News Briefs

Olo Inc. introduces 10 product enhancements across its three product suites: Order, Pay, and Engage. One of the new enhancements marks the first availability of card-present payment processing through Olo Pay, now available when guests order in-store via a kiosk in partnership with Bite, a  provider of self-service kiosks for quick-service restaurants. Additional kiosk applications are expected to be deployed in the near future in collaboration with other providers.

Olo’s latest launch brings Olo Pay to self-service in-store kiosks, marking Olo Pay’s expansion into card-present payment processing through its partnership with Adyen. Building on top of Olo Pay's strong card-not-present foundation, self-service kiosks will help combat the burden restaurants face today as a result of ongoing labor costs and shortages. Olo Pay's ability to process card-present payments will unify payments management and ease processes like reconciliation, voiding, and refunding. This will also help brands to tie both in-store and online guest interactions into one guest data profile, helping restaurants better understand their guests and inform high-level business decisions.

Additionally, the enhancement brings the Olo Pay restaurant-centric checkout experience to kiosks, which marks Olo’s first in-store, guest-facing brand exposure. Guests can expect the same simplified experience Olo Pay offers in non-card present transactions, including the ability to pay with mobile wallets. Newk’s Eatery, a fast-casual restaurant chain, was the first to implement this payment technology in a test with Bite kiosk ordering software earlier this month.

“Having a streamlined in-store payment option for guests will advance and optimize our operations,” said Adam Karveller, Chief Technology Officer at Newk’s Eatery. “The implementation of card-present digital payments with Olo Pay in our test with Bite kiosk ordering software will simplify tasks that are inherent when it comes to restaurant transactions, and that frees up our team members to focus on higher-touch guest experiences. We’re thrilled to improve the team and guest experience across our corporate stores and offer the same compelling opportunity for our growing franchise system as we continue to scale nationwide.”

Bolstering its product suite further, Olo unveiled additional features this quarter to drive hospitality and operational efficiency including Borderless Loyalty Integrations and OrderReady AI. Unifying a seamless payment experience with guest rewards, the Olo Pay passwordless checkout feature Borderless now integrates with loyalty programs for all brands on its white-label interface Serve, providing the convenience of accelerated sign-in with the benefits of loyalty and rewards. Separately, Olo’s OrderReady AI leverages machine-learning to generate accurate ready times for both guests and third-party delivery providers, satisfying guest and partner expectations around timing, maintaining food quality, and optimizing restaurant operations.

Bite kiosk ordering software with Olo Pay card-present payment processing is available now, in addition to several new features driving efficiency and superior hospitality.  

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.

Payment request platform Prommt announced a partnership with HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems, a major IT supplier to the hospitality and retail sectors.  Prommt is a payment request platform that enables businesses to easily request, collect, and track remote and over-the-phone payments. This collaboration further strengthens HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems’ focus on customer success, allowing their client’s hotel reservation staff to easily send secure, branded payment requests directly from the hotel’s property management system (PMS). 

HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems is active in 90 countries with over 11,000 customers and is Oracle’s largest hospitality partner worldwide. They offer a wide range of solutions, including property management, point of sale (POS), spa and guest activities, business analytics, payment gateway, mobile applications, channel manager, and more. By integrating Prommt’s capabilities, hoteliers can send their customers a branded, personalised payment request that can be accessed through SMS, WhatsApp, or email, allowing them to complete a fast, simple, and secure payment transaction with confidence. This partnership will help boost Prommt’s visibility across their client portfolio.

Prommt recently became available on Oracle Cloud Marketplace meaning it can be integrated with OPERA 5 and OPERA Cloud via ORACLE Hospitality Integrations Platform (OHIP). This integration offers many benefits including the ability to automate sending of payment requests based on agent and rate code and posting the payment status within the PMS, notifying staff of payment success or failure. In addition, Prommt has become integrated with many of the world’s leading payment gateways and has been utilised by hundreds of hotels across Europe, including many 5-star properties and resorts. Prommt is also PCI Level 1 compliant and adheres to GDPR, as well as the UK Data Protection Act 2018.

Taking payments over the phone is still very common within the hotel industry. However, this practice carries the risk of fraud as well as costly chargebacks or a potential data breach when sensitive card details are transmitted and stored insecurely. A recent study from Expert Market revealed that up to 86 percent of chargebacks could be cases of intentional or unintentional​ fraud. A Statista study revealed that in 2022, 37 percent of all e-commerce transactions in Canada were completed using a mobile device. By 2026, this figure is forecast to rise to 42 percent, demonstrating that more and more people are looking to complete transactions from their phones. By incorporating Prommt’s technology, HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems will be able to offer their customers a payment solution that is highly secure and can be easily completed using a mobile device.

Commenting on the new partnership, Donal McGuinness, CEO of Prommt said:

“We are very excited to be a partner of HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems. It presents us with new opportunities and allows us to expand our market footprint, whilst enabling the hotel sector to collect payments in a more efficient, secure manner. I believe that this is a great leap forward for our brand as we seek to step onto the world stage as a payment company.”

Speaking about the announcement, Siggi Schrot, Area Director UK & Ireland, HRS Hospitality and Retail Systems said:

“We welcome Prommt as our new partner. Their product and deep integration complement our existing portfolio, allowing us to continue our customer-centric focus and provide a world-class innovative payment solution perfect for the hospitality industry.”

Knowland, a provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, reports June meeting and event volume is up 30.3 percent over June 2022. This data is sourced from Knowland’s sales intelligence platform designed to help hoteliers build and protect a hotel’s revenue base.

The top 25 markets in the U.S. are 90 percent recovered for year-to-date June 2023 performance compared to 2019. Austin, TX, and Nashville, TN, were the stars, with growth topping 74 percent and 42 percent, respectively. This reflects the return of seasonal events to these markets known for big music, art, and entertainment. Both venues offer amenities that groups need for work and play - including several new hotels on the horizon, growing nonstop flight options, and some of the most unique meeting spaces in the country. When the work is done, meeting attendees enjoy a balance of the environment, local flair restaurants, live music, and entertainment, which make these cities popular destinations with meeting planners.

• Year-over-year comparison – June 2023 event volume increased 30.3 percent over June 2022.  
• Top five markets (by event volume) – Chicago led the top 25 markets, hosting National Association meetings followed by Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology. The following four markets, Los Angeles/Long Beach, Washington D.C., San Diego, and Anaheim-Santa Ana rounded out the top five. Below is additional insight into the top drivers for these markets.
  • Chicago, IL: National Association, Pharma/Biotech, Wedding, HealthCare, and Technology.
  • Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA: Education, National Association, Training/Education, Entertainment/Media, and Charity/Non-Profit/Social.
  • Washington, DC-MD-VA:  National Association, Travel, Charity/Non-Profit/Social, Education, Federal Government Agency.
  • San Diego, CA: National Association, Wedding, Education, Training/Education, and Charity/Non-Profit/Social.
  • Anaheim-Santa Ana, CA: Wedding, Financial/Banking, Technology, Training/Education, and National Association.
• Top markets (by percentage growth) – The top overall U.S. markets by year-over-year growth in meetings and events were Michigan South; Delaware; Kansas; and Mobile, AL.

About the Data: This data is provided to help hoteliers still building momentum gain insight into the top locations selected by today’s meeting planners. This information about the leading industry drivers provides a clear picture of those groups that are returning to the meeting and event space. Insights presented are a result of the analysis of meetings and events data acquired through Knowland data collection and aggregation methods, including field reporting and automated methods of customer and non-customer data collection in primary, secondary, and tertiary markets, as well as its large historical database.

IDeaS, a SAS company, a provider of hospitality revenue management software and services, has announced that Starhotels will deploy IDeaS’ G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) to improve revenue generation and forecasting at 28 of its properties across Italy and the UK.  The rollout will allow Starhotels’ properties to compete equally with international brands backed by advanced technology and strong revenue management practices.

Starhotels has been historically a leader and always adopted an explorer role to ensure being ahead of the competition. Starhotels turned to senior executives from IDeaS to identify areas for improvement regarding revenue management, sales, and operations where IDeaS technology could help. This engagement and analysis built a strong relationship between both organizations and led to further commitments from Starhotels’ executive team to use the technology and identify areas for improvement using revenue management technology as a basis.

Using G3 RMS, Starhotels’ properties can make proactive pricing decisions based on actionable insights and real-time data. This agility and vision enable hotel operators and revenue managers to maximize a property’s revenue and profit potential by making strategic decisions with a complete understanding of their competitors’ capabilities, offerings, and positioning.

Alexandro Della Croce, group director of revenue and distribution said: "IDeaS is the right partner to further support Starhotels’ continuous growth in revenues, market-share and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) across the entire portfolio.”

Michael McCartan, area vice president - EMEA, IDeaS, said: “IDeaS is excited to work with the hotel and operation teams of Starhotels’ caliber to help them improve revenue management and operations across its hotels in Italy and the UK. The most exciting aspect of this latest partnership is the relationships we have built with Starhotels throughout the sales and education process. It was an incredible experience engaging with Starhotels’ senior leadership team along the way.”