12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Friday, September 10, 2010

2010 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Turning the Corner

AROUND THE WORLD IN 60 SECONDS
The number of prospective guests is expected to almost double by 2015.  No question that globalization is a reality hoteliers must deal with regardless if you are limited service or ultra luxury.  The expansion of hotels in the Middle and Far East as well as new travelers coming to North America and Europe are placing new requirements on IT.  Systems have to be expandable vertically and horizontally and have multilingual functionality to keep up with the ever-changing demographics.  In this session, we will discuss the technology challenges and solutions needed to support globalization.

“APP”SOLUTELY REVOLUTIONARY
Today’s travelers are tech savvy.  The explosive growth of smart devices and mobile apps has opened the door to new trends allowing for more streamlined hotel operations and for heightened guest experiences—before, during and after their stay.  In this session, we will discuss how smart devices and apps are affecting hoteliers and how you can take advantage of the changes. 

DO I KNOW YOU?
Most hotel chains’ loyalty program members only account for 25 percent of their guests, at best.  Knowing your guests can be game changing if you know and understand what they want from their stays.  Capturing information and utilizing business intelligence tools can provide real answers to the important questions you have about your guests.  In this session, we will discuss how hoteliers are using guests’ data to improve the guest experience and increase profits.

PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN
No doubt that cloud computing or software as a service (SaaS) can change how a company buys and utilizes technology.  Just like in the sky, all clouds are not the same. Understanding what type of cloud you need for your systems and applications will make the difference between success and failure.  In this session, we will discuss the different types of cloud computing and when cloud computing and SaaS make sense.

DOING MORE WITH LESS The tough economy coupled with the demand for improved profits is requiring most companies to do more with less.   According to Gartner’s 2009 business report, IT and training are the two areas most impacted by cost-cutting efforts, yet CEOs expect more from each function creating a difficult dichotomy.   Today’s CIOs have experienced down-sizing, right sizing or streamlining—all resulting with fewer people to do more work.   In this session, we will discuss real life examples where more is being done with less and how it is working.