News Briefs
- 2/18/2025
First Dual-Branded Applebee’s, IHOP Opens
Dine Brands Global, in partnership with franchisee Ramzi Hakim Group, has opened the first dual-brand Applebee’s | IHOP restaurant in the U.S. The new restaurant opened to the public on February 18, in Seguin, Texas.
At the dual-branded Applebee’s | IHOP restaurant guests can enjoy all the classics from IHOP’s world-famous pancakes and breakfast offerings to Applebee’s fan-favorite boneless wings, burgers, and appetizers from morning to late-night. The unique menu features beloved items from both brands that can be mixed, matched, and ordered any time of day, including specialty cocktails such as an espresso martini or Irish coffee – all under one roof. This restaurant also introduces new, exclusive menu items, like the Buffalo Chicken Omelette and Ultimate Breakfast Burger, available only at U.S. dual-branded locations.
“For decades, Applebee's and IHOP have been places where friends gather, families celebrate, and careers begin. Now, with our dual-branded restaurant, we are combining the strengths of both brands to create a unique and innovative dining experience that offers choice, variety, and value to guests,” said Dine Brands chief executive officer John Peyton. “Our international success with this concept has shown that our brand menus complement each other, providing something for everyone, from early mornings to late nights. We are excited to bring this new dining option to Seguin and look forward to expanding it to more communities across the country.” At MURTEC 2024, Peyton took to the stage to talk about the success of the dual-branded concept oversees and share why the company had tripled its tech spend.
When guests walk through the doors of this dual-branded location, they will find two distinct dining areas to choose from—the warm, familiar atmosphere of Applebee’s or the bright, cheerful ambiance of IHOP. The shared common areas, including the host stand and bathrooms, create an integrated experience, and the optimized back-of-house and single kitchen, provide operational efficiencies.
“We’re thrilled to welcome guests and serve the community of Seguin with all the IHOP items they know and love, while also introducing them to Applebee’s selection of lunch and dinner favorites,” said Ramzi Hakim, president of Ramzi Hakim Group. “As owners of both IHOP and Applebee’s restaurants, we are no strangers to these iconic brands and are honored to open the first U.S. dual-branded location in this great community.”
Dine Brands currently franchises 13 international dual-branded locations across Canada, Mexico, Honduras, and the Middle East, as of September 30, 2024. The system is slated to break ground and open 14 more dual-branded locations in the United States through 2026 by transforming existing single-branded restaurants and building new locations from the ground up.
- 2/18/2025
Hospitable Launches iCal Imports
Vacation rental management platform Hospitable has today launched iCal Imports, a brand new feature that allows hosts and property managers to seamlessly sync bookings from dozens of smaller online travel agencies (OTAs) and niche booking platforms.Extending beyond Hospitable's direct integrations with Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Agoda, and Google Vacation Rentals, the feature addresses a key pain point for hosts — managing listings across multiple platforms that don’t integrate with property management software.With iCal Imports, hosts can now effortlessly sync bookings across Expedia, Furnished Finder, Tripadvisor, HipCamp, Hopper, Houfy, Misterb&b, and many more — including regional marketplaces that were previously difficult to integrate. Whether hosts are already listed on these channels or looking to break into new markets, this feature provides an automated, reliable way to centralize operations and maximize occupancy.Reservations from external channels are automatically imported into Hospitable’s platform every hour, eliminating the risk of double bookings and streamlining multi-platform management. But this isn’t just about syncing calendars — every booking, no matter where it comes from, is treated as a full-fledged reservation, unlocking Hospitable’s suite of automation and AI tools. Hosts can send personalized welcome messages, automate check-in instructions, upsell premium add-ons, and instantly respond to guest inquiries through Hospitable’s AI-powered Knowledge Hub. This ensures that every guest, no matter where they booked, receives a consistent, high-quality, and branded experience.By supporting iCal, a widely used calendar format in property management systems, Hospitable enables hosts to automatically sync availability with niche OTAs, maximizing their reach and unlocking new booking opportunities with minimal effort.Pierre-Camille Hamana, CEO and Founder of Hospitable, said: “Until now, expanding to additional channels often came with added complexity for hosts. But listing beyond the big platforms shouldn’t mean more stress and manual work. Many hosts want to tap into niche OTAs and new audiences but are held back by the hassle of managing multiple calendars, inboxes, and booking systems. iCal Imports removes that barrier. Now, hosts can confidently expand their reach without worrying about double bookings, missed messages, or operational chaos. Every reservation syncs into one system, every guest gets a seamless experience, and hosts can finally scale their business on their terms, without the extra workload.”Founded in 2016, Hospitable is a vacation rental software provider offering a suite of tools that empower hosts to automate the most time-consuming elements of hosting. Hosts use Hospitable to answer 90% of guest messages with AI-powered automated messaging, to automate their team notifications so they never miss a clean, and to avoid double bookings with a synchronized calendar across booking channels. - 2/18/2025
RoomPriceGenie Receives $75 Million USD Investment from Five Elms Capital
RoomPriceGenie, a provider of revenue management systems (RMS) for independent hotels and groups, is proud to announce a $75 million USD investment from Five Elms Capital to accelerate international expansion and further enhance its award-winning platform. As part of this next phase of growth, experienced technology executive Chas Scarantino has been appointed as CEO. Co-Founder and current RoomPriceGenie CEO, Ari Andricopoulos, will transition to Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), focusing on product innovation and strategic partnerships.
“According to Skift Research, only about 10% of hoteliers use a dedicated RMS for pricing, with adoption historically skewed toward larger properties and branded chains," said Andricopoulos. "RoomPriceGenie was founded in 2017 to make automated pricing more accessible and intuitive for independent properties. While we've grown and expanded our functionality, our core philosophy of simplicity and efficacy remains. With our new OpenAPI PMS integration and investment from Five Elms Capital, combined with Chas' leadership and expertise, we're positioned to help more independent hotels and groups maximize revenue through automated pricing technology."
RoomPriceGenie has grown into a global business, with over 100 employees and 3,000+ hotel clients across 65 countries. The company has achieved rapid, efficient growth while reaching profitability, proving that its approach—prioritizing innovation and exceptional customer support—resonates with the market.
RoomPriceGenie’s excellence has been widely recognized, earning multiple top rankings in the HotelTechAwards, including second place for “Best Revenue Management System (RMS)” and third place for “Best Place to Work” for two consecutive years. In 2025, it was also named the 7th “Most Recommended Solution” across all hotel technology categories.
"Five Elms identified RoomPriceGenie as a category leader in revenue management, both technologically and operationally," said Ryan Mandl, Partner at Five Elms Capital. "The launch of RoomPriceGenie’s OpenAPI—the first revenue management system integration of its kind—underscores the team’s commitment to innovation, allowing PMS providers to integrate its solution seamlessly without the typical costs or complexities. We are excited to support the company as it continues to scale."
Scarantino, who steps into the CEO role, brings extensive experience building and scaling technology companies, leading global expansion efforts and driving operational excellence. Over the course of his career, he has successfully led teams to market products across the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan and Australia, in addition to founding and scaling his own ventures.
“My passion is scaling teams, developing talent, and fostering a culture that drives both innovation and execution,” said Scarantino. “RoomPriceGenie has built an outstanding platform, a strong company culture and a team deeply committed to helping hotels optimize their revenue. The company has already established itself as the best RMS for independent hotels and a forward-thinking integration partner for PMS providers. I’m excited to build on this success and expand our reach while preserving the unique Genie Culture that makes RoomPriceGenie exceptional.”
- 2/18/2025
Enseo Expands Team: David Goldstone Joins as President of Hospitality
Enseo, the essential technology services provider and innovator responsible for foundational technology in hospitality, welcomes David Goldstone as President of Hospitality. With an unrivaled legacy as a hospitality executive and industry advocate, Goldstone will leverage deep relationships within hospitality to ensure product alignment with customer needs, the cornerstone of Enseo’s growth strategy. Goldstone will help execute Enseo’s vision and strategic direction as the company continues to offer customer-centric solutions for hospitality, including interactive guestroom entertainment, managed Wi-Fi, smart room controls, and employee safety devices.
“The addition of David to the team is an especially exciting development for Enseo and our customers alike. Today, our technology and content solutions bring creativity and value to our hotel customers and their guests, and David’s experience and influence within the hospitality community will help Enseo optimize our product value to customers,” said Brian Gurley, CEO of Enseo. “His passion for delivering exceptional customer service and satisfaction aligns with Enseo’s mission. We look forward to having him on board as we embark on our next chapter.”
A distinguished veteran in the hospitality industry, Goldstone has successfully led rapid growth initiatives for SaaS sales for more than 20 years, including at WorldVue, Quadriga, SONIFI (formerly LodgeNet), and On Command. Goldstone currently sits on several boards including American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA) The Hospitality Show and the International Luxury Hotel Association. Goldstone is a regular participant in federal and state advocacy work, supporting hospitality priorities alongside AHLA partners, as well as a foundational member of the AHLA team advocating to help eradicate human trafficking. He is well-recognized for his enduring personal commitment to the people within the hospitality community and his customer-focused spirit of partnership. It was this lifelong dedication that earned Goldstone AHLA’s prestigious John Whitaker award, one of only five people to have been so honored.
“I am thrilled to join Enseo, and there couldn’t be a better time,” said Goldstone. “Enseo has assembled an incredible team, including fellow industry veterans and trusted friends, all enthusiastically aligned around Enseo’s customer-centric vision. Enseo’s future, with its leading-edge technology and top-tier customer support, could not be brighter. I am honored to work with this incredible group as we are poised for continued growth in 2025 and beyond.”
Enseo is the premier provider of hospitality technology in guestroom solutions, customized services, and customer support, and is committed to enhancing the guest and hotel experience. As the essential technology services partner, Enseo provides hotel TV, managed Wi-Fi, room controls, and employee safety devices. For more information on Enseo, visit www.enseo.com.
- 2/18/2025
Lenk Lodge Reduces Manual Tasks by 50% Within First Weeks of Moving to Mews
Mews was chosen by Lenk Lodge to power its unique brand of hospitality, and in the space of only a few weeks has helped to transform operations and guest journeys.
The Swiss boutique property lies in the stunning Simmental valley in Switzerland. It offers hotel rooms and apartments, and hosts regular events like yoga retreats, seminars and workshops. The lodge reopened in December under new ownership and after migrating to Mews.
Raphael Simcic is Co-Director of Lenk Lodge, and Managing Director of SUM Hospitality, a consultant agency in digital hospitality solutions. He led the deployment of Mews in Lenk Lodge and is a certified Mews deployment partner.
“What’s great about Mews is its flexibility. Because Lenk Ledge is a small hotel, I set up a lean tech stack in a couple of hours to maximize efficiency and simplicity. We wanted to streamline every process, so we integrated a payment terminal with Mews Payments. That means we are completely cashless, and it works well, even in a market like Switzerland, which is still cash focused.”
This move to cashless payments saves the hotel 30-45 minutes every day by automating billing and reconciliation, as well as eliminating the need to count cash and store it safely in the bank.
The reservation team has also experienced significant time savings through Mews Operations. Quotes and reservations can be made quickly and easily while on the phone to bookers, reducing the workload by 30-40%.
Lenk Lodge has embraced Mews Guest Experience, including an integrated booking engine, online check-in and online check-out. 31% of bookings are made directly through Mews Booking Engine on the hotel’s website; in 2021, the average in Switzerland was 14%.
51% of arrivals use online check-in, and 25% check out online. This reduces administrative tasks like manual registration forms, passport scanning and taking payments by more than 50%, allowing the team to focus on guest care, additional sales and hospitality that adds value.
- 2/17/2025
XTM’s AnyDay Earned Wage Access for Hospitality, Instant Tip-Out Calculator Solution Reports Surge in Demand
XTM, a fintech innovator specializing in payment solutions for the hospitality industry, reports a surge in inbound interest for its AnyDay™ Earned Wage Access (EWA) platform and instant tip-out calculator solution. This interest follows President Trump’s recent commitment to eliminate taxes on tips, a policy that could significantly impact the hospitality sector.
Currently, XTM moves hundreds of millions of dollars in instant payments annually for restaurants, hotels, casinos, salons, and golf clubs across the U.S. and Canada. Its fully owned and SAP-certified issuing processor, combined with AnyDay’s real-time gratuity and Earned Wage Access technology, delivers a reliable, safe and seamless payment solution that thousands of hospitality businesses and workers rely on daily.
Speaking at a Las Vegas casino, President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to tax relief for service industry workers.
“If you’re a restaurant worker, a server, a valet, a bellhop, a bartender, or one of my caddies, your tips will be 100% yours. In the coming weeks, I’ll be working with Congress to get a bill on my desk that cuts taxes for workers, families, and small businesses—and, very importantly, keeps my promise,” said Trump. “We’re gonna get it for you—no tax on tips.”
The policy change would mean employers are no longer required to withhold taxes on tips, removing a major administrative burden. XTM’s AnyDay™ platform offers a ready-made solution for businesses seeking to transition to a daily, tax-free tip payout system. With real-time tip pooling and instant payments, AnyDay™ enables employers to enhance recruitment and retention by ensuring service workers receive their tips instantly, at the end of each shift.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of December 2023, 16.82 million people were employed in the U.S. hospitality and leisure industry. Median pay for full-service restaurant workers had risen to $23.88 per hour (including tips and base wages) by September 2024, reflecting a 28% increase since January 2020 (Source: ADP Research).