Hotel staff from across the country and around the world voted ALICE a "Top Staff Task Management & Collaboration Platform" in Hotel Tech Report's 2018 HotelTechAwards. Over 100 of the industry's most popular hotel technology brands competed for a chance to win this prestigious title. ALICE scored a perfect 100 on the 100-point "HT score" scale for its staff task management software, which was also recently designated as the brand official staff operations technology for the Forbes Travel Guide for 2018.

Ask many hoteliers about their biggest technology headaches, and they will tell you about the painful procedure of setting up their PMS. It is an expensive process where the set up alone can take months, sometimes even years. And, once set up, many hotels find that other core software does not integrate. Most often, this is due to legacy software with on-site installations, complicated interfaces, and limited features. But even PMSs that boast cloud-based solutions tend to have a complicated set up and onboarding process. It leaves hotels stuck – on the one hand, they want a new and better solution, on the other hand, they don't have the time to invest in such complicated setups.

The Asia-Pacific region, not including South Asia, already boasts over two billion mobile users, with China accounting for just under half of that. These countries have an average mobile phone penetration rate of 62 percent, with that number expected to climb to 69 percent in the next few years. An effective marketing strategy for hotels must include mobile – if customers are willing to respond to it. Because of the level of mobile penetration, social media as a platform plays a critical role forengagement with both business and leisure travelers in Asia, and as such, are part of the complete travel journey.Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, along with messaging app Whatsapp, enjoy similar penetration and popularity in many Asia-Pacific markets, especially in markets including Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. However, locally developed applications, due to user preference or regulatory restriction, may rival or outstrip that of the aforementioned social media channels. For example, in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are actively blocked by the government, and are accessible only by using virtual private networks, giving rise to homegrown competition.Younger travelers who have not yet established loyalty relationships with hospitality brands are more likely to do so with those providers who use media they know and like. Increasingly, social media is that conduit, and especially for operators that accept social media-connected payment options, these could make or break first brand impressions with Asia's next generation of travelers. Below is an introduction to a few of the most influential social media platforms in China and Japan, along with suggestions for their best use.

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is about to become effective and it is time now for the hospitality industry to become aware of this topic. The GDPR is considered the big bang for data protection. The new regulation will take effect on May 25, 2018after a 2-year transition period. As of this date, all data protection regulations currently valid across the 28 countries of the European Union will be replaced by this new regulation, making the 28 different local data protection regulations disappear. With the GDPR data protection will be Europeanized.

Cloudbeds, the leading provider of hospitality management software for independent properties (hotels, hostels, inns, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, and vacation rentals), announced the addition of Ira Vouk, a recognized thought leader in revenue management, to lead Cloudbeds' pricing intelligence product.

Crave Interactive, the world leading developer of cloud-based digital guest service solutions for hotels, today announced that it has moved to strengthen its North American management team with the addition of a new Director of Business Development and several internal promotions.

Crave Interactive, the world leading developer of cloud-based digital guest service solutions for hotels, today announced it has been named 2018's top rated Guest Room Tablet provider by Hotel Tech Report. The award is based on data and opinions from thousands of hoteliers in more than 40 countries around the world.

ALICE is excited to share it has been named a '2018 Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech' by HotelTechReport, for creating and maintaining a culture that fosters employee satisfaction along with business growth. HTR surveys thousands of hotel tech employees around the world about what it's like inside the operations of the industry's greatest technology companies. Being on this list is truly and honor and a testament to our commitment to our people.

Hotel Tech Report has named Guestline 2018's People's Choice Award based on data from thousands of hoteliers in more than 40 countries around the world. Over 100 of the world's elite hotel technology products competed for a chance to win this prestigious title.

ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, developer of innovative security solutions for the hospitality industry, is announcing its win of the 2018 HotelTechAwards for Top Rated Guest Experience Tech: Keyless Entry Provider. ASSA ABLOY Hospitality has been recognized for its ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Mobile Access, a keyless entry solution that allows guests and staff to enter certain areas of a hotel, including guestrooms, with a quick swipe of their mobile device.