News Briefs

Thayer Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on technology innovation in travel and hospitality, and Derive Ventures, an early-stage investment firm dedicated to travel and hospitality, announced the formation of Thayer Investment Partners (TIP). The new platform will leverage the experience of both firm’s founding members to drive value for industry partners and invest in a new generation of innovative start-up companies. Thayer Ventures’ Chris Hemmeter and Derive’s founders Tyler Carrico and Mike Scott will serve as Managing Partners for the new platform, which expects to launch a new investment fund in the coming weeks. Lee Pillsbury, founder of Thayer Lodging Group, sold to Brookfield in 2014, and Managing Director of Thayer Ventures Funds, will continue his role as Managing Director. Previous funds launched by Thayer Ventures and Derive Ventures, respectively, will continue to be managed as they have been since inception; new funds will be managed under the combined TIP leadership. 

Chris Hemmeter, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Thayer Ventures and Managing Partner at TIP, said: “This is a transformative moment for Thayer’s portfolio companies, for our industry partners and for investors. Thayer and Derive are already the leading early-stage investors in travel and hospitality, together we are best positioned to capitalize on the next wave of innovation and leverage an expanded team to deliver maximum value to our industry partners. We are set to tackle a new era of innovation in travel, which includes the transformative development of AI, a radically rethought and reimagined booking funnel and the need to break down silos that continue to hold back progress toward seamless customer journeys and business efficiencies for travel providers.”

Hemmeter concluded, “We’re delighted to welcome back Tyler Carrico, who launched his investment career at Thayer Ventures 6 years ago, and to welcome his co-founder at Derive, Mike Scott, who brings travel investing experience from KSL Capital Partners. By adding Derive’s capabilities to Thayer Ventures, we deepen and expand Thayer’s reach even further through the new TIP platform. We are excited to build out the new platform with a robust team and unmatched record of investment success.”

Founded in 2009, Thayer Ventures invests in early-stage travel and hospitality. The firm has built the preeminent venture platform for entrepreneurs to leverage unequaled counsel from our experienced team, strategic LPs, industry-leading advisors and the entire Thayer portfolio ecosystem.

Mike Scott, Managing Partner at TIP, said: “We are thrilled to team up with Thayer Ventures to launch Thayer Investment Partners. The combined platform will bring an unmatched level of investing experience and strategic support to advance innovation in the travel industry. It will also reinforce our differentiated sector focused approach to producing best-in-class returns and providing the highest level of service to our industry partners.”

Derive Ventures, founded in 2022, is an early-stage venture fund investing in the next generation of hospitality, experiences and real estate; its mission is to bridge the gap between technology and travel by supporting entrepreneurs shaping the future.

Lee Pillsbury added, “I am happy to continue to serve Thayer Ventures and the industry to help accelerate even further the bounds of innovation for Strategic Partners and entrepreneurial early stage start-ups alike. The new Thayer Investment Partners platform represents the next evolution of our original vision for transforming travel technology into in an engine of growth and efficiency for hotel owners, brands and investors across the industry.”

SH Hotels & Resorts, the hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels & Homes, Baccarat Hotels & Residences, and Treehouse Hotels, is pleased to announce the promotion of two key leaders within the company. Shadi Omeish has been appointed Vice President of Operations in North America, and Milton Sgarbi has assumed the responsibilities of Regional Vice President of Operations and Special Projects at 1 Hotel South Beach.

Omeish, an award-winning hospitality leader with over two decades of international experience, will oversee and collaborate closely with general managers and VP at SH Hotels’ properties across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The portfolio currently includes eight operating 1 Hotels as well as Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York, with Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley set to open this year and several projects under development, including 1 Hotel Austin, 1 Hotel Seattle, and 1 Hotel & Homes San Miguel de Allende. A seasoned expert in luxury hospitality, Omeish has managed various SH Hotels & Resorts properties, consistently upholding the highest standards of operations and services. Since joining the company in 2016, he has served as General Manager at 1 Hotel South Beach and 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Area Managing Director West Coast, and most recently Regional Vice President West Coast.

“Shadi’s long tenure and contributions to the company are undeniable, and he has been an invaluable asset to the organization,” said Raul Leal, CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts. “His leadership and vision have been instrumental in driving the success of our properties on the West Coast. We are confident in his guidance through this period of growth for the company, ensuring our continued progress and innovation in new markets across North America.”

Sgarbi is a veteran of the industry with vast experience in hotel operations and new property openings. He reports directly to the CEO in his new role overseeing operations at 1 Hotel South Beach featuring 425 rooms, eight dining outlets, four pools, 600 linear feet of beachfront, a Bamford Spa, 14,000 sqft Anatomy Gym, Membership Club, 269 Branded Residences and two Homeowner Associations. He will also serve in a regional capacity over the immediate openings in Miami, including the upcoming Treehouse Hotel and Baccarat Hotel in Brickell, as well as other select hotels and projects in the future. Inspired by the vision of SH Hotels & Resorts Chairman Barry Sternlicht, Sgarbi collaborated on numerous projects across three continents, joining the company in 2016 with the opening of 1 Hotel South Beach, where he most recently served as VP of Operations.

“Milton's proven industry experience and profound understanding of each brand within the SH Hotels portfolio make him the perfect choice for this new role,” said Leal. “His knowledge of our brand values, combined with his commitment to excellence and ability to successfully launch and manage properties, will be crucial as we continue to expand. We look forward to his leadership in driving the success of our Miami operations and beyond.”

SH Hotels & Resorts is rapidly expanding across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific. In addition to its ten existing luxury, mission-driven 1 Hotel properties, the brand has several anticipated projects under development in Melbourne, Copenhagen, Seattle, Austin, Elounda Hills (Crete), Paris, San Miguel de Allende, Cabo, and Riyadh. Baccarat Hotels & Residences, known for its iconic, ultra-luxurious flagship in New York, is set to open new locations in Rome, Florence, Dubai, Riyadh, Brickell (Miami), and the Maldives. Following the success of Treehouse Hotel London, Treehouse Hotels will open properties in Silicon Valley and Manchester this year, offering guests a nostalgic experience filled with playful moments. Additional projects in Brickell (Miami), Adelaide, and Riyadh are also in the pipeline.

RoomPriceGenie, developer of an award-winning  revenue management solution for hotels, announced the launch of the free, online Revenue Management Content Library, which gives independent hotels the tools necessary to boost bookings and maximize revenue.

From the Content Library, hoteliers also have free access to the RoomPriceGenie Academy courses, offering 30+ comprehensive lessons about crucial revenue management topics, including dynamic pricing, revenue optimization and effective marketing strategies to drive more direct bookings, among many others. The RoomPriceGenie Academy was created by former revenue managers and hospitality industry experts to teach hoteliers how to develop and implement an effective revenue management strategy to help them maintain profitability, no matter how the market changes.

“The hotel industry, guest expectations, market supply and demand, and operational technologies have all evolved significantly in the last couple of years,” said Ari Andricopoulos, CEO of RoomPriceGenie. “Especially given the ongoing staff shortage, it can be tough for hoteliers to keep up with the best pricing practices necessary to remain profitable. Since creating our revenue management solution, I’ve been passionate about helping hoteliers earn more with less, and these free resources are a compilation of the best revenue management tips. In short, they’re everything that hoteliers need to remain competitive in today’s ever-changing, highly competitive market.”

The free RoomPriceGenie Revenue Management Content Library now includes:

●      Full access to the complete RoomPriceGenie Academy course

●      In-depth articles and how-to guides that cover all revenue management aspects, from “Revenue Management 101” to sophisticated revenue management strategies from long-time industry experts

●      Informative webinars with industry leaders discussing revenue management practices and sharing actionable insights for hoteliers to apply to increase bookings and revenue.

●      An updated glossary of hotel industry terms, recently updated with even more in-depth revenue management metrics and related pricing terms

●      An easy-to-follow tipsheet with step-by-step instructions on selecting the best RMS to meet your property’s specific needs

●      And much more!

The RoomPriceGenie Revenue Management Content Library and Academy courses are user-friendly and accessible for all hoteliers, no matter their prior level of revenue management knowledge. They ensure that all hotel owners and managers can easily find and utilize the information they need to maintain long-term profitability. 

To access the new Revenue Management Content Library and free RoomPriceGenie Academy courses, visit https://roompricegenie.com/content-library/.

Expedia Group is meeting travelers where they are: on social media. Today, Expedia announced 100+ new Travel Shops curated by social media creators, tastemakers and brands. Travel Shops are first-of-its-kind shoppable storefronts for creators to share and save their travel recommendations on the Expedia app. The headliner shops launching today are part of an exclusive, invite-only wave of Travel Shops ahead of its wider all-access launch next year. 
 
“Every day, people are liking and buying products recommended by influencers they trust, but until now there hasn’t been a simple way to shop travel recommendations. Travelers are already getting inspiration through Instagram and TikTok, so creating a path to go from looking to booking is a natural evolution that meets travelers where they’re at,” said Lauri Metrose, SVP of Global Communications at Expedia Group. “Our invite-only launch phase includes more than 100 influencers and partners who can now monetize and share their travel picks with millions of followers. In 2025, Travel Shops will expand even more, so anyone can create their own Shop.”

In addition to storefronts from travel influencers like Brett Conti, Renee Roaming, and Oneika Raymond, travelers can explore and book hotel collections from a select group of well-traveled partners, travel experts, media publications and brands:

·         Jaime Camil: Actor, producer and director who starred in “Jane the Virgin,” “La Fea Más Bella” and “Coco” shares favorite hotels for relaxing with family, heritage travel, and celebrating Día de Muertos in Mexico.

·         Virgil van Dijk: The Liverpool FC captain’s Travel Shop features the footballer’s favorite hotels across Liverpool, his favorite family getaways, as well as his top hometown haunts in the Netherlands.

 ·        Arsenal FC: The first sports franchise to integrate with Travel Shops invites its global fan base to book stays on Hotels.com inspired by away games and players’ favorite hotels.
·         Media publishers: Trusted media titles Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Variety are the premier media partners to create Shops for their readers and social followers to discover new and noteworthy places to go and stay.
·         DMOs and Tourism Boards: Destinations around the world, including Travel Alberta, Visit Orlando, Visit The USA and Go Dominican Republic are using Travel Shops to attract travelers by highlighting the must-see experiences and accommodation options their destinations have to offer.

Expedia designed Travel Shops to be simple to use and to earn commissions. Creators can easily generate links to their Travel Shops, Collections or individual properties they want to highlight and share with their followers. Next year, any traveler can create their own Shop and monetize their social content. Join the waitlist here.

Since the Travel Shops Beta launch in May, more than 100 partners have created Shops that represent their personal taste, preferences and style. Travelers can explore collections of boutique hotels in the city, relaxing luxury resorts or soon-to-be-available adventurous excursions hand-picked by a diverse group of trusted global creators.

Travel Shops is currently available on the Expedia iOS app in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is testing its avocado processing cobiotic prototye and its cobiotic makeline in two separate locations.  

Autocado, its avocado processing collaborative robots, or cobotic. prototype, was developed in partnership with Vebu; it cuts, cores, and peels avocados before they are hand mashed to create the restaurant's signature guacamole. Autocado is currently operating at Chipotle's Huntington Beach, Calif., location at 20972 Magnolia St. At the Huntington Beach location, crew members can focus on assisting with other food prep items and delivering exceptional hospitality to guests while Autocado cuts avocados, removes their skin, and separates their fruit through an automated process.

The Augmented Makeline,  built in collaboration with Hyphen, uses automated technology to build bowls and salads while Chipotle employees operate the top makeline to make burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and kid’s meals. The Augmented Makeline is being tested at the company’s Corona del Mar, Calif., location. 

"These cobotic devices could help us build a stronger operational engine that delivers a great experience for our team members and our guests while maintaining Chipotle's high culinary standards," said Curt Garner, Chief Customer and Technology Officer. "Optimizing our use of these systems and incorporating crew and customer feedback are the next steps in the stage-gate process before determining their broader pilot plans."

Investing in the Future 

Chipotle has invested in Vebu and Hyphen through its  $100 million Cultivate Next venture fund. Introduced in 2022, Cultivate Next makes early-stage investments into strategically aligned companies that further Chipotle's mission to Cultivate a Better World and help accelerate the company's aggressive longer term growth plans to operate 7,000 restaurants in North America.

Autocado Continues Through the Stage-Gate Process  

Vebu and Chipotle worked closely with Certified Training Managers from Chipotle's restaurants to analyze the company's preparation process and identify tasks that are time consuming and less favorable among crew members. In the Huntington Beach restaurant where Autocado is operating, crew members can focus on assisting with other food prep items and delivering exceptional hospitality to guests while Autocado cuts avocados, removes their skin, and separates their fruit through an automated process. On average, it takes Autocado approximately 26 seconds to fully flesh out the fruit inside an avocado. In Chipotle locations across the U.S., Canada, and Europe this year, the company is expected to use approximately 5.18 million cases of avocados, equivalent to 129.5 million pounds of fruit.

The current iteration of Autocado features an updated design and size agnostic avocado processing abilities, meaning that the machine recognizes variability in the fruit and automatically adjusts itself to accommodate the size of the avocados being loaded.

Enhancing Digital Ordering with the Augmented Makeline

Chipotle's Augmented Makeline, created in collaboration with Hyphen, uses automated technology to build bowls and salads while Chipotle employees operate the top makeline to make burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and kid's meals. Approximately 65% of all Chipotle digital orders are bowls or salads, so the Augmented Makeline can improve employee efficiency and digital order accuracy, ensuring a more consistent experience for digital guests.