TraknProtect, a pioneer of real-time location-based technology purpose-built for the hotel industry, has announced a new partnership with Montreal-based Intello Technologies, a leading guest internet and hospitality solutions provider in Canada. In addition to solidifying its position in hospitality technology, this new partnership allows TraknProtect to extend its footprint of innovation across the border and offer its award-winning solutions to Canadian hotels.

Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry, today announced that Accor, a global leader in augmented hospitality, has extended its 13-year relationship with Infor by signing a global agreement to continue their collaboration with Infor EzRMS revenue management software. The application is currently used at more than 1,100 properties worldwide.

More than 170,000 people descended on Las Vegas last week to see the most transformative technology products on the planet during the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show. New this year was a "Travel & Tourism" educational track that highlighted how smarter and safer technologies are transforming the travel and tourism industries. A technology that remained in the spotlight during the three-session program was voice - such as the in-room solution atop Amazon Alexa powered by Volara that enables hotel guests to request services on voice command in the privacy of their rooms or the newly launched 29 language translation tool for hotel front and concierge desks known as the Google Assistant's interpreter mode.

Cendyn, the leading innovator in CRM, sales and revenue strategy for the hospitality industry, announced today the appointment of Emma Johnstone to Vice President of Sales, EMEA, and Ricky Castoldi to Vice President of Sales, Americas. Both will be responsible for team excellence for their regional sales teams, establishing new and trusted relationships across the hospitality space, while driving maximum revenue and productivity for the hotel clients they oversee. Working from London, Johnstone will oversee Cendyn's strategic sales and business development efforts across the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. She has over 20 years' experience, having served in sales leadership roles at Guestline, SnapShot and Gilchrist & Soames. She graduated from Anglia Ruskin University. Based out of Dallas, Castoldi will lead Cendyn's strategic sales and business development efforts in the Americas region. He has over 20 years' experience, having served in sales leadership roles at Duetto, Pegasus and Lanyon. He graduated from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University. "I am absolutely delighted to have joined Cendyn and look forward to building upon the solid foundations that the EMEA team has already made across the region," said Emma Johnstone, Vice President of Sales, EMEA. "With Cendyn's recent expansion into revenue management and commitment to personalized pricing, our influence across the industry is impressive and is only set to grow!""I am thrilled to be joining the Cendyn team at this exciting phase in the company's growth," said Ricky Castoldi, Vice President of Sales, Americas. "I look forward to spearheading sales and business development efforts in the Americas region, as we continue to innovate in the delivery of cloud-based solutions for data management, targeted marketing and dynamic pricing to the hospitality industry.""I am excited to welcome Emma and Ricky to the Cendyn sales leadership team," said John Seaton, Chief Commercial Officer. "With their comprehensive experience and track history of achieving success, I am confident both will continue to drive the tremendous growth Cendyn has seen in these important markets."The past 12 months have been a period of rapid growth at Cendyn, with a strategic follow-on equity investment from Accel-KKR, appointment of Tim Sullivan as President, Donna Goudie as Chief Operating Officer and acquisition of The Rainmaker Group, a leading revenue and profit optimization platform for hotels, resorts and casinos. Cendyn was also recently named World's Leading Hotel CRM Technology Provider, Hotel Sales Proposal Platform and Data-Driven Marketing Agency by the World Travel Awards for the 2nd year in a row.

Exceptional service doesn't require the best amenities, the fanciest furnishings, or the largest staff. Stand-out service comes from knowing your guest and adjusting your approach to their needs, preferences, and frame-of-mind. Yet, many hotels are limiting themselves with PMS-based guest profiles that don't fully harness the power of personalization.

The hospitality industry is often criticized for its slow pace in driving innovation across the sector, but what is it that holds the sector back? Why is hospitality different from industries such as banking and aviation where innovation seems to be much more advanced, and what can be done to accelerate innovation in hospitality?

ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions has been named the winner of Mobile Key & Keyless Entry for the 2020 HotelTechAwards. Organized by HotelTechReport, this year's HotelTechAwards had over 24,000 hoteliers across more than 200 countries vote to rate their most favorite products and technologies. In winning the Mobile Key & Keyless Entry category, ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions competed against the world's leading digital key providers and was able to stand apart thanks to the reputation of its Mobile Access platform in providing unparalleled guest satisfaction, reliability and efficiency.

"The Grammy's of Hotel Tech" - also known as The HotelTechAwards - were announced this week by HotelTechReport, a technology-driven media platform that helps entrepreneurial hoteliers find the best technology tools to solve problems and grow their business. Volara - the voice hub for the hotel industry - was named "Best Voice Activated Tech Product of 2020" in the Guest Experience Software category by a global community of verified hotel technology users. To earn this top accolade, hoteliers attested that Volara increases operating efficiency, drives revenue and improves the guest experience.

TravelClick, an Amadeus company, today announced that RLH Corporation, an innovative hotel company that owns and, through its subsidiaries, franchises and provides services to over 1,300 upscale, midscale and economy hotels, has joined TravelClick's Demand360® business intelligence program. Demand360, a Hotelligence360® solution, gives hoteliers across the globe unique access to powerful forward-looking demand data, enabling them to develop best practices and make better business decisions to maximize revenue.

For hoteliers selling to groups, understanding the ins and outs of the human mind can be of great benefit. It's not about manipulation; it's about understanding human behavior in a business that is, at its core, a people business.