News Briefs

IDeaS Revenue Solutions, the world’s leading provider of advanced revenue management software (RMS) and services, announced that it is expanding its industry-leading suite of revenue management solutions to the cruise industry through a partnership with Virgin Voyages. Under the partnership, IDeaS is working with Virgin Voyages to develop a first-of-its-kind, innovative RMS solution for the cruise industry.

To fully realize their revenue potential, cruise lines need the ability to efficiently and effectively forecast passenger demand. Historically, this forecasting posed challenges for the industry for a variety of reasons. But with a clearer understanding of this demand, the door opens to transformative, sophisticated pricing and revenue management strategies. While cruise organizations have explored numerous approaches to revenue forecasting, a clear, science-based leader in advanced revenue management has yet to emerge – until now.

As a pioneer in the industry, Virgin Voyages and its innovative revenue management team saw the importance of science-driven automation. They approached IDeaS and outlined a proof of concept, and the two companies are now spearheading the adoption of revenue management in this complex and dynamic industry.                                                                               

Key benefits of this partnership include:

• Power of forecast modeling: IDeaS delivers forecast modeling to determine more efficiently the right booking curve so cruise lines or commercial teams can more dynamically adapt to trends. 
• Forecasting and pricing automation: IDeaS revenue science streamlines cabin pricing, automates processes, and allows individual cruise lines to focus on demand-based forecasting and pricing for each cabin type (i.e. inside, balcony, suites, etc.). By optimizing business mix and inventory allocation, the solution helps to maximize revenue potential and future scalability.  
• Buy versus build: The modern enterprise is plagued by the decision of whether to build custom software or buy a commercial off-the-shelf solution. In fact, it has been common for cruise lines to build their own systems internally. IDeaS now provides a solution that delivers the speed and scalability that a homegrown system can’t. By working with IDeaS, which has existing revenue optimization models (custom to each client), cruise lines that need specific functionality can now realize higher ROI and faster time to market.

Jessica Fleisher, vice president revenue, Virgin Voyages, said: “We came to IDeaS because we saw the power of science-driven automation and the results delivered to the hotel industry. Today, nothing in our market can compare to the power of IDeaS revenue management expertise. We couldn’t be more pleased with the project's development thus far and are impressed with the entire organization's commitment. As a visionary in the cruise industry, we see the value of sophisticated revenue management, so it was only fitting we should partner with the pioneer of RMS technology.”

Sanjay Nagalia, co-founder and chief scientist,IDeaS, said: “IDeaS is excited to work with Virgin Voyages as we make this proof of concept a reality. This collaboration not only marks our entry into the cruise industry but also demonstrates our commitment to expanding our expertise into new verticals. By helping them gain key insights into dynamic forecasting and pricing, we believe we will help usher in a new era for the entire cruise industry. We couldn’t be prouder to work with this exciting and forward-thinking team.” 

See how IDeaS revolutionizes revenue management strategy for cruise lines. Visit https://ideas.com/cruise-lines/ to learn more. 

Shift4 has acquired a majority stake in Vectron Systems AG, a European suppliers of point-of-sale (POS) systems to the restaurant and hospitality verticals. 

Based in Germany, Vectron has 65,000 POS locations across Europe, representing. Shift4 is expected to acquire additional ownership of Vectron through a public tender offer that is expected to conclude within the next month, with a de-listing and formal integration process to occur shortly thereafter.

The acquisition is expected to provide Shift4 with an expansive customer footprint across Europe as well as a distribution network of ~300 POS resellers. As a result of the acquisition, Shift4 believes it will be able to add its integrated payment services to current Vectron customers and products, while also empowering the sales force with a compelling all-in-one POS and payments solution unrivaled in Europe.

“Shift4 was at the forefront of the convergence between software and payments in the restaurant and hospitality verticals in the US. We see an incredible amount of demand for a similar all-in-one solution across Europe,” states Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman. “With our integrated payments and SkyTab offering, we believe we have the best solution at the right price point. Vectron will provide valuable local expertise, infrastructure, and the distribution necessary to meet the demand. This acquisition is right out of the Shift4 playbook – enabling us to unlock synergies, expand our distribution, and monetize payments for a large existing install base.”

Completes Revel Systems Acquistion

In addition to the acquisition of Vectron, Shift4 has also completed its previously announced acquisition of Revel Systems. Revel has over 18,000 merchant locations across the United States and internationally which Shift4 estimates represents a $17B+ payment opportunity. Revel also has a direct sales and dealer distribution network which Shift4 believes can be leveraged to accelerate SkyTab distribution both domestically and abroad. 

Shift4 has signed a definitive arrangement agreement to acquire Givex Corp., a global provider of gift cards, loyalty programs and point-of-sale solutions. 

The Arrangement Agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and the transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. 

With across more than 100 countries, Givex serves a wide range of businesses in various industries, including 7-Eleven, Wendy’s, Best Western, Texas Roadhouse. 

The company offers robust gift card and e-gift solutions as well as customizable loyalty programs, and a point-of-sale (POS) system for various business types, among other value-added services.

 “Givex has a considerable footprint around the world which will dramatically increase Shift4’s overall customer base,” states Shift4 President Taylor Lauber. “At the same time, their gift card and loyalty solutions are second to none and will add significant value for our current customers, creating stickier relationships andh 130,000+ active locations enhancing our overall value proposition. Similar to other deals we have recently completed, this acquisition aligns perfectly with how we like to deploy capital – adding blue-chip merchants at a low customer acquisition cost while delivering additional benefits to our customer base.” 

“The Givex team looks forward to joining the Shift4 family and bring our enterprise gift card capabilities and loyalty programs to hundreds of thousands of new customers,” says Don Gray, CEO of Givex. “By combining Shift4’s end-to-end payment solution with our value-added engagement services, we can deliver an unparalleled package to both of our customer bases.”  

Mark Shambura has joined Panera Bread as Chief Marketing Officer. Shambura will lead all aspects of marketing at Panera, including Brand Building, Digital & Loyalty, Product Strategy & Consumer Insights. An accomplished marketing leader with broad expertise in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura has previously held marketing leadership roles during pivotal growth periods for top brands including Chipotle, MOD Pizza, and most recently Papa Johns.

"Mark brings an impressive background building brands and leading marketing teams for fast-casual restaurants, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Panera Bread,” said José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer. “As Panera continues to evolve our brand, guided by listening to our guests, Mark’s depth of experience and ability will help drive our growth as a brand that serves great food you feel good about eating.”

Shambura previously served as CMO at Papa Johns, where he led a revitalization of the brand by enhancing its iconic “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” platform, and developing a more modern, innovative omnichannel approach to transform how Papa Johns appealed to both new and loyal consumers. As Executive Director at Chipotle, Mr. Shambura guided the marketing function through periods of both sustained growth and transition, providing leadership over brand strategy, advertising, digital, social, events/sponsorships, promotions, and field marketing, including playing a key role in spearheading its “Real Ingredients” brand strategy.

“I’m proud to join the Panera Bread team and excited to build on the momentum of the brand's transformation as it continues to evolve in service of our guests,” Mr. Shambura said. “Panera propelled and cemented its position at the top of the fast casual restaurant segment through its promise of high-quality ingredients and freshly prepared food, and I’m thrilled to join a highly talented team to help shape its next chapter.”

Prior to his tenure in the restaurant industry, Mr. Shambura gained extensive marketing agency experience, working with a broad array of top global consumer brands for over a decade. Shambura will report directly to José Alberto Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer, and officially assumed the role of Chief Marketing Officer on July 29, 2024.

Checkmate   launched its new Loyalty & Marketing platform, adding a powerful suite of customer engagement tools to its already robust Direct Ordering (DO) platform. This unified solution integrates loyalty, ordering and marketing into one seamless system, allowing enterprise restaurant brands to deliver personalized customer experiences, boost repeat business, and drive revenue through data-driven marketing strategies.

Guesty, a property management software platform for the short-term rental and hospitality industry, announced the launch of two additional AI features: Guesty’s AI Assistant website builder and ReviewSmart AI. These tools are designed to empower property managers to easily create attractive, engaging websites and quickly gain valuable insights from negative guest feedback.

“These practical AI capabilities reinforce Guesty’s position at the forefront of innovating the hospitality industry,” said Guesty CEO, Amiad Soto. “Our commitment is to consistently enhance our platform, making it easier for property managers to optimize bookings, streamline operations, and elevate the guest experience. The response from our users so far has been incredibly enthusiastic. More and more, property managers are recognizing the benefits of brand building, and we look forward to continuing to deliver the valuable tools that empower them to grow their brand simply and effectively. AI-driven efficiency is essential for property managers, ensuring they have the time to focus on what they do best: providing a best-in-class guest experience.”

AI Assistant Website Builder: Effortless Web Presence, Elevated

Guesty’s built-in AI Assistant website builder empowers property managers to effortlessly create visually stunning web pages and compelling copy in minutes. The AI Assistant also provides SEO for optimized web pages, ensuring that properties stand out in a crowded market and are discovered more easily. 

Guesty is the only PMS to embed this level of website customization and to integrate AI-generated content directly and seamlessly into its platform, providing an invaluable resource for property managers looking to build and maintain a strong brand presence and drive more direct bookings to their properties. Since its beta launch, the AI Assistant has already been adopted by 25% of Guesty’s website builder users, showcasing its immediate impact and appeal.

ReviewSmart AI: Turn Feedback into Actionable Insights

ReviewSmart AI is an intelligent analytics tool that seamlessly and comprehensively categorizes negative guest reviews into actionable insights. By organizing feedback into key areas such as noise, cleanliness, check-in, communication, and guest expectations, property managers can quickly identify and address issues, ensuring a consistently high-quality guest experience. Additionally, property managers are able to use these insights to track and trend an improved quality of service they’. 

This advanced tool saves time by automating the review analysis process and also empowers property managers to make data-driven decisions that enhance operations and boost guest satisfaction. With ReviewSmart AI, managers can focus on implementing solutions that make a real difference, rather than spending valuable time identifying problems. ReviewSmart AI is already one of Guesty's more popular dashboards among its advanced users. 

Guesty’s intelligent Property Management System (PMS) is supported by a 250+ strong R&D team and a robust offering of native solutions for hospitality. These tools are becoming indispensable in the day-to-day operations of property managers. Other successful Guesty AI-based tools include ReplyAI, transforming guest-host communication, and PriceOptimizer, a dynamic pricing tool for revenue management.