JUNE 15 - 28, 2005
TOP O' THE NEWS
Another successful HITEC has come and gone. Attendance on the first two days seemed excellent, with good crowds at the booths and in the aisles, though Thursday afternoon was predictably very quiet. It's hard for a West Coast show to keep attendees from the East Coast into the third afternoon, but there was certainly plenty to see and some excellent sessions.
The overall mood was upbeat, but seemed to be focused more on consolidation than on introducing startling new products. Nonetheless, many vendors were showing worthwhile enhancements to their systems, both in functionality and in integration with systems from other vendors. And it's still amazing to me how the number of vendors offering high-speed Internet access still keeps on growing; this year there were 63!
The move to more modern technology that both makes centralized systems more practical and allows for more powerful and flexible integration between them was very evident. The HTNG booth saw a steady stream of visitors reviewing its real-world examples of Web services-based inter-system links. In the PMS world, HIS showed the .Net version of its epitome PMS, both MSI and Visual One demonstrated their new .Net systems, Springer Miller showed the SQL version of its Host suite, Hotel Concepts demonstrated computer-telephone integration for its new CRS module, and v3 of Micros' Opera suite has clearly made good use of the latest Oracle release, amongst many other examples.
However, a telling indication of the shift in emphasis from the property-based PMS to a more centralized view of what constitutes a strategic hospitality system came from newcomer AltiusPAR. An offshoot of Mexican hotel chain Grupo Posadas, AltiusPAR was showing the centrally-hosted (by Oracle) application that its parent has used to run the 90-property chain for the last two years. Covering central reservations, revenue management, CRM, business intelligence and sales force automation in a single application, it doesn't include a PMS at all, relying instead on interfaces to the properties’ individual PMSs for check-in, check-out and guest charge consolidation functions. An indication for the future?
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
- George Zugmier joins The Softwear Group’s Board of Directors
- Dr. Galen Collins inducted as a Fellow of HITA
- Olivier Dombey named as Pegasus’ VP of sales and account management for Asia-Pacific
- Pascal Metivier named President of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality for EMEA and Latin America
Industry veteran George Zugmier has joined The Softwear Group’s Board of Directors. Over his 30+ years in hotel technology, Mr. Zugmier founded both Lodgistix (currently SoftBrands) and Global Hospitality Solutions and is a member of HFTP’s Hotel Technology Hall of Fame.
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Dr. Galen Collins was inducted as a Fellow of the Hospitality Information Technology Association (HITA) at its conference held this week, recognizing his achievements in using technology to improve education and training in the hospitality industry. Dr. Collins is a Professor and Executive Director of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at Northern Arizona University, is co-founder of HITA and has been its president for the last six years. He is also a published author and serves as a consultant to numerous organizations.
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Olivier Dombey has been named as Pegasus Solutions’ vice president of sales and account management for Asia-Pacific, based at its new office in central Beijing. Mr. Dombey joined Pegasus in January this year, and brings 17 years of international sales and marketing experience to his new role. He had earlier held senior-level marketing positions at companies including in Beijing-based travel distribution/revenue management and sales and marketing consultancies, the Seychelles Marketing Tourist Board, Galileo International, and distribution and logistics operator Transport Development Group (TDG).
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Pascal Metivier has been named President of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. M. Metivier, a 12-year hospitality industry veteran, held several senior executive positions at Onity prior to joining ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, and holds several security technology patents for electronic locks.
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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- HIS unveils Internet-native epitome.NET PMS
- Marriott to install MICROS OPERA PMS and Sales & Catering at hotels outside the US
- Park Plaza Hotels Europe deploying centrally-hosted OPERA in all 21 hotels by year-end
- Daufuskie Island deploys OPERA Enterprise suite new Vacation Ownership System
- HSI adds online reservation interface to Jaguar Property Management System
- Ascenda launches Express Guest kiosk with interface to ceIris electronic ticketing system
- Trump Las Vegas condominium hotel orders Visual One’s full product suite
- Kapalua Resort in Maui orders Visual One’s systems suite
- Les Hotels Jaro implementing Northwind’s Maestro suite on single database for 6 properties
Hotel Information Systems unveiled its Internet-native epitome PMS, developed from the ground up using Microsoft’s .NET architecture and launched with similar functionality to the existing epitome PMS for Windows product. The new PMS is available in an Internet-native centrally-deployable environment accessible via Internet Explorer, or can be deployed locally, keeping the application and data on site. (www.hotelinfosys.com)
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Marriott International has signed a multi-year contract with MICROS to implement OPERA PMS and Sales & Catering at hotels outside the United States, integrated with Marriott's central reservations system. The agreement covers the Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari, Marriott Vacation Club International and Marriott Executive Apartments brands.
Park Plaza Hotels Europe, the master franchisor for Carlsons' Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Middle East & Africa, is deploying MICROS’ OPERA Enterprise suite and MICROS 3700 point-of-sale solution at all its 21 properties by year-end. The suite, centrally-hosted at MICROS's Frankfurt Data Centre, comprises Property Management, Customer Information, Sales & Catering and Sun Systems Back Office. The newly-opened Riverbank Park Plaza in London was the first property to go live. The MICROS 3700 point-of-sale solution will be implemented locally at each property.
Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa has deployed MICROS’ OPERA Enterprise suite, including the PMS, Sales & Catering, Vision BI reporting, Activities Scheduler and the new OPERA Vacation Ownership System (OVOS). Managed by Tiburon Hospitality Management since 2002, the 240-room resort includes two golf courses, a full-service spa, and vacation rentals including beach cottages, homes and beachfront villas.
MICROS’ Hospitality Solutions International (HSI) division has added an online reservation interface to its Jaguar Property Management System.
(www.marriott.com, www.pphe.com, www.daufuskieresort.com, www.hsi-solutions.com, www.micros.com)
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Ascenda has launched its Express Guest standalone kiosk, targeted at middle-market hospitality and time-share properties. The kiosks web-based software supports several management alerts for transaction monitoring including guest check-in and check-out, and offers integration with Cygnus eTransactions’ ceIris electronic ticketing system. The Cygnus system allows guests who purchased online to pick up their tickets for theme parks, attractions, shows, sporting events, and resort activities at Express Guest kiosks. (www.ascendainc.com)
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The 1,120-unit Trump Las Vegas condominium hotel, scheduled to open in October 2007, has ordered Visual One’s complete product suite. The Condominium module will track and manage leads at the Trump Sales Office from June 2005, converting them to contracts in the condo ownership system. This same system and database will add the remaining integrated hotel modules as the hotel moves through its construction stages.
The Kapalua Resort in Maui has ordered Visual One’s systems suite, including Property Management, Golf Management, Back Office Accounting, Condominium Accounting, Preventative Maintenance, Retail Point-of-Sale, Web Page Reservations (including condo owner web bookings) and Guest Activity Scheduling for the property’s 300 villas, three championship golf courses and seven retail outlets. In addition to the 300 lodging units known as the Kapalua Villas, the resort also includes a 548 room Ritz-Carlton and a 210 room Starwood hotel.
(www.kapaluamaui.com, www.v1s.com)
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Les Hotels Jaro, a six-property Quebec-based chain, has selected Northwind’s Maestro suite to automate all property operations on a single database, comprising Maestro Multi-Property Front Office with Customer Relationship Management, Sales and Catering, Central Reservations and the ResEze Web Booking Engine. Full implementation is scheduled for completion in July 2005. (www.jaro.qc.ca, www.maestropms.com))
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RESERVATIONS
- HIS re-brands enterprise system as “HIS core”
- TravelCLICK announces over 200 hotels have implemented iHotelier CRS this year
- Groupe Lucien Barrière implements EzRMS / NetRez CRS upload interface for 16 hotels
- Electrobug and Pricing Intelligence partner to track traditional and Web-based package prices
- Cendant TDS contracts with Serenata for two-way integration between Voyager and Fidelio PMSs
- Sterling Valley adds airline booking module to InntopiaCRS call center software
- SynXis re-brands distribution management system as RedX
- Millennium & Copthorne Hotels contracts for RedX for 90+ hotels
- SynXis adds 600 properties this year, total property count now well over 7,000
Hotel Information Systems has re-branded its enterprise system as “HIS core”. The application covers Internet-native modules for Central Reservations, Distribution Channel Management, Corporate Management and a Reservation Portal. (www.hotelinfosys.com)
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TravelCLICK announced that over 200 hotels have implemented its iHotelier CRS this year, including Wynn Las Vegas, The Ritz Paris and The Hotel Nikko Düsseldorf. iHotelier has also been selected to provide reservation services for the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. (www.choosechicago.com, www.travelclick.net)
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Groupe Lucien Barrière Hotel Group in Paris, France has implemented EasyRMS’ new EzRMS / NetRez CRS upload interface for its 16 hotels. The interface has been certified by IndeCorp & The Leading Hotels of the World. (www.lucienbarriere.com, www.EasyRMS.com)
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Electrobug Technologies and Pricing Intelligence have partnered to allow clients to track both traditional package prices via ViewData, and dynamic package prices through the web. (www.electrobug.com, www.pricingintel.com)
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Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS) has contracted with Serenata IntraWare to provide seamless two-way integration between its TRUST Voyager CRS and Fidelio’s Property Management Systems. (www.cendant.com, www.serenata.com)
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Sterling Valley Systems has added the InntopiaAir 1.0 airline booking module to its InntopiaCRS call center software, to locate confirmed airline reservations through Galileo and integrate them with customers’ lodging and activity bookings into a single travel itinerary. InntopiaAir 2.0, to launch this July, will enable online customers and call center agents to book airline reservations directly through Inntopia. InntopiaAir 1.0 is debuting with the installation of InntopiaCRS at Breckenridge Central Reservations. (www.inntopia.com)
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SynXis has re-branded its distribution management system as RedX, using the center of its existing logo as the new name. Enhancements include dynamic packaging to let properties sell multiple revenue sources such as golf, spa services and food and beverage all on the same booking, and Group/Wholesaler Rooming List Import.
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C) has contracted for SynXis’ RedX Distribution Management System for GDS and Internet booking connectivity for its 90+ hotels. M&C will also use the RedX voice reservation feature for its central reservations offices worldwide.
SynXis announced it has added 600 new hotel properties so far this year, bringing the total property count in the system to well over 7,000.
(www.millenniumhotels.com, www.synxis.com)
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MARKETING / MANAGEMENT
- SynXis signs preferred marketing agreement with E-site Marketing
- Kohler Co orders Datavision’s DVEnterprise Business Intelligence Suite
- Sandals installs Aptech's Execuvue Business Intelligence for 20 properties
- Seaside Properties implements interface between Maestro PMS and ZMail Internet marketing
SynXis has signed a preferred marketing agreement with E-site Marketing to give RedX-using hotel properties access to services such as search engine optimization, website design and development, e-marketing tools and pay-per-click-advertising campaign management. E-site Marketing and SynXis will also offer private-labeled and co-branded products, starting with RezTrack, a reporting tool to measure the direct return on online marketing investments by detailed conversion tracking of Website reservations. (www.synxis.com, www.esitemarketing.com)
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The Kohler Co.’s Hospitality and Real Estate Group has ordered Datavision Technologies’ DVEnterprise Business Intelligence Suite to collect, integrate and warehouse data from its PMS, point of sale, spa & golf, sales & catering and payroll/time clock systems. (www.destinationkohler.com, www.datavisiontech.com)
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Sandals Resorts has installed Aptech's Execuvue Business Intelligence to automate and analyze multi-currency key performance metrics for its 20 resort properties. (www.aptech-inc.com)
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Seaside Properties, a condo-hotel company with eight properties in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has implemented an interface between Northwind’s Maestro PMS and ZDirect’s ZMail Internet and electronic marketing system to send tightly targeted e-campaigns to its guests automatically. The marketing emails are based on guest information gathered from ZDirect’s client-preference database, which is derived from guest information from the Maestro multi-property PMS used by Seaside. Seaside, ZDirect and Northwind are also developing an interface between the Maestro ResEze Web booking engine and Myrtle Beach’s golf tee-time system to allow for the booking of custom golf packages. (www.zdirect.com, www.maestropms.com)
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REVENUE MANAGEMENT
- Manugistics Group introduces new group pricing technology
Manugistics Group has introduced new group pricing technology, with enhancements including improved Group Pricing, Collaboration and Alerting, and better Reporting and Analytics. Output includes key metrics such as forecasts and actual captured revenue to help analyze the accuracy of previous forecasts and refine them. (www.manugistics.com)
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SALES & CATERING, MEETING PLANNING
- Marriott to install MICROS OPERA Sales & Catering and PMS at hotels outside the US
- Park Plaza Hotels Europe to deploy MICROS’ OPERA Sales & Catering at all 21 properties
- Las Vegas Hilton signs with Passkey
- Newmarket now exclusive reseller of Serenata's integration to Fidelio v.6 for all Delphi MPE and SPE customers
Marriott International has signed a multi-year contract with MICROS to implement OPERA Sales & Catering and PMS at hotels outside the United States, integrated with Marriott's central reservations system. The agreement covers the Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari, Marriott Vacation Club International and Marriott Executive Apartments brands.
Park Plaza Hotels Europe, the master franchisor for Carlsons' Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Middle East & Africa, is deploying MICROS’ OPERA Enterprise suite and MICROS 3700 point-of-sale solution at all its 21 properties by year-end. The suite, centrally-hosted at MICROS's Frankfurt Data Centre, comprises Sales & Catering, Property Management, Customer Information and Sun Systems Back Office. The newly-opened Riverbank Park Plaza in London was the first property to go live.
(www.marriott.com, www.pphe.com, www.micros.com)
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The Las Vegas Hilton has contracted with Passkey to manage its online housing for all types of events and meetings. Modules to be implemented include Passkey group reservations management, the Reglink interface to integrate the meeting planner's preferred registration or attendee management system, GroupLink to transfer Passkey reservations into the PMS, Room List Manager and GroupmasterLink. (www.lvhilton.com, www.passkey.com)
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Newmarket International has contracted with Serenata IntraWare to be the exclusive worldwide reseller of Serenata's PMS integration to Micros-Fidelio v.6 for all Delphi MPE and SPE customers. The first property to install the Serenata/Delphi SPE integration was the Hilton Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. (www.newmarketinc.com, www.serenata.com)
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F&B/POINT OF SALE
- Kimpton rolls out Avero’s Slingshot to 25 restaurants
- Peninsula Beverly Hills installs Avero’s Slingshot in Belvedere Restaurant
- Boca Raton, Bahia Mar implement MICROS’ 9700 Hospitality Management System
- Real Mex Restaurants to deploy MICROS’ RES 3000 POS in 74 Chevys Fresh Mex and Fuzio Universal Pasta restaurants
- Park Plaza Hotels Europe deploying MICROS 3700 POS at all 21 properties
Kimpton Hotels has rolled out Avero’s Slingshot business intelligence system to 25 restaurants.
The Peninsula Beverly Hills has installed Avero’s Slingshot in its Belvedere Restaurant, in conjunction with an upgrade to its POS system.
(www.kimptonhotels.com, http://beverlyhills.peninsula.com, www.averoinc.com)
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Boca Raton Resort & Club and Bahia Mar Beach Resort & Yachting Center, both part of the Boca Hospitality Collection, have implemented MICROS’ 9700 Hospitality Management System (HMS), including Guest Connection, 9700 Web Reporting, and Mobile MICROS.
Real Mex Restaurants will deploy MICROS’ RES 3000 POS in all 69 corporate-owned Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurants and in all 5 corporate-owned Fuzio Universal Pasta restaurants. The deployment will include the MICROS 3700 Point-of-Sale (POS) software, Enterprise Management and MICROS Workstation 4 touch screen terminals. Real Mex has already the MICROS RES 3000 in its El Torito and Acapulcoconcepts, in 124 locations.
Park Plaza Hotels Europe, the master franchisor for Carlsons' Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts in Europe, Middle East & Africa, is deploying MICROS 3700 point-of-sale system and OPERA Enterprise suite at all its 21 properties by year-end. The MICROS 3700 point-of-sale solution will be implemented locally at each property.
(www.bocaresort.com, www.bahiamarhotel.com, www.realmexrestaurants.com, www.micros.com)
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SPA/GOLF/LEISURE
- Omni Hotels selects Nirvana online booking for the spa at its Omni Interlocken Resort
Omni Hotels has selected Nirvana Technology's BookNow! online booking tool for the spa at its 390-room Omni Interlocken Resort in Denver. The software will also handle online sales for the spa retail shop. The project is a pilot for automated activity scheduling at all Omni Hotels properties. Blue Square Studios will create a Web site for the Spa that Nirvana will interface to the Omni reservations system; Nirvana will also develop a two-way interface with the hotel's PMS. (www.omnihotels.com, www.findingnirvana.com)
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GUEST SERVICES
- RoomLinX merging with Digital Internet Services
- Bartech releases Cocktail Mix Discount feature for in-room minibars
- DataValet completes hybrid network implementation at Delta Montreal
- LodgeNet adding OAG FlightCheck service to interactive TV systems
- LodgeNet licensing high-definition content for SIGNETURE product
- Telkonet enhances broadband access with in-room remote printing and iWire Retro-Fit Package
- Mandarin Oriental New York deploys MTech’s HotSOS
- Swisscom Eurospot releases high-speed Internet access, conference services to US market
- Diversified Computer introduces SmartRunner Rapid Response upgrade for GuestWare
- HTNG’s In-Room Technology Workgroup publishes two White Papers
- Gold Key releases real-time bridge to Concierge Assistant online guest service system
RoomLinX is merging with ISP Digital Internet Services, to add a fixed wireless Internet access platform to its wired-access products. RoomLinX and DISC expect to structure the new merged entity into two divisions, one to grow RoomLinX's business, the other to grow DISC's presence in the fixed wireless space. (www.roomlinx.com)
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Bartech Systems released a Cocktail Mix Discount feature for its in-room minibars, to detect when a guest has removed the appropriate products for a cocktail (e.g. a gin and a tonic water) and apply a price reduction. (www.bartech.com)
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DataValet has completed a hybrid network implementation at the 456-room Delta Montreal, integrating network infrastructure technologies including DSL, Wireless, HPNA, and Cat 5 into a single High Speed Internet Access (HSIA) system. (www.deltamontreal.com, www.datavalet.com)
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LodgeNet is adding the OAG FlightCheck service to its interactive TV systems, allowing guests to access flight schedules and status. For a nominal charge to their wireless phone bill, guests can also have flight status updates texted to their cell phone.
LodgeNet also announced licensing agreements to add digitally delivered widescreen theatrical movies and premium high-definition entertainment options to the high-definition content of its SIGNETURE HDTV system, using LG Electronics’ Pro:Idiom content protection technology. Programming to be offered includes digitally-delivered widescreen movies, high-definition movies originally produced for IMAX Theaters, high-definition television from the HDNet and DIRECTV satellite networks.
(www.oag.com, www.lodgenet.com)
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Telkonet has enhancements to its broadband access over existing electrical wiring, including an in-room remote printing package using PrinterOn’s service, and its iWire Internet Retro-Fit Package as a supplemental hard-wired Internet access add-on for hotels that currently offer 100% wireless Internet in their guest rooms. (www.telkonet.com)
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The 251-room Mandarin Oriental, New York has deployed MTech’s HotSOS (Hotel Service Optimization System) to automate workflow and communications, and to wirelessly connect service staff to each other, guests, groups and meeting planners for unmatched personalized, prompt service. (www.mandarinoriental.com, www.m-tech.com)
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Geneva-based Swisscom Eurospot has released its high-speed Internet access and conference services to the US market. The company's existing network spans more than 2,800 properties in Europe. Services available include customized meeting and conference services, high-speed connections in guestrooms, self-service PC workstations and digital signage systems. (www.swisscom-eurospot.com)
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Diversified Computer Corp has introduced a SmartRunner Rapid Response upgrade for its GuestWare software, for use with Pocket PCs and specific Java-enabled cell phones. The new version offers significant improvements in speed and functionality compared with e-mail-based messaging systems. (www.guestware.com)
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HTNG’s In-Room Technology Workgroup has published two White Papers. One, “The Guest of the Future: In-Room Technology Preferences Today and Tomorrow”, defines the changing needs of guests, and what hotels can do to meet their technology needs more effectively. The other, “Convergence: Hotel Technology for Today and Tomorrow”, proposes a set of reference infrastructures for hotel network deployments, designed to help hotels achieve the cost, performance, and integration benefits that other industries have achieved by migrating to converged IP-based networks. The White Papers are available online to HTNG members at no charge. (www.htng.org)
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Gold Key Solutions has released a real-time bridge to its Concierge Assistant online guest service system, to allow hotel guests to enter requests or inquiries directly into the property’s website pre-arrival. (www.goldkeysolutions.com)
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BACK OFFICE
- SRC Software releases budgeting/forecasting/reporting system for hospitality and leisure
SRC Software has released SRC for Hospitality and Leisure (HL), a budgeting, forecasting and reporting system for the hospitality and leisure industry to help hotels, restaurants and leisure groups create forecasts, streamline the budgeting process, and monitor, measure and communicate performance. SRC for HL provides organization-wide collaboration and control over four key performance indicators: material costs, property and capital, supplies and services, and labor costs. (www.srcsoftware.com)
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INVENTORY/PURCHASING
- Four Adaco clients upgrade to Adaco Eclipse
Adaco Services announced that several hotel clients are upgrading their software to Adaco Eclipse, including the Du Pont Hotel & Country Club (Wilmington, DE), Cheyenne Mountain Resort (Colorado Springs, CO), Nemacolin Woodlands Resort (Farmington, PA), and Tamarijn Aruba Beach Resort (Aruba Dutch Caribbean). (www.adacoservices.com)
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ENGINEERING
- Starwood installs Direct FuelCell power plant at Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
- Mintek announces WinTrack Work Order Kiosk for non-engineering staff to enter work orders
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has installed a high temperature 250-kilowatt Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plant from PPL Corp at its 1,750-room Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, Sheraton's largest property, in midtown Manhattan. This is the third DFC power plant to be installed in a Sheraton hotel, and is similar to the other two plants located at properties in New Jersey - the Sheraton Edison Hotel and the Sheraton Parsippany. These projects are part of a master agreement Starwood signed with PPL. (www.starwood.com)
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Mintek Mobile Data Solutions has announced its WinTrack Work Order Kiosk, an ASP application intended to allow anyone non-engineering hotel workers (housekeeping, general managers, F&B staff, etc.) to submit work orders via a browser-based system. Work Order Kiosk can be used as a stand-alone application or as part of the WinTrack PM preventive maintenance system. (www.mintek.com)
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COMMUNICATIONS
- SDD adds guest prepaid calling cards to JAZZ Enterprise
SDD has added hotel-administered guest prepaid calling cards to its JAZZ Enterprise communications accounting software. Prepaid calling cards are issued automatically at check-in and directly assigned to a guest room or (optionally) to a guest authorization code for telephone access anywhere within the hotel. (www.sddsystems.com)
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SECURITY
- VingCard releases Alfa entry-level electronic lock to replace PRESIDIO product
VingCard has released its Alfa product, an entry-level electronic lock to replace its current PRESIDIO product. The Alfa lock will initially only be made available outside the United States. (www.vingcard.com)
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