Innovation

📱 Dunkin' launched an interstitial ad for its heart-shaped "Cupid’s Choice Donut" and Brownie Batter Donut at the end of January 2024, available through February 21, 2024. McDonald's educated users on new app features, while Uber promoted a new subscription program with interstitial ads. These brands exploit advanced segmentation through loyalty programs for high lifetime value consumers. Interstitial ads are recommended for smaller brands with loyalty programs and mobile apps to increase visits and spending.

📈 Kristin Lynch joined Paytronix in 2019, rose to Senior Director in 2023 and serves over 100 clients. She blends 20+ years in brand marketing with restaurant technology, focusing on AI-enhanced personalization and guest experience. Lynch values the balance between human interaction and automation, advocating for tech that enhances, not replaces, hospitality, including the use of gamification.

🏡 Opened in March 2024, Caesars Republic Scottsdale Hotel by Hilton in Scottsdale, AZ, is an 11-story hotel with 20,000 sq. ft. of event space, including pools, bars, two restaurants, and a 7,000-sq-ft ballroom. Over 700 PoE automated roller shades from PowerShades have been installed throughout the hotel's 265 guest rooms and public areas. These shades can be controlled by guests via in-room panels and are integrated into the Building Management System for energy conservation. The PowerShades’ True PoE technology offers cost-effective energy management with easy installation, and the updated version introduced in 2024 features up to 6Nm torque and quieter motors. PowerShades provided custom-fit automated shades as large as 171" wide x 117" deep.

🏡 Hotels have historically personalized guest experiences using data from repeat stays and loyalty programs. Short-term rentals (STRs), lacking repeat visitor data, now use AI and local insights to offer real-time, contextual personalization, such as recommending activities or upselling services based on current conditions. This ecosystem-based approach connects STRs to local communities, driving economic benefits and redefining hospitality personalization. AI integrates with human local knowledge, enhancing guest experiences and revenue opportunities, representing a strategic shift in hospitality value delivery.

🏨 The Sofia Hotel in San Diego, California, established in 1926 and part of Historic Hotels of America, distinguishes itself with a blend of timeless charm and modern technology. As the first in North America to adopt KITT, an AI receptionist named "Isabella," the hotel enhances guest services as it nears its 100th anniversary. KITT provides real-time, multilingual support, addressing inquiries and boosting service efficiency, essential as the hotel operates 24/7 and caters to an international clientele.

🎧 Josh Wyatt, CEO of Avant Gardner, discussed the world's most innovative events and entertainment complex on April 18, 2025. Behind-the-scenes insights were shared, highlighting creativity and experiential design. Resources and music for the show were credited to Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound. The podcast episode was intended to inspire action and benefit businesses within the hospitality industry.

🏡 Santika Indonesia Hotels & Resorts, founded in 1981 and managed by PT Grahawita Santika, specializes in transforming hotels into Santika Hotels chains for international business and leisure travelers. D-EDGE, a SaaS company, provides e-commerce solutions to over 17,000 hotels in 150+ countries and is backed by a team of 500 experts across 25 countries. It is an Accor subsidiary, a hospitality leader with 5,700 properties and 10,000 F&B venues in 110 countries.

🏨 OpenAI's Operator, in research preview and available to Pro users in the US, is an AI-powered digital agent that books hotel rooms without APIs. It navigates websites to perform tasks such as booking hotels, offering a potential shift in revenue management strategies. Hoteliers are advised to make their websites AI-friendly to maintain direct bookings and brand loyalty. Ligula Hospitality Group uses Atomize RMS to automate rates across 41 properties. Mews offers a platform with dynamic pricing integrations, guest profile tools, and design automation for AI readiness.

🍕 In response to rising tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty, restaurant operators focus on controlling costs while maintaining guest experience. Toby W. Malbec, VP of Global Restaurant Technology at Church's Texas Chicken, emphasizes the importance of inventory management, recommending tight integration with menus, detailed sales tracking, and historical modeling. Skip Kimpel, President & CEO of Magicgate, suggests using IoT sensors for stock monitoring, POS integration, and AI-driven alerts to optimize inventory. Operators are advised to consider ingredient substitutions to mitigate the impact of price hikes.

🥗 Saladplate, part of Informa Markets, serves as the official content and engagement hub for the Hospitality, Food and Beverage industry. It offers weekly news updates, a monthly newsletter, and a bi-monthly e-magazine. The platform features a supplier directory with over 10,000 brands, companies, and products, alongside access to over 35 international trade events.