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Technology
Which Hotel Tech Trends Have Staying Power?
Steffan Berelowitz | July 21, 2016
by Steffan Berelowitz Technology has progressed at an incredible rate in recent years, with mobile catapulting to the top and surpassing expert predictions. Tech has found a way to cross all industries, but in hospitality it has made a significant impact. As a result, technology has become essential in attracting and retaining guests, and in improving overall guest satisfaction. There's always a lot of buzz whenever a new technology emerges onto the market, and inevitably some hotels experiment with them. But which ones should the industry adopt, and which should they avoid? Here are our takes on the hottest tech trends that hotels shou...
Vizergy Digital Travel Marketing Experiencing Record Growth
Vizergy | July 19, 2016
Jacksonville, Fl. July 19, 2016 – Vizergy – Digital Travel Marketing, a leading provider of online hospitality marketing, reports record growth heading into the third quarter. Revenue, client accounts and profitability have all exceeded YOY projections. Already serving clients across the globe in over 70 countries, Vizergy has seen a recent surge in clients from the West Coast, Canada and Europe. The addition of key staff and extended client service hours have allowed Vizergy to continue to provide world-class, personalized service while delivering revenue-producing websites and digital marketing. Client retention is also at...
Bulk TV to Offer Blueprint RF HSIA and WIFI Solutions
Bulk TV & Internet | July 19, 2016
Norcross, Georgia & Raleigh, North Carolina – July 19, 2016 – Bulk TV & Internet (Bulk TV) has expanded its portfolio of offerings to include Blueprint RF's turn-key network systems, providing customers a secure, managed, and rules-based Internet connection. Blueprint RF services are approved by most major hotel brands, and offer Bulk TV's customers the same reliability as their in-room HD television programming services. As robust WIFI services continue to be a top priority to hoteliers, Blueprint RF's solutions provide enterprise grade platforms that meet the needs of the hotel market while freeing operators from i...
New York EB-5 Investment Immigration Convention
Jim Butler | July 18, 2016
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Author of www.HotelLawBlog.com More than 700 people are gathering the next two days in New York City for one of the largest EB-5 financing conferences in the country. We are proud to be a platinum sponsor of this program, and I am looking forward to my panel on how to finance hotel construction and development with EB-5. Hosted by EB-5 Investors Magazine, this event will be held July 17-18, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in Times Square. The first day is comprised of three tracks of workshops and Monday is a full day of panels on EB-5 topics of current interest. Dr. Arthur ...
A Hotelier’s Guide to Pokémon Go
Sabre | July 18, 2016
We're going to assume you've heard of Pokémon Go. In the last week, this game has shot to the top of the mobile app sales charts, has been covered by every media company from ABC to Zee News and was even co-opted by the U.S. presidential campaigns. But beyond the hype, what does Pokémon Go mean for your hotel and for the broader travel industry? What is Pokémon Go? In case you've heard the name but aren't familiar with the details: Pokémon Go is a smartphone game in which players traverse the real world to hunt and capture Pokémon — pocket monsters. Players then breed and train their Pokém...
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Appoints George Terpilowski Regional Vice President, Northeast United States, and General Manager, Fairmont Copley Plaza
RoomAssistant | July 18, 2016
Boston, July 18, 2016 – Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announces the appointment of George Terpilowski to Regional Vice President, Northeast United States, and General Manager, Fairmont Copley Plaza. In this role, Mr. Terpilowski will direct the operation of Fairmont Copley Plaza, a landmark hotel located in Boston's historic Back Bay, as well as oversee the operation of The Plaza in New York, Fairmont Washington, D.C. and Fairmont Pittsburgh. "I am delighted to join the talented team at Fairmont Copley Plaza," said George Terpilowski. "I've received a warm welcome to Boston, and I look forward to becoming involved in the local com...
Ten-X Begins 2016 With Nearly $200 Million in Hospitality Closings
Angie Hospitality | July 18, 2016
IRVINE AND SILICON VALLEY, CALIF. – July 18, 2016 – Ten-X, the nation's leading online real estate transaction marketplace, announces its hospitality division has closed on 50 assets totaling $190 million from January 2016 through May 2016 on the on the Ten-X Commercial online platform. The Ten-X hospitality division's momentum follows a record-setting 2015, where the company closed 117 hotel transactions with sales proceeds exceeding $461 million, nearly double its 2014 hospitality performance of $256.3 million. Ten-X has closed on approximately $2 billion in hospitality assets since facilitating the sale of its first hotel...
Hotel Leaders, “What’s Your MTP?” – A Question About Business Transformation and Technology
Thomas Mielke | July 14, 2016
By Thomas Mielke There may be no better way for hospitality firms to learn and gain inspiration for successfully transforming their businesses by leveraging technology than by looking at some of the "unicorns" that have successfully tapped into the hospitality sector. The firms that positively stand out in this respect all appear to have understood their "MTP", that is according to a recent book that should be on your summer reading list – "Exponential Organisations: Why new organisations are ten times better, faster, and cheaper than yours (and what to do about it)" (2014, by Salim Ismail, Mike Malone, Yuri van Geest). The simple...
3 Technologies to Watch from HITEC 2016
Greg Abbott | July 14, 2016
By Greg Abbott As the Senior Vice President for the Travel and Hospitality practice here at DataArt, it's important that I stay on top of the latest digital trends affecting the industry. So each year I look forward to attending the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC), the world's largest hospitality expo that brings together the brightest minds and hottest hospitality products and services. And this year, it seems I was not alone. HITEC 2016 saw record-breaking attendance, with 6,395 hospitality professionals from 65 countries descending on the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from June 20...
When Digital Meets Physical: What Pokémon Go Means for the Travel Industry
Nick Vivion | July 14, 2016
By Nick Vivion In our world of fragmentation and hyper-targeted micro-niches, few mainstream hits cut through. That's what makes the nearly-instant global popularity of Pokémon Go so intriguing. The mobile app uses GPS and augmented reality technology to lead users on a hunt for the digital pets. Augmented reality often elicits mixed reactions, ranging from the hopeful to the dystopian. The technology layers digital information onto physical space, using the screen as the middleman. With Pokémon Go, the smartphone camera is the eye and the GPS is the compass to hunt and trap Pokémon. "Pokémon can b...
Travelport and Groupize Launch New Small Group Booking Tool
Groupize | July 14, 2016
Cloud based, mobile self-booking tool saves time, helps drive new revenue growth for TMCs Boston and Atlanta July 14, 2016 - Groupize and Travelport, a leading Travel Commerce Platform, have today jointly announced the launch of a new online hotel booking solution for travel management companies (TMC) that addresses the growing demand for a self-service, centralized solution to source, book, track and manage small group meetings of under 25 hotel rooms or less than 50 participants. The partnership between Groupize and Travelport further enhances Travelport's industry leadership position in hospitality distribution, featuring more than 6...
Hampton Inn Des Moines Airport Provides Guests with InfoBoard Travel Convenience
Hampton Inn Des Moines-Airport | July 14, 2016
Guests Enjoy Access to Digital Signage Information on Area Attractions, Local Dining, Airline Flights and Current Traffic Status without Searching their Mobile CHICAGO, IL – July 14, 2016 – "Our guests love the convenience and it saves our front desk staff time they would be answering guests' questions," said Terry Landers, general manager of the Hampton Inn Des Moines Airport in Iowa. The property recently installed a touch screen InfoBoard digital signage display from Flyte Systems®. Flyte Systems is a division of Industrial Television Services (ITS), based in Chicago. ITS is a respected digital signage solutions comp...
The Q3 2016 Edition of HeBStrategy: Hospitality Digital Technology & Marketing Strategy Whitepaper Now Available!
HeBS Digital | July 14, 2016
New York, NY – July 14, 2016 – Hoteliers can now download the HeBStrategy Q3 2016 Edition, which includes a recap of the most important hospitality technology and digital marketing news from Q2, actionable ideas on how to increase direct website bookings in Q3, and more. Created by HeBS Digital, the whitepaper outlines how hoteliers can think big picture to reach their consumers in all stages of the travel planning journey: by engaging, acquiring, and retaining past and future guests. Download the HeBStrategy Q2 2016 Edition to learn about: Notable Q2 Events: Includes 'book direct' campaigns taking over the limelight, a re...
Do’s and Don’ts of Hotel Texting, from a New York City Concierge
ALICE | July 13, 2016
A few tech-savvy hotels are skipping email and social media and are directly texting their guests. Arrive Hotels which just opened in Palm Springs has done away with telephones in the guest room and instead asks guests to text the hotel for whatever they might need. Sixty LES is also embracing texting as a method of communicating with guests. Even bigger brands like Marriott and Four Seasons are texting guests, albeit through their mobile apps. While millennials who have pretty much grown up with smartphones may not be fazed by a text message sent from a hotel concierge, older guests might be, simply put, weirded out by an invasive mess...
Intelity Installs In-Room Tablets at The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Intelity | July 13, 2016
ORLANDO, Fla. – July 13, 2016 – The Umstead Hotel and Spa is revolutionizing its guest experience through a partnership with Intelity, creator of the leading guest engagement and service SaaS platform in the world. The 5-star North Carolina hotel has installed touchscreen tablets running Intelity's ICE (Interactive Customer Experience™) Bedside software in all guest rooms, providing guests with the opportunity to take control over their stay into their own hands. "In-room tablets make it easier for hotels to exceed guest expectations when it comes to the experience provided on property," said Jason Seehafer, Executive ...
Trend Alert: UK Travel Demand to the US Down as a Result of Brexit
nSight | July 13, 2016
Initial Impact of Leave Decision Shows UK Travel Demand to the US Down 17.9% in June NASHVILLE, TN (July 13, 2016) The world took a collective gasp on June 23 when the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. And with a new Prime Minister being named this week, changes in the UK are being watched carefully. Initial impacts of the UK's Brexit decision are already been felt in the travel industry with demand for summer travel from the UK to the US down 17.9%. Initial data was compiled by nSight for European travelers actively shopping online during June for July, August, or September stays in the US. Brexit is proving to influenc...
Indie Operators Expand with Maestro Multi-Property Management and Loyalty Programs
Maestro PMS | July 13, 2016
Independent Hotel Management Groups Tap Maestro Multi-Property to Support Growing Portfolios; Add Loyalty Programs, Cross Enterprise Consolidated Marketing and Promotions July 13, 2016 – The hospitality industry continues to enjoy a cycle of solid business growth. Hotel companies are adding to their portfolios and many independent operators are turning to Maestro PMS to provide the enterprise platform to sustain their growth. Maestro Multi-Property Management is perfectly suited to support independent hotel group enterprise operations with chain loyalty programs to increase revenue. Hundreds of hotels operated by 26 hotel managem...
ALICE Expands Further in the UK, Partnering with the Brooklands Hotel, Surrey
ALICE | July 13, 2016
With Connected Conference Rooms and More, Brooklands Offers a Totally Rich Guest Online Experience Delivered through a Single, Cost-Saving Operations Platform NEW YORK and LONDON, July 13, 2016 – ALICE, a SaaS platform that completely connects the guest to the hotel, and connects all service departments within a hotel, announced that the Brooklands Hotel, Surrey, adopted its ALICE Suite solution. "We are happy to announce our partnership with the Brooklands, which operates in a market that is well positioned to benefit from our full suite of services, tailored to the property's specific needs," said Alex Shashou, ALICE's Co-Founde...
“Oh Snap” – Why the Hospitality Industry Need to be on Snapchat
Cory Falter | July 13, 2016
by Cory Falter In the ever-changing world of social media there is a driving new force on the street that hoteliers shouldn't ignore, and that platform is Snapchat. What began as the "picture disappearing app" in the summer of 2011 from three Stanford students, has quickly become one of the most unique forms of story-telling a brand can use. In fact, that funny little yellow ghost icon is captivating millions of people every day, and is showing no signs of stopping. Should your hotel be utilizing Snapchat? If you've been searching for methods to reach the millennials (and the growing demographics beyond), then the answer is yes. SNAPCHA...
STOP Waiting . . . They’re NOT Coming!
RoamBOOST | July 12, 2016
RoamBOOST dispels myths about wireless carriers and receiving funding for DAS Boston, Mass. — July 12, 2016 — Are you among the many hoteliers still waiting for a wireless service provider to do a site assessment and install a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) at their expense to give guests the cellular coverage they expect while at your hotel? If yes, we've got some bad news. They aren't coming. Unless a building is strategic to the phone company – like serving as the headquarter hotel for the Super Bowl – hoteliers are on their own to find a fix for insufficient cell coverage. "Several hoteliers told us during...
Omni Hotels Announced Data Breach of Customer Credit Card Information
July 12, 2016
Message to Our Valued Customers: Omni values the relationship we have with our guests and wants you to be aware of an incident that may involve your payment card. We recently became aware of a malware intrusion that affected some point of sale systems at certain Omni hotels. Promptly after discovering the issue, we immediately engaged leading IT investigation and security firms to determine the facts, and we have now contained the intrusion. Protecting the security of our customers' personal information is a top priority for Omni. We value and respect the privacy of your information, and we sincerely apologize for any concern or inconve...
First Boutique Hotel in New York’s Garment District is Exceeding Guests’ Expectations with Kube Systems
Kube Systems | July 12, 2016
The Distrikt Hotel New York City appreciates the versatility and convenience of the compact, Bluetooth streaming bedside Kube Clock that charges up to six mobile devices simultaneously [Jericho, NY—July 12, 2016] — Nestled in the Manhattan Garment District and just steps away from Times Square, Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea, the Distrikt Hotel New York City is showcasing its dedication to detail and its commitment to customer service by featuring the Kube Clock™ from Kube Systems in each of its 155 guestrooms. The compact, Bluetooth-streaming, mobile device charging Kube with clock reflects the boutique hotel's impec...
TrustYou Acquires Checkmate and Integrates Live Messaging Into Its Guest Feedback Platform
TrustYou | July 12, 2016
Builds first integrated guest feedback platform that covers entire traveler journey - from searching and booking to on-site messaging to post stay feedback Munich, San Francisco, 12 July 2016 – TrustYou (www.trustyou.com), the world's largest guest feedback platform, today acquired real-time messaging specialist Checkmate, enhancing its platform to incorporate real-time guest feedback. The acquisition of Checkmate enhances the TrustYou platform, allowing hotels to actively engage guests before they arrive and while they are on-site in real-time through SMS, email, and even Facebook messaging. For hoteliers, this drives engagement ...
Valsoft Enters Hotel Management Vertical with Acquisition of InnQuest
Valsoft | July 11, 2016
Valsoft, a company specialized in the acquisition and development of vertical market software companies, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the assets of InnQuest Software Corporation, an established leader in the hotel management software industry. InnQuest's popular hotel management software, roomMaster, is used in over 100 countries and by over 5,500 clients worldwide. The software was developed by hoteliers for hoteliers and has been widely praised for its intuitive performance and ease of use. roomMaster provides every software management product a hotel needs in one simple turnkey solution, including a booking engine wi...
