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In today's society, going green is become more and more important. Especially in the hospitality industry, companies are looking for ways to save a dollar and be more energy efficient. Same thing goes for cruise lines. With so many tourists traveling by ship every year, it is important for these cruise corporations to follow regulations and set their own standards for upholding the law. So far the leader of the pack, Royal Caribbean, has qualified for certifications. They have their staff trained in the company's Environmental Management System. Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Costa are also following suit by implementing their own green initiatives. 

As it becomes more and more popular (and more crucial to the environment) to "go green", it is also becoming less intimidating and more rewarding for organizations in the hospitality industry.  The notion that improving an organizations operations to make them more sustainable is too costly, is quickly being disproven, and in many instances organizations actually save money in the long run.  Part I of this series by Lee Simon focuses on operational practices and outlines simple steps that can be integrated in to a restaurant or hotel's current systems.  

Going Green is quickly becoming the thing to do in the hotel industry. In fact, Hilton now requires their department heads within their hotels to be trained and certified in their green program. They have created a link on their site which measures waste put out into the environment by each specific meeting group or guest. Even more importantly, clients are beginning to ask for these statistics and reports prior to committing to sign a contract that states they will hold their meeting at that particular hotel.

Although the article has to do with event software being used by utilities, it is still pertinent to the hospitality industry. This software could be used to manage the resources of large properties and save money by reducing waste.

The articles talks about the difference of having in-house facilities employees versus having out of the house employees in the hotel. It also touches on the education and mindful behavior all facilities employees should have in order to save more resources to the hotel.

I found this article very interesting as it covers some of the next technological changes the hotel industry would see. Hotel companies and property owners are spending lots of money to ensure they are able to satisfy modern day traveler's needs. As technology advances and more and more studies show travelers prefer to use their own mobile devices, companies have to constantly improve their mobile platform. Sooner or later hotels will have mobile keys that work via a phone on the customers phone or tabloid. Features like mobile keys, check-in, and communications via a mobile app will all require significant amount of investments by major hotel chains. All of these new types of feature also require more advanced security to protect hotel stayers while using the hotels' mobile apps. Over the long run the investment will pay off for large hotel companies as they will gain tons of data and data is very powerful and useful. I am interested to see how this affects small-scale motels as the investment in mobile platforms may not be feasible for an independent motel.

This article discusses six of the new upcoming trends in the hospitality industry in regards to technology. The first is mobile ubiquity - meaning the amount of usability of guests using mobile devices to check in, make a reservation, or purchase. The second is integrating mobile data and the integration of such valuable data. Third would be the Enabling of guest room technology, such as on-demand content and room features. Fourth would be Future-proofing networks and ensuring safety from hackers or malwares. Fifth would be beefing up security. Sixth would be energy conservation to save money on wastes and energy consumption.

Future proofing or building a more robust network infrastructure is the backbone and the most important part of any network model. It seems that newer buildings will have an advantage as they will have fiber optic installed as they are constructed which would be cheaper than replacing an entire existing copper network. This trend, will enable companies that have newer hotels to offer more services and meet the technological demand that their customers now expect.

This article brings up some great points on building your Brand on a mobile App. As a whole, we are attached to our cell phones and using apps for everything. Creating a Brand for your Mobile App is a must have in our industry and it is the direction most hotels, cruise ships, and resorts are taking when you are on property/ship. Personalization and Onboarding is important to the user as they want to be able view their interests/preferences/needs. By providing a personalized experience (interactive maps, videos, etc.) via App we hope to provide the most positive guest experience. As the article states, providing a positive user experience creates happy users which results in Brand loyalty. The end result is always to capture repeat business and Brand loyalty.

Fake news, fake marketing claims, fake influencers, fake customer service. So much of this fakery is funded through advertising, and biggest thing they sell is fake traffic.

Second, there are scrapers that take original content from one site and put it on others as well as take customer lists, contact information, and other valuable data. Third, spammer bots are used to drive Internet traffic to spammer websites. Finally, marketers are most concerned with click bots. This is a relatively new type of ad fraud and that click on performance-based and PPC ads that drive up the cost of this type of advertising.

SUMMARY: With the rise of Aritiial Intelligence and computer algorithms/programs it becomes more apparent that emarketing is under constant threat of fake traffic and analytics. Over half the internet traffic is being used by bots. Marketers must invest in tools to fight fraudulent traffic. Anti fraud and tracking platforms can be utilized to combat fradulent traffic. If there is money in fake traffic, the bad bots will constantly create problems creating fradulent traffic. Marketers have to stay vigilant and informed about new threats to their emarketing campaigns so money isn't being spent on bad bots/fradulent traffic.

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.

This article is about how technology can reduce the cost using sustainability. Although that some people believe that green operation is more expensive and that guests are not interested in hospitality. According to Cornell University for hospitality research, the reverse is true for both. Recent advances in technology related to renewable sources of energy are beneficial and have cut the costs for energy. Not only that investment in environmental technology reduce the costs but also has a positive impact in our guest experience.

This article is about how technology can reduce the cost using sustainability. Although that some people believe that green operation is more expensive and that guests are not interested in hospitality. According to Cornell University for hospitality research, the reverse is true for both. Recent advances in technology related to renewable sources of energy are beneficial and have cut the costs for energy. Not only that investment in environmental technology reduce the costs but also has a positive impact in our guest experience.

This article explains the various sustainability efforts of hoteliers in effort to limit their negative impact on the environment. Although, going green is beneficial to the world around us, hoteliers have also realized its benefits within the industry. One important factor has been its cost savings and economic incentives. Going green also enhances the brand image of hoteliers which in turn creates a market for a specific type of traveller, whom deems it necessary for a hotel to maintain sustainability efforts.

Event management could become a various tedious job depending on how large of an event you are planning. Event Management Technologies have allowed Event Managers to help better control their planning and spending budgets, as well help get the word out of their event through different social media platforms. This article helps supports these points and others. This article covers how with new technologies in event management there is the ability to compare past events similar to ones you are currently working on now and see exact prices of different items so you could determine if there is a cheaper route to go or if they are necessary at all. The platforms utilized nowadays allow planners to share with their crew and even clients what is going on in the planning process so all could be on the same page. There is also the ability to market events via social media which helps reduce costs of hiring marketing teams to get the word of the event occurring.

This article ties into this week's topic of sustainability and green initiatives, even though it's from 2017, which was dubbed as year of sustainable tourism by the United Nation. The hospitality industry is guilty of having a large annual footprint. Today's traveler is more eco-conscious then ever and is always looking for hotels and properties who support their mindset. The hospitality industry is hopping on the green train and taking action to set precedent for their competitors. Many big cities along with celebrities are promoting the idea of sustainable and conscious living and hospitality, making it the hottest trend. The hospitality industry id one the fore front of this effort because they are one the impacted businesses due to climate change. Many local economies that depend on tourism and hospitality can crumble if they don't start taking action right now. This trend will hopefully create a domino effect and influence other industries to follow suite.

The importance of personalization for hotel guests is becoming increasingly popular in the travel industry and a simple step to improve direct conversions. You will learn about how to create a unique experience for hotel guests, mapping your target audience and crafting personalized campaigns for your target audience.

As per the article, I agree that personalization & the development of unique experiences will be driving factors within the industry moving forward. The hospitality industry has some catching up to do here as well.

The personalization or customization of the guest experience is extremely high in demand within the hospitality industry. It will be very interesting to see how hotels in particular are able to accommodate this new trend. It is important that the industry finds eco-friendly ways to address these needs. So hotels do not create additional, waste, since the product is 100% personalized for each guest.

Intelity, a leading provider of in room tablet technology, outlines the cost savings involved by implementing these tablets into a room operation. Everything from menu's to bibles to hotel directories to maps can be stored on these devices. This can lead to drastically less paper waste for the hotel. These tablets can also interface with the room, allowing the guest to program their AC to shut off while they are away or to shut off based on guest inactivity. The technology is becoming so pervasive in the industry that it is now a consideration in the AAA diamond ranking systems. Nicholas Reynolds

This article is sweet and precise. It talks about the evolution of technology in hotel rooms (or hotels in general) but focusing specifically on the use of tablets. They talk about the reduce cost in hotels by adapting tablets to replace bibles, menus, brochures, etc. Personally, I am all for less use of paper and more use of technology. I'm the type of person that prefers to place an order through an app than having to call the restaurant. One very interesting fact mentioned in this article is that the hospitality industry spent over $400 million on printing directories and marketing materials for their guests in 2015. That's huge!!

This is an interesting article which shows the need for hotels to look at their Property Management System software and how it affects associates and their guests. The choice that is made in regards to which system is utilized has a major impact on the need for IT support, training, and issues hotels face due to loss of data from connection issues. As stated, it is important as well to ensure this system is able to help the hotel satisfy the guest's need while staying at the hotel.

It appears that the old mantra "keep it simple stupid" also applies to Property Management Systems as well. The easier a system is to use, the more likely it is that your staff and your guests will be able to take full advantage of it. Often times we can be mislead into believing that "the more complex the system, the better it must be". I disagree. A system that is easy to use, is more likely to be used by your staff and guests. If your staff requires significant training in order to utilize the system, you will waste time and money on this training. If it is too complex, the average guest may not be able to figure it out. It is extremely important to spend a significant amount of time discovering exactly what it is that you want your Property Management System to accomplish. After doing this, find the system that can achieve these goals in the most simplified manner. The time you spend in upfront research will be returned to you in reduced training, and guest satisfaction.

This article was very interesting to read because it shines a light on the fact that hotels need to focus and always improve and manage their PMS systems because it directly effects the employees and guest experience

As the world becomes more dependent on technology, the opportunities to exploit or steal one's personal information becomes easier and easier. Passwords and pins can be stolen. Manager cards can be handed out or duplicated. Bio metric information is the one thing that remains a secure way to ensure proper protocols are being followed. Short of cutting off someone's finger, it is impossible to duplicate an individuals bio metric information. This is proving to be a very cost effective means of ensuring compliance to company procedures. The savings in time card fraud, or improper void protocol outweigh the expense of implementing the system. I believe that this is a sign of things to come, as our world transitions to a more electronic state; Bio metric information is the only secure means of insuring the actual "user" is the one performing the specific task.

This concept is very interesting as I deal with timecard fraud often. However, without the option of over riding or using a paper time correction, I wonder if it would actually waste some time waiting for a manager to come and fix the problem.

As a manager, I prefer the biometric option for punching in and out of employees. The only problem I have seen with this technology for employees is for those that work in laundry or dish washing areas. The constant exposure to heat and water on their fingers causes their fingerprints to distort temporarily. I find that I have to utillize less dominant fingers to make it work for these associates. I have made it mandatory for any associate to speak with a manager if they do not punch in or out correctly.

This article stood out to me in a way that teaches us how important the environment play in our society and industry.It can significantly reduce cost and increase revenue within the hospitality industry. It doesn't have to be overwhelmingly difficult transition into a more green and diverse economy, it can be accomplished quite easily. I believe that its important to implement this green practices in order to help the environment and our economy.

"IT solutions can be used to help a hotel to manage its environmental impact (CO2 emissions, energy consumption). Siemens analyses the customer requirements and then implements best-in-class solutions. In addition we provide the required process consulting to establish sustainability reporting within an organization. Here are a few highlights of our "Sustainable Impact" offering: Benchmark customer's own position in sustainability issues vs. competitors and improve own sustainability processes to become best-in-class. Integrate sustainability / energy management into company strategy, organizational framework and corporate behavior Target setting for company-wide KPIs (e.g. CO2) and creation of transparency by setup of IT supported controlling process Support fulfillment of regulatory requirements, voluntary reporting (e.g. GRI, DJSI, CDP) and company positioning (e.g. sustainability report) Manage environmental and other sustainability projects"

in order to keep the green hotel the manger should use the IT solutions. especially in the environment impact, we cannot control the hotel environment sustainability development only by the manual. using the IT solution is fast and convenient. we can use it to analysis and conclude the best solution or advice for the sustainability development of the hotel. we put the data, operation statement and expenses into the system and then the computer can help the hotel to establish the frame for building the green hotel. also we can use the Siemens technology to assign the employees everyday so as to avoid the situation that is over-staff or under staff. moreover we can use the Siemens system to decline the waste of paper, water, energy and so on. This way can save the money and protect the environment.

Nowadays, all hotels are trying to improve their IT with their sustainability efforts. In this article, Siemens has introduced a new system "IT for Sustainability". The new system will help hotels improve energy, resource-efficiency, and save costs in two ways: greening the hotel IT environment and using IT as enabler to lower carbon footprint.

In regards to Module 2: Post a hospitality/tourism network, telecommunications, or green related article, I chose to post about a green related article and found an awesome article of "Eight Ways Hotels Are Helping To Protect The Environment." In honor of the past April 22's Earth Day, the article displayed the examples for some of the hotels in the United States that were committed to aid in preserving the environment for the hoteliers and guests alike to keep sustainability strong for the respective hospitality companies as well as travelers who are striving to travel with eco-friendly options. Located in Oahu, Hawaii, the Turtle Bay Resort is home to an on-property horse stable, tennis and golf courses, a 15 mile hiking/mountain biking trails, many health conscious classes such as fitness, wellness, and even a surf school. With its advantageous beach location, water adventures such as eco-kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming enable guests to view many of the natural resources, mammals, and endangered species that visit along the shores of the resort. With all of the above activities, it is crucial for this resort to take especially good care of the natural resources that benefit the resort by attracting guests. With that being said, the resort team members initiate beach cleanups every month for about 5 miles of the beach's shoreline. As well, back in 2009, the resort developed a Green Committee to plan and map out methods to reduce the resort's carbon footprint. Some examples of this was adding solar roof panels, convert 70% of the resort's lighting to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs, initiated recycling for the entire resort, and changed cups utilized at the F&B outlets to environmental friendly options. Located in Leesburg, Virginia, The National Conference Center's food and beverage program partnered with local Virginia Farms to source their food from local farmers to enhance the consumer's yearning for the farm-to-table cuisine. For Earth Day, the company i