November 30, 2006
Siegel Sez
by: Richard Siegel
It has been a few weeks since our last Siegel Sez thanks to our favorite consultant being under the weather. I can happily say that he is fine now. Please bear with me as I thank a few people who made the last month memorable. Thank you, IBM, for inviting the HITEC advisory board and me to their research labs before the International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show in New York. I hadn’t been there in ten years and it is an unbelievable experience. We saw things that had us all shaking our heads in amazement. You think we are a mobile society today with technology? Wait until you see what is coming down the road.
Thanks must also go to those that attended our dinner in New York on the Monday night of the International Hotel/Motel and Restaurant Show. Of course I am going to kill my sister-in-law who picked the restaurant that this year for the first time provided a private room with an open bar. An open bar? Doesn’t she know how this industry enjoys cocktails? If I ever find out who was drinking the Patron tequila there is going to be a price to pay. I have never even heard of the stuff but it should taste like gold based on what it cost.
After the New York show it was off to the Global Gaming Exhibition in Las Vegas. Thanks goes to Agilysis for feeding me, and a big thank you to InfoGenesis for inviting me to their who’s who in Las Vegas party at the Palms Hotel and Casino. The Palms is currently the “in place” in Las Vegas though I think the Red Rock Hotel and Casino will be taking that distinction pretty soon.
All this travel started with a trip to Long Beach, Calif. for the Foodservice Technology show and I must thank a great consultant, friend and Hospitality Upgrade writer, Jeremy Rock, who pitched in and helped us cover the latest technology at this event.
Last but not least, I must thank Kitty Bean Yancey, an exceptional writer from USA Today, who called me after my experience at the Westin Hotel on Grand Bahama Island and wrote a story on it for the travel section of their USA Today Web site. She did a great job and it was fun that so many outsiders visited our http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com Web site to read the original Siegel Sez.
Thank you all, it has been an unbelievable few weeks of travel, conferences and events. This body is starting to pay the price for coast-to-coast travel, back-to-back in such a short period. How people do this all year is absolutely beyond me. One more trip next week to the HEDNA conference in Florida and then I am finished for the year. I cannot wait.
Actually if there is one more trip to California this year, I will be okay with that. My 3-year-old filly Cambria Breeze, who broke a bone in her ankle a year ago, is doing great and there is a chance she could run once this year before she turns four on January 1st. I had so much fun the one time she ran. It was my only experience to almost feel what it was like being a parent. What a great feeling that was.
I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving, which we all know kicks off the holiday season. This is a great time to put our own issues aside and focus on those less fortunate and help however we can. There is a reason we are all encouraged to spread holiday cheer and what would make you happier than knowing that you helped someone in need have a great holiday?
Ok, now here is the real reason we are here, Jon Inge’s technology review of the last few weeks. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you-know-what.
Rich@hospitalityupgrade.com
Technology NEWSSTAND
by: Jon Inge
Systems News in Plain English from Jon Inge
TOP O' THE NEWS
- ISHC releases Top Ten Issues & Challenges for 2007
- Minibar Systems wins Editors’ Choice/Technology and Best of Show Awards at IH/M&RS New York
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The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) has released its annual rating for the Top Ten Issues & Challenges facing the hospitality industry. A full discussion of each issue can be found at http://www.ishc.com.
1. Labor and skills shortages: The growing shortage of qualified and skilled employees
2. Construction costs: Continued escalation of construction and renovation costs
3. Technology: Properties failing to take advantage of current systems
4. Changing demographics and their impact on travel trends: Shift as baby boomers retire and Generation X matures
5. Future of hotel profits: Balancing escalating expenses with the need to increase rates
6. Branding: Mitigating consumer confusion over brand proliferation and investor concerns over cross brand impact
7. Distribution revolution: Keeping up with rapidly changing playing field
8. Travel restrictions: And their impact on the travel industry
9. Global emerging markets: Are travel patterns changing?
10. Capital availability: Will investor and lender confidence continue?
**
The Editors’ Choice Awards for the most innovative new products in six categories at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show went to:
- Technology and overall Best of Show Award: Minibar Systems for its Smartcube minibar system, featuring a modular design and smart infrared sensing technology.
- Décor: Pacific Coast Feather Company for its Silver Soft Collection of ultra-soft, anti-microbial and odor-resistant bedding.
- Flavors: Parkside Coffee for Parkside Eight, a new espresso line.
- Restaurant: Structural Concepts for its Clean Sweep electronically controlled brush mechanism that automatically cleans condenser coils.
- Essentials: Rubbermaid Commercial Products for its High Security Housekeeping Cart, which stores supplies in sliding 30-quart bins protected with locking doors.
- Luxury: LC Premiums for its Pop Art Toaster, a chrome toaster which brands hotel logos into toast.
**
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- Todd Thompson hired as chief information officer at Starwood
- Richard Barnes and Bob Pojman join Wayport, as VP/GM retail and VP/operations
- Abhinav (Abhi) Dhar joins TravelCLICK as chief information officer
- Cem Cetinturk appointed TravelCLICK's regional director for Africa and the Middle East
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For more on People on the Move for 11/30/06
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- Inns Hotels becomes SoftBrands’ 1,000th customer for Medallion PMS
- Marriott International extends PMS e-folio service to all guests
- Starhotels upgrades all 22 properties to MICROS’ OPERA Enterprise Solution
- Joie de Vivre Hospitality standardizes on MICROS’ OPERA Enterprise Solution
- Wynn Resorts (Macau) opens with MICROS’ OPERA PMS and Gaming, plus MICROS’ 9700
- PAR Springer-Miller Systems interfaces SMS|Host PMS with Amadeus’ Hotel RMS
- The Wales Hotel in New York City installs Northwind’s Maestro Enterprise
- Northwind integrates Jencess’ Golf, Membership Management and POS into Maestro
- Boutique Hotels and Resorts names Visual One its preferred vendor for seven resort properties
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For more on Property Management Systems for 11/30/06
RESERVATIONS
- Hotel Sacher Salzburg and Hotel Sacher Vienna go with TravelCLICK
- BCD Travel picks Farelogix to source travel inventory from variety of channels
- Hiphotels.com signs with Travel Intelligence for Starfish online booking engine
- Concierge.com launches Suitcase travel-planning tool
- Pegasus integrating Serenata’s NetHotel CRM module into RezView CRS
- Pegasus introduces new availability and pricing displays for HotelFactory CRS
- Pegasus launches Web analytics service to help hoteliers analyze online traveler activity
- Net Trans contracts with Pegasus to improve its commission reconciliation service
- Preferred Hotel Group renews contract for Pegasus’ reservation services
- Kinkaa.com launches travel search engine in Germany and the United States
- SideStep acquires hotel reviews and ratings site TravelPost.com
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For more on Reservations for 11/30/06
SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING
- Peabody Orlando installs Passkey
- MeetingMatrix International receives two Adrian Awards
- BDL Management installing Delphi MPE at four U.K. InterContinental properties
- Twickenham Experience upgrades Twickenham Stadium to Newmarket’s Delphi
- Newmarket International receives awards for Achievement in Customer Excellence (ACE)
- Joie de Vivre Hospitality implementing MICROS’ OPERA Sales & Catering at selected sites
- Confabb launches centralized conference information service
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For more on Sales & Catering, Meeting Planning for 11/30/06
GUEST SERVICES
- LodgeNet acquires StayOnline.
- Petters adopts PrIdiom technology for its Polaroid displays for use with LodgeNet
- Mandarin Oriental implements upgraded in-room entertainment at Hong Kong flagship
- iBAHN launches SmartLink uninterruptible HSIA with automatic back-up circuit
- iBAHN announced its Airline PC unit to print boarding passes
- Dometic Corp releases new HiPromatic refreshment center
- TeleAdapt adds Byrne Electrical power and data centers to PowerHub line
- Minibar Systems releases Smartcube range of units
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For more on Guest Services for 11/30/06
ENGINEERING
- Jiten installs MTech’s PMWorks in 12 of its 20 hotel properties
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Jiten Hotel Management (JHM) has installed MTech’s PMWorks preventive maintenance system in 12 of its 20 hotel properties. PMWorks is based on M-Tech’s ASP-based HotSOS system.
http://www.bestnewenglandhotels.com,
http://www.m-tech.com **
COMMUNICATIONS
- PhoneSuite passes 1,300 systems milestone
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PhoneSuite has passed the 1,300 systems milestone in the eight years since its first installation in October 1998, focusing on small and mid-size properties with up to 220 rooms.
http://www.phonesuite.com **
REVENUE MANAGEMENT
- Amadeus interfaces Hotel RMS with PAR Springer-Miller Systems’ SMS|Host PMS
- EZ Yield.com now links to over 209 Web sites
- SoftBrands launches Karyon Distribution Service Provider (“DSP”) service
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For more on Revenue Management for 11/30/06
F&B/POINT OF SALE
- Wynn Resorts (Macau) implements MICROS’ 9700 Hospitality Management System
- PAR Technology acquires SIVA
- Mohegan Sun selects MICROS 9700 HMS and kiosks for its new casino in Wilkes-Barre
- Holiday Inn in Columbus, Ohio integrates InfoGenesis POS with Guest Technologies’ RFID bracelets
- Chuy's Comida Deluxe rolls-out HSI Profit Series POS at 11 locations
- HSI releases Version 7.06 of its Profit Series POS
- Ham’s Restaurants implements Capton’s Beverage Tracker at three sites
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For more on F&B/Point of Sale for 11/30/06
BACK OFFICE
- ERC Dataplus introduces Selectech Workforce Management: Hospitality applicant tracking system
- The Lanesborough standardizes on priZem’s database budgeting/forecasting system
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ERC Dataplus has introduced Selectech Workforce Management: Hospitality, a version of its applicant tracking system targeted at hotels and hotel property management companies with free automated job postings to www.hoteljob.com.
http://www.ercdataplus.com
**
London’s 95-room The Lanesborough is standardizing its budgeting and forecasting process on priZem Inc.’s database budgeting/forecasting system.
http://www.thelanesborough.com,
http://www.prizem.com **
MARKETING/MANAGEMENT
- Serenata integrating NetHotel CRM module into Pegasus Solutions’ RezView CRS
- Serenata releases Version 2.80 of NetHotel application
- VRX Studios launches “Always Fresh” date stamp for hotel photos, virtual tours and maps
- Konover Hotel Corp contracts with Aptech for Execuvue, Profitvue and Webvue
- Boykin Management signs with Aptech for Profitvue at all 10 hotels
- Hospitality eBusiness Strategies (HeBS) receives seven awards for hotel Web site development
- WORLDHOTELS implements Leonardo Media’s Digital Asset Management Platform
- Leonardo adds two eBooks versions to online brochure range
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For more on Marketing/Management for 11/30/06
You-Know-What
And now for you-know-what…
A large company, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. This new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers.
On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy just standing around next to a stack of boxes. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business.
The new CEO walked up to the guy and asked, "How much money do you make a week?"
A little surprised, the young fellow looked at him and replied, "I make $300.00 a week. Why?"
The CEO then handed the guy $1,200 in cash and screamed, "Here's four week's pay, now GET OUT and don't come back!"
Feeling pretty good about himself, the CEO looked around the room and asked, "Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-off did here?"
From across the room came a voice, "Pizza delivery guy from Dominos."