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This article outlines the discussion about whether the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should change their policies that were enacted in the Telecom Act of 1966.  At the COMPTEL PLUS Fall 2012 Convention and EXPO, Larissa Herda, the Chairman, CEO, and President of tw telecom urged the FCC to adapt to the new competitive technologies.  She emphasizes the importance of change going forward and discusses the Intelligent Network as an example.  She calls for the adoption of new IT Strategies for cloud services and solutions.  Above all, this article discusses the convention as a platform for the discussion of change in the tech world.

From lodging to foodservice, the point of service is the premiere place for customers to get their first - and hopefully not last - impression of an establishment. Streamlining and fine-tuning the service that occurs at the POS is of utmost important and operators are always seeking out the latest technologies to make this possible. The move to mobile payment is always top-of-mind as well, but lingering confusion and trepidation still remains for many customers. Owners and operators must seek out ways to implement the technology without intimidating customers. Last month's POS headlines proved this as stories ranged from a study tracking the public perception of mobile payment to improving drive-thru functionality and reducing maintenance costs with cloud-based systems. Study Shows Interest and Confusion Over Mobile Payments At Mobile World Congress, MasterCard in partnership with Prime Research, has released the first global Mobile Payments Social Media Study tracking 85,000 related social media comments across Twitter, Facebook, Online Blogs and Forums from around the world. The study shows a high volume of conversation and consumer interest in adopting mobile payments but cites security, customer support and confusion over the array of options available today as barriers to entry. Taco Bell Streamlines Drive-Thru Experience Across Franchises Desert de Oro Foods' Taco Bell locations had a range of drive-thru communications systems that were deployed over the last five years. However, restaurants were experiencing poor sound quality due to a limited range of wireless capabilities with the current systems. Poor audio quality led to increased wait times for customers as a result of miscommunications and mistakes. In addition, Desert de Oro Foods knew it needed to move to a digital system as the analog bandwidth of its current systems would be ruled out by the FCC at the end of 2012. Panasonic's Attune® drive-thru communications system offered the o

This article is about the incorporation of new technologies such as a tablet in restaurants. It discusses how using the new software's and services cut down waiting times within the restaurants and is generating more business. The article also explains through the point of view from managers that using these technologies have improved the flow of work in specific restaurants.  Using these new technologies is a good idea for the restaurants to use because it simplifies things for the customer. Although some people may not have text messaging, it benefits those that do. An example is in a shopping plaza that has restaurants or even in a mall; with this new technology if the wait is long customers do not have to stand in one section just to wait for a seat. These customers can walk around without the worry of being out of signal for the buzzer to go off.

It's crowded at the top of the to-do list. We've just published the 2013 Lodging Technology Study, where hotel executives reveal which technology projects are top priorities for the year ahead. Their biggest investment (20% of their overall IT budgets) will be in guest room technology, focusing first on Wi-Fi access and bandwidth, and soon thereafter on upgrading door locks. Pressure to provide ample bandwidth is on, with high guest expectations for connectivity. But at the moment, it's room locking technology that's in the hot seat. Hotel guest room technology - and door locks in particular - received national attention in recent months when Forbes broke the news about a potential room lock security flaw found in Onity locks by a 24-year old software developer and security researcher. In a highly-contested decision (criticized as poor judgment by some and applauded as necessary full disclosure by others), the researcher released specific details of how to perform the lock hack. Since then a handful of hotels have alleged that the method was used by thieves in a series of guest room break-ins. While the threat is limited to one manufacturer's locking technology, it still could impact as many as 4 million hotel rooms. Onity responded with a fix, but is charging hoteliers for replacement technology, also a decision under criticism. Hotels, meanwhile, are putting a priority on upgrading locking technology. According to our survey, which was conducted at about the same time that the news broke about the potential lock flaw, more than one-third of hoteliers (35% overall) are planning to upgrade their hotel locks. About 20% will do so by the end of 2013, and another 15% will upgrade sometime thereafter. Right now, there are plenty of fingers being pointed with regard to ownership, if the hack method becomes a repeated source of break-ins. But regardless of who is to blame, it's the guest whose safety is compromised and the hotel whose name will

Mc Donalds is now taking another step towards technology use and providing nutritional information via QR codes. Customers can scan a QR code located on their bag and be directed to a web site that list the nutritional content of their food. This is another way McDonalds is "trying" to be more health conscious with its customers and the meals that they serve. Way to go McD's. I think this technology is beneficial in several ways: 1- the obvious of providing customers with needed nutritional information 2- it is more convenient as it allows the company to make changes to the menu items and update nutritional information without having to reprint all the associated materials 3- possible marketing opportunity to print QR codes to win prizes As a side tip I think other companies should embrace this technology and instead print the QR code on the customer receipt with data corresponding to only items they ordered.

Domino's information technology as a huge competitive advantage for franchise owners is discussed in this article. Kevin Vasconi is the proud chief information officer of their e-commerce platform. "Our iPhone, Android, and KindleFire apps are all number one or two in their respective categories", according to Vasconi. The e-commerce platform provides "capacity on demand" to accomodate the increasing amount of customers using mobile/online ordering. An example is the e-commerce platform taking orders on a night when the store is ultra-busy. Vasconi also touches upon new upcoming technology projects such as digital wallets and payments, and responsive web design. He feels that these technologies "have a lot of promise to deliver tangible value for the customer". Overall, user-friendly interfaces are present no matter which way a customer tries to order, and this ultimately helps to ensure good e-commerce.

Going Green is something we all hear about in todays market and the importance of it. Many big business have been finding ways to go green any chance they get. However, with small businesses they have been slower to go green. Embracing sustainability practices for your business is something that should be practiced at any business no matter what size. With small businesses it's much more easy to move towards sustainability versus larger ones. Though their IT department don't have the financial resources of enterprise businesses. Their sizes gives them the ability to change direction quickly something that happens when initiating green practices. There are six reasons why you should embrace sustainability, which are it attracts talent, it's a market differentiator, more efficient, reduce risks, and most importantly customers demand it.

Who doesn't like to "feel good" when choosing to use a product or stay somewhere. Going green makes perfect sense. Companies that adopt green policies and procedures allow their guests to feel better about choosing their goods and services.

This article emphasizes how imperative it is for hospitality businesses to stay on the cutting edge of technology as a part of their business design and strategy if they want to survive in today's competitive market and remain in it, in the near future. The author expresses that today's hospitality market is being driven by Millennials' "the largest generation in the country's history" who patronize businesses that are socially and environmentally responsible. Armed with this information to capture their targeted market, more and more hotels are now incorporating from inception within their physical blueprint infrastructure that is environmentally sustainable and cost-effective. As well as obtaining Green certifications and implementing sustainable software to reduce waste and minimize leakages. This concept has also been adopted by cruise ship operators to reduce environmental impact through the use of technology.

This article introduces the different initiatives that the hospitality industry is taking with regard to technology in order to align with their target market or a large segment of their market. As being perceived, millennials are sought to be the largest generation in the country's history which leads companies to infer that they have a massive amount of buying power in their hands. Hospitality companies are now making strides to become more environmentally conscious. Some of these initiatives is incorporating LED lights throughout the facilities to reduce energy waste and cut down on costs. Another initiative is incorporating new systems in the guest rooms that enhance the stay while keeping it green like systems that adjust temperatures in the rooms, remotely powered shades, etc. Other companies are even using systems as a tool to help track, measure, and reduce food waste for more sustainable and effective restaurant/bar operations. It is no secret that technology is ever-evolving, and it will continue to develop as new features are discovered.

Article discusses millennials as the largest generation in U.S. history, and the speed at which technology progresses. In addition to paying attention to millennials' purchasing decisions, other industries must also meet their financial expectations. Many brands are taking steps to become more sustainable in the hospitality industry despite its reputation for producing massive amounts of waste.

I think this article goes along with our "Smartbar" discussion. The Smartbar may actually be useful in certain locations where a full time bartender may be too costly. There are obvious legal regulatory issues to contend, but at least some room for growth for the Smartbar. For other products like cupcakes, donuts or small bites, established restaurants are now tapping into the 24 hour convenience business model through the use of vending machines. I think this is a great idea for customers who want more variety than what we have been seeing at vending machines the past 10 or 20 years, which is potato chips, candy bars and nuts. For the company, this would give them more exposure and increased revenue stream at locations such as airports, hotels and hospitals where there is always people around. Some companies like Apple or Sony have been doing this for years. I can understand that they are selling a non-perishable good and the customer is ultimately only paying for the end product only. Restaurants are often involved with proving a level hospitality service as part of the product they sell and automation was not really in their best interest. But now with the explosion of Ipods and automated POS taking over the servers job, we may see more of these stand alone units serving customers. Overall, I think this is a business concept/technology that we are behind in. The article mentions that Japan has been using this concept to sell fresh food items and other items such clothing as well. From a business standpoint, given the increasing rise of competition, rent/property prices and variety of choices consumers have, these are some major recent factors which will propel this concept more.

Agilysys, one of the top providers in hospitality software solutions has just announced its new version of visual one software suite. With this new software hotel properties around the world will have an easier job with property management, front office operations, guest history, housekeeping, sales and catering, reservations management as well as many others. The new software is very efficient, effective, and easy to use. With the new software guests have acces to onine shopping where they can book rooms, set up spa appointments, golf outting tee times, and much more. Also with this new software hotels will have improved statistic and tax exemption tracking within the property management system, two-way TravelClick interface that supports inventory items and service requests, and new rate and availability calculator for easier agent booking. I believe with the introduction of this new software many mid-sized hotels and resorts will jump towards it. This will make the day-to-day business operations of the hotel run more smoothly with all data and information stored right in front of the employees with easy access. Agilysys has always been a leader in making management of a hotel or resort easier through innovative software and technology, and the introductions of the latest version of the Visual One software suite their name continues to grow throughout the hospitality industry.

Technology projects will be the biggest investments among hotel executives in 2013. This article focuses on the recent attention room locking technology has received and the priority hotels have placed on upgrading their locking technology. Although the security flaw is limited to one manufacturer, the impact will be felt among the entire industry. Guest safety must always be the top priority among hotel managers and staff. A guest room break in can ruin a hotels reputation in their respective community. Regardless of how the situation occurred a common perception is that the hotel was somehow at fault and guest safety is not a priority. As an industry we must always strive to create a safe environment for our guests. Upgrading our hotel locks, training staff proper safety procedures when entering and exiting guest rooms and proper check in procedures are what our guests demand of us to ensure their continued safety.

The following article discusses the results of a survey called, "Market Intelligence Report: Consumer-Facing Technology" conducted by market research firm, Technomic, Inc. According to the survey, consumers have a strong desire to use technology in their restaurant experience. 51% percent of customers say it's important for restaurants to integrate technology in their ordering capabilities. This includes the use of tableside touch-screen devices that enable digital ordering and at-table payments. "Technology can be used as a point of differentation within the restaurant industry, especially with Millennials," says Darren Tristano, Executive Vice President of Technomic. Several companies have already taken note of the consumer's need for technology, and are experiencing increased customer loyalty. In Kitchen 67's Brann's Cafe, every table features a wireless phone-charging station and iPads that control a digital jukebox. It's important to note that this new use of technology should be used as a complement to printed menus to avoid alienating customers. As a restaurant employee and diner, I have seen bits of technology implemented here and there over the years. Owners realize there is a need for it, but are cautious of scaring off their established customer base. I believe that with time, owners will begin to fully embrace technology and the two will benefit from each other. One aspect I am completely on-board with is the use of iPad menus. A photograph of a dish has a bigger impact on a guest than a short sentence description. Even better, the apps can suggest wine and drink pairings for each entree that will increase guest checks.

The article introduce a social networking app that used in the hotels. Guests can connect to the networking and know any other guests in the lobby. It's a Facebook-like networking app for the hotels. Users can make new friends and it's also a good way of knowing nearby restaurants and shops. However, the app mainly has employees on it so it crushes the chances of social networking with other guests.

There is a new email phishing scam that is currently targeting military members, retirees and civilian employees.  The emails are asking the targeted audience to send copies of their IRS documents and various VA award letters so they can receive additional benefits.  However, this is a scam that identity thieves are using to seal the identity of these individuals and possibly clean out their financials and ruin their credit.  People are being warned and noted that the IRS will never ask for personal information in an email.   

The hundred year old, Dorchester Collection's Beverly Hills Hotel participates in various green initiatives within the hotel as well as around the world. The hotel purchases only green products, donates partially used toilet paper, donates soap and amenities to local and global shelters and organizations. Most importantly they participate in proper e-waste of electronics.  I think this Beverly Hill Hotel sets a great standard for all hotels. Not only does their hotel practice green initiatives but they take that extra step and their employees participate in beach clean ups. 

Operators of restaurants are excited about new wait-list management software. The software allows for restaurants to use tablets technology to create a more efficient wait-list, in-turn improving restaurant operations. The employee enters the name, party size, and any other important information. Then the software prioritizes the seating by the amount of time a party has been waiting. The program also generates estimate wait times and has the capability to notify the guest when their table is available. The software goes as far as allowing for the guest to text back how long it might take them to return to the restaurant, if wondering off-site, or for them to cancel the reservation allowing other wait-lister's to be seated. Many establishments such as Red Robin, Texas Roadhouse, and Yard House now use this wait-list management software. They report that the software improves wait times by almost half. It allows for auto calls and text to communicate with guests on the wait-list. It also improve ticket flow to the kitchen all of these combine reducing the wait times. All in all the software has improved restaurant operations for these establishments utilizing the wait-list management software.

Restaurant chains such as On the Border, Panda Express, Domino's Pizza, Wendy's and Granite City Food & Brewery are investing ways to visual appeal to the customer by creating digital menu boards and building "open kitchens" to showcase the cooking. The move to appeal visually is for appearances to stay modern with their technology. Drive thrus and inside order menus are being changed to digital, LED, displays that can easily change image. Domino's is building a "pizza theater" to display lots of "sight lines" into the kitchen during full service.

With the rapid growth and increased use of the Internet over the past 2 decades, industry professional Andrey Smirnov gives 7 tips to other industry leaders on maximizing their presence in e-commerce and in consumer minds: (1) make your website quick to download and easy to find; (2) organize content by prioritizing information; (3) when offering promotions, clearly reflect it with a call to action; (4) distribute 'fresh' content on different channels (i.e., photo galleries, press releases, etc.); (5) maximize on mobile marketing; (6) embrace social media; and (7) continually improve by testing new things.

The internet is constantly changing, the way we communicate and they way we do business. The hospitality industry is always quick to capitalize on new technologies. However, the e-commerce growth in the hospitality industry has created an urgent need for simple changes to companies' presence online. So when every hotel is involved in e-commerce, why is it so important today? It is simple. Today, the internet is the lowest cost hotel-booking channel. As well as now, most travelers are searching and making hotel reservations online. Lastly, social media and online hotel reviews are increasing and have made an important decision factor. Now, hoteliers need to keep focus on what information customers are seeking and what they are looking for online. There are a few basic strategies that will help drive usage from the internet world. Some of those are: vave a search-friendly website, focus on usability and conversation taking a holistic approach and prioritize information, and lastly make websites compatible for mobile phones. If hoteliers can use the full potential of the internet, they will maximize their return on investment in e-commerce. The hospitality industry needs to constantly learn and look for ways to use the new developments and trends.

Andrey Smirnov in his article "E-Commerce for the Hospitality Industry highlights how the internet has changed the way business is done not only in the hospitality industry but as a whole. He stresses the importance of e-commerce in the hospitatlity industry and why hoteliers must utilise strategies to ensure they make the most of the marketing and sales opportunties the internet provides. There are a few things that hoteliers must do to make the most of what the internet provides. They include: (1) Search Friendly Website Design - "site download speed is one of the most important ranking factors in organic search" says Smirnov therfore hoteliers must ensure that their site is properly designed and compatible across any browser, any items that causes the site to perform poorly shoud be eliminated as internet users similar to hotel guests tend to only visit sites where they can receive the best experience yet. (2) Improve conversion and Usability - content on website must be properly organised and users must not be bombaded by information. (3)Search - Hoteliers must focus on Paid searches as well as Real time search to increase traffic. Paid searches ensure that your targeted traffic are directed right to you. Whereas with a great web design with strong content that is also timely the natural ranking of the oranisation website can be increased thus increasing tracffic to it. (4)Mobile - Mobile devices have become a popular means of conducting e-business related activities for consumers therefore the hotel that ensures that their online services are accessible from mobile devices will be putting themselves ahead of the game. (5) Embracing Social Media - According to Smirnov 93 percent of social media users expect companies to have a social presence and 85 percent of social media users want companies to interact with them on social sites. With this being said one can see why a social media presence is one that cannot be overlooked. It is important that co

The article discusses ransomware attacks on hospitality properties. A 2016 attack left guests locked out of their rooms but the threat could affect different areas of a hospitality business and cause significant disruption to their business. Properties need to be prepared for a security breach with an action plan to prevent cyber-attack. The article points out that it's important to act quickly to segment the network and try to prevent any new devices from being infected. Best practice recommends regular backups and a recovery plan, using anti malware software and being cautious with employee installed software. The most important thing a company can do is to be proactive and prepared for an attack.