South Africa`s hospitality industry, energised by an increase in overseas investor confidence and looking ahead to the exposure and trade that Soccer World Cup 2010 will bring, will rely on technology to ensure that front office management systems are world-class.
“Tourism is growing steadily and during the build up to the World Cup that trend is likely to swell. During the event itself, SA`s main centres will receive a huge influx of visitors. Our hospitality industry will be in the front line,” says Errol Wills, managing director of ACCPAC accounting software reseller and solutions provider JPC-Lorge.
“Government has also come to the party with a rebate incentive of 30% for capital investment in new hotels,” he adds. “Hotels both new and existing are going to need technology and specialised software systems to ensure visitors receive services of the highest international standard.”
Looking ahead to Soccer World Cup 2010, Lorge has signed a value-added reseller agreement with Vancouver-based international business software developer UniDevCo for its UniResMan software that provides a complete hotel front-office solution that integrates seamlessly into accounting systems like ACCPAC.
“UniResMan is a Windows-based total solution for the front-office requirements of the hospitality industry,” says Lorge product manager Derek Porter. “It allows modular additions to system functionality and is therefore highly configurable, being able to match the special requirements of hotel groups with multiple properties or those of privately owned single location hotels.”
Porter says the software is both affordable and flexible. It manages both hotel resources and the front desk requirements. “The reception function is the public face of the hotel and its smooth running is of the utmost importance for hotel management. A good reception experience generally means a happy guest.”
UniResMan is easy to use and easy to learn. The reservation control screen allows receptionists to see at a glance the current status of all resources and reservations, guests already booked, those still to arrive, guest details and room details and features.
Every aspect of a reservation can be controlled and displayed from the reservation screen, which also provides details such as room deposit, multiple guests in one room, complete guest details and additional room features.
“The system streamlines the guest check-in check-out, making it a pleasant, quick and easy experience. ”
Guest details include complete contact information and user-defined optional fields to track personal information on guests such as sporting and entertainment preferences, pastimes, hobbies and even the golf handicap. Porter says this type of information can make a huge difference in the quality of personal service that hotel staff are able to provide to guests.
“A range of audit and management analysis reports can be generated including RevPAR (revenue per available room) and ADR (average daily rate). These reports provide useful information for efficient and economic management of the hotel.”
The software also tracks loyalty programme memberships and provides a complete history of previous visits by individual guests. Again this type of CRM (customer relationship management) information can make a huge difference in personal service and vastly improve the overall experience for each guest.
Another major feature of UniResMan is Resource Control that allows hotel features and resources such as spa treatments, banqueting rooms, meeting rooms and business centres to be monitored and better managed with statistical analysis of use and profitability.
Other features include: user-defined items that individual guests may prefer that can be added to guest rooms as amenities such as a particular brand and type of wine, a specific newspaper, chocolates or flowers; and extensive query and reporting capabilities. UniResMan links to General Ledger, Debtors and Creditors in ACCPAC and seamlessly integrates data into the accounting package, and other accounting packages.
Issued by: Copywise
JPC-Lorge
JPC-Lorge, formed through the merger of Lorge and JPC Computing, is an undisputed leader in ACCPAC accounting software and business solutions in Africa. The company`s background, deep pool of experience and skills accumulated over a total of 33 years in business, ideally places it to provide independent and consistent expertise in the implementation, development, servicing and support of ACCPAC systems as well as the design and application of innovative solutions that provide strategic and competitive advantage.
Editorial contacts
Colleen Bellas
(011) 292 8100
colleen@lorge.co.za
Copywise
Dave McDermott
(011) 478 2055
dave@copywise.co.za
