HRS Hospitality & Retail Systems continue their global expansion by opening in China, the largest market in the Asia-Pacific region. HRS began its operations reselling Oracle Hospitality solutions in China in 2019, and now, after obtaining support rights from Oracle, it is authorized to provide support services to new and existing customers in the country.
The hospitality sector continues to be amongst the worst-hit industries in the coronavirus pandemic, as border restrictions persist in Singapore and throughout the world. The Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) latest figures reveal that hotels' average occupancy rate crashed 32.1 percentage points (ppt) MoM in February 2020, from 83.1% in January. On a YoY basis, occupancy rate has taken a 37.5 ppt nosedive from 88.5% in February 2019. Aiming to attract guests as soon as restrictions have lifted, hotel operators are likely to promote their contactless technologies, such as facial recognition verification during customer check-in and out.
Mobile Internet big data monitoring platform Trustdata released its Analysis Report on the Development of China's Online Hotel Reservation Industry in 2019/2020 ("the Report") on April 1, 2020.
In a move to help the international community combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Government will be making the software for its contact-tracing application TraceTogether, which has already been installed by more than 620,000 people, freely available to developers around the world.
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) and Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) announce the inaugural HITEC® Asia to take place December 8-10, 2020 in Macau, SAR, China. The two international, nonprofit associations are the sole organizations that bring hospitality professionals together for education, networking, best practices, innovation and exclusive marketplaces.
The Singapore Tourism Board announced this month the launch of an "E-Visitor Authentication" as part of new hotel "industry-wide" initiatives. This led to reports of an "automated facial recognition system" in the city that helps hotels reduce check-in time — but is it what it's cracked up to be?
InnSpire, the award-winning provider of guest engagement, digital entertainment and business intelligence solutions for the global hospitality industry, has successfully deployed its IPTV solution and guest engagement platform at the posh LUX* North Malé Atoll Resort & Villas in Maldives.
Throughout the world, organizations are undergoing seismic shifts in their travel programs as they respond to technological advances, developments in the supply chain and evolving traveler expectations.
Kintetsu Miyako Hotels International, one of the leading hotel groups in Japan, has signed an agreement with D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions, the leading-edge cloud-based e-commerce solutions provider, to achieve its strategic plans to drive direct revenue.
Alibaba is well known for its e-commerce platforms, but the Chinese tech giant has branched into fintech, film, new retail and now, hospitality. I recently stayed at Alibaba's futuristic FlyZoo hotel, which is adjacent to its headquarters in Hangzhou, China. Here, there are no keycards and everything is cashless. It features facial recognition doors, robotic arms at the bar and even robots that deliver items to guest rooms. Alibaba hopes the property will be a model for what a hotel of the future may look like. Upon arrival, I noticed the lobby was completely bare: no check-in counters, no concierge, and no receptionists. As a foreigner, however, I was quickly greeted by a staff member, who used a mobile device to take a photo of my passport and my face. Then she told me my room number and offered to email the receipt. Andy Wang, CEO of Alibaba Future Hotel, claims the data recognition information is only kept during the duration of the guests' stay and is not kept on record.
More than 60 companies are already registered to attend the upcoming HTNG Asia-Pacific Conference, being held 16-18 September at The Athenee Hotel in Bangkok.
HTNG conferences bring together the best and brightest minds in hospitality technology to collaborate with one another and overall further advance the industry. The 2019 program will feature discussions around 5G, CEO perspectives, cybertecture, hyperpersonalized experiences, leadership, the Starwood/Marriott merger and more.
Singapore, - HomeAway®, a global leader in the holiday home rental industry, announced the launch of Virtual Tours in Bali. First launched in the U.S. in November 2018, Bali is the second market outside of the U.S. and the first market in Asia Pacific to offer Virtual Tours - a new proprietary product that seamlessly displays virtual tours of holiday homes on HomeAway. This customer-centric technological innovation allows homeowners and property managers to share a 360-degree walk-through of their properties with travellers. Travellers can visualise the property prior to their stay, setting their expectations and delivering a better stay experience. It also benefits homeowners with a proven record in increasing conversion.
InvoTech Systems Inc. announced the recent implementation of its UHF-RFID Uniform System at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre to automate uniform tracking, accounting and reporting for the uniforms. InvoTech Systems is the leading provider of advanced Linen Management, Laundry and Uniform Systems that integrate the latest RFID technology to increase profitability for hotels, resorts, casino operators, sports arenas, convention centers and theme parks. The InvoTech System installed at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre manages the Uniform inventory for 900 employees, and the convention center joins InvoTech's extensive client portfolio of convention centers worldwide. Click here for more information on InvoTech's Linen, Laundry and Uniform Systems.
If you've ever gotten off a long flight and thought to yourself, "I miss being on a plane," then the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu has the room for you.The airport hotel near Tokyo's Haneda International Airport has installed a full flight simulator inside one of its rooms that guests can book for 90-minute flying sessions. The machine simulates the experience of piloting a Boeing 737-800, flying from Haneda to Osaka's Itami Airport with an instructor on hand to help. Using the simulator costs 30,000 Yen ($277), while booking the room for the night is an additional 25,300 Yen ($234). Guests aren't allowed to operate the simulator themselves.Aki Hagiwara, a public relations manager at the hotel, said it cost about 10 million yen ($92,000) to outfit the room. While she was unwilling to disclose sales figures, she said the hotel has gotten positive reaction from enthusiasts.
Founded just six years ago by a 19-year-old entrepreneur from one of India's poorest states, Oyo Hotels and Homes has grown so fast that it already ranks among the largest hotel chains in the world. In fact, going by the number of properties it claims in its network, Oyo is by far the biggest, twice the size of No. 2 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
This Hotel Yearbook 2020 China Special Edition - 酒店旅遊創新年鑒 中國特輯 was produced for HFTP, coinciding with CHTA Connecting Travellers Conference - 未来旅行者大会 2019 which took place from May 28-30 in Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview. 100+ innovative companies, nearly 2000 attendees from China local and global well-known hotel management groups, capitalists (owners & ventures), airlines, OTAs, scenic spots and etc. are expected to be here. And more than 100 Chinese and Western C level cross-border top leadership will get together to share their most innovative thoughts.
Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, today announced that New Zealand Sudima Hotel Group has deployed Infor Hospitality Management Solution (HMS) across its hotels to streamline its rapidly-growing hotel operations, and to provide a better customer experience with its mobile housekeeper application with faster room turnover.
Boost announces the appointment of Horst Schulze as Director and Board Member, effective immediately. Mr. Schulze is recognised as one or the world's leading hoteliers whose career spans over six decades including co-founding The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and founding The Capella Hotel Group. Mr. Schulze will advise Boost on course content and curriculum and apply his own experience of service excellence to Boost's mobile training programmes.
HRS Hospitality & Retail Systems has expanded its presence in the Asia Pacific region through the acquisition of an IT services provider in South Korea.
The InterContinental Shenzhen, Shenzhen Telecom and Huawei have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to create what is being dubbed as 'the world's first 5G smart hotel'.