Pearson New International Edition International pcl tp indd 1

FRONT OFFICE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The PMS is an efficient tool for maintaining a hotel’s historical data. The best
FOMs “see” into the future as they predict room sales and the number of guests who
will occupy them. In other words, they create accurate sales forecasts. As the PMS
maintains the sales history data necessary to create accurate sales forecasts, it is the
primary tool that allows FOMs to see the future.
SECTION REVIEW AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Section Objective:
Describe factors that are important when selecting PMS
reports for development and discuss concerns about the distribution and analysis
of these reports.
Section Summary:
The FOM must work with the hotel’s general manager, depart-
ment heads, and others to determine the type and frequency of PMS reports that
should be generated to best help management decision makers. The types of data
and the amount of information retrievable from a modern PMS are immense, but all
reports can be classified into one or more of four fundamental information areas,
the four Rs: reservations, rooms, revenue, and records and accounts.
The manager of each hotel department must determine the specific informa-
tion required for effective decision making and must determine the frequency with
which this information will be best used. Then, PMS reports can be generated.
The best prediction of what will happen in the future often relates to what has
happened in the past. Accurate historical information about room revenues and
sales is critical for making decisions about the future. PMS reports help managers
to forecast future performance by estimating room revenues and sales. Based on
this information, FOMs and other hotel managers can improve guest service, lower
labor costs, and improve the revenue of owners or shareholders.