Innovation

4450 posts

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  • 3 min

Why Every Hotel Needs a Channel Manager (And What Happens Without One)

🏨 Hotels struggle with managing online bookings via multiple OTAs, risking overbookings and inconsistent rates. STAAH Channel Manager acts as a central hub for real-time syncing of availability and pricing, preventing errors and operational inefficiencies. It offers real-time updates, automation, rate parity, user-friendly dashboard, and seamless integration with hotel systems, improving efficiency and guest satisfaction.
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  • 2 min

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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  • 5 min

2025 Mews product roadmap highlights

📈 Mews CEO Matt Welle and Chief Product and Technology Officer Josef Starýchfojtů discussed the Mews product roadmap for 2025 on episode 21 of Matt Talks. Mews focuses on innovating hospitality with a commitment to research and development and sharing their roadmap with hoteliers. They acquired Atomize, a revenue optimization platform, and Quotelo, an event management platform, for a holistic approach to revenue and guest experience. New features like Trusted Browser and Trusted Device enhance cybersecurity. The integration details will be released at Unfold 2025, the annual hotel tech forum.
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  • 2 min

Beyond CDPs: The Rise Of AI-Driven Customer Intelligence | AdExchanger

📈 Advanced AI is reshaping marketing into a profitable and growth-centric engine. The current CDP model is criticized for being an incomplete, non-transformative solution, often adding complexity. These platforms fail to offer integrated intelligence and real agility for driving business outcomes. True customer intelligence platforms, such as Zeta's with proprietary data on 245 million US consumers, enable marketers to understand the "why" behind customer behaviors and act with precision, integrating data, intelligence, and activation across the customer journey. This evolution aims to reduce acquisition costs and increase revenue without marketers needing to be data engineers.
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  • 9 min

Why Your Hotel’s Commercial Team Needs Specialized BI Now to Win

📈 In 2025, hotels face a growing gap between data-savvy operations and outdated methods, impacting revenue, profitability, and market share. Old strategies based on experience are outmatched by data-driven competitors using tools that forecast future demand. Traditional tools like spreadsheets and generic business intelligence (BI) are inefficient and error-prone, failing to grasp hotel-specific nuances such as seasonality and booking patterns. Hotel-Specific Business Intelligence (BI) platforms like Demand Calendar offer integrated, forward-looking insights, end siloed data, enhance decision-making, and improve agility and profitability. These platforms automate data collection from PMS, RMS, CRM, and more, allowing for proactive strategies and competitive advantage in an ever-evolving market. Demand Calendar exemplifies how hotel-specific BI can transform commercial teams from reactive to strategic growth engines.
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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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  • 2 min

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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  • 3 min

Beyond Discounts: How Brands Can Win Customer Loyalty in 2025

💸 To build customer loyalty, brands should focus on convenience, recognition, and meaningful connections rather than solely on discounts. Integrating digital convenience with in-person hospitality and rewarding various forms of engagement can foster long-term relationships. Successful loyalty programs acknowledge customer actions beyond spending, such as trying new menu items or providing feedback, and offer smart recommendations based on individual preferences and dietary restrictions. The approach aims to create a seamless, personalized experience across all ordering channels.
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