Group items tagged

MGM Resorts falls victim to data breach last summer, more than 10 million customers' information were leaked out. It was took place through "unauthorized access to a cloud server." However, specialist said this breach can be avoided by regularly checking and monitoring. Also, specialist advised that MGM also need to take same security levels for data on premise in their could.

It was reported that MGM Resorts fell victim to a data breach on a cloud server but not much critical guest information was leaked out. Experts said that this kind of breach can be avoided by checking who was able to access the server regularly. Also, the company needs to monitor data to find out the leakage earlier than anyone else. Monitoring the data stored on the cloud should also be as important as those stored on-site.

the article gives details about a data security breach that the company was a victim of and how information of 10 million customers were shared .

This article discusses why more and more businesses are using mobile point-of-sale systems in 2020. Mobile POS systems can serve a variety of different industries, including the hospitality industry. They provide a convenient way to monitor daily operations from any location. More specifically, they can monitor inventory, employee hours, sales numbers and create custom reports. It also discussed three popular mobile POS systems, which are Payanywhere, Duet and PayPal Here.

In this article, TOPHOTELNEWS highlights three ways technology is reducing incidences of theft, assault, and data breaches in the hotel industry. Mobile keys allow guests and hotel staff to monitor who enters a room and when, limiting the chances of theft. Security cameras now offer low-light vision and facial recognition, and their decrease in size allows for discrete placement. Cybercrime initiatives are also working harder than ever to secure delicate information by developing advanced firewalls. Each of these advancements allows travelers to feel more secure in their "home away from home."

This article discusses three ways that hotel security is being enhanced by technology. One way is by mobile keys. Customers no longer have to use physical keys. They can simply use their mobile phone to open room doors. They don't have to worry about their keys going into the wrong hands. The second way is cameras. Modern cameras are smaller and are more easily hidden and can more accurately take pictures of the faces of persons who enter and exit hotels. The third way is to enhance the cybersecurity of the hotels' computer systems.

This article discusses the ways a hotel can implement security measures to keep guest information and company's data safe.

These new biometric devices will help consumers monitor their cortisol levels and reduce their stress. They are called "awareables" because you can not tell the time with them but you can become more aware of your body's wellbeing. The interchangeable faces look like gemstones and would be great retail for a hotel spa.

Physical plant or mechanical plant engineers can be found in almost every business sector and industry and are responsible for maintaining large facilities. These individuals usually monitor their facility's heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Additionally, physical plant engineers must also service and repair their facility's plumbing and lighting. According to 2010 data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national annual mean salary for a stationary engineer was $52,620. These individuals earned a national mean hourly wage of $25. Physical plant engineers, stationary engineers and boiler operators have a strong background in mechanics. Individuals working in this field often receive formal apprenticeship training with the International Union of Operating Engineers or formal education through vocational or trade schools. Certain states may require licensing for positions in this field. Generally, employers prefer to hire people with at least a high school diploma or GED who have experience in the field.

"Physical plant or mechanical plant engineers can be found in almost every business sector and industry and are responsible for maintaining large facilities. These individuals usually monitor their facility's heating, cooling and ventilation systems. Additionally, physical plant engineers must also service and repair their facility's plumbing and lighting. Physical plant engineers are paid an average salary of at least $50,000 to make sure a plant's systems run safely. "

This article introduced the importance of HRIS. Having HRIS in the hotel could aid the human resource team to become more organized and practice being practical in the workplace. Since this converts all the information digitally, the use of paper will definitely decrease. Having this kind of attitude towards employees will make them feel confident and secure. This in turn makes them more productive and will become happy at work. By having a clearer view of what is presently happening in the hotel, top management can also predict what could happen in the future. Some HR-related expenses that can be monitored through this system are the training costs of newly-hired employees, and the benefits given to the employees and their reported dependents. In addition, attendance can also be monitored here. Since being frequently absent or tardy could decrease the company's productivity, it is important that the hotel have a system where in top management can easily observe if there is an abuse of the company's system.

In an effort to cut expenses the Renaissance Club Sport Hotel installed the Pelican Wireless HVAC Thermostat. This saved them $41,160 a year on energy related costs giving them an ROI of 8.5 months. Through research presented by Pelican Wireless it was discovered that HVAC energy consumption drives over 60% of most hotel energy bills each month. The Renaissance Hotel discovered that by implementing the Pelican Wireless technology they could save substantially each month on energy costs. The previous room configuration had basic thermostats installed in the rooms which were left running even when the rooms had no checked in guests. They also had no way to monitor the health of their existing HVAC units and their facilities department was being called upon by the front desk to regularly check the AC. Installation took only 3 days with 2 installers in a sold out hotel consisting of 175 hotel rooms, conference center, spa and workout facility. Pelican's technology interfaces with the Hotel's PMS and to the internet to access the Pelican Site Manager. Initial setup is done via an easy to understand graphical user interface accessible on any Web Browser. Cloud based servers allow access to resources and have control of information from anywhere there is an internet connection.

This article gives us a glance at six different technological trends being used and "revolutionizing" the hospitality industry. The six trends are cloud/software services, mobility, social media, personalized systems, integration, and globalization. The trends are all seen across the board in hospitality nowadays and are making huge changes in the industry. We have been talking about cloud computing and the pros and cons of using a cloud to store information and even with all the controversy, companies are investing and using the cloud. The use of tablets and smartphones has changed the way we interact with technology and the hospitality field is not staying behind. They are developing mobile sites and apps to help customers look at pictures and reviews about a place, check in and check out or make other arrangements. Social media is also revolutionizing hospitality by creating a reputation for businesses whether they be positive or negative. People can freely post about whether they enjoyed their stay at a certain hotel and helps build the online reputation of the company. In addition, more and more companies are looking to become more personalized experience. When I think about this part, I think mostly of the new systems rolling out at Disney World that scream personalization, guests can select their Fastpasses ahead of time, can use MagicBands to purchase things, get into their hotel, get into the park as well as to utilize the Fastpass system and every time a MagicBand is scanned at a touchpoint, the cast members know the person's name and whether they are celebrating something. With integration, customers and staff can access information from different departments all on one system and with globalization companies are trying to use systems that are global and used worldwide. 

Technological developments continue to have a great effect on all aspects of our lives, the hospitality industry not being an exception. Calum McIndoe in his article "Six Technology Trends Revolutionising the hospitality industry" outlines areas of technology that managers within the industry need to take advantage of. Cloud technology, though this concept is fairly new it can provide great financial benefits to companies as it cuts cost greatly due to the fact that it eliminates the heavy hardware requirements traditional technology offered. Mobility, the fact that portable devices can add a competitive edge to the service offered. Think traditional services being provided on the go away from a fixed station. Social; the popularity of social networking sites have changed the face of hospitality and tourism marketing completely. Properties are now forced to monitor social networking sites to learn about customer demands and to also learn about the image their company has out there and how they can improve it. According to Mr. "for any hotel to not at least monitor social medis is tantamount to willingly flying blind." Personalized systems; value for customers within this industry has to do greatly with the personal touch added to the service delivered. These merged systems allows properites to use data to ensure that guest needs are met. Integration; the joining of isolated systems used in all areas of operations on the property. The use of integrated systems allows for the pulling of data from the different departments thus ensuring proper management of services delivered and revenue management. Globalisation; It is important that hospitality companies adapt to changes and trends brought about by globalisation. Whether the current global outlook is taken into consideration when considering how a company operates can greatly impact the final product.

((NOTE: The author already highlighted the article in yellow when I found it, my personal highlighting is in PINK. Sections 5 and 6 are not highlighted in pink because I agree with the parts that the author highlighted yellow in those sections; Diigo toolbar will not let you highlight over something that has already been highlighted.)) This article mainly focuses on the technological changes in the hotel industry in pertinence with storing hotel information versus the traditional method(s) used by hotels that involved little to no technology at all. The article lists six different points or examples and states that businesses, especially small or upcoming businesses, need to follow by these six trends. The part of the article that stood out to me the most when reflecting on the lectures and power points for this week is the first trend. The first trend speaks about a "cloud" software (which I am not really familiar with so excuse me if my explanation is not 100% sound) and announces that "around 85% of the queries we see from hospitality companies and hotels include a serious look at cloud computing". The author lists a few reasons why such a high percentage of hotels are doing it this way. He basically says that you do not need special staff or special training to maintain the system; the system maintains itself so you can have more time to focus on your guests and trends in their patterns. Also, as far as the cost is concerned, "upfront investment is lower with the cloud as there are no initial hardware costs or associated expense…". Even though I am not very familiar with this service just yet, I like the idea of freeing up employee time to go and interact more with the customers; attending to the customers' needs is the most important thing in my eyes. The article goes on to list mobility, social media, personalized systems, integration, and globalization as all equally important parts to this revolution of technology pertaining to the hospitality industr

It is important to lay down a technology investment strategy that aligns with the specific goals of your organization and avoid investing in "pie in the sky" with no guaranteed returns. It will be easier to identify technologies that can help your business if you have a clear picture of where you're heading and what steps you must take to get there. Once you've set down your business strategy, you should appoint a member of your organization to track IT trends and advancements in the marketplace. Sit down with this person and list the sky technology areas they should be monitoring based on your business needs. Once you have projects in mind, talk to a trusted IT advisor and run a cost analysis. Create a short list of IT investments that you can not only afford, but will also help you achieve your stated business goals. Do a risk analysis of significant project you consider to undertake. Make sure the project is coming in on time and on budget. Finally, continue to update your IT investment plan and monitor new technology developments.

Great article talks about what companies should do if they want to invest the technology. Companies will surfer great risk if the company is blindness in investment. The company should firstly Clearfield their business strategy know what kind of the technology needed by the company. Advisor from professional people and the cost analysis is also important. Base on this analysis hotel can find better technology with less risk.

Highlights: 4 FAQs for Savvy buyers While mostly associated with retail ventures, cash registers have uses within many businesses. Restaurants, hotels, and other service providers have a need for a cash register, and when integrated with a POS system, have found unparalleled benefits. But if you're unsure of the equipment you need, or your security system is lacking, your POS system can be doing you more harm than good. My Descriptions: This article is a quick guide to POS, and it mentioned four questions about POS cash registers: what equipment does a POS register need, are touch screen monitors worth the cost, does integrated equipment save time and how can I keep my POS cash drawer safe. It mentioned that cash registers have been used in most restaurants, hotels, retail shops and other service providers. POS system can bring benefits to them, while POS system can do harm than good if your security system is laking. The author showed equipments which are needed for a POS register. Besides the basic equipments such as computer, monitor and printer, it also needs either a keyboard or a touch screen monitor. Most retail stores will also have a security tag desensitizer near the scanner .As more customers use debit and credit cards, a credit card reader and pin pad are essential for every point of sale location. In addition, the touch screen will help to increase efficiency and eliminate the need for employees to remember codes for the keyboard and reduce problems with keyboard and mouse cords, and it leads to a quicker check out. In this article, the author proves nowadays Handheld scanners are more popular for businesses where items are big and bulky. To keep the POS cash drawer safe, one can program a feature to let cash register to be only opened after a transaction, or it can be a complex procedure where money is only counted under the supervision of a manager or team of employees. Or managers can install a camera to monitor the process of employees to use t

this is another example of hard/soft ware application in the hospitality industry. the technology application explained in this article will improve employee communication thus, will enhance guest satisfaction and and most importantly will maximize revenue on the long run .

From answering incoming phone calls, checking out guests, taking payments, and processing reports for management, a front desk agent can't do it all. Today, many hotels can come to the conclusion that a high number of guests are booking through online channels, but they cannot lose sight of to business that can be made over the phone. If hotels do not accommodate to guests calling in, it may lead to lack of trust from potential and loyal guests. In order to solve this issue, Collins refers to a mantra: hotels must need to recognize that what get measured, gets managed. This can be done by measuring how many calls are actually being handled and measuring those that are being ignored by a front desk agent on a typical day. When calls get ignored or are rushed, any investment that a hotel put into advertising or content production could turn up to be a loss. If incoming calls aren't being measured now, eventually hotels will be in for a rude awakening. Collins mentions that technology can help solve this issue, but most hotels find it difficult to handle scenarios with IT due to a lack of investment. Collins stresses how important it is to have the appropriate software and hardware for employees to perform at their best for the hotel to reach it's goals. In order to better navigate and keep track of call volume, Collins states that the PMS provider may not be able to accommodate a hotels request; therefore, hotels may need to invest in additional hardware and software. In addition to this, hotels may need to find an additional information technology partner to help reach their monitoring and service needs. In my opinion, although smaller hotels may have an issue with having to invest in sufficient hardware and software, the benefits would lead to better business practices and a more efficient front desk staff. The benefits of a more efficient front desk are endless, especially when it comes to effective multi-tasting and creating memorable customer relationships

The following article does a great job outlining different aspects of cyber security within the hospitality industry. Security is one of the main departments that need attention and an additional budget in order meet todays security requirements. After doing some research, it is clear to see that all employees must have the same focus in order to provide the best security for their guest. Hotel security can provide things like: facility protection and control, guest and visitor monitoring and assistance, security command center monitoring (cameras, alarms systems and surveillances), maintain emergency response plan, etc. "Security has a difficult job of enforcing the rules and regulations of the establishment while making the guest feel welcome." The article goes over different security systems and what differentiates them, I thought that it gave a lot of insightful information into various cyber security systems.

Face of consumerism through e-commerce has radically changed in the last few years. Buying or selling through Internet and online shops depending on websites, has become an ordinary part of consumer life today. Higher expectations, less tolerance, more demanding and choosy customers are becoming more common. 

With the development of society, economy as well as technology, customers are becoming more powerful, they have higher expectations, less tolerance, more demanding. In this situation, high quality and professional E-Commerce is needed in more fields. E-commerce solutions are varied, which provide the buyers, sellers, providers more opportunities to run business activities efficient. Revolutionary changes have occurred in tourism and hospitality industry by E-Commerce. In recently years, more agents and organization make the applying of E-Commerce as one important choice to be outstanding. It owns many valuable advantages. It facilitates agent access to market and minimizes the financial information leakage. It provides any agents chances to connect market all over the world. When travelers arrival the destinations, they need huge information, service, facilities, market cash and so on, which all can be obtained by internet. And also, for Hospitality industry, it develops economies, improves trade competitiveness, expands scope and arena, and facilitates people to have direct access to the marketing destinations. What is more, it monitors, evaluates, creates faster transactions by the flexible web services. Thus all the process can be created, facilitated, and monitored by E-Commerce. Absolutely, there are also many disadvantages in E-Commerce. Some information in it may be incorrect or unnecessary. People give important information via internet, so the security problems can't be avoided at any time. If over population come to the destinations, customers may not satisfy the service or the local nature may be damaged. Hospitality industry has to be thoroughly aware of its problems.

This article tackles what E-commerce is in relation to businesses all of the world in the modern day but especially what is occurring in the hospitality industry. How now a days many people are looking to book travels online and the specificity's they are looking for can be featured through the internet. Through these websites provided by companies bookings could be made directly without a third party making the plans or making payments from customers. What's most interesting about this article is about is how it is self realizing and it also highlights the negatives e-commerce can have with the consumer (i.e. too much information given about a destination). But, it does tie in the end how it is a very positive step forward for all business alike and can create more revenue than before e-commerce existence.

The issue of illegal electronic dumping has been a real severity, and mostly because people are unaware of what happens to the products that they used to own. Luckily, our world is advancing to a point where appropriate disposal is being greatly developed. There are different mainstream companies that will take your old products to refurbish them, or handle them accordingly. Most importantly, there are companies like GreenCitizen, who are responsibly recycling products. They gather all of the old technology, and attempt to refurbish it. If not possible, then they use the parts, or just dispose of it in the right way. Certified monitors of the recycling process look over the practices of GreenCitizen to make sure that they are doing their jobs correctly. Actions are being dealt more responsibly, as the EPA and these certified monitors have gotten involved. Recycling used to be claimed, but done wrongly. Now, these groups closely overlook the process, and ensure that things are being done appropriately.

Organizations and companies that deal with a high level of competitiveness have been compelled to develop intellectual property management systems that aim at insuring information accuracy and determining indicators for decision-making. This systematization and monitoring of information on intellectual property management contributes to the improvement, reliability, quality and managerial efficiency, with the goal of offering the company a competitive advantage. The main purpose of this work is to identify a reliable system of indicators or benchmarks that can be used for monitoring through self-evlauation of the IPM as part of a methodic approach on research. The benchmarks determined and suggested by the study include; Elements which characterize the invitational activity, Indicators which are specific to expenses incurred by the invitational activity and development/procurement of IPO's, Sources of information in the area of IPOs creation, human potential, legal protection of products/services, activity on the IPO market, the structure of the intellectual property management, and indicators which characterize the impact of intellectual property management. To conclude, The systematization of information on intellectual property management at the company and its monitoring would improve reliability, quality and efficiency of management decisions in this area.

This article outlines the tremendous potential of IoT implementation in the industry, with a specific look at India. Interesting to note that the number of devices connected had already exceeded the population of India when it was written and the writer comments that the projection is set for 50 Billion by 2020 (25x the population of India). Citing three major areas of application and impact: 1. Personalization - Enabling the guest to control their in-room preferences and providing the Hotel the opportunity to understand those preferences and provide better future service. 2. Better Monitoring - Ensuring product fault assurance and equipment monitoring 3. Surveillance and Access Control - Monitoring activity on key locks and access to multiple units on the same device. While I think this article speaks to the potential there was significant ground missing in potential applications and services that can and will be offered. It didn't discuss many set backs such as limitations to current IOS provision systems, such as requirement for stable Wi-fi or cell reception. 5G will make this even more complicated. Nor did it address the actual costs of implementation which will be significant, especially for smaller operators. However, it does bring to light the potential for the future.

The use of facial recognition software within the hospitality business can be used to determine the age and mood of individuals in a picture. This software can be used to monitor age restricted products from certain age groups, which can also be monitored by their parents. Facial recognition is 30% more reliable and the app is still under maintenance to ensure that the results are a bit more accurate because some times the app can be off by 13 years.

These health-monitoring options are also creating new market spaces, such as age-in-place applications that enable real-time monitoring of the elderly and the devices in their homes - a better alternative to moving them to more costly assisted living facilities.

This article offers insight into extreme tracking and using patterns and data to customize the guest service experiences. It also provides data on ho to best keep a guest engaged whether it be through virtual or even physical means that can be activated by a certain data set collection. A good example of this is how Disney can monitor wait times at the park and then dispatch live entertainers to the area as a means of distraction and simultaneous product placement and marketing.