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The author of this article, Tara Thomas, summarizes the top five technologies for event planners. The first technology that she mentions is smart phones. She writes that this is the most obvious technology that event planners can't live without. Planners can do things like set alarms, look up information, communicate instantly, and use social media to promote the event. The second technology that Thomas mentions is SaaS cloud applications. Software as a service allows planners to access all details and execution aspects of an event from any web enabled device, eliminating printed or emailed reports. Thirdly, Thomas talks about virtual events. Virtual events save the planner and the attendee valuable time, money, and resources. Thomas next talks about social media and viral marketing. Using sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to share event details is a great way to communicate to a very large group of people. The fifth and last technology that Thomas speaks of is Ipads and tablets. Through event management applications, planners have all of the information they could possibly need right at their fingertips. Ipads and tablets also make it possible to communicate in real time if needed.

This article was about the 5 technologies event planners can't live without. These technologies are: smart phones, SaaS cloud apps, virtual events, social media and viral marketing, and finally iPads and tablets. Smart phones are important to the daily activities of an event planner because they are able to look up phone numbers, response to emails, update a status on a social media site, review or add to lists for events, and so much more all on the go. SaaS cloud apps let planner take advantage of accessing all devices and execute aspects of an event for any web enabled device. With SaaS cloud apps you are also able to link up your event management system with a customer relationship management system. Virtual events allow planners to fill seats at a cost that won't cost a burden. Social media and viral marketing allows event planners to market themselves and get event details to different consumers. iPads and tablets get rid of the need for a large heavy binder stuffed with event details. Now event planner can carry a tablet that allows you to access anything you need. In conjunction with the SaaS cloud apps you can also access contracts, registrations, and room blocks and also link up a CRM system as mentioned before. The technology advances we have now let event planners do even more on the day to day, but also make it easier for them to do so.

The article lists five technological necessities that used by the event planners. They are smartphones, SaaS cloud apps, virtual events, social medial and viral marketing, ipads and tablets. All of these technologies can save time and costs for the event planners. What`s more, they provide a more simplified life for the human beings. 

A great in-depth article about the service SAAS. This article talks about how it works, and how the host provide their services to their clients. In the article it also talks about the three types of cloud based services.

This article is about the accounting trends and cloud SaaS. Accounting softwares make it easy to provide managers and operators with secure access to the accounting system through an Internet browser and remote connection. The cloud based softwares are as known as software as a service(SaaS). When selecting the SaaS program, flexibility that could be tailored the company's needs should be considered. In other words, that system should be interfacted with current systems. Several consideration should be necessary before selecting the cloud SaaS. The accounting system should be interface with accounts receivable or CRM. The possibility to reconcile the SaaS systems to subledger system. The types of operational reports the systems provide such as cash management reports, AR aging reports and budgetary forecast reports, possibility of making customizable reports. The way and kinds of training to utilize the systems, how to setup, training and data conversion.

This is a very comprehensive article that talks about the web-based, Software as a Service systems (SaaS). It is different from the traditional PMS and it has advantages over the traditional one. The author gave us five advantages of SaaS. All of the five advantages are so good that after read this article, I think there will be a trend that it will be the SaaS world in the future and this trend will continue.  However, the author didn't write any disadvantages. Usually for a company to make a decision before the company knows not only the pros and but also the cons.

The advantages offered by SaaS systems are very similar to that of which property managers have to solve. It controls property's operations such as processing reservations, check-ins and check-outs. Saas stands for Software as a Service which drives the attention of new technology for property management which includes moving tenant services online, offering web site creation and integration, eliminating the need for extensive software training and maintenance, enhancing communication between the owners and managers and it helps improve record keeping and security.

With technology evolving the property management  software.  Most  vendors are now offering  web-based, Software as a Service  is being  adopted by most property managers are adopting it because  they the advantages of the SaaS model help them accomplished most of their goals.which are to move tenants services online,  offering website creation and integration, eliminate the need for software training and maintenance ,improve  record keeping and security as well as better record keeping.  Furthermore this service can be accessed on smartphone as well as tablets. And also one of the primary characteristics of SaaS property management vendors is that they've designed their systems specifically to be easy-to-use and to appeal to those who aren't especially tech savvy. This results in a faster learning curve for property managers who are not technically proficient. And also it offers  better record  keeping since it  back up the data.

This article emphasizes the importance of SaaS (Software as a Service) to the hospitality industry. This model allows companies to deliver services via the internet, thus decreasing the costs and the failure rate in the software services and the product distribution. This application is creating a new model of customer interaction and relationship building as the mobile usability is constantly increasing into the hotel and travel industry. The SaaS solution distributed via the internet eliminates the physical need for indirect distribution because it is not physically distributed and can be delivered almost instantaneously. This article talks about the impact that this system causes to the hotel's operation. This system can anticipate problems and proactively addresses and fixes the issues via the support and monitoring team that is immediately available investigating and rectifying the issues promptly. Among the many benefits that SaaS brings to the hotel's operations, one very important benefit is that the executive team can keep an eye on the operations and even make changes when they are off-property through cloud-based access. The SaaS implementations would give hoteliers more control on the relationship with their technology provider and SaaS gives this to them. I feel this program is really valuable for people in the hotel industry.

Why you should move from a Tech-Enabled Service to a SaaS Platform and some things to keep in mind if you do decided to make the transition.

This article describes the implementation of SaaS (software as a service) in the hospitality industry. It is forecasted that by 2020 the packaged software will decrease to 10 % of all new installations. Hospitality industry, a 24/7/365 fast paced business, is totally dependent on the functionality of its internal systems. On demand platforms in every category are needed in the hospitality industry to maintain continious performance. Essential property management systems (PMS), point of sales systems (POS), service and marketing systems as well as guest engagement platforms are often provided as SaaP nowadays. Cost savings, flexibility, scalability, employee productivity, and guest service are named among the benefits of SaaS. However, there are some disadvantages such as the issue of integration and interfacing. Sometimes there are more than 50 systems used to manage a single property, so the provider should be able to guarantee their complete integration. The author states, that SaaS will enable hotels gather information about the guests, their preferences and habbits not only from their own records, but also use other resources, including those from different industries. This gives the hotels an opportunity to provide excellent service to the guests. However, I suppose that using guests' profiles gathered by other institutions might be not legal in some states. Thus, hotels need to consider that while making a decision.

The article I read was called, 'Why the Future of Online Hotel Marketing is Cloud-Based Utility Computing.' In the article, it says that technology is moving super fast these days and companies are trying everything they can to keep up, for example building websites and starting blogs, but they feel that it's not enough. Up until now companies could not manage all of their marketing efforts from one place but now they can and it's called utility computing in-the-cloud. "Utility computing is a broad concept that encapsulates cloud computing and software as a service (SaaS)."Some hotel owners feel intimidated because a website does not seem as permanent as owning something. One example that I really liked that they gave in the article was, "When I rent a movie from Blockbuster, I have a limited selection (whatever fits in the store) and when I'm done with the video, I have to return it and rent it again to watch it again." Compared this to Netflix, where you have access to hundreds of thousands of videos and you can watch them as many times as you want and for any long as you want for no additional cost. When you embrace SaaS, you gain million dollar technology that never grows outdated, compare this to a website that is only built on thousand-dollar technology and can get outdated, and it sounds like a great investment!

This article focuses on millennial's and how dependent they are on technology when traveling and/or exploring places to eat. It is highly encouraged by travel agencies and the food/entertainment indusrty to promote their services through apps and current technological trends. Millennial's like the ability to check themselves in the hotel, book reservations, pay bills, ect. at their convenience. More hotels are implementing radio frequency identification (RFID) key card, which only allows the electricity to be turned on once the key is inserted. This helps in decreasing hotel electricity cost. Not only does it reduce electricity cost, but it also saves energy from our planet. Hotels are targeting business travelers, millenial's, and leisure travelers due to proper mobile strategy in place, a study in 2016 showed that 75% from search and 51% of revenue come from mobile devices. SaaS is increasing in demand, especially from hotels and hospitality companies. Hotels are able to cut down on operating costs since SaaS is cheaper with no initial hardware costs and no need to hire full time IT staff to maintain the system, Hotels and restaurants are going paperless practicing sustainability and going green. Technology is helping elevate the hospitality and tourism world by providing more accessibility and exposure targeted to the specific demands of today's world.

Software as a Service is becoming an essential part of the healthcare community. The time saved researching information about a patient, searching for medications or treatments could be valuable time needed for saving a life. It is project that "the number of businesses using cloud-based apps is expected to increase by 19.6%." With the increase in the use of cloud-based applications, there is a stronger need for the attention given to data security. Especially when it comes to patient information. Multiple cloud based options may initially be utilized before phasing into singular sources over time. This will alleviate some of the pressure needing to have the increased security for two platform rather than one.

The article gives a relative brief intorduction of how BlackLine's accounting software worke well in many brands hotels and casinoes.The Account Reconciliations and Transaction enables lots  of hotels such as Four Seasons, Royal Carriebean, Venetian Casino Resort and so forth can streamline the financial close and process the immense bolume of transactions they receive on a daily basis in a timely manner-especially credit cards, which will reduce more risk of credit cards frauds and maintian security  of cusotmers' consideration. One of good applications is SaaS delivery model. BlackLine enhances the application with a more unify  and complete structure and segregation, which prevents others from seeing its data. Another good example is Kempinski has greatly reduce their excess paper and simplified their account reconciliation process via BlackLine's tehcnology. The web-based application enhable hoteliers access to all stakeholders anywhere at any time, which makes hoteliers gain more valuable effiencies reducing time with audits.

Cloud computing makes sense to work business in a cloud setting. The article states that Cloud computing has "transformed businesses" throughout the world. We learned that a disadvantage of Cloud is the dependence of Internet connection. With Cloud computing, you can share and store data. This can be a better way to run business. We have learned that Cloud computing is more scalable, secure, and reliable. Cloud computing cost less, and you can pay for what you need. Cloud you can customize what you need, to your specific needs. The article even mentions it "lowers management costs." Unlike unintended PMS, which can require maintenance, and be highly costly. We discussed in our video lecture from this past week, how hotel check-ins are being done from smart phones- as this article includes. This is beneficial for enhancing guest experience, and increasing the speed of check-ins. Travel agents have their own way of how they conduct themselves, their business, and the services he or she provides. However, the article shows how with Cloud computing, you would not need to depend on travel agents. Furthermore, Cloud computing can increase sales and revenue for a hotel property. Cloud computing is replacing traditional PMS system's and have a multitude of benefits.

Hoteliers today are joining in on the trend of the use of cloud computing. Some benefits of cloud computing include the increase of operational efficiency, lowering management costs since the hotelier only pays for what they demand. Energy costs and hardware operation costs are also decreased. It allows for hotel check ins to be done via smart phones and tablets and not just at the front desk upon arrival, and it also allows for hotels to not have to rely on travel agents all the time for bookings which saves them having to pay commission to travel companies.

No matter the industry, cloud computing has changed organizations all around the world in recent years. Today's need for access at any time and from any location has soared, and cloud computing is supplying it. All you want is a reliable internet connection. Businesses might choose a cloud service that would store their data in safe data centers rather than burdening themselves with traditional in-house servers to store data. At all levels, cloud-based services are now taking the place of outdated and conventional technologies. Many hospitality firms now use cloud computing services offered by infrastructure as a service (IaaS), software as a service (SaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS). And they are all fired up with the incredible benefits of cloud computing. Cloud computing can benefit hoteliers by driving down costs like energy, hardware, and operations. Your hotel's requirement for hardware overload is decreased, which significantly lowers your electricity costs. The hotel sector uses cloud computing to speed up projects, which reduces costs and increases efficiency. An efficient and effective hotel PMS will help you to ensure that your guests receive a first-rate experience and will provide the hotel employees with the best set of management capabilities. Another benefit of cloud computing is that it frees your personnel from stationary terminals, allowing them to work more independently and productively. Due to the cloud, guests may now check in at hotels using their smartphones or tablets as well as the front desk. Working remotely is possible thanks to cloud computing in the hospitality sector. Managing the business becomes a little more challenging when you, the hotelier, are not on the premises. However, putting your hotel management and operations in the cloud gives you the flexibility to access and operate on them from any location in the world.

Areas USA has selected the MICROS Simphony Enterprise Solution as its standard SaaS, cloud-based point-of-sale system across its United States airport and turnpike operations. It provides the organization with a robust enterprise system, web-based reporting, and business intelligence functionalities with a high level of flexibility. MICROS's Simphony also seamlessly interfaces to Areas USA's Corporate Infrastructure systems. Simphony is centralized, allowing for the entire system to be managed from one application. The solution is also being hosted in one of MICROS's worldwide data centers, removing Areas USA's onsite servers and the responsibility of managing the servers from its internal IT department. MICROS and Areas USA have been partners for years, with the MICROS 9700 Hospitality Management System (HMS) installed at many locations. The sites with the MICROS 9700 HMS will be converted to the MICROS Simphony platform.

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.

The article highlighted the five top technologies that are quite effective and beneficial for events: 1. Smart phones: Smart phones have the ability to look up suppliers when on the move, for example the ability to respond to emails as well as monitor and respond to the social media. Another benefit is the ability for to do list and scheduled to be created. This is very critical in the time management of events. 2. Saas Cloud Application (software as a service): The advantage is to have access form any web enabled device. This will reduce printing cost and provide the ability to customize reports. Meeting Planners can use Saas to link event management system with customer relationship systems eg. Saleforce. This allows efficient data transfer to both speakers and attendees. 3. Virtual Events: Webiners like gotomeeting.com give participants the ability to attend meetings from multiple locations. This can be save time and money. The only drawback in the personal interaction however, for quick group meetings and presentations this can be quite convenient. 4. Social Media and Viral Marketing: One out of every three persons spend three or more hours on-line per day. The sharing of events though social media sites is highly beneficial for both planners and attendees. Smart planners get participants to market to people within their network. 5. Ipads and Tablets: No more big boxes of binders to ship home form a conference. This means huge saving for bit planners and attendees. Access for information can be controlled at registration point. Information is easily transferred to ones device

I agree every event planner I met at SOBEWFF was on their Ipad 24/7- you sort of feel out of the loop without one. However while observing the benefits of new technology, increased response rates and efficiency, there were still issues that required a phone call rather than an e-mail. In the planning stage this technology is all very helpful but the day of personal interaction is required. Also as far as CRM event planners are still very hands on in terms of making their presence known through face-to-face interactions. The industry still relies heavily on personal relationships.

This article talks about the 5 most important tools that an event planner needs to use. 1.Smart phones- this one is an easy one. We all know how important our smart phones are to us. Smart phones allow us to have so many different applications at our fingertips. 2.SaaS cloud applications-"software as a service" these applications have opened up a new way to view things in the event planning industry. These applications allow the planners to use their ipads and tablets to allow them to connect with other applications like salesforce, to deal with customers in an easy manner. 3.Virtual events-these events like "webinars and live feed "have become popular it gives viewers the sense of being at the event. Webinars are also very popular because it allows planners to get more people to "be" at the event for a lower cost. 4.Social Media- because sites like Facebook and Twitter have become so popular it makes sense that this would be important to events because people are often commenting of places they have been to. 5.iPads and Tablets-because they add a sense of simplicity and organization to the madness that is party planning

Article provides discussion on beneficial reference to the idea of moving expenditures from Operating Expenses (OpEx) vs Capital Expenses (CapEx) when determining cloud vs static installations/deployments to gain economic benefit. Article discusses some of the misconceptions that cloud (IaaS, SaaS or PaaS) have a cost advantage vs static. Additionally, discussed are foundations of general accepted accounting principles (GAPP) in the explanation of OpEx and CapEx. Also expanded on the concept of "cloud requires no upfront investment" vs time value of money (TVM) model. TMV is the a concept used in accounting used in the comparison of two or more financial outcomes. Article applies this concept to values across current cloud service vendor offerings (2009). The author also provides a calculation to evaluate an Instance level cloud deployment can reach same cost as static in three-years.

SocialTables is one of the latest and most successful hospitality start-ups. It is essentially a hospitality SaaS. It was founded by Dan Berger, an event-planner turned programmer. Founded in 2012 and based in Washington D.C., one of the premier corporate hospitality locations in the US, the start-up has recently raised $8 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, and followed by Thayer Ventures. This funding adds to the previous $1.6 million the company raised, which helped them streamline their event planning tools. According to its website, SocialTables is a cloud-based solution that offers event diagramming, seating, and check-in tools for event planners. The software can make room layouts that event planners can use to show clients, compose detailed seating charts and arrangements, and it offers a fast check-in app. All of this is done on a colorful, intuitive, cloud-based site with mobile integration. In two years, SocialTables has grown considerably. It has over 2,500 customers and 30,000 users. Additionally, two-thirds of its customer base is actually composed of venue-owners, including major corporations like Hyatt Hotels and Caesar's Entertainment. Academic institutions like Harvard Business School and The Ohio State University also subscribe to SocialTables. Additionally, one-third of its customers are private party planners. SocialTables is becoming an affordable, customizable, tech-progressive solution for event planners of all levels. Industry leaders like Hyatt and Caesar's already subscribe to its services. In the future, I think that the start-up should focus on increasing its ability to provide affordable and capable solutions for private event planners, particularly in the wedding category. While that is an extremely competitive and saturated market, SocialTables could provide an industry-leading software solution and use its credibility to entice private planners into its cloud-based ecosystem.