Agilysys Stay is a full-featured cloud-native enterprise-grade SaaS PMS that delivers personalized guest experiences with powerful operational efficiencies allowing users to focus on connecting with guests on a personal level. As a one-stop solution, Stay provides the capability to increase revenue, improve occupancy and inventory management, reduce costs, and increase brand and guest satisfaction for properties from small destination resorts to large national chains. Agilysys Stay delivers intuitive PMS functionality across operations that empowers users to deliver more meaningful guest experiences.

In addition, Stay’s powerful revenue and analytics tools are a natural fit with Duetto’s, enabling a dynamic open pricing model that fully optimizes their revenue with personalized pricing recommendations.

Key benefits of the Agilysys Stay – Duetto integration include:

• High Quality Data Exchange that provides Duetto with detailed Stay reservation, inventory and group block information that empowers their analytics tools to make intelligent personalized recommendations.
• Real-Time Revenue Optimization that communicates information nearly instantly allowing Duetto GameChanger to respond quickly to changing conditions with pricing recommendations that can then be actioned in Agilysys Stay, ensuring revenue is always optimized.
• Rapid Deployment allowing hoteliers to immediately reap benefits of the combined solutions.

Duetto and Agilysys have been working together since 2016 when Duetto announced its integration with Agilysys LMS and Agilysys Visual One® PMS solutions.

“We’re very proud to be further extending our relationship with Agilysys through this new integration with Agilysys Stay PMS,” said David Woolenberg, CEO, Duetto. “The benefits to hoteliers of working with both these cutting-edge cloud-based technologies is very simple – leveraging our common customer-centric philosophy, each of our solutions seeks to deliver personalized guest experiences that also maximize property revenue.

“We are excited to extend our relationship with Duetto by bringing their solutions to our modern cloud-native PMS solution, Agilysys Stay,” said Rohith Kori, Vice President, Corporate & Product Strategy at Agilysys. “Our integration with Duetto further enhances Agilysys Stay’s unique rate management capabilities including federated rates. With the integration of our industry-leading solutions, our customers can deliver truly exceptional personalized experiences, increase profitability and ensure their most valuable customers return again and again.”

The post Agilysys and Duetto Expand Partnership with New Integration Between Property Management and Revenue Solutions appeared first on .

Today these 29 Arkansas State Park locations are back on Maestro and visitors are now self-selecting their preferred campsites online — based on location/spur length, amp service, and water/sewer line needs — due to new functionality built specifically for them by this popular PMS provider.

“We are happy to be working with Maestro again,” said Joe Jacobs, Arkansas State Parks Marketing & Revenue Manager. “While the other PMS had the campground-specific booking functionality that we needed, their multi-property management, sales-and-catering operability and revenue analytics were not what we had come to expect. When we reached back out to Maestro, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that they had been developing the site-selection tool we needed desperately. We transitioned back to Maestro and we haven’t looked back.”

Maestro is unique in that it gives lodging operators a choice in PMS platform deployment — self-hosted, private cloud, on-premise or cloud-hosted PMS in a Windows or Web browser-based environment. Because it is a multi-property operation with specific data management requirements, Arkansas State Parks chose to self-host the Maestro Web-browser-based PMS via a centralized corporate server at the company’s Little Rock headquarters. The group is benefiting from a fully mobile PMS solution while being able to manage its own infrastructure and uses one call center for all properties to simplify cross-selling and group bookings. All equipment maintenance, data security, and system upgrades are performed by the State Park’s private IT group.

Although a cloud-based PMS deployment is preferred by Jacobs, and can be migrated easily with Maestro to their cloud-hosted environment, he said the State’s department of information services has rules preventing them from storing data in the cloud. The State requires a dedicated line for security purposes.

“Arkansas State Parks is more than satisfied with the systems and support provided by Maestro PMS,” Jacobs said. “Coming back to Maestro was like coming home. They know the issues we face being government run, and they know how to work around the challenges. More importantly, they added the functionality we needed to their roadmap and built the campground site-selection tool they lacked previously. Today we are working on adding even more State Park locations to Maestro as some sites have since added rental facilities or have added Pavilions that are underperforming and can greatly benefit from Maestro’s software. Although we will need to buy more hardware and licenses, it will be well worth the investment.”

Maestro President Warren Dehan had this to say: “While we regretted losing the Arkansas State Parks business, we were confident that they would return, knowing the depth of their operation. We’re very pleased that the addition of the feature they needed coincided with our enhancement efforts. Maestro’s 42 year history is rooted in customizing software and we understand that different environments have different needs, and as such we are dedicated to finding a way to make each customers’ IT lives easier. Our service culture is centered around accessibility, and we partner with lodging operators for the long term. We are thrilled to have Arkansas State Parks back in the Maestro family, and we are eager to bring new Parks into the fold.”

In total, the Arkansas State Park system is comprised of 52 state parks on 54,400 acres, with 1,800 campsites, 208 cabins, and five lodges serving 8 million visitors annually. Twenty-three of these parks do not provide overnight accommodations and/or do not sustain a food-and-beverage service, therefore Maestro is not required. Despite the ongoing pandemic, most locations are running a steady 50 percent occupancy or higher. Mount Magazine State Park, the highest point in Arkansas at 2,753 feet, is currently running at 90 percent occupancy, with most guests staying at the park’s lodge featuring 60 guestrooms, Skycrest Restaurant, and conference center. Restaurants throughout the Arkansas State Park system are operating at 66 percent capacity per state requirements.

Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

The post Arkansas State Parks Rekindles Its Partnership with Maestro PMS to Centrally Support 450 Lodges and Cabins appeared first on .

Following a thorough review of the market, Hotel Alhambra Palace chose Infor based on its global expertise with elite hospitality establishments and the comprehensive array of processes the software will support.

Infor software will replace an on-premises legacy system that can no longer support the plans for growth at Hotel Alhambra Palace. One of the earliest anticipated benefits of the new application will be faster access to more comprehensive information and operational data, as well as new contactless processes such as mobile check-in. This will enable Hotel Alhambra Palace to continue improving customer service and ensure staff are deployed to the highest value activities.

“Both the demonstration and references led us to a swift decision to choose Infor HMS,” said Marianella Bertini, hotel director at Hotel Alhambra Palace. “We look forward to faster, sharper access to data that we can translate quickly into delivering the very best customer experience. This will help enable us to maintain our position as one of Europe’s top hotels.”

“The current trading environment for hotels, even those as premium as the Hotel Alhambra Palace, demands delivering premium customer service throughout all aspects of a guest stay,” said Wolfgang Emperger, Infor vice president for hospitality international. “This, in turn, necessitates world-class operations and the systems to support them. The customer experience in all hotels is set to undergo profound changes, but it will be the industry leaders that take control of these changes with new software and processes that deliver an experience that keeps customers coming back.”

Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

The post Hotel Alhambra Palace Implements Infor Hospitality Cloud Solutions Across all Hotel Operations appeared first on .

“It was the resort’s goal to bring all its property departments and their third-party systems together on one data platform for personal guest service at every touchpoint. Maestro PMS will do this perfectly,” said Adam Hartenberger, Reservations Sales Manager for The Osthoff Resort.

“It was the resort’s goal to bring all its property departments and their third-party systems together on one data platform for personal guest service at every touchpoint. Maestro PMS will do this perfectly,” said Adam Hartenberger, Reservations Sales Manager for The Osthoff Resort.

“Our property is operated in silos for guest rooms, spa, retail, events, and guest activities. Now with Maestro we will be able to combine data and services from all our third-party systems in one Maestro Single-Image database for effortless communication and more personal guest service,” Hartenberger said. “Maestro brought many important factors to our decision. The first was its strength in integrated data collection and analysis. Maestro’s Analytics Business Intelligence system will combine all the data from our multiple operation locations for robust analysis to support more profitable ‘management by the numbers.’ Maestro also allows us to self-host our system on property with a hybrid deployment of Windows, Web and Mobile applications. This will give us the flexibility of accessing the system with standard Windows terminals, mobile devices, or web-based terminals and keep our data on property. The Maestro integrated solution provides a single guest itinerary that includes all aspects of the guest experience on property including front desk and condo owner operations, spa and activities and loyalty management.

“Another advantage of Maestro is its ability to communicate with our many third-party vendor systems,” he said. “It easily integrates with our other tech partners across our unique resort. Maestro simplifies interface deployment thanks to its Genomi open API that supports deeper capabilities for communication with other systems.”

The Maestro Property Management System delivers flexible and scalable deployment options with an identical full-featured web browser or windows solution available which is hosted in the cloud or on premise to offer the best of both worlds.  Maestro’s hotel management software applications and services centralize operations and provide personalized and touchless mobile guest service tools to enhance the guest experience while also supporting a more secure stay.  In addition to implementing Maestro’s flexible PMS platform and multiple modules, the resort will also use Maestro’s Condo Owner Management to offer owners secure online access to their statements, reservation activity, and to book their own units.

Mobile operations were also essential to Osthoff Resorts system decision. “Maestro’s mobile pre-check-in, express mobile check-out and digital signature capture will streamline our front office processes and eliminate several unnecessary points of physical guest contact,” Hartenberger said. “Plus, we can use Maestro web on tablets to check-in guests remotely in different parts of the property for greater guest convenience. This mobile flexibility and the automated built in guest email communications will enable us to achieve our goal of going nearly paperless. Even our housekeeping staff will use tablets for instant communication to get guests to their rooms faster with less paper.”

Maestro’s mobile housekeeping also supports a soft-check-in feature allowing guests to be checked into their reservation if the room is not yet ready. It will set a priority clean alert for housekeeping, allow the guest to enjoy on property amenities and post charges to their folio, as well as update both the guest and the front desk when the room is ready. The Osthoff Resort will also take advantage of the Maestro prepayment portal for online guest self payments as well as the integrated online guest survey system. This offers them both a post check-in and check-out survey while integrating the results directly into the guest profile, allowing for pro-active guest management.

The Osthoff Resort is a year-round operation, but its staff fluctuates to host its many large events that include its award-wining Christmas Market, and Jazz on the Vine concert series. This makes system ease-of-use and online training essential. “Maestro offers instant Live Chat Support & Training directly from any application screen,” Hartenberger said. “Also, eLearning modules within the system make it much easier to onboard new staff during our large events. Ease-of-use is important because our team is the front line of guest service and they need to be proficient with our systems. Altogether, Maestro was the best choice for our complex operation.”

“The Osthoff Resort is a great example of how independent resorts can leverage this time to evaluate their systems and take advantage of the latest innovations from trusted solutions providers in preparation for the new and even more digital guest experience,” said Warren Dehan, Maestro PMS President. “With the ever-changing needs the industry dictates, offering support to an exhaustive list of third-party tech partners will also help enhance the digital guest journey and internal operations. Maestro is pleased to be part of The Osthoff Resort’s 21st century solutions upgrade.”

Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

The post Osthoff Resort Selects Maestro PMS for Mobile Services, Integrated Operations and Other Hotel Technologies appeared first on .

Opening in early 2021, Saba Rock looked to Agilysys’ cloud-native SaaS PMS and POS solutions as part of its post-hurricane rebuilding process. Guests can begin their island journey with rGuest Book, a commission-free direct-channel online booking engine, to make reservations for the resort’s elegant luxury accommodations as well as view flexible room upgrades and add-on options to increase revenue and promote guest loyalty.

Agilysys Stay PMS will welcome guests at check-in, and with ready access to guest preferences, allow staff to connect on a personal level. With an easy to use browser-based UI, Agilysys Stay offers Saba Rock fast time to value through improved operational efficiency and elevated guest service. Due to its breadth of features and ease-of use, Agilysys Stay is being implemented broadly across hotels of all sizes, from chains to small boutiques.

With two richly stocked bars and an open-air restaurant serving freshly caught seafood, burgers and other savory favorites, the resort will rely on Agilysys’ award-winning, comprehensive point-of-sale system, InfoGenesis POS. Its easy-to-use terminal and tablet touchscreen applications offer industry-leading offline capabilities and will streamline the guest experience while optimizing food & beverage operations.

“Saba Rock is excited to implement Agilysys SaaS solutions as part of our rebuilding process,” said Alain Prion, Resort Manager at Saba Rock. “Their user-friendly Agilysys Stay PMS solution and rGuest Book online reservations engine will allow us to focus on the guest experience and not the software. Additionally, InfoGenesis POS will help us to efficiently and effectively provide our guests with the highest quality service in our restaurants and bars at all times, regardless of online connectivity.”

Agilysys Stay is a cloud-based, intuitive PMS that allows users to focus on connecting with guests on a personal level. As a one-stop solution, Stay provides the capability to increase revenue, improve occupancy and inventory management, reduce costs, and increase brand and guest satisfaction for properties from small destination resorts to large national chains. Agilysys Stay delivers intuitive PMS functionality across operations that empowers users to deliver more meaningful guest experiences.

rGuest Book is a commission-free, direct-channel easy-to-use reservation system that’s designed to move guests effortlessly through the booking process. Book a single room, or multiple rooms at once while attractively presenting all of the promotions and options the property has to offer. Real-time room availability allows selling to the last room to boost the value of the entire property, while seamless integration with PMS enables better guest service and operational management. And as a mobile-friendly solution, the responsive design provides a flexible booking process whether on a phone, tablet or desktop.

InfoGenesis POS is an award-winning, comprehensive point-of-sale system that combines easy-to-use terminal and tablet touchscreen applications with industry-leading offline capabilities. Its strong reporting and analysis features, enterprise-grade menu and item configuration capabilities, and multi-language support drive service flexibility and increased operational efficiency. The cloud-based deployment of InfoGenesis will allow the property to be more cost-effective in their operations, avoiding the resources and space needed to maintain the system onsite.

“We are pleased to help Saba Rock rebuild its unique island resort,” said Wes Taylor, Area Vice President, Hotel, Resorts and Cruise Sales at Agilysys. “We are seeing a rapid increase in adoption of Agilysys Stay at properties of all sizes, and I am confident that Saba Rock will find that the combination of Agilysys Stay PMS, rGuest Book and InfoGenesis will help them drive improved guest loyalty and revenue while optimizing operational efficiencies.”

Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

The post Saba Rock Resort Partners with Agilysys to Improve the Guest Journey, Increase Revenue and Enhance Efficiency appeared first on .

A hotel can invest in the latest software on the market with the most attractive user interface, but if the solution doesn’t do what that property needs it to do to run the business, it’s not a wise or practical investment. Some high-end luxury full-service hotels and resorts are in the middle of nowhere. Internet connectivity is spotty at best, and hoteliers are often plagued with constant outages. For those operating in remote areas, the cloud is the wrong platform for that environment. Furthermore, for properties that want their own autonomy on when and how version upgrades to the software are deployed or have their own IT teams to take ownership of the system, self-hosted or private cloud may be the better option.

Contrary to popular belief, a hotel can do anything on premise or self-hosted that it can do in the cloud; data can still be backed-up on site (and simultaneously in the cloud if desired), and the same level of contactless and mobile capabilities, along with integration to third-party cloud services, can be achieved regardless of the hosting platform. Whether the server is in the cloud, in a private cloud, a managed data center, or in the hotel’s IT room, as long as it has a connection to the Internet (generally firewall secured between an internal and external network) it can support a web browser based PMS with touchless, contact free, mobile, and third-party technologies.

Here’s a quick comparison of the most common types of PMS platforms:

• A self-hosted or private cloud PMS can be Windows or Web browser-based. It is ideal for multi-property operations on a centralized corporate server, in a dedicated data center, or in a private cloud environment using your choice of services (e.g. Azure, Amazon Web Services). It enables a group to manage their own infrastructure as needed while utilizing one call center for all properties to simplify cross-selling and group booking and provides access to a networked single-image database supporting personalized guest service, centralized loyalty management and corporate data mining.
• An on-premise PMS is as its name describes; the PMS and data are stored on a physical server located at the property and it can be Windows based (client/server install), Web browser-based, or with some PMS’s, a hybrid of both Windows and Web browser-based. Software is installed on every computer that requires PMS data access in a Windows environment, or this can be avoided with a local Web browser-based solution that uses the local server to manage user access.  The browser access also can extend beyond the internal network and allow secure mobility for staff to work remotely as needed providing the same capabilities as a cloud-hosted solution. Mobile device support and contact-free app support can be directly provided through the PMS system or via third-party system integrations. Equipment maintenance, data security, system upgrades, and integration to peripheral property technologies are managed and/or performed by the property or the property’s third-party IT company.
• A cloud-hosted PMS typically features browser-only access deployed in a multi-tenant environment. Its software is deployed over the Internet and it’s managed by the PMS provider, along with system upgrades, which may occur automatically without the property’s planning or involvement. A non-multi-tenanted cloud-hosted environment gives the property a little more control over their PMS implementation and upgrade choices, so it’s important to understand the options available from your provider. With cloud-hosted PMS, hotel and guest data reside off-site and can be securely accessed by staff remotely using a computer or mobile device. It’s important to note that some providers may charge for direct access to your data in the cloud as a non-standard service, so this should also be a consideration as you are reviewing systems. Integration to third-party property technologies is also readily deployed via Web standards and application programming interfaces (APIs).

Any computer infrastructure will have associated costs. While a cloud solution generally has a lower cost of entry, there can be higher long-term costs over the life of the solution (when comparing like for like products). After all, the company providing the hosting is expecting to turn a profit. Self-hosted and on-premise systems will have higher upfront costs due to direct hosting and/or hardware related fees and the staff expense for IT administrators to manage the infrastructure, but costs will be lower in the long term if the property can use its own IT staff. If this role is served by the same inhouse group that is providing local network management at the property for all the local IT needs of the hotel, there may only be a small incremental cost to manage this inhouse, which may be a consideration for those property groups interested in securing their own data and maintaining system ownership.

One of the biggest arguments for moving PMS to the cloud centers around system maintenance and security. While hotels will always have to maintain their local network and equipment on site regardless of whether they use a cloud-based or on-premise PMS, operating in the cloud will enable them to avoid dealing with application and database server equipment renewal and upgrades as this is generally done, and costs absorbed, by the hosting provider. A cloud solution also affords the hotel the ability to focus on their operation and not worry about data center servers, firewalls, load balancers, database servers etc., but that comes at a higher operational cost over an inhouse system. For some clients, they have additional concerns over where their data resides, how secure it is and how accessible it is to the property group.

Since prior to and during the onset of COVID-19, my team has been fielding calls from independent hoteliers who are frustrated because they are being pushed by their PMS provider to migrate to their latest cloud versions purportedly in order to take advantage of the latest web based and contact free technologies. Imposing a PMS change to the cloud — often motivated by providers sunsetting their legacy software — does not provide hoteliers with the ability to choose what is best for their operation.

Today, operations are in flux, and leaders need to be reactive to their guests’ needs. A one-size-fits-all or cloud-first mentality isn’t right for everyone; nor should they be forced into incurring additional expense to go to market for a new system just to get the latest tools to keep them current. It’s important to work with a PMS partner who gives you options in deployment, offers the latest innovations, secures your investment with included upgrades and services, and who’s offering ultimately meets your hotel’s business objectives.

Also, verify that the platform can support today’s in-demand touchless integration tools, and that the PMS solution is backed by proven customer service. Look for a provider that offers 24/7 call center support; free version upgrades; on demand live one-on-one training; in application live chat and direct email support, an online e-learning center, complimentary live webinars; and professional productivity audits to maximize your investment.

Regardless of which implementation model a hotel chooses to support its business objectives today, management should be able to switch to a different option tomorrow without going to market for a new system provider and incurring additional licensing fees. Migrating from on premise to cloud hosted or vice versa should be a painless transition with the right PMS partner. The takeaway is to choose a deployment option that provides a sophisticated solution with the right feature set and the latest innovations to keep hoteliers competitive with the freedom to move to any new environment as future business demands dictate.

Having one’s head in the clouds isn’t a bad thing if you take advantage of the inspiration you find while you’re there. But putting one’s system in the cloud just because everyone is doing it or because your PMS provider says you should, can be a costly mistake, especially if guest satisfaction and business goals suffer.

Warren Dehan is the President of Maestro, the preferred cloud and on-premises PMS solution for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups. Maestro was first to market with a fully integrated Windows PMS and Sales & Catering solution and is continuing that trend with leading edge web and mobile based solutions. Platform and deployment independence present Maestro as an investment that will continue to grow and adapt as new technologies emerge.

Are you an industry thought leader with a point of view on hotel technology that you would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your article for publishing consideration.

The post All PMS Platforms Have Advantages, But Which One is Right for Your Hotel? appeared first on .

Last month, PeakSpan Capital, a growth-stage investment firm which in January closed a second fund with $265 million in capital commitments, also led a $9.5 million Series A financing round just last month for hotel upselling solution platform provider Oaky​.

Launched in 2012 as a “napkin idea” while co-founders Richard Castle and Adam Harris were traveling in Brazil, Cloudbeds was designed as a simplified one-stop-shop technology solution for both property owners and travelers, incorporating integrated components comprised of a property management system, channel manager, booking engine, revenue management system, performance reporting tools, and a marketplace for integrating third-party modules and platform capabilities.

Since its humble beginnings, the company has secured two financing rounds, including an oversubscribed $9-plus million series B round that closed in July 2017, and acquired two companies.

Cloudbeds now reportedly partners with more than 20,000 properties, including hotels, hostels and other vacation properties, in 157 countries, making it one of the leading hospitality management solution for all property types and sizes. While the software has been primarily used by small, independently-owned properties, it can serve the operational needs of larger properties as well.

The all-in-one management solution handles room availability, bookings and other back-office tasks and also automatically syncs with up-to-date booking data across platforms like Airbnb, Expedia and Hotels.com for real-time channel management.

Over the past year, the San Diego, California-based company has grown by leaps and bounds, more than doubling its headcount to more than 400 employees, most of whom work remotely in a total of more than 40 countries.

According to Harris, who serves as CEO, the company surpassed 1,000,000 rooms on its system last year and continues to add tens of thousands of new rooms every week. The plan with the new funding is “to triple down on innovation and continue to transform the hospitality industry to help hoteliers and hosts meet the needs of the next generation of travelers.”

In particular, Cloudbeds intends to use the growth capital to further invest in its technology platform to meet the evolving needs of the hospitality industry. Focus areas will reportedly include new products designed to “deepen hoteliers’ connections with guests” while increasing revenue-enhanced automation to save operational costs with a focus on simplifying both front-and back-office tasks and expansion of Cloudbeds’ API to unlock new opportunities through seamless connections to its marketplace.

The funding round ranks as San Diego’s largest tech deal of 2020 to date.

The post Cloudbeds Raises $82 Million for Its All-In-One Hospitality Management Platform appeared first on .

Fortunately, according to the recent Skift Hotel PMS Systems Landscape 2020 report, considerable changes to the PMS landscape are on the horizon, indicating an influx of cloud computing, open API marketplaces, middleware layers, enhanced connectivity, and so much more. This can only be a good thing for the hotel tech space in the long run. It would seem that this critical piece of the hotel stack is in the midst of a long-awaited makeover with the help of next-gen vendors determined to shake up the market in 2020 and beyond.

Key Findings from the Report:

• PMS technology has evolved slowly, limited by one-off integration costs and legacy infrastructure
• Legacy PMS vendors have contributed to the problem by leveraging integrations as a revenue stream
• The past decade has seen major changes in technology, as we welcome the shift to cloud computing, mobility, open API, middleware, and more
• These changes in technology, along with the influence of evolving guest needs, will change the role of the Hotel PMS
• Modern PMS systems can now truly offer hotels a customized solution
• While open APIs are gaining momentum, we have yet to achieve full-scale standardization
• Legacy PMS systems are playing catch-up, and disruption is integral to continued innovation

What Does the PMS Mean to Hoteliers Today?

Traditionally, and still today, the PMS represents an integral piece of technology for hoteliers, central to the core functioning of a hotel’s operations. While smaller hotels may have, historically, relied on only a PMS, large-scale properties would often build out a more robust technological ecosystem that included a PMS, CRS, CRM, channel manager, and more. Today, many hoteliers are working closely with vendors to establish customized ‘stacks’ of critical platforms to ensure they can readily meet the wide-ranging needs and expectations of guests.

Formerly, the question commonly on the minds of hoteliers and vendors was, “Will the PMS soon take a backseat to other platforms, as we strive to better utilize and leverage guest data?”. The answer, according to Skift’s research, is ultimately, no.

However, the role of the PMS is still changing.

While the PMS still holds true as the operational centerfold, it’s become clear that modern systems will adopt a more focused model, integrating tightly with customer relationship management (CRM) systems and central reservation systems (CRS). In this sense, the PMS will continue to play a vital role; but one which is continuously enhanced by open APIs, marketplaces, and middleware technology. The report indicated that the PMS received the single highest budget allocation among surveyed hoteliers in 2019, with 26% of hotel IT software budgets going to the PMS. Even further, it was found that 30% of respondents were looking to change their PMS in 2019.

The Role of Open APIs in Modern Connectivity

Today, as guest needs continue to evolve and our industry experiences rapid growth, it has become undeniably paramount for the PMS to offer open connectivity to a property’s other critical systems and platforms. While each ‘stack’ of operational technology may differ depending on the hotel, the overarching demand remains the same: seamless integration across applications, enabled by an open API.

Perhaps more than ever before, an open API is essential to survival. The modern PMS platforms currently disrupting the marketplace are scalable, flexible, and equipped with core functionalities. These new-age functionalities empower hotels to increase operational efficiencies and staff productivity, manage and amplify group business, effectively manage revenue, and collect and action guest data in a highly personalized manner. This, paired with a finely tuned and user-friendly reporting dashboard that provides management with a clear and accurate view of their business performance 24/7, is revolutionizing the PMS as we know it.

Moving to the Cloud

The days of on-premise systems are, in large part, behind us. Modern PMS players currently pioneering the latest in management software rely on cloud computing, effectively decreasing costs while empowering a more agile infrastructure. That being said, this has been a slow transition, as legacy vendors struggle to rebuild and reform existing technology without losing features along the way. Legacy systems were often laden with barriers and ultimately inflexible, which lead to a slow adaptation to cloud technology.

Fortunately, the industry-wide shift to open APIs and cloud-based systems helps to mitigate the occurrence of costly, one-off third-party integrations and updates while allowing for cost-effective enhancements. StayNTouch was at the forefront of this movement, representing one of the first feature-rich cloud-based PMS companies to deviate from the conservative stance of legacy vendors in favor of a more agile, scalable, and mobile-first solution.

Integrations, Marketplaces, and Middleware

There are three types of integrations to consider in the realm of the PMS:

• Core modules of the PMS
• Integrations that need close data communication but aren’t integral to the system
• Integrations to on-property devices such as phone systems, TVs, and more

Still a relatively novel concept, PMS marketplaces offer hoteliers access to hundreds of integrations, acting as an affordable platform for vendors to market their product. There are advantages to PMS marketplaces, specifically to small PMS vendors who don’t have enough pull to attract the major integration partners. Marketplaces can also create platforms where integration partners can showcase their products to a wider audience of buyers.

Marketplaces also face serious difficulties delivering on their central promise: To date, the notion of an instantaneous, one-click PMS integration is mostly a pipe dream. Like almost everything in life, the devil is in the details: Some PMS integrations are enormously complex, involving multiple connections and 2-way data flows that need to be scoped and mapped effectively. Because of these complexities, hoteliers should seek out PMS vendors who have a strong and established partnership network built on a commitment to enhancing the customer’s system connectivity, ultimately to the benefit of their business’ bottom line.

Middleware layers, on the other hand, help to buffer the limitations of one-off integrations. Acting as an intermediary that sits between the PMS and other platform vendors, this technology allows hoteliers to manage multiple integrations from a single port. Playing the role of integral middleman, middleware layers help to mimic the experience and benefits of an open integration model, even where it does not exist.

The ideal solution for hotels is to combine the qualities of a fully-functional and featured PMS, with the flexibility of open APIs and middleware systems. A robust PMS comes with a range of functions, including guest information and folios, room distribution, pricing and revenue management, reservation details, advanced group functionalities, guest check-in/out, housekeeping and more. This broad functionality can send a wealth of pertinent guest information (including guest profiles, reservation data, and more) to their relevant integrations, to create a more complete and seamless guest experience. It will also create a tech stack that has enough features to handle current business needs while being flexible and scalable enough to stay ahead of emerging technological trends.

The Future of Hotel PMS

A modern, cloud-based PMS model can and should offer hoteliers the core functions they need to run their business and operations effectively, while also providing seamless integrations. This ensures that those hoteliers looking to create a highly customized ‘stack’ of solutions can quickly do so without friction or hassle.With enhanced connectivity, hoteliers can readily facilitate the communication and the transfer of data between all vital systems of a hotels’ operations. In turn, this inspires a culture of scalability. Modern guests expect hyper-personalization across all touch-points, with a recent Google and Phocuswright study revealing that nearly six in 10 travelers believe brands should tailor information based on their personal preferences or past behaviors. Furthermore, 90 percent of travelers worldwide say they expect a personalized experience when they book their travel. Hotels can only achieve this standard of personalized service with the continued aggregation of data, reporting, and insights across various collaborative platforms.

Key-Findings: What to Expect in 2020

Historically, the evolution of legacy PMS systems was often hindered by integration costs and limitations. However, the more recent rise of integration-rich, cloud-based platforms is creating a future tech ecosystem that is more streamlined and agile. With the steady standardization of open APIs, cloud computing, and enhanced mobility, vendors can finally start offering hoteliers a flexible and customizable system.

Taking a page from the retail industry’s notebook, the hospitality industry is adopting a more customizable booking model for guests who crave a unique, attribute-based experience. Looking to Hilton and IHG as early adopters, the PMS will undeniably play an integral role in this shift to appeal to increasingly tech-savvy customers with a penchant for innovation and unique features. There is simply no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution in the realm of hospitality technology; our landscape and our guests are incredibly diverse and, as such, demand dynamic offerings and continued transformation. Those vendors and hoteliers who adapt accordingly will remain relevant while those who stay unjustly tied to rigid infrastructure, will not.

The final take-away? The hospitality industry is experiencing an era of dynamic change. As we continue to welcome disruption to the landscape in 2020 and beyond, open APIs, collaboration across vendors, and a mobile-first approach will set the stage for a more innovative hotel PMS future.

Nicole Dehler is Vice President of Product Management at StayNTouch, A Shiji Group Brand. Nicole spent more than 12 years in the Regional Divisions of MICROS Systems, divided between Product and Project Management of Property, Sales Force and Central Reservations Systems. She led the Enterprise Team in Asia Pacific as Director of Operations, looking after large scale software implementations as well as managing the regional launch of E-Commerce products and Smartphone applications. Nicole joined StayNTouch in early 2013, spearheading the PMS development, strategy, innovation and growth from the very beginning.

The post The Evolution (Past, Present and Future) of Hotel Property Management Systems appeared first on .

“As we continue to grow our hotels and chain, we need a system in place that provides us with standardized, timely and online information to better serve our customers,” said Abner Cayul, Hotel Manquehue corporate general manager. “Oracle Hospitality was the only solution that could help us expand to be one of the most prominent hotel chains in Chile. We look forward to utilizing their offerings to fuel our continued growth.”

Oracle Hospitality OPERA Property features a range of innovations, including deeper customer insights and comprehensive functionality for all areas of hotel management. With it, Hotel Manquehue can create in-depth customer profiles to tailor experiences to each customer’s specific preferences, such as suggesting certain dining venues and luxury items. A personal touch that has helped the group increase customer loyalty. Hotel Manquehue also relies on OPERA for improved internal operations for employees, offering them immediate access to 24/7 support and connection to electronic invoices for easy back-office reporting.

The chain also uses the Oracle MICROS Simphony Cloud Point of Sale system to support a wide range of food and beverage operations within the hotel, including restaurant and room service amenities. Not only does MICROS Simphony streamline employee ordering and delivery, it also provides key data on what items are most popular and when. Conversely, it provides insight into which items are not selling, providing more informed decisions on menu planning to better serve guests while improving inventory management and reducing waste.

With hoteliers increasingly focusing on restaurant operations for revenue growth, it’s imperative for them to tap the advantages of an integrated property management and point-of-sale platform. The combination of OPERA and MICROS Simphony provide hoteliers with a comprehensive view of all their operations – including food and beverage – and insightful analysis of the contributions of each. Such integration also yields one-stop access to 360-degree guest profiles, giving staff detailed information about guests’ preferences and behavior anywhere on property.

In this video, Abner Cayul, corporate general manager of Manquehue Hotels shares how Oracle Hospitality Solutions is helping to support the hotel chain’s strategic growth.

“From their favorite dining options to customized rooms, today’s guests want an unprecedented level of personalization when enjoying their visit,” said David Meltzer, Group Vice President, Oracle Hospitality. “Hotel Manquehue understands this and uses the latest technology to better understand and serve the needs and desires of their customers every step of the way. As they expand throughout Chile, Oracle will continue to provide the intelligence and tools both management and front-line employees will need to ensure seamless, unforgettable guest experiences that create loyalty and bring guests back to their properties.”

Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

The post Manquehue Hotels Partners with Oracle Hospitality to Support Rapid Growth and Enhance the Guest Experience appeared first on .

• Improved deployment options of Maestro’s Web Browser and Tablet version hosted in the cloud, self-hosted or on-premise;
• Enhancements and additions to Maestro Mobile Apps and portable/handheld operations for staff and guests to further increase productivity and personalize the digital guest journey;
• Greater channel management flexibility to boost direct booking and reduce booking fees;
• Expansion of data mining tools with a wider number of Business Intelligence and Analytics views that support more profitable ‘management by the numbers;’
• The increase of our expansive library of over 600 integrations thru our own API and working with others, letting operators add even more 3^rd party systems that compliment property operations and guest service;
• Strengthened credit card security and gateway support for a large library of payment companies;
• The addition of guest self-serve room selection capability will be added to the ‘book now’ online web booking engine (ResWave) capabilities, and 3^rd party booking channels;
• Expanded online 2-way communication for real time support directly from Maestro user screens for greater staff productivity.

“We made great advancements in 2019 with our improved Browser version that, amongst other guest and staff facing mobile features, provided an integrated live chat support capability. That feature has been met by our clients with great enthusiasm as an addition to our already responsive 24-hour help desk and online eLearning services,” stated Warren Dehan, President of Maestro PMS. “To complement both our Browser and Windows property management system user interfaces, 2020 will bring the addition of a native tablet user interface to simplify operations and new user training where needed, but with the full sophistication and capabilities of Maestro at the backend.”

“Mobile operations and enhancements that create a more predictive and personalized guest journey are the future of property management. Maestro will continue to make these priorities as it expands its development roadmap in 2020. However, those are only part of a comprehensive list of Maestro system upgrades and additions we plan to launch this year,” said Dehan.

Maestro will continue to expand its tablet PMS and mobile offerings throughout 2020 to support a highly personalized guest check-in experience and greater inter-staff communications. Maestro’s Genomi API is also being broadened to support deeper capabilities for complementary 3^rd party system additions. “We are working with clients to integrate new CRM, online booking, housekeeping, point of sale, and in-room systems with Maestro PMS,” said Dehan. “We are also further strengthening security features in Maestro to protect guest and property data. Virtually all of our roadmap enhancements came from client requests and pave our strategy together with market trends. They understand what is important to ensure their operation is competitive and we are grateful for their input.”

Expanded office space is also on Maestro’s 2020 schedule. “We are adding office space and increasing our service capacity to support our growing number of multi-property clients in North America and Europe,” Dehan said. “Maestro’s client family is growing and existing companies are adding properties. We will continue to solidify our system’s immediate and self-serve support environment to refine real-time chat integrated directly into Maestro screens. Users work with greater confidence when they know they can contact Maestro support professionals to ask functionality questions directly from within the PMS without leaving their screen. Our culture of service is at the core of Maestro’s business and we will continue throughout 2020 to implement service improvements to maintain our excellent reputation for service and support.”

Does your company have news it would like to share with our readers? If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration.

The post Maestro PMS Unveils 2020 Development Roadmap for Its Next-Generation Hotel Technology Platform Capabilities appeared first on .