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VOA教育报道2024--Students Learn AI to Prepare for Hospitality Careers

时间:2024-08-02 02:40来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
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Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is making its way into many parts of our lives. It can choose a coffee blend, or clothing and even check fields of tulips for sick flowers.

So it makes sense that AI is being used in the study of hospitality1, says University of Florida professor Rachel J.C. Fu. Hospitality is a term to describe businesses like hotels, restaurants, tourism and event planning.

Fu said some of the newest tools permit students to practice real-life situations they might find while working at a hotel, a restaurant or an event. And Chris Anderson, a business professor at Cornell University, says AI tools are already helping2 hotels with marketing3 and dealing4 with customers.

Get experience with AI as soon as possible

Fu's recent book Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Robot Applications in Hospitality Businesses looks at the future of hospitality in the time of artificial intelligence. Fu says business students should be familiar with AI programming tools if they want a career in hotel or restaurant management.

Fu told VOA you can already see AI and robots being used in the hospitality business "quite a lot." For example, airlines use AI to deal with customer service and airports use AI to manage cleaning work.

AI can also be used to help sales.

Fu said a robot followed her during a 2015 visit to a museum in her hometown in Taiwan. At the end of her visit, the robot told her about things that she could purchase at the gift shop. It also told her about other parts of the museum she might like to visit.

The use of robots increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. They can do jobs that people who are worried about getting sick do not want. One example, Fu noted5, is that robots are starting to be used to deliver food from hotel kitchens to people staying in a room.

"All you need to do is use your iPhone to scan6 and pick up your food," she said.

AI is already working where you can't see it

Anderson is a professor at the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell. He centers his work on helping hospitality businesses such as hotels and rental7 car companies choose the right prices for their rooms and cars.

He said most hotels already permit guests to use an app to check-in and enter their rooms. At some point, airline passengers may be able to check in and board their plane with facial recognition8.

Although the technology seems complex, Anderson said the most important skill for a student is "a desire to learn." In an email to VOA Learning English, he added, "People in these roles need to be flexible, take on new projects and learn new skills."

AI experience separates job candidates

Anderson said students in technology or data study programs should consider working for hospitality companies. "Digital marketing, distribution, and revenue9 management are very data and technology rich," he said. And large hospitality businesses need those skills.

Fu added that when it comes to making hiring decisions, if a manager is considering two qualified10 candidates, but one has experience with AI, "that person will be really valuable to the company."

"Human beings can only be replaced by another human being when that person knows how to utilize11 AI."

Fu said one of the most important jobs in hospitality is called "front of the house." That is the person who connects with customers when they arrive at a hotel or restaurant.

Now, however, robots will be doing some of that work. But, she noted, humans should not be worried about losing their jobs to robots, because humans can use their creativity to "move the industry and visitors' experiences to the next level."

Eventually, artificial intelligence will be used to help a hotel or restaurant greet a visitor. If they permit their data to be shared, a hotel might know the visitor's favorite meal or drink and have it ready when they arrive.

Business and marketing students still 'na?ve'

Carlie Malone recently finished her studies in hospitality management at the University of Arkansas. She is now planning to study for an advanced degree in event management at New York University.

For her final research paper, Malone talked with nine top hotel business managers about AI. Malone said most businesses use AI in ways customers cannot see, such as looking at spreadsheets and making business plan suggestions.

She said the topic of AI came up in her classes, but not many students seemed to be interested in it.

"From what I could tell from my other classmates, honestly, if there were 25 kids in my class, only probably four of us are talking about AI, compared to the rest. A lot of people are still naive12 to the topic. I guess is the best way to put it."

At the University of Florida, there is an Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics program for hospitality and event management. It requires students to take three classes covering the use of artificial intelligence and data collection in tourism and hospitality.

Other universities have similar classes, and there are even short-term studies for those already working in hospitality.

At Cornell, Anderson teaches a class that takes one weekend. It is aimed at those who already working in the hospitality business and helps them see how AI can be used to make their jobs easier.

Wide open future

Anderson notes that large hotel groups are only just beginning to use AI, so "there are lots of opportunities as firms look to not get too far behind, too early."

Both Fu and Anderson say this provides an opportunity for international students in the U.S. to gain experience with hospitality companies during work programs or optional practical training.

"This is a global business," Fu said, noting that companies like Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt have hotels around the world.

Anderson suggested some young people can even gain experience at an international hotel in their home country and "develop brand and industry-specific knowledge and use that to transition13 to the U.S."

Words in This Story

tourism -n. the business of providing hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc., for people who are traveling

customer -n. a person who purchases something from a business

management -n. the people who direct or run a business

scan -v. to use a device to read information from another screen, paper, etc.

flexible -adj. able to adjust to new situations

distribution -n. moving items around for a business based on its needs

revenue -n. the money earned by a business

advanced -adj. higher than the usual level

naive -adj. unaware14, innocent

firm -n. another word for a business or organization

global -adj. having to do with the world, or describing something that is worldwide

brand -n. a company name or product name that is well known, Disney or Nestle for example

transition -v. to move or change


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 hospitality ocqxC     
n.好客,殷勤;adj.(气候等)宜人,适宜
参考例句:
  • He welcomed you to enjoy his hospitality.他欢迎你去做客。
  • Thank you for your kind hospitality.谢谢你的盛情款待。
2 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
3 marketing Boez7e     
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西
参考例句:
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
  • He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
4 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
5 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
6 scan FZ1xu     
n.审视,浏览,扫描,押韵,细查;vt.细看,浏览,扫描,详细调查,信件扫描(指BBS处理直递邮件或会议邮件时,对所有或特定信区做检查的动作)
参考例句:
  • The first scan was bad, so I had to do it again.第一次扫描不好,所以我得重做。
  • A scan determines the position of the baby in the womb.扫描可以确定胎儿在子宮中的位置。
7 rental cBezh     
n.租赁,出租,出租业
参考例句:
  • The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
  • We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。
8 recognition zUYxm     
n.承认,认可,认出,认识
参考例句:
  • The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
  • A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意,表示认识对方。
9 revenue 5BJzR     
n.总收入,财政收入,税收;税务局
参考例句:
  • The country diminished the revenue by reducing tax.这个国家通过减税而使税收减少了。
  • A government's revenue and expenditure should be balanced.政府的财政收入和支出要平衡。
10 qualified DCPyj     
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的
参考例句:
  • He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
  • We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。
11 utilize OiPwz     
vt.使用,利用
参考例句:
  • The cook will utilize the leftover ham bone to make soup.厨师要用吃剩的猪腿骨做汤。
  • You must utilize all available resources.你必须利用一切可以得到的资源。
12 naive yFVxO     
adj.幼稚的,轻信的;天真的
参考例句:
  • It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致,你未免太单纯了。
  • Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。
13 transition 7nOwT     
n.转变,变迁,过渡
参考例句:
  • Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood.青春期是童年与成年之间的过渡时期。
  • They all support a peaceful transition.他们全部都支持和平过渡。
14 unaware Pl6w0     
a.不知道的,未意识到的
参考例句:
  • They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
  • I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。
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