Mash Ups ----- Distribution discussion question

OK, now for today's in class exercise...in addition to RSS, you will need to understand Mash Ups .

We'll do a bit of online exploring.

Google Maps + a different application = new product or service. Let's look at Kayak. Search for a hotel or click on 'Buzz'

What do you get when you mash up Craig's List + Google Maps?? Hint

An interesting FR application - social networks + mapping = Peuplade


So here's the exercise: You can work in teams of 2
1. What Mash Up would YOU like to see? How would it help in hotel/travel distribution? Post your idea in your blog.
2. Viewing classmates' blogs, find another team's idea posting...comment on it in your blog
3. Link to the other team's idea from your posted comment.

Enjoy your Holiday break!!

First...RSS

Today's reading...Top 10 Challenges for hoteliers...RSS is mentioned in one specific section. Which one? We'll start off by having you all become and RSS subscriber...what is it? How will it help you (personally)?

How is RSS being used in travel industry?

Find the RSS feed on Skyscanner

Tablet Hotels u\ses RSS. What is the customer benefit of Travelocity's RSS feed?

OK...now how can YOU use RSS...for this class??

Imaginative and Provocative Hotel Websites

Hotel Victor South Beach

Bryant Park Hotel NYC

Which do you prefer...and why? Leave a comment!

PPTs from classes 01/12 + 08/12

This is the PPT from the last class covering the RM planning process.

And here is the PPT from the class on demand + calculating displacement....you will definitely want the formula information for the exam on Friday.

Be ready to think!!!

Class exercise on 22/12 will be based on this article. Ideally, we will meet in Salle Infomatique on that day...will let you know.

Starwood's Pre-Opening Blog for Aloft Hotel

If you have ever wanted to follow a hotel from design concept to opening...visit Starwood's Aloft blog. Using 3-D modeling (widely used in auto and other industries), visitors can 'walk through' the prototype, see design concepts...and make comments.

Further, they use YouTube to provide a video preview of the hotel experience. Gamers and MySpace folks will love this.

Architectural, design and hotel management teams meet daily in the shared 3-D space 'Second Life'. They modify designs on pre-customers' feedback...quite an opportunity to avoid expensive corrections of mistakes.

They are getting a great deal of press...BusinessWeek, HospitalityNet.....

What are your thoughts??? Leave a comment!

Reading for 08/12 Class

I look forward to your Displacement Calculations and Strategies next week...the work we didn't finish in class.

The required reading for next week is:

Top 5 Must-Do's to Increase Room Profitability

Be able to discuss the development + role of a Revenue Management Team; demand and pricing by channel.

We will have a mid-term exam on 15/12...and a significant in class exercise (graded) on 22/12.
For the mid-term, please be sure to be familair with concepts:

• Demand, internal + external influences
• Demand forecasting + revenue planning
• Terms + concepts in the article "Revenue Management is Really Profit Management"
• Article was assigned reading in previous weeks
  
• The Revenue Management Cycle

Exam info - as usual 'Open Book', you may bring print outs, notes and translators. The exam is on your understanding and application of the information, not find the answer in the article.

I thank you for letting me know of any problems in advance, if you come to me after the fact...I cannot help you.