News Briefs

Virdee, a provider of guest experience technology and check-in automation, today announced the appointment of Paul Pellman as the company’s first CEO. Pellman joins the Virdee executive team following a 35-year career in the technology industry and will lead Virdee through its next phase of growth, building on the strength of the company’s highly regarded hotel guest experience technology and reputation for innovative solutions. Virdee Co-Founders Branigan Mulcahy and Nadav Cornberg will add titles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, respectively. 

This appointment marks Paul’s third time as CEO of an Austin-based technology company. Previously, Pellman was CEO of Adometry, a market leader in multi-touch attribution to clarify the consumer purchase journey. Adometry was acquired by Google under Pellman’s leadership. Most recently, Pellman was CEO of Kazoo, a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company  in the employee experience software industry.

This hire comes six months after Virdee announced its $12.4 million Series A financing led by Moneta Ventures and coincides with two additional key hires. Former Vice President of Product at Narvar, Kelli Lin, has been appointed Virdee’s new Vice President of Product, and Royi Haddad, prior engineering leader at Hippo Insurance, has been appointed Vice President of Engineering.

“We are thrilled to bring Paul Pellman to Virdee to lead the company as it evolves into its next phase,” said Branigan Mulcahy, Co-Founder and COO of Virdee. “Since its founding in 2020, Virdee’s corporate growth and the market adoption of our technology has always been ahead of expectations. Paul’s experience and leadership will ensure we maintain that momentum. It’s an exciting time at Virdee and Co-Founder Nadav Cornberg and I wholeheartedly welcome Paul, Kelli and Royi to the company.”

"I am honored to be the CEO of Virdee and ready to get to work as Virdee becomes more than a company name but also the word that is synonymous with guest experience technology,” said Paul Pellman, CEO of Virdee. “Virdee’s leadership is talented and visionary as evidenced by the company’s incredible traction with enterprise clients. I look forward to working with Branigan and Nadav in taking the company to the next level, realizing their vision of digitally connecting guests and hotels while seamlessly automating all front desk transactions and amenities. Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional value, make hotel stays more elevated than ever before while we grow our roster of leading hotel and resort clients."

Virdee was formed in 2020 by Branigan Mulcahy and Nadav Cornberg to bring a contactless hotel check-in experience that would work anywhere and with any system while supporting 100% of guest check-ins to owners and operators of hotels. For more about Virdee and its solutions, visit www.virdee.io.

PopID and Steak n Shake announced today that all Steak n Shake locations in the United States now accept PopID Check In (to review favorite orders and loyalty points) and PopPay for checkout. With more than 300 locations, Steak n Shake is the first national restaurant brand in the United States to adopt biometric check-in and checkout nationwide. PopID’s biometric check-in feature makes kiosk ordering faster, easier, and more personalized.

The implementation of PopID in every Steak n Shake location was accomplished rapidly and at low cost through a partnership between PopID and ACRELEC, a leading supplier of kiosk-ordering hardware and drive-through products. Cameras were shipped to every restaurant for attachment to the existing ACRELEC kiosks. “As explained in our recent publication, ACRELEC believes that our integrated biometric solution provides various benefits to restaurant operators related to throughput, ticket size, and loyalty engagement,” says Bruno Lo-Re, President of ACRELEC America.

“We are thrilled about our partnership with PopID and to be on the edge of biometric technology for the benefit of our customers. Our guests now have the option to use biometrics for a faster and more seamless experience,” says Sardar Biglari, Chairman of Biglari Holdings, the parent company of Steak n Shake.

Now that biometrics are enabled for all ordering and payment inside Steak n Shake restaurants, PopID and Steak n Shake will begin implementing biometric check-in and checkout at the restaurant’s drive-through units. “Similar to the kiosks, biometric check in can increase loyalty participation and revenue at the drive thru while also reducing payment processing costs,” says John Miller, CEO of PopID and Chairman of Cali Group. “Additionally, biometric payment at the order confirmation screen enables staff members to work on tasks other than taking payments by card and phone at the order pick-up window.”

BEONx, a hospitality revenue management service provider, is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of new dashboards in partnership with JUYO Analytics, the next curve data visualization and analytics platform for the hospitality industry. Hoteliers' evaluation of performance and data collection will undergo a revolution thanks to this update.

The new dashboards, available exclusively to hoteliers and professional clients, provide a comprehensive snapshot of the current situation. They aim to reduce the amount of time spent on information verification by providing all the necessary data in a single location. Clients will now be able to evaluate their performance with ease and make informed decisions.

The premium package will include a host of additional benefits. Custom package configuration allows clients to personalise their experience to meet their specific needs. Furthermore, two new dashboards have been added for more detailed analysis of channel performance and a daily pace overview.

Cayetana Fernández, VP of Product at BEONx, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "The new dashboards developed by BEONx and Juyo will take clients' strategies one step further by focusing on channel distribution. Clients will now be able to create their own reports based on their specific requirements."

Karin van Rhee, COO at Juyo Analytics, added, "The new premium dashboards provide hoteliers with even more sophisticated reporting, adding additional context to their analysis! Every hotel is unique and has its own approach to managing its commercial strategies. With the new product, we empower hotels to tailor their own dashboards with data relevant to them.” 

With the latest product update to the premium package, BEONx and Juyo elevate hotels to an even higher standard.

• Empowering- Customized Stunning Dashboards: Hoteliers can now create their own stunning dashboards from scratch, tailoring them to precisely match their unique company needs. This level of customization ensures that the insights gained are directly relevant to the specific goals and challenges of each hotel.
• Dynamic Overview of Channel Performance: With the new dynamic overview dashboard, hotels can instantly assess channel performance on annual, quarterly, weekly, or even daily timelines. This clear and concise presentation consolidates all critical performance metrics into a single, easy-to-read table. It's the perfect tool for busy hoteliers who need a quick snapshot of their channel performance at any given moment.
• Pace Analytics Dashboard: It equips hoteliers with the tools to better understand booking curves, identify risks, and uncover opportunities within their forecasts and budgets. By leveraging this dashboard, hotels can make informed decisions that lead to improved revenue management.

The update is expected to improve the user experience and provide businesses with valuable insights to help them flourish in the dynamic digital landscape.  Please consult the official websites of BEONx and Juyo Analytics for additional information. 

IRIS,  a provider of digital ordering for the hospitality industry, announces it will be investing in its expansion in the Middle East. The announcement follows significant growth in its client base, as an increasing number of hoteliers across the region report a preference for mobile ordering from guests, enabling them to increase F&B revenue and enhance the digital experience they offer. The investment will deliver the introduction of new features and also includes the company’s attendance at the Hotel Revolution Summit in Dubai on 21^st May.

Now live in 10 states, IRIS has grown its client base by 33% since launching its mobile ordering and digital guest directory platform in the Middle East. IRIS is deployed at a number of hotels in global chains Four Seasons, Marriott and Mandarin Oriental as well as smaller, luxury hospitality groups based in the region. All report marked increases in F&B revenues of between 20% - 40% on average. 

Globally and across the Middle East the demand for, and capability of, mobile ordering has seen unprecedented growth. As hospitality operators seek to capitalise on the revenue, guest satisfaction, and efficiency opportunities it offers across operations and departments, it shows no signs of slowing.

For both operators and their guests alike, IRIS offers a flexible, scalable and convenient mobile ordering experience across digital F&B, guest directory and concierge solutions. Particularly for operators keen to maximise the revenue potential across their properties, beyond room rates for a dynamic, digitally savvy and often high-net worth market. For example, hotels keen to enhance poolside ordering and likewise cater to an international guest-base by offering multi-lingual digital ordering capabilities. 

Commenting on their plans for growth across the Middle East, Graham Rushin, VP Sales and Marketing, IRIS said, “It is a hugely exciting time for the hospitality industry across the Middle East particularly against the backdrop of the Saudi Vision 2030 programme, with brands and management companies continuing to invest. Likewise, the pipeline outlook for future development is extremely positive. As both a business and leisure destination it continues to be one of the key locations for operators when developing their own growth strategies.

“We are committed to supporting our clients across the region in realising their ambitions for growth. This means continuing to invest in our own R&D and ensuring our portfolio is ready and available to equip them with the full complement of mobile ordering solutions to enable them to drive spend, develop new revenue streams and leverage efficiencies throughout their properties. The Middle East is a key focus for our own growth plans and we look forward to becoming the partner of choice for more guest-centric, mobile-first operators in the future.”

Long-standing IRIS client, Kennedy K. Mutinda, In Room Dining and Studio Manager for W Dubai Mina Seyahi adds, “Guests value efficiency and convenience so they appreciate being able to order food and beverages (and access information) in just a few clicks, without the need to wait in line or interact with staff directly. The IRIS mobile dining and guest directory app works perfectly for our guests, most of whom are international, who prefer ordering and communicating with us online, rather than over the phone. This enhanced visibility of menu items and seamless ordering process has attributed to a significant boost in guest spend and revenue which we envisage will continue to rise.”

In response to the increasing demand for mobile ordering, IRIS has recently invested in the development of new products and features across its portfolio. These are now available to Middle East hospitality clients to enable them to both maximise demand from guests and free up staff time with more automated operations. They include new functionality and a new user interface within the back end of its web app to enable operators to update menu and guest directory items more efficiently on one dashboard. In addition, new “Order Again”, “Open Tab” and “Related Items” features have been added to reduce pressure on staff, maximise upsell opportunities and provide a more convenient, frictionless experience for guests.

Stayntouch, a provider of cloud hotel property management systems (PMS) and guest-centric technology, announced a new partnership with Woby, a self-order and pay web app that simultaneously connects with existing POS and PMS platforms. Stayntouch now integrates with Woby’s customizable web app, allowing for real-time POS and PMS synchronization.

With Stayntouch PMS, hotels can streamline operations, automate tasks, and provide a seamless digital guest welcome experience with mobile check-in. Woby complements this by offering a self-order and pay platform that seamlessly connects with both the hotel PMS and POS, streamlining the in-stay dining experience from ordering to payments to room service and delivery. By connecting Stayntouch PMS with Woby, hotels will benefit from: 

• A flexible and full-featured cloud PMS, that can deliver a frictionless mobile welcome and departure experience for guests, while integrating with best-of-breed mobile POS platforms.
• Real-time synchronization between the PMS, POS, and accounting software, allowing guests to connect to a single QR code to order what they want, pay how they want, and have room charges validated automatically.
• A fully customizable look and workflow to fit seamlessly with any hotel branding design or operational needs. 
• A dedicated integration connector that sets up integrations in minutes instead of months, and streamlines third-party connections. 

Ruud Hontelé, the managing partner of Woby, said: "Woby stands out as the pioneering self-order and pay app that seamlessly integrates Stayntouch with your POS system. Say goodbye to the hassles and pain points associated with digital menus, ordering, payments and logistics processes. Enhance the guest experience significantly while also reducing costs for your business."

Priya Rajamani, the vice president of implementation and support for Stayntouch, said: “We are excited to partner with Woby, a platform that empowers hotels to provide guests with a completely mobile-first dining experience. By seamlessly integrating our cloud PMS with Woby's self-ordering and payment platform, hotels can deliver a more personalized and fully mobile guest check-in and dining experience, enhancing the on-property experience. This collaboration ensures real-time synchronization, enhanced operational efficiency and elevated guest satisfaction.”

Restaurant365 announced a $175 million funding round led by long-term partner ICONIQ Growth with participation from current investors, including KKR and L Catterton. The funding comes on the heels of 12 consecutive quarters exceeding sales targets, which drives confidence in future growth potential. 

“Restaurant365’s growth is a testament to their ability to create powerful solutions that bolster operations, improve margins and empower the workforce at restaurant companies of all sizes,” said Will Griffith, Founding Partner of ICONIQ Growth. “We’re honored to participate in this incredible opportunity to help the restaurant industry succeed in a way that once seemed impossible.”

Proceeds from the round will be invested in expanding enterprise features and growing the workforce and payroll product suite to continue supporting the world’s largest, most notable hospitality brands. Funds will also strengthen the company’s balance sheet to facilitate future acquisitions and support continued organic growth.

“We’re grateful our investors continue to value the business and its upward trajectory as demonstrated by this most recent vote of confidence,” said Restaurant365 CEO and Co-founder Tony Smith. “We take that trust from them seriously as well as the trust placed in us by our customers and the industry at large. We will continue our relentless pursuit of developing products that add value in new ways to this great industry.”

This latest round follows Restaurant365’s acquisition of ExpandShare, an AI-powered learning management system built to deliver and track impactful restaurant training content.

In addition to adding employee training to its offerings, Restaurant365 expanded its all-in-one platform over the past year with tip automation, task management, restaurant intelligence dashboards, and Capture AI, which brings the power of machine learning to invoice management.