E-service has transformed hospitality business -CEO of Best Western Premier
The Chief Executive Officer of Best Western Premier Hotel, Zibrim Yamusah, has said that E-services has totally transformed the hospitality industry.
He said previously, guests had to reserve their rooms or restaurant services by using phone calls, but with the introduction of E-services, guests could now make reservations through a number of digital platforms.
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"Today, there are several digital platforms that guests can use to reserve their rooms and restaurant services," he stated.
Mr Yamusah said this in an interview with the acting Editor of the Graphic Business, Charles Benoni Okine, shortly after the Graphic Business/ Stanbic Bank Breakfast meeting which was held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
Breakfast meeting
The thought-leadership programme, which has grown to become one of the major agenda-setting events on the national calendar, offers a platform for experts in various fields to discuss critical and relevant topics that has the potential to contribute to economic and social growth.
On the theme, “Integration of E-Service into our economy: Implications for economic growth,” Tuesday’s meeting was the first of four quarterly events scheduled for the year to throw the spotlight on topics that borders on the economy.
Payment systems
Mr Yamusah said the biggest innovation for him was the introduction of mobile money and other payment services system, which had made it possible for customers to pay for their reservations without coming to the hotel.
“Previously, you had to come to the hotel and pay as you check in, but today, you can pay for your services before you even come,” he stated.
Responding to a question on whether businesses use e-services to evade taxes, Mr Yamusah said he disagreed with that assertion.
“The tax authorities should find creative ways of tracking all these payments and tax them. The telcos must also provide a lot more information to the tax authorities for them to be able to take the right taxes. The government must make it mandatory,” he stated.
Wonderful presentations
Mr Yamusah also shared his thoughts on the presentations at the breakfast meeting, describing that as very thought provoking.
“The presentations were fantastic, the consultants who delivered the presentations were very knowledgeable and had a lot of experience in E-Services in Ghana,” he said.
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Chaired by the Country Manager of VISA Ghana, Adoma Owusu, the breakfast meeting saw three industry experts also share their thoughts of the e-services industry in the country.
The experts included Technology Planner in the Digital Financial Services industry, Fred Frimpong; Financial Services and Technology Professional, Francis Appiah; and Lecturer at the School of Law, University of Ghana, William Kofi Owusu Demitia.