News Briefs
- 10/29/2024
Lajitas Golf Resort Chooses Agilysys Hospitality Software Solutions to Elevate Guest Experiences and Optimize Revenue Beyond Rooms
Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading global provider of hospitality software solutions and services, today announced that Lajitas Golf Resort has implemented 14 Agilysys solutions to connect and modernize guest experiences property-wide. These solutions also work together to share data, insights and processes to improve staff efficiencies and optimize revenue across the resort’s many amenities. All 14 Agilysys solutions were implemented and in production use within a 48-hour period!In addition to Agilysys software platforms for PMS, POS, Golf and Spa, Lajitas selected solutions that enhance payment efficiencies and security; enable mobile transactions and information access; improve check-in/check-out experiences; reserve dining and leisure activities; automate service requests; simplify retail and gift card purchases; and streamline sales and catering workflows. By offloading repetitive and administrative tasks, staff members now have more time to engage with guests, maintain operational consistency, and work more efficiently, especially during the off-season when resources are limited.With its Black Jack Crossing golf course consistently ranked by Golfweek as the #38 Resort Course in The USA and the #1 Course You Can Play in Texas, as well as by Golf Magazine as the Most Beautiful Course in Texas, Lajitas attracts discerning guests. Located on a bluff 2,200 feet above the Rio Grande River and adjacent to Big Bend National Park, the property’s uniquely remote location delivers diverse experiences not only for golfers but also for families, bucket list travelers, wedding guests and conference attendees.When Philip McLain, Director of Information Technology for Lajitas, was tasked with replacing and elevating technology systems and infrastructure across the property, his requirements were more stringent than most. He required software systems not only sophisticated enough to smoothly unify diverse, high-quality guest and staff experiences, but also delivered by a technology partner able to provide exceptional service, support, security and reliability in the resort’s decidedly remote location.Mr. McLain approached modernization holistically, not only to optimize booking across the property’s hotel, private villas, lakeside cottages and boardwalk condos, but also to enhance revenue opportunities beyond rooms, encompassing golf experiences, dining, shopping, event planning and catering, weddings and a host of other options such as zip lining, equestrian activities, mountain biking, shooting range activities, hiking, stand-up paddle boarding and spa treatments. To accomplish this, he heavily weighted providers able to deliver software solutions property-wide to minimize the technology integration burden on his team as well as the overhead of managing multiple vendors.Mr. McLain noted, “Our legacy PMS system was out-of-date, with inefficiencies and limitations that impacted our guests, employees and bottom line. We prioritized finding a solution able to be tailored specifically to our unique, remote destination, designed to be future-proof and able to expand and adapt with us. It also was imperative that we choose solutions intuitive and simple enough to be used easily by the seasonal staff that join our team each year.”Mr. McLain also preferred a solution provider committed to working side-by-side with his team to understand each department’s processes, pain points and desires, and able to configure improvements compelling enough to win unilateral buy-in.“After carefully evaluating all the options available to us, it became very clear that Agilysys has the technology, service and expertise we need to achieve our goals,” Mr. McLain explained. “The Agilysys team worked closely with us to consider our specific and unique requirements. The closeness of our collaboration and the experience Agilysys brought to the table gave us the confidence to implement 14 integrated solutions together at once to accelerate accomplishing our goals. The reality that Agilysys was able to work with us to configure and implement these solutions across our property in a matter of weeks is testimony to the level of insight and support we have received,” he added.Mr. McLain emphasized that a commitment to exceptional service and teamwork strongly contributed to successfully modernizing systems across the property. “The organization and professionalism of the team that came out to our property for our implementation were unmatched. Their immediate attention to issues and changes large and small was amazing. Everyone’s communication was outstanding, and the fact that we were given contact numbers for everyone we needed, from managers to directors and even executives, showed us how dedicated Agilysys is to customers. Launching 14 products at one time was a massive undertaking. For that project to go as smoothly as it did speaks volumes of the skill and dedication of everyone involved,” Mr. McLain concluded.Jeba Kingsley, Senior Vice President of Professional Services for Agilysys, commented, “Lajitas Golf Resort is known for singular, highly tailored experiences that reflect the remarkable qualities of its surroundings. The software solutions supporting guests and staff – both directly in front-line experiences and behind the scenes in back-office efficiencies – must be just as remarkable and ‘top-shelf’ as the resort’s environment. The same goes for the advice, service and support delivered to ensure ongoing technology excellence. We are proud to be the software provider chosen as the ideal partner for this property, standing out above others due to our ability to address its unique complexities. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with the stellar Lajitas IT team as they continue to elevate guest delight, staff satisfaction and revenue opportunities across this truly distinctive resort.” - 10/29/2024
Zucchetti North America Launches New Customer Support Program at The Hospitality Show
Zucchetti North America is excited to launch a new customer support program, available to hotel clients 24/7, across their entire portfolio of operational solutions. From CRS, to POS, to booking engines, to PMS and RMS, Zucchetti North America offers a one-stop shop for hoteliers looking for a complete tech stack to support their operations; with the launch of the new customer support program, the company is demonstrating its commitment to providing the best user experience possible, enabling clients to maximize the ROI earned from their tech investment.
As part of the new customer support program, Zucchetti North America implemented the following new procedures and processes:
· Expanded the customer support team to ensure that live telephone and chat support is available to clients worldwide, 24/7.
· Provided in-depth training to all support team members, enabling each employee to provide customer support for all the Zucchetti North America tech solutions.
· Implemented an integrated email support program which enables clients to submit a support ticket for any of the solutions and receive a response within 24 hours. Once a ticket is submitted, hotels can also log into the customer portal to find out the status of their ticket request at any time.
· Customers have access to the vast Zucchetti North America knowledge base through their online customer portal, which offers training videos and information about all the different solutions in the tech stack
· Decreased the target response time for all support requests submitted through our online chat to a 24-hour turnaround.
“In today’s competitive landscape, hoteliers are not just looking for tools; they’re looking for results and maximizing customer support responsiveness is key to unlocking the full potential of a hotel’s tech investment,” said Alison Cowan, Vice President of Sales at Zucchetti North America. “By ensuring timely support across all support channels, we help our clients optimize their technology to capture more bookings and maximize revenue opportunities. As such, improved customer support directly translates to a higher ROI on our client’s tech spend and empowers them to stand out from the competition online.”
To find out more about Zucchetti North America’s new customer support, please contact Jennifer Nagy at [email protected] or +1.786.420.1160. Alternatively, you can meet Zucchetti North America at The Hospitality Show in San Antonio, TX on October 29 & 30 at Booth 925 on the tradeshow floor to find out more or for a demo of our fully integrated suite of operational solutions.
- 10/29/2024
Salesforce Adds Autonomous AI Agent Feature
Salesforce announced the general availability of Agentforce, a new layer on the Salesforce Platform that enables companies to build and deploy AI agents that can autonomously take action across any business function. Agentforce goes beyond chatbots and copilots, using advanced reasoning abilities to make decisions and take action, like resolving customer cases, qualifying sales leads, and optimizing marketing campaigns. Agentforce doesn’t depend on human engagement to get work done; these agents can be triggered by changes in data, business rules, pre-built automations, or signals via API calls from other systems. Companies like OpenTable, Saks, and Wiley are using Agentforce today to augment their employees, expand their workforce, and improve customer experiences. ezCater is among its partners, rolling out in 2025.
In addition, Agentforce includes out-of-the-box agents that are easy to customize and deploy with low-code or no-code tools and that work around the clock across any channel. Agentforce Service Agent, the first generally available out-of-the-box agent, outperforms traditional chatbots by handling a wide range of tasks, from simple to complex, with pre-built topics and actions for customer support. Users can customize pre-built agents to serve any industry and any use case, like retail with order management topics, or financial services with billing and payment support topics.
“Agentforce is redefining what’s possible in business and beyond, ushering in a new era of AI abundance and limitless workforces that augment every employee, build deeper customer relationships and drive unprecedented growth and profitability,” said Marc Benioff, Chair and CEO, Salesforce. “Built on Salesforce’s trusted, fully customizable platform — seamlessly integrating enterprise data, metadata, AI models, workflows, security and applications — Agentforce is what AI was meant to be.”
With Agentforce, there's no need to DIY (do it yourself) your AI. Unlike other agent platforms that require complex data integration and custom automation builds, Agentforce is already built into the Salesforce Platform. Customers can instantly turn their existing Flows, prompt templates, Apex, and APIs into agent actions, seamlessly connecting to enterprise data, security models, and automations — with the added power of native tools like Data Cloud, Slack, and MuleSoft. The all-new Agent Builder enables Salesforce admins and developers to use natural language to create instructions and guardrails for their agents.
At Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce customers brought Agentforce to life by building over 10,000 autonomous agents designed to tackle specific business challenges. They learned that "if you can describe it, Agentforce can do it." With Agentforce, customers can create an on-demand digital workforce that operates without constraints, allowing them to quickly and easily build and deploy agents using the Salesforce tools and language they already know.
- 10/29/2024
The Hotels Network and Cloudbeds Partner to Enhance Direct Channel Bookings for Hoteliers
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.
- 10/29/2024
Visual Matrix Partners with AHLA to Support Human Trafficking Awareness and Empower Hotel Staff with Essential Safety Tools
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.”
- 10/27/2024
Restaurant Technology Industry Mourns Passing of George Hutto
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.
Show More