News Briefs

With more than 25 years of success, RoomKeyPMS, has entered 2025 with a technological roadmap designed to keep guest data safer, modern travelers happier, and hoteliers connected to operational information anywhere, anytime. Beginning this month, the provider of property-management systems for hotels and motels will begin releasing a host of modern tools.

Serving more than 70,000 guestrooms across North America, this trusted PMS partner is:

• Strengthening remote access security, mitigating data breaches, and safeguarding sensitive information and brand reputation via Multi Factor Authentication (MFA).
• Tokenizing credit cards to reduce fraud and the risk of data breaches; enhancing mobile check-in to give guests a complete enable guests to bypass the front desk and go directly to their rooms.
• Expanding integrations to include solutions that support golf, activities, food and beverage, marketing and more to make RoomKeyPMS a single partner for operators.

“2025 is a really great time to be a RoomKeyPMS customer,” said Shane MacPhail, RoomKeyPMS Product Director. “Our integrated hotel management platform is being enhanced to better support a touchless world. Over the last 10 years our development team was focused on improving our security infrastructure to prevent any malicious or unauthorized access to the system. We are pleased to report that since this initiative began, there have been no security breaches. However, because we handle credit card transactions, we have a responsibility to make our system more secure. Therefore, we began expanding our security focus by requiring an additional verification step beyond passwords, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. We also are replacing sensitive credit-card details with a unique token to reduce the risk of fraud and data breaches allowing hotels to securely process payments for deposits, cancellations, or future charges without storing actual card information.

“This month we released ‘Embedded Gift Cards’ through our RoomKeyPMS Payments platform,” he added. “This enables hotels to sell physical and digital gift cards directly from RoomKeyPMS and redeem gift cards within the system to be used on the reservation folio. This will provide a more flexible and appealing way to attract new guests, encourage repeat stays, and generate revenue year-round. Gift cards are an easy gifting option for special occasions. They help hotels reach a wider audience while ensuring future bookings, and they can often lead to higher spending, as recipients may upgrade rooms or enjoy extra services during their stay.”

End-to-End Mobile Check-In Experience with Mobile Key and More

Today, travelers staying at hotels with RoomKeyPMS can confirm their personal and reservation details, upgrade their room type, add guest services, and provide credit card information along with any special notes about their stay. In the coming months, RoomKeyPMS will release an enhancement to its Mobile Check-In process that will support full credit-card processing and enable guests to completely bypass the front desk and proceed directly to their rooms. Through integration to Flexipass Mobile Keys, guests can use their mobile devices to access their rooms. If the hotel does not support mobile keys, guests simply stop at the front desk to pick up a plastic keycard. This service, also offered through RoomKeyPMS Payments, will improve guest loyalty, minimize chargeback risks, and streamline payment processing for a seamless booking experience.

RoomKeyPMS is also working to increase its interface library to add point-of-sale integrations and a mobile communications platform that will enable hotels to stay in constant contact with guests from reservations to check out. This program will give operators and companies managing multiple hotels the ability to integrate with any of RoomKeyPMS’ sister companies, including Silverware, Club Prophet, The Flybook, Priswing, HoldMyTicket, and Adventure Office.

“By creating an API layer and integration hub, RoomKeyPMS customers can integrate faster with other technology partners,” MacPhail said. “While software for golf, activities, and marketing is not yet mainstream at most limited-service hotels using RoomKeyPMS, about 45 percent of our customers do require some type of POS integration. RoomKeyPMS + Silverware, for example, can facilitate posting room charges from the restaurant POS right onto the guest bill in the PMS. When demand for these peripheral solutions does arise, especially among hotel companies that manage multi-branded properties with varying PMSs, this type of deep integration will go a long way towards streamlining communication across the enterprise.”

“RoomKeyPMS has been around for 25 years,” MacPhail said. “Our solution is tried and true. Because of our size, we can be more responsive to feature requests, enhancements and customization. For our price point, our number of integrations is impressive and far surpasses those of our competition. Our biggest strength is that our product and support staff come from hotels. We know what hoteliers are going through, and we will do whatever it takes to eliminate their pain points. In 2025, RoomKeyPMS is making BIG changes, and by doing so, we will be making an even BIGGER difference to operators, staff and guests.”

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.”  

ezCater and Dave’s Hot Chicken, today announced the launch of the fast-casual brand’s first-ever catering program, responding to the increasing demand from workplaces nationwide. The new partnership enables organizations to conveniently order Dave’s Hot Chicken for meetings, events, and employee lunches from over 200 of its locations.

Drawing on ezCater's 18+ years of workplace catering expertise, Dave’s Hot Chicken has crafted a versatile catering menu that includes individually packaged boxes and trays. The menu has been optimized for large-group orders, featuring fan-favorite hot chicken tenders, sliders, and sides.

“Partnering with ezCater allows Dave’s Hot Chicken to tap into high-value workplace customers like never before,” said Jim Bitticks, President and Chief Operations Officer, Dave’s Hot Chicken. “This partnership will help us capitalize on the growing demand in workplace catering while also opening up a new revenue stream for our franchise owners. The average order value for Dave’s Hot Chicken orders on ezCater exceeds $500, and we expect catering to represent as much as 10% of our business within a year.”

Dave’s Hot Chicken will benefit from ezCater’s platform, which is designed to help restaurants get valuable, incremental catering orders and backed by award-winning customer service. A majority of Dave’s Hot Chicken locations also leverage ezDispatch, which supports them with local, reliable delivery partners in their area.

Absolute Hotel Services Group (AHS), one of the fastest-growing hospitality management and branding companies in Asia, has chosen the Oracle OPERA Cloud and Simphony Cloud Point of Sale (POS) platforms for all of its AHS-branded properties worldwide. With connected, intelligent applications running on a common data platform, Absolute will be able to glean the insights it needs to operate more efficiently, enhance guest experiences, and support revenue growth. Absolute began the rollout of the Oracle solutions across 23 properties that account for 3,600 rooms in late 2024, and its remaining locations are expected to be transitioned by early 2026.

“Making this investment in Oracle’s cutting-edge technology is a testament to Absolute’s unwavering commitment to innovation and guest satisfaction,” said Jonathan Wigley, CEO and founder of Absolute Hotel Services Group. “This marks a pivotal moment in our journey toward becoming a global hospitality leader. The Oracle platforms are already helping us refine our operations and assist our staff in delivering exceptional service.”

With the OPERA Cloud property management system (PMS), Absolute is centralizing its guest data and operations to provide management a complete picture of its business, encompassing distribution, sales, customer service interactions, and loyalty programs. Accessible through mobile devices, OPERA Cloud enables staff to make faster, data-driven decisions from anywhere on its properties to better serve guests, handle housekeeping tasks, manage reservations, and more.

With Simphony POS, Absolute will also be able to better understand the dining preferences of its customers to reward guests for their purchases and deliver more relevant offers over time.

“By leveraging OPERA Cloud and Simphony POS, Absolute Hotel Services Group is not only elevating the guest experience, it is reshaping the hospitality industry's landscape in APAC,” said Patrick Andres, Regional Vice President of Hospitality for JAPAC at Oracle. “This digital transition highlights Absolute’s commitment to providing an easy-to-navigate, comprehensive customer experience to guests, while also setting themselves up for success with all the modern tools they need to drive revenue and make their staff’s lives easier.”

Absolute Hotels (AHS) selected Oracle OPERA Cloud in Q1 FY25.

Aptech, a provider of enterprise accounting, business intelligence, financial planning and management solutions for the hospitality industry, announced the launch of its new accounting solution, PVNG Fixed Asset Management (FAM). Designed to meet the unique needs of hotel organizations, properties and groups, PVNG FAM offers an interactive platform for managing, updating and reporting on assets across one or multiple locations.

Empowering Hotel Organizations with Asset Information

PVNG Fixed Asset Management is a dynamic system that helps hotel organizations monitor the full life cycle of their assets, from acquisition through end-of-life. The system’s capabilities allow users to view and update their asset inventory at any time, ensuring that critical information is kept up-to-date. With the ability to log costs against the anticipated and actual life span of assets, hotel management can quickly assess current and potential future savings, optimizing operational efficiencies across all departments.

Key Features of PVNG FAM Include:

• Detailed Reporting: PVNG FAM allows users to generate detailed reports on assets.
• QR Code Scanning: With integrated QR code scanning, users of PVNG FAM can instantly locate assets with their mobile devices and be instantly directed to the relevant asset record, allowing for seamless updates on the go.
• Mobile App Accessibility: Through the convenient PVNG FAM mobile app, users can update and review asset information both online and offline, and synchronize data when reconnected to ensure a fully integrated experience.
• User Access Control: Secure access can be assigned to various users, including staff, engineers and external contractors. Each user has access tailored to their role, ensuring relevant and secure management of assets across single or multiple locations.
• Category Management: With PVNG FAM assets can be categorized and grouped for efficient reporting at a management level. Asset values and depreciation can also be tracked, while identifying when assets nearing the end of their recommended life cycle.

Streamlining Operations Across Multiple Locations

Compatible with all web browsers, PVNG Fixed Asset Management empowers hotel groups to manage assets across multiple properties, providing an all-encompassing view of operations from a single system. With customizable reports, users can compare asset performance across locations and allocate resources effectively, ensuring that budget constraints and maintenance needs are met with ease.

We continuously listen to our clients to develop new products and features to meet their evolving accounting and financial management needs,” said Jill Wilder, Aptech President. “In having these conversations, we identified a need for a robust solution that would allow hotel finance teams to easily track, manage, update and report on their fixed assets across single or multiple properties. PVNG FAM is an ideal enhancement to our PVNG offering for new and existing customers that provides a host of benefits.”

Aptech’s integrated suite of solutions includes PVNG, Execuvue® and Targetvue, which comprise an integrated technology ecosystem designed to help hoteliers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data and provide actionable insights. These solutions focus on enterprise accounting, business intelligence, financial planning and management, and are used by more than 3,500 hotel properties across North America.