Automatic

📺 Hotel IT leaders are prioritizing in-room technology as essential, according to a DIRECTV HOSPITALITY survey. Fast, reliable Wi-Fi is the top guest must-have. Kimberly Twiggs emphasizes shifting the view of IT from a cost to an investment. TVs are evolving into digital hubs offering contactless services, guest engagement, and personalization. Ensuring data privacy is crucial, with features like automatic daily credential clearing. Technology enhances guest experiences, balancing digital convenience with personal service.

💰 In 2022, TakeUp was founded in San Francisco. It's tackling pricing issues for independent hotels using AI that adapts prices based on guest behavior. Their platform boosts revenue by an average of 20%-30% and saves owners 15 hours weekly. By July 2025, TakeUp raised $11 million in Series A funding to expand its offerings. The company aims to democratize AI for independents, offering transparency and human oversight in pricing decisions.

🍪 Chip City Cookies, founded in 2017, partnered with Square in 2020 to fuel its nationwide expansion from 5 to over 50 stores across nine states. Utilizing Square’s restaurant platform, Chip City optimizes from point-of-sale to loyalty programs, enhancing customer experiences and operational insights. This tech-driven growth strategy helped secure $17.5M in venture capital from Danny Meyer’s Enlightened Hospitality. The brand focuses on innovation with new flavors, social engagements, and rewards, driving significant repeat business.

📱 Hospitality marketers face challenges due to user-level signal loss and outdated tracking methods. Conversion APIs (CAPIs) offer solutions by sending conversion events directly to platforms like Meta or TikTok, bypassing browser limitations. CAPIs enable better targeting and attribution, improving return on ad spend (ROAS) by double digits for some brands. IT teams are crucial for implementing CAPIs through secure data pipelines, identity resolution, and privacy compliance. This approach enhances media performance and aligns advertising investments with business results.