News Briefs

Odyssey Resorts, Minnesota’s largest resort property developer, announced that Howard Anderson has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer effective May 1, 2024. Kirk Schultz is retiring from the position he has held since 2019 and will stay on in an advisory role during the transition.

As CEO, Anderson provides strategic direction and leads the day-to-day financial operations of Odyssey Resorts. The company owns and manages a portfolio of nine resorts located in the North Shore of Lake Superior and the Brainerd Lakes area in Minnesota.

Anderson joined Odyssey Resorts in 2022 as Vice President of Strategic Planning and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2023. He has guided and managed several of the organization’s key functions, including sales and marketing, group sales, and resort operations. During his time with Odyssey, Anderson formed deep partnerships with the company’s guests, team members, and owners. He has overseen key initiatives for the company, including the addition of the Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort in Deerwood, Minn., to the Odyssey Resorts portfolio in 2023 and the creation of new food and beverage programs at Odyssey’s core restaurants at Grand Superior Lodge, Larsmont Cottages and Caribou Highlands Lodge.

Anderson has more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry. He served as Vice President of Operations at ZMC Hotels before joining Odyssey Resorts. He is an accomplished leader, skilled at brand development, market planning, hotel management and financial execution.

“I am humbled to be named the next Chief Executive Officer of Odyssey Resorts. Hospitality is part of who I am and something I care deeply about. I am excited to lead the next chapter of Odyssey Resorts,” said Anderson. “With unbelievable properties in one-of-a-kind locations, we can offer unmatched vacation experiences. I look forward to working with our strong team to deliver lasting memories for our many valued guests and homeowners.”

Anderson received a B.A. from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He is a past board chair of Hospitality Minnesota, a past president of the Minnesota Lodging Association, and a member of the Minnesota Lodging Association’s “Minnesota Hospitality Hall of Fame.”

“I want to extend my gratitude to the guests, homeowners, and team members of Odyssey Resorts. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish together, and I will cherish the friendships I made during my time as CEO,” said Schultz. “I also want to congratulate Howard Anderson on this announcement. He is eminently qualified for the position and will continue to build on the strong tradition of excellence at Odyssey Resorts.”

Odyssey Resorts manages and operates East Bay Suites in Grand Marais, Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, Lutsen Sea Villas in Lutsen, the Mountain Inn at Lutsen in Lutsen, Breezy Point Cabins on Lake Superior in Two Harbors, Grand Superior Lodge in Two Harbors, Larsmont Cottages in Two Harbors, Beacon Pointe on Lake Superior Resort in Duluth and Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort in Deerwood. Blackburn Investment Management, a Minnesota-based group of private investors, is the lead investor in Odyssey Resorts.

“Howard Anderson is the right person to be the next Chief Executive Officer of Odyssey Resorts. He has proven to be an invaluable asset to our guests and an advocate for our team members,” said T.J. McMillan, CEO of Blackburn Investment Management. “He has a deep knowledge of the current state of the hospitality business and is a collaborative thinker focused on achieving goals and planning for future success. We are also grateful to Kirk Schultz and his years of service, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He steered Odyssey through some very difficult times with poise and grace.”

Domino's Pizza Inc. introduces its new and improved loyalty program. 

Domino's Rewards offers loyalty members even more opportunities to earn and redeem points across its corporate and franchise store locations. Domino's enhanced rewards program allows customers to:

• Earn points for less
  • Loyalty members will now earn 10 points on every order of $5 or more
• Redeem points for even more menu items – and earn free Domino's after just two orders
  • Members can redeem a variety of points for more menu items:
    • 20 points: A free dipping cup, a 16-piece order of Parmesan Bread Bites or a 20 oz. drink
    • 40 points: An order of Bread Twists or Stuffed Cheesy Bread
    • 60 points: A medium, two-topping pizza; pasta; Oven-Baked Sandwich; or a 3-piece order of Chocolate Lava Crunch Cakes
• Earn more rewards
  • Loyalty perks are now even better, as members will have exclusive access to member-only deals, special discounts and opportunities to earn bonus points!

"We are thrilled to give the brand's loyal customers additional ways to earn free Domino's items more often," said Mark Messing, Domino's vice president of digital experience and loyalty. "At a time when most brands are scaling back their loyalty programs and making it more difficult to earn and redeem points, Domino's is doing the opposite. We want to make it easier to reward our customers and give them more options so they can get rewarded faster."

Marketing a LTO 

From now until Oct. 22, 2023, rewards members can take advantage of a limited time offer to redeem 20 points for a free order of Domino's new Pepperoni Stuffed Cheesy Bread, which is normally a 40-point redemption, in celebration of the product's recent launch. 

ParTech, Inc. (PAR), announces that A&W Restaurants, Inc. has chosen PAR Data Central’s  for Enterprise Reporting and Analytics.

In a move that highlights A&W's commitment to technological advancement and operational excellence, the chain known for its signature root beer and classic American fare has embraced PAR Data Central's powerful reporting engine. This transformative collaboration underscores A&W's dedication to leveraging cutting-edge solutions to drive growth and innovation across its organization.

• 83% say using data to understand guest preferences and behavior is impacting POS upgrade decisions in 2024, according to HT’s 2024 POS Software Trends Survey

“A&W has grown to need an extra layer of insights across the organization that is maintenance-free, reliable, accurate, and fast,” said Brett Allan, Senior Director of IT and Analytics at A&W Restaurants. “PAR Data Central's Enterprise Reporting & Analytics module allows us to get a high-level picture for our Restaurant Support Center to understand what factors are driving the business.”

This milestone also highlights A&W's role as a valued customer of both PAR Brink POS  and PAR Data Central, illustrating their embrace of the Operator Cloud concept. By seamlessly integrating these solutions, A&W maximizes operational efficiency and gains actionable insights into key metrics, setting a new standard for excellence in the industry.

Betsy Schmandt, President and Chief Operating Officer of A&W Restaurants, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "With Data Central, we are equipped to unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation based on robust, data-driven insights. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to providing our teams with the most advanced tools available in the industry."

With PAR Data Central, A&W Restaurants is poised to drive informed decision-making, optimize operations, and enhance customer experiences, solidifying their position as a leader in the restaurant industry.

PAR Technology and A&W Restaurants come together to enhance customer experiences by seamlessly integrating PAR Brink POS and PAR Data Central. This "better together" approach exemplifies the effectiveness of PAR's unified commerce solutions, liberating businesses from system complexities, fostering innovation, and emphasizing PAR's commitment to customer success.

Founded in 1919, A&W has more than than 900 locations in the U.S. and Asia.

Hungry House a New York-based fast casual restaurant platform, is merging with MegaBite , based in Lima and Mexico City, a multi-brand platform bringing curated, chef-backed cuisine to market through various delivery channels and its own app. 

Together, the two companies create an international, multi-brand fast casual player with 13 locations in three countries: USA, Mexico and Peru. With a combined annual revenue over $6M, the joint entity will double down on continued growth across the verticals of in-store retail, first-party delivery, and third-party delivery partnerships with UberEATS, GrubHub, DoorDash, and Rappi in Latin America.

 Both companies will continue to operate as vertically integrated players to maintain their mutually high levels of food quality and hospitality that are core to the brand of their new entity, BiteLabs. 

Not a Ghost Kitchen

"We believe that Hungry House and MegaBite, operating together, have the potential to be the most innovative, tech-enabled, multi-brand fast-casual restaurant group across the Americas. We'll continue to bring our vision of chef-backed fast casual restaurants with a dynamic in-store experience, and a robust native app, to diverse audiences passionate about great food. This will uplift choice for the consumer with groundbreaking, high-quality culinary brands developed in partnership with today's most exciting chefs and provide a range of choice for the consumer facilitated by algorithmically personalized options," says Pedro Neira, CEO of MegaBite and the newly created entity. "We are definitely not a ghost kitchen platform. Given that our customers can reach us with in-person eating in our restaurants, via pickup, through third-party apps, as well as online through our own native apps and websites, I would say our business model mirrors more that of Sweetgreen, CAVA, and Shake Shack. The only difference is that we are serving multiple brands in our locations and not just one."

Hungry House provides the joint entity with expertise in business-to-business catering service, while MegaBite offers extensive expertise in data-driven, food delivery optimization across its multiple sales channels. The deal also creates exciting synergy with the talent of the combined C-Suite leading the next chapter of growth for the company. 

The transaction solidifies Hungry House and MegaBite's momentum at a compelling time in the fast casual segment. Both companies have since 2021 been building in the same space. The joined companies will not build in the ghost kitchen space, but instead expand by building upon a multi-brand, in-store retail and multi-channel approach similar to that of Wonder, which recently secured an additional $100 in funding from Nestlé. The growth and expansion of Hungry House and MegaBite, and the current merger, have been facilitated by Wilshire Lane Capital, Carao Ventures, SNR VC, McK Hospitality, Alaya Capital, Amarena VC, and independent investors like Russ Rosenband, Atit Jariwala, and Andrew Balogh.

This news builds on the growth of Hungry House's existing NYC footprint. The company recently launched a newly updated location in Manhattan on January 22. Previously Pure Grit BBQ (now a Hungry House portfolio brand), the new location stands for culinary collaboration, and brings together innovative, chef-inspired flavors through a single multi-brand culinary platform, available in person and online. The launch of the new restaurant, in the heart of Manhattan's Flatiron District, also featured a special announcement about Hungry House's upcoming partnership with chef and online personality Emily Fedner, of Food Lover's Diary, featuring an Eastern European-influenced dumpling menu, now available at both Hungry House locations in Manhattan & Brooklyn for pickup and delivery.

Pictured from left:  Co-Founder and COO Andrew Corrigan, Co-Founder and CEO Pedro Neira, and Co-Founder and Head of Growth Solamon Cruz Estin, formerly of UberEats and DoorDash.

About BiteLabs
Moving forward, the company envisions continuing to launch tech-enabled, multi-brand fast-casual restaurants where guests can sit and eat onsite, order for pick-up or delivery via a native app and various third-party channels, and also locations that can serve the B2B markets with the same variety and quality that it serves the B2C market.

There is nothing better than going to the mountains with someone who knows the place inside and out. That's why today Vail Resorts announced My Epic Assistant, a new technology within the My Epic app providing mountain information at guests' fingertips – anytime, anywhere. Powered by advanced AI and resort experts, My Epic Assistant will be available for the 2024/25 season to answer questions about Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone. Vail Resorts plans to expand the technology to additional resorts in future seasons.

"For more than a decade, we have been committed to improving the guest experience through the use of innovative technology," said Chris Smith, chief information officer at Vail Resorts. "With the recent advancements in AI, we see an opportunity to provide real-time guest service so skiers and riders can navigate their day at our mountain resorts with confidence, efficiency and ease."

Whether looking for the latest snow conditions, or on-mountain support with rentals and lessons – guests can simply open the My Epic app and use My Epic Assistant to point them in the right direction. No need to stand in line to get questions answered or call for help. The moment a question comes to mind, guests can ask My Epic Assistant so they can quickly get back to enjoying their day on the slopes.

Why It Matters?
Vail Resorts is launching My Epic Assistant as part of its ongoing investments to help all guests – new and returning – feel welcome at its resorts. My Epic Assistant will offer skiers and riders an easy-to-use place to ask questions, feel confident in the responses they receive, and then make the most out of their experience skiing and riding.

This latest My Epic app enhancement follows Vail Resorts' introduction of Mobile Pass and Mobile Lift Tickets this season. This new technology innovation allows guests to skip the ticket window and buy their Pass (or lift ticket) online, then activate and store it in the My Epic app on their phone, and scan at the lifts hands free using Bluetooth technology designed for low energy use. Mobile Pass and Mobile Lift Tickets eliminate the need to visit the ticket window and over time will reduce the waste created by plastic cards and RFID chips. The My Epic app also features lift line wait times, interactive trail maps, real-time mountain conditions, personalized stats, and more, making it a one-stop resource for skiers and riders.

In future years, Vail Resorts plans to significantly expand the My Epic Assistant technology to provide proactive, personalized recommendations and reminders based on an individual's unique itinerary and preferences, as well as offer always-on booking and itinerary support.

How Will It Work?
Using the My Epic app, guests can ask My Epic Assistant their resort and mountain questions for immediate assistance, 24/7.

My Epic Assistant will support inquiries from a wide variety of topics like mountain conditions, general resort information, resort and on-mountain activities, ski and ride school and rental support, dining options, parking and much more. Here are a few examples:

"What runs are groomed today?"
"What are the conditions on-mountain?"
"What time is Ski and Ride School drop off?"
"What are the lunch options on mountain?"
"Where can I get rentals?"
"What is the closest parking lot to get to the mountain?"

Any guest using My Epic Assistant may also choose to connect with a live resort expert by chat or phone. More details regarding My Epic Assistant's year-one functionality will be released before the start of the 2024/25 winter season.

When and Where Will It Launch?
My Epic Assistant will be available to guests logged into the My Epic app in time for the 2024/25 winter season for questions about four Colorado resorts: Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone. The company has plans to expand the technology to additional resorts in future seasons. 2024/25 Epic Passes are available to purchase on epicpass.com.

Smashburger, a fast-casual better burger brand, announced the appointment of Denise Nelsen as its new Chief Executive Officer, the company's first female CEO.  

"We are thrilled to welcome Denise Nelsen as Smashburger's newest CEO. With her extensive experience and proven leadership in the food and beverage industry, she is set to propel the brand into a new era of growth," said Jollibee Group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong. "Her appointment signifies the Jollibee Group's commitment to excellence and diversity. With all her capabilities and energy, we are confident that she can drive success for Smashburger, thereby contributing to the growth of the Jollibee Group as a whole."

Nelsen joined the company as incoming Chief Executive Officer in January 2024, bringing more than 30 years of QSR industry expertise to the role. Prior to joining the fast casual brand, Nelsen served as the Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations at Starbucks, most recently leading the brand's U.S. business for nearly five years, prior to holding various operations and support roles within the company for over two decades.

Her tenure in these previous positions has set Nelsen up with a solid foundation as she steps into the role of CEO. Within Smashburger, she will cultivate and lead teams, integrate streamlined business processes and aim to deliver an impactful influence on all Smashburger's employees, locations and the communities they serve.