HITEC 2005, June 20-23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will guide attendees through the latest technological innovations in the hospitality industry via exhibitions and product demonstrations. This year's show will feature more than 600 booths and an expected attendance of nearly 5,000 people. Among the crowd will be Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams, who will speak about his journey to success during HITEC's opening session.
In addition, the show will offer more than 35 educational sessions presented by the world's foremost hospitality technology experts. This year's sessions cover a range of topics, including the Club Technology Boot Camp, Emerging Technologies, Future of Systems Integration, What to Look for When Purchasing High Speed Internet Access, Property Management, VoIP and Customer Relationship Management. There also will be presentations by Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) teams to demonstrate new interoperability capabilities.
On the last day of the show, a panel of chief information officers will share their visions of the future and which technologies they believe will impact both their operations and their customers. They also will discuss areas where the industry is lacking when it comes to technology. In the meantime, on the following pages, HOTELS provides a glimpse of the products that will be showcased at HITEC 2005.
LodgeNet
Derek Gale
LodgeNet will showcase the integration of its sigNETure TVSM, sigNETure HDTVSM and sigNETure PCSM products into high-performance, sigNETureSM Solutions for hoteliers wanting to maximize the guest experience and enhance revenues. These solutions include the industry's only true HDTV offering and can support new and expanded guest services through the TV and the Internet. www.lodgenet.com
Safeplace
Derek Gale
Safeplace introduces the first fingerprint operated override unit to improve hotel safe security. The new BiMax override unit ensures that staff members can open or reprogram safes only if their fingerprints are authorized. The biometric fingerprint identification is linked to a personal password and name that connects every operation to its authorized user on the audit report. All passwords and fingerprints are fully programmable in case of loss, theft or staff turnover. The new unit includes infrared communication, a built-in interactive troubleshooting manual and a well-protected audit trail. www.safeplace.co.il
IDeaS
Derek Gale
IDeaS releases the new Rate Check Module as part of its revenue optimization software. The significance of this module is that hoteliers with legacy systems (either PMS or CRS) developed before revenue management became an integral part of day-to-day operations now have a way to maximize their RevPAR without changing their systems. With this new module, reservation agents will have the ability to query the IDeaS Revenue Optimization System based on arrival date, length of stay or combined criteria and get optimized information, thereby significantly improving their RevPAR. www.ideas.com
UniFocus
Derek Gale
UniFocus' Watson, R.M.™ Management Software, including Budgeter, Forecaster, Planner and Scheduler, gives you the information you need to manage all of your costs, labor and supplies, while ensuring proper service quality. This Web-based business forecast system truly provides flexible budgeting allowing real-time resource management. Watson, R.M. enables you to manage performance on a day-to-day basis and re-manage labor and costs accordingly—there are no more questions about what performance should have been. www.unifocus.com
Adaco
Derek Gale
At more than 500 properties in 48 countries, Adaco's procurement software for the hospitality industry ensures that the right item will be delivered to the right place at the right time at the right price. The Adaco Eclipse System, the company's flagship software, was designed to simplify centralized management of multi-property hotel operations. Its leading-edge technical platform includes purchasing, receiving, storeroom requisition, inventory control, operational control and analysis, recipe and beverage revenue enhancement, accounting and corporate management. www.adacoservices.com
Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.
Derek Gale
Aptech Computer Systems Inc. announces Targetvue®, a budgeting and goal setting module for performance management, as an addition to its Execuvue® hospitality business intelligence system. Targetvue® allows operators to create a report card on management effectiveness, build flexible operating budgets, and set goals for various aspects of their enterprise. Targetvue® also connects with Metricvue, Aptech's performance monitoring tool. As a company's performance changes, Metricvue monitors the fluctuations and compares them with budgets and goals created by managers in Targetvue®. The result is an automated real-time display of business performance judged against operating goals. www.aptech-inc.com
Gold Key Solutions
Derek Gale
Gold Key Solutions, providers of The Concierge Assistant guest service systems, announces the industry's first online guest-driven concierge system interface. The Concierge Assistant will enable guests to book their own amenities and service requests and to schedule activities directly without staff intervention. The Concierge Assistant online interface is a paperless module that does away with cumbersome e-mails requiring staff to re-key into separate scheduling systems. The Windows-based application increases staff efficiency and reduces expenses by automating all guest services activities and reporting. www.goldkeysolutions.com
NORTHWIND
Derek Gale
NORTHWIND announces its new fully integrated Online Maestro Club Spa Management System, featuring real-time e-mail confirmation for spa services and on-demand communications capability for time-sensitive correspondence. Maestro Club Spa Management may be used in an ASP format along with the Maestro Property Management Suite and the Maestro Multi-Property Suite, to provide online spa booking through its Club Spa Activities module. Additionally, both Maestro Tee Times and Hotel Reservations, already deployed on ASP installations, now feature online guest reservation creation that allows guests to book property services before arrival remotely with Zmail. www.maestropms.com
Enablez, Inc.
Derek Gale
Enablez Inc. presents ResortSuite, a truly integrated hospitality software solution designed specifically to manage an entire hotel or resort operation on a single guest database. Composed of PMS, spa, F&B, catering, golf, club, ski and retail modules, ResortSuite requires zero interfacing and operates on Oracle technology, ensuring scalability and performance. ResortSuite's unique modular and interoperable design combines common core capabilities with rich domain expertise in each operational area of a property. The guest-centric capabilities ensure a consistent, superior guest experience. www.resortsuite.com
GoConcierge.net
Derek Gale
GoConcierge.net is a Web-based task-tracking and database solution for concierges and other departments, including guest services, front desk, shipping and receiving, and restaurants. GoConcierge will assist you with quickly providing information about restaurants, attractions, museums and other popular guest requests. The Task Manager feature is designed to track guest tasks to ensure that all guest information is at your fingertips at all times. Use this feature to automatically generate customized guest confirmation letters and keep notes on individual guest tasks. www.goconcierge.net/home
Mintek Mobile Data Solutions
Derek Gale
Mintek Mobile Data Solutions announces the release of its new Mintek Lodging Asset Management Suite, the only industry specific mobile solution that provides for complete management of a property's assets. The solution consists of WinTrack Asset Director, WinTrack PM, WinTrack Maintenance Portal and WinTrack Alerts. Some examples of assets and information that can be tracked with the Suite include: mechanical equipment, life- safety systems, roofing and facade systems, contracts, warranties, specifications, maintenance and other critical documents. www.mintek.com
Diversified Computer Corp.
Derek Gale
Diversified Computer Corp. showcases its GuestWare Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS), designed to provide personalized guest recognition and exceptional service quality. GuestWare enables hotels and management companies to streamline and enhance service delivery via its SmartRunner system. When a guest calls a hotel's communication center, a request is logged into the system, and a page is sent out. The person receiving the page can view the request along with the room number, guest name and priority in order to complete the task. www.guestware.com
MICROS
Derek Gale
MICROS announces the new OPERA Vacation Ownership System, a comprehensive and flexible system consisting of multiple modules that integrate with the OPERA Enterprise Solution. The integrated OPERA Vacation Ownership System seamlessly accommodates the property management requirements of condominium operations as well as mixed condo and hotel environments. OVOS offers a wide range of benefits, including improved customer service, efficient owner fulfillment for vacation rentals, efficient internal unit management operations, and control over financial data integrity. www.micros.com
Manugistics
Derek Gale
Manugistics will feature its suite of revenue management/pricing solutions for the hospitality industry during HITEC 2005. The Group Pricing Solution is a state-of-the-art revenue management tool to meet the demand of group bookings; the Hospitality and Gaming Revenue Management Solutions offer property or enterprise level revenue management capabilities that manage room availability and anticipate guest spending; and the Tour Revenue Optimization Solution is an integrated revenue management system for the tour industry to sell pre-packaged holidays using flight and accommodation capacity. www.manugistics.com
Wayport
Derek Gale
Wayport offers Bandwidth Allocation Technology to its hotel venues for groups that anticipate the need to reserve a portion of the property's broadband infrastructure for their meeting needs. Based on the number of attendees or bandwidth intensive applications, Wayport can partition an appropriate amount of bandwidth, therefore protecting the meeting and guest experience while ensuring a quality performance. www.wayport.net
Comcast
Derek Gale
Comcast features HospitalityONE ™, a flexible entertainment and communications platform that brings exciting new entertainment and communication options to your guests, including HDTV, national, local and regional sports programming, Video On Demand (VOD) and wired and wireless HSIA. Now you can get the ONE solution, delivered via ONE network, from ONE full-service provider with flexible rate options. www.comcastone.com
Schedule At A GlanceDerek GaleThe Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference will be held June 20-23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Complete conference information is available at www.hitec.org.Monday, June 208:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CHTP ReviewClub Technology Boot Camp9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Revenue Management System?Fundamentals of Hospitality Technology 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Telephone System?What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Security & Surveillance System?What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Property Management System? 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Sales & Marketing Executive BriefingCHTP Exam 3:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m. What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Point-of-Sale System?What Should I Look for When Purchasing a High-Speed Internet Access Solution?What Should I Look for When Purchasing In-Room Technology?Systems Interoperability: Taming the Interface Beast Tuesday, June 218:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Opening Session: From Cubicles to Comics, a presentation by Dilbert creator Scott Adams9:45 a.m.-11:00 a.m. The Future of Systems Integration - TodayHandheld Devices and Applications in the Hospitality Industry The VoIP RevolutionInternet Marketing 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Ask the ExpertsSecurity and PrivacyClub Technology Infrastructure - WirelessNetwork Security - Keeping Systems Clean 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Exhibits Open6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Welcome ReceptionWednesday, June 229:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Exhibits Open10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. IT BloopersDistribution - State of the Art in June 2005Telling the IT Story through MetricsWiring Infrastructure for Guestroom Technology 3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Guest Self Service: Reality, Myth or Somewhere in BetweenTechnology Management - Catch AllCRM - Customer Relationship ManagementWi-Fi - Next Generation 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Guest Expectations of In-Room TechnologyBooking Engines & Dynamic PackagingSupporting Operations with Business IntelligenceCredit Card Processing, Security and CISP Compliance Thursday, June 238:00 a.m.- 9:15 a.m. Future Technology Web Services Journey on the .NET BusWhat Do I Need to Know (But Was Afraid to Ask) About Telecoms Outside of North America?Channel Management 9:30 a.m.- 10:45 a.m.
General Session: CIOs Roundtable11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Exhibits Open