News Briefs

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) announced the Global Technology 100 (T100) 2025 leadership team, which advises hoteliers on how the latest technological advances can create a more enjoyable stay for their guests.

As part of HTNG, T100 is tasked with driving transformative advancements, revolutionizing guest experiences, and defining the future landscape of hospitality technology for the benefit of AHLA members and the global hospitality industry. HTNG includes over 4,000 professionals globally who are committed to advancing technology in the hospitality industry.

This year, five hospitality technology leaders will lead T100:

• Chair Luis Segredo, CEO of Data Travel LLC
• Vice Chair Edward Malinowski, Chief Information Technology Officer, Aman
• Immediate Past Chair Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
• Program & Membership Chair Laura Calin, SVP, Oracle Hospitality
• Workgroup Chair Dayna Kully, Co-Founder, 5thGenWireless

“This talented group of people helming T100 and shaping the technology future of the hotel industry is a dream team,” said AHLA President & CEO Rosanna Maietta. “T100 harnesses the skills of hospitality technology’s most accomplished professionals to drive solutions and innovation across our industry. I’m grateful for their service to AHLA, their leadership, and their commitment to working on behalf of our industry.”

Learn more about T100 and its membership here.

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.”  

Shake Shack Inc. has tapped retail veteran Justin Mennen to be its new Chief Information and Technology Officer, effective January 13. Mennen will report to Rob Lynch, CEO of Shake Shack, and will oversee all aspects of technology.

“Justin brings a wealth of experience as a technology leader to Shake Shack, along with an impressive track record of driving innovation across industries,” said Lynch. “He’s joining us at a pivotal time in our growth, and we’re confident his expertise will play a key role in elevating our operations and delivering an even better experience for our guests."

As Chief Information and Technology Officer, Mennen will be responsible for overseeing Shake Shack's information technology (IT) department, including the development and implementation of technology strategies, systems, and processes that support the Company’s operations and business objectives. He will work closely with the executive team to identify opportunities for technology innovation, improve business processes and enhance the guest experience.

“I’m honored to join Shake Shack, a brand that continues to redefine modern dining hospitality through innovation, technology, and exceptional guest experiences,” said Mennen. “I look forward to collaborating with the team to drive growth, advance our digital capabilities and deliver solutions that fuel Shake Shack’s ongoing success.”

Mennen is a seasoned technology leader with a deep expertise in technology strategy, cybersecurity and large-scale systems implementation across a number of industries. Most recently, Mennen served as EVP, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Rite Aid Corp., where he led digital and technology organizations, enhancing online platforms and modernizing systems across 2,400 stores. Prior to Rite Aid, Mennen held key technology leadership roles at Estée Lauder, Compucom and Dell Technologies, driving innovation and operational improvements in each organization.

Epson  announced a partnership with Kitchen Armor, a restaurant kitchen solutions provider offering a full range of standard and custom kitchen automation products. Through this partnership, Kitchen Armor will bring Curbit capabilities, the industry’s first AI-powered kitchen capacity management solution for restaurants, and new hardware options to TrueOrder  Kitchen Display System (KDS), aiming to further optimize kitchen performance and order status communication via SMS. Through this partnership, Epson and Kitchen Armor are providing state-of-the-art, easy-to-implement kitchen technology to mid-sized chains and single location operators, allowing them to compete with larger corporate competitors on take-out efficiency, order accuracy and guest communication.

TrueOrder KDS with Kitchen Armor is an affordable, easy to set up and easy-to-install kitchen display system for restaurants, enhancing productivity from food prep to order fulfillment. Kitchen Armor manufactures and produces stainless steel touch solutions, along with custom mounting options that feature Power Over Ethernet (POE) capabilities that greatly simplify hardware installation and offer the most effective kitchen consulting services recognized throughout the industry. Kitchen Armor is the official reseller of Curbit’s services, and the partnership between Epson and Kitchen Armor will provide Curbit capabilities within TrueOrder KDS. Curbit helps restaurants manage their take-out orders intelligently by leveraging real-time kitchen data and AI to determine the optimal time to start digital orders and providing real-time order progress to guests and delivery drivers via SMS. Through this partnership, Curbit capabilities, including real-time order SMS progress updates and detailed speed of service reporting data, will be available within TrueOrder KDS.

“Kitchen Armor’s mission is to provide restaurants with the most advanced, industry-leading kitchen solutions that are cost-effective, easy to implement and designed to exceed customer expectations on day one,” said Paul Amestoy, co-founder, Kitchen Armor. “We are excited to work with Epson and strengthen our partnership with Curbit as we continue to be the industry-leading turn-key solutions provider for a diverse array of quick-service restaurants. This partnership will further allow customers to enhance their kitchen production, achieve better order accuracy and enhance customer communication.”

Adding to Epson’s existing TrueOrder KDS offerings from Microtouch, Logic Controls and Elo, this partnership will give customers more options for implementing the intuitive and robust TrueOrder KDS software. TrueOrder KDS is easy to set up and can be customized to fit a kitchen’s workflow with easy-to-use, browser-based configuration utility. The system can support as many as nine stations throughout the kitchen, to help ensure order information is handled by the right station.

“As a market leader with a reputation for providing expertise for both software and hardware kitchen solutions, Kitchen Armor has the experience and know-how to provide a full end-to-end solution for restaurants,” said Tessa Kohl, product manager, Epson America, Inc. “Many restaurants are looking to optimize kitchen efficiency, especially when managing orders coming from a range of third-party ordering and delivery apps, and we are excited to work with Kitchen Armor to deliver world-class solutions to meet these needs.”

For more information about TrueOrder KDS, visit www.epson.com/kds. 

Epson introduces the TM-T20IV Thermal Receipt Printer, purpose-built for taking on the demanding point of sale (POS) needs of today’s businesses. Engineered for a balance of speed, reliability and affordability in a compact package, the versatile TM-T20IV printer supports traditional PC-POS and mPOS systems, allowing for exceptional flexibility and productivity in hospitality and retail environments.

“As the market is migrating towards mPOS systems, merchants are increasingly looking to POS solutions that are modern, sleek and have flexible interfaces,” said John Choi, product manager, Business Systems Division, Epson America, Inc. “Designed with affordability in mind, the TM-T20IV printer provides essential features for modern businesses, including a compact design, flexible connectivity, fast printing, and paper-saving capabilities.”

The TM-T20IV printer features two built-in connectivity options – USB with Serial connectivity and USB with Serial and Ethernet connectivity – allowing for exceptional flexibility and productivity. With print speeds up to 250 mm/sec, an intuitive status LED and paper savings of up to 30%, the TM-T20IV is the ideal solution for keeping POS workflows moving quickly and efficiently. The printer is backed by a 2-year limited warranty, with extended service plan options available up to a total of 5 years of continuous coverage.

A capable and affordable solution for today’s hospitality and retail environments, additional features include:

• Compact, modern design – Small 3-inch thermal receipt printer
• Designed for reliability – 2-year limited warranty and extended service plans, including Spare-in-the-Air™ coverage, are available²
• Multiplatform support – Compatible with traditional PC-POS and mPOS devices
• Easy to use – Status LED with intuitive icons allows for simple troubleshooting and maintenance

Availability

The TM-T20IV Thermal Receipt Printer will be available in Q1 of 2025 from Epson authorized channel partners. For additional information, visit www.epson.com/retail-point-of-sale-solutions