SANTA ROSA, CA— The Hotel La Rose has given Advanced Management Systems International (AMSI) the green light to release its web-based property management (PMS)/central reservation software (CRS) into the marketplace. The hotel has been beta testing a web-based PMS called MyHMS since September, but the road to releasing the application began two years ago. Specifically, AMSI began the coding of the first version of the software back in early 2001 and released it in June of that year. However, the basic architecture of the system was upgraded in March of 2002 and by September the new version was ready for beta testing. As an addition to the completed application two new tools were added in late January 2002, a two-way interface between the CRS and the PMS as well as a credit card interface. “We at the hotel have been using the software since September 2002,” said Noemi Mendez, front desk office manager of the Hotel La Rose. “From our perspective, we’ve noticed that the software is very easy to use. It’s like surfing the web, where you just point and click to perform most of the functions, which makes it very easy for us to train new staff on our end,” she said. “The system also makes it easy for us to get contracted rates. Once we enter a company affiliation the discounted rate from our site automatically comes up because this application takes it directly from our site without us having to remember it or in any way cross reference the two platforms before completing a reservation,” Mendez said. The software is a web-based platform that is not specialized on the client’s side, which makes it possible for the client to access their system anytime via the Internet or with a laptop PC if the hotel’s system goes down for any reason, said Evan Neumann, CEO of AMSI. It also relies heavily on guest history. “While entering a reservation the hotel employee enters the dates of the stay, any travel affiliations involved in the transaction, how the customer found out about the hotel and how many people are expected to stay,” Neumann said. “Based on the information provided, the software calculates the room rate automatically, which makes it possible for the hotel to offer a variety of room rates for different situations,” he said. “At the same time, the program allows the hotel to collect stay history on each customer that has stayed at their hotel or at one of their member hotels,” Neumann said. “In addition, the software has the basics of a property management system as well.” The software uses a monthly updated database from the International Airlines Travel Agent Network. One advantage to this function is that all needed travel agent contact information is already loaded in the system. A further convenience the system offers the hotelier is that it makes credit card transactions easier and more cost-effective. The interface makes it possible for the software to capture a swipe rate, which allows the hotelier to save on credit card processing fees each month. Hoteliers also save money on tech support because AMSI takes responsibility for any and all system problems. And the Hotel La Rose is giving it high marks. “Prior to using this application, we went through two other PMS systems,” said Mendez. “In dealing with this software, we’ve noticed that there was no down time, which was a big problem with the other PMS systems we used in the past,” she said. “In addition, it’s reduced the expenses that we had to pay in the past to get in a computer specialist on our end,” Mendez said. “We also expect to save at least $50 a month in processing fees with the credit card interface.” Currently, the Hotel La Rose is the only hotel on the system. Going forward, AMSI will market the program through industry partners. As an example, the company has aligned itself with Booking Center and is seeking further alliances, according to Neumann.
