Business at the Mountain Lodge Telluride is simply sensational, especially since the slope-side sanctuary built for adventure seekers transitioned its back-office accounting solution to PVNG by Aptech. With business on a steady incline, the property needed an accounting system that streamlined data entry – especially when it comes to uploading payroll for its large seasonal workforce. PVNG gave Mountain Lodge Telluride the lift it was looking for.

“One of the biggest benefits of PVNG is the ability to upload journal entries,” said Huascar (Rick) Gomez, chief financial officer, Mountain Lodge Telluride. “This comes in handy for the large income journal and payroll. Before, we were not set up to receive a direct file from Paylocity for the payroll entries. That meant we had to go into the General Ledger and enter each line item one at a time for each employee. However, with PVNG, we can export this information into a .CSV file which then uploads into PVNG so no line-by-line items have to be keyed in. This is a huge time savings, and it also removes the possibility for human error. Now in busy season, efficiency is key, and that’s exactly what we get with PVNG.”

PVNG is a game-changer in the world of hotel accounting. It features Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Statistics, Financials, and Bank Reconciliation modules, along with web browser navigation to upload the hotel data remotely. PVNG also contains OCR invoice processing, a myriad of payment options, drill-down capabilities in financial statements and reports, and the ability to handle single or multi-property accounting. It can also be deployed as a hosted service.

Mountain Lodge Telluride delivers an authentic Western alpine experience, with guests choosing between hotel-like lodge rooms and one-, two-, and three-room suites, and condominiums or luxury log cabins with ski-in/ski-out accommodations. Amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, ski rental at onsite with Christy Sports, ski lockers and storage, electric car charging stations, multilingual staff, outdoor heated pool & hot tubs, fitness center and steam room, The View restaurant, meeting and event facilities, concierge services and more.

“We are delighted that Mountain Lodge Telluride is having such a tremendous experience with PVNG,” said Cam Troutman, Aptech vice president. “Seasonal operations like Mountain Lodge Telluride need to be able to rely on their accounting solution to ensure all financials – such as payroll, invoice entries, revenue reports, and account inquiries – are being processed quickly and correctly and without downtime. PVNG streamlines common daily procedures and makes them user-intuitive, allowing operators to accomplish daily accounting requirements with a minimum number of steps. Plus, our hospitality-specific formulas, like RevPAR, Occupancy,

and ADR, can be accessed with greater flexibility and drill down – something Aptech customers need and appreciate as travelers and profits return.”

For more information on PVNG by Aptech, visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.

ROAR, a company providing workplace panic button solutions, has hired Christopher Young as its Chief Technology Officer. He brings more than 20 years of technology experience to a role that will oversee product, engineering and quality assurance for the company’s signature staff safety platform.

Young previously held vice president roles in R&D, product and technology, most recently working for data analytics and integrations company Qlik. He was recruited for his ability to deliver complex solutions with a focus on migration, storage and operationalization of data. As part of ROAR’s plan to scale, Young will audit technology features and work closely with the sales team to deliver additional customer value to meet the company’s vision of protecting one million people in the next few years. This includes rolling out enhanced reporting, monitoring, and emergency response.

“I'm thrilled to welcome Christopher to the team. His extensive experience in leading and inspiring engineering and product teams will drive our company's growth as we aim to increase the number of individuals protected threefold while maintaining exceptional service for our hotel and healthcare clients,” said ROAR Chief Executive Officer Yasmine Mustafa. 

ROAR has patented a Bluetooth low energy mesh network system for security devices which can work in any type of building, and “self heal” in real-time. In the early 2010s, Young worked for leading kidney health company DaVita Healthcare Partners, leading a replacement of their proprietary electronic medical record system for more than 2,200 locations. This transferable experience will support ROAR’s penetration and various applications across the healthcare market.

“Every person has the right to feel safe within their workplace, particularly in healthcare and hospitality where their workers can be some of the most vulnerable,” Young said. “I joined ROAR because of the alignment between their mission and my personal core values. I am excited to work with our internal teams to deliver critical workplace technology to organizations enabling their employees to feel safe at work.”

Tripleseat, a cloud-based sales and catering management platform for hotels, announced it has partnered with Cvent, a provider of meetings, events, and hospitality technology, to deliver a new integration that will help unify and automate the event inquiry and management process.

The integration will link Tripleseat's platform with the Cvent Supplier Network. When event planners use Cvent to submit a request for proposal (RFP) to multiple venues, they will automatically be added to those venues' Tripleseat accounts as new leads. Venues must be both a Cvent Supplier Network member and a Tripleseat customer to take advantage of this integration.

In addition, the integration enables venues, especially hotels, to benefit from the global reach of these two companies. Tripleseat is used worldwide by more than 15,000 restaurants, hotels, and unique venues that have booked 10 million events and have seen a 35% increase in customer revenue; while more than 90,000 corporate planners rely on Cvent to source venues and manage their events.

"There is no doubt that the number of events being planned and the cost per event is growing," said Jonathan Morse, CEO of Tripleseat. "Which is exactly why we partnered with Cvent. Our new integration will help venues that work with both Tripleseat and Cvent to reach thousands of event planners who are looking for properties to host their events in 2023."

"This partnership will make it easier for Tripleseat customers to view, organize and respond to RFPs they have received through the Cvent Supplier Network," said Jim Abramson, Vice President of Product Management at Cvent. "We believe this will help venues prioritize leads, streamline RFP response, and ultimately, win more business."

Learn more about this integration by visiting: https://tripleseat.com/partners/cvent/

Ottonomy.IO and Goggo have teamed up for last-mile deliveries in Spain and Europe. Fully L4 autonomous robot will be traveling on public sidewalks to deliver commercial goods to consumers.

Goggo has already started its deliveries with Ottobots in the Spanish cities of Alcobendas and Zaragoza, and will be expanding to other European cities soon.

Goggo Network has added the Ottobot to current fleet of robots and Autonomous Vehicles for last-mile deliveries of its partner network of retailers and restaurants.

"Now with Ottonomy in our fleet, we continue building our unique, innovative and sustainable last and middle-mile logistics services with autonomous vehicles and robots in Europe, '' said Yasmine, co-founder and COO of Goggo Network. "We selected Ottonomy.IO because of its leadership in building fully autonomous delivery robots. We are happy to integrate the Ottobot into our AV fleet, as it provides an extremely safe and efficient mode to reach customers to our network of retailers and restaurants."

Ottonomy.IO is a recipient of the 2021 Sustainability Product of the Year award by Business Intelligent Awards, Ottobot was officially launched in January 2022. Following that, the Ottobot 2.0 was released in August 2022, and in January 2023, the Ottobot Yeti, a fully autonomous robot capable of making unattended deliveries, was launched. Ottonomy has led the autonomous robot market with solutions for retailers, restaurants and e-commerce delivery with its diverse capability for airport, curbside, first and last mile delivery solutions.

Hifive is making waves in the hospitality industry by helping service employees receive recognition and increase their income for their hard work through their feedback and digital tipping solution.

Staff members such as housekeepers, concierge, and front desk employees often work behind the scenes and their contributions may go unnoticed by guests and management. With the increasing trend of digital payments, many people no longer carry cash on them, making it difficult for them to leave tips for service staff. This can be a problem for hotels, as tips can be an important source of income for employees and a key factor in improving customer satisfaction. Hifive's cashless digital tipping solution makes it easy for guests to leave a tip for service employees by using a QR code. Guests can scan the QR code using their mobile device and use options such as Apple Pay or Google Pay to complete the transactions. If they prefer, guests can also manually enter their card details to leave a tip. This not only makes it easy for guests to leave a tip, but it also ensures that the service employee receives it in a timely and secure manner.

But Hifive's solution doesn't just stop at digital tipping. Guests can also leave reviews about their property experience during the tipping process, giving a feedback mechanism for general managers and hotel owners to utilize as a way to improve existing and future guest service experiences. In addition, the platform also allows service employees to receive recognition for their hard work, through a system of ratings and reviews, which both property personnel and employees can keep track of.

One of the most exciting features of Hifive's solution is the recent launch of its instant payouts. The instant payout feature allows service employees to disburse the tips earned from their digital wallet, who can choose from various payout options, including their bank account, Cash App, Venmo, or even in the form of a gift card. This gives employees greater flexibility and control over their earnings and eliminates the need for them to wait for a paycheck for tips to be distributed. Given Hifive is a B2B solution, the startup also offers an option where tips can be run through payroll.

"We are thrilled to offer our digital tipping solution to the hospitality industry," remarked Anirudh Emmadi, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Hifive. "We understand that employee retention can be a challenge, with many individuals feeling underappreciated and undervalued. Our platform addresses these issues by providing a mechanism for staff to receive recognition for their efforts and to be appropriately compensated for their services, while also enabling guests to provide feedback on their experience at the property."

Hifive's digital tipping solution is a win for service employees, guests, and business owners. It helps employees increase their income and receive recognition for their hard work, while also giving guests an opportunity to share their experience and giving businesses valuable feedback on their staff and helping to improve the overall experience for guests.

Website: https://hifivecommunity.com/

Chuck E. Cheese has completed its 200^th remodel at its Douglasville, Georgia location.

New and refreshed fun centers across 35 states have been enhanced to plus up the fun and the experience for families with more games, updated technology enhancements throughout each location, and innovation within its operation. To meet the shifts in consumer demands, the company is upping the game to continue to be the destination for the whole family.

An Immersive Experience

To serve the Chuck E. Cheese guests of today, remodeled and new fun centers feature the most popular arcade, sports and kid-focused games with varying skill levels for players of all ages, an interactive dance floor, a large format video wall and screens with audio connected throughout the venue. With nearly half its entire fleet remodeled already, the brand is on track to remodel another 100 locations in 2023.

The story behind CEC's virtual brand, Pasqually’s Pizza and Wings

Improving Guest Experience with Technology Innovation

The reimagined experience for guests who visit the fun centers also includes tech upgrades that focus on convenience and simplicity. 

• Play Pass & Play Bands. The tap-to-play game card system provides an easier, more convenient, and cleaner way to play vs. traditional tokens.
• E-tickets. The automated ticketing system is convenient and easily trackable on guests' Play Pass or Play Band.
• Touchless payment options are available in-store, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

  57% of respondents say enabling new payment options is a  top business driver impacting POS upgrade decisions, according to HT’s2 2023 POS Software Trends Report.

• Self-service kiosks allow guests to pause their play time, check their ticket allotment or re-up on game play at any time.
• Mobile Table Ordering creates an easy way for guests to view the menu, order food immediately or later from their table so they have more time for fun.

"Within the next three years, we expect all our fun centers across the country to be upgraded with our latest vision of the brand, said David McKillips, President and CEO of CEC Entertainment, LLC. Our remodeled fun centers offer families more space for play and through our game enhancement program we are introducing new games year-round; its more entertainment than ever before. Chuck E. Cheese has helped families create lifelong memories for 45 years, so we are excited to bring to life an elevated entertainment experience to this beloved brand for the next generation of kids."