http://www.htmagazine.com/ME2/Default.asp
OPENING EYES TO OPEN DOORS: Key at Nine Zero Hotel Is an Iris Scan
By: Curt Harler
A hotel in Boston, The Nine Zero Hotel, has made a revolutionary change in their hotel. This hotel has installed iris scans to replace key cards in their presential suite rooms. The Nine Zero hotel is a four star hotel with one hundred and ninety rooms. This property has all the amenities including luxury suites, pet access, and a full service spa. Their most prized suite is Cloud Nine. It is a penthouse, presidential suite located on the nineteenth floor. This suite has breathtaking views of the city of Boston and features floor-to-ceiling windows, electronic drapes, flat screen plasma televisions, and a jacuzzi. This is the suite that features the unique iris scan entry system, developed by LG technology. This entry system is the most secure system on the market and requires absolutely no direct contact. These scanners are expensive, costing about 1,000 dollars per room. Iris scans are used in other places in the hospitality industry, such as an airport in Germany, where frequeny flyers use the iris scan to quickly board a plane. This system also sparks a lot of interest nationally and internationally, and has been a great marketing tool for the hotel.
Reflection:
The iris scan entry system is an absolutely remarkable technology. Using it in hotels is a positive aspect because it is quick for a guest to enter their room. Guests also feel high class and important when utilizing such a high-tech piece of equipment. Also, it is nice for a guest not to have to worry remembering a key card when leaving their room, which creates a more care free environment for the guest and will increase their satisfaction. This entry system is very secure, which is also comforting to the guest. Although this is a great, cutting edge technology, it is expensive. At the cost of 1,000 dollars per room, it would be hard to eliminate key card entry just yet. The manager of The Nine Zero Hotel reports that he is very pleased with this system and that it has paid for itself a few times over.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Blog #4
http://www.htmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=3E19674330734FF1BBDA3D67B50C82F1&tier=4&id=2A627D6FDED54083B4270EE10FBFC459
POS Software: The Quick Service Perspective by Vicki Powers
This article discusses how different restaurants have different needs from their POS software. The author mainly focuses on quick service restaurants such as places that serve pizza, smoothies, or pitas. She focuses on six specific restaurants: Mr. Pita, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Westshore Pizza, ZPizza, Church's Chicken, and Froots Smoothies. The article then discusses each food vendor's specific wants and needs from their specific POS system.
Mr. Pita is a chain restaurant based out of Michigan. They have thirty two different locations and in 2008, they made the transition from a cash register to a touch screen POS system. This system, developed by FireFly, has made back office capabilities much larger. It is so easy for them to quickly change prices and add menu items in the system. Also, the system features mapquest directions for all delivery orders, which is definately a plus.
Westshore Pizza is a small pizza chain in the Florida area. They have forty-eight different locations and were looking specifically for ease, delivery tracking, affordability, and internet credit-card processing in their new Adelo POS system. This pizza chain is extremely pleased with their new system because it automatically adds the delivery charges and then subtracts them from revenues at the end of the night, which used to take about a half an our for personell to complete. Also, this system added online-ordering for the company, making this small chain able to compete with large pizza companies.
Froots smoothies had similar needs to the other companies, looking for integration with credit cards, custimization, and touch screens. This company has thirty franchises between Arizona and Florida. They chose the SoftTouch POS and management has said they like this system because it is easy to train staff and is easy to customize to their business. They also like the "on-the-fly" output for the kitchen which allows the kitchen to look at the order in the computer while it is being put in, before it is actually placed.
Reflection:
I think this article is good to compare different needs that restaurants have from their POS. It is important to remember that not every restaurant has the same needs. It is also important for these small chain restaurants to upgrade in technology and find the POS system that best suits their needs. The delivery tracking is definately a good aspect of the system for any restaurant business that does delivery service and the FireFly system that Mr. Pita chose automatically gives delivery drivers directions which definately saves time and will prevent drivers from getting lost. This will definately improve guest satisfaction. Westshore Pizza was interested in integrated their credit card processing to the internet so it would take a miniscule amount of time to run customers credit cards and would also increase guest satisfaction. I think it is very important to look and compare different systems to decide which one suits your restaurant best. Not every system is the same and their are major differences in convenience, price, and different features available, so choosing a system takes a lot of time and effort. This article did a good job of comparing how different businesses have different needs.
POS Software: The Quick Service Perspective by Vicki Powers
This article discusses how different restaurants have different needs from their POS software. The author mainly focuses on quick service restaurants such as places that serve pizza, smoothies, or pitas. She focuses on six specific restaurants: Mr. Pita, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Westshore Pizza, ZPizza, Church's Chicken, and Froots Smoothies. The article then discusses each food vendor's specific wants and needs from their specific POS system.
Mr. Pita is a chain restaurant based out of Michigan. They have thirty two different locations and in 2008, they made the transition from a cash register to a touch screen POS system. This system, developed by FireFly, has made back office capabilities much larger. It is so easy for them to quickly change prices and add menu items in the system. Also, the system features mapquest directions for all delivery orders, which is definately a plus.
Westshore Pizza is a small pizza chain in the Florida area. They have forty-eight different locations and were looking specifically for ease, delivery tracking, affordability, and internet credit-card processing in their new Adelo POS system. This pizza chain is extremely pleased with their new system because it automatically adds the delivery charges and then subtracts them from revenues at the end of the night, which used to take about a half an our for personell to complete. Also, this system added online-ordering for the company, making this small chain able to compete with large pizza companies.
Froots smoothies had similar needs to the other companies, looking for integration with credit cards, custimization, and touch screens. This company has thirty franchises between Arizona and Florida. They chose the SoftTouch POS and management has said they like this system because it is easy to train staff and is easy to customize to their business. They also like the "on-the-fly" output for the kitchen which allows the kitchen to look at the order in the computer while it is being put in, before it is actually placed.
Reflection:
I think this article is good to compare different needs that restaurants have from their POS. It is important to remember that not every restaurant has the same needs. It is also important for these small chain restaurants to upgrade in technology and find the POS system that best suits their needs. The delivery tracking is definately a good aspect of the system for any restaurant business that does delivery service and the FireFly system that Mr. Pita chose automatically gives delivery drivers directions which definately saves time and will prevent drivers from getting lost. This will definately improve guest satisfaction. Westshore Pizza was interested in integrated their credit card processing to the internet so it would take a miniscule amount of time to run customers credit cards and would also increase guest satisfaction. I think it is very important to look and compare different systems to decide which one suits your restaurant best. Not every system is the same and their are major differences in convenience, price, and different features available, so choosing a system takes a lot of time and effort. This article did a good job of comparing how different businesses have different needs.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Assignment #3
Harler, C. Hilton's New Concierge is Interactive TV. Hospitality Technology. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http://www.htmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=3E19674330734FF1BBDA3D67B50C82F1&tier=4&id=FCD2F7DAADC8438E926C98968EDAE530
Hilton's New Concierge is Interactive TV
Hilton Hotels and Resorts are soon going to be using Samsung flat screen monitors as an interactive concierge service. They will be working with a company called Reactrix to allow guests to view the hotel layout, meeting room set-ups, and events taking place in the area around the hotel. The first monitors will be installed in hotels within the United States, but Hilton plans on installing monitors in Beijing before the Olympics in August. The monitors will be located in hotel lobbies and atriums and will allow the guest to access information that they may have had to discuss with a concierge employee or a conference manager. Hilton wants to give their guests a sneak peek into the future, but they would like to perfect the concept before installing it into their hotels. "This will help guests to answer their own questions about what to do when they are traveling" says Jeff Diskin, the senior vice president of brand management in all Hilton hotels. Guests are expected to be interested in this cool, new technology that they can use to guide them around the hotel.
Reflection:
Hilton Hotels and Resorts have a very good concept. The interactive tv that acts as a virtual concierge service is a positive addition to any hotel because guests will be able to access information about the hotel and events that are going on around the area of the hotel without speaking to a hotel representative. This is good because concierge employees are not around at all times but the interactive monitor will be available 24/7. I also think it is good for the company to install these Samsung monitors in their Beijing location, especially because the United States and Israeli teams are both scheduled to stay at the Hilton. Customers will definately enjoy this because it gives the hotel a more futuristic feel and guests who are planning to use the conference room for any reason can find useful information such as room sizes on the Reactrix system. The one issue I have with Hilton's idea is that they do not want to interface this system with check-in and meeting room reservations, even though the technology exists to do so. The content displayed on these screens can be updated instantaneously and wirelessly, which is a definate plus from the management and guest perspective. I think guests will really like this feature in Hilton hotels and other hotels will add this feature as soon as possible as well.
Hilton's New Concierge is Interactive TV
Hilton Hotels and Resorts are soon going to be using Samsung flat screen monitors as an interactive concierge service. They will be working with a company called Reactrix to allow guests to view the hotel layout, meeting room set-ups, and events taking place in the area around the hotel. The first monitors will be installed in hotels within the United States, but Hilton plans on installing monitors in Beijing before the Olympics in August. The monitors will be located in hotel lobbies and atriums and will allow the guest to access information that they may have had to discuss with a concierge employee or a conference manager. Hilton wants to give their guests a sneak peek into the future, but they would like to perfect the concept before installing it into their hotels. "This will help guests to answer their own questions about what to do when they are traveling" says Jeff Diskin, the senior vice president of brand management in all Hilton hotels. Guests are expected to be interested in this cool, new technology that they can use to guide them around the hotel.
Reflection:
Hilton Hotels and Resorts have a very good concept. The interactive tv that acts as a virtual concierge service is a positive addition to any hotel because guests will be able to access information about the hotel and events that are going on around the area of the hotel without speaking to a hotel representative. This is good because concierge employees are not around at all times but the interactive monitor will be available 24/7. I also think it is good for the company to install these Samsung monitors in their Beijing location, especially because the United States and Israeli teams are both scheduled to stay at the Hilton. Customers will definately enjoy this because it gives the hotel a more futuristic feel and guests who are planning to use the conference room for any reason can find useful information such as room sizes on the Reactrix system. The one issue I have with Hilton's idea is that they do not want to interface this system with check-in and meeting room reservations, even though the technology exists to do so. The content displayed on these screens can be updated instantaneously and wirelessly, which is a definate plus from the management and guest perspective. I think guests will really like this feature in Hilton hotels and other hotels will add this feature as soon as possible as well.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Assignment # 2
Dynamic Digital Signage - Influencing POS Behavior
Kasavana, M. (2007, October 1). Dynamic Digital Signage - Influencing POS Behavior. Hospitality Upgrade.
This article discusses foodservice technology, in particular Dynamic Digital Signage, better known as DDS. This type of technology is most easily found in fast food restaurants and is used to advertise to the customer. The business perspective of the DDS is to influence customer behavior by advertising specials and other menu items on a multiple screens, usually five or six. This technology is not used to convince customers to come to your restuarant, rather than influencing the customer to buy a specific item. This is beneficial to the business to promote upselling and higher revenues. This is also an excellent way to get the customers attention with easy to read and colorful information, and is a good way to get a customers attention if they do not keep up with other media. Restaurant owners and managers have ways to see if the DDS is effective in their restaurant. Three techniques are used to determine how much the DDS affected customer behavior. These are POS correlation, event-based couponing, and net impression tracking. These are useful to see how much sales are increasing and how effective the DDS form of advertising is. DDS can be considered better than television or radio advertising because a consumer can simply change the channel or tune out any advertisements they are not interested in, but when in a restaurant it is always on, and always changing, directly influencing customers.
Response:
Dynamic Digital Signage is a great way to advertise and influence customers decisions. I feel that the only places this type of advertising would be beneficial would be fast food places and bars with multiple televisions. I have definately noticed this type of advertising in McDonald's, and I think they began advertising this way years ago, in store. Also, a bar with many televisions such as a sports bar could have one or two televisions that are used specifically to promote specials and high priced menu items to bring these menu items to the customers attention. Even though it seems like a small aspect of the business and advertising, it can definitely make a large difference. Not everybody watches television or listens to the radio, so this is a way to reach all guests. For a small restaurant that is just getting started, this would probably not be the best way to advertise or spend money, but for corporations such as Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday's I think this would be a great way to pinpoint specific menu items. Dynamic Digital Signage is also a good advertising tool because it can be changed frequently within the restaurant to keep up with specials and other changes, while television and radio advertising is no longer under the company's control. Overall, I think this way of marketing is creative and can reach all guests, no matter what age, and I would definitely use this tool if I owned a restaurant.
Kasavana, M. (2007, October 1). Dynamic Digital Signage - Influencing POS Behavior. Hospitality Upgrade.
This article discusses foodservice technology, in particular Dynamic Digital Signage, better known as DDS. This type of technology is most easily found in fast food restaurants and is used to advertise to the customer. The business perspective of the DDS is to influence customer behavior by advertising specials and other menu items on a multiple screens, usually five or six. This technology is not used to convince customers to come to your restuarant, rather than influencing the customer to buy a specific item. This is beneficial to the business to promote upselling and higher revenues. This is also an excellent way to get the customers attention with easy to read and colorful information, and is a good way to get a customers attention if they do not keep up with other media. Restaurant owners and managers have ways to see if the DDS is effective in their restaurant. Three techniques are used to determine how much the DDS affected customer behavior. These are POS correlation, event-based couponing, and net impression tracking. These are useful to see how much sales are increasing and how effective the DDS form of advertising is. DDS can be considered better than television or radio advertising because a consumer can simply change the channel or tune out any advertisements they are not interested in, but when in a restaurant it is always on, and always changing, directly influencing customers.
Response:
Dynamic Digital Signage is a great way to advertise and influence customers decisions. I feel that the only places this type of advertising would be beneficial would be fast food places and bars with multiple televisions. I have definately noticed this type of advertising in McDonald's, and I think they began advertising this way years ago, in store. Also, a bar with many televisions such as a sports bar could have one or two televisions that are used specifically to promote specials and high priced menu items to bring these menu items to the customers attention. Even though it seems like a small aspect of the business and advertising, it can definitely make a large difference. Not everybody watches television or listens to the radio, so this is a way to reach all guests. For a small restaurant that is just getting started, this would probably not be the best way to advertise or spend money, but for corporations such as Applebee's and Ruby Tuesday's I think this would be a great way to pinpoint specific menu items. Dynamic Digital Signage is also a good advertising tool because it can be changed frequently within the restaurant to keep up with specials and other changes, while television and radio advertising is no longer under the company's control. Overall, I think this way of marketing is creative and can reach all guests, no matter what age, and I would definitely use this tool if I owned a restaurant.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Blog #1 Marissa Stoler
Buzek, G. (2007, October 1). Having the Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time. Hospitality Upgrade.
http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp?ID=242
This article discusses the challenges that many hospitality companies have in their IT departments. There are so many challenges because it is hard for a company to hire, train, motivated and schedule their employees in a reasonable amount of time while still providing good service at the same time. This article also discusses how difficult it can be to keep up with forever changing requirements and advances in the technology department of the industry.
Buzek then goes on to discuss one main group particularly, the C-Core consulting group. They developed a toolkit that greatly improves the process of decision making and actually implementing the new system. At the end of the article, the author stresses the importance of effective planning and processing.
This article made it very clear to me that IT is a very important part of my future in the hospitality industry and I very much want to be prepared for all the challenges I will face when I am a manager or a restaurant owner. The author, Greg Buzek, discusses certain programs that incorporate scheduling, hours, and other employee management with the main computer program used within the company. I look forward to being able to use such a program to benefit my workplace in the future. I agree with the author when he discusses the challenges that I will face when making IT decisions and I plan on applying his pointers to my work. He discusses the RAPID project toolkit which I hope I am lucky enough to use to achieve a smooth transition in the IT department. Buzek suggests that using this toolkit can reduce the time it takes to make IT transitions by sixty percent. This toolkit is something that I think should be considered very useful. He had many good pointers on smooth transition including efficient planning and organizion information within the company.
http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp?ID=242
This article discusses the challenges that many hospitality companies have in their IT departments. There are so many challenges because it is hard for a company to hire, train, motivated and schedule their employees in a reasonable amount of time while still providing good service at the same time. This article also discusses how difficult it can be to keep up with forever changing requirements and advances in the technology department of the industry.
Buzek then goes on to discuss one main group particularly, the C-Core consulting group. They developed a toolkit that greatly improves the process of decision making and actually implementing the new system. At the end of the article, the author stresses the importance of effective planning and processing.
This article made it very clear to me that IT is a very important part of my future in the hospitality industry and I very much want to be prepared for all the challenges I will face when I am a manager or a restaurant owner. The author, Greg Buzek, discusses certain programs that incorporate scheduling, hours, and other employee management with the main computer program used within the company. I look forward to being able to use such a program to benefit my workplace in the future. I agree with the author when he discusses the challenges that I will face when making IT decisions and I plan on applying his pointers to my work. He discusses the RAPID project toolkit which I hope I am lucky enough to use to achieve a smooth transition in the IT department. Buzek suggests that using this toolkit can reduce the time it takes to make IT transitions by sixty percent. This toolkit is something that I think should be considered very useful. He had many good pointers on smooth transition including efficient planning and organizion information within the company.
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