News Briefs

This month at HITEC® Toronto, Maestro PMS will showcase the latest enhancements to its popular Web Browser based cloud and on-premises all-in-one PMS solution for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups. From mobile apps and mobile guest messaging to itinerary building and kiosk check in, the industry’s preferred provider of PMS solutions will display an array of NEW software tools and technologies in Booth 1225 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre June 27 to 29.

“Maestro has been developing innovative hotel software for more than 45 years,” said Warren Dehan, Maestro president. “Our mature, stable, and proven solutions feature exactly what today’s hotel operators are looking for — advanced, flexible technology backed by unrivaled dedication to customer service. People attending HITEC will be able to see the newest technology innovations from Maestro, which we always keep current and evolving. All modules are geared to help independent operators centralize operations on a single platform and database, generate more revenue and discover new revenue streams while creating an efficient and productive working environment that maximizes staff efficiencies.”

Maestro PMS is intuitive, easy to use, widely adaptable and offers flexible training. Software is continually enhanced with FREE upgrades to new versions. More still, the solution’s Web Browser and Mobile PMS Suite offers flexible deployment options, including on-premises, self-hosted, or in your own private cloud, as well as a fully managed and dedicated cloud hosted offering that rivals its competitors’ SaaS model offerings. All deployments support a safe and secure digital guest experience with the latest mobile, contactless, and web-based technologies including extensive integration and API libraries to offer more in the Maestro ecosystem.

“Maestro’s Web browser-based systems give operators the freedom to control their properties from anywhere and use a variety of devices — something that has become a necessity due to limitations on available labor and the growing need for operational flexibility,” Dehan said. “With interdepartmental and cross property staff communications capabilities and guest mobile self-serve tools, we have the right suite of tools to improve efficiency and agility. We encourage all independent operators to stop by Booth 1225 while at the show, get a barista-served coffee on us, and have a chat with me and our team.”

NEW Cutting-Edge, Sophisticated Solution
Updates are a routine part of Maestro’s innovation strategy. Improving ease-of-use is crucial to daily operations, and simplifying onboarding ensures that employees can continue offering the highest level of service to guests. NEW this year, Maestro will unveil an innovative “Touch” interface that is available across any device equipped with a touch screen, including mobile devices, tablets, laptops, and more. This exciting new development is set to revolutionize the user experience at the front desk, particularly for new and seasonal staff. Maestro Touch will offer a simple and intuitive front end that will require almost no training to use. With this new product addition to its PMS suite, Maestro is breaking new ground in the hospitality industry, providing a cutting-edge and sophisticated solution that delivers unparalleled ease of use and a seamless user experience.

Also, at HITEC Toronto, attendees will see:

• An all-encompassing single guest itinerary that is updated in real-time presenting the guest with everything they’ve booked on property — including spa trips, dining opportunities, and golf outings — all part of a fluid booking journey which the guest can get updated anytime via email or SMS.
• A check-in kiosk that enables travelers to skip the front desk and choose their level of contactless experience from start to finish.
• Two-way Guest Experience Management (GuestXMS) integrated to the core PMS that provides real-time communication between travelers and hotel operators. It also manages staff operations and communications through incident and task management via mobile devices and easy to action dashboards.
• A refreshed UI with modern design, updated color palettes and dark mode to reduce eye fatigue.
• Updated front desk, sales and catering, and maintenance plus access to better tools for managing housekeeping credits, tracking a unified Person Category count for single and multi-room reservations across all Maestro applications.
• Improved E-Learning center allowing staff to self-learn with delivery of report cards, one-on-one tutorials, and in application instant live chat to help assist hotel workers with any challenge.
• Mobile-first layout to give users remote access to Maestro’s cloud-based tools (Mobile Reservations, Digital registration cards, Mobile check-in/out, Mobile key, Mobile 2-way messaging, and Contactless Payments) from any modern web browser.

NEW Open API’s & Integration Partners
To thrive in today’s technology-driven hospitality marketplace, hoteliers are aligning with Maestro PMS for its ability to continually develop new connections to 800+ impactful technologies via an open API (Application Programming Interface). Maestro’s open APIs help operators manage new partnerships as they emerge, naturally expanding their property’s capabilities to meet their guests’ needs. Newest integration partners that will be featured at the Maestro booth include: Anything Hotel Meta & Web Services, B4 Checkin Transform Online Payment Solution, Canary Technologies Digital Platform, and Zaplox Mobile Key Platform.

“Hospitality is built on partnerships, and Maestro PMS is continuing its commitment to supporting not only our independent hoteliers’ excellence through technology, communication, and innovation, but also industry-leading organizations such as HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals) by once again sponsoring the industry’s premier technology event. There is no better time to be a Maestro PMS user. We can’t wait to see everyone and show them what’s NEW at Maestro.”

For electric vehicle owners in British Columbia, Tim Hortons is now fueling road trips in more ways than one.  The company has announced the expansion of its electric vehicle charging station pilot launched earlier this year in Oakville, Ontario, by unveiling six new charging stations at restaurants throughout  British Columbia.

Tim Hortons announced the pilot in February in an effort to study the technology, its usage and opportunities.

"We have been thrilled with the results of the pilot so far.  Usage of the charging station in Oakville has surpassed our expectations and we received many calls with requests to expand the pilot," said Paulo Ferreira, Senior Director, International Strategic Restaurant Design and Building Standards, Tim Hortons. "With more than 3,300 eligible restaurants across the country, we continue to look for opportunities to expand the pilot and contribute to the EV infrastructure."

The BC expansion, supported by the Province of BC's Community Charging Infrastructure Fund and Koben Systems Inc. (KSI), placed charging stations strategically in Nanaimo, Langford, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Abbotsford and Coquitlam to create paths within the province, allowing guests to travel from restaurant to restaurant strictly on electric power.

Tim Hortons offers charging stations as a courtesy to guests at six locations.  As of March 31st, 2013, Tim Hortons had 4,288 system-wide restaurants, including 3,453 in Canada, 808 in the United States and 27 in the Gulf Cooperation Council. 

BRIX Holdings, a multi-brand franchising company, has chosen Interface Systems to deploy managed network, business voice, PCI compliance, business security, and business intelligence solutions for all their franchise locations, including Red Mango Cafe, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, Orange Leaf, Humble Donut Co, Greenz, Friendly’s and Pizza Jukebox.

Interface’s solutions enable BRIX to offer its franchisees a modern and proven technology template that can be replicated with ease at any number of locations consistently. By choosing Interface’s suite of managed services, BRIX offers franchise operators a proven technology model to run successful businesses.

Networking and Voice Solutions

Interface’s network-technology-in-box solution includes prefabricated, tamper-proof network cabinets with switches, routers, firewalls, and connectivity needed to keep critical restaurant applications running 24X7. With Interface, BRIX offers its franchisees the option to deploy a reliable network backbone with guaranteed uptime, using a plug-and-play model. Franchise operators now also have the ability to go online at any location in the US without the complexity of dealing with local service providers.

The VoIP solution offers franchise operators the flexibility to configure call handling and routing best suited to improve customer experience and internal productivity.

PCI compliance services allow franchise operators to efficiently address the complexity of managing customer payment data securely. Operators have access to online training, self-assessment questionnaires, and helpful templates to remain PCI compliant.

“One of the bonuses of being a BRIX franchisee is that we help standardize critical technologies and make it as simple as possible so that the franchise operator can focus on the business,” says Carissa DeSantis, Chief Technology Officer, and HT's Top Women in Restaurant Technology - Innovator Award Winner. 

Enhanced Security

With Interface’s remote video monitoring solutions, franchisees now have access to a consistent and reliable security presence without the need to hire expensive guards. With 24X7 monitoring from Interface’s interactive Security Operations Center (iSOC), restaurants have access to a discreet, always-on security solution. Restaurant employees can easily contact trained intervention specialists at the iSOC who can then evaluate the situation and take necessary steps, following predefined protocols. In addition, the solution has a low monthly service cost that makes budgeting easy for franchise operators planning to expand operations.

Business Insights

Interface will be working with BRIX to leverage the restaurants’ security cameras to reveal valuable operational information for franchise operators, including ordering times and wait times inside the store and at the drive-thru, table turnover, the effectiveness of self-service kiosks, and gaps in shift management. 

View the video testimonial and complete case study for more details. 

SpotOn introduces Seat & Send. After joining a restaurant's waitlist or reservation roster, Seat and Send allows guests to pre-order food or drinks that will be fired to the kitchen immediately after the guest is seated. The new advancement promises faster service, enhanced guest satisfaction, and improved operational efficiency for restaurants.

SpotOn developed Seat & Send as a way to enhance the guest experience from the start while helping operators maximize orders, grow their average ticket size and "achieve that elusive third turn without sacrificing the third round." With Seat & Send, guests can now make the most of their wait time by  browsing the menu and placing orders right from their smartphone devices. The Seat & Send solution allows guests to receive their orders faster, while restaurants can improve operational efficiency, turn tables faster, and reduce pressure on servers.

• 71% say the ability to integrate with other systems is driving their POS purchase decisions, according to HT’s2 2023 POS Software Trends Report.

 

How it Works

Seat & Send brings together the power of SpotOn Restaurant, SpotOn Reserve, and SpotOn Order to allow guests to jump-start their orders while waiting for their table. Guests with a reservation or added to the waitlist will automatically receive a digital ordering link from the restaurant so they can explore and order the restaurant’s menu using SpotOn Order. To pre-order, guests select their preferred items, customize their order, indicate dietary preferences or allergens, and confirm the order. Once the guest is seated, their order is sent to the kitchen and delivered seamlessly. Guests can continue to add to their order throughout their experience and even pay with the same link.

For more information, visit www.spoton.com/reserve.

Bikky, a customer data platform built exclusively for multi-unit restaurants,  announced that nine  New York City-based brands selected Bikky as their data and analytics partner. The nine brands include Westville, Boqueria, Zucker’s Bagels, Avocaderia, INDAY, Seamore’s, Marlow Collective, 5 Napkin Burger, and Handcraft Burgers and Brew.

Data Matters

For restaurants today, understanding their guests is more important than ever. Diners have more options to choose from across delivery apps, price points, cuisine types, and dietary preferences, leading to a more costly and competitive operating environment for restaurants. With up to 80% of a restaurant’s revenue coming from repeat guests, understanding what turns first-time diners into regulars is key.

• 71% of respondents say using data to understand guest preferences and behavior is impacting POS upgrade decisions, according to HT’s 2023 POS Software Trends Report.

Leading NYC brands are turning to Bikky, one of the top 3 finalists in RTN's Start-Up Alley, to leverage their guest data to understand those behaviors and answer questions plaguing all modern restaurants, like which menu items best create long-term customers, the lifetime value of their loyalty guests, and predicting which customers are likely to churn.

“A successful restaurant is the sum of many small details that make a huge difference at scale,” said Alessandro Biggi, the Founder of Avocaderia, an avocado bar. “With Bikky, we’re able to get a bird’s-eye view on our guests’ behavior and collect the insights that allow us to make informed decisions about the content, frequency and timing of our marketing initiatives including email, our loyalty program and our menu specials.”

With Bikky, which is headquartered in New York, every brand can now make data-driven decisions that improve every aspect of the guest lifecycle and drive more revenue.

From the dining room to the deck, restaurants are increasingly evolving their physical environments to create a unique experience for diners. To ensure they have the powerful, flexible hardware needed to support nearly any configuration, Oracle today announced the Oracle MICROS Workstation 8 Series. Featuring a slim profile with 14-inch touchscreen display and platinum finish, the new workstations deliver quality and durability in a sleek, ergonomic package.

See the Oracle MICROS Workstation 8 in action at HITEC booth #224 on June 27-29^th or The Hospitality Show booth #619 on June 27-29^th.

"Form meets function with the Oracle MICROS Workstation 8 Series," said Simon de Montfort Walker, executive vice president and general manager for Oracle Food and Beverage. "It's elegant and lowers the physical barrier between staff and customer. More importantly it's the result of in-depth studies on the needs of customers and staff. It can be modified to fit its surroundings, and comes with a new simple out-of-the-box installation process. Underneath the sleek exterior is a rugged workhorse that when coupled with our Simphony and Payments Cloud solutions, becomes a reliable, powerful hub at the heart of a restaurant's operation."

The Workstation 8 Series features multiple configuration options. This includes a mount for a low profile setup that helps remove any barriers between staff and guests or a vertical stand with weighted base for a streamlined countertop design that conceals cabling for a clean aesthetic. Restaurants can implement a workstation on its own or leverage the Peripheral Expansion Module (PEM), which provides options for a cash drawer, scale, or scanner.

Designed as a fan-less system with a broad operating temperature range, the Workstation 8 Series can be used in a wide range of harsh environments. And with its IP-rating, the Workstation 8 can withstand splashes and spills to reduce the risk of downtime.

The Workstation 8 Series also features a powerful Celeron Quad-Core CPU with the option for either Windows 10 IoT Enterprise or Oracle Linux for MICROS. With the latter, there is no additional charge for an operating system license, and Oracle will manage the hardware and provide a single channel for the operating system, software, hardware, maintenance, and support.