Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line (“NCL”), Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, announced its plan to improve connectivity for guests and crew at sea by offering SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet on its ships. Using advanced low earth orbit satellites, Starlink delivers industry leading broadband internet connectivity which will improve the capacity, speed and reliability of internet on board. The Company is currently testing Starlink, beginning with Norwegian Breakaway, with the intent to rollout this game-changing technology across its entire world class fleet in a phased manner.

“We are thrilled to offer Starlink on board our ships to improve internet connectivity at sea. This initiative is a testament to our continuous quest to find new and innovative ways to enhance the experience for both guests and crew while sailing on our award-winning brands,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO-elect of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Ensuring that this technology meets our high standards of excellence for our guests is incredibly important to us, which is why we are introducing this cutting-edge technology across our fleet in a phased manner. Once deployed, guests and crew will have a faster and more reliable method to stay connected with friends and family including by sharing in real-time the incredible memories they create while at sea.”

If trials are successful, the Company is targeting to equip 7 additional vessels with Starlink by year-end, including all three of the Company’s exciting new additions this year, Oceania Cruises’ Vista, Norwegian Viva and Regent’s Seven Seas Grandeur. A comprehensive rollout plan is under development and details regarding timeline and availability on specific ships will be communicated once finalized. In addition to enhancing the guest and crew experience, the extra bandwidth will also allow for more flexibility for onboard services and improve the ship-to-shore connection for operational needs.

In response to the growing demand for pickup service, PDQ Restaurants  implemented Flybuy  technology brand-wide to streamline operations and provide customers with an exceptional experience.

The Flybuy platform is fully integrated with Olo Ordering, Rails, and Dispatch, and provides PDQ staff with full visibility into guests and delivery drivers ETA, journey, and arrivals in real-time as they approach the restaurant, ensuring that staff can prioritize, prepare and hand-off orders quickly and efficiently.

71% say the ability to integrate with other systems is driving their POS purchase decisions, according to HT’s2 2023 POS Software Trends Report.

PDQ optimizes its Olo Dispatch and Rails delivery service provider (DSP) operations with Flybuy, providing PDQ staff with full visibility of incoming delivery drivers, providing a fast and efficient order handoff regardless if the order was placed on a third party marketplace or their own direct channels. Reducing delivery driver wait times has been a top priority for PDQ, as they want to provide end customers with a hot, fresh meal, as if they were dining in the restaurant.

In addition to Olo integrations, PDQ has integrated Flybuy technology with the My PDQ Mobile App, delivering a completely frictionless experience to guests, no matter how they choose to dine. The streamlined operation provides clear instructions to guests, allowing them to communicate with the restaurant and enjoy fast service. This creates a loyal customer base that returns to PDQ again and again.

Flybuy is a game-changer for PDQ team members, providing them with a powerful tool to prioritize order preparation based on exact arrival times and manage dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders. The Flybuy dashboard offers staff members location updates, ETAs, and arrival notifications for incoming customers and delivery drivers, ensuring that orders are prepared quickly and efficiently. Additionally, team members are provided with information about the pickup method (in-store, curbside, drive-thru), the customer’s name and vehicle information, tags for easily forgotten items like “drinks” and “shakes,” and any special items that require additional prep time. With this information, team members can have the orders ready and waiting for an immediate handoff, providing a hot and fresh meal to guests.

"We are thrilled to partner with Flybuy, whose innovative platform has brought our off-premise business to the next level,” said Ken Bott, Head of Digital for PDQ. "Their technology enables us to manage our orders efficiently, reduce wait times, ensure food freshness, and ultimately provide our guests with an exceptional experience that leads to increased customer satisfaction."

Jumeirah Group, a global luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, in partnership with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), announced the introduction of Jumeirah Mobile Check-In, a biometric and digital technology solution. The avantgarde solution empowers guests to complete all check-in formalities prior to arrival through their mobile phone, delivering a seamless arrival experience and reducing the check-in process by up to 10 minutes.

Showcased during GITEX 2022, the technology allows Jumeirah guests, who booked directly on Jumeirah.com or its mobile application, to upload all essential identification documentation within 48 hours pre-stay. The process includes an industry-first verification step, where guests take a selfie from their mobile phone and upload this image to complete the check-in process. A digital or physical key, subject to guest preference, is then received upon arrival. In accordance with best practices to ensure privacy and security, and subject to guest approval, the service further uses guest identity to customise and create truly personalized experiences both on and off property.

Thomas B. Meier, Chief Operating Officer of Jumeirah Group said: “Placing the guest at the heart of all we do is a top priority for Jumeirah Group, and we are always looking at new and innovative solutions to further enhance and personalize our hospitality experience. Jumeirah Mobile Check-In delivers on our promise of Stay Different, providing our guests with a secure, quick and easy check-in process, in addition to simplifying future reservations and facilitating payment processes.”

The innovative and user-friendly contactless check-in solution integrates Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts’ ecosystem with the UAE Government-approved check-in protocols and security features, providing guests a safe and secure check-in.

Shaikha Ebrahim AlMutawa, Director – Hospitality Affairs Department, Business and Registration Licensing Sector, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism said: “We are committed to creating unique value and providing the best guest experience, as we continue to work with our stakeholders and partners to further enhance the overall hospitality offering. We understand that time is precious for our visitors and are constantly exploring ways to make their travel experience in Dubai as seamless as possible by pushing the boundaries of innovation. This novel mobile check-in facility launched by Jumeirah Group promises an unrivalled experience for global travelers, further highlighting Dubai’s position as a must-visit destination.”

Currently available at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Mobile Check-In will be rolled-out across several of the group’s 13 hotels and resorts in the United Arab Emirates this year.

For more information, please visit https://www.jumeirah.com/en/online-check-in.

In a recent Disney Parks Blog post, the company revealed that it would begin rolling out MagicBand+ technology to its its cruise lines this summer. The blog post made it clear that on cruise ships, this wearable technology would be called DisneyBand+ - but it gave no reason why the name change was necessary. 

The technology, however, is the same. It will allow guests to unlock stateroom doors, charge food and beverage purchases or souvenirs, link photos from onboard photographers to a stateroom for future purchase, and will help guests "discover enchanting surprises throughout the cruise."

The technology itself is waterproof and rechargeable and can be used for future vacations to Disney Parks and Disney Hotel Resorts. 

According to the blog post, guests of select Disney Wish sailings will have the opportunity to preview this technology first before it makes its official debut this summer.

BEONx says it is the first Revenue Management System (RMS) to incorporate a sustainability index for each hotel on its platform in collaboration with Bioscore.

BEONx's new feature enables hotels to obtain an official sustainability certification that measures their performance across five fields: water consumption, waste, energy, Km 0, and carbon footprint.

To obtain the sustainability certification, hotels must go through an evaluation of their sustainability performance in the five areas that Bioscore measures. Once the hotels are certified, they will be able to display their sustainability score on their BEONx platform profile, which will be visible to potential guests.

"With our new sustainability index, we aim to empower hoteliers to make informed decisions about their sustainability performance and help them increase their market appeal to eco-conscious travelers," said Rubén Sánchez, CEO and cofounder of BEONx. "We are thrilled to partner with Bioscore, a leading sustainability certification organization, to offer this innovative solution to our clients."

Victor Monzón, Founder & CEO of Bioscore adds: “Becoming a sustainable hotel is more important than ever, not only for the environment but also for business. According to a study by Booking.com, 87% of global travelers state that they want to travel sustainably, and 39% of them would pay more to stay at an eco-friendly accommodation. Additionally, a sustainable hotel can improve its reputation and positioning, reduce costs, and even obtain tax advantages depending on the country.”

Shiji, a global hospitality technology innovator, announced the agreement for the connectivity between D-EDGE's global hotel distribution solutions to their Shiji Enterprise Platform, the company’s next generation cloud-based PMS built for hotel groups and enterprise chains.

D-EDGE and Shiji are also working together on other distribution-related channels through Shiji Distribution Solutions. The expansion of the agreement between the two companies shows how industry innovators are partnering to continue to push hotel technology forward.

The expanded connectivity between Shiji and D-EDGE will be a significant step forward in enabling hotel groups and enterprise chains optimize their operations through seamless connectivity between their CRS, booking engine, and PMS. By automating the transfer of reservations, rates and availability, hotels can reduce the risk of overbooking, minimize manual errors and increase efficiency in their daily operations.  The integration of D-EDGE's global hotel distribution solutions with Shiji's Enterprise Platform PMS brings greater value to the hospitality industry by streamlining processes and providing hotels with a complete suite of solutions to drive their growth and profitability.

The partnership between Shiji and D-EDGE is a testament to the two companies' commitment to innovation and collaboration in the hospitality industry. As industry leaders, Shiji and D-EDGE understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve and continually innovating to meet the changing needs of their customers. By expanding their partnership and integrating their technologies, Shiji and D-EDGE are well-positioned to drive the digital transformation of the hospitality industry and offer their customers cutting-edge solutions to stay competitive in the global market.

“We are proud to collaborate with D-EDGE, a company with a shared vision of innovation and growth in the hospitality industry,” said Kevin King, Chief Operating Officer at Shiji Group. “As a top player in the hospitality solutions market, it was a priority for us to bring our next generation PMS platform, Shiji Enterprise Platform to D-EDGE's valued customers.”

In addition to offering extensive documentation and a robust API, Shiji is also expanding its network of connectivity partners integrated with Shiji Enterprise Platform, its next generation PMS for multi-property groups and chains.

“At D-EDGE, our aim is to provide our customers with a comprehensive suite of solutions, connections and partners. That’s why connecting to Shiji’s Enterprise Platform was a strategic move for our diverse customer base,” said Pierre-Charles Grob, CEO of D-EDGE.