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Alyssa Westmeyer

Hotel technology trends that are changing how hotels do business - 1 views

www.lodgingmagazine.com/...2

pms cloud

shared by Alyssa Westmeyer on 03 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • Choice created the software in 2003 as an inexpensive solution for franchisees of its economy brands.
  • The PMS had a lot of growing pains at first, but eventually it became more and more cloud enabled and was adopted across the company.
  • “A lot of companies had outsourced their IT and now they’re bringing it back in house because they can do almost everything they need on the cloud or through software as a service.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Switching to the cloud from a client server platform pays off with a big drop in both the initial capital outlay and the ongoing operating costs for the property management and other systems.
  • pects of a franchisee’s business, from guest check-ins and housekeeping services to billing and finances. Over time new features have been rolled into the software platform making it more robust and useful for hotel owners—it’s currently distributed in eight countries and available in four languages. And while plenty of cloud-based PMS packages are now available from third-party vendors like Micros, Maestro, and RoomKey, Choice’s internal solution has garnered its fair share of attention. “We had been getting knocks on the door from IT vendors at other hotel companies and individual Choice franchisees that own other brands, saying they were interested in our product,” says Pacious, “So we set up a new division so we could take a look at other opportunities we could develop.” This led the company to launch SkyTouch last year, a new division that develops and markets cloud-based software solutions to hotels inside and outside the Choice system. Pages: 1 2 3 4 2013-06-18 Sean Downey !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//platform.stumbleupon.com/1/widgets.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); inShare0 Related Articles attachment-3
  • his led the company to launch SkyTouch last year, a new division that develops and markets cloud-based software solutions to hotels inside and outside the Choice system. Pages: 1 2 3 4 2013-06-18 Sean Downey !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); (function() { var li = document.createElement('script'); li.type = 'text/javascript'; li.async = true; li.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//platform.stumbleupon.com/1/widgets.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(li, s); })(); inShare0 Related Articles Hotel Market Insight: Cleveland a
  • This led the company to launch SkyTouch last year, a new division that develops and markets cloud-based software solutions to hotels inside and outside the Choice system.
  • Alyssa Westmeyer on 03 Oct 13
     
    Choice Hotels has been a industry leader in the cloud PMS movement. They identified the opportunity to create their own platform 10 years ago when cloud was barely on the radar and have now successfully distributed it to 5,500 of their properties. Unique functionality built into the system is internet redundancy via cellular data plan, company-wide campaign pop-up messages to staff, interface to Pegasus and revenue management through predictive analytics. The platform has been so successful that, in response to inquiries from other companies who wanted to use Choice's proprietary system themselves, they created an additional revenue stream by establishing a separate company that sells and creates custom cloud PMS systems. One advantage pointed out is that managers no longer need to be on property to access and make changes to their PMS. While this is hugely beneficial to the majority of the industry (who already work long hours and visit the property on their day off), there may be some who take advantage of the situation. If this becomes the case, less oversight at the property means that operations has the potential to slip. It doesn't seem that this is a concern for Choice Hotels but it should be considered.
laura kaczkowski

Travel Agents Increase Use of GDS to Book Hotel Rooms - 3 views

www.prnewswire.com/...ook-hotel-rooms-135915248.html

shared by laura kaczkowski on 14 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • Advanced Search Search Products & Services    News Releases Close Send a release Member sign in Become a member For bloggers For journalists Global sites Products & Services Knowledge Center Browse News Releases Contact PR Newswire
  • he leading global provider of revenue generating solutions for hoteliers, clearly demonstrates how crucial Global Distribution System (GDS) platforms and GDS Shopping Displays are to travel agents:
  • 84 percent of respondents indicated that they were using their GDS platform the same amount or more often than in the past, with 35 percent stating that they are using GDS more.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • where 26 percent of travel agents stated that they used their GDS platform more often than in the past and 19 percent said they used the GDS Shopping Displays more often than before.
  • "Travel agents are increasing GDS hotel use, and have once again confirmed their confidence in GDS Shopping and Booking Displays,"
  • Travel agents in 25 countries across the Americas, EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa) and Asia/Pacific regions who subscribe to one of the four major GDS systems were asked to participate.
  • n the survey, travel agents worldwide also indicated that promotional messages are effective and often prompt bookings: 66 percent of all travel agents surveyed who were aware of promotional messages requested additional information by looking at the screen attached to the promotional message.
  • "This survey definitively shows that promotional messages are not only an excellent way to reach travel agents, but also a valuable sales catalyst,
  • s the leading provider of revenue generating solutions for hoteliers across the globe. TravelClick offers hotels world-class reservation solutions, business intelligence products and comprehensive media and marketing solutions to help hotels grow their business.
  • is one of the fastest growing marketing research firms in the United States. With offices across the country and in Europe and partnerships with many of the largest companies in the financial services, consumer package goods, automotive, healthcare, media, technology and travel and leisure industries worldwide, PMI also offers advanced advertising and brand measurement along with direct marketing expertise.

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  • laura kaczkowski on 14 Sep 12
     
    In the article, "Travel Agents Increase Use of GDS to Book Hotel Rooms," it talked about how the leading global provider of revenue is generating solutions for hotels, it shows how important GDS platforms are to travel agents. "84 percent of respondents indicated that they were using their GDS platform the same amount or more often than in the past, with 35 percent stating that they are using GDS more." Back in 2009, when the last study was conducted, about 26 percents of travel agents said that they used their GDS platform more often than in the past. This study also states that the annual GDS shopping displays will be over $50 million in 2011, which will increase more than a million bookings compared to 2010. There was another survey that was done and they surveyed different travel agents from across the world that were subscribed to a major GDS system. In the survey the travel agents indicated that promotional messages are effective and often prompt bookings. Out of the travel agents they surveyed, 66% said that they were aware of the "promotional messages requested addition information by looking at the screen attached to he promotional message." From this survey it showed that promotional messages are an excellent way to reach travel agents and from reaching the agent, they also reaching the customer, it's a win-win reaction.
  • Michael Anthony on 14 Sep 12
     
    I enjoyed the part about brand and promotional messaging, that is always a lure for me. When I see an attractive offer, evern If I'm not interested in booking or going to the destination, I often click on it anyway just to see the offer. It is a very effective marketing tool.
galca008

What Are the Accounting Procedures in the Hospitality Industry? | Your Business - 0 views

yourbusiness.azcentral.com/ospitality-industry-28447.html

Accounting Hospitality

shared by galca008 on 27 Feb 18 - No Cached
  • Many of the accounting procedures used by hospitality companies are the same as those applicable to businesses in other industries. Methods for recording cash, receivables and deferred tax assets are similar while industry-specific transactions require special treatment. For guidance, accountants within the industry reference generally accepted accounting principles.
  • Retention periods for important records such as source documents, journal entries and reconciliations are prescribed by GAAP. Auditors must have access to evidence that supports management’s assertions in financial statements, and failure to comply with retention provisions can lead to various negative outcomes.
  • Data security is also a relevant concern, and tax returns, financial schedules and forecasts require safeguarding to prevent unauthorized access.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Management must maintain effective internal control over financial reporting to protect owners and other relevant stakeholders. A number of standards related to a company’s control activities are listed by GAAP, and auditors are charged with evaluating internal control on engagements with publicly traded clients. Because cash transactions are prevalent throughout the hospitality industry, segregation of duties is a critical part of efforts to prevent liquid assets from misappropriation
  • Not all cash inflows are recorded as revenue and some are actually carried as current liabilities on the balance sheet.
  • Staying at a hotel or buying a timeshare unit requires some form of upfront payment by consumers and a potential refund when criteria are met. Tips are sometimes aggregated by restaurants and similar establishments and then distributed to employees. Whether transactions are completed by cash, check or credit, hospitality companies must record revenue only when it is appropriate.
  • Vacation ownership interests, contract receivables and resort construction projects are among the line items that require special accounting treatment for timeshare companies.
  • Most timeshare companies sell their units or points via financing agreements, and accounting for mortgages requires a record of accrued interest, advance payments and other related events
  • Timeshare transactions are among the most complicated among all of the recordable events in the hospitality industry.
  • galca008 on 27 Feb 18
     
    This article outlines some of the procedures that are used in the Hospitality Industry accounting departments. Beginning with document retention, GAAP is followed to comply with how long the documents need to be kept. In keeping documents, data security needs to be in place to protect sensitive information. Internal controls are also important and follow GAAP, so that stakeholders and owners are protected. The procedure is so that the proper allocation of assets are maintained. Revenue recognition is also part of accounting procedures, as revenues may be sorted in various ways as appropriate. Lastly, timeshare accounting being one of the most complicated, due to the different agreements. I found this article to be a good guide in knowing the basic procedures that are followed in hospitality accounting.
ggara004

Ten Fresh Event Safety Tips for a Brave New World - 0 views

www.eventmarketer.com/...ten-fresh-tips-event-safety

event safety tips technology hospitality

shared by ggara004 on 12 Feb 20 - No Cached
  • From eliminating foreseeable risks to being prepared for the worst, there’s never been a more critical time for event marketers to arm themselves with the intelligence and resources necessary to maintain safe and secure event
  • In the event of an emergency, especially a medical crisis, documenting the incident is vital to keeping insurance premiums in check and staff informed.
  • “You want to document everything to make sure your insurance is covered, your event is covered and everyone knows what happened,” says Connor Fitzpatrick, coo at event medical services company
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • When it comes to selecting a location for your event, make sure the venue is willing to do its part to communicate key messaging to attendees. Remember: if an incident occurs, cooperation will be key.
  • Might sound like a no-brainer, but establishing exactly who is in charge of what and when can save precious minutes in an emergency. From brand ambassadors to event managers, everyone should be crystal clear about what their role entails.
  • “The key thing here is when it comes to decision-making, who is in charge?” says Shannon Jones, vp at Civic Entertainment Group. “The chain of command at an event needs to filter to the overall broader chain of command in an emergency situation as it relates to the company or brand.”
  • The uptick in terrorist attacks, including the Las Vegas shooting, which was executed from a hotel room and stands as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, has many event marketers on edge. And while planning for these types of crises is essential, don’t assume that past tactics will be used at future events
  • The approach may vary depending on your budget, but implementing an attendee screening process is a highly effective security measure that can be executed before the event even begins. “Many events these days, particularly the corporate activation events, are free,” says Anthony Davis, president at AD Entertainment Services. “So, you have an audience that has not paid an admission or whatever format you use to access them.
  • Medical emergencies can, and do, occur at events of every variety, so having medical personnel on-site is crucial. Just as important is ensuring that the team is friendly enough for attendees to approach in the case of an emergency. Remember that uniformed first responders can be intimidating, especially in regards to drug-related incidents.
  • Hiring security staff is a great start when it comes to maintaining a safe event, but communicating your event’s layout, including areas of concern, is absolutely essential to getting the most bang for your security buck.
  • Bad news travels fast, so you have to be clear about who has the authority to develop crisis communications. (Hint: It’s not the guy handing out samples.)
  • You don’t want a brand ambassador or event staff taking it upon themselves to communicate what’s going on if there is some sort of emergency information. The cascade of information in that scenario is really critical as is deciding what the key points are and the information you want them to disseminate.”
  • When it comes to event safety and security, there is probably no more important document than your on-site emergency action plan. It’s an essential guide to navigating and preparing for foreseeable risks, informing event staffers of the appropriate safety protocol and ensuring insurance premiums don’t skyrocket
  • Every live experience is unique, so it’s important to establish priorities for taking action in a variety of emergency scenarios. If you fail to do so, you may find yourself in hot water with your employer, your insurance agency or the law.
  • In an industry that prides itself on producing unforgettable experiences, the last thing you want burning in your attendees’ minds is how poorly your staff handled an emergency. So, be informed, be attentive and be prepared—but don’t let the process get you down.
  • As Davis puts it, “For years we’ve taken it for granted that it’s a fun day, it’s a nice special event, let’s just get out and have fun. And we should still have that mentality. We shouldn’t let recent terrorist acts or potential acts deter us from producing special events. The onus is now on us to be more creative in terms of our staffing.”
  • ggara004 on 12 Feb 20
     
    This article reviews ten tips on how companies can better prepare for event security. Based on recent terrorism attacks, threats, and natural disasters it is important to prepare for any type of emergency especially in events. This article offers insight on tips to navigate event security. For example, one tip is to document everything. In any type of emergency, it is important to document names of attendees and employees who were involved in the crisis. This way if insurance or any assistance is needed, companies have detailed information of who was involved or affected by the disaster. This article is very useful because some things can be forgotten however this can be used as points to discuss other security measures.
Jennifer Koren

Investment in Hotel Technology Pays Off with Increased Group Revenue - Charmed by Hospi... - 5 views

hospitality.cvent.com/...f-with-increased-group-revenue

IT Technology Hotels Hospitality

shared by Jennifer Koren on 18 Jul 12 - No Cached
  • Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn’t just a hotel app. To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center. What are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers?
  • Investment in Hotel Technology Pays Off with Increased Group Revenue Tuesday, July 10, 2012 by Sarah Vining Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn’t just a hotel app. To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center. What are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers? Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs At Hyatt Hotels with in-room HD TVs by Roomlinx Inc., guests are able make service requests, check email/weather, use the Business Center, print documents, and receive customized messages from meeting planners. Service requests like housekeeping and in-room dining are instantly sent through the system, improving the venue’s departmental efficiency. All of these virtual functions are hoped to appeal to new markets and drive group business. More efficient billing In the article, “Insert IACC blog post title URL” we learn that in 2012, meeting and group planners are prioritizing finance as very important during in their planning process (which made the top 10 list for the first time). Hotels making large investments in revenue management systems are taking advantage of new features that automate and process data to improve efficiency and increase revenue for properties. Virtual business centers Socialization through technology and food and beverage outlets is increasing revenue for TRYP by Wyndham in the NYC Times Square South property. Google TVs and access to Google Chrome laptops near the Gastro Bar in the hotel’s lobby offers guests an opportunity to enjoy a dining experience with the comfort of complimentary technology use. On-staff IT team When planners were surveyed, reliability was listed as a top concern of IT services in the white paper “What Do Planners and Trainers Really Want in Their Meeting Service?” All IACC-certified conference centers are required to have an on-site IT team to ensure technology functions properly. Now, the need for a knowledgeable IT team that really understands technology and can cater to individuals and group business is spreading to other hotel markets.   These impressive technology tools improve the guest experience and lead to a quick return on investment, especially in F&B. As we move beyond the discussion of required hotel Wi-Fi services, there will be a focus on technology amenities that provide the same comforts of home or the office. To increase group business, hoteliers are comfortable with this investment knowing there’s a return on investment with generated buzz/venue marketing and satisfied guests. Want to learn about other ways hotels are using technology to build relationships? Check out Enhancing Your Social Networking Site with a Social Concierge! to maximize social media and connect with guests, attendees and planners!
  • Service requests like housekeeping and in-room dining are instantly sent through the system,
  • ...19 more annotations...
  • More efficient billing
  • ensure technology functions properly.
  • Virtual business centers
  • On-staff IT team
  • Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs
  • To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience.
  • Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs
  • These impressive technology tools improve the guest experience and lead to a quick return on investment, especially in F&B.
  • On-staff IT team
  • Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn’t just a hotel app. To invest in the property’s overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center.
  • Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs
  • More efficient billing
  • As we move beyond the discussion of required hotel Wi-Fi services, there will be a focus on technology amenities that provide the same comforts of home or the office. To increase group business, hoteliers are comfortable with this investment knowing there’s a return on investment with generated buzz/venue marketing and satisfied guests.
  • On-staff IT team
  • Virtual business centers
  • To increase group business, hoteliers are comfortable with this investment knowing there’s a return on investment with generated buzz/venue marketing and satisfied guests.
  • Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center.
  • These impressive technology tools improve the guest experience and lead to a quick return on investment, especially in F&B. As we move beyond the discussion of required hotel Wi-Fi services, there will be a focus on technology amenities that provide the same comforts of home or the office. To increase group business, hoteliers are comfortable with this investment knowing there’s a return on investment with generated buzz/venue marketing and satisfied guests.
  • Hotels making large investments in revenue management systems are taking advantage of new features that automate and process data to improve efficiency and increase revenue for properties.
  • Mengchao Li on 18 Jul 12
     
    Hotels developing High IT technology have taken a great deal of advantages from it which makes prosperous business and better customer service with high efficiency and goal-achieving process. In this article, it proclaims some prevailing high-techs used in hotels. Such as the In-room HD TV in Hyatt properties. It provide almost all the online computerized services accommodating customers with document-printing service, in-room dining service, restaurant reservation service, and even the email-checking, weather checking service. The on-staff IT team would oversee the IT application over the whole property, including upgrading, maintaining, and functioning. the impressive technology tools would be inevitable trend developing hotel industry.
  • ...9 more comments...
  • Irine Wallace on 17 Sep 12
     
    "Investment in Hotel Technology Pays Off with Increased Group Revenue Tuesday, July 10, 2012 by Sarah Vining Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology, and it isn't just a hotel app. To invest in the property's overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. Technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center. What are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers? Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs At Hyatt Hotels with in-room HD TVs by Roomlinx Inc., guests are able make service requests, check email/weather, use the Business Center, print documents, and receive customized messages from meeting planners. Service requests like housekeeping and in-room dining are instantly sent through the system, improving the venue's departmental efficiency. All of these virtual functions are hoped to appeal to new markets and drive group business. More efficient billing In the article, "Insert IACC blog post title URL" we learn that in 2012, meeting and group planners are prioritizing finance as very important during in their planning process (which made the top 10 list for the first time). Hotels making large investments in revenue management systems are taking advantage of new features that automate and process data to improve efficiency and increase revenue for properties. Virtual business centers Socialization through technology and food and beverage outlets is increasing revenue for TRYP by Wyndham in the NYC Times Square South property. Google TVs and access to Google Chrome laptops near the Gastro Bar in the hotel's lobby offers guests an opportunity to enjoy a dining experience with the comfort of complimentary technology use. On-staff IT team When planners were surveyed, reliability was listed as a top concern of IT serv
  • Irine Wallace on 17 Sep 12
     
    ARTICLE SUMMARY Hospitality industry is not only using technology to improve customers' experience but also to improve the bottom line as well as increase group use of the property. Hotels operators and owners are increasingly using conference centers and other meeting venues to attract business groups, seminars and conferences with new technology, and it isn't just a hotel app. Many of the branded hotels such as Hyatt Hotels with in-room HD TVs by Roomlinx Inc. are using the technology to allow guests to make service requests, check email/weather, use the Business Center, print documents, and receive customized messages from meeting planners. Hotels are investing in technology to provide these services and to compete effectively.
  • yuzhu li on 24 Oct 12
     
    Due to the market segment of the Groups, hospitality industry has focused on the IT investment on Groups. And there are some technologies for leisure and business travelers like virtual concierge service on guest room TVs, more efficient billing, virtual business centers, and on-staff IT team.  All these implements can benefit hotels and customers with a convenient, reliable, and profitable outcome. Besides that, it is super cool. 
  • Qike Chu on 25 Oct 12
     
    Nowadays, technology becomes one of the most important issue in hospitality industry. More and more hotels are going to pay more attention to their technologies such as APP application. Besides those technologies benefiting leisure travelers, investment in hotel technology also pays off with increased group revenue. Conference and convention become important parts in hotels, which means lots of meetings or events are choose to be held in hotels and lots of hotels decided to target their markets as convention directly. As in this article, it is talking about creating cool technology to increase the revenue based on group business. It stated Hyatt Hotel as an example to put virtual concierge service on guest room TVs, which is object to attract new markets as well as group business. What's more, an on - site IT team are going to be required in order to ensure hotels' technology functions properly. Having this kind of IT team, any questions can be responded fast. Therefore, investment fo those kinds of technology not only can bring more new markets or customers but also lead to quick return on hotels' investments, especially in F&B. 
  • Michael Anthony on 26 Oct 12
     
    I don't understand where this document will print if you don't have a printer with you? Will it print at the front desk somwhere? What if it's confidential information and how secure is this system? If you put more technology and have it be so accesible even when your having a meal you would have to hope that dinners continue to order otherwise you'll never be able to turn the table. Also, some dinners must not be as savy as others and won't like this idea of being able to do everything from the TV in your Hotel room. I know I wont even use the feature at the end of the day I dont feel like playing with tech. Others may want to escape tech because they have been around all through the work day, it may feel like you never stop working.
  • Ting Li on 26 Oct 12
     
    This article talks about the benefit of investing hotel technology. As it mentioned, technology is another way of gaining group business and marketing the hotel and meeting center. Here are four of these new popular tools for travelers. They are Virtual conceirge service on guest room TVs; More efficient billing; Virtual business centers; and On-staff IT team. For the Virtual conceirge service on TV, guests can do many things and request services through this system immediately. It can improve not only the departmental efficiency, but customer satisfaction as well. By using the virtual business center, cutomers can enjoy a dining experience. These impressive technology tools improve the guest experience and lead to a quick return on investment, especially in F&B. To increase group business, hoteliers are comfortable with this investment and they know that there's a return on investment with generated buzz/venue marketing and satisfied guests
  • LU DENG on 26 Oct 12
     
    This is an interesting and useful article that reminds me of the importance of new technology investment in hotels' conference centers and other meeting venues. Technology has become an efficient method in winning group business and marketing a hotel. There are several new hot tools for leisure and business travelers. For instance the virtual concierge service on guest room TVs, efficient billing, and virtual business centers. If a guest is able to make service requests, check email, use the Business Center, print documents and receive customized messages from meeting planners through an in-room HD TV by Roomlinx, the whole departmental efficiency can be improved and the guests' satisfaction can be enhanced to a higher level. This is useful to attract business travelers who care about these areas of service and it also leads to a quick return on investment too. When the discussion of hotel Wi-Fi services has been outdated, the topic of investment in technology amenities that provide the same comforts of home or the office is becoming another focus in hotel industry.
  • Yaping Li on 27 Oct 12
     
    This article introduces some new technology applied in the hotel. Nowadays, the hotel will adopt some new technology to attract more and more guest. Like the article said, "technology is just another way hotels are winning group business and marketing a hotel or conference center". The article introduce the Hyatt Hotels adopt the virtual concierge service on guest room TVs that offer a good service for guest and try to appeal to new markets and drive group business. The article also involves the revenue management system that the hotels are investment can help the hotel deal with data effective and increase revenue for properties. The new technology that the hotel applied will not only improve the guest experience but also can increase the revenue of the hotel.
  • TIAN LIU on 06 Mar 13
     
    Further analyses of our data suggest that as industries become more competitive, the effect of IT on profitability increases. IT investments also had a greater effect on profitability in the service sector than in the manufacturing sector. A possible explanation for this finding is that services allow greater IT-enabled customization and professionalization. One key takeaway from our research: All other things being equal, executives should accord higher priority to IT projects that have the potential for revenue growth over those that focus mainly on cost savings.
  • Xueling Wang on 07 Mar 13
     
    Hotels, conference centers and other meeting venues are increasing group business with new technology. To invest in the property's overall capital, hoteliers are creating cool technology tools that market venues, increase group business and enhance the guest experience. There are some of these new hot tools for leisure and business travelers. 1. Virtual concierge service on guest room TVs 2. More efficient billing: Hotels making large investments in revenue management systems are taking advantage of new features that automate and process data to improve efficiency and increase revenue for properties. 3. Virtual business centers: Socialization through technology and food and beverage outlets is increasing revenue for hotel.
  • Jennifer Koren on 24 Oct 13
     
    This article examines the new technology that hotels are investing in. In room concierge, billing ease, on- staff IT team, and virtual business center all make the hotel guests experience more comfortable and easy. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the new technology is worth investing in for these hotels.
yuzhu li

Er Neha Godbole: Human Resources Information System (HRIS) - 0 views

ernehagodbole.blogspot.com/...s-information-system-hris.html

human resources information

shared by yuzhu li on 22 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • The Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is a software or online solution for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources, pa
  • yroll,
  • the better The Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) provide overall:
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Management of all employee information.
  • that most effectively serves companies tracks:
  • An effective HRIS provides information on just about anything the company needs to track and analyze about employees, former employees, and applicants.
  • yuzhu li on 22 Nov 12
     
    An effective HRIS could benefit a company a lot. First of all, all the numbers, payrolls, employee information is easy to track and very clarified. It could bring a better administration function like enrollment, status change and some company's document. Especially some of the HRIS could let employees enable themselves to update their information and free HR people for more strategic works. And the most important thing is employees could use data for their knowledge development, job growth and development. From my personal experience when I was doing internship in hotel, for the day they hired me they already got me a lot of information, and later offer me an website, saying that I can see some rules documents in the intranet. That was impressive, I saw some of training information on it and downloaded it. Those materials are very useful that I still keep it in my drive. I believe a lot of people may have the same situation with me.
Marcos Oliveira

Optima Go Green - Green PMS for Hotels - 0 views

www.silverbyte.com/GoGreen.html

shared by Marcos Oliveira on 14 Feb 13 - No Cached
  • Go Green
  • Until now, reservations offices used to be filled up with papers, files, folders and paper racks. Each reservation was written on paper with faxes, vouchers and other documents physically attached to it. There was always the danger of fire or other means of damage that would result in permanent loss of those papers. There is no doubt that hotels need to work in paperless environment. Optima Go Green solution is all about managing documents without wasting time and space
  • There was always the danger of fire or other means of damage that would result in permanent loss of those papers. There is no doubt that hotels need to work in paperless environment.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • There was always the danger of fire or other means of damage that would result in permanent loss of those papers. There is no doubt that hotels need to work in paperless environment
  • presentation of guest folio on an iPad, or similar device
  • presentation of guest folio on an iPad, or similar device
  • advance check in that can be done on the Internet or Smart-phones up to 24 hours before check in, saving the need to print registration cards and speeds up the checkin process at the hotel.
  • advance check in that can be done on the Internet or Smart-phones up to 24 hours before check in, saving the need to print registration cards and speeds up the checkin process at the hotel.
  • advance check in that can be done on the Internet or Smart-phones up to 24 hours before check in, saving the need to print registration cards and speeds up the checkin process at the hotel.
  • advance check in that can be done on the Internet or Smart-phones up to 24 hours before check in, saving the need to print registration cards and speeds up the
  • presentation of guest folio on an iPad, or similar device
  • Optima Go Green allows the hotels using Optima Hotel Management Solution to go the extra mile and reduce the total amount of paper used by implementing Optima green solutions
  • Marcos Oliveira on 14 Feb 13
     
    Optima Go Green allows hotels using the Optima Hotel Management Solution property management system to go the extra mile and reduce the total amount of paper used by implementing Optima green solutions. The Optima Go Green solution includes features such as advance up to 24hours before using a smart phone; guest checkout allowing the guest folio to be viewed via an iPad; scanning of IDs to save time and ensure accuracy, managerial reports being able to be directly sent to the appropriate manager without having the need of being printed; allowing managers to check rate strategies and availability online on their smart phones. The maon concept of Optima goGreen is a cost effective solution which is all about managing documents without wasting time and space. This article tied in with the previous weeks discussion about green initiatives. A hotel's priamry office expense is paper and toner. By printing less we are drastically saving money by not having to waste paper. Storage is also cut down because the need of storing paper is eliminated. In such a tech savvy world, this is definitely the way to go.
Sungoo Kang

It's No Longer Just a Personal Threat: Businesses have Become the Newest Target for Ide... - 0 views

www.marketwatch.com/...or-identify-thieves-2012-03-12

threat thieves hospitality hotel

shared by Sungoo Kang on 01 Apr 12 - No Cached
  • Sungoo Kang on 01 Apr 12
     
    Many organizations in the hospitality industry underestimate the risk and consequences of business identity theft and they should be more concerned with the risk of personal identity theft. A study by the Ponemon Institute demonstrates that a data breach could cost organizations an average of $7.2 million. This does not even include indirect costs such as lost customers or damaged reputations. To prevent identity theft, companies need to be aware that fraud can occur in many unexpected ways. This article gives a few examples that can help firms to reduce the risk of personal identity theft below.  Instituting a shred-all policy to ensure unneeded files are regularly and safely destroyed Restaurants employee should give their receipts directly to staff rather than leave anything on the table or counter Hotels employee should be instructed to store all sensitive documents in a safe place until they can be securely shredded On the cloud, Businesses should conduct a full security audit of any cloud computing company before storing documents on the cloud Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the hospitality industry. Just being careful isn't enough to protect customers' identity. If the data is spilled, customers will have a less favorable view of your company or may be angered to the point of never allowing you to serve them again. Any amount of loss of trust and loyalty is harmful to your business.
Alyssa Westmeyer

Arabian Aerospace - SITA sees the airport future - 0 views

www.arabianaerospace.aero/a-sees-the-airport-future.html

smart glasses wearable technology airport scanners

shared by Alyssa Westmeyer on 30 Oct 13 - No Cached
  • Technology observers are touting wearable computing as the next big thing that could re-define how we use and interact with information.
  • SITA Lab was one of a few selected developers to receive both the Google Glass and Vuzix M100 devices before their public launch, in order to evaluate them. It carried out tests for a variety of uses in airline and airport settings. 
  • Wearable devices like Google Glass offer new opportunities to mobilize staff, keeping their hands free, while keeping them connected to the traditional check-in and reservation systems.  Interaction can be via video analysis of what a staff member is looking at, like a boarding pass or bag tag, or voice recognition, or a combination of both.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • SITA Lab developed an application called SWIFT Boarding using the smart headgear’s built-in camera as a scanner and the heads-up display
  • Both documents are held side by side while the app matches the two to ensure they belong to the same person
  • Travel documents and loyalty cards can be scanned by smart glasses. However, the devices are not fast enough yet to be able to meet the high speed passenger processing requirements needed at airports.
  • the technology needs to be more robust to avoid breakages and the cost will have to come down. The camera quality will also need to be enhanced
  • Other areas to be addressed include bandwidth for widespread use, battery life and of course the cultural and social issues both for passengers and employees
  • wearable computing promises may lead to new and innovative uses by the air transport industry
  • Alyssa Westmeyer on 30 Oct 13
     
    Google glass has provided the opportunity to explore more efficient ways to process air travelers. SITA, the air transport's IT provider, has quickly produced the first app to do so with wearable technology. The glasses are worn by the security agent and used to compare and legitimize the security documents used for travel. While the technology is not yet fast enough to be put to practical use and remains quite expensive, it is certain that price and quality will improve in the future and provide value to the air transport industry.
jie shen

Hotel Safety Tips For Travelers - Detective Kevin Coffey - 0 views

www.kevincoffey.com/...hotel_safety.htm

shared by jie shen on 31 Oct 12 - No Cached
  • Copy all credit cards, airline tickets, passports and important documents, front and back.
  • What to look for in a safe hote
  • Elevator safety
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Hotel Safe Considerations
  • Hotel Security Products
  • jie shen on 31 Oct 12
     
    The article tells all the things about the safety tips for a traveler. Before trip, copy all the documents. It also gives you advice what to look for that may ensure you in a safe hotel. It talks about the safe in the hotel which is always the legal issues happens. It shows different type of hotel security products.
Akshay Ramanathan

Tailoring cloud solutions for the hospitality industry - 0 views

www.microsoft.eu/...-the-hospitality-industry.aspx

cloud solutions hospitality technology hotel

shared by Akshay Ramanathan on 25 May 12 - No Cached
  • ASCOT, demonstrates the potential for a small company to tailor cloud computing services for
  • the hotel business.
  • ASCOT has provided solutions to French hotels and restaurants
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • helping their clients become more productive and competitive.
  • helped his enterprise make the transition from on-premises computing to the private cloud, and now to public cloud services.
  • SCOT added public cloud-based office productivity services and successfully created a coherent network that allowed Mendjel’s hotels to function as one entity rather than disconnected organizations.
  • acted as a secure data synchronization tool. As a result, Mendjel’s hotels can cope with the intensity of high levels of guests more efficiently
  • flexibility of the cloud also allows the hotels to collaborate in handling unforeseeable changes in hotel administration and guest documentation.
  • cloud provides Mendjel a more simplified administrative process, meaning the proprietor’s hotels can grow without the burden of maintaining isolated bits of information
  • Akshay Ramanathan on 25 May 12
     
    This article is about how a French company called ASCOT aided local hotelier Christophe Mendjel in utilizing cloud computing services, thereby making his hotels run more efficiently. The first benefit the switch to cloud services provided was that Mendjel's hotels were able to function together as one instead of separate organizations. Secondly it enabled Mendjel to handle larger numbers of guests and more quickly process their information. Lastly the flexibility of using the cloud allowed him to effortlessly embrace unanticipated changes in hotel administration and guest documentation, without being overwhelmed by large amounts of data. Overall the article proves how the incorporation of cloud computing can benefit a hospitality enterprise.
anonymous

Insiders suspected in Saudi Aramco cyber attack | SciTech | GMA News Online | The Go-To... - 0 views

www.gmanetwork.com/...d-in-saudi-aramco-cyber-attack

shared by anonymous on 07 Sep 12 - No Cached
  • Hackers from a group called "The Cutting Sword of Justice" claimed responsibility for the attack. They say the computer virus gave them access to documents from Aramco's computers,
  • The hacking group that claimed responsibility for the attack described its motives as political
  • the group said Saudi Aramco was the main source of income for the Saudi government, which it blamed for "crimes and atrocities" in several countries, including Syria and Bahrain.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • According to analysis of Shamoon by computer security firm Symantec, the way the virus gets into networks may vary, but once inside it tries to infect every computer in the local area network before erasing files to render PCs useless.
  • Yet those sources say such protections could not prevent an attack by an insider with high-level access.
  • insiders were implicated in just 4 percent of cases last year.
  • Saudi Aramco has said that only office PCs running Microsoft Windows were damaged. Its oil exploration, production, export, sales and database systems all remained intact as they ran on isolated and heavily protected systems.
  • Because the virus wiped the hard drives, it is difficult for Saudi Aramco to determine exactly what information the hackers obtained.
  • The Shamoon virus is designed to attack ordinary business computers
  • . It does not belong to the category of sophisticated cyber warfare tools
  • The hackers behind the Shamoon attack siphoned off data from a relatively small number of computers, delivering it to a remote server
  • It is standard industry practice to shield plant operating networks from hackers by running them on separate operating systems that are protected from the Internet.
  • anonymous on 07 Sep 12
     
    Saudi Arabias national oil company, Aramco, was attacked by a computer virus, Shamoon, and it is suspected that an insider or employee assisted the hackers. The virus spread through the network and infected about 30,000 PC business computers and wiped their hardrives. This is one of the worst attacks against a single business. The hackers who claimed responsibility, The Cutting Sword of Justice, were politically motived. The companies more important documents including plant operating networks were not affected by the virus because they were on a separate and higher security network. Recently, other Middle Eastern natural gas firms with relations to Saudi Arabia have been hit by cyber attacks. Because the Aramco hackers admitted their motives against the Saudi Arabian government income sources, I think that all the cyber attacks may be politically motivated. As a Middle Eastern oil company with relations to Saudi Arabia, this is a major indication to take precautionary measures and increase network security. This attack demonstrates that no matter how much security you have in place, if an insider is willing to assist hackers or provide hackers with necessary information, you are no longer protected. It would seem imperative that employees with this access are chosen carefully or network access is very limited.
Jia Kim

What Are the Advantages of a Human Resource Information System? | eHow - 0 views

www.ehow.com/ource-information-system_.html

HRIS advanages of HRIS

shared by Jia Kim on 27 Nov 13 - No Cached
  • HRIS is a database or a combination of databases that share information.
  • HRIS has three basic components
  • employee information, payroll and benefits.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • core business functions of an organization's human resources department
  • HRIS simplifies reporting and management decision-support activities
  • These systems generate reports and documentation required by state and federal agencies, such as the W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEO-1 Employer Detail and Summary Report, and the Department of Labor's Illness and Injury Report
  • monitor employee grievance and performance issues
  • HRIS program will allow for data sharing and integration with other essential business systems, such as finance and supply-chain management.
  • HRIS also links a company's human resources department with its managers and employees
  • Jia Kim on 27 Nov 13
     
    This article is about the advanages of HRIS in the organization. Human Resources Information System(HRIS) is a database or a combination of databases that share information related with human resources in the company. HRIS has three basic components such as employee information, payroll and benefits. These represent the core business functions of an organization's human resources department. The HRIS has several advantages as following. First, it facilitate automating and Streamlining Processes which frees up HR staff to do project work and address problems. Secondly, the system supports reporting and decision process. HRIS simplifies reporting and management decision-support activities. Most systems include a variety of standard HR reports that can be used to manage the business and plan for the future, such as, compensation by pay period and year-to-date, benefits enrollment, and employee time and attendance Thirdly, it supports legal compliance. These systems generate reports and documentation required by state and federal agencies, such as the W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEO-1 Employer Detail and Summary Report, and the Department of Labor's Illness and Injury Report. It also help to monitor employee grievance and performance issues.
Alexander Suarez

Internet Security: Whom Should You Trust? - Forbes - 0 views

www.forbes.com/...security-whom-should-you-trust

internet security OLA

shared by Alexander Suarez on 19 Jun 13 - No Cached
  • Comment Now Follow Com
  • Internet security is all about trust at a distance
  • Even with secure connections, encryption, and the various other authentication schemes there is always a way to spoof identity, provide forged documents or credentials, hold computers and servers hostage to “ransomware” or allow cyber-criminals to be whoever they want to be.
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • he Online Trust Alliance and its Mission
  • Privacy: Especially in the European Union, there is a greater focus on the control, collection, use and sharing of consumer data. The Online Trust Alliance is working to protect consumers in this regard;
  • The organization is deeply involved in seven areas that are highly relevant to business and how companies can safely interact with customers, clients and anyone that uses the Internet, while protecting internal confidential information.
  • Anti-Malvertising: to help protect consumers and sites from malicious advertising;
  • No organization is immune to the loss or compromise of confidential and sensitive data. Consumer information, employee records, proprietary and trade secret information, and intellectual property are all available for the taking if infrastructures are not properly protected and contingency plans developed should a breach occur.
  • Alexander Suarez on 19 Jun 13
     
    This article divulges into the world of internet security. It explains how with even the most secure connections there is always a possibility to spoof an identity, provide forged documents and/or allow cyber-criminals to be someone they're not.  The Online Trust Alliance or OLA, is an organization deeply involved in several areas that are highly business-relevant and in how companies should safety interact with customers, clients, and/or anyone who uses the internet while at the same time protecting their personal information.  In conclusion,  no organization is immune to a loss of personal information. Consumer information, employee records, etc are all available for the taking if not properly protected and/or a contingency plans developed in the event of. However, with the help and knowledge of the OLA,  preventing such instances from occurring can be drastically reduced .
adel168

Shred-it Helps Hoteliers Prevent Data Security Issues | Hotel Business - 0 views

www.hotelbusiness.com/o-prevent-data-security-issues

security business hospitality

shared by adel168 on 22 Mar 19 - No Cached
  • One of the challenges hoteliers are facing today in terms of data security is the failure to identify information as confidential
  • “Another challenge is the strong focus on cybersecurity,” said Nickolas. “While it is of course important to ensure that online data surrounding hotels and their guests is protected, it’s just as essential to implement strategies that protect physical information as well.”
  • Consumers are more conscious than ever before about their personal data and information security, and it has become a major factor in the hotel booking process.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • “Nearly one-third of hotels (32%) admitted they have no known policy for storing and disposing of documents,
  • “Employees can be a hotel’s greatest security asset if they put the right training and policies in place,”
  • adel168 on 22 Mar 19
     
    Shred-it, a global information security service provided by Stericycle Inc., is providing services such as document destruction, hard-drive destruction, media destruction, etc. Shred-it hotel clients are helped to stay compliant with the latest laws around protecting consumer data and confidential information. Shred-it also offers hotels with implementing new policies and procedures that will better help their physical security as well as policies limiting employee access to certain areas.
khadija2050

50 Facilities Management Tips and Best Practices - Camcode - 0 views

www.camcode.com/...gement-tips-and-best-practices

facilities management tips best practices practices

shared by khadija2050 on 23 Nov 20 - No Cached
  • Cut night site lighting. “Depending upon how your site lighting is operated and circuited, you can create an ‘economize mode’ for overnight when the site is at its lowest occupancy. Keep perimeter site lighting on around your property and all entrances and main drives lit.
  •  Replace older lighting with LEDs. “Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center chose LEDs to replace existing lighting in a parking garage open 24/7, halving the garage’s power consumption. Meanwhile, Mediapolis Community Schools in Mediapolis, IA, also embarked on a retrofit of LED exterior lighting.
  • Implement a sustainable facility design plan. “Sustainable design is more attainable and affordable than it’s ever been, especially when you think in terms of years instead of days and weeks. It’s also worth noting that sustainable design is very well favored among the public, which is an extra incentive for companies interested in reinforcing their reputation as socially responsible and environmentally concerned
  • ...47 more annotations...
  • Know the total cost of all facility work done both directly and indirectly. “To the untrained eye, the facilities maintenance arm of a business appears to be a black hole of cost. The costs of these FM services add up, and unless discrepancies arise, that is where most of the business analysis ends. However, facilities maintenance managers, who are privy to all of the nuances that make up eac
  • h work order, understand the complexities and overhead involved in this sector of business.
  • Consider less obvious improvements that impact facility energy use. “Some energy-related projects will be more or less hidden from the users and primarily pursued to reduce energy demand, such as chiller and fan-unit upgrades. Such projects may end up providing the building users with better temperature control, but this is not the primary goal of the upgrade
  • Operational changes such as reducing the hours of HVAC and lighting operation, and changing setback temperatures, which require very little expenditure (if any at all) do not directly affect user experience, but can produce large reductions in electricity loads. In general, working with the building operations team to reduce energy use can produce impressive reductions in loa
  • his allows building and facility management professionals to determine whether the cost to improve a particular element of a building or a system in it against the cost savings over the same period. If the cost of an upgrade over its lifetime offers an advantage over the building operational costs it will save, then it’s generally considered a good investmen
  • “Finding the right suppliers to maintain your facilities can be difficult and time-consuming. From janitorial services, to groundskeeping and maintenance supplies, ensuring suppliers are providing apples-to-apples quotes, developing contracts with clear service levels, and validating that supplier quality
  • “Boilers today can reach efficiencies of up to 96 percent using condensing technology; however, a typical building, including new buildings, uses atmospheric type boilers which, for all intents and purposes, are only slightly more advanced than a science lab Bunsen burner. This technology is reliable and it works, but it is expensive to operate
  • An energy audit systematically identifies and develops opportunities to help reduce energy use in an institutional or commercial facility and, as a result, decrease building operating costs. Focusing the audit is imperative for maintenance and engineering managers.
  • “Commercial kitchens are high energy users, consuming roughly 2.5 times more energy per square foot than any other commercial space, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Of that, as little as 40% is used in the preparation and storage of food, says the UK’s Carbon Trust; much of the wasted energy is dispersed into the kitchen.
  • All commercial buildings are insulated; building codes make it mandatory to insulate up to  a certain level. Unfortunately, because most buildings are put up under strict guidance to budgets, they are usually put up with only the minimal amount of insulation
  • Develop performance measures for your PM process with an emphasis on measuring the amount of PM that is work completed compared to all other work. Total PM hours should be the highest percentage of all the department’s maintenance work. This goal might seem impossible, but over time, it is very achievable
  • “Preventative maintenance is all about planning, plain and simple. Every piece of equipment or machinery at your disposal or under your care should have a schedule of what type of maintenance it requires and when it requires that check-up.
  • “Failure modes are defined as “how something fails.” Let’s use a flat/membrane roof to show an example of what a failure mode is. On a flat/membrane roof, one failure mode may be “penetration of roof membrane,” and the causes of this failure mode could be many. Knowing the failure mode(s) of a specific maintainable item such as a membrane roof and its causes can be key to early detection of roof failure (not meeting the intent of the end user) so the repair can be made before it affects an operatio
  • “Catch small problems now before they become big ones. Addressing small details can add up to huge improvements in appearance and functionality. Ask your facilities services provider, janitorial company
  • You may schedule preventive maintenance based on meter readings on an equipment. However, equipment meters usually do not differentiate between work time and idle time
  • Greasing the rack and pinion of a beam saw, for instance, can cause grease and saw dust to solidify inside the gears over time, eventually preventing them from moving. If you’re unsure which tasks are beneficial to each piece of equipment, ask your equipment representative.”
  • Having spare parts and supplies around the time of a major preventive maintenance schedule is absolutely critical. Asset management software allows you to check the availability of the spare parts for dates when the work orders are due. This report can help you identify parts that are insufficient for the required work orders in the future. If you know which parts you are falling short on, you can order them in advance from suppliers rather than waiting till re-order limits are reached
  • “Appropriate repetition and reinforcement are necessary. The average person is bombarded with more than 300 messages while at work, and multiples of that outside of work, Finney says. Getting a message to land with an audience might take as many as 12 repetitions, in some cases, he says
  • Let’s get together: when you’re designing your facilities, design social spaces for your employees. These might be lunch or break rooms, games rooms, gyms, or even community gardens.
  • While other managers may work to manage clients or staff, your job is to manage facilities and all that occurs in them. Your corporation’s physical assets are just as important as your human resources, and you are the expert in this field. Whether it’s collating data or contributing to the organization’s bottom line, your input is a valuable part of corporate decision-making
  •  “Workplace inclusion has to be clearly defined before any initiatives can be pushed forward. One useful definition of an inclusive office is a workplace in which all staff are treated with respect and have equal access to resources and opportunities. Facility managers should build on this high-level description to create an idea of what concepts like equal access, diversity and fairness look like in their own facilities
  • Space costs money. Knowing that we are moving towards a working environment consisting of virtual or mobile workers, investing time in developing new workplace designs that can suit these new ways of working while increasing space utilization rates can result in impressive cost savings
  • Performing facility maintenance and engineering tasks is like sailing among icebergs. What technicians can’t see will sink them — or their facilities. Thermal imaging technology gives technicians the ability to see the unseen, making it easier to spot failing motors and electrical components,
  • This concept is broadly used to describe our attempt to formally identify in-house talent in many of our labor shops. We identify talent through a competitive selection process based on potential vs. skills and promote our selected personnel to the worker and helper level while training them to achieve appropriate full mechanic level with associated certifications/licenses
  • This directly leads to the client receiving a more fit-for-purpose solution and ultimately receiving greater value which grows a greater relationship.
  • In other words, there has to be a compelling reason based on our mission for why we would submit budgets for anything.” By presenting specific information on how and why you’ve chosen your budget numbers, you can help the C-suite see that your budget is well within reason
  • When you automate the work order process, you remove human error associated with it. Essentially, you’re taking the people out of the process and ensuring nothing gets missed or overlooked
  • “There are many different software options out there than can aid FMs in organizing and streamlining their everyday tasks. This ranges from software designed to help manage all maintenance activities to logging and tracking facility visitors for security purposes. 
  • uch smart sensors, operating costs are dramatically reduced, productivity is enhanced, and occupants’ comfort is improved.
  • “One of the most exciting features of Facilities Management software is the ability to manage heating and cooling remotely, or set a programmable thermostat to move set temperatures up or down throughout the day. Facilities planners love the ability to analyze and explore energy use from heating and cooling systems
  • “Maintenance and facilities administration systems must frequently abide by national and global regulatory requirements. All maintenance administrators face occasional random or audits inspections by regulatory authorities. Maintenance software enables you to prove regulatory conformity and decrease the amount of paperwork and preparation that is needed for an audit.
  • KPIs allude to opportunities and errors in your company. Paired with the Internet of Things (IoT) and energy management systems, KPIs can be used to highlight missed maintenance tasks, greater traffic area of your business or problems with machinery
  • “Closely monitoring energy and water use to reduce building-operating costs is another benefit. By allowing owners to monitor and analyze the performance of multiple systems—air-conditioning levels, lights on automatic dimmers, water usage
  • “A feature that’s gaining a lot of ground is using facial recognition technology to let people in and out of the building. It’s more secure than key fobs or cards, and unlike cards and fobs, you can’t forget your face at home. It’s like batting a triple, or killing three birds with one stone
  • You cannot do your job properly without the correct information. If you don’t have proper records on the state of your facilities, you can’t do your job as a facilities manager.
  • “A surprising number of facilities managers have no true system in place for managing their space.  More than a quarter of everyone interviewed – 28 percent –
  • . It may help significantly with compliance with various industry standards, such as HIPAA in the healthcare industry and Sarbanes-Oxley in the financial field. It can help to document best practices for avoiding accidents, or in the worst case scenario,
  • This method identifies how critical a piece of equipment or maintenance task is to your business and will ultimately show you where it should land in your prioritization process
  • Smartsheet is a spreadsheet that you share with your co-workers, but its features go far beyond Excel. This tool combines the traditional spreadsheet with project management tools, templates, and forms and allows you and your colleagues to access spreadsheets on mobile devices and work on them collaboratively
  • The business world is increasingly embracing a larger remote workforce. Offices are used as areas to collaborate, develop, and design new ideas. The day-to-day work can be, and often is, done from home
  • “Another possibility for cutting costs, say experts, is not just moving staff around, but moving work around also. This means carefully examining all outsourcing contracts to see if they can be scaled back and the work completed by in-house staff
  • “Verify assets from a minimum of two data points, such as the barcode and the item’s serial number.
  • After collecting data and developing a maintenance schedule for your assets, you need to plan for the long-term maintenance of your asset inventory
  • However good asset management and maintenance planning is, there comes a time when an asset reaches the end of its useful life and should be disposed of.
  • “If you’re trying to get a handle of your documents, the first thing you should do is an asset assessment. Detail the condition of all the main equipment and systems, and document those conditions
  • Strategic asset management integrates key relationships between planning and delivery activities.
  • Maximize your use of vertical cubic footage by placing seasonal products or those that move less frequently in harder-to-reach vertical storage areas
  • khadija2050 on 23 Nov 20
     
    the article highlights how companies can benefit from sustainable design and gives tips on preventive maintenance
mmdmd99999

PCI Compliance: What Every Hotelier Should Know and Do | hospitalityupgrade.com - 0 views

www.hospitalityupgrade.com/...magazine_Detail.asp

shared by mmdmd99999 on 14 Apr 21 - No Cached
  • Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance has become a very important consideration for hotels.  Some hotels are not in compliance and don’t even know it.  There are significant penalties associated with non compliance including lawsuits, audits, fines and even losing the ability to process credit card payments.
  • PCI compliance is about network and computer security
  • such as securing paper documents, proper shredding of documents and document retention
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Network segmentation and the use of firewalls is very important.  No email or Web surfing should be done on the secure side of a network.
  • “How to be compliant,” that has additional links to each credit card brand.
  • There are levels of merchant compliance.  A level 1 merchant processes more than 6 million transactions annually.  This level requires an annual onsite security audit and quarterly network scans.Level 2 merchants process between 1 million and 6 million credit card transactions annually.  This level requires an annual self assessment and quarterly network scans.Level 3 merchants process between 20,000 and 1 million e-commerce transactions annually and have the same compliance requirements as level 2.Level 4 merchants process fewer than 20,000 e-commerce transactions a year and require annual self assessments and network scans.Data security breaches can cost a hotel an average of $182 per compromised record.  This does not include the cost of defending a lawsuit, if one is brought, or fines for non-compliance from individual credit card brands.
  • mmdmd99999 on 27 Jun 22
     
    PCI compliance, what is it, how to make sure you are compliant, why do we care?
Yongjoon Ji

Message Blocks: Event Planning in the Digital Age | Xconomy - 0 views

www.xconomy.com/...nt-planning-in-the-digital-age

shared by Yongjoon Ji on 12 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • Len Gauger, founder of the Ann Arbor-based startup Message Blocks, is pumped; his event-planning software company is off to a good start, he says.
  • He saw a market for software that would allow organizers to coordinate all planning documents in one place online, with the capacity to collect registrations, edit conference agendas, and incorporate real-time reporting—all managed via smartphone app.
  • Yongjoon Ji on 13 Nov 12
     
    Len Gauger is the founder of Message Blocks. Since he was younger, event planning was a big part of his job. He usually managed about twenty events per year. He learned a lot from his past mistakes: the more people involved in the planning process, the more chaotic it became. He saw a market for a software that would allow organizers to coordinate all planning documents in one place online, with the capacity to collect registrations, edit conference agendas, and incorporate real-time reporting all managed via a smartphone app. This is a very good example of using technology in the event industry. Instead of waiting until the morning to get hold of event planner, it is easy to communicate with the company 24/7 online.
Qianlin Wang

The Evolution of HR Systems: Update from HR Technology Conference 2010 - 0 views

www.bersin.com/...echnology-Conference-2010.aspx

Technology hotel software HIRS

shared by Qianlin Wang on 21 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • "Integrated Talent Management" is officially the new product category
  • With the exception of Softscape (which was built to work together), most of the product sets in the market come from multiple acquisitions, so each vendor is going through a range of product roadmaps to build an end-to-end solution.
  • As the market shifts in this direction, companies are now differentiating themselves with the newer areas of talent management:  analytics, workforce planning (a new beachhead), onboarding, and social networking.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • The Next Generation HRMS Market is Emerging
  • There are three real ways companies upgrade or replace their HRMS.
  • They do a "forklift" replacement.
  • They build a mid-level software layer to slowly replace the HRMS.
  • They build a middle-ware solution that co-exists with the HRMS.
  • First, the market for integrated talent management software has now taught all HR departments that data integration is far more valuable than we might have believed.  
  • Second, there is a tremendous amount of innovation now flowing into the HRMS market.
  • Qianlin Wang on 21 Nov 12
     
    There are few processes about how to select a HRIS technology. What is the degree of flexibility and scalability that the HR information technology software provides? HR professionals should determine if the software can import data from multiple Excel spreadsheets, databases, and paper documents and the level with which it can interface with all kinds of systems and data. Will the HR information technology be able to grow and scale with the organization? Is the HR information technology software able to integrate with other systems? HR can obtain greater efficiencies when data and other employee information entered into one system can be shared with another system. Who is responsible for implementing, or building, the solution? What level of training is involved? HR should have a clear understanding of the level of training and technical expertise that will be required and the amount of time expected. If training is involved, is there a charge? What types of maintenance and upkeep are required? What security measures are built into the HR information technology? If the software is available online, through an ASP or SaaS model, the provider should offer daily backups, backup servers, and added protective layers. Will employees be able to enroll in benefits plans and make changes in real-time to their personal data and plan choices? The system should clearly present the plans available and enable employees to make selections at their convenience, simplifying these actions throughout the process with wizards.
laura kaczkowski

How to Select Human Resources Information Technology - 1 views

humanresources.about.com/...assess_needs_2.htm

shared by laura kaczkowski on 23 Nov 12 - Cached
  • Will the technology provide Human Resources with the authority to decide who will be allowed access and to what degree? Along the same vein of providing employee access, the technology should give HR the final say.
  • What types of reporting capabilities are available from the HR information technology? Reporting technology should offer multiple views and formats (spreadsheet, PDF, html), big picture assessment and the ability to drill down to enhance decision-making.
  • Does the HR information technology system provide a means of checks and balances?
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • ensure the accuracy of carrier invoices, --save time and money,
  • How will information be exchanged with carriers? And, who will be responsible for this interaction? Integration of the HR information technology system should be judged not only by the number of carriers with which the software has relationships, but by the type of connection that it enables.
  • reviewing ongoing updates; --ensuring carrier requirements for enrollment are being met in compliance with regulators; and --fostering a proactive relationship with each carrier to improve the relationship of data exchange.
  • laura kaczkowski on 23 Nov 12
     
    In the article, "How to Select Human Resources Information Technology," it talks about how they are essential for companies to manage their benefits plans and their employee history. One question that they felt was important before purchasing an HRIS was, what is the degree of flexibility and scalability that it provides? Their answer was that HR professional should determine if the software could import data from paper documents, and excel sheets. "Many online enrollment solutions require that data be manually manipulated before it can go to a carrier to update their systems. Automation of the update format, transmission schedule and delivery method can help to eliminate billing and eligibility issues." This will save the company a lot of time just by investing in this system. The Human Resources Organization is group that owns this data and companies should be able to transport their data to any application service. In addition to enabling HR to approve transactions it also provides capabilities for HR to serve as the gatekeeper in auditing carrier billings. Overall, this article shows many benefits to having an HRIS, the question is if the company is willing to invest in one.
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