HFTP Connect

Cloud computing, which has upended business models from music to movies to medicine, has now reached the hospitality industry in the form of hosted property management systems. These new cloud-based systems eliminate the need to purchase expensive hardware (including servers, networking equipment and data backups) and allow owners and managers to monitor their properties from any device with an Internet connection.

When hotel operators hear about this, one of their first questions is about security. How can they trust their sensitive data is secure when it’s somewhere “out there”? Read More »

HFTP Connect is featuring four guest bloggers throughout HITEC 2013. The bloggers will be providing you their insights on all things HITEC from their different viewpoints and experiences in the industry. Before we get to Minneapolis, read on to learn a little about each of our guest bloggers and don’t forget to say hello if you see them onsite.

In no particular order:

Patty O’Brien
Central Reservations Manager
Grand Casinos

As the call center manager for one of Minnesota’s favorite gaming destinations she is always on the lookout for technology and programs that will increase effectiveness and efficiency. At the Grand Casinos, they like to stay on the cutting edge of technology, but the day-to-day routine does not always offer the opportunities to learn what is the latest and greatest. While blogging for HITEC 2013, Patty seeks to find the next technology that will enhance guest services and will also bring a local perspective. Read More »

As we lead up to HITEC 2013 in June, HFTP Connect will be talking to our keynote speakers about their expertise and how it relates to thehospitality industry through the Ask the Experts column.

An Expert View on the Monetary Revolution

David Wolman is a contributing editor at Wired. He has also written for such publications as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, Outside, Newsweek, Discover, Forbes, New Scientist and Salon, and his work appeared in Best American Science Writing 2009. A former Fulbright journalism fellow in Japan and graduate of Stanford University’s journalism program, he now lives in Portland, Ore. where he received a 2011 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. David has written three books since 2005 with the latest being The End of Money, published by Da Capo Press in February 2012. Read More »

As we lead up to HITEC 2013 in June, HFTP Connect will be talking to our keynote speakers about their expertise and how it relates to the hospitality industry through the Ask the Experts column.

An Expert View on Cybersecurity and the Hospitality Industry

Theresa Payton is one of America’s most respected authorities on Internet security, net crime, fraud mitigation and technology implementation. As White House Chief Information Officer from 2006 to 2008 — the first woman ever to hold that position — she administered the information technology enterprise for the President and 3,000 staff members. Prior to working in federal government, Payton held executive roles in banking technology at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. As founder of Fortalice, LLC, a security, risk, and fraud consulting company, she now lends her expertise to organizations large and small, helping them improve their information technology systems against emerging, amorphous cyber threats.

Q:  How is Internet security changing?

Consumers and business professionals alike should focus on the fact that Internet security will always be changing. Every new technology that we adopt becomes tomorrow’s targets for cybercriminals. Tools to block out the bad or only let in the good traffic are not enough. Combatting Internet threats requires a comprehensive approach, some of these components include: understanding your data architecture, knowing your vendors, sharing information within your peer group about cybercrime, developing relationships with law enforcement, implementing tools, updating processes to protect your digital assets and educating employees, contractors and suppliers on what you require them to do in order to safeguard your organization. Read More »

HITEC 2013 is just a couple of months away and there is already a ton of buzz surrounding this year’s show. If you have not registered, I suggest you do so before May 20th to save yourself or your employer some money.

If you are trying to justify your attendance and time away from the office, keep in mind the following reasons HITEC 2013 is not to be missed.

In no particular order:

1.High-profile Keynote Speakers

Once again, HFTP has managed to secure some pretty impressive keynote speakers for HITEC 2013. These speakers will knock your socks off with the level of expertise they have to share on the trending topics:

• Cyber-security Solutions — From the Firing Lines to a Fireside Chat: CIO to CIO with Theresa Payton, former Whitehouse CIO.
• The Monetary Revolution — The End of Money with author David Wolman and Wired magazine contributing editor.
• Hospitality IT — Meet the Techs: CIOs Discuss Today’s IT Challenges, moderated by Scot Campbell, vice president and CIO of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. Read More »

Spoonbridge and Cherry, Minneapolis

Bookmark this post. Right now.

You’ll need it. With a visit to Minneapolis soon, you’ll need to know these five things about us.

1) You Like Technology? So Do We.

You’re a technology professional. We use technology.

Coincidence?

No, and that was a good ice breaker.

But, you should know this; we’re trend-setters in the tech game, and we are one of America’s techiest cities. The reason? We were one of the first cities to adopt WiFi AND the Geek Squad was founded here.

Even the grandparents here have Facebook accounts. Read More »

HFTP Connect is looking for hospitality professionals who would like to write original and educational posts about their HITEC experience for the blog.

HITEC 2013 is June 24 – 27 in Minneapolis, Minn.

See the information below for details on the opportunity and review posts from HITEC 2012 Guest Bloggers:

HITEC Official Blogger Benefits:

HITEC Official Blogger Requirements:

If you’re interested, please send a brief description on why you would be a good guest blogger to Sara Bailiff.

Deadline for submissions is Monday, May 6th.

Disclaimer: As an association, HFTP may not endorse or promote a product or vendor. HFTP Connect is educational in nature and blog posts must not be sales-oriented. Products or vendors may only be mentioned in an educational format.

While “going green” can create more “green” for the hospitality industry – a property’s green initiatives involve more than the landscaping.

Senior hospitality executives are just beginning to get involved in sustainability technology planning and decision-making.

Current conversations center around using technology to reduce consumption.

However, electronic waste disposal is an increasingly important issue for the hospitality industry as new equipment is acquired to reduce consumption in other areas.

Naomi Stark, president of Stark Service Solutions; Sunny Kim, Ph.D, assistant professor at Texas Tech University; and Dan Connolly, Ph.D., associate dean at University of Denver Daniels College of Business shared key benefits, barriers and factors to successful sustainability technology initiatives during the HITEC “Green Initiatives” educational session.

Why Green Initiatives

Current market trends indicate that global demand for energy is expected to grow by 57 percent over the next 25 years. This increased demand is expected to double electricity prices from 2008 prices by 2015.

Additionally, more consumers and meeting planners are looking for green initiatives in destinations and the properties they ultimately select for their travel.

All good reasons for properties to consider long-term sustainability programs that reduce costs and waste. Read More »

I’m going to start with a caveat:
An old, jaded and cynical hospitality software developer wrote this post.

I think in terms of return on investment. If you think that hotels are gilded palaces to guest experience, then this post is not for you.

You are cordially invited to stop reading now.

Still here? Okay. Good.

Here is the underlying premise to Brad’s Unwritten but Logical Laws for Successful Hotel IT: Hotels are businesses.

They exist for the sole purpose of making money for their owners. Period. The End.

If you think differently, then this post is not for you and you are once again cordially invited to stop reading.

Still here? Wonderful.

You are hearty stock and shall be rewarded generously with the following knowledge. Here are the laws. Read More »

The economy was soft and the travel industry had never really recovered from 9/11.  New project dollars were tough to come by and the level of innovation on display year over year at HITEC showed it.

Now, a couple of years later we’re seeing a proliferation of new start ups and companies moving into the hospitality space. Hospitality and travel are even popping up as viable subjects for venture capital, with mainstream VC’s like Ignition Partners taking a substantial position in Hipmunk.com and the creation of specialized travel and hospitality funds like Thayer Venture Partners.

In this new environment where the puppies are nipping at the heels of the establishment players, I thought I’d take a visit to a few of the old guard and see what — if anything — is new.

I’m going to state right here that I was blown away.  The level of innovation coming from the historically (ahem) ponderous companies of hospitality is nothing short of amazing.

My first visit was to Micros Systems.

Let’s face it kids, some people think of Micros as the 800-pound dinosaur that left a footprint in the soap dish…or something like that.  They hold lots of market and they know it.  For a while, I think they thought they didn’t need to innovate.

Well, somebody ate their Wheaties, because Micros has come to play in the new reality that is ecommerce. Read More »