The article introduces the trend of HRIS system in 2017. As information technology have considerably improved, its functions have heavily impacted on human resources management. Especially, it is said that the human resources technology market is one of the fastest growing segments in business IT and with an HRIS, companies can align HR strategy with business objectives to maintain the workforces and adapt the changes quickly. HRIS is integrated with training, payroll, HR, success planning, recruiting etc. and centralized, which encourages staff to access easily from anywhere within the company and reduce work redundancy. This article emphasizes that as one of the 2017 trends, mobile HR Apps will be spread out, so employees can expect to see the update via their smartphone. As the functions are centralized in one place, the data will be managed easily and it can increase focus on employees. Also, the cloud system can be applied in the HRIS, which means increased flexibility, faster updates, and decreased costs. As the HRIS features are getting various, a company should investigate an HRIS that fits their goals, objectives, mission, and values and choose the best options.

This article introduces the benefits of the facility management software in hospitality industry. Physical plant software keeps tracking and scheduling the maintenance so work will be more efficient and productive. Three advantages of the software described in this article. First, the software performs tracking maintenance and repair work. Thus, it makes easier to identify the need for the maintenance, repair or replacement, and it prevents facilities from breaking down through regular check-up. Second, workflow will be more efficient. Most maintenance jobs are already scheduled through the software, so it allows work tasks to be streamlined. Lastly, information will be stored in the software so anyone can have access to the data, and it makes a report for everyone to share.

This article introduces 2017 digital marketing trends for the hospitality industry. The first trend is visual content. Instead of the explanation contents, pictures will influence more to catch customers' attention considering the characteristics of the hospitality industry. Second, social media becomes a great intermediate between potential customers and the business. The business in the hospitality industry should be involved in social media to expose their brand and build client relationship. Third, virtual reality becomes popular to demonstrate the various functions and features lively. Also, adopting wearables or using storytelling production can be a new trend as a marketing tool. It can produce ancillary revenue and get customers more engaged in brand concept. Lastly, digital marketing should be monitored and evaluated for sales trends, supplier orders and employee overtime in a real time to improve more marketing strategy.

The article introduces the benefit of using mobile event apps as a marketing tool. It is not a usual practice to mix technology promotion by hotels yet but it is becoming more mainstream. Destinations and properties can use mobile offerings as a marketing and sales tools to attract more event planner. It makes easier to organize the event more effectively and enhance the networking opportunities for attendees. Thus, properties will gain benefits greatly in terms of positioning and promotion of the services or facilities inside the business as a marketing tool. For example, mobile app can include the information about event and property service details, which will facilitate on-site communication and advertise hotel services via the app. It will, in turn, make the overall digital experience for attendees outstanding. As a measurement of success, properties can monitor ROI for new technology through feedback from attendees and event planners, and the number of events adapting mobile app.

This article introduces five ways about how small hospitality businesses improve information security. Compared to big hospitality companies, small business owner(SBOs) are not fully aware of the importance of security and in turn, they are vulnerable to damage their brand and potentially sink the business. Especially, small business highly depends on word-of-mouth to advertise their brand. If they face the security issue, they might have no resource to recover when we consider their business size and budget. In order to help SBOs strengthen their information security protocols, first, disposal protocol should be kept when they dump or change the computer. In other words, they should remove and safely destroy the hard drive to ensure information is not recovered. Second, training is necessary. Training is one of the easiest ways to protect confidential data and employees should be knowledgeable of handling the information. Third, organizations must understand the responsibilities for data protection and ensure their protocol comply with new laws. Thus, they should keep up with any changes in legislation. Fourth, paper shredding is necessary. Though we pursue paperless office, still paper is being used, so paper shredding is required to avoid the risk of data breach. Lastly, SBOs should use locked storage consoles to protect sensitive data.

This article introduces one of the big events about hospitality technology investment, MURTEC. MURTEC is the conference that technology-savvy restaurant companies, top executives, CEO, restaurant group, or independent operators gather to talk about technology initiatives, the limitation of existing hospitality technology and development. It is interesting that this type of event is held regularly for people who are interested in technology development, especially in hospitality industry. Good information about savvy technology will be introduced here and professionals can have chances to hear an explanation about new technology. Of course, the vendors also can experiment whether their technology will be successful or not based on attendees' response and competitors' products. Not only for this but networking can be established through the event. Sometimes though they have good products, their business cannot be successful if they fail to find proper buyers. Considering this issue, both vendors and buyers can have benefits via the event.

This article describes how technology will affect accounting system, and the reason to adapt new technology. The world has been dramatically changed over 20years. Paper was dominant back in 1990' but now most jobs are done by computer and Internet, and furthermore, the monthly fee for the Internet has been going down a lot. Everyone in the world enjoys the advantages of the Internet, and job efficiency increases. Especially, this article said technology will impact accounting profession a lot in the future. When we consider the current technology development in accounting area, the Web, mobile and social media have had a huge impact on company's operation. This article introduces that artificial intelligence(AI), cognitive computing/machine learning, natural language processing and blockchain will be adapted highly in next 20 years. For example, tax systems will guide us through the calculations and highlighting review section, and provide advice. A Huge amount of data will be collected and generate real meaning about the data and guide the business. Furthermore, continuous and real-time audit will be available. Fraud detection also will be faster and easier. As can be seen here, the profession will evolve very rapidly in next 20 years, which means it will be completely different from what we see today. This disruption challenges us to catch up with the fast pace of change but the potential of new technology provides opportunity, so adjustment for new pace is needed.

This article introduces three reasons to upgrade POS system. Most restaurant owners think traditional POS system is good enough to use because they already used to the system and it has not bothered their business seriously. Even though there are some malfunction problems on POS machine, they just chose to keep using them. However, below three reasons support why restaurant owners need to upgrade POS system. First, owners sometimes neglect small hardware malfunctions such as fuzzy monitors, printers, or connectivity issue. Yet, it will not be fixed automatically and it might cause the worst scenario which affects business negatively. Not only this reason but also the advantages of cloud-based POS system can give more efficiency and safety. By easily replacing the hardware in the event of damage or failure, information can be stored safely. Second, upgraded POS provides the unified system. Even though it still needs third-party apps, these resources are well unified into the core POS software and owners can operate system seamlessly based on user-friendly, and on-brand manual. Third, it is a security issue. Traditional POS system requires simply login/password combination, but advanced system can be protected with stronger security system such as fingerprint scanner or ID card logins. Therefore, important business information can be secured safely and it can prevent the possibility employee accidentally change key settings or information. To sum up, customers demand is changing fast and technology is developing fast to meet the new trend, so it is the time for restaurant owners to check their POS system and update it when it is needed.

This article introduces the role of PMS(property management system) to increase ancillary revenue. PMS encourages hotels to be competitive with high-end technology, and to provide the service beyond guests' expectations, which in turn, increases the top line revenue. The first role of PMS can be related to room upselling. With cloud-based hotel technology, hotel staff can know the guests' preferences, so before check-in, they can figure out the guest preference, and based on that, they can offer upselling. This tactic will be helpful for both guests and hotel because hotel can make ancillary revenue by upselling, and guest can get personalized service. Second, PMS system can track the guest journey through the previous visiting record. PMS has personalized record depending on the guest. It means hotel is able to offer the most attractive journey to guests. Third, PMS helps to solve the problem instantly, which increases guest satisfaction. The Internet and lots of applications at hotel deliver the instant responsiveness, and improve guest gratification. It will be related to better reviews and loyalty toward the hotel. As can be seen here, adopting the developed technology helps the hotel to build a good relationship with guests, and increase the number of loyal guests. Lastly, by having employees use mobile devices to check-in guests and solve special requests smoothly with other departments, it enables to build the strong personal relationship with guests, and enhance trust. Depending on the personality of guests, they might or might not like personalized services. However, it is obvious that hotel should offer the right service based on their need or want, at the right time, without giving any pressure to them. It can be the way to drive ancillary revenue by using property management system properly.

The article introduces five ways to improve eco-friendly reputation for hotels. Recently, many tourists are interested in green and sustainability, and when they choose the hotel, the characteristic about sustainable business operation can be a big benefit tourist can consider. First, it is about eco-friendly heating and energy. The energy bill takes up a lot when considering the total expenditure, so it is necessary for hotels to manage the power effectively. By utilizing energy management system, hotel can track the energy consumption in the entire building and control the expense. Second, hotel can adopt waste reduction technology. Most wastes are coming from poor stock control. Thus, hotel should employ the tracking system to monitor the items that are being disposed of often, and use the record when they purchase the items. Third, sustainable laundry can be the way to operate the eco-friendly hotel. Eco-friendly polymer laundry beads can reduce the water usage and electricity expense. Also, an effective material can cut down the frequency for linen to be replaced. Fourth, lighting technology can be used. By applying the occupancy sensors, hotel can cut down the cost, and use energy more effectively. Lastly, it is iPad POS system. According to the article, they said iPad POS saves about 97% of power consumption compared to Window-based system. To sum up, these five ways can be adopted for sustainable hotel operation, and having the eco-friendly hotel brand will be a big advantage to increase millennial guests and advertise the hotel.

The article introduces how to manage revenue and cost strategies for boutiques and independent hotels. Compared to big brand hotels, boutique and independent hotels have less brand power, and less power of a brand sales team. So, they need to find the right tools to adapt and fit their own property. Firstly, GDS is a good source to gain an exceptional return on investment, but it costs a lot to adopt for small or mid-sized hotels. Thus, direct bookings can be the most cost-effective way for them to choose. By identifying the sales from group and OTA, revenue can increase and optimize profits. Hotel can hold events as one of the ways to increase revenue. Mixing F&B and event can achieve financial success. Also, independent hotels can use destination marketing to emphasize tourist spots and host more business trip. Lastly, the importance of social media and website is very high for boutiques and independents. As they constantly update their site, search engine optimization should be kept up with. Considering GDS system in the context of small property, they are not afforded to adopt the system though it has a lot of benefits to increase revenue. Thus, they should find the right tool to adapt while considering the budget or common booking tool utilized.

The most desired amenity is not a comfy bed, good location its actually something we can not without, fast and secure Wifi!  Studies show 94% agreed that above every other amenity they wished all hotels offer quality wifi. But not all hotels offer high quality wifi which leads to more spending to fix issues, and poor guest experience. The article mentions how to build a good wifi network from the ground up first thing is Security comes first. Creating a secure system for what your guests needs. Next, comes planning for capacity. Planning for this means plan for what applications your guest use. Then comes access point placement. Where should the network stream from that is the most effective?  Now comes listening to your guests regarding the wifi connectivity and keeping up with demand which all ties into choosing the right partner to setup your wifi connection. It is surprising that out of all the lavish amenities one would like 94% want high quality wifi. In these times without internet connection, it feels as if were in the stone age. The article talks about the importance of having high quality wifi for guests to have a great experience which we cannot stress enough of the importance. The first step of establishing a good wifi network is to do a needs analysis of your guests what type of apps will they use? If its normal email, surf the web you can build a standard network, but if its high data usage like video apps then you have to establish a higher connection. With all this having a shared network is always risky so you have to have the most secure network one can have so you don't Put your guests in cyber harm's way. An effective way for hotels to manage all this is to contract with a wifi company so they can manage, provide and upgrade as needed. So the importance of choosing a right partner that knows your guests' needs is important. Hotels rely so much on keeping up with technology from being able to check in online, manage hotel guests services, and j

This article explains the booking trend of hotel in 2017 and afterward. Even though online booking tools such as website, mobile apps have made tourists easier to book the hotel in the world, in hotel's perspective, GDS is still the main contributor to increasing bookings and enhancing the hotel revenue. According to the article, GDS booking increased by 11.6 percent between the year 2015 and 2016, and around 60 percent of bookings at hotel were made through offline sources including CRS, walk-in, call or GDS. Among these, the major tool was GDS. Furthermore, the change of economic and political environment has caused hotels to have the right tools to decrease the loss. Thus, hotels should be equipped with the technology platform to monitor and support inventory and distribution channels. Every hotel has different situation and different booking channel. For example, when I was working at reservation department, our main booking source was an online. In other words, each hotel should find out what their main booking channel is, and based on that, suitable strategy to improve revenue should be developed even though this article emphasizes the importance of GDS booking.