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Lots of news coming out on New Orleans Hotels this month. New year new new software. The New Orleans Hotel Collection has switched to Target Net a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). This is a cloud based service can be accessed from smart phones, tablets and anywhere one can access the internet. The sales and catering platform keeps employees in the know on the go and making smart productive decisions for group business.

"The marriage of the Internet and the travel industry has come a long way..." This is a believable statement because in contemporary times, if you cannot find it on the internet then it must not exist. Having the internet has made it easier to plan a vacation and make reservations. There are many websites that can assist with bookings and offer the best deals for a cheaper vacation. There is no need to call the front desk and see if they are available because it is all accessible online. Technology and the computer has taken away personable agents because there is no need for them. As expressed in the article, "In 2012 for the first time, Russia booked more trips over the Internet than through a travel agent." With the advancement of technology and the ability to do things remotely, everyone can plan and reserve their vacation and not need any assistance.

Several different hotel chains have fallen victim to hackers who have stolen the personal information of their guests therefore Hyatt is taking matters into their own hands. The hotel chain is offering a bug bounty program via HackerOne which will reward ethical hackers with monetary compensation for reporting flaws in their network and programs. They will then take the information that these hackers provide them with & work to strengthen the weaknesses in their cyber security.

In this article we discuss the issues that airlines are having with the GDS system. They give an example of someone attempting to purchase a ticket through an airline website, and then through a travel agency. The direct airline method was only cheaper, if the guest provided information to a direct bank account. The cost for airlines to sell is a bit less than 10%, and they are sold mostly through indirect channels, like travel agencies. The main reason this can happen, is the integrated GDS system. A GDS system is a data facility that shares inventory information for various airlines to different 3rd party channels. The issue with this, is that the total in fees for the use of the GDS system was around $7billion, which is twice the amount of net profit they are receiving. People state that the airline system cannot survive without the GDS, but is that statement really true? Airlines like Air Asia or Ryanair have really attempted to focus on selling tickets directly, and really expand on their profit. How can this be achieved? Well, airlines are making the booking process easier for guests to manage, which gives them more of a reason to book through there. Also, they are offering greater loyalty rewards for directly booking through the site. Different incentives need to be created to attract guests to book directly. Lastly, they would like to create another distribution system, to put GDS out of business. This new system will work to allow guests to handle meal and baggage fees. Concepts that the GDS cannot handle. With that said, will this new system reduce costs for airlines? I guess they will have to wait and see.

This article discusses the integration of an HRIS system and its potential challenges. When getting the system, employees and management should really dedicate themselves in training with the new system. It is not something that can be learned so easily. In addition, there should be someone familiar assisting with the process, and this process includes the reason for the change. You will need to give the employees the reason why this is being implemented, and all of the new possibilities that can be accomplished. Some possibilities involve the maximization of the ROI. Another challenge includes the formulas within the system, it might be very difficult for users to understand or manage. The last few challenges include legal obligations, and the fact that legal rights are not impeded. The line must be clearly defined. Moreover, you want to ensure that all of the data placed on this system is secure. As long as these challenges are monitored, then the user will be fine.

This article discusses a data breach that Ticketfly, a ticket booking online service, suffered due to hackers breaking in. Ticketfly is owned by major event booking company Eventbrite, and according to the article, Eventbrite failed to have adequate cybersecurity to prevent the breach, causing over 27 million customer information to be disclosed to the hackers. This just highlights the horrors that can happen when booking through a event registration software.

The event today is not only between planner and organization; it's more like the communication and interaction among attendees. The technology assists the needs and expectation of attendees, which allows them to engage more during meetings and events. Besides, App or other online software facilitates attendees to get full knowledge of location, content and activity in one event. In addition, Audio-Video equipment mentioned in article also emphasized that lighting plays an important role to make one event stand out. In another words, creating great experience is definitely what technology is for.

This article talks about how technology has changed the world completely, especially Event Management. For example, the FiFa world cup puts out cool application so people could know the highlight, real time schedule of the games and result. Some other example are the stage show, this drastic change improved in the Audio - video equipment, stage and lighting. Technology has change in Live Meeting. Live Meeting webinar and live meeting are use halfway around the world. Also, the Social Explosion like facebook and Twitter is the big thing around the world. Even the Mobile Application are used now in iPhones, Androids, and Blackberrys has become the next -gem platform for Event Management

Now the event attendees can ask questions to the speaker via tweets or Facebook comments real time during an event. With the world tweeting away night and day, there is no doubt that technology has changed our life completely.

This article tells us about 10 new innovations in the hospitality world. Mostly it is talking about some innovations in the hotel industry such as face recognition at the registrations, voice-controlled rooms, and smart amenities.

hotel SalesPro Mobile delivers comprehensive sales versatility: Sales people can see all of a property's booked catering and group events in real time to provide accurate information to clients. Group room details may be viewed with block, net and pick up. They can view the group sales plan calendar including group sell guidelines

This article talks about the benefits of using a human resources information system. It will help to improves the productivity because of using a central database. It also helps to save the time on the administrative functions. More communications are available and employees are easier to communicate as well.  

The biggest benefit that we can get from HRIS is the productivity. All the tasks that HR department is doing can be done by pen and paper and it has been using for past years. However, companies including hotels now want to run HR department more efficiently. This program help to reduce labor cost but improve communication with employees. On top of this benefits, it has much more advantages. However, there are still small hotels not using this program because of their financial budget. Once again, it is not a mandatory program as PMS but it is necessity.

This article talked about the major benefits of HRIS. All data is usually collected and placed in a central database. Through the HRIS can improve the productivity of the human resource department since data going to be very easily retrieved from the database. What's more, HIRS can save time on the administrative functions and improve the communication with the employees. In addition, HRIS can create self- service options, which employees can be able to access useful information without having to spend a lot of time going from one office to the next.

Players Network will be entering into an agreement with Ascent Solutions, a software engineering firm, to up their social media game and develop their "company's next generation proprietary broadband-based content distribution." To enhance their Branded Lifestyle Video Channels which can be viewed simultaneously by users on all digital devices, Ascent Solutions will be implementing an Enterprise Web Platform meant for large scale global distribution.  By analyzing online consumer trends, Ascent Solutions will assist in monetizing their content through methods such as subscription, merchandising, etc. Ascent Solutions helps the gaming and hospitality industry find the right technology for their businesses.  I believe today's modern-day companies emphasis and reliance on social media and telecommunications can all benefits from the services offered by Ascent Solutions. With a nationwide footprint and local services, Ascent can help large and small media companies alike monetize content over any interconnected, digital device. With expertise in the gaming and hospitality industry, with major clients such as Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Speedway Casino. Ascent keeps up with technology trends and can further any business model.

This article discusses the difference of internet speeds in hotel rooms. Many hotels that offer free wifi have some of the slowest internet speeds available. Usually the internet bandwith is about 1 to 2 mbps per room. Since the connection speed is so slow the free wifi is basically useless to the guest. Some hotels are offering guests a tiered wifi plan at an additional price that has more bandwith and faster speed. So then the advertised free wifi isn't really free anymore. The article lists the different internet speeds from various hotels found by speedtest.net

This article was about Aptech Computer systems and their development of Aptech Next Generation Accounting Solution. This web based system is able to support financial accounting for individual operators and multi-property hotel companies. Aptech has been developing performance management tool for the hospitality industry since the 1970's. Aptech noticed that there was a demand from hospitality owners for a system that was able to provide more detailed accounting information about the company's assets. In 1997, Aptech developed its Executive Business Intelligence system, which is now used in many hotel chains around the world, including Starwood Hotels and Resorts, La Quinta Inns & Suites, and Extended Stay Hotels. The hospitality industry has been embracing technology more and more as it has become more affordable and easier to use.

Aptech Computer System created a new accounting system, which is web-based and developed in Microsoft's VB.NET technology that leverages a Structured Query Language database. This database will benefit both individual operators and multi-property hotel companies. Aptech started to notice that there was a demand for an accounting system that would benefit the company by including more details in their financial statements. As the article states ""The pioneers in this industry were innkeepers in the hospitality tradition and technology was secondary," says Jay Troutman, president of Aptech. According to the senior Troutman, groups like Interstate entered the industry and looked at such hotel properties as assets first, which brought technology to the forefront of the industry in the 1970s." Furthermore, the president of the company believes that the hospitality industry has become a bit spoiled with technology after they had a taste of it, but he is glad to know that the product is being used and the demand keeps growing.

HRPayrollSystems.net, a website dedicated to helping HR professionals find HRIS systems is excited to announce a website redesign Since the new design was launched on March 27, 2013 the website has experienced a significant increase in website traffic. Visits have grown more than 800% since the website changed its look. HRIS Articles: A database of helpful human resource information system (HRIS) articles written for those looking for new HR software solutions. The articles have been written by experts in the field including HRIS Implementation Specialists, HRIS vendors, HR end-users and more!

This article is talking about speed up people's internet access in life. When people want to speed it up , they need to test their internet access speed at first, such as they could go to the DSLReports.com. People also could chanfe their DNS settings to a faster, more reliable DNS server. Like Google and OpenDNS have free public DNS serviecs that can greatly increase their web browsing speeds and offer features like improved security. What's more, people can contact their ISP if their have slower than expected speeds. Last way is to tweak their DSL or Cable Settings by adjusting their network device settings or using web accelerators.

It is important to have a fast speed internet in a hotel industry. To provide a good service to your guests, you have to be on top of things, especially using the network and reservation system. The computer systems facilitates the employees in that in helps with the speed of their task, therefore a fast internet speed will only work in the hotel's advantages.

An unssuspecting person check into a hotel like any normal person would. The ever so common exchange, credit card for room key took place. The only difference was that the person that checked had done so with other intentions. The "guest" utilized an IP Telephone that was in this hotel room to hack into the hotel credit card database and steal credit cards, transmit them to a foreign country and then have money transferred to his offshore bank account. This happened but at the hands of Jason Ostrom, aa Vigilar senior security consultant. Ostrom was able to unplug teh telephone in his room, plug in the phone's ethernet canle into his laptop and hack away. Of course, he did this as part of his job in testing a company's security agaisnt viral hackers. His company offers free security testing using a downloadable software called VolP Hopper This article was extremely interesting because as a frequrnt traveler as well as a perosn in the hospitlaity industry I was very shocked at the ease that the credit card information could be stolen. When it comes to credit card security it is of the utmost importance for companies to be PCI compliant and spend whatever it is necessary to safeguard the information of their customers. The detrimental damage that a security breach can have on a person can be debilitating as leaders in the hospitality industry we must do everything possible to prevent attacks like this from happening. made me become extra cautious about using my credit cards.

With so much emphasis this week on the negative environmental impact of computers, I found an article that points hoteliers in a direction on how being green can improve your bottom line. The idea is quite simple; you implement energy or resource saving methods, you pay less utilities. Customers recognize that you are being eco-friendly and are more loyal to your brand. Over time your revenue goes up, there are less expenses and thus impacting your net profits in a positive manner. Then you get to repeat the whole process with newer technology again with the increased profits. Sounds easy right...? So what things should you implement? One idea was Portfolio Manager web tool that tracks all of your hotels energy consumption all while taking in consideration of operational and local weather factors. This is one piece of the solution of on going concerns of environmental destruction taking place industry wide. If everyone contributed in some small way, hopefully we can see a large impact.