April 24, 2008
Siegel Sez
by: Rich Siegel
Thank you. How often do we not thank somebody that we didn’t need to but we could have? When somebody thanks you for something that you didn’t have to be thanked for, doesn’t it make you feel great? Recently Jon Inge and I were thanked for creating Siegel Sez eight years ago to keep the world abreast of technology happenings in the industry. We would like to thank you, our readers, for allowing us to do Siegel Sez. The daily e-mail from Hotel Online is by every rating system out there the industry’s most popular daily e-mail, but every two weeks we take a break from the daily e-mail and do the Siegel Sez technology review. Thank you for allowing us to do this. Wow, that did feel good.
Keeping with the thank you mode for just a moment, I would like to thank Newmarket for inviting me to its annual Users’ Group at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas which everybody by now knows is my favorite hotel in Las Vegas. There is nothing I enjoy more than talking to those who are the actual users of the technology we write about. It gives you a totally different perspective. The Newmarket Users’ group was very well attended with lots of great social events to compliment the training and unique general sessions. Thanks again for inviting me with a special thank you to Elise Sherman from Newmarket who made sure my ability to pick winning horses in the Race Book at Red Rock remained an elusive goal.
Speaking of horse racing I am lucky enough to be attending the Kentucky Derby next weekend, the greatest weekend of the year for me. Instead of my staying at the outskirts of Louisville, this year I am staying at the Galt House which is one of those classic independent hotels, which in my eyes is what makes the hotel industry great. I can’t wait. If anybody is going to be at the Derby, let me know. There are great parties that surround the actual race and are as much the reason for going as the race itself. I am leaning toward the horse Big Brown, but will probably change my mind 10 times before the race.
Thank you HFTP for officially starting HITEC on Monday this year with the opening general session beginning on Monday afternoon and the very popular opening night reception also on Monday instead of the traditional Tuesday evening. But no matter when you arrive, don’t leave until Thursday late afternoon or evening. It looks like Scot Campbell from MGM MIRAGE’s CityCenter and I will be back to follow up last year’s packed closing session antics. Not sure what we will come up with to top last year’s event, but with the major organizations that rate hotels and allow traveler reviews being on the panel, how easy will it be to give these panelists grief? Pretty easy I think.
Finally, thanks for having Hospitality Upgrade for the 8th year as the exclusive affiliated technology publication for HITEC. If you are a vendor of technology and want to make sure every attendee along with our 29,000 readers in 101 countries knows who you are then contact Sharon Lee at 678-802-5304 or e-mail her at mailto:sharon@hospitalityupgrade.com. We are the only magazine inserted into every attendee registration bag. Having a great product is one thing, letting people know this is another. We would love to help.
Here now is Jon Inge’s technology review of the last two weeks. Jon’s review will get bigger and bigger as we near HITEC. It really is the event of the year now and it is great that the crowd has grown to include not just all the technology people, but also operators and marketing types that need technology to make their lives easier. 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
- Why is the software as a service model slow to take off for independent hotels?
---------------------------
A call from the vendor of a new SaaS-based PMS set me thinking about why this business model has been so slow to take off in this industry. Hotels don’t buy SaaS (software as a service) software up front or install it on property, they just access it over a network – usually the Internet – in return for a monthly fee per user or per hotel room.
As with any centrally hosted and supported system there are several advantages for the individual property, with software updates, backups and security all taken care of professionally by more highly skilled staff than could normally be afforded by a single hotel. There still needs to be some interface hardware at the property itself to coordinate links with phone systems, POS, etc. but the overall support effort is greatly reduced. Multiproperty organizations have adopted the centrally hosted model more readily, given that they see the added benefits of quick and easy access to consolidated guest data and to reports comparing their properties’ relative performances.
One objection mentioned is that hotels don’t like to keep paying for extensive periods of time to use their software, but this argument ignores the fact that they do keep paying the not-insignificant support fees for as long as it’s in use, and typical SaaS fees aren’t that much different. A bigger factor seems to be that hoteliers are more comfortable keeping possession of their software and guest data on property, despite growing evidence of the reliability of network connections. But I have to believe that it’s worth paying a steady fee to not have to worry about backups, software upgrades and anti-virus hassles.
What are your thoughts? I’d love to get some feedback on this. Drop me an e-mail at jon@joninge.com.
**
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- Broadband Hospitality appoints Gary Till and Richard Donnan as directors of business development
- Mike Devine hired to Squirrel Systems’ senior management team
- Bertrand Kientz hired as VP software development strategy for Amadeus
- VIZERGY hires Jennifer Myers as VP brand development, and Michelle Armstrong, Renee Still Day and Jay Waite as regional sales managers
- Steve Tipsword hired by ICE Portal as SVP business development and COO
--------------------------
For more on People on the Move for 04/24/08
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa opens with NORTHWIND’s full Maestro suite
- NORTHWIND offers live, Web-based on-demand one-on-one training sessions
- Chandler Inn Hotel picks NOVEXSYS’ Web-based PMS
--------------------------
For more on Property Management for 04/24/08
RESERVATIONS
- Microsoft buys Farecast
- Pegasus debuts next generation graphically oriented Web site
- AAHOA selects InnLink as preferred provider for central reservation services
- PhoCusWright study: travel agency channel still books 41 percent of all U.S. travel
- Pelican System to offer reservations packages on 2008 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Web site
- Amadeus combines three leisure technology businesses into one unit
- Venere.com signs partnership agreement with China’s Hubs1 distribution platform
- Search engine Bezurk.com adds FastBooking’s 3,700-plus hotel portfolio
- Travelport GDS acquires G2 SwitchWorks software modules for new agent desktop development
-------------------------------------------
For more on Reservations for 04/24/08
MARKETING/MANAGEMENT
- Starwood to use Standing Dog Interactive’s ReviewAnalyst to track consumer-generated hotel reviews, videos and images
----------------------------
Starwood Hotels and Resorts has ordered Standing Dog Interactive’s ReviewAnalyst, an online dashboard for tracking consumer-generated hotel reviews, videos and images on travel and social sites. Over 900 Starwood properties will be able to use ReviewAnalyst to analyze these reviews and see rating and ranking comparisons with their top three competitors.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com,
http://www.standingdog.com **
REVENUE MANAGEMENT
- IDeaS and Newmarket integrate Delphi 9.2 with IDeaS’ V5i 3.2
- Julian LeCraw & Company implements The Rainmaker Group’s revolution LRO
- Rainmaker Group celebrates 10-year anniversary
----------------------------
For more on Revenue Management for 04/24/08
SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING
- Southern Sun picks Newmarket’s Delphi MPE for two Middle East properties
- Newmarket appoints Wide Computer Systems as authorized Middle East reseller
- IDeaS and Newmarket integrate Delphi 9.2 with IDeaS’ V5i 3.2
- Greater Madison CVB contracts with MeetingMax for online housing
- Meeting Traveler magazine offers Cendyn’s MAD-Marketing as rapidReply Instant Quote
- BestCities Global Alliance selects UniFocus’ MEETINGScope
---------------------------
For more on Sales & Catering/Meeting Planning for 04/24/08
GUEST SERVICES
- Denver’s Jet installs first new Roomlinx In-Room Media & Entertainment system
- Roomlinx appoints Creative Hospitality Associates (CHA) as sales partner
- Rosen and LXR expand use of VSi BoardEZ boarding pass printers
- Eaglewood Resort & Spa installs FlyteBoard, FlytePass
- Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel and Yacht Club re-opens with GoConcierge
- Eleven Wireless announces ElevenPS self-service, business center multifunction laser printer
- Onity adds two new electronic in-room safe models, the OS200 and OS400
- Uniguest passes 2,000 customer mark
------------------------
For more on Guest Services for 04/24/08
ENGINEERING
- Sofitel contracts for wind-generated energy from Community Energy for all nine U.S. locations
------------------------------
Accor North America’s Sofitel Hotels has contracted to purchase wind-generated energy from Community Energy for all nine locations in the United States, in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs). This qualifies Sofitel as an EPA Green Power Partner, the first hotel chain to do so. The properties will buy a total of 1,527,000 kilowatt hours (kWhs) of renewable energy. In 2007 Accor North America's annual Earth Guest program of environmental initiatives included the planting of 20,000 trees (representing each Accor employee in North America), implementation of a 65-point environmental checklist at all properties and at the corporate headquarters, and donation of $375,000 to educational and charitable groups.
http://www.accor-na.com
**
F&B/POINT OF SALE
- ReServe Interactive awarded 2008 IQ Award by Small Business Times
- Fine Catering by Russell Morin upgrades to CBORD’s Foodservice Suite, EventMaster PLUS!
- Mountain Park Lodges upgrades to SquirrelOne, runs four properties on one server
- Squirrel appoints AM/PM Services its authorized reseller in Quebec
---------------------------
For more on F&B/Point of Sale
SECURITY
- Several properties installing Onity’s CodePro PIN code-based electronic lock system
--------------------
Several properties have begun installing Onity’s new CodePro PIN code-based electronic lock system:
- ResortQuest Northwest Florida is installing CodePro at several of its Navarre Beach resorts.
- Panhandle Getaways, based in Georgia, has chosen CodePro for its Florida high-rise condominium projects in Panama City, Destin and Fort Walton Beaches.
- Virginia-based Good Management, North Carolina-based Ocean Isle Beach and California-based Yosemite Region Resorts are all installing CodePro locks in properties ranging from the new Cambridge Cove at Bermuda Bay Resort to beachfront and mountain resort vacation homes.
http://www.onity.com
**
You-Know-What
And now for you-know-what…
A mother is driving her little girl to a friend's house for a play date.
“Mommy,” the little girl asks, “How old are you?”
“Honey, you are not supposed to ask a lady her age,” the mother replies. “It's not polite.”
“Well,” the little girl says, “How much do you weigh?”
“Now really,” the mother replies, “Those are personal questions and are really none of your business.”
Undaunted, the little girl asks, “Why did you and Daddy get a divorce?”
“That is enough questions, young lady, honestly,” the mother says.
The exasperated mother walks away as the two friends begin to play.
“My mom won't tell me anything about her,” the little girl says to her friend.
“Well,” says the friend, “All you need to do is look at her driver’s license. It is like a report card and it has everything on it.”
Later that night the little girl announces to her mother, “I know how old you are. You are 32.”
The mother is surprised and asks, “How did you find that out?”
“I also know that you weigh 140 pounds,” the little girls says.
The mother is past surprised and is shocked now. “How in heaven's name did you find that out,” she asks.
“And,” the little girl says triumphantly, “I know why you and daddy got a divorce.”
"Oh really," the mother asks, "Why?"
To which the little girl replies, “Because you got an F in sex.”