Steak n Shake will offer PopID Check In and PopPay on its self-ordering kiosks in select locations in the Orlando market, with plans to expand to more than 300 corporate locations. PopID Check In is an opt-in service that enables consumers to scan their face to automatically sign into their loyalty reward account and see their past orders, making the ordering process as convenient as possible. When a guest checks in with PopID, they also have the option to use PopPay to automatically complete their payment.

• 57% of respondents say enabling new payment options is a  top business driver impacting POS upgrade decisions, according to HT’s2 2023 POS Software Trends Report.

“Our partnership with PopID is a key part of our effort to provide guests with a fast and seamless ordering experience," said Keith Correia, Chief Information Officer. "When using PopID Check In, a guest does not need to use their phone or take out their wallet as part of the ordering process. They will automatically be checked in for loyalty rewards, and they can choose to make an automated payment with PopPay. A guest can even see their past orders and quickly reorder their favorite menu items. Ordering at Steak n Shake has never been easier or more convenient.”

In addition to enhancing the guest experience and improving order throughput, PopPay helps to reduce fraud and offers lower payment processing fees.

For electric vehicle owners in British Columbia, Tim Hortons is now fueling road trips in more ways than one.  The company has announced the expansion of its electric vehicle charging station pilot launched earlier this year in Oakville, Ontario, by unveiling six new charging stations at restaurants throughout  British Columbia.

Tim Hortons announced the pilot in February in an effort to study the technology, its usage and opportunities.

"We have been thrilled with the results of the pilot so far.  Usage of the charging station in Oakville has surpassed our expectations and we received many calls with requests to expand the pilot," said Paulo Ferreira, Senior Director, International Strategic Restaurant Design and Building Standards, Tim Hortons. "With more than 3,300 eligible restaurants across the country, we continue to look for opportunities to expand the pilot and contribute to the EV infrastructure."

The BC expansion, supported by the Province of BC's Community Charging Infrastructure Fund and Koben Systems Inc. (KSI), placed charging stations strategically in Nanaimo, Langford, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Abbotsford and Coquitlam to create paths within the province, allowing guests to travel from restaurant to restaurant strictly on electric power.

Tim Hortons offers charging stations as a courtesy to guests at six locations.  As of March 31st, 2013, Tim Hortons had 4,288 system-wide restaurants, including 3,453 in Canada, 808 in the United States and 27 in the Gulf Cooperation Council. 

Cloud5 Communications and Positron Access Solutions, have partnered together to address the connectivity and cabling challenges experienced by many hospitality companies and MDUs as they seek to modernize their networks and meet the expectations of today’s guests and residents.

Traditionally, upgrading legacy network infrastructure requires a comprehensive recabling of the property to enable high speed Internet services. Such work is often completed during a property renovation. For properties that need to improve their networks but have no renovations on the horizon, and don’t want to invest in costly and disruptive re-cabling, Positron’s solutions, combined with Cloud5’s network expertise, can bridge the gap.

• Missed HITEC?  Check out HT's HITEC Toronto content hub

Through this partnership, Cloud5 can now offer clients with existing coaxial or twisted pair cabling the ability to provide high speed broadband without rewiring. Positron’s G.hn GAM extends Gigabit services to guest rooms or apartments over the existing coaxial cables or copper pairs – allowing properties to provide top-notch network connectivity and high-speed WIFI and/or IPTV services to guests and residents while saving substantial time, cost, and disruption to their operations. 

Through this collaboration, Cloud5 will integrate Positron’s GAM solutions into its suite of offerings, and support clients as they fold these solutions into their network operations - offering best practices, consultative know how and installation expertise via its skilled, five-star rated HSIA install teams. 

For more information about Cloud5 and its leading-edge communications and technology offerings, visit www.cloud5.com. To learn more about Positron and its ground-breaking connectivity technology, visit www.positronaccess.com.

During the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC)  Agilysys, Inc.  will feature the opportunities and challenges properties face and will demonstrate how next-era technology can help properties improve both guest and staff experience.
Agilysys will be in booth 1401 and also will present and demonstrate these solutions in booth 1039 at the upcoming American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AHLA’s) The Hospitality Show in Las Vegas. Agilysys also will be releasing an eBook that addresses the six key moments in which it is essential for properties to join people and technology to elevate experiences. These are booking, check-in, service requesting and delivery, food and beverage interactions, checkout and departure, and post-experience follow-up. 

During HITEC Toronto, Thor Hansen, senior director of Sales Engineering at Agilysys, will present a session on solution strategies that deliver High Return Hospitality. This session will examine the different solutions available to properties today as they seek to elevate service to hospitality through personalized, memorable experiences beyond those dictated by typical service protocols.  Hansen’s session takes place from 12:45-1:15 p.m. June 28 on Stage B of the Exhibit Hall at booth 2600.

To learn more about Agilisys or to see a demonstration of its latest innovative technology, visit booth #1401 during  HITEC. 

Download the eBook, “Joining People and Technology to Elevate Return on Experience (ROE) in Hospitality: 6 Key Moments to Get Right” here.

InnSpire announced a strategic partnership with Positron Access Solutions, a  provider of carrier-grade telecommunications systems for the hospitality sector and other markets. Positron’s advanced converged Gigabit Ethernet solution increases both the bandwidth and the distance at which it can be delivered to guestrooms, even within remote campus-style properties, over the existing legacy coaxial cabling infrastructure or copper pairs for easy repurposing of the existing facilities.

The new partnership between InnSpire and Positron Access provides hoteliers with the high-speed connectivity needed to support InnSpire’s award-winning guestroom IPTV solutions and other hotel applications, as well as reliable guest high speed Wi-Fi and internet-based services. Positron’s G.hn Access Multiplexer (GAM) technology delivers gigabit bandwidth over the existing coaxial infrastructure directly to the back of the TV in each guestroom with no amplifiers. A single connection at this optimal location is convenient and makes it possible for hoteliers to optimize the functionality of InnSpire’s guestroom entertainment solutions and to provide extremely fast Internet and other guest services. The combined InnSpire/Positron solution delivers greatly increased Internet speeds at a fraction of the time and cost of a fiber retrofit with no construction disruption or downtime to the hotel or guest rooms during installation.

InnSpire’s  digital solutions work collaboratively to allow for guest control over their entire travel experience, from guestroom access to temperature and lighting. The company’s full-featured Guest Journey App, its InnCable and InnSmart in-room TV solutions, iOT-based room controls and the innovative “F&B Anywhere” solution all work in concert via the property’s Wi-Fi network to provide travelers and hotel operators with seamless and highly personalized command over the guest experience. 

Both InnSpire and Positron will be exhibiting their solutions at HITEC 2023 in Toronto. InnSpire is located in Booth   2019, with Positron showcasing its GAM technology in Booth  323.

From HITEC booth  1924, Hotel Internet Services (HIS) representatives will provide this year’s attendees with updated insight into the latest technologies proving to be essential in meeting guest expectations for seamless online connectivity and a more personalized, convenient and safe hotel stay experience.

As Wi-Fi network performance becomes ever more influential over guest satisfaction scores and the overall quality of service received, HIS with its decades of dedicated hotel industry expertise will notably demonstrate how properties can keep pace with the endless number of devices and systems vying for an online connection. With access to the latest advances in network software and hardware including state-of-the-art Ruckus access point technology, HIS booth representatives will showcase how modern hotel businesses can consistently maintain fast speeds and strong WiFi signal quality across the breadth of their premises. HIS will further offer high-value insight into how properties can maintain scalable networks that can adapt as online needs fluctuate- ensuring reliable fast speeds regardless of the number of devices simultaneously seeking an online connection.

As a provider of advanced internet network technology, the HIS booth will also feature details on the Ruckus IoT Suite. As more hoteliers aim to adopt IoT-driven business strategies, HITEC attendees visiting the HIS booth can discover a more streamlined and less complicated method for managing the online connectivity of their various smart devices and systems. An alternative to the presence of multiple and often conflicting wireless networks, the Ruckus IoT Suite seamlessly ensures high-speed and reliable communication for each IoT-based solution, including smart lights, sensors, thermostats and much more. By serving as a single network for a hotel’s various IoT needs, the Ruckus IoT Suite also drastically reduces costs associated with deployment and maintenance.

Attendees visiting the HIS booth will additionally have the ability to view live demonstrations of the provider’s GuestCast solution, an advanced content casting platform designed for use within hotel environments and recently named best in-room entertainment solution of the year by the TravelTech Breakthrough Awards. Engineered with ease-of-use in mind, even for first-time users or those unfamiliar with streaming technology, GuestCast sidesteps complicated device-pairing processes and instead allows guests to connect personal devices to guestroom TVs as easily as scanning a QR code. With instant compatibility with 1,000’s of mobile streaming apps, GuestCast ensures that each guest can take full control over their in-room entertainment experience regardless of what their individual interests and preferences may be. GuestCast further includes a high-value Analytics Dashboard that can provide real-time insight into device usage and performance, and that can even monitor WiFi service quality for each room where a GuestCast device has been deployed.

As a comprehensive provider of hotel-based solutions, the HIS booth will also feature details on a wide range of additional company offerings, including 24/7 support & maintenance, cable and satellite TV channel packages, cabling services and cutting edge security camera equipment.