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This article discusses the importance of restaurants protecting their systems and data from a security breach. This is a major issue for the food and beverage industry. According to a data security research and investigation firm, "the food and beverage industry accounted for 57% of all data breaches it investigated last year." This finding was a 44% increase from the previous year. Author Barbara King notes important risk management measures for owners and managers. Using strong passwords and non-identifying network web names are simple preventative measures. A few more include firewalls and installation of antivirus software. These must be kept updated to be effective, though.  Another preventative measure she discusses is logging all remote access and utilizing two forms of user verification for access points which are considered higher risk. Still other measures include segmenting the network cardholder data environment so it will not be a target. Finally, one of the most important security measures is complying with PCI DSS. This is essential for protecting payment data from customers and securing networks. This standard also gives important guidelines for proper handling of such data. In the end, these are all things we must do to keep and protect a loyal customer base.

This article does a great job of showing the history of the point of sales system and looking at the future of the POS System. Point of sales, or retail transactions, have been around since humans were created. Cash transactions took place between consumers and merchants, and the cash was kept in a box. The cash register, a mechanical cash box, was the first real POS System that kept track of revenues. It wasn't until businesses started using barcodes that the POS really started to change. Merchants could process sales more quickly and accurately. Restaurants were among the first to use mobile POS systems. Staff could process credit cards at the table, and place orders without ever having to write an order down. Apple, for example, eliminates the cash register altogether and handles all transactions from hand-held devices. These new systems of POS reduce labor costs and increase productivity. The elimination of written orders increases the accuracy of servers and gives customers a better quality of service. The future of the POS System is bright. Restaurants have created iPhone apps that allow customers to place their orders before they even reach the restaurant, while others let servers carry around a small computer that allows them to process transactions from wherever they are. Even more advancements are beginning to take place. Encrypted card readers and contact less payment methods will increase the security of mobile POS systems. Eventually a person's cell phone will be able to be passed over a terminal and act as a credit card. These advancements are ultimately to create more time for the guest and the business as well as make shopping more automatic. In today's society where people are controlled by the need to shop, a more automatic type of transaction is the best invention.

With smartphones evlving and getting smarter, smaller and speedier it is allowing for advances in mobile point-of-sale technology especially in the restaurant industr. There are now numerous POS platforms that support both iPhone as well as android. Tablets and iPads are also supported so that restaurants can process payments in the field with a credit card reader. Traditionally POS have been very costly and structured; now with mobile technology the flexibility is convenient, fast and user friendly. New applications allow restaurants to store customer spending patterns without retaining their personal credit card information. the use of smartphones also opens up very exciting opportunities when it comes to business-consumer communication. Restaurants can send text messages containg discounted coupons to their establishments. The key is to not over do it as customers may become annoyed with too many text messages. This article delat mainly with the restaurant industry but did mention the evolution of technological advances with the use of smart phones. Form personal experience I have used my iphone and ipad to conduct credit card transactions utilzing squareD which provides free of charge a mobile credit card swiper that is connected to the microphone port of either the iphone or Ipad. there is not monthly contract or fee. The only charge is 2.5% per settled credit card transaction and the amount is automatically deducted from the batched amount and within 1-2 business days the funds are deposited directly into ones checking/savings account. This is convenient, fast, and easy. I have been able to secure payment right on the spot instead of either handling cash which is always a ahzard or the risk of accepting checks. the use of smartphones and tbalets have revolutionozed the way business is being conducted making it fast, easy, and convenient to both cutomer and busoness owner alike.

This paper describes the PMS definitions, characteristics and applications in many industries. For example, the real estate, the hospitality industry, government offices, manufacturing and many other agencies and industries. As for the hotel industry, it provides timely and effective information to the front desk clerck what are required of the guests in hotel room. Also, it helps hotel staff handling reservations, checking guests in and out, assigning rooms and managing room inventory, and handling accounting and billing. Based on my internship experience in Raddison Hotel of Tianjin, China, the PMS increase efficiency and maximize profits. This hotel use the Opera PMS, which connected with the Internet, the information provided are in time and accurate. What's more, it's easy for hotel employees to learn and use in daily work.

Property management systems, also known as PMS, have been around for centuries but with the introduction of computers, they have been streamlined and optimized to save both time and money. These systems are used in many industries to increase efficiency and maximize profits. For computerised systems, some people also termed them as property management software. Property management systems, also known as PMS, have been around for centuries but with the introduction of computers, they have been streamlined and optimized to save both time and money. These systems are used in many industries to increase efficiency and maximize profits. People do use them for personal property but property management systems are also used in real estate, the hospitality industry, government offices, manufacturing and many other agencies and industries. Property Management Systems exists in many different terms, for example, hotel management system for the hotel industry; real estate management system for the real estate industry. For computerised systems, some people also termed them as property management software.

Nowadays, with the development of information technology, there are more and more event planners using technology to plan events. Technology will help them a lot during the process of event planning, technology makes the planning process be more and more efficient and faster than ever. In addition, it also help event planner find more information related to their event and give them more ideas to create an excellent event. Moreover, it also help planners to collect data and information in a logical way. All in all, technology not only changed our life, but also change the way the event is planned.

"Technology is often overlooked by the event planners. It seems like it's the last part of the planning process. Possibly unknown to them, they leave it until the end or let someone else handle it. This is especially true when it comes to the Internet."

This article shows the importance of bringing technology to event planning. Once we take technology into account, event planning will become more and more meaningful and at the same time technology will change a little bit of event planning.

Sentry Hospitality company has implemented Aptech Computer Systems Inc.'s Profitvue and Webvue. This web-enabled hospitality back office solution easily handles single or multi-property and multi-company accounting, and incorporates accounts payable, general ledger, budgeting, forecasting, and financials. Profitvue is used by over 500 properties! These programs are back office accounting systems to automate several financial reports and analysis functions for businesses and hospitality companies. Managers can check on a hotel's performance from anywhere using real-time access to financials at any time, from any location! Webvue is an extension of Profitvue that supports property accounting and reporting via the Internet. Coupled with Profitvue, Webvue enables properties to quickly and easily send and access financial and statistical data and generate reports through its Internet. Both Profitvue and Webvue are protected and secure to use!

The article gives a brief introduction of new developments f POS system in retail industry and how retail gain new benefits from that improvement. From the news, we can see new POS system has been improved for retails by reducing labor costs and increase impulse purchases both in store and on-line. For instance, new self-servce POS system in supermarket enables cusotmers to handle self check out reducing time of waiting for cashiers to check. What' more important this new way of checking out make supermarket hire fewer employees to deal with customers' checks. Another example is new electronic ads of recepits which promote sales of other products while customers most of time will pay attention to recepits information inseading of watching traditional ads for longer time.. As more and more websites install new pos systems, customers presents more perference of this new way of shopping online. I believe that when more and more technology come out and be applied into our life, they will definitely effects the way of life we living as they can provides us with more conveneients to our life.

This article is about a new meeting system that IHG launched for meeting and events booking across 23 of its hotels in Australia and New Zealand.It can be used by any standard web browser or smartphone. It is also equipped to handle various unique business needs including multiple types of events and attendees as well as a wide range of booking methods, payment types, languages and currencies. * Online Hotel Booking: It can help to encourage more delegates to book within the block.  * Live Event Tracking: Meeting organisers can optimise their room block contracts.  * Automated Room Lists: it can secure - eliminating the risk associated with transferring private financial detail across email.  * Increased Pick-up: It will help to maximise event traction through automated email reminders which act as an early warning system for delegates and in turn, maximise block traction.  * Professional Email Marketing: hotels are able to leverage GroupMAX's integrated email marketing platform to create new service opportunities which can be communicated to delegates prior to arrival.

After Benchmark invested in the hospitality industry's first 'private' cloud platform to host its properties' systems and data three years ago, the company has expanded to more than 38 properties. All Benchmark systems and property data are centrally hosted at the data center, and Profitvue handles accounting for Benchmark's conference centers, resorts, and condos. The Profitvue enterprise accounting system is flexible so reports can be built that compare metrics from similar properties. PCI compliance was another advantage of Benchmark moving data to the cloud.

This article discusses the unknown impact on the structure of the fees of debit card transactions that is more commonly used in restaurants as a form of payment. The impact of the Durbin Amendment has not made an significant role in whether restaurants or hotels will feel the need to invest in anti-fraud technology. Even though most restaurants are in need of this type of technology. I wonder what the impact this would make on the restaurants if they were to invest in such a technology would it make it easier to track fraudulent charges made, and combat them. What do restaurants do in cases when fraudulent activity has taken place? How do they account for it on their inventory side? On the sales end the transaction will be decline by the vendor of the card but the options left for restaurants are to "eat the cost". How is this handled?

Being ahead of the curve in IT investment can assist in an increase in ADR's and occupancy percentages, which translates to revenue. Mobile technology can assist streamline the guests' check-in/check-out process and offer other amenities via mobile technology. Social media technology offers a plethora of information for marketing and revenue management purposes as well.

The central reservation system plays major role in the hotel industry. It's a system that is used to store and receive information and handle transactions related to air travel, hotels, car rentals and even activities. It all started in the 1950's according to travel tripper by the following decade hotels begun using it world wide. However, with the internet constantly growing and inventing new distribution channels and booking methods. It's making it harder for hotels to keep up with this ever changing market some have left their most profitable booming channel fall behind. In my findings after reading this article, the central reservation system must find ways to evolve to compete with online travel agencies. Because many travelers are using third party distributors that offer better user experience and hotel are seeing a slimmer profit margins as their share of direct bookings shrink.

In order to combat cyber attacks within the hospitality industry, the National Restaurant Association and PCI Security Standards Council have partnered. They have created.. "Small Merchant Taskforce, which raises payment card security awareness for the hospitality industry." With cybercrime increasing it is a necessary step to take, not all businesses, especially small, can afford the "best" cyber security systems. This task force will help educate various members and help find solutions to protect businesses and customers. "A study by Verizon stated that 99 percent of breaches in 2014 were caused by known vulnerabilities with fixable patches." That being said, all business operators need to take the initiative and be proactive when it comes to handling customers' private information.

I think one the biggest issues related to cyber attacks is that owners are not aware of the issue. So it is important to educate them and help them understand the importance to budget cyber security into their expenses. I am glad that the task force is taking that step to help protect business owners and customers from cyber attacks.

An Event planner has an interesting, fun and time consuming Job. The main tasks of event planners are to coordinate and manage conferences, meetings and parties. Some planners work exclusively organizing a specific type of event, such as those who specialize in wedding planning. Others may work with large corporate clients or smaller private groups. Many planners run their own businesses, while others may work for event planning agencies. Due to the nature of the work, many planners work long and irregular hours. As far as for Education requirements, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that there are no universal educational requirements needed to start a career as an event planner. Nevertheless, they need a certain set of skills, and one way they may be developed is by completing a bachelor's degree program in hospitality, communications or public relations. Common core classes in these programs include risk management, event coordination and professional ethics. Some programs allow students to specialize their education through courses specifically intended for wedding planning while other programs may feature courses for students interested in careers organizing sports and entertainment events. Furthermore, it is very important that event planners have phenomenal communication and organizational skills.

This article introduces the requirements to be an event planner. For the education requirement, although the BLS reported that an event planner does not need the universal education, event planner needs some skills from the bachelor's degree program. As a professional event planner, they should get many skills from the special program in the hospitality university. On the other hand, event planner should at good at communication. As they always communicate with clients that need good ability of oral and writing. And the event planner should have excellent organization skills to handle different clients simultaneously. In addition, more experiences the event planner have that will attract more clients or events.

Commentary - Corporate meetings and events are on the rebound after the recession, but many organizations are also rethinking how technology can help them plan a more budget-friendly and productive business meeting.

Since corporate meetings and events have been suffered recession for quit a while, new they are facing a revolution of high-tech event planing to be more cost saving and more productive. This article mainly introduces those tochnology tools like database tools, attendee registration tools, video/web conferencing tools and even room diagramming tools for event and meeting planing oever the Internet.

KingSmart is a popular and successful HPMS because of its automatic, flexible, and customised. Similar with most HPMSs, it can be installed in any types of hospitality establishements. At the same time, it can help each departments within the hotel finish their work more efficiently. It can cover all aspects of daily operation in a hotel such as reservation & registration, group handling, yeild management, sale & marketing, housekeeping modules, revenue management, and so on. Among these aspects, I think some of its applications are more necessary in modern hospitality environment. First of all, KingSmart allows us to run a hotel in its maximum capacity through its powerful, comprehensive, and flexible tools. In addition, managers can increase the profit without any other efforts except using this smart system. KingSmart can force the operaton toward the most profitable rate depending on some marketing strategies installed by managers before. All of the other works are processed by KingSmart automatically. Another automatic application of this system is that it can assign and check in of multiple rooms by one touch of button. In my opinion, it is more important for group reservation of different preferences and behaviors. At last, it establishes a connection between the hotel and customers. Through sending some emails or messages, the hotel can target and keep some loyal groups easier. In a word, KingSmart has so many common benefits with similar softwares and some of its own advantages. It is a good choice for hotels, resorts, and other hospitality properties.

The owners of a Culver's franchise decided to install a digital signage to provide more menu information quickly because the menu board couldn't communicate enough with customers for a short time to select menu in the fast food restaurant. The challenge was how the small business owners and franchisee would handle their budget for the investment and added cost.  The problem was solved by selecting EzSign TV from LG Electronics which displays branded messaging and shows broadcast television or input content at the same time. Furthermore, the software offers a choice of more than 50 templates that can be customized with images and text. Therefore, the business can highlight the items with pictures and deliver their daily specials more efficiently.  Installation is easy, and daily specials menus can be replaced by simply clicking. The digital signage looks cleaner than old fashioned menu board, and saves more time to change menus. By implementing a system that requires limited attention from staff, Culver's can focus on customer service and deliver value. That was a good decision adopting a new technology fits in the quick service restaurants.  

In Dallas, hotels are trying to bring in technology to make things easier while bringing in a CRS system has just made it more complicated. Since there are so many online requests for hotel rooms the Central Reservation System cannot necessarily keep up with that which could be problem because if it cannot keep up then it is not going to be in a search for a new guest. InterContinental Hotels Groups is updating their CRS with a newer one that can handle the large amount of requests at one time but there is still a problem of speed. We like to see things happen immediately when we want it done and if it does not happen like that we might decide to leave the page and go somewhere else to book causing the company to lose out business. Before the internet when people needed to book hotel rooms and they went to a travel agent the agent would have to call around to see which property had availability, then find out if they property they wanted had specific rooms and rates they are looking for and then finally book the room at the specified rate. As soon as the internet came along the process became easier because it was all right there except not that much easier because it still could not do everything that we wanted it to.

Central Reservation Systems via the internet are good when they want to be and bad when they want to be. If there is a huge meeting booked last minute in a popular city during peak time there is going to be a huge influx of people trying to book hotels online at the same time and the CRS might not work as people would like it to causing people to get angry and not want to go to that specific hotel.

Central Reservation System is really a very good system which can improve the efficiency and speed of the hotel reservation.

Telecommunication is a kind of trasmission and information. In old times, smoke signal or colorful flags were used as telecommunications. Nowadays, telecommunication involves use of electrical devices such like telephones and videos.  I think there are lots of people among us working in restaurant right now. So I want to ask a question: Does it frequently happen  that the phone rings when you are crazy with customers' orders? I am always struggling in such crazy situation which leads me to bad working mood. In this article, it mentioned telecommunication method that help servers in restaurant handle with phone calls in rush hours. Instead of voice message, Automated Attendant will send voice messages directly to managers' emails, which means not have to pick up the phone to hear voice mails. It really makes sense because sometimes servers even have no time to listen to the voice mails in phones, which will let restaurant miss some important dinner reservations. So as a server in restaurant, I do think telecommunication is helpful and significant.

This article gave us a highlight information of e-business strategy, E business has been added as the latest domain in business and has become a must-have in the highly competitive technology driven open market. E Business Strategy can be summarized as the strategies governing E Businesses through calculated information dissemination. E-business can help company reach to the international market and use minimal cost. There have some E-business models, such as MRP (Material Requirements Planning), EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) or ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). And e-business strategy would general included : supply chain management, customer service and customer relationship management, inventory and service management integration and tactical operations alignment.

From this article, the-business plays an important role in today's world. By the e-business, the trade can be made on the internet. It is very convenience for the global businessman who can reduce the cost and make more profit. The supply chain management and email marketing are the essential features of the e-business. With the help of the e-business strategies, the wholesalers and retailers can handle with different products. They can discuss the price, quantity and other detail information on the internet. Else, the trade can be observed by the internet that will offer a good environment for the businessman. In addition, the effective e-business can make sure the customers will have a good service. And it also can avoid the unnecessary purchase steps and expenditures.