News Briefs

Vouch, a provider of guest experience platforms for hospitality, announced a strategic product expansion to empower hotels with operational excellence through its innovative Hotel Operations Management Ecosystem (Vouch HOME). This suite of back-end solutions seamlessly integrates with Vouch's existing guest-facing platform, creating a unified ecosystem that streamlines workflows, automates tasks, and unlocks a new era of efficiency.

Traditional hotel operations are often plagued by manual tasks, scattered data across different systems, and communication breakdowns between departments. This inefficiency directly impacts the guest experience, leading to longer wait times, frustrated staff, and ultimately, lost revenue.

"In today's competitive hospitality landscape, being efficient is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity," says Joseph Ling, Founder and CEO of Vouch. "We started by making guest interactions seamless, but we knew that hospitality excellence begins behind the scenes. Vouch HOME empowers hotels with automation at every level, freeing them to focus on the human touch that makes every guest experience truly special."

Breaking the Mould with Vouch HOME

Vouch HOME acts as the central system of hotel operations, streamlining workflows and unifying data across departments like Housekeeping, Front Office, F&B and Engineering. This eliminates the need for multiple vendors, offering a single source of truth for operational data.

"Vouch HOME is much more than just a collection of tools," says Joseph Ling. "It's a collaborative ecosystem that connects teams, automates tasks, and enhances team performances. Hotels gain a holistic 360-degree view of their operations, allowing them to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions."

Vouch HOME's Back-end Components in Action

• Task Manager: A centralised task management system with mobile access, that shares live status for timely completion. Seamlessly integrated with guest platform.
• Room Assignments and Inspection: Auto assign rooms for attendants and alert floor supervisors instantly for inspection on customised checklists.
• Preventive Maintenance: Schedule and track maintenance for assets proactively, minimising downtime and ensuring positive guest experience.

Looking ahead, Vouch is leveraging the power of generative AI to analyse data and deliver customised, actionable recommendations for each hotel, empowering them to further optimise operations and drive sustainable growth. This innovative feature is slated for launch in the first half of 2024.

For more information, please visit https://www.vouch-technologies.com/.

IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) announced an agreement with EnviroSpark, an industry leader in the design, installation, and operation of electrical vehicle (EV) charging solutions, to make electric vehicle chargers (EVCs) available to all IHG-branded hotels across the United States and Canada. IHG hotels can now partner with EnviroSpark on EVCs depending on their individual needs and requirements. This agreement will further expand on IHG’s 1,100 hotels globally with EVCs, and meet the growing customer demand for EV charging on the road while supporting a shift to a low-carbon economy.

The EVCs that will be available at IHG-branded hotels in North America are well suited for travelers needing an overnight charge. To help travelers plan ahead, IHG has added an EV-charger search filter on its award-winning IHG One Rewards mobile app alongside a wide set of mapping features

The adoption of electric vehicles is rising sharply as the global push for net-zero carbon emissions accelerates. According to Goldman Sachs Research, EVs will make up about half of new car sales worldwide by 2035.

Brian McGuinness, SVP of Global Guest Experience, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “Providing guests with more EV-charging convenience is a natural next step for IHG. With iconic road-trip brands such as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, taking care of travelers on the road is core to what we do every day. Through our agreement with EnviroSpark, we’re providing even more options for IHG owners to install EVCs at hotels while making travel easier for a growing segment of sustainability-minded travelers.” 

Aaron Luque, Founder and CEO, EnviroSpark, said: “We’re honored to join forces with IHG Hotels & Resorts in expanding EV charger availability at their North American properties. The partnership reflects our shared commitment to a sustainable economy and aligns with the rising demand for eco-friendly travel options. Together, we aim to create a seamless and environmentally friendly experience for travelers, contributing to a greener future and bringing us closer to our vision of widespread EV adoption.”

To help accelerate the EV charging infrastructure emerging in North America, IHG is also supporting hotel owners with an EV charging guide with best practices to encourage installation of EV chargers across its portfolio of more than 4,100 open hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

IHG’s collaboration with EnviroSpark aligns to the company’s responsible business plan, Journey to Tomorrow, which includes a set of ambitious sustainability commitments to drive change for people, communities and the planet. This partnership is also one example of how IHG is working with an increasing number of diverse suppliers through its supplier diversity program EPIC and engaging more companies who share IHG’s values. To learn more about IHG’s commitment to responsible business, visit www.ihgplc.com/en/responsible-business.

Salesforce, the #1 AI CRM, announced it is working with Turtle Bay Resort, the luxury vacation destination nestled on O‘ahu’s legendary North Shore, to help the resort augment service agents with AI and personalize the entire guest experience.
“Our work with Salesforce marks a new chapter for Turtle Bay Resort,” said Robert Marusi, chief commercial officer, Turtle Bay Resort. “By leveraging Salesforce’s powerful suite of tools through Einstein 1 Platform, we are able to reach new guests with a highly tailored approach to our engagement, ensuring that every guest receives a truly unforgettable experience unique to them.”

“Today, guests have more options than ever when choosing the perfect destination for their vacation, and hospitality companies need to deliver personalized, memorable experiences that make a lasting impression,” said Jeff Amann, EVP & GM, Salesforce Industries. “With the power of CRM, trusted AI, and data, we are helping Turtle Bay do just that, giving guests vacations they will not forget and converting them into life-long customers.”

Reinventing Turtle Bay Resort with CRM, trusted AI, and data

Situated on 1,300 acres with miles of nature trails and secluded beaches, Turtle Bay exemplifies natural beauty, and is an eco-friendly and sustainable resort. However, the resort was impacted by decreased travel in 2020, and has been looking for ways to re-ignite revenue ever since.

Turtle Bay Resort is on a journey to reinvent itself, heighten awareness of its unique offerings, and establish new, life-long customer relationships. Salesforce’s Einstein 1 Platform is helping Turtle Bay connect with its customers in a whole new way, empowering its teams to give more personalized attention to guests powered by CRM, data, and trusted AI.

• Personalized guest communication: Turtle Bay Resort is delivering more tailored messages to guests across web, email, and social with Marketing Cloud and has seen a 40% uplift with triple-digit conversion growth through advanced segmentation, personalization, and journey optimization.
• Holistic customer experiences: With Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Data Cloud in one platform, Turtle Bay is working to create a full “Guest 360” of customer profiles for optimal experiences from pre-booking to post-stay.
• Real-time assistance: Turtle Bay will use Salesforce’s Einstein 1 Platform to improve guest experiences and personalization even more. Data Cloud will segment customers into ideal personas, and an AI assistant will make tailored recommendations. For example, if they are segmented into a family category, family-friendly activities will be recommended.

More information:

• Learn more about Turtle Bay Resort
• Learn about the future of business with CRM + AI + Data + Trust here
• Read more news and stories from TrailblazerDX

MTech Mobility is proud to announce the opening of the MTech Technology Innovation Labs, a groundbreaking facility dedicated to advancing technology solutions in multiple industries globally. These cutting-edge labs underscore MTech's commitment to delivering innovative, customer-focused technology solutions that drive productivity and revenue growth.

"At the heart of MTech's philosophy lies a steadfast commitment to innovation that solves organizations' real-world challenges. MTech Technology Innovation Labs embodies this commitment, marking a new era where technology transcends traditional boundaries to create unparalleled customer experiences,” said Tony Fernandez, CEO of MTech. “Our vision for the labs is not just about pioneering new solutions; it's about redefining the future, ensuring every technological advancement we design is in lockstep with our clients' evolving needs. Here, our paths converge—blending technology, industry experience, and strategic innovation to elevate your brand's performance.

At the Forefront of Innovation

The MTech Technology Innovation Labs are a dynamic ecosystem that fosters creativity and practical solution development. As a hardware-agnostic and software-agnostic innovation hub, it offers unparalleled opportunities to explore and design solutions, irrespective of hardware or software preferences. This approach enables MTech to serve as a full-service solution integrator for customers, providing hardware, accessories, software and a comprehensive suite of managed mobility services tailored to enhance the efficacy of mobile workforces. This strategy not only simplifies operations but also guarantees that the technology in place aligns seamlessly with business objectives, following a meticulous process of planning, design, configuration, and testing, focused on the customers specific solution.

MTech invites business stakeholders to explore opportunities to develop new mobile solutions at MTechinnovationlabs.com.

In an exciting development for the restaurant industry, Stream Digital Signage and Table Needs have joined forces to integrate Stream's Content Manager Software with Table Needs' innovative Point of Sale (POS) system. This partnership is set to transform the drive-thru and dining experience, bringing unprecedented efficiency and accuracy to restaurant operations.

This strategic collaboration introduces a seamless connection between order confirmations at the drive-thru, live price changes, and now, advanced inventory management from the POS to digital menu boards. With this integration, when an item runs out and is marked as such in the Point of Sale, the digital menu boards will automatically update to reflect the item as "Sold Out."

Enhanced Features of the Integration Include:

• Real-Time Order Confirmation: Drive-thru customers will see their orders displayed instantly, enhancing trust and satisfaction through transparent communication.
• Live Price Changes: Direct updates from the POS to digital menu boards ensure that menu prices are always current, fostering a transparent pricing environment for patrons.
• Innovative Inventory Management: The integration takes a significant leap forward by automatically updating digital menu boards to indicate when an item is sold out, streamlining the dining experience and preventing order discrepancies.

"Partnering with Table Needs allows us to push the boundaries of what digital signage can achieve in the restaurant sector," said Michael Plant, Co-Founder at Stream Digital Signage. "This integration not only simplifies operations but also elevates the customer experience by ensuring accuracy from order placement to fulfillment."

Ben Simmons, CEO of Table Needs, echoed this sentiment: "This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that address the real-world challenges faced by restaurants today. The added feature of inventory management to digital menu boards is a game-changer, ensuring our clients can offer a seamless and dynamic dining experience."

The integration between Stream Digital Signage and Table Needs is now available, marking a significant advancement in restaurant technology solutions. Restaurants looking to leverage this technology can find more information by visiting https://explorestream.com/ and https://tableneeds.com/.