News Briefs

Hospitality industry veteran Skip Kimpel is tapping his passion for XR (extended reality), AI and next-gen tech to power up Magicgate, an exciting new consultancy laser-focused on bringing the art of the possible to restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues worldwide. 

Focused on personalized experiences and digital transformation, Magicgate provides tailored strategies, VR training, AI-powered solutions, and XR innovations to enhance guest experiences, streamline operations, and drive growth in the rapidly evolving hospitality landscape resulting in operational efficiencies and reducing labor costs.

According to Accenture, 83% of Gen Z expects companies to personalize experiences. They also expect seamless experiences fueled by advanced technologies like AI and ML, while younger Gen A is even more immersed in tech. “Research suggests the newest generations will grow up with the most sophisticated understanding of emerging technologies like AI, AR and VR,” said Kimpel. “It’s time for companies to embrace next-gen tech if they want to win over and stay relevant with future generations.”

Under the Magicgate banner, Kimpel will offer guidance to help organizations navigate increasingly blurred lines between what’s real, what’s virtual, and how these multiverse worlds are becoming ever more connected. “Our approach goes beyond just adopting new tech—it’s about reshaping entire business models,” says President and CEO, Skip Kimpel. “We help companies stay ahead of digital disruption by offering tailored strategies that combine XR, AI, and more to deliver real business value.”

Key Offerings:

• Custom Strategy: Tailored roadmaps for XR, AI, spatial computing, metaverse and other disruptive technology integrations.
• XR Solutions: XR strategy from immersive customer experiences to advanced training techniques.
• VR Training & Onboarding: Reduce learning curves, ensure employees are job-ready faster. Minimize travel costs, particularly for global organizations.
• Remote AR Support & Maintenance: Procure AR solutions to enhance real-time remote support, allowing technicians to overlay digital instructions onto physical objects in real time.
• AI-Powered Innovation: Discovery, procurement and implementation of AI / ML tech, like predictive analytics, chatbots, and business operations including the use of advanced Computer Vision.
• Digital Twins: Optimize facility management, enhance guest experiences, and improve sustainability by providing real-time data on operations, predictive maintenance, and personalized guest services.

“We’ve tapped Skip’s expertise to help navigate the training processes into the VR world,” added Cam Crowder, Former Franchise Owner, Tim Hortons. “We see the potential of positive ROI - and it will be an absolute game-changer.”

According to Zarnik and EHL Hospitality Insights, the global market for smart hotel technology alone is projected to reach $24.46 billion by 2027, driven by the adoption of AI, XR, IoT, and other innovative solutions. And according to QSR Magazine and Mordor Intel, AI is rapidly transforming the restaurant sector, with the market for AI-powered solutions expected to reach $49 billion by 2029, up from $9.68 billion in 2024.

“There’s no doubt XR and AI will transform hospitality,” commented Michael Cohen, Managing Partner, Growth Advisors International Network (GAIN). “Skip is already a go-to source for organizations looking to navigate this world, so this represents a natural next step for him, and a big win for the industry at large.”

“We’ve seen XR adoption start to transform industries like aerospace and healthcare” said John Cunningham, COO of the VR/AR Association. “Hospitality is the next horizon, and this consultancy - with Skip at the helm - will help accelerate the industry.”

Mark Shambura has joined Panera Bread as Chief Marketing Officer. Shambura will lead all aspects of marketing at Panera, including Brand Building, Digital & Loyalty, Product Strategy & Consumer Insights. An accomplished marketing leader with broad expertise in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura has previously held marketing leadership roles during pivotal growth periods for top brands including Chipotle, MOD Pizza, and most recently Papa Johns.

"Mark brings an impressive background building brands and leading marketing teams for fast-casual restaurants, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Panera Bread,” said José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer. “As Panera continues to evolve our brand, guided by listening to our guests, Mark’s depth of experience and ability will help drive our growth as a brand that serves great food you feel good about eating.”

Shambura previously served as CMO at Papa Johns, where he led a revitalization of the brand by enhancing its iconic “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” platform, and developing a more modern, innovative omnichannel approach to transform how Papa Johns appealed to both new and loyal consumers. As Executive Director at Chipotle, Mr. Shambura guided the marketing function through periods of both sustained growth and transition, providing leadership over brand strategy, advertising, digital, social, events/sponsorships, promotions, and field marketing, including playing a key role in spearheading its “Real Ingredients” brand strategy.

“I’m proud to join the Panera Bread team and excited to build on the momentum of the brand's transformation as it continues to evolve in service of our guests,” Mr. Shambura said. “Panera propelled and cemented its position at the top of the fast casual restaurant segment through its promise of high-quality ingredients and freshly prepared food, and I’m thrilled to join a highly talented team to help shape its next chapter.”

Prior to his tenure in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura gained extensive marketing agency experience, working with a broad array of top global consumer brands for over a decade. Shambura will report directly to José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer, and officially assumed the role of Chief Marketing Officer on July 29, 2024.

Sapia.ai, a provider of AI-driven recruitment solutions, launches  Live Interview , a tool designed to simplify interview scheduling for hourly hiring. With a focus on ease of use, Live Interview  makes scheduling as intuitive as booking a restaurant - especially benefiting store managers overseeing hourly workers.

Building on Sapia.ai’s Smart Interviewer  platform, which automates the screening & assessing of candidates, Live Interview™ enhances the interview process, offering more personalization, intelligence, and efficiency at a critical hiring stage. Integrated with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) like Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, and iCIMS, Live Interview  supports bulk scheduling without relying on external calendars, ensuring managers can focus on people, not logistics.

"Our mission is to humanize hiring while driving efficiency," says Barb Hyman, CEO of Sapia.ai. "While AI simplifies screening, the human interview remains pivotal. With Live Interview™, users can add a personal touch, like sharing values or introducing themselves via video - bringing personalization to scale for high-volume hiring."

Following the success of Talent Hub, which reduced recruiter workloads by aggregating candidate data and cutting clicks by 90%, Live Interview™ extends Sapia.ai's commitment to delivering intelligent, user-centric solutions. Leading brands such as Woolworths Group and Starbucks have already experienced the impact, reporting Net Promoter Scores (NPS) exceeding 80 for improved candidate and hiring manager experiences.

Live Interview™ is now available via the Sapia.ai platform

In the third quarter of 2024, Square completed a significant infrastructure shift, creating a best-in-class commerce platform with leading payments and ordering capabilities for sellers. The new platform fundamentally changes how the company builds products and will provide expanded commerce capabilities like Pre-Auth and Bar Tabs to sellers of all sizes across verticals in the U.S.

Square’s new order-based infrastructure is designed to help sellers grow their business by enabling them to complete a sale anywhere and anyhow, which allows them to run an efficient operation that delights customers and gives sellers time back.

• 84% of survey participants plan to add new functionality, features, or modules to their current POS software, according to HT's 2024 POS Software Trends Survey

“We are thrilled that sellers in the U.S. are now on the new Orders Platform, which is currently in general availability. This is a key unlock for innovation and we expect this will accelerate product velocity going forward,” said Saumil Mehta, Head of Product for Square. “With the Orders platform, Square will be able to provide more checkout flexibility to sellers - whether their customers are seeking to order ahead, open a bar tab or set up a subscription, sellers using Square will be able to offer more options to capture sales across their businesses.”

To learn more about Square’s latest offerings, visit www.squareup.com.

Mews has released the Mews Terminal S2 to further transform hotel businesses across food and beverage (F&B) and front desk operations.

The Mews Terminal S2 combines the power and flexibility of an electronic point-of-sale (ePOS) system with the capabilities of a payment terminal. It continues the company's commitment to accelerate business growth for hoteliers, by providing increased speed, flexibility and ease of use for both staff and guests across all payment touchpoints throughout the stay.

The Mews Terminal S2 fully integrates with Mews POS, with Mews Payments embedded throughout to ensure seamless staff and guest experiences. This enables staff to take orders and process secure payments from the same device anywhere on the property, from front desk room upgrades to poolside drinks.

It also eliminates wasteful trips between tables and fixed terminals and reduces order errors with real-time order transmission, allowing staff to focus on delivering exceptional guest service. Its flexibility and scalability make the solution suitable for both independent and property groups with F&B facilities.

The portable, wireless, hand-held device has a long-life, rechargeable battery, and empowers hoteliers to better manage the flow of busy restaurants and front desks. It can be easily moved to high-traffic areas when necessary, such as the reception desk during check-out times or the restaurant during peak dining hours. This eliminates the need to double up on terminals at each location.

Arctic SnowHotel, a property part of Snowhotel Family, located in Lapland, Finland, was an early adopter of the Mews Terminal S2. The hotel experienced a significant positive impact on operations, with the average time to take orders and payments dropping from five minutes to just one minute.

Suvi Ristiluoma, Head of Restaurant Operations/Human Resources Manager at Snowhotel Family, said: “With the Mews Terminal S2, we’ve been able to provide a more seamless and pleasant experience for our guests, which is exactly what we strive for. It’s simple to use, and our staff love how it speeds up service without compromising on guest interaction.”

Versatile payment options are available, with the ability to split bills, take card or mobile payments, and charge directly to the room. An embedded tipping option makes it easy for guests to reward great service, helping to keep staff happy and engaged.

“Great hospitality is often about simplicity, and the Mews Terminal S2 means hotel and restaurant staff have just one, easy-to-use device to handle the administrative elements of their role,” said Matt Welle, CEO at Mews. “Guests are served faster, staff make fewer mistakes, and hotels can work more efficiently and securely.”