News Briefs

Multi-award-winning sustainability management and ESG reporting platform FuturePlus adds 84 hotels to its IMPACT CERTIFIED ecosystem in light of travelers' desire to book more sustainable stays – but 70% feel overwhelmed by the process¹. 

For over three years, FuturePlus has been at the forefront of embedding sustainability actions throughout the entire lifecycle of hospitality assets, ensuring responsible business and ethical governance happens across the whole operation. More importantly, FuturePlus enables hoteliers to continuously improve and meet their environmental and social ambitions and intent through the use of a robust technology platform, a comprehensive sustainability framework and expert advice.

The hospitality sector remains an essential touchpoint for consumers and travelers where 65% prefer to book accommodation with a recognized and trusted certificate or label, and two thirds (67%) agree that hotels should use the same accreditation process².

The FuturePlus IMPACT CERTIFIED badge is awarded to FuturePlus members upon verification of a FutureImpact assessment. Hotels using the IMPACT CERTIFIED Badge can do so in the confidence that the establishments they’re running are upheld to constant progress across all environmental and social factors, and that their accreditation is easy for consumers to recognise as a trusted mark for transparency and commitment. FuturePlus is a strategic partner to Booking.com and Travalyst Compliance, guaranteeing standardisation with managing, measuring, tracking and reporting ESG in the hospitality sector.

In addition to supporting IMPACT CERTIFIED hotels around the world, FuturePlus also works with IMPACT CERTIFIED companies that provide vital products and services to support the wider ecosystem of hotels that are working towards becoming more sustainable. Oxwash’s carbon-neutral laundry solution has revolutionised the commercial washing sector since its inception in 2018; and by emphasising eco-conscious practices, utilising recyclable packaging and promoting ethical sourcing, The Wildsmith Collection provides a transformative skincare experience that respects the environment.

FuturePlus clients have collectively set over 4,200 sustainability ambitions and achieved more than 2,700 of these goals, demonstrating significant and continuous progress in their ambition scores. Amongst the 84 hotels that are IMPACT CERTIFIED, 750 sustainability goals have been achieved.

Mike Penrose, Co-Founder and Partner at FuturePlus, says: “The hospitality sector plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions of sustainability, and we are collaborating with forward-thinking hotel brands worldwide who are determined to demonstrate their positive steps in being environmentally and socially responsible across their entire operations – from the booking systems they use, down to the cleaning products. Being IMPACT CERTIFIED is more than just a badge. It’s a tangible representation of your organisation’s commitment to creating positive impact, symbolising that you are part of a community of businesses focused on continual improvement across social and environmental impact.”   

TROO Hospitality, a UK-based hospitality management company, embarked on its sustainability journey with FuturePlus in September 2022. The platform has enabled the company to assess and manage its sustainability performance, as well as that of its expanding hotel portfolio. FuturePlus has been working closely with TROO Hospitality to develop a portfolio-wide sustainability strategy, aptly named TROO Impact. This strategy is centred around three core pillars: Education, Collaboration, and Empowerment.

Kevin Hobson, Head of Property & Services, TROO Hospitality, comments: “FuturePlus has been instrumental in helping us to bring our TROO Impact sustainability strategy to life, from the first policies we produced in 2022 through to the cross-business roadmap we now have in place for 2025. Thanks to FuturePlus’ guidance and platform, we’re now tracking and measuring the sustainability of all the hotels in our portfolio against clearly defined, shared metrics. Positive sustainability outcomes require consistent energy and focus: the year ahead will see us focus on driving the TROO Impact vision and embedding it across our business – and I’m grateful that FuturePlus will be there to support us on our journey.”

Atlas Hotels, an award-winning franchise group, operates 58 hotels across the UK, including 13 in  Scotland, 2 in Wales, and 43 in England. As Europe’s largest franchisee of Holiday Inn Express hotels,  Atlas Hotels wields considerable influence in driving impactful sustainability initiatives.

Claire Waddington, Head of Projects, Atlas Hotels, concludes: “For Atlas Hotels, sustainability is more than just a buzzword, it’s key to our operation. Our biggest hurdle was deciding where to focus and how to bring together all our sustainability initiatives into a single programme with clear targets. The FuturePlus platform, alongside their expert guidance, has played a significant role in bringing clarity, structure and a useful external perspective. The innovation at FuturePlus means their tools develop with new legislation and emerging trends so that we’re never caught off guard.”

Below is the list of IMPACT CERTIFIED hotels which travellers can book with the assurance that they not only meet hallmark sustainable standards but are also constantly working to improve upon their achievements.

GK Software, a provider of commerce solutions for global retailers, has successfully acquired Nomitri GmbH, a Berlin-based deep tech startup for computer vision. This transaction will expand GK’s commerce capabilities with complete out-of-the-box SCO (self-checkout) and store operations solutions to expand the company’s global portfolio of leading retail customers.

Nomitri will continue to exist as a wholly owned subsidiary of the GK Software Group. Founders Trinh Le-Fiedler and Max Fiedler will remain in managing positions. The company had already been part of the GK partner ecosystem for several years. The Nomitri solutions will be presented as a new product suite within GK’s product portfolio under the name ‘GK Vision’.

With a total market value of more than 600 million Euros annually within the top 250 grocers alone, the SCO market is currently among the fastest growing in retail. With self-checkout solutions, retailers are already decreasing waiting times for customers and adapting to increasing labor costs. However, the implementation of such technologies is generally hardware-intensive and costly. Furthermore, while self-checkouts increase the flexibility of unmanned checkouts, an increase in thefts and fraud reduces their profitability. Addressing the profitability during the implementation of fraud detection is the primary focus of GK Vision.

GK Vision software allows retailers to take a cost-effective, retrofit approach, leveraging existing hardware and linking it directly to the cloud services of GK. This approach leads to up to ten times lower hardware investment for retailers and only takes around two business days to go live. The embedded computer vision and AI capabilities of GK Vision additionally enable age verification as well as fruit and vegetable recognition. In addition, the solution can be used regardless of which POS software is in use. This makes GK Vision an ideal complement to GK, which last year launched GK Engage, a loyalty platform that can also be used independently of the POS software provider.

“Nomitri has been an integral part of the GK partner ecosystem for some time, and its innovative capabilities have consistently impressed both our team and leading retailers. Retailers are demanding fast, scalable, and cost-effective self-checkout solutions, and Nomitri has delivered time and time again. Today, we’re proud to take this partnership to the next level by welcoming Nomitri’s groundbreaking technology into the GK portfolio as GK Vision. With a strong foundation of collaboration and trust, we are ready to scale GK Vision and redefine the self-checkout experience for retailers worldwide. Integrated into our GK CLOUD4RETAIL commerce platform, this addition further cements our commitment to providing cutting-edge, end-to-end solutions for our global customers,” says Michael Scheibner, CEO of GK Software.

Following a banner year for hotel technology investments,  Maestro PMS, the leader in All-In-One cloud hosted, private cloud and on-premises property-management systems for independent hotels and luxury resorts, unveiled its development roadmap for 2025, replete with features, integrations and capabilities the industry has been requesting. New additions to Maestro’s software roadmap include enhancements requested by hotel customers, interface updates to overhaul how hotels use Maestro’s groundbreaking property-management system and unique innovations. As a result, these investments will empower Maestro PMS users with the most flexible, impactful PMS available to independent hoteliers today.

“Hoteliers have not been shy about asking for technology innovations, and Maestro has been hard at work—not just listening,” said Warren Dehan, President of Maestro PMS. “From payment processing to document management and refreshed interfaces, we are updating Maestro PMS to ensure our hotel partners are prepared to operate in today’s changing environment. Thanks to our experienced operations team and close relationships with hoteliers, we are uniquely positioned to help support independent operators with a strong foundation backed by our AI-powered booking engine and chat concierge. Our features are only growing more expansive every day.”

Embedded Payments Branch Out

After successfully rolling out its digital embedded payment capabilities to the U.S. market in 2024, Maestro PMS is continuing to roll out its seamless payment experience to Canada this year. This technology helps preserve your brand’s identity throughout the payment-processing experience, reduces instances of chargebacks or fraud, and simplifies everything for hoteliers and guests. Independent hotels adopting a unified payment-processing strategy can access these features unencumbered by the front desk and help operators and customers comply with all payment-processing requirements.

Maestro has also listened to user feedback to further bolster its payment processing features. The company has made further updates to its widely adopted payment processing system’s user interface since its debut, and these innovations will all be present during its continued USA and Canada rollout this year. Today’s hotel partners will benefit from a streamlined guest payment portal supported by a fully integrated payment platform

“Payment processing has become an important feature in the hotel PMS thanks to its wide-reaching connections to other hotel technologies and departments,” Dehan said. “Through an embedded payments strategy, hotels can retain invaluable payment data while keeping everything else secure. These strategies are necessary for building a stronger base of clean data hoteliers can work with to improve operations and profitability over time.”

Listening and Learning

Much of Maestro’s 2025 development roadmap was developed based on discussions and feedback from hotel partners. Thanks to this feedback, Maestro plans to adjust its internal client document management processes, which are integrated directly into its PMS. Feedback has also led to expanding features and functions, such as automated deposit requests and enhancing responses to no-shows and cancellations.

Later this year, Maestro also plans to continue enhancing its sales and catering dashboard to help customers remain efficient and profitable. Hoteliers can look forward to updated module management capabilities for this and other departments, such as spas and owner management, to widen the breadth and depth of operator control over each of their properties.

“Maestro has spent a great deal of time and effort advancing its lauded sales and catering modules, which have been wildly successful for hoteliers, but it is time to revisit those features with new enhancements,” Dehan said. “Our hotel clients have provided invaluable feedback to continue advancing these capabilities. They are looking for expanded functionality, and their suggestions are significant enough to warrant further investment in our sales and catering capabilities to remain competitive and innovative.”

Integrations

Maestro is also continuing to expand its base of integrations and partnerships in 2025, starting with direct integration with Booking.com. This integration is highly desired by hoteliers, allowing them to avoid working with third-party channel managers by directly connecting with Booking.com.

“Hoteliers have been asking for integration with Booking.com for years, and we are excited to make it a reality in 2025,” Dehan said. “This level of integration will set a new bar for independent hoteliers and create a more level playing field for operators working with third-party online travel agencies. These capabilities are a long time coming for hoteliers, and we are honored to play a part in delivering them.”

Enhancement details will be discussed at Maestro’s Accelerate User Conference, to be held September 22-25 in Toronto. Maestro PMS users can register for the event by clicking here.

FreedomPay has announced a strategic partnership with Subway. The collaboration will utilize FreedomPay’s unified end-to-end payment orchestration platform to enhance operational efficiency and improve the guest payment experience.

Through its robust data-driven commerce platform, FreedomPay will help unify and modernize Subway’s payment processes, by supporting in-restaurant, mobile, and online transactions on a single platform— creating a more seamless and secure guest experience, while helping provide franchisees with consistent reporting.
“FreedomPay’s payment solutions provide us with the flexibility to work with multiple processors across the globe, while also offering increased visibility, routing optimization and security,” said Dave Blankenship, Subway’s Chief Information Officer. “Our partnership with FreedomPay allows us to improve the ordering experience for consumers and support our franchisees by maximizing efficiencies and capabilities at checkout.”

FreedomPay's platform’s flexibility and scalability will empower Subway to deliver the same exceptional service their guests know and love, with seamless and secure transactions at any franchised location.

In addition to strengthening Subway’s ability to manage payments effectively across various channels and regions, FreedomPay’s technology provides the brand with actionable data insights designed to drive future growth and will be an important asset as Subway continues to expand its digital footprint.

Golden Corral is redefining its all-you-can-eat buffet experience with a large-scale technology transformation, aiming to enhance operations, expand digital ordering, and future-proof the brand for long-term growth.

The company has partnered with Qu to deploy a next-generation cloud-based commerce platform that unifies in-store and off-premises sales channels. This shift enables Golden Corral to optimize its buffet model while expanding digital and off-premises capabilities, including online ordering, drive-thru, and kitchen automation.

“Partnering with Qu means more than just acquiring new hardware and software; it’s about embracing a holistic transition strategy,” said Dawn Gillis, CIO at Golden Corral Corp. “Their solutions are not only highly intuitive, but also tailored to support the unique aspects of our business.” 

The Cloud Corral

Dubbed “Cloud Corral,” Golden Corral’s new technology platform integrates with Qu’s point-of-sale, native online ordering, drive-thru, and kitchen solutions to streamline sales and operations across all locations. Franchisees now have the flexibility of day-part pricing management by location.

Since implementing Qu’s technology, Golden Corral has experienced a significant reduction in training time—from several days to just 30 minutes.

The Qu platform will drive Golden Corral’s transition from a traditional in-store model to a comprehensive digital approach. Franchisees now benefit from modern, intuitive systems and the Notify app, which provides real-time AI-based alerts on sales, inventory, and labor data. This advancement allows for effective management at both the store level and across the entire brand network. 

Golden Corral and Qu completed the full brand rollout to Qu’s unified platform over the course of 7 months during 2024.

Founded in 1973, Golden Corral Corp. and its franchisees operate 351 locations across 39 states and Puerto Rico. The Golden Corral system has reported a 31% increase in Average Unit Volume (AUV) since 2019.  

Fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers  promoted Erin Walter to chief marketing officer (CMO).

Walter will oversee all aspects of the company's marketing initiatives, working closely with the executive team to drive brand awareness, guest engagement, and overall business growth. Her innovative leadership style and strategic thinking are expected to bring a fresh perspective to the company's marketing strategies.

"Erin's talent and dedication have greatly benefited our team. Her strategic vision and creativity have been crucial to our success, and I am confident she'll excel as CMO," said Chris Dull, Freddy's President & CEO. "Her exceptional ability to inspire and collaborate, combined with her deep understanding of our brand, will be instrumental in taking Freddy's to new heights. Erin's commitment to excellence and her forward-thinking approach make her the perfect fit for this role, and I am excited to see the positive impact she will continue to make."

Walter, with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant franchising industry, brings considerable expertise to her position. In 2021, she was appointed Vice President of Brand Marketing at Freddy's. Prior to joining Freddy's, she held several roles at Global Franchise Group, including Director of Marketing for Round Table Pizza.