News Briefs

Oracle announced that Guest Engagement and Merchandising, powered by Nor1 PRIME is now available directly within the Oracle OPERA Cloud Property Management System (PMS). With AI built natively into the platform, reservation screens will automatically generate personalized offers such as room upgrades, amenities, and services throughout the pre-arrival and check-in process. With the enhanced visibility of offers and statuses throughout hotel workflows, staff can engage guests in a natural and confident manner, and at just the right time. This helps streamline the arrivals for both staff and guests, while maximizing incremental revenue opportunities for hoteliers.

To see the OPERA Cloud hospitality platform in action visit The Hospitality Show booth #1538 on October 28-30th.

“We are always looking for ways to improve efficiency and enhance our guests’ experiences, and OPERA Cloud has exceeded our expectations on both fronts,” said Jeff Aldrich, Director of Revenue Strategy, Outrigger Kāʻanpali Beach Resort. “The new guest engagement and merchandising system is incredibly seamless, and our front office hosts love it, finding it much more intuitive. With Oracle’s automated upsell process, it has streamlined our check-in procedures, reduced wait times, and provided a smoother arrival experience for our guests.”

The comprehensive guest engagement and merchandising cloud solution enables hoteliers to:

• Create incremental revenue opportunities throughout the guest journey across all digital channels
• Enhance the guest’s arrival experience by  real-time personalized amenities and services in a conversational yet efficient manner 
• Improve the staff user experience and shorten training times by eliminating the need for team members to switch between applications

"Nor1 is the gold standard in upselling solutions and has helped our customers realize hundreds of millions in incremental revenue,” said Alex Alt, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Consumer Industries. “By being the first major vendor in the industry to embed these AI enabled guest engagement and merchandising capabilities directly in the PMS, we are further helping our customers personalize the guest experience while increasing loyalty and RevPAR without leaving the check-in screen.” 

The Hotels Network (THN), a full-stack growth platform for hotels worldwide, and Cloudbeds, the premier hospitality management software platform, have entered a strategic partnership designed to help hoteliers optimize their direct channel strategies.

With this collaboration, Cloudbeds clients can now leverage THN’s advanced personalization platform, which includes AI-powered tools for crafting tailored website messages, real-time price comparison, and predictive analytics, all aimed at boosting conversion rates and revenue. Combined with Cloudbeds’ comprehensive platform for property management, booking engines, and channel management, hoteliers will gain valuable insights into guest behavior and preferences, enabling them to create seamless, personalized booking experiences that drive direct revenue and improve overall operational efficiency.

Sebastien Leitner, VP of Partnerships at Cloudbeds, commented: “Our partnership with The Hotels Network marks a significant step forward for our clients. By joining forces, we’re enabling our clients to enhance their marketing efforts and boost direct bookings through THN’s innovative tools.”

Mercedes Blanco, Chief Partnerships Officer at The Hotels Network, added: “Partnering with Cloudbeds was an obvious choice for us. Our aligned visions of delivering cutting-edge technology and empowering client hotels to succeed in today’s competitive market make this collaboration a natural fit. Together, we are helping hotels boost direct bookings while strengthening their guest relationships.”

Both The Hotels Network and Cloudbeds have been ranked #1 by hoteliers in the prestigious 2024 HotelTechAwards—THN for Best Direct Booking Tool and Cloudbeds as the top Hotel Management System. This recognition highlights the trust the industry has placed in both companies to deliver cutting-edge technology that transforms hotel operations.

The integration is now available globally, providing hotels with a powerful solution to enhance guest engagement, streamline operations, and maximize direct channel revenue.

Visual Matrix, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the hospitality industry, is working with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and its charitable giving arm, AHLA Foundation, to provide expanded access to the organization’s resources and training materials to help educate hoteliers in the fight against human trafficking.

Through the partnership, hoteliers will know of and be able to use free training content developed by Marriott International, in collaboration with Protect All Children from Trafficking PACT (formerly ECPAT-USA) with input from Polaris, two leading non-profits that specialize in combatting human trafficking, with easy access through the Visual Matrix Learning Management System.

Additionally, Visual Matrix will be providing free access to its Panic Button for all MOP users, which are designed to increase worker safety and confidence on property. Once activated, these buttons immediately begin recording audio and video, silently alert other staff members to the worker’s location, and can even contact authorities. Users will have access to Panic Buttons bundled directly into MOP so that workers can have expanded access to the most effective safety tools available today.

“Visual Matrix has chosen to take part in efforts to expand human trafficking awareness by working closely with hotel owners to combat human trafficking,” said Charlie Rhodes, CSO at Visual Matrix. “Our team is invested in the fight against human trafficking, and we want to provide direct support to the hoteliers in a position to make a difference.”

Since it began tracking statistics in 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified more than 100,000 cases, accounting for more than 197,000 victims. With this in mind, Visual Matrix has worked to provide a tool to hoteliers that can combat human trafficking while creating a safer environment for hotel operators and guests. Visual Matrix will continue to develop new features and tools designed to promote safety in the hotel environment, from panic buttons for housekeeping staff to automated notifications when a guest declines housekeeping for too long and educational materials for hoteliers on how to identify and report suspected human trafficking or other criminal activity.

Starting October 28, 2024, Visual Matrix will also donate 1% of proceeds, earned through new MOP purchases to AHLA Foundation’s No Room for Trafficking (NRFT) initiative Survivor Fund. NRFT builds on the hotel and lodging industry’s longstanding commitment to combat human trafficking by elevating the issue higher within the public consciousness, educating industry employers and workers to identify and report suspected trafficking on property, and empowering survivors with the support they need to thrive.

“Human trafficking training and awareness has never been more important because it is an increasingly nuanced and complicated issue,” said Eliza McCoy, Vice President of Programs and Impact at AHLA Foundation. “Thanks to partners like Visual Matrix, hotel operators can be more informed on what combination of factors may indicate human trafficking and how to respond effectively.”

“AHLA and the AHLA Foundation have been an indispensable force in the fight against human trafficking, and we are excited to join with them to provide expanded training, awareness and safety tools to hoteliers,” said Georgine Muntz, CEO of Visual Matrix. “We are working hard to provide training material and technology that helps hotels improve not only operational efficiency but also the safety of guests and workers. We are delighted to help support the No Room for Trafficking initiative.”

George Hutto III, a data architect for MOD Super Fast Pizza and staunch supporter of Restaurant Technology Network, died October 1.  

Restaurant Technology Network Co-Founder Angela Diffly took to LinkedIn to share a tribute.

"In addition to his 'day job' quietly and unassumingly behind the scenes, George contributed heavily to the industry at large as a key contributor to the Restaurant Technology Network’s (RTN) technology standards, including the Open API Framework, Menu Synchronization Standard, Customer Record Data Standard, Transactional Data Standard and Restaurant Technology KPIs, as well as Labor and Technology Best Practices.

These working groups were voluntary, and George spent countless hours working alongside a strong, steady contingency of fellow data enthusiasts in an altruistic and commendable effort to make the restaurant industry better, and solve collective challenges."

Read Diffly's full post, Remembering Restaurant Technology’s Data Ninja, George Hutto on LinkedIn.


A GoFundMe page has been established to support George’s family. If you’d like to donate, please visit here.

Designed with accessibility and financial freedom in mind, the new Instant mobile app is released with a list of innovative new features and functionality including:

• Faster Access to Earned Wages: Employees have access to their hard-earned wages in fewer steps, with an improved user interface (UI) and key elements surfaced more prominently within the app.
• Modern Security Features: State-of-the-art security protocols, such as facial and fingerprint biometrics, multi-factor authentication, and encryption technologies protect user information and provide peace of mind.
• Flexible Payment Options: Users have the freedom to choose how and when they access their wages. Whether it’s through direct deposit, the Instant card, or a mobile wallet, the new app offers a greater degree of flexibility for all employees, ensuring convenience for all.
• Clear and Informative Design: With improvements to the user interface (UI), the app offers a user-friendly experience, empowering users to make informed choices and navigate the app confidently.
• New Technology Framework: Underpinned by a new technology infrastructure, the new Instant mobile app is faster, more responsive, and built to allow for additional features and functionality to meet the needs of employees and how they are paid.

“Employee demands regarding how they access their wages are constantly shifting, and our new app is meeting that head-on,” said Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial. “Whether it’s to cover unexpected expenses, avoid predatory loans, or simply to enjoy more control over their finances, Instant is continually revolutionizing the way people get paid.”

By releasing this enhanced version of its mobile app experience, Instant is furthering its mission of delivering pay to employees, when they want, where they want, and how they want, all free of fees.

Orascom Hotels Management (OHM), one of the largest hotel owners and operators in the MENA region, has transformed its business operations with the Oracle OPERA Cloud hospitality platform. With the OPERA Cloud property management system and OPERA Cloud Central across its properties, the group has been able to reimagine its operations, boost automation, and deliver superior guest experiences. The first hospitality group in Egypt to adopt OPERA Cloud, it took just 12 days to complete the implementation at the initial property.

“Working with Oracle has allowed us to modernize our operations rapidly, and the results have been remarkable,” said Sanjay Sharma, Chief Technology Officer, OHM. “From day one, we saw immediate benefits. We’ve been able to eliminate more than 30 redundant processes across departments, and optimized some tasks to take 90% less time. Our call resolution time has also decreased by 60%, and we have seen a 90% reduction in external vendor distribution fees. The partnership with Oracle has empowered us to rethink our entire operation for the betterment of our business, staff, and guests alike.”

Together with Oracle and regional technology integrator Advanced Computer Technology (ACT), OHM seized the opportunity to redesign workflows from the ground up, helping to determine best practices for each of its business processes. With these changes, the group has been able to dramatically streamline its operations to free up staff to focus on more high-value, personalized service. 

Introducing ‘Experience Ambassadors’ 

Formerly just desk agents, newly coined ‘Experience Ambassadors’ are now empowered to guide guests throughout their entire stay, from greeting them by name upon arrival, to escorting them directly to their rooms and completing the check-in process on mobile devices in under a minute. This new model significantly reduced wait times and offers more high-value touch points with guests.

By transitioning to OPERA Cloud, OHM has also shifted its focus from purely operational metrics, such as check-in volumes, to a more holistic approach to enhancing the guest experience. With real-time guest preferences tracked across all its properties, OHM can ensure personalized service from visit to visit, from dietary preferences to room amenities. Guests also leave with memorable parting gifts tailored to their preferences, creating lasting impressions that drive loyalty.

“Outside of our guest facing staff, OPERA Cloud has also had a truly meaningful impact on our other team members, such as housekeeping,” added Sharma. “By digitalizing their tasks and providing them with iPads to coordinate on key details, such as once a room is clean and ready for the next guest, they feel more integrated and can see their role as an integral part of how we are serving our customers.” 

“Orascom Hotels Management’s adoption of Oracle OPERA Cloud exemplifies how hoteliers can harness technology to deliver both operational excellence and exceptional guest experiences,” said Alex Alt, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Consumer Industries. “By modernizing key aspects of their business, OHM has optimized efficiency and positioned itself to increase revenue while delighting guests with truly personalized service.”