Innovation

🥕 Saladplate, the content hub for Hospitality, Food and Beverage industries by Informa Markets, offers weekly news, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-monthly e-magazine. It provides insights, trends, and over 10,000 brands access, plus updates from over 35 international trade events.

💾 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.

🏗 Tour Partner Group, a B2B destination management company, has acquired JacTravel and is implementing Nezasa’s TripBuilder platform to improve operations and reach. This technology is expected to decrease time for client offers by 25% and enhance productivity. Their collaboration, a three-year contract, aims to strengthen Tour Partner Group’s market position and grow its B2B2C channel.

💰 BizAway acquires Spanish AI business travel solution Aervio, expanding its technological assets and workforce with most of Aervio's staff joining BizAway's Spanish offices. Aervio, known for its AI tools that reduce travel planning time by 90% through Natural Language Processing, was founded in April 2016. BizAway, with offices in Italy, Spain, Albania, and Dubai and over 360 employees, aims to enhance its platform for better service. Since 2015, BizAway has raised over €50 million, including €35 million in September 2024 from investors like Mayfair Equity Partners, MundiVentures, and others. CEO Luca Carlucci emphasizes the human factor in customer assistance alongside technological growth.

💰 Zenmer launched Zenia V2 with Agentic AI, enhancing its AI travel assistant for business travellers and agents. Zenia V2 utilizes Large Language Model (LLM) for natural language processing, one-click bookings, and supports cancellations and post-booking operations. It aids travel advisors with multi-language support, personalized understanding of travel policies and client preferences, increasing productivity and personalization. Nikunj Agrawal, CEO of Zenmer, highlights Zenia V2 as the first OBT with such capabilities.

🏨 RoomRaccoon, a global hotel management software provider, partners with AI company Pricepoint to offer a dynamic pricing solution for independent hotels. This two-way integration leverages artificial intelligence to analyze booking curves and customer behavior, updating room rates in real-time across sales channels. Aimed at optimizing revenue management without manual intervention, the solution is now available to hoteliers worldwide, enhancing competitiveness and operational efficiency.

📢 TRYBE, a cloud-native all-in-one booking solution, has integrated ResDiary, a restaurant reservation and table management platform. This integration enables guests to book restaurants with live availability while organizing their spa packages, streamlining interactions between hotel, spa, and dining services. TRYBE Co-Founder, Ricky Daniels, emphasizes the enhanced guest experience and operational simplicity. Colin Winning, Director of ResDiary, highlights the benefits for hotels and guests with this innovative partnership.

🎢 Odysseus Solutions adds Windstar Cruises to its portfolio, marking its entry into boutique sailing and motor yachts. Monish Luthra, the CEO, announces the partnership which brings luxury sailing yacht options to its platform. Windstar Cruises is known for small-ship experiences with 150 to 350 guests, sailing to destinations including Europe, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Windstar will introduce two new ships, Star Seeker in December 2025 and Star Explorer in December 2026.

✈ Paxport Group is launching Air2Pay, a payment solution for airlines to lower card transaction costs via bank transfers. PaxPort, with 30 years in travel technology, aims to simplify and economize airline payments. Air2Pay integrates into Paxport's airline distribution ecosystem, reducing processing fees and payment complexities. Dave Robinson, Pax2pay's Managing Director, emphasizes their commitment to B2B travel payments and their response to airlines' demand for card payment alternatives. Simon Taylor, Paxport's Head of Commercial, highlights their unique position to deliver Air2Pay, leveraging their digital payments and airline connectivity experience.