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ing Identity solutions for human resource applications help companies get the most out of their HR technology investments. The company’s cloud identity management solutions allow employees to securely access UltiPro and other Web-based HR applications using Single Sign-On (SSO), while making it easier for Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) to provision and manage user accounts. Whether a customer chooses PingFederate cloud identity management software or PingOne cloud identity management as a service, Ping Identity’s products are designed to work with existing HRIS systems, as well as a wide variety of Web-based environments and business applications. Connections—The Ultimate Partner Forum is Ultimate Software’s annual customer conference. Each year, a dynamic group of more than 1,000 HR, payroll, and talent management professionals come together to learn about UltiPro product enhancements, industry best practices, and compliance regulations. On March 29, 2012, at 10:45 a.m. PDT, Ping Identity Senior Technical Architect Paul Madsen will join Ultimate Software’s Vice President of SaaS Technology Jim Jenson and Director of Strategic Alliances Jennifer Brafman Staffen in a track session for UltiPro Enterprise that will cover “The Advantages of Single Sign-On and How to Get There.” The session will repeat at 4 p.m., PDT, March 29, 2012, in a track session for UltiPro Workplace. To learn how Ping Identity’s cloud identity management solutions work with UltiPro and other HR applications, please stop by the Ping Identity booth. The Ultimate Connections Conference begins today and continues through Friday at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. About Ping Identity | The Cloud Identity Security Leader Ping Identity provides cloud identity security solutions to more than 800 of the world's largest companies, government organizations and cloud businesses. With a 99% customer satisfaction rating, Ping Identity empowers more than 42 of the Fortune 100 to secure hundreds of millions of employees, customers, consumers and partners using secure, open standards like SAML, OpenID and OAuth. Businesses that depend on the Cloud rely on Ping Identity to deliver simple, proven and secure cloud identity management through single sign-on, federated identity management, mobile identity security, API security, social media integration, and centralized access control. Visit pingidentity.com for more information. Contacts fama PR for Ping IdentityWhitney Parker, 617-986-5011pingidentity@famapr.comFollow Us on Twitter: @PingIdentityJoin our LinkedIn Group: Ping Identity CloudSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: PingIdentityTV Recent Stories from Ping Identity UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School Turns to Ping Identity to Solve Identity Management Complexity April 04, 2012 DENVER--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Ping Identity today announced that the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School has selected PingFederate to ease the management of identiti... more » Ping Identity Partners with Macnica Networks April 03, 2012 TOKYO--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Ping Identity®, The Cloud Identity Security Leader™, today announced that it has partnered with Macnica Networks Corp., the leading value-added distributor in Ja... more » Ping Identity Launches Certified Service Partner Program April 03, 2012 DENVER--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Ping Identity announced its Certified Service Partner Program. more » More Stories class

Ping Identity solutions for human resource applications help companies get the most out of their HR technology investments.

allow employees to securely access UltiPro and other Web-based HR applications using Single Sign-On (SSO), while making it easier for Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) to provision and manage user accounts.

Retailers and restaurants love to push work off on consumers under the guise that it's somehow better for them. It's like when you order a bagel and a cup of coffee at Panera Bread and you get handled, a blank bagel, frozen butter or cream cheese packets, and an empty coffee cup.

Letting me customize my coffee in an app as Starbucks (SBUX) - Get Free Report does is customer service. Handing me an empty cup and pointing me toward a carafe with a milk and sugar station is the exact opposite.Self-checkout is the same principle. If Target (TGT) - Get Free Report or Walmart WMT offers a few stations where people in a hurry can opt to check themselves out, that's very different than replacing your cashiers with automated checkout stations. That's not about convenience, it's about saving money.

And, yes, self-checkout has increased shoplifting, but it has also gone from being a convenience offered to customers to a cost-saving method for stores. It's automating an area where people do a better job in a lot of ways.

A new regulation in France called the French repairability index requires a variety of tech products to publicize repairability scores, meaning the planned obsolescence behind major tech companies is finally coming to light.

This planned obsolescence business model is the foundation of many consumer industries, from fashion (especially in fast fashion) to shaving (ever hear of the razor and blades business model?). But one of its most interesting applications is in technology.

France launched the French repairability index. As part of this new program, France is now requiring manufacturers to clearly disclose repairability scores next to prices for five types of products: laptops, lawnmowers, smartphones, TVs, and washing machines.

The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index reported a 2.9-percent increase in August to 2,397 and is up 18.4 percent year-to-date 2012. The index ended 2011 at 2,025

The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index reported a 2.9-percent increase in August to 2,397 and is up 18.4 percent year-to-date 2012. The index ended 2011 at 2,025.

The Baird/STR Hotel Stock Index reported a 2.9-percent increase in August to 2,397 and is up 18.4 percent year-to-date 2012. The index ended 2011 at 2,025.

The Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association (HEDNA) has joined a partnership with Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) and The OpenTravel Alliance, to advance distribution technology in the hospitality industry.

a community of interest to advance electronic distribution in the hospitality industry. While the missions of the three associations are different, they all share the goal of improving the traveler experience from the searching and booking process through to the conclusion of the trip.

In addition to uniting around distribution, HEDNA and HTNG will further their collaboration, including promoting each other's events and partnering on other future activities.

Beyond the realm of consumer searches, Deep Web technologies may eventually let businesses use data in new ways. For example, a health site could cross-reference data from pharmaceutical companies with the latest findings from medical researchers, or a local news site could extend its coverage by letting users tap into public records stored in government databases.

Four Seasons has fostered an environment of innovation and excellence in digital engagement that resonates with our guests at every touch point."

The L2 ranking measures the digital competency of 52 hotel brands via 350 data points across four dimensions: Site, Digital Marketing, Social Media, and Mobile.

Innovating with Emerging Platforms

Texas Western began evaluating a cloud-based business intelligence system to take a load off its accounting staff by automating its property data gathering and reporting. The effort paid off – and produced some surprising results.

The company"s hotel software requirements included automatic downloading of property performance metrics from its Hilton OnQ and Marriott PMSes daily, as well as merging the data with labor numbers, Smith Travel Research output, and a variety of other information from TW"s corporate accounting system.

Texas Western selected Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. and implemented its Execuvue® hospitality Business Intelligence (BI) solution. Aptech built TW"s data warehouse and worked with Marriott and Hilton to identify, gather the data, and create the report formats TW needed for better performance management

Choice created the software in 2003 as an inexpensive solution for franchisees of its economy brands.

The PMS had a lot of growing pains at first, but eventually it became more and more cloud enabled and was adopted across the company.

“A lot of companies had outsourced their IT and now they’re bringing it back in house because they can do almost everything they need on the cloud or through software as a service.

before the recession is over, the number of hotels in bankruptcy or foreclosure could rise above the 2,000 or so reached in the industry’s last big downturn in the 1990s.

Since these hotels have greater fixed operating costs because of their extra services and larger staffs, they need higher occupancy rates just to break even. This is compounded by what many analysts have called the “A.I.G. effect,” as companies worry about public or regulatory scrutiny if their employees stay at lavish properties or hold events there.

Although the troubled economy has hit hotels across the United States, some areas have it tougher than others. MGM Mirage and Harrah’s Entertainment own 19 casino hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Harrah’s delayed construction on a hotel tower and has been able to refinance its debt over a longer period to reduce its payments. MGM recently sunk $200 million into CityCenter, a mixed-use project under construction, after its development partner skipped a payment. Other Las Vegas properties are struggling, too. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas spent much of 2008 in Chapter 11 and was bought last month by its third owner in just over a year.

3 October 2012 Benchmark Powers Expansion with Centralized Accounting Platform Management by the Numbers: Benchmark Integrates New Properties into Company Management Processes Quickly with ‘Private-Cloud’ Back Office System

Successful management comes from by-the-numbers decisions

Basing day-to-day management decisions on the numbers is another big part of successful management in today's economy. At one time, we had to wait until month end or later to see property financials. We do not have that luxury today, so we built a centralized 'private cloud' technology hub and data gathering platform. Now our managers make decisions based on month-to-date performance every morning.

If there was any one sector to avoid during the recession it was hotel companies

Traditionally, a hotel property management system (PMS) was defined as a platform that enabled a hotel or group of hotels to manage front-office capabilities, such as booking reservations, guest check-in/check-out, room assignment, managing room rates, and billing

Traditionally, a hotel property management system (PMS) was defined as a platform that enabled a hotel or group of hotels to manage front-office capabilities, such as booking reservations, guest check-in/check-out, room assignment, managing room rates, and billing.

Hotel PMS is now a critical business operations system that enables hoteliers to deliver a seamless guest experience. Hotel PMS now integrates to other onsite services that impact the guest's complete experience, including: Food and beverage operations Housekeeping and maintenance management Sales and catering execution for group bookings and event management Revenue management Distribution across multiple channels Spa management

Mayakoba, Riviera Maya

uses no motorized vehicles throughout the entire property. Instead, guests can ride electric golf carts, bicycles, or electric boats on more than nine miles of canals.

Palmer House Hilton in Chicago

The past decade has brought immense changes in how we light up our world. The introduction of LED lighting has proven to be more energy and cost efficient than its less economical predecessors, the incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs. LED lighting now offers hoteliers and restaurateurs the ability to address areas that require dimming and warm color temperatures. Unlike compact fluorescent lighting LED technology has evolved and now options for smooth dimming and warm temperatures are offered by several of the top manufacturers.

Where before, energy wasting incandescent lighting was the only dimmer-friendly option, LED lighting can now be controlled to ‘set the scene’ more efficiently, saving you money.

Cree 10.5 Watt LED CR6 For hospitality retrofits, Cree’s Energy Star Labeled CR6 10.5W LED 6-inch Recessed LED Downlight Retrofit gives you a sleeker, more sustainable alternative to 6" recessed cans using 65W-75W incandescent PAR lamps. Reduce your wattage to 10.5W to 12W utilizing the Cree CR6 with 575 and 800 Lumen options. The CR6 delivers high-quality color accuracy and the ability to dim down to 5%. It also exceeds California’s Title 24 requirements for high efficacy luminaires.

Currently, the following Mobile POS solutions providers have successfully completed the registration and self-certification process for their solutions: Corduro, Ezetap, Elavon, Handpoint, Itos, iVeri, iZettle, JSC Smartfin (2Can), Miura Systems, NetSecure Payments (Kudos), Payworks, ROAM, SCCP (Swiff), Soft Space, Square and Thyron Systems.

Small businesses and retailers that have never accepted card payments and previously operated on a cash- and invoice-only basis are turning to mobile point-of-sale (MPOS) solutions to expand their customer base and sales. Established retailers are also adopting MPOS solutions to engage customers in-aisle and enhance the retail and payment experience. MasterCard introduced the MasterCard Mobile POS Program to provide guidance to Mobile POS solution providers and promote simple and secure transactions when consumers use their debit, credit and prepaid cards to pay merchants that use these devices.

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., the leading provider of hospitality software for business intelligence and enterprise financial accounting, announced 4 hotel companies representing 17 properties selected its financial solutions to manage by the numbers for greater profitability. Aptech’s solutions are 100% hotel specific. All of its clients are companies that own or manage hotels. Click here for more on Aptech’s products and services.

Successful management comes from by-the-numbers decisions

Benchmark uses the Internet-enabled Profitvue enterprise back office system from Aptech Computer Systems to centralize property accounting.

The system is Internet-enabled, so the only back-office hardware our hotels need is a PC. The same is true for our front office systems. This is a great savings for our owners.”