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An article about an Eco Friendly luxury hotel. Its nice to see a company that focuses on green initiatives in their entire property, not just in the lobby, or in the public areas. The property in Miami Beach is amazing.

The Bay Hotel in Singapore has launched a new mobile phone check-in and checkout service. The new technology named QIKINN, and provided by UbiQ Global Solutions, enables guest communications via SMS and browser before they even arrive at the hotel.

It is true that this new technology can improve work processes and operation flows, empowering and enabling us to offer even better levels of service and value to the guests.

Having a proper security plan is so critical for hotels. Here in Miami, just days ago, the Doubletree had a fire and everyone was evacuated. Due to proper evacuation measures and a fast responce from fire officals, no one was injured.

The Oyster Bay Beach Resort is a highrise hotel in St. Martin that promises guests white-sand beaches, "breathtaking" views of the Caribbean and a "paradise found."But Jack Permadi says he found more than that when he stayed at the property recently.

Ecotourism is usually perceived as a form of alternative tourism distinguished in three ways from other forms of tourism. It emphasizes relatively undisturbed natural environments, it serves as a focus of attraction. Interaction with nature is motivated by a desire to appreciate or learn about the attraction. Most guests at ecotourism resorts aren't hard-core environmentalists, several people at Jungle Bay emphasized that they weren't "greenies," but they were impressed by the nature: the density of the rainforest and the views of Dominica's coastline, with its few swimmable beaches, ferocious surf and massive cliffs.

The article revolves around new technological concepts that the main cruise lines are adding to the cruising experience. While they have heavily focused on the ships hardware, they want to implement new software that will make the experience more enjoyable and simpler for guests to enjoy. Carnival, would like to implement a "medallion" called the Ocean Compass, that is crossover between the Disney Magic Band, and the band seen at the Universal Volcano Bay water park. It fits the Disney aspect, because it holds information,can open doors, and links guest pictures to the technology. It is similar to Universal, because it informs guests of when to attend something, so that they do not have to wait in a line. Royal Caribbean, likes the band idea that Disney presented, and wants to make bands of their own, that have similar functions that the Ocean Compass from Carnival has. In addition, Royal Caribbean wants to expose their guests to Virtual Reality. They hope to create an immersive experience for their guests, from the comfort of their rooms. Norwegian and MSC are mostly developing smart phone applications, that allow guests to check-in, book excursions, and open rooms. It is obvious that Disney developed a great idea with combining a "magical" band and phone application. The concept is so successful, that other players want to utilize the same formula. Let us see how well it works in the cruising industry.

As a frequent visitor of Las Vegas, this article caught my attention. The article discusses the collaboration between MGM Resorts International and Cisco Systems and the development of a "high-density WI-FI system designed to enhance the guest experience". According to the article, MGM Resorts and Cisco have developed the highest-performing wireless LAN in the industry. Since Las Vegas is a top destination for tourists and business travelers, this technology will enhance the overall experience for a guest who is in town for either business or pleasure (or both!). Not only is the connectivity within this system is 30 percent faster, but it offers new programs and apps. There is a "state-of-the art wayfinding resort map" which offers point-by-point directions to various locations within the resort such as, restrooms, restaurants, and retail stores. I think this is a great idea. Las Vegas hotel/casino resorts can be quite overwhelming, especially for first-time guests.

. For example, it can be difficult to locate the "all mighty" restroom among the bright lights of the slot machines and crowds of anxious gamblers. With this new WI-FI system in place, any MGM Resorts' guest with a wireless device has access to a quick reference guide right in the palm of their hand. Another interesting feature of this system is the assortment of restaurant wine, beer, cocktail, and dessert apps. These apps are designed to cater to food and wine enthusiasts. For example, wine lovers can "discover new wines, read reviews, rate the wine themselves, and even email wine labels". As a wine lover myself, I think this is a fantastic idea! On numerous occasions, I have found myself desperately searching for a pen and paper to write down the wine information or taking pictures of wine labels for future reference.

Las Vegas is host to numerous conventions year-round. MGM Resorts' new WI-FI system also caters to convention attendees. Previously, their WI-FI system was only able to support roughly 4,000 concurrent users. Today, with the new and improved WI-FI, MGM Resorts now has the capability to support up to 120,000 concurrent users in Las Vegas. In addition, convention groups will find that the system is user-friendly and allows for network customization. It also includes location-based services and fast download/streaming speeds (for video presentations). MGM Resorts is clearly an industry leader. Most of their resorts, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and The Mirage already have this enhanced WI-FI in place. Final installations to additional resorts will be complete in 2013.

No industry has a bigger stake in protecting the environment and local communities than the travel industry. Like the article states, if coral reefs are destroyed, there will be no more snorkeling. And if the communities are not able to profit from the travelers coming to the area, their displeasure will show. In order to help green travelers decide if their trip is hurting the environment or harming local communities, or actually doing some good Sustainable Travel Leadership Network has started TravelWell. This project will also encourage the governments in the destination areas to improve sustainability practices, help travel companies decide where to do business.This initiative will score destinations based on the practices of piloted destinations, letting them know what areas they need to improve in. The problem is that while most governments are willing to create a plan, they do not actually follow through with the plans they've made. With TravelWell being implemented, destinations could lose out on the growing market of green travelers and this will affect their bottom line more in the long run. Because TravelWell will also give this information to potential investors, destinations also run the risk of losing potential investors. The main purpose of this tool is to keep the conversation of sustainability alive with governments. It would continually create a standard to measure the effectiveness of sustainability efforts as well as creating new ideas.

This article emphasizes the importance of building structure in 11 Hotels around the world. How customers are attracted and willing to pay to stay in this unique hotels based on their inspiring architecture. Seven out of the 11 hotels are under $200 a night! The famous Marina Bay Sands in Singapore just opened in 2010, this trio of 55-story towers consists of 2,561 hotel rooms, plus a casino, museum, convention center, waterfront promenade, shops and restaurants. The towers are connected at the top by the cantilevered, two-and-a-half-acre SkyPark, home to gardens, 250 trees, a public observatory and a 492-foot swimming pool -- all perched high in the sky like a fantastical cruise ship forever suspended in midair

The hundred year old, Dorchester Collection's Beverly Hills Hotel participates in various green initiatives within the hotel as well as around the world. The hotel purchases only green products, donates partially used toilet paper, donates soap and amenities to local and global shelters and organizations. Most importantly they participate in proper e-waste of electronics.  I think this Beverly Hill Hotel sets a great standard for all hotels. Not only does their hotel practice green initiatives but they take that extra step and their employees participate in beach clean ups. 

This article illustrates the various changes in security protocols. Due to the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, hotels such as the Caesars are implementing new policies, including disregarding guests' "Do Not Disturb" signs and checking the rooms once every 24 hours. Despite the policy stating that the hotel will only check visually the bedroom and bathroom, guests have complained that hotel officials have photographed and filmed their rooms and came in when they are dressing. In addition, the most alarming news is the guests complain that the hotel officials that barge in won't provide any identification and the guests have no way to call the front desk to ensure the hotel officials are who they say they are. For men it's a concern for privacy, for women it's a concern for safety. Even more of a concern, Katie Moussouris, CEO of Luta Security, claimed that hotel officials said they will share the photos on their Snapchat. Many guests have stated they will no longer return to Las Vegas for conferences.

This article is about how they are taking events to go green. Going green is a way to use less paper during conferences, trade shows, and other meetings for events. Going mobile for meetings or presentations is a way to get rid of paper, so using mobile devices, computers and projectors will help go green. For example, green venues. The Mandalay Bay Conference Center in Las Vegas take advantage of ample sunshine through the use of solar panels. This helps produce power for the building, including any event, with a little help from the sun. Virtual conferences and more advanced analytics has also become more popular as in to communicate better and also going green.

Hotels are starting to see a trend in high technology that are becoming more appealing to guests. Two hotels in China began using facial recognition to check in there guests in 2018. The article states that because of the good feedback from guests that enjoy these high-tech hotels, this technology will become mainstream in the hospitality industry by 2025. Despite all of the excitement behind the new facial recognition and the big role artificial intelligence will play in hotels, some industry professionals believe that it takes the personality out of the hospitality industry.

In regards to Module 2: Post a hospitality/tourism network, telecommunications, or green related article, I chose to post about a green related article and found an awesome article of "Eight Ways Hotels Are Helping To Protect The Environment." In honor of the past April 22's Earth Day, the article displayed the examples for some of the hotels in the United States that were committed to aid in preserving the environment for the hoteliers and guests alike to keep sustainability strong for the respective hospitality companies as well as travelers who are striving to travel with eco-friendly options. Located in Oahu, Hawaii, the Turtle Bay Resort is home to an on-property horse stable, tennis and golf courses, a 15 mile hiking/mountain biking trails, many health conscious classes such as fitness, wellness, and even a surf school. With its advantageous beach location, water adventures such as eco-kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming enable guests to view many of the natural resources, mammals, and endangered species that visit along the shores of the resort. With all of the above activities, it is crucial for this resort to take especially good care of the natural resources that benefit the resort by attracting guests. With that being said, the resort team members initiate beach cleanups every month for about 5 miles of the beach's shoreline. As well, back in 2009, the resort developed a Green Committee to plan and map out methods to reduce the resort's carbon footprint. Some examples of this was adding solar roof panels, convert 70% of the resort's lighting to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, initiated recycling for the entire resort, and changed cups utilized at the F&B outlets to environmental friendly options. Located in Leesburg, Virginia, The National Conference Center's food and beverage program partnered with local Virginia Farms to source their food from local farmers to enhance the consumer's yearning for the farm-to-table cuisine. For Earth Day, the company i

RealView is a Chicago-based mobile software company that assists hotels with emergencies by equipping first responders with hotel's up-to-date floor plans and other relevant information. "We provide a preplan program where we make everything a responder would need available to them ahead of time," Stephen Nardi, CEO of RealView, said. "With planning, both employees and responders won't be operating on trial and error but reality." All of this information is streamlined to portable tablets or security stations and can be updated remotely and shared digitally. This software is important not only because of the safety of hotel patrons and visitors, but also to protect a hotel from a liability standpoint. "The front-end policies you have will protect you in the moment and in the end," Justin Parafinczuk, a partner for the defense law firm Koch, Parafinczuk, Wolf and Susen said. ""Any break in the chain is a liability. It's a minefield." In my opinion, this type of software not only makes sense but should be required in all hotels. When dealing with emergencies that involve life and death, seconds matter. It is software like RealView that can be the difference in saving peoples live's. RealView offers the ability to streamline real time information and make it easily sharable. I believe that not having this type of software should be considered a legal liability to hotels and they should be held accountable if they do not have this type of software implemented.

This article pretty much just explains the new development done in Brickell, which we all know BCC (Brickell City Center). But, I wanted to share this article because many people have not noticed the ceiling's design. Or many have noticed it, but just think it's "artsy". Well, in reality it was created to create more air flow in the building to save up on having ac or fans. Since it's an open mall, they had to develop a design that would eliminate the hot sun, collect the rain, channel the wind and anchored to the earth. It captures sea breezes to regulate air flow and temperature, collects rainwater for reuse, and allows visitors to enjoy natural light in an open air environment. composed of steel, fabric and a continuous glass surface, the 'climate ribbon' is the project's flagship sustainability feature, demonstrating an awareness of its environmental responsibilities. This is a great example of sustainable design.

StayNTouch and SnapShot have actually joined forces and together they have 75,000+ hotel rooms globally.

"here are some helpful websites and apps for professional and amateur event planners to alleviate your workload"

Some say that "Event Planner" is the most challenging job in the world because of the tremendous tasks that they have to handle simultaneously. Therefore, here are some helpful websites and apps for professional and amateur event planners to alleviate your workload!

This blog is an interesting blog, it discuses the ways in which technology specifically based on an app, can be used in event planning.the blog gives a couple of different apps that outline the ways in which event planning can be made easier. Doodle, an app that helps in scheduling an event in finding the best time and date for each individual. the blog gives five different apps that are amazing. One of the apps, the seating planner is one app that many people need in their lives. one of the hardest tasks in planning an event in specific a wedding is the seating arrangement. this app helps in making the bride and grooms life easier. This blog is a life save for the do it yourself event planner, aside from the legal aspects of planning an event it is very helpful  

This article covers an Indonesian study performed to study factors that influence online bookings of consumers. The main factors considered in the study were the perceived usability of the website and the ease of use. The study found that perceived usability influenced the decisions of the consumer, while the actual ease of use did not.

High profile hotels near large events have had to respond to events such as mass shootings since the 2017 Las Vegas attack where a guest used as hotel room to carry out the shooting. Concert venues and large hotels are now using surveillance drones and predictive threat analysis to enable their staff to recognize patterns that could indicate signs of trouble. Security costs at large venues are expensive, and they are being passed on via ticket prices. Hotels need to evaluate their need for an active shooter plan and evaluate their "do not disturb" policies and train their staff to alert management when they are unable to enter a guest room, or when they recognize something out of the ordinary.