Impact of Social Media and Mobile Technology on the Hospitality Industry

E-Tourism

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review...................................................................................................................4
Case Study Evaluation............................................................................................................9
Discussion.............................................................................................................................13
New Social Media Strategy..................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
Hospitality industry a wide scoped business sector that deals in service sector and works
for providing luxury services to consumers and fulfilling their needs by rendering best
experiences guests. The hospitality industry has four major segments who contributes together in
the sector and in its overall revenue (Ukpabi and Karjaluoto, 2017). These four sectors are
Travel and Tourism (T&T), Accommodation, Food and Beverages (F&B) and Recreation.
All the four elements of hospitality imposes a combined impact over the growth and popularity
of the whole hospitality industry. In recent past decades, many revolutionary changes are
introduced in business environment due to number of factors and one of which is technology.
Innovation and upliftment of technology industry and new development brought better
equipments and tools for other business sectors.
Hospitality industry is also benefited through enhancement and development of new
technologies. A new picture is created through efficient use of technology in business and more
specifically in hospitality industry. Earlier before technological revolution and evolution in
business surroundings, business actions were performed physically. Introduction of technology
brought ease and comfort for the organisations and customers both. Operations became more and
more simpler, less time consuming and less costly (Chen and Lin, 2018). Technology have
contributes a lot to businesses and to the society. Social media is a huge contribution made by
technology over marketing function of businesses. In the same manner social media and mobile
technology proved to be immensely supportive and advantageous to hospitality sector as well.
Now, hospitality service providers belonging to separate sectors such as Food and
Beverage or Travel and Tourism etc. can perform several operative functions and tasks in few
clicks and by investing least amount of money and time in it. Social media gave companies
access to the wider world and larger customer base allowing them to be in touch and embrace
their relationships with people and potential buyers (Stankov and Filimonau, 2019). The current
report is based on a Travel company known as Topdeck Travel which was founded in 1973 by
Veterinary school graduates. Topdeck travel is a tour operator that offers travel services and plan
to youth ageing between 18 to 30. The company basically develops travel plans for a group of
individuals who are unknown to one another and facilitate them to explore the reality of a
particular location and countries.

Topdeck Travel is a tour operating company offering budgeted tour plans for the younger
population offering them a fully planned and pre-booked trip to the respective place. The travel,
accommodation, food and other aspects related to the trip are managed by the company on behalf
of the travellers. The report constructed, is inclusive of a in depth evaluation and analysis of the
current social media strategy of Topdeck Travel by supporting through literatures. Also, once the
strategy is identified then the findings are evaluated and examined thoroughly. Lastly, after
appropriate analysis and discussion is conducted then a new improved social media strategy will
be suggested or recommended to the Tour and Travel operator.
MAIN BODY
Literature Review
Critically evaluating the developments of Social Media and mobile technology on
Hospitality
In opinions of Jimmy Quach. 2017, globally the number of mobile device subscriptions
have been showing growth figures in comparison to past decade. Social media is definitely
gaining tractions in its usage rates and its integration with mobile technologies and devices have
changed it into a potential marketing channel especially in case of gaining attentions of younger
population and consumers (Fu, Kapiki and Mu, 2016). Mobile technology when powered by
internet and development of numerous application is the best and most profitable development
and evolution took place in business surroundings and supporting number of industries and most
specifically Hospitality industry in managing and providing the best services to consumer and
also engaging them within the operations without them being affected.
Mobile technologies provide support to travellers in pre, present and post stages of their
travel for varied purposes. These mobile technologies majorly influences the use of social media
enabling users to explore social media and make other arrangements as well. Today people can
do anything on their phones from booking and arranging all their travel requirements and
necessities and to collecting information while making travel plans and take the best buying
decisions according to their suitability. Moreover, post travel details and reviews can be accessed
by users through their mobiles and technologies. Every year tourism is expanding and leading
towards innovation and development (Martins and et. al., 2017). The use of flexible technologies
and portable devices like smartphones and tablets, travel service providers renders the potential