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Contents contributed and discussions participated by tcale003

tcale003

Party, event planners lose business over coronavirus pandemic - 0 views

    • tcale003
       
      An event company in San Francisco was planning over 600 events this year. As the Covid-19 pandemic has spread globally, many clients have canceled or postponed their events. Organizers are predicting that their businesses will make 50% less than what is expected if not less.
  • organizers are canceling or postponing events throughout the country because of the outbreak of COVID-19.
  • “My prediction is that my business will make 50% less of what it expected to do, if not less.”
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  • which has 10 full-time employees, suffered a loss of more than $15,000 in the past month alone.
tcale003

How hotel chains are tackling the cybersecurity challenge - 1 views

    • tcale003
       
      When Mariott bought other smaller hotels and added them to their inventory, they were not careful about their cyber-security and there was a data breach. The hotel industry is at risk of being attacked by things such as malware and ransomeware. Hotels need to pay attention to Cyber-security or risk having criminals steal valuable information.
  • Hotels house banks of sensitive
  • Hotels house banks of sensitive
tcale003

Technology Trends in the Hotel industry-Siddharth Goenka - BW Businessworld - 0 views

    • tcale003
       
      The growth of technology in the hospitality industry, specifically hotels has evolved so quickly that it is difficult for many hotels to keep up with current trends. Hotel technology can be broken down into three specific categories which are Sales and Marketing, Guest Experience and Guest Relationship.
  • Things are changing really drastically and with the availability of efficient, cost-effective solutions, it is not too long before the hospitality industry goes through a technology revolution and keeps up with the rest of the industry.
  • in the past few years, the growth in technology in the hospitality industry has been so rapid that most of the industry along with training institutes and learning centres have struggled to keep up with the changing trends and best practices. Hotel technology can be broadly categorized into three main categories: Sales & Marketing, Guest Experience, and Guest Relationship.
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  • Most hotels are seeing a major percentage of their bookings come from smartphone and internet users, and the usage of integrated pricing and distribution systems has become even more important to maximize revenues and minimize efforts.
  • The use of AI and ML in determining optimum rates for hotel rooms that are then pushed to all marketing channels, can increase the potential to maximize revenues and ARRs (Average Room Rates)  for the hotel, and reduce operational inefficiencies and manual costs.
  • In terms of guest experience and operations, hotels have seen a fast adoption of cloud-based and integrated technology in Property Management Systems and hotel ERPs.
  • with smartphone and tablet usage in in-room guest services and basic services like checkin, checkout, and usage of hotel facilities with further enhancements like augmented reality.
  • The use of kiosk for self-service checkins using biometric authentications and facial recognition can make the entire checkin and checkout experience fast and seamless.
  • The back of the house services like housekeeping, room cleaning, and food preparation are also digitally tracked using cloud-based integrated technology which can reduce delivery time and wastages, while increasing efficiency and guest satisfaction.
  • In terms of guest relationships and CRM, hotels have started storing the digital profiles of guests which can increase the personalization of service and guest preferences.
  • Every interaction of the guest in the hotel is stored and advanced systems use AI to predict and deliver ‘wow’ experiences to the guest.
  • increasing competition makes it even more important for hotels to differentiate themselves, and technology is turning out to be a big USP for hotels. Those who are quick to embrace the modern trends of technology and automation can stay ahead of their competition in terms of both superior service and higher profitability.
  • Investment required in technology has in-fact reduced as technology has evolved.
tcale003

Oracle OPERA: What You Need to Know When Evaluating Hotel Software - 1 views

    • tcale003
       
      The Oracle Opera (formerly Micros) is the biggest Property Management System utilized in the hospitality industry. Oracle OPERA is a cloud-based Property Management System that integrates a variety of functions into one place. While OPERA is used for a single property, it is built with multi-property in mind and, therefore, it is not usually used in very small properties.
  • which types of hotels OPERA is a great fit for and discuss how independent hotels, boutiques and chains all benefit in different ways.  We'll also cover the impact of Oracle Cloud on its hospitality solutions division and whether Oracle's PMS is actually in the cloud.
  • WebRezPro Integrates Tenerum Payment Gateway
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  • WebRezPro Integrates Tenerum Payment Gateway
  • Apr 16,2020
  • WebRezPro Integrates Tenerum Payment Gateway
  • WebRezPro Integrates Tenerum Payment Gateway
  • This article provides a comprehensive resource for hoteliers immersed in the process of vendor evaluation.  Oracle Hospitality's OPERA (formerly Micros) is the largest PMS player in the hospitality industry and in this article we'll review how their hotel management software can improve operational efficiency for your business then point out some areas that every buyer should be aware of as they consider the solution.
  • OPERA has comprehensive guest profiling capability, which allows your staff to keep track of guest preferences. These rich guest profiles can be quickly accessed to better personalize stays. Staff can see useful details, such as stay history, past communications, and previous service requests, to inform their approach to each guest.
  • vendors?
  • Oracle OPERA is a cloud-based property management system that integrates several functionalities into a single platform.
  • In addition to the core property management functionality, such as room assignments, check-in/check-out, and rate management, OPERA includes integrated channel and rate management with group travel functionality to handle more complex requests. 
  • WebRezPro Integrates Tenerum Payment Gateway
  • Since OPERA is an integrated platform, hotels with more complex operations stand to benefit the most. For example, a hotel that uses Oracle POS (point of sale) and kitchen management can integrate full F&B operational functionality into the OPERA property management system. Such deep integration improves outcomes on the customer service front and gives hotel management stronger reports to monitor KPIs and profitability. 
  • The ideal customer segment is a hotel group with many larger properties that offer full service.
  • While OPERA can be used for a single property, it’s built with multi-property in mind.
  • Personalized guest profiles
  • Advanced rate management
  • OPERA has advanced rate and room availability restrictions, as well as enhanced rate-management capability offering a vast number of room pricing options, including best available rate, dynamic rates, daily rates, base rate, and negotiated rates. These rates can then be distributed via OPERA’s integrated channel manager.
  • Intelligent accommodation management
  • Proper allocation of room inventory avoids overbookings of specific room types and ensures that rooms are cleaned and maintained in a timely manner.
  • Mobil
  • OPERA now offers a completely mobile version of its flagship software, called OPERA Mobile Cloud Service. Staff can access the following information via any smartphone or tablet device: Check-in/check-out, reservation management, room status, task sheet, room maintenance, as well as Track It and Post It mobile that can provide real-time status updates on rooms and maintenance requests. 
  • Loyalty support
  • To drive loyalty-based marketing, guest behaviors accrue automatically to profiles, so hotels can build relevant packages and services based on guest history, including the length of stay, expenditure in restaurants and bars, and other preferences. T
tcale003

5 Reasons Why You Need A Travel Agent - More Than Ever - 0 views

    • tcale003
       
      Travel agents are considered travel advisors or consultants. Large corporations still use travel advisors for their travel needs. Travel consultants are needed for a multitude of reason including their expertise.
  • Travel agents are even more important to luxury travelers, who ironically often think they know a lot about travel and rely on their own misguided sense of expertise. But while a good agent is so vital that it is simply foolish to plan a high-end trip on your own without one, they can also help travelers of all budgets.
  • pros of using an agent: “They can find crazy deals”; “They will be your advocate”; “They’ll take care of the little things”;
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  • The reality is that while it was widely predicted that the internet was going to kill off travel agents when digital tools were placed at every traveler’s disposal, that just hasn’t happened, for several good reasons.
  • a good travel advisor can often save you money.
  • true experts” and “They don’t usually cost extra.”
  • My tech savviest friends use travel advisors, and so does every major corporation - because it is the smart thing to do.
  • “Information overload, thousands of new hotels on the scene, all sorts of new cruise ships, passport and visa issues, weather, transit strikes, political unrest, natural disasters, travel insurance, travel providers going out of business, it’s never ending. How does one navigate all of this? To avoid the travel landmines that lay in front of you, you need to get a great travel advisor!
  • “They’re
  • good travel agents prefer to be called travel advisors, or sometimes travel consultants, and those are both totally accurate, but since most people still think of the industry in terms of travel agents
  • “Travel agents are a thing of the past - they primarily booked tickets and beds. Travel advisors have taken on a much more complex role - part psychologist, life coach, executive producer, concierge, fixer, dream maker, and ‘Blink Blink’ genie, with the multitude of services that they provide.”
  • Emergencies:
  • Expertise
  • VIP Connection
  • Extras
  • Better Trips
  •  
    There are many reasons one still needs a travel agent. They are now called advisors or consultants because of what they can do and their knowledge. These advisors can assist with a multitude of things including emergencies, getting great deals on trips, They will be your best advocate when issues arise and at no extra cost to the consumer. In addition, a good travel advisors save you time and money on trying to plan you own trip. Travel agents who just booked flights and beds are a thing of the past, travel advisors play a much more complex role and provie a great variety of services.
tcale003

What Can We Do About the Growing E-waste Problem? - 3 views

    • tcale003
       
      China recently banned other countries from sending e-waste to them. E-Waste is comprised of many toxic materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium which are very harmful to people and the environment. Many new technologies for biodegradable electronics are being looked at and there is even an EcoAtm in some U.S. states for people to recycle their small electronic devices.
  • When China banned 24 kinds of solid waste last September, countries such as the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan realized they had a big problem. Until last year, China accepted 70 percent of the world’s electronic waste—discarded computers, cell phones, printers, televisions, microwaves, smoke alarms, and other electronic equipment and parts.
  • After China stopped accepting this e-waste out of concern for its environment, Europe and North America began shipping more of it to Southeast Asia—but now Vietnam and Thailand, whose ports have been overwhelmed, are curbing imported e-waste as well.
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  • In 2016, the world’s population discarded 49 million tons of e-waste
  • It’s estimated that by 2021, that number will grow to more than 60 million tons.
  • Electronic devices are made of a complex mix of materials that include gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, lithium, cobalt and other valuable elements.
  • But electronic devices also comprise toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium and beryllium, polluting PVC plastic, and hazardous chemicals, such as brominated flame retardants, which can harm human health and the environment.
  • A recent study in China found that mining copper, gold and aluminum from ore costs 13 times more than recovering the metals through the urban mining of e-waste. The state of e-waste recycling Recycling e-waste is practiced both formally and informally.
  • mally.
  • As a result, many companies and countries illegally export their e-waste to developing countries where recycling is cheap
  • Research has found that inhaling toxic chemicals and direct contact with hazardous e-waste materials (even in some formal e-waste recycling settings) result in increases in spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, premature births, reduced birth weights, mutations, congenital malformations, abnormal thyroid function, increased lead levels in blood, decreased lung function, and neurobehavioral disturbances. Moreover, e-waste toxins contaminate the air, soil and groundwater. In the face of these health and envir
  • n the face of these health and en
  • onmental hazards, however, many people in developing countries earn a living by dismantling, refurbishing, repairing and reselling used electronic devices.
tcale003

This $20 USB Cable Is A Dead Man's Switch For Your Laptop - 0 views

    • tcale003
       
      This article is about a new inexpensive technology called a Buzz Kill Cord. It has been recently created by Michael Altfield, a Software Engineer to prevent hacking across the globe for anti-theft protection if someone steals one of your computer or phone devices. This USB cable will destroy any and all information on your device.
  • Most people are familiar with the concept of a dead man's switch that, for example, activates the emergency brake should a London Underground train driver become incapacitated.
  • Most people are familiar with the concept of a dead man's switch that, for example, activates the emergency brake should a London Underground train driver become incapacitated.
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  • Most people are familiar with the concept of a dead man's switch that, for example, activates the emergency brake should a London Underground train driver become incapacitated. There are many different technologies across multiple machines from the trains mentioned above right through to chainsaws. Unsurprisingly, laptop computers haven't been on the list until now. Software engineer and sysadmin, Michael Altfield, has created a cheap "kill cord" that can trigger a laptop to self-destruct if stolen by a snatch and grab thief. What's more, you can make your own for just $20 (£15) but there's an important caveat: this is for Linux laptops, not those running macOS or Windows.
  • Most people are familiar with the concept of a dead man's switch that, for example, activates the emergency brake should a London Underground train driver become incapacitated.
  • Most people are familiar with the concept of a dead man's switch that, for example, activates the emergency brake should a London Underground train driver become incapacitated.
  • le, ac
  • There are many different technologies across multiple machines from the trains mentioned above right through to chainsaws. Unsurprisingly, laptop computers haven't been on the list until now. Software engineer and sysadmin, Michael Altfield, has created a cheap "kill cord" that can trigger a laptop to self-destruct if stolen by a snatch and grab thief. What's more, you can make your own for just $20 (£15) but there's an important caveat: this is for Linux laptops, not those running macOS or Windows.
  • Although laptops can crash, the consequences will likely not be as devastating as a runaway train incident. So why would anyone want a "kill cord" for their laptop? Good question, and one answered by software engineer Michael Altfield in his blog posting that describes how he made one.
  • if you were doing some online banking or accessing your work network via a VPN, the opportunity to monetize the theft becomes apparent. That scenario isn't far-fetched either.
  • Stand up if you use your laptop in a coffee shop or some other public place like an airport.
  • I'm guessing nobody is sitting down at this point. Yet by using either distraction tactics or a more straightforward and violent strategy, a thief could steal your fired up and authenticated laptop in seconds. Encryption won't help much if you have authenticated and are accessing that data, or service, at the time of the snatch and grab.
  • Altfield wanted an anti-theft solution that could trigger the laptop to shut down, lock, or even wipe all data in such a physical separation scenario. "I couldn’t find a low-tech solution that implements a laptop kill cord," he said, "so I decided to build one myself." The result is what Altfield calls a "BusKill" cable.
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