Walk-in internet access for small hoteliers
Director of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Guyana, Michael Wyllie yesterday handed over a computer to the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry, which will form part of a Technology Walk-in Centre where small hoteliers can access industry information from the Internet. In 1998, the OAS created the Caribbean Competitiveness and Sustainability Programme for small hotels defined as those with 75 rooms or less. In the 14 countries involved there are 1,475 such properties with a total of 23,500 rooms. In keeping with the spirit of cooperation the OAS has involved regional hotel organisations and local governments to help in areas of product quality, branding and marketing, technology implementation and access to financing. Regional Co-ordinator for the small hotels project, May Hinds, said that thanks to recent surveys "we no longer have a gut feel for what the industry needs, we now have scientific data." This would help in marketing Caribbean hotels in an increasingly competitive world marketplace. She noted that last year 33.8 million people planned trips through the internet and urged small hoteliers to "get on or lose out." It is estimated that only 20% of Guyana's small hotels are fully computerised. Hinds called on the local phone company to assist in internet access. The walk-in centre is one of ten situated around the Caribbean. The computers were donated by Travelinx, a Canadian travel company and will run 'the Caribbean Innkeeper' a website designed to provide a library of information that includes lists of suppliers, regional events, hotel design and accounting. There is even a page on how to answer the phone properly (preferably within three rings). Hoteliers can also place help wanted advertisements or trade equipment. There will follow a marketplace for information exchange between small hoteliers in the Caribbean region. Starting in September the Net Corps Programme a technology-based version of the US Peace Corps, in cooperation with the OAS, will send 30 volunteers to intern for six months at small hotels in the region, helping to set up internet access and build home pages. The walk-in centre will be located at the Ministry of Trade and Tourism and will be open from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday.
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