News Briefs

Consumer privacy and security company ExpressVPN is delighted to announce a partnership with Booking.com for Business, Booking.com’s corporate travel booking product, to offer enhanced digital protection and convenience for business travelers. The collaboration is part of ongoing commitments from both companies to further meet the digital privacy needs of professionals on the move.

To launch the partnership, ExpressVPN is rolling out a special offer: Business travelers who sign up for a 12-month ExpressVPN subscription through Booking.com for Business will receive 4 additional months at no extra cost. Customers who take up this offer will benefit from a significant boost to their digital privacy and security while traveling.

ExpressVPN provides a host of benefits for business travelers:

• Secure Public Wi-Fi: With ExpressVPN, business travelers can confidently connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots safely in the knowledge that their data and privacy are protected.
• Change your virtual location: ExpressVPN allows users to change their IP address, the unique number that identifies your location worldwide. So whether it's accessing company databases or other key resources relevant to work, users can access their digital essentials wherever they are.
• Enhanced Privacy: The VPN service masks your IP address, protecting personal and business communications and data from prying eyes.

Zac Eller, GM, Global Partnerships & Business Development at ExpressVPN, said, "ExpressVPN’s partnership with Booking.com for Business is a testament to our commitment to providing a safer digital experience, especially for those whose work takes them around the globe. We are excited to offer ExpressVPN’s premium privacy solutions to the global network of business travelers facilitated by Booking.com for Business. This partnership not only fortifies the digital privacy of business travelers but also underscores both companies’ commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions.”

Josh Wood, Director, Business Travel & Head of Booking.com for Business, said, "Our collaboration with ExpressVPN aligns perfectly with our vision to make travel easier for our customers. These robust privacy tools further extend the ways that we help small businesses manage every aspect of their travel needs.”

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.”  

Lighthouse, a commercial intelligence platform for travel and hospitality, today announced the launch of its Integration API as part of the new Lighthouse Developer Solutions suite. This strategic initiative accelerates innovation in the hospitality tech ecosystem by enabling technology providers to build certified integrations while creating new revenue opportunities.

Industry-wide, the demand for seamless technology integration continues to grow. The Lighthouse Integration API addresses this need by offering a comprehensive framework that goes beyond basic connectivity.

Technology providers – from Property Management Systems (PMS) to Channel Managers – can now develop direct integrations while maintaining control over their development process and timeline.

"Innovation and collaboration are at the core of Lighthouse's DNA," said Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO of Lighthouse. "Our Integration API makes it easier than ever for hospitality tech providers to connect with our platform and create value. Partners can now integrate in weeks, not months, with full support from our team. Importantly, we're aligning our incentives through revenue-sharing opportunities. When our partners succeed, we succeed."

The Integration API delivers a comprehensive development framework including detailed documentation, sandbox environments, and dedicated technical support. Partners can implement either one-way data access or full two-way synchronization, enabling real-time exchange of rates, inventory, and performance metrics.

The platform supports multiple integration types: Business Intelligence for enhanced reporting, Benchmark Insight for competitive positioning, Pricing Manager for revenue optimization, and Channel Manager for streamlined distribution.

For independent hotels' technology providers, the Integration API offers a particularly compelling opportunity to enhance their market position. Partners can leverage Lighthouse's extensive dataset and commercial intelligence capabilities while maintaining their unique value proposition. The program includes:

• A structured certification process with dedicated technical support
• Access to comprehensive documentation and testing environments
• Revenue-sharing opportunities through successful integrations
• Joint marketing initiatives and access to Lighthouse's 70,000+ customer base
• Ability to offer enhanced value to existing customers through deeper integration

Early adopters are seeing clear results - from streamlined operations to new revenue. This marks another step in Lighthouse's commitment to helping hospitality tech providers succeed. "By committing to an open platform, we're not just offering technical integration, we're creating a collaborative ecosystem where partners can grow their business while delivering more value to their hotel customers," added Fitzpatrick. "This is just the beginning of our commitment to empowering hospitality tech providers with world-class developer solutions."

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.