May 06, 2016

Siegel Sez

by: Richard Siegel

I have friends in other industries who travel extensively with their jobs. Do you know what motivates them when picking a hotel? Points! Yes, it is all about collecting points which I guess makes sense since they get to keep them while their company is paying the bill. Now imagine you are a hotel chain with nearly a hundred hotels.  How do you not only compete with the mega-chains, but you actually beat them? And you do this without a loyalty program? The answer: Use technology to enhance the guest experience. At HITEC on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. I promise you that you will be wowed as to how this can be done. There will be more at this session at HITEC with a few other surprises and I hope to see you there. Yes, every single conversation I have while putting together our HITEC issue of Hospitality Upgrade ends in a HITEC conversation.  HITEC is following up last year’s successful Entrepreneur 20X for startups trying to get into the industry. What I find intriguing are those who were startups a year ago, got the funding they needed to truly launch and today have booths and money to invest in growing their company and products. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee success, but it is a big step up from where they were a year ago. It seems like HITEC is going to surpass expectations this year with exhibitors, attendees and some very creative educational sessions.  Six weeks to go, let the countdown begin.

Before HITEC, later this month I head to the Newmarket Customer Conference, which now is to be known as the Amadeus Hospitality Conference to reflect the acquisitions it has made adding to its Newmarket offerings.  It will be bigger and more varied this year with more attendees from all over the world. It is interesting that they are holding it at the LINQ Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. For some of us who lived in Las Vegas a million years ago, the LINQ will always be remembered as the infamous Imperial Palace which had a somewhat questionable reputation. I am looking forward to seeing what many, many millions of dollars can do that now has the LINQ being considered one of Las Vegas’ “cool” hotels. I thank you Amadeus for inviting me.

Let’s put hotels and technology aside. Do you realize what happened in England this week? In the world of sports, nothing might ever compare to this. Leicester City won the Premier League title.  They say you would have gotten better odds of finding Elvis alive then Leicester City winning the title. It just couldn’t happen. I guess millions of people around the world have learned now never to say never.  I bring this up because this Saturday is the best sporting day for fun, excitement and hopefully an opportunity to get rich. I miss going to the Kentucky Derby, but I will get back. I just love that anybody with $50 to buy a general admission ticket can experience a day like no other.  As far as the race, all of us who love horses ask the same question of each other, “who do you like?”  I might change my mind between now and post time, but I am going to follow in the dream of upsets though not as improbable as Leicester City. Nyquist is the current champ and has never lost a race. He drew a perfect post for his running style and if they run the way they look on paper, he will win. But it is the Kentucky Derby, the horses will be running their longest race ever, with more horses in the race than they will ever run against again and anything can happen. I am going with Creator and don’t ask me why, I am not sure. I can’t wait for “the most exciting two minutes in sports” this Saturday. Who knows, maybe one day my crazy friends and I will have a horse running in the Derby. One can dream.

Here now is the real reason we are here, Dan Phillips’ review of all that is happening in the world of technology. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you-know-what. Go Creator!

Siegel Sez

- RoamingAround Adds Public Safety Distributed Antenna System to Aid First Responder Communications
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RoamingAround Adds Public Safety Distributed Antenna System to Aid First Responder Communications 
RoamingAround is fortifying its portfolio with code-compliant public safety wireless solutions to help commercial businesses meet rigorous municipal requirements for building occupancy. Working in tandem with Advanced RF Technologies Inc. (ADRF) of Burbank, Calif., RoamingAround is now offering a public safety Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and dual band (VHF/UHF) repeater that works independently or on the same infrastructure as its popular RoamBOOST DAS for cellular networks. This digital filtering technology eliminates adjacent channel interference, making it possible for first responders and building tenants to have clear communications each time, every time.
http://www.roamingaround.com
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Technology NEWSSTAND

by: Dan Phillips
Recent headlines, from Dan Phillips

 

Introduction

HITEC is just 45 days away.  I really look forward to HITEC and have attended or exhibited at most of them since 1991. One thing I love to do is to walk the floor, if possible, on the Monday before the show.  I love seeing the booths coming together and anticipating the energy and bevy of activity that is just one day away.

Exhibitors, I expect to be amazed once again by your new developments and announcements.  I look forward to meeting new companies to the fray and hope to meet many longtime friends and colleagues as well.  I make it a point to walk the entire show, all aisles, at least once, if not twice over the three days.  I want to be drawn into booths by the presentation and relevance of the technology, and not so much by a barker selling wares.  I want to meet intelligent company representatives who first query and listen to me before pitching a spiel for the hundredth time.

Attendees, please, please not only attend the educational sessions but walk the floor too.  If you are well prepared you will have already scheduled vendor meets and booth visits, but I urge you to set aside time to walk with only the agenda to learn more, to learn about new and better ways of doing your business.  It is easy to spend time at the lavish, big booths, and there is nothing wrong with that, but there are a lot of 10’x10’ exhibitors that can offer you a lot of value too.

Often times, HITEC showcases the best this industry has to offer.  It is an inviting atmosphere catering to hoteliers and vendors alike fostering not only a trade of goods but also the sharing of knowledge and experience all under the common goal of making Hospitality a stellar, leading industry of the world.  I hope to see you in New Orleans.

I look forward to serving you,

Dan Phillips
Dare to Imagine
dphillips@dare2i.com  
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PIQUED DAN'S INTEREST

- Everything You Wanted to Know About the Hotel Industry’s Gripes Against OTAs
- Bots won't replace apps. Better apps will replace apps.
- STOP Selling to the Masses. Start by Creating Guest Personas
-  #AirbnbWhileBlack: How Hidden Bias Shapes The Sharing Economy
- Hotel Technology 2020: What Will the Hotel of the Future Look Like?
- And more stories…
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For more information on Piqued Dan's Interest for 05/06/16

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MARKETING/MANAGEMENT

- PolyU Study Finds High Proportion of Online Hotel Reviews Suspicious
- DER Touristik Announces Partnership with TrustYou: DER Hotel Brands Use The Global Feedback Platform
- Lodging Interactive Launches Live Chat Customer Service For Hotels
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For more information on Marketing/Management for 05/06/16

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REVENUE MANAGEMENT

- Orlando Hotels Adopt nSight to Gain Market Share
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Orlando Hotels Adopt nSight to Gain Market Share
nSight, a leader in online consumer shopping intelligence for hotels and destinations, recently signed 20 new hotel clients in the Orlando area. Despite an overall healthy market anchored by top global attractions, Orlando hotels continue to battle fluctuations from international travelers and rate competition in non-peak periods. Local hotels that use nSight’s predictive shopping data to make more informed digital marketing and revenue management decisions are seeing stronger rate growth and steadier demand.
http://www.nsightfortravel.com
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SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING

- MCOM Media Communications Integrates HOTstream with Delphi
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MCOM Media Communications Integrates HOTstream with Delphi
MCOM Media Communications, in collaboration with Newmarket, has released a new interface with the latest REST-based events API of Delphi sales and catering system. The integration allows the HOTstream system to receive data on events managed by Delphi and display relevant information on HOTstream displays seamlessly. The interconnection of the two systems allows HOTstream to have up-to-date information on events, and room scheduling information, advertisements and information so as to further enhance the guest experience.
http://www.mcoms.com, http://www.newmarketinc.com
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GUEST SERVICES

- GuestTek One of First to Receive Product Certification from the China Hospitality Technology Alliance
- Google Is Planning on Launching a Travel Assistant App
- Couples Resorts Chooses Intelity to Develop Brand-Wide Enterprise Mobile Guest Service Hotel App
- Hoteliers Name Kube Clock from Kube Systems Best Technology Product at HI Connect 2016
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For more information on Guest Services for 05/06/16

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PERSONALIZATION/GUEST EXPERIENCE

- In the Know Experiences Launches New Website to Inspire the Ultimate in Luxury Travel and Lifestyle Experiences
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In the Know Experiences Launches New Website to Inspire the Ultimate in Luxury Travel and Lifestyle Experiences
In the Know Experiences (ITKE), a luxury travel and lifestyle consultancy, unveiled its newly updated website – intheknowexperiences.com – which is now more informative and interactive than ever before with bookable trips and curated bespoke experiences that can be had at the tap of a finger. The new site offers information in three sections: travel, entertainment and corporate. In The Know Experiences was founded more than 10 years ago by husband and wife team, Lia Batkin and Seth Kaplan. They started the company based on their own travels, seeing a void in the industry for elevated personalized travel services that go beyond flight and hotel reservations.
http://www.intheknowexperiences.com/
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F&B/POINT OF SALE

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BACK OFFICE

- Data Plus Announces Partnership with Analytix Solutions
- FCS Partners with Neorcha to Offer Integrated Solution for Rotana Hotels
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Data Plus Announces Partnership with Analytix Solutions
Data Plus Hospitality Solutions, a supplier of hospitality-specific accounting software, has partnered with Analytix Solutions to offer its extensive range of outsourcing services to users of the Data Plus system. Analytix services include accounting and bookkeeping functions in addition to operational management reporting, easily accessed from their secure Web portal.
http://www.dphs.com
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FCS Partners with Neorcha to Offer Integrated Solution for Rotana Hotels
FCS Computer Systems (FCS) and Neorcha have partnered to deliver an integrated back-of-house and front-of-house solution for Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe. The integration of FCS' e-Connect with Neorcha's myHotel completes the service delivery cycle, making sure every service request is completed, along with status updates. 
http://www.fcscs.com
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TOP O' THE NEWS

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

- Hilton Worldwide Names CEO and CFO Appointments for Planned REIT
- b4checkin Appoints Peter J. Rogers, Jr. as Chairman of the Board
- Duetto Opens Office in Dubai, Names Hisham Diab Director of Sales for the Middle East and Africa
- Coral Hospitality Appoints Christopher Schaeffer as New President
- And more People on the Move…
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For more information on People on the Move for 05/06/16

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GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

- Odawa Casino Resort Boosts Efficiency and Guest Service with Comprehensive Agilysys Suite
- The Chattanoogan Hotel Personalizes Staff Productivity with Maestro PMS eLearning
- SkyTouch and Vantage Hospitality Group Sign Exclusive Deal
- StayNTouch Implements its Full PMS and Mobility Solution at The Inn at Dos Brisas
- Go Moment Announces Guest Texting Integration with RoomKeyPMS
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For more information on Guest Management Systems for 05/06/16

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RESERVATIONS

- SiteMinder Named Among Top 20 Technology Pioneers in Australia and New Zealand
- Hotelskanner.com Partners with DHISCO to Power New Booking Site
- eRevMax Boosts Hotel Online Revenue, Generates USD 1.9 billion in 2015
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For more information on Reservations for 05/06/16

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SECURITY

- CPH Studio Hotel Adopts Advanced Student Housing Security Technology with ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Mobile Access
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CPH Studio Hotel Adopts Advanced Student Housing Security Technology with ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Mobile Access 
Tech-savvy students in Copenhagen can access their accommodations using their smartphones, now that CPH Studio Apartments has adopted ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Mobile Access. As the property focuses on a younger demographic that expects the latest amenities and operations, CPH Studio Hotel needed to ensure that its services could satisfy the mobile device-oriented lifestyles of its student residents.  
http://www.assaabloyhospitality.com
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SUSTAINABILITY

- AccorHotels Releases Planet 21 Results, Unveils 2020 Commitments
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AccorHotels Releases Planet 21 Results, Unveils 2020 Commitments
AccorHotels recently released the results of Planet 21, its sustainable development program, and renewed its commitments looking to 2020. As part of a policy of progress and transparency, the group asked its customers for their views, updated its environmental footprint and assessed its socio-economic footprint for the first time to assess the challenges it faces and construct its new five-year program. This program reinforces some of the group’s fundamental commitments, such as curbing its environmental footprint, and identifies new objectives which dovetail with both the changes to the business model and its strategic priorities, such as food and beverage and the sustainable management of its property portfolio through HotelInvest.
http://www.accorhotels-group.com/en.html
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HOSPITALITY EDUCATION

- Professional Development Leads to Gold Achievement for Good Nite Inn Properties
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Professional Development Leads to Gold Achievement for Good Nite Inn Properties
California-based Good Nite Inns has become only the third hotel brand to have all of its properties designated as Certified Guest Service Properties. To earn this distinction, the company’s 12 properties trained employees with the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute’s Guest Service Gold^® program. All of the brand’s associates have earned the Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP^®) designation, earning each hotel the designation of Certified Guest Service Property.
http://www.goodnite.com, http://www.ahla.com
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PHILANTHROPY

- HFTP to Donate to the Children's Hospital of New Orleans with HITEC Helps
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HFTP to Donate to the Children's Hospital of New Orleans with HITEC Helps
Attendees and exhibitors at HFTP's 2016 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC^®) in New Orleans, La., will have the chance to give back to the local community via HITEC Helps, the event's annual social responsibility project. This year at the HITEC closing keynote, Thursday, June 23, a station will be set up for participants to fill attendee bags with all-ages arts and crafts supplies to be donated to patients at the Children's Hospital of New Orleans.
http://www.hftp.org, http://www.hitec.org
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MERGERS and ACQUISITIONS

- AccorHotels Achieves Antitrust Clearance of Proposed Acquisition of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International
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AccorHotels Achieves Antitrust Clearance of Proposed Acquisition of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International
AccorHotels announced that it has cleared all antitrust approvals in relevant jurisdictions, satisfying one of the closing conditions of the pending acquisition of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. As previously announced, the main next step to finalize this acquisition will be AccorHotels’ Extraordinary Shareholders meeting to approve reserved capital increase and Board representations for Qatar Investment Authority and Kingdom Holding. This meeting should be convened in the coming weeks. The transaction is expected to close mid-2016.  
http://www.accor.com
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You-Know-What

And now for you-know-what…

A priest was preparing a man for his long journey into the night.
 
Whispering firmly, the priest said, "Denounce the devil! Let him know how little you think of his evil."
 
The dying man said nothing.
 
The priest repeated his order. Still the dying man said nothing.
 
The priest asked, "Why do you refuse to denounce the devil and his evil?"
 
The dying man said, "Until I know where I'm heading, I don't think I ought to aggravate anybody."

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