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Automatic

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Crave Interactive and UrVenue Redefine Luxury with In-Room Booking for Poolside Experiences

📌 UATP, a global payment network, announced HRS as a new merchant, enabling UATP payments for business travelers and groups with HRS' corporate lodging technology. This partnership marks UATP's first large-scale hotel acceptance, offering direct access to HRS' business-travel ready hotels and integrated invoice automation, billing, and reconciliation. Announced one day before UATP’s Airline Distribution® 2025 event in Budapest, the collaboration aims to create an ecosystem for business travel, optimize corporate account holders, and expand UATP's footprint amidst rising corporate travel demand. HRS' AI-powered platform technology and UATP's payment expertise offer enhanced automation and reporting for corporate travel managers.
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STUDY: 90% of Business Travel Managers are Using AI, but Opportunities in Corporate Travel Abound

📌 UATP, a global payment network, announced HRS, a corporate lodging and payment platform, as a new UATP Merchant, marking UATP's first major move into hotel acceptance. This partnership allows for UATP payments at a wide array of business-travel ready hotels and offers invoice automation, billing, and reconciliation from a single provider. The announcement came ahead of UATP’s Airline Distribution® 2025 event in Budapest, with discussions led by UATP CEO Ralph Kaiser and HRS CEO Tobias Ragge on March 19. The collaboration is expected to enhance payment efficiency for corporate travel managers, HRS’ core market, where UATP accounts are commonly used. HRS provides an AI-powered platform for hotel procurement, booking, and payment, while UATP adds its payment expertise to the sector. Both companies aim for mutual benefits from their aligned technological innovations.
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Waffle House Launches Delivery

💳 UATP partners with HRS, enabling HRS to accept UATP payments for business travelers, meeting attendees, and crews. HRS, a global corporate lodging and payment tech platform, joins UATP as its first large-scale hotel acceptance partner, enhancing UATP's corporate and airline client services with direct access to business-travel ready hotels. The partnership, announced before UATP's Airline Distribution 2025 event in Budapest, marks UATP's expansion into hotel and meeting sectors, offering invoice automation, billing, and reconciliation from one provider. HRS' AI-powered platform and UATP's payment expertise provide corporate travel managers with detailed reporting and cost control, catering to surging corporate travel demand.
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Strategic Investment Powers Jurny’s AI Platform Expansion Across Global Hospitality Ecosystem

💳 UATP, a global payment network, partnered with HRS, a corporate lodging and payment platform, becoming a UATP Merchant to accept payments for business travelers. This partnership allows access to HRS' business-travel ready hotels and provides invoice automation and financial reporting. Announced on the eve of UATP's Airline Distribution 2025 conference in Budapest, it marks UATP's entry into hotel acceptance. HRS' AI-infused platform and UATP's payment expertise aim to streamline corporate travel and payments, expanding options for travel suppliers.
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How Restaurants Can Scale Fast & Smart: Lessons From Bite and Ono Hawaiian BBQ

💻 At MURTEC 2025, Brandon Barton, CEO of Bite, and Harry Yu, Director of IT at Ono Hawaiian BBQ, discussed strategic tech investments. Yu, with 26 years of tech experience including roles at Dine Brands, Jollibee, and Johnny Rockets, stressed the importance of foundational tech before AI and robotics. Ono Hawaiian BBQ, with 117 locations, focuses on scalable, rapid deployment tech solutions, emphasizing data hygiene and infrastructure as key to effective AI adoption. Robotics are considered but not yet implemented to ensure guest experience remains a priority.
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Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs to Retire in 2026

💸 In fall 2024, 70 hospitality workers participated in a study about earned wage access (EWA) program Fuego's impact on their financial well-being. 60% cited bill payments as a primary stressor, 76% used EWA for food, and 53% constantly worried about daily expenses. EWA helped 57% avoid borrowing from friends/family and 40% evade late fees. 75% accessed wages weekly, with 41% withdrawing $100 or more. The study, supported by Fourth, highlights EWA's potential to improve financial stability among employees. Read the full report at www.ebri.org.
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Maestro PMS President Warren Dehan Announces Transition to Advisory Role

🍴 TouchBistro's 2025 American Diner Trends Report surveyed 1,500 U.S. diners, finding that despite a 12.5% increase in dining costs, weekly dining habits rose from 39% to 42%. Takeout and delivery demand has slightly increased, with 28% ordering more than last year. Top delivery services include DoorDash (73%), Uber Eats (56%), and Grubhub (34%). Loyalty program engagement grew to 47% from 34% in 2023. Dining frequency differs significantly with income; 27% of households earning $200k. Gen Z, although less affluent, has a large impact, with 20% eating out daily and nearly half planning to dine out more. Solo dining is up among Gen Z at 49%. Average dining cost is now $54, with a 16% average tip; however, Gen Z tips less, averaging 13%. Delivery tipping habits remain unchanged for 64% of diners.
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Designing for the Future: Jamba’s Scalable Store Concept

🍪 Jamba CBO Nathan Louer introduces the Hello Sunshine prototype to enhance takeout convenience with grab-and-go cold wells for product freshness. The design adapts to various store formats including inline stores, freestanding locations, drive-thrus, mall kiosks, and co-branded spaces with Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, and Cinnabon. Jamba’s loyalty program now integrates across GoTo family brands for seamless rewards use. Upcoming co-branded Jamba and Auntie Anne’s store to open in San Diego with further openings in Hawaii and Minnesota. Jamba, founded in 1990, is a leading lifestyle brand offering fresh smoothies, bowls, juices, and more.
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Lance Tucker Named Jack in the Box Chief Executive Officer

🍴 TouchBistro’s 2025 American Diner Trends Report surveyed 1,500 U.S. diners, finding a 12.5% increase in restaurant spending, despite higher living costs. Weekly dining frequency rose from 39% to 42%, with 28% ordering more takeout/delivery than last year. DoorDash leads delivery apps at 73%, followed by Uber Eats (56%) and Grubhub (34%). Loyalty program engagement jumped to 47% from 34% in 2023. Lower-income households dine out less, with only 27% of those making under $50k dining weekly, versus 64% of households earning $200k+. Gen Z, despite lower incomes, are influential diners, with 20% eating out daily and 50% planning to order more takeout/delivery. Tipping averages 16%, yet 27% tip between 20-24%, balanced by 15% tipping 5% or less. Gen Z tips the least at 13%. The report suggests restaurants minimize menu price hikes, expand delivery/takeout, leverage limited-time offers, boost digital presence, and experiment with tech.
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