Digitalization & Hotel Marketing

The billboard effect describes the direct correlation between the visibility of accommodation information and offers on online booking platforms and the resulting traffic and bookings on your own accommodation website.

In other words, the billboard effect helps boost revenue on your own website through the exposure you gain on booking portals.

When we talk about "Big Data," we refer to collections of large amounts of data that are usually very complex and only loosely structured. However, when properly analyzed, they can prove to be of even greater significance. A central example in tourism is booking data – that is, who books what offers in a region, when, where, and through which channel.

In the context of newsletter marketing, the term "blacklist" refers to an address list of recipients who have actively opted out of receiving the newsletter. Essentially, it is a "block list," meaning that the recipients on a blacklist should no longer receive any mailings.

Browsers are programs that allow users to visit websites. They retrieve content available on the web and display it correctly for human perception. The most common browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

A "button" is a graphical element on a user interface that is used to trigger an action when it is clicked or otherwise activated.

A cache is a digital temporary storage – for example, in the browser on a computer, smartphone, or tablet – that stores retrieved content from websites. The cached information enables the browser to quickly access and display the content upon revisiting the page.

CSS work refers to the design and formatting of website content using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to define the visual appearance and layout structure.

A Call to Action (CTA) is an instruction designed to prompt an immediate response from the user. CTAs are commonly found on websites, such as when users are asked to subscribe to a newsletter. They are also frequently integrated into newsletters to encourage readers to take actions, such as registering for an event.

Cookies are special data packets exchanged between web servers that help analyze user-specific data. Concretely, when visiting a website, the web server sets a text file in the user's browser to read out the user's behavior on the site.

A cookie banner informs visitors when they access a website that the website operator may use cookie technologies to collect, use, or store user-related data.

The customer journey describes the entire period of interaction a customer has with a product or service. It is divided into various phases, beginning with the first contact moment and encompassing many direct and indirect touchpoints up to the purchase or consumption of the product or service.

Chatbots are computer programs that simulate the interactive exchange of human communication by drawing on databases filled with pre-written text blocks. They are often used in live chat technologies on websites to answer users’ questions as quickly as possible.

ChatGPT is an advanced chatbot that utilizes artificial intelligence and leverages the power of machine learning. It can assist with a wide range of questions and inquiries.

The abbreviation GDPR refers to the EU regulation that came into effect in May 2018, regulating the collection, use, and storage of personal user data.

In web development and design, the term "grid" refers to a layout system used to arrange elements on a website in a structured grid, enabling a flexible and responsive design. For example, the Channel Manager in JULIA uses a grid layout.

A "keyword" refers to specific key terms or search words that are entered into a search engine’s search bar to find related content.

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, which deals with simulating human intelligence.

An online payment provider is a company that facilitates and processes electronic payments over the Internet.

This refers to the EU regulation on online dispute resolution in consumer matters. Instead of going to court, consumers and businesses can voluntarily opt for an alternative dispute resolution process. This process is independent, impartial, transparent, effective, and offers a quick and fair extrajudicial way to settle disputes.

PCI stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It defines security standards for processing payments using credit cards.

A prompt is the input or command given to an AI. The more information provided in the prompt, the better the resulting output tends to be.

A provider is a company or organization that supplies services or products, often in the form of services or infrastructure (for example, online payment processing).

A responsive website is designed to adapt its layout and content to the display of the device being used (computer, tablet, smartphone). "Responsive web design" refers to the planning and programming of a website to ensure it is optimally displayed on all devices.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, a branch of online marketing focused on optimizing websites so that they rank as high as possible in organic (non-paid) search results on search engines like Google.

SEM stands for Search Engine Marketing, another branch of online marketing concerned with promoting websites through paid advertising, with the goal of achieving top positions in the paid search results on search engines like Google.

When users visit your website, they naturally want to trust that they're on a reputable site where all data is securely transmitted and protected from misuse. This is where the SSL certificate comes into play.

SSL stands for "Secure Sockets Layer." It is a special protocol that encrypts the data transmission between the web server and the user, ensuring that no third party can eavesdrop.

If a website has an SSL certificate, this is evident in the address bar of your internet browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc.): Instead of the previous http://, you’ll see https:// or a padlock symbol. Insecure websites are flagged with a warning by Google.

The Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is the distinct feature of a product or service that sets it apart from competitors. The USP can serve as a decisive factor for consumers and can determine a product’s or service’s success.

Usability refers to the user-friendliness or ease of use of a website. The better the usability, the more intuitively users can navigate and interact with the website.

Bei Virtual Appointments handelt es sich um Meetings über Video- oder Messaging-Plattformen, bei denen du mit deinem Anbieter sprechen kannst.

Tourism & eTourism

Terms & Conditions refer to written contractual clauses that are accepted by the parties when a contract is formed and signed. The T&Cs generally encompass the most important agreements related to the fulfillment of the contract.

General Terms and Conditions for the Hotel Industry. Published in 2006, they outline the generally accepted contractual terms for hotels in Austria.

The arrival and departure lists are two essential tools in hotel service. The departure list includes all guests checking out, while the arrival list contains all guests checking in. Typically, these lists are generated from the booking systems used and can be maintained on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis as needed.

The term "Cancellation" refers to the process of canceling a reservation.

Channel management systems are software solutions used in the tourism industry to control inventory and availability across various distribution channels and platforms. Information regarding prices, availabilities, and restrictions is maintained in the Channel Manager and automatically transmitted via APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to the different portals and channels.

A destination is a region or location chosen by travelers as their travel goal. It provides all the necessary or desired tourism-related services (accommodation, catering, entertainment, etc.) for its guests.

A Destination Management Organization is the central body within a destination that looks after the local tourism service providers and coordinates and implements the marketing of the destination's offerings.

When software systems do not offer an API, calendar information can be exchanged using the iCalendar data format. Unlike an API, iCal does not provide real-time data synchronization; instead, it updates the current state at defined intervals via iCal.

In English, "No Show" refers to the unexpected absence of a guest who has not canceled their reservation. Instead of cancellation fees, no show fees may be charged as compensation for the room that can no longer be reallocated.

Founded in 1953, the Österreichische Hoteliervereinigung (ÖHV) is the independent interest group and representative body of the Austrian hotel industry.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) are booking platforms that function as online travel agencies, enabling users to book tourism services such as accommodations, flights, or rental cars with a click. OTAs hold a special position as an online sales channel because they allow users to filter and find personalized, need-oriented offers.

An API (Application Programming Interface) enables different software systems to connect and exchange data with one another. APIs allow, for example, the automatic synchronization of available inventory of an accommodation with the bookable units on an online booking platform.

A Property Management System (PMS) refers to software solutions used for managing, marketing, and renting out accommodation units such as rooms, holiday homes, or apartments. In colloquial terms, this also refers to hotel software systems or reservation and booking systems, or simply a digital room plan with features like invoicing, guest directories, and reporting.

User Experience (UX) refers to the overall experience and perceived quality a user has when interacting with a digital application, such as a website. UX is subjective and influenced by various factors at the time of interaction, including familiarity, intuitive navigation (clear menu structure, straightforward layout), and performance (fast load times, correct display).

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