INTERNATIONAL REPORT—BeyondTV has been awarded a patent for its guest data security protocol, while several tech companies have entered partnerships. Here’s a look.
BeyondTV Awarded Patent for Protection and Privacy Technology
Hotel Internet Services (HIS) has been awarded a patent by the USPTO for the guest data security protocol used in its BeyondTV solution.
Issued with patent No. 10,097,864 and officially named “Guest Personal Data Protection,” the technology provides guests with the assurance that all online browsing or app usage history and any personal account information, such as usernames or passwords, is completely erased to ensure against identity theft or otherwise unauthorized use.
While catering to growing guest preferences for personalized content, BeyondTV has always prioritized the need to protect sensitive guest data, the company reports. The newly awarded patent includes several security-enhancing features, including BeyondTV’s ability to automatically delete all guest user information upon check-out. Using the television remote control, guests can also manually erase all of their data and usage history at any time by simply pushing a button. Further, BeyondTV requires guest device registration to begin wirelessly casting to their in-room television.
“With data theft increasingly a concern as more guests travel with devices and leverage online connectivity, our patented BeyondTV technology serves as proof that they can safely access streaming subscriptions and other personal content with complete peace of mind,” said Gary Patrick, CEO of Hotel Internet Services. “By obtaining an enhanced sense of security, guests will not only be able to further enjoy their in-room entertainment experience but will also be more likely to interact with the additional property revenue-enhancing features that BeyondTV offers.”
Radisson Partners with Ctrip in China and Abroad
Building on an already successful relationship, Ctrip.com International Ltd. has entered into a strategic global partnership agreement with Radisson Hotel Group. This collaboration brings together the largest online travel company in the Asia Pacific region and one of the largest hotel groups in the world.
Through the agreement, the two companies will work to expand the global distribution of Radisson Hotel Group’s premium properties—giving travelers a wider choice of destination and hotel.
Ctrip will play a key role in supporting Radisson Hotel Group’s growth in China—a key focus market for the group and its brand portfolio. Going further, the partnership will also see Ctrip work with Radisson Hotel Group to develop China as a source market for its properties and destinations around the world—increasing the number of outbound Chinese guests visiting its range of more than 1,100 hotels in operation.
“We are delighted to have signed this agreement and look forward to our collaboration with Ctrip,” said Eric De Neef, EVP/chief commercial officer of Radisson Hotel Group. “Ctrip is a powerful partner supporting our reach expansion in China and the entire Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, we will be able to jointly bring more Chinese travelers to our EMEA and U.S. properties and to further strengthen Radisson Hotel Group’s upcoming ‘Welcome China’ value proposition for our guests.”
“We’re very excited to be deepening our collaboration with Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world’s largest premium hospitality groups,” said to Ray Chen, CEO of Ctrip Accommodation Business Unit. “With our influential industry-leading position in China, our huge consumer base of more than 300m travelers and AI-driven insights into Chinese consumer behavior, we’re perfectly positioned to help Radisson Hotel Group expand its reach both at home and abroad.”
SiteMinder Partners With AutoClerk
More than 1,500 hotels across North America now have the opportunity to enrich their distribution and revenue management strategy, thanks to a new partnership between two hospitality technology leaders—SiteMinder and AutoClerk.
SiteMinder, a leading guest acquisition platform, and AutoClerk, a property management system (PMS) company, have developed a sophisticated interface between their two platforms that will help mutual hotel customers enhance the online distribution of their rooms and thereby grow their revenue.
AutoClerk’s president, Gary Gibb, explains that the interface automates the transfer of booking information between AutoClerk’s pure cloud PMS, myHMS, and the 350 booking channels accessible through SiteMinder.
“Advanced analytics is vital today, and this is a powerful solution for any hotelier looking to better understand their guests and maximize their marketing spend,” said Gibb. “The interface delivers changes to availability, room rates, and inventory as they occur via a state-of-the-art HTNG push interface model, which does not come with the minimal lag time created by the pull interface model more commonly adopted by PMS vendors. So, hoteliers can rest assured that the information displayed both on their bookings channels online and in their PMS is as up-to-date as possible.”
Mike Kantor, senior director of global partnerships at SiteMinder, said, “This partnership is about giving hotels the greatest chance to compete, be that through heightened visibility online or through a deeper understanding of their guests. It’s about recognizing that manual methods of approaching distribution and revenue management need to be left behind.”
