Juniper Networks, a provider of secure, AI-driven networks, announced that citizenM, the award-winning ‘affordable luxury’ hotel and lifestyle brand, has selected Juniper’s full range of AI-driven Enterprise and Connected Security solutions, including wireless access, wired access and next-generation firewalls to deliver a modern hotel experience for its guests. By choosing Juniper®, citizenM is leveraging the benefits of Mist AI™ and a secure client-to-cloud experience to transform how guests sleep, work and relax, while reducing the time and effort required to setup and manage secure IT networks in numerous locations.

citizenM currently has 31 hotels globally and is pursuing major growth plans, aiming to operate 40 hotels in premier metropolitan locations and airports in Europe, Asia and the U.S. by 2024. With the increasing number of guests and its ambitious expansion strategies, citizenM needed a network that would scale with its digital transformation plans. The company turned to Juniper wireless access points driven by Mist AI™ to deliver better guest engagement, coupled with industry-leading Wi-Fi that is both predictable and reliable. In addition, Juniper Networks EX Series Switches provide high-performance, secure access to wired devices and Juniper next-generation firewalls effectively protect all hotel properties and the Amsterdam headquarters from cyber-attacks, while connecting them to the company’s cloud resources. Juniper has been citizenM’s networking provider and has also been named as a Leader in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure for the 3^rd year in a row, with top scores for ability to execute and vision.

With citizenM’s new network, guests can simply check in at a kiosk or via the brand’s award-winning mobile app, with an ambassador at hand to help if needed. A digital key is created and guests are on their way to their room quickly, typically in one minute. Once in their room, guests can control the room temperature, lighting and shades from an in-room Wi-Fi-enabled tablet or via the app, as well as accessing F&B menus, viewing city guide content and more. Guests can also seamlessly stream their apps, movies or games to a high-definition TV and share them with family and friends without increasing the risk of a threat, compromising them or the hotel network.

In addition to real-time, secure connectivity with personalized experiences for guests, the Juniper solution also simplifies the deployment and management of IT infrastructure and services across multiple, distributed properties. With Mist AI, zero-touch provisioning and automated workflows operated via the cloud, network setup is easy and quick. Mist AI proactively detects and fixes anomalies to expedite troubleshooting without the need for onsite resources. Additionally, ambassadors, duty managers and support staff at the hotel properties have fast, reliable access to their key hospitality and business applications, including property management, content management, physical security, payments, video and voice. Juniper Networks SRX Series Firewalls provide a full suite of traffic inspection and industry-leading threat protection capabilities while maintaining top performance. These capabilities effectively safeguard hotel guests, staff and their access to the internet and other digital assets.

Supporting Quotes:

“citizenM has re-defined hospitality by disrupting the traditional hotel model to give modern travelers an affordable luxury experience. A key pillar of our strategy is to provide guest service beyond expectations. We aim to anticipate our guests’ needs, continuously exceed their expectations and curate memorable experiences for them. We strongly believe that technology is the foundation and enabler of our transformation. We value Juniper’s innovative thinking and how AI can help us manage the network.”

- Bojan Pavicic, Director, Technology and Digital, citizenM

“Technology has become a critical element in the hospitality industry, as guest demands are changing and visitors are looking for more tailored service during their stay. citizenM adopts guest-centric technology that provides personalized experiences for its guests in a very seamless and simple way. Juniper Mist supports citizenM’s business objectives by enhancing connectivity with simplicity, providing analytical data and simple operations with proactive, low-maintenance troubleshooting, resulting in lower operational cost - but high value - in terms of the customer experience.”

- Gos Hein van de Wouw, Vice President, Enterprise, EMEA, Juniper Networks

Power Knot LLC, a provider of onsite organic waste management solutions, announced that its customer, the H Hotel Dubai, has once again received the Green Key Certification from the Emirates Green Building Council, a leader in environmental responsibility and sustainable operation.

The H Hotel Dubai is a luxury hotel centered in the heart of Dubai. The five star hotel has 236 rooms and suites, nine restaurants, a night club, and offers in room dining and catering services.

The Emirates Green Building Council is a non-profit organization that promotes and educates on sustainability in building environments. It is the official Green Building Council for the UAE and endorsed by the World Green Building Council. To receive Green Key certification, qualified properties must meet a strict series of sustainability criteria which cover both the operational activities and energy consumption.

"The hospitality industry is credited for its large carbon footprint due to its massive food operations and the resulting challenge of food waste," said Sophie Blondel, General Manager at The H Hotel Dubai. "The H Hotel Dubai installed the Power Knot LFC-100 biodigester to address the challenge of food waste. It improves in-house food management and disposes organic waste quickly and safely while greatly reducing the property's carbon footprint." 

Catherine Malalay, EHS manager, actively looks into all the organic waste generated at the hotel along with the Chef Laurent Petit to ensure all organic waste from their kitchen and outlets are digested and diverted from the landfill.

The LFC® biodigester is a machine that digests food waste. These machines are usually installed in a commercial kitchen and reduce the expense, inconvenience, mess, and carbon footprint of disposing of food waste that would otherwise be hauled to a landfill. Power Knot has eight different sizes that digest from 10 kg (20 lb) per day to 3000 kg (6600 lb) per day of waste food.

"The LFC biodigester turns decomposed food into wastewater which is environmentally safe and is being used to enrich the property's landscapes. The machine continuously records the amount of waste ingested and carbon dioxide equivalent that is being diverted from the atmosphere," said Iain Milnes, President of Power Knot. "We're excited that the hotel is actively using data to identify areas that will help reduce overall food wastage and incorporate efficient and intelligent planning in the kitchen."

Checkers & Rally's merges fun and food in a way never before tasted with its new "Rule the Drive-Thru" weekly game show. The show, which debuts today, surprises unsuspecting drive-thru guests with fry-filled activities and prizes sure to satisfy even the deepest of cravings. 

The Trail Blazer Leading AI in the Drive-Thru at Checkers and Rally’s

This show has all the flavor and seasoning of Checkers & Rally's most craveable burgers, fries and sides – real guests spontaneously heading into the drive-thru lane who work up a true appetite playing a vast array of interactive, quirky activities, including Carpool Car-aoke, Fast Food Trivia, Load Your Ride (with life-sized fries), Paint with Ketchup & Mustard and many more.

"Our guests know the strong value proposition of all craveable items at Checkers & Rally's, and now we can further add to that with the high entertainment value of our never-seen-before 'Rule the Drive-Thru' show in a really playful and energizing way," said Kelley O'Brien, Social Media Director at Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. "Once you jump into the driver's seat and check out new episodes of our show each week exclusively on our social channels, you'll never see any drive-thru the same, all for the better! And who knows what will happen when you next pull up to our window."

To follow the action, check out Checker's & Rally's on Instagram and TikTok.

Noodles & Company adds Extra Goodness feature to its Noodles Rewards program.

With 4.5 million members and growing, Noodles Rewards' Extra Goodness allows Rewards members to redeem new freebies and discounts daily. Noodles created Extra Goodness to deliver on its mission to make its most loyal guests feel valued and appreciated through a loyalty program that continually gives back. 

Extra Goodness in Action 

Noodles is introducing an "always on" perk that Rewards members can redeem once daily. With every daily purchase, Rewards members can apply their Extra Goodness offer to their order at checkout in the app, online, or in-restaurant by scanning their Noodles Rewards barcode. New perks may include a percentage or dollar off the total order, a free upgrade, or a free add-on, and even more delectable offers. 

Designing & Implementing a Loyalty Program for Your Restaurant

With Extra Goodness, perks are issued daily and complement the other Rewards members can redeem with Noodles Rewards.  Noodles' digital innovation and presence has grown significantly in recent years, 54% of company-wide sales come through Noodles digital channels and the Noodles Rewards members alone drive 25% of the brand's total sales. The strength in these numbers is due to Noodles' constant innovation and attentiveness to the wants and needs of its guests.  

Star Micronics, a leading provider of point of sale (POS) and customer engagement technologies, has announced the release of its new all-steel mUnite Printer Shelf. Designed to provide an affordable and flexible kiosk printing solution, this printer shelf attachment is compatible with the mUnite Floor Kiosk Stand, Tri-Mount, and Mount 18 tablet display solutions.

The mUnite Printer Shelf allows businesses to easily set up self-service stations anywhere, providing customers with a seamless and convenient experience. With the ability to securely mount a thermal receipt printer on top of the shelf, users can easily print receipts or labels for customers below a tablet that is securely fastened onto the stand.

Constructed of durable steel, the printer shelf attachment offers a sturdy and long-lasting solution for printing needs. It is also easy to install, making it an ideal solution for businesses that need to set up a kiosk or self-service station quickly.

GoTab, a restaurant commerce platform, announced its partnership with the esteemed Little Nell Hotel Group to introduce an innovative, on-demand guest dining experience at the Limelight Hotel  Snowmass at the base of the slopes in Snowmass, Colo. Offering elevated contactless ordering that allows guests to quickly and seamlessly place their food & beverage orders from the ski slopes, lobby or guestroom, GoTab is helping the inventive hotel brand deliver modern convenience to guests, while driving increased sales and operational efficiencies for the brand as a whole. In addition, distinguishing a commitment to impeccable service, GoTab has named Limelight Hotel Snowmass employee Reid Tincher winner of GoTab’s final Hospitality First Service Award for 2022.

Recognizing growing guest preference for contactless ordering, Limelight Hotel Snowmass partnered with GoTab to provide an enhanced on-demand dining experience on par with the brand’s reputation for exceptional guest service. Guests are now able to begin a tab from their room or the property’s restaurant by scanning a QR code, texting a link to friends or family members on the ski slopes to add in their orders, then meeting up together at the patio or lodge to enjoy their meal and après-ski festivities without interruption. Streamlining tasks like inputting orders and processing payments eliminates friction for hotel staff and allows them to focus on delivering renowned guest service for a memorable experience. Since partnering with GoTab, Limelight Hotel Snowmass has consistently seen higher check averages and sales.

“We’re laser-focused on providing exceptional guest service, from our rooms to our restaurant to the ski slopes,” said Nick Giglio, Manager of Hotel IT Operations, The Little Nell Hotel Group. “With GoTab, we’re able to deliver an elevated guest experience built on speed and convenience while easing operations for our staff and increasing sales. Previously, guests would call down to the restaurant to begin an order from their room or while they were out enjoying the ski slopes. Using GoTab, guests can now place orders from anywhere on the resort, giving them the on-demand service they want without interrupting their day. GoTab empowers us to give control to the guest, reducing touchpoints and streamlining overall restaurant operations, making Limelight Hotel the resort of choice for Snowmass.”

Understanding GoTab’s benefits for both guests and his colleagues, Limelight Hotel Snowmass employee Reid Tincher is well-versed when it comes to monitoring the Kitchen Management System (KMS), including 86’ing items when necessary. Notably, with the help of GoTab, he provides unparalleled service and is always focused on delivering a seamless dining experience for his guests. As recognition for his extraordinary hospitality service at a GoTab-operated venue, Reid will receive a $2,000 cash prize along with recognition on the GoTab website, a certificate and premium swag kit.

“We’re proud to support continued growth at Limelight Hotel, a brand that cares so deeply about the guest experience,” said GoTab Co-Founder & CEO, Tim McLaughlin. “Through innovative uses of on-demand ordering, payment, and charging to tabs as well as using technology to streamline back-of-house operations, hotels like Limelight Hotel Snowmass are achieving higher sales, lower operating costs and freeing servers from routine tasks to deliver a better, more personalized guest experience. We look forward to helping more companies achieve enhanced hospitality as we continue to expand our presence in the hotel sector.”

Working hand in hand to empower elevated hospitality for Limelight Hotel Snowmass, GoTab has also integrated with cloud-based platform, Infor. Together, GoTab and Infor are providing dynamic solutions to support central, efficient service across hotel amenities and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

To learn more about GoTab’s flexible solutions for hotels & resorts, visit https://gotab.com/hotels-resorts/.