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Automatic

2373 posts

Wilding Hotels Elevates Guest Experience

🏨 Jurny and Visual Matrix have partnered to enhance hotel operations with an AI-driven platform, offering features like contactless check-in and real-time messaging. Patty Jefferson highlighted the platform's ability to deliver enterprise-scale service without adding staff. With over 300,000 rooms impacted, the integration provides AI tools for automated tasks and upsells, aiming to increase revenue and service quality amidst staffing challenges. Co-founder Luca Zambello emphasized its scale and autonomous operations.
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  • 2 min

Consumer spending at small restaurants slowed in June

🍴 Small restaurants saw a 0.4% sales growth in June 2025 compared to June 2024, but faced a -2.6% drop in transactions and -2.5% decline in foot traffic. The broader small business index revealed a 1.4% sales drop from May to June, with foot traffic down 2%. Among 2 million small businesses, only 13 states reported positive foodservice performance in June versus 34 in May. Alaska led growth at 5%, while the U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%.
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  • 2 min

Restaurant job growth moderated in June

📈 The U.S. economy added 147,000 jobs in June, dropping the unemployment rate to 4.1% from 4.2%. June marks the 54th consecutive month of job growth. Eating and drinking establishments added 6,500 jobs, compared to 27,400 in April and May. As of May 2025, full-service restaurant jobs are 226,000 (4%) below pre-pandemic levels, while quick-service jobs exceed by 115,000 (2.5%). Uneven recovery persists: Idaho (16%) and Nevada (14%) lead, while Massachusetts and West Virginia lag (-6%).
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  • 1 min

Tex-Mex concept Z’Tejas has closed its restaurants

🏖 Z’Tejas, founded in 1989 in Austin, Texas, closed its last restaurant on June 30 due to an expired lease and market challenges. Initially famous for Southwestern cuisine on 6th Street, it expanded to 14 locations before filing for bankruptcy in 2015. Acquired by Cornbread Ventures and later by Randy Cohen and Michael Stone, it eventually shrank to four locations. Cohen plans to sell the business to pursue other ventures.
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  • 3 min

Accurate Content Is the First Amenity Guests Notice

🛌 At HITEC 2025, Natalie Kimball, VP at Shiji Horizon, highlighted a common hotel issue: outdated content. Guests often find discrepancies like missing fitness centers due to inconsistent data. Shiji's Iceportal Content standardizes and distributes accurate data, preventing such errors. This infrastructure, developed with hoteliers' input, integrates with existing systems and corrects data at its root. Accurate content improves guest satisfaction and reduces refunds, promoting repeat visits.
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  • 3 min

The Next Wave in Hotel Revenue Management: AI, Data Integration, and Real-Time Insights

💰 At HITEC 2025, hotel industry leaders, including Mark Lewis-Brown from Zucchetti North America, highlighted the evolution of revenue management systems (RMS). Instead of relying solely on historical data, modern RMS now incorporate real-time intelligence from diverse sources, such as airline bookings and flight searches. This shift is crucial in volatile markets, marked by reduced inbound traffic from Canada and federal travel. Automation and integration with PMS/CRS platforms enhance operational efficiency and strategic capability.
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  • 1 min

Unlock High-Performance Leadership at MURTEC Executive Summit with Paul Epstein

🍽 Restaurant executives are registering for MURTEC Executive Summit 2025, focusing on strategy and insights for future leadership. Use code COMP25 for free registration ($495 value). Open to qualified restaurant and hospitality operators, including QSRs, management companies, casinos, and more. Vendors can attend via sponsorship. Registrations are reviewed and approved. Secure your spot to join this invite-only event designed to address real challenges with impactful insights.
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  • 3 min

‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ Advances, Drawing Mixed Reactions from Hospitality

💰 President Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" passed in the Senate with a 50-50 vote, Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. Key supporters include the National Restaurant Association and American Hotel & Lodging Association for its "pro-growth tax policies." The "No Tax on Tips" provision sparked criticism from labor groups and the Independent Restaurant Coalition. The bill impacts restaurant and hotel tax policies, creating mixed reactions. Critics call for amendments to ensure equitable tax relief for all workers.
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  • 2 min

Chuck E. Cheese Debuts Arcade for Adults

💻 Jurny and Visual Matrix have partnered to automate hotel operations, impacting over 300,000 rooms. The integration offers tools like contactless mobile check-in/out, real-time messaging, and AI-driven upsells. It enhances personalization and efficiency without increasing staff. Phase II will feature voice-activated AI. Patty Jefferson highlights immediate benefits, while Luca Zambello emphasizes the potential for autonomous operations. This collaboration aims to streamline operations, boost revenue, and meet rising guest expectations.
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