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pects of a franchisee’s business, from guest check-ins and housekeeping services to billing and finances. Over time new features have been rolled into the software platform making it more robust and useful for hotel owners—it’s currently distributed in eight countries and available in four languages. And while plenty of cloud-based PMS packages are now available from third-party vendors like Micros, Maestro, and RoomKey, Choice’s internal solution has garnered its fair share of attention. “We had been getting knocks on the door from IT vendors at other hotel companies and individual Choice franchisees that own other brands, saying they were interested in our product,” says Pacious, “So we set up a new division so we could take a look at other opportunities we could develop.” This led the company to launch SkyTouch last year, a new division that develops and markets cloud-based software solutions to hotels inside and outside the Choice system. Pages: 1 2 3 4 2013-06-18 Sean Downey !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//platform.stumbleupon.com/1/widgets.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); inShare0 Related Articles attachment-3

Switching to the cloud from a client server platform pays off with a big drop in both the initial capital outlay and the ongoing operating costs for the property management and other systems.

his led the company to launch SkyTouch last year, a new division that develops and markets cloud-based software solutions to hotels inside and outside the Choice system. Pages: 1 2 3 4 2013-06-18 Sean Downey !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//platform.stumbleupon.com/1/widgets.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); inShare0 Related Articles Hotel Market Insight: Cleveland a

This led the company to launch SkyTouch last year, a new division that develops and markets cloud-based software solutions to hotels inside and outside the Choice system.

It can become challenging to track each employee’s availability and providing updates to all of your staff as soon as possible.

Having an employee time tracking tool that’s integrated with your payroll system ensures that all data can easily be found in one place. This eliminates the need for multiple systems, where information can be easily misplaced.

By having employee information readily available, it allows your employees to easily access and track their time worked.

By having a tool that allows you to automate calculations for gratuities, you have the ability and control to accurately pay out employees based on the hours worked in a certain position.

Ultimately, by automating these calculations you not only save time, but you can ensure that you are accurately paying gratuities to your staff.

Now that your HRIS reporting tool pulls the payroll and scheduling information into one place, you no longer have to verify consistency across all those other systems.

A better hospitality HRIS reporting tool should support your payroll and people

But it should also assist you in your budget reports, for things like occupancy rates and creating weekly cost profit analysis reports.

This gives you the control you need to accurately and confidently track the amounts due and paid.

Your hospitality’s payroll and people operations will become more efficient.

Level up your HR Tech, and have full control when it comes to managing your people.

This is the most obvious technology we can’t live without. Let’s be honest—-most of us are glued to our smartphones and our favorite apps 24 hours a day.

Chances are, if you walk around a convention center or hotel lobby, you will see people with their heads down, tapping away furiously on their smartphones

How did we ever find time to accomplish everything before smartphones came into existence?

your event management system with a customer relationship management (CRM) system such as Salesforce,

the benefits of the SaaS (software as a service) delivery model are becoming increasingly apparent.

These applications are advantageous to planners because they allow us to access all details and execution aspects of an event from any web-enabled device—be it a computer, smartphone, or iPad

With SaaS cloud apps, just provide end-users with reports-only access to what they need and nothing more. 

integration options available to planners, you are now blessed with the ability to link up your event management system with a customer relationship management (CRM) system such as Salesforce,

2. SaaS Cloud Apps

With all of the information you  could ever need to access right at your fingertips through event management applications, you can ditch the millions of pieces of paper and now access contracts, registrations, room blocks,

Live and virtual events are about giving the attendee a choice as to how they spend their time

“webinars on steroids.” Live and virtual events are about giving the attendee a choice as to how they spend their time.

virtual events save the planner and attendee time, money, and resources.

virtual events save the planner and attendee time, money, and resources.

Virtual events are a great way for planners to fill seats at a cost that won’t make anyone wince.

This is the best tool in the box for improving future events.

4. Social Media and Viral Marketing

Did you know that one out of three consumers is online for three or more hours per day? Or that 90 million tweets are sent out daily? What about this one: One of every eight minutes spent online is spent on Facebook

Some of the best traction you will get is from people sharing interesting tidbits they may have learned and enticing others to learn more

Today is the day of the iPad and the tablet, and a more simplified life.

3. Virtual Events

In a world where everyone is always on the run, our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

our top five technologies for event planners are no surprise—but what these tools can accomplish might impress you.

Smartphones

Chances are, if you walk around a convention center or hotel lobby, you will see people with their heads down, tapping away furiously on their smartphones. 

Whether the ubiquity of these devices is a blessing or a curse, the fact is, event professionals and participants alike would be lost without them.

SaaS Cloud Apps

SaaS (software as a service) delivery model

These applications are advantageous to planners because they allow us to access all details and execution aspects of an event from any web-enabled device

Additionally, with all of the integration options available to planners, you are now blessed with the ability to link up your event management system with a customer relationship management (CRM) system

Virtual Events

Virtual events are a great way for planners to fill seats at a cost that won’t make anyone wince.

Often complementing physical events, virtual events save the planner and attendee time, money, and resources.

There is word that the economy is making a recovery, but many of us have yet to see it.

Social Media and Viral Marketing

Did you know that one out of three consumers is online for three or more hours per day? Or that 90 million tweets are sent out daily? What about this one: One of every eight minutes spent online is spent on Facebook. 

So this should be a no-brainer

This marketing can come from either you or your attendees. Allowing attendees to share things that they like and getting them involved in hyping your event is a great way to spread the word. 

iPads and Tablets

Today is the day of the iPad and the tablet, and a more simplified life. 

When combining tablets with mobile event applications, planners can also communicate in real-time with participants and share or update information in seconds. Never leave home without one! 

Gaining competitive advantage [7] such as, IT security investments may stop the competitors to absorb market power. From other studies that point to problems appearing in hospitality to find out if the IT they invested is effective, [8] asserts that many hospitality companies have no procedures to see how effectively their spending on information technology is.

Various sources of data that show about IT investment in the hotel, then the problem is the existence of large amount of investment for IT development without understanding IT effectiveness for the hotel [11], the managerial party who difficult to give data about the values and intangible/tangible benefits.

According to [14], an IT investment consists of the total life cycle cost of an entire project or project chunk that involves IT, including the post-project operating cost of the system that was implemented. The investment ceases to exist when it is replaced or eliminated for any reason.

Evaluating expense or impact of large IT investment may vary from study to study [15]. In order to evaluate IT investment, Information Economics (IE) is a set of calculating tools to measure the benefits and costs of an information technology project.

The benefits of IT/IS that organizations use can be viewed by combining Simple ROI analysis and analysis of technology and business domain.

This study using Information Economic approach in order to do feasibility assessment that combine technology domain and business domain

The data collected includes the financial data of 5-star hotels and IT projects undertaken, as well as the costs for the technology used today. This stage is also done spread the questionnaire online for intangible value analysis of business domain and technology domain

The feasibility of IT investment can be known ROI score generated on the economic impact sheet. According to [23], to calculate simple ROI, there are three worksheets, such as: development cost sheet using ratio, ongoing work sheet, and economic impact sheet. The final value of the ROI and the scores of corporate analysis is incorporated into the IE

The Scores on the IE Scorecard will show the value and benefits of investment for IT.

The huge demand for the Internet makes many hotels present the speed and bandwidth that can satisfy the guests.

E-Concierge Service Management. Service to entertain hotel guests and modern travelers is currently working with smartphones in the form of E-Concierge Mobile with technology called Mobile Guest Softphone (MGS).

IT Security, the problem that arises when using IT in a company/organization is its security. For companies/organizations and even hotels are also very vulnerable to information that can harm the hotel in case of cyber attack.

According to Table 2, Mandarin Oriental Hotel ROI score is 1. This score means that the IT investment is feasible. Above 100% for Simple ROI means that IT implementation give profitability to the hotel and able to invest more in the future

Value Linking approach implemented in 5-star hotel, implementation online reservation and e-Concierge management, hotel guests can quickly make room reservations and guest data collection will be better. For e-Concierge the process of entering guests to the room will also be easier

This value showed that 5-star hotels in Jakarta have the time and opportunity to invest more in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on future growth and development of existing infrastructure.

It can be concluded that IT implementation and IT projects in 5-star hotels in Jakarta are quite useful. E-Concierge, mobile apps and online reservation are most valuable and success investment for 5-star hotel. But, in order to improve the performance of hotel IT, which in terms of security and improve hotel services, need a system improvement in accordance with the hotel program, so it can support the vision and mission of 5-star hotels in Jakarta.

The result of financial analysis that is calculated ratio and processed in economic impact sheet obtained simple ROI and can be concluded that in terms of cost, IT investment in 5-star hotels in Jakarta can provide economic benefits for the hotel.

The investment quadrant shows that a 5-star hotel has a solid business base, has the time and opportunity to invest in the future. The 5-star hotels in Jakarta also have the time and opportunity to invest more in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on future growth and development of existing infrastructure.

This value indicates that IT investment in 5-star hotel in Jakarta is considered economical enough, and quite helpful and useful in supporting hotel business process.

The hot-button issue within the realm of hotel-information technology is mobile and cloud technology.

Ironically, one of the main reasons terrorism tops the list is because it has become less of an issue in recent years, sources said.

“The greatest business risk, as I see it … is insurance fraud. And it’s the most expensive,” he said.

A related threat is that of “skimmers,” or devices that catch credit card numbers when consumers use them for payment. The problem primarily is contained to the restaurant industry, but Callaghan is concerned it could spread to hotels.

“Liability” as a general label refers to hoteliers being held liable for the acts, which are often criminal, of third parties, the AH&LA’s Callaghan said.

“Security” still is something of a taboo in the global hotel industry, said Paul Moxness VP for corporate safety and security at The Rezidor Hotel Group, a Brussels-based hotel management company, with more than 400 hotels and nearly 90,000 rooms in its portfolio.

18% thinner

20% lighter.

That means that your eye

literally cannot distinguish one pixel from another.

there will be a 5th row of icons

44% more color saturation

the iPhone 5 was announced. The

2 times faster graphics.

chip that is 22% smaller than the A5,

Apple has added LTE

It is an 8mp camera

the hybrid IR filter, 5-element lens, and f/24 aperature.

will snap photos 40% quicker than the iPhone 4S does

Video shot with iSight is 1080p with improved stability and face detection.

use FaceTime over cellular networks, 3 integrated microphones for better audio, and wideband audio.

Meeting planners will leverage technology to gather in-depth attendee information: Finding out what makes attendees tick is a crucial part of a successful event management strategy. Now event organizers can use technology to gather and compile information in real time, which enables them to adjust their meeting strategies on the fly and demonstrate ROI.

Using technology tools to gauge attendee needs, get real-time data on event effectiveness and streamline planner workloads makes sense, as does a one-stop solution that leverages the ever-present smartphone.

January 2010, only 40 hospitality properties have achieved so-called LEED

certification.

LEED is a voluntary, third-party green building certification program that awards points to buildings for satisfying certain green building criteria. In order to be LEED-certified, a building has to implement a plan to reduce building operating costs, its environmental footprint, and resource consumption such as water and energy use.

developed by the U.S. Green Building Council

non-profit organization

intended to provide building owners and operators a basic framework for identifying and employing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions

LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance are the programs which have the most applicability to hospitality projects.

In addition, each rating system, including LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, is organized into six credit categories

sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality and innovation in operations.

Once the essential prerequisites are satisfied, developers can thereafter chose which optional credits to pursue in order to obtain certification. Certification levels start at Certified and increase to Silver, Gold and Platinum designations.

first hotel to receive LEED Platinum Certification was the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina

Proximity Hotel uses 39% less energy and 33% less water then a comparable sized hotel. In addition, the Proximity Hotel was able to recycle 87% of its construction debris

purchased 40% of the building materials and 90% of its furniture locally and even restored 700 feet of an adjacent stream. Proximity’s most impressive features, however, include:

installation of 100 solar panels on the roof, which heat about 60% of the hotel and the hotel restaurant’s water; use of geothermal energy for the restaurant’s refrigeration equipment; and installation of the Regenerative Drive model of the Otis’ Gen2 elevator which reduces net energy usage by capturing the elevator’s energy and then feeding it back to the hotel’s electrical grid

Many hospitality companies have already introduced green initiatives, such as the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, offering linen and towel reuse programs as well as various recycling programs

Not only are these green initiatives environmentally responsible, but should a hospitality company at some future point seek LEED certification, these green initiatives would earn them points in furtherance of the certification process

Paving Parking Lots with Highly Reflective Materials or Open Grid Pavers

By using highly reflective concrete and/or open grid pavers, hospitality companies can help reduce the summer cooling loads for their building, which in turn reduces energy use and pollution generation.

Installing High-Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures

Landscaping with Native Plant Species

native plants reduce more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than traditional mowed grass due to their extensive root systems and increased ability to retain and store water

Green Cleaning – Using Sustainable Cleaning Products, Materials and Equipment

A green cleaning program may include the use of Green Seal Certified household cleaners, Green Seal Certified laundry products, micro-fiber cloths, and dual motor vacuum cleaners with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters that prevent particles from becoming airborne. Green Seal is a non-profit, third-party certifier

third-party certifier

Using Local Materials and Goods

While not every hotel or hospitality company may be in the financial position to seek LEED certification or undertake costly capital expenditures, there are numerous green initiatives that each and every hospitality company should be considering to improve their efficiencies while also attracting green conscious consumers

A simple Google search of “hotels” and “green initiatives” returns more than 27,000,000 hits

4. From content to meaning. From interaction to relationship. The lines between supplier and user generated content are increasingly going to blur.With ever increasing amounts of information and users on the Internet, our online social circles will become more specific and exclusive. Users will rely on a personalized, time-bound ‘zeitgeist’ of the Web and their social networks to read the news, express opinions and aid their buying decisions. The ability to interact with hotel content and staff online will become the rule, not the exception.

3. The evolution of online form.Just as the separation of form and content on the Web allowed normal people like us to publish and create websites easily without having to learn web design, the next step will be the evolution of online “form” itself. The end purpose? To allow ‘web-sites’ to become “omni-sites” that can adapt and display content automatically in any shape or form, be it on web browsers, mobile devices, televisions, holographic displays or billboards.

2. Search rankings become irrelevant.Currently, with the heavy emphasis on search rankings and generic paid search, this statement may come as a bit of a shock…but surely, this is the natural evolution of search. The days of pure search are already on the way out. Try a search on Google today and the evidence is there…a mashup of text, images and video results.

5. The real world and the virtual world collide…visually. Increasing customer discontent with hotel photography due to outdated shots, limited views and image doctoring, combined with emerging technology will make reliance on supplier visuals a thing of the past. As the ability to go beyond linking text to hyperlinking images and video on the Web becomes easier, users will be able to experience augmented reality through their computers.

High profile data breaches at companies like Target and Yahoo have forced executives to recognize the potential consequences.

Though CRM has been widely-used by Fortune 500 companies for decades, the CRM market is expanding rapidly as CRM software companies seek to penetrate the market for small-to-medium-sized businesses.

where 26 percent of travel agents stated that they used their GDS platform more often than in the past and 19 percent said they used the GDS Shopping Displays more often than before.

"Travel agents are increasing GDS hotel use, and have once again confirmed their confidence in GDS Shopping and Booking Displays,"

84 percent of respondents indicated that they were using their GDS platform the same amount or more often than in the past, with 35 percent stating that they are using GDS more.

n the survey, travel agents worldwide also indicated that promotional messages are effective and often prompt bookings: 66 percent of all travel agents surveyed who were aware of promotional messages requested additional information by looking at the screen attached to the promotional message.

"This survey definitively shows that promotional messages are not only an excellent way to reach travel agents, but also a valuable sales catalyst,

s the leading provider of revenue generating solutions for hoteliers across the globe. TravelClick offers hotels world-class reservation solutions, business intelligence products and comprehensive media and marketing solutions to help hotels grow their business.

is one of the fastest growing marketing research firms in the United States. With offices across the country and in Europe and partnerships with many of the largest companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, automotive, healthcare, media, technology and travel and leisure industries worldwide, PMI also offers advanced advertising and brand measurement along with direct marketing expertise.

Increase connection points and power access in the guest room.

Take advantage of common spaces. Hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, and gyms are becoming the preferred spots for guests to work, socialize, and relax. This is especially the case for millennials and younger travelers, who increasingly favor the lobby area as a place for productivity and socializing.

Convenient, intuitive access to power to keep them connected is essential throughout the room but should not interfere with the room’s design

ffering safe power access in outside spaces is a critical consideration when thinking through connectivity’s role in the hotel experience.

Ensure a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.

  Keep sustainability in mind

By implementing products or controls to manage and increase energy efficiency on-property, hotel owners and operators can achieve cost savings that benefit the bottom line.

you should inquire about their security standards and the safeguards they have put in place to guarantee that your participant's data is held in a secure environment. 

An online registration system will offer you the ability to watch your registration data flow into the database in real-time.  This means you can get a more accurate count of expected participants and the supplies needed to support them when they show up to the event.

Developing an environmental impact statement and branding your event as a "Green Event" is not only good for the environment but may prove valuable to your marketing campaign.

  People are becoming increasingly comfortable with online transactions and event organizers have much to gain from new online technologies that can streamline their workload.

Take Chipotle, for example. The company got devalued by about $400 million after they suffered a data breach.

because most go belly up six months after an attack.

Unprotected WiFi

Criminals pretend to be from the U.S. government and inform targets their COVID-19 stimulus check is ready, but they would need to verify the details of the recipient first before they can send it.

CRM software data, which may include names, addresses, and even birthdays. One of the most common ways to achieve this sort of attack is via malware (malicious software). Hackers find a vulnerable backdoor to a restaurant's network to install malware on the POS system. Malicious code then records every transaction and every detail, sending it back to the criminal's server over the internet.

GrubHub drivers scam both the restaurants and the customers by marking the deliveries as complete and pocketing the tip money, without bothering even to pick up the order from the establishment.

Businesses are scrambling to find suppliers amidst the chaos, and criminals have been taking advantage of the confusion

Scammers are posing as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and other public health agencies

social engineering on the restaurant staff to pull off phishing attacks.

PCI compliant.

conduct a risk analysis

hiring a security expert either full time or as a consultan

Secure your network and always change the free WiFi access point's password with a strong one every day.

latest operating system updates

Force multi-factor authentication

strong passwords

Ensure sensitive data encryption

web-filter to secure your WiFi network

Install a robust security software program on all computers and devices to block, detect, and clean malware.

Conduct regular cybersecurity training

easy to summon service in “non-F&B” areas

The card data is processed only by the payment gateway to/from the acquiring bank and only the final transaction approval code is passed to the POS, without the card data

The hotel F&B space continues to show growth, with overall consumer spending increasing 4.9 percent in 2017 and showing a robust 5.5-percent annual growth since 2011

associated mobile apps have the potential to increase top-line [food-and-beverage] sales in hotels by 5 [percent] to 10 percent without significant costs

hotel food-and-beverage revenue per occupied room increased 1.6 percent during 2017. F&B RevPOR reached $105.56, up from $103.93 in 2016, according to STR.

POS vendors have moved away from storing card data on their application and network. Many vendors no longer pass through or process any card data on their POS systems. Rather, they link and integrate to certified payment gateways. Payment devices are encrypted and secured, and client card data is always encrypted and totally separated from the POS terminal.

Technology is allowing for an extreme and pronounced change in point-of-sale systems

Mobile POS provides several benefits for hotels and guests alike. With mobile POS, the speed of service is dramatically increased because the staff can bring mobile ordering directly to guests, anywhere on property

“Hotels can spend millions of dollars on a remodel but if they don’t have the right point of experience, it can still result in a one- or two-star rating,” he said.

Mobile is now

Hinojosa said

with

they are the face of the property

u recognize them and are honored they are here with you again.”

“Whenever a guest is seated in the lobby and wants a take-away coffee, they can order one and not only when a staff member notices the guest in a restaurant,

While there is interest in the potential of AI and chatbots for roomservice and self-service ordering, these are not yet ready for a widespread rollout at this time, Wisell said.  

“Data scientists can be used in the back of the house on the kitchen side, too—optimizing the production line,” he said. “Looking at the analytics behind the performance will reduce the wait times in the front of the house.”

hotels don’t want to cross the line into creepy.