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kabir joshi

Hotels taking steps to improve data protection - 2 views

www.simplysecurity.com/...rove-data-protection-execs-say

shared by kabir joshi on 16 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • This being the case, it is encouraging to see some hotels are making moves to lock down their data security practices. There is clearly a great deal of work that needs to be done, but if a hotel can demonstrate it is capable of protecting customer information, it may be more likely to inspire confidence in consumers, which, in turn, could afford the hotel a competitive edge.
  • According to a 2010 Wall Street Journal report, the most common security vulnerability in hotels is point-of-sale software. Often, hotels do not require employees to change the default names and passwords of these programs, making it easier for hackers to break in and steal customer information. To overcome some of these and other concerns, McBeth said hotel operators are applying the best practices detailed by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which aims to address data security for businesses that handle payment cards. However, he admitted that the task of ensuring protection throughout an organization is difficult, given the number of channels where vulnerabilities could be uncovered.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • ...21 more annotations...
  • This type of situation was brought to a head earlier this year when marketing services giant Epsilon experienced a massive breach to its email systems. According to a SecurityWeek report, among those impacted by the breach were several hotel operators, including Hilton, Ritz-Carlton and Marriott.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a 2010 Wall Street Journal report, the most common security vulnerability in hotels is point-of-sale software. Often, hotels do not require employees to change the default names and passwords of these programs, making it easier for hackers to break in and steal customer information
  • According to a 2010 Wall Street Journal report, the most common security vulnerability in hotels is point-of-sale software. Often, hotels do not require employees to change the default names and passwords of these programs, making it easier for hackers to break in and steal customer information.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a 2010 Wall Street Journal report, the most common security vulnerability in hotels is point-of-sale software. Often, hotels do not require employees to change the default names and passwords of these programs, making it easier for hackers to break in and steal customer information
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • Hotels
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • otels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • Hotels
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • According to a USA Today report, a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators recently told an audience at the LodgeNet’s Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago that protecting customer data is becoming their top priority.
  • kabir joshi on 16 Feb 12
     
    This article is related to IT security in hotels. Around six months back a panel of IT executives from Starwood Hotels, Hilton and other lodgings operators met at the LodgeNet's Customer Technology Symposium in Chicago to discuss on how protecting customer data is becoming their top priority. This type of situation was brought to a head earlier this year when marketing services giant Epsilon experienced a massive breach to its email systems. According to a SecurityWeek report, among those impacted by the breach were several hotel operators, including Hilton, Ritz-Carlton and Marriott. According to a 2010 Wall Street Journal report, the most common security vulnerability in hotels is point-of-sale software. Often, hotels do not require employees to change the default names and passwords of these programs, making it easier for hackers to break in and steal customer information. To overcome some of these and other concerns, McBeth said hotel operators are applying the best practices detailed by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which aims to address data security for businesses that handle payment cards. However, he admitted that the task of ensuring protection throughout an organization is difficult, given the number of channels where vulnerabilities could be uncovered. This being the case, it is encouraging to see some hotels are making moves to lock down their data security practices. There is clearly a great deal of work that needs to be done, but if a hotel can demonstrate it is capable of protecting customer information, it may be more likely to inspire confidence in consumers, which, in turn, could afford the hotel a competitive edge.
  • Jeremy Fairley on 16 Feb 12
     
    Its a tough task to monitor this, because at the end of the day, the responsibility is at the property level to ensure that data is secure across the board. So training employees on the importance of data security and what a breach means could go along way.
apate114

The Marriott/Starwood "Back to the Future" Technology Decision | By Israel del Rio - Ho... - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4078764.html

shared by apate114 on 24 Sep 17 - No Cached
  • decade's-long technology transformation program to move Starwood from its MVS Mainframe technology (Starlink) to modern Reservation, Call Center, eCommerce Web, Property Management and Revenue Management systems integrated with the Loyalty system via SOA interfaces and open system frameworks (system name: Valhalla)
  • dynamic pricing, rapid channel distribution plug-in integration, standardized PMS, Web/Loyalty integration, multifaceted inventory and booking capabilities, advanced amenity search, etc.
  • heIntercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), for example, is currently engaged in a major project in partnership with Amadeus to replace its own Holidex TPF Mainframe reservation system with state of the art technologies by 2018[1]. Wyndham Hotel Group too has announced its intention to migrate its legacy system to a new system being developed by Sabre [2], and Hilton has also announced a major $500M investment to upgrade its technology[3].
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Marriott's own system today centers around 1970's Mainframe TPF technology (MARSHA) suitably kept current via the judicious use of the scotch-tape and wires represented by a cornucopia of front-end gateways and the labor intense support of inflexible legacy code, eclectic data bases, hard-coded interfaces, and a veritable zoo of different property management systems crying for better integration.
  • MARSHA stays, and the Starwood System goes away.
  • Back to the Future Transformation Strategy under the principal argument that it will be easier to migrate the 1,200 Starwood properties to the old Marriott system than to migrate the 4,000 Marriott properties to Starwood's 21st Century solution.
  • Given that Marriott is now risking being left behind—especially as it invariably loses the people who forged the Starwood system—it's hard to argue its chosen course of action is in the best interest of its stockholders.
  • apate114 on 24 Sep 17
     
    This blog article relates to the merger between Mariott and Starwood Hotels. For decades Starwood hotels had been investing in a technology transformation program to move Starwood properties from their old mainframe technology to a more modern reservation system called Valhalla. Valhalla is an all in one system and manages reservations, call center, eCommerce Web, Property management and Rev mgmt systems. One would expect Mariott to migrate their current properties to Starwoods PMS however this was not the case. After the merger Mariott announced that they would be migrating the 1200 acquired Starwood properties to their reservation system. I don't understand why Mariott would do this as this would be a backward move. It's a bit strange because their purchase price for Starwood factored in a $500 million Starwood IP technology value which was not owned by Mariott.
Craig S. Wright

Starwood Preferred Guest's New, 'Go-To' App Unites All Starwood Brands Using Innovative... - 0 views

www.marketwatch.com/...ate-aware-interface-2012-03-15

Investment app interface

shared by Craig S. Wright on 29 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • offer FaceTime customer service
  • Starwood's mobile revenue has increased by more than 300 percent year-over-year, and the company has found that the patterns of travelers using mobile devices to book rooms are markedly different from those of more traditional web bookers. For instance, two-thirds of mobile bookings are within 24 hours of the stay, triple that of web bookings.
  • The SPG app is the first in the travel industry--and one of the first apps ever--to utilize state-aware technology, creating an interface that unites all nine of Starwood's distinct lifestyle brands and its nearly 1,100 hotels and resorts; and adjusts the app's look, feel and content depending on whether the user is planning, en route or already checked in to a specific hotel.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • "The new SPG app will help us build even deeper relationships with our loyal guests
  • Craig S. Wright on 29 Mar 12
     
    Starwood has made a significant investment in IT with their new SPG mobile app. What really diferentiates this app from competitors is its visuals which change depending on the guests status. If they are exploring hotels to book, the app will appear one way, once they have made a reservation, more options become available for guests to plan their stay and be more interactive. Upon check out, the app again changes as Starwood highly values guests' feedback. This revolutionary app is somewhat complex, but Starwood is definetly on the right track!!
rpere092

Marriott's Acquisition of Starwood Receives Antitrust Approval in China; Marriott and S... - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4078329.html

shared by rpere092 on 26 Sep 16 - No Cached
  • As this was the last regulatory approval required to complete the merger, Marriott and Starwood are now able to proceed with closing the transaction and expect the transaction to be completed before the market opens on September 23, pending satisfaction of customary closing requirements. Upon closing, Marriott will solidify its status as the world's largest hotel company.
  • Starwood expects its shares will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange before market open on September 23, 2016. As previously announced, Starwood shareholders will receive $21.00 in cash and 0.80 shares of Marriott International, Inc. Class A common stock for each share of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. common stock.
  • Assuming that the transaction closes as expected, former Starwood shareholders will be entitled to receive Marriott's quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents ($0.30) per share of Marriott common stock that Marriott's Board of Directors declared on September 13, 2016 and which is payable to all Marriott shareholders of record at the close of business on September 23, 2016.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • The parties' plans for closing the merger transaction and delisting Starwood Hotels & Resorts shares are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, and are not historical facts.
  • rpere092 on 26 Sep 16
     
    This article showcases the possible merger of Starwood Hotels and Marriott International. Per the article, the merger has not been confirmed but if and when it goes through, Marriott will become the world's largest hotel company.
kgill017

Starwood Hotels Accommodates HR Users With Global Reporting System | Information Builders - 2 views

www.informationbuilders.com/...starwood

shared by kgill017 on 21 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • WebFOCUS has let our users around the world access current information via the Web with accurate results and easy-to-use functionality
  • Having a consolidated reporting system and a single interface to manage HR data has increased our productivity at all levels
  • personnel information is extracted from SAP production data many times daily to refresh an Oracle data warehouse. WebFOCUS is used to generate custom reports from the Oracle data on demand.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • SAP delivered the capabilities Starwood lacked in its HR processes, but when it came to having comprehensive technology for company-wide reporting, the "vacancy" sign was still flashing.
  • Starwood also took advantage of Information Builders' education classes
  • a secure business intelligence environment that allows users to access selected reports based on their roles and security access rights to particular data. WebFOCUS also interfaces with Starwood's own data-level security via the company portal.
  • The WebFOCUS Managed Reporting environment made it easy to develop standard reports, set up domains for various properties and divisions, and manage the reporting infrastructure from a central location.
  • Additionally, through the dashboard, developers can set up a different interface for different people
  • WebFOCUS has become Starwood's standard reporting interface to display nearly all HR information.
  • Currently, four people manage the HR reporting activities for 750 properties in 80 countries. Based on its success in HR, Starwood is examining the possibility of expanding the use of WebFOCUS to other departments within the organization.
  • These technical and business attributes make WebFOCUS ideal for calculating occupancy percentages, booking rates, customer preferences, guest satisfaction levels, and a host of other factors.
  • Chang Ren on 21 Nov 12
     
    With 110,000 employees in more than 750 properties, it has been a challenge for Starwood of making current data accessible to authorized users. So Starwood recently deployed Information Builders' WebFOCUS to augment their SAP suite of applications, and the results are accommodating HR professionals worldwide. This system boosts the productivity and reduce manual labor. The WebFOCUS Managed Reporting environment made it easy to develop standard reports, set up domains for various properties and divisions, and manage the reporting infrastructure from a central location. 
  • kgill017 on 28 Nov 16
     
    This article describes the system that Starwood has implemented in regards to their HR department and the benefits of the system. The Webfocus system which is a customizable reporting system that can give a myriad of data to the HR managers.
espence13

Marriott Hotels: Series Of Data Breaches Reveals Lack Of Security Awareness - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...als-lack-of-security-awareness

shared by espence13 on 18 Feb 19 - No Cached
  • The data breach hitting Marriott Hotels Group was huge. The joint-second largest to have ever taken place, in fact, after Yahoo’s disastrous 2013 breach (and on par with Yahoo’s 2014 breach). While the amount of data that was taken from Starwood Hotels’ reservation systems (a company acquired by Marriott in 2016) was vast, what’s most staggering is the fact the breach went undetected for four years, and an acquisition also took place but the alarm still wasn’t raised. Since news originally broke of the release, it’s also been revealed that the hotel group’s own security team was hit by an attack in June 2017. Clearly something has gone amiss.
  • The issue is compounded by the fact that security is still not high enough up the list of priorities for business leaders. Despite well-known organizations frequently hitting the headlines for data breaches (in 2018 alone we’ve had Ticketmaster, Quora, British Airways, Under Armour and plenty more) and a ‘when not if’ warning  being peddled by the security industry for years, many businesses still haven't got to grips with just how critical proper security is. The fact that reviewing security may not have been part of the acquisition process of Starwood by Marriott – and if it was, not well enough – is further evidence of this apparent blindness to the impact of poor security. So, what’s going wrong? A research report from security company Bromium earlier this year suggested that the average large enterprise spends $16.7 million per annum on security, with the vast majority found to be on ‘the human cost of maintaining cyber security systems’. While most firms clearly aren’t 2,000 people sized enterprises, the research provides a good indication that spending on security isn’t the issue. Instead, it’s people.
  • We need to look at different approaches to skills development and, in many ways, imitate cyber criminals themselves who are continually iterating ideas to solve problems, rewarding perseverance and curiosity as well as encouraging further development. The ‘white hats’ need to approach their roles the same way – not rely on what they heard in a classroom six months previously.
  • espence13 on 18 Feb 19
     
    The recent cyberattack at Marriott International Inc. has many hoteliers wondering what are the legal and business risks associated with security attacks? The recent breach at Marriott further proves the point that businesses should prepare now or be willing to pay for it later. In November 2018, the Bethesda, MD-based hotel company revealed there had been unauthorized access to the Starwood guest reservation database, which contained guest information relating to reservations at Starwood properties on or before Sept. 10, 2018. Businesses face a multitude of risk when looking at the potential consequences resulting from a cyberattack or breach. As we've seen recently with the Marriott breach, there can be significant impact to brand equity in the marketplace. This impact can be far reaching for publicly traded businesses, resulting in material impacts to businesses and business valuation, and long-term impact to user adoption. In addition to the downside risk from the market, businesses must also mount expensive defenses against litigation that increasingly takes the form of class actions. Reputation is important in every trade but is especially important in the hospitality industry. This, coupled with the fact that consumers are becoming more sensitive to privacy and security related issues, means that businesses in the hospitality industry must manage against these types of risk and allocate appropriate levels of funding toward information security. What should hoteliers learn from the Marriott breach? Pay attention. Marriott was aware that there was a potential issue shortly after it acquired Starwood, but did not, apparently, investigate in detail. Marriott may not have created the problem, but it bought the problem and didn't treat it with the seriousness that was necessary.
danikafox

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Names Martha Poulter New Chief Information Officer - WSJ.com - 0 views

online.wsj.com/...PR-CO-20140522-911256.html

hotels Hospitality software information

shared by danikafox on 15 Jun 14 - No Cached
  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the appointment of Martha Poulter, former Chief Information Officer of GE Capital, as the company's new Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer effective June 23, 2014.
  • "As we transform the way we use technology to keep pace with the fast-changing expectations of our guests, we are delighted to welcome Martha to our team in this key leadership role," said van Paasschen. "In addition to her significant experience leading a large global IT organization, Martha impressed us with her ability to connect legacy platforms with new world technologies. Her innovative approach is exactly what we were looking for as we continue to significantly invest in technology and talent."
  • "Martha will lead a seasoned global IT team that is well integrated into virtually every aspect of our business including brands and global operations
  • danikafox on 15 Jun 14
     
    According to the article, Starwood Hotels and Resorts has appointed Martha Poulter as the new Chief of Information Officer. CEO, Frits van Paasschen claims that Martha's significant experience in leading a large global IT organization will be very beneficial to the company. She will help the company stay up to pace with the quickly changing technological habits of Starwood's guests. When she steps into her new position on June 23, 2014, Martha will be responsible for leading a seasoned group of IT specialists that are well integrated in virtually every aspect of the business including all of Starwood's brands and global operations. Starwood is looking forward to what Martha has to provide for the company's future.
Bing Liu

Starwood Relocates Headquarters to Connecticut, Will Pursue LEED Certification for New ... - 1 views

www.greenlodgingnews.com/arters-connecticut-will-pursue

green hotel

shared by Bing Liu on 21 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • Bing Liu on 21 Jan 12
     
    This article is about the Starwood brand reloacate their headquater in Stamford. This action creates more than 800 jobs to Connecticut and it becomes a LEED certified showcase to their hotel brands. The new headquater will be a good model for saving energy and water and using economic-friendly lights. In addition, Starwood is also one of the largest hotel operators in New York City which is the only city in the world to boast all nine Starwood brands.Harbor Points is also focusing on urban redevelopment which converts an industrial area into a commercial/residential district and exciting urban destination.
  • Melissa Krajewski on 22 Jan 12
     
    A good example of CSR (Coporate Social Responsibility) on Starwood's part to join the LEED movement. I do wonder what they did with their old headquarters in White Plains, NY. Did they sell it to an environmentally friendly buyer or just wash their hands of it.
Jingyi Wen

StarwoodMeetings.com launches | Hotel Management - 0 views

www.hotelmanagement.net/...woodmeetingscom-launches-14920

Starwood Hotel event planning website Business

shared by Jingyi Wen on 24 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • Jingyi Wen on 24 Feb 12
     
    StarwoodMeetings.com is a new simple website that can provide all the useful information about the meeting planning in Starwood hotels. This website can give the planners full property details such as the hotel feature, integrated maps, photos and floor plans, on-site meeting service, and meeting management tools for event planners to plan their events easier. A compare view tool which provided by this website can helps planners to compare hotels and their special offers. This new site also includes information on signature services like Starwood Preferred Planner and On-site Specialty Event. The Starwood hotel listens to customers' feedback and tries to provide all the useful information which needed by the event planners throughout the planning cycle. What's more, planners can get special offer which available at more than 350 Starwood properties in North and South America when they book event through this website. In order to encourage planner to book meeting on this new web, hotel provide bonus for those planners. Those bonuses include a welcome reception, percent off master-billed rooms, or complimentary room upgrades.
  • Melissa Krajewski on 24 Feb 12
     
    This is a great tool for event planners and a very smart move on Starwood's part. By giving the event planners access to this software they avoid unnecessary phone calls asking basic questions and save valuable time that could be used for something else. If it enhances Starwood's productivity and does not frustrate the event planners (user friendly/ user acceptance) it should become more prevalent in other hotels as well.
Xin Jing

Starwood Debuts Proprietary 3-D Online Planning Program | Tech Innovations | Hospitalit... - 0 views

hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/...D-Online-Planning-Program55845

hospitality 3-D Online event planning

shared by Xin Jing on 21 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • Starwood Hotels & Resorts Los Cabos have introduced a new online program designed to put complete event customization online.
  • Xin Jing on 21 Feb 12
     
    Starwood hotel &Resorts Los Cabos have introduced 3-D online planning program to display the event details such as food and beverage, function space and table setting for the event planners. The event planners can design their own event setting by click the mouse. "view in 3D" button will offer a virtual 3D view of the event. Planners experience the event from the guest view. When all the event details are complete, event planners submit it online. The hotel will respond within 24 hours with a price quote. This technology makes the planning easier. It is cost effective way for the event planners to control all the event details in short time.
  • Jingyi Wen on 22 Feb 12
     
    This technology sounds great! With this technology we can preview our event. That's makes the planning easier. What's more important we can intuitive see how does the design looks like.
ahand019

HNN - 0 views

www.hotelnewsnow.com/...transportation-FandB-amenities

shared by ahand019 on 23 May 16 - No Cached
  • ahand019 on 23 May 16
     
    This article talks about some of the creative ways hotels are going green. As more and more guests are looking to stay at environmentally friendly hotels, properties have to go beyond just offering a towel initiative or just using LEED lights. Hotel chains like Kimpton, The Charles Hotel, Starwood, and Calistoga Ranch are all coming up with new ways to be more eco-friendly. About five years ago Kimpton Hotels implemented a complimentary bike service. Guests are able to check out the bikes and use them to navigate throughout the city. As this service became more popular, Kimpton started investing in more bikes at each property. The Charles Hotel in Cambridge Massachusetts offers a similar program for guests. Their program started eight years ago when they purchased a property in Boston. The program enables guests to experience the city, all-while being environmentally friendly. Hotels are also finding new ways to be eco-friendly with their food and beverage options. The Charles Hotel actually operates a farmers market on-site with local fruits, vegetables, and meats. Other companies like Kimpton focus on offering sustainable seafood in their restaurants. Kimpton has removed whale, turtle, and shark fin from their menus due to environmental concerns. Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley has come up with a creative way to reduce their carbon footprint when it comes to yard maintenance. About 11 years ago, they brought in babydoll Southdown sheep to graze on property in order to reduce their usage of lawn mowers. These babydolls help Calistoga Ranch reduce noise and reduce usage of gas-powered lawn mowers. Guests love to visit with the baby sheep, which is an added benefit. Hotels like Kimpton, Starwood, The Charles Hotel, Calistoga Ranch and other have to come up with more creative ways to be eco-friendly as more and more guests identify that this is important when considering where to stay.
Craig S. Wright

Starwood's 9 Hotel Brands Come to Life Through an Exclusive Series of Worldwide Music E... - 1 views

finance.yahoo.com/...tel-brands-come-172400334.html

hotel brands life music branding loyalty

shared by Craig S. Wright on 06 Apr 12 - No Cached
Wei Ding liked it
  • bringing together social media components like Foursquare check-ins, with exclusive offline experiences and concerts to reach SPG members in new, interesting ways."
    • Craig S. Wright
      Craig S. Wright on 06 Apr 12
       
      This is an extremely effective use of social media. After the experience, there are follow up images posted which urge followers to engage in the next contest.
  • Nine artists will be carefully selected to represent the essence of each brand
    • Craig S. Wright
      Craig S. Wright on 06 Apr 12
       
      Not only does this educate consumers about the brand, it makes the brand itself more dynamic.
  • SPG is launching a first-of-its-kind global program On Tour with SPG: Hear the Music, See the World which will allow SPG members to experience exclusive music events in incredible destinations such as Dubai, Macau, Santiago, Paris, Miami and more
    • Craig S. Wright
      Craig S. Wright on 06 Apr 12
       
      This is a great way to connect with existing members and will surely spark interest in non members with a call to action to join SPG.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Also, members who reside in the US and "check-in" on Foursquare at a Starwood hotel or resort during the promotion will unlock a $15 Live Nation concert cash code to be used towards amphitheater show tickets or for artist merchandise.
    • Craig S. Wright
      Craig S. Wright on 06 Apr 12
       
      A proper marketing strategy uses several forms of social media and ecommerce to effectively engage the consumer.
  • partnership with Live Nation, the world's leading live entertainment and e-commerce company. In partnership with Live Nation, SPG is launching a first-of-its-kind global program On Tour with SPG: Hear the Music, See the World which will allow SPG members to experience exclusive music events in incredible destinations such as Dubai, Macau, Santiago, Paris, Miami and more
  • Members of the SPG program, which is free to join, can register for their chance to attend their choice of one of the nine Hear the Music, See the World events – including airfare and hotel stay – by visiting SPG.com/HearTheMusic
  • Melissa Krajewski on 06 Apr 12
     
    It seems they are really customizing the guest experience by offering guests the opportunity to take advantage of their relationship with Live Nation. I like how they get the guests involved in promotions by offering them a cash code, a benefit of being an SPG member.
Nelson Placa

Hackers to Open Hotel Rooms in Seconds. - 1 views

www.diigo.com/nelsplaca

shared by Nelson Placa on 22 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • The company’s response to that epic security bug has two parts–a quick fix,  and a more rigorous one, both of which it plans to make available by the end of  August: First, it’s issuing caps that cover the data port Brocious’s hack  exploited, which can only be removed by opening the lock’s case. To further  stymie hackers who would try to open the locks and remove that cap, it’s also  sending customers new, more obscure Torx screws to replace those on the cases of  installed locks.  The second fix is more substantial: Onity will offer its customers new  circuit boards and firmware that ostensibly fix the problems Brocious  demonstrated–But Onity is asking owners of some models of its locks of some to  pay a “nominal fee” for the fix, while offering others “special pricing  programs” to cover the cost of replacing components. It’s also asking its  customers to cover the shipping and labor costs of making hardware changes to  the millions of locks worldwide.
  • Nelson Placa on 22 Aug 12
     
    On August 17th, 2012 Forbes Magazine wrote about Onity's security breach with hotels room doors that affected over 4 million hotel rooms across the globe. During a security conference, Cody Brocious, a program developer showed how simply he could insert a device into the data port to access hotel rooms. The cost of this device cost him $50 to build. The company responded to the security issues with a two part resolution. To avoid hackers from accessing the data so easily, Onity will be issuing the hotels new caps that will cover the data case on the doors. Onity is also protecting the equipment with obscure torx screws that will enable the hackers from accessing the panel. The second fix is more costly and challenging for Onity. The company has created a new circuit board and firmware that allegedly fix the security issue. However, Onity is asking hotel owners to pay a nominal fee to help with the fix. Onity could face many financial hurtle through the recall of the 4 million door locks that need to be replaced. The security and safety of many travelers are at risk if this issue is not resolved. Companies such as Marriott International, Starwood Hotels and Hilton utilize Onity's key system across the globe (http://en.onity.com/companyprofile/Pages/Hotel-Resort-Worldwide-References.aspx). These companies won't be affected by the cost associated with the fix; however the small and independently owned and operated hotels will be affected. The question Brocious wrote on his blog and I also ask myself; how many hotels will refrain from properly fixing the issue? Are the major corporations such as Marriott and Starwood given each hotel a deadline to complete such project? Since neither company owns the properly, they simply operate the hotel, how much money and how quickly are owner willing to get this issue resolved?
YUE LI (3325307)

Pegasus partners with China's state-owned GDS | Hotel Management - 0 views

www.hotelmanagement.net/...h-chinas-state-owned-gds-16065

hotel online booking china

shared by YUE LI (3325307) on 14 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • YUE LI (3325307) on 14 Sep 12
     
    I like this article which related to the development of Chinese hospitality industry. This news showed that Pegasus Solutions and TravelSky Technology Limited had connected with China's state-owned global distribution system (GDS). In China, there are at most 1.2 billion potential customers, the hospitality market there is really attractive. This connection will allowing more and more Chinese people to book different hotels anywhere in the world even though when they at home. I believe this connection is a effective and successful choice. After that connection, it makes nearly 100,000 hotels of Pegasus' global hotel available for booking in China. Pegasus' has more than 1,000 hotels under nine brands. The first Pegasus customer to go live on the connection is Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Hoteliers recognized that there will be a lot hospitality business opportunity in China, so that they decided to take these opportunities and continue to get benefit from domestic and inbound travel by cooperating with Pegasus/TravelSky, in order to expand their businesses. This cooperation is indeed a win-win deal. Firstly, it let Starwood properties available to the 7,000 travel agents who work with TravelSky managing the increasing domestic and international Chinese travelers' growing demand. While, TravelSky has long-dominated the airline market in China, and it becomes both the second largest travel market in the Asia-Pacific region and the world's second largest economy. The new connection with Pegasus offers more accessibility to the collection of ebookable hotels.
Godelieve Olibrice

SAI's SynergyMMS Selected by Starwood Vacation Ownership for Enhanced Asset Management ... - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4062361.html

shared by Godelieve Olibrice on 20 Nov 13 - No Cached
  • SAI's SynergyMMS Selected by Starwood Vacation Ownership for Enhanced Asset Management and Preventive Maintenance
  • SynergyMMS is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution designed exclusively for hospitality to enhance asset life and longevity by creating "synergy" between front office, engineering and housekeeping staff for enhanced workflow and communications. Starwood Vacation Ownership offers flexible vacation options from spacious villa accommodations in the best locations in the most sought-after destinations to distinctive experiences around the world—all through Starwood Vacation NetworkSM.
  • extend the lifecycle of equipment, reduce energy consumption, minimize equipment downtime, and reduce guest-reported maintenance requests,
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • By tracking workflow in SynergyMMS for the maintenance of these assets, the tasks are completed efficiently. This also aids in establishing the equipment's useful life, prolonging replacement cycles for equipment, and reducing energy and water consumption.
  • n addition to improving the lifecycle of equipment, SynergyMMS also adds accountability for our Engineering teams,"
  • SynergyMMS not only helps identify what work needs to be done and when — both in the villas and across the entire property — but the system tracks exactly when work is completed. SynergyMMS provides another tool for our engineering leaders to monitor productivity and efficiency of the preventive maintenance program.
  • Hailed as the ultimate solution for today's mobile and multilingual workforce, SynergyMMS offers tools that help hotel maintenance staff work together without increasing demands on their time
  • SynergyMMS is all about time, efficiency, and solving today's most tedious preventive maintenance tasks.
  • Godelieve Olibrice on 20 Nov 13
     
    This is an interesting article about SynergyMMS software which is basically a software aimed at enhancing asset management and preventive management. This software is designed with the hospitality and tourism management in mind since it allows seamlessly communication among various departments of the hotels to improve guests' satisfaction. This system provides real time information about the workflow and maintenance for assigned villas and tracks when the work is completed . Additionally, this system can help monitor water consumption reduce energy consumption enhancing life of equipment cycle have an impact on guest satisfaction ( lower complaints) and less tear down for the hotels.
shuo zhang

Hotel Chains Integrating PMS Data - Business Travel News - 0 views

www.businesstravelnews.com/...el-Chains-Integrating-PMS-Data

shared by shuo zhang on 01 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • Hilton, InterContinental, Starwood and Golden Tulip have all made strides in the past year in consolidating their property management systems and integrating the systems with other technology components, all of which will enhance distribution and guest data capabilities.
  • to ramp up their system to operate large hotels.
  • Schrils pointed to another trend of managing systems out of a central location rather than within each hotel. It's another method of improving consistency, and such negotiated items outside of rates as free high-speed Internet access can be managed out of a centralized system, he said.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • but it's not always feasible even outside of management issues
  • there will be no point in having separate systems for central reservations and property management, as application service providers will be the primary method of delivering software
  • shuo zhang on 01 Oct 12
     
    the news for the hotelers about improvement of the PMS what Hilton, InterContinental, Starwood and Golden Tulip have all made strides in the past year in consolidating their property management systems and integrating the systems with other technology components, all of which will enhance distribution and guest data capabilities, make them cheery. But in other side,t's not always feasible even outside of management issues. Each company has theri own style for managing data. It need time to prove if it siuteble.
Frances Mesa

Electronic 'Smarts' at Hotels Attract Guests - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...-at-hotels-attract-guests.html

hotels nytimes smart trends Green mobile Travel

shared by Frances Mesa on 01 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • Hotels around the world are using technology in new ways, with the goal of speeding up or personalizing more services for guests.
  • He said he had found that hotels were using technology as a substitute for human hospitality.
  • Instead of the staff at the front desk offering advice on where to go for dinner, guests may be lent an iPad loaded with maps and suggestions for local restaurants and sightseeing.
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  • “Hotels are transforming service into a digital concept,” Mr. Davies said.
  • Ms. Kahn said personalization continued to be another big theme in hospitality
  • Ms. O’Reilly said she also used Foursquare to share where she was by “checking in” at that location. She was recently surprised to discover as she was checking in at a Starwood hotel that she qualified for a Foursquare promotion and received 250 points for her Starwood loyalty program account.
  • Some technology offerings extend beyond the hotel’s walls. The Park Hyatt Tokyo rents guests a pocket-size mobile Wi-Fi connector to use with an iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or laptop to make international calls and get Internet access wherever they go during their stay.
  • Despite all the new bells and whistles, sometimes the most basic of the modern services is what counts the most. Guests’ No. 1 choice of a hotel amenity is free Wi-Fi, according to a 2012 Hotels.com survey.
  • Frances Mesa on 01 Jun 13
     
    This article focuses on the "smart" trends in hotels that are replacing the human service. In this article David-Michael Davies does make a good point about "technology as a substitute for human hospitality" Now days hotels are focusing on having the latest technology that it could be seen as if they are forgetting the human service in the hotels. Though, I do agree with Barbara Kahn, that "most guest, especially younger ones who are used to having information at their fingertips…l" However, hotels are still focusing in personalization and making their guest feel like they care about them and not just their money. In my opinion, it is wonderful that hotels are focusing on being up to date with all the technology that is being offered to hotels because it does simplify the whole experience of staying in a hotel and at the same time it saves money for the hotel. Like they mentioned in the article, hotels are saving money by using technology to manage their inventory instead of having employees physically counting them. Specially, when the technology being adopted in the hotels can help safe money for guest. Just like The Park Hyatt Tokyo helps their guest with saving money with international calls. Furthermore, hotels are adding more advantages to being connected with them through social media. by offering promotions, discounts and even free drinks if you tag, check-in or write about them. This type of telecommunication is growing every day, but hotels should remember that the most basic modern service is important for the guest. Free Wi-Fi is a most for almost everybody now days.
Chi Zhang

How can hotels go green? | MNN - Mother Nature Network - 0 views

www.mnn.com/...how-can-hotels-go-green

shared by Chi Zhang on 08 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Eco-friendly hotels are putting recycling bins under the desk and water filters in the bathroom. The days of tiny shampoo bottles are numbered.
  • It’s no secret that hotels can be bastions of wastefulness, with the average hotel guest trashing about two pounds of paper, plastic, cardboard and cans each day.
  • Indeed, hoteliers are finding a double incentive in pleasing eco-conscious guests while at the same time saving a few bucks through sustainable practices.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Doing in-room recycling is important because the guest sees that,”
  • This spring, Marriott International said it would stop delivering newspapers to guests’ rooms, cutting back on 18 million papers annually. Starwood has eliminated tiny shampoo bottles, instead installing dispensers in showers at its Element and Aloft hotels.
  • So far, hotel operators aren’t seeing major savings associated with going green. And they have had some resistance from guests.
  • Fairmont Hotel and Resorts reports that their customers still want the plastic bottles.
  • Chi Zhang on 08 Feb 13
     
    With the ecological environment changes, the general trend of hotel is going to green, which included hotel sewage treatment, boiler dust emission, waste heat emission, the kitchen for the discharge of atmospheric pollutants. Not only the hoteliers require themselves pursuing green but also hope their guests could see that. Most of hotels have already taken action. Such as, Marriott International stop delivering newspapers to guests' rooms, Starwood has eliminated thin shampoo bottles, instead installing dispensers in showers at its Element and Aloft hotels. We are glad to see the hoteliers dedicated to protecting the natural environment.
ernestbailey

Starsource - Starwood's online purchasing tool - 9 views

Extended: Starwood Supplier Registration http://bit.ly/1a1pyBg . Imagine vendors could be listed on above system after lined application approval.

started by Dibakar Desouza on 29 Aug 13 1 follow-up, last by ernestbailey on 02 Sep 13
danikafox

Hotels Working On Concierge App For Check-in Via Smartphones | The Economic Times - 0 views

www.hospitalitynet.org/...4065287.html

hotels smartphones concierge app

shared by danikafox on 15 May 14 - No Cached
  • Come 2015, guests arriving at the Aloft and W Hotels will be able to bypass the traditional check-in desk and enter their rooms using their smartphone as the room key.
  • Much like Starwood, other top hotel brands are also looking for ways to shorten queues at the front desk by offering quick check-in, check-out and concierge facility through the smartphones of their guests.
  • The Concierge App allows guests to manage a range of services including room service, transportation, local attractions, spa appointments, housekeeping requests, wake-up calls and more.
  • danikafox on 15 May 14
     
    Essentially this article breaks down the evolution of a mobile concierge that is to come in the future of the hotel industry. It is noted that Starwood Hotels has been implementing a system in two of their boutique brands that will allow guests to check-in to a room using a keyless entry system through their smartphones. This type of technology would provide a seamless check-in process and open the door to eliminating a "front desk" all together. The article goes on to explain that Marriott has already implemented a system similar to this in some their properties that allows certain guests to check-in through their mobile app and collect their keys from a designated mobile check-in desk. The use technology and applications has become the "new norm" and as technology continues to evolve the hospitality industry will be on the forefront of its utilization.
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