News Briefs

Cvent, a meetings, events and hospitality technology provider, shared several significant AI-driven enhancements during the company’s Hospitality Cloud Product Roadmap Session at Cvent CONNECT. The comprehensive product announcements, which are expected to be launched this year, illustrate Cvent’s commitment to empowering its customers with AI across its event and hospitality technology platform.

“As a long-time leader in the event and hospitality space, we’re well positioned to capitalize on the AI opportunity in a way that makes the most sense for those who matter most: our customers,” said Jim Abramson, Vice President of Product Management at Cvent. “Our product development strategy prioritizes a practical application of AI across our platform that maximizes impact while minimizing the effort required from our users to access it. We plan to continue investing in new and innovative ways to combine the power of AI, with our decades of data-driven insights, to help hotel teams achieve even better group business results.”

Cvent announced several planned AI-powered product offerings including:

• Smarter prospecting with Planner Navigator: New AI capabilities within Planner Navigator will help sales teams to automatically match their hotel, venue or destination with planners who are sourcing over their need dates. AI will also power the creation of customized prospecting pitches. With a few clicks, hoteliers can create tailor-made pitches to more effectively attract and engage their target audience.
• Improved planner engagement with natural language venue search: Cvent unveiled several new AI-powered solutions built directly within the Cvent Supplier Network (CSN), including natural language search, enabling planners to finetune their hotel and destination searches with conversational language. Planners can simply describe their key criteria (“Venue with a spa”, “adjacent to a golf course”, etc.) in the search box. AI-enabled matching surfaces the best-fit properties, which not only streamlines the sourcing process, but also helps deliver more qualified RFPs to hotels and venues.
• Faster and more efficient RFP response with Custom Questions: New AI technology will reference a hotel or venue’s past RFP responses and leverage CSN profile information to generate answers to Custom Questions from planners instantly, dramatically reducing the time it takes for hotel sales teams to complete, and respond to, planner proposals.
• Enhanced agenda creation for planners with RFP Agenda Builder: RFP Agenda Builder, built within the CSN, leverages AI to help planners build comprehensive agendas in seconds. This functionality improves the planner experience and helps to ensure hoteliers have the right information to deliver a successful event.
• More efficient diagram design with AI Diagram Assistant: Using natural language functionality, AI Diagram Assistant empowers hotel operations teams with the ability to deliver precise, customized floorplans and room layouts within Cvent Event Diagramming in seconds.

LG Business Solutions USA has launched LG Business Cloud, a powerful web-application platform that puts the power of LG’s Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions under one roof.

LG Business Cloud enables customers to establish a highly secure common point of access for their LG digital signage devices using a straightforward, one-time sign-up process. User privilege, access control and single sign-on (SSO), license management, site and location structure are all designed to be easy to use yet flexible for the largest deployment.

“LG has long been a leader in providing intuitive, scalable software and platform solutions to help integrators and their customers remotely monitor and manage digital signage networks as well as distribute and customize content,” said LG Business Solutions USA Senior Vice President Michael Kosla. “Now, the launch of the LG Business Cloud puts all the tools they need to manage these services in one place, with clear value propositions and a consolidated platform experience.”

Kosla added that the company’s focus on software and services, which supports LG’s global transformation into a Smart Life Solutions company beyond a hardware manufacturer, provides significant benefits to commercial display customers. The LG Business Cloud is a multi-service SaaS cloud platform that provides integrators and business owners simple access to the powerful capabilities of LG ConnectedCare, LG Pro:Centric Cloud, LG Pro:Centric Stay and LG SuperSign Cloud. By eliminating the need to install and manage on-site servers and software running on the servers, each service helps businesses further reduce up-front costs and long-term maintenance requirements

LG SuperSign Cloud

LG SuperSign Cloud is a powerful content management system (CMS) designed to boost a retailer’s digital signage campaigns by providing “anywhere, anytime” control of content, remote control of individual displays or the entire network of displays to set on/off scheduling and make real-time changes to content. The software enables easy uploading and distribution of content as well as expert-level editing tools, including music selection

SuperSign Cloud users can also enhance their content creation using third-party design templates, digital art, and even live on-screen presentation of social media feeds. For example, the specialized DSmenu service allows users to easily create digital menu boards, while PosterMyWall helps users design eye-catching promotional materials -- each offering incredible value to retail and food establishments that require frequent updates. The ArtPlayer service grants access to an array of digital art, while Screenfeed enables companies to simply and cleanly display Instagram feeds through digital signage. Wantreez Music provides expertly curated playlists that harmonize with on-screen content to elevate ambiance in a variety of settings.

LG Pro:Centric Stay

With the new LG Pro:Centric Stay platform, LG offers short-term rental property managers and owners a powerful cloud-based TV content distribution and management solution, using powerful tools to create personalized guest experiences for on-premise TVs. The platform makes these powerful capabilities available to virtually any size short-term rental hosts to multinational ”staycation” businesses. It’s easy to create welcome pages, local guides and custom content through Pro:Centric’s familiar drag-and-drop interface that includes widgets such as weather, maps, flight information and more.

LG ConnectedCare

LG ConnectedCare is a network manager’s best friend, offering extremely powerful tools to ensure consistent operation of the entire network of displays regardless of deployment size or variety of displays. This is an active monitoring service that automatically sends alert emails to preset recipients for more than 20 common operations errors, and enables remote adjustments to resolve issues and fine tune device settings.

The main selling point is the ability to eliminate or greatly reduce screen down time, which can directly affect a property’s revenue and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the ability to manage multiple devices at once reduces labor time and boosts efficiency when enacting changes or updates.

“Each of these cloud-based services provides high-value functions, efficiency gains and up-front cost savings to help businesses maximize guest experiences, revenues and communication opportunities,” Kosla said. “With the new consolidated user experience unveiled at InfoComm, the LG Business Cloud can be a game-changer for commercial integrators and their customers.”

Boxxtech announces the launch of their second alcohol vending machine at Progressive Field, the home stadium of Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians. Ballgame attendees can skip long lines and purchase beer and pre-packaged cocktails from the refrigerated The Boxx machine.

“We are excited to be among the first companies to make unattended alcohol sales safe and effective by embedding ID authentication directly into the machine,” said Boxxtech CEO, Lauren Smee. “For busy environments like stadiums and festivals, The Boxx is an ideal way to keep lines down for pre-packaged products, and reduce staffing costs while still serving the same amount of product.” Boxxtech first demo’d the technology at SuperBowl LVIII, where more than 1,000 beverages were dispensed before and during the game, generating more than $68 every minute it was operational. 

Unattended retail has previously been challenged to sell 21+ products due to ID verification. Boxxtech integrates IDScan.net Age Restricted Vending package, which includes best-in-class ID authentication, capable of rapidly confirming customer age, and detecting up to 95% of fake IDs. The tech also includes face matching, ensuring that the customer in front of the machine matches the photo on a valid ID or drivers license. This technology replaces visual ID checks that would normally be performed by bartenders or event staff.

“IDScan.net ID verification technology was the clear winner among the three services we tested for integration into The Boxx. Not only does it successfully catch all fake IDs, keeping minors from accessing products inside the machine, but it was easy to set up without complicated business logic, providing us a clear ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on every verification,” said BoxxTech CTO Chris Davis.

Boxxtech machines have served more than 27,000 customers since launch in April 2024. Two The Boxx machines are currently operational, with an additional 50 planned for rollout by the end of 2024, including at least one in a major league sports stadium, and a fleet for placement in a major hotel chain that is looking to sell beer in their lobbies without adding additional staff. The Phoenix-based company has already won several major awards, including the AZ Fire Inno Award by the Phoenix Business Journal, and the 2024 Female Founder Venture Madness Award. Additionally, Boxxtech has been awarded with the coveted Innovation Award for NFL Legends, and counts former Oakland Raider Lamarr Houston as its President. They are a Techstars portfolio company, with additional backing from the founder of RetailMeNot. 

GiftAMeal, the innovative cause-marketing program that turns customer photos into meals for local families in need, announces a significant milestone in donated meals with restaurant partner Lee’s Famous Recipe  Chicken.  As of June, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken has donated 150,000 meals to families in need through GiftAMeal’s charitable partnership. In 2023, GiftAMeal was named one of HT’s Industry Heroes  for its solution.

Customers of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken will soon notice something special about their orders – packaging – from drink cups to side boxes – will feature its involvement in GiftAMeal, along with information on how guests can participate in making a difference in their community. This creative initiative not only serves as a platform to raise awareness for the cause but also invites customers to join in supporting food banks across the country. The co-branded packaging will be available at locations nationwide, ensuring that every customer has the chance to fight local hunger. 

The new packaging will complement a digital effort announced earlier this year in which Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken revamped its mobile application and added a GiftAMeal button on the home page that allows customers to engage directly and effortlessly with the GiftAMeal program. By simply clicking the button and uploading a photo of their dining experience, customers trigger a restaurant-funded donation to a local food bank to help provide a meal to a family in need.

"By integrating GiftAMeal directly onto their packaging and mobile app, Lee’s has transformed each dining experience into a catalyst for change. Our partnership showcases how technology and collaboration can unite us in a shared mission to nourish those in need, and we are thrilled to continue this journey together," says Andrew Glantz, CEO and Founder of GiftAMeal.

With 130 restaurant locations participating in GiftAMeal, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken is one of GiftAMeal's larger partners.

"The integration of GiftAMeal on our brand-wide packaging reflects our deep-rooted commitment to community engagement and enhances the impact we can make, all with no extra effort for our franchisees,” says Dan Sokolik, VP of Marketing at Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken. “Reaching 150,000 meals highlights the tangible difference we and our guests are making in the lives of local families in need.”

As GiftAMeal continues to expand its network of restaurant partners, the potential to combat food insecurity grows exponentially. Each new partnership amplifies the collective impact, enabling more families to receive the nourishment they need.

To learn more about GiftAMeal, visit www.giftameal.com. Restaurants interested in joining can visit  giftameal.com/partner to schedule a free demo today.

Canary Technologies, a provider of hotel guest management technology, announced that it has closed a $50 million Series C funding round. The round was led by global software investor Insight Partners, who also led the company's Series B, with participation from existing investors F-Prime Capital, Thayer Ventures, Y-Combinator, and Commerce Ventures. This brings Canary's total fundraising to date to nearly $100M, making it one of the top funded hotel technology companies globally.

The resounding support from Canary’s current investors underscores the company’s performance and their unwavering confidence in Canary’s growth trajectory, as it continues to solidify its position as the premier provider of enterprise grade hospitality AI solutions. Canary is trusted by more than 20,000 hoteliers across the globe including a host of flagship enterprise brands such as Wyndham, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons, and others.

“AI is transforming the way we live, work, and travel. Canary is at the forefront of delivering enterprise-grade hospitality AI solutions that empower hoteliers to streamline operations, boost efficiency and elevate the guest experience,” said Harman Singh Narula, CEO and Co-founder of Canary. “This funding milestone is a reflection of the team’s hard work and the immense impact that Canary is making for hoteliers, including many of the world’s largest enterprise hotel brands. We continue to see significant demand in the market for our products and are excited to extend our partnership with existing investors.”

“In a year that proved tough on growth and execution in the tech ecosystem, we saw Canary thrive and exceed their ambitious targets, prompting us to double down,” said Thomas Krane, Managing Director at Insight Partners. “We continue to be impressed with Harman, SJ, and the team’s tenacity and ability to deliver hoteliers the best-in-class solutions they need most, and are honored to be a part of the company’s journey.”

Canary is transforming the hotel technology landscape with its award-winning end-to-end Guest Management Platform, and is currently deploying one of the largest rollouts of guest-facing AI technology in hospitality ever.

"Canary remains focused on our mission of helping hoteliers modernize their tech stack to deliver the best guest experiences possible,” said SJ Sawhney, President and Co-founder of Canary Technologies. “We are thrilled to utilize the funding to continue building a world-class team focused on innovation while expediting our ambitious roadmap. With Canary AI already deployed in some of the world’s largest enterprise hotel brands, we look forward to further enhancing our AI capabilities and broadening its use across the industry.”

Co-founded by long-time friends and industry veterans, Narula and Sawhney bring years of experience in hospitality and technology to Canary Technologies. Narula was previously a member of the Global Strategy team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and a management consultant at Bain & Company. He is a graduate of the renowned Cornell School of Hotel Administration and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to co-founding Canary, Sawhney led product and technology at Stayful, a booking platform for independent and boutique hotels founded by the former president of Hotels.com. Sawhney is a serial entrepreneur, having successfully founded multiple venture-backed technology companies over the prior decade. He is a graduate of Columbia University.