subject: New Directions In Hotel Management Courses [print this page] In the dynamic and ever-developing hospitality industry, the old adage that learning is a lifelong process is truer than ever. This is especially true in an international context, where professionals from the world over, and from a vibrant diversity of backgrounds, have much to teach and learn from each other. The modern manager not only needs to appreciate the needs of customers from all walks of life, but keep up with rapidly evolving technology and global innovation. Flexible hotel management courses allow their participants to do just that, adding the newest developments in the sector to their more timeless elements. Here are some of the directions to consider.
Social Media
Social media provides an invaluable toolbox for any business in the twenty-first century, and yet it can be hard for companies established before its advent to know how to integrate social media into their strategies. Some may have heard that its vital to be Twitter-literate, know how to get likes, or understand how to use online media to find valuable data but where to start? At the other end of the scale, the aspiring hotel managers of the future may be comfortable with using Web 2.0 in their social lives, but may lack the breadth and depth of understanding that would enable more experienced professionals to see where such media can be applied for advantage in the industry. Hotel management courses focusing on, or offering an option in, social media can help in both directions, exploring its application within the specific context of hotel management.
e-Marketing
Overlapping with social media, but also deserving of attention in its own right on hotel management courses, is e-marketing. With more and more consumers turning to the internet as their primary means of looking for, comparing, and booking hotels, online marketing is not simply a case of placing information on a website. The means that the methods people use to choose hotels often involve a combination of tools including search engines, travel websites and social networking platforms all of which can be harnessed as part of an effective e-marketing strategy. A strong knowledge of current patterns in consumers online activity and, bearing in mind that tomorrows internet will undoubtedly have evolved in several ways from todays, an interest in keeping abreast of online developments is something that will stand future managers in good stead.
Customer engagement
As the hospitality industry becomes increasingly networked at the same time as it becomes ever more diverse, the need for new approaches to performance measurement is becoming more apparent. Assessing your hotels revenue is a complex business, but vital in this highly competitive sector, and the most cutting-edge of approaches do not just take traditional revenue sources such as rooms and events into account, but also consumer engagement. For those who want their hotel management courses to really help them excel, look for forward-looking modules or seminars on revenue management and customer engagement.
