February 26, 2016
Siegel Sez
by: Richard Siegel
Social media; yes, for most of us this is a big part of our lives. There is a business side to what we need to do, but for the last two weeks all my social media has been personal. Last week it was my birthday and I have to admit that getting more than 200 birthday wishes was fun. It was amazing how many people wished me well many of whom I haven’t talked to in ages, and it was fun to say hello to so many. And many years ago I guess I was inspired by my birthday and I created a LinkedIn account. Or maybe it was my birthday that inspired me to start a business for the hotel industry that would keep people informed of what was going on in the world of technology. Whatever the reason was, LinkedIn shared that Hospitality Upgrade was started 24 years ago, and getting congratulations from so many people I have linked into over the years was another treat. This time there were people I met what seems like a million years ago in the business world with many having moved on and some out of the industry. That was also a great way to reconnect. I guess the one thing we all have to be thankful for as we get older are the many great people we meet in this industry. I know it is a big positive for me. Then I started thinking how many people have worked at the same place for 20 years or more? I think it would be fun to create an industry group like that to share stories about all the changes that have happened. I hope I can get Geneva to join since she has been working with me for 21 years now, which in and of itself is absolutely amazing. If you are one of those who have been at the same place for 20 years or if you know somebody who has, please send an email to me at mailto:rich@hospitalityupgrade.com. An industry 20 club – now this could be interesting.
I must thank Agilysys for inviting me to its Inspire Users Group this week in Las Vegas. It had one of the biggest crowds ever along with a very high-quality program. Anytime you get to hear Bryan Williams speak you know you are going to be among a motivated crowd. The parties were entertaining also and believe it or not, I met some people there who had been at their companies 20 years, so that was motivation for me to share my thoughts today. Next week I am off to HTNG’s Annual Conference at the Omni in Amelia Island, Fla. This should be interesting because we hear HTNG will have some big announcements to make, which makes sense since this is its largest event of the year. I must thank HTNG for entrusting me to moderate the CIO panel on Thursday afternoon. I promised to keep any surprises to a minimum, but who can be sure how one measures a minimum, right? HTNG has put together a great panel and I am thankful to be able to participate.
For those of you who are in Atlanta or are going to be in Atlanta on March 29, please plan on joining us. Joining us, where? When our Executive Vendor Summit was in Atlanta about eight years ago we had one of our parties and those who came in the night before our Summit joined everybody from the industry at our event. This year it will be big: We have partnered with HFTP, who has also invited its members along with many industry folks here in Atlanta. We cannot go over a 150 people so you need to be added to our list to attend. Please email mailto:Anne@hospitalityupgrade.com and we will send the invitation to you. If you have never been to the Sweetwater Brewery here in Atlanta, then you should join us. If you have, then I know you will want to be there. The place is fun and everybody attending has the option to take a tour. This party is on us and HFTP so everything is free. We hope you can join us.
Here now is the real reason we are here, Dan Phillips’ review of the industry technology happenings. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you-know-what. Thanks for all the comments I received after our last Siegel Sez about my paranoia about you-know-what. There was one comment that was by far my favorite, but since my goal isn’t to embarrass anybody other than myself, I will keep him nameless. But input is always great. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Rich@hospitalityupgrade.com
Technology NEWSSTAND
by: Dan Phillips
Recent headlines, from Dan Phillips
Introduction
It appears that there is a lot of movement in the vendor side of our industry. Perhaps not on the scale of Marriott and Starwood, but there are mergers and newcomers in droves these days. With the HITEC season officially starting this week it begs to wonder about all that will be announced between now and then. Just from my small seat on the sidelines the last few weeks I have seen many new players trying to take technology from other verticals into hospitality, I have witnessed failures of some long-tenured and short-lived vendors now yielding to mergers and acquisitions, and, one can read daily on demographically charged evolutions in technological solutions pandered to our trade. I may not be the first, but let me say it anyway, I hope to see you at HITEC!
I look forward to serving you,
Dan Phillips
Dare to Imagine
dphillips@dare2i.com
**
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- Industry Leader Pete Cavanagh Joins Merchant Link as Vice President of Channel Sales
- Alyssa Sanders Joins RoamBOOST as West Coast Regional VP of Sales
- The Rainmaker Group Taps Dom Beveridge as Executive Vice President of Demand Generation
- Hotel Internet Services Appoints Hospitality Technology Executive Carl Wilson as Board Member
- Vizergy’s Director of IT Awarded Membership to Exclusive Technology Group
- OpenKey Hires Two Senior Executives to Expand its Management Team
- Hyatt Hotels Corporation Announces Patrick J. Grismer as Chief Financial Officer
- And more People on the Move...
--------------------------
For more information on People on the Move for 02/26/16
MARKETING/MANAGEMENT
- Chatham Bars Inn Resort and Spa Partners with Digital Alchemy
- Customized Email Marketing from Digital Alchemy Generates Revenue for Hastings Hotels
- Forty Percent of Guests Become Ambassadors for San Francisco’s Newly Minted Hotel Zephyr with Flip.to
- HeBS Digital Takes Home 17 Adrian Awards Including Two Platinum for Multichannel Campaigns
- Worldhotels Adds nSight as Preferred Partner
--------------------------
For more information on Marketing/Management for 02/26/16
REVENUE MANAGEMENT
- Rainmaker Announces Strategic Partnership with Cvent During OPTIMIZE2016 User Conference
- LodgIQ Unveils Its Next-generation Revenue Optimization Platform for Travel; Secures $5 Million in Seed Funding Led by Highgate Ventures
- Pearl River Resort Selects Duetto’s GameChanger Solution
--------------------------
For more information on Revenue Management for 02/26/16
COMMUNICATIONS/INFRASTRUCTURE
- Bulk TV Named Top DIRECTV Lodging & Institutions Provider for Eighth Consecutive Year
- Enseo Receives Marriott’s GPNS HSIA Certification
- Hotel Internet Services Continues Rapid North American Growth with Expansion of U.S. Sales Team
--------------------------
For more information on Communications/Infrastructure for 02/26/16
PAYMENT PROCESSING
- Merchant Link Achieves EMV Cert with Chase Paymentech & First Data on Verifone VX Device Family
- Heartland Acquires Beanstalk Data
--------------------------
Merchant Link Achieves EMV Cert with Chase Paymentech & First Data on Verifone VX Device FamilyMerchant Link, a leading provider of payment gateway and data security solutions, announced that its TransactionLink™ product together with Verifone VX devices is
certified for EMV® Chip and PIN Card acceptance for retail, restaurant and lodging in the United States with Chase Paymentech and First Data.
http://www.merchantlink.com **
Heartland Acquires Beanstalk DataHeartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY), one of the nation’s largest payment processors, announced it has acquired privately held Beanstalk Data, a leading provider of customer engagement platforms for restaurants in the United States. The acquisition allows Heartland to help restaurants seamlessly integrate their customer relationship management (CRM) systems and marketing and engagement programs with the Heartland point-of-sale (POS) and e-commerce solutions.
https://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com **
SECURITY
- Onity DirectKey™ System for Mobile Access Launched and Expanding at Hilton Properties
--------------------------
Onity DirectKey™ System for Mobile Access Launched and Expanding at Hilton PropertiesOnity, a provider of electronic access solutions to the hospitality industry, announced it is
supplying its DirectKey™ mobile access solution to Hilton Worldwide, enabling guests to use their smartphone as their room key. The Onity DirectKey system uses cloud-based key credentialing and Bluetooth
® technology to allow hotel guests to securely download their assigned key to their smartphone through the hotel's loyalty app for easy access to their guestroom and other access-controlled areas. The DirectKey technology has been deployed at more than 100 Hilton properties throughout the United States.
http://www.onity.com **
GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- Grand Sierra Resort and Casino Expands Use of Agilysys Solutions to Enhance Efficiency and Service
- Infor Selected by Kempinski to Implement Groupwide Business Intelligence Platform
- Maestro PMS Manages Guest Services at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands
- StayNTouch Partners with Van Hessen, Bringing PMS and Mobility Solutions to Hundreds of Hotels in The Netherlands and Belgium
- StayNTouch Helps Carillon Miami Beach Hotel Deliver on Service Promise Through New Mobility Platform
--------------------------
For more information on Guest Management Systems for 02/26/16
RESERVATIONS
- SiteMinder Secures Deal with Choctaw Casinos
--------------------------
SiteMinder Secures Deal with Choctaw Casinos
SiteMinder has
secured a deal with Choctaw Casinos' lodging properties in Oklahoma to provide broadened distribution of the three properties' almost 1,000 rooms online. The deal follows the recent multimillion-dollar expansion of Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant and the group’s plans for further growth.
http://www.siteminder.com **
F&B/POINT OF SALE
- Royal Caribbean Cruises to Optimize Workflow on Two Newest Ships with Agilysys Solutions
- Agilysys Introduces Groundbreaking POS Mobile Tablets
--------------------------
Royal Caribbean Cruises to Optimize Workflow on Two Newest Ships with Agilysys SolutionsAgilysys, Inc., a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, announced that
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in Miami has selected the InfoGenesis
® POS and DataMagine™ systems to optimize workflow efficiency and enhance guest service on its two newest ships — Harmony of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas. With these additions, 37 Royal Caribbean vessels now use Agilysys solutions.
http://www.agilysys.com **
Agilysys Introduces Groundbreaking POS Mobile TabletsAgilysys, Inc., announced
availability of the InfoGenesis® Flex Series 3 tablets, a groundbreaking new POS mobile solution built specifically for its enterprise customers to help them increase revenue, improve wait staff efficiency, and deliver a superior guest experience.
http://www.agilysys.com **
SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING
- Social Tables to Provide Collaborative Meeting Solutions for Interstate Hotels & Resorts
- IACC to Unveil New Initiative, IACC Meeting Room of the Future™, at Annual Conference
--------------------------
Social Tables to Provide Collaborative Meeting Solutions for Interstate Hotels & ResortsSocial Tables, an award-winning, collaborative event software provider,
announced Interstate Hotels & Resorts as its new partner for the management company’s current and expanding portfolio of meetings hotels. Social Tables’ suite of products brings properties together online with their clients, assisting in the visualization of ballroom and non-traditional space which creates a personalized scenario-meeting.
http://www.socialtables.com **
IACC to Unveil New Initiative, IACC Meeting Room of the Future™, at Annual ConferenceThe IACC Meeting Room of the Future™, a dynamic new initiative from the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC), is
set to transform the meeting experience through a global collaboration of leaders in conference room design, audiovisual technology, hospitality, academia and conference management. The project and initial global survey results are to be unveiled at IACC-America's Connect annual conference in New York City this April.
http://www.iacconline.org **
GUEST SERVICES
- Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Leveraging Deep Cleaning Tool from HotelTap
- hospitalityPulse to Showcase Solutions for Resolving Room Assignment Challenges at ITB Berlin
- Kube Systems and Airwave Announce European Distribution Agreement
- Intelity Announces Partnership with Dream Hollywood to Debut Hotel In-Room, Mobile Technology
--------------------------
For more information on Guest Services for 02/26/16
SUSTAINABILITY
- Mohegan Sun Pocono Reducing Carbon Footprint by 14 Percent with Cogeneration System
- Xeros Signs Million Dollar Deal With eLaundry.com to Bring Near-Waterless Laundry Services to NYC
- LEED in Motion: Hospitality Report Released
--------------------------
For more information on Sustainability for 02/26/16
HOSPITALITY EDUCATION
- HFTP Teaming Up with Info-Tech Research Group to Offer Programs and Research to Members
- HFTP to Assist OpenTravel Alliance with Hospitality and Travel Object Oriented Platforms
- Venza Group and HTNG Collaborate to Provide Security Learning Solutions
--------------------------
For more information on Hospitality Education for 02/26/16
HOSPITALITY EVENTS
- HITEC 2016 Online Registration and Housing Bureau Open
- DSE 2016 Offers Education, Networking and an Extensive Collection of the Newest Technologies
--------------------------
HITEC 2016 Online Registration and Housing Bureau OpenHospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), producers of HITEC, have announced that attendee registration and the housing bureau for the 2016 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC
®)
are now available online. This year’s event will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, from June 20-23.
http://www.hftp.org **
DSE 2016 Offers Education, Networking and an Extensive Collection of the Newest Technologies
Digital Signage Expo (DSE), one of the world’s largest international trade shows and educational conferences dedicated to digital displays, interactive technology and digital communications networks,
will present new digital educational opportunities designed specifically for hotel operators system administrators and technologists March 15-17, 2016, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition to its hospitality-specific curriculum, DSE 2016 will offer a General Educational Track designed for end users appropriate across industry sectors, a Content University Track that also has general industry application, and a Fundamentals Track.
http://www.DSE2016.com**
PIQUED DAN'S INTEREST
- Virtual reality is the new Instagram
- Tech trends in hotel public spaces
- Card payment security in contact centres – consumers want better protection
- This is how in-room tablets will change your experience at hotels in 2016
- In-room phones: A thing of the past and future
- And more stories…
--------------------------
For more information on Piqued Dan's Interest for 02/26/16
You-Know-What
And now for you-know-what…
Sam walks into his boss’s office and says, “Sir, I’ll be straight with you, I know the economy isn’t great, but I have three different companies after me, and I would like to respectfully ask for a raise.”
After a few minutes of haggling the boss finally agrees to a 5 percent raise, and Sam happily gets up to leave.
“By the way,” asks the boss as Sam is getting up, “which three companies are after you?”
And Sam replies, “The electric company, the water company and the phone company.”
**