This book offers a comprehensive outlook of how information technology (IT) has been and should be implemented in the travel and tourism industry, the challenges associated with the implementation of information technology and the impacts generated from this implementation. The content in this...

The intersection of tourism and information technology (IT) is the focus of this book, which is designed for students of tourism and hospitality and for industry professionals. This second edition has been comprehensively revised and extended, taking into account the many changes that have occurred ...

This chapter reviews how mobile technologies can be used by the travel industry to support travellers while they are on the move. It discusses how the broader impact of these technologies can be understood using a mobilities paradigm and reviews some of the key aspects of the mobile technologies...

This chapter first revisits digital tourism ecosystems in the destination context, moving on to explain the development of destination management systems (DMSs), their functionality, information content and organizational structure. The chapter then discusses how destinations utilize websites and ...

This chapter discusses how travellers connect with suppliers through various channels using a distribution systems perspective. It starts by examining the traditional structure of these distribution channels and tracks the increasingly complex development of electronic channels. There are many...

This chapter examined the role of IT in destinations. It describes the importance of a DMS in destination management organization and the various dimensions that need to be considered in its design. It analyses how the web has changed the way tourists search for destination information using search ...

To exist and thrive in an information-intensive industry, travel intermediaries must learn about and embrace all aspects of IT. Travel intermediaries now rely on computerized reservation terminals, and must now learn other hardware and software applications. This requires careful analysis of when...

This chapter examines social media and its impact on travellers, tourism intermediaries, suppliers and destinations. The chapter starts by providing some conceptual foundations, then shifts to the different social media platforms and how travellers and travel organizations can use them. The chapter ...

This chapter has examined the use of IT in the hospitality sector. Its initial lag in IT use behind other travel sectors is starting to be overcome. But hospitality remains essentially a "high touch" service-based industry requiring the judicious use of technology. Experience has shown, however,...