Innovation

🦛 The Reserve at Chester Zoo, managed by Adriaan Erasmus, combines luxury lodges with immersive wildlife experiences, supporting global conservation efforts. Guests enjoy unique encounters, bespoke lodges made from sustainable materials, and behind-the-scenes tours. Stay contributions fund projects like the giant pangolin initiative in Uganda and black rhino programs in Rwanda and Kenya. The Reserve offers family-friendly packages with two-day zoo passes, exclusive dining, and activities like the Giraffe Wake-Up Experience. Opening in August, The Reserve personalizes stays for all family sizes with 51 lodges, including accessible options, focusing on conservation and luxury hospitality.

🏨 By 2025, hotels are embracing AI, voice controls, and data-driven services to enhance guest experiences. The article details the innovative tech trends within the hospitality industry, showcasing how hotels are evolving to meet modern demands.

💸 Hi Auto raised $15 million in a Series A funding round, totaling $23 million in capital alongside a $4 million credit line. The AI-driven platform for QSRs boasts over 96% order accuracy and over 90% completion rate, helping combat labor costs like California's $20/hour minimum. Hi Auto's clients include Bojangles, Checkers & Rally's, and Burger King New Zealand, among others. Founded in 2019 by Roy Baharav and Eyal Shapira, the company now employs 100 people globally. Dynamic upselling has increased average ticket sizes for Hi Auto's partners.

🏦 Hi Auto, an AI voice technology startup for the QSR industry, raised $15 million in Series A funding, totaling $23 million in capital, plus a $4 million credit line. Backed by Delek Motors, Zisapel Family, others, it delivers 96% order accuracy and over 90% completion with its SaaS platform. The tech enables dynamic upselling, boosting ticket sizes, and is used by Bojangles, Checkers & Rally's, and others. Founded in 2019 by Roy Baharav, Eyal Shapira, and Zohar Zisapel, the company now has 100 employees. 🌐

📢 AI Voice Agents are transforming hotel operations by providing 24/7 support, handling booking inquiries, offering multilingual support, reducing staff workload, and creating personalized guest experiences. They differ from chatbots, Siri, and Alexa by engaging in nuanced, real-time voice interactions tailored for hospitality. Hotels using AI Voice Agents can capture every booking opportunity, focus staff on high-value interactions, and drive revenue through upselling and cross-selling. The technology enables hoteliers to offer efficient service without losing the human touch, giving them a strategic advantage in the AI-driven future of hospitality. Michael J. Goldrich, Chief Experience Officer at The Hotels Network and Founder of Vivander Advisors, underscores the significant shift in guest service driven by AI Voice Agents.

🏆 Betsy Seiler, Director of Menu Operations & Pricing at Jack in the Box, was honored with the Hospitality Technology’s Top Women in Restaurant Technology Innovator Award at MURTEC 2025. Starting her career in supply chain management, she evolved into a leadership role emphasizing mentorship, cross-functional collaboration, and the integration of marketing, operations, and technology teams. Seiler’s initiatives led to the formation of a new department, enhancing business value through strategic technological alignment.

🍕 At MURTEC 2025, Christopher Thomas-Moore, SVP and Chief Digital Officer at Domino’s Pizza, discussed digital transformation in QSRs. He emphasized leveraging technology for customer loyalty, highlighting his role in e-commerce strategies and tech innovation. The event marked the 30th anniversary of MURTEC, showcasing insights into restaurant technology. Further details can be found at hospitalitytech.com/murtec.

📌 UATP, a global payment network, partnered with corporate lodging platform HRS, now a UATP Merchant, facilitating UATP payments for business travelers and crews. The partnership marks UATP's first significant move into hotel acceptance. HRS offers business-travel ready hotels with corporate rates, invoice automation, and financial reporting, addressing a primary expenditure in corporate programs. This integration was announced before UATP's Airline Distribution® 2025 in Budapest on March 19. HRS's AI-powered technology provides booking, payment, and hotel trend tracking, while UATP specializes in payment processing and data services.