News Briefs

Favor Delivery, the Texas-based on-demand food delivery app, today announced its team of Order-In Experts across Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Serving as the Chief Tasting Officer’s research team, Favor’s Order-In Experts will cover a variety of cuisines throughout their city – all from the comfort of their home. 

In November 2023, Favor announced the promotion of Chris Flores from Chief Taco Officer to Chief Tasting Officer, continuing his position as the state's beloved taco expert while adding other cuisines to his repertoire – from burgers to barbecue and everything in between. Favor also opened a statewide search to form a team of Order-In Experts to help Flores, a San Antonio native, find the very best dishes and local restaurants across the Lone Star State. Interested Texans were asked to submit a brief form and a 60-second video on why they should be a part of the team. No food critic experience was required – just a passion for adventurous eating and supporting local restaurants.

After carefully evaluating hundreds of submissions, Favor selected seven Texans across the state's largest metro areas.

"With our Order-In Expert team now established across multiple cities, we could not be more excited to explore more cuisines all over Texas," said Chris Flores, Favor's Chief Tasting Officer. "Collaborating with a team throughout the state allows Favor to help more Texans discover the best dishes in their city, while also sharing the stories of the local restaurants behind them and the communities they are a part of."

Wanted: More Order-In Experts 

In an ongoing effort to further expand the team across Texas, the company also announced the reopening of its call for submissions. Interested Texans can visit favordelivery.com/CTO. On top of all review meal expenses covered, Order-In Experts will receive $1,000 per assignment as compensation for ordering in dishes to taste-test and completing a short review and tasting notes form.

The Order-In Experts will work closely with Favor's Chief Tasting Officer to uncover and showcase the cuisines and culture powering each of their cities. Each expert will be tasked with ordering and tasting a variety of cuisines, leveraging their knowledge of their city paired with insights from Favor's recent How Texas Orders In Data Report.

Founded in Austin in 2013, Favor currently operates in more than 400 cities across Texas with over 100,000 Runners (drivers), who have delivered more than 80 million Favors to date.

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. 

Docyt, the frontrunner in AI-driven accounting automation technology, will unveil new voice-based transaction categorization functionality at AAHOACON24. Docyt will demonstrate this and other new features of its AI-powered real-time accounting platform at this year’s show in booth 1625.

“The hospitality industry is under tremendous pressure to succeed in the face of ever-narrowing margins, highlighting the need for financial tools that give hoteliers a clearer view of their financial health,” said Sid Saxena, Docyt’s co-founder and CEO. “Building voice-based input into our platform helps users accelerate accounting workflows and allows them to work in a more intuitive way. By streamlining the bookkeeping process - and delivering tools like the new voice-based feature we’re previewing at AAHOACON24 - we make it easier than ever for hospitality businesses to have real-time visibility into their books to maximize the profitability of their hotels.”

New Voice-Based Interface

The Docyt AI platform is designed in a way that Precision AI algorithms take a first pass at the month-end closing process. However, many financial transactions require the accountant to ask for clarification from the business owner or their operations team. This manual interaction is time-intensive and delays the book-closing process. Docyt AI’s new functionality will enable business stakeholders to review these uncategorized transactions in the Docyt mobile app and simply leave voice notes which are transcribed by Docyt’s AI to complete the categorization process.

This new voice-driven workflow eliminates the need for back-and-forth emails, phone calls, and spreadsheets of flagged transactions, significantly reducing time spent on manual bookkeeping tasks. This is particularly beneficial in the fast-paced hospitality sector where the time of business owners and managers is an especially valuable resource. 

Docyt AI gives multi-unit hotel operators, management companies, and franchisees real-time financial reports, KPIs and unit-economics insights to run their businesses more efficiently and profitably. The platform empowers hoteliers to execute bill payments, employee reimbursements, track & reconcile corporate credit card spending, access revenue reports, track cash & merchant processor deposits, and view real-time income statements formatted in the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI) reporting standard. Docyt AI integrates seamlessly with a wide range of property management and payroll systems, enabling hoteliers to easily shift data management to AI, digitizing and automating the financial workflow, and bringing real-time financial reporting within easy reach.

Docyt Named a Finalist in the AAHOACON24 Tech Pitch Competition

AAHOACON24 show organizers selected Docyt as one of only seven finalists to participate in the show’s annual Tech Pitch Competition. Docyt CRO Darren Genstil and the other six finalists will be allotted five minutes each to present their solutions, focusing on cost, ROI, and AI implementation, with an emphasis on how their solutions benefit those in the hospitality industry. Formal presentations will be followed by three-minute periods of audience Q&A. Show attendees are encouraged to visit room W224 on April 4 at 5:00 pm to watch the competition live.

Visit Docyt at AAHOACON24 in booth #1625. To learn more about Docyt and schedule a free demo, please contact us. Visit www.docyt.com to learn more about the company’s AI-driven accounting automation platform, and follow Docyt on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the company’s latest news.

Paytronix published the 2024 Paytronix Online Ordering Report which found that guests transacting directly with a brand order 35% more items per check compared to those who order via third-party marketplaces. Online ordering represented 27% of all orders for restaurants and convenience stores in 2023, and operators in the top 25% of online ordering volume saw online orders jump to 62% of all their orders last year.

“The biggest takeaway is that while third party marketplaces have their uses, a first-party online ordering platform is key to a brand’s online ordering success,” said Tim Ridgely, Vice President of online ordering at Paytronix. ”Moreover, those brands that build a robust digital guest engagement platform that includes loyalty and a mobile app are better equipped to leverage modern AI tools, get closer to their guests, and deliver a powerful omnichannel guest experience.”

• When asked what they really want from loyalty programs, 78% percent of customers surveyed want discounts,  according to HTs 12^th annual 2023 Customer Engagement Technology Study.  

The 2024 Paytronix Online Ordering Report outlines how to optimize all of the systems and operations integral to a fully integrated guest engagement platform, with clear steps on how to:

• Convert guests from third-party marketplaces to a first-party online ordering system
• Consolidate technology for efficiency and better guest engagement
• Use artificial intelligence to increase guest engagement
• Leverage customer data for a personalized experience
   

The Paytronix report also celebrates the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and their advanced personalization capabilities, which make off-premises experiences feel as engaging as in-person ones. The report outlines how successful brands are leveraging AI to segment guest data, create personalized marketing campaigns, build rewards, and optimize menus to the needs of their customers. Operators are using these platforms to boost order frequency, anticipate future needs, and increase customer lifetime value.

Additional findings from the Online Ordering Report include:

• Guests who order both in-store and online have the highest order frequency, the best retention, and 35% more lifetime value than customers who only order in-store.
• First-party ordering platforms are the preferred method for consumers during lunch and dinner, and they also spend 30% more per transaction. However late-night orders (any time after 8pm) are nearly one third more likely to be done using third party marketplace apps.
• Mobile apps generate 34% of digital orders, and mobile app users have a 45% higher CLV than web users.
• Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) loyalty members place 38.4% of their orders online, while Full-Service Restaurant (FSR) counterparts order online 30.2% of the time.
• Loyalty program members also shine when it comes to frequency, visiting their favorite establishments over 40% more often than non-members.
   

The Paytronix Online Ordering Report provides trends and actionable insights from Paytronix online ordering experts. It’s designed so restaurant and convenience store marketers, as well as operations and technology leaders, can benchmark online ordering tools and strategies and devise improvements to deliver breakthrough performance.

Download the 2024 Paytronix Online Ordering Report.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) announced today that Green Key Global, the sustainability certification body for hotels, is now jointly operated by the associations in the U.S. and Canada.

A roster of hotel companies across the continent, including Accor, Best Western, Choice Hotels, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Highgate, Hyatt, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and more continue to lead the way as some of Green Key Global’s partners committed to sustainability through their involvement with the third-party certification program.

HAC created Green Key Global in 1994 to certify hotels’ environmental sustainability policies and processes, and its certification criteria are aligned with all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Hotels complete a robust assessment and audit process to measure their performance in areas such as energy and water conservation, land use, hazardous and solid waste management, indoor air quality, and more.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Green Key Global to advance our sustainability efforts,” said Denise Naguib, Marriott International Global Vice President of Sustainability and Supplier Diversity. “Marriott International and Green Key Global’s agreement will help support our properties in the U.S. and Canada as they pursue a third-party sustainability certification that demonstrates dedication to environmental stewardship.”

The AHLA and HAC partnership is crucial for the industry, as sustainability is increasingly shaping the behavior of leisure, business, and group travelers. Green Key Global programming is designed to give credibility to the sustainability initiatives properties are already undertaking, while equipping them with a plan for continued improvement.

The partnership builds on AHLA’s Responsible Stay® initiative, which underscores AHLA member companies’ long-standing and growing commitment to energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing.

“We are excited to see the momentum with the Green Key Global platform as we enter this partnership with HAC. This is an opportunity for AHLA to continue to do what we do best, supporting and educating our members on key factors influencing their business day in and day out,” said AHLA Interim President & CEO Kevin Carey. “This is a vital time for hoteliers, and AHLA is proud to be partnering with HAC to meet the moment.”

“This is an important milestone,” said Susie Grynol, President & CEO of the Hotel Association of Canada, “as we are not only expanding the footprint of the Green Key Global brand, but also the opportunity for the industry to lead the way towards monumental shift and environmental impact, with a best-in-class program that is affordable, measurable and accessible for all hotels.”

ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions is announcing that its Hospitality business area will make Vingcard its main brand. Vingcard has a history of offering enhanced security across industries for almost 50 years, and it reinforces its commitment to quality service and customer satisfaction. For the core hospitality segments and adjacent markets, this includes continuing to expand and push the limits in technology innovation, including leading new advancements in electronic locks, safes, access management, digital key solutions, location-based services, cloud-enabled software, Wi-Fi connectivity and much more. The Vingcard name as the main brand also creates a clear identity and more focused messaging that aligns with customer needs. The brand will continue to uphold and expand the same service for customers while leveraging new opportunities to expand its range of solutions.

“Vingcard carries with it a heritage of recognition and trust within the hospitality sector. Reintroducing Vingcard as the Hospitality business areas’ main brand will continue our commitment for delivering high quality solutions and services to our customers, says Stephanie Ordan, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Solutions.

Solutions designed for a safer tomorrow

Vingcard’s expanding range of solutions and services also provides the opportunity to serve as an aggregator of high-value performance data, allowing customers to tap into essential efficiency-enhancing insights. As part of ASSA ABLOY, Vingcard also has a wide range of resources to further enhance its offerings.

“Rebranding ourselves to Vingcard is just as much about strengthening our legacy of guaranteeing a safe environment as it is about serving as a partner that our customers can trust. From hotels to off-site student accommodation, and as modern buildings become increasingly interconnected, our primary focus will be to provide the comprehensive tools and data intelligence today’s businesses need to stay competitive and deliver on expectations for higher quality. All under the Vingcard brand,” says Li Wang, Senior Vice President and Head of Hospitality.