News Briefs

From HITEC booth  1924, Hotel Internet Services (HIS) representatives will provide this year’s attendees with updated insight into the latest technologies proving to be essential in meeting guest expectations for seamless online connectivity and a more personalized, convenient and safe hotel stay experience.

As Wi-Fi network performance becomes ever more influential over guest satisfaction scores and the overall quality of service received, HIS with its decades of dedicated hotel industry expertise will notably demonstrate how properties can keep pace with the endless number of devices and systems vying for an online connection. With access to the latest advances in network software and hardware including state-of-the-art Ruckus access point technology, HIS booth representatives will showcase how modern hotel businesses can consistently maintain fast speeds and strong WiFi signal quality across the breadth of their premises. HIS will further offer high-value insight into how properties can maintain scalable networks that can adapt as online needs fluctuate- ensuring reliable fast speeds regardless of the number of devices simultaneously seeking an online connection.

As a provider of advanced internet network technology, the HIS booth will also feature details on the Ruckus IoT Suite. As more hoteliers aim to adopt IoT-driven business strategies, HITEC attendees visiting the HIS booth can discover a more streamlined and less complicated method for managing the online connectivity of their various smart devices and systems. An alternative to the presence of multiple and often conflicting wireless networks, the Ruckus IoT Suite seamlessly ensures high-speed and reliable communication for each IoT-based solution, including smart lights, sensors, thermostats and much more. By serving as a single network for a hotel’s various IoT needs, the Ruckus IoT Suite also drastically reduces costs associated with deployment and maintenance.

Attendees visiting the HIS booth will additionally have the ability to view live demonstrations of the provider’s GuestCast solution, an advanced content casting platform designed for use within hotel environments and recently named best in-room entertainment solution of the year by the TravelTech Breakthrough Awards. Engineered with ease-of-use in mind, even for first-time users or those unfamiliar with streaming technology, GuestCast sidesteps complicated device-pairing processes and instead allows guests to connect personal devices to guestroom TVs as easily as scanning a QR code. With instant compatibility with 1,000’s of mobile streaming apps, GuestCast ensures that each guest can take full control over their in-room entertainment experience regardless of what their individual interests and preferences may be. GuestCast further includes a high-value Analytics Dashboard that can provide real-time insight into device usage and performance, and that can even monitor WiFi service quality for each room where a GuestCast device has been deployed.

As a comprehensive provider of hotel-based solutions, the HIS booth will also feature details on a wide range of additional company offerings, including 24/7 support & maintenance, cable and satellite TV channel packages, cabling services and cutting edge security camera equipment.    

Shiji, a global hospitality technology innovator, has partnered with IPORT, an award-winning manufacturer known for enhancing the usability of iPads and iPhones, to introduce an all-in-one software solution for hotel restaurants. This collaboration will provide hoteliers with a seamless combination of a tablet and payment device to maximize their F&B operations.

The integrated iOS and payment device solution simplifies guest service for hotel restaurant servers, providing them with an effortless tool to cater to their guests' needs. As a certified Apple partner, Shiji and IPORT guarantee exceptional performance and reliability. Hoteliers can choose from multiple device options, including iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPhone, ensuring flexibility and compatibility with their operations.

“IPORT products are built around modularity and flexibility that empower our hospitality customers to do more with the iOS platform. We are thrilled to partner with a leading iPad and iPhone cloud PMS and POS platform provider like Shiji,” said Chris Lawson, Head of Partnerships, IPORT. “We look forward to innovating with Shiji in disrupting legacy, monolithic providers who have limited the industry from harnessing the power of iOS and mobility. The future is bright, and the possibilities are endless with IPORT, iOS, and Shiji.”

"The partnership with IPORT is a significant milestone for Shiji in our commitment to provide innovative technology solutions for the hospitality industry," said Ryan King, Senior Vice President of Shiji in the Americas. "By combining our expertise with IPORT’s hardware solutions, we empower hoteliers to streamline restaurant operations and deliver exceptional guest experiences. This collaboration represents another step forward in our dedication to driving success in the Americas, and globally."

The tablet and payment device solution seamlessly integrates with multiple payment gateways, allowing hoteliers to choose the system that best suits their needs. By simplifying the payment process, it reduces operational complexities, minimizes errors, and saves valuable time and resources for hoteliers.

Steak n Shake will offer PopID Check In and PopPay on its self-ordering kiosks in select locations in the Orlando market, with plans to expand to more than 300 corporate locations. PopID Check In is an opt-in service that enables consumers to scan their face to automatically sign into their loyalty reward account and see their past orders, making the ordering process as convenient as possible. When a guest checks in with PopID, they also have the option to use PopPay to automatically complete their payment.

• 57% of respondents say enabling new payment options is a  top business driver impacting POS upgrade decisions, according to HT’s2 2023 POS Software Trends Report.

“Our partnership with PopID is a key part of our effort to provide guests with a fast and seamless ordering experience," said Keith Correia, Chief Information Officer. "When using PopID Check In, a guest does not need to use their phone or take out their wallet as part of the ordering process. They will automatically be checked in for loyalty rewards, and they can choose to make an automated payment with PopPay. A guest can even see their past orders and quickly reorder their favorite menu items. Ordering at Steak n Shake has never been easier or more convenient.”

In addition to enhancing the guest experience and improving order throughput, PopPay helps to reduce fraud and offers lower payment processing fees.

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. 

Layne’s Chicken Fingers has hired Richard Broadhead as its new Director of Marketing. Broadhead has spent the last 15-plus years working in marketing roles and says he is ready to support the brand as it drives expansion. 

With years of experience, Broadhead has a strong track record of leveraging strategy and technology in order to create impactful marketing campaigns. Much of this knowledge is informed by his work as an independent consultant that focused on marketing and IT solutions for a wide range of clients. 

Layne’s CEO Garrett Reed approached Broadhead, welcoming him into the company in order to build an internal marketing strategy from the ground up. 

Founded in 1994 in College Station, the original location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team focused on fine-tuning its operations and starting to franchise. Now, the company is targeting 100 locations in the next four years.  

 

At HITEC UrVenue revealed enhancements to UV Enterprise. These enhancements introduce a new capability known as Guest Experience, featuring Guest Portal and Guest Services, both of which leverage integrations into platforms OpenTable, Hapi and more.

UV Enterprise is a full-stack technology platform that drives commerce, manages operations, and enhances the guest experience through unified booking and itinerary management for non-room, experience-based inventory, such as pools, lounges, recreational activities, and restaurants. During a press conference today, UrVenue also announced that the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta, Canada, is the inaugural property to pilot the complete suite of PXMS capabilities offered by UV Enterprise.

Hoteliers can see UV Enterprise, along with UrVenue’s new Guest Experience solution, in Booth 2401 at HITEC.

• Missed HITEC?  Check out HT's HITEC Toronto content hub

Guest Experience includes two key products, Guest Portal and Guest Services. Guest Portal gives guests a personalized, self-service interface for easy exploration and booking of property experiences and management of their itineraries. 

Guest Services includes Guest Portal’s key functionality. This employee-facing product empowers front desk, concierge, and call center employees to book experiences and manage itineraries on behalf of guests. 

Fairmont Banff Springs had an ambitious vision to create a digital guest experience that integrated their extensive selection of paid and complimentary experiences into a single technology solution. The resort’s experiences also had to be supported by a commerce and operations platform with channel and distribution functionality. Fairmont Banff Springs’ goal was to provide its luxury guests with a white-labeled Guest Portal, highlighting available experiences and reinforcing the property’s value proposition.

"We have long been searching for this level of innovation," said Evan Hounsell, Fairmont’s Regional Senior Manager, Digital Experience for Canada’s Western Mountain Region. “With UV Enterprise, guests are encouraged to discover and immerse themselves in our distinctive resort experience by using the My Guest Experience Platform, or speaking with our dedicated staff who use Guest Services. These tools enable better engagement with guests at every stage of the trip planning journey, from pre-arrival to their in-house stay.  

PXMS Integration Partners

As a Property Experience Management System, UV Enterprise leverages multiple integrations. 

OpenTable, originally partnered with UrVenue in 2021 to create a unified booking solution enabling restaurant reservations to be booked alongside other experience-based inventory. 
Hapi, the hospitality industry's leading platform for fast and cost-effective connectivity between technology systems, is also integral to Fairmont Banff Springs’ successful PXMS pilot.