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integration of the Isis SmartTap(TM) mobile commerce application into the MICROS Simphony(TM) point of service (POS) platform, allowing consumers to make purchases, redeem offers and present loyalty cards with the single tap of their smartphone.

installation includes a MICROS Workstation 5A (WS5A) equipped with an NFC enabled reader at each of the 10 lanes to facilitate tap and pay mobile payments, increasing speed of service.

the new team will be dedicated to the expansion and customization of unique e-commerce and omni-channel platforms for the sandwich chain.

SUBWAY® Digital is building the framework for a comprehensive digital strategy around the world. With the creation of SUBWAY® Digital, the newest division for SUBWAY® restaurants, the brand is looking to add at least 50 jobs this year, and up to 150 total over the next few years, including five on the new team in Vancouver.

“Being the only provider that has deployed online ordering at such a large scale, in multiple countries, has put us in a great position to pursue our mission of providing convenience while bridging the in-store and online experience for brands and customers alike - a real omni-channel approach,” says Jason Strashek, Avanti’s founder and CEO.

Top POS Predictions for 2017 “Windows will no longer be the number one operating system in the market, as multiple operating systems are being offered to allow greater flexibility to consumers. Data collection will be a bigger selling point for consumers, not only to track sales and inventory, but also to manage shifts and training, as well as deploy customer loyalty programs.” — Bematech “We will see increasing configuration flexibility to adapt to more fluid layouts in a hyper-channel oriented world, smaller counter footprints, more intensive future-proofing and increased value.” — Fujitsu America, Inc. “Major restaurant chains will continue to adopt online ordering and line-busting technology and POS hardware will do a better job of connecting wirelessly to each other (Internet of Things) and to mobile (smartphone and tablet) devices. It will also integrate with sensors, cameras and video monitors to provide smart advertising to customers based on environment and purchasing trends.” — Epson “A lot of the new requests for hardware are around supporting initiatives for increasing customer engagement. These come in the form of minimizing the barrier for traditional POS, installing kiosks of varying sizes and form factors, mobility solutions, and customer-facing screens on the POS for supporting both touch and non-touch versions.” — Par Technology Corp. “In the end, hardware is simply the platform for software and consumer omnichannel demands. The rise in mobile payments and the EMV mandate will prod hospitality to upgrade legacy POS systems because of the need for security compliance and to accept more payment options. Tablets, smartphones, software- (SaaS) or POS-as-a-service models, and cloud-based POS will continue to drive the need for POS hardware to adapt to new IT and consumer interaction.” — Posiflex “POS hardware will expand connectivity in keeping with the IOT revolution, so operators will be able to provide a more personalized experience to customers at checkout.” — Toshiba “There will be increased investments in WiFi, location-based services (LBS), mobile computers and data capture solutions as more consumers use their smartphones to engage in mobile ordering and loyalty programs for personalized offers. In addition, businesses will have an increased need for visibility in automating food safety processes.” — Zebra

Bluetooth Proximity Marketing is the latest marketing technique, but how can retailers apply and benefit from it?

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless system found on most smartphones and tablets nowadays that transmits information and can receive information without wires. We use Bluetooth in our cars to call people without a headset or to send files to another device without a USB cable.

Bluetooth Proximity marketing can have many applications, but can it be applied to the shopper experience and if so how can the retailer and consumer benefit? Within Bluetooth Proximity Marketing there are several types of applications.

What are the four fundamental principles that can help you deliver unforgettable experiences for every guest, every time?

1. Safety

2. Service

Once broadly implemented, Kenny says it should be possible for a customer to book a flight, rent a car and stay in hotel room and have the entire transaction not only handled electronically, but also fed back directly to their company’s accounting systems for payment. The entire transaction would be devoid of any paper, he said.

Today, the travel industry is made up of airlines, hotels, car rental companies and a host of other organizations all offering services around the fundamental need to travel. The problem from the consumer’s perspective is that they have to pretty much engage these companies separately to get to where they are going. But what if they could all be engaged as part of the same transaction?

That’s part of the thinking that is going into the development of a new Agilaire Passenger Service Solution that Hewlett-Packard is developing. HP is licensing the RezView NG reservation system developed by Pegasus Systems to create a foundation on top of which the company is building a new scalable cross-company reservation ad billing system that will reside in the cloud.

By utilizing a comprehensive social media strategy, hoteliers can create social media “buzz” around the hotel, target receptive audiences, and ultimately stimulate hotel website visits, interactions and bookings.

Brand loyalty/engagement: If people are following your brand and commenting on Facebook and Twitter, then they are interested in what you have to say and are more likely to book your hotel over the competition. You are in fact building stronger relationships with current and future guests.

Thanks to the ever-growing presence of portable wireless devices in professional circles, your attendees are likely to find distraction during a meeting in their cell phones, laptops, or personal digital assistants (PDAs). For instance, handheld Internet devices called BlackBerries are proving especially popular among execs--in fact, they're sometimes called "CrackBerries" because of their addictive quality. That's why so many white-collar workers can't stop checking their e-mail while they're supposed to be paying attention. Since portable wireless technology is still relatively new, rules of etiquette have not yet been uniformly established. A 2004 survey by Menlo Park, CA-based Robert Half Technology found that two-thirds of chief information officers think technology-related blunders are increasing in the workplace. This would include behavior at meetings, where the most common offenses include leaving cell-phone ringers on, sending instant messages and e-mail using wireless devices, and typing on laptops out of turn. Internet etiquette, or "Netiquette," is a sore spot as well. The unchecked use of wireless devices at meetings is a drawback of the new gadgets

ìCRM is one of the most dramatic, fundamental changes in the history of business.î High-Yield Marketingís Dick Lee agreed: ìCRM is fundamentally the expression of the customer-centric business philosophy. Itís how you respond to the fact that customers are now the drivers in our economy.

ìThere are different types of customers, different types of business models and selling strategies, and over time there will be different CRM software to support these different models.î Dickie agrees

CRM customers are also demanding more and more knowledge management functionality

Uncertain times call for different strategies. One of the top strategies for hotel e-business is evolving from selling to engaging the customer, points out Henry Harteveldt, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research. Hoteliers need to think more like retailers. "To succeed, hoteliers need to fulfill the experience expected by customers, not just think of them as heads in a bed," says Harteveldt.

How can those in hotel e-business succeed? Harteveldt says success is through evolution. "To truly engage digital travelers, hotel e-business must evolve from channel to gateway, from single purpose to all encompassing, and from functional to fulfilling," he says.

it is apparent that having a mobile site is critical to having a successful hotel marketing campaign

Red Lion Hotels Corporation (NYSE: RLH) announced last Thrusday that the company has completed the expansion of its credit facility agreement with Wells Fargo Bank

Under the secured facility, Red Lion Hotels obtained $45 million in a term loan with a 15-year amortization maturing in June 2018.

Proceeds from the term loan were used to refinance approximately $38 million in maturing CMBS debt and pay expenses in connection with the transaction.

55% of all leisure and business reservations are expected to be made online for 2013 (PhoCusWright), which means measuring and optimizing a hotel’s digital marketing is more important than ever before.

The average conversion rate for hotel websites is about 2%. In other words, approximately 98% of visitors to a hotel’s website leave without making a reservation. This suggests that the hotel industry could be doing significantly more to capitalize on visitors’ interest. It is imperative that hotels utilize the right data in the right way to paint a clearer picture of how their audience interacts with their marketing.

Hotel franchisors can also capitalize on trends in their data. For example, if there is a substantial increase in searches for a particular destination, brands can recommend that their franchisees in that location raise their rates because of the spike in demand. This could substantially improve the revenue that the franchise’s website generates.

Mercator further projects the 2013 holiday volume of digital gifting will exceed $1 billion

Some related consumer m-commerce facts include: 59 percent are interested in using mobile as a form of payment 50 percent of U.S. consumers shop with mobile devices 61 percent are interested in checking balances 59 percent are interested in organizing and tracking gift cards and loyalty via mobile 76 percent want an alternative to carrying everything in their wallets 12 percent of mobile U.S. subscribers who receive a text message (SMS) advertisement  tend to respond quickly; practitioners claim that offers sent via SMS convert 10 times to 20 times higher than either email or direct mail deals.

etouches and Meetingmax Announce Integration

Companies to offer integrated event registration and housing systems

The integration will offer event attendees a unified online interface that will take them through the registration process and allow them to book space at one of the event's participating hotels. This will eliminate the duplication of data entry and give organizers comprehensive data and reporting capabilities.

According to a recent report published by the Green Hotels Association, "Companies with proactive environmental strategies have a 4 percent higher return on investment, 9 percent higher sales growth and 17 percent higher operating income growth than companies with poor environmental track records."

According to a recent report published by the Green Hotels Association, "Companies with proactive environmental strategies have a 4 percent higher return on investment, 9 percent higher sales growth and 17 percent higher operating income growth than companies with poor environmental track records.

According to a recent report published by the Green Hotels Association, "Companies with proactive environmental strategies have a 4 percent higher return on investment, 9 percent higher sales growth and 17 percent higher operating income growth than companies with poor environmental track records.