Michael Blake, the new CEO of Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG), shares with Hotel Yearbook readers his vision for the organization.

Big Data represents a clear opportunity to hotels that are able to drive value growth by using existing potential, writes Michael Toedt of dailypoint.com. But are we prepared for the data era – and the disruption that awaits us?

Mama Shelter creates and choreographs lively accommodation and restaurant facilities, with over 700 rooms in six cities and three countries. Most recently, Mama has launched its award winning brand in the USA with the opening of their first North American property in Los Angeles designed by Thierry Gaugain. Xn Hotel Systems installed protel Multi-Property Edition PMS, hosted from their data centre in the UK.

IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the leading provider of revenue management software solutions and advisory services, today announced the Mellow Mood Hotels has established a central revenue management function, implementing IDeaS Revenue Management System (RMS) and IDeaS Pricing System (PS) into the different hotels across the Group.

Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of next-generation hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that registration is officially open for the Agilysys Inspire User Conference & Executive Summit 2016. The conference will be held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Feb. 22-24, and will bring together hospitality professionals and industry thought leaders to exchange inspiration and best practices on how grow revenue and optimize operational efficiency.

Did you know that you and your fellow travelers are leading trends across the world? That's right. Travelers set the standard for how and to what extent people use their mobile devices. Then, as the technology becomes more common, other consumers follow suit. So, as a multi-language travel app, we want to say thanks.

I'm sure you know that little box for rate or promo codes on a hotel's booking engine. Chains and individual hotels alike use these codes to promote special services to their guests. Corporate clients are given access to special rate codes and thus better prices. Guests get discounts as part of special promotions. But is this still an intelligent and modern marketing approach in the Big Data era?

Cendyn®, parent company of hospitality and event industry technology leaders Cendyn/ONE™ and Cendyn Arcaneo®, is expanding its global operations and appointing London, England-based John Seaton as International Managing Director to support the continuously increasing international demand. With Cendyn's innovative, cloud- based SaaS platforms currently used by 30,000 clients in 143 countries, the company is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Singapore, with plans to debut eight additional office locations across the globe in 2016.

Panama City – November 16, 2015 – The recently built Las Americas Golden Tower is set to offer guests advanced property security with electronic door lock and safe innovations by ASSA ABLOY Hospitality. Boasting 30 floors of luxurious guestrooms and amenities, the 285-room Panamanian property is on track to open in January 2016, equipped with VingCard Signature RFID door locks and Elsafe Sentinel electronic safes in all rooms and suites.

Mobile messaging is experiencing a renaissance, but how and with whom we text is changing. No longer for just between friends, text messaging is increasingly becoming how we communicate and interact with businesses.