CHICAGO (June 8, 2006) -- Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) announced
its plan for showcasing, at HITEC® 2006 in Minneapolis, the results
of its past year of efforts to achieve systems interoperability.
Several of HTNG�s members who have implemented approved approaches will
be demonstrating these at the HTNG Booth #941
at the Minneapolis Convention Center on June 20-22.
New Product and Interoperability Demonstrations
Five new interoperability demonstrations are planned for 2006, plus
the refinement of one that was shown in preliminary form in 2005.
The new demonstrations will be:
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The �Single Guest Itinerary� initiative of HTNG�s Property Web Services
workgroup will show how multiple systems, including PMS, spa, activity,
and dining reservation systems can work together to produce and maintain
a single, definitive version of the guest�s schedule during a hotel stay.
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An IP Telephony/Voice over IP (VoIP) demonstration will show an IP telephony
system with roaming guest extensions via an 802.11 wireless network; IP
applications such as voice messaging and PMS-based text messaging; and
display of information from the Single Guest Itinerary initiative to the
guest via an IP phone or television.
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An IP television demonstration that includes a privately produced high-definition
channel, encoded in real time and beamed via satellite to the convention
center, and delivered as an IP stream to the television. This will
be the first-ever demonstration of a custom channel, which a hotel company
could produce centrally and deliver consistently to multiple hotels, even
those using different entertainment system vendors.
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Demonstration of a docking pod for guest mobile devices, which can work
with any compatible entertainment system, allowing guests to use the system�s
audio and video capabilities to play content from their own devices (MP3
players, DVD players, etc.)
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Processing of cashless charging, comps, tender post and check-zoom capabilities
between property management and point-of-sale systems.
In addition, HTNG�s Property Distribution Solution workgroup will show
implementation by several central reservation system, property management
system, and revenue management system vendors of the now-completed message
specification for reservation delivery and availability controls.
A preliminary version of this demonstration was shown at HITEC 2005; this
year�s implementation covers a broader array of functionality and uses
the specifications that are nearing final ratification.
HTNG members are sponsoring and participating in HTNG�s booth activities
at HITEC. Gold Partners, most of whom are participating in one or
more of the above interoperability demonstrations, include:
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Cendant Travel Distribution Services
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Datanamics Inc.
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FCS Computer Systems
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Guest-Tek
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IDeaS
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InfoGenesis
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KoolConnect Technologies
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LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation
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MICROS Systems
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Multi-Systems Inc.
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PAR Springer-Miller Systems
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SpectraLink
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TAC (Reservation Assistant)
Many of the Gold sponsors will also be featuring HTNG-related interoperability
demonstrations in their own booths.
In addition, Newmarket International, OpenCourse Solutions, ReServe
Interactive, and Wayport are participating as Silver sponsors, and will
be happy to discuss progress and/or to provide demonstrations in their
own booths.
New White Papers
Last year�s HITEC witnessed the release of two groundbreaking White
Papers from HTNG, �Convergence: Hotel Technology for Today and Tomorrow,�
and �The Guest of the Future: In-Room Technology Preferences Today
and Tomorrow.� Continuing that tradition, HTNG�s In-Room Technology
Workgroup will be releasing two new White Papers at HITEC this year.
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Last year�s groundbreaking infrastructure White Paper, �Convergence:
Hotel Technology for Today and Tomorrow� has been updated and expanded
to cover wireless as well as wired networks.
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A new White Paper describing the design of a next-generation, converged
media set-top box, capable of working with your choice of high-definition
video-on-demand provider, cable feed, satellite/off-air provider, and IPTV
programming, and supporting numerous guest-room devices and application
under the hotel�s control.
Other HTNG Activities at HITEC
The HTNG booth will also host several presentations, including integration
case studies by members, sessions on the HTNG certification program, and
presentations on the new White Papers. Additionally, key hotel industry
CIOs and CTOs who serve on HTNG�s board of directors will be available
on a published schedule at the HTNG booth to meet with members and prospective
members.
About Hotel Technology Next Generation
The
premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG
is a self-funded, non-profit organization with members from hotel and hospitality
companies, technology vendors to hospitality, and other industry members
including consultants, media, and academic experts. HTNG�s members
participate in focused workgroups to bring open solution-sets addressing
specific business problems to the hospitality market.
Membership in HTNG is open to hotel and hospitality companies, technology
vendors to hospitality, consultants, academics, press and others.
Currently more than 300 companies and individuals from across this spectrum
are active HTNG members. Workgroup proceedings, drafts, and specifications
are published for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging
rapid and broad adoption. Specifications are released to the public
domain when the workgroup has completed its work, typically after no more
than 18 months.
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