June 30, 2006

Siegel Sez

by: Rich Siegel

Was there a love fest in Minnesota last week? Did the 4,700 attendees at HITEC all fall in love with the city of Minneapolis? It sure seemed that way. There was a great convention center, most hotels were within walking distance of the venue and there was an area of the city called Nicollet Mall with numerous bars and restaurants where many of the show attendees could be found throughout the week enjoying the spectacular evenings. The many parties had a wide range of establishments to choose from and all were fabulous. What a great choice to hold HITEC, I am sold on this location.

Personally I had some very moving moments during the show. My favorite was having the honor of introducing Jon Inge as this year’s second inductee into the HFTP Technology Hall of Fame. To do it following John Burns’ induction made it an even more special moment. Two great choices and both great friends, it was almost magical for me. Of course, that was quickly balanced out when the speaker after the ceremony picked me out of the audience to embarrass. Sure, ask the guy with the most screwed up personal life what women expect from a man. Just shoot me. But it was fun and the large crowd did seem to enjoy it. Connie Podesta was a great speaker and quite funny. Yes, I am a squiggly line and am proud of it.

My second favorite moment was how successful the Ask the Experts session went over this year. I moderated this session and threw a surprise to the panelists and audience by bringing in some unique experts to compliment the panel. Our 19-year-old college student Peter shared his vision of the hotel industry, how he books rooms and his expectations. When I asked him what he considered a luxury hotel and he answered where the people are friendly you should have seen all the heads shaking in the audience. We all learned a lot from him. My second expert was 70-year-old Gabi. Gabi is not computer literate and when I asked her how she contacts hotels she visits and she answered that she takes the time to hand write a letter and mail it, the audience busted out in applause. Peter and Gabi really added to the session. Thanks to Doug Koontz from Morgans Hotel Group, Nick Price from Mandarin Oriental Hotels, Michael Schubach from Club Resorts, and consultants Jon Inge and Mark Ozawa for putting up with my shenanigans.

Guestroom 2010 was a great success. Hospitality Upgrade was proud to be a media sponsor along with Lodging Magazine. The real accolades should go to IBM for being a great sponsor and HFTP for putting it together. It was unique, creative and easily elevated the whole HITEC experience. I just loved the bed. The success of this endeavor is because of both parties.

Finally, I need to ask a favor which I try to avoid doing via Siegel Sez. We launched a brand new Hospitality Upgrade Web site last week, the first new one in many, many years. If you would take a moment and click to http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com and share some comments with us it would be much appreciated. Actually you should visit anyway because we have included some pretty embarrassing pictures from the many parties at HITEC. You can also watch the news clip from the NBC affiliate in Minneapolis that reported on the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news about Guestroom 2010. You can find the pictures and the news clip on our Web site under the Cool New Stuff section.

Sorry this was so long but after all, this is our post HITEC Siegel Sez. Here now is the real reason we are here, the great technology review from the recently embarrassed Jon Inge. 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

mailto:jon@joninge.com

-An excellent HITEC, and kudos to Minneapolis
- HTNG demonstrates six new systems integration links
- Need for technology catch-up identified as one of four transformative
issues facing hospitality industry
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For more on Top of the News

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

- Clive Taylor joins EasyRMS as director of sales and operations
- Kimberly Enright hired as marketing director at Certain Software
- Bill Oates named to Passkey’s board of directors
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Clive Taylor has joined EasyRMS as director of sales and operations.  Mr. Taylor has over 10 years in the hospitality industry, serving most recently as CIO for Extended Stay Hotels and in various IT oversight roles for the Blackstone Group’s other properties including the Boca Resorts.  He was earlier IT director with The Savoy Group in London.
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Kimberly Enright has been hired as marketing director at Certain Software.  Ms. Enright brings more than 20 years of experience in enterprise sales, marketing and business development, most recently in developing marketing programs for top Silicon Valley technology companies.  Earlier, she had managed global alliances and product marketing at Siemens, served as vice president, marketing and alliance development at Zacson
Corp., and held several positions within IBM’s sales and marketing departments.
**
Bill Oates has been named to Passkey’s board of directors and head of its technology committee.  The former senior vice president and chief information officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Mr. Oates held a number of posts at ITT Sheraton and Starwood as he progressed through the information technology organizations during his 25 years of experience as an IT professional.
**

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RESERVATIONS

- TravelCLICK introduces iStay, upgraded version of OneScreen Web booking engine
- TravelCLICK introduces RateADVISOR rate recommendation tool
- West Paces Hotel Group to implement TravelCLICK’s iHotelier CRS
- Kahala Hotel and Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii, selects TravelCLICK’s iHotelier CRS
- Dorchester Group orders Serenata link between Voyager CRS and Fidelio PMSs
- Trust.Wizcom implements Web services interface between Voyager CRS and IDeaS RMS
- InnLink CRS announces multiple enhancements
- LeisureLink selects Eydeas’ Connect system to link to vacation rental property companies
- Booking Booster to release online portal for managing multiple extranet partners
- SynXis partners with Nirvana Technology for single itinerary booking of rooms and activities
- SynXis releases version 5.0 of RedX Distribution Management System
- SynXis announces Property Connect and Channel Connect integration products
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For more on Reservations for June 30, 2006

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MARKETING/MANAGEMENT

- Agilysys announces Cognos-based Hospitality Business Intelligence system
- BDL Hotel Group implementing Serenata’s NetHotel and @mail
- TravelCLICK announces paid search with continuously optimize key word selection
- Grand Heritage Hotel Group implementing Clairvoyix’s database marketing application
- Clairvoyix upgrades its Knowledge Factory (CKF) and Hospitality Solution (CHS)
- Ginn Clubs and Resorts installs Datavision at all clubs and resorts and the corporate office
- Great Wolf Resorts installs Datavision at all locations
- Meyer Jabara Hotels orders Cendyn eConnectivity middleware for 24 hotels plus call center
- Peabody Hotels implements UniFocus’ GUESTScope at three properties
- Cultuzz GmbH contracts with Leonardo for rich media content for hotels on eBay Travel
For more on Marketing/Management for June 30, 2006

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REVENUE MANAGEMENT

- TravelCLICK introduces RateADVISOR rate recommendation tool in collaboration with IDeaS
- IDeaS releases version 3.0 of Revenue Optimization system
- IDeaS implements Web services interface with Trust.Wizcom Voyager CRS
- Manugistics rolls out Unconstrained Demand Forecasting pricing optimization tool
- Manugistics acquired by JDA Software Group
- Dorchester Group Hotels implement EzRMS at three properties
- Ritz London implements EzRMS’ Internet Product Suite
- Coral Beach Hotel & Resort becomes EzRMS’ first client in Cyprus
- Intrawest deploying HBSI’s Demand Management at 11 resort properties
- SynXis offering revenue management services to RedX customers
- Xotels launches Online Revenue Management Community and Forum
For more on Revenue Management for June 30, 2006

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F&B/POINT OF SALE

- Louvre Hotels to deploy MICROS 3700, mymicros.net and OPERA in 210 hotels
- Squirrel and HIS to provide more seamless integration between POS and PMS systems
- Treasure Island chooses Capton’s Beverage Tracker system for all casino bars
- Capton partners with Lone Tree Technology, releases POS Integration Module
- Peabody Hotel Group upgrades HSI Profit Series POS at properties in Memphis and Orlando
For more on F&B for June 30, 2006

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GUEST SERVICES

- Four Seasons Hotel in Miami installs Tiare’s intelliChaise Personal Ordering System
- Peninsula Hotels select Tangerine Global for HDTV entertainment services
- Mandarin Oriental expands Tangerine Global service to include three more hotels
- LodgeNet launches 'Easy HD' program to help hotels transition to HD TV systems
- LodgeNet launches Entertainment 2Go service for fast, legal movie downloads to guest PCs
- LodgeNet developing guest connectivity center to link portable media devices to HD displays
- GBCblue partners with IKON and Canon to offer COPIERblue self-service digital copy/fax units
- Asoka USA releases 85Mbps Powerline Network system
For more on Guest Services for June 30, 2006

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BACK OFFICE

- Aptech updates Web-based Data Manager multiproperty data consolidator
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Aptech Computer Systems has released an update of its Web-based Data Manager application, which streamlines data gathering from properties with various front office and back office systems that do not interface with their chain or corporation financial application.  Data Manager uses Web templates to capture each property’s daily operating information regardless of the front office system, then transfers the data to the back office system for posting.  Interfaces have been written for third-party systems such as J.D. Edwards, Epicor and other non-Aptech applications. www.aptech-inc.com
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ENGINEERING

- Loews to install Mintek’s WinTrack PM preventive maintenance system in 18 properties
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Loews Hotels has contracted with Mintek to install the WinTrack PM preventive maintenance (PM) system in 18 of its properties in the United States and Canada.  www.loewshotels.com, www.mintek.com
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SECURITY

- Safemark named a preferred vendor of guest room safes for Loews Hotels
- Onity announces new ADVANCE by Onity locking system, a two-piece design
- VingCard Previews its Coming Attraction: Signature RFID
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For more on Security for June 30, 2006

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

- Inn-Client Server Systems (ICSS) unveils “atrium” PMS
- OSIB Operations Holdings orders AltiusPAR’s software suite for Europe-based hotels
- AltiusPAR announces RFID-based products for data collection and analysis
- Riptide Software releases Web-based resort management system
- SoftBrands adds Web booking engine to its Medallion PMS
- SoftBrands integrates Serenata @mail e-mail correspondence product with all four PMSs
- SoftBrands adds UK-sourced Cerenity Spa system to product range
- SoftBrands claims one PMS sold each working day, worldwide, for six months
- MSI releases Web-booking engine for WinPM system
- MSI releases Place Point touch-screen point-of-sale system
- MSI releases Pocket Concierge remote checkin/checkout handheld PDA
- MSI updates WinPM interface to NCR’s Express checkin/checkout kiosks
- MSI to use Pegasus’ Scottsdale Data Center as hosting facility for ASP-based systems
- MSI celebrates its 15th year in business
- Louvre Hotels to deploy centralized MICROS OPERA and 3700 POS in 210 hotels
- Pestana implements MICROS’ OPERA PMS at 23 properties in Portugal
- TWELVE Hotels and Residences selects OPERA, first system installed in Atlantic Station
- MICROS Systems ranked in three magazines’ fastest-growing lists
- Hotel Concepts announces Smart Client .net 2.0 version of Web-based Enterprise System
- Hotel Concepts awarded Gold Certified Partner status by Microsoft
- Festival Inns selects centralized HIS epitome.NET and core for nine Edinburgh properties
- base2stay selects centralized HIS’ epitome.NET and core for London properties
- HIS and Newmarket enhancing integration between epitome and Delphi
- HIS and Squirrel partner for seamless integration of PMS and POS systems
- HIS’ distributor for Eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS announces new implementations
- HIS establishes direct office in New Delhi, India
- REMco Software releases two-way interface with InnLink’s CRS
- UK’s Warren House orders Visual One’s integrated front office, sales and catering systems
- Visual One announces Visual One DB graphical dashboard add-on for PMS
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For more on Property Management for June 30, 2006

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SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING

- iBAHN launches wireless Conference PC
- Wolfgang Puck selects ReServe Interactive as preferred catering and events software vendor
- Carlson goes live with Newmarket’s MeetingBroker Web-based lead management system
- Newmarket and HIS enhance integration between Delphi and epitome
- Warren House orders Visual One’s integrated front office, sales and catering systems
- Competitive Marketing Exchange launches online version of Readerboard
- Certain Software releases Version 4.6 of its Register123 meeting management system
For more on Sales and Catering for June 30, 2006

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SPA/GOLF/LEISURE ACTIVITIES

- Nirvana partners with SynXis to let travelers book activities in conjunction with guest rooms
- SoftBrands adds Cerenity Spa system to product range
- HIS integrates Envision Spa Management and Active Golf Solutions software into epitome PMS for single-itinerary booking with guestrooms
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Nirvana Technology has partnered with SynXis to allow travelers to book activity-based reservations (spa services, dining, transportation, golf, fitness, tennis, etc.) in conjunction with guest rooms in a single itinerary.  www.nirvana-technology.com, www.synxis.com
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SoftBrands has added the Cerenity Spa system to its product range, a version of the UK-based Premier Spa system used by more than 1,300 clients. www.softbrands.com
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Hotel Information Systems has integrated Ennoview, Inc.’s Envision Spa Management System and Active Golf Solutions golf and activity software into the epitome PMS, so that reservation agents can book spa, golf and other activities while making a room or package reservation.  All bookings are added to the guest’s itinerary and can be e-mailed; cancellations in one system notify users if linked bookings exist in the others. 
www.ennoview.com, www.activegolfsolutions.com, www.hotelinfosys.com
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You-Know-What

And now for you-know-what…

A furniture dealer from a small town in the mountains decided to expand the line of furniture in his store, so he decided to go to Paris (France, not Paris, Tennessee) to see what he could find. After arriving in Paris he met with some manufacturers and selected a line that he thought would sell well back home.
 
To celebrate the new acquisition, he decided to visit a small bistro and have a glass of wine. As he sat enjoying his wine, he noticed that the small place was quite crowded, and that the other chair at his table was the only vacant seat in the house.