Automatic

🔥 Anacove, a developer of AI-enabled energy management solutions, introduced the Anacove Smart Thermostat for hotels to reduce energy costs and maximize guest comfort. The IoT device monitors room conditions, integrates with existing Wi-Fi and HVAC systems, and is maintenance-free with Internet updates. In tests with IHG Hotels, the thermostat proved effective, leading to a 50% reduction in HVAC energy usage. It's part of a suite including Staff Safety Alerts, Toilet Leak Detectors, and Asset Tracking Services. Hotels using Anacove products typically see ROI within 12 months, with the potential for a 6-month payback in high energy cost areas. Anacove aims to help hotels save on average more than $2 billion annually in the US.

📊 At the 30th anniversary MURTEC 2025, Hospitality Technology interviewed Niko Papademetriou, Co-Founder and SVP of Qu. They discussed AI, data, and restaurant industry challenges. Qu, with its slogan "beyond POS," focuses on unified commerce for mid-market and enterprise restaurant brands, enhancing fast casual and quick-service chains. Key discussions included restaurant challenges (50s), benefits of a unified data platform (2:20), system integration (2:30), implementation (4:00), and a case study on Golden Corral (4:55).

📊 At MURTEC 2025, Clark Matthews from El Pollo Loco, Tom Seeker of Ziggi’s Coffee, and Meredith Laurans of SPB Hospitality discussed leveraging real-time data for restaurant operations. El Pollo Loco uses real-time insights for labor compliance and sales competitions between locations. Krystal Restaurants aims for data standardization for a unified view, while Ziggi’s Coffee analyzes weather data for promotional planning. The panel highlighted the importance of data collection, standardization, and actionable insights for operational efficiency and profitability. AI and automation are tools for data analysis, with Ziggi's employing Microsoft-based automation for centralized data warehousing.