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Bing Liu

Google Maps Indoors Of Las Vegas Hotels - 0 views

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    This article is about a customized service provided by Google to hotels in Las Vegas. first they rolled out the Google Maps function to provide indoor floor plans for assorted airports and shopping centers. Then they customized Maps to display the convention center lay-out for CES '12 so attendees can more easily locate booths. This service makes travelling a more convenient and enjoyable experience for customers and business people.
Kayla Burri

Hotel Management Software Company and Leading VOIP Provider Team up to Bring Web-based ... - 0 views

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    Two Companies have come together to provide services to hotels at a cost efficient price that can provide features, control, and reporting capabilities of an expensive system. Frontdesk Anywhere Inc. will provide their software capabilities with RingCentral's telephone services. Frontdesk Anywhere Inc. provides web- based hotel management software that enables hotels and hotel groups better manage sales and guest interaction processes. RingCentral is a business phone system provider that offers cloud- based systems that can be accessed from anywhere via softphone desktop software, allowing access to any room from anywhere and in particularly their front desk. These two companies combined services will allow hotels to focus on their guests rather than their IT needs. I think this is a great investment for hotels. Most people spend a lot of time trying to figure their systems out rather than putting their extra effort into their guests. I believe that having the ability to access these services from anywhere also offers them a great advantage. And, most importantly it comes at a low monthly rate.
kabir joshi

Notes From an IT Service Shop: Every Hotel Computer Should Have at Least Two Internet B... - 1 views

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    This article is about why hotels should use atleast two internest browsers. Simple yet very informative article about how two browsers can not only ease operations but also prevent problems that sometimes occur in browsers. The article is filled with lot of day to-day problems of browers which can be so easily be prevented. Having a hospitality business with so much online activity in todays world , this article shows how simple it is to manage online activities. A must read.
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    Actually I use two internet browsers on my computer. The Firefox and the 360. They have their own advantages and I use them to open separate pages. And when I used to internship in business center in hotel, I found it is really necessary because according to kinds of requirements from customer, only one browser sometimes can not satisfy customers. So no matter for what reason, for customer service, for information collected, or development of hotel, there should have at least two browsers.
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    Most of the time, two browsers work perfectly fine on the laptop. I think it's necessary to install to browsers just in case one of them doesn't work fine sometimes. However, the two browsers on my laptop would conflict with each other. There was a period that I could not open them at the same time otherwise my laptop will completely shut down. For the hospitality industry, installing two browsers may benefit the guests. It saves guests time and money when they use the computer devices with two browsers because it provide them two ways to browse the internet.
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    I totally understand that there are lots of benefits to have at least two browsers. Actually I used to have more than two. And I was happy at that time that I have more than one browser because my Internet Explorer was infected by a virus and my computer would shut down by itself with no reason each time I opened the explorer. I didn't have time to fix my computer and remove the virus because I was preparing a final paper and I had to turn it in next day. So I just easily searched for information through other website browsers. For a hotel, that would be more important to keep the daily operation smooth with more than one browser in case that one of them was not working.
Jennifer Beatriz Hernandez

Contributing to a hotel's bottom line in 2012 as a revenue management specialist - 1 views

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    For the hotel industry, Revenue Management is able to steer the overall revenue activity reporting efficiently on For the hotel industry, Revenue Management is able to steer the overall revenue activity reporting efficiently on all segments and channels at the hotel level. Complicated pricing situations within each market and the variations from day to day have made Revenue Management rely heavily on the assistance from systems to price correctly. I can see this every single day as I work for the Sales department of a hotel in South Beach and our prices have been fluctuating tremendously in the past few months. This article covers: - The evolution of analytics for hotels - Expertise in the industry - How hotels deal with the uncertainty - How crucial these IT systems are going to be in 2012
Fang Shu

Google Hotel Finder revisited - 7 views

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    This is an interesting article about Google, who is quickly becoming a big name player in just about every business segment out there. The article addresses Googles new search tool called Hotel Finder, which is still in testing phases. This tool is designed to make it easier for users to find, compare, and book hotels, by drawing on a map around an area they want to stay in a certain location or city and it lists the hotels in the search area, with prices, availability, star rating's and reviews. In addition it lets you filter the results by price, price compared to usual, Hotel class, and user reviews, and allows the user to book directly through the hotel or through an intermediary site with a click of a button. This article also talks about a possible downside to Googles new service in the online travel agency segment. The article explains how some are concerned, because Google is placing comparison ads in premium space on top of the Google search results for hotels, which when clicked by a user takes the them to the full Google site and pushes OTA sites like Expedia, Hotels.com, and Orbitz and hotel websites farther down the search results list, which is making them pay more for premium Comparison Ads. Also the OTA's are concerned about how the Price Per Click may go up, making the OTA's pay more to Google. I went on and played around with Hotel Finder, and I have to say it is very easy to use, and allows you to really customize your experience and pick exactly where you want to stay. http://www.google.com/hotelfinder/#search;l=miami+florida;d=2012-01-22;n=1;v=l;r=0;s=m;fv=
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    I love the part of the Google Hotel Finder about the comparison ads that help me know how much I would pay if I book the same hotel from other websites by only visiting one Google Hotel Finder website. I hate to search the same hotel on different websites to choose the best price. It costs me much time to make a plan of travel. The page of Hotel Finder is clear and easy to understand how to use it. All results of hotels would be sorted by price and I could get best price fast. Yesterday was my first time to use Hotel Finder and I used it just like I already knew how to use. I don't need to spend much time to study the search website and the page has several recommended words to help me get what I want.
Adilen Alfonso

Hotels Tap Tech for Loss Prevention | Top Stories | | Hospitality Magazine (HT) - 0 views

  • But new technologies are becoming available
  • From RFID linen/supplies tagging to inventory management; from automated minibar technology to video surveillance and door locking technology, hotels are finding new and innovative ways to protect their assets, and their guests.
  • a radio frequency identification system (RFID) that allows MGM Resorts to track and understand inventory quickly and effectively.
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  • When inventory is received, chips are either pre-installed or sewn into them and inventory is entered into InvoTech’s GIMS system
  • The system was implemented in December 2009, and has resulted in balanced inventory
  • RFID-enabled locking technology
  • The new system allows the facility to monitor and audit a lock to determine when the room was entered and by whom.
  • security cameras provide “eyes in many places
  • merging technology takes these measures to a higher level, using intelligent software for example in security cameras, to provide detailed surveillance information.
  • Good technology in the hands of skilled administrators and managers who have put well-developed and well-communicated processes in place is what really makes the difference in terms of loss prevention for hotels. 
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    This article shows how hotels are using technology to improve their loss prevention and security systems. Hotels, like the ARIA in Las Vegas, are implementing radio frequency identification systems (RFID) to efficiently track their employees' uniforms. This specific hotel has the advantage that it is a new hotel and therefore can start with a blank slate, versus other hotels that will implement it as their budget allows. The RFID chips are sewn into the uniforms and then entered into the inventory system. This allows the hotel to monitor where and in whose hands the uniforms are. Other hotels, like the Arnold Palmer in Orlando, are using RFID for security. The RFID locking technology audits locks and tell the hotel when and who entered a room. In addition, sophisticated cameras with intelligent software are being used throughout different points of hotels' perimeters to safeguard guests. These sophisticated technological breakthroughs are only efficient if organized data management and communication processes are put in place. I think that the use of technology to better monitor theft and security is a great area for hotels to invest their money on. The use of cameras to detect alarming fast speeds of boats near hotels with ocean perimeters is not something that guests look for when deciding on hotels, but it is an added feature that adds value to the hotel in the long-run and one that can save lives.
Yue Zhang

With Wi-Fi demand up, can you capitalize? - 0 views

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    This article is about the wider range use of Wi-Fi in hotels and how hotels could capitalize from it. It is reported that, in the United States, with the cellular-service providers reducing the use of unlimited data plans, the heavy data users will be more reliable to Wi-Fi connection. Whether the hotel has a wireless network will be an important aspect for the guests making the decision to choose this hotel, which means wireless service will have effect on the amount of hotel's guests, especially when people will be charged for data usage under an unlimited data plan. So, some research shows that 65% hotels offer their guests free wireless. With the guests' increasing demand for wireless service and the increasing demand for more bandwidth, hoteliers should take this as an opportunity to generate revenue. Shawn Tsetsilas, director of business development for Cellular Specialties, provided four suggestions for hotels to capitalize. Firstly, he suggested charging guests for Wi-Fi with little fees, like $1 to $5, which can be used to recoup the costs of installing the operating the wireless connection. Secondly, he suggested controlling the guests' interface for the hotels' wireless access, and better way to control is the hotel have its own Wi-Fi system instead of leasing the hardware from a provider. Thirdly, he suggested that the cellular providers pay hotels to direct users from the cellular network to the Wi-Fi network to reduce the traffic from their network. Finally is, capping the amount of bandwidth each guest can consume and then capture revenue for the additional services. Hotels should take Wi-Fi as a sales model for services, and capitalize from this service, otherwise, they will lose revenue and competitiveness.
kabir joshi

The Hotel Modern New Orleans Selects Agilysys Solution Suite | hospitalityupgrade.com - 0 views

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    Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of innovative information technology and hospitality software solutions, announced that The Hotel Modern New Orleans has selected the Agilysys Guest 360(TM) property management system (PMS) and the Agilysys InfoGenesis(TM) POS solution to streamline operations and deliver personalized guest service. The 135-room property, which is owned and managed by August Group NYC, opened Dec. 16. The Agilysys InfoGenesis POS system is an award-winning point-of-sale software solution that combines powerful reporting and configuration capabilities in the back office with an easy-to-use touch-screen terminal application. Designed for multi-unit operations common in hospitality environments, the system can manage any combination of dining, bar service and retail operations. Features include real-time reporting capabilities, packages and prix fixe menus, signature capture, multi-language capability and advanced sorting, filtering and grouping options.
Jingyi Wen

Employee Scheduling Software for Hotel and Lodging Industries - 2 views

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    Labor costs are likely one of the largest expenses for almost all business. Although each business have different situation, reducing labor expenses is one of the fastest ways to realize more profit. After reading this article, I realize hospitality industry have some difficulties to control labor cost, such as peak hours, high season, part-time workers and a variety of job positions to schedule and multiple shifts to cover. So I think great labor schedule software could make creating work schedules and controlling labor budgets more efficient. Great labor schedule software should have below features, 1. Easily. This software could easily create rolling schedule for unlimited number of workers, define schedule and operational constraints. Easily publish schedules, calendars and any reports to staffs and managers. Manage labor costs and avoid over/under staffing with ease. 2. Flexible. Adjusting individual shift assignment start time, end time and payable hours when necessary. Quickly and efficiently find a substitute worker to fill a cancellation. 3. Comprehensive. Tracking all training, vacation, sick leave, and other off-work requests. Could visually assign tasks of any length from 1 minute to several hours. 4. Analytic. Numerous available reports can provide different kinds of detailed and summary information, such as labor cost data, payroll, employee position and etc. In a word, an efficient labor scheduling software will alert staffs when to work, and will reduce the amount of time that managers spend performing scheduling.
Fang Shu

The 5 Most Important Requirements for Successful Staff Tech Training - 6 views

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    These five requirements are basic for staff tech training. I think the last one is more important than other four. Trainers must have experience in hospitality industry before, then they can understand what tech knowledge they can teach and train others.
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    In the staff tech training, the trainer plays a very important role. I think the basic factor is the trainer should have rich knowledge about the new technology and the working experience in the hotel. The most important factor in my mind is trainer should know how to adapt the technology to the hotel. The new technology can't be used by every hotel, so the trainer should know which technology can bring more benefit to the hotel.
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    Agreed, the training typically is better for the users if they have a trainer that can relate to their specific needs. I also think #3 is of great importance as workers often times get so used to working with a previous system, they are opposed to a new one simply because of how unaware they maybe of how the new system will increase productivity and make their workday easier.
Yu Zhai

Reservation Software and Guest Management Software by Reservation Nexus - 5 views

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    Reservation Nexus is a reservation system for bed and breakfasts and inns. It has quickly become the system to beat in the hotel software arena with a fresh approach to online reservations, guest management and automated marketing, bed and breakfasts, inns, hotels and lodges will have many advantages such as increasing reservation, more time, freedom and profit. It helps hotels to offer customers a better service when feedback, such like sending a blessing email for customer's birthday, a thank letter after customer check out, and offering the travel map before customer come to hotel. All of these are automatic. In other words, this is Automated Marketing, which revolves around capturing and utilizing guest information. Reservation nexus holds a spirit of Red Carpet Service, a popular service spirit in US, they treat hotel just like hotel treat customers, kindly, patient, and professional. Besides, it can save money for hotels, it updates itself instead paying to update. It is providing on-line non-downloadable software to store, manage, track, analyze, and report reservation data. By some settings, Reservation Nexus can eliminate time consuming tasks for hotels to manage business and customers. Making it easy for guests to book online means more reservations, Reservation nexus did this.
YONGHE FAN

Bookt™ Adds Mobile Website to InstaManager™ FLEX :: Hotel Technology Resource - 1 views

  • Bookt LLC, a pioneer in cloud-based technology solutions for the professional vacation rental manager, has announced that mobile websites are ready to launch for all current and new InstaManager FLEX clients as an affordable upgrade. 
  • What’s also very interesting is that the number of visitors accessing with mobile devices more than tripled compared to Dec 2010.”
  • Now with the fully-optimized Mobile Web upgrade, consumers can search, check availability, book, and get their confirmation all via their Smartphone or other mobile device.
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  • Bookt’s software and integrated marketing services make specialty lodging companies more effective with activities that directly drive their revenue, manage resources, and provide business control.
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    This article is talking about Bookt, the leader in cloud-based solutions for lodging industry, announced to launch mobile websites for all InsraManager FLEX clients. Nowadays, more and more people would prefer to use mobile devices to check emails, search information and visit websites. The mobile web will be the top two travel touchpoints in 2013. That means mobile websites will be a large platform to search and share information. And that is also the reason to launch mobile websites for InsraManager FLEX to make it convenient for client's booking success. Mobile web would help customers search, check availability, book, and get confirmation via their Smartphone. People could check their room status anywhere and get any room confirmation number whenever. The mobile web is designed to be faster load and built exactly for the smaller screens.
Michelle Wilson

Buffalo Wild Wings Franchisees Improve Service With Automated - 1 views

  • implemented QSR's automated kitchen display software and hardware within franchise operators of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar restaurants to help ensure consistency, food quality, and optimum ticket times.
  • . We are now able to look at what each station is doing and effectively manage our problem areas by finding which employees can keep up and which can't. It has also made our kitchen calm, organized, and quiet.
  • 24-7 supplies a comprehensive set of solutions to these Buffalo Wild Wings franchisees which includes a POS system that is the "easiest and most flexible in the industry,"
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    Buffalo Wild Wings added QSR's automated kitchen display hardware and software to over 40 of their locations. These locations are currently using a ticket-less automated system in the kitchen and have found there are faster "ticket" times, they are better able to determine problem areas in the kitchen, and are able to evaluate employee performance during busy times in the restaurant.When using a "ticket-less" system it is easier to track orders and/or mistakes that may happen because you do not lose the ticket (which is a common occurrence) I currently work at a restaurant that was looking into QSR's automated kitchen system, but we have not done that at this point, but we will move to that eventually. However we do have QSR's newest seating and wait list management technology and it does make a world of difference when managing seating and a waiting list in a large restaurant.
ying jiang

What Management information systems are used by the hotel industry - 2 views

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    Basically, this article introduces several Management Information Systems currently used in hotels. Different MIS has different features. Some focus on internal and external information exchanging, some mainly manage information exchanging among different departments inside the whole company.
ying jiang

Management Information Systems, Hotel MIS, Hotel Information Systems - 3 views

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    This article generally introduces MIS, including the goals of MIS, the important elements of MIS, and the necessary investments of adopting MIS.
Janive Santini

500 Million Reasons to Launch Online Ordering - 1 views

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    This article explains that more and more companies are adding online ordering directly to their Facebook fan pages. Their software is directly linked to the internet, thereby allowing customers to order through facebook. If a potential new client was browsing the internet at work, unsure of what to order for lunch that day, this is very convenient. Once ordered, the activity is posted to that person's wall, for all their friends to see. It's a great marketing strategy and a way for word about that particular restaurant to get out.
Charlie Barrett

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Unveils New Website and Inaugural Luxury Trend Report - 6 views

    • Charlie Barrett
       
      This article talks about the inceasing use of technology in all aspects of hotel marketing, interaction and booking. There is a trend moving all business towards social marketing and social media. The Four Seasons has created a new website that caters to the new tech savy travelor. This new site is fully compatible with all tablets and smartphones. It allows the travelor to create a profile giving the guest a more personalized experience by anticipating guest wants and needs. The article also identifies the emergence of "The Luxury Trend Report." This report, generated through online research has identified growing technological trends in the market. Two of these trends are the rise of E-commerce and the increased use of iPads. The article clearly shows that the movement toward better hospitality technology is essencial for a brand to compete in this new age.
  • The new fourseasons.com offers an immersive and user-friendly experience, combined with rich global content, impactful design and social media integration.
  • The new Four Seasons website was thoughtfully designed in the same vein, to deliver an immersive and effortless experience tailored to every user.
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  • On the go – Fully optimized for mobile devices and tablets.
  • Access to reviews – Each of the 80-plus property pages feature user generated content direct from Twitter, Facebook and TripAdvisor.
  • Personalization – After setting up a profile and indicating personal interests, related content and recommendations from Four Seasons will become available on a guest's next visit and over time, delivering a completely personalized experience.
  • Extensive research around digital consumption of luxury consumers, both in the travel sector and across other categories, was conducted for the development of the new website. In addition, Four Seasons held focus groups globally to better understand guest and travel partner needs
  • The inaugural Luxury Trend Report highlights what we have learned about guest expectations in terms of high-tech balanced with high-touch, how they use social media to engage with brands, and other valuable information."
  • Branding moves to the social sphere. Seventy-eight percent of the affluent participate in social networking sites, with more than half using social media to connect with a brand. Four Seasons brings digital media to the forefront of marketing efforts to suit the ways guests communicate.
  • E-commerce is king. The luxury consumer is increasingly going online to research and make purchases. Four Seasons online bookings rose 10 percent from 2010 to 2011. The rise of the iPad. One-third of wealthy consumers own a tablet or e-Reader. Four Seasons revenue generated from the iPad and other tablets has grown 200 percent from 2010 to 2011. This number is predicted to grow significantly in 2012.
Kevin Character

Travel Companies Sued Over App Patent - 3 views

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    In the age of apps and mobile technology, something told me this one was coming. I found an interesting article about 10 travel companies being sued by a mobile app producing company for copyright infringement. Air Transport World is reporting that MarcoSolve Inc., based out of Oklahoma, is suing several airlines and other companies, including Avis Rent A Car, the Hertz Corp., Hipmunk Inc., Hotels.com, Priceline.com and Travelocty.com. The patent that MacroSolve is suing over grants the company the ability to download apps to any mobile device, collect data from those device users and send that data back to a central database. On a travel-based application, this would be conceived as the ability to track user location and automate social networking connectivity. MacroSolve was finally granted the patent in 2010 following several revisions when the company originally filed in 2002. More than 30 other companies other non-travel based companies were also sued by MacroSolve for infringement. However, a patent consultancy is claiming that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the same patent for the invention to different companies. When considering the app world and app technology, the article indicates that there are only very small differences in software that distinguish one patent from another. As app-building technology continues, I believe news reports will begin to reveal more litigation like this. This is the type of technology that tends to overlap in design. For example, the article says the MacroSolve patent on differed in its use of its app terms like "poll", and "survey". Air Transport World reports the recent litigation is forcing some foreign developers away from the U.S. market.
Carl Miller

KABA Delivers on Hyatt's Commitment to Guest Safety and Convenience | hospitalityupgrad... - 0 views

  • Only keycard holders may be admitted to guestroom floors for heightened security.  KABA’s Saflok electronic lock system and keycards interface with Schindler Elevator Corporation’s PORT Technology.
  • “The technology personalizes the guest’s stay by generating automatic elevator calls,”
  • “The system also enables greater security.  It ensures that only keycard holders may access the guestroom floors during defined hours of operation.”
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    This article describes how a Hyatt hotel in New Orleans has increased hotel and guest security while making it easier for guests to get where they need to go. The increased security is vital for this hotel as it provides meeting and event space to guests. A lot of people make business deals in the hotel and it's important to them to know there are no unwanted attendees at their meetings and events. This is great for guests as they only need to know what their hotel/conference room number is. The hotel basically leads them directly where they need to go. This saves hotel personnel time they might have to spend giving people directions to their room. This hotel is very large so helping guests get where they need to go saves lots of time and frustration. This can also be a great cost saving move for the hotel. They may be able to eliminate some security personnel knowing the RFID cards and elevator security system will do some of the work for them. A surveillance staff is still needed but they should already have those positions on staff anyway. They could perhaps also see some energy savings as the Schindler system should be calling the most efficient elevator car. One thing I'm wondering about that is not addressed in the article is the security of the stairwells. They surely have to have stairwells for emergency situations. Can someone go into the stairwell from their floor and access other floors?
jennifer kornreich

Hacking at Hotels: Mutating Threats at the Ramparts - 2 views

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    This article states a situation where a rouge employee steals guests credit information. There should be a technological way to keep this from happening and they are discussing facial recognition as a possible solution. but that hackers would soon find a way around this as well.
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