In a recent one-on-one interview recorded during the HITEC 2024 event in Charlotte, Hospitality Net's Simone Puorto sat down with Natalie Kimball, Vice President of Strategic Accounts at Shiji Distribution Solutions. This interview is part of our HITEC 2024 series, where we have engaged with a diverse array of speakers, exhibitors, and visitors to provide in-depth insights into the industry's latest trends and innovations. Kimball shared her insights on Shiji's role in hotel content distribution, the challenges faced by hotels today, and the innovative solutions her company is bringing to the market.

Introduction and Role of Shiji Distribution Solutions

Natalie Kimball begins by introducing herself as the Vice President of Strategic Accounts at Shiji Distribution Solutions. She explains that Shiji focuses on managing content, availability, rates, and inventory for hotels and other accommodations, ensuring accurate distribution to demand partners. With a background spanning over 25 years in the industry, including roles at TravelScape, Expedia, and Orbitz, Kimball brings a wealth of experience to her current position.

Market Changes and Achievements

Kimball notes significant progress since the previous year, highlighting how Shiji has transitioned from presenting concepts on PowerPoint slides to launching live products. She emphasizes that the company's focus has been on delivering solutions that meet their customers' needs, moving from long-term roadmaps to actionable, market-ready products.

Challenges and Trends in the Industry

Addressing the labor shortages in the hospitality industry, Kimball explains how understaffed hotels struggle to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction. She shares a personal anecdote about a front desk agent juggling training and check-in duties, illustrating the widespread impact of labor issues. Shiji aims to alleviate these challenges by enabling hotels to focus on guest services through improved technology and streamlined processes.

Innovation: Content Hub

Kimball introduces Shiji's new product, Content Hub, which has been developed over five years in stealth mode. Content Hub aggregates data from various sources, ensuring accurate and centralized content for hotels. This innovation addresses the long-standing issue of broken data by providing a single, reliable source of information that can be customized and distributed to various platforms, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.

Importance of Accurate Data

Kimball stresses the critical importance of starting with accurate data, especially in the age of AI and data processing. By centralizing content, Shiji ensures that hotels provide correct information, preventing mismatched expectations and improving overall guest experiences. Accurate data helps set the right expectations, reducing issues such as incorrect descriptions or amenities that can lead to guest dissatisfaction.

Leveraging Acquisitions for Strength

Kimball discusses Shiji's acquisition of Ice Portal, a leading distribution platform for hotel content. By integrating Ice Portal's capabilities into Content Hub, Shiji enhances its ability to manage and distribute comprehensive hotel data. This move simplifies the distribution process for hotels and demand partners, providing a one-stop solution for all content needs.

Future Outlook and Customer Feedback

Kimball highlights the ongoing evolution of Shiji's products based on customer feedback. The company prioritizes simplicity and ease of use, ensuring that their solutions are intuitive and require minimal training. By reducing complexity and enhancing integration, Shiji aims to empower hotels to manage their content more effectively and efficiently.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Natalie Kimball's insights underscore the importance of accurate data and streamlined content management in the hospitality industry. Shiji Distribution Solutions is leading the way with innovative products like Content Hub, addressing critical challenges and enhancing the efficiency of hotel operations. This interview is part of Hospitality Net's HITEC 2024 series, providing a platform for industry leaders to share their insights and experiences.

 

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