HITEC Market Place

By Staff -- Hotels, 6/1/2007

Orlando Goes Hitec June 25-28

Loews Hotels Chairman and CEO Jonathan Tisch will be the keynote speaker when the 35th edition of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, better known as HITEC, gets under way June 26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Tisch will discuss topics from his two books, "The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships," and his just released, "Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Rethinking the Customer Experience," complimentary copies of which will be distributed to all attendees at the opening general session.

Tisch will talk about how to achieve success through creative partnerships among people, organizations and communities. He also will distill some of the most important customer relations lessons he has learned during his hospitality career and how these lessons are increasingly important for today's hotel leaders. Since taking the helm of Loews in 1989, Tisch has guided the company through a major expansion, positioning Loews as a leading luxury hotel chain. His leadership philosophy places importance on partnerships on all levels within the company.

HITEC, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, is the largest showcase of hospitality technology in the world, with more than 300 exhibitors. The four-day conference launches June 25 with pre-conference sessions and an invitation-only cocktail reception. Several other conferences are being co-hosted during this year's HITEC, including the Club and Hotel Controllers Conference, the Hospitality Information Technology Association Conference and the Revenue Management Strategy Conference.

In addition to the exhibition hall, HITEC attendees will have more than 40 seminars from which to choose. Among the themes emerging from the educational offerings are:

Guest services: Technologies that will impact the guest experience; A guide to "future-proofing" guestrooms and meeting areas; Guestroom consumer electronics

Technology of the future: Guestroom 2010; Wireless networks of tomorrow; Technologies for the hospitality business of tomorrow

The Internet: Cyber crime; Web strategies; Internet marketing; Internet law; W3C guidelines

Guestroom 2010 will be on display again this year, offering a model guestroom with current and near-future technologies. The 2007 version of Guestroom 2010 will feature technologies discovered following a worldwide search of existing, cutting-edge and future innovations. Technologies shown in the 2006 exhibit included innovations like a bed without a mattress and the self-cleaning shower.

During the show, be sure to cast a vote for the HITEC FAVE Awards, a new addition to HITEC. Attendees may vote for the best exhibits and new products at the show. Awards will be given in four categories: Favorite Island Booth, Favorite Inline Booth, Favorite Exhibitor Giveaway and the HITEC Attendee Solutions Award, which highlights the top five favorite solutions of HITEC 2007. Winners will be announced during the closing general session.

Products Showcase

Amadeus To Focus On Hotel Revenue Management BOOTH 255 The Amadeus Hotel Revenue Management System provides a holistic view of revenue data from all streams across the entire business, allowing hoteliers to capture total revenues from each customer and help increase profit through demand forecasting and optimization. The solution delivers system-wide capabilities, including extensive reporting, forecast accuracy, cluster optimization and automated recommendations. Hotel RMS helps hoteliers with customer retention, sales and marketing efficiencies and revenue management. Hotel RMS is an integrated system that hoteliers can leverage to gain real-time visibility into the financial performance of their hotels. The suite also includes a multichannel distribution solution to serve the key performance and operational needs of the hotel industry. Saflok To Demonstrate Quantum RFID Capabilities BOOTH 301 Saflok will demonstrate its Messenger system working in conjunction with Quantum RFID at three different show floor locations: the SAFLOK brand booth, sister brand KABA's booth (569) and the Quantum RFID technology pod located within the Guestroom 2010 display. Proprietary bi-directional communication device Messenger will transmit all Quantum RFID lock communication, diagnostics and reports over the length of the exhibit hall. In designing Messenger, Saflok created an RF protocol to optimize the battery life of the lock, allowing the door lock to "sleep" in a low-power mode. Aptech's Execuvue Gets Dashboard Functionality BOOTH 525 Aptech Computer Systems is rolling out new dashboard functionality for its Execuvue business intelligence system, which it will demonstrate at HITEC. Real-time performance data enables hotel operators to maximize revenue, minimize expenses and increase profitability with informed, data-rich decision making. Onscreen dashboards are flexible graphic displays that communicate complex information more quickly, giving executives access to data for rapid response to changes. While traditional reporting uses cross-tab spreadsheets that require line-by-line searches for specific information, dashboards work like a car's instrument panel to graphically enable quicker, more confident decision-making by translating numerical information from multiple corporate systems into easily understood, visually rich presentations that include color-coded gauges, maps, charts and other graphical elements. New OPERA Enhancements For GoConcierge BOOTH 931 GoConcierge.net, maker of GoConcierge, a leading Web-based guest service operations system, introduces an advanced version of its application at HITEC. Enhancements include an interface with Micros Systems' OPERA Property Management System, an inventory tracking tool and the ability to store signatures digitally. The OPERA interface, developed to meet Hotel Technology Next Generation specifications, allows concierges to activate guestroom telephone message lights, view guest profiles and be alerted to reservation changes. Likewise, when someone using GoConcierge enters a cancellation, it is visible in the PMS. Guest service personnel have the ability to add actionable notes in the PMS. A concierge wishing to look up a guest's record in GoConcierge need only type in the room number or partial name to populate the name field. Pegasus To Unveil Central Reservation Overhaul BOOTH 343 Pegasus Solutions introduces RezView, a next-generation hospitality engine that is one of the industry's first major overhauls of the central reservation system. RezView includes multiple functions to address hospitality business requirements, providing customers with improved scalability and next-generation capabilities. It offers consistent views of data with the convergence of customer reservations, property management and Web functionality with an efficient technology platform able to deploy multiple emerging technologies. Other features include timely extraction of data for sales and marketing reporting, multiproperty technology solutions, reduced complexity when deploying new technologies and increased speed to develop new functionality. This next generation system was designed to combine the best of all worlds-the stability of Pegasus' existing technology with new functionality designed to give customers an enhanced competitive advantage. Examples of new functionality to be demonstrated include easy Web access, Web shopping where inventory searching is simplified, and property management with multiproperty visibility and accountability. Mintek Supports Upgraded Preventive Maintenance Software BOOTH 831 Mintek Mobile Data Solutions introduces WinTrack PM for the Windows Mobile platform at HITEC. WinTrack is the cornerstone of Mintek's Lodging Asset Management Suite and incorporates handheld devices and bar coding to add efficiencies to property management, rounds, inspections and work-order processes. As part of the WinTrack rollout, Mintek is introducing the Web-based Work Order Kiosk, which enables staff to submit work orders via a browser-based system. Mintek also is introducing new hardware to support the MC series of terminals that feature color screens, increased RAM and powerful processors that increase scan times and eliminate duplicate scans. Windows Mobile devices include wireless radio options and function using Bluetooth, WAN or WWan. The MC series replaces the Motorola SPT 1800 series running the Palm operating system. Newmarket Releases Delphi Update BOOTH 909 Newmarket International announces the rollout of Delphi 9.5, a new release of the industry-leading sales and catering application. Delphi 9.5 provides advanced features and functionality that allow hotel operators to increase profitability by creating memorable experiences for customers. New enhancements include multilingual and multicurrency operations for expanding global businesses and customer bases. Version 9.5 also includes an upgraded user interface and executive dashboards to deliver more information in clear graphic format. The new sales dashboard guides sales managers directly to the most important information of the day, resulting in dramatic improvements in sales productivity. It also allows sales staff to track key performance indicators, providing actionable information to generate and close business. Teledex To Display Newest iPhone Models BOOTH 543 Teledex will be demonstrating the company's latest iPhone models, its new Hybrid series of Voice-Over-IP units, at HITEC. iPhone Hybrid HD6200 series display phones combine the best analog phones with a color touch-screen LCD to deliver content and revenue-generating services to guestroom phones, regardless of network infrastructure. Each iPhone Hybrid can be converted to an iPhone IP with a remote firmware upgrade. Teledex iPhone SIP LD4200 series VOIP display phones use the hotel data network to deliver advanced voice services and interactive content. All iPhone display phones integrate with property-based, Web-based and corporate systems to bring new levels of service and guest satisfaction, as well as new revenue opportunities for all hotels. The Teledex iPhone lineup also includes non-display SIP phones in matching case designs to complete the in-room look, as well as corded and cordless analog non-display models for installations that require them. Micros Showcases OPERA Add-Ons BOOTH 501 Micros will highlight the modules of its OPERA Enterprise Solution, including PMS, CRS, sales and catering, gaming, customer information and kiosk solutions. Micros also will show its newest modules including the OPERA Business Intelligence Suite and OPERA Lite. Powered by Oracle, the business intelligence program is easily deployed at any size organization, from a single property to a multibranded chain. OPERA Property Management Systems are rich in functionality and flexible for all types of hotel needs. Micros rounds out the product offerings with an "off-theshelf" solution designed for a hotel with the simplest technology needs-OPERA Lite. Gold Key Updates Concierge Assistant Application BOOTH 945 Gold Key Solutions announces a new Web-enabled module that enables guests to inform concierges of their needs and preferences prior to check-in. The new Concierge Assistant Web module connects guests directly to the guest service system. Other Concierge Assistant upgrades include the Lost and Found module that enables staff members to enter and tag articles for easy tracking and identification. The system records how and when items were disposed, for tracking and reporting purposes. The Key Control system organizes and records the distribution of keys to staff members and enables the addition of new keys and staff members. The Timed Services system records and tracks a guest's on-property schedule for activities like tennis lessons or spa appointments, concurrently tracking related staff schedules including days off, lunch times and vacations. TeleMatrix Releases Affordable VOIP SIP Telephone BOOTH 425 TeleMatrix Inc. will show off its VoIP 3000IP telephone, which is now compatible with Session Initiation Protocol and Mitel's MiNET protocols. The 3000IP is the world's first VOIP guestroom telephone. It offers the same form factor and features of a typical guestroom telephone, including five or 10 speed-dial keys, speakerphone and TeleMatrix TouchLite message retrieval key. The 3000IP transports voice over the hotel's high-speed Internet network and also provides an access point for guest laptops, along with eliminating the need for additional wiring. Other features include dual Ethernet portals, professionalgrade, speakerphone, conference keys, and it supports IEEE 802.1 p/q QOS and IEEE802.3 af powering options. NxTV Displays IPTV Innovations BOOTH 317 NxTV, hospitality's largest provider of all-digital Internet Protocol network television, is installing the industry's first all-digital, IP-based, thin-client hardware and software platform that can deliver high-definition video-on-demand, as well as IPTV free-to-guest content and high-speed Internet. NxTV's new IPTV platform reduces operational costs via a thin client set-top box for low maintenance network delivery, uses the Linux operating system to boost performance of thin clients and comes with a software-based encryption alternative that frees hoteliers from hardware-based anti-piracy limitations. The system is network- and display-neutral and operates on IP network infrastructure that allows for the use of a converged network. iBahn NextConnect Upgrades Phone Jacks To Ethernet Portals BOOTH 1047 The iBAHN NextConnect Ethernet system leverages old wiring to provide high-speed Internet access at a minimal expense to hotels. iBAHN is the only provider that can integrate the equipment on a secure network with proven reliability. NextConnect uses wiring that fits unobtrusively over existing phone jacks, immediately upgrading the jack to a managed Ethernet switch. Power is then supplied to the Ethernet switch via the original telephone wires, eliminating the need for an external power supply. NextConnect supports convergence of video, voice data and wireless applications over the Internet, and its multiport feature supports the addition of up to four Ethernet ports in each guestroom. Birch Street Launches Hospitality's First Projects Management Suite BOOTH 381 Birch Street Systems is demonstrating its Capital Projects Management Suite, the industry's first comprehensive solution for the management of multiproperty hotel renovation projects. The application manages renovation timelines and purchaseorder scheduling, tracks the furniture, fixture and equipment budget, enforces brand standards and monitors compliance with the renovation schedule. It empowers hoteliers with the ability to establish and manage the project timeline across a large portfolio of properties. Expenditures are tracked against the capital budget, and the entire project can be viewed in real-time through the dashboard feature. The system is delivered over the Internet using the Software as a Service model.