June 03, 2022
Siegel Sez
For those of us who have been around the hotel technology world forever there was nothing that made us wince quicker than the dreaded interface. Trying to get two systems from two different vendors (who often competed) to talk to one other was challenging to say the least. That was then, today if you aren’t easily having a multitude of systems easily sharing information then you need to read the Definitely Doug column that follows. There are so many options though I must admit the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) was eye-opening. It is nice that one of the vendors mentioned will be at HITEC Orlando in the E20X competition. This is definitely a great read this week.
There is some news from the Hospitality Upgrade world that we can now answer: it’s the question that we been asked so many times - Hospitality Upgrade’s 20
th CIO Summit will be held on September 7-9 at the very cool Loews Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, Calif. It is hard to believe this is CIO Summit No. 20. I remember how Tom O’Toole (who was the CIO at Hyatt Hotels at the time) inspired me to create the first summit. What a crazy journey this has been.
Now that we are in June the biggest event on everybody’s mind is HITEC (
www.hitec.org). The technology show of the year starts on June 27. It is nice that when HITEC finishes it will be the July 4th weekend. Usually everybody leaves HITEC absolutely drained, I know I do. Hospitality Upgrade and Hotel Online will be there. Please put booth No. 2111 on your list to visit. I am going to make a concentrated effort to spend more time in the booth this year, but that will be easier because I currently only have one knee that works. Of course, bum knee and all, one of the most enjoyable parts of HITEC are the evening parties and I believe there are more this year than ever. We have done a great job keeping track of them all so if you have any questions at HITEC about where and who is throwing them then come by our booth (or visit our website for a list of HITEC parties) and we will share our list. Who needs sleep for four days anyway?
Here now is the real reason we are here, the aforementioned column from Doug Rice. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you know what.
Hope to see you at HITEC! Orlando in June, who says dreams can’t come true!
😊
Rich
rich@hospitalityupgrade.com
Definitely Doug
Solving the Interface Puzzle (Part 2)
My
last column outlined the challenges of connecting hotel systems in order to exchange the data they need from each other. Where vendor-supported interfaces exist and do exactly what you need, they are usually the best way to get reliable performance. But in many cases, available interfaces may not meet your hotel’s particular requirements, they may not exist at all, or they may be cost prohibitive.
This week I will cover some alternative technologies for connecting systems, including how they work and some of the situations where they are most useful. To some extent, these technologies compete with each other (and with vendor-provided interfaces), but they are mostly good at different things, and the vendors I spoke with viewed the different approaches as more complementary than competing.
Traditional APIs
Most modern technology providers offer Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to facilitate connectivity to their systems. APIs vary greatly in terms of their architecture, reliability, speed, purpose, and functionality. Some vendors make them freely available to encourage third parties to connect, while others guard them closely and/or impose significant costs on the third parties, hotel clients, or both. Some vendors are happy to enhance interfaces to meet client needs at modest or even no cost, while others may charge fees that hotels may see as extortionate.
APIs provide a means for a third party to send or receive data to or from other systems, and many APIs can also initiate, amend, or close out transactions in another system.
The challenges of traditional APIs were covered in the
first installment of this article, so I won’t repeat them here. The upshot is that APIs can be excellent solutions if they meet your needs in terms of functionality, speed, and reliability. But this depends both on the capabilities of the API itself, and on the specific needs of your hotel or hotel group. Many standard APIs may meet those needs well and cost effectively. Others may not, in which case you will either need to engage the vendor to modify it, find an alternative connectivity solution, or live without. Most individual hotels and smaller groups have limited leverage over vendors or funding for custom development, so alternatives from one or more of the categories covered below may make sense.
Click here to read more of Doug’s column on Solving The Interface Puzzle (Part 2)
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- UpStay Bolsters North American Market Growth with Appointment of Dave Crory as Director of Business Development
Leading upselling solution provider taps expert hospitality technology veteran to direct expansion strategy and ensure alignment with regional hotelier needs.
www.upstay.tech
- Stayntouch Appoints Dan Hogan as Chief Product Officer to Enhance and Expand Industry’s Leading Cloud Technology Product Suite
Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems and guest-centric technology, announced the appointment of Dan Hogan as Chief Product Officer.
www.stayntouch.com
- HFTP Announces 2022 Inductees to the Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame: Jeff Bzdawka and Jeff Edwards; Honored at HITEC Orlando Next Month
The industry icons will be recognized for their influential role in advancing hospitality technology in a special presentation on June 28, 2022.
www.hftp.org
GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- Visual Matrix, A Leader In Advanced Hospitality Operating System Technology, Announced The Release Of A New Ebook
Visual Matrix, an industry-leading provider of advanced hospitality operating system technology, today announced it has released a new ebook focused on various property management system (PMS) features that are vital to improve guest service levels in today’s hotels. In an effort to shine a light on how hoteliers can future-proof their PMSs, hospitality professionals can now access, "Redefining the Role of the PMS in Hospitality Through Innovation and Collaboration."
visualmatrix.com
- The Shepherd Hotel Partners with APS to Bring an Extraordinary Idea to Life
The Shepherd Hotel is more than an up-and-coming hospitality brand. It’s an inspirational, purpose-driven company committed to providing exceptional guest experiences while changing the lives of an under-engaged portion of the population. The property has selected Above Property Services (APS™) as their technology partner to deliver an integrated, easy-to-use CRM and PMS designed to simplify hotel operations and create an empowered, inclusionary workplace.
www.aboveproperty.com
RESERVATIONS & DISTRIBUTION
- P3 Hotel Software Launches New $175 Per Month Booking Engine
Hotel software solutions provider P3 Hotel Software has opened a new frontier in the direct bookings market with the launch of new cost-efficient booking engine which can be rolled out in just one day.
www.p3hotels.com
REVENUE MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS
- Duetto Delivers New Rate Management Experience
Duetto, hospitality’s leading software as a service provider of revenue strategy solutions, announced today a series of new features for GameChanger, its award-winning revenue optimization application. The New Rate Management Experience (NRMX) features are designed to enable revenue teams to work more strategically, consolidating all rate publishing pages into one single, unified view.
www.duettocloud.com
GUEST FACING TECHNOLOGY
- Two Grupo Boldt Properties in Argentina Choose INTELITY to Transform Guest Experience
INTELITY®, provider of hospitality’s broadest guest experience and staff management platform, announced today a new deal with Grupo Boldt in Argentina to implement the INTELITY platform across two of its most popular casino properties. Los Silos Hotel at Casino Santa Fe and Melincue Casino & Resort, both in Santa Fe province, Argentina, will transform the in-room guest experience with INTELITY’s platform including smart-room tablets and GEMS®, INTELITY’s robust staff and guest management tool.
www.intelity.com www.boldt.com.ar
- Crave To Showcase Latest Innovations at HITEC’s 50th Anniversary in Orlando
Crave Interactive, a leading global hospitality technology company, announced today that the Crave team is attending HITEC Orlando in June to showcase their in-room guest experience platform alongside other top hospitality tech businesses.
crave-emenu.com
- Enseo Entertainment Experience E3 Delivers Platform Advancements & New Customer Tools, Rebrands as CORE by Enseo
Enseo, a premier technology services provider offering solutions in hospitality, senior living and education, announces the launch of CORE by Enseo, a rebrand of Enseo Entertainment Experience (E3), with upgrades including cutting-edge control and visibility through advanced tools.
www.enseo.com
MARKETING
- Introducing Cloudbeds Amplify: The Intelligent Digital Marketing Solution Driving More Direct Bookings for Independent Hoteliers
Cloudbeds, one of the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing technology provider, unveiled today the expansion of its hospitality platform with its newest solution, Cloudbeds Amplify. Set for release in early Fall, the comprehensive done-for-you digital marketing service leverages advanced technologies to optimize customers’ online presence, drive more direct bookings and increase revenue.
cloudbeds.com
- Zoox Smart Data Announces New Verizon Integration as Part of Most Recent Feature Updates
Zoox Smart Data (“Zoox”), an international provider of technological solutions that harness big data to build customer profiles from existing Wi-Fi networks, today announced it has added three new feature enhancements to its platform including a new Verizon integration. Additional features include enhanced marketing campaign functionality and expanded options for surveys.
www.zooxsmart.com
SALES & CATERING, GROUPS & MEETINGS
- Leading Management Company Columbia Hospitality Partners with SalesAndCatering.com to Deliver Next-Generation Sales Optimization Tools across 30+ Properties
Award-winning hotel management company leverages STS Cloud, ProposalPath, and RFP Forms to drive revenue, efficiency, and productivity across its expansive portfolio of hotels and resorts, golf clubs, distinctive venues, and more.
salesandcatering.com
COMMUNICATIONS & INFRASTRUCTURE
- Think Simplicity Selected as Preferred Telecommunications Vendor by Radisson Hotel Group Americas
Think Simplicity, a cloud communication technology provider of all-inclusive voice and chat solutions for the hospitality industry, announced today that Radisson Hotel Group Americas has selected its hosted cloud PBX and VOIP services to allow hoteliers across the Radisson Hotel Group Americas portfolio to easily work with a pre-approved telecommunication vendor.
www.thinksimplicity.com
OPERATIONS
- Cloud5 Communications Expands Contact Center Support for Millennium Hotels and Resorts to New Locations in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia
Global hospitality management and real estate group leverages Cloud5 contact center expertise to provide reservations and guest relations services to international guests.
cloud5.com
HOSPITALITY EDUCATION
- UniFocus Donates Knowcross Task Management Suite to the NYU School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality
The donation will further enhance the Tisch Center's Hospitality Innovation Hub in providing future industry leaders and entrepreneurs with access to advanced platforms offering real-world experience in solving hospitality's latest challenges.
unifocus.com
HOSPITALITY EVENTS AND ASSOCIATION NEWS
- HFTP Announces Participating Startups for Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) at HITEC Orlando and Winners for E20X at HITEC Dubai in 2022
Three innovative hospitality technology startups receive top awards during E20X competition at HITEC Dubai on May 25, just as eight startups are selected to pitch during the next E20X event at HITEC Orlando this June.
www.hftp.org
- Stayntouch and NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality to Unveil Results of U.S. Traveler Sentiment Survey at HITEC Orlando
Stayntouch, a global leader in cloud hotel property management systems and guest-centric technology, announced that it will release U.S. traveler sentiment survey results related to Attribute-Based Shopping (ABS) during a special panel discussion with the NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality at HITEC 2022 in Orlando.
www.stayntouch.com
MARKET REPORTS
- Amadeus Data Alert: Memorial Day 2022 On Track to Exceed 2019 Hotel Market Performance
According to Amadeus' Demand360® data as of May 15, 2022, occupancy is currently at 51% for the United States Memorial Day holiday weekend.
www.amadeus-hospitality.com
PIQUED OUR INTEREST
- Contactless Voice Technology Is Here to Stay; How to Properly Shop for Digital In-Room Assistants
- Digital Security a Key Concern for Hoteliers
- Developing Decentralized ID
- Hotels Develop VR "Twins" as First Step into Metaverse
- NoMo Claims U.S. First with NFT Hotel Stays
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For more information on Piqued Our Interest for 6/3/2022
And now for the You-Know-What...
Hello travel season!
