Innovation

🚀 STAAH, a hotel distribution and guest acquisition software provider, partners with Welcome Pickups, which automates guest pickups and transfers. Welcome Pickups serves more than two million travelers annually, is active in over 300 destinations, and partners with 2500 hotels. The integration allows hotels using STAAH to offer seamless transportation services during booking. Welcome Pickups was founded in 2015 in Athens, Greece, aiming to provide a comprehensive travel experience.

🤖 MURTEC Executive Summit 2024 is set for October 21-23 at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, featuring sessions like "Robots to the Rescue." Qualified restaurant technology executives can attend for free with a $500 waiver using the code COMP500. Attendance is exclusive to industry operators with restrictions, while solution or service providers require sponsorship. Registrations are subject to approval.

🥣 Large restaurant chains and hotels prioritize balancing innovation and safety, employing new techniques like koji-cultured dry aging and controlled fermentation. AI advancements now allow the incorporation of peer-reviewed studies into validation plans, aiding compliance with food safety auditors. The Food Safety Modernization Act focuses on prevention, but technology enables chefs to use compliance for culinary innovation. Mark Haas, CEO of D&H Technologies and Helmsman Group, with over 30 years of experience, drives this innovation through AI-powered platforms like Regulate®.

💸 Recent analysis shows brands averaging £3.20 profit ROI from paid social, which contributes 9% of full profit volume. Influencer involvement increases ROI by 9% and social signal strength by 10%, while partnerships yield a 52% higher ROI compared to traditional paid social. Over 60% of social media users expect entertainment from ads. Paid social is set to become the largest global ad channel, overtaking search which was 68% larger less than a decade ago. The IPA reports less than 90% weekly reach for 16- to 24-year-olds and about 50% for those over 55 on social platforms. EssenceMediacom's GREAT planning framework addresses behaviour change, audience targeting, platform usage, purpose, and engagement strategy for improved paid social outcomes.

🏨 Marfa, Texas, is set to host the world's first 3D-printed hotel, with construction expected to be completed by 2026. The expansion of El Cosmico campground includes 43 hotel rooms and 18 homes. Liz Lambert partners with Icon, using their Vulcan 3D printer, which stands 15½ feet tall and weighs 4.75 tons, capable of crafting 12-foot-high curving walls. The innovative project also aims to address local housing needs, featuring 3D-printed affordable housing units.

🏡 Hoi An River Beach Resort & Residences in Vietnam uses STAAH's technology for real-time inventory and rate updates, saving staff hours in managing distribution. STAAH's channel manager resolved price parity issues, prevented overbookings, and increased bookings and revenue. Exceptional customer support and analytics insight from STAAH have been crucial in driving the resort's operational improvements and revenue growth.

🏥 Tyler Florence, a chef and restaurateur, announced on Oct. 12, 2024, his plan to open a new hospitality school in San Francisco. The institution aims to rival top culinary schools, cultivating passionate talent for the hospitality industry. He referenced the influence of Charleston's food scene and institutions like Johnson and Wales University on his career. The curriculum will address the industry's current needs. Mentioned figures include former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and current Mayor London Breed.

💻 Hospitality America is advancing its technology by integrating business intelligence across its hotels, with Wes Cargen as the vice president of business intelligence. The investment aims to provide real-time insights, actionable data, and enhance forecasting for agile management. Leveraging an AI-enabled Microsoft tenant, the company plans to automate processes and enhance personalization and retention strategies. Hospitality America intends to build internal dashboards and reporting tools to support decision-making, predict maintenance needs, and optimize revenue management. Cargen's background includes experience with Actabl (ProfitSword) and a 15-year history with Hospitality America. The enhanced BI capabilities are anticipated to improve asset performance and return on investment for owners and investors.