This is an important point - The hours of labor that can be reduced because of an HRIS can allow HR employees to focus on other projects.

The article recaps some benefits of an HRIS system. It also emphasizes on the importance of the Human Resources department, as it is considered to be one of the most critical departments in any company. Human Resources is responsible for tasks that concern employee benefits, payroll, scheduling, rules and policies, contracts, legal documents, and training. An HRIS is able to facilitate the duty of HR employees and automate employee records, payroll and several other tasks. Highlighted below are some of the most important benefits mentioned in the article.

This brings up a topic that we discussed in one of the earlier weeks in class. Being PCI compliant is a very critical role in guest satisfaction. It makes the guest feel secure and confident that their information is safe and not being shared through other channels.

This article highlights top technological improvements in a hotel that have proven to be successful, and in return have reflected a positive ROI. The article discusses ideas that are new and upcoming. Some of these ideas include: Digital check-in/check-outs, secure and reliable Wi-Fi, smart phone operated hotels (use of keys), TV as in-room control center where guests can control room temperature and lighting, and restaurant display ordering.

Another topic that is mention, previously discussed in class, is how paper menus will be replaced and guests will now have access to order via touch screen devices. This does not eliminate servers, but increases efficiency of staff, and increases turnover of tables.

This is a very important feature. Where the system can go either work off the cloud or can be installed.

This article compares the top 5 PMS systems for smaller hotels. Some of these software's are able to function on any size properties, but some are very limited. The most recognized PMS system, Opera by Oracle, is able to function through a cloud or it can be installed. This article provides pros, cons and costs for all PMS's and emphasizes the importance of finding the right match for a hotel.

According to this article, there is a common misconception that Travel Agents always book through GDS's and that they are the reason for increase in GDS bookings. This is false. As years pass, Travel Agents are losing their value over the online world that now consumes everyone's time. According to the article, in 1995 there were approximately 35,000 accredited travel agencies and last reported, in 2015, that number dropped to 12,780! I personally thought that Travel Agents were the main reason for the grand majority of these GDS bookings, but in the article they mention a fair point - Travel Agents have access to GDS, but if rates are lower elsewhere, they will not book through the GDS. It is important for a hotel property to track what rates they are showing on all channels.

This is one of the topics that has greatly affected the hotel industry. When guests seek the lowest rate possible, we are losing potential revenue and considering a travel agent seeks commissionable rates, our net profit is much less than the displayed rate.

This article talks about some of the alternatives to control e-waste. We recently had a discussion in our course, and my argument was that we needed to educate or inform people of the issue. This article provides examples of all the trusted companies that handle e-waste correctly, and some of the regulations already in place, such as WEEE. The article reviews multiple ways of distributing and handling e-waste correctly. Some examples given are sending the items back to the manufacturers and if they don't accept them, they present the Waste Online website that provides information on trusted e-waste management companies. They also present ideas of donating old electronic devices to start up business and small communities that may be in need of them.