Day One
TBC |
|
| 9.30 |
Confirmed Speaker:
Elizabeth Randall
STR Global |
Opening keynote address
Analysing and evaluating recent changes in the technological landscape: determining the direction of the industry in order to adapt effectively to the changing environment
- Keeping abreast of developments: identifying key trends in hotel technology to achieve a more complete understanding of the industry and how its changing
- Analysing the implications of these trends: learning how the expectations of hoteliers and guests are altering and responding to the changes
- Establishing the buying habits and technology preferences of guests. Where do they stay and what do they want when they get there
- The wider economic environment and its effect on the technology marketplace: mastering challenges and taking advantage of opportunity
- Overcoming the challenges: how have successful hotels’ buying habits changed as a result and how can their success be emulated?
|
| 10.00 |
Questions |
| 10.10 |
Confirmed Speaker:
Roger Macfarlaine
VP Technology ME & Asia
Movenpick Hotels
and Resorts |
Using technology to control costs: Identifying technology that can reduce CAPEX in the short and long-term.
- Implementing a more energy-efficient technology programme: reducing running costs through careful selection of technology
- Controlling hardware costs: key factors in identifying the most cost-effective products
- Emphasising the need to select the most cost efficient, not necessarily the cheapest, technology in order to achieve long term ROI
|
| 10.40 |
Questions |
|
|
STREAM A
Back of House Systems: Building the perfect platforms
Data mining, CRMs, Interoperability, Data Security |
STREAM B
Analysing key issues in Customer Facing Technology
Future-Proofing your offering |
|
| 10.50 |
The linchpin of a successful business model: maximising the effectiveness of your software
- Establishing the true cost of software including upfront licence, implementation/integration, IT support, hardware, training with a view to creating a more accurate ROI calculation and a better assessment of value.
- Key issues in software interfaces: overcoming the complexity of deployment, integration and day to day use in order to maximise the productivity of your software
- Identifying common areas of software underperformance in order to isolate areas for improvement. What percentage of your software’s functionality are you really using and can you derive more value from what you already have?
- Examining the latest software developments: what can they bring to your business and how can you effectively identify the most relevant system for you?
- Is it time to re-evaluate the software you currently have in place? Assessing the costs of switching supplier against the potential benefits of a more suitable system
Confirmed Speaker:
Timo Kettern: IT Director Europe, Westbridge Europe |
Technology in new builds - developing an effective strategy and delivering value
- Deploying technology that meets the needs of staff, guests and meeting services when designing a new hotel.
- Establishing best practice: how can you ensure that your hotel can effectively accommodate the systems you intend to install?
- Addressing key challenges: identifying common mistakes in planning the perfect build
- Next steps in new-build planning: forecasting potential future solutions to ongoing challenges
- Installing green technology: a strategic investment for the future or an unwarranted expense in a tough market?
- Overcoming the hurdles presented by non-purpose built infrastructure
- Key decisions: should you make costly structural changes to your building or adapt technology to fit? Establishing a cost-effective strategy that does not damage brand image.
Confirmed Speaker:
Sunny Roda
IT and Purchasing Director
Arora
|
|
| 11.20 |
Questions |
| 11.30 |
Streamlining your business: Using software interoperability to deliver real business benefits
- Assessing the potential reductions in cost and increases in revenue to be gained from integrating software
- Using integrated software to add value to the service you offer your guests
- Marketing advantages: using interconnected systems to help inform a more targeted marketing approach in order to maximise your revPAR
- The practical implementation of the most integrated system possible: delivering the advantages of interoperability to your hotel
Invited Speaker:
Sebastien Rioux, Fairmont Raffles Hotel International |
Overcoming the challenges of non-purpose built infrastructure
- Adapting your technology to fit the requirements of your hotel
- Overcoming the hurdles presented by non-purpose built infrastructure
- Key decisions: should you make costly structural changes to your building or adapt technology to fit? Establishing a cost-effective strategy that does not damage brand image.
- Overcoming the challenges of a listed building
- The latest technology in a traditional setting: creating the perfect blend between the old and the new
Confirmed Speaker:
Adel Zaher, Director of Global Technology, New Hotels, Intercontinental Hotels Group
|
|
| 12.00 |
Questions |
| 12.10 |
Lunch |
| 13.10 |
Making the most of your historical data: analysing your database to manage costs and increase margins
- Key data categories: determining which information should be stored in order to derive maximum benefit
- Interfacing: The importance of a data warehouse where all data are stored
- Learning from your data: using the information to identify areas where costs are not being managed correctly
- Using past precedent to plan for the future: reducing avoidable costs and driving bookings
- What software is being developed to make this possible?
Confirmed Speaker:
Michael Manz, CFO, Manz Hotels |
Broadband for the next generation: responding to increasing demand whilst generating revenue
- Overcoming the infrastructure challenges associated with ever increasing demand
- The implications of the sling box and other internet intensive hardware
- Generating revenue from broadband: as guests increasingly expect it as a basic service, can broadband be made to pay whilst maintaining customer satisfaction?
- Evaluating the potential of tiered pricing techniques and other revenue generation strategies with a view to maximising ROI
- Next steps in internet provision: revealing the latest developments in broad band and wi-fi technology
Supplier Presentation
|
|
| 13.40 |
Questions |
| 13.50 |
Data Centre Architecture
A first-hand description of the supply chain and logistics involved in creating a multi- property data centre.
- Analysing the objectives: why is a centralised data centre necessary and what are the potential benefits?
- Identifying the necessary changes to infrastructure, software and working practices in order to make it happen
- Key challenges on the path to success: where can issues arise?
- Finding the solutions: how did Lemon Tree solve any problems that arose?
- Identifying the business benefits of the data centre
- Looking forward: how might its uses develop in the future?
Confirmed Speaker:
Ajai Kumar, Head of Technology, Lemon Tree Hotels
|
Achieving ROI from In-Room tech: adding genuine value to your guest’s experience
- Measuring your guests technology preferences: the ways and means by which you can gather crucial information
- Accommodating cultural/geographic technology preferences to maximise customer satisfaction
- Linguistic requirements: ensuring that your customer can both understand and enjoy the channels and interactive devices you offer
- User-friendly interfacing: providing technology that your guests are able to navigate effectively thus ensuring that the product delivers genuine added value
|
|
| 14.20 |
Questions |
| 14.30 |
Revenue management: intelligently and effectively managing revPAR
- Using technology to improve processes: can an automated an Revenue Management System facilitate a more effective pricing strategy?
- Using your RMS to strengthen business initiatives: exploiting all the available opportunities in order to maximise ROI
- Optimising operational
- efficiency through labour management and financial controls
- Achieving genuine integration: making RMS work with the systems already in place
Confirmed Speaker:
Bryan Mulliner, Strategic Development and Revenue Director, Protea Hospitality Group Pty Ltd |
CASE STUDY: STARWOOD HOTELS
Digital media hub: the next ‘must have’ in-room device?
- What does a digital media hub offer your guest?
- Determining the reliability of the technology currently available
- Delivering value added: how have guests reacted to the hub and has it added to their enjoyment?
- Generating revenue: what opportunities does the hub provide?
- Determining the legal requirements: are you subject to any additional laws as a result of installing hubs?
Confirmed Speaker: Brian Coley, IT Manager, Central London Hotels, STARWOOD HOTELS
|
|
| 15.00 |
| Questions |
The end of analogue: preparing your hotel for the switch to digital signal
The logistical implications of the digital switch for your business: developing an effective strategy
- Addressing the key challenges posed when updating your hardware to receive digital signal in order to achieve a smooth transition
- Minimising associated costs while optimising the benefits to your guest
- Planning for the long-term: HD TV and the ongoing problems with watermarking, what action should be taken?
Supplier Presentation |
CASE STUDY INTERVIEW: MACDONALD HOTELS
John Rawcliffe discusses the challenges and benefits of installing MacDonald Hotel’s RMS earlier this year with hints and tips for hoteliers looking to install a similar system. John also answers the question
Confirmed Interview:
John Rawcliffe, IT Director, MacDonald Hotels |
|
15.10
|
| 15.40 |
Confirmed Speaker:
Greg Stockdale
Managing Director
Avasara Consulting Ltd |
Identifying key factors to ensure that you choose the right supplier: understanding crucial processes to reduce exposure to risk and save money without compromising on quality
- Due diligence: key processes to ensure that you select a financially stable supplier
- Does the largest supplier represent the safest option? Weighing up the pros and cons of choosing the market leader
- Reviewing supplier contracts to ensure that they are fit for purpose and provide the flexibility and value for money without compromising your relationship with your suppliers.
- Contracts up for renewal? Making the most of transition to maximise value for money
|
| 16.10 |
Questions |
| 16.20 |
Confirmed Speaker:
Carson Booth
VP, IT, EMEA
Starwood Hotels and Resorts |
Data Security: Meeting CPI requirements
- Determining what aspects of the requirements your hotel is responsible for
- What needs to be done to achieve compliance?
- Beyond compliance: building the best possible protection for your sensitive information
- Geographical variations: how does your level of responsibility vary across Europe and the Middle East?
|
| 16.50 |
Questions |
Day Two
TBC |
Evaluating the opportunities |
| 10.00 |
TBC |
Virtualisation: the end of in-house hard drives?
- Determining the financial benefits of virtualisation: analysing both direct and indirect potential cost savings
- Organisational advantages: can it improve the way you do business?
- Ascertaining the value of Software as a Service (SaaS): can it help increase the ROI of the software you use?
- Understanding the relevance of virtualisation for your hotel: at what scale does virtualisation become cost effective?
- The green argument: quantifying the environmental benefits
|
| 10.30 |
Questions |
| 10.40 |
Provisional Speaker:
Andrew Charlesworth
Director of Centre for IT and Law
Bristol University |
Data Integrity – Best practice in completing a security audit and risk assessment in the context of cloud computing in order to meet data protection laws
- Developing strategies to prevent data leakage
- Demonstrating legal compliance with a new, unproven style of computing
- Evaluating the strategy of sharing security credentials with your supplier
- Drawing license model cost comparisons to select the most cost effective solution
|
| 11.10 |
Questions |
| 11.20 |
Networking break and round table discussions |
| 11.40 |
Confimed Speaker:
Stuart Mattinson
IT Manager
City Lodge Hotels |
Green technology in the hotel industry: responding to customer demand
- Pressure points: what are customers asking for?
- Analysing the latest evolutions in green technology and how they can be applied to the hotel industry
- The paper-less hotel: discussing key wastage reduction strategies and a switch to paper-free methods
- The financial Implications: how can the cost effectiveness of ‘greening’ your hotel be maximised?
- Building the brand
- Reducing the energy bill: how much can you expect to save?
- Choosing the technology that offers a good return on investment, now and in the future
|
| 12.10 |
Questions |
| 12.20 |
Lunch |
|
| 13.30 |
Confirmed Speaker:
Rico Van Santen
Senior Vice President ICT and E-Commerce
Golden Tulip Hotels |
Maximising the benefits from third party distribution channels
- As the number of Online Travel Agents increases it becomes ever more important to retain control of your pricing strategy. Establishing best practices for creating optimal pricing strategies in order to avoid cannibalisation and a lack of price parity
- Avoiding the pitfalls associated with third party distribution in order to manage revenue and protect revPAR
- As OTAs look to adapt to the users' stated profiles, observed profiles and shopping style, how can these developments be converted into an increase in bookings for your hotel?
|
| 14.00 |
Questions |
| 15.10 |
Confirmed Speaker:
Lennert De Jong
Director of Distribution
CitizenM hotels |
Creating an engaging and compelling website that re-enforces your brand and drives your revenue
- Increasing traffic to your site: the ways and means to compel potential customers to visit your site
- The relationship between traffic and bookings: examining the way in which the right combination of information and emotional appeal converts site visitors into paying customers.
- The key to a more successful website: uncovering new strategies to increase your conversion rate and reduce bounce
|
| 14.40 |
Questions |
| 15.40 |
Confirmed Speaker:
Elga Castro
Vincci Hotels
|
Effective online distribution strategies; how to maximize your own resources and achieve optimal revenues through your direct website whilst ensuring brand protection
- In the current economic climate official hotel websites are becoming the key player in online distribution:
- Main sales and revenue management decisions to be considered when choosing a hotel website design and the best booking engine alternative
- Key e-distribution marketing action points to help drive higher direct revenues and increase customer loyalty.
- Defining the best sales and distribution strategies that will enable your own website to compete directly with the third party online Travel Agencies.
|
| 15.20 |
Questions |
| |
end of day two |
