CHICAGO, IL and LAS VEGAS, NV–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) –  Gaming Standards Association (GSA) and Hotel Technology Next Generation (HTNG) announced their intention to launch a coordinated standards development effort to integrate customer information across a variety of hotel and gaming systems. The objective is to enable existing systems to link together to provide a completely integrated view of each customer from across the entire operation, including the customer’s profile, their future itineraries, and past spending. Systems within the project scope include Property Management, Point-of-Sale, Player Tracking, Spa, Concierge, Show Ticketing, and other activities systems.

The effort will build upon and expand successful past efforts by GSA and HTNG in their respective arenas. HTNG’s Single Guest Itinerary specification, which synchronizes customer records and itineraries across various hotel and resort systems, will be expanded to incorporate gaming activities. Elements of both HTNG’s and GSA’s customer profile are expected to be incorporated in a new, common profile format. The group will add historical spending activity to the structure so that hotel and casino staff can see a complete view of the value of the guest. Implementation will occur through modest upgrades to existing systems, allowing hotels and casinos to avoid the expense and disruption of totally new systems.

The effort will kick off at a meeting on October 6, 2010, in Las Vegas, hosted by MGM Resorts International at MGM’s Excalibur hotel. Interested hotels, casinos, and technology providers are welcome to attend. GSA and HTNG leadership will discuss the goals for this effort, seek directional input and commitment from key industry players, and begin laying out the general development plan. The project will be executed within each organization’s existing structure, but with consultation and agreement on shared elements. HTNG will take the lead on hotel/resort functionality, while GSA will do so for player tracking. Shared elements such as the customer profile will be negotiated jointly. HTNG will also coordinate with OpenTravel Alliance to ensure long-term consistency for the elements of the project where OpenTravel Alliance standards exist, such as customer profile definition.

“MGM Resorts is pleased to see the capabilities of these two important organizations coordinating on this effort,” said Scot Campbell, CIO of MGM Resorts International. “We, and indeed the entire hospitality industry, expect to gain a much clearer picture of the guests in our hotels and casinos, while our staff in each department can continue using the systems with which they are already most comfortable.” Campbell is a current board member of HTNG and a past board member of GSA.

A number of technology companies have been involved in early discussions and indicated their intention to participate actively, including:

• Agilysys
• AMX
• Bally Technologies, Inc.
• GoConcierge.net
• Konami Gaming, Inc.
• International Game Technology (IGT)
• MICROS Systems, Inc.
• Oracle Corp.

Hotels, casinos, resorts, and technology providers alike can benefit from getting involved in these foundational efforts. Those interested in participating can register now to attend the October 6 meeting at either GSA’s Meetings and Events page or at HTNG’s Prospective Workgroup page.

Membership in GSA or HTNG is not required in order to attend the initial directional meeting, but will be needed for ongoing participation. The associations reserve the right to limit attendance at the kickoff meeting.

About Gaming Standards Association

The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that creates benefits for gaming manufacturers, suppliers, operators and regulators. We facilitate the identification, definition, development, promotion, and implementation of open standards to enable innovation, education, and communication for the benefit of the entire industry. Established in 1998, GSA’s members represent a wide cross section of the global gaming industry. Follow GSA on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

GSA’s Game to System (G2S) Protocol has been named “Best Productivity-Enhancement Technology” by Global Gaming Business Magazine; one of Casino Journal magazine’s “Top 3 Most Innovative Products”; and one of Casino Enterprise Management’s “Top 10 Slot Floor Technologies.”

Platinum members include AMX; Aristocrat Technologies Inc.; Bally Technologies, Inc. (BYI); International Game Technology (IGT); Konami Gaming Inc.; MEI; Seminole Tribe of Florida; SPIELO (an affiliate of GTECH LTO.MI); Techlink Entertainment International Ltd. and WMS Gaming Inc. (WMS). Other members include: 3M Touch Systems (MMM); Ainsworth Game Technology, Ltd.; Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission; American Gaming Systems; Ameristar Casinos, Inc.; Aruze Gaming America, Inc.; Atlantic Lottery Corporation; Atronic Americas LLC; Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH; BMM Compliance; BCLC; Cadillac Jack; CashCode Company Inc.; Codere, S.A.; De Vocht Expert Services; DigiTech Systems Co., Ltd.; DR Gaming Technology Europe nv; European Casino Association; FutureLogic, Inc; GameTech International; Gaming Laboratories International, LLC; Gaming Technologies Association; GGS-US LTD; Grand Vision Gaming, LLC; Harrah’s Entertainment; HERMES SoftLab; International Games System Co., Ltd; Intralot S.A. (INLr.AT); Loto-Quebec; Macao Polytechnic Institute; Manitoba Lotteries Corp.; Money Controls; MotorCity Casino; Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL); Nanoptix, Inc.; NCR Corporation (NCR); New Wave Automation; Nick Farley & Associates; NRT Technology Corporation; Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation; Oregon Lottery; QALab; Penn National Gaming, Inc.; Scientific Games (SGMS); Shuffle Master, Inc. (SHFL); SIQ; Technical Systems Testing; Transact Technologies (TACT); UNLV International Gaming Institute; Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.; WCLC Sask VLT Division; Western Money Systems. For more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com.

About Hotel Technology Next Generation

The premier technology solutions association in the hospitality industry, HTNG is a self-funded, non-profit organization with members from hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, and other industry members including consultants, media, and academic experts. HTNG’s members participate in focused workgroups to bring to market open solution sets addressing specific business problems. HTNG fosters the selection and adoption of existing open standards. Where necessary, it also develops new open standards to meet the needs of the global hospitality industry.

Membership in HTNG is open to hotel and hospitality companies, technology vendors to hospitality, consultants, academics, press and others. Currently more than 400 corporate and individual members from across this spectrum, including most of the world’s leading hotel companies and technology vendors, are active HTNG participants. HTNG’s Board of Directors alone represents more than 2.3 million guest rooms. Workgroup proceedings, drafts, and specifications are published for all HTNG members as soon as they are created, encouraging rapid and broad adoption. Specifications are released to the public domain as they are ratified by the workgroup. For more information, visit www.htng.org.

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