News Briefs

Aptech, provider of customizable financial-management software for single hotels or multi-property/multi-brand enterprises, announces an integration with Plaid, a data network powering the digital financial ecosystem. By connecting Aptech’s PVNG enterprise accounting solution to the Plaid platform, properties will achieve seamless and secure access to thousands of financial accounts for financial reconciliation.

“Plaid’s powerful data network is powering the fintech tools that millions of people rely on to live a healthier financial life,” said Cam Troutman, Aptech Vice President. “We are leveraging that expertise to create a secure connection between a hotel’s desired financial institution and Plaid – the same engine driving Chime, SoFi and many others. PVNG will import and match transactions via Plaid (and its 8,000+ apps and services across the digital banking ecosystem) for simplified, automated bank reconciliation. We believe that we are one of the first – if not the first – hospitality company with this connective relationship.”

Plaid’s network covers 12,000 financial institutions across the U.S., Canada, UK and Europe. It prioritizes the security of users' financial data and employs industry-standard encryption protocols for the highest levels of data protection. By integrating with Plaid, hotels running on PVNG can leverage their security measures and minimize the risk associated with handling sensitive financial information.

To learn more about the Aptech/Plaid integration, visit Booth 1301 at HITEC Toronto, June 27 to 29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For more information on PVNG by Aptech, visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.

Shiji, a global hospitality technology innovator, has partnered with IPORT, an award-winning manufacturer known for enhancing the usability of iPads and iPhones, to introduce an all-in-one software solution for hotel restaurants. This collaboration will provide hoteliers with a seamless combination of a tablet and payment device to maximize their F&B operations.

The integrated iOS and payment device solution simplifies guest service for hotel restaurant servers, providing them with an effortless tool to cater to their guests' needs. As a certified Apple partner, Shiji and IPORT guarantee exceptional performance and reliability. Hoteliers can choose from multiple device options, including iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPhone, ensuring flexibility and compatibility with their operations.

“IPORT products are built around modularity and flexibility that empower our hospitality customers to do more with the iOS platform. We are thrilled to partner with a leading iPad and iPhone cloud PMS and POS platform provider like Shiji,” said Chris Lawson, Head of Partnerships, IPORT. “We look forward to innovating with Shiji in disrupting legacy, monolithic providers who have limited the industry from harnessing the power of iOS and mobility. The future is bright, and the possibilities are endless with IPORT, iOS, and Shiji.”

"The partnership with IPORT is a significant milestone for Shiji in our commitment to provide innovative technology solutions for the hospitality industry," said Ryan King, Senior Vice President of Shiji in the Americas. "By combining our expertise with IPORT’s hardware solutions, we empower hoteliers to streamline restaurant operations and deliver exceptional guest experiences. This collaboration represents another step forward in our dedication to driving success in the Americas, and globally."

The tablet and payment device solution seamlessly integrates with multiple payment gateways, allowing hoteliers to choose the system that best suits their needs. By simplifying the payment process, it reduces operational complexities, minimizes errors, and saves valuable time and resources for hoteliers.

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. 

At HITEC UrVenue revealed enhancements to UV Enterprise. These enhancements introduce a new capability known as Guest Experience, featuring Guest Portal and Guest Services, both of which leverage integrations into platforms OpenTable, Hapi and more.

UV Enterprise is a full-stack technology platform that drives commerce, manages operations, and enhances the guest experience through unified booking and itinerary management for non-room, experience-based inventory, such as pools, lounges, recreational activities, and restaurants. During a press conference today, UrVenue also announced that the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, Alberta, Canada, is the inaugural property to pilot the complete suite of PXMS capabilities offered by UV Enterprise.

Hoteliers can see UV Enterprise, along with UrVenue’s new Guest Experience solution, in Booth 2401 at HITEC.

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

Guest Experience includes two key products, Guest Portal and Guest Services. Guest Portal gives guests a personalized, self-service interface for easy exploration and booking of property experiences and management of their itineraries. 

Guest Services includes Guest Portal’s key functionality. This employee-facing product empowers front desk, concierge, and call center employees to book experiences and manage itineraries on behalf of guests. 

Fairmont Banff Springs had an ambitious vision to create a digital guest experience that integrated their extensive selection of paid and complimentary experiences into a single technology solution. The resort’s experiences also had to be supported by a commerce and operations platform with channel and distribution functionality. Fairmont Banff Springs’ goal was to provide its luxury guests with a white-labeled Guest Portal, highlighting available experiences and reinforcing the property’s value proposition.

"We have long been searching for this level of innovation," said Evan Hounsell, Fairmont’s Regional Senior Manager, Digital Experience for Canada’s Western Mountain Region. “With UV Enterprise, guests are encouraged to discover and immerse themselves in our distinctive resort experience by using the My Guest Experience Platform, or speaking with our dedicated staff who use Guest Services. These tools enable better engagement with guests at every stage of the trip planning journey, from pre-arrival to their in-house stay.  

PXMS Integration Partners

As a Property Experience Management System, UV Enterprise leverages multiple integrations. 

OpenTable, originally partnered with UrVenue in 2021 to create a unified booking solution enabling restaurant reservations to be booked alongside other experience-based inventory. 
Hapi, the hospitality industry's leading platform for fast and cost-effective connectivity between technology systems, is also integral to Fairmont Banff Springs’ successful PXMS pilot.

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.