Tony Loeb

💾 PAR Technology Corp. introduced its PAR POS Spring Release, enhancing core performance and adding features like guest convenience, in-store resilience, and platform extensibility. New functionalities include Pay via SMS, QR code payments with PAR® Pay, loyalty account in-store payments, and open order additions. The update offers Geofencing for ETA on Kitchen Chits, customizable item modifier pricing, expanded tax support (including Ontario's quantity-based taxes and marketplace facilitator taxes from DoorDash and Uber Eats), and an improved real-time Data Feed for faster item availability updates. These upgrades aim to improve transaction speeds, table turnover, kitchen efficiency, and profitability while ensuring accurate tax reporting and seamless system integration.

📡 Cloudbeds launched Cloudbeds Labs, an AI-focused innovation hub, to transform hospitality operations. Its two AI solutions, Signals and Engage, aim to improve revenue and marketing optimization, and manage phone interactions, respectively. Signals forecasts demand with over 96% accuracy up to 180 days in advance and can outperform competitors by 15% or more. Engage, an AI voice concierge, operates in five languages and offers voice-driven bookings and upselling. Both products are designed to boost direct bookings, increase operational efficiency, and reduce labor costs.

🏨 Personalization in hospitality is now expected, with travelers desiring control over their experience and add-ons for convenience and comfort. Hotels are adopting a retailer mindset—offering dynamic upsell opportunities, transparent pricing, and personalized experiences—to drive direct bookings. A Quantum Metric survey reveals 32% of consumers remain loyal to brands for perks and discounts, while 89% would reconsider loyalty if perks were removed. Hotels are advised to leverage guest data, offer diverse upsell opportunities, and promote off-peak travel to meet the needs of cost-sensitive travelers and build brand loyalty.

📡 Cloudbeds launched Cloudbeds Labs, an innovation hub for AI-driven operations in hospitality, featuring Signals and Engage solutions. Signals forecasts demand with 96%+ accuracy up to 180 days out and can outperform competitors by 15% or more. Engage, an AI voice concierge, operates in five languages and can process voice-driven bookings and upsell services. Cloudbeds Labs promotes rapid AI tool development, co-development with hotel partners, and integration with the Cloudbeds PMS platform.

💾 PAR Technology Corp. unveiled its PAR POS Spring Release, enhancing guest convenience with contactless payment options like Pay via SMS and QR code, and allowing payment through loyalty accounts. The update introduces Geofencing Integration for ETA on Kitchen Chits, streamlines pickup operations, and offers tailored pricing on item modifiers. It also improves tax support catering to regions like Ontario, Canada, and incorporates marketplace facilitator taxes from delivery services. The platform now allows custom data management via API, with significant performance boosts, reducing sync times to nearly instant. The release aims to balance stability and innovation for restaurant operators.

💰 Loyalty check sizes are increasing across restaurant concepts and c-stores, with 50% of FSRs, 44% of QSRs, and 31% of c-stores seeing over 10% growth year-over-year. However, 12-25% of brands experienced declines, and about a quarter saw no significant change. The 2025 Paytronix Loyalty Report highlights the importance of AI-enhanced data analytics, qualitative behavior feedback, and personalization to drive loyalty spend and visit frequency. AI-driven personalization, smart upsells, and relevant offers can transform loyalty programs into revenue generators. Note: As an AI language model, I don't have direct access to external content such as the "2025 Paytronix Loyalty Report" and therefore cannot extract data or content from it. The summary provided is based on the information you included in the initial request.

💸 2025 Paytronix Loyalty Report shows loyalty check sizes rising across restaurant concepts and c-stores, yet flat sizes are also common. 50% of full-service restaurants (FSRs), 44% of quick-service restaurants (QSRs), and 31% of convenience stores (c-stores) reported over 10% year-over-year loyalty check size growth. However, 12–25% of brands experienced declines, and about a quarter of QSR and FSR brands saw little change. AI-enhanced data analytics, qualitative behavior feedback, and personalized marketing are recommended to boost loyalty spend and program efficiency.

🍴 The 2025 Paytronix Loyalty Report indicates that loyalty check sizes are increasing in restaurants and c-stores, yet 50% of FSRs, 44% of QSRs, and 31% of c-stores experienced over a 10% rise year-over-year. However, 12-25% of brands saw loyalty check declines, and about a quarter of QSR and FSR brands observed flat growth. AI-enhanced data analytics, qualitative behavior feedback, and personalization are recommended for driving loyalty spend and personalizing guest experiences. Rachel Peterson, a Paytronix loyalty strategist, emphasizes the importance of granular, targeted messaging for customer retention and visitation.

💾 PAR Technology Corp announced the launch of its POS Spring Release with enhancements in guest convenience, in-store resilience, and platform extensibility. The release features contactless payment options like Pay via SMS and QR code, flexibility in adding items to orders, geofencing integration for kitchen chits, tailored pricing on item modifiers, and improved tax support reflecting regional rules. Additionally, custom data management and a real-time Data Feed improve sync times and system tracking.

💾 PAR Technology Corp. introduced PAR POS Spring Release, enhancing guest convenience with secure contactless payments, including Pay via SMS and QR code, loyalty account payments, and flexible item additions to orders. Staff operations streamlined with Geofencing Integration for Kitchen Chits, customizable pricing on item modifiers, and improved tax support for regional and third-party delivery service taxes. Platform extensibility now features custom data management via API, and a Data Feed reducing item sync times to nearly instant. These innovations aim to balance stability and innovation for restaurant operators.