HotelKey, a cloud-based property management platform for hotels, announced a partnership with RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (RateGain), a global provider of SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality, to integrate RateGain’s global distribution, central reservations, and pricing capabilities into HotelKey’s PMS platform. The integration will roll out across HotelKey’s portfolio of more than 4,000 properties, with hundreds of properties already accessing the combined capabilities.

“We are excited to bring RateGain’s next-gen pricing and distribution capabilities to our partner hotels,” said HotelKey Co-Founder and President, Aditya Thyagarajan. “RateGain is an unparalleled innovator, and bringing their revenue-generating capabilities to HotelKey’s intuitive property management system is a huge plus for hotel owners and operators. We look forward to accelerating our partnership in the months ahead.”

Through the collaboration, hotels on the HotelKey platform will see RateGain’s pricing and distribution tools on the HotelKey platform. This will enable hoteliers to save time and achieve efficiencies, making better distribution decisions faster and, ultimately, saving money as well as building revenue.

“RateGain’s mission is to generate more revenue every day for hotels, and we are delighted now to include hotels on the HotelKey platform among our partners,” said Chinmai Sharma, President of the Americas at RateGain. “The HotelKey-RateGain partnership moves in the direction of providing a one-stop-shop for hoteliers looking for better ways to run their properties, train their employees, and maximize pricing, distribution, and revenue. We are excited to continue building out our collaboration with HotelKey.”

Along with other benefits, HotelKey and RateGain’s mobile-first API integration provides hoteliers with a seamless transition to the new offering, with each property gaining access to real-time inventory management and efficient oversight of third-party distribution and price parity across channels.

RateGain’s platform is designed to help hoteliers grow revenues by improving pricing, generating more bookings, and optimizing conversions across distribution channels. RateGain works with 23 of the industry’s top 30 hotel chains, and powers more than 191,000 hotels to unlock more revenue, acquire more customers, and provide outstanding on-property experiences.

Tattle unveiled the integration of Short Message Service (SMS) technology. With e-mail as the company’s main survey distribution channel, the addition of SMS as a method for survey distribution will bolster the Tattle’s ability to amplify survey participation, access a larger consumer base and drive more actionable feedback insights for their partners.

At the time of launch, Tattle’s SMS feature integrates directly with nine different POS, loyalty, ordering, and kiosk partners: Toast, Brink, Dutchie, Como, Cova, Paytronix, Flipdish, Treez, Bite and Square. The following integrations – along with the company’s API – are forthcoming: Olo, Punchh, Thanx, and Revel.

This level of integration also gives Tattle’s hospitality partners flexibility when it comes to collecting contact information from guests. Regardless of whether the POS / ordering system captured an email or a phone number, Tattle will be able to send an automated survey 90 minutes after the guest’s experience to gather feedback. The surveys will be pre-populated with order details to make the experience for guests as frictionless as possible.

Tattle is an improvement-focused customer feedback technology platform built with an open API in order to collect guest feedback and measure satisfaction across all-digital ordering channels. With nearly 30 integration partners across POS, digital ordering and loyalty sectors, Tattle can dramatically boost the feedback volume and completion rate for restaurant locations through automation and data centralization. Using AI (Artificial Intelligence), Tattle recommends the most high-impact operational area for improvement across restaurant and ghost kitchen locations to drive the greatest increase in guest satisfaction.

Interface Systems, a managed service provider of business security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses,  unveiled a new brand identity reflecting the company’s evolution. With a new logo and a new website, the rebrand builds upon the company’s 27+ years of strength, stability and growth, and underscores Interface’s mission to simplify operations, maximize ROI, and deliver relentless customer support for the nation’s top multi-location brands.

“Offering differentiated managed services using best-of-breed technologies has always been our strength. We pioneered the interactive remote video monitoring service that gives our customers an unprecedented advantage in securing people and assets. In the last few years, Interface has completely reimagined business security solutions by adding on business intelligence and strengthening our network offerings. Our suite of managed services are game changers for customers and we feel this is the right time to refresh our brand identity,” says Sunita Mani, SVP of Marketing at Interface. 

The new brand logo depicts the evolution of managed services using a series of vertical lines and a new set of brand colors that reflects Interface’s bold approach to deploying impactful solutions for customers.

“Business security is no longer just about cameras and alarms operating in silos. We have transitioned to a vertically integrated business security solution stack that’s designed to proactively address threats before they arise, leverage visual data streams and AI from cameras to measure customer experience, and deploy purpose-built connectivity solutions to enable digital transformation. Our refreshed brand identity captures the essence of what we are now offering to multi-location enterprises and franchise operators,” says Brent Duncan, CEO of Interface.

The brand refresh goes beyond just the brand identity. Interface is also streamlining its customer support processes, and is actively developing a new comprehensive customer portal for its extensive suite of services, highlighting its emphasis on delivering relentless support at every customer touchpoint.

Award-winning, concierge-level, audiovisual services provider Mills James is on a fast-track for growth. In 2022, the company’s AV for hospitality business exceeded pre-pandemic levels across all client venues, including hotels and convention centers servicing seven states and Mexico.

“In 2022 we saw corporate meetings of all sizes returning, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” said John Watts, Mills James VP of Hospitality. “People are tired of not being able to meet face to face; they are ready to get back on the road, network with their peers, and see what they have missed over the last two-and-a-half years. While all of our meetings venues are now equipped to host hybrid events, live meetings is still what people know. It’s what they like. And it’s what has proven to be the most successful way to get messaging out to association members and corporate employees.”

According to the 2023 Global Meetings and Events Forecast, virtual fatigue is real. The American Express study shows “attendees want to see each other in person. Organizations want their customers and employees to meet in person, too.” The Forecast states that the meetings and events industry is experiencing an unprecedented recovery, and all signs point to a busy 2023. Internal meetings will be the fastest growing category in 2023 across all regions, with the U.S. leading the way, followed by Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Last year, Mills James supported more than 5,500 events. Approximately 45% were groups and conventions, ranging from small meetings and virtual events to big concerts and destination weddings. The remaining 55% was spend supporting more than 3,000 weddings with sound systems, DJ services, LED dance floors, and video production services. Southasian weddings are a specialty for Mills James’ Mexico operations, a market that has been increasing at Mexican Resorts and whose AV consumption is higher than others because the event is a conjunction of rituals that lasts two to three days.

“Being able to capitalize on the exploding weddings market coming out of the pandemic helped us to exceed our year one revenue projections,” said Salvador Bernal, Mills James Vice President of Hospitality, Mexico. “Our divisional revenue generated during 2022 positioned Mills James Mexico with more than 25% market share in the resort AV space (in some of the destinations where we operate).”

Key to Mills James’ success is its service mentality. Unlike high-priced multinational AV corporations that have long held a monopoly on the market, Mills James manages every venue with a local ownership mentality. All technicians have superior listening and communication skills. They are passionate, professional, and come with years of experience in running the new, state-of-the-art, sustainable AV equipment sourced specifically for the needs of each individual facility. Mills James ensures that all inventory is dedicated to each property — not shared with other venues — to preserve the look and performance of the technology.

“Mills James reputation is built on its ability to partner with venues and provide concierge-level services,” Watts said. “We do that through identifying and training our team to make sure we are providing true hospitality, not just service.”

The company expects its hospitality business to be on a steady incline in 2023, with revenues growing by about 30% year over year.

LG Business Solutions announced the introduction of three new high definition projectors specifically designed to satisfy the needs of schools, corporate offices, government facilities, business travelers, field sales personnel and more. These new models deliver long operational lifespan and up to 7,000 lumens of brightness for use in sun-lit environments.

According to Tom Carroll, Sales Director at LG Business Solutions, the three new projectors deliver premium performance at various price points to give technology decision makers more options when selecting a projector.

“The laser and LED projectors we launched today deliver optimized performance for all commercial and business needs,” Carroll said. “These new projectors are some of the most powerful, flexible, cost-effective display solutions available, making professional-quality AV systems accessible for schools, companies and organizations of all sizes.”

The new LG ProBeam BU70QGA is the first 4K UHD projector to feature LG’s webOS Smart Signage 6.0 Platform, a powerful platform that simplifies networked content distribution, streaming and offers advanced picture settings such as edge blending, picture-in-picture, and picture-by-picture capabilities. The ProBeam BU70QGA’s edge blending technology allows the user to easily control the luminance of the area where the projected light overlaps and enables the seamless connection of overlapping light from two or more projectors through color correction. Working with an onboard high performance SoC (System-on-Chip), the projector can execute several tasks at once and provides smooth content playback, enhancing user convenience with intuitive UI and simple app development tools. This model can also connect with LG ConnectedCare, LG’s cloud-based device management solution for LG digital signage and display devices. Additionally, the ProBeam BU70QGA with webOS Smart Signage 6.0 allows a large host of third-party webOS solution providers to add projection capabilities to their offering, expanding LG’s extensive signage ecosystem. 

The ProBeam BU70QGA delivers highly detailed images making it ideal for large or brightly lit spaces like meeting rooms, auditoriums, or lobby signage. It features 4K UHD resolution, 7000 lumens of brightness, reliable laser light, lens shift, 1.6x optical zoom, built-in wireless and an integrated camera that aids in setup and positioning. Motorized focus and zoom control make it easy for users to adjust the picture as needed, and the projector can even be used without an external audio system thanks to a pair of 5W onboard speakers. Convenient wireless screen sharing can be added through LG’s optional One:Quick Share USB transmitter and app.

Ideal for medium-sized environments, the LG ProBeam BF40QS is a full-featured projector that offers the superior image quality and long working life of laser projection. With 4000 lumens of brightness, WUXGA resolution, 1.6x optical zoom and horizontal and vertical lens shift, this projector is easy to install and capable of delivering great images in fully lit classrooms, boardrooms, and other spaces.

For users that need ultimate flexibility, the compact and lightweight LG PF510QC LED projector delivers convenience and functionality that make it an ideal travel companion or portable display solution. It features Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, a 4 CH LED light source and up to 450 lumens of brightness.

Measuring less than 88 cubic inches in volume and weighing only three pounds, it is quick and easy to move, set up and start presenting. Auto vertical keystone correction ensures accurate projection even from imperfect angles, while AirPlay 2 and Screen Share provide simple wireless connection to mobile phones and tablets. The little projector has Bluetooth Sound with Dual Sound Out capability to connect to two audio Bluetooth devices simultaneously. It can be used to equip a field sales team or home office, as well as provide a convenient solution for traveling workers when conference rooms or large displays aren’t available.

“Professional integrators now have more options when recommending a ProBeam projector to their clients in corporate facilities, government facilities, or K-12 and higher-ed institutions,” Carroll concluded.

For more information on LG commercial projectors, click here. For high-res images, click here.

Subway and GenZ EV Solutions, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, are partnering on an EV Charging Oasis of the Future.

Through the partnership, the brands envision a more seamless experience for EV drivers with the installation of Subway Oasis charging parks at select locations—charging canopies with multiple ports, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, restrooms, green space and even playgrounds. As part of a multi-year plan to rollout the Subway Oasis, smaller-format, fast EV charging stations will be piloted at select, new or newly remodeled restaurants across the U.S., starting in 2023.

GenZ EV Solutions works with RED E Charging, an EV charging network, to provide proprietary software, with immense uptime and reliability, as well as operating expertise for the EV charging stations and Subway Oasis.

Both initiatives are designed to offer added convenience for on-the-go guests, while doing good for the planet and generating incremental revenue for franchisees. Guests may also benefit from dedicated Subway promotions, available only while utilizing an EV charging station.

"We're constantly exploring new ways to innovate and exceed our guests' expectations for a high-quality, convenient experience," said Mike Kappitt, Chief Operating and Insights Officer of Subway. "Our partnership with GenZ EV Solutions is a win for our guests, our franchisees and our planet, creating a dedicated space for drivers to charge their vehicle while enjoying their favorite Subway sandwich."

Driving Customer Convenience

Other restaurants are seizing the opportunity to add EV chargers to drive customer loyalty, Taco Bell franchisee Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG), opened ultra-fast charging stations at a South San Francisco Taco Bell.

Select Tim Hortons in Canada have added TurnOnGreen's Level 3 EV chargers.  Here in the US, Starbucks is also making a move into EV charging.  According to MotorTrend, Volvo plans to install up to 60 Volvo-branded DC fast chargers powered by ChargePoint in at least 15 Starbucks locations, covering  a 1,350-mile route from the Denver area to Starbucks headquarters in Seattle.  

As drivers increasingly shift to electric vehicles, Subway is well positioned to offer a quick, reliable charge to EV motorists and contribute to a national network of charging stations. In addition to equipping communities with critical infrastructure, Subway will help bring a sustainable solution to market, ultimately improving local neighborhoods across the country.

"Equitable access to charging is essential to the adoption of EVs in the future and Subway's scale will play an important role in democratizing charging infrastructure for millions of Americans," said Jose Valls, CEO of GenZ EV Solutions. "By coupling our technology and know-how with Red E Charging's strategic site selection and Subway's network of restaurants across the U.S., we are continuing to make key strides in building the EV infrastructure of tomorrow."

(PRNewsfoto/Subway Restaurants)