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This article jumps into some challenges facing the hotel industry with respects to accounting. It touches on various topics we have gone through as a course, and ends with an emphasis on technology.

This article talks about the need for hoteliers to be up to date with technology. By having systems that have all the data in one place, helps owners make better decisions. Also having an accounting system that helps with making decisions and offer the proper tools is imperative. When it comes to accounting it is important to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

Although I'm not a 100 percent fan on the cloud base systems, technology is ever changing and i somewhat believe that we should keep up with it providing that it is in out best benefit personally or from a business security point of view. We see how this article reveal to us challenges and how technology helps alleviate some of them.

Engineering.com explores how renewable energy industries will operate post COVID-19. With focus on: Utilities, Solar, & Wind Power.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a massive surge to online conferencing. This conferencing would not be possible without the cloud. Moving forward this could be the way most work is done as some employers would prefer to have their employees work from home.

This article discusses the use of AI technology in the event planning sector, concluding that AI can be used as chatbots interfaces, data collection tools, and recommendation engines for event planners, to make the event planning process much faster and easier.

On that note it makes it easier to match planners with appropriate vendors as well. Both of these are considered the AI matchmaking function. The chatbot can also unite fellow guests with similar interests or experiences and give them a place to virtually meet each other, and Facebook has launched chatbot extensions. A company called PubNub allows a business to build its own chatbots from scratch.

Instead of having to download yet another app, chatbots allow users to connect through apps they've already downloaded (like facebook messenger), or other popular apps. And of course all of this data and interaction is collected and can be analyzed by event planners to streamline and enhance business, increase revenue, and increase guest satisfaction based on recommendations from the AI technology.

The Hospitality industry have been greatly impacted over the years by the advancements made in technology. Customers have everything assessable by the click of a button or utilization of an app. Various software is being created to provide for quick and easy service but in turn takes away from the personal experiences.

This article is about the new advances in technology and investing whether it has been taken too far. It analyzes the new advancements such as apps where reservations are made. These new technologies have been made to enhance experience but not replace the warm feeling that hospitality gives you. The article concludes that we haven't taken it too far, instead it has made guest experience better. Especially when it comes to checking in, and not having to wait a huge line when you just want to get to your room.

As we learned this week, technology is impacting the hospitality industry. As the article states- "improving a guest's experience depends on the ability to identify the individual guest's preferences." This reminded me of the Smart Bar video we watched this week. Technology can enhance the quality of experience. However, depending on the businness/ company- most people would be unwilling to put a an investment into tech unless they see a significant uptake from the technology. Even though technology plays a major role in the industry, it has not completely took over human interaction.

Robo Bars seem to be a great investment when it comes to entertainment. According to James Nicolases', CEO of the easdybar system its a money boomer. Its geared toward casinos and movie theater and possible stadiums. It ev en says that its sort of like entertainment for the guest and can cost them more then an average drink which is more profit for your bar.

With restaurants having to go dark to most of their customers, it has become essential to reinvent and find a way to connect through online events. Using newer technologies like Zoom, Tock, and other social media platforms, closed restaurants and bars can find a way to connect and engage their customers, and sometimes even find a profit in it. In this article, we follow the path of a wine bar owner who closed his doors early on. He then moved to zoom classes for his servers, and decided to tailor them to his consumers. Now, he offers virtual tasting experiences that are followed up with the options to buy those wines directly from his bar. He also has done classes for 25-35 that engage his consumers in a positive experience. I've seen this happen a lot lately with successful pivots in restaurants. Girl and The Goat did this with goatceries, where she has created multi-day groceries that are partially prepared that guests can pick up and then follow her online cooking class directions. I've also seen this with Christina Tosi as she has started online baking classes through Instagram. If restaurants can continue this through the pandemic, it might offer another new option for revenue in the future.

This article is about a company named eMenue International that offers a revolutionary way of allowing customers to order their food. Instead of the traditional paper menues, guests would be given iPads where they could view pictures and videos of the food that is available to order. This visual element was added in on the premise that people are more enticed by visual elements rather than descriptions of the meal. This technology was adopted by one of NYC's oldest steakhouses agter 100 years, which bodes very well for the business since checks increas by up to 9% after a couple of months. Some of the most valuable aspects of this new method of ordering is the ability for someone to view menue items in the native tongue, widening the range of customers restaurants can receive, increasing profits. Another thing to note is that this menue allows people to click on a tab that caters to their specific dietary needs. In terms of marketing, this could be great since it also offers the ability to showcase the different amenities in the restaurant whther that means meeting space or event packages.

The article is interesting as it talks about the use of proximity beacons that we have been learning about this week for marketing purposes; however, this article highlights the technology being used in employee security. In recent years hotels have increasingly committed to enhancing employee safety policies, training, and resources such as employee safety devices or ESDs. These are mostly implemented in the housekeeping department, where the employees are often alone in guest rooms and can be vulnerable. Amid the global pandemic, safety for both guests and employees is at the forefront of the industry's priority list. Many companies are taking advantage of this downtime to install personal alert systems or panic buttons. While ESDs are not necessarily new and have been around for some time, the technology has drastically improved. React Mobile, a leading provider of panic button solutions for hotels, has three updated products for the modern age. The Sidekick, which needs to be tethered to a smartphone, is a small panic button that transmits an SOS signal to alert management that an employee is in an emergency situation and requires assistance. The device is discrete and wearable, and with the aid of Bluetooth beacons, it can identify the employee's precise location. The Stand-alone LTE panic button has all the same features of the Sidekick; however, it does not need to be tied to a cellphone. It automatically connects to any available 4G cellular network to send out the SOS transmission. The BLE 5.0 Beacon offers the most advanced and incredibly accurate location information, even within high-rise hotels. When activated, it is so precise that it can provide the exact room number in which the incident occurs. These technologies can also be used outside the hotel property, where the system sends out GPS coordinates to follow an incident in real-time. This security technology provides hotels with the ability to immediately respond in emergency situations and gives t

Module 6: Proximity Marketing This article focuses on the use of proximity marketing in 2020, and discusses how beacons have not taken over the offline and online market like Apple and Google originally hoped they would. Discussed in the article is how Amazon is utilizing proximity marketing in their Amazon Go stores This technology in a COVID-19 world will allow shoppers the flexibility to go outside of their homes and continue to social distance as all payments occur as, " customers can simply walk in, pick the items they want and walk right out - no queues and no physical payments action whatsoever." Similar to Starbucks where guests pay directly on their phones, the proximity marketing market will continue to grow as technology continues to advance. According to the article, "The technology, in its current state, is already there to redefine customer experiences and the way consumers engage with brands, based on their immediate location."

This articles seeks to inform its readers about the importance of integration in whatever Property Management systems that come out in the future. One of these aspects is leaning into texting and emailing customers after a stay in order to keep themselves relevant and in the back of the guest's mind. The article also mentions that there needs to be integration on the front of social media in order to interact with future and former guests. This can help the establishment determine how best to market to the guest both on and off the premises. The article also calls for the adoption of cloud-based PMS systems, similar to the one we discussed in this week's discussion post. This conversion would make everything easily accessible from wherever people are in the world, giving way to real-time information and updates.

This article takes you through why your restaurant may want to switch to a Cloud-Based POS. There are many positive attributes associated with making the switch, such as; data accessibility, cheaper operating costs, easier upgrades, less frequent downtimes, increased security, and adaptability. If you are a growing business, the Cloud would grow with you.

Cloud based POS systems can be apprehensive at first, but we are always satisfied once we are able to se the technology work to keep the business safe, effiecient and also more profitable. Cloud based POS systems are speedy and saves a lot of time which frees up staff to do other things in the establishment.

This article discussed the benefits of switching from a localized POS system to a cloud-based restaurant POS. The article touched on how cloud-based systems provide real-time data and how that instant data could provide a management team real-time solutions. You can save so much time and money by identifying issues before they even arrive. I found it very interesting that with cloud-based systems you have the "ability to add on a mobile POS unit that provides a number of benefits." With this option, your servers do not have to run back and forth to a POS station. They simply have the option in the palm of their hands. It also decreases the time spent waiting for a check or credit card to return to the table. This not only increases guest satisfaction, but helps with table turnover. The article also touched on how cloud-based POS systems are "better enabled to grow with you." They are super adaptable and the article mentioned that restaurants can update their menu whenever, launch new loyalty programs, and help with more precise inventory tracking. This article also touched on setup, increased security, staff accountability, and the ability to make better business decisions due to the cloud software being able to provide extensive business insights. Finally, the article touched on POS cost and how " upfront costs are kept to a minimum and monthly subscription fees are lower." It also ended with a case study about Homegrown Hospitality Group and their switch from Aloha to Upserve Cloud-based POS. It was very interesting and I'd recommend everyone read the brief two paragraphs about how the switch changed their business trajectory.

This article provided the various kinds of emenu that can be found. It also gives info on the types needed and the benefits. It also then goes to mention the influence it can have on your business in terms of numbers and how the devices can be used alongside your staff and servicing.

With the impact that COVID-19 has had on the travel and hospitality industry, companies have had to turn to digital innovations to improve customer experience and regain trust. Innovations such as digital temperature checkpoints, connected room technologies, and digital labor can increase safety and allow hotels to operate during a crisis in a way that still provides the upmost customer experience. Those who capitalize on these innovations in a timely manner, and who manage the impact of COVID- 19 compassionately, may increase both their customer confidence and their value as an organization.

"How is the Hotel Industry using AI to provide an awesome User Experience?"

"Lucki ensures safe, speedy and spill-proof delivery every time. Equipped proprietary OrionStar technologies, including radar scanning, fisheye camera and RGBD multi- sensors, the robot achieves precise laser-based navigation and segmented speed control." "Lucki also comes with OrionStar's AI-driven robot marketing features, enabled by the robot's six microphones, 360° listening technology, a 10.1-inch touch-screen, 1080p definition and ability to detect customers' needs within a 5-meter radius."

Lucki reminds me of the Archie robot mentioned in the lecture by delivering things. Lucki however is equipped with tons of input gadgets to collect data from itts customers and use them as marketing tools.

This is a great article to visualize and read about all the technologies that are changing the way we as consumers are able to enjoy hospitality and tourism. The large portion of this article encompasses all of the technologies being implemented around the world in a variety of tourism settings. Everything from allowing consumers to take a virtual tour of a hotel room before booking a stay to welcome robots that greet patrons after a long travel journey to their final destination. Technologies like these are a nice breath of fresh air within the industry and are being used to help elevate the guest experience without removing the personal touch the hospitality industry has become known for.