Bonus Editorial Coverage - HITEC 2001 - CynterPubs Hospitality Tech Advisor

One of the show's most popular sessions, The Hotel of the Future, focused on traveler use technology amenities. The 375 attendees of the session were asked a series of questions about use of services, including which services were most frequently used, how they choose to make their reservations and what technologies they would like to see implemented. A group of independent travelers were asked the same series of questions, and a results comparison will be available from HFTP in the upcoming months.

Here's some news from the trade show floor:

• Infinium, Lodging Management Systems (LMS) and Stratton Warren Software Inc. featured their hospitality management solution that integrates Infinium's Web-based enterprise business solutions including financial management, human resources and payroll, customer relationship management, LMS's property management solution, and Stratton Warren's materials management solution.
• Metromedia Software Inc. demonstrated the HotelEXPERT System, a management and rapid response tool that includes alarms for overdue guest calls, telephone interface and SmartPaging for dispatcher-free transmittal of tasks, and COMMENTOR, a tool for managing guest relations.
• Wayport Inc. showcased their expanded lineup of high-speed Internet services for business travelers including an all-wireless hotel solution that offers in-room access via Wi-Fi (802.11b) enabled notebook computers or handheld devices.
• Aptech Computers introduced handheld business intelligence software that allows all levels of management to access pertinent hotel business information from a personal digital assistant (PDA). The software is based on Execuvue, a previously released Aptech application, and allows managers to monitor key performance indicators and act on business trends.
• Passkey.com Inc. introduced Passkey HotelDirect, a product for managing single property group reservations. The solution allows meeting planners and event attendees to make online reservations through a customized Web address and allows hotels to manage call volume and staffing. In addition, the solution has room block and sub-block management features for enhancing revenue opportunities during the event and on the shoulder days surrounding the event.
• NetNearU launched its wireless Internet access point product that enables hoteliers to provide high-speed wireless Internet access on a subscription or pay-per-use basis to hotel guests. The system features TRACKOS and SystemHealth, management tools which provide near real-time monitoring of the terminals, and ADTRACKOS, a software that enables interactive advertising to be remotely uploaded, sent to designated terminals and billed to advertisers.
• Northwind Canada Inc. featured the Maestro property management system, a complete solution that provides property management, sales and catering and yield management from one centralized database, allowing hoteliers and corporate offices to consolidate data across property functions.
• Inntegral Business Intelligence Systems introduced a new hotel-chain IT consolidation and analysis system at its HITEC debut. The Inntegral Solution, which is geared to the needs of high executives, is a tailor-made budgeting tool that streamlines hotel-management companies strategic decision-making; represents tracking, budgeting and forecasting; capitalizes on existing legacy systems; and provides added value for corporate executives.
• Elastic Networks Inc., a provider of first-mile Ethernet solutions, and Hitachi Telecom, a subsidiary of Hitachi America Ltd. focused on developing and manufacturing telecommunications solutions for the U.S. market, have formed a strategic alliance to enable hotels to offer their guests voice and broadband services. Under the agreement, Elastic Networks' EtherLoop technology and Hitachi's HCX5000 private branch exchange solution will be integrated into one compact device that offers broadband access, visitor-based networking and telephony services in a single, integrated platform.
• HotelTools Inc., a company specializing in technology solutions for the lodging industry, unveiled its Management Console at the show. The console is a data-driven management tool that provides hotel owners and operators with the ability to manage multiple properties or brands within a format that uses real-time consolidated information.
• Springer-Miller Systems (SMS) announced its partnership with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG). MOHG has signed an agreement to install the SMS/Host Enterprise-wide Hospitality Management System in a number of their properties in both the United States and Asia. Springer-Miller Systems completed installation of its products in the new Mandarin-Oriental Miami, as well as at Turnberry Isle Resort, both in Fla. They will begin installation in Hong Kong next month.
• CSS Hotel Systems featured their Inntegrity property management systems showcasing the system's yield management tool that is built into the Inntegrity Front Office System. The tool increases the rates quoted by reservationists based on room availability and utilizes yield management principles with minimal intervention and monitoring by hotel personnel.
• Paymentech, a full service provider of electronic payment solutions, and Micros Systems Inc., a provider of POS technology for the hospitality industry, announced an integrated gift card solution at the show. Paymentech developed drivers for the Micros 3700 point of sale and 8700 hospitality management systems that allow merchants to accept and process Paymentech Gift Cards. Paymentech's gift card program includes card design and production, POS transaction processing and merchant reporting.
• NXTV Inc., a provider of digital broadband television services to the hospitality market, announced the completed installation of its broadband delivery system technology at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Hotel guests are able to choose from interactive broadband services including digital video-on-demand movies with enhanced TV features such as pause, reverse, fast-forward and bookmark which allow guests to stop and restart a movie over a 24-hour period, digital on-demand movie previews, high-speed TV and laptop Internet access and digital satellite TV programming.
• AremisSoft Corp., a company that develops, markets, implements and supports enterprise-wide applications software targeted at mid-sized organizations in several industries, including hospitality, completed the transition of Rio Systems products into the AREMIS Point of Service, and two booths at the show were showcasing the product line. The AREMIS Point of Service is comprised of seven modules: AREMIS Spa, AREMIS Golf, AREMIS Food & Beverage, AREMIS Dining, AREMIS Activity AREMIS Retail and AREMIS Club.
• LodgeNet Entertainment Corp., a provider of broadband, interactive television services to the hospitality industry, showcased its interactive digital system, including Music & More, which offers two on-demand music services; Internet-Enabled TV, which provides an array of free-to-guest and guest pay Internet services through their television; and Premium TV, which includes archived episodes of hit TV shows.
• Ilco Unican, manufacturers of the Millenium 9000 Online Security Management System for hotels, unveiled a new model of Companion Lock for its Millenium 9000 530 Integrated Lock at the show. The new model allows hotels to preserve the architectural unity of all their interior doors, by extending the trim of the Model 530 to doors, which require only a mechanical lock. The Model 530 Companion Lock is available for five different locking applications: passage, classroom, entry, storeroom and entrance.
• Newmarket International Inc., provider of Internet solutions to the global hospitality marketplace, announced that its NetDelphi Professional solution has been selected by Bacara Resort & Spa as their exclusive Web-enabled sales and marketing technology solution. The NetDelphi solution automates the sales, marketing and catering processes of large properties.
• Mitel Networks, a solutions provider to the hospitality industry, featured products and services that enable new revenue generation, increase operational and employee productivity and deliver enhanced services to guests. Mitel's solutions leverage the company's new IP broadband integrated communications platforms with voice, video, data and wireless applications to address the needs of business travelers for access to their corporate LAN.
• Cisco Systems Inc. announced they will team with GRIC Communications and NCR Corp. to provide global broadband roaming solutions to mobile business professionals. Global Broadband Roaming will allow service providers to retain customer loyalty by offering a cost-effective and secure Global Broadband Roaming Virtual Private Network service.
• EWD Solutions L.L.C. showcased its services, including their award-winning Web site design service, multimedia services, site hosting, custom application programming and database applications including customer relationship management and e-commerce.

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