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Advanced technologies have always been tested or applied in large airports for operational effciency and better travel experience. This is an interesting article about the latest technology that will be used in major airports. The Transportation Security Administration gave reasons that why they want to relocate backscatter advance imaging technology units to smaller airports. Firstly, it allows the use of advance imaging technology units in some smaller airports. Secondly the newly introduced millimeter wave units can work faster in saving time and perform better in protecting the privacy of travelers since it just shows the outline of the passenger's body, while not a specific one. Thirdly under the economical consideration, it is better to use one type of machine in the same airport so they don't need different training and maintenance.  So larger airports can just use the latest technology for their large amount of work while smaller airports can benefit from the one with backscatter technology because of the smaller workload. Both sides will be satisfied if this transfer can be done successfully. 

"View From  the Top" discusses the new 360-degree camera technology which is helping MGM Resorts and the gaming industry to increase efficiency in their surveillance departments.  These cameras have no blind spots and provide a fish-eye view of the whole casino floor. "It offers situational awareness of the entire floor, and permits the operator to zoom in with other cameras where needed," according to Oncam Grandeye's director of global sales. This company is considered to be a leader in 360-degree technology. The article also discusses a complete solution for surveillance operations. This new technology coupled with more traditional megapixel cameras provide video history of given subjects entering or leaving the property or parking garage (for the entire month). Suspects can even be tracked "back in time" if need be with use of the 360-degree images and software. License-plate recognition software aids in tracking a suspect even if they leave the property. Many thieves end up at another MGM property (there are 10) not realizing their image has been sent out to all of the properties, so if they aren't caught at one, they will be at another. Ticket thieves for slot machines are caught when they try to cash out at kiosks, since their image is on surveillance. Through use of creating triggers in the software, players-club card thieves are caught by patterns and locations of their bets. "We'll mine data for standard deviations, wins that don't look right", says director of surveillance. 360-degree camera technology is one of the most valuable tools in aiding the surveillance operations for the gaming industry.

AN HRIS system is a computer program that allows a company to electronically store information about their employees. HRIS eases the work of managing daily employee related issues. HRIS stores a large collection of databases on employees and employee issues. Information included in the databases include employee names, their contact information, and any training they may have received. HRIS systems make it more efficient for a company as it can process payroll and benefits information electronically rather than having to rely on the traditional pen and paper. Storing information in the databases makes it more secure against the potential of tampering and theft.

This article describe some advantages of HRIS, such as data storage, ease update and efficiency. HRIS has huge data storage, it can easy to track employees' working behavior; ease update, HRIS is a computer system, it can easy to delete can update any data; and in some field, it can be a replacement of handwriting.

Facial recognition technology is not meant to replace the human factor. Rather, it can boost existing processes by improving efficiency, identification and convenience. Technology such as "face geometry" brings a lot of excitement to the events industry. Zenus facial recognition software allows event planners to identify attendees by searching a database of faces in real-time. The main idea is to make the check-in process faster, provide higher security and receive some feedback in a unique way. Neither attendee's e-mails or names, or any personal information is transferred. Human face emerges as a key to security for distinguishing individuals. The registration platform makes images anonymous and sends them to a cloud-based service, where de-identified images are processed and therefore instantly deleted. All data is also discarded after the event, which gives a peace of mind to the event planners and attendees, because of identity theft concerns. With some adjustments and further developments, Zenus facial recognition software will be able to determine emotions of crowds and extract demographic data such as age or gender. With this cloud-based facial recognition software, event planners will be able to quantify whether your guests were interested in one speaker over another, or whether they were engaged or if they were really a good target market for the event.

This article introduces a new security tech at airport checkpoint. As the article mentioned, security check can be sad and embarrassing experience when before get onto a flight. The new imaging technology uses waves instead of x-ray to detect metallic item or other potential dangerous material on passenger without showing privacy image. And less scanning time gives a faster and more comfort experience rather than traditional invasive check. The new checkpoint machine will implement in more airports in recent future.

This article is a good one about the cloud and how the hotels are finding benefits with using it. The benefits that they are seeing is that the cloud allows them to move their hardware off of the property to a central location to be operated. Another point they focused on is how it allows hotels to run their software and hardware more efficiently and it is also a lot cheaper. They have found that it allows them to get rid of IT in the hotel. They also touched on the cons and one being that if their is no internet or not enough internet connection there will be problems. Another issue is security.

This article is a good one about the cloud and how the hotels are finding benefits with using it. The benefits that they are seeing is that the cloud allows them to move their hardware off of the property to a central location to be operated. Another point they focused on is how it allows hotels to run their software and hardware more efficiently and it is also a lot cheaper. They have found that it allows them to get rid of IT in the hotel. They also touched on the cons and one being that if their is no internet or not enough internet connection there will be problems. Another issue is security. Many people feel that as complicated the industry is, it is somewhat important for hospitality type businesses to have the cloud. With having the cloud, this will ensure that the systems are always updated. A point that stood out to me was how the La Quinta saved 30-50% in telecommunication at each of their locations. Many hotels will find themselves using the cloud in the future

This article was about online marketing trends that will prevail in 2014. More and more companies are resorting to using online marketing finding success in its branding and audience growth. The trends that I think will make the biggest impact are that of content marketing being bigger than ever, image-centric content ruling, and mobile-friendly content being necessary. Out of the 7 mentioned trends I believe that these three will have the biggest impact because they are the most necessary. With content marketing, companies should focus more on inbound marketing that is tailored to a specific audience. Image-centric content should be a big hit because its basically that an ad should be simple to understand in order to convey a message. Like the saying says, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Finally, mobile-friendly content is becoming more popular and with the widespread use of mobile devices and tablets, companies are looking for ways to make their content more accessible to users. 

In the hospitality industry your Point of Sale System is the backbone of your operation, thus finding the best and most efficient POS for your business to succeed is key. The article discusses the best POS systems to fit your business, from traditional standard systems to the new trending Ipad systems. Your POS system should be affordable and efficient. In addition, it should do more than just take payments and process sales. It should come with marketing strategy tools, inventory/staff management, easy to function daily specials menus, and other special functions to help run your business. The vendor should have 24/7 availability to your needs and accommodate all the proper functions to assist the servers and bartenders. Some of the best POS systems are the following: * Vend - Has features that help run your business, boost sales, and save time. * Bindo - Best mobile POS system for Ipads. It is cloud based and offers an intuitive user interface. Easy mobile payments and 24/7 customer support. * Touchbistro - POS system that focuses on a restaurant's specific needs. Works with the Ipad and the Ipad mini, also has 24/7 customer support availability. * Shopkeep - cloud based for the Ipad, with easy to use tools for any retail store. No long term contracts or fees.

This article discusses some of the best POS systems for food service. Small business owners were asked for their choices and the pros and cons for the systems they discussed. The Business New Daily created a list of criteria to evaluate the POS systems and then ranked the top ones they chose for 2018. There are links and some costs provided in this article.

The article show us that when planning a convention, meeting planners consider how to incorporate a range of emerging new technologies for the program. MPI used a fog screen. The imagined possibilities for fogscreen technology, an emerging new technology, include the projection of corporate logos, messages and other images. Event and meeting planners should know about future technologies and how/when to use them in various programs. As part of the MPI WEC 2008 opening reception sponsored by Meetings by Harrah's at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, attendees walked through a fogscreen of the MPI logo as they entered the opening cocktail reception. Caesar's Palace's objective was to showcase how they can change the environment of a static room, explained Reina Herschdorfer, executive director of catering/conventions and events for Caesar's Palace. Fogscreen technology is an emerging technology that is dry, so attendees and guest will not walk through the fog and get wet.

The FogScreen is an extraordinary display option that offers a seamless projection area made, as the name suggests, of dry fog. Using ordinary water, a flat thin layer of mist is created, onto which you can make high-quality projections - that you can walk through. The fog feels cool and dry to touch and, by varying the density of the fog, different effects can be created to suit the venue and your purpose.  The screen is created by using a suspended fog generating device with no frame around, and works with video projectors. The fog they use is dry, so it doesn't make you wet even if you stay under the Fog Screen device for a long time.  The fog is made of ordinary water with no chemicals what so ever. With two projectors, you can project different images on both sides of the screen. It is a display device which is the application of computer graphics. With Fogscreen, planners are able to make better visual effect and encourage more participation and engagement of attendees. However, Fogscreen hasn't been widely used in terms of high prices. 

This website shows a meeting room app which is very helpful for hotel meetings and events. Planning meetings and events is not a easy task. Conference managers or sales directors have to introduce their meeting space and explain how they are going to hold an event or a meeting.  By using this application, managers can show the meeting rooms' features by 3D images or videos directly to clients, which is absolutely much easier for them. What's more, the usage of smartphone and tablets like iPad is increasing very fast. More and more people are owning their wireless devices and are drenched in IT persons.  Therefore, I think using different kind of APPs will be a good way for hotels to sell rooms and services. 

inamo™ is like no other restaurant anywhere in the world. Located in central London inamo and inamo st james are pioneering Oriental fusion restaurants where the control of the dining experience is placed firmly in the customer's hands. At the core of inamo™ is its interactive ordering system, E-Table™. With an E-Table™ system, diners place orders from an illustrated food and drinks menu projected on to their table surface. Customers also set their table ambience, discover the local neighbourhood, and even order a taxi home. The Content Management System makes Restaurant management easy. All E-Table™ ambience and retail activity is conveniently connected to a central management system. It has been specially developed for E-Table™ and designed so anyone can intuitively control the management process. Features include: Easily update and edit Names, Images, and Descriptions of products. Create and modify food and drink menus. Instantly create paper menus and website copy direct from the Management System. Update images and patterns with direct upload from your computer to change the look and feel of the tables. Create new permanent and seasonal sets of images and patterns. Set up a private dining room. Create custom configurations and apply any combination of themes, menus, images and patterns, to groups of tables on the system. Change your menus according to the day of the week, season, time of the day, special events. Create and modify "where next" maps. Guests can see what they and their group have ordered at any time, call a waitress over to attend to them and request the bill when they are ready to go. A host of extra functions are available - guests can view a live video of the kitchen, order a taxi home, or see what's on at the local cinema.

the new technology for the fast food restaurant to monitor its oil condition to make sure the quality of the oil and provide the healthy choice for the guests to buy it. it is real useful, but i doubt it will costy and may not be apply easily even though it is a good idea for healthy food. 

Security and POS wrapped up in one tight little bow. Vectron has came out with a new cctv system that integrates to the hotel or bars POS system. Now the security system time stamps all images linked up to transactions. GM's can set up alerts to be sent to their mobiles or emails. Why is this important? Incidents like employee theft, fraudulent credit card use, guest intoxication, credit card disputes and underage service can all be tracked, imaged and time stamped to serve as evidence. This can help in insurance claims, police reports, reporting credit card fraud or dismissal of employees. There are many times where customers dispute there bills after they have received services in Miami and linking the POS to the security system would be a tool in fighting for payments deserved. Too bad this is a Australian Device and not in America.

This article brings up alot of great points regarding social networking in the business world. You can become facebook friends with coworkers, but you have to be careful with what image you are protraying. They could be checking to make sure that you are not making a bad image that could reflect on the company.

In this article, Christine Negroni discusses the future of airline booking and travel. Over the last ten years, there has been a shift from telephone reservations to computer reservations with the birth of the World Wide Web. With new mobile devices and smart phones, customers are now trying to find the newest, easiest way to work a plane ticket or a vacation. Companies have to strategically plan how they will market to thei customers. FOr leisure, companies will want to reach them through Facebook and Twitter. With the internet, airlines today need to focus on their image. The image is just as important as the product you sell, or the plane ticket the customer purchases. With Youtube, anyone can post whatever they'd like, so hospitality companies and airlines especially, need to be weary. Because the aviation industry is so large, the internet give customers and companies a way to interact on a deeper, more personal level.

This article described the goal of Marriott's environmental initiatives goals and what did they do in all over the world. Marriott plays a leading role in the environmental initiatives in the industry. It can reduce wastes and costs. What's more, it can improve the image of the firm. I think other hotel chains should learn form Marriott and set up their image. This can not only help protect our world and life but also make a great contribution to the development of the company.

According to this article, the IRS is considering changing the way Automatic gratuities are processed in restaurants. Often when gratuity is included, more than one issue arises. Parties tend to not leave additional tips and there is also an issue with what if a customer wants to leave less than the automatic 15 or 18 percent tip? Bennet Ackerman, owner of a Melting Pot in Indianapolis, says that "some servers tend to get a little lazy when they know they already have that automatic gratuity." If a large party is given a check of $200, some parties will tip $20. If gratuity was included, they would receive anywhere from 30-40. After tip out to the bartender, hosts and other support staff, the server is actually making about a 6% tip off of that table. I agree that with large parties, the reward sometimes does not pay off, no pun intended. More money can be made off of smaller parties, and the turn over rate is faster. Some restaurants are doing away with automatic gratuity, and instead, they are adding suggested tip amounts at the bottom of the check. This, will at the very least, give the guests dining, a reference guide. The issue at hand here is whether or not to consider the automatic gratuity as a tip for a server, or as a service charge. This will greatly affect taxes at the end of the year and budgeting for the employees. With the economy the way it is, servers and other tipped workers are seeing less tips. The issue is of great concern for restaurants and come January 1st, there may be some very unhappy employees as well as restaurant owners.

This article describes the importance of investing in training between front of house personnel, and the IT department. While maintaining the efficiency of both of these departments is half the battle, it is also important to make sure they understand each others roles and needs in challenging situations. Cross training for both of these departments enhances the guest experience, and helps both teams understand the other more.