This article emphasizes the importance of HVAC for hotel properties. Hotels have to work diligently on replacing the climate controls in HVAC systems and to make sure HVAC systems work properly in order to be more efficient and provide hotel guests with comfortable environment, resulting in guests' overall satisfaction. Large and modern commercial HVACs can save a large amount of money on unnecessary power costs and constant maintenance with proper controls. However, there are many hotels that cannot afford the large machinery of an HVAC, so this article introduces PTAC, Packaged terminal air conditioner, which is a type of self-contained heating and air conditioning system, for small-sized hotel properties. Generally, PTAC generates negative sound and visual impact on a room. Randy Dawes, corporate director of facilities at Select Hotels, advices hotels with PTACs to use transcendental wheel technology over fan blades, which reduces noise. This article also urges hotels to upgrade or replace their old HVACs for state of the art HVACs now. Since there are state and local rebates available for upgrading to modern HVAC technology, it is a good time to do so.

This article mentions a marketing tool through e-mails and a specific solution, eSignature Solution, implemented by Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The employees at the Hard Rock increasingly communicate with co-workers, partners, vendors, and customers via e-mails. The company realized that e-mails could be an important marketing tool which costs less than other tools, such as TV commercials. Thus, the Hard Rock implemented eSignature Solution which allows them to send out e-mails to customers, vendors, and partners with upcoming events, special deals, and so on. In addition, this centralized e-mail signatures program enables the company to configure one template that is automatically personalized with the sender's contact information, and to customize e-mails and its contents (events or special offers) based on customer information. According to Mike Essig, the director at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the new solution is very easy to operate, update and mostly cost effective. Along with social media marketing, marketing through e-mail could be very effective and potential as the number of use of e-mail is significantly growing and e-mail is widely used in our lives.

After 9/11, hospitality-related businesses, especially airlines, cruise lines, and hotels started putting huge efforts to prevent terrorist attacks, but it has never been easy to do so because of financial matters and guests' privacy. Hotels have been exposed to terrorist attacks since, unlike airlines and cruise lines, it is relatively easy for terrorists to access hotel properties without strict security check. This article suggests hoteliers to invest in the latest technology, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for guests' safety. Within the hospitality industry, non-contact RFID is one of the latest innovations in the customer security market. This new technology allows guests to easily access the hotel and their rooms by putting their room card on a sensor. However, guests can access to only the floors that they are entitled. So this could help hotels increase the level of security. Currently, RFID technology is at the forefront of hotel security throughout the world; and, more and more hoteliers have been interested in this technology for not only cutting down labor expenses but protecting their guests from terrorism. Mostly, this RFID technology still has room for improvement and advancements.

As competition has intensified in the hotel industry, hotels constantly invest huge money in IT to differentiate themselves from others, and ultimately win competition. This article talks about Choice Hotels' IT investment. The company decided to put multi-million dollars in IT to accelerate European market's growth. The investment is mainly designed to improve Choice's technology platform, central reservation system (CRS) and to automate back and front office processes. The investment also includes the company's web-based property management system (PMS), which automates front and back office processes, such as check-in/out, invoicing and inventory management. The hotel expects the technology infrastructure to benefit both hoteliers and guests in Europe. As hotels implement new technology, it eliminates certain jobs, such as front desk agents, and changes the way hotels conduct business. Hotels keep investing in IT in order to be more profitable and competitive. Choice's IT investment is an example of how hotels are changing with new technology.

What hotel call accounting does is to track, manage, and bill or allocate phone calls made by guests or employees. It has played a critical role in the lodging industry for decades. By the mid-1980s, call accounting was a very profitable source for most of hotels/motels because it generated thousands of dollars each month. However, hotel call accounting has been less important due to the presence of cell phones, decrease in long distance rates. At this point, hoteliers may wonder if they really need call accounting systems. The author emphasizes that hotel call accounting is still important and beneficial for hotels/motels in many ways: billing hotel guests for all phone calls, detecting phone misuse or abuse, decreasing billing errors, etc. Mostly, revenues from call accounting alone can cover the costs for phone equipment and service, so hotels do not take any risk. The author also stresses that call accounting has a bright future. Even though the importance of call accounting has decreased, hotels still need a way to track and bill phone calls to guests and departments as PMS and phone systems get more advanced, as Internet and VoIP are used more and more.

As the iPad achieves success in the market, there has been increasing interest in using the iPad as POS devices in the restaurant businesses. This article introduces some advantages and disadvantages of an iPad POS system. First of all, with the iPad POS system, restaurant servers could use their time more efficiently because they don't have to go to POS terminal to punch orders or print receipts, saving much time. This may result in enhancing customer satisfaction because servers can spend more time with their customers. Another advantage can be security. Since servers carry POS devices, they are able to swipe customers' credit cards in front of customers. Therefore, customers would not have to worry about their identity theft. Lastly, the iPad POS system is cheaper than the traditional one, so it may be appealing to small restaurants. On the other hand, there are some cons of using the iPad as POS devices. Most of all, the iPad devices are sometimes unreliable since they rely on wireless Internet. Needless to say, there will be huge confusion to not only servers but kitchen staff if there is no wireless connectivity. In addition, the iPad should be handled with care as it is vulnerable to being dropped or hit. Also, restaurant managers and servers should keep their eyes on the devices since they can be stolen sometimes. Overall, the iPad POS system could be an innovative tool that may change the way restaurant businesses are now. However, restaurants should carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages before installing the new POS.

This article discusses how to select the right Property Management System (PMS) for hotels and specifies procedures that the hotels need to follow. The first step in selecting a PMS is that hotels need to foam an evaluation team that includes managers, staff from different departments, such as front desk, accounting, housekeeping, and IT, in order to make sure the PMS works for everyone. Then, the hotel should determine its budget, making sure they don't waste time for a PMS out of their price range. Once the budget is set, the evaluation team should conduct a needs assessment to ensure that they only buy features they need. Next, researching the PMSs that meet the hotels' requirements and fit the budget is necessary. This article emphasizes some key features, such as user-friendly design, guest-oriented functionality, integration with other system, etc., to consider when evaluating the PMSs. After the hotel has completed its research, they need to narrow the options down to top two or three, and to have the selected vendors demonstrate their products in front of the evaluation team. After all, the hotels can choose the right one which works the best for them. Competition in the hospitality business has been intense, so it is essential to invest in technology, such as Property Management System (PMS), to streamline operations, enhance guest service, and ultimately win competition over others. However, there are so many PMS options to choose on the market, so it is also critical to know what procedures to follow, and to choose the most suitable PMS for each business.

Along with green initiatives in hotels and airlines, cruise lines and ports have been making efforts on "Going green" for years. This article, particularly introduces The Port of Los Angeles that can provide plug-in power system, a.k.a. Alternative Maritime Power system (AMP) to two cruise ships simultaneously. Basically, cruise ships consume the huge amount of fuel just like hundreds of cars do while they are in port. With the AMP that cruise ships gain electrical power from, cruise ships can turn off their engines while being at berth like an electric car. As a result, cruise ships can reduce their fuel cost and eliminate significant ship exhaust. More and more cruise ports have installed the AMP system and cruise ships have tried to be fitted to the power system. Obviously, the AMP is not the ultimate solution to pollution, however this can prevent the environment from being more polluted. The AMP system will advance, and we might see cruise ships sailing with only electrical power or other alternative power sources, such as solar power, power generated by cruise ships in the future.

This article is about GDS and cruise industry. What this article talks about is that UK's cruise market leader P&O Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises, will end its distribution through Amadeus, which is one of the largest GDSs in the world, in November 2011. The reason behind this is because these cruise lines figured out that almost 95 percent of its cruises are sold via its own website so they think GDS is no longer necessary for them. However, other major cruise lines such as Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Norweigian Cruises will still continue to feature on the GDS. According to a spokesman of Amadeus, the company keeps investing in distribution solutions, easier and more secure cruise booking application for cruise lines. This article shows how cruise distribution in the UK is shifting. This change would probably affect not only cruise lines but other sectors such as hotels, airlines, etc. Yet, it is still uncertain if the impact of the change on cruise industry worldwide will be significant. Still, most of cruise lines including the three major cruise operators which have large market share in the cruise industry use GDS; as well as, it is doubtful if cruisers are willing to go on a same cruise ship over and over. Cruisers look for various cruise options while booking online so they will be more likely to visit GDS-based website where they can search for various cruise ships throughout the world; rather than to visit website where there are much less cruise options. Everything will be clear after we see if the UK's cruise operator is successful.

This article talks about cruise ship which is equipped with RFID-based passenger tracking system. With this system, cruisers can find where their family members and friends are through Wi-Fi-based RFID tags in badges or wristbands, and iPhones. There are nearly 1000 access points installed with Wi-Fi network on the ship. So wherever someone with a RFID badge or wristband goes, their location can be found. With iPhones, passengers can not only locate their party members but make reservations at restaurants and spas by calling or sending messages to those places. The goal of this system is to allow cruisers to more freely communicate with their party members and merchants on board so cruise operator can improve guests' experience on board. In the near future, with the advancement of RFID system, everything on board can be done with RFID badges, wristbands, or something else, which means guests will not have to bring their cash, credit cards to pay and crew on board will go through less hassle.

Unlike many articles here, this article focuses on modern technology for cruise ships. What it talks about is top ten cabin technologies which will enable cruise liners to increase guests' experience and its profits. Among the top ten, there are some remarkable technologies. First of all, biometrics will play an important role onboard because it will enable both cruise liners and guests to save great time with facial recognition, touchless palm and iris scanning. Guests will no longer have to wait in line to get into/out of the cruise ship. Second, RFID, Radio Frequency Identification, will be another key technology. This is also beneficial to both sides, guests and cruise operators. With RFID wristband or ankleband, guests do not have to bring their key cards and wallets while doing activities. Also, in-cabin sensors could detect whether guests are present, helping room stewards figure out when they need to clean the cabin, and conserving energy. The last notable cabin technology is cell phone. With wireless-enabled cell phone, guests will soon be able to open the cabin door, make a reservation for restaurants and other facilities such as spa, massage, and shore excursion. As cabin technology has greatly advanced, guests would rather spend their time in the cabin than going out to the decks and public spaces such as casino, bars, stores, ets., with their wallets. This is definitely not good news for cruise operators, but all of these great technologies make guests' experience onboard better and easier, increasing in guests repatronage and revenues.