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What the Marriott Breach Can Teach Us About Cybersecurity in the Tourism & Hospitality ... - 0 views

  • Marriott breach that compromised the records of up to 500 million customers. The data breach occurred through the IT company, a third party, that managed the Starwood reservation database.
  • Marriott took too long to disclose this breach.  Even though the breach was found in September, disclosure did not occur until nearly three months later — and ultimately, the company failed to protect valuable customer information. The company is already the subject of class action lawsuits that could have a severe impact on the organization.
  • Over the last 3+ years, the Tourism & Hospitality sector has been very average (if even just a bit below) when it comes to cybersecurity performance as compared to other industries.
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  • Since 2016, nearly 5% of the tourism & hospitality entities that BitSight tracks (out of a total of almost 2,000) have experienced a publicly disclosed data breach. This is the 4th highest percentage of breach out of the 23 key sectors BitSight monitors, trailing only healthcare, education, and government.
  • Though it is often assumed that larger organizations perform better in cybersecurity, the data on Fortune 1000 companies in this industry suggests otherwis
  • For example, Fortune 1000 tourism & hospitality companies are performing poorly compared to the sector as a whole when it comes to reducing unnecessary Internet exposures (“Open Ports”).
  • For all companies, tourism & hospitality has the 2nd highest percentage of companies with an Open Port grade of D or lower (Education is 1st).
  • Ultimately, cyber incidents like the Marriott breach confirm that companies in this industry need to be much more about proactively mitigating the risk posed by their supply chain given the sensitive consumer information they contain in their databases.
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    Bitsight examines the 2018 Marriott reservation management database breach. Using the breach as an example, this article shows how poorly the hospitality and tourism industry performs in cybersecurity versus other sectors.
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E-waste: The Gobal Cost of Discarded Electronics - The Atlantic - 2 views

  • One possible alternative is to require producers of electronics to offer buy-back or return systems for old equipment.
  • Another option is recommitting to repairing smartphones and computers.
  • Consumers certainly have a role to play in the increase of e-waste—they’re buying the goods, after all. But manufacturers have given people fewer and fewer viable ways to keep older electronics functioning effectively. In the process, profits from device sales are way up, along with the satisfaction of these companies’ shareholders.
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  • Resale is another option.
  • Manufacturers have a role to play here, too: for example, by assisting in the creation of e-waste recycling centers in developing countries rather than using them as dumping sites.
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    Electronic waste is a global ecological issue. It raises concern about air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, information security, and even human exploitation. This article talks about electronics being made to be thrown away. This affects consumers and the environment in a negative way. The shortened lifespans of electronic devices, encouraged or designed by manufacturers, have pushed consumers to interpret working electronics as insufficient or unusable.
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CloudBasedvsDesktopBased_PMSHotels.pdf - 0 views

shared by marble_bird on 09 Jul 20 - No Cached
  • Even though keeping up with the modern developments in IT sector is crucial for the success and competitiveness of a hotel, it is usually very hard for new technologies to be accepted and implemented.
  • On the example of hotel property management system (PMS) and comparison between features of its older desktop-version and new web-based programs, this research aims at finding out at which stage and how effective is usage of cloud technology in hotels.
  • Constant innovation in hardware, software, and network developments and applications means that only dynamic organizations that can respond efficiently and effectively to these innovations, will be able to outperform their competitors and maintain their long-term prosperity.
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  • It is crucial for tourism and hospitality practitioners to proactively incorporate new technologies into their businesses as these will improve service quality and differentiate their products and services.
  • In order to be able to follow the increasing guests' requests for qualitative services, it is mandatory for hotel management to constantly work on improving its functions and operations. For this it is necessary to keep track of innovations in sectors outside the hospitality, like IT sector that works on creating, developing and introducing new technologies
  • Hospitality is one of targeted sector that is considered appropriate for application of cloud technologies and services. Hotel Management System or widely known as Property Management System (PMS) is one of the system where IT practitioners saw the chance for improvement by ''moving it to the cloud''.
  • Hotels will be forced to upgrade their current systems so that they can respond to various and changeable guests' habits and requirements. However, until today, there was not enough academic papers related to usage of cloud technology in hospitality industry even though this sector is under continuous changes caused by usage of new technologies which made search, evaluation and payment of the hotel rooms easier than ever.
  • After comparing the two groups of hotels, from which one was using desktop PMS and other group cloud- based PMS, the results of the research were derived and presented. In conclusion of the paper, challenges with which the hotels are facing and which affect their decision of starting to use cloud- based technology as well as recommendation for future work will be discussed.
  • As stated by the Sharif (2010), cloud computing is the latest technology that is being introduced by the IT industry as the next (potential) revolution to change how the internet and information systems operate. The term “cloud” was probably inspired by IT text books’ illustrations which depicted remote environments (the Internet) as cloud images in order to conceal the complexity that lies behind them (Sultan,2010).
  • The goal of a new computing world is to develop software for millions to consume by easily accessing it over a network. Cloud service providers are making profit by charging consumers for accessing these services.
  • Products offered via this mode include the remote delivery (through the Internet) of a full computer infrastructure (e.g., virtual computers, servers, storage devices, etc.); the building blocks of an IT enterprise.
  • Services provided in this category include CPU processing on demand, virtual Web hosting, and storage on demand. The most notable vendors are Amazon’s EC2, GoGrid’s Cloud Servers, and Joyent.
  • With cloud computing, services and applications that were managed locally in the past requiring hardware, operating systems, web servers, as well as teams of network, database and system management experts are now provided remotely by cloud providers under this layer.
  • Cloud computing services can be adopted by firms in three different forms (Goscinski and Brock, 2010):
  • Public clouds - online applications that are open to everyone for free, such as Google
  • Private clouds - involves firms deploying key enabling technologies, such as virtualization and multi-tenant applications, to create their own private cloud database
  • Hybrid clouds - mix of the previous two types that are emerging with the intention of providing clients with a level of “control” over their resources
  • The cloud offers enterprises the option of scalability without the financial commitments required for infrastructure purchase and maintenance.
  • Reallocating information management operational activities to the cloud offers businesses a unique opportunity to focus efforts on innovation and research and development. This allows for business and product growth and may be even more beneficial than the financial advantages offered by the cloud.
  • These investments and efforts for a new technology to be presented open a new progress circle of technology advancements and it continues in the same way.
  • When creating software or an application for a hotel, IT personnel have to possess a certain level of flexibility, openness and creativity. On the other hand, hotel employees are expected to have more insightful and openminded approach towards new ways of performing business operations, sometimes take risks and have experiences with using different programs and applications.
  • A hotel's PMS can gather and keep valuable information about hotel guests by incorporating business intelligence tools which help hoteliers organize and make sense of the gathered data. Regardless of whether room reservations come from Online Travel Agency, Global Distribution Systems or by telephone, all of them are gathered, stored and managed in the PMS.
  • low investment costs were main reason for hotels from Group B to decide in favor of cloud based version.
  • Business intelligence options provide hoteliers with a threedimensional view of guest data, which allows easily statistical reporting and increased hotel management efficiency.
  • The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in practical usage of the two types of PMS systems – cloud based and classical (desktop) ones.
  • On the question about the reasons for using the current PMS type in hotels, answers of Group A were based on usage of their current PMS for years and on the fact that employees in all hotel departments were used to work on it. As time passed by, hotels upgraded their system to new versions for several times and additional customization was implemented with regard to hotel preferences.
  • Hotels from Group B were consisted of relatively new boutique hotels that operate for more than a year and from those that were not using any kind of PMS solution (they were using Excel tables and creating reservation records manually). The reason why hotels from this group wanted to use cloud PMS was a desire to try the latest technology used in hospitality industry.
  • Other reasons for using it were: PMS could be reached from any place where Internet connection is available, simple but effective design with lots of visual solutions, more options to enter the important information and the fact that it is working not only on any PC but also on any mobile device due to its mobile applications.
  • Simplicity of the cloud based property management system allows it to be productive. Cloud based PMS's can operate on any advice that has a web browser and the companies are putting their efforts to make it even more friendly on smaller devices like tablets and smart phones.
  • The similar amount of initial investments were confirmed by the Group A. Being considered as great amount of money for newly opened and small sized hotels to invest, management decided to try out the cloud version which allows access to this system based on monthly subscription with very little or no investment cost, depending on the solution provider.
  • After initial investments in the system implementation, hardware, software and training of employees, every year hotel makes a one-year-based contract for additional support services and, if needed, extra training. Support is provided any time a hotel reports an issue or malfunction by directly connecting to hotel's computer through remote programs.
  • Changes are made either for each hotel at a time, or after releasing new version, when provider try to convince all the current users to upgrade to it. Upgrade is provided by the extra charge, so these costs should be also considered during planning investments in classical PMS.
  • Regardless of which type of system they used, all participants were very careful about and interested in the matter of data security.
  • However, it is totally different situation with cloud based system, which is mainly open system where all authorized users and providers from outside have access to. Of course, it is up to hotel management to whom the authorization rights will be given and being an open system it makes support, development and innovation activities much easier. Cloud based PMS are hosted on some of the world's best known servers so there is no need for additional computers to be used as servers.
  • Although there are some great differences in functions and way of managing regarding classical and cloud based system, both have their advantages from which hotels do not want to give up.
  • One of the biggest advantages of cloud based PMS for the Group B is the fact that this system can be directly integrated with hotel online booking engine. This is considered as a great advantage for the hotels that besides having functional web site, wish to maximize use of its online booking engine, receive more online reservations directly from the guests and gain more profit.
  • Such a functional connection between hotel’s PMS and online reservation system allow hotels to have a social media integration as well. This means that hotels are able to receive online reservation through their Facebook page as well as receive direct links to its page from the biggest review sites such as TripAdvior.com.
  • In this paper two different approaches and perspectives on usage of cloud based and classical hotel management systems were exposed. Hotels from Group B have shown a tendency for usage of new technologies and readiness to adopt and continuously learn about them.
  • Among factors, affecting why hotel prefers one system over another, are type and size of hotel, through which channels are guest reservations coming, previous experience with IT stuff and different programs, etc.
  • Cloud based program can help them in order to update prices and room availability information to hotel's booking engine. This prevents overbooking, provides easily management of CRM functions and information, with no first investment costs or extra expenses which results in revenue increase.
  • Hotels that use classical PMS pay a great attention to the security issue because they do not want to risk opening their hotel for external intervention. In recent years we can find in media lots of evidence of information linkage from system that had much higher security measures than an average hotel.
  • Measuring the performance of cloud-provided services is another challenge for the hotel management, primarily due to the lack of measurement standards.
  • While investigating the previous knowledge about the other system solutions, hotels in Group A have claimed lack of information about the cloud technology and its solutions.
  • Even though IT stuff in these hotels has some basic knowledge about it, it is still not enough to convince the other managers about its benefits. Therefore it may be concluded that, besides trying to overcome the above mentioned challenges, developers of cloud based solutions to hotels should also work hard on training the potential clients about the positive aspects and correct usage of cloud technologies.
  • Lack of measurement standards for cloud-provided services in general as well as for hotels is another important limitation due to which qualitative research was conducted. Authors’ recommendation is that academicians should focus more on topics of cloud computing, cloud solutions for other business operations and on defining measurements standards for cloud services.
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    This article, published in 2015, covers a study performed in Turkey to analyze factors in hotels that lead management to prefer desktop-based PMS over cloud-based PMS or vice versa. The study uses qualitative research to determine the reasons for the usage of PMS and the advantages and disadvantage of either system. The study found that, among others, significant factors that contribute to the form of PMS implemented by mangement may include the size of the property, reservation channels, and prior level of IT experience.
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Hotel_ITSec.pdf - 0 views

shared by marble_bird on 15 Jul 20 - No Cached
  • During the past decade, information technology (IT) has significantly changed the way the hotel industry controls and manages operations. While many technologies have been utilized, some newer technologies have emerged in the literature and in practice, and many of them impact the hotel’s security.
  • Among the results, this study identified a gap between hoteliers’ understanding of IT budget adequacy and the adequacy of installed IT security systems.
  • Advancements in technology are increasing at a remarkable rate. As technology becomes more important, organizations that do not keep up with these advancements could lose business opportunities to other competitors that do
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  • The four leading technologies which have showed a high adoption rate from the industry and have received attention from academia are: self-service, wireless, green, and security technologies. The advantages of these technologies for hoteliers include enhanced customer services and operational efficiency (Doyle, 2007), decreased guest wait times, more efficient methods to settle bills (Singh & Kasavana, 2005), reduction of energy costs (Meeroff & Scarlatos, 2007), and protection of sensitive customer data and credit card numbers
  • In addition, exploring the influential factors of security system usage will provide greater depth of knowledge with respect to why some hotels have adopted more security systems than others.
  • there is still a lack of understanding of the nature of risk associated with inadequate IT security, especially among operators of hotels that do not have their own IT departments.
  • Self-service technologies are commonly defined as devices or applications which permit users to produce a service independent from the direct involvement of the service provider (Meuter, Ostrom, Roundtree, & Bitner, 2000). The use of self-service technologies in the hotel industry has grown considerably, especially in the areas of self check-in, in-room check-out, and foodservice kiosks
  • IT systems refer to general support systems such as mainframe computer, mid-range computer, and local area network.
  • Some of the most significant wireless technology applications involve the use of mobile handheld devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDA), tablet PCs, and cellular phones, or RFID (radio frequency identification). RFID utilizes computer chips and antennas, allowing the chips to wirelessly communicate with a receiver.
  • While the major usage of RFID in the hotel industry was for inventory control purposes, it also has the potential to be utilized in ways that can provide more conveniences for the guests.
  • Other possible uses include placing RFID tags on items of high value as a means of theft prevention or integrating tags into guest loyalty cards for easy identification
  • IT investment that lowers environmental impact and IT that manages the environmental impact of other systems are commonly referred to as “green technology”
  • Many hoteliers might think becoming more environmentally friendly will cost more for their hotels. However, it has been demonstrated that “going green” is not only the right thing to do for the environment but also provides tangible bottom-line benefits for hotels by reducing consumption of energy and water, as well as other related costs.
  • Some of the risk factors involved include reliability, security, and privacy issues
  • A hotel with more technologies being utilized will install more security systems than those with fewer technologies.
  • Many of these attacks involve attempts by thieves to gain access to customer credit card data, and these attempts constitute a major portion of the risk inherent in IT security
  • if a system is breached and the merchant is not PCI compliant, the merchant then is responsible for all costs associated with improperly used credit card information taken from that system (Kress, 2008). These losses could bankrupt a business if the security breach goes undetected for even a short time.
  • IT security systems are those measures taken to protect the confidentiality and integrity of proprietary data.
  • two main paradigms of adoption are believed to occur: bottom-up adoption and top-down adoption.
  • Thus, it is reasonable to assume that organizational factors (e.g., financial factor, human resource) will influence the implementation stage of security systems at a hotel.
  • A hotel with sufficient IT budget will install more security systems than those with insufficient IT budget.
  • That is, if a hotel does not have its own IT department, it will have a negative influence on successfully installing or maintaining necessary security systems.
  • A hotel with its own IT department will install more security systems than those without.
  • Overall, the state of IT spending on security continues undiminished because managed security services are required for almost every application (Communications News, 2007).
  • risk associated with a breach of IT systems security (e.g., network break-ins) is very high. Consequently, no sector of the business community is exempt from attacks on their IT systems, with an attack being defined as a technique used to exploit a system’s vulnerabilities.
  • Given the importance of security and privacy at a luxury hotel, this study expects luxury properties to have installed more security systems than other segments
  • Most hotel employees use their property management systems for hotel operations and should be able to check their e-mails.
  • To justify the low response rate, previous studies which have compared response rates of mail and e-mail for surveys were reviewed.
  • the large majority of respondent properties do not have their own IT departments. Second, the people making IT decisions generally do not have IT backgrounds or training. Third, the large majority of respondent properties have little more than firewalls or antivirus software to protect their proprietary data, and these systems alone are not adequate to meet PCI standards, as they do not take steps to encrypt and protect cardholder data, maintain a vulnerability management program, implement strong access control measures, regularly monitor and test their networks, and maintain an information security policy as required by the Security Standards Council.
  • The respondents were asked to select from a total of fourteen securities related systems
  • The profile of the respondents revealed that they were experienced hoteliers with more than ten years experience in the industry
  • Fifty-three percent of the respondents reported that they were with chain hotels that would be considered mid-range properties with an average of 175 rooms (median of 107). Over 80% of the respondents reported working in operations, while fewer than 4% reported working in either IT or engineering (Table 1).
  • Nearly 70% of the respondents’ properties did not have their own IT department (69.2% did not have, and 30.8% had their own IT departments, n = 234, missing data = 10).
  • Fifty-three percent of them (n = 244) thought the most important goal for hotel technology would be enhancing the customer’s experience.
  • second identified goal was utilizing technology to help generate revenue (41%)
  • differentiate properties from their competition (20%), to lower expenses (16%), and to increase security (6%).
  • Internet kiosks in the lobby represented the most frequently used self-service technology (36.5%, n = 244), followed by kiosks for airline check-in/board pass
  • With respect to security systems currently in use, antivirus security systems represented the most frequently used security system (92.2%), followed by hardware firewalls, software firewalls, physical security, and encrypted login security systems.
  • intrusion detection was the most frequently identified system (15.6%), followed by vulnerability assessment scanning (13.5%), Internet scanning (13.1%), antivirus (11.5%), digital ID server (11.5%), and nonreusable passwords (9.8%; Table 2).
  • Thus, the hypothesis was supported that there was a linear relationship between the three factors and the adequacy of security systems.
  • The positive standardized coefficient (β) of .389 indicates that there was a statistically significant (p < .001) linear relationship between IT usage (the number of wireless, self-service, and green technologies a hotel was using) and the adequacy of security systems
  • The study revealed certain things of interest, the most significant of which is the need for greater emphasis on IT security among hoteliers.
  • only about 30% of all respondents reported having their own IT departments. Since budget hotel properties are extremely unlikely to have an IT department, it is highly likely that the very large majority of IT decisions throughout the industry are being made by hotel operators for whom IT is not their primary area of concern.
  • Furthermore, the focus of hoteliers for future IT implementations is enhancing the guest experience (53%) and generating revenue (41%). Very few respondents (6%) identified increasing security as a 5-year IT goal.
  • While almost all respondents use information systems as part of their jobs, very few are trained in the development, maintenance, and secure use of these systems.
  • no correlation was found between the respondents’ perceived adequacy of their IT budgets and the adequacy of installed security systems, as adequacy of IT budget did not appear as a significant term in the regression analysis.
  • Nearly 10% of respondents do not have so much as anti-virus protection for their systems, and nearly half do not even take simple physical precautions to protect their IT systems.
  • we note that no correlation exists between the respondents’ perceived adequacy of their IT budgets and the number of installed IT security systems, as the number of installed systems was not a significant factor in the regression analysis.
  • The sample obtained in this study represented the targeted sample: over 80% of the respondents were working in hotel operations. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to explore hotel operators’ insight of technology usage, IT budget, and security measures rather than to confirm existing theories or to generalize the results.
  • it is reasonable to conclude that the respondents did not have an adequate understanding of the nature of the IT security hazards facing them for the average property does not have installed systems adequate to meet PCI standards, yet they reported having adequate budgets.
  • In order to adequately protect proprietary data, one must have an understanding of network security, which is an understanding apart from software functionality.
  • Properties with their own IT departments, however, reported that they had a higher number of installed IS security systems than did those properties without their own IT departments.
  • roperties without their own IT departments, in particular, have a less adequate understanding of their IT security needs than may be necessary.
  • This study found hoteliers’ lack of attention to security provision, training in IT, and PCI compliance can place hoteliers at great risk. For example, the cost of a single incident at a noncompliant property could result in the loss of the entire business.
  • It will be useful to examine the reasons why luxury properties are more likely to employ adequate security measures to determine whether this greater use is attributable to better understanding of security issues or some other factor.
  • The study was limited by the nature of online surveys; the response rate was quite low. Future studies could test the proposed research model via paper-based mail surveys to increase a response rate.
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    This article covers a study performed on various hotels to determine management's level of IT knowledge and security implementations in relation to the hotel's IT security budget. The article discusses four types of technology impacting the hotel industry and how management responses to trending technology can affect a business, particularly in terms of a data breach and overall security. The study finds that an alarming percentage of hotel managers are not adequately informed on the risks and procedures of IT management and security, and many do not have proper IT security measures in place despite having an appropriate budget.
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Must-Know Event Technology Trends for 2020 | Social Tables - 3 views

  • In addition to speeding up registration time, incorporating RFID technology into events will help with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, thereby making it easier for planners to target what worked during their event and what didn’t.
  • Though event apps are admittedly helpful, they now have a new hurdle to face. Producing an application to be used for one event is costly, time consuming, and inefficient, as users must learn how to interact with the app for each new event attended. Phone storage space is very important to consumers. Many are hesitant to download an application that they will only use once. Thus, event apps that can continue to deliver value to customers beyond the date of the event itself, are going to become a huge trend.
  • RFID also has the potential to allow attendees to become more engaged with the event across various social platforms.
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  • Menu options, travel directions, appointment updates, facial recognition software and contact information are just the beginning of the very real ways that event planners will soon be able to use wearable tech.
  • Event technology trends aside, the number one thing for any event professional to remember, is to let your tools work for you, rather than the other way around. The purpose of implementing advanced technology is to make your life, and the life of those whom you plan events for, as easy as possible.
  • 5G will also make it more feasible to incorporate the cutting-edge into event experiences.
  • Projection mapping is the act of creating an augmented reality experience with the help of projectors.
  • this visual technology proves to be an efficient and cost effective way to create optical illusions in nearly every location.
  • event technology adoption can increase attendance by 20%, increase productivity by 27%, and decrease costs by as much as 30%.
  • branded apps provide limitless opportunities to interact with consumers right on their own phones
  • Apps can be customized to appear as if they were created specifically for events or stays, while offering functionality that serves to enhance and personalize the attendee experience.
  • Planners can utilize branded multi-use apps to connect with attendees and engage them on a variety of levels before, during, and after the occasion.
  • Event spaces can create customized apps to enhance experiences and share things like helpful facts, historical tidbits, and even the personalities of their unique employees,
  • Because they’re often cloud-based, these programs also provide accurate, customizable, and collaborative project planning that’s accessible by all managing parties
  • With event diagramming software, both event planners and venues are able to map everything out visually
  • provides helpful tools like drag-and-drop diagramming, 3D walkthroughs, and seating software on a single platform.
  • Hotels especially can use apps in this way, allowing guests to control their rooms from their phones and even communicate with chatbots to find nearby attractions.
  • Projection mapping5GBranded multi-use appsEvent diagramming
  • It also opens up new possibilities for app developers to push the boundaries of current event tech trends
    • abroo041
       
      The world of technology is advancing every day. As technology grows and advances, so does its use in the events industry. This blog post discusses some of the technological advances that have made their debut in the events industry and how they can improve an event, how they help the event planner and venue, and even shows us examples of how they are used in real life. It gives statistics on how these technologies have benefit events. For example, when the blog post speaks about gamification, it mentions that "gamified events see a 44 percent increase in engagement". The post is not only suggesting to us that adding gamification is a good idea for future events, but it shows us how well gamification works.
  • Knowing event technology trends—and adopting the most valuable ones—gives planners and venues the competitive advantage
  • Studies show that using event technology can increase attendance by 20 percent and increase productivity by 27 percent. 
  • Each match automates personalized actions, such as printing a badge with the attendees name, sending an email with a scannable lunch voucher, and finalizing a swag bag for their ticket-tier (no sense creating swag bags for no-shows).
  • The technology speeds event check-ins, improves security, and helps businesses at tradeshows collect more valuable leads by tracking attendee visits to booths.
  • can also use facial recognition to watch for crowd flow bottlenecks and collect session attendance data so you know what worked—and what didn’t.
  • The ability to support advanced tech like facial recognition makes venues more attractive to corporate planners. The technology also allows automation at certain access points, which means lower manpower requirements and lower costs. 
  • Properly integrated apps add value to events, providing attendees with more opportunities for networking, interaction, and engagement with peers, speakers, and exhibitors.
  • Offering tech to support projection mapping provides bang for the buck. There’s no need to physically construct or deconstruct any part of your exhibit hall to add this fun, popular technology to your toolbox and draw more events. 
  • This visual technology is an efficient, cost-effective way to create optical illusions on anything—from cars to landmarks to stages.
  • With tradeshow or conference maps, speaker bios, and schedules in the event app, there’s no need for bulky information packets. Push notifications in the apps help keep attendees informed and on schedule. Planners can also use apps to personalize the event agenda through live polling and attract event sponsors with the option of targeted attendee surveys.  
  • Event spaces can create customized apps to share helpful info like maps, historical tidbits, and even the personalities of their unique employees
  • Easy-to-use 3D event diagramming software provides accurate, customizable, collaborative project planning regardless of venue design or size.
  • Give clients peace of mind and leave nothing to chance on the big dayUpload a floor plan to work with, so you know the diagram is to scaleTake clients and stakeholders on 3D ‘fly throughs’ to clarify your visionPlan seating charts and manage attendees’ meal choices or other preferencesHelp staff easily identify and accommodate VIPs and guests with special requests
  • Sales reps can collaborate with planners in real time, share variations on the event proposal, and visually portray upsells.
  • Attendees can use this tech to follow slide presentations, participate with quizzes and polls, take notes, and engage in text-based Q&A. They can also view graphs, tables, videos, and other content; and follow website and social media links. 
  • Any speaker can keep an audience attentive and engaged with this technology, leading to good reviews and a successful event.
  • Supporting second screen tech for presentations is much less expensive than making physical upgrades that aren’t in the budget. 
  • This data underscores the importance of social media sentiment analysis in monitoring your brand and messaging, keeping an eye on competitors, and making improvements to services during and after events.
  • Tracking attendee activity on social media during an event provides actionable data to help you make adjustments in real-time
  • Replenishing food and beveragesEasing show floor bottlenecksDriving session attendanceAddressing technology issues (mobile apps, Wi-Fi, or audio/visual)
  • Venues can social media sentiment to promote popular services and learn where there’s room for improvement:
  • Wristbands and smart badges using near-field communication (NFC) chips keep disruptions and lines to a minimum, thereby increasing attendee productivity and engagement.
  • Access different event areasExchange information with peersReceive exhibitor marketing materialMake cashless purchases
  • Wearable tech helps you speed-up check-in, control access, and monitor attendee behavior with less staffing. It also improves ROI for exhibitors, who can drive attendees wearing the tech to visit a booth of interest based on an individual’s profile.
  • On-site staff can use real-time data to learn when they need to offer overflow rooms or investigate security breaches, such as non-VIP guests in restricted areas. 
  • Indoor wayfinding helps attendees navigate exhibit halls with ease,
  • gather useful attendee behavioral data, send leads to sales team members in real-time, and build attendee profiles to send targeted messaging
  • You can also incorporate proximity advertising options as a value-add for exhibitors and sponsor
  • Post-event, you can utilize IPS data to see where attendees spent their time visiting booths and attending presentations.
  • Adding hotel bars, restaurants, spas, gift shops, and other amenities to the location map can help drive additional revenue during events while improving the attendee experience
  • store attendee admission information on their person, helping to detect fraud and streamline access
  • Attendees can review their travels throughout a tradeshow and see who they interacted with, while exhibitors are notified in real-time when sought-after prospects come into their booth.
  • Planners can generate pop-up directions for attendees based on their location at an event instead of investing in producing/shipping/replacing physical signage
  • validates your event and highlights improvement opportunities by tracking session popularity, length of attendee visits to exhibitor booths, and strong tradeshow traffic.  
  • RFID and beacon technology helps security and general event staff do their job better in real-time, which is essential for building trust and streamlining crowded events
  • event planners are turning to venue sourcing platforms to connect with the perfect site for their particular event.
  • discover detailed venue layouts, capacity ranges, and on-site services
  • Venue platforms offer exceptional ROI and generate more leads through improved discoverability.
  • Convey elements that make your venue uniqueShowcase your event spaces visually with accurate floor plans, 3D diagrams, quality photos, and videosLeverage the success of past events with testimonials and social media accolades
  • artificial intelligence (AI) tech is using badge scans, social media info, and other behavioral data to match attendees with people they should meet or seminars they may want to attend. 
  • Instead of taking-up significant time pre-event and on-site manually recommending seminars, exhibitors, and sponsors to attendees, AI can do it for you—even in real-time—based on their profiles and preferences captured during registration. 
  • it requires transparency and advance notice about how you may use data submitted by attendees. 
  • Attendees entering the geofenced area triggers predetermined actions, such as event check-in, push notifications, or advertising related to the event. 
  • Planners can sell geofencing to exhibitors and sponsors to reach attendees at events, or even promote their event on attendee devices at a competing event under a separate geofence. You can also provide attendees with a better experience via seamless registration and check-in, along with automatic app downloads as soon as they walk on-site.
  • provides analytics, both post-event and in real-time to help you better understand things like the duration of an attendee’s time at an event and overall peak attendance. 
  • Hotels can serve ads promoting their brand, facility, and services to attendees at events
  • once a prospect visits an event website, ads for that event will appear on any subsequent websites the prospect visits, in the form of website banner ads, search engine results, and pop-up or push ads on mobile apps. 
  • Event marketing teams should develop relevant and creative ads with clearly visible event dates to convince prospects who have visited an event website, but haven’t yet registered
  • venues can use it to generate return visits from event planners
  • retarget attendees during events with offers for in-house services like food and beverage, spa, and discounts on extending their stay.
  • Gameplay creates an immersive attendee experience, while generating leads and booth visits for exhibitors via quizzes, scavenger hunts, and trivia on mobile apps.
  • Gameplay fosters a sense of common purpose; creates an environment of collaboration and trust; facilitates easier communication; and boosts attendee confidence. You can also gather information about attendee engagement and interests via game choices.
  • Promoting the use of gameplay on-site showcases a venue to organizations looking for facilities supporting team building exercises as well as immersive attendee experiences.
  • Event technology is a term used to describe all of the digital tools and software used in the events industry. Everything from check in & registration, to diagramming, to social media tools, and more can be considered event technology.
  •  
    RFID, event applications, wearable technology, virtual reality, and social media are upcoming popular uses for event planners. With RFID event planners are able to keep better track of the guests attending the event as well as keeping them more involved. I first heard of this a few months ago when attending an event and it described that a chip with RFID was placed inside the wristband-type ticket. For me, the most interesting thing is the wearable technology! Imagine an event where you can have directions given to you or a layout of the event right on your wrist! Also, the watch can notify you of events happening within an event or you can see order your food or see the menu. To know that soon enough it will be a norm for everyone to have some type of wearable technology and that event planners can truly get the guests involved through this use is exciting.
  • ...2 more comments...
  •  
    This article discusses five major event technology trends. The first is RFID, which can assist in registration time but even more important is being used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. This kind of data acquisition is great because it allows for planners to analysis, study and understand what worked and didn't work for their events. The second is multi-use apps. These apps allow the event to incorporate important aspects like activities, scheduled break down, and speaker info all at once. Additionally these apps allow attendees to socialize with other participants, and expand their network. The other technologies are some that can definitely change the industry once they are fully integrated. These include: wearable technology, virtual reality, and social media.
  •  
    Nowadays the event planning becomes more and more popular. With the development of event planning, we have 5 event technology trends shaping the future of event planning. The first on is RFID-radio frequency identification. In addition to speeding up registration time, incorporating RFID technology into events will help with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, thereby making it easier for planners to target what worked during their event and what didn't. In this way, it will be easier to foster repeat attendees. The second one is multi-use apps. It's easy to use apps to solve problems. event apps that can continue to deliver value to customers beyond the date of the event itself are going to become a huge trend. The third one is wearable technology. Like google glasses should be a trend in the future. Facial recognition and contact information make the event planning more easier. The fourth one is VR. VR is a great way to up attendee engagement during events. The last one is social media. Social media will be a really important trend. Social media is more than likely the way that investors and sponsors will advertise your event.
  •  
    This article introduces four new advances to technology that help ease the process of event planning. Projection mapping, 5G, Branded multi-use apps, and event diagramming.
  •  
    This article shares the technology innovation with meeting/convention operations and how these technology help offer better guest satisfaction.
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Event Management Software Steals the Show | ReadItQuik - 5 views

  • t helps in improving workflows by maintaining large volumes of data and assisting event organizers in coordinating, planning, analyzing and sourcing data, and ensures a successful event by providing uninterrupted information. Such event management technology can automate processes such as venue sourcing, ticketing, floor planning and expense tracking in order to streamline the overall management operation. 
  • Event management software enables event organizers to send and track invitations through a portal where an attendee list gets generated, as well as monitors ticket sales using a single platform.
  • Social media platforms are usually integrated with most event management software and are also inter-linkable with multiple platforms. These platforms are effective media for promoting and marketing events, social programs and campaigns
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • These e-tickets reduce chances of duplication as they contain a unique bar code verification that is scanned at the venue after completing all the payment formalities, either online or by cash.
  • Further, the software initiates an e-ticket generation process after the completion of registration formalities which is then sent to the Invitee’s registered email account or via text message
  • Event management software based on cloud technology allows efficient and easier management of event data from any remote location. Moreover, cloud-based event management software is capable of providing a quick fix to any system bugs or errors. 
  • Cloud-based event management software is more cost-effective as it eliminates any major need for on premises IT infrastructure setup, allowing greater scalability
  • I
  •  
    This article discusses the role and benefits of cloud-based event management software in planning and executing events. Software enables event managers to improve workflow, manage venues, and track various types of information in a timely and consistent manner. Software is especially useful in monitoring the progress of ticket sales and invitations, where event organizers can follow up on attendees that did not respond yet. It also helps prevent ticket duplication and enhances security by sending tickets with unique codes to attendees' e-mails. Event management software can also be integrated with social media platforms which boosts the promotion and the visibility of a given event and its ultimate success. Financially, such software leads to cost savings because it does not require investment in infrastructure. From operational standpoint, cloud-based software offers real-time, remote access and fest error resolution. This article helps me better understand improvements in operations that cloud-based software system brings in event management. I am also able to explore the vast field of using software technology. Before reading this article, I was not aware of the benefits of the cloud-based software system in event management. Now, I gained a better knowledge about advantages like accuracy of data for large events, to real-time tracking needs to manage ticket sales and event attendance, and permanent connection and access to various files and records. Such access is vital when an event manager is in charge of multiple events that are at different stages of preparation: some may be in planning stage and others may be in execution stage. The ability to fix errors quickly is a major benefit for event planners that are small businesses. For this reason, an individual wedding planner will probably have peace of mind by using such software.
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Going livestream: How in-person summits have become virtual events - 0 views

    • yvenisem
       
      My thoughts exactly, there is a missing element
  • So how can a business possibly recreate that kind of experience online?
  • there’s been increased dependency on technology to help support business continuity
  • ...8 more annotations...
    • yvenisem
       
      I think the reason for this is that many people don't have the funds or time to travel long distances, but this format is much more accessible. Plus, it was free so that helps lol
  • adding that the online event had more than three times the usual number of registrations
    • yvenisem
       
      relates a lot to this week's discussion on relying on tech too much
  • (the virtual conference was free to attend this year, whereas it usually costs upwards of $1,000)
  • created 14 local events in various languages and time zones, with regional heads addressing their relevant markets.
    • yvenisem
       
      This is definitely much more accessible. This can also do well in terms of revenue for future events
  • switching to being an online speaker isn’t quite the same. “You don’t have the body language, you don’t have the eye contact,” she explained.
    • yvenisem
       
      This would be my main concerns in producing events. I feel like ther has to be a personal element to it instead of just looking at people through acomputer screen
  • vents organizers may be encouraged to film their speakers in a way that works better for a small-screen format, instead of the usual “dark room with a very small person,
    • yvenisem
       
      this could be a hybrid thing
  • “While online events might seem less permanent, there’s actually a much higher chance that any misdemeanors or breaches of copyright or online regulation will be captured or stored.”
    • yvenisem
       
      I never considered this, but this definitely has to be something to consider when in something like this
  •  
    One of the main reasons why I chose this article is because my industry is currently seein a huge shift in the way we do things that can either stay or have impressions in the industry after COVID. One of the main concerns when it came to in-person events going online is how we would be able to recreate the same experience. Several large events that see thousands of people had to convert to online platforms. For example, "in 2019, around 20,000 people attended SAP's Sapphire Now conference in Orlando". Imagine 20,000 people logging on to view the same same content an then some! In this case, the event saw larger audiences with "more than three times the usual number of registrations". Granted, the conference was free to attend this year. However, now that this conference was more accessible to people who in normal circumstance would be unable to attend due to time and fianancial constraints, it was a no-brainer that more people would attend. This bodes very well in terms of revenue for the future since if those extra 40,000 people enjoyed it, they would most likely be willing to pay for the service and consider the event and investment. I think the wider topic of the article is accessibility. Before technology, it was harder to bridge the gap between the haves and the have nots. Now that technology is becoming more accessible (in the first world), many are better able to see beneficial information. Not only that, but when considering the "14 local events in various languages and time zones", people are better able to cast wider nets. This article wasn't all good, however. One thing that many people have not adressed that I as an event professional am concerned about is the fact that going online is just not the same. A speaker said in an interview that it's harder to ready body language, which can impact how much a speaker is able to reach their audience. Another thing that has to be given intense consideration is the fact that there can be some legal ramifica
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The GDS=Good, Darn Sense | TravelDailyNews International - 1 views

  • by focusing primarily on increasing their direct bookings
  • Today, hoteliers
  • GDS
  • ...41 more annotations...
  • bring in high-value, corporate guests or other guests who decide to book with travel agents?
  • been overlooked by many hoteliers, the GDS is still a very viable booking channel
  • hoteliers
  • put
  • on the back-burner
  • GDS
  • when
  • success of the online channel.
  • The use of travel agents is, once again, on the rise -
  • now highly valued
  • expertise
  • ability to build complex, multi-stop itineraries quickly, affordably and with little fuss
  • appeal to the luxury segment
  • best possible experience
  • r.”
  • taking home anything less than 100% of the revenue from each booking has become unacceptable,
  • here is a fee associated
  • effective distribution channels just because they have a cost of acquisition
  • they eliminate
  • smaller percentage than what most hotels pay in commissions to the top OTAs.
  • you still use them
  • about the OTAs
  • gripe
  • and pay the high commissio
  • you know it works.
  • GDS
  • opportunity
  • corporate bookings!
  • bulk
  • ravel agents,
  • visibility
  • cost of acquisition of a booking from the GDS/travel agents is lower (than the OTAs)
  • visibility
  • o a whole new segment of travelers: corporate and/or luxury travelers.
  • leisure travelers
  • book
  • corporate travelers are less concerned about the rate
  • primarily on price
  • business travelers typically spend more money on-site
  • break-even on GDS bookings because the higher room rates PLUS the ancillary revenues
  • GDS is, once again, a viable distribution channel for your property
  •  
    The article's main point ties into the third question on this week's discussion: is there a need for the GDS today? Hoteliers have recently been focusing on the OTA sales channel, which leads them to ignore their high-value, corporate guests, and guests who like to use traditional travel agents. The main reason for this is because hoteliers do not want to pay the fees associated with GDS's; however, they are still paying commission fees to OTAs. On average, hotels pay a 20% fee to a GDS when a room is booked, which is typically less than what is paid in commissions to the top OTAs. So why do they still use OTAs and pay the fees? Because they work, and GDS's work also. By eliminating a tried and true method such as the GDS, you are shooting yourself in the foot by getting rid of an effective channel that was bringing in revenue. The author argues that a GDS is still useful in creating more visibility and increased revenues from bulk bookings, travel agents, and especially from corporate and luxury travelers. Corporate and luxury travelers are less concerned about price and typically pay higher rates. They also spend more on ancillary charges in the hotel, which leads to recouping some of that money spent on fees. Given this perspective, I would agree with the points made in the article and how the GDS is still a viable system to be used today. It is especially important to gain exposure to corporate travelers, which is a big market that you don't want to leave untapped.
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5 Best POS Systems for Hotels | Book Guests With Ease - 0 views

  • It works with a variety of amenities such as restaurants, travel desks, spas, minibars and much more. It comes with unlimited built-in POS System terminals.
  • Hotelogix lets you settle payments through different modes. It accepts multiple currencies, processes credit cards or generates bills directly to the company.
  • Allowing management to gain greater control of all departments by merging operations together, like Housekeeping POS, Front Desk POS, etc.
  • ...29 more annotations...
  • Making packages and inclusions will help up-sell services.
  • The main focus is to make lasting connections that enhance guest satisfaction, boast an efficiency of staff and operational workers and grow revenue opportunities with automated engagement.
  • Restrictions can be set up to restrict users to perform critical actions like night audit.
  • On-premise or installed deployment feature is not available in the POS System.
  • You can easily promote your hotel through various channels with a variety of inclusive packages and rates.
  • This avoids the need to print multiple receipts and cause inconvenience to the guest.
  • This POS system caters to scheduling activities, food and beverage and more.
  • It also expedites the traditional check-in and out experience which mostly causes dissatisfaction.
  • It protects the guest’s payment data and reduces the risks, costs, and compliance by tokenizing each transaction with point-to-point encryption (P2PE).
  • The customer service staff is not always able to solve your issue at once, but their team can submit a ticket and get any errors fixed within a reasonable timeframe.
  • Allow customers to pay their entire bill and room costs at checkoutVerify that the billing is accurate by putting all charges on one billCombine bar, restaurant, and room service charges for any roomMatch specific menus to any display device to any area in your hotel
  • You can connect and share data in real-time with this POS system.
  • Assign special permissions to managers or cashiers, giving them the ability to view sales numbers or simply manage inventory.
  • The interface also allows for seamless billing for any and all room service requests.
  • You can track products easily and see if they are near the minimum or maximum level.
  • If you own multiple businesses, you can use Bepoz to keep track of all of your businesses.
  • Bepoz does not provide installation or an on-premise option.
  • LS Retail provides a holistic solution to all your worries by giving you a transparent and enhanced view of your hotel’s entire business operations.
  • With LS intelligent analytics tools, businesses can track and study their customer’s past interactions and preferences to make their guest profiles more meaningful.
  • LS Central for hotels gives an option where it can be deployed solely in the cloud, on the hotel premises, or both at the same time – whichever way suits your business profile in the best way.
  • It gives a complete overview of your hotel’s current occupancy, its housekeeping, along with all the extensive analysis required by the management to make necessary decisions.
  • It is a single platform that minimizes costs because it reduces the number of vendors and other systems that are otherwise needed for resolving all hotel-related business issues.
  • There is nothing more important than booking guests. Using a hotel POS system can help this process become quick and easy.
  • The average consumer is more likely to go for a package deal, given that they are getting good value for their money.
  • If the client makes an online reservation, the information will be distributed in real-time.
  • You can print these reports and give a detailed review such as payment balancing totals, customers served, average customer and much more.
  • Rewards deals can often increase sales.
  • Our recommendation is to consider Hotelogix or Agilysys, as they are user-friendly and have effective loyalty and sales tools.
  • The features are very comprehensive and fit for both large and small hotels.
  •  
    This article looks at the 5 best POS systems for hotels including Hotelogix, Agilysys, Lightspeed Retail, Bepoz, and LS Retail. It breaks down what makes each system different and the pros/cons associated to each of them.
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Why Being First Might Lead To Being Last | Inc.com - 1 views

  • First movers must deal with far more unknowns, given the idea is untested in the market. First movers have far less data to leverage for decisions making. First movers have fewer opportunities for collaborating with other professionals who might add value to the idea. First movers will have a more difficult time assembling a team that can execute, because more than likely there are few people available with the experience needed. First movers will often find it difficult to lead, as the business inevitably will hit bumps and meet hurdles that will require consistent adaptation and even deciding to pivot entirely. 
    • kmira026
       
      Benefits of wait and see approach
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Hotel Accounting: Three Trends on the Horizon | Hospitality Technology - 0 views

  • the behind-the-scenes services and solutions that power the guest experience are evolving just as quickly
  • M3, a cloud-based financial platform for the hospitality industry, recently hosted hundreds of hospitality accounting professionals from across the globe at its biannual Partners’ Meeting. The event allowed hoteliers to see first-hand how quickly the industry is evolving to help solve real-world issues facing today’s hoteliers.
  • Customized technology that allows properties to work more efficiently in a way that makes sense for them will continue to gain traction in the hospitality accounting industry.
    • anonymous
       
      1. Smarter, personalized solutions are putting time back into the hands of hoteliers In order words saving time by cutting back on things that used to take up a lot of time but now would be much faster and quicker to do with the help of technological advancements. This will give hotel managers the chance to spend less time on their computers and instead more time helping guests.
  • ...16 more annotations...
  • Insight enables users to create custom reports with data from the industry’s most recognized data providers, along with operating statistics, brand data and proprietary M3 financial and labor data into a personalized, actionable dashboard allowing hoteliers to make real decisions in real time
  • can save hours of time previously spent manually exporting data to create various types of reports
  • M3 recently debuted a new electronic imaging solution that relies on Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to extract key data from imported documents and eliminate the need for manual input.
    • anonymous
       
      2. Automated Imaging (AI) is changing the way accountants do business. AI would be very beneficial as it is very accurate and it has a memory which saves important information and the more one uses it the faster it works.
  • The more a hotelier utilizes this system, the easier it becomes, as the solution learns and stores critical information, significantly speeding up A/P workflow with each use.
  • millennial employees play a critical role in helping to identify valuable trends as well as negative trends in need of adjustment.
    • anonymous
       
      3. Millennial employee is just as important as the millennial guest. Given that the millennial generation are the more tech savvy generation it is equally important to have them as guests as it is to have them as employees. Not only are they up to date with all the technological equipment but they also know what trend are happening now.
  • harness the potential of employees in this age range or risk getting left behind or over investing in archaic solutions.
  • It used to take days to add a new hotel to our system, but we’re now able to get up and running in an hour or two through cloud-based tech solutions.
  • employers can maximize productivity and buy-in from the millennials on their payroll.
  • the behind-the-scenes services and solutions that power the guest experience are evolving just as quickly
  • Day-to-day processes are becoming smarter, more efficient and more streamlined, saving hotels and property management firms both time and money in the process.
  • #1. Smarter, personalized solutions are putting time back into the hands of hoteliers.
  • Successfully managing these assets demands cutting-edge adaptable solutions tailored to our industry.
  • allowing managers to spend less time behind a computer and more time in a hotel’s lobby interacting with guests.
  • #2. Automated Imaging is changing the way accountants do business.
  • #3. The Millennial employee is just as important as the millennial guest.
  • . In hotel accounting, the bells and whistles of excessive new technologies take a back seat to real solutions proven to boost bottom lines, which allows hotels to run leaner and more efficient than ever before.
  •  
    The article talks about three trends that are happening now within the hospitality industry relating the accounting topic.
  •  
    The paradigm shift of technology is shaping the hotel business and powering up the operational and financial performance. we witness increased automation and intelligence in Hotel Accounting Services out there. The robust Hotel Accounting Software even leverage the Business Intelligence, in delivering the insights on key performance indicators . Accounting Software can not only help hotel saving cost but also can help hotel increase productivity
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How hotel chains are tackling the cybersecurity challenge - 1 views

  • With customers getting increasingly tech-savvy and looking for better deals, smarter platforms, and intelligent options when traveling, the hospitality industry is struggling to protect margins.
  • As a result, the industry is undergoing a period of consolidation.
  • This is exactly how Marriott International became the world’s largest hotel chain — it acquired Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide for US$13.6 billion.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • However, at the time, due diligence failed to discover that Starwood had fallen victim to a data breach prior to the deal which exposed customer data of 500 million guests and subjected the hotel to penalties from regulatory authorities.
  • For those in the hospitality industry, looking to acquire properties or not, cybersecurity should be something to pay attention to — after all, the risks of not defending against cyberattacks could be catastrophic with regulators tightening the noose on those that fail.
  • Given Marriott’s size and cash reserves, it was able to weather the hit it took in the stock market, compensate (loyal) customers, and cough up the fines levied on it. Others might not.
  • “The hotel industry is at risk of attacks, such as malware and ransomware, where criminals try to either steal data or exploit organizations for a pay-off. The majority of these threats come through over email, often in malicious links.
  • The incident, of course, hasn’t dampened spirits at Marriott.
    • tcale003
       
      When Mariott bought other smaller hotels and added them to their inventory, they were not careful about their cyber-security and there was a data breach. The hotel industry is at risk of being attacked by things such as malware and ransomeware. Hotels need to pay attention to Cyber-security or risk having criminals steal valuable information.
  • Hotels house banks of sensitive
  • Hotels house banks of sensitive
  •  
    email security is a good defense against cyberthreats in the hospitality space because it not only helps fend off attacks but also sensitizes staff to risks in cyberspace and provides them with basic awareness and education.
  •  
    Mariott learned the hard way about the importance of cyber security! By inquiring a hotel for their boutique hotel line, it wasn't until after the fact that they realized that the hotel had been hit by a huge data breach in their system. Luckily, Marriott has the resources and reputation to deal with the issue. But a lot of these smaller hotels do not, so the damage to them could be catastrophic.
  •  
    "The hotel industry is at risk of attacks, such as malware and ransomware, where criminals try to either steal data or exploit organizations" Majority of threats come through over email, often in malicious links. deploying email security is a good defense against cyberthreats in the hospitality space because it helps fend off attacks.
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Why Hotels Go Green? - 1 views

  •  
    Going green is one of the hottest trends in the hospitality industry, but why? General speaking, there are two reasons: Benefit hospitality industry. Through increased efficiency, hospitality facilities can reduce costs, achieve environmental results, gain recognition, win new business, and be more attractive to employees. Protect the environment. Help to conserve natural resources by preventing pollution in regions with a large concentration of hospitality facilities and high resource use. To be specific, there are below several benefits: 1. Cost savings. Going green can maximize energy efficiency and reduce waste. A hotel can reduce its energy consumption by 20-40%. Substantial cost savings can makes hotel more profitable. 2. Competitive advantage. Over time, green practices will be more treasured in the hospitality industry, particularly as the continually rise of non-renewable energy cost. Green programs can also provide a competitive advantage by being recognized for green efforts. 3. Employee retention Environmental programs have proved to be an effective ways of generating enthusiasm and motivating staff to work as a team to achieve a common purpose. The high level of staff enthusiasm and motivation reduces employee turnover rate, in this way, business could save money in training of new staff. 4. Customer loyalty Business which has green practices makes customers feel responsible and reliable. Customer loyalty will increase once they have experienced hotels which have show their environmental commitment. 5. Regulatory compliance Being aware of green and take green practice will avoid potentially higher future costs which may be associated with compliance. 6. Risk management Going green helps companies reduce their environmental risk and potential liabilities. It also can secure investment and reduce their financial and reputational market exposure
  •  
    7.Cause it's the right thing to do! Business should pay more attention on protecting environment as business growth. Going green is a reflection of business take social responsibility. Larger businesses have been criticized as being the main culprit in releasing excess greenhouse emissions, climate change, environmental devastation, and unfair treatment of employees. The planet is unique, so lager businesses need to increase focus on protect environment.
  •  
    Going green is definetely a smart move for the above reasons, but it is also a good idea because it is trendy. People want to stay in forward thinking hotels and feel like they are on the edge of technology. Green hotels will get more attention and ultimately more business simply because it is popular. Investors want to put their money towards the wave of the future. As an Oregonian (tree loving hippies, wink) I embrace the attention being given to a greener way of doing business. It is really the best move for all of us, business and society as a whole.
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19 Event Trends You Need to Know for 2020 | Social Tables - 0 views

  • Planners should adjust budgets to a
  • nticipate higher rates, and book event space as early as possible.
  • This year’s mantra is “book now!” The longer you wait, the more you’ll pay. Or even worse, you won’t find a viable space for your event.
  • ...52 more annotations...
  • Planners will try to book events further in advance. This leaves hotels and venues in a pickle: Taking early bookings could mean missing out on higher-value events later.To avoid missing out on revenue, hotels and venues need to segment business intelligently. That way, you can avoid the pitfalls of traditional lead-scoring biases that hurt RFP management.
  • In 2020, brands will invest in events as a marketing channel. In fact, in a recent event marketing survey, 52% of respondents said that event marketing drove more business value than other marketing channels. (Only 8% said it drove less business.)
  • Planners should create ample private meeting spaces and “collision spaces.” Some events do this by providing fewer chairs than attendees. With fewer empty seats, they’re encouraging movement and interaction.
  • Large, minimalist spaces with easily accessible bars are the perfect recipe for a networking event. Venues like this can use the networking angle to promote event space to corporate clients.
  • These attendees blend the worlds of business and leisure. It’s given rise to a new, multi-generational segment that drives destination decisions. (See: our Hotel Market Segmentation Guide for more on this.)
  • Attendees want more control over the event agenda. In fact, 96% of the Social Tables audience believe events are expected to be more personalized than ever.
  • 16. Sustainability will be center stage at events.
  • For proposals, try showcasing multiple event-specific variations. This adds value for the planner by helping them better meet their event objectives, while adding value for the hotel or venue as an upselling technique.
  • According to Billboard, there over 800 annual music festivals in the U.S. alone, and they attract 32 million attendees in total. 14 million of those attendees are (surprise, surprise) millennials.
  • At smaller levels, adding performances to the agenda can go a long way in engaging attendees. However, for larger events, creating a festival-like atmosphere requires access to a variety of spaces that are exclusive to one group.
  • A bigger focus on wellness could revolutionize F&B — replacing beef with the proverbial Brussels sprout.
  • While you don’t need to offer 11 choices for every hour, you can empower attendees to mold the event to meet their individual needs.
  • Sustainability initiatives are your chance to make a positive impact while painting your brand in an equally positive light.
  • Meetings are growing and evolving rapidly, and each is an experiment in applying new methods to find a perfect formula.
  • Industry Performance TrendsAttendee Experience TrendsMeeting Destination TrendsEvent Technology TrendsMeeting Design Trends
  • Demand will continue to outpace supply
  • be dynamic, you have to be flexible, and–above all–you have to be in tune with attendee desires.
    • cleon087
       
      This takes a special person and not everyone can so this.
  • Meetings are growing and evolving rapidly, and each is an experiment in applying new methods to find a perfect formula.
  • predicts 5-10% growth in demand. At the same time, the development pipeline is slowing.
  • It’s also the spontaneous conversations that come with serendipitous networking.
    • cleon087
       
      It's important to be connected because that is what sets you apart.
  • nticipate higher rates, and book event space as early as possible.
    • cleon087
       
      Rates constantly vary and it is important to be up to date and book ahead of time.
  • At the same time, face-to-face time takes a hit — making it a more treasured commodity in our modern world.
  • redict it’ll grow about 2.41% in North America. CWT expects an even higher hike of 3.7%.
  • Planners should create ample private meeting spaces and “collision spaces.” Some events do this by providing fewer chairs than attendees. With fewer empty seats, they’re encouraging movement and interaction.
    • cleon087
       
      I like this idea because it makes people talk to each other and not be seating all the time.
  • Why? Well, take the speed of your current 4G LTE smartphone internet and multiply it by 1,000. (Think: putting the Millenium Falcon into hyperdrive.)
  • For events — especially large-scale events — sustainable initiatives are now the expectation.
  • Fast, reliable WiFi will soon become the norm, opening up new engagement opportunities and nontraditional venues for events.
  • “I think many hoteliers will be unhappy with the significant investments they are making now into cabling that will become obsolete just as soon as 5G launches.”
  • Apps present an opportunity for personalization and engagement at each stage of the event lifecycle.
  • Hotels and venues are developing sophisticated apps that enhance the in-venue experience. Whether it’s Wembley Stadium’s virtual tour guide or Marriott’s sophisticated in-app chatbot functionality, branded apps are adding value in multiple ways:
  • everage lobbies, rooftops, and other communal areas for networking events.
    • cleon087
       
      Depending on the type of the event, is what makes you decide what to highlight about the space or not.
  • Because today, 86% of consumers expect companies to act on social and environmental issues — and they’re more than ready to vote with their dollars.
  • 0% of event planners reported that their jobs require more experience creation than just 2-5 years ago
  • Content:
  • Destination
  • Technology:
  • 90% of respondents stated that event security should still be a top priority for the industry.
  • That could mean avoiding coastal destinations during hurricane season or avoiding certain areas of the city to ensure safety outside of event hours.
  • . Event diagramming software can help in this regard by allowing venues and planners to collaborate on a single source of truth
  • Security is a significant value add and a key selling point in initial communications.
  • you’re providing any personnel, such as security, custodians, and administrators.
    • cleon087
       
      It is also important to put this in your contracts and to initially discuss it as well.
  • ess furniture, fewer seats, smaller portions, less irrelevant decor… you get the picture. A
  • reate a step-by-step safety checklist for execution during on-site setup, and another safety checklist for the day of the event.
  • Less is more when it comes to the material.
  • It’s a movement that stands in direct opposition to the gaudy ballrooms of old
  • Have evacuation plan
  • c, open floor plans that make minimalism a possibility.
  • lassic combinations of whites and greys
  • ewer seats means more mingling.
  • lutter-free to promote a clean, open feel that keeps the focus on content.
  • Hotels, however, may find themselves scrambling to reinvent their event spaces. It could be time to rethink these spaces — along with lobbies and other communal spaces that set the aesthetic tone for the hotel at large
  • Larger chains should look to boutique hotels, which create visual identities that are often more closely aligned with the appeal that nontraditional venues offer.
  •  
    The article talks about major trends in tourism events, ranging from green initiatives through F&B to the 2nd largest reason people go to events is networking opportunities and providing quiet areas where people can network in is a good idea. More events are being planned so it is necessary to book event venues early.
  • ...1 more comment...
  •  
    According to the article, in 2020 event planners will have to be more alert and ready. The need for events and meetings is growing rapidly. Due to this, planners need to be more alert and ready to book group event spaces. It would be wise to increase rates to guarantee a profit out of it. Apart from this, planners would need to book months in advance to guarantee a good spot and a decent rate. Planners now need to be open to networking and face-to-face meetings to be able to get good rates, meet more clients, and find good venues to use. A new trend occurring is how people now want their trips or days to be planned out to every detail. Event planners need to be aware to book accordingly and create am agenda for their clients.
  •  
    Like everything nowadays is evolving, also the meetings are evolving in order to stay trendy and appealing for consumers. Meetings are growing exponentially YOY at a rate of between 5-10% according to the prestigious CWT meetings and events company for 2020 (without counting coronavirus). The reality is that the meetings industry also needs to evolve in order to stay in business with the new trends, clientele and times. This list provides 19 trends that every event planner needs to consider to make their event a success, including but not limited to the new demographics in the world (millenials).
  •  
    This article is about 19 event trends that event planners should be informed about. People are expecting different things from events that in the past years where not expected. Trends have changed, for example, it is a trend now to have minimalistic events instead of gaudy ones. Now people also expect creativity out of the event and to have a unique event. People also care about security of the event and fast WI-fi. All these trends are important to know and will continue changing with the years.
18More

Hospitality Should Not Remain The Last E-Commerce Industry Regarding Prepayment - 0 views

  • High cancellation rate: According to a recent research by D-EDGE, over 23.5% of the bookings of independent hotels and 35% on-the-books revenue is cancelled before arrival.
  • Fraudulent Bookings: As the booking is not engaging the end user, some hotels may be the victim of unscrupulous visitors booking long-term stays (20 days or more) just to feed their Visa's demands for example
  • High cancellation rate: According to a recent research by D-EDGE, over 23.5% of the bookings of independent hotels and 35% on-the-books revenue is cancelled before arrival.
    • cleon087
       
      This doesn't even give a chance for the hotel to serve the guest and build a relationship with the guest.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Fraudulent Bookings: As the booking is not engaging the end user, some hotels may be the victim of unscrupulous visitors booking long-term stays (20 days or more) just to feed their Visa's demands for example
    • cleon087
       
      You reserve rooms and are expecting this income but then it turns out to be a lie. Especially for a stay that is 20 days. I think it is crucial for hotels to come up with policies especially for extended stays.
  • widened the form of payment accepted.
    • cleon087
       
      This makes it more accessible and welcoming to all guest. If you make the payment process easier, it makes the booking easier and inviting to guest.
  • 59%* of them will book somewhere again if they are able to pay quickly the first time.
  • D-EDGE and PayPal have partnered to enable hoteliers to accept payments quickly on their hotel website, from almost anywhere around the world, in a secure manner.
    • cleon087
       
      Whenever I see that a company accepts pay pal, it always gets me happy and more likely to buy. It is easier to pay and I trust that pay pal is secure.
  • The account creation process is very fast and hoteliers can then start accepting payment instantly on their booking engine from almost anywhere around the world.
  • 267 million active PayPal users around the world and offer them a simple way to pay i
  • rate can increase up to 87.5%** thanks to PayPal solution for mobile.
  •  
    The articles goes over why Hospitality should start making pre-payment the norm in the industry. The examples given are because of high cancellation rates, fraudulent bookings, and cash flow impact.
  • ...1 more comment...
  •  
    This article discusses the massive amounts of lost revenue experienced by hotels due to their outdated methods of collecting payment. By requesting guests to pay after the duration of their stay they are leaving up to 35% of "on-the-books" revenue to be lost due to cancellations, fraudulent bookings, or invalid credit/debit cards. By allowing guests to pay for their stay at the time of booking they are collecting payment sooner and reduce cancellation risks.
  •  
    The article discusses how hotels are one of the E-Commerce industries where payment is predominately received after the service is provided and not at the time of booking/purchase like most e-commerce businesses. This practice has hindered revenue growth over the years due to fraudulent bookings, long lead times affecting cash flow, and high cancellation rate for reservations. Which is why hotels should aim to further encourage payment at the time of booking, which according to D-EDGE (a cloud-based e-commerce company & booking engine) can be done by increasing the number of payment options, exemplified by their partnership with PayPal, that enables hotels to accept payments fast and securely by integrating the widely used PayPal platform to the hotel's website.
  •  
    This article is about the importance of changing the way payment is done in the hospitality industry. There are negatives to paying after you have completed your stay. It includes people canceling before stays and people booking without any intentions of staying at the hotel.
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Hotel digital transformation in the aftermath of coronavirus | PhocusWire - 1 views

  • The hotel industry has experienced its share of crises, including economic downturns, terrorism, and natural disasters, but nothing has shaken the hospitality sector quite like the COVID-19 pandemic
  • While hoteliers make decisions about layoffs and closures, hotel technology companies are grappling with emerging trends that will shape the future of the industry. 
  • In this article, we'll discuss six long-term trends that coronavirus has accelerated. We’ll connect these trends to technologies that are likely to see a surge in popularity in the aftermath. 
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • this time will undoubtedly accelerate the long term trend towards digital transformation in hospitality in a variety of ways that will create a stronger hospitality industry in the medium to long term.
  • n the past, hoteliers might not have given much thought to managing their hotel from afar, but during this crisis, it became evident that technology solutions that employees can access remotely are crucial to keeping operations on track. 
  • loud-based property management systems enable hoteliers to manage their properties entirely off-site, from man
  • aging reservations to setting rates, in contrast to older local-based systems that staff can only access on hotel computers
  • cloud-based guest messaging systems allow hoteliers to communicate with their guests about reservation changes, cancellation policies, and refunds - all without setting foot on property.
  • Rehiring and training staff can be costly and time-consuming, so a savvy hotelier will look to digitization of SOPs via task management software, engineering software, and internal communication platforms to streamline the process.
  • We’ll surely see hotels reaping the benefits of leaner and more efficient operations for years to come when they realize opportunities to cut costs.
  • Hoteliers can reduce their expenses by switching payment processors, cutting vendors who charge high upfront integration fees and more
  • The only way to be this fast is to automate the revenue management process.
  • we anticipate that when the storm passes, we’ll see a rush of innovation and creativity coming from travel technology companies who can adapt to these six emerging trends.
  •  
    This article is interesting because it hits directly at the hotel industry and how the coronavirus has affected them in a negative and positive way, Yes, it has placed a temporary standstill for them and has caused plenty of layoffs and furloughs, but hoteliers are taking this downtime to brainstorm about the future of the hotel industry. How this forced remote work will make them create a more technological approach to their systems in order to ramp up sales and turnovers.
  •  
    I read you comment before I read the article and I was SURE there are no positives to this pandemic. However, you are so right! This time off allows companies to prepare for a major comeback. And, allows companies to prepare for where the industry is heading. I appreciate that the article talked about long term trends that COVID-19 will shape for the future of the industry.
17More

Are You Leveraging the Benefits of Hotel PMS Integrations? - 0 views

  • hotel property management system is not an integrated one. This means, as a standalone application, the Hotel PMS you have adopted is doing a great job by bringing in the much-needed higher degree of automation. But it lacks integration capabilities with a host of operationally imperative third-party hospitality technology solutions like channel manager, online reputation management solutions and many more.
  • #1 – Channel Manager Integration
  • The two-way integration between the Hotel PMS System and the channel manager software helps you update all the OTAs with your rates and inventory in real-time. reservations made on any OTA will reflect in your Hotel PMS in real-time, making sure that there is no discrepancy on the availability of rooms on various channels. Similarly, this integration updates reservation cancellations/modifications on all the sales channels.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • Hotel PMS that is integrated with online reputation management solution
  • #2 - Reputation Management Solution Integration
  • Benefits- Real-time and automatic update of inventory & rates across multiple OTAs- Increased online visibility of your hotel leads to more booking coming from OTAs- No more overbooking/double booking- Save time
  • #3 - Booking Engine Integration
  • Benefits- Collect personalized feedback from your guest- Analyze guest sentiment, understand their concerns and serve them better- Read and reply to reviews from 150 plus platforms- Effectively increase your online score and rating
  • The Hotel PMS System automatically sends out the email to the guest seeking their feedback on your services. This process helps increase your chances of getting more reviews from your guest and displays latest reviews online. All these help you to generate more bookings.
  • The Hotel PMS Software and Booking Engine integration turns your hotel website into a source of driving more direct bookings. Moreover, see if your Hotel PMS partner can help you with a booking engine that can be integrated with your Facebook page. This helps you get more bookings from your Facebook page.
  • It helps you turn lookers into bookers on your TripAdvisor page. Here too, you can save on hefty OTA commission fees.
  • Benefits- Get more direct bookings- Lower your dependency on OTAs- Save significantly on huge OTA commission- Earn more room revenue and increase your profitability
  • #4 – Revenue Management Integration
  • it is advisable to adopt a hotel property management system that comes integrated with a host of smart and intuitive revenue management tools
  • The PMS captures all types of discounts and refunds given on orders created at the POS in real-time and also captures category-wise POS details, so that sales are posted on appropriate account heads. Moreover, the integration also enables you to accept payments in multiple ways including cash, credit card, debit card, cheque, coupons, via online transfer methods like wallets, etc.
  • Benefits- Ensures efficient and streamlined billing process- Zero billing discrepancies, no loss of revenue- Get insights on performance of all the POS outlets at your hotel
  •  
    Using the PMS that integrates with different operational processes in the hotel can extremely benefit the managers, as they will have more time to work on improving the guests' experience, rather than supervising the operations related to PMS and other hotel departments' interactions. In this article, the different types of PMS integrations are described, along with the benefits of implementing those integrations.
4More

Hotel Property Management Systems: A New Beginning - 0 views

  • A new beginning starts with throwing out our preconceptions of what matters most and what a hotelier needs to be successful in the current highly competitive environment. The main challenges that hoteliers face need to be addressed, and today, one of the leading challenge
  • is delivering a memorable guest experience that is tailored to the unique needs/wants of each individual guest
  •  As a hotelier, you need a system that pushes you to stay current and remain flexible enough to implement any number of new systems at any given moment to meet your goals.
  •  
    This articles outlines the needs of of keeping up with current technology. PMS has been around for a very long time, but it has'nt evolved very much over time. Hotels are no longer constrained by their technology they are now unrestricted and free to do whatever they want to do.
12More

The Role of Management Information Systems | Smartsheet - 2 views

  • management information systems (or information management systems) are tools used to support processes, operations, intelligence, and IT.
  • MIS tools move data and manage information
  • The technology and tools used in MIS have evolved over time
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • MIS produce data-driven reports that help businesses make the right decisions at the right time
  • At their core, management information systems exist to store data and create reports that business pros can use to an
  • Management information system is a broad term that incorporates many specialized systems
  • alyze and make decisions
  • Using an MIS system can improve the performance of a company in many ways
  • Any organization that does not use MIS simply will not exist for long
  • Beyond the need to stay competitive, there are some key advantages of effective use of management information systems: Management can get an overview of their entire operation. Managers have the ability to get feedback about their performance. Organizations can maximize benefits from their investments by seeing what is working and what isn’t. Managers can compare results to planned performance by identifying strengths and weakness in both the plan and the performance. Companies can drive workflow improvements that result in better alignment of business processes to customer needs. Many business decisions are moved out of upper management to levels of the organization that is closer to where the knowledge and experience lie.
  •  
    This article explores the existence and significance of management information systems (MIS) in modern businesses. The article also explains the meaning of MIS, its types, and its benefits. Besides, the author explains how MIS can be improved.
  •  
    This is a great article in that it does certainly measure productivity of the industry's work force. Perhaps it will take a few years for any one who does not use the system to fail as a business, but I feel that it is more depending on the size of the business and caliber of the business itself. A little mom and pop business may not need MIS if they have established themselves and already created a brand within their community. Although a new place that is opening with a brand which is not established, MIS is perfect for them so they can cater to the clientele and become profitable by collecting data of things such as "repeat guests", "common items bought when", "trending combinations of items bought"- given what the business is and what it is selling. Overall, MIS is a very good tool to assist in building a brand either from scratch or bringing its profitability to the next level; therefore allowing the business to stay competitive.
8More

Restaurant Technology in the Post-COVID-19 World | Hospitality Technology - 0 views

  • Those who believe that business will resume under the same rules and rituals from before COVID-19 are not reading the social and emotional cues that have taken place over the last few weeks.
  • Our conventional payment models of cash and plastic credit cards are a petri dish of germs and potentially contagious agents. According to factmonster.com, a $1 bill is in circulation for 18 months; $5 bill, two years; $10 bill, three years; $20 bill, four years; and $50 and $100 bills, nine years. The number of hands that this currency will go through during the life of the currency presents a clear concern in the minds of a new germ-conscious consumer who emerging from the COVID-19 crisis will be better informed and educated about contagion.
  • The new awareness and concern over contagion will be a major driver for existing technologies to be fully implemented; this includes EMV, contactless, tap and pay, and mobile wallets. In each of these cases, there is no person-to-person transfer and the chance of passing any germs is greatly mitigated. All of these technologies have existed in the restaurant industry for years, and for the most part have been slowly and often begrudgingly adopted. 
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Organizations that do not embrace and promote a contactless payment environment will find themselves suddenly behind the operations-technology curve.
  • t has been clearly established that germs can exist on plastic surfaces for several days, and the newly educated customer base will be sensitive to the notion of being handed a menu that could easily be cycled a dozen or so times during this period. Restaurants should look to providing an option for a guest to pull up the menu on their own device as well as look to leverage digital menu board technology wherever possible. In some cases this may mean an alteration in the current serving model or perhaps new hardware to be developed that allows a server to bring a large digital menu to a table for ordering, but the intention is to avoid another concern that P-C19 customer will certainly have.
  • It would be an interesting capability should timeclocks have the ability to take a temperature either through some biometric means as part of the clocking in process, with the ability to alert the manager should anyone clock in with a high temperature.
  • Employees interact on a regular basis with POS hardware and other types of technology during the normal course of their business day. Many of these surfaces are plastic and allow germs to survive on them for an extended period of time. Surfaces like a POS touchscreen, a KDS expeditor, or a biometric thumb scanner can be used by dozens of people on any given day. It will be important for employers to look at solutions, such as anti-microbial POS screens, as well as improved cleaning habits, in order to avoid passing germs as well as to set their employees at ease. This may also be the kick-in-the-pants that the technologists need to further refine and perfect the voice ordering capabilities in order to virtually eliminate the need to use a POS touchscreen altogether. We have long spoken about the promise and potential of this technology only to see it expand rapidly in our personal lives with Google and Amazon and yet be almost non-existent in our commercial operations. Now would be a good time to step up development and implementation of this technology.
  •  
    This article is about Restaurant Technology and how it is changing due to Covid-19. It highlights technology that may be necessary for the customer as well as technology necessary for the employee.
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