Craftable, a profit management platform, celebrates one year of partnership with Square, the technology company that makes commerce and financial services easy and accessible. Craftable and its partners Square, Paytronix and 7Shifts will be hosting an activation at this year’s National Restaurant Association (NRA) Conference at McCormick Place (2301 S King Dr) in Chicago, IL on May 21st from 3-5 PM at Square’s booth, #5821.

Last May, Craftable and Square announced a collaboration to provide hospitality operators with full visibility into their operations, connecting purchases with sales data and labor in real-time with Craftable's Foodager, Bevager and Analytics platforms.

To showcase the results of the integration, Craftable and Square recently teamed up to unveil a case study titled “How Square + Craftable helped NYC’s brewery-gastropub manage operating costs.” Utilizing the easy-to-use Square for Restaurants platform, Torch & Crown’s team, led under the direction of entrepreneurs Joe Correia and John Dantzler, was able to efficiently take orders, make menu changes on the fly and keep orders moving through the kitchen. 

After using Square’s seamlessly integrated platform to run their operations, they decreased time spent on invoices by 6 hours and increased touchless payments by 40%. By leveraging Craftable’s integration with Square, they reduced food costs by over 5% and reduced beverage costs by a whopping 12%.

“We are proud to serve the hospitality industry alongside Square, a trusted leader in restaurant technology,” said Samuel Zats, co-founder and CEO of Craftable. “Our tech platforms seek to empower operators within the industry with the financial and business operations data to optimize business practices, allow teams to run more efficiently, and implement strategic tactics to support immediate and long-term growth.” 

Craftable will be debuting its happy hour style activation at the NRA Conference, notably the largest gathering of food service professionals in the Western hemisphere. During the activation, attendees will enjoy an open bar while learning about how the four leaders in hospitality tech–Craftable, Square, Paytronix and 7Shifts–work seamlessly to improve efficiency, streamline operations and provide the data and insights for restaurant and bar operators to improve their bottom lines.

EV charging provider LNG Electric has announced it is partnering with design firm MD7 to place Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) EV charging stations at over 13,000 hotels and 40+ multi-family communities across the country. The planned installations will make LNG Electric one of the top 3 owner-operators of EV charging stations in the United States.

Beginning this month with a Level 2 charger installation, LNG Electric's 13,000 chargers will be rolled out over the next five to six years. LNG Electric aims to create a charging network covering 10%-15% of the US hospitality market to tackle range anxiety by making chargers more widely available. And with a growing demand for reduced charge times nationwide, LNG Electric is also moving to meet the need to reduce nationwide charge times by installing more Level 3 charging stations as part of its planned network.

The partnership is the first step LNG Electric is taking to remove one of the primary barriers to EV entry for many: a lack of infrastructure. As they provide power to as many communities as possible, LNG Electric and MD7 hope to make EV charging more widely available and a viable transportation method for hotel guests and apartment renters.

"MD7 is the best at installing connected infrastructure like EV charging stations," said Taylor Weaver, CEO of LNG Electric. "Their willingness to help us even the playing field and provide charging stations for people at every income level shows just how committed they are to our mission. We want to power the EV grid, no matter where you are."

"We're excited to partner with LNG Electric to provide first-class EV charging technology to apartment complexes and hotels, furthering our commitment to environmental sustainability," said Michael Fraunces, President of MD7. "We support their mission to provide affordable EV grid access to more people than ever before, and we can't wait for what's next."

The first deployments will be at Marriot and Hilton brand hotels in Ohio, Florida and Illinois.

Palmer Digital Group, a full-service supplier and installer of indoor and outdoor digital kiosks, drive-thru digital menu boards and canopy systems, returns to the National Restaurant Association Show this week with its latest outdoor display solutions for QSRs and Fast Casual restaurants. The full-service supplier, which also provides planning and installation services, will demonstrate its all-in-one outdoor digital menu board solutions and EV charging stations, showcasing PDG’s enclosures, integrated displays, and dynamic digital out-of-home (DOOH) media support for EV kiosks.

The Restaurant Show has proven a lucrative venue for PDG over the years, and the company anticipates that this year’s event will once again deliver. “We have onboarded at least four distribution partners each year, and our calculations prove that each one represents at least $500,000 in new annual sales,” said Chuck Lewis, Vice President, Palmer Digital Group. “That speaks to the value of demonstrating at this show, as do the contracts we have won from end customers like Buona that discovered us here.”

Lewis notes that QSR and Fast Casual restaurants are eager to transition to digital inside and outside their stores, and PDG”s installation services remove the time and costs of site planning, site preparation and crane lifts for end businesses. Many PDG menu board structures can be installed by two technicians, which along with the company’s installation services is a key differentiator from competitors. 

Palmer Digital Group will exhibit at Booth 5550 and contribute to demonstrations at three CMS partner booths. Across all four booths, visitors can see how businesses can creatively arrange, manage, update and monetize menu board content across one or more display panels. However, visitors will need to come to PDG’s booth to see its all-in-one EV charging solution, a Level 2 80-amp EV kiosk that supports dynamic DOOH content, energy-efficient electrification, cloud-based performance monitoring, and mobile payment solutions among other attributes.

“We see increasing interest in our EV charging solutions because they draw in new clientele that QSR and Fast Casual businesses can upsell to as they charge their vehicles,” said Lewis. “Restaurants can post their menu and promotional content on these displays in their parking lots as an appetizer to the dine-in customer experience.” 

For digital menu boards, PDG will provide single, double and triple outdoor enclosures with integrated displays across their three CMS partner booths. All three companies resell PDG enclosures that provide robust structural support for digital menu boards.

•  At Booth 6674, EyeCatch Networks will show PDG’s QSRMB255 double digital menu board solution with Samsung displays and content powered through its digital signage software.
• At Booth 8216, Stream LLC will show PDG’s QSRMB255 double and QSRMB155 single digital menu board solutions with LG displays and content powered through its digital signage software. PDG’s single-board solutions are often deployed as pre-sell boards at the beginning of the customer’s drive-thru journey.
• At Booth 6178, Zero-In will show PDG’s QSRMB355 triple menu board solution with Samsung displays and content powered through its digital signage software.

PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips digital signage, interactive displays, direct view LED and professional TV products and solutions, is delighted to announce the expansion of its ‘Global Partner Alliance’ network, delivering unrivalled regional support and international expertise for hospitality customers across six continents. 

Officially launched at ISE 2022, PPDS’ exclusive, by invite, Global Partner Alliance (GPA) programme, was created to connect multinational businesses with PPDS’ top tier of regional integration specialists, for seamless execution of hospitality projects, of any scale, anywhere in the world.

Announced to members during the third global meeting for the PPDS GPA, hosted in Barcelona, Spain, the Alliance has grown by more than 50 additional partners – almost doubling numbers from 60 to 118 and now covering China and India – delivering enhanced specialist knowledge and support.

Each Alliance partner is selected based upon their capabilities, certifications, and ongoing relationship with PPDS. All GPA partners are trained and certified to deliver the best knowledge and performance across PPDS’ portfolio of products, services, and solutions.

Heading up the PPDS GPA, Simone Gagliardi commented: “We have been thrilled by the continued success and unrivalled relationships being formed within our Global Partner Alliance since it was officially launched. We are delighted to welcome new members to the community, bringing even greater strengths and wider reach to deliver seamless and consistent services to customers almost everywhere on the planet. With the GPA, we aim to remove the pain points traditionally experienced with multinational integrations, reaching through regional barriers to ensure projects are completed consistently, quickly and efficiently. There is nothing quite like the PPDS GPA.”

Franck Racape, VP Global Commercial at PPDS, concluded: “At PPDS, we strive for excellence in everything we do, from the products we are making in our factories through to the support we offer for installation and beyond. A significant and crucial part of that process is unquestionably our relationships with our partners. The GPA, together with our International Key Account Management approach, have allowed us to develop even closer relationships with the channel, aligning to bring ever greater value to our mutual customers.

“Since launch, the GPA has advanced from being a list of valued partners to a true global community. Far from being competitors, many of our GPA partners are now in regular communication, supporting each other where needed and, as clearly demonstrated at our GPA dinner in Barcelona and at other exclusive GPA events, they have become close business allies in the process. On behalf of PPDS, I welcome all our new GPA members and thank everyone for their continued devotion. Here’s to expanding into another successful year.”

Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury voyages and expedition travel, has announced that its two purpose-built expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, will be equipped with next generation Wi-Fi connectivity with SpaceX's Starlink, the leader in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology. The upgraded technology will provide Seabourn's expedition guests with faster service, greater connectivity and more reliable Wi-Fi wherever Starlink's services are available.

Seabourn Venture is the first ship in the Seabourn fleet to offer Starlink's Wi-Fi technology beginning with its May 12, 2023 voyage, just in time for the ship's second Arctic season. The line's second expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit, will be equipped with the enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity after it launches in the summer of 2023. Seabourn's expedition ships will offer the best available Wi-Fi experience, allowing guests to stay connected with loved ones as they explore some of the most interesting and remote destinations in the world.

"We are committed to providing the best ultra-luxury expedition experiences at sea, and the Starlink partnership will offer a significantly enhanced connectivity experience during our expedition journeys," said Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. "From the polar regions to Australia and the South Pacific, our guests will experience a more reliable connection, allowing them to share those special moments and experiences with their loved ones as they sail on Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit."

"Starlink offers Internet capabilities and functionality to meet growing service demands globally, and I am so pleased that guests and crew members on both of our expedition ships will benefit from this innovative technology," added Kathleen Erickson, Seabourn's vice president of technology.

Beginning May 12, 2023, guests sailing on Seabourn Venture will have access to the enhanced Wi-Fi service on board from the Arctic to Antarctica. The ship will sail on two voyages to British Isles and Ireland in May before kicking off its second season in the Arctic. Between June and August 2023, the ship will sail on a series of 14- and 15-day voyages to Greenland and Iceland, as well as a 23-day adventure through the Northwest Passage. The ship will then head down the West Coast of the Americas before reaching Antarctica, where it will sail between November 2023 and February 2024. In late February 2024, Seabourn Venture will cross the Atlantic, sail up the West Coast of Africa and Europe to be in position for the 2024 Arctic season. 

Tabit Technologies, a mobile first POS, and OpenTable announced an integration which streamlines front-of-house restaurant operations and enables restaurants to deliver more personalized hospitality for guests.

The integration was completed in late 2022 and became live in February of 2023 following a period of beta testing. It is now available to all OpenTable and Tabit restaurant customers.

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

With the integration of Tabit and OpenTable technologies, restaurants have a wealth of information at their fingertips, creating operational efficiencies and enabling them to deliver a more welcoming guest experience.

• OpenTable's booking data paired with Tabit's spend data gives restaurants a more holistic view of business performance
• Restaurant staff can quickly identify which guests are new, regulars, or top spenders
• Real-time information input from servers will now be available to front-of-house staff at Tabit restaurants, so hosts can automatically see when guests are seated and which course they're on, helping to minimize wait times and optimize table turn times and revenue.

Full Visibility

"One of the big wins we have had with Tabit is the OpenTable integration. Tabit's system can automatically update the OpenTable App with course statuses and check details, allowing the host or hostess to stay by their station, but still have full visibility into what's going on in the restaurant," said Managing Partner and Director of Operations at SALT7, Rob Berger. "Being able to keep a host from spending time walking the floor saves thousands of dollars annually because it means having one less host on shift per day."