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With Disney hotels already having incorporated the use of smart technology in wristbands to make purchases and enter hotel rooms without a key card, it was only a matter of time before technology in other forms started to trickle in to make guests' stays easier and more accommodating. In this article, the introduction of Ivy, a 24-hour virtual concierge service, is discussed. Caesar's Entertainment Las Vegas Resorts are the first, according to the article, to debut this technology. It is also the first text message service that has artificial intelligence built-in. So, in other words, during their stay, guests have (assuming they have an iPhone) two Siri's. According to the information provided in the article, it's as simple as guests having the ability to send text messages if and when they need something. In over 6,000 rooms of the Caesar's Entertainment Resorts, Ivy is currently live. Already this February, it is expected to expand to Planet Hollywood Las Vegas. The SVP, Michael Marino, asserted that the new technology allows for the hotel to increase the quality of the guests' experience and improve efficiency. It is automatic, so as soon as guests provide their phone numbers, they are greeted with a text message from Ivy prompting them to text her with any questions or concerns they may have during their stay at the hotel. Surveys are also held during the stay so that if anything is going wrong or a guest is unhappy, the circumstances can be improved in the moment. Overall, the use and implementation of this new technology is an example of technology boosting productivity, speed and efficiency in the customer service aspect of the hospitality industry.

The article focuses on how artificial intelligence will shape the casino and hotel industry in Las Vegas and beyond. AI currently used at all but one Caesars Entertainment Inc. properties in Las Vegas is called IVY. This virtual concierge is able to answer a multitude of questions that front desk would be called for which reduces call volume and lines at the front desk. On the casino floor Konami and Scientific games have AI technology with facial recognition for slot machines that provide personalized service, user login, and gambling recommendations. The article also discusses how crowd tracking technology and in security helps with the floor layout and what guests are on the floor. As stated many of the security features may be in place now.

The "Going Green" trend has been a true blessing since it's marketability took birth several years ago. Many industries are taking advantage of this technological and ecological trend. There has never been a better time than now to turn our business ethics into the direction of a better world. Basic utility expenses at any hotel or business can sometimes make or break their existence. Technology today has given us the tools to give back to both our beautiful Earth and our bottom dollar. Luxury brands and all the like are implementing new green policies and technologies that will cut costs and even beautiful their environments. By the end of 2015 The Intercontinental Hotels Group plans on equipping over 4,000 of their hotels with a system that monitors and assists in energy use and conservation. They have a goal of reducing their overall water use by 12% in California in part due to the severe ongoing drought. The Loews in Santa Monica Beach is investing $96,000 in a laundry-water recycling system. It will recycle nearly 70% of water use and pay for itself in less than 2 years. Apart from it's ability to cut-costs and truly give back to the environment, "going green" is highly marketable. One of the Intercontinental's General Managers was quoted saying "It's not a huge savings. I think it's about sending the right message." I have personally seen many RFPs from large corporate companies that request green-initiatives from hotels. Improving sustainability is important to the customer and the establishment. Around 60% of travelers consider green initiatives when selecting a destination and activity. Of those 60%, over half said they would even pay more to stay at an establishment that respected and helped improve the environment. In a world where we are fortunate enough to live in excess should we choose to, it's a shame it took this long for a global movement to "go green". Sustainability alone has built such a giant indu

The Caesars Entertainment company is seeking to make up for lost time with a new IT investment. The company manages 55 hotels and is seeking to advance their hotel technology capabilities. Certain innovations include automated food delivery anywhere in the hotel, order tracking (status of cooking, packaging, on the way, etc.), a text message concierge, and follow-up tools. Caesars is also trying to improve their data storage, by migrating to cloud solutions. The front desk and CRM systems will be upgraded to the cloud.

This article states a number of technology utilized in the hotel of Las Vegas for the convenience and comfort of their guests. Hotels in Las Vegas have come to realize that the plain phone near the nightstand in every room just does not suffice the every growing world of technology. Tablets placed individually in each rooms provide a convenient access for guests to control the lighting and temperature of their rooms. An example of the convenience of tablets is portrayed at the Aria and Vdara hotels where guests can not only control lighting and temperature with the tablets, but also place a specific time for breakfast delivery. Hotels such as the MGM Grand and The Mirage boasted special rooms which display different lighting based on the body's needs and enhances the the body's internal clock just with the lighting itself. They also have technology which infuses Vitamin C into their showers so they can reap health benefits by staying at the respective hotels. Several hotels launched a program called "Ivy" which is the world's first smart texting service for hotels. This is a big money and time saving software. Trained employees will answer any complex questions, but Ivy is programmed to answer common guest questions almost instantly. At the Mandarin Oriental, a robot named Pepper, holds a place in the lobby to answer a set or pre-programed questions for the convenience of the guest. Examples of such questions include the check out time, the location of the amenities of the hotel, and directions on connecting to Wi-Fi. Due to the ever growing advancement of technology, hospitality and tourism never ceases to keep up for the sake of the convenience of their guests.

The Presto device was developed not necessarily to render waiters obsolete by any means but rather to provide guests with a more productively enjoyable meal experience by trying to get their food to their table as quickly as possible.  The technology is designed to alleviate the check-in and check-out process for guests, so let's not forget that there's still the task of actually brining the food to the table, which the device is not equipped to do.  In areas where it is used, guests are finding it fairly user-friendly and restaurants are finding that menu items displayed on the Presto help to sell food.  Guests can also use the Presto to pay their tab, and split the check as they see fit.  Some of the issues restaurants may encounter with the technology are: guest temptation to steal the device, and/or technical difficulties, which are can be easily remedied with any number of staff who are tech-savvy enough resolve issues.

With the demand for sustainability initiatives by consumers, hotel are having to make major changes in order to oblige. Sustainability has become a major concern for many consumers and businesses have taken notice. As a result, major hotel chains across country have begun to put in order plans to make changes to their daily operations. As noted in the article by L.A. Times, changes have been made to features such as water usage, machinery operations and even landscaping design . These changes and updates are in the hopes to attract a wider consumer market which now includes Eco-friendly travelers.

The LA Times article, "More hotels are going green, and not just to save water or money" highlights how an "earth-friendly image" is important to many corporate travel managers. Research suggests that having an environmentally friendly hotel not only aids in decreasing operational cost and avoiding city or county fines but may also be a way to differentiate a firm's brand and compete more effectively in the market. With travelers specifically seeking out eco-friendly choices and demonstrating a willingness to pay extra to accommodate a hotels ability to provide these services; going green could be a strategic solution implemented in a manner that allows for increasing market share while reducing operational cost.

Good Afternoon, It good to see hotels are being proactive about being environmentally friendly. It also great they mentioned that corporate travelers are looking for Eco-friendly hotels. I know a lot of companies require corporate travelers to seek out hotels that meet certain green levels and along with there corporate rates. Hotels are demonstrating that they are willing to invest in green technology not only for money but because it the right thing to.