Hotels and resorts are constantly searching for cost-effective, eco-friendly solutions. Outdated physical plants systems can be a drain on financial resources, and often fail causing further expenditures and service recovery for the guests effected by the outage. Danvest and Pon Power have launched a solar-diesel power plants that offer the efficiency of a diesel unit with the eco-consciousness of a solar powered unit. Capable of being 100% solar powered in the day, this system is very attractive to properties seeking recognition for being a "green" property, as well as the financial viability of harnessing solar energy.

Vizergy has quickly become an industry leader in eMarketing techniques and methods, as highlighted by their relationship with one of the fastest growing, most advanced data centers, Peak 10. Vizergy's proprietary cloud-based, hospitality focused marketing system has created proven strategies that set the pace in a fast-moving digital age, where time is truly of the essence. Its systems allow hoteliers and hospitality professionals to easily and efficiently maintain all aspects of their digital marketing presence. Peak 10's advanced technologies and infrastructure support only further Vizergy's superiority.

Three more hotel companies have selected Aptech's PVNG Enterprise Back Office System. PVNG is a browser-based accounting solution, which is simple, easy to navigate, and specifically streamlined for hospitality. One hotelier cites the ability of PVNG to downsize the accounting staff, which enables him to move more staff to guest services--the most fundamental part of any hospitality operation. The creator of PVNG, Aptech Computer Systems, is an IBM Premier Business Partner that purveys programs exclusively for use in hospitality. Aptech systems can be deployed either on site or via the cloud, offering tremendous flexibility for a company's portfolio.

StayNTouch has released a PMS Evaluation Scorecard designed to help brands to decide the right PMS for their needs and budget. The scorecard takes into account functionality, flexibility, maintainability, and usability. Making well-informed decisions when it comes to PMS is especially important, as the PMS represents the backbone of an operation. Moreover, with the multitude of options now available, choosing the right PMS can be quite the ordeal. The market is filled with a variety of products that suit a diversity of needs. From "traditional" PMS to web-based and cloud-based formats, such a choice can be daunting for a hotelier. StayNTouch's PMS Evaluation Scorecard is designed to simplify the process by weeding out the worst options, leaving the prospective consumer with only the highest rated matches.

Relatively speaking, GDS's have been around for a while now, with iterations stretching back a few decades now. SiteMinder has worked to integrate cloud technology into traditional GDS models to streamline distribution. They have had strong success, powering over 200,000 reservations in the past year, generating over $60 million in hotel revenue. Over 900 hotels are now poised to receive SiteMinder services, making them the industry leading GDS cloud platform. To date, SiteMinder is represented in the globe's most influential cities, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Honk Kong, Paris, Munich, and Sydney. GDS technology has come a long way from the early models that airlines used solely for in-house purposes. New GDS's such as SiteMinder are both a testament to adaptation and the appeal of cloud technology.

This article makes some key assertions regarding points of consideration when choosing a PMS software. Getting the right PMS software is absolutely critical for any property, as it is at the core of the operation. According to this author, the necessary considerations involve asking six questions: -Does the solution offer flexibility in functionality, including data access and performance reporting? -How easily and seamlessly does the PMS integrate with third-party technologies and data? -How long will it take for problems to be resolved? -What is the total cost of ownership? Are there "hidden" costs? -What return on investment (ROI) can be expected? -What is the PMS solution provider's track record of success? The inception of cloud computing and faster data processing has led to a number of choices in PMS software. Obviously these questions are not a fool-proof path to picking the perfect PMS software out of the multitude of options, but obviously being able to answer these with a level of confidence is a step in the right direction.

As World Water Week has come to a close, experts have discussed a number of issues regarding water and waste. With major climate initiatives such as the agreements established in Paris, individuals and industry alike have been called to action in order to mitigate negative climate change. Water use is one of the key resources that must be preserved. Hotels are major consumers of water, from guest consumption to laundry to F&B, water use is rampant in hotels. Water scarcity would be utterly detrimental to the hospitality industry. For this reason, greywater systems and ground water collection are but a few of the water-saving methods at the disposal of the hospitality industry. This is especially important because it has been found that hotel guests in some countries use ten times as much water as the local populace.

This article focuses on the implementation of the Uniform Systems software, developed by InvoTech Systems Inc., the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa in the Cayman Islands. The Uniform Systems software is designed to streamline the management of employee uniforms, which are an extremely necessary commodity at any property, especially luxury products which strive for exceptional appearances. The system both monitors and maintains employee uniform assignments while simultaneously easing uniform purchasing. All of this is achievable by the grand opening of the property, which requires mass assignment and disbursement of employee uniforms. InvoTech prides itself on the expertise, professionalism, and courtesy with which its Installation and Training Team operates. Uniform Systems also follows the trend of environmental consciousness in hospitality by being paperless. Aside from the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa, InvoTech's clients include some of the largest names in hospitality, including but not limited to MGM, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott.