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When we log onto the Internet, we take lots of things for granted. We assume that we'll be able to access whatever Web site we want, whenever we want to go there. We assume that we can use any feature we like -- watching online video, listening to podcasts, searching, e-mailing and instant messaging -- anytime we choose. We assume that we can attach devices like wireless routers, game controllers or extra hard drives to make our online experience better. What makes all these assumptions possible is "Network Neutrality," the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet. Net Neutrality means that Internet service providers may not discriminate between different kinds of content and applications online. It guarantees a level playing field for all Web sites and Internet technologies. But all that could change. The biggest cable and telephone companies would like to charge money for smooth access to Web sites, speed to run applications, and permission to plug in devices. These network giants believe they should be able to charge Web site operators, application providers and device manufacturers for the right to use the network. Those who don't make a deal and pay up will experience discrimination: Their sites won't load as quickly, and their applications and devices won't work as well. Without legal protection, consumers could find that a network operator has blocked the Web site of a competitor, or slowed it down so much that it's unusable. The network owners say they want a "tiered" Internet. If you pay to get in the top tier, your site and your service will run fast. If you don't, you'll be in the slow lane. What's the Problem Here? Discrimination: The Internet was designed as an open medium. The fundamental idea since the Internet's inception has been that every Web site, every feature and every service should be treated without discrimination. That's how bloggers can compete with CNN or USA Today for readers. That's how up-and-coming musicians can build underground audiences before they get their first top-40 single. That's why when you use a search engine, you see a list of the sites that are the closest match to your request -- not those that paid the most to reach you. Discrimination endangers our basic Internet freedoms. Double-dipping: Traditionally, network owners have built a business model by charging consumers for Internet access. Now they want to charge you for access to the network, and then charge you again for the things you do while you're online. They may not charge you directly via pay-per-view Web sites. But they will charge all the service providers you use. These providers will then pass those costs along to you in the form of price hikes or new charges to view content. Stifling innovation: Net Neutrality ensures that innovators can start small and dream big about being the next EBay or Google without facing insurmountable hurdles. Unless we preserve Net Neutrality, startups and entrepreneurs will be muscled out of the marketplace by big corporations that pay for a top spot on the Web. On a tiered Internet controlled by the phone and cable companies, only their own content and services -- or those offered by corporate partners that pony up enough "protection money" -- will enjoy life in the fast lane. The End of the Internet? Make no mistake: The free-flowing Internet as we know it could very well become history. What does that mean? It means we could be headed toward a pay-per-view Internet where Web sites have fees. It means we may have to pay a network tax to run voice-over-the-Internet phones, use an advanced search engine, or chat via Instant Messenger. The next generation of inventions will be shut out of the top-tier service level. Meanwhile, the network owners will rake in even greater profits.

What should hotels look for in their financial management system then?Handling currency complexity

Handling multiple languages

Handling multiple entities

E-commerce in India is gearing up for some massive changes from February 1. Foreign e-commerce players — like Amazon and Flipkart — will no longer be able to offer consumers ‘deep discounts’ or sell their own brands through their respective platforms. It’s a big blow to Jeff Bezos’ and Walmart, and not the best news for consumers in India. Local vendors are voicing their support for the new policy, hoping they can regain some market share, without having to lose more money by offering discounts.

In fact, Gartner believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will create 2.3 million jobs in 2020 while only eliminating 1.8 million, for a net gain of half a million jobs added to American company payrolls.

Inevitably, the course of every industry will continue to evolve, incorporate and need more technology to be successful

Only very recently have voice and natural language processing technologies advanced enough to truly interpret questions

Make a Green Choice (MAGC) Make a Green Choice (MAGC) is our guest-facing sustainability and loyalty program in which our guests can choose to help reduce our environmental footprint. Any guest at a participating SPG hotel can Make a Green Choice by forgoing full housekeeping for up to three days in a row (excluding their check-out day). For each night a guest opts into MAGC, they receive 250-500 Starpoints or a $5/5€ Food & Beverage voucher, while helping to reduce the use of water, energy and chemicals. Sustainable Food & Beverage We aim to integrate leading sustainable and social practices and principles into our core Food & Beverage strategy and operations. We are working to reduce the negative impacts of our business while supporting locally sourced ingredients and their suppliers. View Sustainable Food & Beverage Policy (PDF) Sustainable Meeting Practices (SMP) Sustainable Meeting Practices (SMP) includes a globally aligned collection of initiatives that integrate environmental and social concerns into the meeting process. This includes a Meeting Impact Report that calculates the carbon footprint of a customer’s meeting, tracks the sustainable practices incorporated during the event, and provides the ability to offset the meeting’s carbon footprint.

Today’s cloud POS systems are management tools that can be used to do everything from managing your inventory and suppliers to tracking employees’ activities — whether it’s hours worked or sales made. 

When used effectively, POS systems save time and money and have the potential to improve the entire staff management system. Here are the most common ways your POS system can help manage your staff. 

Easier time tracking

With the advent of technology, the event planning and management has seen enormous shifts over the past two decades. As technology continues to automate monotonous time-consuming work and connect the world like never before, many event planners are scrambling to keep up by incorporating the latest and greatest technology into their events.

Digital administration is now key when planning a new meeting. For large events, it’s not enough to just sell a ticket online, print them an agenda, and check IDs at the door.

Without a tool like this, it would require constantly manually inputting and changing spreadsheets which have no contact with the outside world.

With mobile shopping, peer-to-peer e-commerce and influencer marketing continually on the rise, social commerce is finally becoming the next wave of retail.

a new shopping feature that would allow users to shop and purchase items on the platform without leaving the app.

"Shopping will continue to be an investment for us, and we're excited to continue to listen to feedback from our community on how they want to better shop on Instagram,"

beacons haven’t taken over the marketing world in the way so many predicted, however, some of the world’s biggest brands are redefining the customer experience with proximity marketing - with or without beacons.

Amazon is trying to reshape the in-store customer experience with a fleet of Amazon Go stores where customers can simply walk in, pick the items they want and walk right out - no queues and no physical payments action whatsoever.

One of the most successful uses of proximity marketing also happens to be one of the oldest, though. The Starbucks mobile app allows customers to place orders, pay in-store, collect rewards and receive custom offers from the biggest name in high street coffee.

Consider how the Target store hack in 2014 was one of the biggest point-of-sale (POS) system data breaches in United States history that exposed more than 70 million customer records to hackers, and cost the retailer's CEO and CIO their jobs. It was later revealed that the attack could have been avoided if Target had just implemented the auto-eradication feature within its FireEye anti-malware system.

the reality is that most POS attacks can be avoided.

be sure your company has a virtual private

No specific laws govern confidentiality in the hospitality industry, but your contracts and policies should clearly dictate what degree of privacy customers can expect.

Hospitality businesses routinely swipe customer credit cards and may gain other sensitive financial data, such as a customer's bank account information.

If you inadvertently leak this data, you could be legally liable for your negligence, resulting in costly lawsuits.

difference between a virtual restaurant and a ghost kitchen

both models are part of an emerging restaurant segment that primarily exists online, with no physical storefront and with a major focus on off-premise dining and delivery.

a recent report by Statista predicted that worldwide

Many music fans who attended the Chicagoland area's inaugural Sacred Rose Festival this past weekend and used their credit cards while there subsequently reported thousands in surprise overcharges.

The fest has responded saying it was a glitch with an onsite vendor.

the four-digit charges curiously appeared on the customers' cards after they visited a merchant on the festival grounds.

Some companies treat corporate social responsibility primarily as a form of branding. For instance, a company that donates 10 percent of profits to cancer research might develop a marketing plan to let the public know about its good works so customers will feel better about buying its products. A more comprehensive approach to societal marketing would include an examination of the company's products and services and what effect they have on the customer and the society.

Consumers generally say they want to buy products that are more environmentally sustainable or socially responsible, but that doesn't translate to actual sales if the product costs too much or doesn't perform as well as its rivals. It might seem as if there's a gap between what customers say they want and what they really want, but in reality they want it all. An unpleasant-tasting, expensive brand of fair trade coffee is not going to outsell a delicious and affordable rival just because it is fair trade. However, a delicious and affordable fair trade brand could do very well. The fact that the coffee is fair trade is a benefit to the consumer, but only if the coffee meets the customer's other requirements for taste and price. Effective societal marketing treats the social responsibility aspect as an extra benefit to choosing an already fine product.

Sometimes a company can make its marketing campaign more socially responsible by making relatively small changes to a popular product. For example, if a restaurant offers a children's meal option including a grilled cheese sandwich, chips and a soda, it could improve the menu by offering fresh fruit and milk or juice as options. Some parents will still decide to order the chips and soda, but some will choose the fruit and milk. The company is giving customers what they want either way, but by including healthier options the company is doing what it can to have a positive impact on society.

A growing wave of cyberattacks is threatening governments, businesses and everyday residents. Across the globe, there is a critical shortage of skilled professionals to guard against these criminals.

The state’s cybersecurity workforce increased by only 1 percent between 2015 and 2020, which was the seventh slowest rate in the nation, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By comparison, the ranks of these key professionals more than doubled in a dozen states over that timeframe.

Globally, cybersecurity experts are in extraordinarily high demand. An analysis from Cyberseek, a public-private partnership that measures cybersecurity workforce shortages in the United States, notes the talent gap is severe in every state besides Maine.

Currently, the following Mobile POS solutions providers have successfully completed the registration and self-certification process for their solutions: Corduro, Ezetap, Elavon, Handpoint, Itos, iVeri, iZettle, JSC Smartfin (2Can), Miura Systems, NetSecure Payments (Kudos), Payworks, ROAM, SCCP (Swiff), Soft Space, Square and Thyron Systems.

Small businesses and retailers that have never accepted card payments and previously operated on a cash- and invoice-only basis are turning to mobile point-of-sale (MPOS) solutions to expand their customer base and sales. Established retailers are also adopting MPOS solutions to engage customers in-aisle and enhance the retail and payment experience. MasterCard introduced the MasterCard Mobile POS Program to provide guidance to Mobile POS solution providers and promote simple and secure transactions when consumers use their debit, credit and prepaid cards to pay merchants that use these devices.