Group items tagged

Source: Successful Meetings; Mar2005, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p28-34; Author: Ben Chapman bchapman@successfulmeetings.com I am posting this article because if points out another netiquette issue, which is having consideration for those outside your internet access zone, such as the public nearby, companions, and most importantly, your business supervisors and peers. This article discusses the pitfalls of technology when it comes to conducting meetings, whereas the attendees are not fully engaged due to their focus on their personal devices. While it was posted in 2005, and stating that establishment of etiquette rules are yet to be established, I still do not see indication seven years later that this trend of attentiveness towards one's device over the person next to you (or presenting to a group) has changed for the better. Not only that, but apparently meeting attendees have actually emailed the presenter to express their boredom with the meeting, and while it's good for coordinators to know how engaged the audience is, it still is very rude. The article does say that "awareness of etiquette is rising as technology matures" and "it's hip to have manners," but I don't see it in school nor in the workplace. Employers have all adopted guidelines regarding use of personal devices to limit use during work hours, and even to constrain employees online social activities to forbid use of their company name or to post disparaging comments. I find it sadly amusing that the very instruments which are meant to increase productivity and provide increased communication and professional interaction is becoming the very opposite in the workplace and during professional development venues.

The article provides a brief history of POS technology in the hospitality industry and studies the pros and cons of its applications in the restaurant industry. The study, published in 2004, focuses primarily on handheld POS devices that allow consumers to place orders and order checks independent of serving staff. The article finds that handheld POS systems have potential in this market to bring additional profits and increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

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.

A PMS system should greatly increase the efficiency of a small hotel that is using manual booking techniques. The cost of a hotel PMS system usually varies according to the amount of features it has and is paid either through licensing fee, monthly subscription , or commission on sales. Some of the most important characteristics of a good PMS are portability and flexibility (making cloud based systems extremely popular). The functions a PMS should achieve include: increasing revenue per guest, managing sales channels, improving efficiency, guest communication, manage international bookings, automated inventory management, and much more. When selecting a PMS software provider, it is also extremely important to consider the level of technical support that is offered. Nicholas Reynolds

The Passkey's GroupMAX ME is a big progress during the housing management service area. It major effect is promoting the efficiency of management in meeting, convention or event. It makes the meeting management become more professional. LA Tourism managers can organize the conventions and meetings that were more safe, consistent and portable by using GroupMAX ME on their hand. The technology could make participants easily and efficiently find hotel reservations in office. And meeting professionals could be easy to track inventory online. GroupMAX ME could help meeting professionals to avoid an excess of reservation fee because it could directly connect hotel property management system or central reservation system.

The Passkey's GroupMAX ME is a big progress during the housing management service area. It major effect is promoting the efficiency of management in meeting, convention or event. It makes the meeting management become more professional. LA Tourism managers can organize the conventions and meetings that were more safe, consistent and portable by using GroupMAX ME on their hand. The technology could make participants easily and efficiently find hotel reservations in office. And meeting professionals could be easy to track inventory online. GroupMAX ME could help meeting professionals to avoid an excess of reservation fee because it could directly connect hotel property management system or central reservation system.

Social integration and tablet shopping is quite new. I understand what the author's point that a lot of shops just left a twitter sign or face book sign on the page, but that is not enough. If the shop brought a fabulous dynamic site experience to me, I definitely would share with my friends. And these shops need to focus on the potential customers by reading them. For tablet shopping, I personally love it because it is easy and convenient to shop, and I can get a lot of information from it quickly. Most important is it is portable, I can check it anywhere, any time.

"Portable PMS solutions improve hotel operations" mentions both the benefits and drawbacks of using PMS. It is clear that there are many advantages considered, but also some real obstacles has been shown, which is not only the price. The smart system is the right solution for not having problems with the use. For instance, The Virtual Front Desk would improve the quality of service and enable to control from anywhere. Further, hotels no longer with reservations issues such as overbooking . There are some new software that has been widely applied in hospitality industry. Finally, while the cost of wireless is going down, the benefits of this technologies are going up

Hotels around the world are looking for way to cut unnecessary expenses and costs, and are increasingly turning to technology to find a solution to this problem. InvoTech Systems, Inc. has introduced RFID to the JW Marriott Hotel Santo Domingo (in the Dominican Republic) in order to keep track of linens and staff uniforms. RFID (radio-frequency identification) is a growing method in the hospitality industry to collect, store and manage data. All losses will now be accounted for and that will reduce the purchase of replacement uniforms and linens. It is a great way to increase revenue as the hotel will be able to allocate more funds to other pressing matters such as making guests' stay more enjoyable; funds that previously would have had to be disbursed to replace missing linens and uniforms. Also, thanks to handheld readers, this technology is portable and the software seems to be fairly user-friendly.

The use of RFID to track employee uniforms is a phenomenal idea! When people hear RFID they usually think of the ability to fill a shopping cart and walk out while having funds automatically withdrawn from an account or applied to a credit card, but this use is innovative and a sure-fire way to reduce costs associated with inventory loss. At my previous property, the uniform department found that uniforms not being returned was so rampant that they eventually just accepted it as a cost of doing business. The department didn't even attempt to have items returned and employees of the department were always shocked when someone returned an item, especially after leaving the company. Needless to say, this practice probably cost the department a very pretty penny.

RealView is a Chicago-based mobile software company that assists hotels with emergencies by equipping first responders with hotel's up-to-date floor plans and other relevant information. "We provide a preplan program where we make everything a responder would need available to them ahead of time," Stephen Nardi, CEO of RealView, said. "With planning, both employees and responders won't be operating on trial and error but reality." All of this information is streamlined to portable tablets or security stations and can be updated remotely and shared digitally. This software is important not only because of the safety of hotel patrons and visitors, but also to protect a hotel from a liability standpoint. "The front-end policies you have will protect you in the moment and in the end," Justin Parafinczuk, a partner for the defense law firm Koch, Parafinczuk, Wolf and Susen said. ""Any break in the chain is a liability. It's a minefield." In my opinion, this type of software not only makes sense but should be required in all hotels. When dealing with emergencies that involve life and death, seconds matter. It is software like RealView that can be the difference in saving peoples live's. RealView offers the ability to streamline real time information and make it easily sharable. I believe that not having this type of software should be considered a legal liability to hotels and they should be held accountable if they do not have this type of software implemented.

This article reviews Mobile POS systems and unattended POS systems and provides key features of each.

Oracle Hospitality, a leader in digital food and beverage solutions for the hospitality industry, has unveiled their new cruise oriented service known as "Oracle Hospitality Simphony" . This POS system is fully integrated with Oracle Hospitality's PMS system and strives to create a cash free environment that allows real time management of food orders, reservations, and special packages. This is done through the use of portable MICROS compact work stations and MICROS Tablet hardware.

This article discuss how both new software and hardware is being utilized in the hospitality industry to expedite the process of guests checking in and out of hotels. The article is about NORTHWIND, a company well known for having developed "Maestro" a property management software suite that enables hotels, resorts, and multi-property organizations to manage their facilities. Specifically the article mentions how NORTHWIND is introducing "Xpress Check-In" an tablet specific software that will increase the speed and ease with which guests are able to enter and exit the hotel. This goes to show how the company is keeping abreast with the recent and growing trend of portable tablet/touch screen hardware devices. This software and hardware combination enables desk agents to operate away from their desk allowing for more intimate and personalized service with guests. I think the most unique and amazing feature of this system is that it will allow hotel agents to check in and process large groups such as conference attendees quickly and efficiently. The "Maestro Xpress Check-In" system can not only check guests in, but also encode their room key card, as well as process credit card transactions and capture their signature. All of these things can be completed even before conference attendees disembark from the bus and enter the hotel. I believe that hotels who choose to invest and employ technologies like this will distinguish themselves from other establishments because their service will be much better and smoother, both for guests and the hotel. These unique services will also be key in driving revenue and increasing productivity. NORTHWIND is well recognized in the hospitality industry for providing real-time technology solutions that help users control and manage their business effectively.

Maestro, a company specializing in property management and hotel software is launching a new face in property management productivity by introducing the Maestro Ipad Xpress App. With the popularity of tablet computers such as IPads and android platform tablets rising, Northwind has decided to launch a system through Maestro to make the check-in and check-out process in a hotel as simple and efficient as possible. Northwind ultimately hopes that the Xpress check-in app will not only be more efficient for guests but also optimize revenue and productivity in the hotel. The new app allows guests to complete the check-in and check-out process anywhere a wireless signal is available. Lets say for example, a large group of employees are attending an out of state conference and when they arrive at the hotel, there are over fifty of them that have to go through the check-in process. With the Xpress check-in app, these individuals could check in on their way to the hotel and by the time they get there they will save time and effort by not having to wait in line and go through the entire check in process one by one. For this reason the Maestro Xpress Check-In App is perfect for handling large groups of people arriving at the same time. The Xpress app creates a more personalized service for the customer making the entire check-in and check-out process much more convenient for the guest and productive for the hotel. 

ince its founding as a hotel management company in 2003, Ascenture Hotel Group has evolved into a full-scale development firm with 10 properties in five states and more on the horizon, including a five-star resort in the Dominican Republic. To meet investor expectations and track profitability targets, Moffa relies on Profitvue enterprise accounting and financial planning software from Aptech Computer Systems to calculate and communicate crucial business data on his assets data each day. Ascenture's brands include Hilton, Holiday Inn, and Comfort Suites. One reason his company chose Aptech is because Profitvue accepts performance data from all brands and systems, regardless of flag, and easily creates centralized daily property reports and consolidated financials and delivers them online or by e-mail. Ascenture's move to Profitvue also saves it money. Ascenture has only two people in its accounting office for all its assets. "Aptech creates a more efficient operation so we save about $80,000 in additional salaries," says Joseph C. Moffa, Ascenture president. Moffa's team monitors each hotel's operation against budget with a flexible set of metrics that show property financial health. "Our partners and investors are in business for a profit," explains Moffa. "A hotel is a different investment with a different return than an office building. It is a 365, 24/7 living, breathing business that never closes. We use Aptech to keep our investors and partners informed. I want them to be the smartest owners in the hotel business and understand how we manage their investments to increase value. We use Profitvue reports to show how we manage costs down to the smallest amenities." Profitvue also enables his management team to monitor property performance while they are traveling, explains Lisa Zifer Ascenture's director of operations. "Aptech makes our company and its services portable. We access data remotely us

Consumers are spending more time engaged digitally, especially smart phones. So retailers are applying the mobile devices for POS retail expansion. The processing speed and its mobility made mobile POS more helpful, productive and competitive. It offers a powerful computing platform that combines the attractive form factor with ease-of-use; it also save the tablets cost and offer retailers a vital tool to improve productivity and decision making from the back office to the point of order entry on the retail floor.

With smartphones evlving and getting smarter, smaller and speedier it is allowing for advances in mobile point-of-sale technology especially in the restaurant industr. There are now numerous POS platforms that support both iPhone as well as android. Tablets and iPads are also supported so that restaurants can process payments in the field with a credit card reader. Traditionally POS have been very costly and structured; now with mobile technology the flexibility is convenient, fast and user friendly. New applications allow restaurants to store customer spending patterns without retaining their personal credit card information. the use of smartphones also opens up very exciting opportunities when it comes to business-consumer communication. Restaurants can send text messages containg discounted coupons to their establishments. The key is to not over do it as customers may become annoyed with too many text messages. This article delat mainly with the restaurant industry but did mention the evolution of technological advances with the use of smart phones. Form personal experience I have used my iphone and ipad to conduct credit card transactions utilzing squareD which provides free of charge a mobile credit card swiper that is connected to the microphone port of either the iphone or Ipad. there is not monthly contract or fee. The only charge is 2.5% per settled credit card transaction and the amount is automatically deducted from the batched amount and within 1-2 business days the funds are deposited directly into ones checking/savings account. This is convenient, fast, and easy. I have been able to secure payment right on the spot instead of either handling cash which is always a ahzard or the risk of accepting checks. the use of smartphones and tbalets have revolutionozed the way business is being conducted making it fast, easy, and convenient to both cutomer and busoness owner alike.

Technology absolutely plays important role to facilitate meetings and conference running smoothly. The Audience-response systems (ARS) ease the communication between attendees and speaker, which encourages the engagement from participants. As one big goal of meeting and convention is to bring people together and let them know each other, technology like ARS is essential for a successful meeting. According to most planners' experience, it's really annoying to pass around the microphone when somebody wants to ask question. The new microphone function is also added into ARS so that attendees can ask question without waiting for passing the microphone. In addition, ARS can track attendance for crediting purpose. As long as WiFi is available, surveys can be sent by laptops, iPads and iPod touches.

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

For the customers, pay-at-table technology is very convinence and prevent customers from thieves. For the owners, it builds the raputation of the restaurant and effective the working process. The only thing I concern is about the cost to implement this technology. Whether the pay-at-table technology can be widely used or not may depend on the cost to apply.