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News for the Hospitality Executive


 
Secure Your Property’s Future
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PCI Compliance, Direct Website Bookings and Web-Based Training
are Essential for Success in 2010 and Beyond
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November 2009 – Despite the industry’s ongoing challenges, many hotel software vendors have added new fees for services, online training programs and PMS hotel software system upgrades that include functionality essential for properties to operate in the future.   These costly fees are proving to be a wake-up call for savvy hotel operators who are looking for new hotel management systems.  NORTHWIND-Maestro offers ways to secure operators’ future with the latest Web-booking, revenue-generating and productivity tools far beyond those available in legacy PMS platforms and backed by NORTHWIND’s unparalleled industry leading Diamond Plus Service. 
 
PCI Compliance is Your Future – Is Your System Ready?
Founded by the major credit card companies, the PCI Security Standards Council sets the compliance guidelines that all merchants must meet prior to the dates imposed by the credit card companies. Failure to meet these deadlines, including the July 1, 2010 date common for all hotel applications to be certified, will result in significant financial penalties to merchants.   With penalties for non-compliance looming, operators are focused on the steps to be taken to reach conformity with PCI standards.  Also focused on the PCI requirements are many property management system providers that placed PCI functionality as the cornerstone of their coming system upgrades.  PMSes must conform to another standard set by the PCI Council, called PA-DSS.  The down-side for hotel operators is that many tech vendors are charging a substantial upgrade fee for the PA-DSS versions that operators must implement to meet PCI requirements.

NORTHWIND takes the data security standards of its Maestro system very seriously.  It is committed to working with its clients and partners to ensure the most secure operating environment possible that helps operators meet PCI requirements.  NORTHWIND supports its clients’ PCI strategy with the newest version of the Maestro Property Management Suite. It is PA-DSS certified and ready to be a key part of its clients' PCI responsibilities.  This PA-DSS upgrade comes at no cost to users under Maestro Diamond Plus service offering.  NORTHWIND also provides PCI audit assistance from its professional service staff to assist users.  NORTHWIND’s team members are knowledgeable on the PCI guidelines and are ready to help operators achieve full compliance by the July 1, 2010 deadline.

Online Training: Essential to Future Staff Productivity
At a time when maximum productivity and efficiency are essential, staff turnover has never been higher or more costly.  Managers who are continuously occupied with staff training cannot give their full attention to operating a profitable, well-run hotel.  Likewise, employees who do not understand their job or the tools they use will not be productive. This is why NORTHWIND developed a comprehensive syllabus of flexible Web-based training options that enables hotel employees to gain proficiency with Maestro.
Today’s next-gen hotel employees learn quickly on digital media, and Web-based training is their preferred learning medium.  With Diamond Plus Service, staff can access free resources 24/7 to gain knowledge and skills whenever they have the time.    Employees who are confident of their abilities have a higher level of job satisfaction and provide better service, which reduces turnover and increases productivity and property profitability.

Maestro’s Diamond Plus Service includes:
  • On Demand Live 1-on-1 Refresher and Advanced Training
  • Maestro for Beginners Education Program
  • Self-Paced E-Learning Webinars & Online Tutorials
  • Live Training Webinars
  • Self-Solve Online Knowledgebase
  • Transition Assistance
  • Professional Maestro Productivity Audit
  • Version Upgrades
  • 24/7 North-American Based Support + Live Chat
Direct Website Bookings Reduce Costs & Maximize Revenue from Every Transaction
Hotels need their own website booking engine to engage travelers as they plan their trips, and to connect with guests to build loyalty and capture the sales directly!  Maestro's 'Web Connection' online booking software suite featuring ResWave booking engine is fully integrated with the Maestro PMS. This enables operators to launch comprehensive online marketing and sales strategies with real-time availability and dynamic packages that let guests up-sell themselves. The system also delivers group rooming list booking functions, and Maestro integrated Yield Management to maximize revenue.
 
Secure Your Property’s Future Today
For operators who are mapping a PCI strategy, evaluating their property’s legacy systems and keeping a sharp eye on their operating budget, it is the ideal time to evaluate all options. The Maestro Property Management Suite is used by over 865 properties worldwide.  NORTHWIND invites operators to speak with its users and its professional team members to learn how Maestro can secure their property’s future. 
 
If you are attending the New York IHMR Show, please visit the Maestro team at Booth 3056 
 
For a demo of the Maestro ‘Web Connection’ Suite featuring the ResWave Booking Engine, please contact the NORTHWIND-Maestro team at 1.888.667.8488 or email [email protected]

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Maestro Property Management Solution
Enhance guest service, improve efficiency and maximize online and offline revenue with Maestro PMS, the industry's most robust and flexible solution empowering leading full-service hotels, luxury resorts, multi-property groups, conference centers, condominiums and timeshare properties. Solutions include Front Office (PMS), Accounts Receivable, Analytics and Business Intelligence, Sales and Catering, Multi-Property Management, Condo & Timeshare Owner Management with Web Functionality, Spa and Activities, Web Booking Engine, Real-Time Yield Management, Dynamic Packaging Golf CRM, Guest Experience Measurement, CRO, GDS Two-Way XML Connectivity or Integration, Membership, Work Orders, Fine Dining and Retail POS, Online Table Reservations with Web Booking, Concierge and Guest Experience Measurement. The Maestro PMS is database independent (ODBC Compliant) and may be deployed via Windows, UNIX, Linux, Terminal Services, hosted and Web platforms.
 
About NORTHWIND – Maestro PMS
NORTHWIND is recognized in the hospitality industry for its “standard setting” Diamond Plus Service and robust integrated Maestro technology. With over 30 years of experience dedicated to developing technology solutions for the hospitality industry, NORTHWIND is a partner who understands that you need a scalable and flexible PMS that works the way you do. Maestro applications are engineered for operators who need to manage their enterprise in a real-time environment for the utmost operational efficiency, productivity, control and profitability.

Contact

NORTHWIND - Maestro PMS, North America
Ivana Johnston - Sales & Marketing
Phone: 905-940-1923
Toll Free: 1-888-667-8488
Email:  [email protected]
www.maestropms.com/HOL

NORTHWIND - Maestro PMS Ltd – EMEA, UK
David Warren - Director of Services & Sales 
Phone: +44 (0)7877 005080
Email:  david.warren(at)maestropms.com
www.maestropms.com/HOL

Media Contact:
Julie Keyser-Squires, APR
Softscribe Inc.
180 River Springs Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (404)256-5512
Email: [email protected]
www.softscribeinc.com




Also See Booming Banff Lodging Company Maximizes Tour Group Revenue, Occupancy and Staff Productivity for 8 Hotels with Integrated Maestro Multi-Property PMS; Independent Resort Company Manages Hotels, Condos, Restaurants, Spa, Ski School and Retail from Centralized Maestro Single-Image Database for Accurate Cross Selling, Streamlined Operations, Personalized Guest Service / October 2009

Luxury Water's Edge Resort and Spa Selects Maestro PMS to Maximize Efficiency, Guest Service & Online Bookings with Single-Vendor, Single Database Solution; Maestro provides integrated total-property solution with Web Booking, S&C, Spa, POS, Condo, Analytics and GDS interface supported by the industry's best Diamond Plus Service for most productive and profitable operations / October 2009

Smoky Mountain Resorts Selects Maestro Multi-Property PMS & ResWave Booking Engine for 7 Flagged and Independent Hotels to Maximize RevPar & Cross Selling Online; Hosted ASP PMS, ResWave Online Booking, Condo-Timeshare on one database at all properties to ensure optimized rates, accurate inventories, and management controls / September 2009

Award Winning Luxury Taboo Resort & Spa Supercharges Online Revenue: Guests Book Rooms, Upsell & Personalize Their Stay Direct on Hotel Website; Resort leverages Maestro PMS integrated booking engine, dynamic packaging, real-time yield management - forecasting a 30% revenue increase with website guest and group self up-sell and lower cost per reservation direct bookings / September 2009

Award Winning 4-Diamond Luxury Stephanie Inn Implements Integrated Maestro PMS to Centralize and Automate High-Touch Service; Stephanie Inn marries personalized guest service with high-tech Maestro system to enhance guest history tracking, boost profits and reduce cost with increased efficiencies / August 2009

NORTHWIND Expands Presence in the West; 25 Luxury Properties Go With Guest-Centric Maestro Integrated Property Management System / July 2009

Shanty Creek Resorts Increase Website Bookings, Boost ADR with Maestro Multi-Property, Multi-Module PMS with Integrated 'Web Connection' Real-Time Guest Self-Serve Tools; Three-property resort group streamlines all operations with Maestro PMS on a single database for exceptional service, faster booking and profitable up-sell; hotel staff productivity soars with Diamond Plus real-time Web Chat Help and On-Demand Training / June 2009

Maestro Client Resort At Port Ludlow Named to Prestigious Condé Nast 'Gold List Top; Guest-centric Maestro Property Management System empowers luxury boutique Resort's award-winning personal service; real-time ResEze booking engine to fuel its booming website reservations success / June 2009

Maestro PMS 'Web Connection' Suite Adds Powerful New eMarketing Tool to Drive More Hotel Website Bookings, Increase Online Reservations and Reduce Costs; Maestro's eMarketing tool completes the 'total online solution', complements ResWave and Guest Feedback Tool (GEM) to maximize revenue, guest loyalty and free up staff to focus on personal service / May 2009

Maestro Users Cavallo Point and Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa Honoured By Condé Nast Traveler 'Hot List' Ultimate Insiders Guide to the Newest & Hottest Hotels; Guest-centric luxury hotels use Integrated Maestro Property Management System to automate award-winning operations, boost web bookings and maximize profits across all channels / April 2009

Build Profitability in 2009: Maestro PMS Proactive Yield Management Enables Operators to Thrive in Challenging and Competitive Marketplace; Effective real-time Yield Management is essential to manage RevPAR intelligently and deliver maximum profits across all channels / April 2009

NORTHWIND Continues to Grow: Maestro PMS Selected by More Full-Service Luxury Resorts, Hotel Groups and Boutique Destinations to Streamline Operations, Increase Revenue; Four-Diamond Resorts, Elegant Spa Properties, Inns and Boutique Chains Choose Maestro PMS, Sales & Catering, Spa, Yield Management to Increase Operating Efficiency and Enhance Guest Service / March 2009

Maestro 'Web Connection' Suite Enables Hoteliers to Respond to New Trends in Group Business with Enhanced Online Group Booking Tools; ResWave Booking Engine Maximizes Hotel Revenues through Group Self-Service and Smart Integration of Room and Spa Bookings while increasing operating efficiencies / March 2009

Maestro Resort Technology Helps Four Diamond Luxury Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa Deliver Guests' Dreams Come True; Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa uses Maestro PMS to attract guest from around the world with online marketing and on-property personalized world class service / February 2009

Maestro Users Praise Expanded Diamond Plus Services and Online Training to Maximize Operator Profitability and Efficiency in Tough Economy / January 2009

Lonrho Hotels Selects Maestro PMS Multi-Property as Standard System Across all Properties to Optimize Revenue, Group Bookings and Web Reservations; NORTHWIND Maestro installation enables Grand Karavia to be more productive and more profitable with centralized controls / January 2009

Columbia Hospitality Selects Maestro PMS as Standard System Across all Properties; NORTHWIND surpasses other vendors with Maestro Diamond Plus Service, multi-property ASP capability and strong security / December 2008

NORTHWIND - Maestro Continues Expansion to Maximize Services, Global Headquarters Moves to Larger Offices; Advanced technology and Diamond Plus Service provide solid foundation for continued growth / November 2008

How to Turn Mandatory PMS Upgrade into Golden Opportunity; Vendor stability, service and support become savvy hotel operator's 'flight to quality' - Maestro™ leads the industry with 30 years of hotel technology experience and Diamond Plus Service / October 2008

How Maestro PMS with Integrated Channel Management and ‘Web Connection’ Suite Can Drive Hotel Profitability Even in a Down Economy / October 2008

Full Property and Web Integration is Key to Success for Nantucket Island Resorts Using Maestro PMS to Maximize Online Revenue and Boost Productivity for 5 Hotels / September 2008

Minnesota's Landmark Saint Paul Hotel Relies on Maestro ResEze to Increase Online Reservations & Revenue; AAA Four Diamond Historic hotel leverages 21st Century real-time Web booking system with integrated yield management to optimize rates and occupancy / September 2008

Maestro PMS Enables 4+ Star Luxury Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa Deliver Impeccable World-Class Personal Service; Historic Hotels of America-Preferred Hotels guest-centric property leads spa boom, gives staff 360-degree view of guest at every touch point with integrated Maestro Suite of modules / August 2008

Jekyll Island Club Hotel Focuses on Future and Growth Empowered by Scalable Maestro PMS Suite; Maestro's robust internet functionality, single-image database, supported by Diamond Plus Service impresses historic luxury destination resort operators / July 2008

Maestro Solutions Shine for Luxury Beachside Resort Chain Seeking to Centralize Operations and Improve Marketing; Cape Resorts Group leverages Maestro PMS to automate multi-property operations on a single database, maximize online revenue with 'Web Connection' real-time yield management tools / June 2008

Maestro Selected as PMS for 7 High-Touch Resorts, Guest-Centric Boutique Hotels and 750 Room Multi-Property Group in 2Q '08; Boutique boom continues, Maestro chosen for Web Connection, personalized Diamond Plus service, single-image database for multi-property operations / June 2008

Maestro Web Connection Suite with ResWave Drives Online Revenue and Personalized Service for Multi-Property Operators; NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS enhances ResWave with new online revenue generating tools, guest experience measurement, multi-property package booking / June 2008

Maestro 2008 Users Conference Energizes Operators to Boost Revenue, Increase Productivity; Operator take-away: Web Connection to increase online revenue, Diamond Plus Service and Maestro for Beginners Online Training / May 2008

Maestro Diamond Plus Service Delivers Live Web Training to Maximize Staff Productivity; Real-time On-Demand e-Training Gives Maestro Users the Power to Learn and Return, so They Can Immediately Apply Their New Skills and Knowledge / April 2008

Luxury Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa Opens with Maestro Suite to Centralize and Automate High-Touch Operations; Aiming at Five Stars: Stoneleigh drives service with integrated PMS, Spa, POS, Sales & Catering, ResEze Web booking engine and Business Intelligence / April 2008

Hospitality Industry Goes Online: Maestro Web Connection Suite Meets Guest and Group Demands for Web Services; Operators leverage integrated PMS to maximize online revenue, service and staff productivity / March 2008

Maestro Deals Tribal Gaming Properties the Winning Hand in Service & Revenue Optimization Tools; Gaming hotels leverage Maestro PMS technology to deliver world class guest service, enhance marketing and maximize staff productivity / February 2008

Forced PMS Migration Presents Opportunity to Weigh New Options, Hotel Operators Turn to Maestro Suite; Hoteliers stand to benefit from NORTHWIND's Maestro 'Diamond Plus Service' upgrade and enhancement policy in times of change / February 2008

Three Decades of Industry Experience Pays Off for Boutique, Indy Resorts That Demand Maestro PMS Technology with Guest Focus; Maestro celebrates 30 years of leading the industry delivering guest-centric technology to boutique hotels and resorts for personalized service, improved efficiency, increased revenue / February 2008

Maestro Launches ResWave to Drive Greater Online Revenue for Hotels; ResWave system will tap growing online travel revenue expected to top $128B by 2011/ January 2008

Fairmont Hot Springs Selects Maestro to Drive Revenue and Strengthen Marketing for 4.5-Star Resort; Maestro's total integration and single-image database support guest-centric service & targeted marketing / December 2007

Northwind Delivers Condo Ownership Online: Drives New Business for Condo Operators; First to market with online owner access module available within Maestro 'Web Connection' Suite owners monitor unit performance, accounting, availability, book reservations / November 2007

Nine Independent Luxury Resorts Install Maestro PMS Suite, Leveraging 'Web Connection' Technology; High touch resorts choose Maestro to boost on-property and online revenue; maximize internal communications and provide guest-centric service second to none / October 2007

Top Yield Management Pros Balance Experience and Judgment to Increase Revenue with Maestro PMS Technology; Properties Orchestrate Proactive Yield Management Strategies to Optimize Rates, Drive Profitability / October 2007

Lodge of the Ozarks Drives Higher Profitability with Maestro at The Largest Convention Center in Branson; Maestro optimizes all hotel and conference center operations on one database for greater staff productivity, stronger financial management and better guest tracking / September 2007

Increasing Online Revenue is Focus of NORTHWIND Maestro's 2008 Users' Conference; Maestro Guest Connections Conference presents workshops, expert training to support operators' 360-degree view of guests, drive profitability, service / August 2007

Luxury Resort Centralizes High-Touch Operation on Maestro PMS Suite Single-Image Database for 360-degree Guest View; Maestro integrates resort automation at every touch point, and supports Hecla Oasis in leveraging the web to up-sell at time of booking / July 2007

From Mainframes to Web Connectivity: Where the Hospitality Industry is Going / Two generations of Northwind Leadership Share Their Insights; The unexpected effects of the Internet on the relationship between guests, properties and tech vendors / Jacob Dehan and Warren Dehan / June 2007

Vintage Hotels Gains 360 Degree View of Guest at Every Touch Point with Maestro Enterprise Suite; Learn more about Maestro Four Diamond Service and free 'Web Connection' training at Northwind's HITEC booth / June 2007

Maestro Strengthens Internet Integration; Provides Clients Free Online 'Web Connection' Training to Boost Revenue, Productivity; New Web training program / June 2007

Maestro Partners with Hotel Operators and Experts on Web 2.0; Maestro sponsors 2nd annual Online Revealed travel conference for Web marketing to help hotel operators prepare and better understand the powerful effect of social media and Web 2.0 on internet bookings / June 2007

SunSwept Resorts Pampers Guests, Manages Multiple Properties Seamlessly With Maestro Enterprise System; Whether they come for romance or physical fitness, SunSwept guests enjoy top-notch service enabled by a single-image guest database / May 2007

Award-Winning Rudding Park Golf and Conference Center to Upgrade All Systems with Maestro Enterprise Suite; Luxury property taps Maestro PMS integrated multiple modules for extensive four stage property automation project / May 2007

Maestro Introduces Web Technology for The Wired Generation of Guests; Maestro 'Web Connection' gives operators total control of all Web and GDS channels / May 2007

UK Chains, Independents Thrive with Integrated, International Version of Robust Maestro PMS System Suite; NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS Builds Solid Presence in UK Hotel Market with Advanced Technology and Personal Service / April 2007

Maestro Installed at Top Ranked Fluno Conference Center Managed by Aramark Higher Education; World's #1 conference center partners with integrated Maestro PMS for banquet event and PMS on single platform, free online training Webinars / March 2007

Full-Service Hotels, Resorts See Revenue Payback, Optimized Efficiency with Integrated Maestro PMS Modules; Partnership & Hotel Technology Investment Delivers Premium Support Services & ROI / March 2007

Nantucket Island Resorts 5-Property Chain Relies on Maestro Multi-Property Suite for Rate Optimization, Operating Efficiency; Five premier hotels on Nantucket implement single-image database to streamline operations / February 2007

NORTHWIND Expands Maestro PMS with Advanced Resort Management Tools, Provides 360 Degree View of Your Guest / January 2007

 


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