News Briefs
- 1/23/2025
CHMWarnick Unveils Proph+IT™: A Game-Changing Data Platform for Hotel Owners and Operators
CHMWarnick, the leading hotel asset management and owner advisory services company to the hospitality investment community, announced today the launch of Proph+IT™, an innovative business intelligence platform designed to revolutionize how hotel owners and operators collect, analyze, and respond to performance data to improve investment returns.
In an era where hoteliers utilize multiple reports across countless platforms and sift through massive amounts of data, decision-making becomes overwhelming and time-consuming. Proph+IT™ eliminates these issues by streamlining critical performance metrics across entire portfolios—empowering users to make smarter, faster decisions.
“Owners and operators deserve a platform that transforms financial metrics into strategic clarity,” said Proph+IT™ lead, Derek Olsen, Managing Director/EVP, CHMWarnick. “With Proph+IT™, we are not only streamlining the data collection process, we are providing actionable insights that drive results and optimize asset value.”
Key Features:
- Seamless Integration: Built on Microsoft Power BI and Excel, Proph+IT™ integrates effortlessly into existing workflows with no lengthy onboarding process.
- Pre-Mapped Systems: Proph+IT™ is already mapped to the chart of accounts for the major brands and more than 15 leading third-party management companies.
- Unmatched Detail: With over 63,000 individual line items, users can dissect detailed labor and productivity metrics, food and beverage expenses, and key insights at an unprecedented level.
- Dynamic Dashboards: Customized views to track portfolio-wide KPIs or drill down into individual properties for a deeper look into performance anomalies.
- Industry Benchmarking: Unlock the power of Proph+IT™ by benchmarking current and forecasted performance of individual hotels and portfolios across dozens of performance KPIs and labor productivities.
- Enhanced Efficiency: Automating the collection and analysis of P&L statements, forecasts, budgets, and other reports, Proph+IT™ frees up time for owners and operators to focus on strategy and actionable insights.
- Cloud-Based Accessibility: View data from your PC, tablet, or mobile device at your desk, on a plane, or in a car through Proph+IT™’s cloud-based platform.
Proph+IT™ currently powers CHMWarnick’s asset management platform, which has included over 400 hotels and has successfully informed strategies across all property types and tiers. Due to growing demand from clients and industry partners seeking a more efficient and actionable way of distilling performance metrics, CHMWarnick is making the platform available to the broader investment and management communities for the first time.
“With Proph+IT™, identifying operational inefficiencies and finding hidden profit opportunities is easier than ever,” said Olsen. “This platform empowers owners and operators to shift from reactive reporting to proactive decision-making.”
- 1/21/2025
Wonder Franchises Buys Pizza Factory
Tucker’s Farm Corp. has acquired Pizza Factory Inc., a restaurant franchisor. The acquisition was completed via the Farm’s franchisor platform Wonder Franchises. Founded in 1979 by Danny Wheeler and Ron Willey, Pizza Factory has approximately $94 million in system sales across 84 franchisees and 110 restaurants. Since 2012, the business has been led by owner and CEO, Mary Jane Riva, who will stay on as CEO moving forward.
In 2023, Tucker’s Farm launched Wonder, a franchise-focused holding vehicle, with $30 million of committed, long-term equity capital. Wonder is dedicated to partnering with and acquiring emerging to mid-size brands with the goal of long-term growth. Wonder’s priority is to be a great partner to sellers and a responsible steward for world-class brands and related assets.
“We’re extremely excited to be acquiring Pizza Factory and to be partnering with MJ to take Pizza Factory to the next level. We love the longevity and stability of the system, the passion that MJ and her team have for their franchisees, and the community-focused culture of the brand. We feel fortunate to be partnering with someone with as much character and knowledge as MJ and believe there’s a great fit both culturally and in terms of our respective skillsets. We’re excited to have the deal closed so we can now focus on driving value for our franchisees,” said Adam Lewin, a partner on the private equity team at Tucker’s Farm and CEO of Wonder Franchises.
This is the third franchise transaction for Tucker’s Farm in recent months, after portfolio company VIO Med Spa, the nation’s med spa franchisor, was successfully sold to Freeman Spogli in September 2024, and Wonder acquired The Decor Group, the leading holiday decorating franchisor with 245 franchised territories and $75 million in system sales, in November 2024.
Riva received HT's Top Women in Restaurant Technology - Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
“I’ve been part of this system for more than 30 years and this company means the world to me. I chose Wonder because I really felt they were the partner that could help improve and grow the system but would do so in a way that took good care of the brand and the franchisees. The Wonder team is smart, young, and energetic – all things that I love – but the thing that really stood out compared to other groups was the way they asked so many questions. They didn’t come in with a ‘we know best’ mindset, they truly wanted to learn about Pizza Factory, understand what’s gotten us this far, and build on what we’re doing. The better I’ve gotten to know their team, the more confident I am that Wonder is the right partner and that the next chapter for Pizza Factory will be a great one.”
A community staple in 100-plus communities, Pizza Factory has stayed true to its roots with hardworking operators, family-friendly dining and high-quality products, offering fresh, hand-tossed pizza, pasta, wings, sandwiches, salads, beer, wine and more. With multiple restaurant designs, an Express model, and robust off-premise dining options including delivery and mobile ordering through a custom app, Pizza Factory is built to excel in the restaurant industry moving forward.
- 1/18/2025
Grubhub Expands Delivery Services with Olo Dispatch
Grubhub, a leading U.S. food ordering and delivery marketplace, and Olo, a leading restaurant technology provider, have expanded their partnership to integrate Grubhub with Olo Dispatch. With Dispatch, restaurants can outsource delivery for orders generated through their own website and apps leveraging a network of third-party delivery service providers, now including Grubhub. This integration builds on Grubhub and Olo's existing relationship where Grubhub orders are directly sent to restaurants' point-of-sale system via Olo Rails.
Olo Dispatch seamlessly selects service providers, including in-house couriers, based on optimal price, timing, availability, and other criteria. Olo's automated matching technology enables restaurants to get orders out the door and into the hands of customers faster and in the most cost-efficient way. With Dispatch, brands can quickly deploy delivery at a national scale with integration into their POS and kitchen production systems. This allows brands to strengthen direct relationships with their customers while offering a convenient and branded delivery experience through their own channels.
"As demand for digital ordering and delivery grows across third-party and owned channels, we're proud to expand how we support our merchant partners and create more earning opportunities for Grubhub's delivery partners," said Kyle Emmett, senior director of retail media and merchant solutions at Grubhub. "With our nationwide delivery network, we help merchants manage their delivery operations, reduce costs, and better meet customer demands."
"At Olo, we always strive to do what's best for our customers, and adding a great partner like Grubhub to our Dispatch network is a perfect example," said Kacie Gonzalez, vice president of product partnerships at Olo. "Giving restaurant brands more delivery service provider options gives them more flexibility, reliability, and competitive pricing, while allowing them to grow their direct ordering channels and own their guest relationships."
This integration with Olo Dispatch joins Grubhub's On-Demand Delivery and Supplemental Delivery services that help restaurants easily scale up their delivery operations when it's needed most.
- 1/23/2025
SiteMinder Report: Hotel Websites Generate up to 60% More Revenue per Booking than Other Sources
A new report by SiteMinder, a hotel distribution and revenue platform, reveals that hotel websites outperformed all other booking sources in driving revenue per booking in 2024, by as much as 60%.
The report, SiteMinder’s Hotel Booking Trends, based on more than 125 million reservations – the largest volume of hotel reservations from any single technology platform – shows that hotel websites produced an average of US$519 per booking for hotels last year. This figure was 8.5% higher than the prior year and more than 60% above the value-per-booking via OTAs (US$320); more than 35% above global distribution systems (US$380); and more than 15% above wholesalers, DMCs and tour operators combined (US$446).The year-on-year rise in direct booking value saw hotel websites either hold or improve their position among every major travel destination’s top sources of total revenue, for the first time, including in the US, where hotel websites remained the third highest revenue-generating channel for hotels.
SiteMinder’s VP of ecosystem and strategic partnerships, James Bishop, says the findings show travelers are not only seeking out hotel websites in strengthening numbers, but spending more when they do.
“When booking directly, travelers are choosing higher-value rooms, staying longer and adding extras, and each of these factors represents a tremendous opportunity for hotels to provide those exclusive deals. This certainly doesn’t mean hoteliers should disregard third-party channels in 2025; they continue to offer unique and unmatched reach, as well as simplicity, as evidenced by their continued dominance in each one of the Top 12 lists of hotel booking revenue-makers worldwide. But what our findings highlight is the importance of hotels delivering an easy booking experience that comes with smooth payments and strong security, just as third-party channels do so well.”
The annual SiteMinder’s Hotel Booking Trends report is the authority on hotel bookings across 20 of the world’s most established destinations. It is based on the booking data of SiteMinder’s more than 44,500 hotel customers, who in 2024 used SiteMinder’s platform to secure more than 125 million bookings valued at more than US$50 billion in revenue.
Further analysis of SiteMinder’s 2024 data shows:
Booking.com was the top booking channel in terms of overall revenue generated for American hotels, for the third year running, while leading wholesaler Hotelbeds achieved its highest ranking in five years, reaching sixth place. Reflecting global trends, WebBeds jumped two spots to 8th, following its 2023 debut, while North America’s Hopper climbed to 10th after appearing for the first time in 2023.
The Top 12 hotel booking sources which generated the most revenue for American properties in 2024 were:
1. Booking.com
2. Expedia Group
3. Hotel websites (direct bookings)
4. Agoda
5. Airbnb
6. Hotelbeds
7. Global distribution systems
8. WebBeds
9. Hostelworld Group
10. Hopper
11. OTS Globe
12. HotelTonight
International arrivals rose to around 25% of all stays, with travelers from key source markets like Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, China and Japan all arriving in solid numbers. And, with 75% of arrivals coming from American travelers, the US retained one of the world’s strongest domestic markets.
Travelers booked earlier and cancelled less, driven in part by the ongoing growth of international travel as a percentage of all stays. Average lead times in the US increased to 31.5 days, surpassing 2019 levels, while the cancellation rate decreased to 19.21%, remaining below the country’s 2019 average.
Despite the average daily rate (ADR) in the US contracting by 2.5% in 2024 (from US$280 to US$273), the second half of the year was more promising for the sector, with room rates showing notable year-on-year growth from October through to December. July saw the highest monthly ADR, despite being narrowly surpassed by August as the busiest month for bookings. Globally, ADR increased in the majority (65%) of markets, again surpassing US$200.
With Friday-night stays (the most expensive) generating an average of US$67 more than Sundays (the most affordable), the US’s occupied room rates had some of the most variation globally in 2024 and reflected the country’s leadership in dynamic revenue management.
With over 22% of guests staying for two nights or more, stays at American properties were narrowly longer than the global average.
“As trends change to mirror today’s dynamic traveler, hotel businesses must remain flexible and responsive. SiteMinder’s report shows that traveler preferences are anything but fixed, so those who can adapt quickly will be best positioned to succeed,” says Bishop. “In 2025, the advantage will come from leveraging data-driven insights, building flexibility into strategies, and seizing new opportunities. Properties that embrace this approach will not just establish themselves as leaders within their markets; they will set a new standard for an industry undergoing transformative change.”
SiteMinder’s Hotel Booking Trends report is available here. - 1/22/2025
CloudPay and Instant Financial Partner to Empower Employees Worldwide
CloudPay, a provider global payroll and payment solutions, and Instant Financial, a pioneer in responsible earned wage access (EWA), electronic tips, and paycard solutions, have joined forces to expand access to earned wages for employees worldwide. This strategic partnership redefines EWA for organizations with multi-country operations by uniting CloudPay’s unmatched global payroll and payments expertise with Instant’s trusted on-demand pay solutions. The result is a unified, flexible pay solution that empowers employees across borders, positioning companies at the forefront of financial wellness support for workforces globally.
By combining CloudPay’s global payroll infrastructure with Instant Financial’s on-demand pay services, the partnership equips companies with U.S. roots—and others globally—with the ability to offer employees access to their earned wages wherever they are, whenever they need it. As EWA gains traction globally, this collaboration places CloudPay and Instant Financial ahead of the curve, meeting the growing demand for progressive pay options that enhance employee financial wellness and boost talent acquisition and retention worldwide.
This partnership also responds to the demand for flexible pay solutions, providing employees with enhanced financial wellness options and giving organizations a competitive edge in attracting and retaining talent. By offering immediate access to earned wages, CloudPay and Instant Financial are empowering employees with greater financial control, by reducing dependence on costly credit whilst promoting wellbeing on a global scale.
“At CloudPay, we recognize the importance of meeting employees’ needs for timely and accessible pay, especially in a globalized work environment,” said Timo Weber, Chief Strategy Officer at CloudPay. “Our partnership with Instant Financial combines our strengths in global payroll with Instant’s trusted on-demand pay solutions, delivering a seamless, flexible pay experience that meets the financial wellness goals of companies with diverse, international workforces.”
Tal Clark, CEO at Instant Financial added, ”Our partnership with CloudPay is very exciting as it brings earned wage access to businesses and employees everywhere. By combining our innovative pay solutions with CloudPay’s global payroll capabilities, we’re meeting the global needs of our enterprise clients while making financial wellness more accessible than ever.”
Together, CloudPay and Instant Financial exemplify a commitment to advancing financial wellness across borders, uniting two trusted brands to redefine the payroll experience and expand on-demand pay worldwide. As EWA rapidly evolves from a U.S.-centric benefit to a globally valued solution, this alliance positions both companies at the forefront of payroll innovation and workforce wellbeing.
- 1/21/2025
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux Launches New Loyalty Program
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, the nationally renowned restaurant and sports bar, will be relaunching its guest engagement platform with Paytronix Loyalty. The new Walk-On’s Rewards loyalty program is being deployed to help the brand support its franchisee community as it seeks to increase growth in the coming years.
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux selected Paytronix as the loyalty program best suited to round out its approach to guest engagement, particularly for its best-in-class platform. Paytronix will support the brand’s inherent belief in Southern hospitality while also growing loyalty sales to double digits across all locations.
“We want to better establish the foundation of our brand through loyalty, and Paytronix is the perfect fit to support our fast-growing franchisee community,” said Mark Foulds, Vice President of Digital Media and Consumer Engagement at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. “Its rich feature set includes the data-driven measurement and reporting necessary to give our franchisees greater visibility into how our loyalty program is performing. It’s a one-stop shop for SMS push and pull marketing campaigns.”Designed to scale to the needs of the brand, the Paytronix loyalty program will enable Walk-On’s franchisees to capture guest data, make data-driven decisions and optimize their programs using real-time ROI analysis and reports. All while delivering the rewards and experiences that lead to more visits, higher spend per visit, and an increase in the value of each customer.
“Our franchisees are asking for a loyalty platform with more personalization that will help them build deeper relationships with their guests,” said Mike Lester, CEO of Walking Tall Brands and a member of the Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux Franchise Advisory Council. “Through enabling greater personalization via segmentation, targeting, and offers based on guest transactions, Paytronix Loyalty will provide both convenience and access to the data and information necessary to learn what our guest journey is and how to increase their visit frequency.”
“Paytronix is incredibly pleased to play a key role in Walk On’s growth plans,” said Paytronix Chief Customer Officer, Andrea Mulligan. “We’ll be working closely with their franchisees and marketers to get the best of their loyalty program. Walk On’s is a highly respected institution in the South, and the greater hospitality industry. We look forward to collaborating and finding new ways to leverage their belief in Southern hospitality to create value for their customers and new growth opportunities for their franchisees.”