COVID-19 is fundamentally changing the way hoteliers are operating their businesses. Physical distancing requirements, increased compliance demands, and razor-sharp attention to managing costs are accelerating the adoption of technology in the next normal. While the way to recovery is likely long and sinuous, a property's technology stack can help alleviate some of the pain points. As part of its ongoing COVID-19 Webinar Series, Beekeeper, the No. 1 employee communication platform for hospitality, will address "Technology Must Haves in The Next Normal," to be held on September 22nd at 10:00 a.m. PST. To register for the online event, click here.

ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions has successfully implemented a wide range of advanced security access platforms at Mandarin Oriental, Santiago. Located in Chile and recognized as one of South America's most luxurious hotels, Mandarin Oriental, Santiago's decision to implement VingCard Signature RFID locks alongside VingCard elevator controllers, panic bars and Elsafe Sentinel advance safes ensures that guests and their belongings are fully protected with the latest security standards while maintaining a seamless and hassle-free hotel environment. With the additional implementation of Polarbar minibars, guests staying at the property can further experience enhanced convenience with a range of F&B options now instantly available in each guestroom.

Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, and Adyen, the global payments platform of choice for many of the world's leading companies, today announced a new partnership to extend Agilysys customers' access to frictionless global payments.

Quore, the leading provider of workflow management and productivity tools for hotels, was determined to be an indispensable tool for the staff at the Holiday Inn Detroit Northwest while navigating the challenges brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic. Quore was temporarily suspended but quickly brought back when guest satisfaction suffered.

IDeaS and Cenium announced today a product integration that enables guest data from Cenium's property management system (PMS) to automatically flow into IDeaS revenue management solutions. This partnership allows hotels and resorts to optimize revenue, gain control of the entire guest journey and make staff processes more efficient.

Shiji Group has signed a partnership with The Peninsula Hotels to provide the hotel group with Shiji Enterprise Platform, the industry's scalable, secure and modern hospitality technology platform.

Perhaps more than ever, social media is a valuable pathway for hotels to connect directly with travelers. It's one of the channels where hotels can nurture relationships with past guests and surface new audiences that may be eager to escape the "work from home" reality faced by many.

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact occupancy rates of hotels across the U.S., hoteliers are doing what they can to signal to travelers that their properties are taking every precaution to keep them safe, but this messaging — even with the continued support of brands and industry associations — is often inconsistent with the narrative consumers are hearing from other sources. The confidence to travel again is predicated on the confidence in the information being consumed. Competing information sources have left business and leisure travelers unsure which precautions are impactful.

Shiji Group has recently announced that Hoiana has gone live with a variety of hospitality technology products from the diverse offerings from Shiji Group.

AHLA has made an indelible mark in the hospitality industry, serving more than 27,000 members, supporting millions of lodging employees, advocating on behalf of the American hospitality industry, and being named to a national list of "100 Associations That Will Save the World" in recognition of its response to the global pandemic. AHLA is a true force, and we are honored to be a part of it.