Integrating Social Media Tools Into Hotel Operations and Marketing

The use of social media in hotel management transforms how hospitality businesses engage with guests and manage their brand. Social media platforms enable hotels to showcase experiences, respond to customer feedback, and build stronger relationships with current and future guests. Beyond marketing, social media insights support operational decision-making by revealing guest preferences, service gaps, and emerging trends. By utilizing these tools, hotels may further enhance customer satisfaction, improve brand visibility, and gain a competitive advantage in a digital hospitality landscape. Integrating Social Media Tools Into Hotel Operations and Marketing explores the use of social media platforms for hotel operations and marketing strategies. It investigates how these social media tools transform promotional activities, guest communication, customer relationship management, brand identity, and service delivery in the hospitality industry. This book covers topics such as influencer marketing, media and communications, and film and cinema, and is a useful resource for business owners, media professionals, marketers, academicians, researchers, and scientists.

Ankit Shukla is an accomplished educator and researcher with a robust background in the hospitality and tourism industry. His career spans various roles, from frontline food and beverage service to academic leadership and extensive research contributions. Ankit's journey exemplifies a blend of practical experience, academic acumen, and a passion for advancing knowledge in his field. Early Career and Industry Experience Ankit's career in the hospitality industry began at the Hyatt Regency Chandigarh in September 2015, where he worked in the Food & Beverage Service department. His responsibilities included taking room service orders, managing point-of-sale systems, and setting up banquets for events. This role provided Ankit with hands-on experience in the operational aspects of the hospitality industry. Following his time at the Hyatt Regency, Ankit transitioned into academia, joining Kumaun University Nainital as a teaching personnel in September 2016. He took on multiple responsibilities, including lecturing MBA Tourism students, overseeing practical training, and designing course curricula. This marked the beginning of his journey in education, where he contributed to shaping the next generation of hospitality professionals. Academic Leadership and Teaching Ankit's academic career continued to flourish as he assumed the role of Assistant Professor at SIHMCT & AN Tehri Garhwal in July 2017. He became the head of the Food & Beverage Service department, where he coordinated events, designed course curricula, and managed the department's overall functioning. From February 2018 to April 2022, Ankit served as an Assistant Professor at Shoolini University Solan. Here, he expanded his responsibilities to include training and placement coordination, NAAC coordination for the Hospitality Management department, and handling operations of a hotel with eight rooms. His leadership skills and ability to manage complex tasks were instrumental in the smooth functioning of the university's hospitality department. Contributions to Research and Academia Ankit's passion for research is evident through his significant contributions to academic literature. He has presented research papers at various international conferences, focusing on topics such as ecology, local and regional food in destination marketing, and the influence of technological amenities on hotel guest satisfaction. His research has been published in reputable journals, with manuscripts addressing safety and security measures in hotels, tobacco consumption in India, and the role of Indian spices in Indian history. In addition to his research publications, Ankit has filed 40 patents, copyrights, and utility applications, with several already granted. His commitment to innovation and intellectual property rights underscores his dedication to advancing knowledge in his field. Current Role and Future Endeavors As of July 2023, Ankit is a lecturer at Raja Mangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in Thailand. In this role, he continues to inspire and educate students in the field of hospitality while pursuing his research interests. Ankit's extensive experience in both industry and academia, coupled with his passion for teaching and research, positions him as a key figure in the ongoing development of the hospitality and tourism sector. Ankit Shukla's journey from industry practitioner to esteemed academic is a testament to his dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to excellence in hospitality and education.

Dr. Nagendra Yadav is a highly regarded expert in hospitality, bringing over 12 years of extensive experience in both academia and the hotel industry. He holds a Ph.D. in Hospitality and a Master’s degree in Hotel Management from Kurukshetra University. Currently, he serves as a distinguished faculty member at the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA) at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in Manipal, India. With a robust professional background, Dr. Yadav has successfully collaborated with prestigious hotel brands, including Taj Hotels, The Leela Group, Lemon Tree Hotels, and Piccadilly Hotel, in addition to his academic tenure at Shoolini University. His significant contributions to research and academia include over 45 patents and copyrights, alongside more than 15 Scopus-indexed papers and books published in leading journals. Dr. Yadav’s research interests are pivotal in the field, focusing on gastronomic tourism, culinary heritage, hospitality innovation, and experiential learning. His ability to merge industry insights with academic rigor positions him as an influential leader in shaping the future of hospitality professionals.

Dr. Karan Berry , an alumnus of prestigious IHM Pusa, New Delhi, is a passionate tourism and hospitality professional with a rich blend of industry and academic experience of over 19 years. He holds a Ph.D. in Hotel Management, along with being UGC-NET qualified in Tourism Administration and Management. He also bears a Masters in Tourism Management, and Masters in Hospitality and Catering Management. Possessing a thorough knowledge of the challenges and prospects of gastronomy tourism, Dr. Berry has authored several Scopus indexed research publications, book chapters, and a textbook titled “The Chef: A Guide to Becoming a Culinary Master” (ISBN: 9788184578676). He also runs a YouTube channel by the name "Research Bay" focusing upon Research methodology & Data analysis techniques, especially for all the beginners.

Dr. Siddharatha Sharma is an M.Sc. Ph.D. of Panjab University, Chandigarh (India). He did his Bachelor’s degree in Bioinformatics and that of the Master’s in Anthropology (Honours) from the same University. He, then, qualified the National Eligibility Test (N.E.T.) of his Country i.e. India. He did his Ph.D. in Forensic Anthropology under the Deptt. of Anthropology of Panjab University, Chandigarh (India). Dr. Siddharatha had been a University Grants Commission’s (U.G.C.) Senior Research Fellow under the aforementioned University of that Country. He is a Member of ‘The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences’, U.K.(United Kingdom). Dr. Siddharatha Sharma has associated himself with the Wildlife Conservation Activities for the last fourteen years. He is a Member of the Zoological Society. He has been a part of many Wildlife Conservation Programmes. Besides, he has also associated himself with the Fossil Collection Work for the last about Eleven years. Presently, he has been working as a Mission Facilitator in the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change under the Government of Punjab at Chandigarh.

Ghamaliel M. Villalobos is an English Foreign Teacher at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT), Thailand. She is pursuing a Master of Arts in English for Career Development and has experience in higher education, secondary education, and customer service. Her work focuses on language teaching methodologies, educational technology, and career-focused English instruction.