ISPA 2006: SPA Technology in Review
Cunningham, B. (14 March 2007). ISPA 2006: spa technology in review. Hospitality Upgrade, Spring 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2007 from http://www.hospitalityupgrade.com/_magazine/magazine_Detail.asp?ID=88.
Summary:
Brian Cunningham’s article “ISPA 2006: Spa Technology in Review” describes his experiences at this year’s annual conference organized by the International Spa Association. This conference is centered on technological applications used in spa management, operations, and provision of services; many companies also feature resort management products.
While Mr. Cunningham believed that a majority of the vendors failed to release innovative and superior new products, he described six different technologies related to spa management. He does not see areas of huge growth or development in spa technology. He also thinks next year’s conference should bring new products that are more interesting and innovative than those exhibited.
The first system Cunningham describes is Harms Software’s Millennium series, which are products designed to manage the day spa market. He believes Harms has a strong product that has not changed much over the years; this product is still above the curve for day spa management.
He then describes ResortSuite, which is a rapidly growing company due to its decision to offer a spa solution exclusive of a full PMS program. ResortSuite focuses on customer relationship management, integrating spa management into the other functions and operations of a resort. Additionally, a web booking function is featured, allowing guests to make reservations online; online itinerary management is also included.
OpenCourse Solutions has created Open Activity, a new program that introduces a revenue management and electronic distribution capability not commonly seen in spa management programs. Unlike many systems that allow for a fully integrated POS system, OpenActivity can be integrated with MICROS and InfoGenesis.
Extended Technologies’ SpaBiz, a day spa management focused program that is widely used by the industry, has many added features and services. Its Web booking engine is especially noteworthy.
SpaSoft, the most popular spa management program for resorts, has expanded its services as well. Its new feature allows for “booking multiple guests into multiple services in single work session”. Cunningham sites that the biggest news for SpaSoft are its “official CISP/PABP validation, a new version release and a pending release of an HTNG-related single guest itinerary PMS interface with MICROS Opera ”.
TAC Information Systems offers a product that should be watched in the future due to the variety of innovative services and applications it provides. It has a great user interface, integration abilities, and customization. Hyatt Hotels is utilizing TAC’s Reservation Assistant for its spa management software. A web booking engine and yield management functions will be released shortly.
The final system Cunningham describes is TierOne Hospitality Solutions’ Premier Spa, which is a Windows-based spa management program. This program is user friendly and is appropriate for both resort spa and day spa settings. The company announced the upcoming release of its .NET replacement for the current system. This change will likely change the usability and scope of the product.
Reflection:
Spa management programs are an area in which I have very little knowledge; this article informed me of the happenings in spa management trends. I found it very interesting that the author was displeased with the innovation of the new products exhibited at the conference. Typically, it seems commentators on hospitality technology are positive to the new programs and features. He was however optimistic for next year’s show.
Many of the new programs and services included in these programs reflect other trends in the industry. A greater focus seems to be placed on yield management and revenue management; some of the spa management systems described above also include these features.
Interfacing with POS systems is also an area of importance, and companies are attempting to achieve full integration with POS systems in a variety of ways. The further ability of itinerary management seems to be a focus, as does the increasing complexity of the booking process.
Hotels are focused on increasing online bookings; spa managers seem to be encouraging similar increased bookings through the offering of online booking programs. This not only has the potential to increase revenues for the property, it allows guests an added convenience.
The popular spa management programs have many new added features and services that were introduced at this year’s ISPA Conference. While they were not as innovative as the author would have expected, these programs have the potential to change the management of spas and the user’s experience with the applications.
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2 comments:
As with Betsy, neither do I have much knowledge about spa software and programs. This article allowed me to gain some insight into some of the current software that is available, which I will use to help me on my SDP project. One of the extra systems that my group is including in our hotel is a spa software system, so now I can further research the products Betsy mentioned in her blog. I also agree with Betsy that it is interesting that the author was so unimpressed with the software that he saw at the annual spa conference. I guess that the advancement of spa management software is not of that much importance to the industry recently, and IT people have been focusing their efforts elsewhere.
I agree with both the author of the article and Betsy’s reflection that the ability to interface different sectors of a hotel into the PMS is extremely important. I can understand what the author of the article was saying about his unhappiness with the innovation in the spa management programs. It is difficult for programs to change drastically from year to year, but as the author mentions the coming years should provide a lot of potential because of the trends in which both the day spa industry and hotel industry are going. Having a web based system or the ability to have guests book reservations online is a huge competitive advantage to have, although it will soon become an industry standard.
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