An Online Platform for 'Black Swan' Event Management in the Hospitality Industry

Black swan Events or Low Probability High Impact Events (LoPHIEs), like wildfires, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have significant and multifaceted implications in every economic sector of the area affected; among them, the hospitality and travel industry may be at the frontier of those affected in terms of span and impact. This paper outlines a vivid demonstration of the complexity of involved business processes and their interconnections through a case study. Appropriate preparations for hospitality and travel SMEs to such events have been identified and implemented through a purpose specific information system. To design this online platform, we followed a requirements analysis methodology. The main elements from the implementation of this platform have also been included, whereas elements of an initial usability evaluation have also been presented.