News Briefs

  • 5/14/2023

    Seabourn Installs SpaceX' Starlink Wi-Fi Tech on Seabourn Venture, Seabourn Pursuit

    seabourn cruise ship aerial view

    Seabourn, the leader in ultra-luxury voyages and expedition travel, has announced that its two purpose-built expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, will be equipped with next generation Wi-Fi connectivity with SpaceX's Starlink, the leader in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology. The upgraded technology will provide Seabourn's expedition guests with faster service, greater connectivity and more reliable Wi-Fi wherever Starlink's services are available.

    Seabourn Venture is the first ship in the Seabourn fleet to offer Starlink's Wi-Fi technology beginning with its May 12, 2023 voyage, just in time for the ship's second Arctic season. The line's second expedition ship, Seabourn Pursuit, will be equipped with the enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity after it launches in the summer of 2023. Seabourn's expedition ships will offer the best available Wi-Fi experience, allowing guests to stay connected with loved ones as they explore some of the most interesting and remote destinations in the world.

    "We are committed to providing the best ultra-luxury expedition experiences at sea, and the Starlink partnership will offer a significantly enhanced connectivity experience during our expedition journeys," said Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn. "From the polar regions to Australia and the South Pacific, our guests will experience a more reliable connection, allowing them to share those special moments and experiences with their loved ones as they sail on Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit."

    "Starlink offers Internet capabilities and functionality to meet growing service demands globally, and I am so pleased that guests and crew members on both of our expedition ships will benefit from this innovative technology," added Kathleen Erickson, Seabourn's vice president of technology.

    Beginning May 12, 2023, guests sailing on Seabourn Venture will have access to the enhanced Wi-Fi service on board from the Arctic to Antarctica. The ship will sail on two voyages to British Isles and Ireland in May before kicking off its second season in the Arctic. Between June and August 2023, the ship will sail on a series of 14- and 15-day voyages to Greenland and Iceland, as well as a 23-day adventure through the Northwest Passage. The ship will then head down the West Coast of the Americas before reaching Antarctica, where it will sail between November 2023 and February 2024. In late February 2024, Seabourn Venture will cross the Atlantic, sail up the West Coast of Africa and Europe to be in position for the 2024 Arctic season. 

  • 5/10/2023

    Wendy's Pilots Google Cloud's Generative AI

    Wendys global next gen drivethru

    Wendy's and Google Cloud announced an expanded partnership to pilot an artificial intelligence (AI) solution, Wendy's FreshAI. The technology has the potential to transform Wendy's drive-thru food ordering experience with Google Cloud's generative AI and large language models (LLMs) technology.

    Demand for Drive-Thru

    With 75 to 80 percent of Wendy's customers choosing the drive-thru as their preferred ordering channel, delivering a seamless ordering experience using AI automation can be difficult due to the complexities of menu options, special requests, and ambient noise. For example, because customers can fully customize their orders and food is prepared when ordered at Wendy's, this presents billions of possible order combinations available on the Wendy's menu, leaving room for miscommunication or incorrect orders. Google Cloud's generative AI capabilities can now bring a new automated ordering experience to the drive-thru that is intended to enhance the experience that customers, employees and franchisees expect from Wendy's. As HT reported last month, one Wendy's franchise, Wenspoke, is expanding its use of AI in the drive-thrus.

    "Wendy's introduced the first modern pick-up window in the industry more than 50 years ago, and we're thrilled to continue our work with Google Cloud to bring a new wave of innovation to the drive-thru experience," said Todd Penegor, President and CEO of the Dublin, Ohio-based QSR. "Google Cloud's generative AI technology creates a huge opportunity for us to deliver a truly differentiated, faster and frictionless experience for our customers, and allows our employees to continue focusing on making great food and building relationships with fans that keep them coming back time and again."

    Pilot Near HQ

    In June, Wendy's plans to launch its first pilot of Google Cloud's AI technology in a Columbus, Ohio-area, Company-operated restaurant, using those learnings to inform future expansions to more Wendy's drive-thrus. The pilot will include new generative AI offerings, such as Vertex AI and more, to have conversations with customers, the ability to understand made-to-order requests and generate responses to frequently asked questions. 

    This will all be powered by Google's foundational LLMs that have the data from Wendy's menu, established business rules and logic for conversation guardrails, and integration with restaurant hardware and the Point of Sale system. By leveraging generative AI, Wendy's seeks to take the complexity out of the ordering process so employees can focus on serving up fast, fresh-made, quality food and exceptional service.

    Today's update builds upon Google Cloud's and Wendy's long standing partnership to enhance the Wendy's restaurant experience. Since 2021, Wendy's has leveraged Google Cloud's data analytics, AI, machine learning (ML), and hybrid cloud tools to make it faster, easier, and more convenient for customers to access the brand.

  • 4/24/2023

    Denny's Launches Series of National Wellness, Mental Health Summits

    Dennys exterior of diner

    As part of a national effort to raise awareness and offer expert insights, Denny's is kicking off a series of summits focused on how companies and individuals can better manage and improve their mental health and wellness.

    The first summit is taking place on April 22 at the HPAC Theater in Spartanburg, S.C. The summit will be free to the public and attendees can participate in-person or virtually.

    "Denny's has always been committed to feeding people's bodies, minds, and souls, and this summit series perfectly aligns with our holistic approach to wellness," said Kelli Valade, CEO of Denny's. "The COVID-19 pandemic has placed the topics of mental health and personal well-being front and center. Now is the time to think about how we can bring our whole selves to all facets of our lives, including the workplace."

    The summit keynote speaker is Dr. Daniel E. Dawes, Senior Vice President for Global Health and Executive Director of the Institute of Global Health Equity at Meharry Medical College. Dawes will discuss the importance of addressing mental health equity and the path forward to achieving a healthier society. Other nationally recognized panelists include:  

    • Dr. Shaneeta Johnson, a surgeon, clinician, educator, and researcher at Morehouse School of Medicine and Senior Fellow in Global Health Equity at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute
    • Dr. Monique May, a board-certified and licensed family physician best known as the "Physician in the Kitchen"
    • Dr. Bennie L. Harris, Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate
    • Sharon Lykins, Denny's Vice President of Product Innovation

    "Mental health and wellness significantly impact the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities across the Upstate region and beyond," said USC Upstate Chancellor, Bennie L. Harris, Ph.D. "We are thrilled to join forces with a global leader like Denny's to address one of the most critical public health issues of our time."

    Journalist Roland S. Martin will moderate two panels, "Mindful Eating," which will address the connection between food and wellness, and "Wellness at the Workplace," which focuses on mental health at work.

    A second mental health summit will be offered on October 10 in Nashville, Tennessee.

  • 5/14/2023

    NRA 2023 NEWS: Palmer Digital Group Brings Message of Monetization to National Restaurant Show

    Portillo's Drive-Thru Digital Signage

    Palmer Digital Group, a full-service supplier and installer of indoor and outdoor digital kiosks, drive-thru digital menu boards and canopy systems, returns to the National Restaurant Association Show this week with its latest outdoor display solutions for QSRs and Fast Casual restaurants. The full-service supplier, which also provides planning and installation services, will demonstrate its all-in-one outdoor digital menu board solutions and EV charging stations, showcasing PDG’s enclosures, integrated displays, and dynamic digital out-of-home (DOOH) media support for EV kiosks.

    The Restaurant Show has proven a lucrative venue for PDG over the years, and the company anticipates that this year’s event will once again deliver. “We have onboarded at least four distribution partners each year, and our calculations prove that each one represents at least $500,000 in new annual sales,” said Chuck Lewis, Vice President, Palmer Digital Group. “That speaks to the value of demonstrating at this show, as do the contracts we have won from end customers like Buona that discovered us here.”

    Lewis notes that QSR and Fast Casual restaurants are eager to transition to digital inside and outside their stores, and PDG”s installation services remove the time and costs of site planning, site preparation and crane lifts for end businesses. Many PDG menu board structures can be installed by two technicians, which along with the company’s installation services is a key differentiator from competitors. 

    Palmer Digital Group will exhibit at Booth 5550 and contribute to demonstrations at three CMS partner booths. Across all four booths, visitors can see how businesses can creatively arrange, manage, update and monetize menu board content across one or more display panels. However, visitors will need to come to PDG’s booth to see its all-in-one EV charging solution, a Level 2 80-amp EV kiosk that supports dynamic DOOH content, energy-efficient electrification, cloud-based performance monitoring, and mobile payment solutions among other attributes.

    “We see increasing interest in our EV charging solutions because they draw in new clientele that QSR and Fast Casual businesses can upsell to as they charge their vehicles,” said Lewis. “Restaurants can post their menu and promotional content on these displays in their parking lots as an appetizer to the dine-in customer experience.” 

    For digital menu boards, PDG will provide single, double and triple outdoor enclosures with integrated displays across their three CMS partner booths. All three companies resell PDG enclosures that provide robust structural support for digital menu boards.

    •  At Booth 6674, EyeCatch Networks will show PDG’s QSRMB255 double digital menu board solution with Samsung displays and content powered through its digital signage software.
    • At Booth 8216, Stream LLC will show PDG’s QSRMB255 double and QSRMB155 single digital menu board solutions with LG displays and content powered through its digital signage software. PDG’s single-board solutions are often deployed as pre-sell boards at the beginning of the customer’s drive-thru journey.
    • At Booth 6178, Zero-In will show PDG’s QSRMB355 triple menu board solution with Samsung displays and content powered through its digital signage software.

     

  • 5/14/2023

    PPDS Global Partner Alliance Confirms Expansion to Deliver Unrivalled Regional Support and International Expertise to Hospitality Industry Across Six Continents

    Franck Racape addressing GPA members for PPDS

    PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips digital signage, interactive displays, direct view LED and professional TV products and solutions, is delighted to announce the expansion of its ‘Global Partner Alliance’ network, delivering unrivalled regional support and international expertise for hospitality customers across six continents. 

    Officially launched at ISE 2022, PPDS’ exclusive, by invite, Global Partner Alliance (GPA) programme, was created to connect multinational businesses with PPDS’ top tier of regional integration specialists, for seamless execution of hospitality projects, of any scale, anywhere in the world.

    Announced to members during the third global meeting for the PPDS GPA, hosted in Barcelona, Spain, the Alliance has grown by more than 50 additional partners – almost doubling numbers from 60 to 118 and now covering China and India – delivering enhanced specialist knowledge and support.

    Each Alliance partner is selected based upon their capabilities, certifications, and ongoing relationship with PPDS. All GPA partners are trained and certified to deliver the best knowledge and performance across PPDS’ portfolio of products, services, and solutions.

    Heading up the PPDS GPA, Simone Gagliardi commented: “We have been thrilled by the continued success and unrivalled relationships being formed within our Global Partner Alliance since it was officially launched. We are delighted to welcome new members to the community, bringing even greater strengths and wider reach to deliver seamless and consistent services to customers almost everywhere on the planet. With the GPA, we aim to remove the pain points traditionally experienced with multinational integrations, reaching through regional barriers to ensure projects are completed consistently, quickly and efficiently. There is nothing quite like the PPDS GPA.”

    Franck Racape, VP Global Commercial at PPDS, concluded: “At PPDS, we strive for excellence in everything we do, from the products we are making in our factories through to the support we offer for installation and beyond. A significant and crucial part of that process is unquestionably our relationships with our partners. The GPA, together with our International Key Account Management approach, have allowed us to develop even closer relationships with the channel, aligning to bring ever greater value to our mutual customers.

    “Since launch, the GPA has advanced from being a list of valued partners to a true global community. Far from being competitors, many of our GPA partners are now in regular communication, supporting each other where needed and, as clearly demonstrated at our GPA dinner in Barcelona and at other exclusive GPA events, they have become close business allies in the process. On behalf of PPDS, I welcome all our new GPA members and thank everyone for their continued devotion. Here’s to expanding into another successful year.”

  • 5/11/2023

    Tabit Technologies, OpenTable Announce Partnership

    tabit logo

    Tabit Technologies, a mobile first POS, and OpenTable announced an integration which streamlines front-of-house restaurant operations and enables restaurants to deliver more personalized hospitality for guests.

    The integration was completed in late 2022 and became live in February of 2023 following a period of beta testing. It is now available to all OpenTable and Tabit restaurant customers.

    With the integration of Tabit and OpenTable technologies, restaurants have a wealth of information at their fingertips, creating operational efficiencies and enabling them to deliver a more welcoming guest experience.

    • OpenTable's booking data paired with Tabit's spend data gives restaurants a more holistic view of business performance
    • Restaurant staff can quickly identify which guests are new, regulars, or top spenders
    • Real-time information input from servers will now be available to front-of-house staff at Tabit restaurants, so hosts can automatically see when guests are seated and which course they're on, helping to minimize wait times and optimize table turn times and revenue.

    Full Visibility

    "One of the big wins we have had with Tabit is the OpenTable integration. Tabit's system can automatically update the OpenTable App with course statuses and check details, allowing the host or hostess to stay by their station, but still have full visibility into what's going on in the restaurant," said Managing Partner and Director of Operations at SALT7, Rob Berger. "Being able to keep a host from spending time walking the floor saves thousands of dollars annually because it means having one less host on shift per day."

     

     

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