Todays world is highly competitive, which means there is constantly a need for change. This is especially true regarding the technology available in the hospitality industry. For instance, the filing systems of each company…everyone has one, disorganized or not. The problem arises when you need a piece of information and are unable to locate it. Systems like HRIS can help eliminate this problem. It can reduce the amount of paperwork involved in each employee and act as a central place for information to be located.

This article touches upon why it is so imperative for sustainability practices to be taught in the hospitality industry. It talks about how the next generation to come will not be able to tolerate today's world's insensitivity to the environment. Sustainability has shifted from a want to a must. Many big name hotels, like Marriott, have set high goals to reduce their environmental impact. They have key performance indicators like reducing energy use and the level of CO2 emissions to help aid the Earth's environment. The goal should be to have zero CO2 emissions and zero landfill waste, but this is a goal that will take time to reach. Profits should not be the only thing businesses are interested in. Sustainability should be included in the training process of employees within the business whether they be in customer service, kitchen or marketing...everyone can help save somewhere. Sustainability has become the new management dimension, right along with providing memorable experiences and providing good service. It has been shown that companies who practice sustainability in the workplace have a lower turnover rate because the employees know they are working towards a greater good and are given a sense of purpose.

This article talks about the many benefits online marketing can bring to the table with things like social media and online advertising. Some hotels have turned to content marketing while others are focusing on email marketing and "generation-focused marketing" tactics. Every hotel is using social media in some way. By using content marketing hotels are able to somewhat fluff what their surroundings have to offer... whether it be with restaurants, attractions or brands. Creating an online atmosphere that leaves the guest with a good experience is very important. Giving guests the ability to feel like they can reach you though likes, shares & comments is very important. Customer experiences are what drive success. If a guest likes what they see they will share that, literally. They will use their online abilities to share their experiences with the world. By using social media and online ads, companies will begin to see growth in their profits.Overall, it is all about catering to your different guests needs through social media, show them what they want to be seen and the rest of the work is done for you.

This article touches on the technologies incorporated in events today that make every day life experiences better, faster and more efficient. It was mentioned that a large majority of event planners believe that using event related apps increase the guests satisfaction levels. Applications like kyazoonga, an online ticketing provider for event planners and customers, are becoming more and more prominent. A new trend for event technology is using data insights about customers.Using this information they are able to hone in on their target market and use it to help drive whatever they believe will help their next event be a success. Customer loyalty programs are also becoming a trend as well as the use of social media to better access past, present and future guests.

This article highlights a meeting that will be held to gather the world's cyber security experts to discuss and troubleshoot potential threats. Las Vegas specifically is at high risk for intrusion with the high amount of room and restaurant reservations made in this location. The hospitality industry in general is at high risk for cybercriminals to invade their data. Especially small business, the article stated that half of the cyber attacks made in 2015 were against businesses with 250 employees. The data being breached has reached the outrageous total of $3.8 billion. The main point is that most of these issues are preventable, it's all about knowing what can and can't protect you. Investing in the proper technology and dedicated staff can make all the difference. Las Vegas' efforts to prevent these intrusions should set an example for others.

This article talks about a study that analyzed over 400 companies regarding the positive impact and profitability of IT Technology investments. It was said that IT technology can offer more room for creativity and innovation. Two things crucial to stay on top in this industry. IT investments have shown to produce a positive impact on revenue growth as well. As competition continues to occur, IT investments will continue to increase profitability and managers should continue to invest in things that will help to provide for them financially.

This article touches on events and the process Event Coordinators use to keep track of money. Things like dinners, galas, auctions and fundraisers are examples of events that involve a transfer of money. The "Direct benefit to donors" are the actual costs of the items and services given to guests for their attendance. There are 3 options given to report these benefits. Option 1 - Present the Costs of Direct Benefits to Donors as a line item. Option 2 - Present Special Event Gross Revenues in the revenue section of the Statement. Option 3 - Present the contribution portion as contribution revenue and the exchange portion (fair value received by donor) as special events revenue. To properly report activities each transaction needs to be recorded for revenue purposes. Tracking the number of attendees, ticket prices, and value of the event is important to make sure funds are being allocated correctly. If lump sum donations are made or sponsorships are involved, that revenue needs to be reported as well. On top of this, costs need to be calculated too, event space rental, food, table cloths… in order to come up with a final profit number. Sometimes donated auction items are used to incur a 100% profit for the organization.

The article talks about how restaurants can use a POS system and reviews the pros and cons of whether a system like this is beneficial to an establishment. It states that customer service plays a huge role in the success of a business and having a well operational POS system aids in the success of the customer service offered. One example of being more successful is to be sure you can accommodate as many customers as possible… so offering the payment option of just cash limits your projected revenue whereas accepting credit cards broadens your horizon as a business owner. Saving on merchant fees may be hurting income all together. This article goes over the benefits of a POS system and how it can improve daily sales. These benefits include a quicker processing of payments, more accurate payments, splitting orders, opening the door to more customers, preventing errors and tracking inventory. All of these things assist in the accuracy and smooth running of an establishment.

This article touches upon the importance of being versatile and modern in the Hospitality Industry. Mobility is the key to creating meaningful relationships with customers that will make them want to return to your location. They will want to return not only for things like rewards and discounts, but because they genuinely like to stay the duration of their trip at your hotel. To help aid this, things like mobile PMS Systems are becoming more widely used. The front desk agent doesn't have to stay at the front desk anymore, they can walk freely within the lobby and interact with guests all while having access to their PMS System. The same goes for other team members who usually stay behind the scenes, they're more accessible to the guest which creates better bonds. It was said that mobility is the key to engaging employees with the guests, this is because any employee is able to step out of their primary duties and enter/ take information from other departments within the hotel. It's not conducive for a hotel to run all systems from one central location, instead using a system on an ipad or portable device yields the greatest outcome. It allows each department to work together towards a common goal. Just because someone is in housekeeping doesn't mean a guest won't put in a front desk related request, this system allows all departments to flow as on. This software can help bring a hotels customer satisfaction rates to a new level.

This article talks about the efforts computer companies are making to reduce the negative environmental results of traditional technology equipment. There are more than 60 electronic devices from companies like Dell and HP that are becoming apart of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is a funded project called EPEAT that has the goal of identifying environmentally friendly computer equipment that still outputs the same level of performance for the customer. This new "green" certification system even provides a list online of the products that meet the standards. EPEAT allows customers to rank computer electronics by their environmental. There are 23 required criteria and 28 optional criteria involved in the rankings. The optional criteria determines if the product is EPEAT Bronze, Silver, or Gold. These standards include having lower levels of lead, mercury and cadmium as well as being more energy efficient so they reduce emissions put into the atmosphere to help reduce the levels of greenhouse gases. These products are also more simple to upgrade and have recycled… businesses actually have to provide safe ways to recycle the products they sell when the customer can no longer use them. Manufacturers think having an even playing field for the customer to be able to view their products by environmental aspect is better and are proud to be apart of something so beneficial to the environment. The EPEAT program was expected to reduce 13 million pounds of hazardous waste and 3 million pounds of non hazardous waste.

This article touches on GDS bookings and bookings via Expedia specifically. It is one of the most well-known websites used by consumers. Many don't know that cutting out Expedia and selling rooms via GDS systems only costs hotels about 10% of the share, which is much lower than the usual standard for bookings through other agencies. Some data from travelport showed that there was a 30% growth in GDS direct bookings in 2014. Some brands are taking GDS properties from their sites because they feel they don't offer the level of customer service they require. With this example it's clear to see that the relationship between the hotel, GDS systems and sites like Expedia, can get very complicated. Expedia acts as the middle person between the GDS systems like Pegasus and the customer using the site for booking. Each outlet provided for bookings has pros and cons, so it is best to do your research on what is best for your hotel.

This article helps us to better understand the information systems being utilized, why they are important and what difficulties they bring about. In the Hospitality Industry, customer service is put at the top of the list of must haves. With customer service comes knowing information about your customer and without Information Technology services put in place, these expectations will never be met. Having a computer based IT is crucial because it allows the employees to work more proficiently which in turn creates a better experience for the guest. Multiple hospitality leaders have been applying fully Internet based technological systems within their organizations. IHG group has implemented an easy to use system so it is simple for every position within the hotel. For a company like IHG with over 500 hotels, it was imperative they eliminated the manual system to provide better quality control. Because of this system they can get better quality products at lower costs. Although this new system is much more user friendly, the overall cost involved is still not confirmed but this system is still predicted to have positive impacts long term. For example at Marriott Hotels, they use a company website, POS Micros, Property Management System and Central reservation system just to name a few. On top of stellar service and quick/ easy information submissions, guests are looking to have the best technology at their disposal to use. Things like computers with full internet access, printers and fax machines to make sure they can still be functional while displaced. An advanced system called MARSHA is being used as a reservation system and stores the rewards system information for Marriot guests. Micros-Opera is a popular property based system provider and has become common within the hotel industry. Vendors usually use this since it gives them the ability to connect to other vendor's applications. MICROS 9700 HMS is the most popularly used point of sale system. There are some

In this article, it explains that technology is the ruler of today's world. It creates an "easy life" and raises the expectations of customers by the minute, essentially making anything possible. To meet these expectations in the hospitality industry, hotels are incorporating more technological accommodations. This is a must to stay ahead of the competition and attract new customers. A report showed the hospitality industry as the 5th highest investor in sensors to ensure a positive customer experience. From simple technology such as online booking to things such as automated check in/ out are changing the game for the customers overall experience. These things have become normalized for a better guest experience along with keyless hotel room entrance making a shift to app's that act as the bedroom key. Another growing trend is having robots complete simple tasks such as room service as well as more sustainable practices such as adjustable lighting. In order to properly track the success rate of these new technologies, many hospitality related companies are hiring data scientists to assure they are meeting their guest's expectations. All of these advances make life easier for the company and the guests but none of these things can replace the art of human interaction. Although this art is dwindling away, it is something that most still yearn for, regardless of the technology involved in their experience.