The Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is a software, an online solution for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources (HR) and management functions within a business. Normally packaged as a data base, hundreds of companies sell some form of HRIS and every HRIS has different capabilities.

Technology is often overlooked by the event planners. It seems like it's the last part of the planning process. Possibly unknown to them, they leave it until the end or let someone else handle it. This is especially true when it comes to the Internet.

PlannerTech will showcase presentations from a selected group of Internet technology companies catering to the event industry, including Event Leadership Institute, Event Farm, Hashable, IML, and ShareSquare. The showcase will be followed by a networking event, where event planners will be able to socialize with peers as well as learn more from the company representatives. Attendees will be able to get their pictures taken at the TwitPic Photo Booth as well.

E-proDirect takes an important step in uniting the company by launching a new common brand identity. It reflects a combination of the company’s innovative product line, as well as their success as one of the true pioneers in the hospitality industry.

DirectConnect: A direct e-mail marketing and lead generation solution. We offer targeted e-mail prospecting, solicitation and electronic mail marketing campaign management.            MeetingMart: Designed by hospitality professionals for the meetings and hospitality industry and is a one-stop portal for meeting and event planners. MeetingMart includes a comprehensive resource for research and evaluation of hotels, resorts, meeting facilities and other suppliers from around the world. EproMeetingApps: Custom native mobile app solution for hotels & events that increases engagement and allows attendees a fast and easy way to access event and area information while offering event organizers a significant return on investment through a wide variety of sponsorship opportunities. EproDMC: An online solution that saves meeting & event organizers time & money. EproDMC automates event planning transportation procurement, reporting, and invoicing with no fees or markups!

Elsafe's SENTINEL II safes meet the hotel's stringent criteria perfectly. Elsafe in-room safes are the only safes for hotels that are UL-listed. In addition, SENTINEL II by Elsafe safes employs the latest locking technology, including a hook-style interlocking system, an anti-tamper labyrinth, a solid cold-pressed curved steel door, and extended solid steel hinges permanently arc-welded to the door. The attractive, adaptable design makes it perfect for blending into any hotel environment-even properties as modern and trend-forward as Hotel Williamsburg.

An integration between Shift4 Corporation, North America's largest independent provider of payment gateway services, and Service Tracking Systems, Inc., the inventor of popular valet parking technology Computerized Valet Parking System (CVPS) makes life easier for hotels and hotel guests.

Booking engines to allow easy access by consumers and travel professionals; the systems enable individuals to make reservations and compare prices

In the hospitality and tourism business, effective use of Internet technologies can improve revenue. Websites, blogs, online advertising, social media, online ordering and information repositories all help convince customers to choose a location or business.

Indra’s Travel Management Suite services all the business needs of a hotel chain or management company in one system, hosted in the cloud or on-premise. The system is modular and each module is also available individually as a stand-alone entity.

Minimizing the number of different systems that hoteliers have to deal with onsite and replacing them with a seamless, uniform tool for all of their needs paves the way to higher levels of guest service and much more efficient operations. After all, accessing accurate guest information from all parts of the operation in real time and from a single database is what the lodging industry has been aspiring to for some time, and there’s a strong demand from CIOs to reduce the number of inter-system interfaces they’ve been struggling with for years.

"We have recycling bins throughout the hotel in every guest room,” said Barnard. In the newer remodeled rooms they've installed heat and motion sensors. Once you leave or enter the room, it activates the heat and AC system, which makes it energy efficient. In addition to the in-room management system, a monitored hot water system automatically shuts off when not in use.

The findings of this research make very interesting reading. We were impressed to see so many independent hotels using social media – 85% had a Facebook page and 74% were on Twitter, although only 35% actually responded to our tweet. The fact that 37% of the hotels take the time to respond to every review on TripAdvisor was also very positive.

However, there is still a lot that can be achieved, especially where revenue generation is concerned. 62% of the hotels weren’t offering any additional extras during the online booking process and that’s a missed opportunity

The way travelers communicate on the road has changed dramatically over the years, and these changes become evident when analyzing the revenue earned by U.S. hotels from their guests for use of telecommunication devices and services. In lodging industry parlance, "telecommunications revenue" includes monies received from the guest use of hotel room phones, fax machines, and internet connections.According to our research, telecommunications revenue at the average U.S. hotel in PKF's annual Trends in the Hotel Industry survey sample has declined by 79% since 2000.

Internet fees help drive growth in telecom revenue

Tiered Internet pricing: Here to stay?

The system's main problem was its lack of flexibility--it required a multidepartmental development initiative to make simple end-user-experience changes.

IHG engaged in a four-month RFP process to find a solution that would align with its business requirements. It decided on tools from ATG, including ATG Adaptive Scenario Engine, which included ATG, Personalization Server, and ATG Scenario Server. The ATG implementation, which included integrating ATG with 11 other software application components such as custom code, took about nine months. IHG called on ATG and its content management vendor, Day Software, for professional services.