Christina Volpe, Associate Editor of Hospitality Technology Magazine, discussed the technology within the drive-thru restaurant industry in her article, “Speeding up the Drive-Thru”. Many quick service restaurants are trying to become more efficient and have faster times in the drive-thru. Order confirmation boards and drive-thru timers are some of the technological advances within the hospitality field that help to improve efficiency. Church’s Chicken uses Texas Digital’s AccuView order confirmation boards and Acclaro drive-thru timers in their locations. The AccuView drive-thru timers activate as the car reaches the order confirmation board and end when the transaction is finished. In order to motivate the employees at the window the timer has designated colors: green, yellow, and red, which represent whether the order is on time or not. This system also has reports that can be distributed throughout the company to give incentive to do better. Hardee’s locations use Hyperactive Technologies' HyperView order confirmation boards and QTimer drive-thru timers. The QTimer systems also use screens with color coded cars on the drive-thru to show how fast the service is moving and reports which are shown over the internet, allowing executives to access them at their current times. Also the Hyperview order confirmation boards reduce glare from sunlight and are placed inside to prevent damages from the environment. Another device used in quick service restaurants is NCR’s tap and swipe credit card readers which are used by the majority of Whataburger locations. They allow the customer to swipe their credit card themselves; quickening the process and making the customer feel more secure.
I think these technological advancements are beneficial to the quick service restaurant industry because it makes it easier for the customer and the employee. People go to drive-thru restaurants in order to receive easy and quick food and these new technologies make the method even more efficient. The customer receives their food faster and the process of making it is more organized for the employee. The timers allow the employees to learn from previous experiences and then do better and the order confirmation boards make ordering easier for the consumer.

'Going Green' in the Hotel Industry

The magazine Hospitality Technology’s article “'Going Green' Still a Top Issue for Hotels & Guests, But Not Without Challenges” discusses the advantages and disadvantages of integrating environmental friendliness throughout hotels. Although the initial cost to shift a hotel from wasteful to green may be unappealing many hotels have taken this route. The end essentially justifies the means in this particular case. The hotels are being more cost efficient and resource conscious and the guests support the move to protect the environment. Not only have the rooms been modified, some hotels are constructing green buildings by referring to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) regulations in order to be as green as possible. However, some critics claim that following LEED prevents hotels from being as hospitable as necessary. Another option for green hotels is to use the IHG software program that calculates a hotel’s energy usage and then develops a better, more efficient approach.
I support the choice of many hotels to try to become more environmentally friendly. I like that hotels are going beyond the standard, green options like doing less laundry. I like that companies are developing more green technology. The different technology such as the water saving bathroom fixtures and energy management systems installed in hotel rooms help save the hotel money and help the environment as well. The fact that most guests are willing to be more green at the hotels they stay at shows that there is no reason for hotels to delay their transition to environmental friendliness. The initial cost of the devices will eventually be recovered and even more money will be saved from their efficiency. Personally, hotels becoming more environmentally friendly benefit not only the hotels but the people who stay in them.

The Gemini POS System in the Hard Rock Hotel

The magazine Hospitality Technology’s article “Proof: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s 200+ POS Terminals ‘Take a Lickin and Keep on Tickin’” discusses the benefits of using the Gemini POS terminals in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The PAR Technology Corp. created an easy-to-use, good-looking and durable POS system that is perfect for the Hard Rock’s environment. The hotel is always changing because of the many events and activities being hosted throughout the year; thankfully, the Gemini can be easily moved and set up in different locations depending on where it is needed. It has wireless capabilities so it is even easier to use and more accessible. More importantly, the system has simple set-up procedures so many employees without IT training can easily fix a problem or perform maintenance. This gives the small IT staff the ability to focus on more significant issues. The system is also very durable; it can withstand the overbearing heat of Las Vegas and the everyday messes produced by a bar and still work effectively. The Hard Rock Hotel is a very modern and attractive place to stay and the Gemini terminals fit this mold. They are sleek and compact, giving more space to be utilized in the bar. The Gemini POS systems are a great addition to the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.
Personally I think the Gemini is a great system for the Hard Rock Hotel based on this article. It fits in well with the atmosphere of the hotel and is a great commodity. The availability and durability of the system are important; the Hard Rock seems to be very busy and hectic so an easy-to-use system that can withstand the environment is the best choice. The aesthetics are not as important but they also are a positive aspect of the Gemini system.

"In-Room Innovations"

In Christina Volpe’s article, In-Room Innovations, she discusses the technological advances being integrated into hotel rooms throughout the hospitality industry. Although a short time ago technology such as flat screen TVs and wireless internet was thought of as lavish, households across America now consider it a basic necessity. This in result causes hoteliers to expand technological abilities in their hotels to meet the needs of their guests. Both ends of the spectrum have witnessed the need for technological advancement, from the most luxurious resorts to the economical motels and everywhere in between. High end hotels such as the City Center in Las Vegas, Nevada are outfitting their rooms with technology that allows the guest to control all aspects of their stay with just one remote control. This amenity potentially gives the guest full control over “their room’s lighting, temperature, TV, music, drapes and concierge services” without having to leave their bed.
This idea of full control lends itself to the entertainment side of the guest’s stay. The Kessler Collection chose to incorporate a technology, Roomlinx, in some of their hotels in order to give their guests control over all entertainment devices through one remote control. Accor North America caught on to this trend of expanding entertainment capabilities in their Motel 6 brand. The company added things such as flat screen TVs and hookups for MP3 players and other entertainment devices; however, they were also conscious of the need to remain cost-effective. Therefore, wireless internet can also be included for the price of $2.99 a day.
American households have more access to faster internet so hotels have felt the need to increase bandwidth. The Raymond Group has featured FatPipe into many of their hotels. This technology can redirect “traffic to available lines when a router of IPS goes down.” FatPipe allows the guests to use as much bandwidth they need if it is not being used. Once a new guest needs access, the current user’s bandwidth is cut back to its standard amount of two Mb.
Hotels across the nation have expanded their technological abilities to fit in with the continuously growing capabilities of households. Everything from temperature, entertainment and the internet have been simplified and made more efficient in response to guests growing needs.