The 2009 SMS|Host Users Group (HUG) Conference celebrated the user group's 20th anniversary, spotlighting the longevity and vigor of the user-led group. More than 250 attendees representing over 70 properties gathered at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Florida in early November for four days of learning and networking. Distinguished as the only users group within the hospitality technology industry to be run by the users, for the users, HUG provides it's members with a united forum through which users can share knowledge, create solutions and influence product direction for the SMS|Host property management system from PAR Springer-Miller Systems, Inc.

As Hotels are entering into the crucial stage of setting their strategies for 2010, one of the biggest dangers is the continuing uncertainty about the future state of the economy. While economists around the world are declaring an imminent end to the global recession, the biggest global chains continue to announce double digit drops in RevPar and ever increasing losses, indicating that "we can't see anything in our numbers at the moment to suggest we've hit the bottom".

Portsmouth, NH -- The Indiana University Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management, on the campus of Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Newmarket International, Inc., the leading provider of sales and catering solutions for the global hospitality industry today announced a partnership to bring Delphi® to the campus of IUPUI.

IDeaS Revenue Optimization, the leading provider of pricing, forecasting and optimization solutions and services, today announced that Republic Polytechnic of Singapore has signed an agreement to become a member of the IDeaS Academic Partner Program.

PAR Springer-Miller Systems, Inc. (PSMS) a wholly owned subsidiary of PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE:PTC) --- and the leading provider of guest-centric hospitality management systems --- announces the certification between SpaSoft Spa and Activity Management System Version 3.1.1 and Guest-Tek using HTNG Standards/XML messaging via SMS|Diplomat.

VingCard, a leading hospitality security provider and part of the ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Group, completed the installation of its standalone electronic locking solution, Classic by VingCard, at the Houjie International Hotel in Dongguan, China. Centrally located in the business district, the four-star property features the highest revolving restaurant in the Dongguan area; the Houjie International Hotel is scheduled to open in late October 2009.

Great Bay Community College is proud to announce the implementation of Delphi in the Classroom, a web based eLearning program that incorporates Newmarket International's sales and catering system, Delphi, with classroom study. This partnership between Great Bay and Newmarket International is a key component to the burgeoning hospitality program.

VingCard, a leading hospitality security provider and part of the ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Group, completed the installation of its standalone, magnetic stripe electronic locking solution, Classic by VingCard, at the five-star Millennium Resort Patong Phuket, Thailand at Patong Beach. The resort is located in the hub of Phuket’s tourist attractions and within the Jungceylon shopping centre. Within immediate vicinity are Patong Beach and the island’s concentration of shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Following an extensive search for a new marketing provider with proven success in the Japanese market, the Japan Rail (JR) Hotel Group has announced it will migrate its properties to Sabre Hospitality Solutions' SynXis Central Reservation System (CRS). One of the largest hotel consortiums in Japan, JR Hotel Group is comprised of 61 properties all near rail stations in key gateway cities throughout Japan. The group will rely on Sabre Hospitality Solutions for their online merchandising, including reservations made through its own website, http://www.jrhotelgroup.com/eng/index.htm, online travel agents, and all four of the major Global Distribution Systems (GDSs). JR Hotel Group will also take advantage of the Japanese language control center and will be supported through Sabre Hospitality Solutions' Tokyo office.

SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, and its customers at The Venetian and The Palazzo received the 2009 Innovative Solutions Award from SourceMedia and Information Management. In its efforts to keep room occupancy up despite seasonal or economic ebb and flow, The Venetian and its sister property, The Palazzo, adopted SAS' analytics and campaign management technologies, including IDeaS' revenue management capabilities.