Meeting and event planners spend extensive amounts of time researching for the services and locations that meet the needs of the customer they are serving. Venues must provide planners with realistic expectations. Event planners also pay special attention to user-generated reviews, so companies must also pay close attention to their online presence. Direct communication is also essential between event planners and hotels as having a reliable point of contact is important. Event planners also look for unconventional spaces that allow for a change of scenery. Reliable wireless Internet is also a must for event planners as this is essential for their planning needs but also for the guests that will be utilizing the space. Lastly, the staff at the venue must be flexible and trained for various types of events. The wow factor is what event planners really look for when evaluating spaces. They want venues that are different than the rest of the competition and will make their event really stand out.

This article discuss the idea that cybersecurity has been neglected according to consumers and more emphasis should be placed on protecting their private information. It has been found that point-of-sale systems are the most common victims of these breaches, and most often at restaurants. Attackers are targeting systems with weak points and outdated software, making them at a considerably higher risk for breaches and cybercrime. Companies must start investing more in heightened security measures in order to retain consumer loyalty.

Marketing and advertising trends are constantly changing due to evolving consumer expectations. These changing expectations are essential for business owners to notice and address in order to stay relevant in the market and industry. Businesses must understand their vision for the future in order to address those expectations. This is the foundation that business will be able to build off of as consumers value truth and consistency. Companies must also stray away from the safe and obvious choices by pushing the boundaries. It is important that business owners are always looking ahead to the future in order to stay ahead of the curve.

For several years, tablets/eMenus have been rising in popularity within dining establishments as a way to increase efficiency and revenue for the establishment. Customers are able to view the menu in it's entirety along with pictures of each item, allowing the customer to view exactly what they are ordering. This could potentially decrease the amount of orders sent back to the kitchen and decrease food waste, thus minimizing loss of revenue. Although this developing technology has many advantages, there are a few disadvantages that management must consider before implementing these systems. Credit card security, risk of replacing wait staff/jobs, and potential theft of the system being a few.

GDS systems have been helping customers book hotel rooms, flights, and vacation packages for nearly two decades. This increases the convenience factor for the customer. Companies may be paying more to maintain a direct connection and may want to start reconsidering utilizing a GDS system. GDS systems do have limiting qualities such as character limitations within text fields, which can lead to unforeseen issues for companies looking to personalize filed values. Even though this issue may provide limitations for companies, the cost of maintaining connectivity, increased shopping volumes, and personalization issues are driving companies to ditch direct.

Computer networking is essential within organizations to build effective communication and allows sharing of resources. Various forms of computer networks each serve a specific purpose based on the size of area being served. Computer networking has many advantages but also has drawbacks that must be considered. Networks have the ability to reduce costs, increase storage, enhance flexibility, and provide easy access to information. Despite this, computer networks are subject to the threat of security breaches and can be very costly for an organization. Employees may also find themselves being distracted by the vastness of information made available by the Internet. In all, computer networks can offer countless solutions to technological problems within organizations.

This article discusses how emerging technology is impacting the hospitality industry. The article mainly focuses on Amazon's new platform, Alexa for Hospitality. This technology allows guests to book flights, order room service, etc. through voice commands, thus providing a more personalized experience. I think that this could be a controversial addition to hotels as many guests may not want a virtual assistant listening to their conversations. I feel that as long as there is a way to turn off the technology guests will be less resistant to this form of technology being used.