News Briefs

Marco's Pizza appoints restaurant and hospitality industry veteran, John Meyers, to Chief Operating Officer. This appointment comes at an opportune time as Marco's continues expanding its global footprint through strengthening franchisee relations, enhancing its technology infrastructure and committing to operational excellence.

Meyers has a 25-plus-year history of bringing innovation and collaboration to drive change at industry leading organizations such as Darden Restaurants and The Walt Disney Co. An action oriented strategic thinker, Meyers has used data and analytics to strategically streamline restaurant operations and profitability.

Prior to his appointment to COO, Meyers served as Marco's SVP of Finance & Business Intelligence. In his new role, Meyers oversees a diverse team in several departments including technology, supply chain and operations. With responsibility over day-to-day operations, he also plays a vital role in the development and implementation of new technologies that drive sales and streamline operations.

Empowering front-line team members to deliver an exceptional experience is a top priority for Meyers. "When employees see and act on an opportunity to turn someone's day around, even in little ways, it not only makes the customer experience better, but also improves job satisfaction and employee retention," said Meyers.

"The opportunity to contribute to the Marco's Pizza legacy during this phase of continued growth is truly a privilege," shared Meyers. "Our pizza is special using only top-quality ingredients, fresh cheese and dough made-from-scratch. I am committed to upholding this high quality standard and ensuring our customers enjoy it hot and fresh. Every Marco's Pizza encounter should be a memorable experience for our customers."

"John plays an instrumental role in steering our brand toward sustained growth and we are excited to embark on the next phase of his journey as COO," said Tony Libardi, Co-CEO and President of Marco's Pizza. "John consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to our brand values, and this promotion is a testament to his hard work and invaluable contributions to our company's success. I am confident that he will excel in this new role, leveraging his experience and insights to drive operational excellence and elevate our brand to new heights."

This appointment comes at a pivotal time for the leadership team as they strengthen their strong development support system, which includes technology and tools to help identify territories for expansion, plus support in real estate, construction management, field operations, and information related to financing. FRANdata, a leading research and advisory firm that analyzes the franchise market, reports Marco's 2023 FUND Score of 895 is in the top 1% of all evaluated franchise systems and is among the top three scores for all QSR brands.

The brand's impressive performance has earned multiple awards and recognition: Ranking in Newsweek's 2023 America's Best Customer Service in the pizza chains category, earning a spot on QSR's Top 50, appearing on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious Top 500 ranking, and most recently claiming the No. 48 spot on Entrepreneur's 2024 Franchise 500® ranking.

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. 

Comcast Business announced that it is providing Seaport Stays – a collection of boutique hotels and long-term rental properties owned by BG Capital in North Wildwood, New Jersey – with several technology solutions, including Ethernet Dedicated Internet, plus Comcast Business Internet and X1 for Hospitality. These solutions, paired with managed WiFi services, support Seaport Stays’ efforts to create memorable, outstanding guest experiences and streamline internal operations. Seaport Stays aims to shift Wildwood’s seasonal tourism pattern to a year-round destination and believes that technology-enabled amenities in their properties will be critical to that success.

Nestled near the coastline of Wildwood, Seaport Stays provides comfortable, high-quality spaces and experiences for customers through three unique properties that offer a high level of luxury for visitors –Seaport Inn, Seaport Suites and Oasis by Seaport. The company’s owners, real estate investment and management firm BG Capital, chose Comcast Business to equip the Oasis by Seaport’s leasing office and pool area with Business Internet, along with the Seaport Inn and Seaport Suites properties with technology solutions that enable the high-quality experiences and comfort that guests need to feel at home.

“Technology is fundamental to crafting outstanding hospitality experiences, and Seaport Stays’ technology solutions from Comcast Business not only help us delight our guests but also significantly streamline our staff's operations, making their tasks more manageable and efficient. This dual benefit is crucial for ensuring our guests return to our properties,” said Lauren MacDonald, Director of Sales & Operations for Seaport Stays. “Our collaboration with Comcast Business has been a game-changer, offering us reliable Internet speeds and connectivity, plus exceptional support, which collectively help to enhance the entire scope of our hotel operations and guest services.”

At Seaport Inn and Seaport Suites, redundant solutions from Comcast Business enable fast, reliable connectivity in guest rooms and at the pool, restaurant, and bar areas, helping visitors to stay connected across the properties’ locations. X1 for Hospitality delivers video viewing experiences to guests, supported with the Voice Remote, while also helping staff streamline the management of their video devices, including TVs in guest rooms and bars. In addition, managed WiFi offers the hotel brand connectivity capabilities for onsite WiFi solutions and 24/7 support, helping to increase staff efficiencies, manage operating costs and reinforce guests’ positive views of hotel amenities.

“As a leading provider of business technology solutions, Comcast Business recognizes the critical role that hospitality organizations like Seaport Stays play in attracting tourists and energizing communities,” said Michael Louden, Regional Vice President of Comcast’s Freedom Region. “In an era where tech-enabled experiences are increasingly prioritized to support the new demands of guests, we are proud to support Seaport Stays with the technology backbone designed to meet and exceed their expectations.”

Hotelogix, a global cloud-based hospitality technology provider, and Sabre Corporation, a software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, announced the integration of Hotelogix Property Management System (Hotel PMS) with Sabre SynXis Central Reservation System (CRS), powered by their global cloud-based commerce and distribution platform, to help hoteliers improve their distribution and reservation capabilities to increase revenue.

With two-way seamless connectivity, this collaboration between Hotelogix PMS and the SynXis CRS enhances hoteliers’ ability to centrally monitor and manage room rates, availability, and restrictions across all their distribution channels, including Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), and booking engines.

Aditya Sanghi, CEO at Hotelogix, said, "Adding SynXis to our comprehensive list of integration is a testament to our commitment to work with best-in-class solutions to help hotels meet their evolving operational needs. By leveraging the strengths of both platforms, hotels can ensure real-time distribution, more sales, and enhanced revenue."

Hosted on a global cloud-based commerce and distribution platform, SynXis CRS offers a user-friendly solution for managing rates, inventory, and bookings. Integrated with hundreds of third-party solutions, including PMSs, revenue management systems, customer relationship management tools, and channel managers, it powers 40% of the world’s leading hotel brands.

"Our collaboration with Hotelogix underscores Sabre Hospitality's dedication to empowering hoteliers across the globe by simplifying their operational complexities through streamlined distribution and enhanced reservation management capabilities,” said Frank Trampert, Senior Vice President, Global Managing Director of Community Sales for Sabre Hospitality. “We are excited to partner with Hotelogix and integrate its robust PMS with our global cloud-based commerce and distribution platform, SynXis. Together, we're creating a collaboration that aims to enhance the ease of hotel management, contributing to improved efficiency and service quality in the hospitality industry."

Hotelbeds, part of HBX Group, has unveiled its latest collaboration, joining forces with TH Resorts, a prominent hospitality chain in Italy. This collaboration marks an exciting milestone as it adds 30 modern 3 and 4-star properties to Hotelbeds' preferred portfolio, offering clients exclusive access to special rates and enhanced travel experiences.

The partnership with TH Resorts aligns with Hotelbeds' commitment to expanding its accommodation portfolio and providing clients with diverse and high-quality travel options. The addition of TH Resorts' properties offers clients the opportunity to explore popular summer destinations such as Sicily, Sardinia, Puglia, Calabria, as well as renowned ski destinations in the Italian Alps. Additionally, properties in cities like Rome, Assisi, and Lazise (Garda Lake) provide clients with convenient access to cultural attractions and urban experiences.

“Partnering with TH Resorts aligns perfectly with our mission to provide clients with diverse and high-quality travel options.”, said Carlos Muñoz, Chief Commercial Officer at HBX Group. "This strategic collaboration enables us to expand our preferred portfolio and offer our clients exclusive access to a diverse range of accommodations in highly sought-after destinations. Together, we look forward to enhancing the travel experiences of our clients and showcasing the best of Italy's hospitality offerings."

TH Resorts boasts an impressive collection of properties totalling 6048 rooms, making it the largest regional chain in Italy. With a focus on delivering exceptional hospitality experiences, TH Resorts has been recognised for its excellence by winning the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards for multiple establishments, including hotels, villages, and resorts, receiving outstanding reviews from travellers worldwide.

"We are excited to collaborate with Hotelbeds and offer their clients access to our properties in Italy", said Stefano Maria Simei, Sales and Marketing Director at TH Group. "This partnership allows us to expand our visibility and showcase the high-quality hospitality we offer at our properties in Italy to international guests. We look forward to welcoming travelers to our hotels and ensure they have an unforgettable stay."