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News Briefs

  • 11/1/2024

    The Access Group to Acquire Paytronix

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    The United Kingdom-based Access Group has entered an agreement to acquire Paytronix, a provider in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, from Boston-based Great Hill Partners. 

    Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

    This investment represents one of Access Group’s most significant acquisitions in its 30-plus-year history and is a major step forward for the Group as it continues to focus on its product offering in the United States. Access Group, known as a provider of business management software to mid-market organisations in Europe, the US and Asia Pacific, hopes to add further support to the Paytronix team, helping to accelerate its growth and expand the footprint, bringing high-quality products and a digital guest engagement platform to more clients worldwide, helping them to excel in meeting ever-evolving customer demands. 

    Guest Engagement Platform

    Currently, the full Paytronix guest engagement platform includes numerous capabilities for online ordering, loyalty, omnichannel messaging, branded mobile apps, gift cards, third-party marketplace management, and payments. Leveraging data from transactions and personalized customer accounts, Paytronix creates targeted marketing campaigns that motivate increased interaction and spending throughout the customer journey. Paytronix will retain its name and plans to integrate its platform with a selection of Access products; the enhanced comprehensive suite of products and services will further improve the guest experience. 

    Founded in 2001 by executive chairman Andrew Robbins, Paytronix is based in Newton, Mass. Its platform is deployed in over 50,000 sites across 1,800 brands and has processed more than 40bn consumer transactions. It boasts over 500 partnerships including many of the biggest names in the restaurant and convenience space, such as Google and Apple Pay, Toast, Square, DoorDash, UberEats, and many more. Their customers range from single operators to successful regional chains and large multi-unit enterprises like Panera, Qdoba, Nando’s and Five Guys. 

    Paytronix was purchased by Boston-based Great Hill Partners in 2017, and they have been a valued accelerator of the company’s rapid growth. “We’ve had the privilege of working alongside Great Hill Partners to deliver our solutions and services to the innovative restaurant and convenience store brands that we proudly call clients,” said Paytronix CEO, Jeff Hindman. “The acquisition by The Access Group is the beginning of another stage in our growth, and I’m excited to say that from here we’re only going to build upon the service and capabilities that our clients know us for.  

    “Joining a global force such as Access will further broaden the software solutions available to our current and future client base, enhancing the value we can offer and helping to solve everyday business challenges.” 

    “Since our founding, we’ve worked to help clients build one-to-one interactions, enhance customer engagement and streamline operations for their businesses. Billions of transactions and millions of data-driven guest profiles later we realize our vision every time an AI-enhanced campaign is sent, which is nearly once every minute,” continued Hindman. “Joining a global force such as Access will further broaden the software solutions available to our current and future client base, enhancing the value we can offer and helping to solve everyday business challenges.” 

    “We are incredibly proud of the progress and achievements made by Paytronix during our partnership. Over the past seven years, Paytronix has demonstrated remarkable growth and innovation, solidifying its position as a leader in guest engagements,” said Nick Cayer, Managing Director at Great Hill Partners. “We are confident that Paytronix will be well positioned under the Access umbrella, and we wish Jeff and the entire team success moving forward.” 

    The Access Group has extensive experience in delivering world-class technology solutions to the hospitality sector across the UK, Europe and APAC with a suite of products covering front-of-house and operations, including the ResDiary online reservations management system, Wireless Social guest wi-fi and QikServe digital order and pay capabilities. The company’s leading software solutions also cover HR, payroll, learning, staff scheduling, procurement, EPoS, property management and accounting. 

  • 11/3/2024

    Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery Launch Co-Branded App and Loyalty Program

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    FAT Brands Inc., parent company of Great American Cookies, Marble Slab Creamery and 16 other restaurant concepts, announces the launch of a brand new app experience and loyalty program for sister brands Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery – the Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery Rewards App.

     
    The Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery Rewards app creates an engaging digital journey to earn points and rewards for fan-favorite treats from the chains, all in one place. From birthday rewards to discounts for point redemption and more, the app is full of sweet surprises for users. The new launch comes on the heels of Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery’s co-branded online experience debut, further underscoring the commitment of the brands in providing a seamless, integrated experience for its fans.
     

     

     
    “Enhancing the digital journey for our loyal Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery fans continues to be a key objective as the co-branded concept continues to grow its footprint,” said Lisa Cheatham, Vice President of Marketing Revenue Channels at FAT Brands. “The new app and loyalty program streamlines ordering and rewards so you can experience the sweetness from both brands in one for the ultimate customer journey.”
     
    Users of past loyalty programs will be able to migrate existing rewards points to the new app. 
  • 11/3/2024

    QSR Automations Announces Investment from Battery Ventures, New CEO

    QSR Automations logo

    QSR Automations,announced a strategic, majority growth investment from Battery Ventures, a global, technology-focused investment firm. This investment represents a pivotal moment in QSR Automations’ history, positioning the company for accelerated growth, enhanced innovation, and expanded market reach.

    Founded in 1996, QSR Automations has been at the forefront of developing innovative technology solutions for the restaurant industry, including kitchen display systems (KDS), guest management software, table management, and digital recipe solutions. With nearly three decades of experience, the company has built a reputation for improving operational efficiency, enhancing guest experiences, and driving profitability for restaurant operators worldwide. The company’s ConnectSmart technology is currently used in 21 of the nation’s 25 largest casual-dining chains including The Cheesecake Factory and Brinker International.

    A New CEO

    Alongside the new investment, QSR Automations announced that Battery Executive-in-Residence Robbie Payne, a longtime software-industry executive, will become the company’s new CEO. Angela Leet, who has served as CEO of the company since 2021, will remain involved with the company as a board member.

    “I have been so impressed with the business Angela and her team have built at QSR Automations, and the traction the company has gotten inside large restaurant accounts,” said Payne, who previously ran Battery-backed, smart-manufacturing solutions company CAMBRIO, which was acquired by Sweden’s Sandvik AB three years ago. “We are excited about working with the team to help take QSR Automations to the next level and scaling the business through this next growth phase.”

    Leet said,“It’s been such an honor to lead this company. But now, my team and I are incredibly excited for QSR Automations’ next chapter. Partnering with Battery allows us to re-focus on our product development efforts, expand our market reach, and continue delivering exceptional value to our customers. This acquisition provides the resources and expertise we need to innovate even faster and meet the evolving needs of the restaurant industry.”

    A Winning Record

    Battery Ventures has a long history of backing and scaling business-focused software companies,including those in the hospitality technology space. In restaurant tech, Battery has backed Olo, Crunchtime, and Vita Mojo.

    “QSR Automations has built an impressive platform that we feel provides a critical service to restaurant operators worldwide,” said Battery General Partner Morad Elhafed. “We see a unique opportunity to build on their success and are thrilled to partner with such an innovative team to help drive the next phase of growth.” Elhafed will join the company’s board, along with his Battery colleagues Satoshi Harris-Koizumi and Becca Jones.

    The Battery growth investment is designed to accelerate QSR Automations’ ability to deliver cutting-edge technology solutions that help restaurant operators streamline their operations, improve guest satisfaction, and optimize their workflows. The company will continue to operate under its existing brand, with no immediate changes to its day-to-day operations.

  • 11/4/2024

    Hudini and Orascom Hotels Management Begin Global Rollout of New Staff Connect Platform

    logo, hudini

    Smart hospitality solutions provider, Hudini, has entered into an agreement with Orascom Hotels Management for the rollout of their new digital platform, Staff Connect, across Orascom’s portfolio of hotels globally.

    Orascom Hotels Management has chosen the Staff Connect platform by Hudini to create exceptional guest arrival experiences with tailored personal interaction. Orascom’s vision is to transform the arrival experience by completely removing the front desk. Upon arrival, the guests are welcomed and escorted to their rooms by an Experience Ambassador who is assigned to the guests for the entire stay. With the Staff Connect platform, check-in formalities are completed seamlessly in less than a minute in the comfort of the guests’ room.

    Staff Connect has already been successfully implemented across 15 properties within the Orascom portfolio. These properties include Casa Cook, Steigenberger, Club Paradisio, The Chedi and Cooks Club, Mosaique, all of which are located in El Gouna, Egypt.

    Staff Connect is a seamless digital platform designed to streamline operations and staff communication, instantly making information accessible to all hotel departments from front desk to housekeeping. Seamlessly integrated with a hotel’s backend systems, the platform can be accessed on various portable devices, ensuring staff have real-time information at their fingertips. With Staff Connect, hotel staff can easily access guest profiles and preferences, leveraging AI-powered insights to deliver personalised promotions, experience recommendations, and curated amenities. Not only does this boost upsell opportunities, but it also creates truly bespoke stays for every guest.

    Sanjay Sharma, Chief Technology Officer of Orascom Hotels Management, commented [with Hudini] “the switch to personalised arrival experiences has turned out to be immensely successful with guest feedback such as “stunning” and “out of this world”. In addition, we have attained an unprecedented operational efficiency which resulted in creatively destroying 30 processes across different business units. We have achieved up to 99% time saving in some of the re-engineered processes and significant time savings in in completing processes which free our colleagues to focus more on our valued guests.”

    “We are delighted to have been chosen by Orascom Hotels Management to support their hotels around the world in elevating their guest experience with unique check-ins. Staff Connect has proven to not only differentiate the guest journey, but also effectively streamline hotel operations and internal communication”, said Prince Thampi, CEO and founder of Hudini.

  • 11/4/2024

    Sojern and Cloudbeds Announce New Integration

    sojern logo

    Sojern, a digital marketing platform built for travel, and Cloudbeds, a hospitality management software platform, have today announced a new partnership to bring two leaders together within the hotel technology space, just ahead of the World Travel Market in London.

    This strategic partnership means that Sojern’s built-for-travel digital marketing and guest experience solutions are fully integrated with Cloudbeds’ system and deliver industry-leading accuracy and tracking capabilities. Sojern’s commission-based travel advertising helps hoteliers increase direct bookings while only paying after the guest’s stay is complete.

    Additionally, Sojern’s multi-property capable guest experience tools, tailored and adjusted to the powerful features of both platforms, deliver enhanced customer segmentation and marketing capabilities, driving loyalty and return business.

    “At Sojern, we’re always looking to deepen our partner ecosystem to bring new and innovative tools to our clients around the world,” said Baskar Manivannan, VP of Guest Engagement Platform at Sojern. “We’ve built the most robust digital marketing and guest experience solutions specifically for the travel industry, so it was only natural that we would partner with Cloudbeds to give our customers access to their industry-leading property management system.”

    “Cloudbeds and Sojern have joined forces to solve some of the biggest challenges facing hoteliers today,” said Sebastien Leitner, VP of Partnerships at Cloudbeds. “Together, we’re offering a seamless solution that integrates flexible, demand-driven advertising across digital, social, and direct booking channels, powered by Cloudbeds’ Booking Engine and Sojern’s end-to-end tracking for superior accuracy. Our collaboration also delivers multi-property guest experience tools tailored to both platforms, allowing hotels to refine customer segmentation and boost loyalty through personalized marketing. This partnership is designed to streamline operations and drive meaningful guest engagement at every step of the journey.”

    For more information about the partnership, click here.

  • 11/4/2024

    Sabre Hospitality Unveils SynXis Insights: A Game-Changing Data and Analytics Tool for Hoteliers

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    Sabre Hospitality, a division of Sabre Corporation, a software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, announced the launch of SynXis Insights, an advanced data and analytics tool designed to empower hoteliers with actionable insights to drive decision-making and optimize performance.

    SynXis Insights simplifies decision-making by providing a holistic view of SynXis reservation data with ready-made visualizations and daily data updates. This modern approach gives property and chain-level administrators access to performance metrics, significantly reduces manual effort, and eliminates the need for individual hotels to rely on central chains to share this information. By putting data directly in the hands of hoteliers, SynXis Insights enables faster, more informed decision-making and the implementation of data-driven, revenue-generating strategies.

    “The launch of SynXis Insights marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing our customers with better reporting and data,” said Scott Wilson, President of Sabre Hospitality. “We are enabling our customers to make informed decisions that drive revenue and improve overall business performance.”

    SynXis Insights offers more than 15 filtering options, allowing users to compare data across previous years and focus on specific metrics such as bookings, room nights, revenue, or average daily rate (ADR). This flexibility ensures that hoteliers can tailor their analyses to meet their unique needs and objectives.

    “SynXis Insights provides HotelREZ with easy-to-interpret data, helping us drive informed decision-making, enhancing our operational efficiency and customer understanding,” said Jennifer Morgan, Director of Account Management, HotelREZ. “It is a welcome addition to our offering as we need information presented in a clear, concise way which we can easily digest and use for our strategic planning.”

    SynXis Insights, developed as part of Sabre’s strategic innovation partnership with Google, utilizes Google Cloud’s powerful data and analytics tools to provide visualizations of historical and forward-looking customer production from the SynXis platform. The tool integrates reservation data from SynXis Booking Engine, SynXis Voice Agent, Global Distribution System (GDS), and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) via Channel Connect, offering six detailed dashboards: Channel Performance, Lead Time Insights, Performance Overview, Rate/Room Performance, Time of Booking Insights, and Travel Agent Performance.

    “We have invested significant time and resources into developing SynXis Insights in direct response to our customers’ needs,” said Hannah Garcia, Director of Product Management at Sabre Hospitality. “Through extensive user interviews and rapid concept development, we created a tool that provides great insights while also providing the security, stability, and scalability our customers expect. Our early adopter group, which includes renowned brands like HotelREZ, Hard Rock Hotels, and COHO Res, has provided invaluable feedback, ensuring that SynXis Insights is a robust and effective solution for the hospitality industry.”

    As part of Sabre’s vision for 2025 and beyond, SynXis Insights will add reporting for customers who use Sabre’s GDS Media and Digital Marketing services, as well as enhanced reporting for SynXis Booking Engine. Further in the future, there are plans to integrate additional data sources and advanced analytic capabilities. This ongoing development underscores Sabre’s dedication to driving innovation and excellence in the hospitality industry. By providing comprehensive data analytics and reporting tools, Sabre enables its customers to discover trends in business performance, optimize their distribution strategies, and boost revenue.

    For more information about SynXis Insights and how it can transform your hotel operations, please visit the SynXis Insights page on our website.

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