In December 2018, the FBI warned that unpatched devices on networks were exposed to hackers through an open port used to communicate with control systems.

One last, often-overlooked vulnerability is an aging BMS. Many buildings still have legacy BMSes installed that could be subject to simple attacks, although some of the older systems are analog-based and are not as easy to hack as modern, Ethernet-based systems. Regardless, the old systems may have default passwords that can be found on the internet and that cannot be changed or patched. These old systems may also have open ports that cannot be blocked unless you install a major -- and expensive -- upgrade or retrofit.

Building management system is an intelligent microprocessor-based controller network installed to monitor and control a building's technical systems and services. they can be directly integrated with a broad range of building services, including access control, security, power, lighting, fire systems, elevator and escalator controls, smart whiteboards, and clinical systems. Hackers are becoming more savvy to BMSes. As a resullt, businesses must spend time and resources to patch any vulnerabilities.

Fake news, fake marketing claims, fake influencers, fake customer service. So much of this fakery is funded through advertising, and biggest thing they sell is fake traffic.

Second, there are scrapers that take original content from one site and put it on others as well as take customer lists, contact information, and other valuable data. Third, spammer bots are used to drive Internet traffic to spammer websites. Finally, marketers are most concerned with click bots. This is a relatively new type of ad fraud and that click on performance-based and PPC ads that drive up the cost of this type of advertising.

SUMMARY: With the rise of Aritiial Intelligence and computer algorithms/programs it becomes more apparent that emarketing is under constant threat of fake traffic and analytics. Over half the internet traffic is being used by bots. Marketers must invest in tools to fight fraudulent traffic. Anti fraud and tracking platforms can be utilized to combat fradulent traffic. If there is money in fake traffic, the bad bots will constantly create problems creating fradulent traffic. Marketers have to stay vigilant and informed about new threats to their emarketing campaigns so money isn't being spent on bad bots/fradulent traffic.

The organizer, Billy McFarland, 26, was also sentenced for running a sham ticket-selling business - but that fraud was run-of-the-mill compared with the Fyre Festival, which had been promoted by A-list social media influencers but imploded just as publicly on Instagram and Twitter. Mr. McFarland had promised an event with luxury accommodations and performances by bands like Blink-182. But the festival never took place, leaving attendees wandering unfinished sites on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors had asked for a prison term of at least 11 years. They called Mr. McFarland "the consummate con artist," adding: "He betrayed and deceived his investors, customers, and employees while he was living the high life at his luxury apartment, traveling to exclusive locales, staying at luxury hotels, being chauffeured in his Maserati, and entertaining himself and his friends at restaurants, bars, and casinos."

Summary: Billy McFarland utilized all of the tools available to hype up an event that had no validity or credibility by solely relying on social media influence to promote a lie.

A leaked MGM Grand memo posted by Vital Vegas states that beginning Feb. 4, "All guest elevators at MGM Grand will be modified only to allow access to the floor to which the guest is registered.

An MGM spokesperson told KTNV, "Our processes and procedures are always evolving as part of our focus on providing the best possible service and keeping guests and employees safe." The spokesperson said that the security change is not in response to any specific incident

The MGM Grand in Law Vegas is implementing new changes into their security protocols in response to different violent events that have occurred within the last few years. Changes like this are necessary to "stay on top of the bad guys". In the past, anyone had access to most floors in the hotel. Additionally, this will allow the hotel to track and record any suspicious movement occurring and report it.

Swiss Cruise company is starting to use a virtual assistant to answer passengers' questions.

MSC Cruises is rolling out a virtual assistant in passenger cabins called Zoe that will answer spoken questions. It can improve its answers with continual research based on the interactions it has. Zoe was programmed to answer the 800 most common questions - queries about excursions or onboard restaurants, for example - and variations of those questions in seven languages. The questions were gleaned from staff members and from data collected from the ships' guest services desks.

Professor Susskind said that traditional marketing in the travel industry had evolved: "You run the risk of not being able to compete effectively in the marketplace without these enhanced approaches."

In the report titled, " Inside the Mind of Event Attendees," Cvent and Edelman Intelligence collected responses from 3,000 event attendees in the US, UK, and Germany to identify their attitudes and preferences regarding the overall event experience; including before, during, and after an event takes place.

Three in four attendees report downloading the event app when they were informed one was available, illustrating the keen interest attendees have in embracing a mobile experience at a live event.

For attendees, mobile apps remove the stress around an event's logistics by providing features such as session information, a schedule tracker, maps, speaker information, and notifications, allowing them to more easily navigate and learn from the events they attend.

It's no secret that hotel finances and accounting can be complex and come with their own unique sets of challenges. And those challenges often arrive during times when hoteliers are already stretched thin in terms of time and resources.

Criminals compromised a third-party point of sale (POS) vendor's data system and utilized the vendor's assistance tools to gain remote access-and the ability to deploy malware-to some Huddle House corporate and franchisee POS systems," Huddle House said in a security alert listed on its front page.

Huddle House said the malware deployed on its POS system was designed to collect data such as cardholder name, credit/debit card number, expiration date, cardholder verification value, and service code.

Recently Huddle House's POS system was hacked by someone and it revealed thousands of customers debit and/or credit cards information. Hackers were able to take advantage of the software in the POS system by adding malware to different corporate and franchisee locations. Huddle House released a statement to customers to be aware of their credit card/debit accounts to make sure there's no suspicious activity. It's too early to tell if this security breach will affect pre-existing and new customers. Huddle House will need to implement a security software patch, or consider changing its POS systems.

eZee - a leading hospitality technology provider company have recently infused their eZee Absolute hotel PMS mobile app with the smart digital assistant and eZee Reservation booking engine with an intuitive chatbot. eZee have always been upright to bring the latest solutions before the industry; And with such futuristic initiatives, we can certainly affirm a bright and promising future for the industry." Empowering the hospitality industry with the right and the latest technology has been the prime motive of eZee. With the help of the chatbot in the eZee's booking engine- eZee Reservation, the hoteliers will be able to enhance their conversations with their website visitors. Upon setting a yet another technology milestone, Harshdeep Khatri, the CTO of eZee has his own vision to share: "Being the global leaders of the hospitality industry, it becomes our responsibility to revolutionise our software with respect to universal advancement of the technology. The digital assistant in eZee Absolute mobile app obeys the chat and voice commands made by hoteliers.

"A new report by Colliers International, has found that personalisation of Artificial Intelligence can increase hotel revenues by over 10 per cent and reduce costs by more than 15 per cent. The report which was conducted for Arabian Travel Market 2019, stated that hotel operators were expecting technology such as voice and facial recognition, virtual reality and biometrics to be mainstream by 2025. It added that further to this, about 73 per cent of manual activities in the hospitality industry had the technical potential for automation, with many global hotel operators including Marriott, Hilton, and Accor already investing in automating elements of their Human Resources." While automation is forecast to replace a large number of jobs, between 39 and 73 million in the United States alone, according to a study by McKinsey Global Institute, the report also stated that innovative technology would not be a purely negative disrupter. The report stated that looking to the future, the use of robots within the hospitality industry was becoming more commonplace with Colliers predicting the global sale of guest relation robots to reach 66,000 units by 2020. "Deployed to improve guests' overall experience in a hotel, these robots offer a range of uses from artificially intelligent chatbots designed to assist with the customer service process, through to robot concierge and butlers which have the ability to deliver luggage, handle check-in and check-outs and deliver meals 24/7 to guests efficiently," it said. It added that in 2015 the world's first robot-run hotel opened in Japan, saying that Henn-na Hotel featured a multi-lingual animatronic dinosaur at reception that helped with check-in and check-out as well as robot porters and a giant mechanical arm that stored luggage in individual drawers.

"Curtis stated, "Hoteliers have been cautious of technology taking away the human touch from the guest service and experience. However, by giving guests the power to choose every part of their hotel experience, hoteliers can learn the right balance between staff interaction and AI-powered, automated customer service."

SUMMARY: Hospitality is the business of selling experiences. AI innovations are evolving daily within the hospitality industry. Currently, there are innovations that offer guests the ability to express both satisfaction and grievance. The influence of these AI innovations and the usage of social listening tools are expected to become standard in a decade. An artificial intelligence robot may not smile but, it can recognize faces, remember names and most importantly remember guest preferences, characteristics and behaviors.

Technology is providing travelers novel experiences and interactions. The new technologies include: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity, and other technology. Artificial intelligence is currently being integrated into chat bots for phone calls, but there are far greater uses. Facial scanning and voice recognition is starting to gain traction. It offers more secure, faster, ad better customer service. Some hotels have even added Amazon Alexa devices for their patrons. The internet of things features hotel guests to unlock the door to their room using only their smartphone. Blockchain and cryptocurrency transactions eliminate the need for third-party mediators. As a result, hotels that utilize blockchain and cryptocurrency can offer better rates to the consumer without affecting profitability. All of the emerging technology frees up the preexisting staff to provide and maintain excellent customer relationships. "Over the last few years, travelers have been meeting robot butlers and concierges in hotels like Hilton's Connie, powered by IBM Watson AI technology." "SoftBank Robotics' Pepper, a humanoid robot developed with IBM Watson, has been introduced at Munich Airport and Václav Havel Airport Prague, where the robot not only informs but entertains passengers by dancing and offering to take selfies." "Gartner predicts that 85% of customer interactions will be managed without a human by 2020." "At Intercontinental Shanghai Wonderland, face scanners enable guests to verify their identity at check-in, pick up a digital room key and gain access to the dining room at breakfast." "Two Roads Hospitality has partnered with Amazon and Volara to develop a customised Alexa for Hospitality platform that facilitates daily tasks for staff, such as identifying maintenance problems or signaling that a room is ready for check-in." "Luxury hotels like The Plaza New York, Aria in Las Vegas, The Torch Doha in Qa