8:30 - 9:45 AM Concurrent Sessions

The Impact of Web 2.0 on Distribution Technology
Web 2.0 is changing traveler buying habits. In order to keep up with these changing habits, what technological changes are needed?  This session analyzes the impact those changes have on CRS, PMS and RMS systems as well as how they ultimately affect the supplier/distributor relationship.  The session focuses on data warehousing, content management and distributino, incorporating user-generated content into existing applications, and the impact on technology environments and legacy applications.

From Home to Hotel
Review the current and emerging consumer electronics trends and how these trends shape guest expectations and explore the technologies that warrant in-room investment. This session shares findings from a recent comprehensive guest research project which included over 1600 business and leisure travelers revealing their preferences for home as well as in-room entertainment.

Automating Energy Management Through IT
Energy management in hotels is quickly becoming aligned with the IT infrastructure. It is also becoming an automated process, which includes knowing when to lower the temperature in a guest room and improve the guest arrival process. This discussion evaluates how energy management goes deeper than simply a preset thermostat and the use of low energy light bulbs. Learn the different facets of automating energy management through the IT infrastructure. Also, review the energy management model in a meeting room facility interfaced with a sales and catering application.

Globalization of Systems
The globalization of hotel companies operating primarily in the United States has accelerated over the past five years. European and Asian expansion creates new challenges for these companies. The purpose of this session is to help the participants gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by US-based companies as take their systems global.

Speakers with hands on experience in globalizing technology and business process will present challenges in implementing systems and procedures in front office and back office operations along with how they addressed the challenges. They will discuss many of the local requirements based on culture, infrastructure, and legal requirements. They will also discuss the issues associated with managing owner, franchisee and staffing challenges in various countries worldwide and in implementing brand marketing programs, such as the loyalty program into international sites.

Supplier Session: SaaS – Software on Demand: Learning From the Early Adopters
At this session explore SaaS Economics. What’s the recent financial argument for and against SaaS Economics? With razor-thin margins many hotels can’t afford to increase expenses, does being a SaaS company provide the opportunity to be more creative in pricing models? This session addresses Core Technologies Enabling SaaS (virtualization, etc), How SaaS is driving Green/Sustainable Computing? Learn about managing reliability and recoverability in on-demand environments. Find out about Data Center economics and why vendor data centers cost less. Discover who owns the data and why while learning from the early adopters.

2:45 - 4:00 PM Concurrent Sessions

Channel Management Technology
Without an effective and economically feasible method to distribute hotel room inventory, we're all out of a job.  Join three hotel companies as they review and discuss technology used to manage distribution channels, including its impact on hotels, trading partners and guests.  What are the most important features when considering channel management technology?  What tools are available and how should they be evaluated?  What are the best practices needed to realize an ROI on channel management technology?

Mixed Use Facility Technology
This discussion analyzes the technology complexities of a mixed-use facility and what issues should be taken into account when engaging in a mixed use development project.

Business Intelligence
This session outlines core capabilities of business intelligence: grouping information together, measuring information, give end users access, and sharing information changes. The discussion also explores components of information delivery and information discovery (IDD), and enterprise information management (EIM).

The Guest Room of the Future: Part 1
This session is split into two parts. In Part I, discover what the guest room of the future will look like, how consumer electronics will affect the overall layout of the room and how this affects a hotel’s IT personnel

Ask the Experts: Technology Innovators Panel
In a break from tradition where operators share their vision for their companies, this year the Ask the Experts session will have the industry’s top consultants share the experiences. Learn what mistakes have been made and more importantly how they can be avoided when it comes to property systems, distribution, infrastructure and many other aspects of technology. Jon Inge of Jon Inge and Associates, Jeremy Rock of Rock IT and John Burns from Hospitality Technology Consultants will join Moderators Richard Siegel and Scot Campbell. Come with questions in hand, this session promises to be lively and very interactive. 

Club Technology: Understanding Wi-Fi
The popularity of wireless internet access, known as Wi-Fi, is growing by leaps and bounds. Decide if Wi-Fi and/or wireless local area network (WLAN) is right for your facility and the complexities of making a club or resort a “hotspot” for wireless. Learn what Clubs need to consider when installing, including maintenance, security and policies on where, and how much, wireless should be allowed on their properties. Review security measures are needed to keep unwanted guests from accessing your wireless network.

4:15 - 5:30 PM

The Multiple Uses of Wireless in a Hospitality Environment
This session explains how wireless, which opposed to popular opinions is used for more than just high speed internet access, can be used for many other applications in a hospitality environment. These options include employee communication, remote check-in, use in POS environments, use with RFID applications and controlling AV functions in a meeting room environment. The discussion also explores an in-depth look at the future and use of the Zigbee wireless platform in the hospitality industry.

Luxury Resort Technology
Evaluate all components of technology for luxury resorts and review the general direction of PMS, POS , PBX and other applications as it applies to the luxury resort segment including best of breed compared to the single vendor approach. Learn about single Itinerary technology including Golf and Spa bookings as part of the room reservation.

The Guest Room of the Future: Part 2
Part 2 explores the current trends in equipping the guest room with technology that makes sense for both the guest and hotel, while creating revenue with in-room guest services and entertainment.

Operating a Green Hotel
As going “green” becomes more of a necessity, as well as a responsibility, learn about new and old initiatives properties can implement to be more socially responsible and efficient.

Supplier Session: Rich Media for Dummies
Don’t know an e-brochure from an email? Many hoteliers are overwhelmed with the onslaught of new online marketing musts. But is developing a rich media strategy really that daunting? This session analyzes from how to produce video content to the truth about pricing and the secrets of distributing Rich Content.  This interactive session provides statistics and Case Studies on how Rich Media has increased traffic to the hotel website as well as improved the conversion rate. 

Club Technology: Disaster Recovery Methods for Computer Data
Learn what you need to know to protect your electronic data. Gain the knowledge and insight to know that your data is safe, secure and accessible, regardless of the situation. Failed hard drives, hurricanes, user errors, system errors and viruses all threaten the integrity of your computer data. This session provided an overview of the different methods of securing data and how to ensure the integrity of your data.