News Briefs
- 1/29/2025
PAR Technology Launches PAR OPS for Smarter Restaurant Operations
With the launch of PAR OPS, PAR Technology Corp. connects the proven back-office capabilities of PAR Data Central and Delaget’s advanced analytics and loss prevention expertise. Designed for multi-unit operators, franchisees and enterprise brands, PAR OPS equips operators with a solution to streamline operations, cut costs and recover margins lost to delivery channels.
Trusted by over 38,000 locations and 200+ brands, PAR OPS stands for more than just operations:
- Optimizing [O]perations: Turn operational data into actionable insights with predictive analytics, real-time alerts, and expert support, reducing manual effort and improving decision-making.
- Driving [P]rofitability: Control key costs – including food, labor, and third-party delivery, while uncovering new opportunities to safeguard and optimize margins.
- Delivering [S]olutions: Select from our powerful suite of modules including Food & Inventory Management, Labor Management & Scheduling, Enterprise Reporting & Analytics, and Loss Detection & Recovery.
“The restaurant industry doesn’t stand still, and neither should the tools operators rely on,” said Savneet Singh, CEO of PAR. “We didn’t just want to create another tool; we wanted to deliver a solution that simplifies complexity and gives operators the confidence to focus on what truly matters—serving their guests. While the industry has invested heavily in the front of house, we’re doubling down on the back of house so that as the consumer journey continues to transform, the restaurant can change just as dynamically.”
Redefining the Future of Restaurant Operations
Building on the strong foundation of PAR Data Central and enhanced by the industry-leading analytics expertise of Delaget, PAR OPS has expanded offerings to tackle the most pressing industry challenges. These new features, coming in 2025, will empower operators with:
- Delivery Data Insights: Track delivery data, automatically mitigate losses, and analyze third-party delivery performance with enhanced tools to facilitate loss prevention and operational transparency.
- AI-Driven Forecasting and Chatbot Support: Use AI to predict sales, optimize labor, and get real-time support with an AI-powered chatbot for daily challenges.
- Enhanced Reporting for Franchisees: Access customizable reports with multi-location insights, loss prevention tools, and actionable recommendations.
- Multi-Language Functionality and Support: Enable seamless collaboration across teams with support for multiple languages.
“Every restaurant operator knows that margins are tight, and delivery often makes them even tighter,” said Jason Tober, General Manager of PAR OPS. “With PAR OPS, we’re equipping franchisees and operators with the tools to dive deeper into their data, identify where margins are slipping, and take actionable steps to recover them. By integrating delivery data alongside food and labor costs, operators can make smarter, data-driven decisions to not only stay competitive but drive profitability.”
For all long-time PAR Data Central and Delaget customers, as well as newcomers to the PAR family, the transition to PAR OPS is seamless. With uninterrupted service, expert guidance, and dedicated support, operators can adopt the solution confidently and efficiently.
PAR OPS reflects PAR’s commitment to delivering purpose-built solutions that evolve with the restaurant industry’s changing needs. By simplifying operations, it empowers operators to achieve consistency, efficiency, and stronger results —allowing them to streamline their efforts and maximize their potential.
- 1/21/2025
Wonder Franchises Buys Pizza Factory
Tucker’s Farm Corp. has acquired Pizza Factory Inc., a restaurant franchisor. The acquisition was completed via the Farm’s franchisor platform Wonder Franchises. Founded in 1979 by Danny Wheeler and Ron Willey, Pizza Factory has approximately $94 million in system sales across 84 franchisees and 110 restaurants. Since 2012, the business has been led by owner and CEO, Mary Jane Riva, who will stay on as CEO moving forward.
In 2023, Tucker’s Farm launched Wonder, a franchise-focused holding vehicle, with $30 million of committed, long-term equity capital. Wonder is dedicated to partnering with and acquiring emerging to mid-size brands with the goal of long-term growth. Wonder’s priority is to be a great partner to sellers and a responsible steward for world-class brands and related assets.
“We’re extremely excited to be acquiring Pizza Factory and to be partnering with MJ to take Pizza Factory to the next level. We love the longevity and stability of the system, the passion that MJ and her team have for their franchisees, and the community-focused culture of the brand. We feel fortunate to be partnering with someone with as much character and knowledge as MJ and believe there’s a great fit both culturally and in terms of our respective skillsets. We’re excited to have the deal closed so we can now focus on driving value for our franchisees,” said Adam Lewin, a partner on the private equity team at Tucker’s Farm and CEO of Wonder Franchises.
This is the third franchise transaction for Tucker’s Farm in recent months, after portfolio company VIO Med Spa, the nation’s med spa franchisor, was successfully sold to Freeman Spogli in September 2024, and Wonder acquired The Decor Group, the leading holiday decorating franchisor with 245 franchised territories and $75 million in system sales, in November 2024.
Riva received HT's Top Women in Restaurant Technology - Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
“I’ve been part of this system for more than 30 years and this company means the world to me. I chose Wonder because I really felt they were the partner that could help improve and grow the system but would do so in a way that took good care of the brand and the franchisees. The Wonder team is smart, young, and energetic – all things that I love – but the thing that really stood out compared to other groups was the way they asked so many questions. They didn’t come in with a ‘we know best’ mindset, they truly wanted to learn about Pizza Factory, understand what’s gotten us this far, and build on what we’re doing. The better I’ve gotten to know their team, the more confident I am that Wonder is the right partner and that the next chapter for Pizza Factory will be a great one.”
A community staple in 100-plus communities, Pizza Factory has stayed true to its roots with hardworking operators, family-friendly dining and high-quality products, offering fresh, hand-tossed pizza, pasta, wings, sandwiches, salads, beer, wine and more. With multiple restaurant designs, an Express model, and robust off-premise dining options including delivery and mobile ordering through a custom app, Pizza Factory is built to excel in the restaurant industry moving forward.
- 1/28/2025
AiDEN Automotive Teams Up with Mavi to Make In-Car Ordering a Reality
AiDEN Automotive, a leader in privacy-first connected vehicle technology, announces an exciting partnership with Mavi, the creators of the innovative Mavi OnMyWay Commerce platform. This collaboration will bring Mavi’s full-featured food and beverage shopping platform to a wide range of vehicles, enabling drivers and passengers to enjoy top-tier eCommerce experiences while on the go.
The automotive e-commerce market is experiencing significant growth, with projections indicating an increase from $100.14 billion in 2024 to $343.13 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.6% during the forecast period, according to Fortune Business Insights. This surge underscores the expanding role of digital commerce within the automotive sector.
On the Go Convenience
Mavi OnMyWay Commerce is designed to redefine convenience for travelers, empowering them to shop for food, beverages, and other essentials seamlessly from their vehicle's interface. By integrating AiDEN’s advanced connected car technology, Mavi can now scale its platform quickly and efficiently across diverse automotive ecosystems, ensuring a smooth and reliable experience for consumers.
Mavi was a finalist in Restaurant Technology Network's Start-Up Alley at MURTEC in 2024 and 2023.
“We’re thrilled to partner with AiDEN to expand the reach of Mavi OnMyWay Commerce,” said Cynthia Hollen, CEO, Mavi.io. Hollen was one of HT's Top Women in Restaurant Technology - Rising Star Award in 2023. “With AiDEN’s cutting-edge connected car solutions, we can bring our robust eCommerce platform to a broader audience, making in-car shopping more intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable than ever.”
The partnership leverages AiDEN’s expertise in vehicle connectivity and data integration, ensuring that Mavi’s OnMyWay Commerce platform operates seamlessly across a variety of vehicle brands and models. Together, the companies are poised to transform the connected car landscape, combining Mavi’s eCommerce expertise with AiDEN’s technology to deliver best-in-class shopping experiences to drivers and passengers worldwide.
“Integrating eCommerce into the connected car experience is the next frontier, and our partnership with Mavi marks a significant step in that direction,” said Niclas Gyllenram, CEO and Co-founder of AiDEN Automotive. “By uniting AiDEN’s advanced vehicle technology with Mavi’s leading commerce solutions, we’re setting a new standard for convenience and innovation in the automotive industry.”
The collaboration reflects both companies’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of what connected vehicles can offer. With the integration of Mavi OnMyWay Commerce, the future of in-car shopping promises to be faster, smarter, and more connected than ever before.
For more information about the partnership and its impact on connected vehicle commerce, visit aiden.ai or mavi.io.
- 1/29/2025
SHR Tackles Hotel ‘Cart Abandonment’ with Embedded Booking Engine
Hotel technology specialist SHR has launched the next generation of its booking engine, specifically designed to reduce booking abandonment by keeping guests fully immersed in a branded booking experience.Building on SHR’s existing booking engine, the new embedded booking engine continues to deliver SHR’s advanced personalization tools within the guest journey, but now with less friction, improved data collection and a consistent brand experience.Unlike traditional booking engines that redirect users to external sites, an embedded booking engine integrates directly with the operator’s own website. This reduces friction and delays at a critical point in the guest journey, where booking abandonment is most common. An earlier study found that bookings in the hotel and lodging industry are abandoned 78.3% of the time, with the problem most acute on mobiles where redirections are more obvious to users (85.6% vs 73.1% for desktop)1.An EBE creates a seamless branded journey for guests, keeping them fully immersed in the hotel's brand throughout their experience. By design, it ensures visual consistency and trust without requiring any extra effort from the hotel, ultimately creating a better user experience while generating more trust and higher conversions.SHR’s EBE delivers the full functionality of a powerful booking platform, but in a modern, user-friendly modal design. With features like multi-property search, real-time availability updates, and upselling options, hotels can showcase everything they have to offer and capture more revenue per guest.Voucher integration and promotional tools simplify running campaigns, while the platform’s flexible design caters to both independent properties and large hotel groups looking to present their entire portfolio.The announcement comes at a time when hotels are looking to execute a balanced booking strategy — reducing overreliance on online travel agencies (OTAs) while maintaining strong partnerships with them. Guests are also increasingly choosing to book directly, drawn by the personalized experiences and exclusive discounts often offered through hotel websites. With direct bookings projected to surpass OTA bookings by 20302, SHR’s Embedded Booking Engine equips hoteliers with the tools to embrace this trend and drive more bookings straight from their websites.Rodrigo Jimenez, CEO of SHR, said: “Guests today expect a booking experience that feels as seamless and straightforward as shopping online, with minimal effort and maximum convenience. At the same time, hotels are under increasing pressure to find solutions that drive conversions while supporting a balanced booking strategy, reducing over-reliance on OTAs without compromising these important partnerships and maintaining greater control over their revenue.“Our Embedded Booking Engine bridges this gap, giving hotels the ability to offer a smooth, feature-rich booking journey that meets the expectations of modern, one-click travelers. It’s not just about simplifying the booking process, it’s about empowering hotels to take ownership of their digital presence. By offering a booking experience that aligns with modern guest expectations, hotels can build trust, encourage repeat stays, and stand out in a crowded market.” - 1/28/2025
HTA Hires Joshua Beagrie as Consultant
Hospitality Technology Advisory has appointed Joshua Beagrie to the role of Consultant.
Beagrie will be working directly with partners to optimize hotel service, operations, and profitability through digital and IT transformations that elevate both guest and staff experiences.
He joins the company from Alliants, where he held the role of Senior Business Analyst for more than three years. Prior to that he was at Kognitiv Corporation, where he worked on the group’s distribution, loyalty programme and travel technology strategies.
Beagrie said: “Having been founded only last year, Hotel Technology Advisory is already a trusted partner to some of the most reputable hotel brands, and sits precisely in the sweet-spot of advisory as well as execution and solution implementation. I’m very excited to make tangible change and help hotels exceed in an ever changing business environment.
“Being a critical friend that you can trust is a principle of mine. I'll be working closely with our partners to deliver robust service delivery; enabling staff to deliver a better guest experience, and data insights that drive revenue opportunities and a stronger bottom line.”
Looking forward, Beagrie said: “Hotels are moving towards a cohesive technology stack that unifies guest and staff experiences, and new data insights for better profitability. With a drive towards tightening operational standards and a reduction in the burden of administration, we expect to see opportunities across the sector.”
Kevin Edwards, HTA CEO, said: “Having worked with Joshua before, I know the depth of his abilities in delivering operational improvements and creating better guest experiences.
“We look forward to drawing on his extensive experience in the sector, and to delivering our vision of driving better business performance through innovation and increased profitability.”
HTA was launched in early November by Edwards and Simon Kaye, hotel experts who have identified an opportunity to align technology more closely with properties' needs.
The company operates globally, across branded and unbranded properties.
- 1/28/2025
HotelREZ Helps Hotels Become Environmentally Sustainable With Greengage
HotelREZ, a hotel representation company, has teamed up with Greengage, sustainability solutions provider, to introduce ECOsmart certification - international certification to demonstrate venues’ commitment to sustainable practices and achievement of recognized standards - to its member properties.
The partnership enables hotels, accommodation and hospitality providers to prove their sustainability credentials and cater to the growing demand for sustainable accommodation, positioning HotelREZ at the forefront of the hospitality industry's environmental revolution.
Under the new partnership, ECOsmart certification will now be available for all HotelREZ properties, providing them with a certification platform to showcase their commitment to sustainability and consultancy support for next level improvements.
"HotelREZ is a trusted name in the industry, and their technology simplifies the certification process for hoteliers," said Andrew Perolls, CEO, Greengage Solutions. "Through this partnership, we can extend the ECOsmart framework to thousands of independent hotels across the UK and Europe, making sustainable hospitality more accessible than ever."
Since its inception in 2020, the ECOsmart certification has helped properties demonstrate their environmental commitments, with a growing number already within the HotelREZ network. The certification is available in Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels, awards are accompanied with transparent information on how the hotel qualifies including details such as carbon footprint per night and the availability of sustainable amenities like EV charging points.
"Bookings are increasingly driven by a demand for sustainable travel options," commented Daniel Simmons, CCO, HotelREZ. "This collaboration not only empowers our properties to meet these expectations but also aligns with our mission to support the planet and agencies requirements with their preferred global accommodation partners. Greengage's ECOsmart solution was the clear choice for helping hotels navigate and maximise opportunities in this sustainably focussed marketplace. This certification supports hotels to secure additional business by appealing to the sustainability needs of the consumer, agencies and corporate bookers – to meet the requirements of the corporate responsibility programmes leading to more inclusion and agency bookings and loyalty. Today - sustainability is a necessity, not a luxury."
The ECOsmart certification will be integrated into HotelREZ’s REZtoMarket content platform and the Cvent negotiated corporate solicitation tool, which has streamed the application process. Hotels’ sustainability credentials will also be prominently displayed on the GDS platforms, REZMedia image tool and HotelREZ's consumer site Best Loved Hotels.
The hotel's sustainability details will be clearly visible to potential guests and booking agents identifying specific criteria behind the certification such as a commitment to no single-use plastic, reduced laundry cleaning or recycling of water usage. This supports the increasing demand from environmentally conscious travellers for transparency to show what steps hotels have put in place to be sustainable .
HotelREZ is taking its commitment to sustainability seriously by undergoing its own ECOsmart audit. This initiative demonstrates the company’s dedication to "walking the walk" and setting an example for its clients.
Together, HotelREZ and Greengage are setting a new standard for the sustainably conscious in the hospitality industry, empowering properties to attract discerning travellers and contribute to an environmentally sustainable future.