May 10, 2007

Siegel Sez

by: Richard Siegel

This is our first Siegel Sez for the month of May. In my book May doesn’t start until we get through the first Saturday which is Kentucky Derby Day. I didn’t attend this year, but I did watch. What a great race. Maybe someday I will have a horse running there. We can dream, right? You had to love that the winner, Street Sense had a jockey named Calvin Borel that was just an everyday jockey, not one of the big names in horse racing. Borel was very lucky since the horse has a very loyal trainer who from the beginning told him not to worry; the horse was his to ride. I love happy endings. Let’s hope we have our first Triple Crown Winner in nearly 30 years.

May is also the month that everyone seems to be focusing on HITEC (http://www.hitec.org). Vendors are getting ready to wow everybody in their booths, speakers are preparing what they are going to present in the sessions, and invites to different parties start arriving daily. I am not a big fan of Orlando for conferences, but history has proven that this location will guarantee record crowds. The success of Guestroom 2010 last year at HITEC and again at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (http://www.ihmrs.com) in November should once again be a big draw at HITEC. It was so cool to see something in our industry get national air time on television. I have had some exposure to a few of the things that might be coming into Guestroom 2010 this year and it is out there. I can’t wait to see the finished product. Are we really ready to have robots cleaning hotel rooms? Read Jon Inge’s opening comments about special recognition at this year’s HITEC. There really seems to be a new generation of technologist in the industry, but for those of us who have been around awhile, it is nice to see honors for some of those from the early days.

Maybe I am getting older. In the early days of HITEC it was predominantly technology and financial types who attended. These groups are still a big part of HITEC, but there are many more operations management and sales management types that make up the HITEC attendance today. With the many smaller shows and conferences, it is great to know that there is one place where everyone will be each year. Hospitality Upgrade is honored for many years now to be the Exclusive Affiliated Technology Publication for HFTP, the producers of HITEC. We always make sure this is a special issue, and I can assure you this one will be. Seven weeks to go until Orlando, I can’t wait.

Here now is the real reason we are, Jon Inge’s exceptional technology roundup of the last few weeks. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at “you-know-what.”

Rich@hospitalityupgrade.com

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Technology NEWSSTAND

by: Jon Inge
Systems News in Plain English from Jon Inge

Joyce Christmas, for three decades of coverage and promotion of hospitality technology as an author, editor and manager of The CKC Report, the industry newsletter published by Chervenak, Keane and Co.

Bill Duncan, for his work with hotel sales automation, helping grow Newmarket Software from a seven-person operation to a global software company, then founding Daylight Software to continue developing enterprise-level sales and catering systems.

Ed Hollinshead, for his contributions to hospitality systems development in designing the first automated room status system to use a computer display, followed by the Micor II and Micor III PMSs which were adopted by Marriott and Hyatt in the early 1970s, and for his technical leadership and guidance at Galler Hospitality Systems, CompuSolv, HIS, Fidelio USA and RezSolutions, and his service as an independent consultant.

Joe Marko, for his work throughout the industry, developing (at Sheraton) one of the industry's first sales office automation projects, introducing formal systems support positions at all Sheraton-owned North American properties, for his influence as product manager/sales manager for Micor and sales director for Philips Hotel Systems, and for introducing Fidelio to the Americas as founder, chairman and president of Fidelio USA.

Bill Sullivan, for his expertise in hospitality systems design and operations (especially in club software) over his 31 years at the DuPont Co., including duties as GM of the Hotel duPont, the DuPont County Club and the Playhouse Theater, and now as an instructor at the University of Delaware.
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Demonstrating that its workgroups are addressing fundamental integration challenges applicable across many different systems, HTNG is closing its gaming special interest group (SIG).  The gaming SIG’s participants will join the workgroups most relevant to their needs, setting up gaming-specific subcommittees within them as needed.
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RESERVATIONS

- AmeriTel Inns selects SynXis’ RedX
- Shula’s Hotel contracts with TravelCLICK for iHotelier and Hotelligence
- Online bookings for major brands still rising, per TravelCLICK's eTRAK 2006 report
- Pegasus Solutions acquires Travelport’s Wizcom
- Pegasus acquires GuestClick
- Lodging Interactive announces LodgiRez Internet Booking Engine
- Farecast and ITA Software win Innovator Awards at TravelCom Res-Expo
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For more on Reservations for 05/10/07

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REVENUE MANAGEMENT

- The Kessler Collection implements Intercrew Systems (ICS) revenue forecasting tools
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Orlando-based The Kessler Collection has implemented Intercrew Systems (ICS) revenue forecasting tools, RFT, for the nine independent hotels it manages in North America.  http://www.kesslercollection.com, http://www.intercrewsystems.com
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SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING

- Hilton announces formal rollout of E-Events online small meeting booking service
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Hilton Hotels Corp. announced the formal rollout of its E-Events online small meeting booking service, one year after the tool’s soft launch. The system allows groups of up to 25 people to reserve a block of hotel rooms, meeting space, audiovisual equipment and food and beverages in one non-negotiable package.  http://www.hilton.com
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F&B/POINT OF SALE

- InfoGenesis launches Secure POS Security Awareness Program with AmbironTrustwave
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InfoGenesis has launched its InfoGenesis Secure POS Security Awareness Program in conjunction with AmbironTrustwave.  The program will educate participants in the basics of payment card interface (PCI) and payment card best practices (PABP) compliance, evaluate participants' compliance preparedness through self-assessment and access to AmbironTrustWave's compliance solutions, and enable compliance through their PABP-certified POS product.  http://www.atwcorp.com, http://www.infogenesis.com
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SPA/GOLF/LEISURE ACTIVITIES

- SpaSoft 3.0.5 certified to link to Merchant Link’s siteNET Gateway
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PAR Springer-Miller Systems announced that its SpaSoft 3.0.5 spa management software now has a certified interface to Merchant Link’s siteNET Gateway for RetailXml transactions, which allows merchants to send credit card transactions over a secure high-speed Internet network.  The SpaSoft POS transmits RetailXml messages to Merchant Link, which translates them into the various host’s message formats and forwards them directly to those hosts for processing.  http://www.springermiller.com
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GUEST SERVICES

- Knowcross releases version 2.4 of TRITON guest request rapid-response system
- Hilton pilot testing Sight+Sound Rooms at Chicago O'Hare and San Francisco
- Vantage names iBAHN as a preferred HSIA provider for its 750 hotels
- HotelChatter releases list of the Best Wi-Fi Hotels for 2007
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For more on Guest Services for 05/10/07

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BACK OFFICE

- Fairmont Scottsdale Princess picks UniFocus’ Watson, R.M. labor management suite
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The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, Ariz. has chosen UniFocus’ Watson, R.M. labor management suite for forecasting, scheduling and reporting.  http://www.fairmont.com/scottsdale, http://www.unifocus.com
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ENGINEERING

- Mintek Mobile Data Solutions celebrates 20th year in business
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Mintek Mobile Data Solutions is celebrating its 20th year in business.  Founded as a reseller of bar code labels, scanners, printers and other devices, its first lodging WinTrack PM sale and installation was in 1999 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, Fla.  http://www.mintek.com
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

- Todd Davis honored as one of CIO magazine’s Ones To Watch
- Bob Post receives Illinois ITA’s CityLIGHTS CEO of the Year Award
- Michael Scott named director of network solutions, North America for ASSA ABLOY
- Art Staple to lead sales initiatives at Open Hospitality
- Brendon Weir joins IDeaS as director of sales, EAME
- Stephen Burke hired as vice president, product management at Knowcross
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For more on People on the Move for 05/10/07

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

- Northwind begins installing phase one of Maestro Web Connection
- World Web Technologies releases version 10.2 of WebRezPro PMS
- Wyndham rolling out KnightLite PMS to Knights Inn properties
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For more on Property Management Systems for 05/10/07

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COMMUNICATIONS

- NEC Unified Solutions releases UA5200 UNIVERGE Attendant call management application
- Hampton Inn in Belle Vernon, Pa. installs HSIA and a Mitel SX200 PBX from ITG Networks
- Mitel names ITG Networks as a North American channel partner
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For more on Communications for 05/10/07

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You-Know-What

And now for you-know-what…