The not-so-pretty truth is that hotels typically are behind the curve when it comes to technology.

In fairness, we can't blame them for always playing catch-up in that world, where things change irritatingly fast. All of us have lamented that no matter when or what piece of technology we buy, it will be relegated to “previous-generation” status, it seems, just about the time we get it installed.

That “next-generation” reality demands continual technology upgrades for every business and personal user, and hotels often cannot afford to be that nimble. Property owners are understandably reluctant to renovate as often as needed to support the newest technology, meaning major renovations almost never come often enough to keep the property's high-tech guests happy.

Consider this bit of history.

For decades, hotels, like the rest of our homes and offices, did fine by simply having a single hard-wired telephone line to each guestroom.

Then came modem-equipped laptop computers. (That was before we called them “notebooks.”) Those required phone lines so guests could access the world outside their hotel rooms. That meant state-of-the-art hotels needed two phone lines for each room.

Just as many properties were regaining their balance and technological viability after the “two phone lines” generation arrived, came the news that those lines were no longer sufficient for tech-savvy guests.

Those guests began to demand that their rooms be equipped with computer network cabling, a product that has its own obsolescence issues. First was Cat 5, then came multiple generations of Cat 5e/5E, and now there are Cat 6 and Augmented Cat 6. Soon after arose cries for wireless. And it is fair to assert that any property that is still without wireless access will lose business to the competition.

Technological one-upmanship is certainly not over.

SAME AS AT HOME

“People want the same technology when they travel that they have at home,” says Rajesh Chandnani, associate vice president and director of strategic planning and consulting for Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG), a hotel architecture and interior design firm. “So now hotels are looking at more than just computer access in rooms. Digital technologies are converging, and hotels need to similarly be converging technologies for their guests.”

For example, imagine if a hotel's converged technologies were set up so each guest's room would automatically set itself to that guest's unique liking, based on preferences he or she had previously entered into the frequent guest profile. The moment the front desk clerk checks in the guest, the lights in the room automatically turn on and the thermostat sets to that exact liking. The TV or in-room stereo turns on, playing the guest's favorite entertainment, be that ESPN, National Public Radio or Mozart from Pandora.com.

(Not only would these services please the guest, they also would reduce energy costs by keeping everything turned off prior to check-in and turning all off again at check-out.)

In addition, the mini-bar could already be pre-set with the guest's favorites because the room has been pre-blocked and the housekeeper has received a print-out of which items to stock when she prepared to clean the room that morning.

The list of computerized services could expand to even include such luxuries as automatically drawing a warm bath to be ready after the nightly newscast or pre-setting the draperies to automatically open in the morning in order to awaken the guest with natural sunlight.

Will hotels need every one of those toys to stay in business for the foreseeable future? Certainly not. But will some of them make a property a more attractive destination, giving it an edge over its competition and thus be a worthwhile investment? Perhaps.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Any current and (probably) future technology in a new hotel will be dependent on its infrastructure, which to a large extent means telecommunications cabling.

“We recommend a minimum of three Cat 6 cables per guest room,” says Chandnani. “Those are for Internet access, Voiceover IP (VoIP) phone service and digital content on the TV. And for U.S. properties, we also recommend coaxial cables with digital capabilities.”

In terms of a telecommunications backbone, “you want to run fiber to each floor of a hotel,” says Douglas C. Rice, executive vice president and CEO of the Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG), an industry trade association. “From there, run whatever cable is necessary to provide adequate capacity into each guestroom. Future-proof the room from a wired standpoint.”

But Rick Warner, vice president of American Systems, recommends going a step further. “Cat 6 is the minimum for cabling to guestrooms, but fiber (optic cabling to the guest-room) is really the way to go. Any new-build or retrofit that wants to distinguish itself with technology will want that.” American Systems is a high-end consulting organization focused on hospitality and gaming.

Michael St-Laurent, director of information technology for the 14-property Gemstone Hotels and Resorts, acknowledges having had discussions about fiber to the guestrooms with building owners and fellow Gemstone executives. However, he has not so far been able to make that professional recommendation. “I don't know that owners will be able to make a return on that investment yet,” he says. “I can see putting fiber to the guestroom sometime in the future, but not in the near future.”

HTNG's Rice suggests a middle-of-the-road option for hotels under construction. If owners do not want to invest in fiber to guestrooms but still want good options in the future, they can install copper cable today in conduit. That adds less cost than installing fiber with electronic transceivers in each room, but keeps open the possibility of replacing that cable in the future.

He also cautions hotel designers regarding on-site data storage location spaces: “Make sure that you make the right provisions for your telecommunications room to equip it with sufficient HVAC and electrical power. It is neither difficult nor expensive to get it built in right at first, but it is very expensive to fix afterwards.”

WHAT ELSE TO PROVIDE

Once a hotel equips guestrooms with connectivity, it will need to determine what else to provide there to use those connections. A commonly discussed next step is to install standard hotel electronic devices — like TVs — that can be interfaced with guests' personal electronic devices through hotel-provided multi-unit device-docking stations.

“Let's say that a family is in town for the weekend,” says Adam Kaplan, director of marketing for Chicago's Hotel Sax, “and they are out all day taking digital family home movies. When they get back to their room that night, they can plug their video camera into the docking station without having to hunt around to the back of the TV to find an access port.

“Then they will be able to watch their movies on their in-room TV. They can even split the screen and watch live TV at the same time.” All of the rooms at the Hotel Sax are equipped with Panasonic 42-inch high-definition monitors (the suites each have two of them), and all will have docking stations before winter.

A guest can use the same docking device to plug in her own notebook computer and download and view a movie from her own on-line subscription service, or literally from her own TV at home, using a service like slingbox.com.

The same type of docking station could be available for guests' MP3 players to play over an in-room stereo system, or to plug in their portable DVD players to play over the TV and sound system, their digital cameras, and their own gaming systems or other compatible devices.

(By the way, to service guests traveling with all of those personal devices, “new hotels need to be designed with multiple power outlets throughout the guestrooms, especially by the bed,” says WATG's Chandnani.)

“Docking stations are a relatively modest investment for a hotel, and are a lot less money than actually providing all of those personal electronic devices,” says American Systems' Warner. “Of course, hotels can still offer pay-per-view services, too.”

HOTEL MICROSOFT

In completing a recent $25-million renovation, the 353-room Hotel Sax intentionally positioned itself on the cutting edge of technology. “Our desire was to use technology to customize and individualize our individual guests' experiences,” says Kaplan. As a result, the hotel approached Microsoft and invited it to partner on this goal.

The software giant responded favorably. “Its reasoning was that it wanted to show the interconnecting capabilities of its technologies in a relaxed and comfortable setting,” Kaplan explains. By partnering with the Hotel Sax, Microsoft could expose guests to its technology and resources throughout the course of their stays, giving them a relatively long pre-buy exposure. This partnership has earned the property the nickname “Hotel Microsoft.”

“We're thrilled that Hotel Sax has turned to Microsoft to help guests stay connected with their digital lives when away from home,” says John Pollard, project lead, brand and marketing, at Microsoft. “Hotel Sax shares our view that travelers today aspire to use the latest technology throughout a stay, whether to plan activities around Chicago or relax with cool technology in the room.”

The place where guests will most likely have that Microsoft exposure is the guest-only lounge called “The Studio-experience by Microsoft.” It is open free of charge and staffed daily between 4 p.m. and midnight.

This one-of-a-kind lounge, with futuristic décor, features five Xbox 360 Elite gaming consoles with HD television screens and surround sound, five Microsoft Zune MP3 players pre-loaded with music and movies, two Hewlett Packard notebook computers with Internet access, and a Microsoft Windows home entertainment PC. The hotel also hosts regular movie nights in The Studio, as well as competitive Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Scene It events and competitions.

“A dozen of our selected guestrooms and all of the suites also have special installs with Xbox 360s, Zune MP3 players and laptops,” says Kaplan. “And they really threw the kitchen sink into the 16th floor Presidential Suite.” In addition to all of the above devices, that boasts a 65-inch plasma screen TV — the largest on property — and a LifeWare home-automation system connected through a Windows Vista Media Center PC that allows guests to run lights and media via a remote control. Kaplan smiles when he says, “That's the system that Bill Gates has in his home.”

MEETING SPACE

Another area of the hotel that is heavily Microsoft-driven is the 10,000 square feet of meeting space on the fourth floor.

As guests exit the elevators to access those meeting rooms, they enter a space named The Hub, fashioned around a state-of-the-art 36-foot, semi-circular video wall that can be programmed to suit meeting planners' needs, be that with static images or with recorded or streaming video.

Further inside, meeting and breakout rooms offer wired and wireless high-speed Internet access and customizable environmental control, lighting and retracting A/V devices. Since there are no windows on the fourth floor, variable LED lighting is used throughout the space to change hues designed to mimic natural daylight.

Similarly, the boardrooms blend traditional expectations with supporting technology. The 60-inch LCD HDTV plasma screen hides behind sliding cherrywood panels; users' laptops control the room settings; and hotel-supplied Tablet PCs running Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition replace the need for traditional whiteboards and flip charts.

Very few hotels will blossom into having the types of offerings the Hotel Sax brings to its guests. Yet some of its features, like technology interfacing, may become relatively commonplace in the coming decade. And as for the rest of its features, well, they certainly get one thinking of the possibilities of where a hotel could go.

---

Russ Munyan is a freelance writer in Olathe, KS. He has worked extensively in both the hospitality and technology industries. He can be reached at www.russwrites.com.

SYSTEMS INTEGRATION/DATA MANAGEMENT

		ASP installation	Standalone installation	ASP and standalone installation	Enterprise consolidation/viewing	Data cleansing	Data mining	PMS connectivity	CRS connectivity	GDS connectivity	IDS connectivity	Web booking engine connectivity	Sales & catering connectivity	Two-way reservations interfacing	Customizable reporting	E-folio services	Financial operations reporting	Business operations reporting
Agilysys	— Circle 101	•	•		•			•	•			•	•	•	•		•	•
Amadeus	— Circle 102	•						•	•	•	•	•		•	•
Aptech Computer Systems	— Circle 107	•	•	•	•		•	•							•		•	•
Autoclerk	— Circle 108									•	•	•		•		•
Bartech Systems	— Circle 109								•
Birch Street Systems	— Circle 111														•	•	•	•
Booking Center	— Circle 114							•	•	•	•	•		•	•
Centrada Solutions	— Circle 119	•			•
Comtrol	— Circle 122		•		•			•	•				•
DataPlus	— Circle 125		•		•												•
Dometic Corp.	— Circle 128							•
Genares Worldwide	— Circle 143							•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•		•
Guestroom Solutions	— Circle 146		•
IDT Group	— Circle 153	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•			•	•		•			•
Innes Systems	— Circle 155			•			•	•	•			•	•
InTouch Digital Systems	— Circle 158		•		•			•		•	•			•
Ipanema Solutions	— Circle 159							•
IQubz	— Circle 160	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				•		•	•	•	•
IQWare	— Circle 161		•		•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Keylink Solutions	— Circle 233		•			•									•
Lodging Interactive	— Circle 167									•	•	•	•
Newmarket International	— Circle 179			•	•	•	•	•	•				•		•		•	•
Northwind Maestro	— Circle 180	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Novexsys	— Circle 181	•	•	•	•		•
Passkey	— Circle 232							• •
Pegasus Solutions	— Circle 190	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Phase2 International	— Circle 191	•	•	•	•		•								•
PriZem International	— Circle 196	•	•	•	•	•	•
RoomLinx	— Circle 202	•				•		•	•	•			•			•
Sceptre	— Circle 208	•						•	•	•	•	•		•	•
SynXis	— Circle 215								•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•
TravelCLICK	— Circle 224							•		•	•	•			•
Vizergy	— Circle 227									•		•			•
Wayport	— Circle 229						•

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

		Reservations	Web booking interface	Accounting	Multi-property management	Activities scheduling (tee times, tennis, spa)	Remote check-in/check-out stations kiosks	Online credit card authorization	Energy management interface	Multilingual capability	OTA XML interface standards	Back-office interface	Housekeeping/maintenance managment	CRM capabilities/interface	Loyalty program administration	Revenue management interface	Wireless devices	Dynamic packaging capabilities	Multi-property accounting	Guest history	Application service provider (ASP)	Guest data encryption	Condo owner accounting	Timeshare functionality	Sales & catering interface	Guest reporting password protection	Guest credit card viewing encryption	PCI certified	Gift card management	Distribution channel management
Agilysys	— Circle 101	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•
Amadeus	— Circle 102	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•
Amana	— Circle 103								•								•
Applied Media Technologies	— Circle 106				•
Aptech Computer Systems	— Circle 107		•		•							•							•
Autoclerk	— Circle 108	•	•	•				•			•	•	•	•		•		•		•		•				•	•			•
Bartech Systems	— Circle 109		•										•	•		•	•								•
Birch Street Systems	— Circle 111			•	•					•		•	•			•		•	•		•
BluFi Wireless	— Circle 113																•
Booking Center	— Circle 114	•		•	•			•		•			•				•	•		•							•	•		•
Card Scanning Solutions	— Circle 117	•													•
Colubris Networks	— Circle 120																•
Compucustom	— Circle 121																•
Control 4	— Circle 124								•								•
Data Plus	— Circle 125			•								•							•
Energy Authority International	— Circle 131																•			•
Fire2Wire	— Circle 138																	•
Hotel Concepts	— Circle 150	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
IDeaS	— Circle 152															•					•
Innes Systems	— Circle 155	•	•	•		•	•	•				•	•	•	•			•		•		•	•	•	•		•
Inn Points	— Circle 157	•		•	•			•		•	•		•							•	•				•		•			•
InTouch Digital Systems	— Circle 158	•			•		•	•	•	•		•	•	•		•			•	•		•		•	•		•
IQWare	— Circle 161	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•		•	•		•
Keylink Solutions	— Circle 233				•					•							•		•
Lodging Interactive	— Circle 167	•																							•
Micros Systems	— Circle 171	•	•		•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•		•		•		•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•
Mintek Mobile Data Solutions	— Circle 174												•
Multi-Systems Inc.	— Circle 177	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•		•
Northwind Maestro	— Circle 180	•	•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Novexsys	— Circle 181	•	•	•	•			•	•		•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•	•		•
PAR Springer-Miller	— Circle 187	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•		•		•	•
Passkey	— Circle 232	•						•											•		•	•					•
Phase2 International	— Circle 191		•			•								•							•
Pinnacle Communications	— Circle 194																•
PriZem International	— Circle 196			•								•							•
PSG Controls	— Circle 198								•								•
Remco Software	— Circle 199	•		•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•		•	•	•
Ruckus Wireless	— Circle 203																•
SoftBrands	— Circle 213	•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•		•	•		•	•		•		•			•
SynXis	— Circle 215	•																•										•
Tantus Networks	— Circle 216																•					•
White Wolf Software	— Circle 230	•	•	•	•			•	•	•		•	•	•			•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•

TELE-COMMUNICATIONS

		Wiring and cabling	Automatic wakeup	Answer detection	Call accounting	Fax server	Paging	Telephony server interface	Voice mail	Wireless intercom	Two-way radios	Telephones	Cordless telephones	Cellular telephones	Guestroom Internet services	Prepaid telephone cards	Time/temperature/weather	Voice recognition	Voice-over IP-ready	Unified messaging	Telephone switch/equipment	DID server	VOIP phones
American Systems	— Circle 104	•
Applied Media Technologies	— Circle 106																			•
Autoclerk	— Circle 108				•										•
Bittel USA	— Circle 112											•	•										•
BluFi Wireless	— Circle 113						•				•
Centrada Solutions	— Circle 119	•
Compucustom	— Circle 121	•				•									•
Control 4	— Circle 124						•
DoComo	— Circle 127		•		•				•						•		•		•				•
DuVoice	— Circle 129				•	•		•	•			•								•	•	•
EthoStream	— Circle 133														•				•
Extenway Solutions	— Circle 134		•												•		•		•
Fire2Wire	— Circle 138	•													•
cii Guestlink	— Circle 145														•
Guest-Tek	— Circle 147	•																	•
iBahn	— Circle 151	•																	•
INNCOM International	— Circle 154							•				•							•				•
Inn-Phone	— Circle 156											•
InTouch Digital Systems	— Circle 158		•	•	•	•	•	•	•			•							•	•	•	•
Ipanema Solutions	— Circle 159	•	•		•	•		•	•		•	•	•		•		•		•	•	•	•	•
IQWare	— Circle 161		•		•
Keylink Solutions	— Circle 233														•
Kyber Networks	— Circle 163														•
Lorica Solutions	— Circle 169	•													•				•
NEC	— Circle 178		•		•			•	•			•	•							•	•		•
NxTV	— Circle 183									•					•
Paetec	— Circle 185											•	•						•		•		•
PhoneSuite	— Circle 192				•				•												•
Pinnacle Communications	— Circle 194	•	•		•	•	•	•	•			•	•		•				•	•	•	•	•
Polycom	— Circle 195																	•
PSAV Presentation Services	— Circle 197														•
Resort Media Group	— Circle 200	•													•								•
RoomLinx	— Circle 202	•													•		•
Scitec	— Circle 209											•											•
SMC Networks	— Circle 212								•											•			•
Teleadapt	— Circle 217	•													•
Teledex	— Circle 218											•	•		•				•				•
TeleMatrix	— Circle 219											•											•
Telkonet	— Circle 220														•

ENERGY MANAGEMENT

		Room occupancy sensor	Preventive maintenance software	Remote in-room wireless control	All-in-one unit	Central control, online monitoring	“Green” sensitivity	PMS Interface	Hskpg status notification	Mechanical preventive maintenance	Rapid response	Room preventive maintenance	Work Orders	Infrared controller
AmeriSafe Industries	— Circle 105	•			•
Bartech Systems	— Circle 109			•			•	•
Control 4	— Circle 124	•		•	•	•	•	•	•			•		•
Energex	— Circle 130	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Energy Authority Intern'l	— Circle 131	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Energy Eye	— Circle 132	•		•	•		•							•
Friedrich Air Conditioning	— Circle 141				•
INNCOM International	— Circle 154	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
InTouch Digital Systems	— Circle 158							•	•
Ipanema Solutions	— Circle 159							•
IQWare	— Circle 161							•	•				•
Keylink Solutions	— Circle 233				•
Lodging Technology	— Circle 168	•		•		•			•	•		•		•
Mintek Mobile Data	— Circle 174		•			•				•	•	•	•
Onity	— Circle 184	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Pinnacle Communications	— Circle 194							•	•
PSG Controls	— Circle 198	•		•			•
Resort Media Group	— Circle 200	•		•	•	•	•	•						•
Telkonet	— Circle 220	•				•	•	•						•

INTERNET TECHNOLOGY

		High-speed Internet access via CAT5	High-speed Internet access via xDSL, HPNA or similar	High-speed Internet access via wireless	Integrated voice/data lines	Proprietary ISP	PMS interface	High-speed Internet via CAT3	Participation in a wireless roaming network	Bandwidth shaping tools
Bartech Systems	— Circle 109				•		•
BAXL Technologies	— Circle 110	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•
Brandstand Products	— Circle 115	•
Centrada Solutions	— Circle 119									•
Colubris Networks	— Circle 120			•					•
Compucustom	— Circle 121	•		•
Control 4	— Circle 124						•
DoComo	— Circle 127	•		•			•	•		•
EthoStream	— Circle 133	•	•	•			•	•		•
Extenway Solutions	— Circle 134	•	•				•			•
Fire2Wire	— Circle 138	•		•		•				•
GBCBlue	— Circle 142						•
Genares Worldwide	— Circle 143						•
Guest-Tek	— Circle 147	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•
iBahn	— Circle 151	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•
InTouch Digital Systems	— Circle 158				•		•
Ipanema Solutions	— Circle 159	•	•	•	•		•	•		•
IQWare	— Circle 161						•
Keylink Solutions	— Circle 233			•
Kyber Networks	— Circle 163	•						•	•
LodgeNet Interactive	— Circle 166	•	•	•			•	•		•
Lorica Solutions	— Circle 169	•		•			•			•
Newmarket International	— Circle 179						•
Northwind Maestro	— Circle 180						•
nStreams	— Circle 183		•	•			•
Pegasus Solutions	— Circle 190						•
Pinnacle Communications	— Circle 194	•		•	•		•	•	•
PSAV Presentation Services	— Circle 197	•		•			•			•
Resort Media Grp.	— Circle 200	•		•		•	•	•	•	•
RoomLinX	— Circle 202	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•
Safety NetAccess	— Circle 205	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•
SMC Networks	— Circle 212	•		•					•
Tantus Networks	— Circle 216	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Teleadapt	— Circle 217	•	•	•				•	•
Teledex	— Circle 218	•		•				•
Telkonet	— Circle 220	•	•	•			•	•		•

GUESTROOM ENTERTAINMENT/SERVICES

		Free-to-guest TV	Audio downloading	In-room fax machines	Interactive guestroom shopping	Televisions	Video voice mail	Internet TV	Internet access	Bundled HSIA	Interactive guide to hotel facilities/events/the area	Premium audio	On-demand movies	Folio review/in-room check-out	Satellite TV	Printer/fax/copier	Computers	Business or Internet center kiosks	Premium entertainment channels	Pay-per-view movies at fixed times	DVD	Refreshment center	Multilingual capability	HDTV	XM satellite radio	Sirius satellite radio	Airline Boarding Pass Printing	Remote Printing	Standalone business center
Applied Media Technologies	— Circle 106																									•
AutoClerk	— Circle 108												•
BAXL Technologies	— Circle 110								•	•
Brandstand Products	— Circle 115								•
Brother International	— Circle 116			•												•												•
Compucustom	— Circle 121								•	•
Control4	— Circle 124				•
DoComo	— Circle 127									•	•		•	•				•	•	•			•	•					•
Dometic Corp.	— Circle 128																					•
Extenway Solutions	— Circle 134	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•		•	•			•	•	•
Fire2Wire	— Circle 138								•	•
Flyte Systems	— Circle 139																	•
Fox Cable Networks	— Circle 140	•
GBCblue	— Circle 142		•	•	•				•		•	•				•	•	•			•						•	•	•
cii Guestlink	— Circle 145	•				•			•
Guestroom Solutions	— Circle 146	•				•									•									•
Guest-Tek	— Circle 147	•			•			•	•	•	•		•	•	•				•	•			•	•				•
HBO	— Circle 149	•											•										•
iBahn	— Circle 151	•	•		•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
InTouch Digital Systems	— Circle 158						•						•	•
Ipanema Solutions	— Circle 159															•	•	•
Keylink Solutions	— Circle 233				•	•	•		•		•	•				•					•						•	•
Kyber Networks	— Circle 163								•	•
LG Electronics	— Circle 164					•						•									•			•
LodgeNet Interactive	— Circle 166	•						•	•	•	•		•	•	•				•	•			•	•	•			•
Lorica Solutions	— Circle 169								•	•
Minibar Systems	— Circle 173																					•
Miracle TV	— Circle 175				•			•	•		•		•	•					•	•
nStreams	— Circle 182	•			•			•	•	•	•		•	•	•				•	•			•	•				•
NxTV	— Circle 183	•	•				•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•					•		•			•
Panasonic Professional	— Circle 186					•
Park Media	— Circle 188	•						•																•
Peerless Industries	— Circle 189					•
Philips Professional	— Circle 193	•				•		•				•	•								•			•
Pinnacle Communications	— Circle 194			•				•	•	•	•					•								•
PSAV Presentation Services	— Circle 197								•
Resort Media Group	— Circle 200	•	•			•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•				•	•			•	•
RoomConX	— Circle 201					•		•
RoomLinx	— Circle 202	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•			•			•	•
Safety NetAccess	— Circle 205							•	•						•													•
Samsung	— Circle 207					•						•				•					•			•
Sharp	— Circle 210					•
Showtime Networks	— Circle 211	•																	•
Sony Electronics	— Circle 214					•						•				•	•				•			•
Tantus Networks	— Circle 216								•	•							•	•									•	•
Teleadapt	— Circle 217	•				•		•	•	•							•	•				•
Teledex	— Circle 218								•	•
Toner Cable Equipment	— Circle 222														•									•
Vertical Systems	— Circle 225								•							•	•	•									•	•	•
Wayport	— Circle 229								•									•									•	•
Zvox Audio	— Circle 231											•

CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

		Enterprise CRM	Guest recognition	Loyalty program management	Database marketing systems	Rapid response	Guest satisfaction survey tracking	Concierge tracking	Lost and found	Package tracking	ASP (hosting subscription model)	Per-arrival/Post-departure e-mails	E-mail marketing	PMS and CRS interfaces	Online profile updating by guest
Agilysys	— Circle 101			•			•		•	•		•	•	•
Autoclerk	— Circle 108	•												•
Booking Center	— Circle 114										•		•	•
Card Scanning Solutions	— Circle 117		•	•
Catalyst Technology	— Circle 118	•											•
Concierge Assistant	— Circle 123	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•
Control 4	— Circle 124							•
Digital Alchemy	— Circle 126	•			•		•	•			•	•	•	•	•
GBCblue	— Circle 142						•	•
Genares Worldwide	— Circle 143		•	•	•		•	•			•	•	•	•
GoConcierge	— Circle 144		•					•	•	•	•	•
Guestware	— Circle 148	•	•	•	•						•		•	•	•
Hotel Concepts	— Circle 150	•	•	•	•				•	•		•	•	•	•
IDT Group	— Circle 153	•	•	•	•		•				•	•	•	•	•
Innes Systems	— Circle 155	•	•	•	•				•				•
IQubz	— Circle 160	•	•	•	•		•				•	•	•	•	•
IQWare	— Circle 161	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•
Lodging Interactive	— Circle 167	•					•						•
Micros Systems	— Circle 171	•	•	•						•	•		•	•	•
Milestone Internet Marketing	— Circle 172	•											•
M-Tech	— Circle 176		•			•					•			•
Newmarket International	— Circle 179				•	•					•			•
Northwind Maestro	— Circle 180	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
PAR Springer-Miller	— Circle 187	•	•	•	•			•	•				•	•	•
Passkey	— Circle 232										•		•	•
Pegasus Solutions	— Circle 190	•	•	•	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•
Phase2 International	— Circle 191	•									•
PriZem International	— Circle 196				•
Resort Media Group	— Circle 200													•	•
RoomLinx	— Circle 202			•								•	•
Sceptre Hospitality Resources	— Circle 208											•	•	•	•
SoftBrands	— Circle 213	•	•	•	•	•			•			•		•	•
SynXis	— Circle 215										•	•	•	•
TIG Global	— Circle 234			•								•	•
Topaz Hotel Services	— Circle 223					•					•	•
TravelCLICK	— Circle 224			•								•	•	•
Vizergy	— Circle 227						•					•	•
Wayport	— Circle 229			•

CENTRAL RESERVATION SYSTEMS

		GDS connectivity	Guest history (individual)	Timeshare management	Automatic rate/room availability	Activities scheduling (tee times, tennis)	Private-label voice services	Group/housing reservations	Guest history (corporate)	Corporate room contribution	Channel management capabilities	Corporate/TA room contribution tracking	Revenue management or interfaces to RM	Web/browser-enabled	IDS connectivity	OTA XML interfaces to PMS	Dynamic packaging capabilities	Sales & catering interface	Web booking engine	Mobile device bookability	Per-arrival/Post-departure e-mailsw	Condo management	Recreation/spa management
Agilysys	— Circle 101		•	•	•	•			•				•	•				•			•	•	•
Amadeus	— Circle 102	•			•							•	•		•	•	•		•
Autoclerk	— Circle 108	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•		•
Booking Center	— Circle 114	•						•	•		•			•		•	•		•	•		•	•
Digital Alchemy	— Circle 128																				•
Genares Worldwide	— Circle 143	•	•		•	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•	•	•
Hotel Concepts	— Circle 150	•	•	•	•			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
IDeaS	— Circle 152				•			•			•		•				•	•	•
Innes Systems	— Circle 155	•	•		•	•		•	•					•			•	•	•		•	•
Inn Points Worldwide	— Circle 157	•			•		•				•	•		•	•	•			•
InTouch Digital Systems	— Circle 158		•	•	•			•	•	•						•		•			•	•
IQWare	— Circle 161	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•
Micros Systems	— Circle 171	•	•		•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•			•	•
Milestone Internet Marketing	— Circle 172																		•
Northwind Maestro	— Circle 180	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
PAR Springer-Miller	— Circle 187	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•		•	•	•
Passkey	— Circle 232								•									•	•
Pegasus Solutions	— Circle 190	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•
Phase2 International	— Circle 191							•						•
Remco Software	— Circle 199	•	•	•	•			•	•	•			•	•		•	•		•			•
Sceptre Hospitality Resources	— Circle 208				•		•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•
SoftBrands	— Circle 213	•	•	•	•		•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•		•		•
SynXis	— Circle 215	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•
Topaz Hotel Services	— Circle 223	•			•		•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•		•		•
TravelCLICK	— Circle 224	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•