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URBAN PARK HOTEL Collection, an independent budget-conscious hotel group, has partnered with technology firm LodgeTender to integrate its latest hotel technology platform. The new technology offers hotel owners an extra revenue stream, while eliminating the need to pay for a hotel PMS, booking engine, and channel manager, Urban Park Hotel said in a statement. "The partnership with LodgeTender offers our hotel portfolio an opportunity to earn rather than pay for a technology package," said Jay Patel, managing partner of Urban Park Hotel Collection. "We're delighted to introduce products and services that not only save our owners money, but also generate additional revenue for our member hotels." "Hotel owners now have the chance to upgrade their technology while staying ahead with productive features for added revenue and seamless guest service connections," added Kent Comfort, president of LodgeTender.

FF&E PROVIDER HÄFELE and Like Magic, a guest experience platform, are producing a new multifunctional hotel room concept. The "Work and Sleep" concept allows hotel operators to transform rooms into offices, meeting spaces and other functional areas using digitally enabled furniture, fitting solutions and specialized software. Work and Sleep integrates a booking engine, guest platform, employee interface and monitoring tools into one central hub, streamlining hotel management, the companies said in a joint statement. It will combine Like Magic's guest and employee experience platform with Häfele's hardware systems, the statement said. The collaboration aims to introduce new revenue models by activating otherwise vacant rooms while reducing outfitting costs. "Our goal is to lead the way in hotel industry innovation with our forward-thinking concepts," said Gregor Riekena, Häfele's CEO. "We are currently testing these new ideas at the ibis Styles Hotel in Nagold, Germany, which serves as a valuable proving ground for our initiatives. This innovation not only allows us to gather essential insights and refine our concepts, but also demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what modern hotels can offer. By continuously evolving and enhancing our solutions, we aim to set new standards for guest experience and operational efficiency."

TOCK, A RESERVATIONS and events platform for the hospitality industry, recently partnered with Curator Hotel & Resort Collection to enhance food and beverage operations and provide additional amenities to guests. The partnership will enable Curator member hotels and resorts to streamline operations, drive revenue and improve guests' experiences on a single system. "Tock provides a holistic solution that empowers our customers and we're thrilled to bring that to Curator's elite network of independent hotels and resorts," said Patrick Venn, Tock's head of hotels and enterprise. "This partnership aligns with our mission to empower hotels of all sizes with forward-thinking technology focused on revenue management. Together, we aim to help these properties not only in navigating today's competitive landscape, but also setting new standards in delivering extraordinary guest experiences." Tock's platform offers capabilities tailored for hotel operators, Tock said in a statement.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING stations are a growing fixture at hotels around the U.S. Now, EV charging hardware and software producer EVPassport has released a new cloud-based system that connects its users to the hotel's guest services platform. The EVPassport Hotel Cloud, a variation of the company's cloud platform designed specifically for the hospitality industry, offers several options beside a simple charge. Guests can use the platform to locate the hotel on all EV charging location maps and apps. It allows owners to set charging prices, manage access and get details on energy usage, earnings history and carbon offset. EVPassport Hotel Cloud's "scan and charge" QR code technology allows users to pay without needing fobs, apps or cards. Hotels get an extra revenue stream from the stations, which can be wrapped in the hotel's name, logo and colors.

VISUAL MATRIX, A hospitality technology provider, reported a 440 percent growth in the use of its mobile housekeeping operating platform, MOP, since it acquired the platform in 2021. MOP is now used in more than 1,000 hotels, representing more than 33 brands, including Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International and IHG Hotels & Resorts, Visual Matrix said in a statement. "MOP was designed to help hoteliers overcome the many operating challenges they face today, in addition to the crunch of reduced labor," said Georgine Muntz, Visual Matrix CEO. "Hoteliers deserve access to tools that work as hard as they do. That's why we have spent so much time listening to hoteliers, understanding their pain points and finding ways to reduce friction when delivering service." MOP facilitates routine processes with mobile housekeeping and maintenance controls, the statement said. The program connects hotel team members using checklists, prompts and alerts. MOP's mobile format allows workers to share information and stay updated on room availability and maintenance requests without calls or trips to the front desk.

STAYNTOUCH, A CLOUD-BASED hotel property management software developer, recently launched UpsellPRO, an attribute-based selling platform that allows hotels to unbundle room reservations and market individual room features to guests during the booking process. The launch followed a report stating that half of respondents with a booking window over one month would pay more for ABS, Stayntouch said in a statement. "Attribute-based selling is giving travelers a degree of control over their hotel stay that they never thought possible, and hoteliers can deliver this experience without overwhelming themselves with unmanageable processes," said Nicole Dehler, Stayntouch's vice president of product. "The best part about today's ABS deployments is they can be delivered directly through the hotel PMS, automating inventory and room management without relying on a convoluted network of connected systems." Dehler said any hotel can leverage upselling to enhance service delivery and boost revenue growth organically, in a way that guests love.

HOTEL EQUITIES HAS partnered with Grazzy and Visa Direct to launch a digital tipping platform for their associates and guests. This initiative aims to provide a secure and cashless way for guests to tip hotel staff, HE said in a statement. According to a recent study, 83 percent of hotel guests want to tip staff digitally but face limitations. HE and Grazzy's program enables guests to tip housekeeping, front desk and other staff from their mobile devices, the company said. By scanning a hotel branded QR code in their room or on hotel signage, guests can access Grazzy, choose the staff member and enter the desired tip amount. No cash or extra apps are required, the statement added.

HOTEL WEBSITES LED all booking sources in revenue per booking in 2024, generating an average of $519, 60 percent higher than other channels, according to SiteMinder. Furthermore, the largest volume of hotel reservations from a single technology platform rose 8.5 percent year-over-year, with a value-per-booking 60 percent higher than OTAs at $320. SiteMinder's Hotel Booking Trends report, based on more than 125 million reservations, found the figure was 35 percent higher than global distribution systems at $380 and 15 percent higher than wholesalers, DMCs and tour operators combined at $446. Direct booking value rose year-over-year, with hotel websites holding or improving their position among top revenue sources in all major travel destinations for the first time. In the U.S., hotel websites remained the third-highest revenue-generating channel.

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS has entered into a new agreement with Groups360 to bring instant online multi-room bookings to Wyndham hotels in 2023. Using Groups360's GroupSync Marketplace direct booking solution, Wyndham hotel owners will have the opportunity to integrate the platform with their hotel reservation systems, providing travel planners, including groups and events organizers along with those managing infrastructure, logistics and corporate accounts, with rates and availability as well as booking of rooms online, the company said in a statement. "Over the last three years, Wyndham has invested over $100 million in major technology initiatives, giving our franchisees access to best-in-class offerings that unlock new efficiencies while helping to grow their bottom line," said Lisa Checchio, Wyndham's chief marketing officer. "Bringing franchisees access to GroupSync is just the latest example and one we believe offers incredible opportunity for franchisees, particularly those in the economy segment, where such technology is an industry first." Hotels that publish live inventory and rates within the GroupSync Marketplace save travel planners' valuable time by allowing them to search, shop and book blocks of rooms. Possible users include short one- to-two-night group events such as youth sports, weddings and family reunions, as well as multi-week infrastructure or logistics projects such as commercial construction, bridge repair or highway expansion, Wyndham's statement said.

Jessica Kramer is the new CEO of hotel operations and collaboration platform, Lodgistics. Also, Wendy Zapach joined the company as chief revenue officer and Jami Poe is the new vice president for sales. The three new appointments will support the expansion of the operations platform provider, led by Shaunak Patel, the company's co-founder as well as president of North Carolina-based Parks Hospitality Group. Kramer previously served in executive leadership roles at TravelClick, ALICE and SevenRooms, which included running sales, revenue operations, business development, mergers and acquisitions and partnerships, according to the company. "I am thrilled to welcome Jessica as our new CEO. Her deep expertise in hospitality and technology, combined with her history of success scaling SaaS businesses, make her the perfect pick for our company as we embark on our next era of growth." Patel said. "Lodgistics was born inside our hotels and created in direct response to our team members' daily challenges around effectively communicating across teams and efficiently carrying out the wide range of operational tasks that make great hotel experiences possible. That's why it was crucial to find an executive who had deep, hands-on experience with both fast-growing technology companies and hotel operations. It is this unique and critical intersection of Jessica's experience and Lodgistics' DNA that make this the right match."

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS recently launched Wyndham Connect, a new guest engagement platform by Canary Technologies, in North America. The platform, first announced at the company's 2023 global conference, is available at no additional cost to owners, with nearly 2,000 North American hotels already using it, Wyndham said in a statement. "We always put our franchisees first, and investing in innovative technology like AI sets them apart from the competition," said Scott Strickland, Wyndham's chief commercial officer. "With access to powerful solutions like Wyndham Connect, our franchisees can manage their businesses more efficiently and curate guest experiences to help make stays more meaningful than ever. The result? Happier guests, higher chances for repeat business and money in franchisees' pockets."

DIGITAL TIPPING CAN boost hotel associates' earnings by up to $375 per week, according to a recent study by Shiny, a digital tipping platform. Furthermore, guests are 15 percent more likely to tip compared to 2023, with half leaving tips of $10 or more. Shiny's second annual report, "Harnessing Tipping Data to Empower and Motivate Hospitality Workers," also includes a case study on Stonebridge Cos., a hospitality management firm that implemented Shiny's digital tipping platform across its hotels in 2022. The report analyzes tipping behaviors and patterns at hotels using its digital tipping software. "Not only is providing a tipping option for associates a phenomenal benefit to increase take-home pay, but it also is a fantastic way to keep employees engaged beyond daily standup," said Rebecca Robinson, Shiny's cofounder. "In this report, we continue to explore trends in digital tipping to further improve operations and ultimately increase retention."

CONTACTLESS CHECK-IN TECHNOLOGY firm Virdee is now integrated with commerce technology platform FreedomPay. The companies will offer a PCI-validated, point-to-point encryption solution with EMV, NFC, currency conversion and real-time data capabilities. The transition will help Virdee to offer end-to-end protection for credit card payments made through FreedomPay's cloud-based payments platform. It also provided FreedomPay compatibility with Virdee's check-in/check-out process with software for identity verification, payment collection, access control and remote support, according to Virdee. "Our integration with Virdee offers our customers expanded options, flexibility and, most important, security," said Chris Kronenthal, president of FreedomPay. "We help streamline and simplify complex payment options, while providing a single flow of data to facilitate consumer insights and engagement for our hotel clients. We're proud to partner with best-in-class solution providers, like Virdee, as we work together to revolutionize hotel operations and guest-facing technologies."

IHG HOTELS & RESORTS has selected California-based Canary Technologies as the global digital tipping solution vendor, enabling guests to tip hotel staff. Founded by Harman Narula and SJ Sawhney in 2017, the company offers digital tipping solutions and an end-to-end guest management system, including mobile check-in and checkout, dynamic upsells, and guest messaging, Canary said in a statement. "Hotel staff members are the backbone of the hospitality industry and guests want to tip staff for great service," said Dhiraj "DJ" Singh, Canary's vice president of sales. "With the declining use of cash worldwide, staff tips have taken a hit over the years. We are thrilled to help IHG hoteliers boost guest satisfaction and reward hard-working team members." IHG Hotels & Resorts, featuring 19 brands, more than 6,000 hotels, and nearly 1 million rooms worldwide, will implement Canary's digital tipping solution to improve the guest experience and acknowledge employees efficiently, the statement added.

UNIFOCUS, A WORKFORCE management system provider led by CEO Moneesh Arora, recently partnered with Nonius, a guest-facing solutions company for hotels, to integrate Nonius' platform with the Unifocus operations management system. This partnership ensures guest requests inform operational priorities, enabling real-time adaptation to guest needs and improving service delivery and staff efficiency. By integrating Nonius' guest messaging solution, Unifocus connects hotel staff with guests more effectively, the companies said in a joint statement. "Our partnership with Nonius isn't just an additional feature, it's a transformative bridge connecting the guest experience with hotel operations," said Arora. "It blends technology with the guest journey, enhancing human connections and setting the stage for the future of hospitality."

As a young man, Amir Ahmed was more interested in sports than in the career in medicine his family wanted for him. However, he parlayed that competitive spirit and focus on personal relationships into the skills he needed to succeed in business and achieve his current position as executive vice president for DISH TV, part of DISH Network Corp., and he shared his story in Asian Hospitality's Leadership Series. One of the responsibilities in his current role is to oversee DISH's hospitality business. His leadership is paving the way for new technology offered in hotels to attract guests and improve efficiency not only for the hotel but also for the guest during their hotel stay. The company's new OnStream platform, provides personalized service to guests while reducing hotels' labor needs. Through it all, he has remembered his heritage and drawn inspiration from it.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY picked the Agilysys point-of-sale platform, InfoGenesis, as an option for its hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada. Marriott's luxury, premium and select tiers hotels in both countries can now use the platform for guest-facing and staff-facing operations in F&B, retail and activity centers at each property. Agilysys is led by CEO Ramesh Srinivasan. InfoGenesis consolidates guest and staff purchasing transactions onto a single comprehensive cloud platform tailored for the hospitality industry, Agilysis said in a statement. InfoGenesis POS integrates with Marriott property management systems, furnishing front desk operators with detailed POS transactional information aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. "Marriott International is a globally admired organization and we look forward to offering properties across the U.S. and Canada the opportunity to leverage our enterprise-grade InfoGenesis omnichannel point-of-sale technology platform," said Srinivasan.

HYATT HOTELS CORP. recently selected the Oracle OPERA Cloud hospitality platform as the property management system for its global portfolio of more than 1,000 hotels and all-inclusive properties. The new PMS is expected to streamline operations, standardize data management and enhance guest experiences by enabling personalized service through a deeper understanding of guest preferences across stays. With OPERA Cloud's mobile capability, Hyatt employees can assist guests from anywhere, anytime, the companies said in a statement. "As one of the world's top hospitality companies, Hyatt is committed to caring for people so they can be their best," said Cameron Hammond, Hyatt's senior vice president of global field technology services. "In today's evolving environment, technology plays a critical role in empowering our colleagues to continue delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests. By moving to OPERA Cloud and extending our long-standing collaboration with Oracle, we will provide our operators and colleagues with a modern, secure platform to deliver better data insights and elevate their roles with greater ease and efficiency."

CENDYN, A GLOBAL hospitality cloud technology company, recently acquired Knowland, a provider of data-as-a-service intelligence for meetings and events. The acquisition aims to enhance sales prospecting and boost bookings in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events sector, Cendyn said in a statement. Knowland's platform provides market intelligence from more than 7,500 U.S. hotels and select international markets. "To effectively sell group business, hoteliers need immediate access to data, and Knowland's event intelligence platform is the market leader in this area," said Jack Blaha, Cendyn's CEO. "Its sales intelligence complements our sales CRM, helping hoteliers find their target audience. Using our Proposals and Grouprev platforms, hoteliers can complete the booking process. It's a perfect fit with our commitment to helping hoteliers "Find, Book, and Grow" their business. With Haveli Investments' expertise in technology joining our expansion, we're poised for a bright future for Cendyn's customers."

VIRDEE AND HOTELKEY recently launched an improved guest relations platform with streamlined check-in and more support. Salt Lake City-based LivAway Suites is the first hotel chain to adopt the Virdee-HotelKey solution. Virdee, a self-service technology and check-in automation company, is led by cofounders Nadav Cornberg and Branigan Mulcahy, while HotelKey, a cloud-based hotel property management system, is led by cofounder and president Aditya Thyagarajan. "The ability for our property management system to integrate with Virdee's self-service check-in solution ensures that guests receive excellent service whether interacting with staff or using our automated systems," said Thyagarajan.