News Briefs

ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions together with Zaplox AB  have announced the deployment of room key in Apple Wallet by Clarion Hotel Post. The first Strawberry property to deploy the feature via a hotel mobile app integration performed by Zaplox as an official Mobile Access Certified Partner, Clarion Hotel Post represents the first of a growing number of industry businesses leveraging the ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions program in order to effortlessly keep pace with evolving guest preferences and service expectations. 
 
Using room key in Apple Wallet, Clarion Hotel Post guests can conveniently and securely add their room key to the Apple Wallet app on their iPhone or Apple Watch, and simply tap their device to unlock their room, as well as access locations throughout the property, including the gym, roof-top pool and spa areas. Together, ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions and Zaplox help alleviate some of the complex and time-consuming integration processes that often come with higher deployment costs. 
 
“Guests today more than ever value faster and more convenient service, however, there’s a lot that goes into deploying a digital platform to ensure that it runs smoothly with existing systems which can often lead to headaches and complications,” said Christian Lundén, Vice President of Strategic Growth at Strawberry. “Both ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions and Zaplox have shown that hotels can continue to keep pace with evolving guest trends without having to make sacrifices to operational efficiency and without resulting in additional challenges for our onsite property team."
 
As a provider in mobile key lifecycle management solutions, the Zaplox integration functions by integrating Strawberry’s guest-facing mobile app with ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions’ Cloud-based access management technology and VingCard locks. As previously announced, Zaplox is developing its technology platform to offer the next generation of mobile keys to existing and new customers. Its SaaS platform is designed to enhance the guest experience by providing mobile key access to any door for easy guest access.  
 
Room key in Apple Wallet is supported by VingCard door locks and Vostio Access Management by ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions. Room keys in Apple Wallet take full advantage of the privacy and security built into iPhone and Apple Watch. When or where a guest uses a room key in Apple Wallet is never shared with Apple or stored on Apple servers. If an iPhone or Apple Watch is misplaced, the guest can use the Find My app to lock the device and help locate it.

For more information visit www.assaabloyglobalsolutions.com/hospitality.

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. 

Layne’s Chicken Fingers has hired Richard Broadhead as its new Director of Marketing. Broadhead has spent the last 15-plus years working in marketing roles and says he is ready to support the brand as it drives expansion. 

With years of experience, Broadhead has a strong track record of leveraging strategy and technology in order to create impactful marketing campaigns. Much of this knowledge is informed by his work as an independent consultant that focused on marketing and IT solutions for a wide range of clients. 

Layne’s CEO Garrett Reed approached Broadhead, welcoming him into the company in order to build an internal marketing strategy from the ground up. 

Founded in 1994 in College Station, the original location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team focused on fine-tuning its operations and starting to franchise. Now, the company is targeting 100 locations in the next four years.  

 

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.