News Briefs

Toast has signed an agreement with Ascent Hospitality Management to implement Toast Enterprise Solutions at Perkins American Food Co. and Huddle House initially across 500 restaurant locations. In addition to Toast point-of-sale (POS) terminals, both Perkins and Huddle House will use Toast Go mobile handheld devices, KDS, and Toast’s Restaurant Management Suite Enterprise.

Ascent Hospitality Management is focused on invigorating leading brands and positioning them for the future. To help support the company’s plans for Perkins and Huddle House to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen the guest dining experience, and continue to grow, Ascent sought a modern cloud-based technology partner that could be easily implemented and managed across brands. Ascent also sought an easy-to-use platform that could scale and support future innovation for corporate users, franchisees, and restaurant staff.

“Perkins and Huddle House are proven, full-service brands with rich histories and loyal guest followings. To ensure we are well-positioned to grow for years to come, we need to increase operational efficiency — while maintaining the tradition of quality and service our guests expect from our brands,” said Steve Roach, Chief Technology Officer at Ascent Hospitality Management. “From the start, the Toast team showed their excitement for our vision and demonstrated they could help us achieve it. Our first Perkins location on Toast went live last fall and we are delighted to see more of our restaurants make the transition.”

“We all love the restaurant brands that provide us the same high quality, consistent, welcoming service and meals time and time again. The restaurants that truly stand the test of time are constantly raising the bar for themselves and making improvements in the background, whether it’s adjusting the menu, adapting how they provide hospitality, or what tech partners they use,” said Kelly Esten, Chief Marketing Officer at Toast. “Toast is delighted to partner with Perkins and Huddle House as they plan for a bright future of serving their many loyal guests for years to come.”

Toast currently serves hundreds of multi-unit brands, including Caribou Coffee, Choice Hotels, Craveworthy Brands, WaBa Grill, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Papa Gino's & D'Angelo, Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill, and The Human Bean, among others

XTM, a fintech innovator specializing in payment solutions for the hospitality industry, reports a surge in inbound interest for its AnyDay™ Earned Wage Access (EWA) platform and instant tip-out calculator solution. This interest follows President Trump’s recent commitment to eliminate taxes on tips, a policy that could significantly impact the hospitality sector.

Currently, XTM moves hundreds of millions of dollars in instant payments annually for restaurants, hotels, casinos, salons, and golf clubs across the U.S. and Canada. Its fully owned and SAP-certified issuing processor, combined with AnyDay’s real-time gratuity and Earned Wage Access technology, delivers a reliable, safe and seamless payment solution that thousands of hospitality businesses and workers rely on daily.

Speaking at a Las Vegas casino, President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to tax relief for service industry workers.

“If you’re a restaurant worker, a server, a valet, a bellhop, a bartender, or one of my caddies, your tips will be 100% yours. In the coming weeks, I’ll be working with Congress to get a bill on my desk that cuts taxes for workers, families, and small businesses—and, very importantly, keeps my promise,” said Trump. “We’re gonna get it for you—no tax on tips.”

The policy change would mean employers are no longer required to withhold taxes on tips, removing a major administrative burden. XTM’s AnyDay™ platform offers a ready-made solution for businesses seeking to transition to a daily, tax-free tip payout system. With real-time tip pooling and instant payments, AnyDay™ enables employers to enhance recruitment and retention by ensuring service workers receive their tips instantly, at the end of each shift.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of December 2023, 16.82 million people were employed in the U.S. hospitality and leisure industry. Median pay for full-service restaurant workers had risen to $23.88 per hour (including tips and base wages) by September 2024, reflecting a 28% increase since January 2020 (Source: ADP Research).

GRUBBRR is putting its money where its tech is with its GRUBBRR Guarantee.

The provider of self-ordering technology and automation solutions is offering a guarantee on the return on investment (ROI) of its solutions. GRUBBRR is so confident in the power of its technology to deliver positive results that it's willing to back it up with a guarantee: Sign up for GRUBBRR’s services before May 1, and the company will GUARANTEE an ROI. During any month in which GRUBBRR's solutions do not generate an ROI, your Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) fee for that month will be waived.

How It Works

• Sign-Up Deadline: Register for GRUBBRR's services by May 1, to qualify for the guarantee.
• Guarantee Activation: The GRUBBRR Guarantee takes effect after your first three (3) months of service.
• Guaranteed ROI: If GRUBBRR does not generate an ROI during any month, your SaaS fee for that month will be waived.
• Client Requirements: To ensure the success of this initiative, participating clients must share their POS data weekly and implement GRUBBRR’s proven playbook.

“At GRUBBRR, we believe in the transformative impact our technology can have on our clients' businesses,” said Sam Zietz, CEO of GRUBBRR. “Our Guarantee spotlights our confidence in our software as well as our commitment to delivering real results for clients. Our technology is designed to optimize business operations, and our teams are dedicated to ensuring success. We have proven that we have what it takes to help businesses with smoother transactions, while improving the speed of service and customer satisfaction.”

Driving Confidence in Restaurant Technology

The GRUBBRR Guarantee highlights the company's dedication to creating real value for its customers. GRUBBRR's self-ordering kiosks and automation solutions are designed to streamline operations, reduce wait times, increase order accuracy, and ultimately drive higher revenue for businesses in the restaurant industry.

By offering this guarantee, GRUBBRR aims to eliminate the risk for businesses looking to adopt new technology while providing the tools they need to enhance operational efficiency and boost profitability.

While GRUBBRR’s solutions are compatible with a variety of hardware, the Samsung Kiosk stands out as a cutting-edge, all-in-one self-ordering solution. Featuring a 24” high-definition touch screen, QR code/barcode scanner, receipt printer, and an EMV terminal cradle, the Samsung Kiosk powered by GRUBBRR offers a seamless integration of functionality and design, enhancing the customer experience while driving operational efficiency. This collaboration reflects GRUBBRR’s commitment to delivering premium solutions that exceed client expectations.

To learn more about GRUBBRR and their Guarantee, visit GRUBBRR.com.

EVPassport, a provider of enterprise EV charging solutions, and CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, today announced an agreement to provide EV charging solutions, with a focus on multifamily and hospitality properties in North America. Under the agreement, CBRE will support the deployment of over 3,600 EV chargers across more than 600 strategic sites in the United States. This collaboration will enable property owners and operators to provide frictionless charging to residents and tenants.

EV charging continues to be important to real estate end-users. According to CBRE’s 2024 Occupier Sentiment Survey, 54 percent of respondents named EV charging as a key priority in building selection decisions. EVPassport's infrastructure engagement platform will enhance CBRE's existing portfolio of EV charging solutions, and help meet the demand from property managers, owners and occupiers across the nation.

“CBRE and EVPassport share a vision and commitment to high-quality solutions and long-term reliability,” said Robert Rene, Executive Operating Chairman at EVPassport. “We’re delighted to work with CBRE and provide its clients with top-tier EV charging solutions. The EVPassport and CBRE partnership is another exciting step toward expanded EV charging accessibility across the U.S.”

“We are on a mission to deliver a best-in-class EV charging experience to our customers. EVPassport has a strong reputation for its advanced technology and long-term reliability and is fully supported by its institutional capital partner,” said Mark Kerstens, Global Head of EV Charging Solutions at CBRE. “EVPassport’s expertise and commitment to excellence will enable us to meet the growing demand for EV charging infrastructure nationwide.”

EVPassport provides end-to-end EV charging solutions for both enterprise and commercial businesses. The company utilizes an innovative business model that allows customers to choose how to deploy their EV charging infrastructure, whether as an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) model or a more traditional capital expense and support partnership. This contractual flexibility is paired with an advanced technology platform that prioritizes high-quality, long-term reliability and dedicated customer support.

To learn more about EVPassport, please visit us here. If you’d like to have your property or parking facility evaluated to host EV charging, please visit CBRE here.

Travelers can now explore hotel rooms like never before with the launch of Room Cougar, a groundbreaking platform offering organic and unfiltered user-submitted video room tours and reviews. Unlike traditional websites that rely on staged or outdated content, Room Cougar sources content from its community of everyday consumers and influencers so users can “look before they book.” With more than 3,000 reviews already available on the website, Room Cougar is poised to revolutionize how travelers choose accommodations. 

Room Cougar is completely free to use and is currently rewarding its users for contribution to the platform. Travelers can upload video reviews of hotel rooms across the globe, and once verified as an authentic review, contributors will be paid up to $50 USD per submission.

"Travelers deserve honest, up-to-date insights before booking their stays, and that's exactly what our platform delivers," said Ada Miller, Chief Marketing Officer of Room Cougar. "Unlike traditional review sites that rely on outdated pictures or polished promotional videos, we offer real, user-generated video reviews that show the truth about hotel rooms. We’re not just empowering travelers with transparency — we’re giving users the opportunity to earn money for their contributions. This is more than a platform; it’s a movement to redefine how people trust and book accommodations, much like how Amazon transformed retail reviews."

Currently available via its website, Room Cougar is poised to launch a mobile app in the coming months to expand accessibility and convenience for travelers searching for insights while booking on the go. In addition to its commission-based structure, the platform also offers users additional monetization opportunities through referral commissions. When travelers book stays through Room Cougar’s links, contributors can earn a share of the commissions, making it a versatile tool for casual reviewers and travel influencers alike.

With Room Cougar, hotel research is no longer a gamble. Travelers can explore rooms across countries such as the U.S., U.K., Thailand, Canada, Spain, Japan, and more, giving them the confidence to book stays that meet expectations upon arrival.

FreshAir Sensor, an innovator in indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring, launched FreshAir Certified™, a low-cost, high-margin bookable room attribute that allows hotels to leverage air quality as an exclusive guest purchase option. While odors and lingering smells remain a common guest complaint, hoteliers are often challenged to pre-empt any complaints before they arise. FreshAir Certified addresses these challenges by enabling hotels to offer guests rooms with scientifically verified, high-quality indoor air, meeting the growing demand for personalized, wellness-focused accommodations while creating a new, effortless revenue stream. 

FreshAir Sensor’s molecular air quality monitoring solutions are installed directly in the hotel guestroom to track and certify rooms that are free of common irritants (including odors from unauthorized smoking of tobacco and marijuana, scented sprays, and conditions for mold). Operators can offer these rooms to guests as part of their booking journey as a low-cost enhancement. The program is rolling out at hotels across North America and is already helping hoteliers generate significant ancillary revenue annually.

Indoor Air Quality: A Profitable Differentiator

Indoor air quality is becoming an increasingly important factor in how today’s guests make purchase decisions. To leverage the trend, hotels that prioritize clean, fresh air can drive higher guest loyalty, positive reviews, and increased revenue. Studies show that:

• More than half of guests rank odor-free rooms as the top indicator of cleanliness, making air quality a major influencer on guest perception and satisfaction (AHLA)
• In hospitality, 58 percent of guests cite odors as a leading cause of negative reviews, affecting a hotel's reputation and repeat business (AHLA)
• Increased focus on personalization can improve hotelier insight into traveler preferences, improving conversion rates by up to 16 percent (Deloitte).

By introducing FreshAir Certified as a bookable enhancement, hotels can meet evolving guest expectations, increase TRevPAR (Total Revenue Per Available Room), and reinforce their commitment to exceptional indoor environments—all without additional labor or operational changes. 

“FreshAir Certified turns air quality into a valuable, revenue-generating amenity for hotels,” said Will Darrah, Chief Commercial Officer at FreshAir Sensor. “Through our Certification program, hotels can monetize their air quality, elevate the guest experience, and unlock new profits—without the need to spend CapEx money or take up valuable staff time or resources.”

How It Works

The FreshAir Certified™ program utilizes FreshAir Sensor’s patented molecular technology to provide hoteliers with a real-time inventory of rooms with verified indoor air quality standards. These rooms can then be offered to guests in the booking flow, in pre-stay communications, or at check-in at a small incremental cost. 

As part of the certification process, each room is:

• Continuously monitored to ensure the highest quality air – free of common air quality contaminants, such as lingering odors from unauthorized smoking of tobacco and marijuana, scented sprays and conditions for mold.
• Verified to be of the highest air quality for at least 60 days prior to check-in – enabling hotels to sell guaranteed air quality upgrades to guests with sensitivities, differentiating their properties in a competitive marketplace – and generating ancillary revenues with each booking.

Fresh Air Certified Rooms have already helped properties generate significant monthly revenue streams. Early results indicate that U.S. hotels have the potential to gain more than $1.5B in new ancillary revenue annually with FreshAir Certified.

“FreshAir Certified has provided Ocean Casino Resort with another attribute-based revenue stream that required minimal additional work on our side beyond the initial setup of the add-on in our direct booking channels,” says Ryan Burch, Vice President of Hotel Operations for Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. “We’ve been thrilled with the number of guests adding the FreshAir Certified add-on to our booking engine, and we’re excited to begin offering this in our pre-stay communications and during check-in. Ocean is all about going above and beyond, so we’re pleased to see our guests expressing appreciation for the extra measures we’re taking to provide odor-free stays.”

A Simple, Profitable Solution for Hotels

FreshAir Certified represents a low-cost, high-impact solution for properties seeking to stand out in a competitive marketplace. With the demand for wellness-focused travel on the rise, this program positions hotels to exceed guest expectations while driving incremental revenue.

For more information about FreshAir Certified, visit www.freshairsensor.com.