RDP Customer Conference - September 10-13, 2007

This session covers the new PCI Credit Card Compliance requirements and related changes to the RDP system.   Topics include:     

Ø  Four levels of credit card security available from RDP.

Ø  Who is allowed to see the full credit card number?

Ø  Turning on credit card data encryption

Ø  Data retention policy – how long should credit card numbers be retained?

Ø  Credit card issues for RDP-DOS, Internet reservations (IRM), and RDPWin.

Ø  Southern DataComm (SDC) and PCI Compliance 

Every RDP customer must carefully examine the full "Visa Compliance Validation" requirements.  It is the responsibility of each customer to assure full PCI compliance.  RDP IS NOT LIABLE for damages or fines related to any level of credit card security.  RDP offers no assistance, guarantees, or advice regarding PCI compliance, and cannot be held liable for any damages resulting from customer failure to comply with full PCI compliance standards. 

Travel Insurance & services can be sold directly from RDPWin!

RDP has partnered with AIG Travel Guard (1-877-387-2835) to allow our customers to easily sell travel insurance and services to guests and receive significant additional revenue.  This class provides the opportunity to learn how to expand beyond lodging by marketing a range of insurance services as well as travel and activities. With travel services the lodging reservation is just a part of the overall vacation and can add to your revenue stream.

Each year at the conference there are a variety of third party vendors present who offer services related to the RDP system.  This session is designed to allow some of these vendors to present an overview of their products.  The speaker list has not been finalized but may include: 

The reception and banquet have always been a highlight of the RDP Customer Conference.  The evening begins with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. The Conference location offers spectacular views of the mountains and dinner is first class.  Vegetarian meals are available upon advance request.

All RDP personnel attend the reception, providing ample opportunity for personal discussion.  In addition, the reception is an excellent, informal environment for customers to swap tips and exchange ideas.  In years past, when the dinner has ended, the RDP group has walked into Vail Village to enjoy the nightlife and dancing.  The price of the banquet for one person is included with each Conference ticket.  Additional guests are $100.

RDP's computer lab has proven to be very popular in the past.  The lab provides workstations to experiment with new features presented during sessions.  RDP support and programming personnel staff the lab to answer questions.  RDPWin, Crystal Reports, Internet Reservation Module (IRM.Net), and RDP-DOS are all available for use.  The use of the computer lab is included as part of the Customer Conference package.

To thank you for helping RDP meet our room block requirements, we are also offering a free one-hour consulting session to all customers who stay at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort.  These consulting sessions will be held in a private section of the computer lab.

This session provides an overview of the reservation, front desk, and group procedures using the RDPWin system.   

RDP has significantly improved the housekeeping capabilities of the system, including features for housekeeping forecast, daily scheduling, and history.  This session will cover the following topics:

 Ø  Forecasting the Number of Housekeepers for Future Days

Ø  Automatic Assignment of Housekeepers Each Day, With Printed Daily Schedules

Ø  Change Room Status from Dirty to “Ready For Inspection” to “Clean and Ready” from Room Phone

Ø  Windows Based Monitor Screen to Track Cleaning and Inspection Progress as Rooms Are Cleaned

Ø  Track the Time it Takes to Clean Each Room Using the Phone in the Room

Ø  Guest Requests to Housekeeping Can Be Entered from Front Desk (Put More Towels in Room 101)

Ø  Different “Clean Types” Available for Each Guest Room (i.e. Checkout Only Clean or Daily Clean)

Ø  Overview of All Crystal Reports Available for Housekeeping

Ø  Housekeeping History and Tracking (Estimated Clean Time Versus Actual Clean Time, etc.)

This session will cover the “Work Order and Asset Management" module, based on RDPWin technology.  The module is designed to automate the process of entering and completing a work order request, as well as to track all equipment, vehicles, room inventory, and assets.  A Work Order Monitor screen is available to show the current status of all work orders, and it auto-refreshes as new work orders are added and existing work orders are edited or completed.  Work orders are fully integrated with the front desk and all other RDP modules.  This session will cover the following topics:

   Ø  Overview of Work Orders and Asset Management

Ø  Tracking Open Work Orders with On-Line Monitor Screen

Ø  Entering Work Orders from the Front Desk (Fix the TV in Room 101)

Ø  Automatic Notification to Maintenance of New Work Orders via Text e-mail to Cell Phone or Wireless PDA

Ø  Vacation Rental and Condo-Hotel: Billing Work orders to Owners

Ø  Prioritize Work Orders (i.e., “Critical – Must Fix the Conference Room Project by 3:00 p.m. Today)

Ø  Track All Assets in Each Room (i.e. TV, Coffee Maker, Mini-Fridge, etc.)

Ø  Track All Equipment on Property (Vans, Pool Heaters, Projectors, etc.)

Ø  Monitor Tasks for Non-Maintenance Personnel (Have Housekeeping Put a Roll Away in Room 102)

Ø  Coming soon:  Integrated Accounts Payable to Pay Outside Vendors Who Execute Work Orders

Ø  Work Orders Fully Integrates with RDP Sub-Ledger and Your General Ledger

The RDP system is a wonderful tool to help increase revenue.  Topics in this session include:

Ø  Effectively using Yield Management

Ø  Increase Revenue with Guest Itinerary and Selling Guest Services

Ø  Using e-mail databases for guests, travel agents, groups

Ø  Improving Guest E-mail Confirmations – Pictures, logos, fonts, maps, etc..

Ø  Increase traffic to commission free Internet Reservation Module (IRM.Net)

Ø  RDP Revenue Analysis Reports

Ø  Using the Global Distribution System

Ø  Sell guests additional housekeeping services

Customers looking for detailed Crystal Reports training to improve guest confirmations and mass e-mails should plan on attending the optional two-day Crystal Reports Certification class held Friday 9/7/07 & Saturday 9/8/07 at RDP’s Corporate Training Center. For additional information on this two-day class, please click here.

RDP was founded in 1981 to develop software for Vacation Rentals, Timeshare Resorts, and Condo-Hotels.  We now have 26 years experience with the complex world of reservations and owner trust accounting.  This session will provide training on the RDPWin features related to vacation rentals, condo-hotel, and timeshare customers.  We will also provide time to discuss enhancement requests for these products.  Topics include:

Ø  Much faster Tape Chart including guest names

Ø  Multiple pictures for each rental unit

Ø  Complete inventory of all items in each unit

Ø  Work orders integrated to owner statement

Ø  Timeshare Point Systems

Ø  Paying Bills for Owners

Ø  Guest of Owner Reservation on Internet

Ø  Trust Accounting balancing screen

Ø  Newsletters via e-mail in Word or Adobe Format

Ø  Collecting and tracking security deposit

Ø  Housekeeping Scheduling for Owners

Ø  Owners can view statements on Internet

Ø  Owners payments via IRM.Net

Ø  Paying Vendors for work orders & Charge Owner

Ø  Managing units not in the Rental Program

Ø  New Reports showing owner revenue

 This session provides a management overview of the critical factors required to optimize system performance, including:

Ø  Windows 2000/2003 Server requirements

Ø  Which workstation CPU to use, running at what speed (Mhz)?

Ø  How much RAM memory is enough?

Ø  What is a gigabit network and why do I want one?

Ø  The enormous cost to keeping old workstations (or old cars!)

Ø  Pervasive Database – what version is right for me?

Ø  Improve performance by purging historical data

Ø  RDPWin Version 2.0 – faster data access for all workstations

Ø  Overview of Microsoft Vista – do I need it?

Ø  How fast is fast enough

Ø  Using Citrix or Terminal Services for Remote Workstations

Ø  Performance difference between RDPWin and legacy RDP-DOS

 It is often possible to increase system performance dramatically by making small changes to your operating environment.  Come to this session and find out how!

This session will cover the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module that is similar to an airline frequent-flyer program.  All guest visits are tracked from one or more RDP systems, providing one database for marketing, no matter how many RDP systems you own.  Points can be awarded for each reservation.  The number of points can be different for all seasons, room types, total dollars spent, and other variables.   Guests can make reservations and redeem their points.  Restrictions can be applied to control when points can be redeemed.   A complete tracking system of all points awarded and redeemed is included.

For a sample from Couples Resort in Jamaica, see:  http://couples.com/romancerewards/.

Back office accounting is one of the most important functions at any property.  All financial activity from reservations, front desk, night audit, travel agents, group masters, owners, etc. flows to the back office.  This session is designed for all RDP customers and provides an overview to RDP's approach to back office accounting, including:  

The software world is constantly changing.  In order to make sure RDP's products remain the industry leader we continually improve our existing products and create new modules.  Resort Data Processing develops new features and modules with the help of our customers.  Many features requested during this session are implemented very quickly.   Please attend in order to have “your voice heard” when it comes to allocating research and development resources in the coming year.

The final event of the 2007 Customer Conference is an informal BBQ at RDP's Corporate Headquarters, located in Eagle-Vail, just 5 miles west of Vail.  For those customers without transportation, we will arrange it for you.  The good food and company compliment the beautiful views of the mountains.  Drinks, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, vegetarian alternatives, and all the trimmings will be provided. The BBQ provides an excellent opportunity for our customers to interact with each other and RDP staff in a relaxed environment.  The price of the BBQ for one person is included with each Conference ticket.  Additional guests are $30.

This optional class is designed for customers still using RDP-DOS for reservations and front desk who wish to convert to RDPWin in the near future.  This is a detailed, hands-on, two-day training class at RDP’s Corporate Training Center that builds on the material presented during the conference.   All RDP-DOS customers must complete this class or purchase on-site RDP installation assistance to start using RDPWin.  Topics include:

Ø  System overview – using grids, tables, links, etc.

Ø  Configuration options – cancellation policies, deposit policies

Ø  Making a new reservation including yield management, reservation quotes

Ø  Front desk functions – check-in and check-out

Ø  Travel Agents, Groups, and Group Leaders

Ø  Guest itinerary and selling Travel Services, including travel insurance

Ø  Issues related to condominium owners and timeshare resorts will be presented as a “break out” class so that hotel-only customers can learn other functions during this time.

Ø  Entering and reviewing guest related work orders from the front desk

Ø  Housekeeping issues – finding “clean and ready” rooms

Ø  New Crystal Reports released with RDPWin

This is an optional class not included in the Customer Conference package price.  The total cost for this two-day class is $500 –  RDP encourages early enrollment for this two-day course.  In order to maximize the effectiveness of the course, enrollment is limited to the first 20 customers.