to be? 

This issue is about identifying a path forward. We share expert insights into how technology can best meet new customer expectations. We take a look at contactless transactions, from the very start of the guest experience through its conclusion, which, ideally, is no conclusion at all but rather the beginning of an enduring relationship. We honor hotel visionaries whose exceptional tech initiatives speak to their ability to assess where they are and move forward accordingly. 

In this issue, we also celebrate those hospitality brands that have gone above and beyond in lending a helping hand to their communities. And we share social media marketing tips that are appropriate in a time of crisis and its aftermath.

We also recognize that some of you are at a career crossroads. If your next step is a campaign to find a new job or even a new career path, we recommend two industry resources from our partners at Hotel Technology Next Generation (careers.htng.org) and Restaurant Technology Network (careers.restauranttechnologynetwork.com).
As always, my digital door is open. Let me know what you think ([email protected]).