News Briefs

SuiteOp has partnered with Cloudbeds to deliver real-time smart device automation and guest-level control to hotels and lodging operators. This new integration connects Cloudbeds’ property management system (PMS) with SuiteOp’s guest operations platform, allowing hotels to automate in-room devices (like locks and thermostats) through live reservation data and customizable workflows.

With this setup, actions like generating door codes, adjusting room temperatures, and switching devices to eco-mode can now be triggered automatically based on guest activity. Guests can also manage room features and access digital services through a no-download web portal. Importantly, device data and operational updates feed back into the PMS, creating a two-way communication flow between guest-facing tools and back-end operations.
 

Why It Matters to Hotel IT Leaders:

• Integrated Automation at Scale: This isn’t just IoT control – it’s full integration with live PMS data. That means automation can occur based on real-time bookings, check-in/check-out, or custom triggers, improving operational precision.
• Reduced Manual Labor and Errors: By automating routine tasks (e.g., adjusting thermostats or dispatching maintenance tickets), hotel staff are freed up to focus on higher-touch guest interactions and urgent service issues.
• Energy Savings + Sustainability Impact: Automating eco-modes and other energy-saving settings at scale directly supports sustainability goals and reduces utility costs without relying on staff memory or manual input.
• Improved Guest Experience Without App Fatigue: The no-download web interface gives guests control over their environment with zero friction. That’s crucial in a market where guests expect seamless, app-free interactions.
• Enhanced Operational Intelligence: The system sends device status and workflow updates back into Cloudbeds, creating visibility and accountability across departments – from engineering to front desk to housekeeping.
• Future-Proof Infrastructure: For IT leaders focused on building scalable tech stacks, this kind of modular, API-powered integration represents a shift from point solutions to connected ecosystems.

Grubhub unveiled a suite of new offerings that make it easier than ever for customers to get what they need—all in one order. Grubhub is introducing Multi-Store Ordering, enabling customers to bundle items from multiple stores in a single, seamless transaction. 

Multi-Store Ordering is now available nationwide on Grubhub and on Seamless in New York City. The new feature lets customers place a combined order from two eligible stores with a single checkout flow and only one delivery fee—eliminating the need to toggle between apps or pay multiple service charges.

“Today’s customers aren’t just ordering dinner—they’re looking for smarter, more convenient ways to check multiple things off their list in a single tap,” said Emma Cai, Director of Product Management at Grubhub. “With Multi-Store Ordering, we’re creating a more unified shopping and delivery experience that reflects how people actually live—combining everything from sushi to snacks to birthday bouquets in one order.”

Expanding Alcohol Delivery Options

The launch of Multi-Store Ordering coincides with the expansion of alcohol delivery on Grubhub. Customers in select markets can now order beer, wine, and spirits from local independent liquor stores and national retailers like 7-Eleven. Alcohol delivery has seen a more than 20% increase year-over-year on the platform, underscoring the growing demand for more than just meals.

Grubhub has implemented a series of safety and compliance features to ensure responsible alcohol delivery. In-app ID verification requires drivers to scan and confirm valid identification before completing alcohol orders. All deliveries follow local laws regarding delivery times, product types, and quantity limits.

Grubhub is also announcing its first national floral delivery partnership with FTD, one of the country’s leading flower networks. Through this collaboration, customers now have access to nearly 3,000 local florists directly within the Grubhub app.

VoicePlug has completed its Qu-Certified Integration. The integration enables restaurant brands using Qu’s Unified Commerce Platform to implement VoicePlug’s conversational AI across phone and drive-thru—helping streamline order-taking, ease staffing challenges and enhance the guest experience.

VoicePlug’s technology enhances restaurant operations by enabling seamless, real-time order automation across phone and drive-thru channels. Integrated directly with Qu’s Unified Commerce Platform, it ensures orders are consistently accurate, instantly synchronized, and scalable — all without disrupting daily workflows. The result: faster service, fewer errors, and a smoother, more efficient operation.
 

“We’re thrilled to bring VoicePlug’s real-time conversational AI into the hands of Qu’s restaurant customers,” said Jay Ruparel, Co-Founder and CEO of VoicePlug. “This integration enables operators to deploy scalable voice solutions across channels without compromising on speed, accuracy, or customer experience. We believe this marks a major milestone in helping restaurants modernize guest interactions.”

Benefits include 24/7 order taking across channels.  VoicePlug’s AI can be tailored to fit each brand’s voice, menu, and operational needs, giving guests a consistent brand experience.
 

dailypoint has launched Profile Snapshot, a new AI-powered tool that gives hotel front desk staff instant access to relevant guest information at check-in—especially for VIPs like celebrities, diplomats, and executives. Built into the company’s Central Guest Profile (CGP) system, the feature enables discreet, highly personalized welcomes while adhering to strict data privacy standards like GDPR. The goal is to elevate service without compromising guest security or experience.

Why this rollout is notable for hotel IT leaders:

• Enhances VIP recognition and personalization at scale using AI-generated guest profiles from aggregated data sources.
• Improves front-desk efficiency and service quality by surfacing relevant info discreetly and automatically at check-in.
• Supports data privacy compliance with GDPR-compliant design and a secure interface, easing IT and legal concerns.
• Seamlessly integrates into existing tech stack via the dailypoint platform, avoiding the need for new systems or retraining.
• Demonstrates real-world use of AI in guest service, offering a blueprint for other AI-driven upgrades in operations and CRM.

1Huddle, the leading digital talent development and training company, has announced the launch of its AI Skills Agent, a tool that instantly transforms real-time point-of-sale (POS) data into customized, skill-building training games for frontline teams. Designed for fast-moving hospitality environments, the new AI helps brands close performance gaps and boost revenue without lifting a finger.

“This changes the game—literally,” said Sam Caucci Founder & CEO 1Huddle. “Sales data becomes a skill-building moment, and training that once took weeks now takes seconds. It’s not just smarter training—it’s training that happens before your team even knows they need it.”

Instead of relying on static content or delayed coaching sessions, 1Huddle’s AI Skills Agent monitors real-time POS data to detect shifts in performance—such as lagging liquor sales, missed upsell opportunities, or inconsistent service metrics. 

The moment a trend appears, the platform automatically generates a tailored training game and deploys it to the team before their next shift begins. While many tools simply report what happened after the fact, 1Huddle trains teams before problems repeat themselves.

What makes it different:

• Games built in seconds: AI-powered games are automatically created from POS insights—no content development required.
• Personalized, not one-size-fits-all: Training adapts to each employee’s performance, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Training that sticks: Learning through 1H’s game format has been shown to stick 11x longer than traditional methods.

• Zero operational drag: Operators get a scalable, high-impact solution with measurable results—and no extra lift.

“We’re impressed by how 1Huddle’s AI platform has been training and learning for the past year—refining its ability to spot where gaps exist and deliver the right coaching to the right people,” said Mathew Focht of The EMERGING Fund. “We’re always looking for solutions that help restaurants run smoother and create better guest experiences. POS integration like this closes knowledge gaps before they become revenue gaps.”

With no manual input required, hospitality operators no longer have to guess whether training is relevant or effective. The AI ensures that the right people receive the right coaching at the right time—personalized, proven, and completely automated.

The AI Skills Agent will improve key performance indicators, including higher check averages, faster onboarding, and increased employee retention. For operators under pressure to do more with less, 1Huddle’s AI Skills Agent offers a critical advantage: on-demand coaching that drives measurable impact.

SOCi’s 2025 Consumer Behavior Index (CBI) sends a clear warning to hospitality CMOs and digital marketing leaders. Discovery has changed, and traditional digital strategies are no longer enough. While 19% of consumers now use generative AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini to find businesses, a staggering 95% say AI is the least trusted source when it comes to making actual purchase decisions.

“AI may answer the question, but social media earns the trust,” said Monica Ho, CMO at SOCi. “That’s why TikTok, Instagram, and reviews aren’t just content channels. They’re your most critical conversion levers. Brands that fail to show up authentically in these spaces will lose relevance fast.”

Consumers aren’t rejecting AI; they’re verifying it. As AI tools increasingly serve as a starting point for local discovery, consumers are looking to platforms like TikTok and Instagram to validate that what AI suggests is accurate, relevant, and human-backed. This is especially true for Gen Z, where 34% use TikTok and 35% use Instagram to discover new brands. The message is clear: AI may start the journey, but trust is earned through people.

This is not a future problem. This is today’s reality. Consumers now move fluidly between AI tools, social media, and review platforms to validate claims, check brand reputation, and watch videos from real customers before making decisions. Treating these touchpoints as disconnected strategies creates costly blind spots. With Google increasingly surfacing social content in search results, SOCi’s 2024 Local Visibility Index found that brands that lack a social-first presence are leaving millions in potential revenue untapped.

The trust-building doesn’t stop at discovery. Reviews are now the final checkpoint before conversion. An overwhelming 91% of consumers rely on peer-generated content to evaluate local businesses. Among younger audiences, 40% prefer video reviews, and 65% say they are more likely to choose a business that actively responds to reviews. Yet 55% are increasingly skeptical of fake feedback, highlighting that transparency and responsiveness are now business-critical.

Importantly, reviews are not only influential to consumers but also a key signal for AI engines (Damian Rollison, Search Engine Land). Tools like ChatGPT incorporate customer reviews as a foundational input in generating local recommendations. This underscores the dual role reviews now play in building consumer trust and shaping how businesses appear in AI-powered discovery results.

“As the lines between search, social, and reputation blur, brands must double down on transparency, authenticity, and trust across every channel,” said Ho. “Those who showcase real customer experiences, lean into visual content, and engage meaningfully on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and trusted review sites will earn lasting loyalty.”

The CBI survey was conducted between February 19 and February 24, 2025, and included 1,001 adult U.S. respondents distributed evenly across gender, age, and geographic area. To explore the full findings of the 2025 Consumer Behavior Index, visit soci.ai/insights/consumer-behavior-index.