News Briefs

Cvent, an industry-leading meetings, events and hospitality technology provider, and FreedomPay, an innovative leader in Next Level Commerce™ technologies, shared details of their latest integration and payment card tokenization initiative at Cvent CONNECT, Cvent’s user and industry conference taking place now in San Antonio, TX and online.

The integration between Cvent Passkey and FreedomPay enables direct tokenization of credit cards which allows for credit card numbers to be exchanged between Cvent Passkey and a hotel’s central reservation system (CRS) via secure credit card tokens. Tokenization helps protect hoteliers against the threat of payment fraud and data breaches and offers enhanced security features for managing and processing group reservations.

“With many of the top hotels around the world leveraging our payment solutions, we understand the unique needs of the hospitality and travel industries,” said Nate Ware, SVP Sales & Digital Development at FreedomPay. “Today’s buyers and suppliers want greater security, personalization and efficiency, and we’re proud to partner with a leading, global organization like Cvent, which shares in our commitment to ensuring each of those areas is not only addressed but prioritized. Our combined focus on innovation and dedication to data security represents the future of hospitality and group business.”

“The integration between Cvent Passkey and FreedomPay is another example of how we continue to expand our integrations and prioritize security for hoteliers, event organizers, and their group guests,” said Ben Mayrides, Chief Information Security Officer at Cvent. “By tokenizing credit cards, we are protecting sensitive data, reducing the risk of fraud and data breaches while providing an improved payment experience. It’s exciting to see leading hotel chains embrace technology to enhance the group booking process, and with additional properties and chains in the implementation pipeline, we’re rapidly expanding direct access to a more secure group reservation and payment environment.”

JobGet, the fastest-growing app-first hiring platform connecting over 70 million Everyday Workers with the nation's most recognized brands, today announced the acquisition of Wirkn, a leading platform in the frontline recruitment market. This strategic move to partner with shopping centers and malls allows JobGet to offer a tailored frontline solution to even more employers and job seekers. 

The acquisition will enable JobGet to provide Wirkn's extensive network of over 17,000 mall, retail, and restaurant locations with a broader reach of applicants. Unlike traditional job boards, JobGet’s app-first approach provides deeper job-seeker insights and leverages AI to match skills to jobs that job seekers might need help finding. This results in a broader reach and higher responsiveness from applicants, leading to a lower cost-per-applicant and improved hiring outcomes. JobGet's understanding of the nuances of the everyday talent market further enhances these benefits.

Tony Liu, CEO of JobGet, explained: "We are thrilled to bring Wirkn into the JobGet network. Our commitment to the Everyday Workforce, coupled with our focus on innovation and inclusivity, makes this a strong pairing. Wirkn’s manager-friendly ATS will empower more brands to create a dedicated hiring channel for their field workforce. Together, we will enable more employers and job seekers to connect and thrive."

Mathieu Weber, Wirkn’s CEO, commented: "This is great news for our customer base. The synergies from this acquisition will greatly benefit our mall partners and broader employer ecosystem by providing more reach for their job postings. This is an exciting step forward in our mission of streamlining hourly recruitment."

On the United Nations’ World Environment Day, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is delighted to announce a significant stride in environmental stewardship with the goal of having Winnow’s food waste technology installed across all its hotels by the end of 2025. This initiative is a testament to Mandarin Oriental’s commitment to setting a new standard for sustainability in the luxury hospitality sector.

In a resounding endorsement of the effectiveness of Winnow’s AI technology, Mandarin Oriental has already observed a remarkable 36% reduction in food waste in four pilot hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; Mandarin Oriental, Miami; and Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah, Dubai. [CO1] These impressive results underscore the Group's dedication to operational excellence and environmental responsibility.

Implementing Winnow’s cutting-edge technology across all Mandarin Oriental hotels is core to the Group’s broader sustainability strategy. In the knowledge that food waste accounts for up to 10% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions^[1] and that between 5-15% of the food purchased by kitchens is typically wasted, contributing to the Group’s goal to reduce waste intensity by 50% by 2030. This commitment is aligned with the United Nations SDG 12.3, which aims to halve global per capita food waste by 2030.

Winnow’s data will enable hotel teams to make informed decisions that positively impact both the environment and their bottom line, with kitchens typically saving between 2-8% on food costs. Initiatives to manage food waste will expand upon existing ones, including colleague educational campaigns, overhauling buffet operations, donating excess edible food, and innovative composting programmes to improve soil condition and support efficient absorption of rainwater.

With Mandarin Oriental restaurants holding 28 Michelin Stars around the world including Michelin’s Green-star recognition at Amber, the signature French fine-dining restaurant at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, the Group also looks forward to leveraging the creative platform of their chefs to raise awareness on the importance of tackling food waste. Looking ahead, chefs will be able to use insights from Winnow’s data to inform zero waste menus and recipes.

Torsten van Dullemen, Group Director of Sustainability and Area Vice President Operations, states, “Our commitment to sustainability goes hand in hand with our promise to deliver exceptional guest experiences. The integration of Winnow’s technology across our global portfolio is a bold step towards reducing our ecological impact and reinforcing our position as an industry leader.”

Marc Zornes, CEO & Co-founder of Winnow, comments, “Mandarin Oriental is at the forefront of sustainability in luxury hospitality. Our collaboration is already demonstrating the powerful impact of technology and data in reducing food waste. We’re honoured to support Mandarin Oriental in their ambitious goals, and together, we’re not only setting new industry standards but also making a tangible difference for our planet.”

Successful  pilot programmes at Mandarin Oriental hotels in Miami, Dubai, London and Hong Kong resulted in annualized net savings of $207,000, 66 tonnes of food waste, and 289 tonnes in CO2e emissions.^[2] The Group will be building on this success by rolling out Winnow’s technology to all 40 hotels by the end of 2025.

How AI Works at Mandarin Oriental

The Winnow technology implemented in Mandarin Oriental’s kitchens enables staff to seamlessly track exactly what wastage occurs throughout their production stream. With this data, users are empowered to optimize efficiency, change behaviors, and drive significant waste reductions.

Designed to require minimal interaction, the Winnow system consists of a camera, smart-scale and tablet. The camera, featuring computer vision trained to identify over 600 food items, automatically identifies waste as it is thrown away. The weight and cost of the food discarded is then instantly calculated and displayed.

All captured data is uploaded to the cloud, where food waste from each day is recorded and analyzed. With the preparation of daily, weekly, and monthly reports, Mandarin Oriental kitchens receive the necessary information to drive operational efficiencies, change behaviors, and innovate on techniques in preparation, cooking and plating.

The result is a win-win: using AI in its kitchens will allow Mandarin Oriental to improve its signature quality of service alongside significant reductions in costs and environmental impact.

• 24/7 Assistance: Brick Hospitality's guest service robots are available around the clock, providing timely assistance with room service deliveries.
• Enhanced Safety Monitoring: Equipped with advanced camera systems and sensors, these robots enhance safety by providing real-time surveillance and monitoring, ensuring a secure environment for guests and staff.
• Engaging and Entertaining Interactions: These robots can tell jokes and dance, adding a fun and engaging element to guests' stays, creating memorable experiences for guests of all ages.

Hospitality technology provider SONIFI has created and released an advanced network management tool for hotels to enhance their conference service offerings with custom internet access for events. 

The Event Manager feature is part of SONIFI’s authentication and management portal (AMP) for its HSIA customers. Through it, hotel and AV staff can easily configure custom networks for secure Wi-Fi access in specific spaces without interrupting the internet connectivity in guest rooms and public areas throughout the property.

The self-service portal allows staff to create custom access codes and captive portals, add messaging and branded elements, adjust bandwidth and authentication settings, set up terms of service and device whitelisting, and schedule the start and end times of the event’s internet network.

“SONIFI’s Event Manager gives greater control to properties of all chain scales—from full-service resorts to select-service business hotels—to enhance their conference and event coordination services,” said Paul Johnson, SONIFI’s General Manager of Internet Services. “They can tailor event attendees’ experiences, offering customizations and branding for a special touch, automations and scheduling for connectivity that’s simple and seamless, as well as access to SONIFI’s 24/7 support services to give contacts peace of mind that help is available if they ever need it.”

The Event Manager dashboards are designed to make network management as streamlined as possible for staff with event calendars, message boards, default presets and automated identification of Wi-Fi access points and wired internet ports. 

Event reporting shows bandwidth use and device connections to help hotels refine their internet network and continue to monetize the services they can offer with their event spaces. 

“Event Manager helps our customers appeal to groups looking for the best venue for their conference, meeting or wedding, knowing there will be a reliable private Wi-Fi network for their event,” Johnson said. “Hoteliers can use this as a differentiator to generate more revenue for their property and increase their guest satisfaction.”