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Informative article on the role of Biometrics in the travel industry during Covid-19.The article explains the concept of immunity passports and what you have to do now, and what you will have to do in the future, regarding air travel. The article also briefly explains how biometrics are affecting and changing the hotel industry.

More establishments are going to unattended payment kiosk. I remember a little over a year ago McDonald decided to install unattended kiosk. I thought it wouldn't work . Due to taking away from the staffing of the restaurant. This article talks about attended or unattended kiosk. Shaving off 1-3 million dollars off your book will certainly will help profit margins.

This article states the differences between an attended and unattended payment systems. The article recommends asking your businesses financial getaway or payment handler to advise as to whether your business requires an attended or unattended payment terminal.

This article explained the differences between attended and unattended POS. The major difference between these two is based on the people who activate the transaction. Attended payment terminals are reliant on a member of staff being present to activate the transaction, while unattended payment terminals are for environments where there will not be a member of staff to assist the transaction. The customer instead will be the one to activate the payment. The conditions for the two are also different. Contactless is also an issue in POS selection.

According to the article Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines for Point-of-Sale Systems, essential businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, gas stations and convenience stores must take new safety precautions for every aspect of their operation - especially high contact touchpoints like POS (point-of-sale) systems and PIN pads. They have taken into consideration how important it has become the use of POS during Covid-19 pandemic. They are following rigorous guidelines to avoid the spread of the virus while working with touchscreen devices. For example, they are suggesting to avoiding contact because is the best way to keep everyone safe. If available, encourage consumers to use contactless payment like tap-to-pay cards or Apple Pay.

This article addresses how hotel design must change to be successful in a COVID/Post-COVID world. The emphasis the last few years has been on meeting spaces and smaller square footage in guest rooms, but with social distancing those wonderful new high-tech meeting spaces are empty. More guests are having to use their hotel rooms as a place to sleep, socialize, be entertained, and even work out. First impressions are crucial in all aspects of life including hotels meaning adding things like UV-C- lights can help to make guests feel safe and rejuvenated. Also we must redefine the guest "room" experience, such using Smart technology and intelligent room design.

Staicoff (director of Oculus Inc.) stated that the covid-19 epidemic emerged as altering the settings of multiple organizations from healthcare facilities to the corporate ambiance. The designers created various changes in hotel infrastructure to meet the criteria of social distancing in the pandemic. Recently, the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) business elevated to provide technical and innovative solutions to control the spreading of infections with physical distancing. Also, the emerging AEC technologies encourage check-ins and elevators of the hotels to be compatible with smart solutions. The intervention of "Zone of Calm" and UV-C light impresses the guest to ensure that the hotel is reliable, safe, and caring. UV-C light is an antimicrobial technology with a unique fixation of light, music, and art to influence the people. The describe that multi-use facilities (housekeeping, room service, laundry, remote control, menus) have been eliminated for safety features. Visual indication facilitates cleanliness in diverse settings. The coordination of hotels with hygienic corporations enhances responding protocols to prevent infection. The structure of guestrooms are preferred from the perspectives of reducing OA (outside air) and EA (exhaust air), but the approaches are costlier practices to meet the demands of the pandemic. The intervention of "separately-zoned HVAC supply and return HVAC systems" acts as a filtration tool to remove EA from infected rooms and control the spreading. Usually, guestrooms are created for multi-functional management, but the guidelines of the pandemic representing constructive and financial challenges. According to a report presented by Markets and Markets, the implementation of smart devices in the markets would double by 2025 worldwide. At a minimum, the materialistic quality is designed considering long-term goals with comfortable and mood elevated facilities.

Ideally, Maestro explores the operational features and functionalities underutilized and yet very critical, especially in this COVID era. Among such quality is the idea of reporting capabilities (Dehan, 2020). For example, through this feature, the guest's data becomes essential in making various decisions by management and the staff. This includes knowing when the guest is arriving, budgeting, and congestion at the front office. In this sense, it becomes effortless to determine the requisite measures to minimize physical contact. Equally, to eliminate the physical contact between the guest and the staff, Maestro provides integrated technological infrastructures such as touchless tools and mobile apps (Dehan, 2020). This system is set to perform very many functions. For instance, "Online web and mobile guest registration/check -in, online prepayment portal, express mobile check-out…." Besides, using a mobile key ensures that the guest is exempted from the contact at the front desk. All these efforts are meant to create contactless interaction between the staff and the guest and thereby enhancing the safety both the staff and the customer. Further, the article identifies data control and security as a significant element for using the cloud for PMS (Dehan, 2020). While using the private cloud, such as Maestro, it's the IT system that takes care of the data without a third-party having access or control of such information. This becomes fundamental in enhancing customer confidentiality and security in the process. The on-premises PMS, misses this feature as it's the customer taking care of their data Moreover, the article identifies internet connectivity as one of the fundamental challenges of using the cloud for PMS. That, it submits, "For those operating in remote areas, the cloud is wrong platform for the environment" (Dehan, 2020). Such outages are demeriting since they result in the disruption of the flow of services and time-consumin

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

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

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

This article discuses how post pandemic technology integrations will be necessary to stay up to date with the average traveler. Cloud Services, integrations into PMS systems are allowing the guest to control every aspect of their stay by the touch of a button.

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

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

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

FinTech is a hot topic and this Journal article touches on the developments of FInTech in the hotel. The standout line touches on how cloud payments can, "connect to a booking engine to drive commission-free bookings and the payment system..."

Yum Brands, which runs restaurants KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger, is integrating technology-centric solutions across its four brands around the world, which could result in an acceleration of disruptive technologies on a large scale. This Digital Innovation Lab then adds information from thousands of Yum Brand restaurants into a cloud facility. The information includes closed-circuit tv from a restaurant's drive-thru and point-of-sale or drive-thru audio. Hundreds of startups then get access to the data to compare their technologies in the lab. They're able to use that information to create more automated services like artificial intelligence, computer vision and the Internet of Things. Yum's idea is by improving automation back of house, employees can focus more time on customer-facing tasks, resulting in more speed and accuracy.

Before, the 2020 pandemic, some hotels have already had robots incorporated into their hotel but it was more for entertaining purposes. Now they have become popular due to the pandemic. They help with social distancing by delivering guests their towels, pillows, foods, etc. They also assist with cleaning by using a super sterilizing blast. It is an expensive investment but worth it since it will become the new norm.

This article illustrate how robotics help the oeprations of housekeeping, front desk and F&B in hotels during the pandemic. The examples demontrate that the technology of robotics improves guest experience, health and efficiency.

Hotels are using robots more and more. They find that robots are able to to the job more effectively and efficiently. We see this in housekeeping with automated vacuums and virus-killing robots, in room service deliveries, etc

Robotics is the new future, they are transforming the Hotel Industry with all this new technology that not only will be better for the business, but for the costumers will be and extraordinary experiences. This articles talks about that the robots are not here to replace jobs, they are here to make their jobs more effective and efficient. Guest wants"personalization and information at the touch of a button "so business have to meet the demand of the customer,

Throughout this article, service robots are discussed, which communicate, interact, and provide services to clients of an organization. It is possible that service robots can reduce the chance of infectious diseases spread via interpersonal interactions, which could increase the likelihood of visits. There are different types of artificial intelligence that can be incorporated into service robots: mechanical, empathetic, analytical, and intuitive. Standardized and transactional tasks can be handled by mechanical robots, while analytical robots can handle logical thinking in the decision making process. During the implementation of service robots, companies should consider the crucial factors that influence the adoption/acceptance of the new technology by consumers. Robots can also provide social-emotional and relational factors that can be perceived as human by users.

As Covid-19 hit, it came with the implementation of more robotics and AI systems in the hospitality industry. The systems allowed for less human interaction which aided in avoiding being infected. This resulted in customers wanting more of these systems in place as they now prefer the robotics to human staff when it comes to their safety concerns. The robotics have different roles based on their configuration levels.

The use of service robots in the hospitality industry is on the rise. They are equipped with different levels of artificial intelligence in order to handle functional tasks as well as provide more personalized services.

This article discusses how COVID-19 has highlighted the necessity of social media for hospitality industry players. As it is contactless and gets to virtually everybody's device, it is one of the best forms of advertising a business can use. There are various things a company must do in order to be successful in their social media use. This would be to figure out their target audience, their most preferred platform, and schedule specific and relatable content for your viewership. This form of advertising is extremely cost effective and is proven to work. In my opinion, social media has achieved more than its intended purpose. Platforms like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Instagram, etc have allowed for people all over the world to have access to information about restaurants, hotels, reviews, etc and it is extremely helpful.

For this article I want to focus on the room technology aspect. We have become so dependent of our devices at home that sometimes going to hotels is not as pleasant as before. In this article, we can see how hotel chains are changing to cater to our needs so the daily routines are not affected. One example is how Hilton is partnering with Netflix allowing you to sync your Netflix Account with the Hilton Honors app so you can go and use the room tv to keep watching your favorite programs. So no more using your computer or ipad to keep binging on your series while you are in a hotel. The other interesting part is the use of tablets and apps that mimic our regular apps for food ordering within the hotel avoiding the need to call for room service or doing lines at restaurants.

This article discusses not only the future of hospitality technology, but the impact it will have on the industry, All of the technology advancements mentioned will change how hospitality businesses operate. For example, cybersecurity is becoming a really important investment for these businesses to make because hackers have been stealing guest data and information. Tech advancements are being placed around privacy of consumer data, when that never used to be a major issue

This article palms out 8 disruptive hotel technology trends to follow. The explosion of SaaS, APIs going mainstream, room technology innovation, privacy and cybersecurity, the struggles of OTAs, WiFi 6, big data and digital hotel companies. The article illustrates that technology is driving the hospitality industry by explaining new technology trends that enable hoteliers to operate more efficiently and offer guests the opportunity to personalize their experience. But it also means hoteliers must focus on data security and ongoing training when implementing the technology guests expect.

Understanding what each hotel system works for and the departments they connect or overlap with can benefit from integrating such systems to make smoother operations. By integrating PMS and POS in a hotel, it can be easier for the guests to check in, etc., but it's also easier for staff to manage and track all guest information this way too.

This type of integration is not new to the hospitality industry. Many hotels link their PMS system at the front desk to the POS system at the outlets. This integration is very efficient and convenient because guests can just simply charge their spending at the outlets to their folio, also known as "charge to the room."