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This article talks about the recent agreement that Marriott and Iris Software Systems have signed for using an app that will allow Marriott restaurants to take a fresh approach to their menu presentation by turning them digital and presenting them on tablets for their diners. Therefore its restaurants can present their wine cellar or bar on a modern, clear, enticing and informative platform. Moreover the customers can view as much or as little information as they want. The app has two features called iRiS' "Shortlist" function and "Sommelier Specials". They allow customers who are unsure about a dish or drink can have an informed conversation with the Sommelier, bartender or waiter.The design, look and feel are made tailored for each specific brand of Marriott and are offered in three separate categories: Sommelier, Bar and Menu. According to Martin Bookallil, VP of IR at Marriott the Mobility in their Hotels is one of their key priorities. He said that iRiS Software Systems will provide them with practical software tools that enable Guest facing operation to present and engage with their Guests in fresh new ways.

This article by Jaikumar Vijayan from CIO.com is very interesting because it provides a challenging question between personal privacy and public security. The government program code-named PRISM is the motive in which the government is using to gather statistical information. In my opinion, extreme privacy without scrutiny is not more valuable than the safety of Americans or other would-be victims. I don't think it is completely accurate that the stated companies such as Google, Skype, Facebook, Microsoft, etc. don't provide the "back door" for government agencies because they have loyalty to both consumers and the government. Completely free reign and unfettered access to government agencies is a stretch, but to say security agencies have absolutely no right to look for evidence or track suspicious activity for relevant threats and possible attacks is completely unfounded and uneducated. It would be a much larger folly for governments to not track terrorist activities and let their networks run free then to not study behaviors and contacts. Otherwise, people of bad intentions would communicate easily and freely without consequences and proper agencies have no leg-up on potentially dangerous situations. The American people have their right to privacy, but the founding fathers never could have imagined a world where it is so easy to exchange information, tactics or events so quickly. Even contemporary technical analysts and engineers couldn't fathom the technology we have now just 30 years before the internet became publicly accessible. And if they did it is safe to assume they're security measures would have been the priority of American lives than somebody scared of having their facebook messages or Google e-mail snooped on. After all, if you're not a terrorist, and surely you aren't if you're reading this, what is there to hide?

What is the Human Resource Information System? The Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is a central automated HR information tool that manages the data of employees and applicants such as Recruitment & Selection, Training & Development, Performance Management, Disciplinary Procedures, Grievance Procedures and Leave Administration. What is the purpose of the HRIS and what will be its function? The HRIS supports the Government of Montserrat in improving data accuracy and information as it relates to its workforce and future HR planning. It creates an improved means of aligning the Government's human resources to its policy priorities and assists with our thrust towards modernization. It will provide data for informing and strengthening line management capabilities in people management. Overall, Government would have better knowledge of its HR costs, numbers and skill-set for future manpower planning, succession planning, and decision making in managing the size of its public service and be able to better ensure that the human resources are fit for purpose. The automated HRIS will enable Government of Montserrat to maintain vital organizational data in an organized manner. How will the system benefit you, the Public? There are several benefits to be derived from the HRIS System. For example, whenever you apply for a job in Government, you will be better able to know where we are in the recruitment process in a timely manner. Individuals who have worked for the Government, will take pleasure in knowing that key information during the years of employment, such as training received, promotions and performance, have been captured from their first day of work to retirement. Government of Montserrat would be better able to report to you with accurate and timely information on issues such as the skillset and health of the organization. Reporting and accountability is made easier. So where are we now with the implementation of the Human Resource Inform

Twenty years ago marked the beginning of a new period in Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (RCCL) and helping the environment. They proposed a Save the Waves program, which allows guests to choose when towels and linens are ready to be washed saving numerous amounts of water and energy as well as reducing, reusing, and recycling. Today, their green initiative goes even further, and as the arictle discusses RCCL is implementing a plan to improve their waste, power, and most importantly, their future. Protecting and conserving the environment is a priority this company is willing to stand for. They constantly plan their efforts to maintain environmental protection and to continue to be environmentally responsible.

This article talks about how IT investments related to the profits.The IT investments has a significant positive impact on profitability. Investment in IT had a greater impact on a company's profits than comparable spending on either advertising or R&D.  IT investments offer more room for creativity and innovation. IT investments were more effective in improving profitability by increasing revenue than by decreasing operating expenses.

In recent years the combination of new types of IT investments and increasingly constrained sources of revenue have conspired to place information technology investments under a scrutiny they have historically avoided. New research finds that investments companies make in information technology increase profitability more than investments in advertising or R&D do. CEOS often struggle with some critical choices as they allocate their companies' discretionary dollars among various categories of investments. Investment in IT had a greater impact on a company's profits than comparable spending on either advertising or R&D. Information technology can be used to increase efficiency and reduce costs, or it can be used to support sales growth through, say, customer satisfaction and customer retention strategies. Industries become more competitive, the effect of IT on profitability increases.

This article talks about a group of New York City hotels that have pledged to become greener. Seventeen hotels have joined the NYC Carbon Challenge, an initiative originally created to get the city's universities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These hotels have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% in the next ten years, which can significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the city's buildings. This is all in an effort to reduce the city's overall greenhouse gas emissions 80% by the year 2050. The Office of Sustainability worked with the Hotel Association of New York City, a coalition of hotels in the city, to get this first group of hotels involved with this green initiative. The hotels that have already started working towards making their property greener are already on the right track to meeting their goals and these implementations will involve minor construction and little hindrance to guests. The article talks about some of the changes that these hotels are making, such as changing to LED light bulbs, installing more energy-efficient elevators, implementing sensors that turn off bathroom lights after a certain period of inactivity, and using an energy-conserving air-conditioning system. Although these changes will cost the hotels a hefty sum of front, they also know that these changes will save them money in the long run. Most of these changes will not be visible or known to guests, but people who want to stay someplace that is environmentally-conscious can educate themselves about what these hotels are doing.

I know of very few aphorisms that tend to be repeated as smugly as this one, particularly by scared people. The implication is that action is generally to be avoided, that the status quo is probably just fine, and that one should wait for a true crisis before intervening. And, of course, that it's your fault if you've ignored this sage advice and intervened anyway. It's ironic, then, how IT departments themselves end up complaining endlessly about how they're always in fire-fighting mode. This prevailing attitude evolves among (and is a telling symptom of) burned-out sysadmins and developers, especially those who are stuck maintaining systems they didn't themselves write or engineer. It can be equally summed up as a "don't touch it, don't breathe on it" kind of superstition. Or, perhaps, it's akin to the proud but defensive statement that "we've always done it that way."

With sustainability at the forefront of hotel operators and investors hotels are becoming conscious of the guests needs as more and more travelers are requiring and are staying at properties that are serious about environmental conservation. The article highlighted the fact hotels are big consumers of energy, therefore have construction that are LEED certified will not only benefit the environment but also the bottom line of investors.

Travel Weekly takes a look at hotels taking real initiatives to their commitment to going green, especially in Sin City. Hotel groups are looking not to save money through transparent initiatives asking guests to simply reuse their towels, rather the article looks at "hotel owner-developers to invest in systems that cut energy usage, save water, and reduce waste". It seems in addition to other environmentally conscious west coast cities, Vegas has set a standard by setting goals for increased recycling, decreased energy consumption, switching over to LED bulbs, composting food waste, reducing overall carbon footprint and emissions. In light of continuing green development, Sabre Holdings has launched an Eco-Certified Hotel Program taking the lead out of the other four major GDS's to tip their hat to eco-friendly hotels. As travelers, GDS's, hotels, travel websites, and developers alike place greater emphasis on the preference for environmentally conscious lodgings, the more likely the industry is going to continue adopting these measures.

Hotels are becoming more green world wide. MGM hotels is on board with a green initiative. Hotels electricity and water add up because they have to cool a building , clean and maintain the hotel. IT costs about 800 per room annually in electricity and water costs. MGM hotels reduced the electrivity they use which can help power 12, 000 houses. HOtels are also trying to reduce its carbon emissions. Although as the article states " its very difficult fot hotels to be trully green by their nature" every little bit helps.

The Article attached to this link reports commun issues found in hotel internet networks. The author mentions a study conducted with 38 hotels. It resulted that 33 out of the 38 hotels had flaws in their network configuration and allowed the researcher to access unauthorized information via the internet. We all understand that reliable internet connectivity is a priority for guests and business travelers; however, security is a concern that can't be neglected. Another reason to be concerned is that so many softwares and applications are stored via internet. Adding a password is a simple measure that every business should consider. Network issues cold not only hinder guests but the hotel as well.

According to the research by Cornell University, most US hotels are vulnerable to hackers. There are two main reasons contribute to the issue. One is the flaws in many hotels' network topology, making it possible for customers to lose their privacy. The other is careless employees provide access information to help hackers' breach. Ogle thought that WPA encryption, VPN and training employees are good ways to solve the problems. I think that if the computer networks of hotel are weak, the guests' password, email message or other private information will not be protected, and they will even suffer loss. So it is important for a hotel to use different measures as Ogle recommended to ensure the safety of the computer network.

this article is talking about the problem on the hotel network security. a author from the Cornell university said he tested wireless network at 38 hotels at the same time. he found that most hotels were easy to break into. moreover, as long as you use the Linux distribution BackTrack and a high-power wireless card and high-gain omnidirectional antenna, you can break into the hotel guest network and then get the password, email message and the website people are viewing. importantly, this procedure just cost 100$. this is full of loopholes. hotel manager should pay more attention on this problem. at the end of the article, the author recommend a security app called Wi-Fi Protected Access encryption. this app require the guest to enter the password if the guest wants to surf the internet.also, he recommend connecting to the internet using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), having updated anti-virus and firewall software and making sure each secured website starts with "https://" rather than "http://".

SUMMARY OPERA Property Management System is fully integrated with all the OPERA modules and offers the most extensive list of certified interfaces in the industry. FEATURES: Reservation, rate management, profiles, front desk management, back office interface, room management, cashiering, account receivables, commissions, reporting, fully configurable, global perspective, hospitality system interface, opera express, tailored to fit hotel's operational business needs, scalable to suit the size of the hotel, helps operators to become more productive, profitable and professional, and delivers fast, accurate and online information on property

A lot of hotels use OPERA as their property management system. I have never personally worked in a hotel so I am not familiar with PMS's but from everything that I have read and heard from people is that OPERA is very efficient with everything. This system seems as though it can do everything for your property just the way that you would like it to. OPERA is customizable to your company's needs which seems great. This is a great website that you posted as it informs all of us exactly what this PMS is capable of.

Internet marketing is an essential part of the overall marketing portfolio of hotels. These top ten ecommerce promotion ideas, channels, and strategies can drive maximum Return on Investment. 1. Search friendly website design has new meaning - fast and integrated. Hoteliers should consider which channels their target customers are utilizing, and develop integrated promotion plans across all channels. 2. Hoteliers should focus on improve conversion and usability when they provide an increasing volume of information. 3. Search is becoming more local in nature. 4. Expand paid search beyond traditional channel. 5. Real time search - Natural Ranking (SEO) becomes more real, local and social. 6. Image and Video search is an effective way to capitalize on different search traffic. 7. Mobile search continues to be local in nature. 8. Embracing social media - it's here to stay! 9. Hyperlocal is really an extension of your local social search marketing. 10. Utilizing Blogs to connect and promote time sensitive information.

At most hotels, waste is created at upwards of 1 kg per guest per night - a large amount when multiplied by the number of hotels and guests around the world. Taking responsibility for the environment and local community has been an important part of the hotel industry. Hotels can make a significant impact on waste reduction and recycling.  Hoteliers have many opportunities to reduce waste by establishing waste prevention and recycling programs and by purchasing recycled products. Besides reducing waste and saving money, these actions can increase employee morale and customer satisfaction. Hotels and motels generate large amounts of highly recyclable materials, such as office paper, newspaper, corrugated cardboard, plastics, metals, and glass. Work with your waste hauler or recycler to arrange the details of your recycling program. Management should adopt an environmental policy to reflect how the company sees itself in relation to the environment, neighbors, and the people it employs and serves. Chains with multiple locations may want to encourage each hotel to evaluate and establish its own program.

This article discusses a war between American Airlines and Orbits, and how they cannot come into an agreement in regards to using the GDS. American Airlines is mainly the provider for most of the fares and traveling but orbitz is there other marketing strategy that is used to sale the tickets online. Nonetheless, American wants and pushes for travel agents to use their direct system to book flights rather then using Orbitz or another chain of coming to book travelers flights. America does offer a variety of prices depending on different categories, as well as frequent flyers miles/points if they book with American website and sources. In essence, American Airlines still wants to have control of their flights and prices as they are the main sources from the beginning of time.

This article discusses 'E-Tourism Evolution' from tourism initial goal of establishing an online presence (96-99) to acquiring customers (99-03) and then retaining customers (2003-now). E-Tourism started with a focus on getting travel industry members in front of consumers on their computers, then offering attractive travel site features such as direct booking for customer convenience. This course has shown that while travel providers increased online travel options and services, consumers were finding a lack of personalized customer service which prompted increased dissatisfaction with the eMarketing providers. This led to the current focus by the tourism industry seeking to provide exceptional customer service within their eMarketing platform to ensure effective service and enhanced customer satisfaction, thereby ensuring increased customer retention. Whereas eMarketing has greatly increased travel to under developed countries, such countries must gain greater access to information and communication technologies to capture more of the tourism market. Tourism is utilizing a variety of communication channels including social media. Facebook booking engines are utilized by online travel sites, and travel packages and services are auctioned or bought direct on eBay. An online brochure, VBrochure by VFM Leonardo provides virtual tours and marketing content for mobile applications as well.

In the beginning of this article, it uses a chart to depicts the transformation and evolution of e-tourism over the past 15 years. According to the chart, we can easily find out that the goal and focus has changed as the year changes, from just to establish an online presence to customer retention. Then, it uses the changes of the number of tourists visiting Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the world, as an example to say how information and communication technologies impact the tourism industry. However, this trend seems put more good impacts on developed countries. So next, the article gives some solutions to reverse this trend. In the end of the article it shows a chart to compare the percentage that people use e-market with the percentage that people use traditional methods.

E-tourism represents the paradigm-shift experienced in the tourism industry as a result of the adoption of ICTs and the Internet. It is evident that all best business practices have been transformed as a result, and that the each stakeholder in the marketplace is going through a redefinition of their role and scope. There are both challenges and opportunities emerging but the competitiveness of all tourism enterprises and destinations has been altered dramatically. It is evident that the "only constant is change." Organisations which compute will be able to compete in the future.

Hotel rooms are ready to go high-tech with new security products that can enhance the guest experience. As the organization Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) prepared the 2012 guestroom exhibit Guestroom 20X for last week's HITEC tradeshow, the group sought new ways to make the room more modern, efficient and self-serviced.

Hotel rooms are ready to go high-tech with new security products that can enhance the guest experience. As the organization Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) prepared the 2012 guestroom exhibit Guestroom 20X for last week's HITEC tradeshow, the group sought new ways to make the room more modern, efficient and self-serviced.

This article covered information on the projected security of the future in hospitality. The Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) were working on developments that they planned to showcase in the HITEC tradeshow last year. These developments, collectively recognized as the Guestroom 20x, were expected to make hotel rooms more efficient and modern. These developments included obtaining rooms and keys without front desk interaction, video intercoms to replace peepholes, reinforced room safes, and a smoke alarm aid to properly alert guests in case of fire. There were also talks of an energy management system in the rooms included. The developments seem to be a start towards a changing way of hospitality. I believe that these developments are great options for hotels in the future. Of course, there are always risks that must be recognized. These risks could even be the downfall of the developments. Technology's ability to fail or malfunction is too constant at this time. System glitches, hacking possibilities and power outages could inconvenience these developments as well as inconvenience the guests at the hotel that use them. My main concerns lie with the option to obtain rooms and keys through PCs and mobile phones, the smoke alarm aid and the energy management. One technological failure could cause any of these to cease operating, which means that guests could be locked out of their rooms, in danger if there is actually a fire (or inconvenienced because of a malfunctioning alarm), or inconvenienced because of a nonworking room temperature gauge. These issues could lead to many problems for the hotel that hosts these developments. So, the companies should analyze these issues before installing these developments.

The article talks about the new green hotel, which is currently under construction, but will soon be opened to public. Everything in this hotel will be constructed from the green-wise point of view: starting from water heating systems, ending eco-packages and special offers. A must stay for every ecologist.

This article discusses the "Green Hotel" award that is presented every two years to Asean resorts. The purpose of this award is to bring awareness to hotels about the importance of being eco-friendly and preserving our environment. Thousands of hotels compete for this award based on criteria including water efficiency, air quality management, collaboration with local organizations and external communities. I personally love that collaborating with external communities is a criteria for this award because I find that to be very important. Well-known resorts should help smaller organizations and team up with them to show they care about those around them. Once of the recipients, Daluyon Beach and Mountain Resort, focused on protecting and sustaining the rich ecosystem surrounding their resort by constructing their resort using eco-ethical materials and placing priority in sustaining its environment-friendly atmosphere. The hope is for these awards to be an incentive to improve the tourism industry and to provide awareness to the hospitality industry regarding global warming and other important natural effects hotels are having on our environment. While it promotes healthy competition in the tourism industry, it also improves the quality of the hotels in Asean countries which in turn will lead to more tourism and financials for the country.

Securing the data of your guests in the hospitality industry is a major priority. Your guests are trusting that all information collected by your staff is managed and stored in a secure setting. Radiant Systems is a company revolutionizing this concept and validates its technology by meeting all requirements of both payment card and payment application data security standards. This information collected will give validation to consumers, that their information is kept under wraps for private use only. Staying current and having up to date technology is very important in our industry and without software and applications such as the data security programs by Radiant Systems customers won't hand their cherished information over so easily.

The limits of GDS's are discussed in this article, as well as the lack of initiative of the big 4 GDS's to adopt and develop newer and more updated systems because of their prevalence in travel. According to the article, the face of the GDS systems look nearly the same as they did in the 1970s, and the airlines systems are not up-to-date enough to meet consumer demands. The author points to consumer trends in the demand for personalization, package variety, and simply the desire for more packages.

Global Distribution System is an outdated technology, that cannot be consistent with the ways travel is purchased nowadays, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines are constantly adding service or 'bunbundling' their products. The ability to buy priority boarding or seating options, meals and baggages cannot be reflected through the GDS, thus the only way to purchase them is through the airline website. This is harmful to both airlines and customers. Even though, GDS has played an important role, it is time to start developing a new product that will 'present full product or data offerings via a new interface'. IATA is being involved into creating the necessary standards before starting to work on a new platform. GDS-managed technology is slowing the process down. However, there may be some legal issues involved in exchanging the system, which has to be resolved before the launch of a new technology.

During 2008, Ernst & Young has conducted a report regarding eco-friendly issue of hotels & resorts ' policies and practices in eight regions including: Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, India, Latin America, the Middle East, Oceania and the U.S.. According to the report, the "greening" trend has been a top priority of hotel industry; they are making development and operational strategies from time to time to maintain the sustainable environment around. Every hotel industry in the world share the common goal but the practice and government concern are different according to each region.  For example: in Asia, the "environmental harmony" has been implemented; China has set 10,000 hotels by 2010, and the world's first zero-carbon, zeo-waste city idea was developed in Middle East, etc. And the report has pointed out some key point for hotel industry to take into account for a green environment like: energy efficiency, conservation, management; or waste water management; or design for sustainability, or partnership for sustainable development, etc.  Due to the fastest growing of the green trend in all industries in the world, this report has been very helpful for anyone who are in the hospitality and tourism industry which believe green trend is a key point to not just to outmatch their competitors but to build a sustainability society as well. 

As the world is facing a numerous of impact which is mostly concern with sustainable environment. Being green is not just all about environment around the hotel but also cut many cost for a business as well. For example, replacing fluorescent bulbs, ceiling fans, linen cards, lights out cards, motion sensors for public rest rooms, meeting rooms have proven to a much lower electric bill. And being green will promote a health & wellness issue for all the guests, employee and community around; this will not only bring back your customers but making the employee enjoy more of their workplace and contribute more of their work.