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July 12, 2018

Siegel Sez

by: Rich Siegel

I will keep my intro short because in our tech news opening this week Ron Hardin does a masterful job explaining how hotels are built today and how technology for these hotels are still built like it was yesterday. Talk about a disconnect. Of course, it is only his opinion, but it would be great if you read through the perspective and gave your opinion. You can email Ron at ron@ronhardin.net or me at rich@hospitalityupgrade.com. Everybody has an opinion and we can start this off by sharing yours. Let us know if Ron is onto something that needs to be shared.

The post-HITEC blues seems to be continuing for a great deal of technology folks. Then there is the summer vacation season which seems to have really kicked into high gear this July and makes the ability to connect with people so much tougher. It definitely is a different time of year for those of us in the technology world, but the more vacations going on the better it is for the hotel industry, right? Before we know it September is here and for Hospitality Upgrade we are proud to say our 18th CIO Summit is in view. We are on pace to have our biggest and best crowd ever in Seattle (www.hospitalityupgrade.com/ciosummit ). After that I get to speak to a bunch of money guys about the state of technology at the Lodging Conference in Phoenix, and then all of the back-to-back events through the end of the year kick in. Maybe I will actually make it to Dubai this year for HITEC Dubai instead of getting turned away at the airport again. That is something to look forward to – going to Dubai, not being turned away at the airport. Wish me luck.

Here now is the real reason we are here; the latest industry technology happenings lead off by the aforementioned Ron Hardin’s take on how the industry could be building a better hotel. This was discussed in my session at HITEC and this trend was eye opening to a lot of us. I am glad Ron was in the audience to help promote a better understanding for all. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you-know-what. Don’t forget, next weekend is opening weekend at Saratoga so once again the dream kicks in. We shall see.

Rich@HospitalityUpgrade.com

Introduction

by: Ron Hardin

Modular hotel construction is a thing. You can Google it. Marriott is doing it. IHG is doing it. CitizenM is doing it. I’m sure others are, too. It makes a lot of sense. Hotel rooms are standardized and repeatable. Henry Ford proved that mass production on an assembly line in a factory results in a better, more consistent product. For anyone who has ever lived through the birth of a new-build hotel, imagine the guest rooms being pre-fabbed in a nice dry, clean building, and the entire room – including furniture and finishes – being delivered to the site and stacked up like Legos. I had the pleasure of speaking at the ALIS Summer Update Dallas/Frisco conference this week. The half-day conference focused on hotel development, from an overview of the new construction pipeline from STR, to capital acquisition and on through new trends in construction, how to maximize ROI on technology, and capped off by a lively panel of hotel company CEOs. The panel discussion on hotel construction focused on modular building techniques and the implications for hotel development in the future. It’s too bad that the session on technology couldn’t touch on a modular, pre-fab technology infrastructure. Because there isn’t one. But there should be. Big operators with lots of IT resources (or lots of money) have made strides toward a highly standardized hotel IT ecosystem. But LOTS of operators – even many good-sized organizations – are still doing their hotel technology stacks from scratch at each property. In my humble opinion, they should be able to buy a pre-fab hotel network. HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation) was founded on a similar precept – that standards could be developed that would allow developers of different applications and platforms to build systems that could talk to each other without bespoke interfaces. It is a great idea, but it doesn’t go far enough. The pre-fab hotel network of the future (PFHNOTF), straight out of the box, wouldn’t allow anything to talk to anything else because the best security strategy is to always start with “deny all” and only allow just enough communications for things to work. The PFHNOTF would tentatively assign each device or application to a predefined virtual segment of the network and would request permission from an administrator to access other applications and resources. The administrator’s console would show all the devices and applications, and the allowed traffic between them. It would also show any attempted traffic that is not explicitly allowed. The PFHNOTF would also include a library of certified traffic rules provided by application vendors so that your network security administrator (or outsourced IT support provider) isn’t trying to build the rule set from scratch based on whatever documentation he may have received from the application vendor. And, going back to one of the original HTNG concepts, the applications would “compare notes” to see what information the other side needs, and present the negotiated information sharing plan to the administrator for approval and documentation. Just as better-engineered modular hotel rooms are built off-site and stacked and connected on-site, modular technology devices and applications should have more intelligent security and interoperability built in, so they can be “stacked” on-site with a minimum of wheel recreation on the part of your IT resources. Just my 2 cents.

Ron Hardin, CHTP
RonHardin.TECH Consulting
Ron@ronhardin.tech
**

Recent headlines, from Hospitality Upgrade

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

- Sean Fitzpatrick Takes the Reins as CEO of OTA Insight
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Sean Fitzpatrick Takes the Reins as CEO of OTA Insight
OTA Insight, a cloud-based data intelligence platform for the hospitality industry, announced the appointment of Sean Fitzpatrick as the organization’s next chief executive officer, effective immediately. Fitzpatrick will succeed Adriaan Coppens, the company's co-founder and previous chief executive officer, who has led the company since its founding in 2012 and played an instrumental role in growing OTA Insight into an industry-leading business intelligence provider that supports more than 30,000 hotel properties in 140 countries.
https://www.otainsight.com/
**

GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

- Silver Reef Casino Hotel Spa to Streamline Operations and Improve Guest Satisfaction with Agilysys Solutions
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Silver Reef Casino Hotel Spa to Streamline Operations and Improve Guest Satisfaction with Agilysys Solutions
Agilysys, Inc., a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, announced that the Silver Reef Casino Hotel Spa has selected a number of Agilysys solutions to streamline operations at their property in Ferndale, Wash. The management team has chosen to implement Visual One®, InfoGenesis® POS and Eatec® to help drive operational excellence while improving the guest experience.
http://www.agilysys.com/
**

RESERVATIONS

- Mangalis Hotel Group Adopts TravelClick’s Leading Reservations, Web and Media Solutions
- Scenic Hotel Group Adopts TravelClick’s Industry-Leading iHotelier® Booking Engine 4.0
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Mangalis Hotel Group Adopts TravelClick’s Leading Reservations, Web and Media Solutions
TravelClick, a leading global provider of data and revenue-generating solutions for hoteliers, announced that Mangalis Hotel Group, the African-born hospitality group with its dynamic innovative brands Noom Hotels, Seen Hotels and Yaas Hotels, has selected TravelClick’s award-winning Reservations (iHotelier®), Web and Media Solutions to drive more revenue and maximize direct bookings as Mangalis continues its rapid expansion across Africa.
http://www.travelclick.com/
**
Scenic Hotel Group Adopts TravelClick’s Industry-Leading iHotelier® Booking Engine 4.0
TravelClick, a leading global provider of data and revenue-generating solutions for hoteliers, announced Scenic Hotel Group, New Zealand’s largest locally owned hotel group, has adopted TravelClick’s award-winning iHotelier^® Booking Engine 4.0, part of TravelClick’s Central Reservations System (CRS).
http://www.travelclick.com/
**

REVENUE MANAGEMENT

- Duetto’s Michael Skinner Wins 2018 Rakuten Data Challenge at ACM SIGIR 2018
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Duetto’s Michael Skinner Wins 2018 Rakuten Data Challenge at ACM SIGIR 2018
Strategy Platform, placed first in the 2018 Rakuten Data Challenge and has been invited to present at the 2018 SIGIR Workshop on eCommerce, July 12 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The competition, organized as part of the 41st International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval, tasked data scientists with developing a large-scale taxonomy classification to accurately predict the category of hundreds of thousands of individual products in a sample e-commerce catalog.
http://duettocloud.com
**

GUEST SERVICES

- Intelity Celebrating a Decade of Hospitality Technology Development and Success
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Intelity Celebrating a Decade of Hospitality Technology Development and Success
Last month at HITEC Houston, Intelity began celebrating its 10-year anniversary. One of hospitality’s leading global provider of integrated mobile and in-room guest-engagement solutions, the company is reveling in an impressive list of accomplishments and numerous industry “firsts” that few technology companies can boast. Its innovative and in-demand technologies have won numerous industry awards.
http://www.intelitycorp.com/
**

MARKETING/MANAGEMENT

- Cendyn is Europe’s Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider & Data Driven Marketing Agency 2018 as Voted by Prestigious World Travel Awards
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Cendyn is Europe’s Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider & Data Driven Marketing Agency 2018 as Voted by Prestigious World Travel Awards
Cendyn, a leading provider of hotel CRM and hotel sales platforms in the hospitality industry, has been voted as Europe's Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider and Europe's Data Driven Marketing Agency, 2018. The prestigious World Travel Awards recognizes companies, organizations, and brands that push the boundaries of industry excellence.
https://www.cendyn.com/
**

BACK OFFICE

- Beekeeper Improving Guest Service and Guest Satisfaction Scores at the Watergate Hotel
- Guestware Delivers the Personal Touch for Radisson Blu Hotel, Bucharest
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Beekeeper Improving Guest Service and Guest Satisfaction Scores at the Watergate Hotel
In addition to completing an extensive $200 million renovation, the iconic Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., is making a big investment in its employees by adding the Beekeeper digital workforce communication platform. With 280+ workers responsible for delivering the ultimate guest experience, the hotel needed game-changing technology to ensure that service standards were at peak performance and employee morale remained high.
http://www.beekeeper.io/
**
Guestware Delivers the Personal Touch for Radisson Blu Hotel, Bucharest
Radisson Blu, Bucharest, a luxury five-star hotel featuring 487 guestrooms and suites, has selected Guestware to connect the property teams and track all operational incidents and guest requests. Guestware is a leading cloud-based guest-service and rapid response solution provider for hotels and resorts.
http://www.guestware.com/
**

PAYMENT PROCESSING

- Shift4 Payments and Megasys Hospitality Solutions Announce EMV-certified Hospitality Solution
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Shift4 Payments and Megasys Hospitality Solutions Announce EMV-certified Hospitality Solution
Shift4 Payments, a leader in secure payment processing solutions, and Megasys Hospitality Solutions, provider of the Portfolio HMS solution, announced the general availability of their joint EMV-certified complete payment solution for full-service, multi-property hotels, resorts, conference and retreat centers and park lodges, cabins and campgrounds.
http://www.shift4.com/, http://www.megasyshms.com/
**

SECURITY

- Hotel Magnolia Adopts Latest Standards in Security and Guest Convenience with Implementation of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Solutions
- Newly Renovated Silversmith Hotel Teams Up With OpenKey For A High-tech Guest Experience
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Hotel Magnolia Adopts Latest Standards in Security and Guest Convenience with Implementation of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Solutions
Hotel Magnolia, a luxury property located in a historic mansion in downtown Santiago, Chile, and winner of UNESCO's Prix Versailles 2017, has partnered with ASSA ABLOY Hospitality to implement state-of-the-art security and maximize guest convenience with the installation of VingCard Classic RFID door locks.
http://www.assaabloyhospitality.com/
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Newly Renovated Silversmith Hotel Teams Up With OpenKey For A High-tech Guest Experience
In the heart of the Windy City guests of the refined Silversmith Hotel can enjoy a high-tech experience, starting with a seamless keyless check-in process from OpenKey’s innovative technology. OpenKey is a leading mobile access solution in hotels.
http://www.openkey.co
**

HOSPITALITY EVENTS

- HFTP to Host Inaugural, Invitation-Only Club Forum in Sarasota, Florida This Month
- Just Enter: Now Accepting Entries for 2018 HSMAI Adrian Awards
- Lodging Econometrics’ Patrick H. Ford to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 24th Annual The Lodging Conference in Phoenix this September
- Angie Hospitality to Participate in Industry Expert Tech Panel at NoVacancy Expo in Sydney
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For more information on Hospitality Events for 07/12/18

PIQUED OUR INTEREST

- Wi-Fi security is starting to get its biggest upgrade in over a decade
- New 'eBay for travel' lets you buy people's unwanted holidays
- California Just Passed the Strictest Online Privacy Bill in the Country
- Ticketmaster Data Breach Could Equal GDPR Fines in Millions
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For more information on Piqued Our Interest for 07/12/18

You-Know-What

And now for you-know-what …

The doctor said, "The good news is I can cure your headaches. The bad news is that it will require castration. You have a very rare condition which causes your testicles to press up against the base of your spine and the pressure creates one hell of a headache. The only way to relieve the pressure is to remove the testicles."

Joe was shocked and depressed. He wondered if he had anything to live for. He couldn't concentrate long enough to answer, but decided he had no choice but to go under the knife. When he left the hospital, he was headache free for the first time in over 20 years, but he felt as if he was missing an important part of himself. As he walked down the street he realized he felt like a different person. He could make a new beginning and live a new life. He saw a men's clothing store and thought, "That's what I need, a new suit."

The elderly salesman eyed him quickly and said, "Let's see, you're a size 44 long."

Joe laughed and said, "That's right, how did you know?"

"Been in the business 60 years!"

Joe tried on the suit. It fit perfectly. As Joe admired himself in the mirror, the tailor asked, "How about a new shirt?" Joe thought for a moment and then said, "Sure."

"Let's see, 16 and a half neck, 34 sleeve."

Joe was surprised. "How did you know?"

"Been in the business 60 years." The shirt fit perfectly.

As Joe looked at himself in the mirror, the salesman said, "You could use new shoes."

Since Joe was on a roll, he said, "Sure."

The man eyed Joe's feet and said, "9-1/2E."

Joe was astonished. "That's right. How did you know?"

"Been in the business 60 years." Joe tried on the shoes and they also fit perfectly.

As Joe walked comfortably around the shop, the salesman asked, "How about new underwear?"

Joe thought for a second and said, "Why not."

The man stepped back, eyed Joe's waist and said, "Let's see, size 36."

Joe laughed. "Finally I've got you! I've worn size 32 since I was 18 years old."

The tailor shook his head. "You can't wear a size 32. Size 32 underwear would press your testicles against the base of your spine and give you one hell of a headache.”

**