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Automatic

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  • 1 min

Insights to Own the Future

📊 Activate Consulting's 10th annual insight report on technology and media outlook is now available for download. This comprehensive report offers a deep dive into upcoming trends in technology, internet, media, entertainment, eCommerce, and sports, informed by large-scale consumer insights, industry and economic analysis, and Activate Consulting's proprietary expertise.
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  • 2 min

Rtfkt — an early Web3 fashion success story — is folding

🎮 Rtfkt, a Web3 streetwear brand acquired by Nike in 2021, will cease operations by January 2025. Founders Benoit Pagotto, Steven Vasilev, and Chris Le announced the shutdown on Discord and X, calling it a "new chapter." Rtfkt, founded in 2020, reached $185.3 million in NFT sales revenue before its acquisition by Nike. A final website update and a product drop 'Mnlth X featuring the Blade' are scheduled for this month. The brand's future and its integration with Nike's digital strategy after the closure remain uncertain.
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  • 3 min

Grubhub Onsite and Hilton Expand Partnership to Elevate the Guest Experience

🍔 Bikky, a data platform for restaurants, partnered with Haven Hot Chicken, a fast-growing Nashville-style chicken brand founded in 2020 with nine locations. Haven leverages Bikky to understand guest behaviors across all outlets, influencing decisions from menu to marketing. Insights from Bikky enabled Haven to retain a strategic menu item and enhance their marketing precision. Haven is poised for ambitious expansion in 2025, with detailed demographic data to inform site selection and maximize ROI. Bikky's clientele includes fast casual brands like Dave's Hot Chicken and Bojangles.
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  • 3 min

Grubhub Onsite and Hilton Expand Partnership to Elevate the Guest Experience

🔥 Bikky, a data platform for restaurants, partnered with Haven Hot Chicken, a rapidly growing Nashville-style chicken brand founded in 2020 with nine locations as of summer. The partnership enables Haven to analyze customer behavior and make data-driven decisions. Bikky's insights helped Haven retain a lower-selling menu item, the caesar salad, due to its influence on customer frequency. Haven plans to double store count in the next year, with Bikky aiding in expansion success measurement. Bikky also serves brands like Dave’s Hot Chicken and Bojangles.
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  • 7 min

The Evolution of Hospitality: Key Trends Driving Hotel Innovation

🏠 Slovenia's hotel group taps into local pride with attractions like Lake Bled and a resident beekeeper for a unique breakfast experience. The Six Senses resort in Portugal offers DIY moisturizer workshops for guests. EU’s CSRD mandates ESG reporting for large companies from 2025, potentially expanding to smaller businesses. Research indicates 39% of consumers pay more for sustainability, with Gen Z holding $140 trillion in spending power, favoring sustainable experiences. The Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman, with Jean-Michel Cousteau, offers environmental education to guests and residents. Personalization in the hotel industry is crucial, evidenced by Ritz-Carlton's guest preference records. Technology enhances guest experiences with AI, mobile check-ins, and apps. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to transform hospitality with luxury and sustainability, promising 5,000 hotel rooms in AlUla by 2035. Revenue management is key, such as a Malta hotel’s jump from €200 to €550 average rates through strategic pricing. Post-pandemic, luxury hotels may maintain high rates, while mid-level hotels could see pricing pressure.
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Reviving the GDS Advantage: Maximizing Hotel Bookings through Travel Sellers

🏨 North America leads in GDS usage, with 91% of travel sellers using it as much or more than 2 years prior. Latin America (51%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (57%), and Asia Pacific (56%) report increased GDS usage. Over two-thirds of travel sellers are influenced by GDS ads, and 93% respond to terms like “free” or “complimentary”. Sustainability is important for 60% of sellers. Effective GDS campaigns need audience insight, tailored marketing, performance optimization, and relationship building to engage global travel sellers and increase hotel bookings.
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  • 3 min

Three Key Tech Capabilities Boosting Independent Hotel Operations

🏨 Independent hoteliers in the U.S. are advised to prioritize automation, data analysis, and system connectivity in technology investments. Automation enhances operational efficiency and revenue management, leading to higher revenue per available room (RevPAR) and average daily rates than branded counterparts. Data analytics enable targeted marketing and informed decisions on pricing and inventory. Effective system connectivity ensures long-term scalability and strategic business planning without hindering future integrations.
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How Fire & Vine Hospitality Transformed Customer Engagement with RTN Data Standards and Oracle CrowdTwist

💰 Fire & Vine's private dining business generates 30-35% of its total revenue, primarily from corporate clients. The company is using CrowdTwist to segment customer profiles for targeted marketing campaigns. The transition from a 12-year-old legacy loyalty system to CrowdTwist began with the intention to keep initial functionality, but by 2025, Fire & Vine aims to fully leverage the new system's capabilities for personalized customer rewards and employee engagement programs, as discussed at MURTEC 2024. The company is focusing on personalization, with plans to run exclusive offers for loyal customers and create tailored incentives for employees.
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