⚠ We would appreciate if you would disable your ad blocker when visiting our site! ⚠

Editor's Note - Fall 2016

Order a reprint of this story
Close (X)

ORDER A REPRINT

To reprint an article or any part of an article from Hospitality Upgrade please email geneva@hospitalityupgrade.com. Fee is $250 per reprint. One-time reprint. Fee may be waived under certain circumstances.

SEND EMAIL

October 25, 2016
Editor's Note
Geneva Rinehart - Geneva@hospitalityupgrade.com

HU has a unique opportunity: We get to listen.  We are afforded the rare opportunity to sit in a room with more than 50 CIOs and listen... what makes them tick, what keeps them up and what is exciting in their world.  Our annual CIO Summit is a great opportunity to just be still and listen.  Each year I leave the week enlightened as I hear about fascinating projects, but this year was different.  The excitement started when we were at HITEC, and the electricity this year was undeniable.  Unfortunately, the problems that are plaguing the industry are also undeniable.  No one likes bad news, yet everyone reads bad news. From a media standpoint, if it’s good for page views it’s probably bad for the industry.  I'm happy to report that this year has also had its share of inspiring news, of innovations and just plain exciting technology advancements.  Be on the lookout for some of these inspiring stories.

Over the last few months HU has connected with many industry leaders through interviews, surveys and casual chats over dinner.  Kris Burnett has logged hundreds of hours behind the camera (and Remington at least that many in the editing bay).  A few of the recently released industry videos are below, and by scanning the page with the LAYAR app you can view these interviews on your phone.  The remaining series of videos (at current count more than a hundred) will be rolled out over the course of the next few months and with the launch of our new hospitalityupgrade.com website at the end of the year.  While there are challenges in the industry, there are also great champions.

Speaking of interviews: Please check out my Q&A with Cindy Estis Green (pg 114).  We discuss the primary themes that have emerged in the distribution landscape – how does Airbnb affect hotels and what’s the effect of direct-booking campaigns.  Over the last month, we’ve been conducting an extensive survey of hospitality CIOs about technology initiatives, trends and challenges (pg 14).  In our surveys and interviews we'll ask personal, random questions to remind us that all the leaders in our industry are human, and they like the same things we do.  We take technology seriously, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it real and fun, too.

While the technology trends and initiatives are important, one of my favorite questions is what is your favorite binge watching indulgment.  I’ll have to find a way to publish some of the answers, but my two favorites so far are: binge watching the HUTube channel (HU's video channel) and The Big Bang Theory.  Ah, yes, hours of viewing pleasure from both.
 
©2016 Hospitality Upgrade
This work may not be reprinted, redistributed or repurposed without written consent.
For permission requests, call 678.802.5302 or email info@hospitalityupgrade.com.

Articles By The Same Author



want to read more articles like this?

want to read more articles like this?

Sign up to receive our twice-a-month Watercooler and Siegel Sez Newsletters and never miss another article or news story.