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The airline industry has implemented beacon technology for a more personalized and easy travel experience. The article discusses how Beacons are collecting real time information and creating a single touch point experience to get information regarding airports or flights. It goes into detail about the ability of communication with travelers while they are traveling.

The article revolves around new technological concepts that the main cruise lines are adding to the cruising experience. While they have heavily focused on the ships hardware, they want to implement new software that will make the experience more enjoyable and simpler for guests to enjoy. Carnival, would like to implement a "medallion" called the Ocean Compass, that is crossover between the Disney Magic Band, and the band seen at the Universal Volcano Bay water park. It fits the Disney aspect, because it holds information,can open doors, and links guest pictures to the technology. It is similar to Universal, because it informs guests of when to attend something, so that they do not have to wait in a line. Royal Caribbean, likes the band idea that Disney presented, and wants to make bands of their own, that have similar functions that the Ocean Compass from Carnival has. In addition, Royal Caribbean wants to expose their guests to Virtual Reality. They hope to create an immersive experience for their guests, from the comfort of their rooms. Norwegian and MSC are mostly developing smart phone applications, that allow guests to check-in, book excursions, and open rooms. It is obvious that Disney developed a great idea with combining a "magical" band and phone application. The concept is so successful, that other players want to utilize the same formula. Let us see how well it works in the cruising industry.

In class you mentioned the high surveillance and passenger monitoring on cruise ships including the alerts of children going into non parental rooms. I found this intriguing because there are always a slew of people in the media that had the misfortune of going missing while on a cruise. In the last two years 41 people have gone missing and this does not include the Costa Concordia capsizing numbers. While the camera's might be rolling and the identification cards can track if passengers left the boat or stayed on I still wonder what the cruise lines do to cover up crimes. In Hospitality Law we learned that wherever the next docking country is that is where the crime that occurred on the ship will be investigated by. Most of these Caribbean Islands do not want to deal with missing persons or rape that occurred on a cruise ship so the cases get swept away. So despite the fact that cameras are supposedly on for safety here is an article with some interesting cases of missing people from cruise lines. I think a better technology would be to have the RFID enabled wristbands worn by all cruise ship passengers so that they can be located at anytime. This should be mandatory but disguise the tracking part by selling the fact that the wristband allows the passengers to make purchases with it.  Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas has this but it is voluntary and mostly requested by families who need to keep tabs on their children. They have only made 1000 wristbands and the article is accessible here : http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/7415/1

Israel and the United States are developing new security systems ti inspect airline passengers. This joint effort its creating a system that could detect substances used in explosives, or chemical weapons without having to open the passengers luggage. And it could be integrated into scanners, magnetometers and hand-held devices. Its purpose is to inspect both passengers and luggage, without the use of full body scan.

After September 2011 alot of changes have occured in airline and airports throughout the world. TSA has purchased, trained, and introduced innovative machinery that can easily detect authorized items inside luggages. The US governement have spend alot of money also to simply protect the nation from terrorists and any form on violence especially in the hospitality and tourism industry. Alot of th airlines have changed the way they used to operate before the attacks; for instance food is no longer served on airplanes, and more fees are charged for luggages and definitely more screening in airport terminals. The introduction of air marshalls and new machinery have definitely changed the perspective of traveling nowadays, travelers have to wait longer to be screened and to even get out of the plane after the plane have landed at its destination. On a positive note, everything that have changed is for our own safety as citizen of the US and i personally believe moew things should be implemented if it can only improve the way we are being protected.

This article speaks about beacon technology in airports. Beacons use Bluetooth technology to prompt the display of information, such as luggage location, directly to the users phone or tablet. This investment is hoping to show less congestion for passengers in the airports. She talks about how beacons are being deployed at security and check-in areas of an airport. In conclusion, airports are willing to invest this money in order to not only satisfy their guests, but also increase revenue by attracting new and old passengers.

This article is about how TSA begins to security check. The goal of TSA is to simplify security procedures to all low risk passengers, so it is likely to that TSA searches through database which is provided by government and others even before the passengers arrive at the airport. In order to do thorough security check, there should be more authority of the government. Actually TSA did not undisclose the information that are using to identify the low risk passengers. However, it can be predicted such as follows; Tax identification numbers, car registrations, employment information,past travel itineraries, property records, physical characteristics, law enforcement information and intelligence information.

This article talks about cruise ship which is equipped with RFID-based passenger tracking system. With this system, cruisers can find where their family members and friends are through Wi-Fi-based RFID tags in badges or wristbands, and iPhones. There are nearly 1000 access points installed with Wi-Fi network on the ship. So wherever someone with a RFID badge or wristband goes, their location can be found. With iPhones, passengers can not only locate their party members but make reservations at restaurants and spas by calling or sending messages to those places. The goal of this system is to allow cruisers to more freely communicate with their party members and merchants on board so cruise operator can improve guests' experience on board. In the near future, with the advancement of RFID system, everything on board can be done with RFID badges, wristbands, or something else, which means guests will not have to bring their cash, credit cards to pay and crew on board will go through less hassle.

I think this can be a helpful tool if used appropriately. It should be an elective option chosen by the passenger who is eighteen years or older. I think the age limit is important because once passengers are eighteen years old they are technically adults. This way parents can choose whether or not they would like to monitor their children's location throughout the ship. Keep in mind that not only can their parents see where there children are but any crew member who has access to the system may be able to track such movements throughout the ship. I hope appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent people from using the system inappropriately.

I would not be a fan of this if I were going on a cruise. This is too "Big Brother is watching" for my liking. I think it's a good idea for families to keep track of their kids but that does not apply to me. The only function I would like is the alert from the restaurant saying your table is ready.

A security researcher, Mr. Noam Rotem has found a security vulnerability in the widely used Amadeus airline software. Mr. Rotem booked a flight with El Al and the company sent him a link to retrieve his Passenger Name Record (PNR). Rotem inputted a random booking reference number into this link, which is sent to all customers upon booking, and he was able to access other passenger's information. This raises concerns among attackers changing seat flights, meal specifications, or claiming flyer miles. The security researcher also viewed email addresses, phone numbers, and was even able to cancel flights. Additionally, this data can easily be accessed because reference numbers and last names are printed on baggage tags, making this available for many to see in an airport. The Global Distribution System does not have any form of authentication factor or password to keep this information safe. The GDS has not been updated to ensure security in many years. The company claims that the PNR process must be in accordance with the whole industry, and it needs to collaborate with everyone in order to form a new procedure.

This article explains how due to Covid-19 more and more companies for developing and investing in contactless technology for customer experience.

Oracle launches a new data Management Model that will allow airlines to optimize the collection and analysis of passenger data in order to enhance and personalize the travel experience. With this model Airlines will be able to consolidate data collected by legacy systems, simplifyng it's analysis in order to support all aspects of it's business.

With the implementation of Oracle Airline Data Model airlines will have all data needed to maximize the passenger experience and create a competitive analysis to reduce cost.

This article is about how e-commerce is being new opportunities to global and tourism travel. America are the biggest group online buyers. With internet being the prime source of shopping, in no way will it tourism portion will be left behind. It has been reported that 1.5 billions passengers has travel with computers and this is an extreme market to capitalize on. Adding inflight internet will replace the tradition means of entertainment like, magazines and newspaper in which will create a bridge between travels and travel service providers. With this new technology passengers will be allowed to make purchases and have it waiting at the gate at arrivals or even at the hotel. The passenger can also visit a site before they reach their destination and explore activities and places to go. Going electronic is not cheap, but it is a necessary investment. And as technology advances so will it in the tourism industry.

This article talks about the different technology cruise lines have implemented and the future technology they plan to include as they move for a more touchless approach to certain things.

The hardware security check has been improved a lot after 911. However, how to increase the software security is the key for hospitality industry. How can we ask some sensitive questions or find some information through observation are the key for the comfortable travel environment. However, except some western countries, asking people's religion is acceptable and reasonable. Though globalization, hospitality industry should come out more approaches for making sure the security.    

The International Air Transport Association introduced a new security system at the 67th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit in Singapore in 2011. This new system would divide travelers in three different categories: known travelers, normal travelers and enhanced security travelers. Each level would have different security procedures and then passengers would pass through different tunnels, one for each category of traveler. For example, if you are a known traveler you would need to pass a iris recognition system which would confirm your identity and you would pass through a tunnel with minimal scanning technology. The scanning procedures get more invasive for normal passengers and even worse for enhanced security travelers.

This article gives an overview of security considerations of a cruise liner. Initially it cites a comparison between cruise security concerns and that of a hotel, which are basically the same, such as secure doors to cabins (rooms), having an exact record of all passengers and onboard staff, as well as having surveillance such as cameras taking constant video recordings. Whereas hotels are mostly open to outside traffic, cruise ships are limited only to those who have purchased passage, are working there, or are conducting business onboard. This has led to boarding procedures which are as stringent and detailed as those conducted when passengers board a commercial airline. Safety concerns for cruise ships have been a forefront concern since the 1985 hijacking of the MS Achille Lauro (See next comment) which led to minimal security standards issued by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The tragic events of 9/11 compelled US issuance of an International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) to strengthen security protocols. This includes requirements that any "ship over 500 tons…not (be) allowed into the United States unless their last ports of call conformed to ISPS code." The ISPS code, however, involves minimal adjustment for cruise lines currently in compliance with IMO rules. Newer ships are being constructed to include the infrastructure for video fibre optics and metal detection equipment. State of the art equipment will have crew member's photo and data available to be checked with each swipe of their ID card. Biometric fingerprint detection equipment is another safety layer that is available, but is not currently in use, although it will certainly be put into place promptly if a major incident occurs. The odds of such a major incident are high when considering the volume of cruise passengers in the last decade. Since other commercial ships have witnessed attacks, cruise lines are strongly advised to progressively

Additional information regarding the 1985 MS Achillies Lauro hijacking: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/10/remembering-the-achille-lauro-hijacking-picture-of-the-day/

"Hong Kong's International Airport is seeing a total investment to improve facilities and provide better services for growing numbers of air passengers. The airport served a record 53 million passengers in 2012. Investments include the development of the Midfield and West Apron, and a new cargo terminal, which will start operations in 2013. In 2012, plans for a third runway were approved. The expansion will take about 11 years before the three-runway system can be commissioned in 2023.

The M/S Viking Grace was launched in January 2013 and is considered the most environmentally friendly large cruise vessel to have been built. The ship travels between Finland and Sweden as a cruise ferry. The ship is powered by a liquefied natural gas (LNG). The shipbuilder says all emissions into the sea have been eliminated and emissions into the air are now lower than any other cruise passenger ship. Besides the lower emission the M/S Viking Grace also has passenger space that minimizes environmental impact and a new machinery configuration, which saves energy. I think this is significant that the M/S Viking Grace has basically eliminated a good percentage of emissions. I believe the cruise industry, from both luxury liners to cruise ferries, has a considerable amount of work to do to become more environmentally friendly. The use of LNG to power a ship is important for other ferries and cruise lines to look at for the future. Cruise vacations are popular worldwide and saving the sea for future generations is incredibly important. Even though this is just one ship that sails in the Baltic Sea, I think the M/S Viking Grace can have a large positive impact on the region.

After 9/11 incident hotels, airlines, cruises are planning and implementing more security measurements to ensure customers' safety. Particularly, in this article security is the biggest concern while traveling. Any terrorist or criminal can book a cruise as a regular passenger and put passengers in danger. That is why in 2004 The International Ship and Port Safety Code requires that all passengers must pass by metal detectors and their baggage has to be X-rayed as well. Cruise ships also work very closely with the FBI, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland security to stay aware of possible pirate activity or terrorist attack. Ports of call are heavily reviewed and compared to ensure traveler's safety since they are in another country and other laws may apply. They check with local security and police forces, and monitor incidents that other cruise ships experience at a given port.