News Briefs

Shift4, a provider of integrated payments and commerce technology, has launched SkyTab Business Intelligence (BI), a powerful reporting and analytics platform to meet the needs of restaurants of all sizes – from small independent restaurants to large enterprise chains. SkyTab BI is among a wide array of new features added to SkyTab POS that deliver advanced reporting capabilities and enterprise management tools, augmenting the software’s already robust functionality.

SkyTab BI enables restaurant operators to see an overview of their entire enterprise or drill down to individual locations and compare data side-by-side in real time with granular filtering options. Additionally, SkyTab has added a number of other new features catering to enterprise restaurants, such as detailed transaction management, revenue center reporting, and multi-location menu management. All of these features are available at no additional cost for businesses using SkyTab.

“I’ve never seen a POS company create this level of reporting and analysis. Historically, we have always had to go to a third-party vendor to get this type of information,” says Allison Varlan, Chief Financial Officer of Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, a SkyTab BI customer. Live! venues are among the highest profile dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel, and sports-anchored destinations in the United States, serving over 55 million visitors annually.

“SkyTab Business Intelligence and our new multi-location menu management tools enable SkyTab to compete for even the largest enterprise restaurants,” says Shift4 CEO Jared Isaacman. “We are constantly adding capabilities to the SkyTab platform without adding cost. We don’t believe every new feature needs to be a module that requires an additional expense. Delivering a best-in-class POS solution at the lowest total cost of ownership will always be our priority.”

SkyTab POS is a best-in-class restaurant technology solution designed to streamline operations, simplify business management, and improve the guest experience. It includes integrated online ordering and reservations, contactless/QR code ordering and payment, built-in marketing tools and loyalty program, mobile devices for tableside ordering and payment, comprehensive reporting, and much more.

CommScope, a global leader in network connectivity, announced the immediate availability of a new suite of RUCKUS Networks solutions designed specifically to drive operational efficiency, sustainability and brand loyalty for the hospitality industry.

The turn-key suite builds on RUCKUS Networks’ worldwide leadership in hotel Wi-Fi®—offering solutions that work in harmony to deliver personalized and elevated guest experiences across hospitality brands and locations. It features the latest AI-driven Wi-Fi 7 solutions for providing the latest high-performance services, and simplifies technology deployment at scale, using AI-driven cloud-based management and assurance to drive operational efficiency across owners, service providers, integrators, and IT managers at properties.

“Loews Hotels is a family-owned brand of 26 luxury hotels and resorts that’s obsessed with delivering the most amazing experience to every guest,” stated Clayton Melson, Senior Communications Manager, Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando. “We’re continuously optimizing our network using recommendations made by RUCKUS AI. We’ve deployed AI-driven RUCKUS wired and Wi-Fi solutions throughout our properties to tailor each guest's connectivity experience to perfection. With RUCKUS AI, we’ve significantly improved our IT efficiency by reducing mean time to identification (MTTI) by 80% and mean time to resolution (MTTR) by 70%. From proactive network management to personalized bandwidth allocation, our AI-driven approach ensures that every guest is delighted."

The suite delivers the purpose-built features that are specific to the hospitality industry and tailored to the needs of the various hospitality stakeholders including:

• Identity-based differentiated experiences: Depending on their loyalty level as per the property management system (PMS), a guest could be offered certain rewards or benefits without any extra charge, i.e., premium Wi-Fi connectivity for specified status or higher-level guests.
• Brand Compliance RUCKUS One™ Hospitality Edition provides a suite of features that deliver 360-degree brand report cards covering brand specific policy compliance, network health and guest experience.
• Industry-aligned License Management: Ownership and on-going management of licenses as it relates to the industry. Licenses are owned by property/ownership groups. Licenses are handled accordingly when property/ownership group change brand and/or LSP/Integrators.

“We are proud that our customer complaints around Wi-Fi disruptions have reduced by 90% since relying on RUCKUS AI. Praise and formal surveys indicate an overall increase in guest satisfaction around excellent Wi-Fi connectivity across our entire property throughout guests' stays,” noted Miguel Fonseca, IT Systems Manager, Royal Garden Hotel. He further added, “With RUCKUS AI, approximate calculation suggests that our cost to handle an incident has reduced by 75%. RUCKUS AI offers us recommendations to continuously optimize our network, something we used to do on an ad-hoc basis. RUCKUS AI has truly enabled us to deliver a ROYAL experience.”

Joseph Martin, Vice President, Product Management for Single Digits Inc., commented, "RUCKUS Solutions have empowered us to provide innovative services that delight hotel guests and enhance their brand loyalty. The hospitality-focused RUCKUS AI platform has given us detailed visibility, with a primary goal of ensuring amazing guest experiences across all managed properties while also streamlining our operations. In numerous instances, RUCKUS’s AI technology has enabled us to proactively address issues, eliminating the necessity for helpdesk tickets."

The RUCKUS Networks hospitality suite features the following solutions:

• RUCKUS One Hospitality Edition: AI-driven, Converged Network Assurance and Business Intelligence platform tailored to the hospitality industry that helps to drive global brand standards and increase brand loyalty. For example, when guests are greeted with a room set to their portfolio preferences, it results in increased brand loyalty.
• RUCKUS® Wi-Fi 7 Solutions: including the high-performance R770 Access Point and the new R670 Access Point—RUCKUS’ first AI driven Wi-Fi 7 AP for mainstream deployments.
• RUCKUS AI™: delivering robust service assurance for IT and business intelligence to hospitality organizations.
• Hospitality Gateway by RUCKUS Networks: WAN gateway enabling simple and affordable deployment of a unified hospitality services solution—delivering features that maximize revenue, increase guest loyalty, provide actionable user information, and improve property-wide employee efficiency.
• RUCKUS IoT Suite: empowering the hospitality industry to deliver exceptional guest experiences, improve operational efficiency, enhance staff productivity, safety and security and thus remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

“The RUCKUS suite of hospitality solutions is purpose driven to meet two of the biggest needs in the hospitality industry: improving brand loyalty and operational efficiency,” stated Bart Giordano, SVP and president, Networking, Intelligent Cellular & Security Solutions, CommScope. “We’ve leveraged AI, Wi-Fi 7, and our proven cloud-native network management and assurance solutions to make it easier than ever to deliver amazing guest experiences; scale that experience across services, brands, and locations; and create new efficiencies that span the entire value delivery chain. In other words, it’s never been easier or more cost-effective to deliver and maintain the best digital hospitality experiences.”

For more information on the RUCKUS Networks suite of solutions for hospitality, please visit the RUCKUS Networks website.

CommScope and the CommScope logo are registered trademarks of CommScope and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. For additional trademark information see https://www.commscope.com/trademarks. Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 7 are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions is announcing the acquisition of Axxess Industries Inc., a renowned innovator of electronics and smart technologies engineered for the needs of hotel and residential environments. Axxess’ solutions will be offered alongside the offerings of Vingcard, the main brand for ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions’ business area Hospitality, promoting wider access to the latest in enhanced security, guest convenience and cost-saving efficiency.

“Axxess Industries is a welcome addition to our global team and further complements our commitment of serving as an end-to-end technology provider. In addition, it also complements our portfolio to become a true full solutions provider. We look forward to passing on the enhanced value that this latest acquisition represents and as hospitality-based businesses seek out more ways to differentiate themselves with exceptional experiences”, says Stephanie Ordan, Executive Vice President, and Head of ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions.

Launched in 2000, Axxess Industries has grown to become recognized as a leading developer of guestroom controls and other smart technology-based solutions. Their solutions are designed to streamline property operations, while ensuring high-quality services that cater to modern consumer preferences and expectations. Current offerings designed for hotel business include electronic do-not-disturb systems, doorbells, touch keypads, lighting controls, motion sensors and minibar sensors, as well as smart thermostats and drape and blind controls.

“Axxess Industries provides a wide range of IoT-driven solutions which are becoming essential to managing a successful hotel, especially as what counts as a satisfying experience is being increasingly influenced by the ability to deliver faster, more accessible, and personalized service. We are very pleased to welcome the Axxess team as the newest members of the ASSA ABLOY and Vingcard families and look forward to providing a competitive edge to our customers”, says Li Wang, Senior Vice President and Head of Hospitality.

“We are honored to join ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions and Vingcard. Our team is committed to the same goals of enhancing the guest experience and hotel management systems. We look forward to combining our proven track record of success in order to develop new smart technology-based solutions that push the limits on what today’s hoteliers can achieve. Furthermore, we are committed to continue the vison and work of CEO Joerg Wagner after his retirement in a few years, as part of Vingcard and the ASSA ABLOY family”, says Toni Adrian, Head of Operations at Axxess Industries.

Cvent, a meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider, in partnership with Maestro PMS, has announced an integration between Cvent’s room block management system, Cvent Passkey, and Maestro’s leading all-in-one Property Management System solution. The integration combines Cvent’s room block management tools with Maestro’s suite of solutions that hotel operators leverage daily to manage more efficient and profitable operations. Together these technologies are empowering hoteliers with real-time room block data to make accurate inventory and pricing decisions while driving engagement with planners and attendees via direct room booking and upgrade options. Cvent is powering Maestro PMS’s Accelerate 2024 conference, April 15-18, and the integration will be featured at the event.

For hoteliers, the integration addresses key challenges by automating otherwise time-consuming tasks, such as room list management, and maximizing pickup and RevPAR from group guests. In addition, given Cvent Passkey’s robust built-in security functionality, hotels, event professionals and attendees that leverage the integration have added peace of mind knowing that their information is shared and managed in a secure environment. 

For event planners, the Maestro PMS and Cvent integration interface offers a self-serve planner portal enabling them to take control of their rooming lists and drive pickup. Attendees also benefit from direct access to room upgrades or additional amenities to further enhance and customize their stay. 

The integration has attracted prominent hotels and resorts across the United States, and initial results show its positive impact on streamlining the group booking process, enhancing data security, boosting hotel revenue, and optimizing the event management experience.

“This integration illustrates our continued dedication to supporting hoteliers, event organizers and attendees by broadening our platform functionality and leveraging the systems they are already familiar with,” said Janine Alsalam, Cvent Vice President of Sales. “We’ve spent decades supporting the entire meetings and events ecosystem with our technology, so we understand the critical value of creating exceptional guest experiences while driving results. By combining Cvent Passkey's offerings with Maestro's robust PMS, hoteliers benefit from deeper group insights, while elevating the planner and attendee experience with the direct booking options they need to personalize their stay.”

Maestro President Warren Dehan had this to say: “We’re extremely proud to add Cvent Passkey – an industry-leading room block management system – to the list of third-party solutions currently supported by Maestro PMS. The integration is helping our hotel customers gain a competitive edge, and together, we’re setting a new industry standard for the group bookings process.”

Hospitality management platform Cloudbeds has observed a moderate (1%) uptick in medium-term stays globally in 2023, accompanied by a slight decline of 2% in short stays.

The findings come from Cloudbeds’ 2024 ‘State of Independent Lodging Report’, which suggests the surge in three to four-night stays may be an indication of the rising popularity of “bleisure” or blended travel, as more travelers take advantage of the flexibility of remote work to extend their stays.

The technology provider says the return of international tourism could also play a role in the shift towards longer stays, as inbound tourists tend to stay longer and spend as much as 90% more than domestic travelers.

Adam Harris, co-founder and CEO of Cloudbeds, said: “Longer stays are a boon for hoteliers. When guests stay longer, they’re more likely to spend on additional experiences and services. By increasing revenue per guest, boosting occupancy rate, and reducing room turnover costs, hoteliers benefit. But this isn’t just about the bottom line. When travelers stay longer, they foster deeper relationships with the staff and have a better guest experience because of it, contributing to the hotel's long-term success.”

Overall, the data reveals average length of stay patterns in 2023 showed relative consistency with previous years. Almost three-quarters of bookings at independent hotels were for stays of one to four nights, with 43% of booked room nights being one or two- night stays and 30% being three or four nights.

Cloudbeds’ findings are grounded in data from a sample of 10,000+ independent properties, encompassing boutique hotels and guest houses, B&Bs, and hotel groups in over 100 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, and the APAC region. For comprehensive global insights into the independent lodging landscape in 2024, download a free copy of Cloudbeds’ annual ‘State of Independent Lodging Report’ at https://www.cloudbeds.com/hospitality-industry-report.