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Delta Air Lines and Sabre will be working together on a multiyear deal to improve indirect distribution channels. As Jeff Lobl said, the intention is to unlock innovation and reward investment as well as enhance the customer experience. Traditionally airlines pay a flat fee to GDSs but this model will be based more on what is being sold.

This article features 11 new tech features that cruise ships have implemented.Technology is transforming these floating hotels into smart cities. From remote check-in, wearable technology, to geo-locating your children aboard. These tech gadgets are helping cruisers enjoy their time aboard as stress free as possible. As stated by the author "Once on board, it didn't take too long to figure out how the MSC for Me app, public interactive screens, cabin TV and wearable bracelet, available for the first time on Meraviglia, all worked together to streamline and enhance life on board."

I agree. I think this technology will be very beneficial for not just guests but also for the cruise lines. This helps collect data and help personalize the guest experience. This will have guests coming back time and time again. This also provides an incredible guest experience since they won't have to wait in long stressful lines. I think this technology is very beneficial for both the guests and employees.

Cruise ships have really stepped up their game when it comes to technology. I wrote a paper last semester about Princess Cruise Line's latest technology, the OceanMedallion. This little wearable device allows guests to unlock a whole new level of different features such as room key, tracking system, and a bunch of different amenities. It will be interesting to see what other cruise lines come up with to compete with this.

Due to the current situation we are living with Covid-19 we are required to use a mask all the time in public places. One of the latest updates on IOS 13.5 that I found very helpful is that now our Iphones can be able to unlock with facial recognition while having the mask on. Before it was frustrating being in public to have to take off the mask so facial recognition could work and unlock my phone. Apple did a great job with this update and has become a most for Iphone users like me during these days.

This short article explains in a very understanding way how Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps generate original content for hotels, which saves them valuable time. The time you could put into thinking of marketing material, generative AI already helped you create it within seconds let it be a text, image, game, captions, and/or more. This tool basically analyzes the data you feed it and turn it into optimized content which helps "hotel marketers unlock new levels of efficiency and creativity."

The lodging industry has been implementing contact-free check-in way before the pandemic started. Hotel companies saw that as a solution for the long lines at the front desk and the time wasted signing required documents before receiving your key. Contactless check-in has been proven to be more effective and favorable by many travelers. Guests can now check-in through their phones and even have a digital key to unlock their room. Check-in applications will allow you to learn about the guests' interests in your amenities/ outside attractions which can help companies better the experience for the next time that guests books with them. As these contactless check-in apps are implemented into more hotels, it is best to inform the guests of the process atleast a day before their arrival. Since some might not be familiar with the idea, the companies should guide them on how to check-in through their phone and how to access their key. The more that guests will adapt to doing this, the more that they (and your employees) will be happy.

AR is closer than you think! The Marriott Moxy brand is launching a limited-time AR experience at select hotels. QR codes, avatars, and holographs!

With privacy being a concern in the hospitality industry, hotels are incentivizing a customer sharing information with a heightened personalized experience. Customers are willing to share personal data to earn loyalty program benefits, receive special discounts and offers, and will shop more often with those brands that personalize their communications.

Even though we are aware that generally, individuals are more inclined to do things when there are benefits to them, this new exchange of data for access to certain benefits has now placed that transaction at the forefront of my mind. This is because schemes are not being applied to secretly obtain customers' personal data, but rather the customers are willing to share them. This exchange is beneficial to guests since they earn travelers' consent, unlock richer experiences, better service, and high long-term loyalty. In my opinion, this is a fair trade. Thanks for sharing this article on "How Hotels Can Drive Increased Revenue and Loyalty By Offering a Reciprocal Value Exchange with Guests."

Hotels have been lax on keeping up with the technological advances that have come about in the past few years. This article talks about how a few different hotels all over the world are starting to use these technologies to their benefit. Some hotels have hosts greeting guests with an ipad and making room keys etc.. while they have a drink at the bar. Others have given their guests capabilities to play the movies or music they've purchased on their ipad or iphone directly on the room TV as opposed to purchasing movies from the hotel. It seems like hotels are starting to grasp what their guests really want which is quick, paperless and technilogical convenience.

Hotels are catching up with the technological advances

Hotel Skypark central is lending out smart ohones at check in that do everything from open the door, tuen on and off lights and so much more in the room. Most hotels do not have technological advanes such as this so it proves quite interesting how much we can make a smart phone do

Hotel Skypark central is lending out smart ohones at check in that do everything from open the door, tuen on and off lights and so much more in the room. Most hotels do not have technological advanes such as this so it proves quite interesting how much we can make a smart phone do

High-tech can really make life easy.

This article is talked about the company's new door lock system that uses Bluetooth connectivity to allow guests with smartphones to bypass check-in and unlock their door simply by touching the handle. The guests can download the hotel's app, and put their username and password in, and then it links the reservation to their mobile devices. This system is providing guests convenience as well as automation when they check-in and out from the hotel but keep the safety. What is more, this automating the check-in experience was not meant to deemphasize the role of the concierge and other human staff, but to enhance it. The reason for appling this system is that customizing the guest's room in the best benefit, reducing the guests' trouble, and helping guests to get the real experience they are looking for.

The latest security breach on hotel locks has paved the way for companies like OpenWays to provide mobile device solutions to allow guests to securely open locks with their cell phone. This LOCKFIX has been added to 4 million hotel rooms. The latest threat involved the use of a dry erase marker can open a hotel room. Hackers are posting "how to's" on social networking sites to share this information.

It seems they are really customizing the guest experience by offering guests the opportunity to take advantage of their relationship with Live Nation. I like how they get the guests involved in promotions by offering them a cash code, a benefit of being an SPG member.

Samsung LYNK is the new alternative to traditional Digital Rights Management (DRM)  in the hospitality industry. DRM is the hotels way of controlling and maintaining protection of copyrighted material through the use of technological tools. With tools such as Samsung LYNK copyrighted materials such as music and movies can be used on hotel premises without allowing residents to duplicate material. The LYNK provides cost saving efficient solutions that can all be controlled in a remote secure way. Not to mention, all DRM control can be done through hotel room televisions. 

This article deals with the theft that happens on a daily basis in the hospitality field. It happens when credit cards are used to pay for something, like a reservation, and thieves want the information, so they can use your credit card number for whatever intentions they may have. As the article states, "our data is under attack". I can relate to those people that have had credit card numbers stolen, because it has happened to my husband and me, and it is a horrible feeling trying to get your life back on track and recover your money.  I think it would be a great idea, with some research, to get the point to point encryption technology in a field where credit cards are used so often, not only to cover the business (hotel), but also to protect the guest, so they feel at easy when they travel on vacation or business.  The overall point of this technology is to encrypt the information as close to the point of entry, i.e. the swiping of the credit card, as possible. This would in turn "significantly reduce a merchant's card data environment", as the program would encrypt the information so that hackers cannot access the customer's information. As I mentioned earlier, questions should be asked before buying this technology, as there is always something new on the market that may be better. Credit cards are not always swiped, but can also be manually placed in the system, so you want to make sure, that both transactions are protected. Overall, the establishment should always be concerned about the customer and their safety, whether physical or mental and always be prepared for the worse.

Great article! Personally after being a victim of credit card fraud, I'm very apprehensive of where I shop, who handles my card and how long it takes them to return it. I recently cancelled a large purchased after the cashier insisted on rubbing my card number on the reciept after the transactions had be approved. In my mind, I was thinking "If I let you do that, then I've open the door for anyone to charge thousand of dollars. I don't think so." As a manager, who hands credit card numbers for manual input, I'm very cautious of them and want to insure that they don't get into the wrong hand. Aftern each transactions is approved, that number is shredded and the credit card machine is batched out. Companies don't realize how important it is to PCI compliant. The risk in exposing sensitive information of our clients and customers can cost thousand of dolllars in fines and fee, in addition to the lost of that customer/client.

Marilyn, Great Article...as a Front Desk Manager, it is my responsibility to randomly check our computers to ensure employees are not placing USB driver to collect data from our system. Our company has taking this a step further by putting metal locked case around the PC to avoid possible fraudulent activity. If we have to open a PC, we must log it to show proof why a PC became unlock. Companies should adopt similar procedures to protect the consumers/guests. Nelson

This article is a comprehensive analysis of the problems existing in E-Commerce from the perspective of a CEO in New York. According to Kim, a lot of bad behaviors in offline commerce translate to online. Identifying those problems, he asserted, is the first step toward developing solutions. There are mainly four problems in E-commerce including pushy sales, No-service Sales, No Data, Wrong Data. He suggests four solutions to solve these problem. At first, they remind that not all consumers should be treated the same. The simplest ,most effective way is segementation, dividing customers into several groups. Moreover,he mentioned that merchant should offer different product to people of their own targeted values. The other two solutions are listen and serve, one chance.That means the merchant should be patient enough to let customer tells them what they want and provide updated activities to the customers on time.

I wonder how this will translate into widespread use by the hotel industry. It seems there were issues with some guests who didn't hold the phone properly to get in. Also seems as if just using a room card would be quicker as opposed to having to dial and wait for a tone. Be interesting to see how this idea evolves.

More than half of IT professionals believe that data consolidations and storing is very important for a business. Although almost all agree with it, the vast majority have no plans to consolidate at all. Meanwhile only "a quarter" have completed with consolidation projects. As we have stated previously in past class discussions, the cloud technology/computing/storing is a software that has revolutionized the technology industry. Cloud technology has allowed companies to access and store information, and even share it, in a much quicker and cost-efficient way. Seemingly, still many believe it may be too soon to trust 100% on cloud technology, since security is a big issue. Yes, they are monitored periodically; but hackers nowadays can accomplish a lot. Thus, resulting in a security challenge for many IT professionals. Among many other reasons, companies seem to lack the required staff to implement these methods. Although IT professionals believe in it, at this moment it is too hard to achieve.

It's interesting that they think that consolidation is important yet do little about it. Keeping data safe is critical. To get to my e-mail for work when not at the facility, it requires the 8-digit pin that's in my head, plus a 6-digit key from the secure ID that I carry. That 6-digit code changes every thirty seconds, and the device contains enough codes for five years. If someone is logging in to look at my mail, they can be reasonably confident that it's me, Staff is definitely critical, which explains why so many IT jobs are available these days. If you have all of the IT initials (MCSE,CompTIA, etc) after your name, it's a good time to be in the industry.

Hilton Hotels have invested $500 million on smartphone technology that allows guests to book their stay, check in from their cell phone, pick a room from ones that are available and request additional amenities be delivered to their room upon arrival. The biggest opportunity for guests is the ability to log on the day before their arrival and choose which room they want. They not only choose a type of room but they also choose the location.

Hospitality Industry is seeing a increase in bookings of hotel rooms, airplanes reservations, and even dining reservations through mobile devices. Expedia website belives there will be an increase to 32 million people using mobile devices to book hospitality venues in 2016. Expedia has also noticed that many people are booking same night hotel reservations from their mobile devices. Many people who are using their mobile devices for booking are under the age of 30 years old. National Restaurant Association also confirm that a younger generation is using mobile technology to find a restaurant, from booking a reservation, to looking at menus, also even ordering their meals and paying for it using their mobile devices. Another thing is that mobile devices are being used to do research on restaurants and reading reviews before choosing a particular venue. A downfall to this mobile outbreak is how do hospitality establishments respond to bad reviews. The response to a bad review can make or break your establishment in my opinion. Many restauant owners are asking themeselves how can I take this social and mobile technology and introduce it to my concept and goals. So my feeling is that the hospitality industry is embracing mobile and social technology as it grows. However, are they embracing it fast enough? It seems to me the customers who use mobile and social technology are growing more rapidly.

It will be soon that all hotels go to using mobile check-in. We have implemented it on our current Hilton hotel and this technology gives the guest the power to pick their own room within the hotel, electronically check in from their phone, as well as use their phone screen code to unlock their room door. It all but eliminates the need of a front desk staff upon a guest's arrival. Without the personal communication I believe that some of a guest's experience is taken away, however there is no slowing down this technology and the use of it within the hotel industry. I agree in the fact that management has to stay educated and up to speed about how all of this technology operates as well as the affects it can have on their operational scores. On a positive side, management might cut some of their labor costs by having this technology act as a sort of hourly employee.