July 12, 2012
Siegel Sez
by: Richard Siegel
Drained. That is probably the best way to describe how more than 5,200 people leaving Baltimore two weeks ago felt. At least many I talked to felt that way. I won’t go deeply into my thoughts on HITEC because it would be easier if you watched the interview of Jon Inge and me on the final day of the show (click here to see the video), but I will say it was interesting holding the event on the fourth week of June instead of the traditional third week. No one missed Father’s Day because of HITEC and we all got to watch the U.S. Open in its entirety in the comfort of our homes. The week following HITEC had the Fourth of July smack dab in the middle so it seemed like the whole industry was on vacation. I know that was the case in our office. When we all got back I asked everyone to share one HITEC highlight. There were some interesting comments, but when it comes to me I will tell you my highlight was easy. I apologize if this sounds a little self-serving, but it is the one time of the year when we get direct feedback. I think over a thousand people came up to us and told us they loved Hospitality Upgrade, read the magazine cover to cover and kept sharing wonderful accolades with us. We believe that we do a great job, but to get so many people in a period of four days telling us that they agree was easily my highest of highs. Thank you to those who shared comments and support our efforts throughout the year. The four days in Baltimore this year makes all the challenges worthwhile.
We have some absolutely great and often hilarious videos currently being edited from HITEC that you must watch. I will let you know when they will be on our website (http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com). Also, if you have never seen our summer issue, please click here. I recommend you turn your volume up, I might be a bit crazy, but I think the whooshing sound of the turning pages is the coolest thing. Yes, it is the little things in life that I love the most. We have lots of not so serious pictures from the show which are on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/HospitalityUpgrade). To all who came by our booth, thank you. To all that did a short video helping us celebrate our 20 years in publishing, thank you. To all who invited us to their parties, thank you. Those who attended the educational session that I did with Kate O’Neil, thank you. To the city of Baltimore, thank you. You did yourself proud. And finally to HFTP, it was 40 years ago they created HITEC, but more importantly they never stopped tweaking and improving it which has made it the most important week of the year for those involved in technology. As an industry, we thank you. We can’t wait until next year and Minneapolis!
Here is the real reason we are here: Jon Inge’s technology review including many updates from HITEC. Don’t forget to click on the video of Jon and me (click here to see the video). It was once again a lot of fun to do and Jon did a great job. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you-know-what. Thanks.
Rich@hospitalityupgrade.com
Technology NEWSSTAND
by: Jon Inge
Systems News in Plain English from Jon Inge
TOP O’ THE NEWS
- HITEC impressions
--------------------------
My head’s still buzzing from HITEC, though my feet have just about recovered now. (I often wonder if the individuals at vendor companies that specify the absolute minimum carpet padding for their booths ever attend these conferences – or maybe they just hate their sales staff. At least attendees can go and revisit (and linger at) those booths with extra-soft carpeting.)
It was an exceptionally high-energy show, with a sense of action and decisiveness I haven’t felt there for years. Once again the themes of mobile technology, personalization and the never-ending demand for Internet access were very strong (as witness the unusually high number of news items in Guest Services and Communications below), as was interest in distribution and revenue management. There was no one major technological advance, but many significant moves toward a more integrated, seamless and (inevitably) mobile future.
Things that caught my eye included:
- y!kes’ Bluetooth® guestroom lock system: not inexpensive but as close to hands-free, easy-access security as I think you can get. (And I’d like to see Siri and other speech-recognition engines spell THAT brand name correctly. For some things, apparently, we still need keyboards.)
- Janus’ glasses-free 3-D displays: this technology has made massive strides in the last couple of years.
- Samsung’s gesture and voice-controlled TV: the ultimate remote control.
- PAR Springer-Miller’s ATRIO™ user interface: still leading the pack in intuitive usability. (And full marks to PSMS in achieving both PCI and HTNG certification only 18 months from starting system development.)
- innRoad’s innovative approach to revenue management, dynamically analyzing pay-per-click options.
- Tablets everywhere: no longer a “look, we have a tablet app!” but now a logical part of many vendors’ product lines.
- More cooperative partnerships among vendors: MSI with Windsurfer, Pegasus with ATRIO, IQware, IDS and others, Swisscom/Intelity/FCS/others for more seamless guest services.
- And not least, Infor’s all-day espresso bar, providing free tea, coffee and Infor-branded mugs to all! Much appreciated.
**
http://www.joninge.com
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- Mike Montgomery hired by Electric Mirror as chief operating officer
- Greg Berman appointed COO of eRevMax International
- Jimmy Matthew is new vice president, sales at NXTV Quadriga
- Michael Bevan, Rob Johnston join NXTV Quadriga as directors of sales
- David Chestler joins Sceptre Hospitality as SVP global sales
- Don Semmler appointed to board of directors at Eleven Wireless
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For more information on People on the Move for 07/12/12
GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- MSI integrating CloudPM system with Windsurfer CRS
- Revel in Atlantic City, N.J., picks Agilysys LMS, InfoGenesis™, DataMagine™ and Guest Express Kiosks
- Ciena Hotels and Suites selects Infor’s Infor10 HMS
- Infor releases HMS Hotel Check-In mobile app
- Aston Hotels & Resorts to install MICROS’ OPERA Enterprise Solution at all 27 properties
- Springer-Miller adds Pegasus to ATRIO™ Platform Partner Exchange (APPX) program
- Springer-Miller’s ATRIO now certified by PCI and HTNG
--------------------------
For more information on Guest Management Systems for 07/12/12
RESERVATIONS
- Pelican appoints FJS Hospitality Solutions as its representative in South Asia
- Shilo Inns extends agreement with Genares
- Trust International interfaces yourVoyager CRS with Room Key
- Sabre interfaces SynXis CRS with Room Key
- Trust International introduces Trust|CRO Web-based centralized reservation office module
- Pegasus introduces Pegasus Connect suite, allowing à la carte pricing for services
- InnLink establishes parent brand, TravLynx, to cover InnLink, InnVite and VisitUs brands
- TravLynx integrating Shift4’s 4Res technology into InnLink and InnVite CRSs
--------------------------
For more information on Reservations for 07/12/12
SECURITY
- y!kes launches Bluetooth-based guestroom and other hotel area access system
- Silken Amara Plaza Hotel upgrades to Onity HT RFID locks
- B2B Malecon Plaza Hotel and Convention Center upgrades to Onity's HT RFID locks
- VingCard Elsafe
® introduces invisible Essence RFID and NFC lock
- MIWA to integrate OpenWays Mobile Key Crypto Acoustic couplers into premium locking systems
--------------------------
For more information on Security for 07/12/12
MARKETING/MANAGEMENT
- Postcard Inn St. Pete Beach implements new website with GCommerce’s Dynamic Targeting
- Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, implements Flip.to
- VIZERGY receives two Interactive Media Awards for website design
- Cendyn updates eInsight data warehouse/business intelligence module
- Starwood selects Newmarket’s HIS Premium View market intelligence
- Avius launches Optimus operational feedback management platform
- UniFocus adds corporate-level dashboard to GUESTScope™
- Global Vision Hotels selects Padvertisement’s™ iPad
® kiosks for eight properties
- Lodging Interactive announces CoMMingle Social+ service to extend and manage a hotel's core social presence
--------------------------
For more information on Marketing/Management for 07/12/12
REVENUE MANAGEMENT
- Lifestyle Retreats picks SiteMinder for three resorts in Bali
- SiteMinder announces cloud-based Room Distribution Exchange (RDX) connectivity platform
- AMResorts picks EzRMS for all 30 properties
- EasyRMS launches Ez-LITE system for limited-service chains
--------------------------
For more information on Revenue Management for 07/12/12
SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING
- Newmarket
® migrates Delphi to Force.com
- Newmarket announces MeetingBroker app for Facebook
- Newmarket integrates Intelity ICE into its Cloud Services platform for Event Data
- Newmarket partners with TripCraft to development mobile applications
- International Gravity Sports Association picks Meetingmax Systems for accommodation management
- Omni releases tablet app for meeting planners to use while conducting meetings at its hotels
- La Costa Resort and Spa deploys Passkey's GroupMAX™
- Passkey powers over $1 billion in hotel revenue for its clients in first quarter of 2012
- JANUS adds glasses-free 3-D technology, content creation services through partnership with Dimenco Displays
- JANUS partners with Planar Systems for Clarity Matrix and Mosaic Architectural multi-unit display walls
- Cendyn redesigns eBrochure for Flash-like movement on PCs and mobile devices, adds content management system
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For more information on Sales & Catering, Meeting Planning for 07/12/12
GUEST SERVICES
- Pebble Beach Resorts picks NXTV Quadriga’s Sensiq platform for three properties
- NXTV Quadriga now offering 250+ high-definition, free-to-guest (HD-FTG) channels from PureHD
- NXTV Quadriga launches QConnect guest connectivity service and network capabilities
- Quadriga previews Personal Media Network
- Newmarket
® partners with TripCraft to development mobile apps for hospitality industry
- Four Seasons Hotel Toronto to include Intelity’s ICE on iPads
® in every room
- Intelity adds Evolve Guest Controls integration to ICE
- Intelity integrates ICE with Swisscom’s ConnectedHotel
- Swisscom Hospitality releases generic API for multihospitality system integration
- Samsung Electronics America releases LYNK Digital Rights Management technology for hospitality
- TeleAdapt partners with C2G for common sales efforts
- LG Electronics USA launches two new LED TV series
- Allin Interactive introduces integrated DigiHD ITV and DigiMobile platform to land-based hospitality sites
- Guestware
® introduces new version of Guest Experience Management software
- INNCOM unveils EVORA programmable wireless switch series
- Bartech debuts new G32 Green Automatic Minibar
- VingCard Elsafe
® links Orion energy management with Lutron light and shade controls
- FCS Computer Systems appoints CLC Networks International as a partner in North America
- FCS Computer Systems appoints Wavecom Solutions its distributor for Hawaii and California
- FCS Computer Systems integrates i-Guest mobile app with Swisscom’s ConnectedHotel
- Hyatt deploying Eleven Wireless’ iMac guest computers in many full-service properties
- Communications Integrators unveils G-LINK connectivity panels
- ZDirect adds link to OpenWays phone-based room key to its eCRM engine
- Hilton Brisbane implements MTech’s HotSOS
- Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam, implements HotSOS
- Bittel Americas introduces MediaFi2 multimedia connectivity panel, UNO Media 3 phone
- SuiteLinq launches Q | Mobile module
- Y!kes launches hands-free Bluetooth-based guestroom and other hotel area access system
--------------------------
For more information on Guest Services for 07/12/12
BACK OFFICE
- Shift4 releases Point-to-Point Encryption, 4Res and 4Word services
--------------------------
Shift4 Corp has released its 4Res and 4Word software to help hotels remove cardholder data (CHD) from their environments. 4Word is a secure way to share payment data with an authorized third party (such as a florist, caterer or other vendor at the guest’s request) that may be outside of Shift4’s North American service area.
4Res sits between central reservation systems and hotel properties, removing any cleartext CHD from the reservations before they enter the hotel environment and allowing CRS data to be tokenized before it is sent to the property. The hotelier then uses a Shift4 TrueToken in place of the actual card number to process the payment.
Shift4 Corp has announced its Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) service for the secure processing of credit, debit, third-party gift cards, and split-processing direct to American Express. P2PE encrypts cardholder data (CHD) at the point of entry (inside the swipe device or keypad) before it has entered the merchant’s system; the encrypted data is then doubly encrypted by Shift4’s Universal Transaction Gateway and immediately sent to DOLLARS ON THE NET®. After authorizing the transaction, Shift4 passes back a TrueToken to the merchant for record keeping, card-on-file transactions and chargeback defense. http://www.shift4.com
**
INVENTORY/PURCHASING
- RedRock Software establishes RedRock Global Supply, Ltd., Macau
- Houston Marriott at the Texas Medical Center implements Clear Sky Software’s BEVERAGE
--------------------------
RedRock Software has established RedRock Global Supply, Ltd., Macau, to provide supply chain management services in the Asia Pacific region, combining RedRock’s cloud-based supply chain management infrastructure with physical services provided by Global Supply Solutions (HK) Ltd.
http://www.redrockglobalsupply.com **
The Houston Marriott at the Texas Medical Center has implemented Clear Sky Software’s BEVERAGE back office inventory control software. Software modules include purchasing, receiving, transfers/issues, returns and physical inventory, plus an interface to the MICROS POS system.
http://www.marriott.com,
http://www.clearskysoftware.com **
ENGINEERING
- VingCard Elsafe
® integrates Orion energy management with Lutron light and shade controls
- EnTel installs Telkonet’s EcoSmart energy management in two hotels and a multitenant entertainment complex
--------------------------
VingCard Elsafe has integrated its Orion energy management system with Lutron Electronics light and shade controls, extending the energy savings from its occupancy-based thermostat set-back functionality to also switch off the lights and draw the shades.
http://www.vingcardelsafe.com,
http://www.lutron.com **
EnTel, a Telkonet partner, has been contracted to install Telkonet’s EcoSmart energy management technology in two hotels and one multitenant entertainment complex through its EnTeligence Solution, a utility management program.
http://www.entel-inc.com,
http://www.telkonet.com **
COMMUNICATIONS/INFRASTRUCTURE
- John Q. Hammons selects Windstream Internet services for a further 44 hotels
- Cotell International releases Fuego SL small footprint hotel phone
- Guest-tek™ to use Smith Micro’s VIDIO to deliver television services to mobile devices
- Allin Interactive integrates Smith Micro’s VIDIO into DigiMix interactive platform
- Advanced Network Technology Services (ANTSvc) appoints MTS its partner in Latin America
- Great Wolf Resorts picks Blueprint RF as exclusive Wi-Fi provider for all Great Wolf Lodge properties
- PhoneSuite unveils Voiceware VoIP telephone system for hospitality industry
- Wi3 announces WiPNET WiFi, uses MoCA to provide wired/wireless Internet access over existing coax cable
- Starwood certifies Ruckus’ ZoneFlexSmart Wi-Fi as a recommended high-speed wireless access system
- Eleven Wireless upgrades ElevenOS with bandwidth management, package tiering, in-session upgrades and more
- GUARDED SYSTEMS selected as a partner to National Purchasing Network
- GUARDED SYSTEMS phasing out Nomadix, to focus on proprietary XcessPro MSC
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For more information on Communications/Infrastructure for 07/12/12
F&B/POINT OF SALE
- Agilysys releases mobile POS application for InfoGenesis™
- Yale Club of New York City selects SCI FOOD-TRAK
®
--------------------------
Agilysys has released an Android™-based mobile POS application for its InfoGenesis system. The app leverages a mobile device management (MDM) system for remote deployment. Features include support for multiple check types, both required and optional modifiers, one-click item reordering, a summary check item view and typed special instruction capabilities. The next version will add seat assignment support, bar code scanning, magnetic strip reading, signature capture, remote Bluetooth printing, split-check capabilities, multiple language and currency support, and the option of settling to a guest's credit card or hotel folio.
http://www.agilysys.com **
The Yale Club of New York City has selected the System Concepts, Inc. (SCI) FOOD-TRAK System for purchasing, recipe management, ordering and inventory. The 22-story clubhouse includes 138 guestrooms, three restaurants and bars, banquet rooms, a health and fitness center, library and main lounge.
http://www.yaleclubnyc.org,
http://www.foodtrak.com **
You-Know-What
And now for you-know-what...
The following personal ad in a local newspaper is reported to have received numerous calls:
"Single female seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I am a very good-looking girl who loves to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candlelight dinners will have me eating out of your hand. Rub me the right way and watch me respond. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Kiss me and I'm yours. Call 666-7777 and ask for Daisy."
Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the local Humane Society about an 8-week-old black Labrador retriever.