March 06, 2020
Siegel Sez
Here we go … more thoughts on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Nope, I would rather leave that to the Center for Disease Control to keep us informed (
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html). But I warn you that I will add a link to the end that Mike Dickersbach posted on LinkedIn. The post said that maybe we need to balance our thoughts on the virus. From the business side we all are wondering what lies ahead especially after ITB Berlin cancelled three days out when many of the 160,000 attendees were already on their way to Berlin. Will more events be cancelled moving forward? Will attendance at some events be lighter? Will some exhibitors cancel their booths at upcoming tradeshows? Who can be sure what lies ahead? People do what they think is best for their businesses in all industries, not just the hotel and travel world.
Hospitality Upgrade has an event coming up in a few weeks, the Executive Vendor Summit which is being held in Nashville starting March 25. I bring this up because surprisingly, or maybe not that surprisingly when you think about it, this is going to be our biggest crowd ever. Then I thought what a great way to send a message. The event is for those who supply technology solutions to the hotel industry. Their success is dependent on the hotel industry being successful. I have always thought some lead and some follow, and I am glad that so many who will be joining us at EVS can be looked at as true industry leaders. We will make sure everybody knows who they are, and I encourage you to follow
Hospitality Upgrade as we get their thoughts on this segment of the industry and how they see the future. There are days that you can’t help but feel proud of what you do. We thank these leaders for their support and being part of our world.
As promised, here is Mike Dickersbach’s post, maybe the fear of COV-19 can be balanced a bit? Take a minute and read through it. I found it quite interesting,
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/amid-growing-coronavirus-cases-another-number-increasing-recoveries-n1148126 .
Now on the business side let me say that Doug Rice in his Definitely Doug blog that follows did a masterful job explaining how hotels get breached and more importantly the changes that are happening to have you avoid it happening to your business. I thought I knew this subject quite well, but I learned a lot from his explanation. Of course, then we follow Doug with the latest news in the world of technology for the industry and it is nice seeing such positive and interesting things happening. I encourage everyone to deal with today, but not forget to focus on the future. We have gone through times like this in the past and we will get through this also. Be positive, I know I will continue to be! See you at the end with one more try at you-know-what. Someday we will hit a home run!
Rich
Rich@hospitalityupgrade.com
Definitely Doug
Can Hotels Finally Secure Payment Data?
It was 12 years ago that the hotel industry first experienced a large breach of payment card data. Hotels and technology vendors have made very significant efforts since then, yet it is hard to identify a major hotel group that has NOT suffered at least one incident, and many breaches have been quite recent. Despite all the efforts, the
Verizon 2019 Data Breach Investigation Report says that the accommodation industry is still the most common victim for Point-of-Sale (POS) intrusions (and based on their terminology, this includes breaches of Property Management Systems as well as POS systems). As much as hotels have improved security, hackers have improved their own methods to keep pace.
Much of the industry’s improved security can be credited to the implementation of tokenization solutions. Hotel systems can replace sensitive payment card data with what is essentially a reference pointer (called a token) to the actual card data, which is itself stored securely, often on a third-party site. The tokens are useless to a thief, so POS and Property Management Systems (PMSs) that use tokens (and don’t otherwise touch payment cards) cease to be targets. Most of the larger hotel groups have implemented tokenization, many following approaches recommended in the
HTNG Secure Payments Framework for Hospitality. That framework was developed in 2011-12 and published in early 2013 after CIOs of several major hotel groups called on HTNG to develop a common industry approach to securing payment card data and identified the need for many of the solutions that have come to market since.
Tokenization efforts by hotel groups have focused mainly on the systems they manage themselves, usually including central reservations systems (CRSs) and loyalty databases and in many cases PMSs, but often excluding property-managed systems such as POSs and some PMSs. Vendors have stepped in to fill some of these gaps; many PMS and POS systems can now be deployed either without touching payment card data in the first place, or with support for tokenization solutions from various payment gateway providers.
Douglas Rice
Email:
douglas.rice@hosptech.net
Twitter: @dougrice
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/ricedouglas/
CORPORATE NEWS
- INTELITY Named Official Mobile and In-Room Technology Provider by Forbes Travel
- Sabre Announces Strategic Priorities Designed to Accelerate Growth
- Hotel Effectiveness Wins ALIS Tech Challenge and Named Hottest Technology in 2020
- Global Hotel Alliance Partners with Shiji Group to Bring Advanced Technology to Independent Hotel Brands Worldwide
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For more information on Corporate News for 3/6/2020
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- Clairvoyix Strategist Joins HSMAI as VP of Social Media
- Fuel Appoints Susan Spivey to the Role of VP of Business Development
- Leading Travel and Hospitality Consulting Firms Consolidate to Form PROVision Partners International
- IHG® Appoints Daniel Blanchard as New Chief Technology Officer
- Tourism and Hospitality Instructor Joins RoomKeyPMS’ Implementation Team
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For more information on People On The Move for 3/6/2020
GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- Hotels Worldwide Check into Cloud with Oracle
Hoteliers know they must deliver exceptional experiences to keep guests happy and loyal. To do so, hospitality brands are choosing Oracle Hospitality OPERA Cloud services to personalize guest experiences, offer new and innovative services and empower staff to provide guests with high-touch customer service anytime, anywhere.
www.oracle.com/hospitality
- Maestro PMS' Users Conference Is One of a Kind, Leverages a Culture of Innovation and Service to Deliver a High-Value Experience for Independent Operators
Maestro PMS had a record turnout at its most recent users conference in the world class city of Toronto. Maestro, the preferred hotel software system for independent operators, has educated and entertained its clients at its user conferences for over 15 years.
www.maestropms.com
RESERVATIONS & DISTRIBUTION
- The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, Sees Six-Figure Revenue from Partnership with ResortPass
What started as a way to fill a few pool loungers and cabanas quickly becomes a profitable new opportunity for an award-winning property that now offers a variety of daycation experiences to guests.
resortpass.com
REVENUE MANAGEMENT
- IDeaS Extends Platform to Encompass Total Revenue Forecasting Technology, Transforming How Hotels Plan and Budget
IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the world’s leading provider of revenue management software and services,
announced today IDeaS RevPlan™, a cloud-based module built to complement its flagship RMS products. The module is designed to take the pain out of budgeting and forecasting a hotel’s total business, including food and beverage outlets.
ideas.com
- YOTEL, Duetto Enter Tech Partnership
YOTEL, the innovative global hospitality brand for smart, tech savvy travelers, has
partnered with Duetto, a leading provider of cloud-based Revenue Strategy applications, to streamline its revenue processes and maximize profitability across its European operations.
www.duettocloud.com
- IDeaS Delivers Leading Guidance and Support to Hoteliers Facing COVID-19 Demand Disruption
IDeaS, a world leading provider of revenue management software and services, has
scheduled a webinar for March 10, 2020 as part of its continued efforts to aid its clients and the global hotel industry.
ideas.com
GUEST FACING TECHNOLOGY
- New Wayfinder for Digital Signage from Uniguest Will Revolutionize Guest Engagement
Uniguest, a leading hospitality engagement technology provider, announced the launch of Wayfinder. The Uniguest Wayfinder solution can be used with supported interactive digital signage displays, single-purpose tablets or digital whiteboards. Wayfinder is an extension of the Uniguest content solution that provides an interactive touchscreen map for guests.
www.uniguest.com
MARKETING
- Visrez Reaches 1,000 Clients Worldwide
Visrez has solved the problem of how to capture visual assets on-site and the company is widely regarded as one of the finest innovations of its kind.
www.visrez.com
- commingle:engage Provides Marriott Hotels Social Media Marketing & Brand Compliant TripAdvisor Guest Review Responses From $499
Marriott services include fully managed weekly postings on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter along with responding to all TripAdvisor guest reviews 7 days a week.
commingleengage.com
SALES & CATERING, GROUPS & MEETINGS
- UgoVirtual Event Platform Provides Robust Alternative to Onsite Meetings for Challenged Global Hotel and Travel Industry Event Planners
UgoVirtual, a comprehensive online platform designed to meet the growing virtual travel and event management/hosting needs of the global travel and hospitality sectors, is providing a timely alternative to onsite events that have come under scrutiny in light of recent global health concerns surrounding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
ugovirtual.com
BACK OFFICE
- High Hotels Maximizes Performance Forecasting, Business Intelligence and Data Management Efficiency with ProfitSword Partnership
ProfitSword, one of hospitality's premier developers of business intelligence and data integration software, has partnered with High Hotels to implement its ProfitSage operational and financial reporting platform at all properties that the hotel management company currently oversees.
www.profitsword.com
- Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort Expands Use of Clear Sky Software's Money-Saving Inventory Systems
Clear Sky Software, Inc.® announced today that The Atlanta Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort has expanded its use of Clear Sky Software’s money-saving inventory systems.
www.clearskysoftware.com
COMMUNICATIONS & INFRASTRUCTURE
- Radisson Fort Worth North-Fossil Creek Ensures Fast and Seamless Guest Wi-Fi Connectivity with Advanced Network Upgrade by Hotel Internet Services
Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service provider of internet services and solutions for the hospitality industry, has announced the successful implementation of an advanced Wi-Fi service upgrade at the Radisson Fort Worth North-Fossil Creek.
www.hotelwifi.com
FOOD & BEVERAGE
- Restaurants Serve Up Agility and Reliability with New Oracle Tech
The food and beverage industry is constantly challenged to meet changing demands without impacting great service. Some of these businesses need the flexibility to field a pop-up shop or food truck to extend their brands, while others must speed the ordering process to cut customer wait times. To help meet all these needs and more Oracle unveiled its new MICROS Workstation 625 and 655 Point-Of-Sale systems at Oracle Food and Beverage Connect.
oracle.com
OPERATIONS
- Sofitel London Heathrow Turn Around Their Daily Operations With Knowcross
Knowcross, a global leader in providing service quality and optimization solutions for hotels, is thrilled to share that Sofitel London Heathrow, has decided to implement the Knowcross platform to increase operational productivity and enhance the quality of guest service. This addition further reinforces the company’s position as the most preferred service quality management platform of hotels all across Europe.
www.knowcross.com
- Resort Collection Selects Full Beachy Product Suite to Enhance Guest Service and Improve Operational Efficiency at Its Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort
“Beachy understood precisely what was necessary to improve guest service, keep our service teams happy, and increase our revenue at the beach and pool by more than 250%,” said Paul Wohlford, Vice President of Business Development at Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort.
beachyapp.com
HUMAN RESOURCES
- Beekeeper and Whispr Bringing Augmented Intelligence to Frontline Workers
As a hospitality innovation leader, this operational communication company is shaping the future workplace for frontline workers by anticipating technological trends and developing real-world solutions with its partners
beekeeper.io
SECURITY
- Wood Hotel Selects ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions to Provide Guests and Residents with Latest in Security Access Technology and Design
ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions has announced the successful implementation of VingCard Essence Mobile-Access ready door locks at the newly constructed Wood Hotel in Brumunddal, Norway.
www.assaabloyglobalsolutions.com
HOSPITALITY EVENTS AND ASSOCIATION NEWS
- HFTP to Assist Postponed HITEC Europe Exhibitors
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), the producers of HITEC®, announced today that exhibitors and sponsors who were confirmed to participate in HITEC Europe 2020 will be offered a complimentary branding package for HITEC North America, scheduled for 15-18 June 2020, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
www.hftp.org
- HFTP Announces Postponement of HITEC Europe 2020
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), the producers of HITEC, announced that HITEC Europe 2020 has been postponed in response to the global uncertainty related to the Novel Coronavirus and its immediate impact on the hospitality industry. The event, which was planned for Mallorca, Spain 21-23 April, is Europe's premier hospitality technology event.
www.hftp.org
MARKET REPORTS
- Hotels Scrape Out Profit Growth in January Amid Coronavirus Concern
U.S. hotels eked out a 0.6% year-over-year increase in GOPPAR in January, but as the full scope of the coronavirus virus becomes clearer, subsequent months could put pressure on hoteliers to generate both top- and bottom-line growth.
www.hotstats.com
PIQUED OUR INTEREST
- More Conferences Canceled, Tech Companies Impose Travel Bans over Coronavirus Concerns
- Robots are Taking Over Hospitality Industry
- Personal Info of 10.6M MGM Hotel Guests Published on Hacking Forum
- Hotel Managers and Owners Be Warned – You are Responsible for Your Hotel’s Data Security
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For more information on Piqued Our Interest for 3/6/2020
You-Know-What
And now for you-know-what.…
In a crowded city at a busy bus stop, a woman who was waiting
for a bus was wearing a tight leather skirt.
As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt
was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the
first step of the bus.
Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver,
she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little,
thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg.
Again, she tried to make the step only to discover she still
couldn't. So, a little more embarrassed, she once again
reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more.
For the second time she attempted the step, and once again,
much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg. With a little
smile to the driver, she again reached behind to unzip a little
more and again was unable to make the step.
About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her
picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the
step of the bus.
She went ballistic and turned to the would-be Samaritan and
screeched, "How dare you touch my body! I don't even know who you are!'
The Texan smiled and drawled, "Well, ma'am, normally I
would agree with you, but after you unzipped
my fly three times, I kinda figured we was friends."