News Briefs

HRS, a global corporate lodging and payment technology platform, announced that its award-winning Green Stay Initiative has now secured two prominent certifications. In late June, GUTCert, an accredited auditing organization in the European Union, conferred certification under the requirements of the International Standards Organization (ISO) 14067. The auditing process also verified that Green Stay complies with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards. Both standards apply globally, giving multi-national corporate travel programs unrivaled assurance when they use HRS’ Green Stay Initiative to report, reduce and remove carbon emissions tied to corporate lodging.  

HRS is the only travel-focused technology company to hold both certifications.  

HRS’ Green Stay Initiative, launched in 2021, has achieved remarkable traction since its introduction. The majority of the top 20 global hotel chains participate today, as well as 600+ chains across more than 175 countries. Dozens of Fortune 500 companies, including prominent brands like Siemens, mandate use of the Green Stay Initiative for hotels seeking preferred supplier status in procurement exercises. HRS’ AI-infused approach to sustainable hotel programs – now continuously refining functions that analyze trends, drive future scenario models, and enhance operations in real time – has won awards on multiple continents. 

Elevated Assurance for Corporations & Hotels: The Green Stay Initiative is the Only Solution to Earn both ISO and GHGP Certifications

The ISO certification, in conjunction with the GHGP accreditation, makes the Green Stay Initiative the superior solution for global travel programs as they focus on sustainable lodging practices and stricter corporate sustainability reporting for Scope 3 emissions. The provision of carbon footprint data – on a per-property basis – calculated by Green Stay’s verified methodology gives corporations the data they need to implement a sustainable procurement strategy, nudge travelers while booking and add business travel emissions data into corporate sustainability reporting.  

The data generated by the Green Stay Initiative’s reporting function is compliant with standards issued by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in the European Union. Green Stay’s detailed output also goes beyond the Global Business Travel Association’s recently released hotel sustainability standards. 

With companies now facing financial penalties for insufficient evidence of credible emissions reduction in their reporting, the use of the Green Stay Initiative carries strong assurance to a company and/or hotel’s finance and ESG teams as they prepare official disclosure documents for auditors. Simply stated, unverified solutions based on average calculations are increasingly seen as greenwashing and no longer suffice for the majority of local and regional reporting requirements.  

As corporations and hoteliers begin their lodging negotiations for 2025, the timing is ideal. Europe’s CSRD launched this year, and government bodies around the world are pronouncing evolving requirements that directly or indirectly impact all parties.   

Gains for Participating Hotels Beyond Successfully Winning More Corporate Volume 

The benefits for hotels that participate in HRS’ Green Stay Initiative continue to unfold. Last year, hotels participating in Green Stay had a 31 percent higher success rate in corporate procurement bids. There are no fees for hotels to participate; they merely need to go through an assessment and share their sustainable attributes and metrics via streamlined AI automation HRS has developed. Beyond winning more corporate room nights, participating hotels also gain from: 

• Embracing an ISO and GHGP-certified solution illustrates a hotel’s commitment to complying with current and future government-issued regulations. This positions a hotel as a leader ready to transparently accommodate the evolving needs of clients, particularly in eco-conscious markets.  
• HRS’ comprehensive offering of online courses, case studies and videos – free for hoteliers via the company’s Green Stay Knowledge Hub – helps guide hotels on their sustainability journeys. 
• Recurring reporting of sustainability metrics typically drives recurring investment in emission-reducing practices at the property level, leading to long-term operational savings while showcasing a hotel’s ongoing commitment to corporate clients. 

“HRS’ Green Stay Initiative methodology passed our high level of tests regarding standards to collect, normalize and calculate the CO2 equivalent footprint of overnight stays,” said Florian Himmelstein, Deputy Head of Carbon Footprint at GUTCert. “Our organization commends HRS for its pioneering work on this scientifically-based initiative, which helps companies around the world make the carbon footprint associated with their travel transparent and thus reduce it, as well as to comply with legal requirements.” 

“As business travel volume accelerates across transient, meetings and longstay segments, companies are increasingly motivated to find a credible, efficient solution to drive more sustainable hotel programs,” said Tobias Ragge, CEO of HRS. “The ISO and GHGP certifications mark yet another point of confidence for corporations and hoteliers working with the Green Stay Initiative today, and further underscores the benefits of our platform-based approach to reduce and remove emissions while reporting accurately. I’ve long believed that sustainability is the mega-trend impacting business travel this decade. Accordingly, HRS will continue investing in AI-infused technologies and services that help facilitate the reduction of emissions across the managed travel ecosystem.” 

PopID and Steak n Shake announced today that all Steak n Shake locations in the United States now accept PopID Check In (to review favorite orders and loyalty points) and PopPay for checkout. With more than 300 locations, Steak n Shake is the first national restaurant brand in the United States to adopt biometric check-in and checkout nationwide. PopID’s biometric check-in feature makes kiosk ordering faster, easier, and more personalized.

The implementation of PopID in every Steak n Shake location was accomplished rapidly and at low cost through a partnership between PopID and ACRELEC, a leading supplier of kiosk-ordering hardware and drive-through products. Cameras were shipped to every restaurant for attachment to the existing ACRELEC kiosks. “As explained in our recent publication, ACRELEC believes that our integrated biometric solution provides various benefits to restaurant operators related to throughput, ticket size, and loyalty engagement,” says Bruno Lo-Re, President of ACRELEC America.

“We are thrilled about our partnership with PopID and to be on the edge of biometric technology for the benefit of our customers. Our guests now have the option to use biometrics for a faster and more seamless experience,” says Sardar Biglari, Chairman of Biglari Holdings, the parent company of Steak n Shake.

Now that biometrics are enabled for all ordering and payment inside Steak n Shake restaurants, PopID and Steak n Shake will begin implementing biometric check-in and checkout at the restaurant’s drive-through units. “Similar to the kiosks, biometric check in can increase loyalty participation and revenue at the drive thru while also reducing payment processing costs,” says John Miller, CEO of PopID and Chairman of Cali Group. “Additionally, biometric payment at the order confirmation screen enables staff members to work on tasks other than taking payments by card and phone at the order pick-up window.”

Trip Affiliates Network has announced the launch of Hotel Switch, an advanced connectivity tool designed to provide seamless access to a broad network of hotel affiliates. Hotel Switch significantly enhances travel agents' ability to offer a wide range of accommodation, manage bookings efficiently and improve overall customer satisfaction. Hotel Switch integrates multiple features including access to static and dynamic room rates, instant booking and confirmation, and complimentary VCC payment support.

Seamless Connectivity and Broad Network Access

Hotel Switch maps to over two hundred thousand hotels linked to the Trip Affiliates Network, offering travel operators access to diverse regional and global hotel inventories through TA Network’s booking solutions. This instant connectivity allows agents to provide clients with a wide range of accommodation options, catering to different preferences and budgets.

Static and Dynamic Contracts

Real-time updates on allotments and/or blackouts when rooms are unavailable are automated, ensuring that agents have access to the best available rates 24/7.

• Efficient Management of Room Allotments: Automates updates to prevent overbooking or blackout issues.

• Real-Time Rate Access: Provides flexibility to access the best static and dynamic rates anytime.

• Maximized Profitability and Customer Satisfaction: Ensures competitive pricing and availability, enhancing customer satisfaction and boosting agent commissions.

Tactical Hotel/Package Promotions

Enables agents to earn higher commissions like OTAs and offer competitive deals and promotions.

• Increased Sales: Attracts more customers through appealing promotions.

• Higher Commissions: Like those earned by OTAs, enhancing agent profitability.

Instant Booking and Confirmation

This automated 24/7 feature streamlines the booking process.

• Immediate Confirmations: Ensures clients receive instant booking confirmations, reducing wait times and enhancing customer experience.

• Reduced Workload: Automates the booking process, allowing agents to focus on other tasks and improve productivity.

Direct Hotel Bookings

Book directly with hotels instead of using third-party online hotel suppliers.

• Elimination of Check-In Issues: Avoids common problems associated with third-party bookings, such as check-in discrepancies.

• Enhanced Customer Experience: Provides a smoother, more reliable booking experience for clients.

Comprehensive Suite of Benefits

The Hotel Switch tool is designed to significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of travel agents. By leveraging these solutions, agents can:

• Increase Inventory: Access a broad network of hotel affiliates, offering more options to clients.

• Boost Sales and Commissions: Utilize tactical promotions and direct bookings to enhance profitability.

• Improve Productivity: Automate booking processes and manage room allotments efficiently.

• Reduce Errors: Minimize overbooking and blackout issues through automated updates.

• Deliver Superior Customer Service: Ensure instant booking confirmations and avoid third-party booking pitfalls, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

TA Network’s Managing Partner, Josef Foo, said: “Hotel Switch has been built by our technical team and we are thrilled to announce this new service. Hotel Switch is a vital tool for travel agents aiming to stay competitive and meet the evolving demands of their clients. By providing seamless connectivity, real-time rate access, and automated booking features, this tool enhances agents' ability to manage their operations efficiently and deliver exceptional customer service. With the comprehensive suite of benefits offered by Hotel Switch, travel agents can significantly improve their productivity and profitability.”

Spectrum Enterprise, a part of Charter Communications, Inc., today announced the completion of a fiber network expansion and technology upgrade at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The initiative will improve the resort’s guest experience by providing high-speed managed WiFi access throughout its 600-acre property along with enhanced TV options for the resort’s 1,174 lodging options that include hotel rooms, condos and cabins.

“We’re focused on meeting and exceeding expectations, and today’s guests expect to connect to their personal devices from any of our resort locations—whether in the guestroom, at one of the restaurants or while enjoying the waterparks,” said Joe Eck, Chief Operating Officer at Wilderness Resort. “Providing visitors with five-star WiFi service is key for us and handing over the management of that service to Spectrum Enterprise has freed up our internal teams to focus on elevating other customer service experiences.”

Wilderness Resort has experienced continual growth and now encompasses four indoor and four outdoor waterparks, five restaurants, an award-winning golf course and numerous nature paths. Because of the scale of the property and terrain, guests sometimes had trouble accessing WiFi in certain areas. To improve overall connectivity, Spectrum Enterprise installed 1,400 WiFi access points and increased the resort’s internet bandwidth with download speeds up to 10 Gbps (gigabits per second), enabling Wilderness Resort’s guests and staff, which can be as many as 10,000 people, to access fast, reliable WiFi wherever and whenever needed. Spectrum Enterprise also manages each WiFi access point with 24/7/365 customer support as part of a managed WiFi solution so resort employees can focus on other business priorities.

“Seamless WiFi and diverse TV entertainment are not just amenities—they are essential to the guest experience and driving repeat customers,” said Rajat Mukherji, Vice President, Vertical Markets for Spectrum Enterprise. “We’ve partnered with Wilderness Resort to implement new solutions that not only address the current needs of their visitors but can flex and scale to support future business growth.”

In addition to benefiting from enhanced connectivity throughout the resort property with Spectrum Enterprise Fiber Internet Access and Managed WiFi solutions, guests this year will enjoy more in-room entertainment options. All hotel guest rooms, condos and cabins are now using Spectrum Enterprise Fiber Connect Plus TV, which provides high-definition TV viewing with more than 120 channels. With no equipment to purchase, the video experience is delivered through a private and dedicated fiber connection, which reduces maintenance costs for the resort.

More information can be found at Spectrum Enterprise Case Studies: Wilderness Resort.

Photo Credit: Wilderness Resort

• Digital Ordering Dominance: Over half of the brands report that digital channels account for more than a quarter of their sales, with 36% stating that online ordering contributes over half of their total revenue.
• Optimistic Growth Projections: Nearly half of all respondents expect digital sales to increase by 20% or more.
• Technological Constraints: More than 60% of executives feel restricted by inflexible technology, facing integration challenges and inefficiencies.
• Infrastructure Overhaul: 74% of executives are exploring options to streamline their digital infrastructure, showing significant interest in kiosks and voice AI technologies.

Hotelogix, a cloud-based hospitality technology provider, announced the two-way integration of its Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS) with Lybra's Assistant Revenue Management System (RMS). This strategic integration aims to revolutionize revenue management in the hospitality industry, offering hotels efficient and effective tools to boost their revenues.

Owned by Zucchetti Hospitality, an Italy-based hospitality technology firm, Lybra offers Assistant, a machine learning-powered demand-centric revenue management system (RMS). The RMS allows hoteliers to optimize their pricing strategy while monitoring their properties' pick-up trends and competition rates. It supports independent hotels and hotel groups seeking a stable and comprehensive solution. Currently, it serves 1200+ hotels in 20+ countries.

Speaking on this, Aditya Sanghi, CEO of Hotelogix, said, "In today's highly competitive market, hoteliers need to upgrade their revenue management capabilities as real-time forecasting is key. This integration with Lybra will enable hoteliers to competitively price their rooms to drive sales and revenue."

As per the integration, Hotelogix PMS will push various data points in real-time including occupancy and reservation details to Lybra's Assistant RMS. Leveraging a predictive algorithm, Lybra will automatically suggest rates based on occupancy, local events, demand, competition rates, etc.

Fulvio Giannetti, CEO of Lybra, said, "The alignment of our business models is truly exceptional. Thanks to this integration with Hotelogix, Lybra will be able to support a massive database of global hotel brands to optimize their pricing strategy.”