News for the Hospitality Executive |
CHICAGO and
SAN FRANCISCO (September 7, 2010)
– Gaming Standards Association (GSA) and Hotel Technology Next
Generation
(HTNG) announced their intention to launch a coordinated standards
development effort
to integrate customer information across a variety of hotel and gaming
systems. The objective is to enable
existing systems to link together to provide a completely integrated
view of
each customer from across the entire operation, including the
customer’s
profile, their future itineraries, and past spending. Systems
within the project scope include
Property Management, Point-of-Sale, Player Tracking, Spa, Concierge,
Show
Ticketing, and other activities systems. The
effort will build upon and expand successful past efforts by GSA and
HTNG in
their respective arenas. HTNG’s Single
Guest Itinerary specification, which synchronizes customer records and
itineraries across various hotel and resort systems, will be expanded
to
incorporate gaming activities. Elements
of both HTNG’s and GSA’s customer profile are expected to be
incorporated in a
new, common profile format. The group
will add historical spending activity to the structure so that hotel
and casino
staff can see a complete view of the value of the guest.
Implementation will occur through modest
upgrades to existing systems, allowing hotels and casinos to avoid the
expense
and disruption of totally new systems. The
effort will kick
off at a meeting on October 6, 2010, in Las Vegas, hosted by MGM
Resorts
International at MGM’s Excalibur hotel. Interested
hotels, casinos, and technology providers are welcome to attend. GSA and HTNG leadership will discuss the
goals for this effort, seek directional input and commitment from key
industry
players, and begin laying out the general development plan. The project will be executed within each
organization’s existing structure, but with consultation and agreement
on
shared elements. HTNG will take the lead
on hotel/resort functionality, while GSA will do so for player tracking. Shared elements such as the customer profile
will be negotiated jointly. HTNG will
also coordinate with OpenTravel Alliance to ensure long-term
consistency for the
elements of the project where OpenTravel Alliance standards exist, such
as
customer profile definition. A number of technology companies have been involved in early discussions and indicated their intention to participate actively, including:
Membership
in GSA or
HTNG is not required in order to attend the initial directional
meeting, but
will be needed for ongoing participation. The
associations reserve the right to limit attendance at
the kickoff
meeting. About Gaming Standards Association The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that creates benefits for gaming manufacturers, suppliers, operators and regulators. We facilitate the identification, definition, development, promotion, and implementation of open standards to enable innovation, education, and communication for the benefit of the entire industry. Established in 1998, GSA’s members represent a wide cross section of the global gaming industry. Follow GSA on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Platinum
members include AMX; Aristocrat Technologies Inc.; Bally Technologies,
Inc.
(BYI); International Game Technology (IGT); Konami Gaming Inc.; MEI;
Seminole
Tribe of Florida; SPIELO (an affiliate of GTECH LTO.MI); Techlink
Entertainment
International Ltd.and WMS Gaming Inc. (WMS). Other
members include: 3M Touch Systems (MMM);
Ainsworth Game
Technology, Ltd.; Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission; American Gaming
Systems; Ameristar Casinos, Inc.; Aruze Gaming America, Inc.; Atlantic
Lottery
Corporation; Atronic Americas LLC; Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH; BMM
Compliance; BCLC; Cadillac Jack; CashCode Company Inc.; Codere, S.A.;
De Vocht
Expert Services; DigiTech Systems Co., Ltd.; DR Gaming Technology
Europe nv;
European Casino Association; FutureLogic, Inc; GameTech International;
Gaming
Laboratories International, LLC; Gaming Technologies Association;
GGS-US LTD;
Grand Vision Gaming, LLC; Harrah’s Entertainment; HERMES SoftLab; International Games System Co., Ltd; Intralot
S.A. (INLr.AT); Loto-Quebec; Macao
Polytechnic Institute; Manitoba Lotteries Corp.; Money Controls;
MotorCity
Casino; Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL); Nanoptix, Inc.; NCR
Corporation
(NCR); New Wave Automation; Nick Farley & Associates; NRT
Technology
Corporation; Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation; Oregon Lottery;
QALab;
Penn National Gaming, Inc.; Scientific Games (SGMS); Shuffle Master,
Inc.(SHFL); SIQ; Technical Systems Testing; Transact Technologies
(TACT); UNLV
International Gaming Institute; Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.; WCLC
Sask VLT
Division; Western Money Systems. For
more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com. |
Contact: Hotel Technology Next Generation Brian Larson, Marketing Consultant +1 847 303 5560 www.htng.org Michelle Olesiejuk, GSA +1 510 492 4060 www.gamingstandards.com |