News Briefs

Legion Technologies, an innovator in workforce management (WFM), has expanded its relationship with Vail Resorts,a leading mountain resort company. Over the past winter season, Vail Resorts mountain resort leaders, managers, and frontline employees implemented the technology and data in the Legion WFM platform, allowing them to optimize resort staffing to elevate guest service, employee experience, and efficiency.

Vail Resorts initially piloted Legion WFM's scheduling functionality at its two largest mountain resorts, Whistler Blackcomb and Park City Mountain. Over the past season, Vail Resorts expanded this functionality to all 37 of its resorts in the US and Canada.

“As an experience company, we are always looking to invest in innovative technology to improve not only the guest experience but our team members’ experience,” said Bill Rock, president of the Mountain Division, Vail Resorts. “Our leaders and employees had been giving us feedback that they wanted a better experience that gives them better visibility and flexibility to schedule our employees where and when they can make the biggest impact on the experience of our guests. Legion’s workforce management tool has helped us schedule our employees more efficiently, which is essential given the intricacies of our mountain resort operations.”

“Vail Resorts’ operations are complex, from running retail and rental to staffing lifts and restaurants and scheduling team members in hospitality; Vail Resorts needs intuitive and flexible scheduling software to optimize labor operations. With Legion’s experience and employee-centric platform, we help ensure they always have the right staff at the right time in the right place to meet demand while simultaneously maximizing employee engagement,” said Sanish Mondkar, CEO and founder, Legion Technologies.

The expansion of the Vail Resorts partnership marks another milestone in what remains a remarkable year for Legion. Earlier this year, the AI Breakthrough Awards named Legion WFM the “Best AI-based Solution for Workforce Management” for the second year in a row. In addition, the company ranked No. 26 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the Pacific region’s fastest-growing private companies and made Deloitte’s Fast 500 list of the fastest-growing technology companies in the United States.

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.”  

Encore, a global event technology and production services provider, confirmed today the launch of its pioneering ‘Overtime Savings Program’ in the United States, along with additional people-first programs to further support its ongoing workforce in a seasonal industry.

Powered by UKG’s payroll technology, this first-of-its-kind program aims to enhance financial wellness and stability for Encore’s frontline employees, many of whom work in markets that experience seasonal ebb and flow of business volumes.

With 12,000 team members providing event technology and production services at 2,200 hotels and conference venues in 20 countries, Encore faces the same challenges common in the hospitality industry. Seasonal fluctuations often result in workers’ hours varying from ample overtime during peak times to reduced schedules in off-season periods. This seasonality makes it difficult for workers to maintain consistent earnings and creates challenges for companies to retain talent in the off season.

“Encore has always believed its team members are the heart of our story. This people-first mindset motivates us to constantly evolve our team member experience and innovate around challenges, like the impact of seasonality, that the industry previously viewed as immutable,” said Ben Erwin, president and CEO of Encore.

In addition to the Overtime Savings Program, the company launched a Seasonal Leave of Absence Program, which offers team members the flexibility to take time off during slower seasons while retaining full benefits, accruing paid time off, and maintaining their tenure. This unique program enables employees to explore other work opportunities, pursue education, or focus on personal goals without sacrificing benefits or career progression. Both the Overtime Savings and Seasonal Leave of Absence Programs are active nationwide, with plans for global expansion.

“We established the program as another way to support our team members so that they can be at their best in delivering for our customers,” Erwin added. “With this innovation, they can better plan and save their premium overtime pay for periods of the year when they might not work as many hours. Providing this capability and funding a company-paid match for a portion of the savings should motivate financial wellness and enable them to continue to build their career with Encore. Team member reactions tell us we are onto something,” he said.

With a launch just after Labor Day, usage of the UKG Wallet™ increased tenfold compared to the prior year’s period. he company offered an initial savings match, similar to a 401k program incentive match, to reward healthy financial behavior.

“Financial stress is not a problem isolated to our industry, it’s a stressor for nearly everyone,” said Charlie Young, chief human resources officer at Encore. “Nearly 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck¹ and Americans spent $9B in bank overdraft fees in 2023. The more we can do to reduce stress for our team members, the more focused they can be on our customers. We are successful in the event production business because of the unique combination of our technical expertise, hospitality mindset and ability to work under pressure and through challenges. Seasonal fluctuations are part of our business, but with a partner like UKG that understands every industry has unique challenges, we were able to innovate to support those unique needs to make our team members’ lives better.”

Cody Browne, a technical lead with five years of service for Encore in Las Vegas, said he will try the Overtime Savings program, in addition to accruing and saving his Paid Time Off, for the slow season in December in Las Vegas. He hopes the vacation time, in addition to the saved overtime funds, will afford him an out-of-state vacation to visit family. “I love that Encore is creating new opportunities, that’s one of the reasons I am interested in growing my career here,” he said.

In 2024 65% of restaurants adopted new technology to manage labor, though 27% still use manual scheduling, according to research by 7shifts.   The all-in-one scheduling, payroll, and tip management app for restaurant operators, released its annual Restaurant Workforce Report for 2025. 

Based on a survey of more than 900 restaurant managers, the research uncovers important findings about industry growth, hiring challenges, employee engagement, pressing financial considerations, and technology adoption and usage.

Insights

• Tech Adoption: 65% of restaurants adopted new technology to manage labor, though 27% still use manual scheduling. Technology is critical for efficiency and workforce management.
   
• Related: 22% of restaurants planned to change workforce management solutions this year, according to HT's 2024 Restaurant Technology Study
   
• Employee Centricity: Benefits like PTO and positive work environments are priorities, but 69% of restaurants don't offer important services like childcare or mental health support. The research also found that giving feedback is vital for staff engagement, as employees want to know how they're performing and how they can improve.
• Tipping Models: Despite ongoing wage discussions, 63% of restaurants reported no changes to their tipping practices in 2024.
• Rising Wages: Base wages increased by 4% to $14.20/hour, with restaurants offering benefits like 401(k) plans to meet employee expectations and retain staff.
• Regional Wage Disparities: While wages are up nationwide, the Pacific Northwest and Northern California lead with rates above $20/hour, while the Southeast and Midwest lag at $15/hour.

"Our previous research shows that flexibility, camaraderie, and strong management are essential for job satisfaction and retention in the restaurant industry," says Jordan Boesch, CEO at 7shifts. "Flexible hours help employees balance their lives, and an environment that fosters camaraderie keeps teams engaged. As always, effective management was shown to be key, with 45% of employees citing poor leadership as a reason for leaving. Moving forward into 2025, it will be crucial for restaurants to utilize the right strategies and tools that prioritizes satisfaction, connection, and supportive leadership."

A highlight from the report shows that the industry grew this year, with quick-serve restaurant (QSR) dining up by 4%, offsetting losses in the full-service sector.

In addition, the report found that the restaurant industry grew overall by 1.72%, adding 210,300 jobs over the year. However, recruiting and retention remain top concerns for employers, with 65% of respondents describing the current labor market as "tight" or "very tight."

"I feel encouraged about the coming year; I feel that employers are doing a better job of understanding the needs of their employees, and they are making the extra effort to provide those things," said Jana Domanico, senior HR operations manager at Boka Restaurant Group. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to say, 'Well, we have always done things this way,' and to me, this is a good thing. We have to be adaptable and open to employee feedback. Employees can now shape a more sustainable future for themselves in hospitality."

To learn more and access the full report, visit: https://www.7shifts.com/restaurant-workforce-report.

Avalara, Inc., a provider of tax compliance automation software for businesses of all sizes, today announced new and innovative efficiencies for the lodging and hospitality sectors, with the release of Avalara Tax Content (ATC) for Lodging. Leveraging Avalara's proprietary, AI-infused technology, ATC for Lodging gathers, processes and organizes lodging tax data specifically for the lodging and hospitality industries – making it the ideal solution for organizations that require lodging tax content for tax calculations.

ATC for Lodging is a robust addition to Avalara's industry-leading suite of compliance products for lodging and hospitality customers, which includes Avalara AvaTax for Hospitality and Avalara Returns for Hospitality.

"Lodging tax regulations are constantly changing across the state, city, and jurisdictional levels, making it challenging for businesses to maintain the accuracy of tax calculations," said Pam Knudsen, Senior Director of Compliance Services at Avalara. "ATC for Lodging provides organizations, including hotel chains, online travel agencies and marketplaces, property managers and others, with the ability to calculate tax, using AI advances to deliver the researched tax content they need to increase accuracy, uniformity and reliability across multiple locations."

ATC for Lodging provides lodging and hospitality businesses with new benefits and capabilities, including:

• Increased Automation: This new offering supports the efficient use of business resources by replacing manual compliance processes with intelligent automation capabilities, giving businesses control over data management, processing, and scheduling.
• Decreased Risk: ATC for Lodging reduces risk by granting users access to researched and regularly updated lodging tax content, providing uniformity and increased accuracy across locations.
• New Efficiencies in Tax Calculation: By offering both full and partial updates of tax data, ATC for Lodging helps reduce file sizes and gives customers more options.
• To learn more about how your business can benefit from Avalara Tax Content for Lodging, click here.