Embracing sustainable practices is not a new phenomenon. The concept of sustainability was first mentioned in 1987 on an international platform with the UN-sponsored Brundtland Commission’s unveiling of “Our Common Future,” a movement that has since transgressed the globe.i
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How Hospitality is Going Green - 1 views
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In 1996, three organizations, the World Travel & Tourism Council, the World Tourism Organization, and the Earth Council converged to create a global environmental certification program for the travel and tourism industry.
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Of course, it is the right thing to do considering global warming and the focus on preserving the planet
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Today more than ever before there is an abundance of products on the market and practices available that take the environment into consideration.
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From energy saving lightbulbs to low pressure or low flow shower heads. Many hotels buy their own linens and launder in house, reusing those linens that are not dirtied lessoning the use of water,
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Sustainability in the hospitality industry was introduced back in the late 80's. Ever since then it has been a growing movement, seeking the best and most efficient strategies for hotels and tourism. In 1992, The United Nations Conference on Environmental Development (UNCED) recognized that travel and tourism would be one of the most benefitted by sustainability trends. In 1996 three organizations (World Travel & Tourism Council, World Tourism Organization, and the Earth Council) met to create a global environmental certification program called "Agenda 21". Consequently, Green Globe was created after to set targets and functioning standards based on environmental development. Hotels receiving the "Green Globe" address issues within their hotel that include: * Greenhouse emissions * Energy efficiency * Management of freshwater resources * Ecosystem conservation * Waste water and solid waste management Hospitality is the fastest growing global industry. In 2014 it was stated that it contributes $7 trillion annually to the total world gross domestic product. There is a huge incentive for sustainability due to customers being conscious of the impact their actions have on the planet. Soon green and sustainability will become the standard rather than an option.
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shared by marylauren1717 on 18 Mar 13
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PCI Security Standards Council Releases Guidance for Mobile Payment Security | News | H... - 0 views
hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/...r-Mobile-Payment-Security84774
security standards guidance mobile payment hospitality Technology
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The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), an open, global forum for the development of payment card security standards has published the PCI Mobile Payment Acceptance Security Guidelines for Merchants as End-Users.
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Even with rapid adoption of mobile technology in payments, security still tops concerns for merchants. It comes down to the basic element of trust.
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Currently, it is challenging to demonstrate a high level of confidence in the security of sensitive financial data in devices that were designed for other consumer purposes.
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The PCI Mobile Payment Acceptance Security Guidelines recognize payment security as a shared responsibility. By providing a high level introduction and overview of the mobile payments space and the security risks of mobile devices, the document outlines the unique, complex and evolving mobile environment that underscores the need for all parties in the payment chain to work together to ensure mobile acceptance solutions are deployed securely.
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The PCI Security Standards Council published the PCI Mobile Payment Acceptance Security Guidelines for Merchants and End-Users on February 19, 2013. "The PCI Security Standards Council's mission is to enhance payment account data security by driving education and awareness of the PCI Security Standards. The organization was founded by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide, and Visa Inc." The guidelines educates merchants on risks that they must be aware of in order to protect their customers' data when they are using mobile devices for payments, such as smart phones and tablets. As more merchants turn to handheld devices for payment options, they must consider new security risks. With these new guidelines and procedures, merchants will learn what is needed to isolate and prevent card data from exposure to the public.
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shared by kakaboshi on 03 Sep 19
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Those Tiny Hotel Toiletry Bottles Are on Their Way Out - The New York Times - 1 views
www.nytimes.com/...plastic-bottles-hotels.html
hotel sustainability shampoobottles ban roomamenity plasticban green
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In what might become the first such state law of its kind, a bill, A.B. 1162, is making its way through the California Legislature that aims to scrap the tiny single-use plastic bottles at hotels and other hospitality establishments. It was passed in the Assembly last week, and has moved to the Senate for committee examination.
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The city council of Orlando, Fla., on Monday approved a partial ban on straws and bags, and last month, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, banned plastic bags starting from next year.
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In March, lawmakers in New York agreed on a statewide ban on most types of single-use plastic bags from retail sales, making it the second state to do so after California, which has been at the national forefront of legislative action to ban plastics clogging shorelines.
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In 2016, the world generated 242 million tons of plastic waste, according to the World Bank. North America, which it defines as Bermuda, Canada and the United States, is the third largest producer of plastic waste, totaling more than 35 million tons.
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The California bill says that from the start of 2023, lodging establishments with more than 50 rooms would be prohibited from providing a small plastic bottle containing a personal care product in a bathroom or sleeping room. Establishments with 50 rooms or fewer would have until Jan. 1, 2024.
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The California Hotel & Lodging Association had pushed for an extension of the deadline to make it easier for hotels to comply.
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He estimated it could cost about $70 for each of the 500,000 hotel rooms in California to be transformed to accommodate multi-use dispensers.
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Generally, hotels and hospitality organizations assume guests will nick toiletries. But if they don’t disappear from rooms, bottles left behind are often repurposed.
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“In one month alone, this can amount to over 380 pounds of toiletries diverted from the landfill and sent to those in need,” the hotel says.
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InterContinental Hotels Group said last year that it would remove plastic straws from more than 5,400 hotels in nearly 100 countries by the end of 2019 and introduce bulk bathroom amenities at some of its brands.
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Some hotels work with Clean the World, an organization in Orlando, Fla., that recycles soaps and leftover plastic bottles collected through its partnerships with 8,000 establishments.
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Like grocery bags and straws, the miniature bottles of toiletries and cosmetics that many guests swipe from hotels are in the sights of legislators and hotel establishments who are trying to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.
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This is a smart move, both from a environmental and a cost cutting perspective as refillable containers will likely reduce costs over the long run. Marriott has been looking at replacing this process for years (Marriott Banning Little Shampoo Bottles By 2020 Associated Press - https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/marriott-banning-little-shampoo-bottles-2020-n1047116) However, even Marriott admits that it doesn't have the process right yet. There will be a significant impact to smaller operators whom 1) Will be challenged with an additional increase in cost for new dispensary options 2) Have less access to big brand economy of scale purchasing which specialized dispensary products will require. Though this is as a policy almost a foregone conclusion, there seems little doubt that extensive thought has to be put into the impact on operators as a whole, and the customer made cognizant of the fact that costs will rise due to this change.
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LEED Certification and Other Green Initiatives Can Be Hotel Marketing Coups , by Carl R... - 0 views
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n the United States, hotels represent more than 5 billion square feet of space, nearly 5 million guest rooms, and close to $4 billion in annual energy use
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LEED is a voluntary, third-party green building certification program that awards points to buildings for satisfying certain green building criteria. In order to be LEED-certified, a building has to implement a plan to reduce building operating costs, its environmental footprint, and resource consumption such as water and energy use.
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intended to provide building owners and operators a basic framework for identifying and employing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions
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LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance are the programs which have the most applicability to hospitality projects.
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In addition, each rating system, including LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, is organized into six credit categories
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sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environmental quality and innovation in operations.
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Once the essential prerequisites are satisfied, developers can thereafter chose which optional credits to pursue in order to obtain certification. Certification levels start at Certified and increase to Silver, Gold and Platinum designations.
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first hotel to receive LEED Platinum Certification was the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina
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Proximity Hotel uses 39% less energy and 33% less water then a comparable sized hotel. In addition, the Proximity Hotel was able to recycle 87% of its construction debris
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purchased 40% of the building materials and 90% of its furniture locally and even restored 700 feet of an adjacent stream. Proximity’s most impressive features, however, include:
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installation of 100 solar panels on the roof, which heat about 60% of the hotel and the hotel restaurant’s water; use of geothermal energy for the restaurant’s refrigeration equipment; and installation of the Regenerative Drive model of the Otis’ Gen2 elevator which reduces net energy usage by capturing the elevator’s energy and then feeding it back to the hotel’s electrical grid
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Many hospitality companies have already introduced green initiatives, such as the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, offering linen and towel reuse programs as well as various recycling programs
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Not only are these green initiatives environmentally responsible, but should a hospitality company at some future point seek LEED certification, these green initiatives would earn them points in furtherance of the certification process
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By using highly reflective concrete and/or open grid pavers, hospitality companies can help reduce the summer cooling loads for their building, which in turn reduces energy use and pollution generation.
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native plants reduce more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than traditional mowed grass due to their extensive root systems and increased ability to retain and store water
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A green cleaning program may include the use of Green Seal Certified household cleaners, Green Seal Certified laundry products, micro-fiber cloths, and dual motor vacuum cleaners with HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters that prevent particles from becoming airborne. Green Seal is a non-profit, third-party certifier
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While not every hotel or hospitality company may be in the financial position to seek LEED certification or undertake costly capital expenditures, there are numerous green initiatives that each and every hospitality company should be considering to improve their efficiencies while also attracting green conscious consumers
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In the United States, hotels represent more than 5 billion square feet of space, nealry 5 million guest rooms and approxiamtely $4 billion in annual energy use. As of January 2010, there were only 40 hotels that were LEED certified. The acronym LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a voluntary, third party green building certification program that awards points to buildings depending on their sustainable practice being implemented which includes building improvements, environemntal footprint and water and energy use. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization. Its main purpose is to provide building owners and operators with a basic framework for developing and implementing sustainable practices. The first hotel to ever be certified according to LEED criteria was the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, NC. This hote received Platnium status for being able to recycle 87% of its construction debris, purchasing 40% of the building materials and 90% of its furniture locally. Installation of 100 solar panels, use of geothermal energy for the restaurant's refrigeration equipment and instllation of a Regenerative Drive model for its elevators made the Proximity Hotel a benchmark hotel. There are several practices that can make a hotel conserve energy and make it sustainable such as using flourescent lightbulbs, offering linen and towel reuse programs, paving parkig lots with highly reflective materials or open grid pavers, installing high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, landscaping with native plants and using local materials and goods. These will not necessarily lead to LEED certification but will definitely earn points towards obtaining that accredidation. The use of sustainable practices not only helps conserve the environment but also saves money in the long run. Through water conservation techniques, recycling and linen and towel reuse programs, the hospitality industry wins two-fold,
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Hotels worldwide are going green with LEED | U.S. Green Building Council - 0 views
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Representing more than 5 billion square feet of space in the United States alone, there is an enormous opportunity for the industry—and guests—to positively affect the built environment.
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nearly two-thirds of travelers reported plans to make more environmentally friendly choices over the next year
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Extensive energy savings were realized through the insulating properties of a 16,000-square-foot green roof.
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Cooling demand is greatly reduced by having more than 60 percent of its roof area covered with highly reflective materials.
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The importance of sustainable ("green") construction and practices within the hospitality industry, and particularly the hotel segment, is growing. The U.S. Green Building Council is at the heart of LEED certification which establishes standards for and designates properties that are actively pursuing a more sustainable model. Consumers are becoming more ecologically aware and have made the "green" status of a destination part of their criteria when making decisions about where to stay. Hotels like the Hyat Hotels Complex in Chicago, the ITC Windsor in India, and the Tambo del Inka Hotel in Peru are chasing "triple-bottom-line wins" by implementing smarter designs like rooftop gardens, in-house water treatment/recycling, and sustainable local lumber sources for structures and interiors.
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shared by Hyeyoung Jang on 19 Jul 12
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IT in hospitality - Express Computer - 1 views
www.expresscomputeronline.com/...management01.shtml
http:__www.expresscomputeronline.com_20080421_management01.shtml
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Hospitality is amongst the fastest growing sectors in India today, with domestic and foreign tourism, and increased business travelers fueling this momentum. The sector is known to hold as much promise for the country as the much touted IT, ITeS and manufacturing industries. India’s travel and tourism industry is expected to grow 8.4% this year and 8% annually between now and 2016, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Conventionally having stayed away from technology, the hotel industry in India is observing a sea change—in its objective and management’s role towards delivering quality customer service. ‘Service’, related to personalized care and hospitality, is finding a friend in advanced systems and gadgets that enhance the service delivered.
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This article talk about the IT in hospitality industry. They give a example of the India. The number of the India's travel and tourism industry is grow 8.4% in 2008 and will be 8% more increase between now and 2016 according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The hospitality industry should know the customers needs and the goal of the meeting them should be figured out in such a way that the cost of offering the service(s) does not pinch the company balance sheet i.e. variable costs should not show fluctuations northwards. Marketing gurus would always adhere to one statement for advice: cost need to be justifiable through high probability of ROI. The selection of technology in itself is a vital step. Another global feature that is extremely important is a detailed guest, group and company records. Used with a variety of customized reports, these detailed records allow precise targeting of various marketing efforts to improve occupancy rates, increase yield and enhance strategic planning. Each module should have a customizable report selection menu. The reports should have provision for sorting and filtering of data to enable viewing of the exact information might be required at a moment's notice. A good PMS enables a hospitality enterprise to increase revenue and occupancy, improve guest loyalty and reduce costs by centralizing and streamlining your operations. Forward-thinking properties have already begun building a network infrastructure that offers the flexibility and scalability to adapt to the ever-evolving guest, staff, and property management needs. Ajay Goel, Senior VP - Industry Business, Strategy, Operations, Cisco Systems India & SAARC opined, "These next-generation infrastructures are based on a converged network. They integrate with today's solutions-such as reservation, surveillance, and billing systems-and support the newest applications and technologies. The goal is to take advantage of tomorrow's opportunities while protecting e
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TripAdvisor launches green initiative for sustainable travel - Blue and Green Tomorrow - 0 views
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Jenny Rushmore, director of responsible travel at TripAdvisor, said, “We know a lot of travellers in Europe want to be savvy about the eco-friendly choices they make on holiday but they don’t always know where to go to find that information. “What makes TripAdvisor GreenLeaders so useful is that we are now providing travellers with an easy way to compare hotels’ green practices alongside the millions of reviews already on the site.”
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John Alker, director of policy and communications at UK Green Building Council, added, “For the hotel and leisure sector, going green is not only the right thing to do, it’s just good business. Green should be viewed as another aspect of quality.
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As people continue to move towards a lifestyle that is sustainable and eco-friendly so to are their choices re travel. Llaria Bertini in her ariticle "TripAdvisor launches green initiative for sustainable travel" highlights how the popular travel site TripAdvisor has launched an initiative to assist European travelers in making hotel choices that suit their lifestyle. The initiative called "TripAdvisor Green Leaders" came about as a result of travelers need to stay at more eco-friendly accomodation. Despite that need they had difficulty in obtaining information about hotel practices. Jenny Rushmore, director of responsible travel at TripAdvisor said "We know a lot of travellers in Europe want to be savvy about eco-friendly choices they make on holiday but they don't alwyas know where to go to find that information, " thus the initiative was born. Trip Advisor came on board to provide information for travelers re hotel Green practices , to compare offerings of various hotels as well as to provide reviews not only based on what the hoteliers would provide but from the perspective of persons who would have had a first hand experience at the property. As going green becomes a more acceptable approach for many things in various areas of our lives the hospitality and tourism industry is no exception. As John Alker,director of policy and communication at UK Green Building Council said " For the hotel and leisure sector, going green is not only the right thing to do, its just good business. " TripAdvisor initiative allows us to know which properties are taking the steps towards sustatainability in one place.
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shared by sbarr011 on 10 Jun 18
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Technology and trends in hotel energy management - eHotelier - 0 views
ehotelier.com/...nds-in-hotel-energy-management
#greentechnology #hoteltechnology #byod #internetofthings
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This means that hotels can be completely in charge of their own energy – and financial – output without compromising any part of a guest’s experience. It’s the technology that makes this all happen, however.
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60% of travelers make eco-friendly choices when booking hotels and 50% say they are willing to pay more for an environmentally friendly location.
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LEED-certified hotels obtain superior financial performance compared to their non-certified competitors for at least the first two years after certification.
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LEED certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, have become a hot commodity for hotels.
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Hoteliers should look for modern, wireless solutions that pay for themselves. In addition, as no one knows what the industry’s problems will be in five or ten years, it’s crucial to invest in a scalable system that upgrades itself to address the problems of the future.
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With the advent of the “Internet of Things” (IoT), hotels can leverage technology that tracks temperature, room occupancy and more from any web based device and adjust as needed in real time. This translates into a huge win for properties. Due to IoT, energy controls, like thermostats and sensors that have typically been commoditized are now interconnected with other systems and provide valuable data back to the hotelier.
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With effective, modern technology, hotels – and guests – can supervise and implement eco-friendly efforts with little more than the tap of a tablet – incredibly easy for staff, perfectly unnoticeable for guests.
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BYOD allows the guest to download an application on their personal mobile device and control their room for the duration of their stay.
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Another component driving the trend is the increased adoption of “smart home” technologies. If consumers can turn down their home’s lights or thermostat with a flick of their smartphone, they expect to be able to do the same when they travel.
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Guests at luxury hotels have higher expectations, and for many, energy management has become a social motivator. Often, these consumers make “green” choices at home, so they value an “eco-friendly” hotel.
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hotels consume an enormous amount of energy; 50 percent more than similar sized residential buildings, despite having only about a 65 percent occupancy rate on average.
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This article discusses the reason hotels are shifting their focus on energy management. Hotels are adopting green practices that not only saves money but benefits the environment. One method is by controlling energy output. New technology allows the hotel management to have wireless control of the heating and cooling systems. If rooms are unoccupied they can turn off the cooling system to save energy which in-turn reduces cost. The invention of the "Internet of Things" (IoT), management can control, diagnose and operate AC and other systems from their tablets or computers. This advantage gives the hotels the need for less service calls and disruptions to guests. Also, the trend of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) gives the guest the option to control their room settings from their own phone. Lastly, hotels are building towards LEED certifications from the U.S. Green Building council. The certification is internationally known. It saves the company money and aligns to a lot of guests eco-traveling preferences.
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shared by lin liu on 22 Mar 13
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The latest from HTNG - Hotels unpack the future of credit card security | Hotel Management - 0 views
www.hotelmanagement.net/...-of-credit-card-security-19517
hospitality Technology credit card hotels security future
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The Framework is aimed at reducing the cost and complexity of satisfying the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS),
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Travel Daily News reports that the new Framework calls for tokenization to encrypt the credit card information at the point-of-swipe.
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Bloomberg BNA reports that on Feb. 14, the Council released new guidance for merchants who accept payments on mobile devices.
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The Council goes on to note that cloud computing remains an evolving technology, and merchants must be careful to evaluate competing cloud services and establish clear security policies and procedures.
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Hotels have to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, which are constantly updated since technology is developing. Also, 'the hotel industry has unique vulnerabilities to credit card theft', since the cards should be available over the long period of time, and to different 3rd parties as well. The new technology will encrypt credit card information at the point-of-swipe, and the number never gets to any other place in the hotel or other business. The other issue is payments on mobile devices. Where it is advised to encrypt information prior to using the device, and avoid "bring you own device policy'.
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This article introduces the Secure Payments Framework in Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) Conference. The Framework applies mobile payment and cloud computing technology to reduce the cost and complexity of satisfying the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. The credit card security is a big challenge for all hotels, especially for the small hotels, lacking expertise and budget to protect customers' card information. There are many advantages of the new card framework. Firstly, the new Framework can encrypt the credit card information at the point-of-swipe. In this way, the card number can't be stolen by other systems. Secondly, it is scalable for different sizes of hotel. Thirdly, new guidance is made for accepting payments on mobile devices. Before processing payment, the merchant need encrypt cardholder, to make sure more security. What is more, new policy on cloud computing. The cloud service provider and its clients are both responsible for the security of cloud data. The policy also need merchants to evaluate competing cloud services and carefully pay procedures.
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Mobile Pay and Cloud Top POS Headlines from February - 0 views
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From lodging to foodservice, the point of service is the premiere place for customers to get their first - and hopefully not last - impression of an establishment. Streamlining and fine-tuning the service that occurs at the POS is of utmost important and operators are always seeking out the latest technologies to make this possible. The move to mobile payment is always top-of-mind as well, but lingering confusion and trepidation still remains for many customers. Owners and operators must seek out ways to implement the technology without intimidating customers. Last month's POS headlines proved this as stories ranged from a study tracking the public perception of mobile payment to improving drive-thru functionality and reducing maintenance costs with cloud-based systems. Study Shows Interest and Confusion Over Mobile Payments At Mobile World Congress, MasterCard in partnership with Prime Research, has released the first global Mobile Payments Social Media Study tracking 85,000 related social media comments across Twitter, Facebook, Online Blogs and Forums from around the world. The study shows a high volume of conversation and consumer interest in adopting mobile payments but cites security, customer support and confusion over the array of options available today as barriers to entry. Taco Bell Streamlines Drive-Thru Experience Across Franchises Desert de Oro Foods' Taco Bell locations had a range of drive-thru communications systems that were deployed over the last five years. However, restaurants were experiencing poor sound quality due to a limited range of wireless capabilities with the current systems. Poor audio quality led to increased wait times for customers as a result of miscommunications and mistakes. In addition, Desert de Oro Foods knew it needed to move to a digital system as the analog bandwidth of its current systems would be ruled out by the FCC at the end of 2012. Panasonic's Attune® drive-thru communications system offered the o
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GREEN INITIATIVES - 0 views
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This article list some examples of how Las Vegas is "going green". In recent years, Las Vegas resorts have turned their attention and focused their efforts on becoming more environmentally conscious. From energy efficiency and water conservation to recycling and implementing greener practices, Las Vegas is doing its part to contribute to the sustainability of the planet. Several Las Vegas projects have even achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The process includes independent, third-party verification that a development's design, construction and performance meet accepted high standards for environmentally responsible, sustainable development.
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The Hospitality Industry Under Attack - 0 views
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According to a study by the Ponemon Institute, the average consolidated total cost of a data breach is now $3.8 billion, representing a double-digit increase in recent years. In the United States, the country hardest hit by cybercrime, the average cost of a computer breach is now $6.5 million, well ahead of the global average.
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In order to combat cyber attacks within the hospitality industry, the National Restaurant Association and PCI Security Standards Council have partnered. They have created.. "Small Merchant Taskforce, which raises payment card security awareness for the hospitality industry." With cybercrime increasing it is a necessary step to take, not all businesses, especially small, can afford the "best" cyber security systems. This task force will help educate various members and help find solutions to protect businesses and customers. "A study by Verizon stated that 99 percent of breaches in 2014 were caused by known vulnerabilities with fixable patches." That being said, all business operators need to take the initiative and be proactive when it comes to handling customers' private information.
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I think one the biggest issues related to cyber attacks is that owners are not aware of the issue. So it is important to educate them and help them understand the importance to budget cyber security into their expenses. I am glad that the task force is taking that step to help protect business owners and customers from cyber attacks.
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Hotel operators step up their green initiatives - Travel Weekly - 0 views
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Our desert surroundings require that we be strong stewards of natural resources, especially water," Dumont said.
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LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the council's rating system for measuring the effectiveness of environmentally efficient buildings. LEED ranks buildings on a 100-point scale measuring energy and atmosphere, the sustainability of a site, efficient use of water and the use of environmentally responsible materials and resources in the building's construction and maintenance. It also awards six points for innovative design and four points for embracing regional priorities in products and services. The resulting levels are Certified (40 to 49 points), Silver (50 to 59 points), Gold (60 to 79 points) and the greenest category, Platinum (80 points or more).
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he approximately 5 million hotel rooms in the U.S. rack up almost $4 billion in energy bills a year, or about $800 per room annually, according to Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Green Building Council.
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MGM Resorts is among an expanding number of hotel operators looking to capitalize on growing environmental awareness among travelers by getting their hotel owner-developers to invest in systems that cut energy usage, save water and reduce waste.
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The trend in consumer green consciousness has grown important enough among travelers that Sabre Holdings, one of the world's largest GDS operators, has taken notice. Last month, Sabre launched its Eco-Certified Hotel Program, making it what the company claimed was the first GDS to break out a list of "environmentally responsible accommodations."
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Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah's Entertainment) set a goal of cutting its carbon emissions by 10% between 2007 and 2013. So far, the Las Vegas-based company has replaced 65,000 halogen light bulbs with LED bulbs, which use about 90% less electricity, and has recycled more than 60,000 pounds of soap for Clean the World, a nonprofit that sanitizes the soap and sends it to low-income areas of the U.S.
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The trend in consumer green consciousness has grown important enough among travelers that Sabre Holdings, one of the world's largest GDS operators, has taken notice. Last month, Sabre launched its Eco-Certified Hotel Program, making it what the company claimed was the first GDS to break out a list of "environmentally responsible accommodations."
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T he approximately 5 million hotel rooms in the U.S. rack up almost $4 billion in energy bills a year, or about $800 per room annually, according to Ashley Katz, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Green Building Council
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MGM Resorts is among an expanding number of hotel operators looking to capitalize on growing environmental awareness among travelers by getting their hotel owner-developers to invest in systems that cut energy usage, save water and reduce waste
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"We have had the Travelocity Green Hotel program since 2008 and noticed increasing demand and supply of green hotels," said Leilani Latimer, director of sustainability initiatives at Sabre. "Additionally, there is increasing interest on the corporate side as more and more businesses are integrating their overarching sustainability programs into their managed travel programs and looking for significant ways to promote sustainable procurement practices
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"It's very difficult for hotels to be truly green by their nature," said Bjorn Hanson, divisional dean of New York University's school of tourism and hospitality management. "Daily cleaning consumes chemicals and energy, and public spaces are 30% to as much as 70% of the square footage of a hotel and must be lighted, cooled and heated."
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With sustainability at the forefront of hotel operators and investors hotels are becoming conscious of the guests needs as more and more travelers are requiring and are staying at properties that are serious about environmental conservation. The article highlighted the fact hotels are big consumers of energy, therefore have construction that are LEED certified will not only benefit the environment but also the bottom line of investors.
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Travel Weekly takes a look at hotels taking real initiatives to their commitment to going green, especially in Sin City. Hotel groups are looking not to save money through transparent initiatives asking guests to simply reuse their towels, rather the article looks at "hotel owner-developers to invest in systems that cut energy usage, save water, and reduce waste". It seems in addition to other environmentally conscious west coast cities, Vegas has set a standard by setting goals for increased recycling, decreased energy consumption, switching over to LED bulbs, composting food waste, reducing overall carbon footprint and emissions. In light of continuing green development, Sabre Holdings has launched an Eco-Certified Hotel Program taking the lead out of the other four major GDS's to tip their hat to eco-friendly hotels. As travelers, GDS's, hotels, travel websites, and developers alike place greater emphasis on the preference for environmentally conscious lodgings, the more likely the industry is going to continue adopting these measures.
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Hotels are becoming more green world wide. MGM hotels is on board with a green initiative. Hotels electricity and water add up because they have to cool a building , clean and maintain the hotel. IT costs about 800 per room annually in electricity and water costs. MGM hotels reduced the electrivity they use which can help power 12, 000 houses. HOtels are also trying to reduce its carbon emissions. Although as the article states " its very difficult fot hotels to be trully green by their nature" every little bit helps.
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Best content in Hospitality Technology | Diigo - Groups - 1 views
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"We have wireless and hardwired versions, making it easy for both new construction and retrofitting existing hotels," Sobieski said. The intelligent thermostats can communicate over a ZigBee wireless network, giving the hotel's engineering team full control and monitoring of every room in the hotel. "With our EcoCentral remote management platform, shutting down a wing for maintenance is as simple as a mouse click. Built-in alerting also gives them the ability to catch problem HVAC systems before a guest call comes in."
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This article is about how the POS system works with the ipads. Nowadays, as the Apple products-ipad attract so many people, more and more restaurants notice that applying ipads as part of their point of sale system is a good decision. iPad users are running the terminals in a variety of POS system configurations, including those centered around remotely hosted software running at so-called "cloud" data centers, to which store-level devices communicate via wireless Internet connections. Many restaurant operators feel satisfied with the POS running work with the ipads. The ipads are attractive, and many guests are interested in the products. The most important, using ipads as part of the POS system, they can help speeds up the ordering process in the restaurant. However, using the ipads is not a perfect idea because there is a high cost associated with the high technology products. In my opinion, it is good the combining the POS system with the latest popular products. As on one hand this can make the restaurant more attractive, on the other hand, it is a good way to increase the service speed.
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This article describes how there are an increasing number of eco-friendly hotels,(popping up) in general, but more specifically in urban center. The article points to be the cost of energy and the new abundance of green technology as the primary reasons for the surge in the number of eco- friendly lodging. The article gives several examples of how city hotels are employing eco-friendly practices and products. First, Sheraton has introduced fuel cells in four of its urban locations. Fuel cells are ultraclean power plants with up to twice the efficiency of fossil fuel. Second, Hyatt is using renewable energy source (wind, hydro, and solar). Finally, Marriott and Hilton are even seeking difficult- to- attain leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certificates for the U.S Green Building Council, which can yield significant tax benefits.
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Cornell Study: Sustainability Certification Boosts Hotel Performance - Business Travel ... - 0 views
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Prior to certification, the LEED-certified hotels had an average daily rate that was $10 higher than the noncertified hotels. In the two years following the certification, that average premium jumped to $20, according to the study.
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"The LEED hotels quickly made up the occupancy deficit recorded in the year prior to certification, and they outperformed competitors for two years following certification."
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A recent study by the top-ranked School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University has found that certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, also known as LEED certification, actually provides a boost in revenue for hotels. The Council takes various factors into account prior to certifying a hotel, including "water efficiency, energy use, and indoor environmental quality. When compared to 514 non-certified hotels, the 93 hotels afforded LEED certification excelled in their gross income based on the average daily rate (ADR) standard. Over a time of two years, the LEED-certified hotels outperformed their non-certified competitors. In fact, LEED-certified hotels were able to match the levels of occupancy of non-certified hotels in a single year. Since LEED certification in the hospitality industry is fairly new, there is little empirical evidence to further back the conclusions of this particular study. Though LEED certification of hotels has actually declined since 2010, I believe that the more hotel controllers start to understand its benefits, the quicker we will see it adopted as an industry standard. It is worth noting that this study specifically focused on 93 upscale and luxury properties, but compared them to nearly five times as many hotels without certification. I think a more accurate study will divide up hotels based on their pricing category (budget, midscale, upscale, luxury, extended stay, etc.) and compare the benefits of LEED certification with that in mind. Lastly, it is unclear if the study found any higher level of consumer preference for LEED certified hotels. Instead, the benefits seem to come with the standards that LEED certified hotels must meet, in turn resulting in lower expenditures. Perhaps more sophisticated customers at luxury properties are more keen to environmental protection and stewardship, and thus take LEED certification into account. However, I believe that most of
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Biometric Technology to be Used to Promote Safer Travel | TravelPulse - 3 views
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The program’s ultimate goal is to create a travel landscape in which travelers won’t need to provide the same information or passport multiple times
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The two organizations have committed to working together to make “the best use of new and emerging technology and established border management principles” to deliver an improved international passenger experience globally across borders.
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“Travel and tourism employs one in ten people on the planet today and over the course of the next 20 years we will witness a doubling of the number of travelers and the creation of as many as 100 million jobs around the world,” said Gloria Guevara, president, and CEO, WTTC
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This article explores the a new partnership between the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the International Border Management & Technologies Association (IBMATA) to provide a new, faster traveling experience using biometric technology worldwide. This process would potentially eliminate wait times by eliminating frequent use of passports at multiple check points. I believe it could be epic for TSA wait times. The article failed to mention any possible flaws in the security measures for the system. We should expect to hear more after the first pilot program.
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This is already happening in Singapore and China. Face recognition is all part of how I entered and left South Korea too. Even expats living there could register. Cameras are everywhere in that country and it shows it when you lose a wallet and the next day someone is knocking at your door. The USA could benefit from the "eye in the sky" as it is a better and more efficient way than threatening with the death penalty that hasn't worked ever.
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Ruby Hill hotel, event center a no-go for Planning Commission | News | PleasantonWeekly... - 0 views
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The hotel would be almost 20,500 square feet while the event center about 62,200 square feet with a lounge/restaurant, large event space, spa facility, sports bar, art gallery and conference center to accommodate up to 672 guests, according to city staff
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This article is about Ruby Hill hotel, located in the city of Pleasanton, presenting the proposal for an events center within the hotel. From what the article states, it would have been a good idea but the council chambers declined it. They stated "We believe it is too big for the size of the site and we believe it is not compatible to surrounding uses..."
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Going Green: An Eco-Friendly Hotel Saves Money | Reliable Water - 1 views
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The two top drivers of any hotel business are to bring money in and keep money from going out. Right now, there’s a way to kill two birds with one stone. Featuring an eco-friendly agenda attracts guests and cuts costs. Guests feel good about staying at an eco-friendly hotel because they like your company giving back to the community.
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If you have the economic clout and capital, consider investing in solar panels on your roof. These cut down on your power expenditures, which are often between 4-6% of revenue. If your building is large enough, you can even sell back some of your excess energy for energy credits from your local power provider.
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Las Vegas is known for its conspicuous consumption, but even their high rollers are coming around to saving the environment. Several Las Vegas buildings have been LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Casinos like the Venetian and the Encore recycle food waste, make sure their HVAC systems hit high standards, and keep valuable water from being wasted.
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Miami Beach's 1 Hotel South Beach Awarded LEED Silver | Green Lodging News - 2 views
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MIAMI BEACH, FLA.—The 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach, Fla. announced that it was awarded LEED Silver. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes, and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.
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guestrooms were designed to surround guests with natural materials and fabrics that brought elements of nature into every space. The rooms and suites maintain a casual yet elegant atmosphere that is at one with the relaxed lifestyle of South Beach. Driftwood accents and sumptuous textures (in neutrals and pastels that mimic nature’s palette) were created by blending a host of natural materials; including leather, wood, and stone as well as silk, linen, and cotton.
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LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. More than 82,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 15.7 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 162 countries and territories.
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This article makes me very proud, as I work for 1 Hotel South Beach and know that this Hotel definitely practices what they preach. They have been awarded LEED Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) which was developed by the U.S. Green Council (USGBC). The hotel has a very unique and simple design. The guest rooms are designed with left over construction materials from its surrounding resources. The use of wood, natural material, leather, and stone, silk, linen, cotton are what make our facility so earthy and green. 1 Hotel hopes to start a trend in the Hotel industry by following the sustainable practices that our Hotel makes. More than 82,000 commercial institutional projects are actively participating in LEED. This is huge! and means that the trend 1 Hotel has started is being adopted by other companies.