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Advantages & Disadvantages of Human Resource Information System | Chron.com - 1 views

  • When the decision to build a human resources information systems department is made, examine the options carefully and be aware of technology and human resources trends for a small business. Small businesses have unique needs based on company goals for growth, or a plan to remain small with access to technology without the hefty costs. The term "human resources information systems" (HRIS) often is used interchangeably with human resources management system (HRMS) and human resources information technology (HRIT). Any of these terms is used to describe the computer and information technology a company utilizes to automate human resources functions and employment actions.
  • A very popular use of HRIS is employee self-service. Many employers are utilizing their HRIS to supplement the human resources department staff by enabling employees for find answers to common questions they would have asked a human resources representative.
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    This article summarized the advantages and disadvantages of using human resource information system. An HRIS is used for employment actions such as applicant tracking, performance management, attendance, compensation and benefits management, work force analyses, and scheduling. A very popular use of HRIS is employee self-service. There are a lot of advantages of HRIS, such as it is monitored by qualified specialists who know technology and HR functional and tactical processes can manage compliance with federal and state laws, streamline processes for recruitment and selection, and produce analyses, data and reports for internal and external use. What's more, it is easy to use for qualification computer technology specialists, accuracy of information and the ability to perform HR audits using any combination of parameters. It saves a lot of time. The disadvantages included that HRIS may involve human error during information input, costly technology to update the system and malfunctions or insufficient applications to support the human resources needs. There should be a qualified specialist with human resources functional area knowledge to manage this system. The cost to hire an HRIS specialist may be far above the average salary for a computer technology specialist.
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    The article highlighted describes some advantages and disadvantages of a Human Reources Information System for small business, that would include restaurants. The decision maker would have to take in consideration what type of information the system will need to handle in order to select the system to be used. This systems can do applicant tracking, perfomance management, attendance, compensatio, benefitios, paid time off and etc. A type of disadvantage for small businesses would be to be able to get support from somebody to manage the system. This could have high costs involved.
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    This article discusses Human Resource Information Systems and the benefits and disadvantages to investing in such a program. Some of the advantages that the article addresses are: "manage compliance with federal and state laws, streamline processes for recruitment and selection, and produce analyses, data and reports for internal and external use." The technology allows employees and managers to "locate answers and information quickly without the need to consult an HR representative every time." I feel that this advantage outweighs any of the disadvantages that there may be. The benefits of a business/hotel running more smoothly are infinitely rewarding to profits and many other aspects of convenience. Some of the disadvantages that the article addresses are insufficient applications to support the human resource department, as well as it being costly.
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    This article describes Human Resource Information systems and the benefits and disadvantages to investing in this type of technology. The article states that the advantages to investing are: "being able to manage compliance with federal and state laws, streamline processes for recruitment and selection, and produce analyses, data and reports for internal and external use." Most importantly though, the article states, "The employee and manager self-service features are excellent ways to free up the time of your human resources staff members for project work and other duties. Employees and managers can locate answers and information quickly without the need to consult an HR representative every time." This, to me, outweighs any disadvantage that may come from investing in HRIS technology because the convenience that this technology provides could really benefit profits for a business. HRIS is about coordinating communication among different departments. Businesses should really invest in this technology, even though it is costly, because ultimately it will increase profits by getting things done faster and more efficiently, as well as preventing problems from happening before they happen.
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    With the development of high-tech management system, HRIS is no long strange for us. The HRIS is a software or online solution to data tracking, data management, or all of the data needs of the company within the human resources department. The reason why HRIS is becoming  more popular is that it has some useful functions such as the employee self-service through which employees can find answers to common questions by themselves while not ask a human resources representative. This system can help to save time and money for the company in certain aspects. But in this article, the author compares the advantages and disadvantages that HRIS brings to the company.The disadvantages can be that it may involve human errors during information input, costly technology update and so on. So if a company wants to apply this system, it should also look at these disadvantages, compare them with the advantages and then make a final decision in order to avoid suffering from the bad sides of the system. 
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    The HRIS is used for applicant tracking, performance management, attendance, compensation and benefits management, work force analyses, and scheduling. HRIS can be also used for employee self-service. The human resources department staff can find answers to common questions they would have asked a human resources representative from the HRIS. HRIS has many advantages. It can help organization manage compliance with laws, streamline processes for recruitment and selection, and produce analyses, data and reports. The ease of use for qualified specialists, accuracy of information and the ability to perform HR audits using any combination of parameters. However, there are still some disadvantages, such as human error during information input, costly technology to update your system and malfunctions or insufficient applications to support human resources needs. In addition, the cost of hiring an HRIS specialist is also a problem for the small business.
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Hotel Security: Locking Systems | Hotel Industry Magazine - 0 views

  • Historically, hotel users travelled with less high value transportable goods. However, in today’s world this is no longer the case. Most clients now travel with laptops, mobile phones, iPads and so on. This obviously appeals to the less law abiding members of society and today’s conscientious hoteliers are addressing this threat with increased traceability and security.
  • Mechanical keys are no longer an acceptable security measure in the Hotel sphere. They are easily lost and readily duplicated. A lost Key will necessitate the changing of the entire Lock at the guest room if security is to be maintained. Modern RFiD card systems negate the need for concern in this area, a lost card can simply be deactivated and rendered useless to a potential intruder, when combined with the audit trail of events at the lock this inspires guest confidence.
  • RFiD locking systems are becoming the technology of choice in today’s market. As there is no physical contact between the card and the lock there is no need for open channels for card insertion or interference from external sources. The cards themselves have no magnetic strip or microchip on the surface of the card and the limited information on the card is securely encrypted (No personal information is contained on the card at all).
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  • Today’s biometric locks are reliable, cost effective and aesthetically pleasing. I think it is only a question of time before we see the emergence of cost effective systems based at reception that will read the clients print and update the room lock remotely.
  • Security requirements in hotels will inevitably become more of a deciding factor for consumers when booking rooms. As consumers become more aware of the technology hoteliers with a blasé attitude to security will inevitably see their occupancy rates suffer.
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    Nowadays, people are traveling with more valuables than they used to years ago. As a result, "hotel security measures are now paramount for hoteliers, and selecting the right type of locking system for the property can be a minefield for owners". Mechanical keys and poorly maintained electronic door locks do not offer guests a sense of security. Modern RFiD card systems are becoming the popular technological choice for hoteliers. Biometric locks, which read a fingerprint or face, are reliable and cost-effective, as well. However, they are more of an ideal security solution for offices, back-of-house, or wine stores. Not only are the RFID locks harder to hack, they are cost-effective as well. The lack of physical contact between the card and the lock makes open channels for card insertion unnecessary. The cards do not have a magnetic strip or contain microchips. The card itself only has encrypted non-personal information associated with it. In addition, since there is no contact between the card and lock, "there is no requirement for read head cleaning or replacement of read heads due to wear". As a result, the amount of faulty cards is minimized and guest satisfaction increases.
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    As this article mentioned, more and more people pay attention on the issue of hotel security because of the development of modern technology. People began to worry about their safety. For the locking system, we use RFID card systems to ensure the safety. Even though it is lost, we can deactivate it at soon. It also reduce the burden of employees in Front Desk. At the same time, we should observe surrounding environment and learn to protect ourselves. In my opinion, the updating of this locking system is a very good idea to save cost and more efficiently.
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    This article answers questions that summarize the change in hotel security. The article explains why hotels have taken a new route in locks for the guests, stating that the needs of a secure stay has grown with the changes in the value of goods that each customer brings.  The article concludes with a brief description of how hotel security will evolve over the next 5-10 years.  overall i think this is a good article that explains some of the questions that many people have.
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How POS systems are transforming the hospitality industry | By Joshua Smith - 1 views

  • technological advances are changing the way we live our lives – and for the hospitality industry, the most dramatic developments are taking place thanks to the latest, highly sophisticated POS systems
  • Gain a competitive edge with speedy payment systems
  • Today's hospitality outlets are utilising new payment functionalities that remove the traditional, time-consuming ritual for customers of waiting for service staff to bring them the bill.
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  • Three new ways for customers to pay
  • contactless payment has become a mainstream way to pay, and the results for business are beginning to show.
  • contactless methods of payment are having an especially beneficial effect, allowing lines to move faster as transactions are processed more efficiently
  • A fantastic time-saver for takeaway outlets in particular, pre-payment systems work by allowing the customer to place their order and pay online.
  • customers can simply pick up their order and walk away, saving precious minutes out of their lunch hour, while the restaurant can serve a greater number of people in the same amount of time.
  • Taking the pre-pay concept one step further, mobile ordering allows customers already in your bar or restaurant to place their order at their seat, using their smartphone.
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    This article expounds how technological advances in POS systems are changing the way different organizations in the hospitality industry do business. The article explains how each business can gain a competitive edge with speedy POS payment systems as well. According to the article, there are three new ways for customers to pay that includes contactless methods of payment , prepay, and mobile ordering. All of these new features are having an especially beneficial effect, allowing lines to move faster as transactions are processed more efficiently. The article further explains how future POS trends goes beyond faster payments and quicker queues. Modern POS systems offer the unprecedented access to detailed customer data that focuses on individual customers' patterns and preferences. In conclusion, with all the benefits that the latest technology offers, it stands to reason that he latest POS systems hold the key to the future of hospitality.
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    This article was really interesting. I liked the different methods it referenced with regards to how customers can pay, as I know those methods are really becoming integral to the industry. I also like how it talked about how businesses can use data mining to find out exactly how fruitful these innovations will be or how they are helping the businesses that have already installed them. I'm interested in seeing what new technological innovations occur in the future, especially with regards to how people pay for their meals.
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Six Technology Trends Revolutionising The Hospitality Industry | By Calum McIndoe - 1 views

  • Firstly, upfront investment is lower with the cloud as there are no initial hardware costs or associated expenses such as full time, in-house IT staff to maintain the system. Secondly, hotels like the idea of taking the headache and distractions of IT off their site, leaving them free to focus on the day-to-day business of looking after their guests.
  • tablets and smartphones revolutionise the way we interact with technology.
  • City Nites accesses its hotel management system on Apple iPads to eliminate old-fashioned, manual registration desk processes. This enables hotel team members to 'meet and greet' their guests at any location, improving the personalisation of the check-in experience and reducing the costs associated with static reception desks and all their technology at each location.
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  • The online reputation of a property is business critical. It does not however, stand alone as a marketing department concern, but relates directly to daily operations.
  • the technology systems in use - especially those in large chains - must account for the global perspective.
  • Integrating these systems can provide more comprehensive management information, faster reporting and a truly comprehensive view of profitability.
  • Elsewhere, integration offers the possibility of being able to "revenue manage" the guest across all areas of their stay: this requires transaction level interfaces but need not be complex to use. Critically it aligns the marketing -based personalised offering with the financial outcome of the revenue secured.
  • Customers expect their experience within a hotel to be totally personalised to them:
  • However, the savings and improvements that technology can deliver mean that managers and directors really need to keep one eye on these six trends.
  • However, the savings and improvements that technology can deliver mean that managers and directors really need to keep one eye on these six trends.
  • However, the savings and improvements that technology can deliver mean that managers and directors really need to keep one eye on these six trends.
  • All of these trends have already brought about a profound change in the hospitality industry - and they will continue to disrupt and redefine operations. From the back office to front of house, from the hotel to the corporate office, the technology that underpins these changes will deliver a sharp competitive edge at all levels.
  • All of these trends have already brought about a profound change in the hospitality industry - and they will continue to disrupt and redefine operations. From the back office to front of house, from the hotel to the corporate office, the technology that underpins these changes will deliver a sharp competitive edge at all levels.
  • However, the savings and improvements that technology can deliver mean that managers and directors really need to keep one eye on these six trends.
  • However, the savings and improvements that technology can deliver mean that managers and directors really need to keep one eye on these six trends.
  • the savings and improvements that technology can deliver mean that managers and directors really need to keep one eye on these six trends.
  • All of these trends have already brought about a profound change in the hospitality industry - and they will continue to disrupt and redefine operations. From the back office to front of house, from the hotel to the corporate office, the technology that underpins these changes will deliver a sharp competitive edge at all levels.
  • around 85% of the queries we see from hospitality companies and hotels include a serious look at cloud computing.
  • The sum total of these drivers is that cloud technology is no passing fad: for the hospitality sector it is the new norm.
  • the low capital expenditure investment for mobile hardware and much reduced software costs mean that mobile is a viable option for small independent properties, looking to develop customer service as a competitive edge.
  • As such, social media monitoring MUST be interfaced with the hotel management systems so that swift, appropriate action can be taken.
  • it is embedding the process of capturing guest preferences and proactively using that data.
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    This article gives us a glance at six different technological trends being used and "revolutionizing" the hospitality industry. The six trends are cloud/software services, mobility, social media, personalized systems, integration, and globalization. The trends are all seen across the board in hospitality nowadays and are making huge changes in the industry. We have been talking about cloud computing and the pros and cons of using a cloud to store information and even with all the controversy, companies are investing and using the cloud. The use of tablets and smartphones has changed the way we interact with technology and the hospitality field is not staying behind. They are developing mobile sites and apps to help customers look at pictures and reviews about a place, check in and check out or make other arrangements. Social media is also revolutionizing hospitality by creating a reputation for businesses whether they be positive or negative. People can freely post about whether they enjoyed their stay at a certain hotel and helps build the online reputation of the company. In addition, more and more companies are looking to become more personalized experience. When I think about this part, I think mostly of the new systems rolling out at Disney World that scream personalization, guests can select their Fastpasses ahead of time, can use MagicBands to purchase things, get into their hotel, get into the park as well as to utilize the Fastpass system and every time a MagicBand is scanned at a touchpoint, the cast members know the person's name and whether they are celebrating something. With integration, customers and staff can access information from different departments all on one system and with globalization companies are trying to use systems that are global and used worldwide. 
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    As technology continues to grow, it's hard for hotels to keep up. But, there are six trends that could be very beneficial to hotels. The first being the Cloud/Software as a Service. If hotels begin to use a cloud based hotel management system, it would reduce cost of ownership by minimizing property hardware. As well as take the burden of maintaining the system off IT. Another trend that is growing is using mobile devices, such as tablets, to interact. Some hotels have recently decided to use Apple iPad's at the registration desk. This is an idea that needs to grow in the hospitality industry, because it increases the personalization of the check-in experience and reduces costs involving technology at the reception desk. Social media has a huge impact on the hospitality industry. There are reviews, referrals, and other types of communication about hotels on every type of social media. It is crucial that hotel management monitors and addresses every type of social media, in order to respond appropriately and take action. Being able to integrate the operating systems of all the amenities of a hotel (accommodation, event catering, the spa, etc.) is another tool that would be beneficial to the hospitality industry. This would provide better management information, faster reporting, and will allow management to view profitability. Last but not least, the last major trend the hospitality industry needs is globalization. As international travel, trade, and business grows, hotel companies will need to create different management tools in order to survive. International links are important for the hotel industry. Which means technology systems, need to be global.
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    Technological developments continue to have a great effect on all aspects of our lives, the hospitality industry not being an exception. Calum McIndoe in his article "Six Technology Trends Revolutionising the hospitality industry" outlines areas of technology that managers within the industry need to take advantage of. Cloud technology, though this concept is fairly new it can provide great financial benefits to companies as it cuts cost greatly due to the fact that it eliminates the heavy hardware requirements traditional technology offered. Mobility, the fact that portable devices can add a competitive edge to the service offered. Think traditional services being provided on the go away from a fixed station. Social; the popularity of social networking sites have changed the face of hospitality and tourism marketing completely. Properties are now forced to monitor social networking sites to learn about customer demands and to also learn about the image their company has out there and how they can improve it. According to Mr. "for any hotel to not at least monitor social medis is tantamount to willingly flying blind." Personalized systems; value for customers within this industry has to do greatly with the personal touch added to the service delivered. These merged systems allows properites to use data to ensure that guest needs are met. Integration; the joining of isolated systems used in all areas of operations on the property. The use of integrated systems allows for the pulling of data from the different departments thus ensuring proper management of services delivered and revenue management. Globalisation; It is important that hospitality companies adapt to changes and trends brought about by globalisation. Whether the current global outlook is taken into consideration when considering how a company operates can greatly impact the final product.
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    ((NOTE: The author already highlighted the article in yellow when I found it, my personal highlighting is in PINK. Sections 5 and 6 are not highlighted in pink because I agree with the parts that the author highlighted yellow in those sections; Diigo toolbar will not let you highlight over something that has already been highlighted.)) This article mainly focuses on the technological changes in the hotel industry in pertinence with storing hotel information versus the traditional method(s) used by hotels that involved little to no technology at all. The article lists six different points or examples and states that businesses, especially small or upcoming businesses, need to follow by these six trends. The part of the article that stood out to me the most when reflecting on the lectures and power points for this week is the first trend. The first trend speaks about a "cloud" software (which I am not really familiar with so excuse me if my explanation is not 100% sound) and announces that "around 85% of the queries we see from hospitality companies and hotels include a serious look at cloud computing". The author lists a few reasons why such a high percentage of hotels are doing it this way. He basically says that you do not need special staff or special training to maintain the system; the system maintains itself so you can have more time to focus on your guests and trends in their patterns. Also, as far as the cost is concerned, "upfront investment is lower with the cloud as there are no initial hardware costs or associated expense…". Even though I am not very familiar with this service just yet, I like the idea of freeing up employee time to go and interact more with the customers; attending to the customers' needs is the most important thing in my eyes. The article goes on to list mobility, social media, personalized systems, integration, and globalization as all equally important parts to this revolution of technology pertaining to the hospitality industr
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Staying Green: Hotels Step Up Their Sustainability Initiatives - Scientific American - 1 views

  • 150-room hotel can conserve 72,000 gallons of water and 480 gallons of laundry soap every year by placing the cards in its guest rooms.
  • Green Hotels Association
  • 500 laminated copies of the group’s best selling card (asking guests to consider not having sheets changed every day) costs hoteliers just $200.
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  • World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
  • Another positive trend is the Four Seasons’ 10 Million Trees Initiative. The hotel chain is celebrating its 50th anniversary by planting 10 million trees across the 34 countries in which it operates with the hope that the effort will help combat deforestation and global warming and attract more customers concerned about the state of the planet.
  • and not be tempted to pillage their region’s natural resource base.
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    This short article briefly discusses some of the ways in which hotels are taking more initiatives to be eco friendly and practice sustainability. This article also lists a number of statistics to support its claims. For example, according to the article, "150-room hotel can conserve 72,000 gallons of water and 480 gallons of laundry soap every year by placing the cards in its guest rooms". The cards that the article is referring to are the little "to save the planet" cards you may see when you check into a hotel in your bathroom, usually near your towels. In fact, the "green cards" are so important to hotels that some companies actually provide them for you so you don't have to make them yourself (for a small fee of course) such as the Green Hotels Association that the article discusses. One of my favorite parts of the article is the "10 Million Trees" initiative taken on by the Four Seasons. According to the article, "The hotel chain is celebrating its 50th anniversary by planting 10 million trees across the 34 countries in which it operates with the hope that the effort will help combat deforestation and global warming and attract more customers concerned about the state of the planet". This concept is truly amazing to me and it definitely should be an aid to help others in learning why "going green" is such a major deal and how seriously it effects not only our futures, but our everyday lives. The article wraps up talking about eco lodges in partnership with natives and why that is important when travelers are passing by.
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    Hotels are going beyond just encouraging guests to reuse linens and towels. The WTTC and Green Hotel Association are making an effort to implement green initiatives in the industry.
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Virtually There: Property Management Systems Expand Far Beyond Their Original Scope-and... - 0 views

  • Over the years PMSs have steadily improved by adding more
  • Virtualization
  • Speed of Implementation
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  • The Cloud
  • Flexibility.
  • Connection Loss.
  • More Complete Range of Applications
  • Data Security.
  • Better Security.
  • Virtualization
  • The Cloud
  • Many vendors have also expanded their coverage into revenue management, sales and catering, spa/golf/activities and so on, within their own software and/or by interfacing to specialized systems from other vendors.
  • a search for a system (or system set) with much broader capabilities.  These usually include marketing, multiproperty reservations, distribution channel management and coverage of every aspect of the guest experience, both on and off property. 
  • Property management systems (PMSs) have been fundamental software in every hotel for decades
  • As more guest and operating information needs to be captured and managed, many hotels and resorts need multiple other systems to complement the PMS. However, the more applications are required, the greater the amount of computer room hardware needed to run them and the more complex the support requirements become. 
  • Cloud computing takes virtual server tools one stage further, using them to allocate the resources of vast numbers of servers quickly and flexibly among many different companies’ needs
  •   Further, the on-demand flexibility means that hoteliers no longer need to worry about buying and implementing more hardware resources as their businesses grow; they just call up the cloud vendor and ask for it to be allocated.
  • Data storage is another factor,
  • toring all this data on cloud-based servers is cheaper than continually expanding on-site storage, though of course selection of a trusted, secure vendor for the cloud is even more important.
  • There’s one link between the PMS and the revenue management system, one to S&C, one to the GDSs and Web booking sites, and so on, not one per system per property.  Traditional remotely hosted approaches do outsource the support and security issues but can’t provide the economy-of-scale savings nor the flexibility of clouds.
  • Alternatively, since many cloud-based systems are accessed via Web browsers it’s also possible to use 3G (and soon 4G) high-speed cell phone connections to access them if the Internet or other main communications line goes down. 
  • The best approach, though, is to keep a copy of enough critical data on property at all times so that operations can continue even if connection is lost completely.
  • Traditional PMS functionality is still the essential core at every property.  By tracking and managing all aspects of guests’ stays, it’s both a source and collection point for the crucial activity and preference information that forms the basis of all future relationships with them, on and off site.
  • At the same time, the move to cloud-based architecture makes all of these combinations simpler to create, implement and support.
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    Traditional PMS functionality is still the critical core at every property. By tracking and managing all aspects of guests' data, it's both a source and collection point for the crucial activity and preference information that forms the basis of all future relationships with the guest. But with the change of technology and the manner we do business today, hotels now need a wider function set than what a traditional PMS provides. Having a PMS on the web and in the clouds is getting more popular. These new Web services make it easier for new vendors to develop fresh approaches and link them quickly and effectively into established systems, providing hoteliers with richer and more varied options. There are more advantages than disadvantages when using cloud computing. The world is changing rapidly and in other for hotels to survive, they have to keep up with those changes.
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    Overall this article gives an overall prospective of how PMS are run. The basics include how PMS systems have move from a completely paper run process to a completely virtual program. This article also speaks of how the us of Clouds has changed the possibilities for PMS systems. Now information can be stored over the internet and accessed from anywhere. The article does mention many draw backs to this process such as outages and server errors. Internet advances have made the speed and flexibility of PMS much more vast.
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    Hey all, here is an article I found that talks about the traditional PMS systems for hotels and how it once rained supreme. Now a days, traditional PMS systems are not cutting it anymore because businesses are growing and are trying to find systems that have more functionality. This article brings up a few different options that a business could adopt and put into use. Installing software applications at the property is becoming unmanageably complex. Despite very worthwhile gains in functionality, no PMS will ever cover everything a hotel needs; none offer telephone service, for example. As more guest and operating information needs to be captured and managed, many hotels and resorts need multiple other systems to complement the PMS. The first option the article bring up is Virtualization, Server virtualization is not a new technology, but its adoption by the hospitality industry is relatively recent. The basic concept is that specialized control software allows the physical resources of a single computer server-memory, disk space and computing power-to be divided as needed between several different software applications, each perceived to be running on its own dedicated server. The second option is running a cloud based system, we all know what that is so I will let you read the article. Enjoy
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    The author attributes a growth in 'hotel complexity' that is driving the need for a change with traditional PMS systems and the limits of their capabilities. According to the article, the current PMS system is unsustainable and will need to evolve to meet client's demands- such as cloud computing, which is highlighted as being beneficial to hotels especially with regards to flexibility, better security, speed of implementation, etc. The pros and cons of cloud computing are clearly described, the cons mainly being loss of connectivity and security breaching. Although traditional PMS are essential for most hotels, cloud computing could put them at a competitive edge.
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Hardware and software - A couple made for each other - 3 views

  • A processor performs all the necessary calculations and actions so that all other additional hardware and software can operate.
  • Hardware and software - A couple made for each other Posted: Apr 21, 2010 |Comments: 0 | var addthis_config = { "data_track_clickback":true, ui_language: "en" } if($.cookie("show_edit") == 'yes') { $('div.moderate_box_open').css('display', 'block'); }
  • an integration of software and hardware provides us what we now call today the modern computer!
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  • Both software and hardware are needed for any type of system to exist, period!
  • motherboard
  • A motherboard
  • A motherboard allows all hardware components of a computer to connect and interact with each other.
  • Processor
  • A processor performs all the necessary calculations and actions so that all other additional hardware and software can operate.
  • RAM is necessary for any computer to operate and provides the processor with the necessity sized chunks of data it needs to operate.
  • This is a hardware device that stores all the software and personal files you need as well as most importantly the operating system.
  • Software is what allows any device to operate whether it be a computer or any other sort of electronic device.
  • The operating system allows the user to interact with the computer as well as provide instructions for your computer to follow. Hardware can't exist without software, and without no software hardware would not not operate.
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    The integration of software and Hardware is what makes any type of system function. A computer system has various hardware components. The motherboard, which allows all hardware components to connect and interact with each other. The Processor, performs all calculations and actions. Ram, provides the processor with data. And finally the hard drive, which stores all the software and personal data. On the other hand, the software is what allows any device(computer or electronic device) to operate. In the case of a computer it requires an operating system to function.Windows and Linux are two forms of operating systems. Hardware can't exist without software or viceversa.
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FDA Cracks Down on Company's Facebook "Likes" : Food Liability Law Blog - 0 views

  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published a December 11, 2012 warning letter on its website that cited a dietary supplement company for its improper social media activity
  • the warning letter explained that the supplement company’s “liking” of a consumer testimonial posted to its product Facebook page was a violative claim in that it established the product as a drug intended to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease
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    I found this article interesting because I never knew the FDA would consider a Facebook "Likes" as a product endorsement. Although the article discusses the FDA's warning letter to a supplement company could this warning also apply to the hospitality industry? An example would be a claim about the benefits from a spot treatment at a resort or the health benefits of a herbal tea? The FDA has scrutinized social media over a dozen times in the last two years for making improper claims on Facebook or twitter but, it is the first time the FDA interpreted that a like implies endorsement of an approved claim. The article also discusses the FDA will next look at re-tweeting posts on twitter or +1 on Google plus. I agree with the article that in view of the FDA's actions special consideration should be giving to social media marketing strategies.
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Why is GDS important to the travel industry? | TTS - 4 views

  • he Global Distribution System (GDS) is a primary reservation tool for travel agents.
  • GDS is a network/platform that enables travel agencies and their clients to access travel data, shop for and compare reservations options, and book travel.
  • The modern GDS system evolved from this early labour-intensive manual system, thanks to the collaborative team efforts of American Airlines (AA) and IBM.  The result of that collaboration? The first airline industry mainframe-based system, SABRE.
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  • Through such commerce platforms as the GDS Travelport, agents can access scheduling and inventory of hotels, airlines, car rentals, and (some) railway and bus reservations – in real time. GDS links all those services across the three primary travel reservation sectors (airline, hotel, and ground transportation, i.e., car rentals), and activities.
  • Promotional messaging to agents through GDS cores like the most prominent airline national distribution systems (Amadeus, SABRE, Galileo, and Worldspan) alert agents to special rates, fares, and travel packages – an effective marketing tool for passing savings on to agents, and from agents to their customers. 
  • GDS booking has increased worldwide over the past 4 years yet some industry observers suggest that GDSs may become nearly obsolete by 2020. But like many technology/software-based systems, GDS may evolve, instead.
  • GDS is probably not going to fall into disuse any time soon. Rather, it will continue to evolve as it did from the Lazy Susan system of the 1950s.
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    I found this article interesting as it talks about why the GDS is important and also gives some insight to how the booking process has changed over the decades. For instance, thanks to the internet we can book a flight within minutes while comfortably sitting on our cough. The article however states, what I did not know, was that back in the 50's, it took an airline reservationist 1.5 to 3 hours to book a single airline flight for the customer. At the end, the article also states that GDS most probably will not be going anywhere any time soon and still be around, at least for some time, and keep on evolving.
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    The Hotel industry has been trying to move away from Global Distribution Systems (GDS), because of the high cost associated with them; however, travel agents more than ever are turning to the global distribution system for their hotel and travel bookings. In a recent article written for Travel Technology & Solution they discussed why GDS is important to the travel industry. Educating the reading on what GDS is and how it works, the importance of GDS to travel agents and the future of GDS. According to tts.com "GDS is a network/platform that enables travel agencies and their clients to access travel data, shop for and compare reservations options, and book travel. This allows for the travel agent to provide the best option at the best price to their clients. Travel agents are in favor of this system as what once took hours to complete can now be done in minutes. An agent has the ability to receive messages through the system alerting them of special rates, fares and travel packages which in turned are passed on to their clients. "Not only is messaging through GDSs effective in promoting travel savings to clients, GDS providers are becoming fundamental to the supply of travel products to retailers in the online channel." With a large percentage of people still turning to travel agents to book their travels GDSs might be here to stay. Over the past four years the use of the Global Distribution System has increased, "yet some industry observers suggest that GDSs may become nearly obsolete by 2020".
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    This article discusses the history, importance, and future of GDS in a way that is simple and easy to understand. It use to take a long time to make a travel reservation until GDS came along, and it is now used by travel companies and their agents everywhere. It allows them to see a variety of airlines, hotels, transportation, and activities to compare pricing, in order to select the best of each one for their clients. They say GDS will become extinct in a couple of years but this article states otherwise. They believe it will become more sophisticated/developed into something greater.
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    The article describes the importance of GDS to the travel industry. The article describes GDS as "a network/platform that enables travel agencies and their clients to access to travel data, shop for and compare reservations options and book travel." The system is used globally as it helps in generating travel sales in billions of dollars. Travel agents use the system access scheduling and inventory of hotels, car rentals, airlines and bus tickets all in real time. The system achieves this by linking the travel reservation sectors of car rentals, hotels and airlines. The major GDSs in the world are Sabre, Amadeus, Worldspan, Apollo, and Galileo. The authors argue that GDS is important to travel agents as it helps the agents to make reservations in real time for their clients and can complete bookings for their clients within a short time. The end of the article proposes that GDS may become obsolete by 2020 due to technological advances. However, the authors argue that the system will evolve with the technological changes and will not fall into disuse anytime soon.
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    GDS I feel will always have an impact in the travel industry because it is what it was built for since the beginning. Yes, we advance with apps and direct booking but people will always use travel agencies and GDS I believe will always be the primary source for booking for travel agents because it is what makes them comfortable.
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Cybersecurity Tactics for a Hotel Industry that's Under Siege - 0 views

  • Credit card fraud and identity theft should remain high on the hotel and lodging industry’s radar. Just ask Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (including their Westin, Sheraton and W Hotel brands), Hilton, Hyatt and the Trump Hotel Collection, all of which were victims of highly publicized, major breaches in the hospitality industry last year. 
  • Hotels need a ‘toolbelt’ of various security technologies that can be used to prevent malicious attacks. A managed firewall is essential, blocking dangerous traffic from coming onto the network and preventing sensitive data from being exfiltrated, or sent, to the hackers.
  • In the breaches mentioned above, point-of-sale (POS) systems were attacked and malware launched to acquire cardholder names, credit card numbers and expiration dates.
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  • It can be difficult and expensive to hire and retain an IT security team
  • One way to implement these advanced toolsets includes outsourcing to a managed security firm specializing in this type of service
  • POS systems are a weak security point for many networks because they are constantly in use — and aren’t always patched, updated or protected from vulnerabilities as frequently as required.
  • personal details for hotel guests are frequently stored in a variety of locations, including billing, facilities, restaurants, etc.
  • otels are made even more vulnerable thanks to POS system provider breaches
  •   Phishing remains a particularly popular tactic used by hackers everywhere, including those that are targeting the hotel industry to trick both prospective guests, who give up credit card and personal details, and insiders, who then give up valuable login credentials.
  • File Integrity Monitoring (FIM), Unified Threat Management (UTM), and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) should also be considered
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    This article talks about how there is a serious concern in the hotel industry when it comes to credit card and identity theft. They talk about how all the major brands in the hotel industry were all victims of highly publicized, major breaches in the last year alone. Also, including airline and banks, hotels maintain a wealthy amount of database of personal and financial data. For example, with new technology systems being created, POS systems are a weak security point for many networks because they are constantly in use and are not always updated or even protected from vulnerabilities. The article talks about personal details for hotel guests are frequently stored in a variety of locations including restaurants, facilities, and government buildings, so hackers have a greater possibility to access your personal information. The bigger hotels are in more danger because of the volume of guests that come in and out of the location. Smaller hotels should be concerned not just about their security but also by ransomware, an increasingly favorable tactic to extort hoteliers by hackers who encrypt the hotels data making it inaccessible until ransom is paid for. I believe hotels need a toolbelt of various securtiy technologies that can be used to prevent future malicious attacks. I think by managing and implementing a firewall is essential which helps get rid of dangerous traffic from coming onto the network and preventing sensitive data from being hacked.
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    This article talks about the weakness and vulnerability of POS systems involving safety. It mentions the security breach that few companies, such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (including their Westin, Sheraton and W Hotel brands), Hilton, Hyatt and the Trump Hotel, faced last year (2016) involving credit card fraud and identity theft through their POS systems. It mentions how point-of-sale (POS) systems are not complete safe and how vulnerable they are because they are constantly in use and aren't always patched, updated, or protected from vulnerabilities as frequently as required. It suggests that enterprises should outsource their cyber security management to minimize costs, considering that is extremely expensive to hire and retain IT security team.
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    MOD 10: This article discusses the main tactics of cyber hackers that target hotels. Point of sale (POS) systems are easy targets for hackers due to their constant use during operation hours and because of that their security measures aren't always up to date. Hotels have large data banks since they're storing consumer profile information such as home addresses, phone numbers and credit card numbers. There's a large risk when it comes to security breaches within franchises because they have access to their parent company's regional, national and global systems. If their systems are hacked and breached, then that puts the whole system of the brand at risk. Security breaches within a system can also damage a brands reputation with the public. According to the article, "Recent major breaches at Fortune 500 companies and household names across the retail, restaurant and hotel sectors demonstrate that anti-virus, anti-malware and firewalls alone are not enough to secure businesses from the ever-evolving threat landscape." Smaller properties are even at a greater risk because not only do they have to monitor their compliance with PCI but also monitoring their security systems for their database and PMS system. Some of the recommended software's that should be used by hotels looking to be proactive with their company's cyber security is File Integrity Monitoring(FIM), Unified Threat Management(UTM), and Security Information and Event Management(SIEM).
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    This article explores the different tactics hotels should use after a cyber attack. The article mentions several different type of attacks such as Phishing when hackers trick customers into giving up their login credentials. Ransomware, when hackers encrypt data making it unusable and inaccessible for the hotel. Not one solution but rather companies should be equipped with a series of technologies from firewalls to file monitoring programs. Some of these technologies, like SIEM requires an intelligent IT team to have the capabilities of analyzing and monitoring the reports produced. This may be more difficult for smaller businesses to implement and maintain.
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Hospitality Upgrade | Hospitality Industry Technology Focus 2017 - 0 views

  • more than 70 percent of the respondents indicated that they would be increasing their IT investment in the coming year
  • Most organizations realize that in order to grow their companies and revenues they need to invest in technology and systems that will create operational efficiencies, improve the customer’s experience, and help generate sales.
  • Fewer than 10 percent of the companies surveyed reported that that they would be reducing their IT spend.
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  • With the market continuing to be extremely competitive, revenue management and channel optimization remain key focal areas of investment for publicly traded companies as well as independently owned organizations alike.
  • Enhancements to CRM and loyalty programs are also on the list of investment directives.  A number of responses (almost 70 percent) indicated that they were targeting business intelligence (BI) initiatives for the coming year as part of their technical focus and in an effort to become more strategic in managing the business and targeted revenue focus. 
  • The investment in guest experience technology continues to be strong as hotels attract guests to hotels. There continues to be increased expenditures on key drivers such as improved Wi-Fi service, self-service mobility applications and expanding the in-room offerings.
  • With a number of breaches within the hospitality industry this past year, and other large corporate breaches such as Yahoo headlining the news, this continues to be an area of concern. 
  • With the sophistication of the threats and the possibility of breaches increasing, companies are looking to outsource their information security/cybersecurity requirements to third-party service partners that specialize in countering these risks.
  • in recent years corporations are beginning to understand that investment in human resources is one of the most important assets they have.  A recent Forbes article referenced the Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends Research analysis, which said, 78 percent of business leaders rate retention and engagement as being urgent or important. 
  • While managing Big Data has long been an Achilles heel for most companies, most would agree that there are significant competitive advantages that can be gained from being able to effectively manage the information.  With a number of respondents targeting CRM projects for the coming year, the promise of being able to effectively target individual guest preferences becomes more obtainable.
  • A significant number of companies are continuing to look at transitioning to cloud-based applications for some of their applications.  However, more than 80 percent indicated that they are not ready to transition all of their applications to the cloud. 
  • With more than 70 percent of respondents reporting that they expect an increase in their IT spend this coming year and only 10 percent expecting a decrease, 2017 promises to be a good year for the hospitality technology industry.  Most respondents indicated that their primary reason for investing in new technology was to improve their customer engagement and experience.  This was closely followed by their directive to make operations more streamlined and efficient.
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    This is a very detailed article about the various ways that hospitality firms are utilizing technology and using their capital to invest in IT related projects. A variety of hospitality firms were surveyed to produce this article on ways they plan to invest in IT and the various projects they feel are most worthy of their dollars. Some of the areas that were most noted and listed as worthy of additional IT investment include improving technology to improve financial performance and enhancements in CRM and loyalty programs, guest experience technology and ensuring the guest stay is always seen as paramount, as well as improved information and cyber security technology as well as an increased focus on understanding big data and improving employee engagement. This article is highly detailed in what it analyzes and it lists a long list of potential investments that a variety of companies will be taking on in the future. The focus of this article was on the year 2017, but many of these concepts still apply to the hospitality industry today and well into the future. Many of these things listed are also things we can see that many companies worked on leading to 2018 and continue to work on and it is the companies that put these IT investments at the forefront that will be leading the hospitality enterprises of the future.
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How to Invest in Hotel Real Estate - CrowdStreet - 0 views

  • Commercial real estate investments are subject to shifts in supply and demand that can have a notable impact on net operating income, profitability and yield
  • hotels have the ability to mark rents to market on a daily basis. The upside of that flexibility is that hotels can quickly react to heightened demand and improving economic conditions and raise room rates as much and as fast as the market will bear.
  • The flip side of this fluidity is that hotels are more susceptible to operating fluctuations when compared to other asset classes.
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  • Hotels are defined primarily by the services and amenities that they offer.
  • Full-Service
  • Limited-Service
  • Budget
  • Extended Stay
  • OTAs have had a major impact on how hotels are booked since their inception some twenty years ago
  • ADR = Room Revenue / Rooms Sold
  • RevPar = Occupancy Rate x ADR
  • The two core customer groups that fuel demand for hotel rooms are tourism and business travelers
  • Hotels also can benefit from locations adjacent to or near convention centers.
  • Demand drivers can change as a metro grows.
  • The hotel industry has seen substantial change both in terms of how hotels are developed and used as well as how they are marketed. Most changes in use are rooted in the adoption of technology.
  • Hotels have unique industry standard metrics to track performance and growth, which include average daily rates (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPar)
  • illenials are driving changes in use of practically everything they touch and hotels are no exception. Through their desire for affordable yet “cool” hotels in urban locations, hotel brands have been rapidly evolving to deliver concepts that cater to their tastes
  • While some pundits argue that the Millenial hotel is a fad, it is nonetheless changing the industry landscape and bringing a new breed of hotel to a magnitude of urban destinations.
  • nother way in which technology is changing the use of hotels is by enabling guests to redefine the period of the traditional night stay.
  • These apps are yet another example of how technology can be used to generate efficiencies – in this case to fill intraday hotel vacancies that would otherwise go unused.
  • Anyone who has traveled for either business or pleasure can grasp the basic building blocks of a successful hotel investment, which include: product offering, service, location, and competitiveness.
  • It also doesn’t require an industry veteran to appreciate that investing in a five-star hotel doesn’t necessarily correlate to earning five-star returns.
  • The takeaway is that hotels across all categories and price points have their own market segments, competitive sets and corresponding metrics. The key is to conduct a comparative analysis amongst similar hotels in order to determine whether or not the subject asset stands to win greater than, equal to or less than its fair share of its market demand.
  • There are a variety of entry points into hospitality real estate investments with a host of strategies
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    This article is very interesting because it breaks down everything about investing in the hospitality industry. Hospitality is one of the few properties that shift in supple and demand can be felt immediately. The article explains that hotels have no lease agreement so they are able to market on a daily basis. This is why they are able to raise the prices on the rooms. I really like how the article describes the key metrics used to evaluate hotel performance. The article also explains recent changes in the hospitality industry that have brought to the market new types of hotels. It is important to note that the two core customer groups that fuel demand are tourism and business travelers.
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Identifying 9 Solutions Hotel Security Concerns | 2014-07-22 | Security Magazine - 0 views

  • Business and recreational travelers demand safe and secure hotel accommodations and responsive and friendly customer service.
  • A single act of crime on your property could diminish your brand.
  • Maintain Security-Minded Customer Service
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  • While maintaining friendly, responsive interactions with customers is crucial, it is also important to vigilantly follow all security protocols.
  • Key Card Access Review
  • Hotels need to ensure that their key card access systems are not vulnerable to hacking or unlawful access.
  • Establish Evergreen Background Screening Protocol–
  • Assess Location and Local Crime Statistics–
  • Control After Hours Access– For maximum safety, posting security personnel at front entrances and other access points is vital
  • When your guests feel that they are both welcome and watched-over, they will feel more comfortable.
  • When private security works in partnership with law enforcement to respond to these issues, police officers have more time to focus on solving crimes and enforcing the law.
  • Maintain Emergency Response Plan and Team–
  • Proactive security efforts and emergency planning initiatives should also involve everyone with a vested interest in safety and security.
  • Commitment to Ongoing Training–
  • Security professionals should be able to access training in a way that benefits their lifestyle whether it is online or classroom training. 
  • Ensuring that all public spaces are continually monitored by staff and security personnel is crucial in maintaining a hospitable environment. 
  •  
    This article expounds how hoteliers can ensure that their property provides a secure environment, while maintaining friendly customer service. This article goes into further detail about implementing key card access reviews in order to prevent the possibility for a criminal to gain undetectable entree to millions of keycard-protected hotel rooms. According to this article, establishing evergreen background screening protocols and controlling after hours access was also crucial in Hotels ensuring that their key card access systems are not vulnerable to hacking or unlawful access. Above all else, this article goes into great depth about maintaining an emergency response plan and team that would allow hotels to proactively implement prevention and response plans for everything from workplace violence to natural disasters.
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Best POS Systems for Small Businesses 2018 - 0 views

  • our POS system is the lifeline of your operations. But choosing a POS system can quickly become overwhelming.
  • The best POS system is affordable and easy to use, and should also do more than just accept payments and process sales. It should come with additional time-saving features such as inventory management, staff management, marketing tools, customer data gathering, task automation and other capabilities that make it easier to run and grow your business.
  • The best POS systems for your business. / Credit: POS image via Shutterstock Y
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  • hey include time-saving features that help you analyze your sales data and manage your inventory, staff and customers.
  • integrations for email marketing, loyalty programs, and other capabilities that make it easier to run and grow your business.
  • cloud-based systems
  • e asked small business owners which systems they use and what they like and dislike about them. We also read customer reviews to see what users with firsthand experience think about them.
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    In the hospitality industry your Point of Sale System is the backbone of your operation, thus finding the best and most efficient POS for your business to succeed is key. The article discusses the best POS systems to fit your business, from traditional standard systems to the new trending Ipad systems. Your POS system should be affordable and efficient. In addition, it should do more than just take payments and process sales. It should come with marketing strategy tools, inventory/staff management, easy to function daily specials menus, and other special functions to help run your business. The vendor should have 24/7 availability to your needs and accommodate all the proper functions to assist the servers and bartenders. Some of the best POS systems are the following: * Vend - Has features that help run your business, boost sales, and save time. * Bindo - Best mobile POS system for Ipads. It is cloud based and offers an intuitive user interface. Easy mobile payments and 24/7 customer support. * Touchbistro - POS system that focuses on a restaurant's specific needs. Works with the Ipad and the Ipad mini, also has 24/7 customer support availability. * Shopkeep - cloud based for the Ipad, with easy to use tools for any retail store. No long term contracts or fees.
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    This article discusses some of the best POS systems for food service. Small business owners were asked for their choices and the pros and cons for the systems they discussed. The Business New Daily created a list of criteria to evaluate the POS systems and then ranked the top ones they chose for 2018. There are links and some costs provided in this article.
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Hoteliers increase investment in enhancing guest experience - 5 views

    • jessica carvalho
       
      This article is great as it talks about what specifically to this company is important when it comes to their certain aspects of what they want in their i.t. investment. It speaks about all the different benefits that come along with what is going good and what is going bad in this situation and all the different ways they are trying to improve and benefit from it.
  • The solutions associated with the challenges of enhancing the guest experience and presenting a business case to senior management will be discussed by hospitality experts including Daniel Hajjar and Radi Karnib at the 3rd Annual Hotel Technology Middle East exhibition and conference in September. Current exhibitors include: Sony, Jumbo, Mitel, VingCard and Aegis Tech.
  • fifty-six percent of hospitality organisations planned to raise mobile investments to better equip their workforces, improve operational efficiencies and ultimately enhance the customer experience.
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  • It is (the IT) a department that evolves on a daily basis and you owe it to your organisation to consider any "new" development ... IT experts must always make a clear differentiation between an investment and an expense.
  • One of the critical challenges for hotel technology managers is convincing upper management to approve investing in the latest technology.
  • You will see an increase in Information Technology (IT) spending within the hospitality industry, with guest experience cited as the top driver for investment
  • 91 percent of hospitality decision makers realise the increasing importance of mobile and wireless technology, while 78 percent recognise the role mobility plays in ensuring a competitive advantage for their business.
  • "It is a challenge to demonstrate that the proposed technology infrastructure will indirectly reflect into a benefit to our business and will keep us up to date with the technology trends and market competition."
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    IT investment are pushed forward now and days more so for guest satisfaction. A recent Motorola Solutions Inc has uncovered a study that fifty six percent of hospitality organization plan to increase their mobile investment and wireless technology with greater data volumes and high speed access. This will increase drastically competitive advantage for the business and customer experience. Some find it a challenge in convincing upper management to approve investing in to the latest technology. As well as demonstrating that a proposed technology investment will be beneficial for their business and will assist in continuous up to date trends and market competition. I highly agree that technology is a must in this industry, especially how fast it is changing. In order to stay within the competitive advantage and provide convenience for our guest it is necessary to invest and update into the latest technology. The initial investment might be extreme especially if you have been out of date from any recent technology however, with time the results will be returned with satisfied guest and fast paced PMS systems.
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    This article speaks on the recent increase in hospitality spending on new and innovative technology advances. One of the leading locations for hospitality, Dubai, is being seen as a front runner in investment. The article also talks about how these technology companies see the potential in the hospitality industry and are focusing their efforts on this business sector. One challenge mentioned is convincing the management of a company to "dish out the money" for the advances. This is a very informative article with an unbiased view point.
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    I liked how this article talked about mobile apps, I think it won't be long until we start seeing that replace the existing room keys. The only problem is if some has a lot of apps and a lot of security passwords to bypass, it would take forever to open your room door, you would much rather have a standard room key. However, this creates lots of partnerships with cell phone companies further increasing hotel revenue. You can even save labor with this at the front of house areas. The possibilities are endless.
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    Information technology spending is on the rise in the hospitality industry in attempts to enhance the guest experience in the highly competitive market. According to Motorola hotels are looking to increasing mobile investments in the hopes that their staff will be better equipped and that with their new hardware will improve operational efficiency. The article states that 91% of hospitality decision-makers see mobile and wireless technology as the wave of the future, as well as the need for mobility to stay competitive. A few large challenges are: keeping up with cost, ever-changing technology, the need for more bandwidth, and data storage.
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    Information Technology is indispensable in the hospitality industry for several reasons. This article discusses how many hotels are increasing their investment in I.T because of its abundant advantages, especially guest satisfaction. It particularly states how mobile and wireless technology will aid in guests pleasure but ensure competitive advantage as well. They looked at a study of Motorola Solutions Market Barometer of 2011 where they fundamentally determine the emerging trends in the industry and opportunities. They then came to understand that businesses are investing more on hospitality information technology to not only assist in customer retention but to have an overall high-quality system that can manage their daily duties such as inventory, budget, and status of room reservations.
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    This article talks about how hotel companies are starting to invest more in information technology to provide a more enhanced guest experience. A survey done by Motorola Solutions found that 56% of hospitality companies are looking to invest in more mobile technology. While companies are looking to invest more in technology, it has been challenging to convince higher management levels to make the investment. Radi Karnib with Rotana Hotel Management said that it's important to demonstrate the benefits of the investment. Daniel Haijar with Layia Hospitality agrees and goes on to say that it's important to differentiate between what's an investment and what's an expense.
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New Technologies Will Revolutionize The Hospitality Industry - 1 views

  • In fact, Gartner believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will create 2.3 million jobs in 2020 while only eliminating 1.8 million, for a net gain of half a million jobs added to American company payrolls.
  • Inevitably, the course of every industry will continue to evolve, incorporate and need more technology to be successful
  • Only very recently have voice and natural language processing technologies advanced enough to truly interpret questions
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  • Humans in the hospitality industry won’t be fully replaced, though.
  • While augmented reality (AR) has yet to become a prominent feature of most businesses, consumers should expect to see more adoption within the hospitality industry in the next few years
  • Restaurants are also taking advantage of AR promotions
  • In a hospitality context, we’re getting closer to seamless processes where consumers can authenticate a purchase without a phone or wallet, digital or otherwise.
  • Some hotel chains like Wyndham Grand have offered promotions to guests willing to give up their devices and go “off the grid” during their stay.
  • Technology is no match for the warmth and personality of the maitre D's welcome
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    This article is about AI (Artificial Intelligence) and its impact in the hospitality industry. Although innovations in voice recognition, biometrics, and AR (augmented reality) are not expected to replace human contact, AI technology will revolutionize the industry by taking over mundane, simple, and routine work. Since these ordinary tasks could be time consuming, AI will allow hospitality personnel to focus on more meaningful and complex transactions. AR, for instance, was already implemented by Holiday Inn during the 2012 Olympics to provide realistic thematic and virtual representations. Biometric technology allows customers to authenticate their purchase without a wallet or human interaction. Nevertheless, the article also touches on an interesting concept called 'tech detox.' Some hotels already have promotions for guests willing to stay disconnected in order to be aware of their surrounding environment. In my opinion, AR is the best innovation, especially in a hotel. From TV programming, internet access, interactive city maps, hotel information, restaurant menu, and room service, this technology has endless opportunities to make any hotel experience unique.
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  •  
    This article talks about the evolution of IT sector and how this has positively impact the hospitality industry. It brings examples like retail stores where we went from simple cash register to the use of AI in recent times.
  •  
    Forbes articles are infamous for discussing some of the most relevant topics, and this one discussing the technological advancements in the hospitality industry is no different. The article mentions currently growing forms of technology that are already being used as well as possible future technologies that might begin to be used. For example, Speak-to-order is disussed as a technology many customers are already using via their phones with siri or in their homes with alexa and the potential for a voice controlled intelligent system is discussed as a virtual assistant possibility in the industry. Not many businesses are using something like this yet, but it might be something implemented in the future. The article also provides information on how new technology could possible effect people and job cut backs. I was intrigued to read their estimate that Artificial intelligence would actually create 2.3 million jobs and only cut away 1.8 no longer necessary positions. Numbers like this give hope to many people that fear the implementation of technology for fear of losing their jobs. In closing, the article aims to remind readers that no amount of technology or innovation will ever be able to replace the service industry completely, people will always enjoy human interaction.
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    Technology has evolved over the years to a point where we rely on artificial intelligence to assist with our daily tasks. Examples of this would Amazon's Alexa or Siri. It is not surprise, that the hospitality industry will not shy away from this technology, but rather infuse this technology on within our operations. One would think that having technology to take our restaurant orders would replace hospitality professionals, but it actually would do the complete opposite. With the implementation of this technology, those working in the industry would have more time and opportunities to spend with guest and enhance their experience.
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    Technology has become a must-have part of hospitality industry. It helps serve guests faster and more efficient. Data of guests regarding to their special wants and needs is saved into the system will create customized service for guest. However, technology cannot replace people because we're in service industry. It always requires human interaction, that's why it's called hospitality. Technology can be used as a powerful tool to make our job better and easier.
  •  
    I believe the article glosses over many of the potential implications of AI in the industry. For one, to date, technology advances have actually increased the workload of the more highly skilled management personel. A General Manager in a hotel now has to have degrees of knowledge in pricing system logic and demand economics, knowledge of systems and system implementation and the skill sets of individuals required to implement and sustain these systems. As AI and AI logic does begin to invade the Hospitality Industry, it is going to require our leaders to become far more cognizant of the uses, and maintenance costs involved in these technologies. This is not to say that this is necessarily a negative, however the implications for the skills sets required in the industry are a necessary talking point when citing that this technology wont replace jobs. Those mundane tasks which the article refers to are deemed as simple processes, but when discussing the already complex process of an agent reserving a guest in a Forbes rated property (as an example), this is going to get even more complicated in how we leverage these technologies, how we approach to market with the consumer.
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    Technology is continuing to revolutionize daily. All industries are experiencing such change but the hospitality industry will not completely take away is human employees. In fact, tech revolution will simply take away from mundane tasks simultaneously assisting with efficiency and customer satisfaction. With the advent of augmented reality (AR) guests are now able to electronically visualize themselves at the location. Technology cannot outperformance the warmth of guest service reps. yet, the future of hospitality will integrate both the advances of electronics and human interactions.
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PVNG Web-Based Enterprise Accounting - 1 views

  • hotel software solution that is deployed in the cloud.
  • PVNG is intuitive and easy to use. Our team only needed a few hours to learn the system.” 
  • Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry.  All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement.  
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  • The PVNG system easily handles single or multi-property accounting, and is deployed as a hosted service, streamlining common daily accounting procedures and offering highly flexible reporting. 
  • Kucker noted that PVNG is faster to navigate and convenient to use because it is web-based
  •  
    Aptech is a hospitality technology company offering the much needed and desired tools of accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and business intelligence into hotel systems. They are seen as the leader in the industry for this and are said to have been the first company to bring the "business" mindset into the hotel industry. This article, however, is about their new cloud-based enterprise accounting hotel software system: PVNG. Glacier House hotels, whom is based out of Arizona converted completely from the original Aptech accounting software to the new cloud PVNG system. The reviews so far are highly rated and it seems to have a bright future again. I thought this article was perfect because it blends multiple aspects that we have discussed over the past couple of weeks!
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    This article is about the small company that just installed Aptech's new web-based enterprise accounting. It is evident this article received some attention by the amount of students who highlighted notable parts of the article. This new system is deployed in the cloud and it is easier to train and faster to navigate. This is very convenient for accountants in the hospitality industry because it can potentially have a dramatic change on the department's efficiency. The system also provides a complete suite of financial management and analysis for the hotel industry. Lastly, it is also trustworthy because the Aptech group has more than 45 years of hotel accounting knowledge.
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Panera tests ghost kitchens, mobile kitchens, virtual catering - 0 views

  • Coming off a year of innovation during the pandemic, Panera Bread is looking to go all-in on convenience technology in the future, with ghost kitchens, mobile kitchens, virtual catering, and redesigned drive-thru lanes already in the works
  • ted about
  • “We are excited about creating our vision of the next generation of Panera,” Chaudhary said. “This next generation [of Panera stores] will use 5-6 disruptive ideas to drive greater customer engagement.”
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  • “These are the kinds of things we are thinking of recreating and redefining for the Panera of the future, which is going to be more off-premise-oriented, and led by technology and convenience,”
  • Besides smaller physical footprints, other aspects of Panera 2.0 will include delivery-centric ghost kitchens and mobile kitchens
  • An online version of catering will look like all of us sitting around a Zoom meeting with our food arriving at the same time
  • That is a disruptive way of serving the same needs consumers have in a different way that is more convenient and relevant in a world that looks different.
  • The pandemic has changed the way operators should approach convenience technology
  • Chaudhary said they’re looking at other forms of technology like touchless kiosks where instead of tapping a screen to place their order, customers might use hand gestures instead like giving a thumbs up, for example. This way, they can leverage consumer needs for contactless experiences without sacrificing engagement.
  • A disruptive model is a hybrid of both [third-party and in-house delivery],” Chaudhary said. “We might leverage our existing drivers for orders and every time we need some help, we can outsource it. These are examples in this new world of us being able to innovate, to improve and strengthen our business model
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    The article explains how Covid-19 has affected the dining industry and how companies have to adapt. In this article, specifically, it talks about how Panera is implementing ghost kitchens, changing how they approach catering, and how they can keep their consumers safe in a post Covid-19 world. Many hospitality based businesses are changing the way they operate, permanently, because of the pandemic.
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7 Most-Popular Hotel Management Software for Small Hotels - 3 views

  • For hotels, finding the right software fit is especially important, because without a suitable software solution, you’re wasting time and money—big things that take you away from your customers and keep you from providing a stellar guest experience. For smaller hotels, you may think you’re getting more bang for your buck with a solution designed for enterprise hotels, but in reality you might need some tailoring. You may be paying for a bunch of extra features you’ll never use, or perhaps you run tours as well and need a feature for managing that aspect of your business.
  • 11 most popular hotel management software
  • Easy-to-use interface Customizable availability calendar Personalized guest, company, and travel agent profiles that can be exported into marketing campaigns Data encryption on secure servers, and the ability to restrict user privileges
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • For smaller hotels, you may think you’re getting more bang for your buck with a solution designed for enterprise hotels, but in reality you might need some tailoring. You may be paying for a bunch of extra features you’ll never use, or perhaps you run tours as well and need a feature for managing that aspect of your business.
  • you’re wasting time and money—
  • you’re wasting time and money
  • you’re wasting time and money
  • For smaller hotels, you may think you’re getting more bang for your buck with a solution designed for enterprise hotels, but in reality you might need some tailoring. You may be paying for a bunch of extra features you’ll never use, or perhaps you run tours as well and need a feature for managing that aspect of your business.
  • For smaller hotels, you may think you’re getting more bang for your buck with a solution designed for enterprise hotels, but in reality you might need some tailoring. You may be paying for a bunch of extra features you’ll never use, or perhaps you run t
  • Cloudbeds serves as an all-in-one hotel management system that can also connect your property to hundreds of channels (such as Booking.com and Orbitz) with real-time, two-way integration
  • Rate management to maximize revenue through seasonal rates Mobile application to receive reports on smartphone/tablet Event management Self-service check-in kiosk
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    Capterra is a webiste that offers the proper research for businesses to look for a software that works best for them. The article discusses the most popular software solutions that works best for small hotels. The list of the software's discussed already included what reviewers loved, their advice for improvement, and cost. This is a great article for small hotels to look at because it is an easier way for them to select a software that suits them best.
  • ...4 more comments...
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    For any hotel, it's important to find the right operating software. Especially for small hotels, choosing a well-designed software is able to save more money and time. In this article, the author has introduced 11 most popular hotel management software specially for small hotels, including Cloudbeds, eZee Frontdesk, Frontdesk Anywhere, Hotelogix PMS, Maestro PMS, MSI CloudPM, OPERA Property Management System(PMS), RDPWin, Rezlynx PMS, roomMaster, SkyTouch Hotel OS.
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    The following article reviews the 11 most popular PMS systems that are used within the lodging industry. The importance of choosing the right system for your property is vital and should be taken seriously when comparing the different features offered, etc. I found the article to be very helpful in the fact that it goes into detail analyzing the different systems and highlighting what each have to offer. Depending on the size of your property, facilities, and even location are just a few factors that truly depict which system is best for you. Comparing cloud based systems to dashboards is also something to consider and can drastically change the overall functions of your property based from the system that is used.
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    This article is about the new software technology ad uts benefits in the hospitality industry
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    This article discusses the 7 different PMS systems that would benefit each hotel style in the hospitality industry. It's important for hotels to find the right PMS system so they do not waste time and money. Cloudbeds serves as an all-in-one PMS system, it connects your property to hundreds of channels with two-way integration. It allows guests to make direct reservations through their desktop or mobile device. eZee Frontdesk serves to help with rate management to maximize revenue, mobile access to reports, event management, and self-service check-in. This PMS system is mainly used at boutique hotels, hostels/lodges, resorts, and small hotels in 140 countries. Frontdesk Anywhere serves to create personalized guest, company, and travel agent profiles that can be exported for marketing campaigns, data encryption on secure servers, and the ability to restrict user privileges. Hotelogix PMS serves as a multi-device booking engine for third-party integrations with OTAs. This system is mainly used by small to midsize hotels and is used by more than 10,000 properties worldwide. Maestro PMS serves its purpose by helping small properties. Maestro is designed for the cloud, and brings 20 different modules under one umbrella, including reservations, front desk, sales, space and club management, and dining POS. Maestro aims to simplify things, enabling hotel managers to run everything from one dashboard. MSI CloudPM serves to keep costs down by bypassing the purchase of additional hardware. It provides an Automatic backup and optional on-site backup. Lastly, OPERA PMS system serves to help big corporations, as well as independent hotels with profile management, housekeeping management, accommodation management, and much more. These PMS systems all are beneficial to understand them to learn what PMS system fits best for your business instead of going into the hospitality industry blind.
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    These are the most popular software that are used by small hotels specifically
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    Smaller hotels run with tighter profit margins. This article discusses the 7 top softwares that are available to a small hotel that have many features i.e. front desk, bookings, food and beverage - all in one software application.
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Hospitality industry more prone to cyber attacks | TravelDailyNews International - 1 views

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    The article by, a financial policy author, explains in detail the extent of cyber-attacks in the hospitality industry. The article explains that the hospitality industry is more prone to cyber-attacks, given the nature of information most of the organizations generate daily in their operations. The article explains that most organizations in the hospitality industry may not be aware that they have already been hacked. The article emphasizes the importance of internal audits and the critical evaluation of cyber footprints in hospitality organizations to minimize cyber-attacks. The author of the article delves into the cybersecurity risk factors in the hospitality industry and reports about the UAE IAA members' seminar which was aimed at sharing information and networking with a focus on building cyber-resilience against cyber-attacks. The article shows the prevalence of cyber-attacks in the hospitality industry noting that each stolen data record costs an average of $148 with the average cost of a cyber-attack being valued at over 3 million dollars (Karantzavelou, 2020). The article quotes a statement by the Jumeirah group chief internal audit officer who asserts that protection against cyber threats should be the DNA of every organization, and they should be continuously on the lookout for potential threats and ensure adequate protection. Members in the seminar advised on the importance of having internal auditors to provide assurance, suitable frameworks, and to set up controls to mitigate key cybersecurity risks. The article explains that hotels are prone to Cyber-attacks since they collect varied, valuable and sensitive customer information. The article also cites a cyber-breach in 2018 where up to 500 million customer details and passport information was compromised in an international hotel chain for up to four years continuously without detection (Karantzavelou, 2020). At the bottom line, contributors in the seminar explain the importance of cybe
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