Agenda
Monday, November 4th
**Session times and topics are subject to change**
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM (CST)
Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Housekeeping Basics
This integrated module makes managing daily housekeeping and room statuses a breeze. With the Housekeeping feature in SMS|Host and SMS|Host Anywhere, you’ll be able to streamline your operations and keep your hotel in tip-top shape. Whether you’re new to the system or just need a refresher, we’ve got you covered with helpful tips and tricks.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Host Basics
For those Users new to SMS|Host, this session will provide a high-level review of functionality available in this robust system and offer how-to’s for some of the most common functions.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Group Basics
This session covers the fundamentals of managing groups in SMS|Host, as well as tips to make your experience as easy as possible. Whether you’re new to the system, new to managing groups or just need a refresher on how to effectively and efficiently manage groups, this session is for you.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Accounting Fundamentals
For Accounting and Back Office users, this session will cover the basics and review best practices for SMSlHost with useful reports and resources.
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM (CST)
HUG Board Welcome
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM (CST)
Morning Break
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Rates & Packages I
Your complete guide to Rates and Packages is within this multi-day series. Each session is hands-on and builds upon the previous session so you are fully trained on all aspects of rates including new functionality in the latest version of SMS|Host. In this first session, we’ll delve into the basics. You’ll learn about the rate header, and how to create a basic rate with a flat amount. We’ll also cover simple calendars and how to use them to set up your rates. By the end of this class, you’ll have a solid foundation for creating and managing rates in SMS|Host.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Correspondence
In this How-To course, we will explore the configuration of Correspondence including the building of Letter templates including HTML, generating batch mail, archiving statements and appending folios & other attachments..
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Self Site Audit I
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CST)
Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (CST)
New Features & Roadmap
This session is a highly anticipated annual tradition that will showcase all the latest features in the most recent releases of SMS|Host, along with an update of the latest integrations and interface. Attendees can expect to see valuable enhancements and also get a sneak peek of the product roadmap. It’s important to note that this is not an in-depth training session, rather an overview of the enhancements and new functionality.
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM (CST)
Afternoon Break
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
TBD - Open Session
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Support Yourself: IT Toolkit
What things can you troubleshoot on your own prior to contacting the SMS support team? During this session, you will gain valuable insights on how to assist SMS Support in resolving your cases swiftly and effectively. We will discuss the most effective means of contacting Support, the best ways of providing information to promptly close cases and some beneficial tips and tricks to guarantee that we have all the essential details to provide you with the best possible assistance.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Owner Accounting
In this session, we will explore the various Owner Fulfillment functionalities available to you, which can help streamline the management of your properties. By the end of this session, you will better understand how to optimize your operations and take advantage of the available tools to ensure that your properties are managed successfully using the various features and enhancements of the Owner Fulfillment module.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Jonas Unify
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Resort Scheduling
Resort Scheduling is so much more than just a spa management module. Join this class to see different revenue centers in action and learn how you can employ this powerful module across your resort for activities from four-wheeler and Segway rentals to 5-stand shooting and more.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Manage Cancelations - SMS Policy Setup
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
World Nxt: Owner Portal
Property owners have access to an owner’s portal that simplifies their lives. They can view and book reservations, access financial statements, work order invoices, and more in one convenient location. Managing their property becomes effortless with the ability to optimize practices for success.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Managing Customer Relations Through Social and Review Sites / Loyalty
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (CST)
Cocktail Reception
Tuesday, November 5th
**Session times and topics are subject to change**
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM (CST)
Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Advanced Housekeeping
Our session will cover a comprehensive analysis of Housekeeping management, including the interconnection of all the different components. We will delve into topics such as how to configure and set up your system, code statuses and services, design and implement patterns, calculate multipliers, establish teams and individual accounts, manage housekeeper accounts, auto-manage and manually map zones, set default zone sheet parameters, input pricing details, post updates to guests and/or owners, handle out-of-order management, perform forecasting, generate reports and much more. By the end of this session, you will have gained valuable insights into optimizing your Housekeeping management practices and utilizing various tools to your advantage.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Front Desk Fundamentals
Training Front Desk Agents is more than just learning the technology. This discussion will focus on key strategies we can impart on our front line to make sure that every guest interaction is a memorable one.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Advanced Groups
Now that you’ve covered the basics, you will learn to use advanced tools and techniques to effectively manage groups in SMS|Host.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Ways to protect yourself from chargebacks
Chargebacks are bound to happen, this session will help to you best prepare a line of defense to win a chargeback case.
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM (CST)
C-Suite
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM (CST)
Morning Break
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Rates & Packages II
In the second session of our Rates & Packages series, we’ll explore more advanced features of SMS|Host rates. We’ll cover using price plans, tier codes, and calendars to build complex rate structures. You’ll also learn how to create package items, which can bundle multiple rates together. By the end of this class, you’ll be able to create sophisticated rate structures that meet the needs of your business.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Reporting
This course will provide a comprehensive exploration of SMS|Host reporting. Throughout the program, we will cover essential topics such as creating report parameters, managing report batches and sending reports via email. Additionally, we will examine the most widely used reports and their various applications. By the end of this class, participants will possess a deep understanding of SMS|Host reporting and the necessary skills to efficiently create and manage reports.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Self Site Audit II
A continuation of Self Site Audit I
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CST)
Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM (CST)
Jonas ARC
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM (CST)
Front Desk - Going the extra mile in few steps
Learn simple tasks in SMS|Host that will allow you to wow your guest time and time again. Minimal set up work on the front end allows you to surprise and delight your guest time and time again.
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM (CST)
Sponsor Session
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM (CST)
How to optimize your night audit process
In this session, we will be discussing the configuration of the night audit module. We will cover topics such as setting up automatic reports, reconciling accounts, and managing exceptions. Our goal is to ensure that your night audit process runs smoothly and accurately, allowing you to focus on providing excellent service to your guests. We will also provide tips and best practices for optimizing your night audit configuration, so you can get the most out of this critical module. Join us for an informative and engaging session that will help you streamline your night audit process and improve your overall hotel operations.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
Highlight/Demonstrate All WorldNXT Products | Fuel
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
Emotional IQ - Building a high preforming team
This session will give you tips and tricks to understand your team and best motivate them. By taking small steps in getting to know your team on what excites, stresses and motivates them will help you to build a high preforming team. What motivates one may stress another; understanding what makes your employee “tick” can make managing your team easier on all.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
Short Term Rentals
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
New SMS Reports & Dashboards
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM (CST)
Afternoon Break
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Spa Soft
This session will be an introduction to the SpaSoft product for those who are looking for a new comprehensive spa management solution.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Bridging the Gap: Front Office & Reservations
Front Office & Reservations can often get stuck in a epic cycle of the blame game when it comes to guest satisfaction. This session will allow discussion on how to create a unified alliance between Front Office & Reservations to create a seamless guest experience and a collaborative environment between two team.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Revenue Management with Owners
Who’s the boss? Your Unit Owners or you? This discussion will focus on the challenges you can face when managing pricing and selling strategies for owned rental units, and share some recommendations.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
SQL Conversion Upgrading Host
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Availability
There are many functions within F7 that can be helpful in managing your business, optimizing occupancy and revenue. This session will provide an overview of the options offered within the SMS|Host Availability Menu including the Property Snapshot, Tape Chart, Extended Availability, Waitlist Fulfillment and others.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Bridging the Gap: Front Office and Housekeeping
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Values of an RMS
What is an RMS and how can it help you?. Talk to those who have found success in utilizing and RMS and how they have found value in all that an RMS has to offer.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Building your Emergency Plan for the WCS
What constitutes an emergency is wide and varied (hurricane, tornado, flood, cyber-attack, fire, crime) but every property should know HOW to prepare and how to execute an emergency response plan. We’ll share what we’ve learned over the years and attendees will leave the session with a draft of an emergency response manual as it relates to SMS|Host’s SOPs.
Wednesday, November 6th
**Session times and topics are subject to change**
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM (CST)
Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Aligning Operations with Work Order Management: Housekeeping, Front Desk & Maintenance
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Customer Community / Helpsite
In this session, you will gain valuable insights on how to make the most out of Springboard, SMS’s online training tool. You will learn various techniques and methods to optimize your learning experience and make sure you are getting the most out of the available resources. Additionally, this session will help you understand how to effectively use the online Customer Community tool for educational and networking purposes. You will learn about the different features of the tool and how to leverage it to connect with other professionals in your industry and expand your knowledge base.
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Channel Manager
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM (CST)
Folio Management
Folios can get tricky and at times be difficult for you and your guest to understand. This class will take you through the basics of managing folios in SMS|Host, including new functionality, tips and tricks.
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM (CST)
Keynote from SMS - 2025 Location Announcement
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM (CST)
Morning Break
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Rates & Packages III - Package Theory
In our final Rates & Packages session, we’ll dive into the world of package breakage. You’ll learn about the components of packages and how to build and configure them in SMS|Host. We’ll also review the full lifecycle of a reservation, from check-in to check-out, and examine how postings hit the folio. By the end of this class, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how to manage packages and reservations in SMS|Host
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Alerts & Bulletins
One of the most useful features in the smsIHost System, Alerts & Bulletins allow you to notify people about changes in the status of guests, reservations, activities and more. This session will show you how to get this functionality up and running at your property.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
Bootcamp: Self Site Audit III
A continuation of Self Site Audit II
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (CST)
Lunch Break
1:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
Revenue Roundtable
Discuss current topics in revenue management for creating a strategic analytical culture in your organization and explore ideas for developing a more expansive view of revenue beyond rooms..
1:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
IT Roundtable
Always a lively and interesting discussion, in this session IT professionals exchange knowledge and experiences related to the use of SMS solutions.
1:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
Recreation Management Roundtable
1:00 PM – 2:45 PM (CST)
Operation Management Roundtable
Join us in discussing topics related to Operations at this round table discussion sure to have engaging and thought provoking topics.
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM (CST)
Afternoon Break
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Sponsor Session
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Golf Tee Times
In this beginner-friendly session, we will be teaching hotel workers how to successfully book tee times using Host v. WorldNXT Tee Times. We will cover how to adjust tee times to ensure a smooth experience for guests, as well as how to display tee times on an itinerary for lodging staff. By the end of this class, you will have the skills to confidently assist guests with their golfing needs, and elevate their overall experience at your establishment. Join us and become a pro at golf software!
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
System Admin | Spring Cleaning
Whether your property has been installed for 1 year or 30, you should have strategies in place to ensure that your system and data are up-to-date and accurate. Join your fellow User’s in a discussion of best practices for making sure your system is free of cobwebs
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Charge Routing
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Upgrades and Upsells
Upsells can transform the guest experience from good to great and leave a lasting impression. They are often an overlooked but highly valuable component of a hotel’s Revenue Management and Guest Experience strategy. In this session, we will explore ways to promote upsells as a revenue tactic and how to leverage SMS|Host for that purpose.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Unit Usage Rotation for both Owner and Non-Owner Prop
We all have our favorite unit within our property portfolio but we want to ensure they are all getting their fair share of use. SMS provides the functionality you need to ensure unit usage is fair and this session will show you how to use it effectively.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Spotlight 2025 Property / Prepping for 2025 Conf
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM (CST)
Teres
The Teres Point-of-Sale system offers both F&B and Retail capabilities fully integrated with your SMS|Host system. This session will provide an overview of this flexible POS solution.
6:30 PM – 12:00 AM (CST)
SMS Costume Party
2024 Theme: will be announced by SMS at a later date.
