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It’s no surprise that hospitality businesses want to take advantage of RFID technology too, especially when it offers speed, security, and a high-tech touch.

Seeing an opportunity to meet all of these objectives, Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival rolled out an RFID wristband solution that allows faster entry into the festival and eliminates the risk of counterfeiting.

One of the most popular use cases for RFID technology is guestroom entry. Compared to a traditional keycard, RFID-equipped cards offer hoteliers more control over security. Front desk staff can activate and deactivate cards remotely and review logs to see where and when a card was used.

However, their existing solution was insucient at handling the large amount of IoT data they were collecting.

They wanted to leverage the data they are collecting to increase visibility into their overall business performance and to gain a better understanding their customers’ needs and wants.

This enabled our client to pull their data from the CRM and POS systems and join it together in one place so that it easily accessible.

Top POS Predictions for 2017 “Windows will no longer be the number one operating system in the market, as multiple operating systems are being offered to allow greater flexibility to consumers. Data collection will be a bigger selling point for consumers, not only to track sales and inventory, but also to manage shifts and training, as well as deploy customer loyalty programs.” — Bematech “We will see increasing configuration flexibility to adapt to more fluid layouts in a hyper-channel oriented world, smaller counter footprints, more intensive future-proofing and increased value.” — Fujitsu America, Inc. “Major restaurant chains will continue to adopt online ordering and line-busting technology and POS hardware will do a better job of connecting wirelessly to each other (Internet of Things) and to mobile (smartphone and tablet) devices. It will also integrate with sensors, cameras and video monitors to provide smart advertising to customers based on environment and purchasing trends.” — Epson “A lot of the new requests for hardware are around supporting initiatives for increasing customer engagement. These come in the form of minimizing the barrier for traditional POS, installing kiosks of varying sizes and form factors, mobility solutions, and customer-facing screens on the POS for supporting both touch and non-touch versions.” — Par Technology Corp. “In the end, hardware is simply the platform for software and consumer omnichannel demands. The rise in mobile payments and the EMV mandate will prod hospitality to upgrade legacy POS systems because of the need for security compliance and to accept more payment options. Tablets, smartphones, software- (SaaS) or POS-as-a-service models, and cloud-based POS will continue to drive the need for POS hardware to adapt to new IT and consumer interaction.” — Posiflex “POS hardware will expand connectivity in keeping with the IOT revolution, so operators will be able to provide a more personalized experience to customers at checkout.” — Toshiba “There will be increased investments in WiFi, location-based services (LBS), mobile computers and data capture solutions as more consumers use their smartphones to engage in mobile ordering and loyalty programs for personalized offers. In addition, businesses will have an increased need for visibility in automating food safety processes.” — Zebra

VivoAquatics, the leading water management and real-time monitoring platform for hotels, resorts, fitness clubs and other commercial facilities announced it has secured Series A financing led by Level Equity, a growth equity firm focused on software and automation companies.

The funding represents another milestone for the company as leading brands and properties continue to adopt the VivoPoint software and IoT platform to proactively manage the risks and costs of water within a facility while improving the guest experience.

We are thrilled to partner with Level Equity and our investor group to help facility and engineering leaders better manage water across commercial properties to protect their brand and assets

Now devices are evolving to keep up with the ever-increasing introduction of specialized mobile-applications for every field, particularly hospitality.

Push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) has already impacted wireless communications and hardware development with the introduction of Bluetooth equipped two-way radios, transitional gateways for hybrid systems and smart phone adoption.

Mobile apps are being developed daily to fulfill sector-specific needs and are easily accessible over internet (Wi-Fi)

A survey made by Oracle Hospitality amongst hotel guests in the U.S, showed that 64% of guests consider extremely important for hotels to improve their guest experience by investing in hospitality technology.

The key pattern of every technology-based service should be to enhance the guest experience through offering convenience.

Guests can check in remotely through their smartphone, significantly saving time for the concierge

But while the MGT Act focuses primarily on the need to upgrade individual IT systems, agencies should start their modernization initiatives right at the network level.

These systems must be modernized for better efficiency and to be able to detect, defend and evolve against today’s cyber threats

Something that was built in the 1970s wasn’t designed to work in 2017, let alone withstand a modern cyber attack.

By 2025, over 85 million existing jobs will be lost due to the seismic shift toward robotization and automation, according to estimates in the “Future of Jobs Report 2020” published by the World Economic Forum.

These are jobs like data analysts, AI learning specialists, digital transformation specialists, software and applications developers, robotization strategists, robotics technologists, robot training and maintenance specialists, etc.

robotization and automation are coming even to our technology-averse hospitality industry.

In my view there are two ways for dealing with the acute labor shortages and unsustainable labor cost: Pay up: Continue to offer sign-up bonuses, higher wages and interview cash payments, making profitability even more elusive, or Invest in technology to solve the current labor shortages through technology innovations, automation, mobility, robotization and next gen technology applications. The goal here is to do more with fewer employees by using technology and reduce your staffing needs by a significant percentage compared to 2019 levels.

Chatbot: An AI-powered chatbot on the property website like Asksuite or Umni.bg engages users, answers all of their questions and steer them toward making a booking.

Security Robots: Large hotels with conference facilities, resorts with large pool areas and casinos can benefit greatly from security robots, diligently working 24/7. Fully autonomous security robots by Knightscope are already being used as security guards at resorts, large hotels and casinos, airports, theme parks and outdoors perimeters. The rental of a security robot goes for $7-$10 per hour vs $25-$30/hour for a human guard.

Improve customer experiences. Customers spend an average of 70 percent more with companies that provide great service.1 The right restaurant POS system can give customers the convenience they want so they keep coming back. Promote new menu items with greater ease. POS self-service touchpoints, like self-ordering kiosks, make it simple to keep menus up to date and draw attention to new items. Offer loyalty features that generate repeat business. Most US customers (65 percent) are members of at least one restaurant loyalty program.2 POS systems can more easily link customers to their loyalty account to drive repeat business.

The latest use of technology in restaurant industry makes the food business omnichannel and more digital.

Restaurant technology is more than just a trend. You can sit, relax in any corner of the globe and know what’s happening in your restaurant – be it dining, service management, or even stocks!

Cloud-based restaurant POS systems have become increasingly popular as they are easy to install, remotely workable and one time investment for long.

Hotels, Technology, & the Cybersecurity that Protects Them

introduction of virtual assistants like Alexa in hotel rooms

biometrics for guest access into their rooms instead of the standard room keys

1. Enhanced Connectivity to Guest Services and Staff Members

2. Intelligent Environmental and Entertainment Controls

It therefore makes a great deal of sense that many hotels have adopted the same smart systems that can be found within homes. Examples can include (but may not be limited to):Personalised control over settings such as room temperature, lighting and even window blinds.Using the Internet of Things (IoT) to offer guests immediate wireless access to centralised smart systems.Dedicated integration with devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Iger planned to pump nearly $1 billion into this venture, called MyMagic+, a sweeping plan to overhaul the digital infrastructure of Disney’s theme parks, which would upend how they operated and connected with consumers. At the core of the project was the MagicBand, an electronic wristband that Iger envisioned guests would use to gain entry to Disney World and access attractions; make purchases at restaurants; and unlock their hotel room doors. It would push the boundaries of experience design and wearable computing, and impact everything from Disney’s retail operations and data-mining capabilities to its hospitality and transportation services.

Disney World, Parks’ crown jewel, seemed to be losing its luster. According to multiple sources, certain key metrics, including guests’ “intent to return,” were dropping; around half of first-time attendees signaled they likely would not come back because of long lines, high ticket costs, and other park pain points. Simultaneously, the stunningly fast adoption of social media and smartphones threatened the relevance of the parks. If Disney wanted these more tech-oriented generations to love it as much as their parents, who had grown up with fewer entertainment alternatives, had, it would have to embrace change now.

There were the endless lines for rides, food, and bathrooms; parents juggling maps, hotel keys, baby carriages, and bottles of SPF 75; and kids pulling families on long treks to try to visit every attraction. The park was filled with complications, such as a tiered ticketing system with wonky rules.

Cut night site lighting. “Depending upon how your site lighting is operated and circuited, you can create an ‘economize mode’ for overnight when the site is at its lowest occupancy. Keep perimeter site lighting on around your property and all entrances and main drives lit.

 Replace older lighting with LEDs. “Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center chose LEDs to replace existing lighting in a parking garage open 24/7, halving the garage’s power consumption. Meanwhile, Mediapolis Community Schools in Mediapolis, IA, also embarked on a retrofit of LED exterior lighting.

Implement a sustainable facility design plan. “Sustainable design is more attainable and affordable than it’s ever been, especially when you think in terms of years instead of days and weeks. It’s also worth noting that sustainable design is very well favored among the public, which is an extra incentive for companies interested in reinforcing their reputation as socially responsible and environmentally concerned