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cborregomarsh

Cloud Computing Continues to Transform Hospitality - RTInsights - 1 views

www.rtinsights.com/inues-to-transform-hospitality

shared by cborregomarsh on 31 Aug 21 - No Cached
amdelgad liked it
  • Just like databases in the early 90s allowed hotels to manage large numbers of reservations and requests efficiently, cloud solutions offer the chance to remove common frustrations and frictions across the entire ecosystem.
  • Reduce cost: Cloud services allow hospitality industries to pay only for the services they need. Cloud computing also puts smart building management into reality, as well as facilitating projects and maintenance.
  • Improve experiences: Cloud services also provide flexibility in services by allowing staff to operate from anywhere, as an example. Guests also receive the same flexibility to manage their needs from anywhere.
  • ...46 more annotations...
  • Build responsive infrastructure:
  • Cloud Security
  • Cloud reliability The hospitality industry wants to know that they aren’t adopting another solution that will prove obsolete in just a few years.
  • Even if it’s no fault of the establishment, customers will remember frustration reconciling a bill or having to wait a long time for check-in. The cloud adds a layer of protection against minor hiccups in their experience.
  • Personalize guest offers: Captured data offers a wealth of information. Cloud computing helps hoteliers and other hospitality organizations provide customized experiences and responsive, convenient services.
  • Cloud computing can offer a seamless experience to customers while reducing obstacles to service from the staff side.
  • The Airline was able to improve customer service by providing an instant response to various customer requests and reducing wait times.
  • Pre-arrival: Cloud services capture data from the moment guests first interact with the company or service. The hotel, for example, can make a note of what services or rooms the customer looked at and offer suggestions for upgrades.
  • Arrival: When guests arrive, their information is saved and ready for each member of staff. This offers personalization right from the beginning.
  • The stay: Knowledge of previous stays provides insight into customer preferences. A hotel may address mistakes right from the beginning or identify missed opportunities. Personalization continues with upsell offers that happen as the customer continues to interact with the business.
  • Departure: Not only does the cloud enable a frictionless checkout experience with no surprises, but it can also follow up afterward to continue to nurture relationships and reward loyalty.
  • Preparation: Following guest stays, businesses can enable targeted follow-up. Cloud computing can also handle things like predictive maintenance to reduce downtime, especially during peak seasons.
  • The Hilton made use of cloud computing to monitor all locks within its properties.
  • It’s only one instance of the Hilton’s shift to cloud computing. It has digitized rooms and created a type of mission control for everything from entertainment to ordering room service.
  • Cloud services can offer the full security expertise with automatic updates that the hospitality industry needs to keep information secure.
  • The cloud provides a real end-to-end solution for hospitality that brings back the excitement of travel. In an industry facing stiff competition, this type of solution could be a differentiator for success.
  • Companies can choose a provider familiar with the nuances required for hospitality excellence and reap the benefits of an end-to-end experience.
  • Cloud services allow hospitality industries to pay only for the services they need.
  • Cloud services also provide flexibility in services by allowing staff to operate from anywhere
  • Moving to cloud operations also allows the hospitality industry to scale.
  • In that case, cloud services allow a smooth transition with a central line of communication.
  • Cloud computing helps hoteliers and other hospitality organizations provide customized experiences and responsive, convenient services.
  • cloud solutions offer the chance to remove common frustrations and frictions across the entire ecosystem.
  • rigidity causes issues in connectivity and service. When the internet goes out, or a system goes down, operations cease.
  • Staff can work from anywhere, change devices if necessary, and mitigate the risk of lost or unsecured information.
  • The Hilton’s Room Lock Problem
  • The American Airlines Integration Challenge
  • The space continues to evolve, offering new ways to ingest, process, and protect customer data. And it’s this free flow of data that will allow the hospitality industry to move into the new era of the industry.
  • Use of cloud computing in hospitality continues to evolve, offering ne
  • w ways to ingest, process, and protect customer data.
  • cloud solutions offer the chance to remove common frustrations and frictions across the entire ecosystem.
  • Cloud services also provide flexibility
  • Cloud services allow hospitality industries to pay only for the services they need.
  • operate from anywhere,
  • cloud services allow a smooth transition with a central line of communication.
  • provide customized experiences
  • Staff can work from anywhere
  • he cloud adds a layer of protection against minor hiccups in their experience.
  • security is built-in.
  • Cloud computing can offer a seamless experience to customers while reducing obstacles to service from the staff side.
  • personalization right from the beginning.
  • address mistakes right from the beginning or identify missed opportunities. Personalization continues with upsell
  • handle things like predictive maintenance to reduce downtime
  • this type of solution could be a differentiator for success.
  • It has digitized rooms and created a type of mission control for everything from entertainment to ordering room service.
  • reducing wait times.
  • dlevine4195 on 31 Aug 21
     
    Cloud computing has come a long way. The hospitality industry is quickly incorporating cloud computing services for guest satisfaction and productivity of employees. The article shares several real life examples where cloud computing were beneficial.
  • ...2 more comments...
  • acole066 on 02 Jul 22
     
    As we know, cloud computing is becoming the new norm and is the future for technology but is also transforming the hospitality and tourism industry. Cloud computing allows the hospitality industry to improve travel experiences, provide personalized offers, and also helps the industry reduce cost. With so many advantages, there are some cons of cloud computing that may pose as an issue such as the security and reliability that comes with using cloud computing. However, the pros outweigh the cons and if cloud services can overcome those barriers, the hospitality industry will reach new heights not seen in previous years. With the implementation of cloud computing in the hospitality industry, it will provide a travel experience like no other from start to finish, literally.
  • claudecole on 31 Aug 22
     
    This article discusses the impact that the integration of cloud computing has had on the operations and growth of the hospitality industry as a whole. Companies are optimizing their usage to help them carry out daily tasks while using data and sharing to provide the best guest experience possible. The article also goes into detail regarding the steps being taken by companies to prevent data theft and downtimes. One aspect of the post that I found to be extremely interesting was how it walked me through the integration of cloud computing in every step of guests' stay from pre-arrival to departure.
  • kyleemcroberts on 23 Jan 23
     
    Cloud computing is the future whether businesses want it to be or not. With the growth of technology, we need to embrace one tool that is become very developed, cloud computing. It gives more efficiency to businesses who need to know more about their clientele and also can provide information and data that humans could never do. It gives a more personalized experience to each guest while organizing data much faster than on a excel sheet that stuff have to manually update. It improves experience and reduced cost for business as well. It allows information to be reached anywhere and business can be taken home or traveled with. It brings a new level of security to businesses and customers and allows more flexibility in service in the hospitality industry.
  • cborregomarsh on 17 May 23
     
    Cloud computing transforms hospitality by a offering seamless experience to customers while reducing obstacles to service from the staff side. It also offers individualized, quick solutions in an industry that is highly competitive.
Franc Pulido

Event Planning - Technology Solutions - Wi-Fi Wars: What You Need to Know to Negotiate ... - 0 views

www.successfulmeetings.com/...-Data-Plan-for-Your-Next-Event

event planning technology solutions data plan meetings

shared by Franc Pulido on 08 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • Internet access for meetings and events has become something of a headache for planners
  • access in the meeting room is a requirement
  • Attendees have come to expect complimentary high-speed access in their rooms, at meals, and even at the gym. The task of assessing your data needs and negotiating a fair price is daunting, at best. 
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • The site inspection is a planner’s best opportunity to put a property’s Internet setup through its paces
  • Free” Wi-Fi is a tempting perk, but what are you really getting? 
  • Another factor to consider is security; free  Wi-Fi can be accessed by virtually anyone
  • Franc Pulido on 08 Oct 12
     
    Providing an easily accessible and reliable internet connection to their guests has become a major task for event planners in the hospitality industry. These days, free Wi-Fi is basically a requirement for all hotel guests whether or not their trip involves business or pleasure. As the title suggests, this article provides event planners with suggestions on how to negotiate a data plan that's both effective and efficient. It all starts with a site inspection visit by a technology consultant. In doing so, event planners could ask all sort of questions regarding the proper service (DSL, satellite, T1, etc) proper bandwidth limit and the necessary number of access points. Personally, I stayed a resort a few days ago in which the complimentary wi-fi wasn't reliable in the common areas of the hotel. It was a struggle trying to access the internet and the situation became frustrating since I wasn't able to complete some of my work. Like me, I am sure there were business men and college students who may have experienced the same problem. For the event planning team, this must have been a headache since the wi-fi amenity wasn't up to par as previously advertised. In conclusion, it is every important that event planners conduct the proper research on what type of data needs their establishment requires. The use of the internet is inescapable especially in today's world since guests handle all types of personal and professional business through their technology artifacts.
jie shen

List of the Components of a POS System | eHow.com - 0 views

www.ehow.com/ist-components-pos-system.html

shared by jie shen on 02 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • jie shen on 02 Oct 12
     
    This article tell about the common components of the POS system. The back office servers  store all the information and provide all the information. The Monitor cash drawer and bar-code scanner is what the cashiers always use when selling the product. Key boards and printer is for input and output the information both for store and customers. The MSR part is used to capture the credit or debit card information,
Chenchen zheng

How Meetings Benefit From Today's Technology - Meetings And Conventions - 0 views

www.meetings-conventions.com/...a38382.aspx

event and meetings technology

shared by Chenchen zheng on 12 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • Chenchen zheng on 12 Nov 12
     
    The term "meetings technology" is broader than ever. This article listed some of meetings technology. . Mobile Apps There are two categories of mobile apps are particularly relevant to meetings. The first is "Meetings management apps". These often are free and provide planners the ability to tap into web-based meeting platforms from their mobile devices while on-site or in transit. The other one is "Meeting apps for attendees". Think of these as "electronic event programs plus." These event-specific apps may be downloaded by attendees, nearly always for free, and can include all of the speaker, scheduling, seminar, keynote and attendee information, along with exhibit floor maps, that might be found in a printed program. . Social Media for Events Social-media platforms now represent a common way to quickly interact with large numbers of people, meaning these are natural places for beginning a dialogue before a meeting or continuing to communicate afterward .Virtual/Hybrid Events The age of the hybrid event, in which some kind of virtual component is added to a physical event to engage off-site attendees.
Xu Wang

Emerald | Have human resource information systems evolved into internal e-commerce? - 0 views

www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm

shared by Xu Wang on 01 Dec 12 - No Cached
  • Human resources (HR) have been a well-established function in organizations for decades,
  • the department was typically perceived by many organizations as a “necessary evil,” that is to say, as an essential but in no way profitable or advantageous element,
  • even at the current time HRIS is not limited to technological elements alone, such as computer hardware and software applications, but also includes the people, policies, procedures, and data required to manage the HR function.
  • ...55 more annotations...
  • Nevertheless, these well-accepted attributes of HR have been challenged in the past few years, as several indicators reflect fundamental changes within the HR function,
  • although little has changed in this function over the past decades, there are growing expectations that HR will improve corporate competitive advantages by adding real measurable value to the organization.
  • The apparent difficulties in upgrading HR to a strategic position in organizations result in missed opportunities especially in hospitality and tourism, where the human capital has substantive potential to improve the competitive advantage of enterprises, particularly due to the growing competitiveness of the industry, as well as the centrality of the human element in the delivery of hospitality products and services
  • The second change in contemporary HR which, interestingly, is closely related to the previous one, is the growing trend of incorporating advanced information technology (IT) in HR practices.
  • There is extensive evidence to the growing transfer of HR functions to digital formats, as can be seen in the growing popularity of human resource information systems (HRIS) among organizations. HRIS is currently perceived as one of the important factors influencing the role of the HR function, as well as the workplace as a whole. Although in many aspects, technology remains under-utilized in HR functions (Jones and Hoell, 2005), recently its effects have begun to be evident in many organizational aspects,
  • Furthermore, it is widely argued that the adoption of HRIS is likely to promote HR to the awaited position of strategic partner in the organization. The main reason for this is that by using HRIS, HR professionals can improve their performance by gaining better knowledge of the organization and its employees, thus facilitate participation in strategic planning and implementation. In addition, by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the HR day-to-day administrative tasks, HRIS allows the HR staff to dedicate more time to strategic decision making and planning, which consequently provides more value to the organization to enhance its position within it
  • modern HRIS make optimal use of internet and web capabilities for performing their tasks
  • successful HRIS support the planning and implementation of managerial key processes in the organization, such as executive decision making, technology selection, interdepartmental integration, and organizational reporting structures.
  • Intranet-based employee self-service (ESS) provides employees direct access, mainly through a web browser but also through a centralized kiosk, to personal HR-related information. Thus, the employees can individually handle transactions that used to be carried out by HR personnel,
  • Both MSS and ESS create a trend of delegation of responsibilities and activities that were once considered to be the domain of HR professionals and administrative personnel, directly to employees and managers
  • HRIS was seen mostly as a special form of office automation systems, the emphasis being on reducing costs and staff while making the standard HR tasks more efficient
  • In addition, in today's workplace the HR tasks have become more complex, along with organizational trends such as globalization, consolidations, strategic partnerships, and greater than ever governmental and regulatory reporting requirements for employees.
  • Therefore, from the administrative perspective, by providing powerful computing capabilities, HRIS are changing and improving procedures and processes that were carried out less efficiently before,
  • the automation of routine transactions provides HR professionals with time to perform strategic functions related to the human capital
  • HRIS allow the firm to be proactive in HR planning, by giving managers a constant flow of employee information
  • since HRIS can significantly improve the way employees and managers communicate with each other through various communication channels, this improves the flow of information and expertise throughout the organization, thereby enhancing the firms' strategic capabilities
  • Another prominent perceived characteristic of the HR function has been its reliance on relatively low-tech methods in implementing its tasks
  • Although HRIS can provide both administrative and strategic advantages, it should be noted from the onset that they are usually expensive systems to purchase and implement. Designing and implementing customized HRIS, adapted to the specific needs of the organization, will significantly enhance its functionality, but will result in increased software and hardware costs, as well as time-to-deployment
  • the initial costs of developing such HRIS are high,
  • In order to reduce the costs of HRIS, an organization can purchase off-the-shelf applications composed of HR database programs, aimed at meeting the general needs of HR functions
  • These findings point to the vital need of the HR function to provide evidence of the effectiveness of HRIS, for the purpose of attaining the executive management support for the change.
  • for a successful implementation of HRIS, it is no less important to obtain the support of managers and employees in the organization. Although modern HRIS offer clear advantages to managers, through the use of MSS, for better management of their staff, the implementation of such systems is likely to be followed by a certain level of resentment on the part of the managers. Since MSS transfer the responsibility of performing employee HR-related transactions from the HR staff to the direct managers, many of them are frustrated since they feel that additional administrative tasks are being imposed on them
  • Another relatively common problem, concerning both the implementation and the flowing management of HRIS, is the question of who is in charge of the system. Since the successful development of HRIS requires the input of both the IT and the HR departments, it is not uncommon for disputes over areas of responsibility to break out between these departments.
  • Other territorial conflicts around HRIS may arise when departments feel that the system expropriates some of its authorities; for example, the payroll department might resist HRIS that combines payroll functions. A possible solution to such a problem can be the establishment of cross-functional teams that run HRIS projects
  • the implementation of HRIS raises both ethical and legal issues that need to be addressed by the organization. First, the use of relational database technology provides access to more detailed employee information than ever before.
  • Second, HRIS usually contain private information on the employees, while the access to this information is often allowed to employees outside HR, as well. As a result, some employees feel that their private lives are not protected adequately.
  • The hospitality industry is characterized by a higher turnover rate than other sectors of the economy
  • Traditionally, HR in organizations has utilized low-tech methods in recruitment.
  • Internet recruiting benefits both the organization and the job seeker's perspectives (Pearce and Tuten, 2001; Singh and Finn, 2003). The benefits to the recruiters include: Cost savings, as it is significantly cheaper to advertise on the internet than in a newspaper. Compared to the use of professional search firms (also known as headhunters) the amounts saved are even higher. Recruiters generally receive more applications, which results in a greater pool of candidates from which to choose. Recruiters may receive applications faster, often even on the same day a position is announced. Improved ability to target a specific audience, thereby decreasing future turnover. Time saving, as more unqualified or unfit applicants can be eliminated, through online contact, in the initial phases of the recruitment process.
  • On the other hand, internet recruitment is not without limitations.
  • Once the recruitment process has ensured a large pool of applicants to choose from, the next phase is to select the most suitable candidates.
  • Traditionally, these selection methods involve the visit of the candidate to the organization or, to a lesser degree, to an assessment center, for interviewing, pen-and-paper testing, or situational testing, including group dynamics.
  • The use of advanced technology allows the selection process to complete the widespread online recruitment methods.
  • Nevertheless, the main impact of technology in selection procedures is in relation to employee interviewing and testing.
  • Anderson (2003) broadly described the prominent technology-based selection procedures, along with an assessment of their acceptance and effectiveness.
  • Adequate training is essential in providing quality services, yet traditionally hospitality organizations have not invested adequate resources in training their employees (Conrade et al., 1994). Most of the knowledge and skills of hospitality employees is transferred through on-the-job training,
  • However, as noted by Collins (2004), delivery of organized and structured training programs in the hospitality industry is a constant challenge, mainly because of the size and geographical dispersion of the workforce, as well as the extensive resources – financial, work, and time – needed to establish in-house training programs.
  • Although technology-based training methods have been available for a long time, the hospitality industry has usually lagged behind other sectors in adopting them.
  • Web-based training (WBT) can deliver courses nationwide or worldwide at all time zones to any connected computer, and is easy to update and monitor.
  • Effective performance evaluation plays a critical role in the successful implementation of organizational strategy and in gaining a competitive advantage. Therefore, in addition to important HR decisions that greatly rely on performance evaluation, such as promotions, outplacements, dismissals, many organizations link performance to compensations and rewards. As noted by Bowley and Link (2005), a performance-based compensation plan, often known as “pay-per-performance,” should reflect the organization's goals.
  • the traditional methods, based on a disconnected blend of discrete applications, spreadsheet programs and paper-based systems, to communicate goals, track employee performance and manage compensation, are insufficient in the contemporary challenges of linking performance evaluation to organizational strategy (Bowley and Link, 2005). Yet, although sophisticated HRIS were developed to meet these contemporary challenges, Ensher et al. (2002) found little effect of HRIS on the process of performance management among HR executives, who still rely on paper-and-pencil administration and hard copy documentation of employee evaluation.
  • Nevertheless, CPM has drawbacks that are highly relevant to a service industry such as the hospitality industry (Miller, 2003). The main concern that CPM raises is that reliance only on quantitative criteria is likely to lead to the neglect of more qualitative aspects of performance.
  • Consequently, an effective CPM must be followed by the establishment of an employee development plan, designed in collaboration with his/her supervisor. The second application of technology in appraisal management is online evaluation and appraisal software (Miller, 2003). In contrast to the aforementioned CPM, in these cases technology facilitates delivering performance feedback, rather than generating the actual evaluation outcome.
  • 360° feedback,
  • In addition, evaluation software packages can be used as stand-alone applications or as an integral part of the organization's HRIS, which offers computerized standard evaluation forms. The use of user-friendly software in evaluating employees allows managers to focus more on the contents of the evaluation, rather than on the forms.
  • Therefore, the use of computer software programs allows better coping with these challenges, while saving time and money.
  • While the organization enjoys the reduced need for complex bureaucracy, the employees enjoy better control and enhanced anonymity, as there is no need for dealing directly with HR staff on personal financial matters.
  • The use of HRIS has significant impact on the current affairs between the management and the employees, as well as the characteristics and the environment of the contemporary workplace. From the administrative perspective, through the HRIS the managers and the employees have access to relevant information on employee work rules, policies, and regulations on issues like privacy, illegal discrimination, and work diversity. In addition, the HRIS can assist discharged or displaced employees in finding alternative employment, by providing links to career counselors, training programs, and information, all of which are required for a successful and effective job search
  • technology has changed the nature of the workplace and employer-employee relations more fundamentally than just providing more accessible information.
  • Traditional e-commerce technology provides product/service, promotion, placement, and pricing strategic initiatives to external constituents through the use of extranet platforms merged with intranets (for instance, customer relationship management). HRIS technology provides the same initiatives through the use of intranets merged with extranet platforms (for example, recruitment). Thus, HRIS technology may be considered to represent internal e-commerce systems, which are crucial to the alignment of HR functions within strategic initiatives aimed at sustainable competitive advantages.
  • The evolution of HRIS platforms provides a range of tools for use by enhancing employee-employer relationships. The full service range of HRIS functions brings human capital closer to the strategic direction of the organization.
  • However, the technology is merely a tool that may enhance strategic alignment.
  • There is also evidence from the literature that a disengagement of the HR function from strategic initiatives exist in many hospitality enterprises.
  • It is common knowledge that the hospitality industry is labor intensive with many points of intimate service interactions of long duration. HR will produce sustainable competitive advantages for those firms that include the HR function in a united strategic direction.
  • The literature identifies the advantages of aligned human capital as a means to accomplishing sustainable competitive advantage for enterprises.
  • Xu Wang on 01 Dec 12
     
    This article is a research paper did by Amir and Beer-Sheva. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impact of technology on the human resources function in organizations, in general, and in hospitality firms, in particular. At the beginning, it introduced the role of human resources department in organizations for decades. And the trend or changes in contemporary human resources. Then it came out that we cannot skipped the effect of technology on the HR function, especially in tourism and hospitality industry. So, next it gave the definitions of HRIS by introducing technology. And list some advantages and challenges of using HRIS. In the end, it listed how technology put infusion across HR function, including recruitment, selection, training, performance evaluation and compensation, payroll, benefits and pension administration, labor relations and outplacement.
anonymous

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and O3b Networks Expand Business Partnership to Provide Gu... - 1 views

www.marketwatch.com/...ble-internet-access-2013-01-14

royal caribbean cruises networks partnership cruise ship internet hospitality technology

shared by anonymous on 21 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Royal Caribbean was the first to enlist O3b's new maritime offering O3bMaritime aboard, Allure of the Seas' sister ship, Oasis of the Seas when they signed a contract last summer. Now guests and crew aboard Allure of the Seas will be able to enjoy lightning fast download speeds and performance that is anticipated to also be four times more responsive than existing and planned GEO satellite systems. O3bMaritime will be the only satellite system capable of enabling cruise line guests and crew broadband services on par with onshore telecommunication standards.
  • Royal Caribbean was the first to enlist O3b's new maritime offering O3bMaritime aboard, Allure of the Seas' sister ship, Oasis of the Seas when they signed a contract last summer. Now guests and crew aboard Allure of the Seas will be able to enjoy lightning fast download speeds and performance that is anticipated to also be four times more responsive than existing and planned GEO satellite systems. O3bMaritime will be the only satellite system capable of enabling cruise line guests and crew broadband services on par with onshore telecommunication standards.
  • O3b Networks has signed a second historic, multi-year deal with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. to provide high-speed satellite-delivered broadband service
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "The partnership between O3b Networks and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. continues to expand, and the real winners are the guests and crew aboard the most innovative ships at sea. The alliance is based on a shared mission built on the belief that the Internet should always be within reach - on land and at sea."
  • anonymous on 21 Jan 13
     
    Royal Caribbean and O3b Networks have again signed a multi-year contract. O3b will once again be providing "high-speed satellite-delivered broadband service" to the Allure of the Seas. The system used is O3bMaritime and Royal Caribbean was one of the first cruise lines to use this system. This system will be on their two largest ships the Oasis and the Allure based in the Caribbean. It is also the only system that is on par with telecommunication standards on land. Soon O3b will deliver more bandwidth on these two ships than on all other cruise ships in the Caribbean. I personally feel internet access really lacks on many of the cruise lines right now and feel Royal Caribbean is taking a step in the right direction with O3b. My family and I like to cruise a lot and have received very spotty internet access around the globe. In today's world many people still have to check up on work while on vacation or keep in contact with family, it only makes sense for cruise lines to start working on faster internet comparable to on land. I read various cruise line message boards and this is a common complaint about slow internet access or virtually none. In the current economy where all the various lines are in competition against one another, this gives Royal Caribbean a leg up in the competition. Additionally, my understanding the only region where satellite internet is unavailable is off the coast of Japan due to government regulations. This system makes sense to have available one day in more regions.
  • marylauren1717 on 22 Jan 13
     
    I for one am very happy to hear this news. I too have experienced the snail-paced internet "access" on cruise ships. With the high cost per minute and slow speeds, cruisers can't help but feel that they wasted their money. This definitely gives Royal Caribbean an advantage over Carnival, NCL and other large cruise lines. By implementing O3b networks on their two largest and most popular ships, they will reach their target consumer and help spread the word.
Irina Stepanenko

More hotels add iPads in guest rooms amd common areas. - 0 views

usat.ly/R3XQya

Technology Software mobile

shared by Irina Stepanenko on 18 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Irina Stepanenko on 18 Jan 13
     
    More hotels install iPads not only in guest rooms, but also in lobbies, restaurants, concierge desks, etc. According to the survey, iPads have been used to order room service, reserve a table, request wake-up call or housekeeping. Ipads installed in common area allow guests to play with them while waiting in line for concierge, for example. It also functions as an information center or a tool for business which replaced a business center with desktop computers. Ipads are mobile, easy to use, light in weight and likeable by guests, who seem to appreciate hotels that provide them with ipads. Modern luxury hotels are also trying to be anticipative of their customers' needs and to be innovative.
Kai Zhang

Resolve to Put Security First in 2013 | Connected Hotel - 0 views

www.connectedhotel.net/...-to-put-security-first-in-2013

hospitality security

shared by Kai Zhang on 23 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Kai Zhang on 23 Mar 13
     
    This article introduced two common points for hospitlity security concerns, public-use computers and HSIA. ElevenBC was mentioned to removes and encrypts user data in order to ensure safety. It also talked about ElevenOS, which can provide centralized reporting, zoned access, and portal pages that require users agree to terms of use before continuing, in order to keep network secure. In my opinion, it is very important to pay more attention to the Internet security to create a safer envionment for both guests and the hotel.
Mohan Song

Hotel Security and Common SenseBy Josef Aukee - 0 views

www.smartmeetings.com/...otel-security-and-common-sense

Technology security hotel hospitality tech

shared by Mohan Song on 20 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Mohan Song on 20 Mar 13
     
    The many aspects of security at hotels boil down to policy and technology. The policy element includes emergency planning and the individual procedures implemented by a hotel. Technology now plays an integral role in the security mix, from badging and staffing communications to electronic keys and surveillance cameras. Hotels are attractive places for criminals to target travelers, who are inherently more vulnerable. Best bet: Always assess a hotel neighborhood and facilities with the same vigilance as at home or in other public spaces. Help your meeting attendees understand the policies and potential risks before they arrive. Security Questions for Hotels: Will trade-show exhibitors require secure storage for any display items? Are there areas near a hotel that attendees should be warned to avoid? Are hotel employees CPR certified? Is defibrillator equipment available onsite? Are there any policies and procedures organizers should be aware of in the event of an emergency?
Sarah Black

Mobile Technologies and the Hospitality Industry: Creating a Mobile Strategy, by Michae... - 0 views

hotelexecutive.com/...try-creating-a-mobile-strategy

shared by Sarah Black on 29 Mar 13 - No Cached
  • Sarah Black on 29 Mar 13
     
    Author Michael Kasavana's article discusses the advancement and prevalence of mobile technology applications with regard to the hospitality industry.  According to him, "the common goals of mobile technology implementation are acceleration of guest traffic, heightened interactivity, promotion and sales of goods and services, and gathering of feedback relative to the guest's experience". Mobile and proximity marketing techniques are gaining in popularity and in some cases (Buffalo Wild Wings) are a large factor in the company's success. Their mobile marketing campaign was deemed a huge success due to large numbers of repeat customers, improved attendance at special events, and higher sales revenue. Mobile marketing has proven extremely influential in attracting new customers and creating brand loyalty. This marketing method can really make the difference in one company having a competitive advantage over another. Kasavana also advises restaurant and hotel owners to follow some best management practices guidelines. These include: "creation of a mobile-optimized website with simple navigation tools; apply user-friendly, intuitive, and logical lead-through processes; sponsor video (YouTube), social (Facebook), and mobile (LBS) content; employ opt-in marketing campaigns that encourage customer engagement; provide instant rewards, discounts, and incentives to qualified clientele". Mobile technology applications are definitely the wave of the future in the hospitality industry and "getting in on the ground floor" is an excellent opportunity for business growth.
Ashley Mullins

Automated testing of complex Web 2.0 applications prevents security vulnerabilities - 0 views

phys.org/...lications-vulnerabilities.html

shared by Ashley Mullins on 19 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • So far there are no methods to test complex web 2.0 applications systematically
  • developed a software system for checking complex web applications autonomously.
  • He says that the methods that web developers and responsible project leaders rely on to try to find programming errors and security holes in web applications have been too ineffective and inefficient.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • developed the software system "Webmate", which determines automatically why Web 2.0 applications fail.
  • Ashley Mullins on 19 Jun 13
     
    There is internet fraud everywhere and the most common one these days is web application fraud. Saarland University have developed a software system that checks web applications autonomously which is convenient t for application users. Most methods fail but with Webmate we are able to figure out why it did so. Webmate is able to detect how the applications work and what virus are trying to interact with the application.
Danelkis Serra

Agents fear new GDS flight standard will lead to customer poaching - 0 views

www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php

GDS NDC New Distribution Standard

shared by Danelkis Serra on 09 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • fearful that a new industry standard
  • will expose commercially sensitive information
  • New Distribution Capability Standards
  • ...22 more annotations...
  • at least one pilot scheme for the NDC would be up and running later this year
  • NDC is a common standard to enable airlines to provide more detailed information about their flights and ancillary products on global distributions systems and to allow customers to search for flights using a range of criteria, not just price
  • enable third parties to compare fares from all carriers
  • airlines to sell all their ancillary products
  • rovide more information about their customers
  • "pro-competition and pro-consumer"
  • customers
  • more choice
  • lower fares
  • airlines to tailor offers to passengers
  • NDC is not a system but a standard, which will allow airlines to sell via GDS in the same way that they sell on their websites.
  • concerned
  • agents
  • uncomfortable with the idea of a centrally controlled system with information available to all users
  • rival
  • to compete
  • American Society of Travel Agents was opposed to NDC due to a lack of information
  • "Data is the new oil." she said. "You are rich with the data you have.
  • "Agents should not give data away for nothing."
  • representatives from Sabre, Travelport and Amadeus who attended the conference all said they had reservations
  • about NDC and none of them believed it was necessary to develop a common standard.
  • 'understanding the distribution model of the future', it had left him confused."I've got more questions than answers
  • Danelkis Serra on 09 Jun 13
     
    I must admit, I stand along with Alasdair Chalmers MD of DP&L Travel; I am left confused and have more questions than answers. I do not understand the goal and/or reason of the NDS standard.  The article states that it is not a system, but a standard for airlines to provide more detailed information about flights and products on the GDSs.  Benefitting customers with more search options, choices and lower fares.   It raises the controversy of agents being concerned with data availability and feeling uncomfortable with a centrally controlled information....  I think I am missing a big piece because I do not exactly understand what the concern is. I'll need to think about this and reassess....   please share your comments and clarity!   
Grant Beck

10 E-Commerce Predictions For 2013 - Forbes - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...-commerce-predictions-for-2013

shared by Grant Beck on 31 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • Consumers
  • Consumers
  • people are spending, and continuing to spend, more and more online.
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • brick-and-mortar retailers scramble to keep pace with a digitally driven world.
  • consumers are demanding optimized and personalized sites
  • Companies that don’t test won’t get anywhere near providing the best online experiences for their audience.
  • B-to-B sites
  • expect to see more of the general information they share online used by companies.
  • a completely seamless e-commerce experience no matter where they are—at their desktops, on their smartphones and tablets, or on social pages and sites—is a must-have.
  • brands getting a handle on big data to deliver to customers more targeted offers across all channels in real time.
  • brands using social data to personalize experiences on their websites, as well as applying testing and personalization to their own Facebook pages.
  • Because consumers are climbing on board with personalization, they should expect
  • are likely to use testing and personalization to create well-optimized and targeted sites based on user behaviors.
  • Grant Beck on 31 Jan 13
     
    This brief article is taken from Forbes and in it Paul Dunay offers 10 Predictions (or expectations in some cases) for the year in e-commerce. It has been seen that e-commerce has grown year to year, specifically on Cyber Monday which shows people are spending more online. The predictions range from consumer expectations to the use of personal data collected by companies. In my opinion the predictions are very straight forward and almost assumed in today's technological world in regards to customer expectations. The prediction of companies using data they have collected to help improve their e-commerce experience is very intriguing however, and suprising that this is not common practice already. It will be very interesting to see if & how these predicitions develop, especially with social media and the use of personal data. Overall it's an interesting article and provokes some good thought on e-commerce.
yiran DING

Airlines vs. the World | An Analysis of Future GDS & OTA Trends | By Douglas Quinby - 1 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4049707.html

airlines future GDS

shared by yiran DING on 31 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • yiran DING on 31 Jan 13
     
    This article analysis the future of the GDS for airlines from both the airline company's perspective and the marketing perspective. The conflicts between airlines and GDS and the agencies is a recycling battle. It has been back and forth with the airlines withdraw from the system and ended up renewing contracts. The most recent war initiated by American airline pulled its inventory from Orbitz in December, 2010, in order to force GDS Travelport to drop the distribution cost. The two parties need each other and it is time for them to reach common ground and have mutual benefits.Delta has done something for that by adopting three second-tire OTAs. http://www.tnooz.com/2010/12/22/news/delta-cites-apple-experience-exits-cheapoair-bookit-com-onetravel/ But those are the short-term issues. In the long term is that " airlines' long-term strategy to advance distribution from fare- and schedule-led selling to merchandising. " The article also give a marketing perspective. It shows the intention of American Airline to build a system that link directly to the airline that don`t have to obey the searching rules of the agency. It also listed nine unanswered questions and wild cards, which indicates the risk of this strategic shift.
TIAN LIU

ZDirect Integration to Apple's Passbook Sends Confirmations from PMS to iPhone | Produc... - 0 views

hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/...ions-from--PMS-to-iPhone-84422

shared by TIAN LIU on 13 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • ZDirect attaches Passbook files to emails or creates a link to download the “pass” from a confirmation email or SMS text message. The look and feel of the hotel's "pass" can be customized for each hotel and configured for any PMS. Once the "pass" is stored on the mobile device, a data connection is not needed to retrieve it, so roaming charges are not assessed.
  • TIAN LIU on 13 Feb 13
     
    When considering mobile technologies, many hospitality managers are not convinced of the potential benefits resulting in enhanced guest engagement, improved customer satisfaction, and increased consumer spending. The common goals of mobile technology implementation are acceleration of guest traffic, heightened interactivity, promotion and sales of goods and services, and gathering of feedback relative to the guest's experience. Mobile services include special website configurations, fluent marketing campaigns, location-based activities, digital couponing, and point-of-sale settlement. Currently, the fastest growing segment of m-commerce service is mobile payments featuring cashless and cardless payment platforms. If not already in place, hospitality management should consider business payment choices of coin and currency, credit and debit card, and mobile options.
Nicole Stevens

Brewery Uses Own Beer To Generate Energy - PSFK - 0 views

www.psfk.com/...brewery-beer-energy.html

brewery beer energy hospitality business green solution grain Alaskan Brewing renewable

shared by Nicole Stevens on 08 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Brewery Uses Own Beer To Generate Energy
  • ‘Beer Powered Beer’
  • The Alaskan Brewing Co., located in Juneau, Alaska, has started a process of reusing brewing ingredients as fuel, making their brewery more self-sustaining in an attempt to cut costs.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • Most breweries, including Alaskan Brewing Co. until recently, ship this residual grain mash to farms and agricultural operations, that then use the grain as a protein source in feed for livestock.
  • So they turned to an in-house recycling process. With the help of a nearly half-million dollar grant from the Federal Rural Energy for America Program, Alaskan Brewing Co. set out to create a special boiler system that ran entirely on spent grain for fuel.
  • The system, which cost $1.8 million and was developed with the help of an industrial furnace company in North Dakota, burns the dried spent grain to create steam. The steam, an often underutilized renewable energy source, then powers their entire facility.
  • The boiler system, which is expected to save the company $450,000 annually, will offset their energy costs by 70% and pay for itself in under five years.
  • there are many forms of renewable energy that are still largely untapped.
  • Nicole Stevens on 08 Feb 13
     
    So I'm a beer person. I brew with 'Brew FIU' team and I'm a TA for Professor Gump. This story just makes me smile. Leave it to beer people to find another reason to make more beer. In the brewing process malt, barley and other grains are used as a sugar and flavor source. It's what makes beer, well beer. After the grain has been used it's considered spent due to the fact that most to all of the sugar and starch has removed. At this point it's common to dry the spent grain and turn it into flour for cooking or send it to a farm for animal feed. Which is a green thing to do as is. But the Alaskan Brewing Co. decided to turn it's spent grain into fuel. Now their entire facility is run off of spent grain. How cool is that?!
Grant Beck

FBI: Beware Of Malware Installed Via Hotel Networks - Forbes - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...e-installed-via-hotel-networks

shared by Grant Beck on 25 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • fake software updates booby trapped with malware that are being pushed through hotel internet connections .
  • malware that are being pushed through hotel internet connections.
  • Grant Beck on 25 Jan 13
     
    This article brings to light security threats that are transfered via hotel networks. Fake software updates are used to hide malware which is installed on the computer when the update is accepted. The FBI offers tips on how to avoid being exposed to this after data on several hundred firms was stolen by hackers. The hackers broke into Marriott International Inc.'s records and had access confidential information. This article is important because firms have the responsibility of providing security for the clients as well as themselves. It is important to be aware of threats like this and of how it can be avoided so that the firm isn't put in a bad situation and have to deal with stolen information. With mobile devices and wireless networks becoming more common these types of threats need to be taken into consideration. Most users don't read the fine print or consider where software updates are coming from, especially if it looks like the source is a hotel they are staying at. This makes it even more critical that the hotel is aware of and blocking these threat because claiming that it was done without the knowledge of the hotel may not always be enough and looks badly for the security.
Chi Zhang

Rezidor Hotel Group rolls out 100Mbps network - 0 views

www.computerweekly.com/...roup-rolls-out-100Mbps-network

shared by Chi Zhang on 25 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • The bandwidth will be split in two to provide two separate services. The first will focus on hotels and conference centres, while the second will be used solely for internal employees, providing a more secure and better performing network for the business side of things.
  • the company’s use of software as a service (SaaS) made a reliable network a necessity.
  • In today’s world, where highly complex software-as-a-service applications play a vital role in the day-to-day running of our hotels, having a resilient internet connection to support them is vital to our ongoing success
  • Chi Zhang on 25 Jan 13
     
    These days, it's very common to find free or inexpensive Wi-Fi connections at many hotels when you travel. The connection's stability and security had become a big issue for Hotel. Rezidor Hotels in order to provide a batter service to guests rolling out superfast internet connections across its hotels and office. And they use SaaS technology to ensure the network reliability. The hotel focus more on the internet speed, the bandwidth were split two separate services ensure the hotel's staff won't share the internet with guests. As we can see this hotel puts a high value on their guests' experience, but it does not seem to mention in the article on how to ensure the safety of Internet. That is another big issue we need to concern.
Marcos Oliveira

Security Expert Exploits Hotel Network Vulnerabilities | Top Stories | Hospitality Maga... - 0 views

hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/...l-Network-Vulnerabilities54824

shared by Marcos Oliveira on 23 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • IP Telephone
  • unplugged the IP Phone and plugged the phone's Ethernet cable into his laptop. It booked up to his Backtrack Live CD
  • Jason Ostrom, Vigilar senior security consultant, was given access to a hotel room and told to find out if he could break into their corporate network through the IP TelephoneÃÆ’Æ'Æ'ÃĥÂ.ÃÆ’Æ'Â.ÃÆ’.Ã.•¬Ã…¡Ãĥ¬ÃÆ’Æ'Â.ÃÆ’.Ã.•¬Ã…¾ÃĥÂ.s network connection
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Jason was able to penetrate through to the data network by using a combination of techniques he calls VoIP Hopping. This type of VLAN hopping attack is just one of the attack vectors being used by attackers today
  • As traditional voice and data networks converge, more avenues of attack open up
  • A regular PC should never have access to the Voice VLAN
  • Defense methodologies are in their infancy and are sure to improve in the near future
  • protect against VoIP attacks Ostrom recommends putting a firewall between the Voice and Data VLANs. By putting the Voice VLAN on a separate DMZ of a firewall, many current attacks can be thwarted. It is important to lock down the firewall so that only protocols used by IP Telephony are allowed to flow
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS
  • VoIP Hopper is available at http://voiphopper.sourceforge.net.
  • Marcos Oliveira on 23 Jan 13
     
    An unssuspecting person check into a hotel like any normal person would. The ever so common exchange, credit card for room key took place. The only difference was that the person that checked had done so with other intentions. The "guest" utilized an IP Telephone that was in this hotel room to hack into the hotel credit card database and steal credit cards, transmit them to a foreign country and then have money transferred to his offshore bank account. This happened but at the hands of Jason Ostrom, aa Vigilar senior security consultant. Ostrom was able to unplug teh telephone in his room, plug in the phone's ethernet canle into his laptop and hack away. Of course, he did this as part of his job in testing a company's security agaisnt viral hackers. His company offers free security testing using a downloadable software called VolP Hopper This article was extremely interesting because as a frequrnt traveler as well as a perosn in the hospitlaity industry I was very shocked at the ease that the credit card information could be stolen. When it comes to credit card security it is of the utmost importance for companies to be PCI compliant and spend whatever it is necessary to safeguard the information of their customers. The detrimental damage that a security breach can have on a person can be debilitating as leaders in the hospitality industry we must do everything possible to prevent attacks like this from happening. made me become extra cautious about using my credit cards.
Karin Goodine

Hotel chains becoming more environmentally conscious - The New York Times - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...27iht-26green.6358839.html

shared by Karin Goodine on 06 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Karin Goodine on 06 Feb 13
     
    Hotels going green! Why not care about the environment? This article discusses the benefits as well as the common sense to go green in our industry hotels. Not only does going green help to save hotels money, it also helps to make a more environmentally sound universe.
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