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This article summaries how tablets have made it into hotel guest rooms. It begins by discussing how tablets are an exceptional idea and it describes how unique and remarkable a hotel can be. Not only is it admirable for hotels, but it is also very convenient and easy for a guest to use. This software by Intelity is very impressive, it basically lets guests control their hotel room as well as other things such as surfing through the internet. The article points out how some people may differ and think why can't a guest just pick up the phone if they need something? They explain that guests have gone beyond the point of using a phone. For instance, if they need a valet service all they have to do is pick up the tablet and let the staff know. A key factor that the article discusses is the fact that with this tablet and software system, the possibilities are endless. In addition, it eliminates the need of waiting around for answers and gives guests information about the hotel hours, services, etc. The article explains that not only is the tablet extremely efficient, but that it also cuts down spending costs of printing numerous information. In conclusion, I agree with this article about the numerous benefits a tablet can bring to a hotel. "The iPad is the hardware, but the software will never be outdated. It's always the most recent application available, and that's important in staying competitive."

This is awesome! Last summer I stayed at Bed and Breakfast in Nantucket MA where they had an IPAD for every room. When you logged on the Safari, there was a homepage that lead to all of the activities that you could possibly do or take part in on the island. It included movies, restaurants, boat schedules, sunset times etc. This was a small Bed and Breakfast so it would be next to impossible to steal these tablets. I would worry that people would steal them. Unless somehow you could make it so you can't remove them.

I posted an article about how owner's of a restaurant used an Ipad as their menu! It is somewhat similar in the sense that both industries use this advance technology to be a main factor in their business. I am sure that you can find many applications in the Ipad to guide you to everything that you can find in the hotel you are staying. I think it is a great idea and it also cuts down spending costs of printing papers like you said!

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.

This article focuses on sustainability and methods in which technology is utilized to conserve energy and waste, while also not hindering the guest experience. Hotels, similar to the Salvatore Grand Hotel, have began implementing systems such as the Verve Living System, by Zeno Controls, LLC, that provide wireless connections to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, as well as the lighting in the guest room. It utilizes sensors to activate such amenities, and enables the guest to enter the room, place their key card into a slot, and it will begin to adjust to the preferred temperature and the preferred lighting levels. Once the key card is removed, such as when the guest is leaving the room, after a very short delay, it sends a signal that verifies the room is unoccupied, and turns off these energy-consuming items in the room. Many guests, when staying in hotels, do not consider turning off their lights or air conditioning when they leave the room, and simply leave everything running. They do not realize the impact this has not only on costs for the hotel itself, but also the impact that it has on energy consumption and sustainability. With the growing awareness of being "green", guests are focusing more and more on conservation, however, they may still be slacking in these areas, leaving things on, being absent minded. This system will allow guests to not have to worry about such tasks, and controls the system of turning these items off for them, adding convenience for the guest who is environmentally conscious. I have personally seen a similar system being used in a hotel room, and thought it was a great idea, and an amazing way to control costs and eliminate waste of resources. It is also very surprising to read that the Verve Living System detects low battery levels, constant occupancy, problems with room connectivity, and rooms that are not communicating with the hotel PMS or other systems. This enables the maintenance team of a hotel to fun

This article is about a new technology POS system intergrated with iPad and iPod touch using in the restaurant, Brooklyn Taphouse. The two videos below presents how this system works. This new-tech device does show certain advantages such as saving money - costing about $7000 comapred with $20,000 of traditional system; getting away of paper work and mass in the kitchen; service delivery much faster,etc. However, a shortcoming chould be that new customers may ssume the servers entering orders but accually they texing their freinds. In a word, it is not a bad idea for a restaurant, especially for large-scale to import this technology since iPad and iPod is in the fashion for most of people.

Recently, more and more technologies are designed for wedding planning. For example, 1. Pin Your Plans: Sites like Pinterest and Lover.ly are great ways to find, collect and scrapbook all of wedding likes and ideas. 2.Wedding Photo App: Apps like Snapable let you create an online album and allow guests to instantly upload the photos they take through a mobile app.  3. Online Gift Registries: Try an online wedding registry that allows you to add anything from anywhere, or register for cash, and provides guests with a fun way to collaborate on big-ticket gifts. 4. Wedding Websites: Wordpress has made it easier with customized themes just for your wedding. Set up a free account, choose your favorite wedding theme and customize the images and wedding details, and colors to suit your big day.

As this article mentioned, for convenient menus and faster billing, Galla Pos run a platform. It introduces how to use this technology and this device will bring down the cost of the handset. In addition, visuals and various menus will assist customers to order faster and better, especially for the foreigners. As a Chinese, if the restaurant provide visuals or more description of the menu, it will help me to understand the food better. This concept will apply in more hotels later and small food joints or grocery stores. I like this idea and I believe more and more industries will apply for it because it provides better quality of service to assist the job of employees and make everything new and effective.

This article describes a new tool to measure and aid in guest satisfaction. Through a strategic partnership, Infor (a business application software company) enlists TrustYou (a market leader in online reputation management) to help create a system used to provide real-time access to positive and negative feedback from guest. There are three widgets designed to search through data and streamline them into summaries that hotels can use to enhance their customers experience. All information reported is current information, that way hotels can quickly respond to their guests. This technology is key in creating the best guest experience possible and it allows hotels to do so within a matter of minutes. The real time access feature would allow hotels an opportunity to turn a would be negative experience into a positive one. Hotels rely on "word of mouth" Marketing, especially with social networks, blogs and message boards becoming such a huge part of the daily exchange of information. We must admit, a lot of us value the opinions of our Twitter followers. It is vital for hotels to keep up with these different areas of communication so they can strategically position themselves in an ever growing and competitive market. They can address concerns immediately while at the same creating opportunities to build their brand. Hotels must utilize this advanced approach if they want to survive in this industry.

This article describes the infor company（a leading provider of business application software） and trust you（a market leader in online reputation management） built online reputation management software for hospitality industry. Hoteliers could access to the social senciment on a real time. From the customer's perspective, there are many factors related to choose a hotel form more than hundreds choices. Not only the hotel's facilities and services, but also the reputation on the internet will influnce customer's slection. Nowadays, with the rapid development of social networks, the senciment plays a great role in people's life. For example, in China, there is a web-site, named as "Quna". On that web-site, people share the travel information, rate the restaurants and hotes. The new travelers could get some ideas about the hotel choosing. Therefore, the hotel manager must pay attention to the public reputation management in time. Now, the hoteliers could access to the social senciment in real-time via a series of dashboard, embedded widgets. What's more, by this tool, the hotel employees could correction error, redeem hotel's reputation, improve customer satisfaction, and improve hotel's occupancy rate.

Recently, CCTV/Video Surveillance has had several technologically developments. Security concerns in public places are driving a demand for CCTC/Video surveillance. New software will help CCTV/Video Surveillance monitor and analyze information. The US is the largest regional market for this technology.CCTV Recorders are the fastest growing product segment. I think its a great idea to build upon and make existing technology better especially since it is used across the world.

Many airline companies use the global distribution sysytem(GDS). People can compare flight costs on every reservation in one website. But American Airlines airefares can no longer be found on Expedia or Orbitz. They built their own booking website. Actully, customers sometimes they have their own ideas, but some consumers still rely on travel agents. So there is a dilemma for both travel agency and Airline industry. We should have a positive attitude to deal with GDS.

Almost everyone has recently heard of Cody Brocious and his gadget that was implemented and utilized to unlock guest room doors in Onity locking systems. This issue has been recently broadcasted all over the news and has gained the awareness of millions of people, making travelers panic when staying in hotels, and questioning their safety and security. The truth is, behind the issue at hand, travelers have been utilizing hotels and other establishments without being concerned or conscious of their safety, and with some negligence, and lack of attention, they put themselves at risk in numerous different ways. Although Brocious' invention gained the attention of the public, and although he went out of his way to be sure that other hackers out there knew how to replicate the system and how to utilize it to their advantage, enabling hackers to enter guest rooms and steal their personal belongings without their permission, or potentially cause physical harm to a traveler as well. Stated in this article, according to Forbes, the gadget that Brocious invented has proven inconsistent in its effectiveness. That is not to say that it could not eventually be improved, but with the changing in technology, and now the gained awareness, hotels are focusing more intently on ensuring guest security through their technological outlets. Technology affects many aspects of a hotel guest's security - from internet access to credit card information, along with guest room locks and personal identity. The article also suggests numerous ideas for how guests can avoid a lot of problems with their safety in mind, including using secondary security systems on their door, ensuring closure of the room door when leaving he room, as well as never keeping your room number written down with your key. The article also focuses on how utilizing your energy to ensure that your belongings are safe in your room as you would in your own home, is energy more well spent than being concerned about someone

A digital solutions named Beyond Digital Solutions based in the United Kingdom provided a technology for an airport hotel to enable guests to check their flight status. The technology is being used at the Hampton by Hilton near the Luton Airport just north of London. The hotel "installed a digital screen in its reception area to provide live flight arrival and departure details." This system also allows guests of the hotel to check-in for flights and print boarding passes. The company Beyond Digital Solutions has provided other hospitality technology for the industry such as digital signing that helps to provide information for guests regarding the local area or activity schedules.  I personally believe this is a smart idea for an airport hotel. Having the ability to check a flight status before you leave the hotel can help guests decide if they need to leave or wait if their flight is delayed. When traveling abroad not all the time do I have access to an internet device or my smartphone, so I feel this would be convenient. If my flight is delayed for a longer period of time, I could have the ability to stay at the hotel longer if I did not want to wait at the airport for an extended period of time. Even when traveling in the United States not all the time do I think to check my flight status ahead of time. If I saw this screen I would have the option to check my flight status because it is right there in front of me. I hope to see a system like this added to more airport hotels in the future. I see this as a huge benefit to airport hotels. 

Aptech Computer Systems INC announced four hotel companies have selected Aptech's financial solutions software. All four of these hotel companies represent 17 properties that mange their own hotels. This software is a fully integrated accounting system that has business intelligence and focuses on hotels in the hospitality industry. Aptech can either host the system, or the client or a third party can. The system also helps to maintain data security, maintenance, and updates. This is one of the most widely used Business Intelligence systems throughout the industry. I think the idea of accounting software for hotels in the hospitality industry is important because there are different aspects to hotels than other businesses. A hotel sells an experience instead of a product, so there are different focuses when working on an accounting statement. The system can help a hotel focus on what only pertains to them instead of other businesses. I find the system to be interesting and useful because it can help accountants' only focus on hotel related business.

Many restaurants use their POS as their basic needs. They probably did not realize what other functions the POS has. This article introduces 3 ways to save cost by using the POS. First, it helps keep track of inventory management. It will track the products from the beginning of the day until you close. It prevents from theft and keeps track of the proper timing to order products when running low. New employees may not be trained enough to charge the proper amount of discount or daily specials meals. Instead of relying on employees to input the correct price, you can utilize your system to input the correct calculations for them. At the end of the day, you are not going to experience money being short. Third, it also helps to manage time and attendance for the employees. It is easy to lose track of your employees' attendance especially in the early morning or late night shifts. To avoid employee time theft, it is possible to set up the time and attendance software in your POS. In conclusion, the POS system does more than what people think. The POS is being underestimated and it is a good idea to take an advantage of the system to save your cost instead of setting up systems that cost much more money than this.

MICROS Systems Inc., an IT provider for the hospitality and retail industries, recently announced that they will be integrating  Isis SmartT ap Mobile into their POS platform. Isis SmartT ap allows customers to tap their smartphone on the POS and redeem offers, make purchases and present loyalty cards. ARAMARK restaurants are the first to use this technology. I think this is a good idea especially for restaurant patrons because they will no longer have to carry around their loyalty cards or coupons sent to them through email or mail because this information would all be integrated.  The Isis SmartT ap seems practical for restaurants who already have MICROS Systems, Inc. POS because it is a simple download or update with no additional machinery.

This article is showcases a hotel group, Schwartz Family Company, based out of Australia that are taking on several green initiatives and trying out incentives for their guests. The hotel group already has set green initiatives in majority of their properties, and some of them will include charging stations for electric cars, over 300 solar panels, and ambient room controls for the A/C and lights. The hotel group hopes their guests will drive to their properties more, knowing they can recharge for free - that's a big incentive in today's world.

An article talks about very intelligent system created for the businesses and specifically for event and meeting planners, which calls for communication after the events and discussion of various topics such as how to improve the next projects.

Very nice idea, to exchange experience in order to make the service better. I wish it was used in many other spheres.

It is a really good idea.The ability to add guest to a hybrid network in a secure and controlled way helps company achieve our goal of connective a social community for sponsors, speakers and delegates around all our events that spans across the entire lifecycle in a very cost-effective manner.

With the trend of green hotels and technology growing rapidly in not only our industry but all industries in general, it is important for companies to stay up to date with new innovative green technologies. This article touches upon on hotel in Seattle named Hotel 1000. The hotel has begun implementing new technologies such as memory lights that shut down when guests are out of the room and then turn on to the same levels set when the guest returns. Also being implemented is a system that can switch air on when a guest arrives to the hotel. This controls the amount of time the air is in use as well as prepares the room pre-arrival.  Finally this article discusses the imminent idea of alternative energy solutions for hotels. Many hotels hope to receive government subsidies in order to begin implementing solar panels on their roofs providing more energy while cutting current electricity costs. Installation costs are high but will be offset over time.

This article about the IDeas Revenue Solution Systems which will enable hotel managers to effectively manage pricing with just few clicks. It is the leading provider of the pricing and revenue management software for the hospitality industry. Now they have come up with its own pricing system which will enable the managers to seek revenue growth in their budget. This software is specifically designed for the clients who face tough competition from the dynamic service markets, with other brands deploying the revenue management systems, it has become difficult to compete. This software is scheduled to be released in the other half of this year and the benefits include, forecasting occupancy, set room rates and make competitive pricing decisions. It is a simplified system which requires minimum training and interaction to learn and operate. This will further help in increase in revenue, can be used by busy managers with just few clicks, it gives room for improvement to enhance guest satisfaction. On the other hand it has minimal upfront costs and with positive outcomes and very little risk. this will also help the limited service hotels to compete with the current and prospective hotel owners with this simplified pricing capability. It is interesting to see how IT has evolved into the hospitality industry by providing the best possible systems, software's to compete in this results driven industry, where a company can fall behind any minute with the pace at which the support systems have taken the reliability for lifting the revenue, in order to invest more and attract more customers.

With over 11% of U.S. adults owning a tablet computer, it's time for more hotels to get savvy with the trend. Utilizing an iPad or other tablet device in everyday practices at a hotel can be a rewarding, impressive, and fun way to interact with guests. Not to mention it can cut down on printing costs! Here are some ideas of how your hotel can use a tablet: Spice up the check-in process. Instead of the same old tedious check-in process, keep things interesting by showing your guests how tech-savvy you are.If they ask any questions about nearby activities or events, flip through a brochure on the tablet that will show them their options in a visually stimulating way. Show enticing photos on your menu.Guests can even order directly from the kitchen through the tablet.You can even take it a step further and use your iPad as a wine list at your in-house restaurant. Provide many in-room amenities.Software like that supplied by Intelity with just a swipe of a finger, guests can adjust the room temperature or turn on a light. They can browse area guides or place dinner reservations. Enhance your customer service. If a room needs more towels, the message can be sent directly to housekeeping. Guests will love the simplicity of the process and will enjoy being able to use iPads or other tablets to do something so straightforward.