The following article mainly focuses on Human Resources Information Systems, HRIS for businesses in particular the article focuses on companies utilizing such IT systems. For instance, since different companies utilize different requirements for their employees customizing such HRIS's will benefit financially and timely; Companies will spend less time working on such types of data if in their requirements they customize their HRISs to produce such data required.    

The following articles are from the ALFA Update, case studies from Senior Living Executive, and audio files from ALFA's conference sessions. Building and Technology articles focus on  ideas, best practices and solutions to problems related to green living, physical plant, space planning, and security.

The following article is from the ALFA Update, its a case study from Senior Living Executive, and audio files from ALFA's conference sessions. Building and Technology articles focus on  ideas, best practices and solutions to problems related to green living, physical plant, space planning, and security. For instance in this particular article 

The following Press Release describes the Marriott La Jolla was showcased by a tour by the Department of Energy of its Better Building Challenge participants. The three-day tour took place in California and highlights the energy-efficient and energy savings practices and technologies in which the hotel offers.  The Marriott La Jolla-is owned by HEI Hotels & Resorts and recently was selected by President Obama to the Dept. of Energy Better Building Challenge as a part of the initiative to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent. HEI's commitment has led to enhancing its properties by energy efficiency upgrades and renovations-HEI has installed Energy Looking Glass (ELG), as well as the Energy Set-Point (ESP) program which defines optimum settings for key systems (domestic hot water, chilled water, etc.). Additionally, the hotel's BUZZ Committee gets all hotel associates engaged in conservation efforts. Core energy upgrades such as lighting and HVAC are proven technologies that were adopted and implemented years ago by the Marriott La Jolla and other properties in the HEI portfolio.

This article focuses on attendees using a modern day technology- mobile phones, tables and laptops at events and how event planners should engage more in incorporating them in to events and NiceMeeting, has done just that for event coordinators. NiceMeeting has introduced a presentation tool developed to enhance event engagements and maximize the value of knowledge exchange through live events.  Some cool features NiceMeeting also offers even planners is an AV application that turns attendees mobile device, such as iPad, iPhone, Tablet, laptop into a full-featured personal conference display.  

"Hilden, supplier of linen products and related services, has launched a solution for the hotel industry, fitting laundry with ultra-frequency Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, making it easier to track stock. "

In the United Kingdom, hotels are using ultra-frequency Radio Frequency Identification RFID Tags to help track linen demand and theft. Supplier of linen products and other related services have offered the hotel industry-fitting laundry with RFID technology. The idea here is for hotels to monitor and control linen demand and theft by allowing them to adjust and manage supplies accordingly. Keeping track of towels and linens has become for some hotels time consuming and costly. This technology gives full control of the rotation of stock removal and creates a platform that enables hoteliers to view stock on a real time basis. How is this done? Each tag is inserted into the product with a unique ID number, making it possible to monitor the number of washes and provide an accurate audit trail.

A resort and club in Boca Raton introduces a Boca Meet 360 degrees meeting app-- this app features a virtual site tour of the resort, its meeting facilities, accommodation styles, leisure activities and amenities. The app also provides 15 key points of interest to meeting and weeding planners-- this is a wonderful use of an app that I think a lot of conference centers and hotels lack for instance, the feature includes a video and photo galleries, property maps, meeting space with spec and floor plan, 360-degree tours of guest rooms and an interactive meeting planning tool and contact information.

The San Francisco Chronicle released that Maestro Modules, a hotel software property management system of hotels, resorts and multi-property groups has been selected by Luxury Ski Spa, Golf and Yachting Resorts to upgrade to a better PMS for more profitable operations and high-touch guest service. Maestro has been selected by five independent resorts and hopes that this software will increase revenue, lower cost direct web bookings and greater operating efficiency. Maestro is the industry leading hotel software and reservation software and empowers hundreds of high-touch independent operators and hotel groups to stay ahead of competitive innovative technology. Maestro offers beyond a PMS it delivers revenue generating tools and expert services that allow operators to maximize revenue and increase productivity so guest can keep coming back.

The following article introduces MICROS Systems, Inc, a leading provider of IT solutions for hospitality and retail industries, announcement of a new integrated mobile application, Isis SmartTap. Isis SmartTap is a mobile commerce network that has transformed how people shop, pay and save, in which MICROS Systems has first implemented to ARAMARK Basking Ridge location where the mobile commerce application will be put in to production. Customers will be able to make purchases, redeem offers and present loyalty cards within this mobile application, increasing speed service. The following application is a two-way integration of Isis SmartTap into a cloud-based MICROS Symphony POS platform. ARAMARK Basking Ridge is excited to offer its customers this new POS technology engagement of transactions.

The following article introduces MICROS Systems, Inc, a leading provider of IT solutions for hospitality and retail industries, announcement of a new integrated mobile application, Isis SmartTap. Isis SmartTap is a mobile commerce network that has transformed how people shop, pay and save, in which MICROS Systems has first implemented to ARAMARK Basking Ridge location where the mobile commerce application will be put in to production. Customers will be able to make purchases, redeem offers and present loyalty cards within this mobile application, increasing speed service. The following application is a two-way integration of Isis SmartTap into a cloud-based MICROS Symphony POS platform. ARAMARK Basking Ridge is excited to offer its customers this new POS technology engagement of transactions.

In this article it begins to explain property management systems PMS going mobile in the hotel industry and how beneficial it is for hotel corporations and for customers. The author explained that the most in-demand PMS function for hotels is the ability to have a real time data of room availability, access to guest information such as comments and special request, room/ work order status, and up-to-date pricing. For customers facing mobile apps they would enjoy the guest self-service of booking, self check-in/out, service request, and messaging to staff. However even though mobile devices makes such functionality seem easier mobile-enabling a PMS is not easy at all in fact, making functions available via a browser would be a huge transition for a business.

In this article it begins to explain property management systems PMS going mobile in the hotel industry and how beneficial it is for hotel corporations and for customers. The author explained that the most in-demand PMS function for hotels is the ability to have a real time data of room availability, access to guest information such as comments and special request, room/ work order status, and up-to-date pricing. For customers facing mobile apps they would enjoy the guest self-service of booking, self check-in/out, service request, and messaging to staff. However even though mobile devices makes such functionality seem easier mobile-enabling a PMS is not easy at all in fact, making functions available via a browser would be a huge transition for a business.

This article suggests that consumers now purchase in a more customized why with new technologies offered through applications and data plans through consumer's phones, tables and laptops. Airline consumers have recently changed their purchasing habits to choices such as in-flight WiFi, priority boarding, premium seating, meals or doubling their miles instead of the traditional schedules and fares. Airlines have veered to selling these types of customized travel services through direct selling to consumers and have eliminated the use of global distribution systems GDS. Airlines have found that the use of GDS's are more expensive to both the airline and consumer and that GDS's technology has yet to evolve to enable the kind of customer-focused and customized shopping that other industries have embraced. Now GDS's has ask that the Department of Transportation DOT to protect its market dominance by having DOT force airlines to give them, free of charge, the ability to sell options services as checked bags, seat upgrades or club access. Airlines believe that consumers should know what the are paying for.

Google, a well-known online search engine has a recent history of taking services that people pay money for and making it available for free to its users. One service in particular that has been recently launched is Google Flights, allowing users to select a travel plan and then go directly airlines' reservation system. The problem here is it has left online travel agency OTA's industries such as Expedia and Priceline.com out of the picture. Such OTA industries earn revenue by either taking a commission from hotel or charging a markup to consumers. This should be a great concern to this industry . Although there are some hurdles for Google-Google users search results are limited for flights as of its competitors; Google's competitors still have established customer relations and brand. Google can overcome these hurdles in a matter of time and OTA's should keep a close eye or find solutions to adapt.

Companies Ariane Systems and Hypercom Corporation announced that Hypercom's SmartPayments Wynid integrated payment solution, has been incorporated in the Ariane System's services offering to properties in the hospitality industry in France. The SmartPayments Wynid integrated payment solution service offers customers with the secure option to process their payments from a number of centralized payment solutions such as check-in/out kiosk, payment terminal at the front desk or by e-payment. The article suggest that by offering the following, SmartPayments Wynid integrated solution service, it will benefit both the organization and it's customers by reducing cost associated with each transaction, reduces the risk of errors and decreases the length of each transaction to little amount of time. In providing this service an organization must have multiple points of sales.