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"I think that you will begin to see more hotels going to RFID and smartphone entry before using biosystem recognition," says Wolfe. "These systems are expensive, and there are many consumers who just don't want this information stored somewhere -- for a variety of reasons."

Systems that track the other qualities that make each human unique are in development as well.

Yet more card-free security systems are on the way.

Many industry watchers are keeping an eye on Houston's largest hotel, the vast 1,200-room Hilton Americas–Houston. The hotel has a facial recognition system that can identify and track guests, employees, and even suitcases. With 700 employees and an annual $16 million payroll, the system offers benefits such as employee time-theft monitoring and prevention for the hotel. But travelers aren't that concerned about employees taking an extra cigarette break. What it means for you is that the system includes alerts if unwanted people are on the property and a response time of mere seconds if there's an incident. Customer service is heightened as well: Returning guests will be recognized and greeted by name. And with 1,200 rooms worth of luggage in transit, the system makes it a lot easier to find lost or misdirected bags.

not everyone wants to be on-camera, all the time. With concerns about "snooping" and a Truman Show-like lack of privacy, might guests feel that systems such as this are too intrusive in our hotels? "

Technology is opening new doors to hotel safety, and the way we navigate hotels is set to change in the blink of an eye. Or the swipe of a cellphone. Or the print of a finger. With futuristic systems like scent and iris scanners and digital facial-recognition, hotel security is being taken to the next level. #plain_module { width: 590px; height:170px; border: none; float:left; margin:0px; font-size:12px;} #plain_module img {border:none; width: 13px; height:14; border: 0px; margin:0px; } #plain_module .mini_main { margin: 0px; padding:0px; width:585px; height:220px; repeat scroll 0 0} #plain_module .mini_item_header {padding:10px 0px; margin: 0px 0px; font-size:16px; color: #555555; border-bottom:1px dotted #CCCCCC;} #plain_module .mini_item {padding:5px 0px; margin: 0px 0px;} #plain_module a { color: #49A3CA; text-decoration:none; } #plain_module a:hover { color: #F98419; text-decoration:underline;} span.gray {color:#949494;} .mini_main li{list-style-type: none;background-image: url(http://www.aolcdn.com/travel/bullet);background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: 0 1px;padding-left: 10px;} Those plastic key cards that once seemed so innovative will soon go the way of the actual key. The new thing is contact-less Smartcards and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) cards that need just be waved to allow room access. Much like the cruise world's one card system, these cards may soon make hotel stays easier by allowing guests to pay for services, as well as to check-in and check-out, through a single device. Travelers may even be able to save preferences on the cards, from pillow type to floor choice. RFID cards are already in use at New York's Plaza Hotel, and Starwood Hotels are considering introducing them into their hip Aloft and Element properties. But travelers worried they will constantly have to traipse back to reception every time they lose their card need not despair. Security systems in some hotels do away with cards altogether. "In addition to Radio Frequency Identification, there are also systems that use a smartphone, such as an iPhone," says Frank Wolfe, CEO of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals. "When a guest checks into a hotel and provides their phone number, they get an encrypted sound code via text message." You can then play back the code to unlock your room door.

Systems that track the other qualities that make each human unique are in development as well. Movement-activated video-capture systems were showcased in New Zealand in September 2010. Researchers are at work on devices capable of recognizing an individual's gait or walk and even their DNA. Frank Wolfe says, "If you want to go 'way out there', there are some systems being explored that can allegedly sniff someone, and also systems that can recognize the pattern of blood veins on a human being which are apparently unique to the individual," says Wolfe. Quite common in Japan, vascular-recognition systems such as this are still "several years off," according to Wolfe. "I think that you will begin to see more hotels going to RFID and smartphone entry before using biosystem recognition," says Wolfe. "These systems are expensive, and there are many consumers who just don't want this information stored somewhere -- for a variety of reasons."

ude conferences, conventions, concerts, trade shows, festivals, and ceremonies.

Skills to Succeed As with most event planning functions, event management requires excellent organizational skills to succeed. The ability to multitask and juggle many moving parts is essential and, along with that top-notch organization comes the need for efficient time management skills.

project management is a key element and involves managing not only functions but teams of people, interpersonal skills are also important.

top event planning tools based on reviews from real users

Case studies and peer reviews are your best friend during this process.

Look for prices that are clearly stated or easy to obtain.

The tool is easy to use.

here are some online event management systems with reliable rave reviews, free or defined pricing structures, and user-friendly features to kick start your event planning process.

Cvent

Cvent’s event management platform automates and simplifies the entire planning process. Start with sourcing your venue and end with custom dashboards and reports after your event.

Social Tables

Social Tables brings you the best of venue sourcing, event diagramming, guest management, and check-in. The free event planning tools let you create to-scale diagrams in minutes. You can map out all the smallest details and share them with venues, clients, and collaborators. In addition, Social Tables helps you manage guests — from VIPs to special meal requests — and visually seat them in diagrams.Social Tables also creates award-winning platforms for hotels and venues, including CRM Software, Event Sales, and Event Services platforms.

Tripleseat

Tripleseat is the best event planning software for unique event venues. It’s a web app for sales and event management built mainly for restaurants, hotels, and venues.

You’re able to capture event leads, convert leads to bookings, create contracts and BEOs, and more. For event pros who are crazy about data, Tripleseat also gives you many reporting options to measure ROI.

Regpack

Use Regpack to customize registration forms and create unlimited attendee types. You can check in guests with a mobile device or let them check themselves in. You can even embed the software on your website’s sign-up page.

Event Mobi

Well-known enterprises like Intel, Motorola, IBM, and Johnson Johnson use Event Mobi. This event management tool lets you engage with guests before, during, and after the event.

Member Solutions

Member Solutions was originally created to process membership registrations, so it’s popular among fitness studios. Since it was founded in 1991, it has expanded to include various tools for planning events.

Caterease

Caterease simplified the catering portion of event planning. With Caterease, you can create visual menus for guests.

Fonteva

Fonteva lets you manage an unlimited number of events with a single annual fee. This service is especially popular in the hospitality industry. Westin Hotel, in fact, is one of its regular users.

. Hubb

If you’re a corporate conference manager, it might feel like you’re always chasing down programming info for your event.

Momice

Momice is an all-in-one event software that handles everything from registration to website building to event statistics.

DoubleDutch

DoubleDutch is all about community building. Their four-pronged strategy consists of designing delightful attendee experiences, future-proofing events themselves, facilitating high-volume event planning, and leveraging a network of partners.

the Yobot, a robotic luggage handler that stores guests’ bags (Yotel rooms, called cabins, are small, so Yobot is useful for putting away giant suitcases). The robotic arm automatically lifts a bag to one of its available storage compartments. Yobot can even send your luggage off to the airport after you check out (via a delivery service).

Hotels have gone mobile, giving you the ability to check-in and request services via a smartphone app. The James hotels in Chicago and New York have gone a step further by outfitting their properties with iBeacon sensors. With the app, James Pocket Assistant, installed, guests automatically receive notifications once they step onto the property, which could be anything from hotel information to special discounts. The app functions as a virtual concierge, too, allowing you to communicate with staff or find nearby attractions.

If there’s one country that isn’t afraid of robot domination, it’s Japan. Huis Ten Bosch, a European-styled theme park, is planning a hotel that’s not only high-tech, but staffed by robots. The Henn-na Hotel (translation: Strange Hotel) will feature human-like robot receptionists that converse in natural language; robots even handle bellhop and custodial duties. There will be human employees, but the company’s president told CNN that he hopes robots will eventually operate 90 percent of the property.

VR technology has been all the hype lately, so it’s no shock that it’ll be changing the game in the ticketing industry. As of right now, VR is introducing the possibility of obtaining a 360˚interactive experience from their chosen seat before even stepping into a stadium.In the future, VR is expected to evolve live events completely, by removing the need for physical attendance. This will open up events to event goers that otherwise cannot attend due to expensive prices. People will be able to participate in a VR viewing of the live event – for a smaller price. Meaning, consumers have more opportunities to attend their favorite events without the fear of missing out.

New technologies at their core, are introducing simple solutions to problems that venues and organizers may face while creating unimagined stress-free experiences for fans that ooze fun and excitement.

However, researchers and practitioners have emphasized the essential role of robots in the service industry have a positive impact on productivity and customer satisfaction (Lu et al., 2019), which directly affect the organization’s structure, culture, decision-making processes, and employment (Xu et al., 2020).

Hospitality 5.0 may influence the hotel industry’s high-tech adoption, and during COVID-19 technological use was increased dramatically in hospitality service (Zeng et al., 2020) due to contactless services and safety in customer journey touchpoints (Pillai et al., 2021). Specifically, COVID-19 enhances the use of service robots as a helping hand to provide necessary services to consumers and employees

On the other hand, the existence of robots in restaurants may induce some risks (privacy, financial, time, performance, psychological) that can negatively affect the attitudes and intentions of customers (Hwang et al., 2021). Furthermore, robots are perceived as a threat that may lead to unemployment (Vatan and Dogan, 2021) and adverse outcomes due to job insecurity (Koo et al., 2021, Lu et al., 2020).

They also showed that employees prefer to work with human colleagues because they should be replaced by human communication and colleagues. However, employees select robots as a replacement when it approaches their employment.

According to former studies, robotic advancement directly impacts unemployment; directness’s negative and substantial influence on unemployment is comparatively more significant, specifically during and post-pandemic periods (Du and Wei, 2021). According to Keynes : p-325) (1930), “We are being affected with a new disease of which some readers may not have heard the name, but of which they will hear a great deal in the years to come – namely, technological unemployment.” COVID-19 is one of the main reasons for decreasing employment, whereas increasing the use of robots (Parvez et al., 2021). Therefore, the robot that induces unemployment is a challenging concept.

Some managers and owners view Internet marketing

of very expensive sites that simply look good, but are totally

managers and owners view Internet

managers and owners

Some managers

Some managers

Some managers and owners view Internet marketing as a purely static and inert form of

marketing as a purely static and

advertising,

inert form

owners view Internet marketing

which requires little attention after

Because of this mistaken belief, managing

after the site is published. Because of this

pen

Hotel operators need to know that passwords, designed to keep criminals out, can also be a vulnerability in the absence of proper controls

Thanks to wireless networks, guests can speed though the check-in process, expedite valet parking and send room service orders directly to the kitchen.  At the same time, hotel operators should recognize that criminals can leverage improperly secured wireless networks to steal cardholder data and should implement strategies to thwart these efforts. 

Despite all best efforts, data compromise events can occur and every hotel operator should have a plan in place. Prompt action must be taken by hotels or restaurants that have experienced a suspected or confirmed security breach to help prevent additional exposure of cardholder data and ensure compliance with the data security requirements. 

“These are the kinds of things we are thinking of recreating and redefining for the Panera of the future, which is going to be more off-premise-oriented, and led by technology and convenience,”

Besides smaller physical footprints, other aspects of Panera 2.0 will include delivery-centric ghost kitchens and mobile kitchens

An online version of catering will look like all of us sitting around a Zoom meeting with our food arriving at the same time

That is a disruptive way of serving the same needs consumers have in a different way that is more convenient and relevant in a world that looks different.

The pandemic has changed the way operators should approach convenience technology

Chaudhary said they’re looking at other forms of technology like touchless kiosks where instead of tapping a screen to place their order, customers might use hand gestures instead like giving a thumbs up, for example. This way, they can leverage consumer needs for contactless experiences without sacrificing engagement.

A disruptive model is a hybrid of both [third-party and in-house delivery],” Chaudhary said. “We might leverage our existing drivers for orders and every time we need some help, we can outsource it. These are examples in this new world of us being able to innovate, to improve and strengthen our business model

Guests can use the AI-based devices to control the lighting and operate the television, while avoiding touching light switches and remote controls.

any recovery could depend on how safe guests feel.

“The reality is the pandemic has impacted all of our staffing levels and budgets and forecasts,” said John Edwards, chief information officer at the Denver-based company, which is also known as Red Lion Hotels Corp.

The hotel industry hasn’t kept up with the state of the art to the degree other industries have, says Shah, particularly with regard to pricing and customer convenience.

significant. It could be several hundred thousand dollars in additional costs over the next three, four or five years.“

The need for a new generation of computers, data centers and security equipment for the nation’s hotels is driving up the expense of technology in the hospitality industry, says Mitesh Shah, chief executive officer at

 The average [technology] cost for a 400-room hotel has been about $50,000 a year. That  cost is going to go up as the brands start implementing new technology to take the place of systems that have been in place for quite some time,” says Shah.   “That cost could be  significant. It could be several hundred thousand dollars in additional costs over the next three, four or five years.“

The upgrades involve both communications that make life more convenient for travelers, and the unseen hardware that makes hotels function more smoothly.

Hackers are more aggressive than ever, and the cost of protecting hotel systems has risen accordingly

cost is going to go up as the brands start implementing new technology to take the place of systems that have been in place for quite some time,” says Shah. 

Traditionally, too many hotel managers focus on the condition of the carpets and walls  — whether they need painting or new pictures, or fresh plants in the lobby, rather than scrutinizing their technological infrastructure.

Examining how people buy and use media shows that bandwidths are growing more sophisticated, and the trend in a hotel experience is to become more connected,

And too many hotels are unable to provide that level of technical response.

Costly upgrades don’t always translate into higher rates, however. “The question really is, can you charge more for it? Or is it part of the experience?”

high-speed Internet, for instance, it’s an amenity that customers demand, but they’re not necessarily willing to pay extra for it.

Another expense involves business intelligence technology — the detailed analysis and tracking of a hotel’s daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly performance.

Operating teams then analyze the results and plan their financial strategy on a day-to-day basis, says Shah.

When it comes to creature comforts, travelers don’t want to compromise, says Shah. They want the same comforts on the road that are available at home

online visibility

user-generated reviews

240 small and medium-sized hotels

online retailers have thus been gaining increasing market power in influencing customers’ purchases (i.e., Inversini and Masiero, 2014, Silva, 2015, Yen and Tang, 2015) and have improved market transparency and uncertainty for travellers (Toh, Raven, & DeKay, 2011). For this reason, their role is now considered an infomediary (Chen, Yang, & Wang, 2015) because their capability to add value in transactions depends primarily on collecting and processing information about prices, destinations and travellers’ reviews.

positive effect on hotel revenue growth

outweighed by a negative effect on gross profit margins.

managerial implications discuss how hotels should use social media features according to a strategic view based on pursuing the horizontal and vertical differentiation of their services in an attempt to create more economic value from their online visibility and to protect profit margins from the intermediation in their customer relationships.

Online reviews provide additional information for travellers to mitigate the uncertainty about the quality of a hotel and about its fit to their needs and preferences on accommodations and destinations.

50,115 user-generated reviews on TripAdvisor,

shake up long-lasting reputations through reviews posted by unmonitored influential opinion makers

Internet can be a value-destroying mechanism for small businesses and can deter hotels’ capacity to defend profit margins

empower buyers

ncrease the degree of rivalry among firms that sell and distribute their products/services

bargaining power

First, online ratings can have a beneficial effect on the occupancy rate of rooms, which is especially important for larger hotels that bear a greater cost of idle capacity, especially in off-peak periods. Second, visibility on social media can allow hotels to apply a price premium thanks to greater economic value generated by market transparency, the reduction of the search costs for both parties involved in the transaction

brand image of hotels,

maller hotels with opportunities for market growth in segments in which they have a limited market presence

exploring the relationship between online visibility and the creation of economic value in terms of increase of sales and profitability for a panel of 240 Italian small and medium hotels

ive million registered users who visit the platform 30 million times per month on average

we consider only the profitability (the value appropriation achieved through online visibility) and not the increase in sales (the value generation achieved through online visibility) because hotels’ market positioning affects a hotel’s capability to appropriate the economic value brought by online visibility and influences hotels’ ability to negotiate the infomediation fees, which in turn impact hotels’ profitability.

social networking (i.e., the opportunity that users have to connect with people with similar travel interests, needs or experience) and knowledge sharing

travellers can more easily find persons who share similar travel preferences and needs. In a similar way, a user consulting travellers’ reviews can see if the reviewer is a member of his/her friends’ social networks on other platforms, such as Facebook.

beyond allowing hotels to improve their room occupancy rates, online visibility may allow hotels to apply price premiums.

respond strategically to online reviews

positive relationship between online visibility and sales

three different forms.

first is the rating assigned by users, who can express their evaluations on a quantitative scale.

rates given by users are distributed over the scale.

number of reviews that users give to hotels

we may expect that online visibility on social media – seen as a composite measure of the three above-mentioned elements – can positively impact hotels’ revenue growth

hotels’ market positioning between their online visibility and profitability.

Online visibility has a negative effect on the gross profit margin of a hotel.

Consequently, high star-rating hotels apply price premiums for their superior quality and attract less price sensitive customers, who have a higher willingness to pay for quality

we expect that less price sensitive customers are willing to pay more for hotels with higher customer ratings on infomediation platforms because they perceive these hotels to be more valuable

The relation between online visibility and sales profitability is stronger for hotels with high star-rating.

iche tourism appears to offer a more meaningful set of experiences, given the knowledge that tourists’ needs and wants are being met

“what makes a tourism destination truly competitive is its ability to increase tourism expenditure, to increasingly attract visitors while providing them with satisfying, memorable experiences, and to do so in a profitable way” (p. 2).

However, a number of studies have reported that online user-generated reviews are perceived as more credible than traditional word-of-mouth when they come from persons with similar attitudes and preferences

Hotels in niche destinations are thus better positioned to extract more economic value from online visibility.

focus on digitalisation of the tourism sector as the new driver of the economic recovery for tourism businesses, which have been one of hardest hit in the country as a result of closed travel for local and international visitors.

government has embarked on starting up a Rwf100billion Covid-19 economy recovery fund, which will largely support the tourism and hospitality, industry, and water, electricity, road infrastructure projects among other income-generating activities.

session will expose the sector to listen into new concepts and ideas that they (participants) have, so as to tackle different challenges emerging from Covid19 but also for the overall sector.

We want to be inspired with new ideas. Not only digital way to also expose more ideas, answering the potential challenges that we have, not locked to one way (digitalisation) but many more alternatives of improving the sector going forward,” Kariza told KTPress today. 

online workshop aims at opening up new opportunities for technology companies to better understand the need in the tourism sector and in doing so develop solutions fit for driving the sector’s growth.

largely focus on strategies that could leverage technology to encourage domestic tourism covering but not limited to travel and hospitality sectors.

ICT Chamber has been working with the Chamber of Tourism to promote digitalization of the industry, by supporting companies that are serving in the industry through incubation programs at the ICT Innovation Center in Kicukiro district.

accelerate digitalization of the tourism sector through public private dialogue. 

RDB’s intent is to leverage technology and the solutions we have to stimulate domestic tourism and help the sector’s recovery. Taking lessons from what has been done with e-commerce and the online e-learning platforms. RDB will also present to us their challenges that tech companies can turn into monetize-able opportunities

Facial recognition technology helps with social distancing and capacity measures by identifying the proximity between individuals

facial recognition technology reduces physical contact

makes the experience more efficient by instantly scanning a guest

's face for verification and payment.

safest technology in identity verification, dramatically reducing the risk of payment fraud.

2. Social distancing and capacity requirements

1. Contactless payments

keeps track of the number of people in the store

3. Customer loyalty programs and personalized dining experiences

allows restaurants to create personalized experiences for loyal customers, and encourage first-time guests to return.

recognized as VIPs,

weekly regular who likes his burger rare with no lettuce or tomato, thus increasing customer satisfaction

4. Fast-food restaurant transformations

with facial recognition

customers

don’t need to remember a password or log into an app

Facial recognition t

turns these kiosks into interactive experiences by recognizing loyalty program members and presenting pe

ased on

Facial recognition

past orders

also being employed in drive-through lines

saving time

5. Employee systems: access control, time and attendance clocks, and ordering terminals

Advanced technologies like FaceMe® can be installed at staff entrances to check body temperature and mask-wearing while accurately identifying employees

simplifies clocking-in/out

accurate login capabilities without the need for keys or cards.

FaceMe SDK

FaceMe

facial recognition engine

to create personalized and efficient customer experiences

FaceMe Security

It can also display body temperature (when connected to a thermal camera), identify opted-in VIP customers, clock-in/out employees, flag block-listed individuals, and send real-time alerts to security personne

software solution that performs facial recognition even if users are wearing a mask.

FaceMe Health

installed on a PC connected to a camera with thermal imaging capabilities.