Travel Technology( Reading Text) and An Electronic ticket (Reading Text)

There are two reading texts. Please give  summaries for each. Don't forget to make WH-Questions and vocabulary questions, then answer them. Give comments for the summaries and answers.

TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY

Travel technology is a term used to describe application of Information and Communications technology to travel, tourism and the hospitality industry. Travel Technology may also be referred to as a-travel or e-tourism. Travel technology was originally associated with the computer reservation systems (CRS) of the airlines industry. It now includes the broader tourism sectors including the hospitality industry. Travel technologies include virtual tourism which is almost actual tours of facilities over the web. Hotels have used it successfully to hive guests virtual tours of their properties including the rooms, restaurants and function rooms, over the web, before they even make a booking. Travel technology includes dynamic packaging which provides useful new options for consumers who can choose exactly what they need and within their budgets. Such web tours are also called guidebook, audio-guide, pod guide and I-Tours. Today Travel Agencies, Tour operators and Hotels are all networked to give travelers instant options and confirmations. Let us examine some of the uses of Travel Techonology:

• A traveler can make virtual tours of recreation and leisure spots anywhere in the world. They are given static or moving pictures of the sites they will see through e-tourism.
• Once the traveler decides on the destination, s/he wants to get the cheapest fares by air, rail, sea or road to reach the destination. S/he can log into the appropriate Passenger Information Systems (PIS) to get schedules and fares. S/he can make 0n-line bookings and even pay upfront by citing his/her credit card number. S/he gets an e-confirmation immediately and a ticket number which s/he presents to the concerned transport agency on the day of travel to get a physical ticket. Alternatively, s/he gets an e-ticket which s/he can download and print to present at the ticket counter upon departure.
• The traveler will next want to make a hotel booking. s/he can take virtual tours of the properties at their individual web-sites. Each property tries to outdo the other for better and more user-friendly applications. Some properties permit reservations directly by web. Alternatively, the traveler can contact a central reservations system (CRS) and give his/her requirements and budgets. The system gives him/her appropriate lodging options to choose from. S/he can make reservations through the CRS and get instant confirmation. Pre-payments can be make by quoting the credit card number.
• Travellers can also identity and contact local travel agencies who will make arrangements for airport transfer, sightseeing tours and arrangements for guides.

                                                                                 Flesch Kincaid Grade level: 12.02

 ELECTRONIC TICKET

 An electronic ticket or e-ticket is used to represent the purchase of a seat on a passenger airline, usually through a website or by telephone. This form of ticket is rapidly replacing the old paper tickets. Where paper tickets are available, airlines frequently charge extra for issuing them. E-tickets are also available for certain entertainment venues.

Once a reservation is made, an e-ticket exists only as a digital record in the airline computers. Customers usually print out a copy of their receipt which contains the record locator or reservation number and the e-ticket number. On-line reservations must be confirmed 24 hours before the flight. A traveler may also download and print their boarding pass. Some airlines may not give a seat number but promise a good seat on a first-come-first served basis. An e-ticket allows a traveller without luggage to skip the check-in counter and proceed to security directly. Some airlines may insist on e-check-in at the customized ports at the airport as some airports insist on a boarding pass to pass through security.

E-tickets are very popular because:

For passengers  :

 1. It provide on-line check

 2. Early check-in

 3. Printed boarding passes in locations other than the airport.

 4. Automated refunds and exchanges online, by telephone and at kiosk

5. No extra charge for lost tick

  6. No worry of losing a boarding pass

For airlines:  

1.It is cheaper than paper tickets

2.Eliminates manual tasks and therefore a large workforce

3.Kiosks easier to reach people than hired hands.      

 

Boutique Hotel ( Writing Task)

Please make one Paragraph for the summary of the following reading text. Please give comments and corrections for your friends' writings.

BOUTIQUE HOTELS

Boutique hotel is term originating in North America to describe intimate, usually luxurious or quirky hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from the larger chain or branded hotels by providing an exceptional and personalized level of accommodation, services and facilities. Boutique hotels are small chic properties for a niche market. They are furnished in a themed, stylish and aspirational manner. The hotels will be intimate with warm colours and small spaces. The hotel staff will deal with guests on a personal basis, knowing each and every whim of the guest. The boutique hotel will be a home away from home. It will feel exclusive and personally cared for to give their complete loyalty. Boutique hotels will have a business centre with meeting rooms and secretarial services. Though smaller than mainstream hotels (3-100 rooms), they are generally fitted with telephone and Internet connections, bars and cable television. They have dining facilities and lounges open to the public as well. Guests are usually corporate travelers who are discerning and place a high importance on privacy, luxury and service delivery. Since they are moneyed, they are high yielding and repeat customers and therefore, financially viable for such a small room base.

                                                                                 Flesh Kincaid Grade level: 11.99.

                                                              

Boutique Hotel (Reading Text)

 Read this text. Give the main idea and make some questions deal with the text. Don't forget to give comments and answers

BOUTIQUE HOTELS

 Boutique hotel is term originating in North America to describe intimate, usually luxurious or quirky hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from the larger chain or branded hotels by providing an exceptional and personalized level of accommodation, services and facilities. Boutique hotels are small chic properties for a niche market. They are furnished in a themed, stylish and aspirational manner. The hotels will be intimate with warm colours and small spaces. The hotel staff will deal with guests on a personal basis, knowing each and every whim of the guest. The boutique hotel will be a home away from home. It will feel exclusive and personally cared for to give their complete loyalty. Boutique hotels will have a business centre with meeting rooms and secretarial services. Though smaller than mainstream hotels (3-100 rooms), they are generally fitted with telephone and Internet connections, bars and cable television. They have dining facilities and lounges open to the public as well. Guests are usually corporate travelers who are discerning and place a high importance on privacy, luxury and service delivery. Since they are moneyed, they are high yielding and repeat customers and therefore, financially viable for such a small room base.

                                                                                 Flesh Kincaid Grade level: 11.99.

                                                              

Airline Catering (Writing Task)

Please make one Paragraph of this Reading text. Don't forget to give comment based on the Peer Worksheet of Descriptive Paragraph

AIRLINE CATERING

 Airline catering may be classified into Flight Catering and Airport Catering. Flight Catering is a specialized food program for passengers on the board in planes. It has developed a long way from the sandwiches and flasks of coffee or tea to full dining service including drinks and wine and a choice of menus. Food is served in difficult conditions in narrow confines and especially when there is air turbulence. The service trolleys and equipment have to be stable to manage flight conditions. The real challenge is to give complete, nutritious and tasty meals that can be kept warm on long hauls or foods that have to be served quickly on short hauls. Food further varies with the class of travel. While economy class meals consist of standardized food served in plastic trays, disposable plastic cutlery, and paper napkins, the First Class passengers get a choice of menus, silverware, chine crockery and linen. Flight kitchens are specialized and need to be geared to provide food to various airlines around the clock. They are required to prepare complete meals that are nutritious, and also special meals for those with restrictive preferences like vegetarian food, non-fat meal, etc. Airport Catering involves food outlets that are self-service, waiter service, vending machines and licensed bars. They may be run by the airport authority or by outsourced catering establishments.

                                                                                 Flesch Kincaid Grade level: 11.28.

1.Airline Catering (Reading Text) 2. Deluxe Hotel (Reading Text)

Please give the main ideas and post your questions in WH-Questions and Vocabulary. Don't forget to give comments to your friends' answers.

AIRLINE CATERING

Airline catering may be classified into Flight Catering and Airport Catering. Flight Catering is a specialized food program for passengers on the board in planes. It has developed a long way from the sandwiches and flasks of coffee or tea to full dining service including drinks and wine and a choice of menus. Food is served in difficult conditions in narrow confines and especially when there is air turbulence. The service trolleys and equipment have to be stable to manage flight conditions. The real challenge is to give complete, nutritious and tasty meals that can be kept warm on long hauls or foods that have to be served quickly on short hauls. Food further varies with the class of travel. While economy class meals consist of standardized food served in plastic trays, disposable plastic cutlery, and paper napkins, the First Class passengers get a choice of menus, silverware, chine crockery and linen. Flight kitchens are specialized and need to be geared to provide food to various airlines around the clock. They are required to prepare complete meals that are nutritious, and also special meals for those with restrictive preferences like vegetarian food, non-fat meal, etc. Airport Catering involves food outlets that are self-service, waiter service, vending machines and licensed bars. They may be run by the airport authority or by outsourced catering establishments.

                                                                                 Flesch Kincaid Grade level: 11.28.

DELUXE HOTELS

Deluxe hotels would normally have a minimum five-star rating. There hotels are rated as they would décor and appointments of luxury. They would have every conceivable comfort built into the guest experience. Take Burj-Al-Arab in Dubai where rooms accommodations are suites that overlook the Persian Gulf. The rooms are fitted with remote control window shades, gold plated taps, etc. Guests are transported to the hotel from the airport by the hotel helicopter that lands on a helipad on the hotel rooftop. Deluxe hotels ooze opulence and are available only to those moneyed people who can afford the stay. Some deluxe business hotels provide individual butlers and specialized cuisines. Many older stand-alone hotels like the trumont House, The Claridges, etc set standards of luxury. Many palaces, mansions and villas of the royalty of yore converted their lodgings into hotels which really cannot be given a star rating for their uniqueness and may be certainly classified as deluxe.

                                                                                 Flesch Kincaid Grade level: 10.83.

What is the relationship between agritourism and business development ?

Agritourism (Writing Task)

Make 0ne paragraph of this reading text. Don't forget to give comment based on Peer Editing Worksheet for Definition. Thank You.

AGRITOURISM

Agritourism is a style of vacation where hospitality is offered on farms. People are opting to break away from the fast-paced concrete jungles of the cities to unwind in simple pastoral settings. This may include the opportunity to assist with farming tasks during the visit. People are interested on how their food is produced and get to meet farmers in rural settings. Children get a chance to see farm animals and feed them. They also get to pluck fruits from trees. This sort of facility is also called “entertainment farm”. Agritourism is often practiced in wine growing regions as in Italy, France and Spain. It is widespread in America as well. Tourists can pick fruits and vegetables, ride horses, taste honey, sample wine, shop in farm stands for local and regional produce or hand-crafted gifts and much more. Each farm generally offers a unique and memorable experience suitable for the entire family.

Agritourim is being developed as a valuable business model to augment the income of farms whose products are no longer economically competitive otherwise. Sometimes farms get together to form festivals, tours or other events. Dude ranches offer tourists the chance to work on cattle ranches and sometimes participate in rodeos.

                                                                                  Flesch Kincaid Grade level: 10.04.