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EVEN™ Hotels Introduce PDC's Smart Band® RFID Wristband System for Keyless Ro... - 0 views

  • PDC’s Smart Band® RFID wristband system has been used by leading amusement parks, water parks, resorts, and music festivals to deliver unique and convenient applications that help redefine the guest experience
  • As each chip contains a unique ID number, the bands are impossible to duplicate.
  • EVEN™ Hotels guests receive an RFID room keycard, and for $8, may purchase a waterproof Smart Band® with a securely sealed RFID chip inside that stores and verifies guest data when scanned by a reader.
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    In 2014 EVEN Hotels began a launch of RFID bands to secure guest information. The trial began giving customers the option to keep these when departing. In the hotel industry, getting rid of old systems like key cards for rooms, eliminates so many problems. One of the many benefits is less complaints about room keys not working properly. However, the guest is free to use this band wherever they are on site. After reading this it was clear that there was not a security issue with these bands, as they are personalized for the guest. The only negative I see with the bands is if the tech behind it is sustainable enough to be consistent during busy seasons.
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My Head in the Clouds (computing): A Case Study of a Restaurant Group Embracing Off-Sit... - 0 views

  • These applications simplify daily tasks for management teams and staff, which will ultimately leverage senior management down to focus on the bigger picture
  • he year was 2010 and the impending doom of PCI Compliance was upon us.  At best, our network infrastructure was dated and we needed to act quickly to get it into compliance.
  • CI Compliance is an almost unachievable set of network security standards designed to protect the credit card giants, who already charge them way too much for credit card processing and continually squeeze them with a plethora of monthly fees. 
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  • The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that ALL companies that accept, process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment
  • he restaurant industry is also plagued with security breaches, including large chains such as Darden (Cheddar’s), Panera Bread, Sonic and Arby’s.
  • Operators must identify network vulnerabilities, physical vulnerabilities, and operational vulnerabilities that could result in a credit card breach and fix them.  In summary, it is a painfully tedious, extremely time consuming, and potentially expensive process
  • It is extremely important for the security of our guest’s payment information, both for ensuring trust with our customers and limiting legal liabilities
  • PCI DSS is mandatory for any and all businesses that accept credit cards.  It involves a process of assessment, remediation and reporting.
  • egacy systems such as Positouch, Micros, and Aloha are bulkier, more expensive, and much harder to program and implement.
  • In a nutshell, PCI DSS forced us to upgrade our network, which ultimately allowed us to operate in the cloud.  This unintended outcome to a painful requirement was truly a blessing in disguise and it pushed us into new territory – the cloud!
  • IBM defines cloud computing as “the delivery of on-demand computing resources — everything from applications to data centers — over the internet on a pay-for-use basis.”[iii]
  • ud computing can streamline our operation.
  • The first order of business was to get our network infrastructure in order.
  • Toast
  • It is extremely intuitive, like using a smartphone, thus needing very little training. As wireless POS solutions evolve, legacy systems will eventually be phased out.  It is only a matter of time.
  • EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) is another set of regulations that are coming to the restaurant industry. “EMV is a global standard for cards equipped with computer chips and the technology used to authenticate chip-card transactions.”
  • Pay My Tab will fully integrate with our POS system and eliminates many bulky PCI DSS requirements.
  • llows for remote access, allowing management to check flow of service, identify unique reservations, and make sure that waitlists are being managed appropriately. 
  • good communication is key for making sure work-life balance is maintained.
  • An area which the cloud has really saved our restaurants time is with food & beverage inventories. 
  • This has greatly improved productivity and allowed our management teams to communicate in real time.
  • Our office hardware now consists of much less expensive “Network Computers”, which do not require expanded memory for giant program
  • Although the solutions highlighted above create efficiency and save time, they do not serve guests and they don’t understand the art of hospitality
  • It is imperative that as restaurateurs we continue to create a positive environment, embrace innovation, and engage and train our employees in the art and skill of hospitality.
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    This article is an case study on how one restaurant group could use cloud computing to improve their business. By not only securing the companies information by the customers as well. Reviewing the key points of sales interactions between customers and the restaurant, like the POS, Tableside payments, reservations and management assistants.
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Must-Know Event Technology Trends for 2020 | Social Tables - 3 views

  • In addition to speeding up registration time, incorporating RFID technology into events will help with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, thereby making it easier for planners to target what worked during their event and what didn’t.
  • Though event apps are admittedly helpful, they now have a new hurdle to face. Producing an application to be used for one event is costly, time consuming, and inefficient, as users must learn how to interact with the app for each new event attended. Phone storage space is very important to consumers. Many are hesitant to download an application that they will only use once. Thus, event apps that can continue to deliver value to customers beyond the date of the event itself, are going to become a huge trend.
  • RFID also has the potential to allow attendees to become more engaged with the event across various social platforms.
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  • Menu options, travel directions, appointment updates, facial recognition software and contact information are just the beginning of the very real ways that event planners will soon be able to use wearable tech.
  • Event technology trends aside, the number one thing for any event professional to remember, is to let your tools work for you, rather than the other way around. The purpose of implementing advanced technology is to make your life, and the life of those whom you plan events for, as easy as possible.
  • 5G will also make it more feasible to incorporate the cutting-edge into event experiences.
  • Projection mapping is the act of creating an augmented reality experience with the help of projectors.
  • this visual technology proves to be an efficient and cost effective way to create optical illusions in nearly every location.
  • event technology adoption can increase attendance by 20%, increase productivity by 27%, and decrease costs by as much as 30%.
  • branded apps provide limitless opportunities to interact with consumers right on their own phones
  • Apps can be customized to appear as if they were created specifically for events or stays, while offering functionality that serves to enhance and personalize the attendee experience.
  • Planners can utilize branded multi-use apps to connect with attendees and engage them on a variety of levels before, during, and after the occasion.
  • Event spaces can create customized apps to enhance experiences and share things like helpful facts, historical tidbits, and even the personalities of their unique employees,
  • Because they’re often cloud-based, these programs also provide accurate, customizable, and collaborative project planning that’s accessible by all managing parties
  • With event diagramming software, both event planners and venues are able to map everything out visually
  • provides helpful tools like drag-and-drop diagramming, 3D walkthroughs, and seating software on a single platform.
  • Hotels especially can use apps in this way, allowing guests to control their rooms from their phones and even communicate with chatbots to find nearby attractions.
  • Projection mapping5GBranded multi-use appsEvent diagramming
  • It also opens up new possibilities for app developers to push the boundaries of current event tech trends
    • abroo041
       
      The world of technology is advancing every day. As technology grows and advances, so does its use in the events industry. This blog post discusses some of the technological advances that have made their debut in the events industry and how they can improve an event, how they help the event planner and venue, and even shows us examples of how they are used in real life. It gives statistics on how these technologies have benefit events. For example, when the blog post speaks about gamification, it mentions that "gamified events see a 44 percent increase in engagement". The post is not only suggesting to us that adding gamification is a good idea for future events, but it shows us how well gamification works.
  • Knowing event technology trends—and adopting the most valuable ones—gives planners and venues the competitive advantage
  • Studies show that using event technology can increase attendance by 20 percent and increase productivity by 27 percent. 
  • Each match automates personalized actions, such as printing a badge with the attendees name, sending an email with a scannable lunch voucher, and finalizing a swag bag for their ticket-tier (no sense creating swag bags for no-shows).
  • The technology speeds event check-ins, improves security, and helps businesses at tradeshows collect more valuable leads by tracking attendee visits to booths.
  • can also use facial recognition to watch for crowd flow bottlenecks and collect session attendance data so you know what worked—and what didn’t.
  • The ability to support advanced tech like facial recognition makes venues more attractive to corporate planners. The technology also allows automation at certain access points, which means lower manpower requirements and lower costs. 
  • Properly integrated apps add value to events, providing attendees with more opportunities for networking, interaction, and engagement with peers, speakers, and exhibitors.
  • Offering tech to support projection mapping provides bang for the buck. There’s no need to physically construct or deconstruct any part of your exhibit hall to add this fun, popular technology to your toolbox and draw more events. 
  • This visual technology is an efficient, cost-effective way to create optical illusions on anything—from cars to landmarks to stages.
  • With tradeshow or conference maps, speaker bios, and schedules in the event app, there’s no need for bulky information packets. Push notifications in the apps help keep attendees informed and on schedule. Planners can also use apps to personalize the event agenda through live polling and attract event sponsors with the option of targeted attendee surveys.  
  • Event spaces can create customized apps to share helpful info like maps, historical tidbits, and even the personalities of their unique employees
  • Easy-to-use 3D event diagramming software provides accurate, customizable, collaborative project planning regardless of venue design or size.
  • Give clients peace of mind and leave nothing to chance on the big dayUpload a floor plan to work with, so you know the diagram is to scaleTake clients and stakeholders on 3D ‘fly throughs’ to clarify your visionPlan seating charts and manage attendees’ meal choices or other preferencesHelp staff easily identify and accommodate VIPs and guests with special requests
  • Sales reps can collaborate with planners in real time, share variations on the event proposal, and visually portray upsells.
  • Attendees can use this tech to follow slide presentations, participate with quizzes and polls, take notes, and engage in text-based Q&A. They can also view graphs, tables, videos, and other content; and follow website and social media links. 
  • Any speaker can keep an audience attentive and engaged with this technology, leading to good reviews and a successful event.
  • Supporting second screen tech for presentations is much less expensive than making physical upgrades that aren’t in the budget. 
  • This data underscores the importance of social media sentiment analysis in monitoring your brand and messaging, keeping an eye on competitors, and making improvements to services during and after events.
  • Tracking attendee activity on social media during an event provides actionable data to help you make adjustments in real-time
  • Replenishing food and beveragesEasing show floor bottlenecksDriving session attendanceAddressing technology issues (mobile apps, Wi-Fi, or audio/visual)
  • Venues can social media sentiment to promote popular services and learn where there’s room for improvement:
  • Wristbands and smart badges using near-field communication (NFC) chips keep disruptions and lines to a minimum, thereby increasing attendee productivity and engagement.
  • Access different event areasExchange information with peersReceive exhibitor marketing materialMake cashless purchases
  • Wearable tech helps you speed-up check-in, control access, and monitor attendee behavior with less staffing. It also improves ROI for exhibitors, who can drive attendees wearing the tech to visit a booth of interest based on an individual’s profile.
  • On-site staff can use real-time data to learn when they need to offer overflow rooms or investigate security breaches, such as non-VIP guests in restricted areas. 
  • Indoor wayfinding helps attendees navigate exhibit halls with ease,
  • gather useful attendee behavioral data, send leads to sales team members in real-time, and build attendee profiles to send targeted messaging
  • You can also incorporate proximity advertising options as a value-add for exhibitors and sponsor
  • Post-event, you can utilize IPS data to see where attendees spent their time visiting booths and attending presentations.
  • Adding hotel bars, restaurants, spas, gift shops, and other amenities to the location map can help drive additional revenue during events while improving the attendee experience
  • store attendee admission information on their person, helping to detect fraud and streamline access
  • Attendees can review their travels throughout a tradeshow and see who they interacted with, while exhibitors are notified in real-time when sought-after prospects come into their booth.
  • Planners can generate pop-up directions for attendees based on their location at an event instead of investing in producing/shipping/replacing physical signage
  • validates your event and highlights improvement opportunities by tracking session popularity, length of attendee visits to exhibitor booths, and strong tradeshow traffic.  
  • RFID and beacon technology helps security and general event staff do their job better in real-time, which is essential for building trust and streamlining crowded events
  • event planners are turning to venue sourcing platforms to connect with the perfect site for their particular event.
  • discover detailed venue layouts, capacity ranges, and on-site services
  • Venue platforms offer exceptional ROI and generate more leads through improved discoverability.
  • Convey elements that make your venue uniqueShowcase your event spaces visually with accurate floor plans, 3D diagrams, quality photos, and videosLeverage the success of past events with testimonials and social media accolades
  • artificial intelligence (AI) tech is using badge scans, social media info, and other behavioral data to match attendees with people they should meet or seminars they may want to attend. 
  • Instead of taking-up significant time pre-event and on-site manually recommending seminars, exhibitors, and sponsors to attendees, AI can do it for you—even in real-time—based on their profiles and preferences captured during registration. 
  • it requires transparency and advance notice about how you may use data submitted by attendees. 
  • Attendees entering the geofenced area triggers predetermined actions, such as event check-in, push notifications, or advertising related to the event. 
  • Planners can sell geofencing to exhibitors and sponsors to reach attendees at events, or even promote their event on attendee devices at a competing event under a separate geofence. You can also provide attendees with a better experience via seamless registration and check-in, along with automatic app downloads as soon as they walk on-site.
  • provides analytics, both post-event and in real-time to help you better understand things like the duration of an attendee’s time at an event and overall peak attendance. 
  • Hotels can serve ads promoting their brand, facility, and services to attendees at events
  • once a prospect visits an event website, ads for that event will appear on any subsequent websites the prospect visits, in the form of website banner ads, search engine results, and pop-up or push ads on mobile apps. 
  • Event marketing teams should develop relevant and creative ads with clearly visible event dates to convince prospects who have visited an event website, but haven’t yet registered
  • venues can use it to generate return visits from event planners
  • retarget attendees during events with offers for in-house services like food and beverage, spa, and discounts on extending their stay.
  • Gameplay creates an immersive attendee experience, while generating leads and booth visits for exhibitors via quizzes, scavenger hunts, and trivia on mobile apps.
  • Gameplay fosters a sense of common purpose; creates an environment of collaboration and trust; facilitates easier communication; and boosts attendee confidence. You can also gather information about attendee engagement and interests via game choices.
  • Promoting the use of gameplay on-site showcases a venue to organizations looking for facilities supporting team building exercises as well as immersive attendee experiences.
  • Event technology is a term used to describe all of the digital tools and software used in the events industry. Everything from check in & registration, to diagramming, to social media tools, and more can be considered event technology.
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    RFID, event applications, wearable technology, virtual reality, and social media are upcoming popular uses for event planners. With RFID event planners are able to keep better track of the guests attending the event as well as keeping them more involved. I first heard of this a few months ago when attending an event and it described that a chip with RFID was placed inside the wristband-type ticket. For me, the most interesting thing is the wearable technology! Imagine an event where you can have directions given to you or a layout of the event right on your wrist! Also, the watch can notify you of events happening within an event or you can see order your food or see the menu. To know that soon enough it will be a norm for everyone to have some type of wearable technology and that event planners can truly get the guests involved through this use is exciting.
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    This article discusses five major event technology trends. The first is RFID, which can assist in registration time but even more important is being used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. This kind of data acquisition is great because it allows for planners to analysis, study and understand what worked and didn't work for their events. The second is multi-use apps. These apps allow the event to incorporate important aspects like activities, scheduled break down, and speaker info all at once. Additionally these apps allow attendees to socialize with other participants, and expand their network. The other technologies are some that can definitely change the industry once they are fully integrated. These include: wearable technology, virtual reality, and social media.
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    Nowadays the event planning becomes more and more popular. With the development of event planning, we have 5 event technology trends shaping the future of event planning. The first on is RFID-radio frequency identification. In addition to speeding up registration time, incorporating RFID technology into events will help with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, thereby making it easier for planners to target what worked during their event and what didn't. In this way, it will be easier to foster repeat attendees. The second one is multi-use apps. It's easy to use apps to solve problems. event apps that can continue to deliver value to customers beyond the date of the event itself are going to become a huge trend. The third one is wearable technology. Like google glasses should be a trend in the future. Facial recognition and contact information make the event planning more easier. The fourth one is VR. VR is a great way to up attendee engagement during events. The last one is social media. Social media will be a really important trend. Social media is more than likely the way that investors and sponsors will advertise your event.
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    This article introduces four new advances to technology that help ease the process of event planning. Projection mapping, 5G, Branded multi-use apps, and event diagramming.
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    This article shares the technology innovation with meeting/convention operations and how these technology help offer better guest satisfaction.
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Events after COVID-19: Is it all Zoom from here? | By Malin Persson - Hospitality Net - 0 views

  • 1. NFC - Near Field Communication
  • These chips, which are essentially thin stickers, can be placed around your venue, and attendees can access whatever information you want to convey to them by simply tapping their phone to the chip – no app installation necessary!
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What Is Proximity Marketing and How Does It Work? - 0 views

  • location-based mobile marketing.It involves sending personalized messages to customers, or triggering other digital branded experiences, when their mobile devices approach a certain location
  • Proximity marketing is location-based mobile marketing. It involves sending personalized messages to customers, or triggering other digital branded experiences, when their mobile devices approach a certain location.
  • Geofencing technology lets a business send a message to a phone whenever it comes within a designated radius around a physical location.
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  • NFC lets a nearby phone securely communicate with an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip, so the chip can send customized information to the phone.
  • Beacons operate similarly to geofencing, but they work using Bluetooth technology instead of satellites and cell towers. A beacon is a device around half the size of a smartphone, and can send a Bluetooth signal within a 50–150 yard radius.
  • focused on customers who are already near your place of business, proximity marketing appeals to those most likely to purchase from you.
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    Proximity marketing is a strategic way to market to your customer based on location. Through the use of NFC (Near-Field communication), Geofencing and Beacon, companies can send personalized messages, coupons or other digital branded experiences to customers within a certain radius of the place of business which is supposed to appeal to those most likely to make a purchase.
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How to Combat the Negative Side of Consumer Behavior With Societal Marketing - 0 views

  • Some companies treat corporate social responsibility primarily as a form of branding. For instance, a company that donates 10 percent of profits to cancer research might develop a marketing plan to let the public know about its good works so customers will feel better about buying its products. A more comprehensive approach to societal marketing would include an examination of the company's products and services and what effect they have on the customer and the society.
  • Consumers generally say they want to buy products that are more environmentally sustainable or socially responsible, but that doesn't translate to actual sales if the product costs too much or doesn't perform as well as its rivals. It might seem as if there's a gap between what customers say they want and what they really want, but in reality they want it all. An unpleasant-tasting, expensive brand of fair trade coffee is not going to outsell a delicious and affordable rival just because it is fair trade. However, a delicious and affordable fair trade brand could do very well. The fact that the coffee is fair trade is a benefit to the consumer, but only if the coffee meets the customer's other requirements for taste and price. Effective societal marketing treats the social responsibility aspect as an extra benefit to choosing an already fine product.
  • Sometimes a company can make its marketing campaign more socially responsible by making relatively small changes to a popular product. For example, if a restaurant offers a children's meal option including a grilled cheese sandwich, chips and a soda, it could improve the menu by offering fresh fruit and milk or juice as options. Some parents will still decide to order the chips and soda, but some will choose the fruit and milk. The company is giving customers what they want either way, but by including healthier options the company is doing what it can to have a positive impact on society.
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    Consumers generally say they want to buy products that are more environmentally sustainable or socially responsible.Effective societal marketing treats the social responsibility aspect as an extra benefit to choosing an already fine product. The company needs to give customers what they want either way by including healthier options.
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6 Massive Technology Shifts Happening In The Events Industry | McVeigh Global Meetings ... - 1 views

  • New, cutting edge technologies are completely revolutionizing the individual experience of event attendees.
  • If event planners want to stay at the forefront of the industry, the need to both understand the changes and be prepared to implement them, as engaging attendees are becoming more and more important when looking to measure the ROI of an event.
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    As technology advances, major shifts are happening within the event industry. Gone are the days of paper and pen registration as RFID chips or tags are issued to attendees for sign in. Event specific apps are loaded right onto the attendees phone enabling them to communicate and be notified of event-related information. Augmented and virtual reality allow attendees to see a product or experience in a whole new way, taking engagement to a whole new level from the pop-up banner stand that used to line trade show booths. All of this technology also allows event organizers to have more access to analytics due to the amount of data that is able to be gathered. As technology grows, so will the engagement of attendees through these new systems.
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Samsung unveils new DRM technology for hospitality industry. ~ Sunday, 1st July 2012 fr... - 0 views

  • They are then able to sync the technologies and seamlessly provide in-room entertainment to guests in a secure and compliant manner. By eliminating the need for legacy chip-based solutions at the head end as well as in the TV or set-top box, Samsung LYNK (TM) saves facilities cost and labor, while also increasing system integrity. Samsung LYNK (TM) eliminates the need for DRM hardware provisioning and licensing, reducing significant expenses for the hoteliers.
  • Notably, Samsung LYNK (TM) is also the first technology to enable guests to stream their own content from personal devices to their in-room TV in a secure manner through mobile applications. This advancement offers consumers a way to view content across multiple screens during their stay, mirroring their entertainment experiences at home.
    • Catherine Gibson
       
      This feature sounds really awesome!
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    This article was about this new Samsung technology that is now on the market that is better than the traditional DRM softwear that most hospitality firms still use. The article stated "Samsung invested in a multi-year effort to secure the highly selective Digital Transmission Licensing Administrator (DTLA) approval, running the technology through rigorous forensic testing to pass just the first level of approval". This showed that the softerwear was thoroughly tested before it was put on the market ensuring its security. Also the article talked about how it saves money because of the lack of labor required with this system and how it creates a better guest experience because it fosters a home away from home technology environment.
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Restaurant operators offering 24 hr automated serivce. - 2 views

  •  
    I think this article goes along with our "Smartbar" discussion. The Smartbar may actually be useful in certain locations where a full time bartender may be too costly. There are obvious legal regulatory issues to contend, but at least some room for growth for the Smartbar. For other products like cupcakes, donuts or small bites, established restaurants are now tapping into the 24 hour convenience business model through the use of vending machines. I think this is a great idea for customers who want more variety than what we have been seeing at vending machines the past 10 or 20 years, which is potato chips, candy bars and nuts. For the company, this would give them more exposure and increased revenue stream at locations such as airports, hotels and hospitals where there is always people around. Some companies like Apple or Sony have been doing this for years. I can understand that they are selling a non-perishable good and the customer is ultimately only paying for the end product only. Restaurants are often involved with proving a level hospitality service as part of the product they sell and automation was not really in their best interest. But now with the explosion of Ipods and automated POS taking over the servers job, we may see more of these stand alone units serving customers. Overall, I think this is a business concept/technology that we are behind in. The article mentions that Japan has been using this concept to sell fresh food items and other items such clothing as well. From a business standpoint, given the increasing rise of competition, rent/property prices and variety of choices consumers have, these are some major recent factors which will propel this concept more.
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At Disney Parks, a Bracelet Meant to Build Loyalty (and Sales) - NYTimes.com - 1 views

  • Visitors would wear rubber bracelets encoded with credit card information
  • vacation management system called MyMagic+
  • If you fully use MyMagic+, databases will be watching, allowing Disney to refine its offerings and customize its marketing messages
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  • wristbands equipped with radio frequency identification, or RFID, chips
  • Disney is not the first vacation company to use
  • MyMagic+ will allow users of a new Web site and app — called My Disney Experience — to preselect three FastPasses before they leave home for rides or V.I.P. seating for parades, fireworks and character meet-and-greets. Orlando-bound guests can also preregister for RFID bracelets. These so-called MagicBands will function as room key, park ticket, FastPass and credit card.
  • MagicBands can also be encoded with all sorts of personal details, allowing for more personalized interaction with Disney employees
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    The technological makeover Disney is planning will require brand new software yet to be used in the parks. RFID scanners will be placed at set locations allowing guests easier access to the 'Magic'. No more turnstiles or waiting in lines. With just a flick of the wrist those mickey ears are yours and you are on your way. Personal RFID tags will be placed into guest MagicBands allowing Disney to track guests behavior within the parks. This is all thanks to the new vacation management system called MyMagic+.
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Airbus unveils RFID 'Bag2Go' that can be tracked from an iPhone app - 0 views

  • The reinvention of baggage”
  • RFID chip that allows passengers to track their luggage
  • eliminate the risk of mishandled baggage
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  • ‘Bag2Go
  • You rent the bag, it comes to you, you pack it and then the bag goes to the airport
  • mobile technology
  • end-to-end baggage process
  • recognised by automated airport and airline baggage systems
  • 20% more
  • development stages
  • need to find ways to get revenue back
  •  
    ROI?  Will it make a difference to you if you are able to track your luggage on a flight?  Would you pay an additional 20% for your luggage or possible rent one? This technology is being developed where you can track your luggage on your mobile phone.   Not sure the technology will actually make a difference in consumer choices.   
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Industry Outlook | Top Stories | | Hospitality Magazine (HT) - 0 views

  • Steve Barrow, VP of IS, Luby’s Inc
  • have seen some next generation hotel management systems that are truly cloud-based (no thin client installs). They have the ability to integrate with social media outlets, CRM and all the other major management modules, allowing the guest to ultimately have a better interaction with their online hotel profile and booking abilities.
  • I believe a mobile payments standard such as Google Wallet or NFC on smartphones is an emerging technology with profound implications. The service will allow a customer to access all of his account balances and payment methods
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  • I hope to see a single mobile device be your unique and secured identifier for everything from loyalty programs to payment transactions, to hotel room entry. This might be NFC or something else. Such a large percentage of our guests are carrying mobile devices, we should be able to identify them uniquely and have them authorize the sharing of this information for multiple purposes. Personally I hate having to carry 30 cards in m
  • I would expect apps to be available to give the guest a new, unique experience to their guest room, not only from the booking side, but also the experience once they have entered your hotel; much more than just a booking widget.
  • Tech is experiencing an innovation boom, and many in the hospitality industry are ready to replace the “slow to adopt” mentality with strategic IT investments. From cloud computing to mobile devices, hotels and restaurants are monitoring, testing and deploying new solutions that improve the guest experience, streamline operations across vast franchise networks, and bring greater security to their enterprises.
  • y wallet for varied functions. I know there are multiple vendors doing some facets of this chip-based ID, but the entity that standardizes and creates buy-in from consumers will be huge in the future of hospitality and retail markets.
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    This article looked at the views on IT investments of Hospitality Technology's Editorial Advisory Board. The Board represents a variety of hospitality industries. The article focused on areas of improvement, emerging technologies, IT priorities for 2012, "wish list" IT investments, and more. Among the areas for improvement, guest Wi-Fi and mobile apps, loss prevention technologies, and social media targeting older clientele topped the list. Older guests connecting to and understanding social media are a worry among many of the Board members as well as lack of standardized, secure payment methods. Many also mention that their current systems (POS in particular) tend to hold them back from implementing new IT technologies because they would not be compatible.  Most Board members listed having mobile devices that could be used for a variety of purposes on the guest end as well as on the business end would be top on their "wish list" for IT implementations. With almost everyone owning smartphones today, I think this would be the smartest and most effective IT implementation to invest in. Many customers and guests are looking for easy and accessible ways of navigating through the hotel and restaurant environments without extensive help from others. Since many people, especially the generation coming up, are more and more attached to their phones and tablets, mobile apps for nearly everything seems like the smart way to go.  Cloud-based servers were a close second in terms of what they wanted in invest in. Many of the Board members pinpointed technologies that have been around but are still new, especially in their respective areas, when speaking of useful emerging technologies. Mobile apps, tablet and 73456
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    this article gives a great overview of the steps leaders in the Hospitality industry are taking towards new technology. In this article members of the industry were interview regarding weaknesses in the current hospitality market as well as emerging trends that each believe is in rapid increase. Some of the answers give very interesting approach towards technology. Although, overall it seems that the number one emerging technology is the use of cloud-based/mobile-based services.
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Samsung Unveils Game-Changing DRM Technology for Hospitality Industry | EON: Enhanced O... - 1 views

  • enable true
  • remote, software-based management without costly maintenance
  • allows encrypted
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  • content to pass in a secure manner and be displayed on the TV
  • alternative to traditional entirely hardware-based content protection systems
  • allows a lost stream to be restarted and remedied as an isolated incident, without any additional guest disruption
  • ests in a secure and compliant manner. By eliminating the need for legacy chip-based solutions at the head end as well as in the TV or set-top box, Samsung LYNK ™ saves facilities cost and labor, while also increasing system integrity.
  • eliminates the need for DRM hardware provisioning and licensing, reducing significant expenses for the hoteliers.
  • system corrections and updates to be made automatically and remotely
  • They are then able to sync the technologies and seamlessly provide in-room entertainment to gu
  • enable guests to stream their own content from personal devices to their in-room TV in a secure manner through mobile applications.
  • upgradable with system firmware updates and allows for content to be unlocked without the need for external devices.
  • provides efficient system renewability and allows for natural future scalability to expand the hotel’s channel lineup and to respond to future compliance requirements.
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    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. 
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At Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 'Little' Steps Add Up to 'One Big Green Initiative' |... - 0 views

  • Perhaps even more impressive than its energy and water savings is the hotel’s recycling and composting accomplishments. In 2008 the hotel recycled 85 tons of materials; in 2009 that number grew to 137 tons. Last year 116 tons was recycled. In late June of last year, a food waste decomposition machine was installed in the loading dock area. The leased machine uses heat, and bacteria treated wood chips to accelerate the decomposition process. Over the remainder of 2010, 110 tons of food waste was composted. “We need to generate at least a few hundred pounds a day to make it [financially] worthwhile,” Martin says of the machine. The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place recycles the following: office paper, newspaper, glass, metal cans, plastic containers, glass, construction waste, cardboard (four to six tons per month), used bulbs, batteries and ballasts, electronics and pallets. Recycling containers are placed throughout the hotel in public areas and guestrooms include a plastic bag for guests to insert recyclables.
  • “Our focus is to do a lot of the little things that add up to one big green initiative.”
  • reduced its electricity consumption by 12.7 percent from 2009 to 2010 and its water consumption by 24.4 percent.
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    Travelers prefer to stay at green hotels. Major corporations such as Marriott, Hyatt, and Hilton & Starwood are looking for ways to integrate green into their hotels while conserving water and energy. Not only is the focus on going green going to impact the environment but also will impact the bottom line which is the dollars. This article shows how the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois has been able to go green to benefit both the company and the environment. The amount of items they are able to recycle is amazing; it is great that the company can also focus on the disposal of foods. As we continue to focus on the environment, more and more companies will continue to find ways to help reduce cost while protecting the environment. At the Walt Disney World Resort, guest can tour facilities and are educated on how the company impacts the environment through their recycling programs worldwide.
  •  
    This article talks about the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and the different steps they have taken to Go Green. They have significantly reduced their water and electricity consumption with the "When not in use, turn off the juice" project. Along with saving water and energy, they have also begun recycling. They recycle, paper, plastic, cardboard, light bulbs and the list goes on. They are also taking the time to educate their employees as well. "To encourage participation in programs such as 'When Not in Use, Turn Off the Juice,' employee awareness days are held. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are given to employees to help them save energy at home." The hotel has a green team who meet quarterly to continue growing in their sustainability initiatives. The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is Green Key certified and has been recognized and awarded for their Green efforts.
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How rich visuals generate more travel bookings - 2 views

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    As you might know there are three learning styles - Visual, Auditory and Kinestetic. People use all three modalities to receive and learn new information and experiences. However, one of these styles is normally dominant and it defines the best way to remember new information. More then 90% of information we get by vision so visual effects are a great way to receive higher productivity in your business. Basicly, the consumer is searching for two things: an escape from routine and new experiences. So if you use more unusual, bright, vivid pictures, videos and/or 360 tours to show on your website and other visual effects which will imply on idea of new, unexpected experience the customer will be surprised and really attracted by your service. The results can be enormous. « -- Total unique visitors to the hotel website will increase an average of 13%. -- Rich content click-through (to booking engine) rates 4 to 5 times more than static images. -- Rich content generates post-impression activity (return visits) rates twice those for non-rich content and 46% more sales for those activities compared to non-rich content. -- The bounce rate (number of visitors abandoning site after viewing only one page - homepage orlanding page) improves by more than 5 percentage points.» And all of the above is not just statistics it's a power of psychology and online marketing.
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    I definetely agree with this article. Older advertising outlets such as as magazines and television spend insane amounts of money to create visually stimulating advertisements. Those types of media have a much more captive audience than internet source have. Super Bowl commercials have to be memorable and stimulating, or their viewers will leave the room for more chips, but they do have their thirty seconds of air time. On the internet, a company may have 3 seconds and other advertising is present on the same page at the same time. To compete in this new higher level of competition, websites have to work extremely hard and be highly innovative. Visua effects are definetely a valuable tool.
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    This is a really great article! Visual marketing aids and 360 tours really give the customer a sense of comfort in the product, service, and/or experience they are paying for.
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SEC charges Diamond Foods with accounting fraud - SFGate - 0 views

  • On Thursday, the Securities & Exchange Commission charged Diamond Foods - the San Francisco purveyor of Kettle Chips, Pop Secret and Emerald Nuts - and it former chief financial officer withaccounting fraud, the finding of a two-year investigation into payment schemes involving walnut suppliers designed to "falsify costs ... boost earnings and meet estimates by stock analysts." It's just the latest shoe to drop for a company that was once close to becoming one of the biggest snack food retailers in the world.
  • "Diamond Foods misled investors on Main Street to believe that the company was consistently beating earnings estimates on Wall Street," said Jina Choi, director of the SEC's San Francisco office. "Corporate officers cannot manipulate fiscal numbers to create a false impression of consistent earnings growth."
  • after a three-month investigation, that $80 million in payments to walnut growers in 2010 and 2011 were not properly accounted for, and demanded a restatement of earnings.
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    Diamond Foods was one of the largest snack foods corporations that were involved in an accounting fraud. This was an investigation that was going on for two years that is finally being settled. The former CEO was accused of falsifying costs in order to boost numbers on the stock market. The costs of walnuts had increased, however, former CFO was hiding that fact and misleading the market to let them believe Diamond Foods was beating earning estimates each time. Diamond Foods was acquiring Pringles but fell apart due to the scandal; this would have been a $2.5 billion deal. Talk of bankruptcy, stocks taking a nose dive, and a breach in loans made the banks take a step back, however, the company persuaded them to continue holding out for them. Diamond now has a new CEO and things are slowly starting to turn back around for the company. It's unfortunate that companies feel they have to lie, cheat and steal just to come out ahead. Some companies are getting away with it, but eventually it all goes back around.
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How Apple may have ended the retail point-of-sale data breach crisis - GeekWire - 0 views

  • The mag stripe technology in credit cards dates from the 1960s; the POS systems that process them are using technology from the 1990s (at best). By contrast, attackers are using 2010s technology. The POS infrastructure is just outgunned and it’s now its falling.
  • By including Apple Pay capabilities on all new iPhones moving forward, Apple has overnight solved one half of the bootstrapping problem.
  • In a single day, Apple may have changed how we pay for things for good, and helped us bring the retail POS data breach crisis to a close in the long term. And in so doing, they may have also saved all of us from the hassle of “chip and pin.”
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    As iPhone 6s begin shipping to pre-order purchasers tonight, this article is very timely for retailers everywhere. Apple already has the support of the big three credit card companies (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express) covering 83% of all credit cards out there. They also have buy in from a variety of companies including: Disney, Subway, McDonalds, Walgreens and many more. 220,000 stores are already ready to accept contactless payments . The system uses a combination of hardware, software and biometrics to keep the transactions secure. No actual card data ever leaves the phone. All transactions have unique codes and store personnel never get their hands on a card. Apple may have finally broken the code to making shopping easier and more secure.
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    Apple Pay is going to solve so many issues when it comes to security and fraud. By using biometrics it will be nearly impossible for people to use credit cards that are not theirs. Disney is already set up to start using Apple Pay and it will be so interesting to see how guests react to using this method of payment. Although we already use biometrics when guests enter the main entrance of our theme parks at Disney the idea of giving biometric information has not appealed to all of our guests. Biometrics are something many companies will be using in the future as an extra step in security and it will be essential that people adjust to this change.
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Food for Thought: Time to Upgrade Your Hotel's Restaurant Technologies? | - 1 views

  • most notably, the introduction of tablets. Whether standard-issue, all-purpose models or devices specialized to the task at hand, tablets make it possible to put full POS terminal functionality in the palms of servers’ hands. Yet the benefits of POS mobility are certainly not the only reason that so many hotel operators are upgrading their restaurant technology capabilities. The growing need to accept new payment methods, including chip credit cards and e-wallet apps, also ranks as high priority in many peoples’ minds.
    • dstic005
       
      Tablets are being used at many hotels to make the data mobile. No longer is the staff restricted to the front desk to access the data, they can move freely thought the property and meet the guests with the necessary data to help them. In addition to having the data for guests, the newer technologies offer the ability for improved POS.
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    Article asks the question if you are utilizing the best technology for you business. Data and POS hardware and software upgrades. Movie from registers to Tablets
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Improving data security in the hotel industry lets guests sleep peacefully | Hotel Mana... - 1 views

  • The hospitality industry is quickly growing as a favored target of hackers and cybercriminals. In fact, according to the 2016 Trustwave Global Security Report, hospitality is the vertical industry with the second-highest number of data breaches, behind only the retail industry.
  • Hotels are high-value targets for cybercriminals because they not only hold payment card information on guests, but also a wealth of other sensitive personal data that can be used to steal their identity.
  • The fallout from a widespread data breach that compromises guests’ payment card data or personally identifiable information can be disastrous for a hotel chain. The average cost of a data breach in 2016 was $4 million. This figure encompasses everything from breach mitigation to crisis team management costs, business losses and even the more intangible consequences: damages to brand reputation.
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  • However, with more countries migrating to chip cards and EMV-compliant POS systems, attackers have shifted their focus to card-not-present fraud and are targeting industries where consumers are making their payments and reservations over the phone—such as hotel contact centers.
  • If guests aren’t convinced that the hotel is keeping their personal and financial data secure, they will take their business elsewhere. In order to protect their brand reputation and their business, hotels need to create a culture of security throughout their entire organization that focuses on protecting guests’ digital property in addition to their physical property. One of the best places to start is their contact center.
  • In an era of increasing cyberattacks, hotels can make themselves less of a target by adopting technology to ensure that payment card data and other personally identifiable information is kept secure and segregated from the contact center.
  • With such an approach, customers calling to make a reservation or order additional services discreetly type their card numbers into the telephone keypad, rather than reading them out loud to the agent on the phone line. The data is securely routed to the payment gateway or a more secure server so it is never shared with the agent and is not held in the contact center infrastructure. This ensures that there is no possible spillover of the data to the unsecured or unmonitored areas of the business. It also reduces the number of individuals with access to the sensitive data, and makes the hotel contact center a less attractive target for cybercriminals. As an added benefit, this approach makes it easier for the hotel to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards by reducing the scope of compliance. By keeping payment card data out of the contact center, hotels can significantly reduce the high costs and extensive time associated with maintaining PCI DSS compliance.  
  • With stronger security practices for handling guests’ sensitive data, the hotel industry as a whole can transform itself from being one of the most likely targets for data breaches to becoming a model for data security, thereby ensuring that fewer customers ever have to go through the experience
  • Guests can sleep peacefully knowing that their data is secure, and the hotel can rest assured that its name won’t be making headlines as victim of a costly data breach.
  •  
    The hospitality industry is a major target for cyberattacks, resulting in sensitive guest information being compromised. When these attacks happen it leaves guests restless, because they know or believe their information is not safe. This article discusses this issue and how security can be improved to avoid these attacks.
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    The article titled, "Improving data security in the hotel industry lets guests sleep peacefully" shows how the breach of data security can be anywhere. As technologies improve, so do ways in which cyber security can become at stake. According to this article, "Hotels are obligated to maintain the physical security of guests and their belongings during their stay-if guests don't feel safe staying in their room or leaving their belongings there, they won't continue to patronize that hotel brand. The same thinking applies to data security: If guests aren't convinced that the hotel is keeping their personal and financial data secure, they will take their business elsewhere". Thus, hotels need to make sure they are safeguarding information such as their payment information as well as other confidential information. Hackers are becoming even more sophisticated, where they can target specific industries, such as hotel industries since guests speak with hotel representatives over the phone to provide payment information. In the even that a hotel's data has been compromised, what is its responsibility? First, they should send the client a letter of apology, and then handle the complete process efficiently, so the client can at least feel they re supported. The avoidance and handling of data breach is becoming even more common nowadays with the rise of technology.
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How This Conference Used N.F.C. Technology to Drive Traffic Around Its Exhibit Hall - 0 views

  • When the organizers of Intuit’s QuickBooks Connect conference initially decided to use near-field communication (N.F.C.) technology on attendee badges for this year’s event, which was held October 22 to 26 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California, they had several goals in mind.First, they wanted to automate the process of tracking continuing education credits for the attendees; second, they wanted to make it easy for vendors to track leads at their booths; and third, they wanted a way for attendees to gather information from vendors and sessions electronically, rather than in paper form.
    • glope143
       
      This conference held in 2016 is a perfect example of how technology can assist in making an existing (and adequately functioning) event model even better. Each attendee's badge included near-field communication chips that allowed for knowledge on where attendees spent most of their time, granted vendors an easier way to access lead information, and made the conference more green by having promotional information sent electronically. The structure of the meeting didn't change with this technology, attendees still visited vendor booths learning about new products and exchanging contact information, but the entire process become more efficient with this added technology.
  • And then they came up with an additional function: Due to the event’s growth, Intuit had to spread the 112 exhibitors across two halls for the first time this year. N.F.C. created a fun way to ensure the more than 5,000 small business owners, accountants, and developers in attendance would spend time in both halls.
    • glope143
       
      Having been part of a team who organized a bridal exposition this past year, I understand the fear of having attendees only congregate in one area if two halls are involved. This not only reflects negatively on the event team because effort put into hall #2 goes unused, but the vendors located in the under-visited hall may be resentful and place blame on the business organizing for "favoring" those vendors placed in the more trafficked area. Intuit's idea to use NFC technology as an incentive to attract guests to hall #2 was both creative and smart. The business used various prizes and raffles to encourage attendees to move into hall #2 and scan their badges to win a prize.
  • By using the N.F.C. technology in this game-like way, O’Brien said it helped attendees become comfortable with the new technology. “We wanted to teach that the value was beyond the exhibit hall,” she said. “We wanted there to be ‘delight’ reasons to scan, so there was the kiosk or to get pictures.” The N.F.C. was integrated into the event app, which O’Brien said had a 91 percent adoption rate this year, much higher than at the 2015 event.
    • glope143
       
      Both NFC and RFID technology are increasingly popular in the corporate event planning industry as the technology is user-friendly even for those who have never interacted before and provides vast opportunities for the users to collect data. This data is useful for the following meeting in terms of budget, staffing, marketing to attendees, and vendor response.
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