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This article shows the benefits of technology investments and what those investments could provide to the ROI. Examples were investing in mobile communication technology and new computer systems. Another example looked at investing into online platforms and using IT to support social media and other internet based systems. The article concludes by asserting that investments in technology is necessary for the success of both large chain companies and small properties.

As we all know, all hotels need some variation of a property management system, which PMSs come in many different forms. In this article, the author has seen PMSs as a superior way to handle all these tasks with ease at hotels because of its ability to deeply integrate with channel managers, booking engines, and revenue management systems. However, there are still certain concerns over PMSs, and this author has clarified some rumors of the validity and cost effectiveness of PMSs in this article.

All hotels need some variation of a property management system (PMS). However they come in many different forms and are not all created equal. There are still properties trying to manage their business in a traditional way with books and ledgers, others are using server-based systems, while many used web-based systems. One of the most valuable things to a hotel manager is time, and money of course. The first two systems listed are a drain on both time and finances, while the latter has obviously become the optimal way to manage hotel operations. Cloud-based PMSs are a superior way to automate and accelerate all the important processes at your hotel such as taking and confirming bookings, managing reservations, generating bills and reports, check-in/out, room transfers, checking/editing availability, guest communication, the list goes in.

This article is the resultant of a survey by Hospitality Technology as a deep dive into the minds of Restaurant Technology experts and executives. The results of the survey, commented by various executives from POS provision companies details their thoughts on the needs and direction of POS systems in the industry. The article, though lengthy, outlines current additions to existing POS systems and upgrades they are or will be implementing as a contrast to the opinions of the Technology executives. Out of this, several distinct trends emerge. POS will no longer be just cash register alternatives. They as a class of products are evolving quickly, integrating data, inventory management, third party integration (both service and distribution side) as well as an emphasis on Cloud-Based and managed implementations. All seem to concur that the future of the POS is not merely operational and operator functionality but also payment systems integrations that will make payment by the consumer friction-less and more diversified. On-line ordering is a distinct focus for all POS providers as online ordering grows exponentially for the foreseeable future. This includes critical items for brand based application ordering as well as third party aggregators. This includes the integration of omni-channel ordering including mobile, amazon-echo, Google-Echo and other AI/Voice based systems and the implications of their increasing usage. Data Security will be at the forefront of POS implementations with Restaurants having to increase their focus on vulnerabilities in their current systems and look to Cloud based systems to offer greater safeguards against hacks and data compromise. Finally, there seems a general agreement that a POS needs to be ready for the future, that is is extensible, up-gradable, and flexible to meet the rapid changes in technology in as bio metrics, payment methods (ie Bitcoin), new devices and services come to market. .

Adjara Group has signed a deal with Cendyn to power CRM across all of their hotels in Georgia which will help them utilize data collected from multiple sources to provide an accurate, single source of truth of each guest. Cendyn is a tool used to provide marketing automation and guest intelligence sitting on top of a hotel's property management system or call center application.

Information security is absolutely crucial within the Hospitality industry. There is so much important guest and customer information that is submitted via technology. This includes, credit card details, addresses, and phone numbers, with so much of this information being sensitive companies need to install security systems. The hospitality industry depends strongly on credit card as a form of payment which is why the POS needs to be secure. It is also extremely important that staff members are trained to gather and store guests personal information. The industry overall has become stricter in the ways that information gets gathered and processed in order to avoid cyber attacks. The last thing that companies must keep an eye on are insider threats, a lot of the time it's the employees from the company that are giving away valuable and confidential information to third parties. This is why I believe that technology has had a great impact on this industry but there needs to be strong security systems in order to avoid cyber attacks.

The pro's and con's of cloud-based point of sale systems and how it can be cost-effective for small business to operate a POS or PMS

This article is about the future of POS systems and what we as consumers can look forward to in the near future. In this article, Emily Engle discusses the current talks Amazon has to implement scans of user's hands to receive payment instead of a physical credit cards, cash or phone systems during your point of sale transaction. Although, just an idea for some retail giants, some retailers in other markets such as China and India use biometric features during point of sale transactions. To get things started, Amazon believes that customers will enter their credit/debit card and scan your print during this initial process. After that you will never need your card again. It is said that since Amazon owes Whole Foods, they will begin the testing period there. Using this new method of shopping, if it comes to fruition, could useful for frequent visitors.

In this article, the author creates a platform where four of the best hotel POS Systems updated as of January 2020 can easily be viewed and compared simultaneously. Showcasing each of their pros and cons allowing you as the hotelier/business owner to choose. Armed with all the important information on each option, their capabilities and features categories ranging from the best, most affordable, windows-based, all the way to the most easily integrated with your PMS system.

This is a great publication that compares various POS systems for hotels. The article points out that POS systems in hotels reduce manual work, and thus manual hours. Besides, they streamline the flow of work and improve customer experience. However, the article only compares various POS systems by their software costs. I would like to see a comparison based on functionality factors. This would help hotel owners to make better decisions regarding the type of POS to acquire.

This article is about why tabletop tablets will not replace waiters. It discusses how waiters will still be needed even with the increased use of technology. It shows how a tablet can benefit not only the customer but the server and restaurant as well.

This article makes some great points about how the serving position will always be necessary and to what extent with table tops. Tabletops will be beneficial in specific environments but not all- although servers will always be needed to help in ways a tabletop cannot. Singing Happy Birthday, verifying legal drinking ages, assisting with complicated modifiers. There is a time and place for a table top, but there is also a necessity of a human.

I enjoyed reading this article as it points out how the tablet can be a tool for the wait staff and not a threat to their jobs. "Tabletop tablets can help servers capitalize on the "magic moments" of the dining experience." This quote really capitalizes on the role of the server and how having wait staff in the restaurant can allow each customer to have a personalized dining experience.

This is an awesome article describing the growth of technology in marketing strategies. It lists some of the many ways that eMarketing is evolving, and how these changes are affecting the hospitality industry.

Wow that was a good article! Thank you for sharing!

This article looks at the benefits of proximity and its disadvantages. The author explores multiple reasons why modern businesses should use proximity marketing. For instance, it helps businesses to target ideal customers at the right time. it also improves customer experience, customer loyalty, and thus, creating a competitiveadvantage in the marlket. Conversely, it has some negatives. therefore, before implementing the technology, entrepreneurs should look out for ways to minize the demerits in order to gain the most from the technology.

This article presents suggestions on POS selection for companies sized from small to large. I found this article really interesting and reiterates that the selection of the POS is going to be based on company needs/culture. Their research was extensive and conducted market research repeatedly, before suggestions were made. It also touched on the different pricing options, in addition to any special features the POS may offer.

This article talks about the best POS systems for 2020. What I found interesting is that the majority of these systems are cloud-based and offer integrated information services for a variety of industries, not just hospitality. A lot of the systems also are ipad based and work well with third-party POS hardware. They also have automated payment options integrated, for people who like to process payments electronically (i.e. Apple Pay). I think its important to know about these POS systems and what they can accomplish for hospitality companies.

In this article, they talk about the best pos systems to use for 2020. They list each pos system name and then summarize the benefits and give a full review. The first system they talk about is lightspeed, which Ipad pos system has solutions for retail stores, restaurants, and online businesses. It's fully mobile, so you can check inventory from anywhere in the store, show customers product images and descriptions, and ring up orders and accept payments on the sales floor or, for restaurants, tableside. The next system is Vend that has real-time reports, inventory management features, and access to various integrations that can help you run your business, save time, and boost sales. This POS software is suitable for nearly every type of retailer. Whether you run a clothing store, a sporting goods store, or a specialty service-based business such as a car wash or computer shop, Vend has the features you need. Touch Bistro is a simple and affordable POS system that focuses on the unique needs of restaurant owners, with tables, reservations, and delivery management features. It's suitable for all types of food establishments - fine dining, casual eateries, cafes, pubs, food trucks, and more. Lastly, there is eposnow has both retail and hospitality versions of the software are available, each with a robust selection of features to help you run your business. It also has more than 80 integrations, so you can add extra capabilities and connect to the business programs you already use.

The article goes in depth into what HRIS is and the functions and benefits of it to a company.

This article talks about HRIS, which are human resource information systems, which is an intersection of human resources and information technology through HR software. This allows HR activities and processes to occur electronically.put it another way; an HRIS may be viewed as a way, through software, for businesses big and small to take care of several activities, including those related to human resources, accounting, management, and payroll. An HRIS allows a company to plan its HR costs more effectively, as well as to manage them and control them without needing to allocate too many resources toward them. In most situations, an HRIS will also lead to increases in efficiency when it comes to making decisions in HR. The decisions made should also increase in quality-and as a result, the productivity of both employees and managers should increase and become more productive.

This article highlights the topic of Data Mining and the way in which companies use it to become informed and discover new ways to become more effective. Data Mining can be used to increase revenue, cut costs and identify growing trends. This article will feature key examples from major companies such as Oracle, Wal-Mart and the NBA, all of which use Data Mining to enhance their business performance. 

The event management space is more becoming more competitive. Now hotels and event planners are seeing these as an additional source of revenue. This article focuses on tips how events and conferences can use strategies to automate certain practices to capture a wider target audience all while spending less time and money.

This article emphasizes the importance of security in any hotel. "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." This quote stuck to me as you can spend all your life working on a brand, for it to be destroyed due to a lack of safety measures. When going to a hotel, or traveling in general, a guests main concern is their safety. However, too many safety measures can actually have an adverse effect on guests, making them wonder why there are so many safety measures and if they are actually safe in this hotel. For example, going through a metal detector in an airport is accepted to be normal, however, if a hotel had such, I am sure this would have most of the guests feeling unsure about staying in the hotel. Too much security and you are deemed as unsafe, and too little security can ruin your brand if something were to happen, therefore, a good balance of security is necessary. Some security measures in this article are: key card access, evergreen background screening, after-hours access, assessing local crime statistics, security officers must be properly trained to welcome and protect, and emergency response plans must be practiced.

This article reviews ten tips on how companies can better prepare for event security. Based on recent terrorism attacks, threats, and natural disasters it is important to prepare for any type of emergency especially in events. This article offers insight on tips to navigate event security. For example, one tip is to document everything. In any type of emergency, it is important to document names of attendees and employees who were involved in the crisis. This way if insurance or any assistance is needed, companies have detailed information of who was involved or affected by the disaster. This article is very useful because some things can be forgotten however this can be used as points to discuss other security measures.

The hotel industry is highly competitive and it is important to maintain an appeal to your customers and gain a competitive edge. Smart technology strategies is a way for a hotel to be able to ensure business and remain relevant to the target audience.

This article is about AI (Artificial Intelligence) and its impact in the hospitality industry. Although innovations in voice recognition, biometrics, and AR (augmented reality) are not expected to replace human contact, AI technology will revolutionize the industry by taking over mundane, simple, and routine work. Since these ordinary tasks could be time consuming, AI will allow hospitality personnel to focus on more meaningful and complex transactions. AR, for instance, was already implemented by Holiday Inn during the 2012 Olympics to provide realistic thematic and virtual representations. Biometric technology allows customers to authenticate their purchase without a wallet or human interaction. Nevertheless, the article also touches on an interesting concept called 'tech detox.' Some hotels already have promotions for guests willing to stay disconnected in order to be aware of their surrounding environment. In my opinion, AR is the best innovation, especially in a hotel. From TV programming, internet access, interactive city maps, hotel information, restaurant menu, and room service, this technology has endless opportunities to make any hotel experience unique.

I believe the article glosses over many of the potential implications of AI in the industry. For one, to date, technology advances have actually increased the workload of the more highly skilled management personel. A General Manager in a hotel now has to have degrees of knowledge in pricing system logic and demand economics, knowledge of systems and system implementation and the skill sets of individuals required to implement and sustain these systems. As AI and AI logic does begin to invade the Hospitality Industry, it is going to require our leaders to become far more cognizant of the uses, and maintenance costs involved in these technologies. This is not to say that this is necessarily a negative, however the implications for the skills sets required in the industry are a necessary talking point when citing that this technology wont replace jobs. Those mundane tasks which the article refers to are deemed as simple processes, but when discussing the already complex process of an agent reserving a guest in a Forbes rated property (as an example), this is going to get even more complicated in how we leverage these technologies, how we approach to market with the consumer.

Technology is continuing to revolutionize daily. All industries are experiencing such change but the hospitality industry will not completely take away is human employees. In fact, tech revolution will simply take away from mundane tasks simultaneously assisting with efficiency and customer satisfaction. With the advent of augmented reality (AR) guests are now able to electronically visualize themselves at the location. Technology cannot outperformance the warmth of guest service reps. yet, the future of hospitality will integrate both the advances of electronics and human interactions.

This article outlines how the study of tourism as an academic field has grown tremendously and experienced rapid changes. The author selected twelve major tourism journals for the research. The twelve journals received a mean quality rating above 3.0 and represented a range of importance ratings. The most frequently published topic area Tourist/Visitor Studies showed the greatest growth during an eleven-year period. The majority of articles used quantitative research designs. A much lower proportion of articles took a qualitative or mixed method approach and the remainder were review of theoretical articles. This study has tracked the rise and fall of various research topics and approaches within the broad area of tourism. It suggests that as the field has grown, research approaches and locations have become more diverse, although there is still a need to challenge some of the established and traditional methods.