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Home/ Hospitality Technology/ Contents contributed and discussions participated by Rebecca Pichora

Contents contributed and discussions participated by Rebecca Pichora

Rebecca Pichora

Health & Care expo's a great opportunity for event tech - 0 views

  • he Giant iTab company is predicting a growth in demand for event technology and innovation within the medical, health and care industry
  • The event, run by the NHS to encourage better use of smart technologies to enable safer, more secure care for patients, included a variety of digital solutions, particularly app based.
  • “A key part of the event’s agenda was to encourage better use of digital, hardware and software innovation to increase the efficacy of care. The show also demonstrated innovations that encouraged safer data usage and even haptic technology.”
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  • It’s important we show that touch technology of today can be incredibly intuitive and therefore easily adopted by nurses, doctors and care providers
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    Today event technology is on the growth and it is very evident that event technology will be of growing importance in the hospital and heal sector. The reason for this is not only due to the events that are being held, it is because the health industry s focusing on how to integrate technology to help their patients better. They are looking for apps and technology that can increase the efficiency of care that can be used by many different people such as nurses, technicians etc. During this event they used the Giant iTAB to project many of their findings linking event technology and its importance with the importance of technology in the health industry.
Rebecca Pichora

TSA-like hotel security is not the answer | TheHill - 0 views

  • One lone gunman committing an unpredictable, horrific act of mass murder has set off a predictable debate about how government can prevent such an event from “ever happening again.”
  • While hotels and casinos are indeed soft targets for terrorism, and measures can be taken to prevent attacks similar to the Indonesia's 2003 Jakarta Marriott bombing, the concept of implementing TSA-like procedures at hotels and casinos is impractical, costly and mind-numbingly ill conceived.
  • Most American hotels and casinos still have close-in driveways allowing patrons to check-in and drop off luggage with bellmen. While this remains an obvious vulnerability in terms of car-bombings,
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  • The hospitality industry has yet to recognize that vulnerability and change the way vehicles approach their properties.
  • o publicly available intelligence sources indicate that this soft target is on the list of any domestic or foreign terrorist organization.
  • pending capital on mitigating against this vulnerability (absent any indication it is a target) is a waste of money and only increases hotel and casino costs without any discernible benefit. Those costs will ultimately be borne by hotel and casino customers and I find no indication of a willingness to pay extra for those costs.
  • The family vacation just became more expensive with minimal, if any, increased security. But most importantly, why would anyone endure that type of intrusive screening at a hotel or casino based on one outlier event?
  • Before we continue down the route we’re on of an ever-increasing security state, both citizens and politicians need to become better at assessing risk and narrowly but effectively mitigating against that security risk.
  • Instead, let’s make rational decisions about security based upon legitimate, fact-based risk assessment. And let’s not allow one crazed individual further restrict freedom of movement of ordinary citizens.
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    In the recent event of the shooting happening in Las Vegas in a hotel it has made the issue of hotel security on everyones mind as everyone is trying to figure out how to make sure this never happens again. The idea of implementing a TSA- like approach to security in a hotel would not be advantageous for a hotel as the cost to implement this would be very high which would lead to higher prices for the guests and also guests definitely would not appreciate this type of security. One thing that hotels should look at, is the car access to the property. Most hotels do have drive up drive ways where guests can conveniently valet their car and check in, but this style leads the hotels open to car bombings and hotels will not recognize this vulnerability until an intelligence agency declares this as a target by terrorists. Instead of making radical changes in hotel security and the actual property we should focus more on fact-based risk assessment to figure out the best solution.
Rebecca Pichora

Oracle Hospitality Stumbled in Micros Integration But Says It Has Recovered - 1 views

  • Three years ago, business software maker Oracle acquired Micros, a hotel and restaurant technology company, for $5.3 billion in cash.
  • Micros was the market leader. More hotels used Micros’s software to check in and check out guests than any other company’s reservation management software.
  • Oracle found the integration of Micros tough sledding in a few ways. Execution of the merger did not meet the expectations of many hotel customers.
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  • Oracle was caught off guard. As a company not used to dealing with call-center-based customer service, it suddenly had to handle help desk requests for thousands of vendors
  • It took Oracle awhile to figure out how to plot a multi-year transition of Micros customers from license-based deals to Web-based, subscription services.
  • One hotelier said, “I know that Oracle recognizes that and [they are] very open about how much investment they need to make, but it is a risk to us as a business. As we are looking to try and innovate, not being able to plug other systems into Opera easily constrains what we can do.”
  • The first hotel group to agree to move all of its properties to Oracle’s cloud-based property management system is Mövenpick,
  • A typical global brand might have a dozen agreements with local Micros offices. Oracle streamlined the patchwork of deals into a single worldwide agreement.
  • “We’re the number one provider of property management systems in North American and worldwide,” he said. “We’re also taking market share in geographies where Micros had operated through partners.
  • Since the acquisition, the company boosted its number of customer service representatives by more than 30 percent to better handle the volume of requests
  • One global benchmark was to cut the wait time for customers calling the help desk to under two minutes, on average. The company is now meeting that goal, he said.The company set a goal of resolving at least 70 percent of customer support requests within an hour. Webster said it is now achieving that.
  • Oracle Hospitality is “growing above the market average.”
  • “We’ve made massive progress in bringing [the Micros property management system] Opera to the cloud,” Webster said.
  • Oracle Hospitality has boosted its research-and-development headcount by about 50 percent.
  • et us reduce the training time for staff by almost half and improve the speed of service for guests by nearly 40 percent.”
  • We’ve innovated in hardware, too. In the last year, we’ve been able to bring our complete new line of hardware onto tablets, not just fixed work stations, and a complete line of mobile solutions for our Opera property management system. We brought out a new housekeeping operations application via mobile, too.”
  • We’re now focused on helping our hotel customers create exceptional guest experiences while reducing the cost and complexity of IT.” He said hotels using Oracle no longer need database administrators or other IT support staff to manage the technology.
  • Opera Property Management System for multi-tenant hotels has integrations with more than 1,400 third-party tools, such as for accounting and revenue management.
  • Christian Weste, the boss of Hotel Lundia in Sweden, wrote: “Seems to be the same all over Europe and probably the rest of the world also. It takes months to get in touch with someone and even then the issue will most likely not be solved.”
  • Oracle Hospitality has responded to competition by widening the aperture of its target market. While Micros had tended to focus on larger hotels and chains, Oracle Hospitality says it wants it all — from so-called tier-one hotels in global capitals down to small independents in tiny corners of the globe.
  • Oracle’s pricing strategy may tell a different story. Its relatively high fees tends to favor large chains and pose obstacles for small group and independent hotels.
  • Oracle will win the day only if it acts as a platform that can play nicely and affordably with new third-party tools, such as for revenue management; new businesses, such as alternative lodging, and new ways of doing business, such as alternative forms of payment like Apple Pay, Alipay, bitcoin, and Google Wallet.
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    Three years ago Oracle was able to buy out the leading company in hotel and restaurant technology, Micros. But the transition was quite tough on the company leaving many customers dissatisfied with the service they were receiving. One reason for this is because Oracle was not used to call-center based customer service making it quite difficult for them to adapt on their side but it was also difficult for the customers to adapt to taking all their data online to the cloud. In order to keep happy customers Oracle was able to boost the number of customer service representatives which made each and every customer have a shorter wait time and also the they are able to serve more customers as well. Oracle has also taken the step into streamlining the agreements with their customers into one global agreement making the service across the board on the same level, they were able to get more companies on the cloud, they were able to reduce training time by making the systems more user friendly and also have changed the PMS system to be on separate hardware such as tablets. They have also decided not only to focus on the hardware and IT aspect, but make it possible for hotels to give the best experience possible by adding more tools to track guest information but also for revenue and accounting management. At the time there are still many opposers to the systems and are being voices by many General Managers of the world but with the improvements they are bound to please more customers.
Rebecca Pichora

Hackers snag a $1 laptop by exploiting flaw in point-of-sale systems | ZDNet - 0 views

  • Security researchers have devised a way to offer steep discounts or steal goods by hacking vulnerable point-of-sale systems.
  • SAP's point-of-sale (POS) systems don't authenticate or check internal commands, allowing anyone with access to the store's network unrestricted access to the checkout system.
  • All the hacker has to do is upload a new configuration file to the SAP Xpress server, which controls the checkout machines, to gain access to administrative functions.
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  • change prices, set discounts, or take other malicious actions against the systems -- including remotely shutting down the checkout machines, or unmasking credit card numbers.
  • According to Dmitry Chastuhin, one of the researchers who identified the vulnerabilities, the flaw may be inherent across POS systems because they all use broadly similar infrastructures.
  • SAP has since fixed the vulnerabilities and rolled out patches.
  • n recent years, POS systems have become a target for hackers for stealing customer data and committing fraud.
  • When these are connected to the internet and rarely updated (if ever), systems are at further risk of malware attacks.
  • POS attacks cost retailers and customers billions every year. The number of attacks on POS systems, including ransomware attacks, are said to be declining, however.
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    Due to the vulnerability of some POS systems, hackers have made the example of SAP whose POS system does not authenticate or check any internal commands, meaning if an hacker is able to get into their POS system they can change prices, add discounts and even disable the check out systems. Even though they have made the example out of SAP, it is said that this vulnerability is across almost all POS systems. One reason that this is happening is because many companies that run their POS system off the internet are not updating their programs, such as the windows, the internet explorer or the POS system itself. Today companies are very aware of the measures they must take to ensure their POS systems are safe as many breaches have happened causing many people to have their personal data stolen, therefore due to the efforts POS system breaches have been decreasing over the recent years.
Rebecca Pichora

OpenKey Named Exclusive Mobile Key Provider For IBC Hospitality Technologies - 0 views

  • An exclusive technology partnership between OpenKey and IBC Hospitality Technologies is now enabling independent hotels worldwide to offer the in-demand mobile service to guests who prefer to bypass the front desk, go straight to their rooms upon arrival, and use their smartphones as room keys
  • OpenKey will grow its customer base by bringing its innovative mobile keyless entry services to IBC's independent hotel clients all over the world, and IBC will further enhance its technology portfolio by adding yet another cutting-edge, convenient and desirable mobile guest solution.
  • The technology further offers guests access to conveniences such as remote check in to bypass the front desk, as well as directions to the property, amenity booking, notification of early or late arrival, and more.
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  • IBC offers a portfolio of products and services including the proprietary IBC hotel management platform offering managed distribution, advanced Central Reservation System (CRS), and soft brand benefits to independent hotels, villas, and even bed & breakfasts around the world. Considering more than half of the world's hotel properties are independently owned, that's quite a bit of potential.
  • "Guest conveniences are key to drawing clientele, and independent hotels are looking for every technological advantage they offer to both new and returning guests," said Pamela Barnhill, president and COO of IBC Hospitality Technologies.
  • OpenKey will be enabling independent hotel owners and operators to drive their mobile app strategies, improve two-way guest communications, reduce overhead, boost an operation's margins, and increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
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    Open Key has made a partnership to run their application with the IBC hospitality group which caters to small hotels and boutiques. With this app they will be able to provide the guests with the most convenient and tech savvy way to enjoy their hotel, with being able to open the door, to receiving concierge services, to learning what is in the hotel. This technology is essential as hotels are trying to find the best way to make the guests experience the most convenient as possible and to attract new guests and to bring back returning guests. With this introduction of the Open key app into smaller hotels it will improve the communication with the guests, reduce overhead and increase customer loyalty and satisfaction.
Rebecca Pichora

Solar power rising in southern African hotel industry - 0 views

  • Members of the southern African hospitality industry are rapidly joining the green revolution and its not for show or Google ranking - there are savings to be had and natural vistas to preserve.
  • 204kWp solar-powered installation. Consisting of 640 photovoltaic panels, the installation has been mounted on a horizontal weighting system that continuously tracks the sun – a first in Namibia.
  • During the day, the installation provides the laundry and restaurant with power. It provides 92% of our required daily power usage, and that is during the reduced sunlight of winter,” enthuses Williams.
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  • the panels are guaranteed for 25 years of use at a minimum of 80% capacity. “The lodge can expect to recover the value of the installation through power savings within five years,” enthuses Swart.
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    In southern Africa the hospitality industry is shifting to become more green with the use of solar power and they aren't only doing this for the image, but because it return on investment is very fast and hotels can power many departments with the rise of new solar technology. Not only do they install solar power panels, they use a new technology that tracks the sun movement so that the panels are shifted so they can gain the most energy possible. According to one hotelier they are able to power their laundry and restaurant at 92% fully with the solar power created. This technology has many advantages as not only will it improve the image, it has a ROI within 5 years and the panels could last 25 years when running on 80% capacity.
Rebecca Pichora

5 Connectivity Considerations for Hoteliers | News | Hospitality Magazine (HT) - 0 views

  • 91% of guests say they make their hotel section based on the property offering free Wi-Fi.
  • Upgrade the details.
  • Knowing the USB’s ubiquity, look for ways to incorporate additional ports throughout the hotel to simplify the charging experience.
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  • Increase connection points and power access in the guest room.
  • Take advantage of common spaces. Hotel lobbies, bars, restaurants, and gyms are becoming the preferred spots for guests to work, socialize, and relax. This is especially the case for millennials and younger travelers, who increasingly favor the lobby area as a place for productivity and socializing.
  • Ensure a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.
  • ffering safe power access in outside spaces is a critical consideration when thinking through connectivity’s role in the hotel experience.
  • Convenient, intuitive access to power to keep them connected is essential throughout the room but should not interfere with the room’s design
  •   Keep sustainability in mind
  • By implementing products or controls to manage and increase energy efficiency on-property, hotel owners and operators can achieve cost savings that benefit the bottom line.
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    This article shows five easy ways in which a hotelier would be able to improve their guest experience with 5 technological connectivity considerations. Interestingly enough it shows the importance to having a high tech hotel as 91% of guests choose their hotel based off the hotel offering free wifi. Therefore, these 5 considerations are a great opportunity for any hotel in order to ensure guest satisfaction. Firstly, the hotel should upgrade the small details, such as the outlets throughout the hotel and integrating them into a sleek design in the hotel as to not stand out. Secondly, it would be important to increase the connection points and power access in the room, making it most convenient for guest to charge multiple devices in convenient locations. The next point would be to ensure a seamless indoor-outdoor connection, this not only means having wifi in the outdoor areas of the hotel, but to also offer connection spots for charging (eg. by the pool) and this ties into the next point, being to take advantage of the common spaces as these areas are becoming a place for people to socialize and work, therefore the areas should be designed in a way for the guests use. Lastly, the hotel also must take into consideration the sustainability, not only because of the guests growing concerns but with investing in new technological products they could save on cost and be more efficient, especially in the long run.
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