Innovation

🔌 3V Infrastructure, backed by up to $40 million from Greenbacker Capital Management, launches to provide Level 2 EV chargers for multifamily homes and hotels, filling a gap where fewer than 5% of rentals and 20% of hotels currently offer such amenities. With EV adoption surpassing charger availability, 27% of apartment tenants and 20% of hotel guests demand this service. 3V targets properties with more than 20 sites to deploy projects widely and expedite the transition to EVs.

🔌 3V Infrastructure, an electric vehicle (EV) charging company, announced its formation, focusing on Level 2 EV chargers for multifamily housing and hotels. The company received up to $40 million from Greenbacker Capital Management. Studies reveal over half of potential EV buyers are discouraged by insufficient chargers, while 27% of apartment tenants and 20% of hotel guests desire EV charging amenities. 3V offers a no-cost solution for property owners, aiming to service portfolios with more than 20 long-dwell sites.

🌱 Plates, a plant-based-centric restaurant by Kirk and Keeley Haworth, began as a pop-up in 2017 and now operates permanently near Old Street station, London. Kirk, with a Michelin-starred background, creates original dishes without meat, fish, or dairy, offering seven-course (£75) and eight-course (£90) tasting menus. The 25-seat venue, fully booked until February, will expand with a 14-seat terrace for walk-ins. The wine list curated by Alexandra Price features European vegetation zones, and creative cocktails are also available.

💸 Stayntouch, a leader in PMS and guest-centric technology, has launched UpsellPRO, enabling hotels to market individual room features. A report with NYU showed about half of travelers with a one-month booking window would pay more for attribute-based selling (ABS). Experts see ABS providing greater control, increased visibility, and dynamic pricing benefits. Participants included Flo Lugli, George Roukas, John Burns, Klaus Kohlmayr, and Nichole Dehler. ABS could revolutionize hotel profitability and the guest experience.

🏡 In the travel and hospitality sectors, 73% of IT decision-makers plan to invest between $500,000 and $5 million in AI in one year, an increase from the previous year. Challenges include data management, cybersecurity, and trust in AI/ML outputs, with 55% prioritizing fraud detection, 52% concerned about data security risks, 58% stressing data privacy, and 59% identifying cybersecurity as the greatest risk in AI adoption. Meanwhile, 68% believe AI/ML accuracy needs significant improvements for full trust.

💾 Stayntouch introduced UpsellPRO, an Attribute-Based Selling (ABS) technology for hoteliers, following a report with NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality showing 50% of travelers with booking windows of more than one month would spend more for ABS. Experts from Navesink Advisory Group, DataArt/GAIPAN, Hospitality Technology Consulting, IDeaS, and Stayntouch discussed ABS benefits like control over booking, increased visibility, and dynamic pricing. ABS can enhance guest satisfaction, revenue, and upselling opportunities, with potential to influence hotel purchasing strategies, design, and guest engagement.

📱 August 5, 2024 - Digital marketing trends for hoteliers include Google's reversal on third-party cookies, upgrades to Performance Max with enhanced reporting (conversion metrics at asset level, YouTube placement reporting, third-party verification for ads), and AI capabilities (improved image editing, automated asset generation, easier access to creative tools, Merchant Center integration). Instagram Stories now allows up to 20 offers per CTA button, and Instagram Reels introduces new ad placements. Reddit restricts search engines like Bing, but not Google due to a licensing deal. SearchGPT emerges as a new ad-free search engine with cited sources and local results. Hoteliers should focus on first-party data and explore these new marketing tools to boost bookings.

🏠 Stayntouch, a global leader in hotel technology, launched UpsellPRO for attribute-based selling (ABS), following a report with NYU's Tisch Center of Hospitality showing half of respondents with over one-month booking windows willing to spend more for ABS access. Benefits include control over bookings, increased upselling, and dynamic pricing. Insights from industry experts Flo Lugli, George Roukas, John Burns, Klaus Kohlmayr, and Nichole Dehler highlight ABS's influence on guest preferences, revenue, and personalized experiences.

📱 Guesty, a property management software platform, launched ReplyAI, an automated messaging service, after a soft launch in February. ReplyAI saves over 40% of accounts from writing more than 20% of messages and is used for 50% of incoming messages on high-usage accounts. It uses generative AI algorithms for natural, accurate responses, supporting 12+ languages and designed to streamline guest communications without exiting the Guesty platform. CEO Amiad Soto emphasizes AI's role in enhancing guest experience and operational efficiency. ReplyAI is part of Guesty's intelligent Property Management System which includes other AI tools like PriceOptimizer.

📢 Yum! Brands targets hundreds of U.S. Taco Bell drive-thrus for Voice AI technology implementation by end of 2024, with over 100 locations in 13 states already using it. Benefits include improved order accuracy, reduced wait times, and enhanced team member and customer experiences. The Company's digital sales approached $30 billion, with over 50% through digital channels in Q1 2024, doubling since 2019. Taco Bell's ecosystem, including digital menu boards and the Poseidon POS system, supports this tech which is also being tested in five Australian KFC drive-thrus.