Zongqing Zhou

　　The travel professional who wants to stay on the cutting edge will find this to be a great resource. Employing the concepts, ideas and technologies discussed in this book will dramatically improve customer service and marketing in this age of technology. Through the practical use of examples and case studies, the author provides an extensive review of the Internet as an agent of change in hospitality and tourism information technology and commerce. "E-Commerce and Information Technology in Hospitality and Tourism" contains essential information about business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce models, and about marketing schemes and strategies used by various sectors of the industry. A discussion of e-commerce answers questions about reliability, privacy and security as they relate to Internet transactions. Travel professionals will benefit from a detailed review of the Internet’s impact on various sectors of the industry including travel agencies, airlines, hotels, cruise lines, bed and breakfasts, online travel stores and more. The author rounds out the book with a glossary of terms, chapter highlights and leads to valuable resources available on related Web sites, as well as a discussion of the future use of technology in the industry.

Chapter 1: The Internet and the World of Hospitality and Tourism.
Chapter 2: The Internet Revolution: Brief History and Basics.
Chapter 3: The Internet as a Means of Communication.
Chapter 4: The Internet as a Means of Commerce.
Chapter 5: The Internet as a Means for Information Distribution.
Chapter 6: The Internet as a Means for Travel and Hospitality Research.
Chapter 7: The Internet as a Means for Marketing.
Chapter 8: The Impact of the Internet on Travel and Hospitality Industry.
Chapter 9: A Special Case Study: The Future of the Travel Agents.
Chapter 10: Competitive Advantage or Necessity: The Travel and Hospitality Industry in the 21st Century.