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sliu043

Hotel Maintenance Management Software Saves Time and Money - 0 views

www.eaglecmms.com/...tel-maintenance-saves-time.htm

Hospitality Physical Plants software

shared by sliu043 on 09 Apr 18 - No Cached
  • Benefits of Hotel Maintenance Management Software
  • • Track, assign, and prioritize incoming work orders • Mapping functions allow you to view the work the needs to be completed in a list view or highlighted on a map of your existing floor plan • Generate comprehensive maintenance and inventory reports to help you plan your annual budget • Access your hotel’s maintenance management software remotely so that you can instruct your employees while you aren’t at work • Monitor the amount of hours each employee works • Manage corrective actions • Create a scheduled maintenance calendar • Keep track of lost and found items • Manage suppliers and contractors • Manage hotel information needed for periodic hotel inspections • Track your on-site inventory • Dispatch tasks to selected employees • Track energy and water usage to spot unusual trends that could indicate a problem
  • Impress Your Guests
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  • hotel maintenance management software allows you to implement a plan for scheduled maintenance. By regularly maintaining the equipment used in each room, you can spot problems early on and fix any issues.
  • Save Money by Conserving Energy
  • With hotel maintenance management software you can track the amount of energy and water that is normally used at your hotel on any given day. You can also set alerts to notify you if an excessive amount of energy or water is being used.
  • In addition to spotting problems, your new maintenance management software can monitor high-energy consumption equipment, like boilers or walk-in freezers, to ensure that the equipment maintains an energy-efficient level of operation. Not only does this help decrease your hotel’s costs, but guests like to know that they are staying in a hotel that is environment friendly
  • Track Your Inventory Levels
  • With hotel maintenance management software, you can track the levels of all of your supplies so that you know when you need to place inventory orders.
  • In addition to tracking your inventory, you can also track your suppliers and allow your suppliers to have access to the amount of inventory you have on hand. This gives you access to the suppliers contact information if you need to place an order and allows you to contract suppliers that can monitor your inventory levels and automatically ship what your hotel needs.
  • Track and Prioritize Your Work Orders
  • Tracking work orders allows you to see which work orders are open, in progress, and completed as well. Because your employees will always know what needs to be completed, they can easily stay on task
  • Track Your Employees Hotel maintenance management software also allows you to track all of your employees’ information. You have the ability to create work schedules for your employees, monitor the amount of time each employee works, track corrective action, and run payroll reports. Having all of this information located in one place makes it easy to manage multiple employees.
  • Plan Your Annual Budget
  • You can separate the expenses by department and use the information gathered in detailed reports to help you create each department’s budget for the following year. This way, you know an average amount of money that each department spends per month so that you allocate your funds appropriately.
  • sliu043 on 09 Apr 18
     
    In this article, the author has introduced how a hotel maintenance management software does good to a business in the hospitality industry. The physical plant software enables hotels to be more efficient to manage bookings, monitor utilities and sort finances, which helps ensure daily operations run smoothly. There are several benefits of the physical plant software mentioned in the article. Firstly, the software allows hotels to implement a scheduled maintenance plan. By regular maintenance, hotels can spot problems and fix the issues. In addition, the software enables hotels to track the amount of energy and water, which will help save money and decrease the costs. Moreover, the software allows hotels to track the levels of all of the supplies and allow the suppliers to have access to the amount of inventory the hotels have on hand. Next point, such software has the ability track and prioritize work orders. Not mention the software allows hotels to track all employees' information, which makes it easy to manage multiple employees. Lastly, the physical plant software helps hotels plan an annual budget by tracking all of the hotel's expenses.
lvela051

Greening your IT infrastructure | Green IT Best Practices - 1 views

www.appliedtrust.com/...reening-your-it-infrastructure

green technology Hospitality software

shared by lvela051 on 07 Jun 18 - No Cached
  • Incident
    • lvela051
      lvela051 on 07 Jun 18
       
      Ways to make office spaces more "green."
  • going green makes good business sense because it cuts costs in many areas.
  • Many forward-thinking organizations have already developed strategies to incorporate green IT factors into their everyday business decision-making processes. Stretching far beyond just facilities and information technology, leading companies are creating holistic green IT plans that include the Finance, Purchasing, and even Human Resources departments.
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  • Chances are that your IT department is directly and indirectly one of the largest power consumers in your company.
  • The benefits range from lower costs to happier employees:
  • Reducing environmental impact.
  • Lower operating costs.
  • Improved morale and workplace health.
  • Improved company image.
  • Lower capital costs.
  • The five principles of green IT
  • Rightsize.
  • Consolidate
  • use devices that perform more than one function so that you only have one device to power.
    • lvela051
      lvela051 on 07 Jun 18
       
      Multi-purpose device helps with reduction of excessive amounts of IT systems.
  • Virtualize.
  • Virtualization is one tool you can use to consolidate multiple workloads onto a single server while making it easy to move them from server to server in order to balance workloads or take systems offline for maintenance or replacement.
  • Measure.
  • Manage your waste stream
    • lvela051
      lvela051 on 07 Jun 18
       
      Always make sure to reuse before recycling. If it comes to recycling, make sure to dispose properly where no environmental harm is done to the community.
  • Your network connections (and power) come in at the top, meeting a core router that’s probably in your data center. (You may have a data center, or you may have a closet, but you probably have some place with a set of central switches, servers, storage, and backup devices). The tree gets wider as your network fans out to your offices, where you may have an IP phone and workstation in each office, plus copiers, fax machines, and printers in common areas.
    • lvela051
      lvela051 on 07 Jun 18
       
      Important to know how everything connects to be able to see what is really needed.
  • Techniques for greening your office space.
  • Use one PC per employee, and size the machine to the task being performed.
  • LCD monitors are the norm today.
  • Set up sleep schedules on your PCs and your monitors;
  • Consider the waste stream that office equipment generates.
  • “Where to start?” You start by taking a baseline measurement of where you are today, making incremental improvements, and measuring the impact you’ve had.
  • Measure your energy consumption
  • Set goals
  • Make incremental changes
  • Measure again to evaluate
  • Repeat.
  • Control.
  • Get Experienced Help.
  • lvela051 on 07 Jun 18
     
    The article explores the concept of "Green IT" to help reduce the amount of energy and e-waste and make it more sustainable. The five principles mentioned in the article are to: Rightsize, consolidate, virtualize, measure and manage e waste, all used to be able to operate a better IT system that works efficiently to reduce energy consumption. Also providing a visual representation of an IT infrastructure to break down how it works and providing ways to reduce power and purchase of each structure. Some ways mentioned where to create a new data centres, installing new printers and purchasing energy-efficient equipment to reduce consumption and also cost of energy. The idea is to become more aware of how to start change and be able to control and monitor the IT used to make it more sustainable and minimize "ecological impacts." Based on the article and the quick evolution of technology, i don't think we can stop the use of IT systems but there are ways to reduce and monitor the amount of IT systems. One point that was not mentioned was "cloud computing" which seems to be an effective strategy set in place to reduce the amount of IT systems used within business. Not only does it reduces the hardware costs but also saves energy from having several systems to locate information.
Charlesque Moses

Accounting Jobs - Driving Force of Hospitality Industry - 0 views

ezinearticles.com/?Accounting-Jobs---Driving-Force-of-Hospitality-Industry&id=4908653

shared by Charlesque Moses on 10 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • "accounting" is the key drive of the hospitality industry as it has a crucial role to play if industry has to sustain its high growth.
  • accounting is very essential for smooth running of the business.
  • The hospitality manager can know the following information from accounting:- How much cash is available to pay bills? - What was the total amount on payroll last pay period? - What amount of food inventory is on hand at the beginning of the month? - What is the ratio of various departments, sale?
  • Diane Cacho on 10 Mar 12
     
    Accounting has a crucial role in the hospitality industry in money management, which is essential for any business to operate efficiently. It's the core of the business. No hotel, restaurant or any business whatsoever can get started without a good accounting system. So as the article mentions the success of the business depends upon an adequate return in its investments. All branches of accounting are used in the hospitality industry such as cost accounting and financial accounting. With a well running accounting system you will know: how much cash is available to pay bills, what is the total amount on payroll last pay period, what is the ratio of various departments and sales and what amount of food inventory is on hand at the beginning of the month, all of this is necessary information to the success of your business.
  • Charlesque Moses on 02 Jul 13
     
    This article contains information about how accounting is a key force in the hospitality industry. The article continues with what accounting actually is in business and how it is significant in a business in order for it to run smoothly. The article concludes with information that can be accessed through accounting, such as the amount of available funds in the company and the payroll amounts. I agree that accounting is an essential part of a business. Accounting covers the important part of a business: the finances. When finances are accurate, the business runs smoothly. When finances are not balanced properly, the business will fail to thrive. Accounting can be somewhat considered as the lifeline of a business. Besides the finances, accounting links with many more departments and can provide answers to many questions. The accounting jobs should not be underestimated.
sbarr011

Changes to Accounting Standards to Impact the Hotel Industry - 0 views

medium.com/...he-hotel-industry-dd1c6d842907

#hoteltechnology #ota #hospitalityaccounting

shared by sbarr011 on 02 Jul 18 - No Cached
  • In order to determine if revenue should be recognized on a “gross” or “net” basis, one needs to understand what flexibility the OTA has to discount the room rate, charge additional fees to a guest, or combine the room night in a package with other goods or services (e.g. flight, rental car) under the Merchant Model.
  • One of the changes to the accounting standards is on revenue recognition, specifically how revenues from Online Travel Agents (“OTA”) should be recognized. Currently, there are two models for the treatment of OTA revenues in the hotel industry:
  • Retail ModelGuest makes the reservation via the OTA but pays the hotel upon stay. Hotel remits commission to the OTA. Currently, the hotel recognizes revenue at the gross amount of cash collected (i.e. the total room rate), offset by a commission expense to the OTA. Revenue recognized through this model is typically recorded on a “gross” basis.
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  • Merchant ModelGuest makes the reservation via the OTA and pays the OTA up-front. The OTA remits cash, net of their commission to hotel. Currently, hotel recognizes revenue at the net amount of cash received (i.e. the total room rate less the OTA commission), hence revenue recognized through this model is typically recorded on a “net” basis, which means a lower amount of revenue is recognized than under the “gross” basis.
  • he new standard requires the party who is the principal in the sales transaction to record the revenue on a “gross” basis. How is the principal determined? An entity is the principal in a transaction if it controls the good or service before that good or service is transferred to the customer.
  • Since the hotel is primarily responsible for providing the stay, the OTA does not take any inventory risk, and the price of the hotel room is largely determined by the hotel, the new accounting standard would indicate that revenue recognized from the Retail Model and Merchant Model should be both recorded on a “gross” basis, whereas previously, the revenue from the Merchant Model was paid on a “net” basis.
  • significant to hotels, as this will increase the amount of costs which are calculated as a percentage of revenues (e.g., credit card fees, management and franchise fees, sales taxes).
  • sbarr011 on 02 Jul 18
     
    Beginning in 2018 the financial accounting standards for hotel business are changing. One of the changes is the way OTAs charge for the rooms. Typically the OTAs operate under two methods the retail model and merchant model. The retail model uses the OTA to reserve the room but the final payment is made to the hotel. The hotel then gives a commission back to the OTA. Under The merchant model the payment is made to the OTA. Then the OTA takes the commission off and sends the remaining payment to the hotel for the price of the room. This comes out as a net transaction. The new standard is saying that the company that controls the transaction for the room has to mark the transaction or sale as a gross transaction. The new model forces the hotels to record the transaction on a gross basis. This can be a big difference for hotels because now they will have to increase the amount of costs and reduce the hotels bottom line.
taurus1313

What Is Cloud Computing? A Beginner's Guide | Microsoft Azure - 0 views

azure.microsoft.com/...what-is-cloud-computing

technology Software hospitality

shared by taurus1313 on 02 Sep 18 - No Cached
  • Top benefits of cloud computing Cloud computing is a big shift from the traditional way businesses think about IT resources. Here are seven common reasons organizations are turning to cloud computing services: Cost Cloud computing eliminates the capital expense of buying hardware and software and setting up and running on-site datacenters—the racks of servers, the round-the-clock electricity for power and cooling, and the IT experts for managing the infrastructure. It adds up fast. Speed Most cloud computing services are provided self service and on demand, so even vast amounts of computing resources can be provisioned in minutes, typically with just a few mouse clicks, giving businesses a lot of flexibility and taking the pressure off capacity planning. Global scale The benefits of cloud computing services include the ability to scale elastically. In cloud speak, that means delivering the right amount of IT resources—for example, more or less computing power, storage, bandwidth—right when they’re needed, and from the right geographic location. Productivity On-site datacenters typically require a lot of “racking and stacking”—hardware setup, software patching, and other time-consuming IT management chores. Cloud computing removes the need for many of these tasks, so IT teams can spend time on achieving more important business goals. Performance The biggest cloud computing services run on a worldwide network of secure datacenters, which are regularly upgraded to the latest generation of fast and efficient computing hardware. This offers several benefits over a single corporate datacenter, including reduced network latency for applications and greater economies of scale. Reliability Cloud computing makes data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity easier and less expensive because data can be mirrored at multiple redundant sites on the cloud provider’s network. Security Many cloud providers offer a broad set of policies, technologies, and controls that strengthen your security posture overall, helping protect your data, apps, and infrastructure from potential threats.
  • pelaez17 on 02 Sep 18
     
    If anybody here is interested to learn even more about cloud computing this is the perfect guide for you. It gives you a breakdown of the cost, pros and cons and much more. This article is also by microsoft which is a top 2 technological company on earth. It is a very educational post that will increase your knowledge on cloud computing and what the future holds for this interesting form of storage and information.
  • taurus1313 on 24 May 21
     
    Top benefits of cloud computing Cloud computing is a big shift from the traditional way businesses think about IT resources. Here are seven common reasons organizations are turning to cloud computing services: Cost Cloud computing eliminates the capital expense of buying hardware and software and setting up and running on-site datacenters-the racks of servers, the round-the-clock electricity for power and cooling, and the IT experts for managing the infrastructure. It adds up fast. Speed Most cloud computing services are provided self service and on demand, so even vast amounts of computing resources can be provisioned in minutes, typically with just a few mouse clicks, giving businesses a lot of flexibility and taking the pressure off capacity planning. Global scale The benefits of cloud computing services include the ability to scale elastically. In cloud speak, that means delivering the right amount of IT resources-for example, more or less computing power, storage, bandwidth-right when they're needed, and from the right geographic location. Productivity On-site datacenters typically require a lot of "racking and stacking"-hardware setup, software patching, and other time-consuming IT management chores. Cloud computing removes the need for many of these tasks, so IT teams can spend time on achieving more important business goals. Performance The biggest cloud computing services run on a worldwide network of secure datacenters, which are regularly upgraded to the latest generation of fast and efficient computing hardware. This offers several benefits over a single corporate datacenter, including reduced network latency for applications and greater economies of scale. Reliability Cloud computing makes data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity easier and less expensive because data can be mirrored at multiple redundant sites on the cloud provider's network. Security Many cloud providers offer a broad set of policies, technologies, and c
lamia elachchabi

Opportunities for the Hospitality Industry in Cloud Computing | CloudTimes - 0 views

cloudtimes.org/...ty-industry-in-cloud-computing

shared by lamia elachchabi on 26 May 13 - No Cached
  • cloud computing can greatly lower the time requirements and cost of entry for hotels, as it gives a very pliable scale of computing power that can be distributed across different streams in a relatively short amount of time.
  • cloud computing can greatly lower the time requirements and cost of entry for hotels, as it gives a very pliable scale of computing power that can be distributed across different streams in a relatively short amount of time
  • It can also provide immediate access to hardware resources without needing any capital investments upfront.
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  • they only need to pay for the exact amount of computing power and storage that they need.
  • saves on training
  • data is safe from physical damage due to the cloud provider having redundant and off-site backups.
  • the service is ready to use once they acquire it from the provider.
  • customers only need to learn how to use the systems on an end-user level.
  • time to market of new systems through affordable pricing,
  • xtend the life of their existing systems
  • One of the weaknesses of the many hotels is their inability to stay connected with their customers after the customer left their hotel.
  • Examples of these include Spa and Salon appointment systems, POS and restaurant ordering systems that can be migrated to the cloud and accessed on a mobile phone, a PC, or a tablet, so that guests can start booking appointments or ordering food from the comforts of their rooms, so that everything will be ready by the time they reach the establishment.
  • The cloud can provide many hotels the capacity to partner with travel agencies, offbeat recreational companies, entertainment companies and others.
  • Hotels are yet to learn on how to extract data and interpret it to provide each of their customer a personal service without having to spend a lot.
  • It helps reduce costs and resources
  • It shortens the deployment process
  • Strengthens security
  • Makes information accessible
  • Data for a personalized service.
  • Taking down geographical barriers
  • Danielle Forem on 26 May 13
     
    Advancements are growing enormously throughout every field of the working industry. Hotels have now adapted to using cloud computing in many hotels and it's really shaping how data and analysis are being kept and processed on day to day basis. Some pros of this idea are that companies save money because they only pay for the amount of cloud they use, they save money on training, and it's safe from any physical damage. I feel this is a very good investment for any company because what company doesn't like saving money in many areas? A weakness in the hotel industry is, companies don't know how to give, customers that are on a budget, the same amount of attention and personal service that they do for a high priced customers. The cloud can solve this and many other problems by knowing what the people like and giving it to them by not spending more money. Cloud computing can even kept customer happy when they are not even checked in the hotel, which is a plus on both ends. All in all, cloud computing expands any company, whether it be with other companies for networking or just helping inside of their own company by saving, it's definitely the way to go.
Qianlin Wang

A welcome sign: Hotels adopt reuse and recycling - Waste Mangagement World - 0 views

www.waste-management-world.com/...adopt-reuse-and-recycling.html

hotel hospitality green

shared by Qianlin Wang on 18 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • At most hotels, waste is created at upwards of 1 kg per guest per night - a large amount when multiplied by the number of hotels and guests around the world. But many hoteliers are responding to the waste challenge.
  • Wherever possible, waste elimination at source must be a hotel’s number-one priority.
  • A major way in which many hotels reduce waste at source is by running towel and linen reuse programmes.
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  • Having addressed waste at source, the next step is to put appropriate systems in place to identify how the remaining waste can be redeployed.
  • Any waste that cannot be reused needs to be sorted into its component fractions so that as much as possible can be recovered for recycling.
  • Many resort-based hotels, and those with sufficient space outside, compost their organic waste.
  • Another way of dealing with kitchen and garden waste is using it as feed for biogas plants. 
  • Waste management is not new to the operating agenda of hotels, and for many it is part of their overall environmental management system (EMS).
  • Qianlin Wang on 18 Sep 12
     
    At most hotels, waste is created at upwards of 1 kg per guest per night - a large amount when multiplied by the number of hotels and guests around the world. Taking responsibility for the environment and local community has been an important part of the hotel industry. Hotels can make a significant impact on waste reduction and recycling.  Hoteliers have many opportunities to reduce waste by establishing waste prevention and recycling programs and by purchasing recycled products. Besides reducing waste and saving money, these actions can increase employee morale and customer satisfaction. Hotels and motels generate large amounts of highly recyclable materials, such as office paper, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, plastics, metals, and glass. Work with your waste hauler or recycler to arrange the details of your recycling program. Management should adopt an environmental policy to reflect how the company sees itself in relation to the environment, neighbors, and the people it employs and serves. Chains with multiple locations may want to encourage each hotel to evaluate and establish its own program.
lderi004

Three Not-So-Obvious Advantages Of Utilizing An HRIS For Benefits Management - OneDigital - 0 views

www.onedigital.com/...izing-hris-benefits-management

advantages management Technology Hospitality software

shared by lderi004 on 16 Apr 18 - No Cached
  • Human Resource Information System (HRIS)
  • it’s a tool that organizes all of the data pertinent to the HR function.
  • It’s a game changer for simplifying and organizing the life of busy HR professionals and benefits administrators. 
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  • Larger organizations have been making the digital transition over the past few years and it’s now becoming a standard for every organization, regardless of size.
  • Individual employee and dependent contributions are calculated and presented by the system with no additional time investment on the part of HR or benefits administrators.
  • ACA Compliance Features and Reports
  • An HRIS system contains considerable amounts of employee and plan data, all of which can be retrieved in the form of reports. 
  • lderi004 on 16 Apr 18
     
    This article speaks about three big advantages on why organizations should consider having a human resource information system (HRIS). As technology grows, so have the number of organizations that have made digital transitions to their daily task systems. Which now should include HRIS. This system allows for individual employee and dependent contributions to be calculated and presented by the system, saving the HR department a lot of time. The system also helps with varies ACA reports, such as proof of health coverage and offer of coverage. As well as, track when they have been opened, or digitally signed. Lastly, the HRIS system contains various amounts of employee and plan data, which can be collected into a numerous amounts of reports. Overall, making it a much simpler process for not only the HR department, but also the organization itself. 
Krystal Jost

Buffalo hotel launches Verve Living System | Hotel Management - 0 views

www.hotelmanagement.net/...ches-verve-living-system-18350

buffalo verve key hvac lighting wireless keycard equipment technology sustainability energy green hotel hospitality tech

shared by Krystal Jost on 19 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • When a guest enters the room, he or she places the room key into the slot on the KeyCard Switch which then transmits a wireless signal. When in place, guests have complete control over the lights, outlets and the HVAC unit in the room. When removed, the room is designated as unoccupied
  • it also can detect which in-room devices have low battery levels; which rooms have constant occupancy; which rooms have problems with network connectivity; and which are not communicating properly with the hotel PMS and other systems.
  • Krystal Jost on 19 Jan 13
     
    This article focuses on sustainability and methods in which technology is utilized to conserve energy and waste, while also not hindering the guest experience. Hotels, similar to the Salvatore Grand Hotel, have began implementing systems such as the Verve Living System, by Zeno Controls, LLC, that provide wireless connections to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, as well as the lighting in the guest room. It utilizes sensors to activate such amenities, and enables the guest to enter the room, place their key card into a slot, and it will begin to adjust to the preferred temperature and the preferred lighting levels. Once the key card is removed, such as when the guest is leaving the room, after a very short delay, it sends a signal that verifies the room is unoccupied, and turns off these energy-consuming items in the room. Many guests, when staying in hotels, do not consider turning off their lights or air conditioning when they leave the room, and simply leave everything running. They do not realize the impact this has not only on costs for the hotel itself, but also the impact that it has on energy consumption and sustainability. With the growing awareness of being "green", guests are focusing more and more on conservation, however, they may still be slacking in these areas, leaving things on, being absent minded. This system will allow guests to not have to worry about such tasks, and controls the system of turning these items off for them, adding convenience for the guest who is environmentally conscious. I have personally seen a similar system being used in a hotel room, and thought it was a great idea, and an amazing way to control costs and eliminate waste of resources. It is also very surprising to read that the Verve Living System detects low battery levels, constant occupancy, problems with room connectivity, and rooms that are not communicating with the hotel PMS or other systems. This enables the maintenance team of a hotel to fun
Marcos Oliveira

Mobile Restaurant POS Technology Helps Payment Flexibility - QSR magazine - 0 views

www.qsrmagazine.com/...pos-coming-smartphone-near-you

shared by Marcos Oliveira on 18 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • With smartphones getting smarter, smaller, and speedier all the time, concurrent advances in mobile point-of-sale technology are presenting restaurants with the opportunity to make their POS systems mobile.
  • There are now numerous POS platforms that leverage the iPhone and other mobile devices, including Android-powered smartphones and tablet computers like the iPad, so that restaurants can process payments in the field with a credit-card reader
  • Traditional POS has been very regimented and costly, but mobile is very adaptable, not only in terms of payment but in terms of marketing tools from an ever-growing number of third parties.”
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  • While mobile POS is often touted as a boon to full-service restaurants—it can allow customers to pay at the table through a credit-card reader attached to a mounted iPad, for example, and waiters can log orders on a smartphone that zip back to the kitchen at 4G speed—the technology also has service-oriented benefits for quick serves
  • Beyond mobile POS’s value as a portable cash register is its potential as a conduit for invaluable consumer insight. Whereas restaurants are able to glean very little personalized information from credit-card transactions, they can learn a lot when customers use the mobile payment apps or opt in for an array of alerts and updates via their smartphones.
  • The mobile POS … allows us to capture valuable data that gives us a better idea of our customers’ spending and buying habits
  • mobile POS platform called Sage Payment Solutions for processing credit cards
  • Smartphones open up very exciting opportunities when it comes to business-consumer communication
  • As mobile POS technology evolves, an operator will be able to send coupons to opted-in customers’ phones based on their shopping habits or geographic location.
  • the potential of mobile POS far outweighs the peril. The technology is in its infancy, and new developments are on the horizon. These include near-field communication, which allows smartphones to share data with other devices that are in close physical proximity, and EMV cards, which have microchips that allow them to interface with mobile phones.
  • “mobile technology is in the first inning
  • Marcos Oliveira on 18 Feb 13
     
    With smartphones evlving and getting smarter, smaller and speedier it is allowing for advances in mobile point-of-sale technology especially in the restaurant industr. There are now numerous POS platforms that support both iPhone as well as android. Tablets and iPads are also supported so that restaurants can process payments in the field with a credit card reader. Traditionally POS have been very costly and structured; now with mobile technology the flexibility is convenient, fast and user friendly. New applications allow restaurants to store customer spending patterns without retaining their personal credit card information. the use of smartphones also opens up very exciting opportunities when it comes to business-consumer communication. Restaurants can send text messages containg discounted coupons to their establishments. The key is to not over do it as customers may become annoyed with too many text messages. This article delat mainly with the restaurant industry but did mention the evolution of technological advances with the use of smart phones. Form personal experience I have used my iphone and ipad to conduct credit card transactions utilzing squareD which provides free of charge a mobile credit card swiper that is connected to the microphone port of either the iphone or Ipad. there is not monthly contract or fee. The only charge is 2.5% per settled credit card transaction and the amount is automatically deducted from the batched amount and within 1-2 business days the funds are deposited directly into ones checking/savings account. This is convenient, fast, and easy. I have been able to secure payment right on the spot instead of either handling cash which is always a ahzard or the risk of accepting checks. the use of smartphones and tbalets have revolutionozed the way business is being conducted making it fast, easy, and convenient to both cutomer and busoness owner alike.
Theodore Moore

Hospitality industry to benefit from LED technology - 1 views

www.engineeringnews.co.za/...from-led-technology-2012-02-24

shared by Theodore Moore on 24 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • aimed at decreasing the hospitality industry’s carbon footprint, as well as its energy bills.
  • Philips’ 7 W GU10 master LED lamp with DimTone has been developed to meet these requirements, mindful of the need to provide a solution for spaces with high daily light burning hours, while also retaining an inviting and intimate atmosphere for guests.
  • DimTone has a significantly longer life span than traditional lighting solutions, lasting 40 000 hours, compared with a halogen lamp’s 2 000-hour life span,
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  • hospitality industry
  • energy savings
  • Philips’ 7 W master GU10 LED lamp with DimTone
  • improve the bottom line
  • enhance guests’ comfort
  • hospitality managers are under pressure to cut costs without compromising on their guests’ experience
  • 42% of energy use comes from lighting, of which 70% is inefficien
  • cost of lighting this area has been reduced by 82% with a payback of one-and-a-half years based on 12 burning hours a day.
  • Theodore Moore on 24 Aug 12
     
    The goal of any business is increasing and exceeding the bottom line; in other words, profit. Those companies especially within the hospitality industry that have the ability to seek and implement new/ innovative methods to cut costs tend to be the most successful. One way hoteliers, restaurant owners, cruise lines, and other 24/7 operations within the hospitality industry will be able to cut costs is a simple new advancement created by Phillips- The 7 W master GU10 LED lamp with DimTone. This article discusses the the DimTone light, its features and the potential amount of savings it offers users in the hospitality industry. Many hotels, bars, restaurants, cruise lines and other hospitality businesses incur a huge expense from energy use due to the volume and demand of business. The article points out that this new lighting feature will save those within the hospitality industry a large percentage of money each month while still providing an inviting ambiance. The life span of the DimTone light is twenty times more than traditional halogen lights. One hotel that completed a full replacement of all lighting with the new DimTone light has seen costs reduced by 82% and an investment payback of making this change within only two years. If this is true for all hotels that have the ability to invest in this cost efficient change, the only question I have to ask is why aren't we seeing this more frequently? The opportunities for an increase in profit from year to year appear to surpass the amount it would costs to enhance all hospitality businesses and help the environment as well.
Irine Wallace

Stefanie Michaels: HOTELS TAKING "GOING GREEN" TO NEW TOPS WITH GREEN ROOFS - 1 views

www.huffingtonpost.com/...king-going-green_b_133748.html

shared by Irine Wallace on 28 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • Green roofs, also called 'vegetative', 'living', or 'eco-roofs', are living plants installed on top of traditional roofs. In addition to providing a haven for birds and other wildlife, the green roof provides many other benefits for the environment-- the reduction of storm water runoff, reduction in the amount of blacktop roofs in the city which reduces the heat island effect and reduction of HVAC cooling loads resulting in the lowering of utility bills. Green roofs also have the additional advantages of lengthening the waterproofing membrane life of the roof and help to improve the air and water quality of the area.
  • Green roofs, also called 'vegetative', 'living', or 'eco-roofs', are living plants installed on top of traditional roofs. In addition to providing a haven for birds and other wildlife, the green roof provides many other benefits for the environment-- the reduction of storm water runoff, reduction in the amount of blacktop roofs in the city which reduces the heat island effect and reduction of HVAC cooling loads resulting in the lowering of utility bills. Green roofs also have the additional advantages of lengthening the waterproofing membrane life of the roof and help to improve the air and water quality of the area.
  • Green roofs, also called 'vegetative', 'living', or 'eco-roofs', are living plants installed on top of traditional roofs. In addition to providing a haven for birds and other wildlife, the green roof provides many other benefits for the environment-- the reduction of storm water runoff, reduction in the amount of blacktop roofs in the city which reduces the heat island effect and reduction of HVAC cooling loads resulting in the lowering of utility bills. Green roofs also have the additional advantages of lengthening the waterproofing membrane life of the roof and help to improve the air and water quality of the area.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Green roofs, also called 'vegetative', 'living', or 'eco-roofs', are living plants installed on top of traditional roofs. In addition to providing a haven for birds and other wildlife, the green roof provides many other benefits for the environment-- the reduction of storm water runoff, reduction in the amount of blacktop roofs in the city which reduces the heat island effect and reduction of HVAC cooling loads resulting in the lowering of utility bills. Green roofs also have the additional advantages of lengthening the waterproofing membrane life of the roof and help to improve the air and water quality of the area.
  • Irine Wallace on 28 Aug 12
     
    Green Initiative by Hilton Hotel Hotels as well as other service industries are looking for new ways to run more efficiently and looking to nature to give them some ideas. The latest in green technology is allowing hotels to push the eco-envelope and create energy efficient roof systems that also help the environment, and provide a visually beautiful space for their guests to enjoy. Hilton Hotel chain recently constructed Hilton Baltimore to break records with their proactive "green" policy, by creating garden to cover the entire roof, which Hilton looks upon as a commitment to the community and environment- a top level priority which stems from the top at the corporate level and is implemented down to the property level. This kind of innovation benefits all the major stakeholders…….it helps the environment by reducing rain water run-off, creates habitants for birds to thrive, helps to keep the hotel cool thereby reducing utility expense, it also provides a conducive atmosphere for the guest to enjoy and above all it generates good will for Hilton Hotels. This is not just happening in the U.S. Hotels around the globe are choosing to guide their business towards efficiency utilizing green roof technology. Besides recycling, and purchasing 'Green Sustainable Energy Credits' for 50% of the energy it utilizes annually, InterContinental Chicago hotel initiated "waste minimization" with a program that donates table scraps and leftover foods to local farms or composting sites. They have also introduced 'Green Weddings' and 'Green Meetings' options for event planners, bicycle rentals, organic wines and foods, and distribute seeds to employees to encourage giving back to the environment.
dawn davis

Hampton Inn and Hilton Properties Adapting Ozone Laundry - By Chris Lewis :: Hospitalit... - 4 views

www.htrends.com/_Laundry___By_Chris_Lewis.html

shared by dawn davis on 27 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • Ozone systems are one of the most proven technologies offering a sustainable alternative to traditional sanitation and cleaning in green hotels.
  • These systems reduce energy consumption, water usage and virtually eliminate the reliance on harsh chemical additives and detergents that can potentially shorten the lifespan of expensive linen products
  • Providence Hampton Inn and Suites had a total combined cost savings of 25% on the new Ozone Laundry system when compared to their original laundry protocol.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Ozone systems allow for an unprecedented opportunity for cost savings on the property level while also contributing greatly to the reduction in carbon emissions and utility usage
  • dawn davis on 27 Aug 12
     
    This article highlights 2 properties that were part of a study to show the benefits of installing an Ozone laundry system. An Ozone laundry system is one way a hotel can reduce its carbon footprint by reducing the amount of hot water used verses traditional laundry systems which in turn will reduce utility costs. These systems also reduce the amount of chemicals used and claim to extend the life of fabric. This system installed at a Hampton Inn in Rhode Island and as a result they were able to reduce their carbon footprint by 70,000 lbs and they also received a 79% return on investment in the first year! This article demonstrates how much of an impact a change can make on the environment and the bottom line.
Reid Seamans

Articles - HOSPITALITY IMPACT - 0 views

hospitalityimpact.com/...ece_in_hospitality_tourism.htm

shared by Reid Seamans on 23 Aug 12 - No Cached
  • Software, hardware, information management, and telecommunications systems have allowed for the processing and flow of information among organizations in the travel industry.  Many sources claim that the way in which tourism organizations take advantage of IT tools will determine their future success in the marketplace.  The tourism industry and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) must consider the importance of the IT trend by implementing an effective IT system for marketing, distribution, promotion and co-ordination of the industry as a whole.   It is crucial that tourism enterprises take advantage of the emerging technologies in order to improve management abilities and develop sound business plans focusing on the most efficient means of delivering value added products/services to customers.   In this respect, tourism organizations will be able to maintain a competitive advantage over those who are not technologically advanced. 
  • Reid Seamans on 23 Aug 12
     
    In reference to this article and rise of E commerce and It in the hospitality industry has been a great impact over the years. Statistics show that online travel sales is projected to grow to 8.9 billion in 2002. This amount of sales includes rentals, hotels, and will help to reduce the amount of commissions that are paid to suppliers. Another impact in Hospitality is that of Information Technology. the trend is very fats in the industry because it is easier for suppliers as well organizations that can communicate faster and get better results. With this in mind helps to reduce the cost of overhead, and to help marketing managers take advantage of data that is stored in warehousing that helps target specific markets and competitors.
boyan yuan

The Six Dumbest Ideas in Computer Security - 0 views

www.ranum.com/...dumb

security computer hacking technology article

shared by boyan yuan on 20 Jan 12 - Cached
  • boyan yuan on 20 Jan 12
     
    computer security is definitely still a "hot topic." But why are we spending all this time and money and still having problems? . Systems based on "Default Permit" are the computer security equivalent of empty calories: tasty, yet fattening.The most recognizable form in which the "Default Permit" dumb idea manifests itself is in firewall rules.Another place where "Default Permit" crops up is in how we typically approach code execution on our systems. 2.Why is "Enumerating Badness" a dumb idea? It's a dumb idea because sometime around 1992 the amount of Badness in the Internet began to vastly outweigh the amount of Goodness. "Enumerating Badness" is the idea behind a huge number of security products and systems, from anti-virus to intrusion detection, intrusion prevention, application security, and "deep packet inspection" firewalls. 3."Penetrate and Patch" crops up all over the place, and is the primary dumb idea behind the current fad (which has been going on for about 10 years) of vulnerability disclosure and patch updates. 4.Hidden in Parker's observation is the awareness that hacking is a social problem. It's not a technology problem, at all. "Timid people could become criminals." The Internet has given a whole new form of elbow-room to the badly socialized borderline personality.If you're a security practitioner, teaching yourself how to hack is also part of the "Hacking is Cool" dumb idea. 5."Penetrate and Patch" can be applied to human beings, as well as software, in the form of user education.Dealing with things like attachments and phishing is another case of "Default Permit" 6.There's an important corollary to the "Action is Better Than Inaction" dumb idea, and it's that: "It is often easier to not do something dumb than it is to do something smart."
Wei Ding

Hotels see benefits in Africa's mobile trend - 0 views

www.hotelnewsnow.com/...nefits-in-Africas-mobile-trend

shared by Wei Ding on 25 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • Wei Ding on 25 Jan 12
     
    Nowadays, M-commerce and mobile marketing provide great opportunities in the hospitality industry. Hotels can utilize mobile commerce to hold reservations, promote hotel events, and also can increase general awareness of their rates and services. Currently, mobile technology continues to expand throughout Africa. A large amount of people use smart phones and 2G phones of low cost that allow consumers to surf online. Therefore, an increasing amount of people in Africa are using mobile technology to book reservations and make transactions. Some hotel brands aim to control this market and increase profit. For example, France base hotel group Accor has yet to enter the mobile competition in Africa and start to make a difference. Actually, there are lots of advantages to promote mobile as a channel. On the one hand, it brings lots of convenience to the customer to access all the hotel information and make a reservation wherever and whenever they are. On the other hand, it brings benefit to hoteliers too. The mobile booking process in fact saves online travel agency commissions. Guests can directly book from the hotel instead of from a third party. It can help hotels gain more profit, reduce cost and allow for easy access to hotel reservation website.
Jennifer Koren

How to Go Green: Weddings - 2 views

www.treehugger.com/...how-to-go-green-weddings.html

green weddings greenthumb

shared by Jennifer Koren on 27 Sep 13 - No Cached
  • Jennifer Koren on 27 Sep 13
     
    As I am getting older, I have had the joy of attending many weddings of close friends and family. Currently, I have been helping my best friend plan her wedding and I stumbled upon this. I think this article provides a few interesting pointers for the "big day." The big day doesn't have to use all the electricity in the world, or require you to cut down a bunch of trees. This article highlights ways to make your wedding more eco-friendly. For wedding invitations, use recycled paper. This also goes for thank you notes and name cards. Everything that goes into a wedding is made from something. Try to buy locally- it supports small businesses as well local vendors. When picking a venue, try to think about travel costs for relatives and friends. While having your wedding at the Biltmore may be beautiful, A quiet farm in Homestead or even a small wedding on the beach may be nice. No electricity is needed then. When arriving at your wedding, you may want to think about providing your guests with a shuttle service. This will drastically cut down on the amount of chemical emissions released into the air. Try to use flowers that are in season in order to reduce the amount of chemicals and pesticides used. Fresh flowers smell better and look nicer. Green Weddings: By the Numbers 2.3 million: Number of couples that get married in the US each year. That breaks down to more than 6,300 weddings a day. $20,000: The average budget of a wedding in the U.S.; this number increases to £16,000 ($31,222) in the U.K. and decreases to €12,000 ($15,782) in France. 14.5 tonnes: The amount of CO2 created by the average wedding in the U.K. 80 percent: The percentage of gold minded each year that goes into jewelry, out of 2500 tons. 50 years: Length of time the current amount of already-mined gold could satisfy demand; much of it currently sits in bank vaults and in old, unused jewelry.
kathy_douglas

Analyst predicts rise of guest-facing restaurant technology | Technology content from N... - 4 views

nrn.com/...e-guest-facing-restaurant-tech

restaurant technology

shared by kathy_douglas on 30 Aug 14 - No Cached
  • A growing number of restaurant chains are turning to guest-facing technology to address such pressures. Casual-dining chains, such as Chili’s and Applebee’s, are rolling out the use of tabletop tablets for ordering and paying in their restaurants this year, for example. And BJ’s Restaurants Inc. revealed this week that guests will soon be able to order and pay using their own smart phones and other devices.
  • O’Cull estimates that a mid-scale casual-dining chain that produces $2.5 million in sales could save 100 to 200 basis points in labor costs, or roughly 1 percent to 2 percent, by offering technology that will allow guests to order and pay.
  • “We estimate that the restaurant could eliminate 30 percent to 40 percent of its total server hours and reduce labor costs by 100-200 basis points,” he wrote. “Obviously, the number of servers employed would fall, but the take-home pay of remaining servers would increase significantly.”
  • kathy_douglas on 30 Aug 14
     
    The advances restaurants are making with technology are astounding. Because of the rise in minimum wage and health care recently, companies are forced to figure out a way to cut labor costs. With the addition of iPads and tablets, restaurants are now able to use technology to help with reducing the amount of labor needed. Some chain restaurants are providing guests with table-side tablets to order and pay for their meal, which will allow servers the opportunity to take on more tables and allow the customer to assist in the serving process. Managers will be able to evaluate their team based on speed and time it takes to turn the tables over, which could allow for either more customers served or allow managers to make the decision to reduce the amount of servers needed at their establishments. As this technology continues to become more available and user friendly, more establishments will be transitioning to computers/tablets instead of having face-to-face service.
  • natalieemmanuel on 31 Aug 14
     
    The use of tablets being used in casual dining chains is a great idea that will not only make things more convenient for the customer but will also drastically cut labor costs for restaurants. From a management perspective these tablets seem to be a great idea. Some may argue that part of the dining experience is being able to interact with ones server. However, how many times have you waited at your table hoping to pay the bill? Now guests are able to pay their bill when they are ready and the tablet even prompts the guest on how much to leave as a tip, which may help eliminate or at least cut down on the number of bad tippers. The only negative may be that since there is less interaction with guests and guests have the ability to pay the bill whenever they are ready to leave, could this increase the number of guests who walk out on the check? Nevertheless, many companies are starting to use this technology.
  • danalbert on 31 Aug 14
     
    The use of tablets can also cut down on error in the ordering process. Even if the wait staff remains, they can easily repeat everything ordered to the customer and there will be no mistakes for poor penmanship. Payment can be done at the table, also cutting down on potential identity theft using skimmers etc., under the bar or at the wait station.
sbarr011

Who takes responsibility for cyber security in a hotel? - 0 views

www.tnooz.com/...nsibility-cyber-security-hotel

#cybersecurityinhospitality #cybersecurity #hotelmanagement #hoteltechnology

shared by sbarr011 on 12 Jul 18 - No Cached
  • it is vital that franchisors and their corporate security teams communicate franchisees’ contractual duties;
  • It’s you who may need to ensure all policies are upheld, that’s why it pays to provide incentives that will make it worth franchisees’ while to comply.
  • The study also reported that the cost for each lost or stolen record containing sensitive and confidential information increased from an average of $154 to $158.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • And, while there’s no definitive answer to who owns cyber security in a hotel franchise, hotel owners or franchisees can take measures, such as investing in cyber insurance and maintaining updated systems, to prevent a cyber attack.
  • there have been multiple data breaches in some of the biggest hotel chains, with 55% of data compromises resulting from a corporate/internal network breach.
  • If the lines are still blurred come May 2018 – when GDPR is implemented – hotels may not be compliant and will face strict penalties.
  • Last year’s Ponemon study found the average total cost of a data breach is $4 million.
  • Adding to the cyber security difficulty: most franchisees have multiple properties, each with their own brands and contracts, making it even more important for cyber security policies to be implemented and upheld.
  • However, currently, too many hotel owners rely heavily on central reservation systems; thus, they don’t have much, if any, involvement in data collection or storage. That makes it difficult to implement an effective cyber security policy.
  • Many of the vulnerabilities are due to a gap in hotel franchise’s cyber security responsibility.
  • Unfortunately, this industry is a popular target for attack, because of the type of data it holds – credit card data, frequently used throughout the hotel either at check-in, in bars, restaurants, or shops – as well as relatively poor cyber security.
  • According to a recent Trustwave 2016 Global Security Report, the hospitality industry accounted for the second largest share of data compromises among any other last year.
  • sbarr011 on 12 Jul 18
     
    This article discusses the liability for a cyber breach at various branded hotels between the franchise owner or the corporation. The Trustwave 2016 Global Security Report stated that the hospitality industry had the second largest amount of data breaches. Additionally, more than half of the breaches are from a corporate/internal network breach. According to a Ponemon study, the average cost of a data breach is $4 million. While this is alarming, it is a surprise since hotels store numerous amounts of personal customer data including guest's credit card information. The article states that cyber hacks are largely due to the gap in not knowing who is responsible for the cyber security. There is an issue of control of data versus franchise network requirements. The hotel brand places individual franchisees in control of their own cyber security. However; they must rely on many centralized corporate owned reservation systems that could be possible access point for cyber attacks. The article suggests that the individual franchisee should make more effort in protecting their customers information as the hotel brand will take most of the blame. This does not help either side. Also, it mentions that in order to protect the hotel franchise it is important to have updated systems and should consider investing in cyber insurance.
kpony001

Japan theme park to replace a third of staff with robots - Nikkei Asian Review - 0 views

asia.nikkei.com/...e-a-third-of-staff-with-robots

hospitality hotel travel tech technology

shared by kpony001 on 30 Jan 19 - No Cached
  • Japanese travel agency and resort operator H.I.S. plans to cut the number of workers at its Huis Ten Bosch amusement park by a third in three years
  • About 1,200 full-time and part-time employees currently work at the Dutch-themed Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture.
  • The displaced workers "will be reassigned to growing businesses within the group,"
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • The company is counting on robots and the "internet of things" to pick up the slack. It has already introduced about 250 robots at the park and a neighboring Henn na Hotel
  • It also is running a pilot program to automatically monitor and collect garbage at the park.
  • There are more than 200 robots at the Henn na Hotel there, handling a variety of tasks from checking in customers to cleaning and landscaping. The entire 144-room facility requires just seven human employees, just a quarter of a regular hotel its size.
  • "We will introduce customer service robots at the park in a few months
  • He is also trying out an electronic payment system
  • "We will turn the park cashless in a year,"
  • this would "reduce the number of cashiers and wait times."
  • H.I.S. is adding another wing to the hotel by the end of the year, which will be equipped with film-like solar cells and plant-based storage batteries.
  • completely energy-independent, so that the company will pay nothing for its heat and electricity -- two major costs for any hotel.
  • kpony001 on 30 Jan 19
     
    H.I.S., a Japanese travel agency, cut the amount of human workers at its Huis Ten Bosch amusement park, and its neighboring hotel, Henn na Hotel, significantly wherein only 1,200 workers still labor at the park while the others will be reassigned to other branches within the group. Instead of human workers, H.I.S. has replaced with with robots that handle a wide variety of tasks severely limiting the amount of employees that have to work there. Among the tasks that they accomplish, there is a program which collects garbage in the park, as well as cleaning and landscaping. H.I.S. also plans to add customer service robots, an electronic payment system (hoping to go "cashless" in the future), as well as a new wing to the hotel, that will be an energy-independent generator made from film-like solar cells and plant-based storage batteries.
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