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This article is a perfect example of how event planning can go terribly wrong with social media usage. The Bahama music festival hosted by Ja-Rule and his company left hundreds stranded on the Island of Great Exuma. The event started off by being promoted through instagram, mainly by famous celebrities such as Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner. Tickets were sold at $1,200 for the utmost luxurious experience. Come the weekend of the festival, music go-ers arrived into full chaos. Everything that had been promised to the guests such as deluxe lodges, yoga tents and food courts were missing. People showed up to an empty island with no food, water or basic shelter. Clearly the festival was poorly executed and planned and it was canceled. There was a lack of infrastructure on the island to provide safety for the guests along with a lack of proper water systems and transportation. The event planners had not had a proper back up plan for storms that could potentially hit the island (which happened) which completely set back everything. Many viewed this Fryre Festival as a major scam and were extremely upset, but what it turned out to be was a poorly planned and executed music event.

It seems they are really customizing the guest experience by offering guests the opportunity to take advantage of their relationship with Live Nation. I like how they get the guests involved in promotions by offering them a cash code, a benefit of being an SPG member.

The article discusses how music is becoming a bigger source of in-room entertainment in hotel rooms second only to video. The number of people listening to music daily is constantly growing and while most people listen with headphones, at a home setting people are used to using their TVs or speakers, these gadgets and habits have become expectations for their lodging accommodations. Companies have traditionally responded to this with Bluetooth speakers in the rooms, while companies like Hilton and SBE have decided to reduce the investment in hardware that would inevitably be outdated and replaced, as it happened with radios, VCR, and DVD players; and instead have recently opted to strike partnership with streaming services, such as, IHeartRadio and Tidal respectively to satisfy their guest desire for their music preferences. While a company like Hard Rock hotels has done the opposite and invested more in hardware and added soundbars to the rooms and the optional offering of turntables and guitars for guest use. Music streaming and casting isn't going anywhere any time soon, so hotels have to find the best balance between hardware and software to stand out and be competitive.

This article talks about the new up and coming form of in-room hotel entertainment. According to Statista, 68% of Americans between the ages of 18-34 listen to music on a daily basis. A senior project manager at Hilton said, "residential trends become hospitality expectations." I think that is so true because you want your guests to feel at home and comfortable when they are away from home and choosing to stay at your hotel during their time away. It was also very interesting to learn that hotels shy away from putting hardware in their rooms. For instance, DVD players. It's so much more practical to have a steaming service connected to the television.

This article explains how music festivals are innovating their use of the RFID bracelets to create a more immersive guest experience. These bands, on top of being used as a cashless payment system, entry pass, and VIP entrance, festivals are now looking to use these bands to in creative ways including linking them to apps and augmented realty technologies to "gameify" the experience. Possibilities include having check- in sites to collect points for real- life prizes, allowing entrance to specialized areas, and creating mission logs so guests can remember their experience.

Marriott is seeking to become the Red Bull of the hotel industry. While I first thought that this meant that it wanted to become synonymous as a brand with hotels generally, as Red Bull's brand is with energy drinks, what Marriott is actually pushing for is a sophisticated eMarketing strategy. The company is focusing on content marketing by developing and producing (in-house or through contract) its own videos, shows, web series, movies, musical events, etc. and distributing it through their network of properties. The distribution strategy will focus on using Marriott's 4,000 rooms, which are located across 78 different countries globally. In addition to pushing content through in-room TVs, Marriott will also use its rewards program and mobile app to distribute what it produces to its consumers. Marriott does not plan to abandon its print or online advertising; it is simply adding another platform to increase and diversify its global reach and strategy. The ultimate goal is to fill rooms, but with Millennials, creating long-lasting, individual, memorable experiences is important to overall brand loyalty. Thus, content marketing provides a means by which Marriott can offer original, targeted content to its consumers. In the future, it can become a full-fledged development studio providing complete content for its consumers, in turn pressuring companies like Netflix, Hulu, etc. In the short-term, producing content and releasing it through their app will allow Marriott to increase brand awareness, loyalty, and the overall guest experience. Over time, Marriott is not simply pushing a product or service; they are building meaningful relationships with their consumers.

The organizer, Billy McFarland, 26, was also sentenced for running a sham ticket-selling business - but that fraud was run-of-the-mill compared with the Fyre Festival, which had been promoted by A-list social media influencers but imploded just as publicly on Instagram and Twitter. Mr. McFarland had promised an event with luxury accommodations and performances by bands like Blink-182. But the festival never took place, leaving attendees wandering unfinished sites on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors had asked for a prison term of at least 11 years. They called Mr. McFarland "the consummate con artist," adding: "He betrayed and deceived his investors, customers, and employees while he was living the high life at his luxury apartment, traveling to exclusive locales, staying at luxury hotels, being chauffeured in his Maserati, and entertaining himself and his friends at restaurants, bars, and casinos."

Summary: Billy McFarland utilized all of the tools available to hype up an event that had no validity or credibility by solely relying on social media influence to promote a lie.

In the article, "Travel Agents Increase Use of GDS to Book Hotel Rooms," it talked about how the leading global provider of revenue is generating solutions for hotels, it shows how important GDS platforms are to travel agents. "84 percent of respondents indicated that they were using their GDS platform the same amount or more often than in the past, with 35 percent stating that they are using GDS more." Back in 2009, when the last study was conducted, about 26 percents of travel agents said that they used their GDS platform more often than in the past. This study also states that the annual GDS shopping displays will be over $50 million in 2011, which will increase more than a million bookings compared to 2010. There was another survey that was done and they surveyed different travel agents from across the world that were subscribed to a major GDS system. In the survey the travel agents indicated that promotional messages are effective and often prompt bookings. Out of the travel agents they surveyed, 66% said that they were aware of the "promotional messages requested addition information by looking at the screen attached to he promotional message." From this survey it showed that promotional messages are an excellent way to reach travel agents and from reaching the agent, they also reaching the customer, it's a win-win reaction.

I enjoyed the part about brand and promotional messaging, that is always a lure for me. When I see an attractive offer, evern If I'm not interested in booking or going to the destination, I often click on it anyway just to see the offer. It is a very effective marketing tool.

I believe it is important for hotel brands to evolve with the people who are staying there. Nothing beats being at home; however, it is pretty awesome when you are staying away from home and do not feel as if you are missing out. This article covers just that, making a bold statement with their title; "High Tech and High Class: How Luxury Hotels are Embracing Technology". Modern hotels are on " a deeper level of connectivity than a simple iPod doc, or a reliable Internet connect". Many are using state of the art devices and software which allows their guests to control from the lighting in the room to even housekeeping. The article also talks about Shane Krige, General Manager of the Plaza in New York City. He purchased a few iPads for the hotel lobby for his guests to play with. The feedback led to the hotel putting an iPad in every room at the Plaza. The Star Hotel & Casino in Sydney Harbour now offers a Control4 systems which gives guests a touch screen control for the TV, lighting and temperature and even music. Even better than the touch screen control the suites all feature "a button labeled "Leaving Room" by the entry door that automatically places the suite in an energy-saving mode: With a single touch, it closes blinds, turns off lights and dials back air conditioners for energy savings. Should you forget to press this on your way out, after 30 minutes the system will sense there is no one and trigger the button automatically. Upon return your room will greet you by opening curtains, turning on the lights and displaying a welcome message". Greener might be more expensive; however, it pays for itself and saves the hotel money in the long run.

This article goes into being patient when it comes to launching a new or similar product. Many companies try to be a trendsetter but sometimes taking the backseat is much beneficial. Startup and trial and error runs are ultimately decreased. Reviewing the feedback of others on social media outlets can help make sure you don't stumble over the same issues.

This article explains why a wait & see approach is sometimes the best approach for some companies before launching a product in a very competitive market which already has a company providing the same product to consumers. Many companies have waited to see what issues consumers are complaining about when their competitors have launched a product to later launch a better product better than that if the competitors. Such companies are Pandora versus Apple Music, Lyft versus Uber, Apple Cash versus Venmo, QuickPay, and Square Cash.

In this article, BigHospitality describes 12 tech predictions that will take place in the restaurant sector. With advances in AI, robotics, and payment technology, the impact will effect the restaurant space to shift towards adopting these technologies for everyday use. Such technologies are: harnessing AI to provide menu recommendations depending on user, robotic waiters and kitchen equipment, intuitive dining rooms, and using biometrics for payments.

The Hutton Hotel that is a comparatively new and boutique style implemented new e-mail marketing in order to increase the clientele's awareness about their properties. The hotel developed this new e-mail marketing with the help of Spectrio that is an all-inclusive audio/video/digital marketing company. By using an existed short promotional film video of the hotel, Spectrio and the hotel created new video about hotel properties such as an event space to show the hotel and attract clientele without visiting in advance. This new e-mail campaign not only includes new video content but also still contain photos combined with music and narration and links to the Hutton Hotel's website like previous version of E-mail campaign. This new campaign increased the effectiveness of hotel's e-mail effort as well as enabled the hotel to raise the clientele's awareness .

By creating a video to showcase the hotel's major feature by the use of simple video they were able to create engagement with potential meeting planners that previously weren't aware that such a space existed. The video was not a significant cost since it was footage that already had been used for other purposes. But by using this footage for a new purpose has created a wider audience they previously had not been able to reach. This targeted strategy to meeting planners is much more effective than simply sending out traditional marketing materials. It reached the people the hotel was seeking to target to increase the awareness of the space, to create more potential business. The hotel also plans to send out a targeted email to corporate guests in the hopes of the same success rate.

A Swedish hotel intelligence organization has chosen Dubai as the location to use a new software product called Hoteligence. This software is about offering guests specific content and services at the specific time. It is a cloud-based software platform that can be operated through TV, iphone, ipad, Android, etc. It offers room entertainment: customers can play Angry Birds, listen to music and connect to social media platforms such as facebook and twitter. This software is also a useful marketing tool which can track and analyze guests' buying behavior. The feedback until now is very good, so I think it is possible to implement Hoteligence to a bigger market and more levels of hotels as this software not only increases the added benefits for guests, but also gives hoteliers a good marketing tool.

Hotels have been lax on keeping up with the technological advances that have come about in the past few years. This article talks about how a few different hotels all over the world are starting to use these technologies to their benefit. Some hotels have hosts greeting guests with an ipad and making room keys etc.. while they have a drink at the bar. Others have given their guests capabilities to play the movies or music they've purchased on their ipad or iphone directly on the room TV as opposed to purchasing movies from the hotel. It seems like hotels are starting to grasp what their guests really want which is quick, paperless and technilogical convenience.

Hotels are catching up with the technological advances

From computers and cell phones, to portable communication and music devices -- the United States of America is a global leader in designing and developing new and improved electronic technologies. With this vibrant innovation, however, comes the increasing challenge of protecting human health and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of poorly managed manufacturing, use, recovery, recycling and disposal of these products.

This article introduce us a new hotel guest room product called HiP50. The design company is called Hotel Technologies, this company is known for bringing "the science of feeling at home" to hotels and guests is releasing a Bluetooth Alarm Clock Radio with Speakerphone for iPhone, iPad and iPod. This Bluetooth -enabled unit puts guests' tunes in hotel rooms via the iHome digital iPhone/iPad/iPod alarm clock radio. Guest can listen to music via this device and answer the calls as long as guest's cell phone is Bluetooth-capable. This unit in hands-free convenience and communication, enabling guests to relax in their room, enjoy a room service meal, get dressed, work on a presentation, or pack for departure all while talking on the speakerphone." Recent research shows that there is a large number of American like to use the wireless telephone, and the number is increasing. This may means guest of a hotel may prefer use their own phone rather than the hotel's land line phone. So the company makes effort to developing in-room electronics and entertainment solutions to complement guest's experience. 

Samsung LYNK is the new alternative to traditional Digital Rights Management (DRM)  in the hospitality industry. DRM is the hotels way of controlling and maintaining protection of copyrighted material through the use of technological tools. With tools such as Samsung LYNK copyrighted materials such as music and movies can be used on hotel premises without allowing residents to duplicate material. The LYNK provides cost saving efficient solutions that can all be controlled in a remote secure way. Not to mention, all DRM control can be done through hotel room televisions. 

As technology is advancing, the hospitality industry must also stay on top with the latest trends. Hotels and theme parks using RFID wristbands have gone in the last few years. "RFID Systems are advancing, and more companies than ever are offering these solutions to the leisure industry. This helps drive prices down for operators looking to take the plunge into RFID." The article mentioned 8 benefits of using RFID Wristbands in the hospitality industry. The 8 benefits are: improve guest check- in and entry, go cashless, a hands-free experience, family freedom, security and control, make a social splash, one wristband to rule them all, and lastly, data and insight. As mentioned in the article, Disney World released their wristbands, MagicBand, in 2013 and they have been a hit ever since. I personally worked at the main entrance of Disney's Magic Kingdom and it was much easier and quicker for the guest to enter the theme park with their band rather than an actual ticket. Those guests with wristbands already had them out and were ready to tap the band and touch their finger on the glass. Versus other folks where the parents had the ticket cards for their whole party and once they got to the entrance they had to look for the tickets, pass them out to their kids, and then collect them from everyone once they entered the park. Not to mention, they would have to pass the tickets back out o everyone if they are going to use a FastPass for one of the rides. RFID systems are not new to the industry, as they have actually been used for hotel key cards for many years, however, now they have given them a better use. RFID wristband users may use their band to enter theme parks, hotel rooms, and music festivals, and they can use them as a credit card to pay for things on the property. It's a huge advantage to use these wristbands because it is much easier to wear a band than having to carry around a room card, ticket and a credit card, especially at theme parks o

The article tells us 7 ways to make hotel smarter. 1. Enhanced Connectivity to Guest Services and Staff Members. Hotel should pay attention to online visitor reviews on websites. Many smart hotel systems have adopted bespoke technology to provide faster and more targeted guest selection capabilities without sacrificing quality. 2. Intelligent Environmental and Entertainment Controls. Guests will often rate their experiences in direct relation to the amenities that they are provided with. It therefore makes a great deal of sense that many hotels have adopted the same smart systems that can be found within homes. 3. The Inclusion of Voice-Ready Technology. Voice-controlled technology provides guests with a convenient means to control basic aspects within their rooms. Voice commands can control options. Voice-ready technology has made great progress in recent years. 4. Smart and Interactive Maps. The real-time interactive mapping not only can these items be used to orientate the guests themselves, but such maps are just as capable of displaying important information, like nearby attractions and places of interest to visit. 5. Personalised Forms of Entertainment. Many hotels are now beginning to provide guests with even more intuitive ways to access personal entertainment accounts, like voice control, access to audio books and customized music playlists. 6. The Concept of Sustainability. Guests are now appreciating their relationship with the natural environment. And a smart hotel room is known for its energy-saving qualities. Therefore, smart hotel systems also can improve sustainability. 7. Adopting Smart and Targeted Forms of Data Collection. In smart hotel, data can be collected without violating the privacy of patrons to make important policy changes as well as to cater to the needs of a certain demographic.

Events are a tremendous piece of the cordiality business, and are proceeding to develop. Regardless of whether it be centered around music, sport or an extravagance mark, occasions far and wide are creating billions of income and changing the way organizations, neighborliness associations and resorts work. It is very important because not only it is an advantage to the company but it also brings in more customers and it advertises and exposes the company to other people and from there it brings more business.

Events are an important part of promoting the development of the hotel industry and have brought huge revenue to the tourism and hotel industry.

Event management (EM) is complex. As a marketing tool, it helps companies to get profit from conducting promotional events and communicate with audiences and current customers. Fields of EM include personal, leisure, organizational, and culture events. An event manager is a professional who takes the responsibilities of planning and executing the events with creative, entertainment, technical, and logistical elements. For event hosts, it will be vital to choose the professional event management company that provides whole services.