December 02, 2022
Siegel Sez
I was honored to be invited to the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association’s Second Annual Hotel Tech Conference this week in Las Vegas. It was a great event with an excellent educational program and the attendees and exhibitors were a great mix of those from the hotel and gaming worlds. It is amazing how little we use cash today and the hotel industry has been actively trying to address cashless since so many employees rely on tips. Rick Hutchins who is the SVP of Casino Operations for Resorts World shared how their casino is going cashless for slot machines and table games. Maybe it is me, but if someone has been gambling and not having any luck, that walk over to the ATM (with their outrageous fees) might give one time to think, do I really want to do this? Holding your phone up to a slot machine might be a bit too simple, but then again maybe that is me and I don’t own a casino. The conference had great support from attendees and exhibitors which made for a great time in Las Vegas. Now, if I could only win my football parlay card. A big thank you for the invitation goes to Shannon McCallum, the VP of Hotel Operations for Resorts World, who spearheaded the conference and who is also the co-chair for the HITEC Advisory Council.
Doug Rice in his Definitely Doug column that follows does his annual look back at our tech world for 2022. As often is the case with Doug, it is a bit controversial but that is what makes the column so popular. It’s hard to believe it’s now the last month of the year and if you think about expectations back in January and where we are today it might make your head spin. But there is so much positive energy and most in the know will tell you that the future looks good. What a crazy ride it has been for the hotel industry.
I will be in Miami next week at HT-Next which should be interesting with the upcoming changes in the tradeshow world for the industry. It looks like HT-Next is going to have a great crowd based on so many people reaching out asking me if I will be there. It had better be warm in Miami!
Here now is Definitely Doug and the latest happenings in the tech world for the hotel industry along with his look back at 2022. I will see you at the end with this week’s attempt at you-know-what. Now I am off to cheer Portugal in the World Cup, the greatest worldwide sporting event in existence.
Rich
rich@hospitalityupgrade.com
Definitely Doug
2022 in Review
As December begins, we can reflect on a year in which quite a bit happened in the hotel tech space. A year ago, we were still contemplating whether and when a full industry recovery from the pandemic would happen. Now the debate has shifted, as many sectors of the industry have recovered, but with structural changes evident. Hybrid workplaces, work-from-anywhere, and greater use of video conferencing in place of many face-to-face meetings, all appear to be part of the new reality. The hotel and lodging accommodation industry are adjusting, albeit in fits and starts. Leisure and blended travel are very strong, conferences and trade shows are returning, but business travel is weaker.
What were the key events and trends in hospitality technology over the past year? Here are several key trends, and a few one-offs.
Property Management Systems
Consolidation of legacy companies continues in the PMS market even as new entrants continue to pop up every day. Last December, IQware acquired Megasys, and then in April, Fullsteam swallowed both companies. In January, Agilysys bought ResortSuite.
What is perhaps more interesting is to watch the progress of some of the newer breed of PMS companies. Cloudbeds, which has historically focused on boutique accommodations and is still largely invisible in the mainstream market, raised a whopping $150 million a year ago, and is using it to methodically expand into new markets. Forbes named it one of America’s best startup employers for the second consecutive year, and it received four of the top honors from 2022 Hotel Tech Awards. In July, it acquired the guest-messaging platform Whistle.
It is also hard not to notice the progress Mews has made, especially in the large middle market. Mews has more than doubled its staff to nearly 600 in the past 15 months according to LinkedIn, which would make it the world’s fourth largest PMS company. And at a smaller scale, Stayntouch continues to penetrate into the upscale sector, a market where few companies its size have successfully stolen much business from market leader Oracle Hospitality.
Click here to read more of Doug’s column 2022 in Review
Douglas Rice
Email: douglas.rice@hosptech.net
Twitter: @dougrice
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ricedouglas
2022 in Review
CORPORATE NEWS
- Irish Hotel Tech Pioneer Joins Forces with US Private Equity Backed Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR)
Irish hotel tech pioneer Avvio is joining forces with US private equity backed Sceptre Hospitality Resources (SHR). The move brings together two of the industry’s most dynamic, entrepreneurial companies and follows Serent Capital’s investment in SHR in 2020. Serent Capital sponsored the acquisition of Avvio through SHR to create a technology powerhouse for independent hotels and chains with unrivaled customer support across the world.
www.shr.global.
- Agilysys Brings Its Market-Leading Hospitality Cloud Solutions to Hotel Operators in the Middle East
Agilysys, Inc., a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions that deliver High Return Hospitality, today announced it is bringing its Agilysys Hospitality Cloud solutions to the Middle East. The company now has hired Hussein Tawalbeh to lead Agilysys’ Middle East and North Africa (MENA) operations from Dubai UAE.
www.agilysys.com
- Quore Celebrates 10 Years Helping Hotels Embrace Technology, Create Efficiencies, and Operationalize Accountability
Quore, a leading provider of workflow management and productivity tools for hotels, celebrated its 10th anniversary and passed the milestone of 5,600 hotels served.
quore.com
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- Mark Pierce Joins UrVenue as VP of Finance
UrVenue, pioneer of hospitality industry’s first official Property Experience Management System (PXMS), names Mark Pierce VP of Finance. With more than 25 years of progressive finance and accounting experience in both the public and private sectors, Pierce is tasked with increasing profit margins and managing cash flow for the rapidly growing technology company.
urvenue.com
- CyberTek MSSP Announces the Addition of Sean Remedios as Vice President of Sales
CyberTek, an award-winning Managed Security Service Provider that delivers advanced on-demand remote management and IT security services, today announced the hiring of Sean Remedios as its Vice President of Sales. The addition of Remedios to the sales leadership team brings deep hospitality experience to CyberTek’s current IT expertise, allowing the company to continue to provide exceptional service that meets customer needs.
www.VENZAgroup.com
- Extended Stay America Announces Key Additions to Its Executive Leadership Team
Extended Stay America announced the addition of three industry veterans to its Executive Leadership Team in Executive Vice President roles, including John Laplante as the new Chief Information Officer. Laplante joins the company from G6 Hospitality, where he served as CIO and in other IT leadership roles for more than 10 years.
www.extendedstayamerica.com
GUEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- Dakota Hotels selects Shiji to power PMS and POS for all UK properties
Shiji, a global hospitality technology innovator, has announced that Dakota Hotels have selected its products Infrasys (POS) and Shiji Enterprise Platform (PMS) for all their hotels across the UK.
www.shijigroup.com
- Fully Mobile: Visual Matrix Integrates MOP Housekeeping Management System into PMS, Expands Platform Capabilities
Visual Matrix, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the hospitality industry, is becoming a completely mobile-first platform. The company today announced the full mobile integration of its MOP housekeeping solution into its award-winning PMS, part of a comprehensive feature expansion that includes the first direct integration in the industry using the new HTNG Express PMS API specification.
visualmatrix.com
RESERVATIONS & DISTRIBUTION
- Amadeus Partners With Hilton on New API to Enable Faster and More Advanced Connectivity
Amadeus is the first GDS provider to integrate Hilton’s own API to enable the chain to distribute content faster. The single API gives improved connectivity between Hilton and the Amadeus GDS to enhance sales opportunities for the hotels.
www.amadeus.com
GUEST FACING TECHNOLOGY
- InnSpire Digital Guest Experience Platform Now Available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace
- The Clifton Adopts GuestCast by HIS to Address Growing Guest Demands for Modern and Personalized In-Room Entertainment
- DISH Fights Inflation Head-on with 3-Year TV Price Guarantee
- La Casa del Camino Selects INTELITY to Improve Their Guest Experience
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For more information on Guest Facing Technology for 12/2/2022
MARKETING
- OTH Hotels Resorts Partners with Shiji Group to Accelerate Digital Transformation
Shiji, the global hospitality technology innovator, has announced that OTH Hotels Resorts has gone live with advanced reputation management, cloud POS and Golf, Spa and Activities management software in several of their properties around the United States.
www.shijigroup.com
SALES & CATERING, GROUPS & MEETINGS
- Bravo Hospitality Group Expands Partnership with SalesAndCatering.com to Include STS Cloud and ProposalPath
Bravo Hospitality Group, the highly regarded hospitality management company headquartered in Schiller Park, Illinois, has built a reputation on its expert oversight of select-service hotels with full-service restaurants and bars. Today, they are further solidifying that reputation with the implementation of STS Cloud and ProposalPath.
salesandcatering.com
- Market Snapshot by Knowland Delivers Key Market Insights in a Fast, Easy-to-Consume, and Share View
Knowland, the world’s leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, today introduced Market Snapshot. This new feature delivers data insights sales leaders can use to understand their markets better, define sales strategies, and grow group business share.
www.knowland.com
BACK OFFICE
- Rosen Hotels & Resorts Expands Partnership with Infor
Infor, an industry cloud company, today announced that Rosen Hotels & Resorts, one of the most respected names in the hospitality industry with seven properties in the Orlando destination market, will partner with Infor to implement key back-of-house hospitality solutions. That includes automating critical business functions like financials, human resources, talent, analytics and workforce management.
infor.com
- MDO Launches Sustainability Calculator and Certification Program
myDigitalOffice (MDO), one of the world's fastest-growing hotel performance management platforms, released an online sustainability calculator and certification program aimed at shining the spotlight on hotel owners and operators dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint.
www.mdo.io
COMMUNICATIONS & INFRASTRUCTURE
- Bay View Collection Replaces Outdated PBX With Think Simplicity's Cloud Communication System
Think Simplicity, a cloud communication technology provider of all-inclusive voice and chat solutions for the hospitality industry, announced today that the Bay View Collection selected its cost-effective, cloud-based phone system for its four properties to ensure consistency in maintenance, lower costs and integrate communications efforts across its portfolio.
www.thinksimplicity.com
FOOD & BEVERAGE
- Shiji to Power POS Technology for American Liberty Hospitality (ALH) in the United States
Shiji Group continues its rapid growth in the Americas region signing POS master agreement with American Liberty Hospitality for Shiji's Infrasys Cloud POS.
www.shijigroup.com
- LSU Shreveport Partners with Infor to Create Better Experiences for Faculty and Students
Infor, an industry cloud company, today announced that Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS) has partnered with Infor Hospitality to create frictionless experiences for students and faculty on its campus through mobile ordering with Infor OrderNow and traditional point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
infor.com
SECURITY
- RCD Hotels Chooses VENZA for Data and Cardholder Protection Services
- JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel Upgrades to Contactless Mobile Access and Enhanced Guest Security with ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions
- Private LMS Revamp Brings New Features to VENZA Customers
- SALTO Launches Homelok, An All-In-One Smart Access Solution for Residential Living
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For more information on Security for 12/2/2022
HOSPITALITY EVENTS AND ASSOCIATION NEWS
- Nomadix Connects at HTNG, Hospitality Technology Conference HT-Next
Nomadix Inc​., a technology leader in hospitality and multi-tenant industries, will sponsor the annual hotel technology conference produced by HTNG/AHLA and Hospitality Technology, HT-NEXT 2022.
nomadix.com
- NHLA Hotel Tech Conference to Showcase React Mobile 2.0 Employee Safety Devices
Members of the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Assn. can demo hospitality’s most reliable panic buttons delivering the fastest response times and beacon location accuracy at Black Fire Innovation.
www.reactmobile.com
- React Mobile to Showcase Its NEW Employee Safety Solution at OHLA Conference & Gala
As an Allied Member of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Assn., React Mobile will network with event attendees to discuss their employee safety needs and explain how panic buttons can help retain hotel associates – especially females in front- and back-of-house roles.
www.reactmobile.com
PIQUED OUR INTEREST
- Amazon Alexa is a “Colossal Failure,” on Pace to Lose $10 billion this Year
- How to Understand and Maximise Guest Spending
- Review Analysis Reveals Decline in Guest Satisfaction
- Amid Worsening Economic Outlook, Excessive Visa Wait Times Deter Visitors to the U.S.
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For more information on Piqued Our Interest for 12/2/2022
And now for the You-Know-What...