This article relates the future shape of Event Management Software that is set to define the future of events management. No longer is it just about just planning seating and defining attendee and rooming lists. Technology has enabled event planners to reach deeper into the behavior, desires and participation needs of attendees defining preferences and engaging rather than just making things happen. Key fundamentals include the capability to reach out to attending audiences, monitor their engagement and illicit responses as well as interact directly or indirectly, through chat bot or polling. While this article focuses on the planner to attendee experience, this holds similar opportunity for Hotel and Event spaces to engage simultaneously and seamlessly through the same platforms. These are incredible and exciting opportunities that 10 years ago were a bucket wish list for event planners and Conference service professionals alike.

This article outlines the advance of Facial recognition capabilities and technology in the Hospitality Industry. The amazing advance of combining a persons visual image and being able to tie it to data on the back end and come up with the means to truly personalize the product and provide efficiencies to the guest is truly remarkable. The 30s check in claim that the adopting company Shijin was touting truly seems possible. This technology could be extrapolated to Hotel security systems for rooms, marketing, especially proximity marketing that be recognized in all of the hotel venues and of course simple customer recognition by staff. I do however see a privacy issue related to the retention of this data and of course consumers may vote no with their feet in the North American or European markets, but for hoteliers it does offer a tantalizing breath of options to innovate.

Operators focus on cost, and this can prohibit the Operator from realizing the advantages and benefit of utilizing an RMS. When looking at an ROI they will often utilize Pacing data from a year over year perspective which is often, as the author puts it, asterisked. A simple explanation is the number of variables that can lead to impractical or flawed comparison such as mis-segmentation, unique events or otherwise. The author proposes instead that Operators should look at ROU, which roughly speaking takes market dynamics and most of the variables out of the equation. An ROU analysis (Revenue Uplift Opportunity) establishes a baseline measurement over a 90 day period that requires the establishment of two models (carbon copies) of the Hotel in question. The first, is a manual model that mimics the manual process of yielding and inventory management and overbooking, while the second utilizes the decision process of the installed or applied RMS. The author states that what Operator realize is the hidden maximization opportunity in both pricing and inventory controls based on manual processes reacting to demand conditions rather than anticipating. The value of this outside of the above application is how a KPI and a different manner of looking at the data can lead to valuable insight on what a real ROI can be. As an RM professional whom utilizes an advanced RMS on a regular basis it is sometimes it is difficult to see outside the box and perceive the value of the technology that is a mainstay in the Branded community. Being able to see the implications it can have for those not using or not having bought into the technology is actually a bit of a back step as it speaks to the value that this solution provides for the company.

This article is the resultant of a survey by Hospitality Technology as a deep dive into the minds of Restaurant Technology experts and executives. The results of the survey, commented by various executives from POS provision companies details their thoughts on the needs and direction of POS systems in the industry. The article, though lengthy, outlines current additions to existing POS systems and upgrades they are or will be implementing as a contrast to the opinions of the Technology executives. Out of this, several distinct trends emerge. POS will no longer be just cash register alternatives. They as a class of products are evolving quickly, integrating data, inventory management, third party integration (both service and distribution side) as well as an emphasis on Cloud-Based and managed implementations. All seem to concur that the future of the POS is not merely operational and operator functionality but also payment systems integrations that will make payment by the consumer friction-less and more diversified. On-line ordering is a distinct focus for all POS providers as online ordering grows exponentially for the foreseeable future. This includes critical items for brand based application ordering as well as third party aggregators. This includes the integration of omni-channel ordering including mobile, amazon-echo, Google-Echo and other AI/Voice based systems and the implications of their increasing usage. Data Security will be at the forefront of POS implementations with Restaurants having to increase their focus on vulnerabilities in their current systems and look to Cloud based systems to offer greater safeguards against hacks and data compromise. Finally, there seems a general agreement that a POS needs to be ready for the future, that is is extensible, up-gradable, and flexible to meet the rapid changes in technology in as bio metrics, payment methods (ie Bitcoin), new devices and services come to market. .

This article outlines the tremendous potential of IoT implementation in the industry, with a specific look at India. Interesting to note that the number of devices connected had already exceeded the population of India when it was written and the writer comments that the projection is set for 50 Billion by 2020 (25x the population of India). Citing three major areas of application and impact: 1. Personalization - Enabling the guest to control their in-room preferences and providing the Hotel the opportunity to understand those preferences and provide better future service. 2. Better Monitoring - Ensuring product fault assurance and equipment monitoring 3. Surveillance and Access Control - Monitoring activity on key locks and access to multiple units on the same device. While I think this article speaks to the potential there was significant ground missing in potential applications and services that can and will be offered. It didn't discuss many set backs such as limitations to current IOS provision systems, such as requirement for stable Wi-fi or cell reception. 5G will make this even more complicated. Nor did it address the actual costs of implementation which will be significant, especially for smaller operators. However, it does bring to light the potential for the future.

This article speaks to importance of consumers to have seamless experiences with Hotels through their entire journey. It speaks to the need for data driven management that integrates multiple sources to afford the tools to the front line to contextualize recovery, offer solutions and to communicate with guests by their preferred channel of communication. It cites the example of Marriott and Salesforce partnership and how the implementation is approaching the guest experience through multiple touch points through the deployment of guest management solutions that leverage AI, CRM and analytics to make interactions meaningful, relevant and human.