This article discusses what benefits an HRIS will provide a firm. Some of the most important benefits include cost savings. The system allows an HR manager to manage more employees so they firm can hire less in the HR department. Additionally it provides insight into other departments if turnover is high and the system can save money in the long run in the case of legal disputes. For employees it allows them to access their information and get contact information for other employees. All these benefits improve the job performance of everyone involved.

This article pointed out great ways that a hotel can be sustainable.In the pant or building itself, the materials that were used for construction can be recycled and locally sourced. In the rooms the fixtures and appliances can be eco-friendly such as water saving faucets and energy star stovetops. Smart Technology can also be used in the room to reduce the amount of energy in being used. Customers appreciate the sustainable practices done at the hotels and this is one of the reasons why managers have started implementing these initiatives.b

This article provides 8 tips on how to email marketing. Email marketing which is a part of e-marketing is a great way to reach customers, the service is also cost effective and time efficient. The main ways to optimize emails are to get a an organic list of contacts to make sure they do not end up in the junk bin. Next the emails should be functional they should be mobile friendly and the links should work. In regards to the content it should contain more than just rate specials they can contain events or insider city tips and they should be targeted at the correct audience. Finally the sender should test it out by receiving one first.

This was a very interesting article, it discussed how virtual reality and augmented reality are reshaping the event industry. Many high end brands are using it in their events to immerse the attendees. Additionally it is being used pre-event by both the attendee and organizer. The attendee can use it to pick their seats at a show and the organizer can use it to inspect a remote location without having to physically be there. I believe in the next few years we will see more events take advantage of VR & AR technology.

This article discussed some of the biggest cyber security threats to the hotel industry. One of the biggest threats is that of the POS system, this is not new but we should still watch over it. Another threat that is old is a phishing scam the scams are getting more sophisticated now, hackers get into the email accounts of executives and order large transactions to be made. Internal protocols cannot wipe of the hack but can minimize the risk of employees falling for the fake emails. Ransomware and DDos are also hacks though not as common they still carry big risks.

This article discussed how to pick the best technology for your company thus maximizing your ROI. Some technologies are necessary while others are just a fad and it is important to determine what your company needs. Guests are also demanding more tech advancements from hotels, the personal touch is not as important anymore. Mobile and digital payment tech is becoming more and more important. Lastly it is important to note that technology will not always fix a problem, it is up to the company to determine what the issue is and then learn how to implement technology that will assist, not just expect it to resolve on its own.

The article provide an overview of basic hotel accounting procedures. Most of the concepts explained are the responsibility of the accounting department but the article did mention there was some crossover. The hotel manager must implement the guidelines for the hotel, this means that the manager must understand at least the basic concepts of accounting. The accounting department must also prepare reports that outline the hotels finances. These reports are especially important when the hotel is a publicly traded company and must meet SEC guidelines.

This article described the benefits an iPad POS system can offer over a traditional POS system. There are some benefits that I thought were great and can prove to be useful. The remote reporting is great for owners so they can check in without having to actually be there. The system does update periodically throughout the night so when items are no longer available the system will update this will prevent a lot of confusion for both the sever and the guest. One of the best features is the offline mode that allows the system to work even when the wifi goes down, this will allow service to continue which is crucial for peak hours. The cost of iPad system can also be less because updates are automatic and there no need for additional equipment.

The article discussed the factors to consider when choosing a PMS system. While they are some factors that were essential there were also some that i had never thought of. Mobility is something PMS systems have not traditionally offered in the past but it is something to consider now, the article did mention that it will enhance the guest experience, I wouldn't consider this a deal breaker. Reporting is a deal breaker the system needs to have advanced reporting and tracking to accurately forecast the future. One of the considerations was also auto function such as auto assigning rooms based on preference, this is actually a great function I never thought of. Overall the article did bring up some great points to consider.

This article discussed how the 1 Hotel in Central Park uses technology to remain eco-friendly while also providing luxury service to guest. The technology is a computer system that controls the amount of light in a room, this changes automatically or can be controlled by the staff. This hotel has mastered a way to be eco-friendly while providing luxury service.

This article discuss Sabre which is one of the biggest GDS systems in use ad their decision to integrate with Bedsonline, TravelBound and the Expedia® Affiliate Network (EAN). The reason they decided to do this was to increase their inventory and in turn better serve the customer. What I found interesting is that Bedsonline and Travelbound are both travel agent exclusive companies, this shows that despite availability that OTA's have travel agents still play a crucial role. I would also like to use the side by side comparison tool.

The article discusses how American Arlines (AA) flights could not be found on Expedia or Orbitz because the company could not reach an agreement with Expedia. AA then suggested customers book flights directly via their website or via Direct Connect, a new system. Southwest airlines is another company that does not sell via third party or GDS sites, they only sell on their on site. When companies begin to remove themselves from traditional GDS systems it changes the way consumers and travel agents begin to book flights. It will make more difficult because we will spend more time comparing multiple sites and we we will never be sure if we are getting the best deal.

The "Connected Room" is a very interesting app and concept that Hilton will be introducing. I think this a very effective way to create loyal customers because they know that their room will always be setup to their preference as soon as they walk in. In addition for international travelers it who so not speak the local language it gets rid of the difficulty of the communication barrier when there are issued with the a/c or tv. Apps on our smartphone are part of everyday life now that using this app will be an easy experience for the majority of guests. I would actually like to visit a Hilton hotel to try out the app.