What You Don’t Want to Miss at HITEC Dubai 2018 — Photo by IDS NEXT

HITEC Dubai is just around the corner and it comes as no surprise that we have another great conference ahead of us. To start with, it's taking place in Dubai, better known as one of the most vibrant and awe-inspiring cities in the world and the designated tech hub of the Middle East. With HITEC representing a now global presence in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, hoteliers and guests alike can look forward to the discussion and celebration of hotel technology and the impact it has (and will continue to have) on our industry.

HITEC Dubai will give Middle East buyers — who currently represent over 75 billion USD in buying power — access to the top, global solution providers in the hospitality market. Through means of a top-notch education program planned by the expert HITEC Dubai Advisory Council, as well as an exhibition debuting the latest in hospitality technology, HITEC participants will have the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the future of hospitality.

So, what should you focus on while attending HITEC Dubai? Below are a few things that will ensure you get the most value of your visit to Dubai.

Dubai, The City

Of course, you're visiting Dubai for a hotel technology event — but that doesn't mean you should pass on the opportunity to extend your stay and explore the city. Take a few days to be a tourist and explore Old Dubai with it's narrow streets and gold merchants, or the Mall of the Emirates where, if you're in the mood, you can slap on some skis and hit the slopes in an indoor ski hill. In the mood to shop? Check out the Dubai Mall with over 1,200 shops, 150 restaurants, an indoor waterfall, the giant Dubai Aquarium and an Underwater Zoo.

You can also spend some time in some of the most amazing hotels on the planet including The Oberoi Dubai, Atlantis - The Palm and The Jumiera Rotana (located on a man-made island in the shape of a palm tree) and the Burj Khalifa. Oh, did I mention that the Burj Khalifa is the world's tallest tower standing at 828 metres high?

The HITEC Dubai Exhibition Floor

This year you will be able to see true hotel technology innovation coming to life on the exhibit floor. From platforms that enhance guest engagement (a prevalent theme as of late), to systems that encourage environmental sustainability, HITEC has no shortage of exciting displays and demonstrations. You might even see the introduction of Augmented Reality into the guest experience, as mobile devices are physically attached to almost every traveler globally.

HITEC Presentations

Do not miss the presentation titled "The Future of Hotels - Humans, Robots and Everything in Between". This is a topic that has seemingly taken over every hotel board room as of late, promising a dramatic impact on the ways in which our industry deals with advanced technology while ensuring that hotels remain true to their core beliefs. The question HITEC will strive to answer is this: How can hoteliers better deliver guest service that instills long-term loyalty, with the help of AI/VR technology and more? After all, we have all seen the images of robot from desk agents in Japan but is this something that will take hold or is it just and oddity? Time (and our expert panels) will tell.

Also try to make time to see the presentation titled "Stay Connected - Better, Faster". As 5G becomes more widely introduced, what impact will it have on our guests but also on revenue streams that some hoteliers have been able to keep alive? Will it mean that all the money the industry has spent on Wi-Fi infrastructure will be pitched down the drain, or is 5G just so far off that hoteliers need to enhance their current Wi-Fi solutions to keep up with guest demands? As a hotelier looking to thrive in the mobile era, this is your chance to find the answer(s) you need.

Networking

Last but certainly not least — do not forget the networking opportunities!

There will be several events hosted by HFTP (as well as other groups) that you should make a point to attend. After all, the hospitality industry is built upon the creation and cultivation of relationships — an understanding which holds equal importance internally within our industry. Think about it this way; what other opportunity will you have to share the room with 600+ hospitality stakeholders, 60+ solution and service providers and 30+ industry expert speakers? Take advantage and connect with likeminded leaders during one of the most exciting hospitality conferences of the year!

We are incredibly lucky to be involved in such an amazing, technology-focused industry. Hospitality impacts every corner of our world from small villages in the Swiss Alps to the Mega cities like Dubai. Of course, an industry like ours is constantly evolving and often re-inventing itself, so if you want to keep up with today's pace of innovation, attending events like HITEC Dubai is undeniably essential.

Attendees and media are invited to meet with the IDS Next team at HITEC in Dubai. Come and visit us at stand number #C116 to experience the future of hospitality industry.

About IDS Next

Founded in 1987, IDS Next became India's largest hotel software company in its first decade of operations and Asia's largest in 2009.

Today, IDS Next is the leading provider of smart hotel software across Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania, serving over 6,000 customers in 45 countries with $10 million in daily transactions and 300,000 daily check-ins.

With the goal to redefine the way hotels operate through smart software solutions, IDS Next has been a trusted technology partner and preferred supplier to the international hospitality industry.

From contactless check-in, front desk, guest request and housekeeping management to payroll, finance, inventory management and procurement, IDS Next's award-winning software automates and streamlines front and back-office hotel operations, making sure all departments are covered.

With an open API approach, IDS Next integrates with over 100 of the world's leading, best-in-breed technology partners to ensure hotel operations run smoothly and securely to complement a hotel's existing systems and solutions.

Available in single modules and as an all-in-one solution, IDS Next's smart hotel software is designed by hoteliers for hoteliers through the company's in-house development team comprising 135 hospitality technology professionals and supported 24/7 by 90 customer services agents in 30 languages.

With all software PA DSS certified, front-of-house solutions GDPR compliant, and the business ISO 27001 certified, IDS Next's smart software solutions are accredited, certified, and compliant with the industry's most stringent standards for data protection and security.

Binu Mathews
CEO
IDS NEXT

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