Northwind (company)

Northwind

Type	Private
Industry	Software Development
Founded	Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1978
Headquarters	Markham, Ontario, Canada
Key people	Jacob Dehan, Warren Dehan
Website	Northwind

Northwind is a privately held company that develops property management systems, as well as GDS/web based booking solutions for the hospitality industry. Maestro Enterprise Suite, the company's flagship product, includes a variety of modules which can be coordinated to comply with a hotel or hotel chain's requirements. Maestro is a multi-platform system, with over 10,000 users,^[1] allowing for optimized adaptibility to single or multi-property businesses.^[2] Northwind's headquarters are based in Markham, Ontario, with sales and support offices located worldwide.^[3]

History

• 1978 - Company formed to respond to the need for custom software development ^[4]
• 1979 - Custom development of back office accounting, travel agency commission payables, and guest history management for a major Canadian hotel chain
• 1980 - Ongoing development of various custom software modules in a mini computer environment
• 1982 - Begin development of UNIX based hotel property management system (PMS)
• 1983 - Development of Telephone Answering Services Management software
• 1984 - Computerized Hospitality Solutions (CHS) Front Office successfully introduced to the market
• 1986 - Decision to focus strictly on hospitality and retire non-hotel software
• 1989 - U.S. sales office established in Florida.
• 1992 - Begin development of UNIX and Windows version of new client/server PMS “CHS2000”
• 1994 - CHS2000 Version 1 successfully introduced to the market
• 1994 - First installation of CHS2000 Windows PMS
• 1997 - Yield management functionality implemented as an integrated component of CHS2000
• 1999 - CHS legacy software retired, existing clients offered free upgrade to Maestro
• 1999 - CHS2000 redesigned and deployed as Maestro PMS
• 2000 - Spa & Activities Management module developed for resort operations
• 2001 - Shuttle Services Management module developed
• 2002 - Extended Stay Management enhancements added to PMS
• 2002 - Maestro Enterprise Multi-Property deployed
• 2003 - Enhanced service initiative (Diamond Plus) deployed to all Maestro users
• 2003 - Development of condominium owner accounting module
• 2003 - ResEze real-time fully integrated Web Booking Engine introduced
• 2004 - Added ASP Citrix & Terminal Services based support
• 2005 - Enhanced security features including credit card masking and database encryption added for PCI compliance
• 2006 - Enhanced Spa & Activities Management, Retail POS, and interfaces including 2-way GDS/OTA, 2-way Yield management
• 2006 - Added Fine Dining POS, Club Membership and Golf Scheduling Modules
• 2007 - Integrated Member Management system introduced
• 2007 - Table Reservations with On-line functionality introduced
• 2008 - ResWave Booking Engine extends functionality of online presence for clients
• 2008 - Maestro Users Group is formed to promote client collaboration
• 2008 - Diamond Plus Service expanded to include free On-Demand Live Training and Beginners Education program, Web Connection initiative of online features & functions deployed
• 2010 - Launches Maestro Self-Service Touch Screen Kiosk, fully tokenized interface for payment card processing & Maestro PMS Certified for PCI Compliancy, PA-DSS Standards
• 2011 - Integrated online property based member Loyalty Program, handheld checkin/checkout support
• 2012 - Online loyalty program integration
• 2013 - Introduction of self serve eLearning website for Maestro PMS users
• 2014 - Introduction of Maestro Web, a browser based, feature equivalent version of Maestro PMS
• 2014 - EMV credit card support added (Chip and Pin) for secure credit card payments
• 2015 - Mobile tools added including housekeeping, online check in, and tablet based folio display

Products & services

Maestro Enterprise Suite

The Maestro Enterprise Suite is a sophisticated property management system used by single and multi-property hotel groups to share information between all branches of an operation, allowing for total network control. The Maestro Enterprise Suite has the following modules:

• Maestro Property Management Suite
• Maestro Sales & Catering Suite
• Maestro Multi-Property Suite
• Maestro Corporate Enterprise Suite

ResWave

ResWave is Northwind's real-time, on-line web booking suite, allowing package customization of guest services such as room, spa, dining & event reservations, and group management.

Diamond Plus

Diamond Plus is a support service initiative provided by Northwind to its clients. The service includes access to a 24/7 support center, remote training facilities for clients, software customization, and access to self-serve web training and documentation.

Executives

• Jacob Dehan - Founder & CEO
• Warren Dehan - President

References

1. http://www.capterra.com/infographics/top-hospitality-property-management-software
2. Maestro Enterprise Suite Leverages Strong Functionality for Multi-Property Operating Companies, Delivers Centralized Management, Cross-Selling, CRM Advantages. April 22, 2003
3. NORTHWIND Maestro Continues Expansion to Maximize Services, Global Headquarters Moves to Larger Offices. November 5, 2008
4. Maestro Property Solutions. 2008