WebRezPro, "a powerful and cost-effective Cloud-based property management system designed to meet the front and back office needs of single independent hotel groups and chains," is celebrating their 10th anniversary of providing their clients with property management systems. It is now known as one of the hospitality industry's leading Cloud-based property management systems. To celebrate, WebRezPro will be launched an improved user interface this year. It will focus on increasing mobile-optimized functions for smartphones. 

HotelTravel.com provides the inside track for the best value online hotel deals. Its brand statement - Real People | Real Service | Real Choice - is the keystone of the company's customer centric business culture and its core value. It is part of MakeMyTrip Limited and is celebrating reaching 50,000 Facebook fans with a sweepstakes for free nights at Phuket beach hotels. HotelTravel.com, partnered with Thavorn Beach VIllage and Spa and Kata Beach Resort and Spa, will be giving away free nights to three separate sweepstake winners. Runner ups will receive vouchers redeemable on HotelTravel.com.

InteSolv, a provider for high-impact technology consulting strategies and customized business solutions, announced their new custom Web Event Management service for existing PGi Adobe Connect customers. Customers are able to choose from a variety of services to best fit their needs: event planning, seminar room set-up, audio provisioning, presenter training and coaching, campaign reporting, etc. In order to maximize conversion, the InteSolv solution allows customers to customize their message while InteSolv manages the administrative/technical traits. 

The PCI Security Standards Council published the PCI Mobile Payment Acceptance Security Guidelines for Merchants and End-Users on February 19, 2013. "The PCI Security Standards Council's mission is to enhance payment account data security by driving education and awareness of the PCI Security Standards. The organization was founded by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide, and Visa Inc." The guidelines educates merchants on risks that they must be aware of in order to protect their customers' data when they are using mobile devices for payments, such as smart phones and tablets. As more merchants turn to handheld devices for payment options, they must consider new security risks. With these new guidelines and procedures, merchants will learn what is needed to isolate and prevent card data from exposure to the public. 

VingCard Elsafe provides electronic locks, in-room safes, and advanced energy management systems for hotels. At the Hotel Bristol in Vienna, the first invisible door lock has been installed, taking minimalist design to new heights. Without compromising the security of hotel guests, VingCard Elsfae is able to the hide the lock components from the user, allowing for a more sleek door.  WIth the use of RFID and secure anti-cloning software, this solution is designed to be adapted to Near Field Communication technology which will allow guests to use their mobile devices as room keys. Besides aesthetic advantages, Essence by VingCard Elsafe minimizes integrated installation and maintenance. 

Aptech Computer Systems is the leading provider of hospitality software for business intelligence and enterprise financial accounting. On February 25, 2013, 4 hotel companies (Alps Group Inc., Magnolia Hospitality Group, Gemini Real Estate Advisors and the Acqualina Resort and Spa) with a total of 17 properties, chose Aptech's solutions to achieve greater profitability.  With solutions to enable quick and accurate decision-making, Aptech has been distinguished as the only provider of a fully integrated accounting, business intelligence and planning hotel software suite available to the members of the hospitality industry. 

Both Auntie Anne's and Carvel have begun to utilize the MICROS POS systems. Auntie Anne's has extended its existing MICROS e7 preferred vender agreement to help run all 1,000 franchised locations in the US. Likewise, Carvel has entered into a new agreement with MICROS for the MICROS e7 all-in-one-point-of-sale system. This will be their preferred POS system for their 450 international outlets.  Due to Auntie Anne's long standing history with MICROS and the MICROS e7 system, both Carvel and Auntie Annes, both operating under the FOCUS Brands portfolio, will continue to be clients of MICROS. The MICROS e7 performs the following: management of guest transactions, staff productivity, menu offerings and restaurant operations. 

Indigo Sky Casino and Hotel, one of the largest casinos in NE Oklahoma, will be implementing a "comprehensive software suite" by Agilysys, a leading developer and marketer of proprietary enterprise software, services and solutions to the hospitality and retail industries. The Agilysys software suite will consist of a Lodging Management System, InfoGenesis POS and Stratton Warren System.  The Lodging Management System will help automate all hotel operations. InfoGenesis POS will manage any combination of dining, bar service and retail operations. The Stratton Warren System will help maximize purchasing power and reduce operational costs by automating the procurement process. Combined, these Agilysys solutions will help Indigo Sky "maximize staff productivity, enhance efficiency and increase revenue." 

Motel.com has now launched an initiative to allow customers to search for green hotels. Before this plan was put into action, customers who possessed that green thumb were unable to decipher which properties would meet their sustainable criteria. With a new "green feature" search, Motel.com lists all of the Hotels and Motels that are considered Eco Friendly or friends of the environment which efforts such as conserving water, electricity and natural gas. These properties listed as Eco Friendly are certified by the Greenkey Eco-Rating System by Green Key Global. "The Green Key Eco-Rating Program and Green Key Meetings Program are graduated rating systems designed to recognize green hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental and fiscal performance." With Americans becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, stay in an Eco Friendly Motel or Hotel has become a priority. Indeed, when I travel, I like to stay at a hotel that is better than my home. With these new initiatives in the back of my mind, staying at a certified Eco Friendly hotel would definitely meet my criteria. 

L'Oreal Canada is now utilizing OSF Global Service's eCommerce solutions to further their luxury skin-care brand, Biotherm. Their new e-boutique is based on the Demandware Commence cloud-based platform. This new solution will offer their target consumer a personalized shopping experience with the "integration of responsive designed webpages, comprehensive analytics and a new product reviews platform." With online shopping behavior constantly changing, integrating the appropriate platform is key for store and web-based companies. With added control over the products consumers view and purchase, shoppers are provided with deeper insight into Biotherm. I believe that L'Oreal Canada's advance approach to consumer shopping will bring added success to their products while enhancing their 30 brand portfolio. While meeting their customers' expectations, they are able to evolve their image.

Players Network will be entering into an agreement with Ascent Solutions, a software engineering firm, to up their social media game and develop their "company's next generation proprietary broadband-based content distribution." To enhance their Branded Lifestyle Video Channels which can be viewed simultaneously by users on all digital devices, Ascent Solutions will be implementing an Enterprise Web Platform meant for large scale global distribution.  By analyzing online consumer trends, Ascent Solutions will assist in monetizing their content through methods such as subscription, merchandising, etc. Ascent Solutions helps the gaming and hospitality industry find the right technology for their businesses.  I believe today's modern-day companies emphasis and reliance on social media and telecommunications can all benefits from the services offered by Ascent Solutions. With a nationwide footprint and local services, Ascent can help large and small media companies alike monetize content over any interconnected, digital device. With expertise in the gaming and hospitality industry, with major clients such as Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Speedway Casino. Ascent keeps up with technology trends and can further any business model.

Hotel software provider protel has jumped on the cloud computing bandwagon by launching a web-based product line. As stated in the article, the benefits are endless, including but not limited to: lower expenditures, no IT infrastructure required, ability to add capacity as needed, etc. Protel only asks that their hotel clients have access to an Internet browser in order to run protel Air or the new portel Web Booking Engine.  Contrary to popular belief, hotels are not required to convert their IT infrastructure entirely online. With protel Air, these hotels are able to combine cloud and on-premise solutions in order to utilize their existing infrastructure while reaping the cloud benefits. With such hybrid solutions all the rage, costs are being significantly reduced while enabling efficient and effective business processes.  Personally, I believe all hotels should convert to a hybrid infrastructure, if not completely run on the cloud. With the average consumer relying on internet interaction every day, guests are accustomed to instantaneous results and information. Software such as protel Air and WBE will help the hospitality industry grow in the technology world.