John Springer-Miller Named to IHT Hall of Fame

Changed the Face of Hospitality Technology by Creating a Guest-centric Approach to Software

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. October 14, 2008

AUSTIN, TX, May 24, 2007. With the creation of SMS | Host, a property management system that integrates guest services, John Springer-Miller changed the face of hospitality technology by creating a guest-centric approach to software. For his contributions to the hospitality industry, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP(R)) will induct Springer-Miller into the International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame at the 2007 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC(R)) Opening Session on Tuesday, June 26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

"The Hall of Fame is, perhaps, the greatest honor one can receive in this industry," said Springer-Miller. "I am honored to be recognized on the same level as the previous Hall of Fame inductees."

John Springer-Miller Springer-Miller is CEO of PAR Springer-Miller Systems (SMS), which he founded in 1984. Springer-Miller saw a void in property management systems in the hospitality industry and felt a need to fill it by providing software that is customer oriented and allows properties to collect detailed information to enhance the guest experience. This software, SMS | Host, was created in 1986 and was nationally launched at HITEC in 1989.

Thanks to SMS | Host software, hotels are able to save customer preference information for future visits and increase time management by providing a one-stop shop. Guests can call the hotel, and with a single point of contact, make hotel reservations, set a spa appointment, reserve a golf tee time, book a dinner reservation, inform the hotel about any special needs and more.

"Being the founder and continuing leading light of a highly successful, international hospitality property management system vendor for over 20 years is worthy in itself," said Jon Inge, CHTP, ISHC, president of Jon Inge & Associates and 2006 Hall of Fame inductee. "However, his impact has been the more significant for his focus on producing a highly-integrated product focused on the resort market."

"Another visionary concept that Springer-Miller brought to our industry was the users group. Most software companies have a users group, however, he felt that the users group should be owned and operated by the users' not the software company. Springer-Miller helped organize the Hosts User Group which is owned, operated and managed by the users and welcomes this group's voice in steering the direction of the software," said Terry Price, CHAE, CHTP, CPA, executive IT manager at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa and secretary of the HFTP international board. "The success of this venture is self-evident in that many companies are trying to replicate this model."

In 2004, SMS was acquired by Par Technology Corporation to become PAR Springer-Miller Systems. Currently there are five offices around the world in Stowe, Vt., Las Vegas, Nev., London, Toronto and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame is HFTP's highest level of recognition in the area of technology. Since its inception in 1989, 28 individuals have received this award as a reflection of their contributions to the hospitality industry. Hall of Fame members have been selected by their peers as representing the best in innovation and application and as leaders in their profession.

Technology Hall of Fame members include such industry pioneers as: Robert S. Bennett; David Berkus; Richard Brooks, CHA; John D. Burns, CHA; Dave Burroughs; John Cahill, CHTP, CHA; Thomas Castleberry; Larry Chervenak, CHAE; John Davis III; Raymond C. Ellis, Jr., CHTP, CHE, CLSD; Scott Heintzeman; Robert Horgan; Ted Horner; Jon Inge, CHTP, ISHC; Michael Kasavana, Ph.D., CHTP; Carrol Lund; Richard Moore, CDP; Jack Morgan; Richard Nauman; William Oates; Eric Orkin; Raymond Schultz; Penelope Sellers; Jules Sieburgh, CHTP; Richard Siegel; Sal Spano, CHAE, CHA; James Yoakum; and George Zugmier.

Nominations were solicited earlier this year from industry press, current Hall of Fame members, industry association executives and HFTP leaders.