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My article this week is about how GDS (Global Distribution Systems) can be compared to a seatbelt. The author opens the article discussing the main reasons we still continue to use seatbelts; even though they aren't the most comfortable or fashionable items to use, they still do their jobs in saving our lives when it comes to a collision of some sort. The author is in favor of GDS and makes the claim that like seatbelts, the GDS may not be the most up-to-date or may not appear to be as nice as other local systems to each individual airline, but they get the job done and there are no other systems out there like it that we know of (no other systems that do everything he GDS system does that is). The main topic of discussion that the article is concerned with is the recent decision made by the company Lufthansa to start charging its customers an additional surcharge for using GDS systems instead of going through its own system. The author clearly makes it know that she doesn't believe Lufthansa when they say they are charging this additional surcharge because GDS is the most expensive channel to go through. "Because there's no reason to think that an airline should expect to distribute its products without any cost, Lufthansa's recent gambit seems more of a tactic for increasing lagging direct distribution... Its strategy seems to rest in shifting distribution costs to corporate buyers" claims Rose, the author of the article. The author also points out some of the draw backs of using agency portals, the main reason being that a customer cannot compare rates of other competitors and that agency portals cannot handle high volume transactions like the GDS can. It is also made known that there are costs that come with other channels as well, like the prices you pay for building airline websites and keeping them updated. The author concludes that "Given the history of negotiations between airlines and GDSs, it's impossible to know whether Lufthansa is using DCC as

One issue that I always get into when travelling is misplace my room key. Every time I leave my room I have to find my room card first, even just for getting the ice, or for finding a microwave in the middle of the night. And when we return to the room, I have to dig into my purse to find the keys to open the door, not to mention when there is something wrong with the key due to all kind of issue. This Smart Band is so convenient and useful, I can simply leave the room anytime and not have to worry about losing the room key or misplace it somewhere else. The only concern I have about it, is that there is fee for it. Although it seems to be reusable, it's not well adopted in the industry, but I'm sure the cost will eventually go away. 

Summer is wedding season. Celebrities aren't the only one spending a ton of money willing to spend on their honeymoons. Billionaires have honeymoons almost as extravagant as their wedding itself. With all that money, but tends to be complicated. Ovation Vacations have become experts at planning honeymoons for billionaires. This company is known for planning leisure travel consulting for 'ultra-high net worth' people. This team consists of 30 employees which plan nearly 200 honeymoons per year, averaging about $50,000 each trip. This results in $1 million in revenue per month. The CEO is considered to be the Olivia Pope of the travel industry. An interesting request of travelers who book with Ovation is that they like specific cuts of meat during traveling. It's very common to have meat sent from the U.S. to where ever they are vacationing. This is very interesting to me because you would expect one of the main attractions of traveling is to try new cuisines. Seems a little over the top. It gets a little more extreme -- one guest even requested an al dente pasta cooked for a certain amount of minutes. A celebrity requested dragon fruit for their "pink smoothie". This gets tricky when other countries have rules when it comes to importation. JLo wanted Ovation to pick our green M&Ms for her. In addition, another guest wanted a crate of Fiji water bottles delivered nightly. It gets even better, one guest paid $40,000 for her 5-night stay in order to have her sink filled 7 inches in order to not bend over to wash their face. Another husband spent $80,000 to have a yacht carpeted so his wife can wear her stilettos instead of being barefoot. Sometimes inevitable things happen such as natural disasters. Not a problem for Ovation. They spend $50,000 for one couple to still enjoy the beach, which had been destroyed due to weather. What they did was hire a truck to move sand from one part of the island to the other for them to enjoy a private beach. Something simple, yet

I found this article interesting for this week's topic, as it talks about the advantages to sustainable buildings. The article mentions the practice of sustainability has existed in some way for decades. However, now more than ever, there is a drive for responsible construction, for both homes and commercial buildings. Advantages to such buildings include lower costs, as sustainable designs offer energy efficiency. Which leads to the advantage of lower energy consumption, through the use of systems, such as solar panels, or wind energy generation features. Lastly, sustainable buildings can also require less maintenance, allowing for a longer lifespan, and less costly attention. 

MODULE 5: This article is about a new booking site was created for individuals who prefer to book hotels that are committed to sustainable practices. Travel Management Companies (TMCs) has worked with BookDifferent.com in launching its Corporate Travel Tool and consumers are able to see the different properties' carbon footprint. This new site offers approximately 1.1 million accommodations with more than 7,000 eco-certified properties. The Corporate Travel Tool works like an add-on feature for TMCs that creates a seamless process for booking properties that can reduce the consumers environmental footprint. Most recently BookDifferent.com has received the 2018 Sustainable Travel Award this past January in the Netherlands.

This press release article talks about how the Global Electronic Recycling Market is segmented on the lines of its type of processed material, type of equipment, source of equipment and regional. I find this interested because after watching the videos from this weeks module, my eyes have been opened to a world I once didn't know about. Computer recycling, electronic recycling or e-waste recycling aren't really recycling. This article is interesting to me because now I have knowledge of what really goes on behind the scenes.

This article continues the talk after the YouTube video about computer parts being sent to China. It talks in depth about E-waste and the effects on the health of communities. E-waste is effecting our environment negatively and something needs to be done. The article goes into talking about a circular economy is needed to help reduce the waste. We shouldn't be throwing away an iPhone every time a new one comes out. Those parts should be reusable or upgradable.

This article gives tips and tricks for small businesses and how they can grow their ecommerce business. Tips include using social media, knowing your audience, being mindful of wording, and using chatbots, are all tips that smaller business can use to drive customers to their businesses. Online shopping keeps growing and growing so it is important for businesses to know how to stand out against their competitors. Understanding their customers and making adjustments to better serve them, will separate the winners from the losers.

I love how this is showing where the trends are going and business is evolving. It seems crazy to think there is more than the way we currently use the internet, but there is so much room for expansion in this market. Good article and read. Thanks for sharing.

This article relates on the growth and efficiency of cashless & contact-less payment systems which are now part of the unattended POS systems. Their use allows for a fast & easy service and prevent people form worrying about whether they have enough change to pay for the parking meter or for the candy bar form the vending machine. The best part is the fact that the payment card can be placed nearby the device and the transaction can be processed; no need to put in a pin number and risk getting any financial information stolen.

Is Shopify the new Amazon? If you do not know what Shopify is, it is an ecommerce platform for companies to use to sell their goods. It helps merchants to set up simple website store fronts and allows them to customize their store anyway they want. It also assists them will marketing campaigns, distribution, and shipping.

Very interesting article! This introduces Shopify as one the new ecommerce platform that allows individuals to set up the way they want to see their store front. It allows them to manage everything on this platform. Almost like a direct competitor to Amazon.Very interesting market for exponential growth!

These are some tips and tricks for managers to use in order to really utilize the full potential of an HRIS during this pandemic. With remote working become the new reality, it is important to still remain on the same page with your team.

There was a huge data breach at THSuite which exposed 85,000 files, some of those files being personal identification information. Dispensaries usually collect a lot of information to comply with U.S State laws. The files that were retrieved by the hackers means they can take advantage of those profiles. THSuite is looking at fines of up to $50,000 PER record or jail time.

Cloudbeds has invested in their future to be ahead of the curve by focusing on inventing new technology! They understand the importance of being innovators and leading the industry into the future.

A perfect example of how proximity marketing can successfully build and maintain a loyal customer base and increase their foot traffic.

With COVID-19 shutting down businesses across the world or at least taking their work remotely, businesses have left their equipment behind. However, under these restrictions, businesses are still allowed to maintain the condition of their physical plants and equipment.

This article focuses on the implementation of the Uniform Systems software, developed by InvoTech Systems Inc., the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa in the Cayman Islands. The Uniform Systems software is designed to streamline the management of employee uniforms, which are an extremely necessary commodity at any property, especially luxury products which strive for exceptional appearances. The system both monitors and maintains employee uniform assignments while simultaneously easing uniform purchasing. All of this is achievable by the grand opening of the property, which requires mass assignment and disbursement of employee uniforms. InvoTech prides itself on the expertise, professionalism, and courtesy with which its Installation and Training Team operates. Uniform Systems also follows the trend of environmental consciousness in hospitality by being paperless. Aside from the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa, InvoTech's clients include some of the largest names in hospitality, including but not limited to MGM, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott.