News Briefs

Hotels for Trees, a nonprofit organization advancing sustainability in the hospitality industry, today announces the appointment of Daniel Johnson as Partnerships Officer - Technology. Johnson, a seasoned hotel technology executive and cybersecurity expert, will play a key role in accelerating the organization’s mission of planting trees in exchange for reduced hotel room cleanings through smart technology integrations.

Hotels for Trees works with hotels to offer their guests the option to skip daily room cleaning in favor of planting a tree, with each selection resulting in a direct tree donation. This initiative not only reduces the environmental footprint of daily operations but also contributes to global reforestation efforts. Depending on the hotel’s setup, this process can be fully automated and integrated into hotel property management systems (PMS) or housekeeping applications, offering a seamless and transparent experience for both guests and staff.

Johnson's appointment comes at a pivotal time, as Hotels for Trees continues its work with cloud-based PMS Mews and prepares to scale its model by onboarding additional technology providers and hotel partners. In his new role, Johnson will be responsible for forging strategic alliances between hotel technology companies and hotel operators to embed the Hotels for Trees platform into their systems—simplifying participation and expanding adoption globally.

“The mission established by founder Floris Licht just four short years ago and driven forward under Linde Borger’s (Chief Tree Planting Officer) leadership, inspires,” said Johnson. “I’m thrilled to join in a role that aligns perfectly with my belief that sustainability must be woven into the fabric of hospitality technology. This isn’t just a feel-good initiative; it’s a strategic imperative. By bringing technological innovation deeper into our conversations about the environment, we can lead the industry toward a future where every guest interaction helps plant the seeds of real change.”

Johnson was also recently appointed as Strategic Advisor, EMEA, for ProVision Partners, a global strategic growth and marketing advisory firm for the travel and hospitality sector.

“The travel and tourism sector is responsible for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the lodging industry accounting for about 1% of that total,” said Greg Pesik, founder of ProVision Partners. “Sustainability is no longer optional—it’s a business imperative. Initiatives like Hotels for Trees demonstrate how technology can drive meaningful environmental change while enhancing guest engagement and operational efficiency. Daniel’s appointment underscores our shared commitment to integrating sustainable practices into the core of hospitality operations.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Daniel join our team,” said Floris Licht, CEO/Founder of Hotels for Trees. “His deep understanding of hospitality technology and his passion for sustainability will be instrumental in helping us build scalable, long-term partnerships that benefit the planet.”

Prior to joining ProVision Partners and accepting his new role with Hotels for Trees, Johnson was the CEO of VENZA, a leading provider of data protection and regulatory compliance solutions for hospitality businesses and an organization he co-founded. Based in The Netherlands, Johnson holds board positions with VENZA and CyberTek MSSP, and brings a unique combination of technical, strategic, and global market expertise to his work.

DoorDash has partnered with Wing to offer drone delivery in Charlotte, N.C.

DoorDash customers within about four miles of The Arboretum Shopping Center in southern Charlotte can order from a selection of local and national restaurants and choose to have their items delivered by drone. The lineup includes local brands like Matcha Cafe Maiko and Panera Bread— the city's first national partner available for drone delivery. 

The Charlotte expansion is the next step in a successful partnership between Wing and DoorDash. DoorDash and Wing first launched drone delivery together in Australia in 2022. Since then, the partnership expanded to the U.S., with drone delivery service available to DoorDash customers in parts of Southwest Virginia, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and now Charlotte. DoorDash and Wing plan to expand to additional neighborhoods later this year.

“Autonomous delivery will help shape the future of local logistics, and we’re proud to introduce drone delivery to Charlotte for the first time with Wing,” said Harrison Shih, Head of Product for DoorDash Labs. “What makes this launch special isn’t just the technology, it’s the experience. Whether it’s your favorite Panera sandwich, a savory snack from DashMart, or a local matcha latte on DoorDash, there’s something special about watching your order arrive by air in minutes. DoorDash and Wing aren’t just delivering faster, we’re delivering what’s next.”

This partnership was born out of DoorDash Labs, DoorDash’s robotics and automation arm. DoorDash Labs focuses on identifying and integrating autonomous solutions that can enhance the customer experience, drive increased demand for local merchants, and create more earning opportunities for Dashers. In addition to Wing, DoorDash also partners with Coco Robotics for sidewalk robot delivery, reinforcing its commitment to building a multi-modal delivery platform designed to support the fastest and most efficient deliveries possible.

“We are committed to continuously redefining convenience and unlocking innovative ways to enhance the Panera experience, and we’re thrilled to partner with DoorDash and Wing on this pilot,” said Meenakshi Nagarajan, Chief Digital Officer, Panera Bread. “This partnership offers a cutting-edge way to deliver the quality and craveability that our guests know and love, right to their doorstep.” 

How it Works

To get started with drone delivery on DoorDash, eligible residents browsing the DoorDash app will notice the “Drone” icon on the homepage of their app. Tapping that will let them browse restaurants eligible for drone delivery.

If the items they choose meet the size and weight criteria, shoppers will have the option to select drone delivery during checkout. After confirming their delivery location, they’ll receive live tracking updates as the drone approaches.

Charlotte residents can check their address for eligibility at wing.com/charlotte. Anyone who isn’t eligible today can join the waitlist to be notified when drone delivery expands to their neighborhood.

Not all integrations are created equal.  

At NRA 2025, DoorDash introduced the DoorDash Preferred Integrations Program (DPIP). The program provides merchants with real-time visibility into how different point-of-sale (POS) and middleware providers perform on the DoorDash platform, along with the specific features they support, so merchants can select the best fit for their unique needs.

Built in collaboration with integration partners and shaped by direct feedback from merchants, the program is part of DoorDash’s broader commitment to improving operational transparency and driving better outcomes for merchants.

 
To qualify, integration providers must meet key performance benchmarks, including order and error rates below 1%, and offer features that directly benefit merchant operations, such as self-serve onboarding, real-time menu sync, live item availability, and order ready notifications.

Based on current performance and feature capabilities, the inaugural cohort of 2025  DoorDash Preferred Integration Partners includes Checkmate, Chowly, ChowNow, Deliverect, Otter, PAR, Qu, Square, Stream, Toast, and UrbanPiper.

Benefits of the HungerRush Grubhub Integration

• Streamlined Operations: Manage orders from Grubhub, DoorDash, and Uber Eats in one unified POS system, eliminating the need for separate tablets and third-party aggregators.
• Improved Efficiency: With everything centralized in one system, restaurant staff can focus on serving customers, not managing multiple systems.
• Real-Time Menu Management: The integration provides real-time updates to inventory and menu availability, reducing order errors and ensuring accurate information across all platforms.
  
   

HungerRush has rolled out its Grubhub Marketplace integration for the HungerRush POS system. This new integration allows restaurants to seamlessly receive and manage Grubhub orders directly from their HungerRush POS platform, alongside existing integrations with DoorDash and Uber Eats. By centralizing all marketplace orders in one system, HungerRush is simplifying restaurant operations and enhancing operational efficiency.

Previously, restaurants had to rely on third-party, tablet-based solutions or aggregator services to manage Grubhub orders. With HungerRush’s latest integration, restaurant operators can now eliminate the need for additional devices and middleman services. With direct integrations for all major delivery platforms, restaurant teams no longer need to juggle multiple systems, ultimately saving time, reducing unnecessary costs, and minimizing employee frustration.

“The new Grubhub POS integration is a game-changer for us,” said James Ryan, franchise owner of Flippin’ Pizza. “Having all our marketplace orders come through one POS system, including Grubhub, has simplified our processes and improved order accuracy. The integration has helped us streamline our operations, eliminate third-party services, and reduce complexity—allowing us to focus more on what matters: serving our customers.”

“By integrating Grubhub into our POS system, we are providing operators and owners with a powerful tool to centralize ordering and consolidate technology clutter, while focusing on improving the guest experience,” said Eran Hollander, Chief Product Officer at HungerRush. “Our mission has always been to focus on improving operational woes for restaurant owners and providing a superior guest experience. Through this integration, we can continue focusing on that mission.”

The Grubhub integration is now available to all HungerRush customers.

A new survey from the TravelTech Show reveals a major disconnect between traveler behavior and operator readiness: though 98% of Millennials and Gen Z own smartphones and heavily rely on mobile apps to book travel, less than one-third (31%) of travel operators have integrated mobile-first tools into their booking and payment platforms.

The biggest barriers to adoption are:

• Complexity of integration (37%)
• Security concerns (15%)
• High transaction fees (13%)

Other findings include:

• The most common tech integrations are:
  • Mobile apps/mobile-first tools (31%)
  • Multiple payment gateways (24%)
  • Virtual credit cards (17%)
• Only 10% plan to invest in security and fraud prevention tools, though this is up from 4% in 2024.
• 83% of travel operators have no plans to adopt cryptocurrency payments within the next year.
• The customer journey most commonly begins with general search (51%), followed by social media (15%) and metasearch (8%).

The data was gathered from 94 travel company reps in March 2025.
 

Key Takeaways for Hotel IT Leaders:

Mobile-First Isn’t a “Nice-to-Have”—It’s the Standard

Despite clear evidence that mobile is the dominant channel for younger travelers, adoption among operators remains low. With 80%+ of Millennials and Gen Z booking online via smartphones, hotels and resorts that neglect mobile-first UX risk alienating a growing share of the market.

Security is a Rising—but Underfunded—Concern

The increase from 4% to 10% of operators investing in fraud and security solutions shows positive momentum—but this still lags behind the threat landscape. Given recent attacks on major retailers, IT leaders should consider proactive security upgrades as core infrastructure, not reactive add-ons.

Payment Preferences Are Diversifying

While adoption of cryptocurrency remains minimal (and perhaps rightly so, given its volatility), guests increasingly expect flexible payment options. Multiple gateways and virtual cards are gaining traction and may help reduce transaction friction—especially for international travelers.

Integration Complexity Is the No. 1 Obstacle

With 37% citing integration as the top challenge, this points to a systemic issue: legacy tech stacks are holding the industry back. IT leaders should advocate for open API-based platforms and scalable payment ecosystems that enable seamless mobile upgrades.

Agilysys, Inc., a global provider of hospitality software and services, announced that Boyd Gaming Corporation has signed a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) agreement for InfoGenesis, the Agilysys omnichannel enterprise POS ecosystem, to be deployed across its 28 gaming entertainment properties in the United States.

When fully implemented, data and transactions will be unified across all endpoints, including self-service kiosks, on-demand mobile food and beverage ordering profit centers and kitchen display stations. Data across systems will help Boyd optimize guest engagement and offers as well as operational decisions. 

In addition to the InfoGenesis core system, Agilysys solutions in the agreement include OnDemand, guest self-service Kiosks, Kitchen Display Stations (KDS), Loyalty-Promotions and Analyze.

Johan Martensson, Senior Vice President, Business and Technology for Boyd Gaming commented, “The unified technology and feature sets across solutions in the InfoGenesis POS ecosystem were key factors in our decision to commit to this technology across our properties. Delivering exceptional guest service is at the core of the Boyd brand, and we are confident the InfoGenesis solution will further enhance the guest experience across our nationwide operations.”

Joe Youssef, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Agilysys, said, “Through close collaboration with Boyd Gaming, we demonstrated how Agilysys can help teams across properties leverage InfoGenesis deployed in a SaaS model to achieve their near-term and long-term vision for creating remarkable guest experiences, enhancing automation to support staff and delivering deeper operational insights. We look forward to working together to achieve these ambitions.”