Travel Technology
PR Newswire | September 29, 2023
AmTrav, the one connected platform for business travel, today announced that it will be participating in the Innovation Faceoff at Business Travel News (BTN) Innovate on Monday, Oct. 2. The Innovation Faceoff is a competition featuring 13 cutting-edge business travel products, technologies and services developed by suppliers to address industry challenges and support managed business travel and travelers. AmTrav will be pitching Gather, the online booking and travel management tool that extends the benefits of corporate travel management to meeting and event attendees, job candidates, consultants, temporary workers and relocating employees.
"Corporate travel management is all about making things easier for the company and the traveler, but all that goes out the window as soon as it involves corporate guests and meetings attendees," said Elliott McNamee, Product Marketing Director for AmTrav who will be pitching Gather in the competition. "I'm looking forward to sharing how Gather makes corporate travel simple and seamless, even when guests or meetings are involved."
Typically, arranging travel for non-employees and meeting travelers requires close coordination and multiple interactions between travelers, planners and travel agents. The Gather tool allows coordinators and meeting planners to set policies and parameters for guest and meeting trips then invite travelers to book in two minutes or less. From there, travelers can pick their own itineraries, apply their personal loyalty numbers, and take advantage of the lowest NDC and company rates. What's more, guests get guaranteed 24x7 service from AmTrav Travel Advisors if their plans are disrupted - or can use AmTrav's latest Change Trips functionality to easily change their whole trip at once online.
"Even in 2023 companies are stuck using antiquated, agent-dependent processes because their travel software doesn't let guest travelers and meeting attendees book their own travel," said McNamee. "Gather saves travelers, coordinators and planners a lot of time, headache and money."
During the Business Travel Innovation Faceoff, each of the 13 teams will be given seven minutes to pitch their product, technology or service. Presenters will then field questions from a panel of expert judges for four minutes and from the audience for two minutes. At the end of the competition, two trophies will be awarded; one for the winner as selected by the judges, the other being a People's Choice Award Winner.
About AmTrav
AmTrav is an award-winning, modern technology and service platform designed to make business travel personal and productive. Companies of all sizes use AmTrav to book trips, find savings, set travel policies, manage payments and expenses, and keep their travelers safe. Travelers and companies love AmTrav's powerful platform that provides a seamless travel management experience supported by our experts who are always ready to help 24x7. More than 1000 businesses trust AmTrav to go places, meet people, and go further.
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Travel Technology
Richard Sandoval Hospitality | September 15, 2023
Richard Sandoval Hospitality, a leading restaurant group and KOPU Water, a quality-driven bottled water brand, have announced a collaboration to offer guests the best-tasting and healthiest spring water. This partnership focuses on providing environmentally friendly alternatives to glass bottle waste through aluminum recycling, promoting a zero-waste bottled water program. KOPU's Aluminum Stewardship program ensures that aluminum material is repurposed into various products within 60 days, reducing waste and supporting sustainability efforts.
Richard Sandoval expressed that with KOPU Water's supply chain, heavy glass bottles, which had previously traveled globally and ended up in landfills, were being eliminated. He emphasized their commitment to positively impacting local communities and considered it a perfect match.
KOPU spring & sparkling bottled water boasts an award-winning taste and comes in sleek and elegant aluminum bottles. This program collects all aluminum cans in addition to empty bottles, ensuring responsible recycling and sustainable practices. Richard Sandoval, renowned as the world's most prolific Mexican chef and restaurateur with over 60 restaurants globally, is driven by a commitment to doing the right thing for his guests, team members, local communities, and the planet. Richard Sandoval Hospitality will serve KOPU water in the US and have a weekly bottle pick-up and recycling program.
The James Beard Foundation hosted an exclusive dinner and conversation to launch this groundbreaking partnership. The CEO of the James Beard Foundation, Clare Reichenbach, and Chef Richard Sandoval emphasized the alignment of their values and initiatives, marking a significant step toward a more sustainable future for the hospitality sector. With an ambitious goal of eliminating 100 tons of landfill waste annually, Richard Sandoval Hospitality and KOPU Water are committed to nurturing and expanding their symbiotic partnership, showcasing exceptional leadership in shaping a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future for the hospitality industry.
About Richard Sandoval Hospitality
Richard Sandoval Hospitality, a leading restaurant group founded by the renowned Mexican-born chef, restaurateur, television personality, and philanthropist Richard Sandoval. Renowned for delivering guests an exceptional culinary journey, this globally acclaimed contemporary Latin restaurant group operates and owns a portfolio of over 60 restaurant concepts worldwide. It boasts restaurant locations across 10 states and the District of Columbia in the United States. Additionally, the company has a strong international presence, with establishments in 10 countries, including Canada, Costa Rica, Greece, Mexico, Morocco, Qatar, Serbia, St. Kitts, Turkey, and the UAE.
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Hospitality Management
Inspirato | October 12, 2023
Inspirato Incorporated, an innovative luxury travel subscription brand and Thomas James Homes (TJH), one of the largest replacement homebuilders, currently managing over 500 homes in various stages of production and serving diverse regions, including Southern California, Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and Arizona, has entered into a strategic partnership. In this strategic collaboration, Inspirato is set to offer TJH clients an exclusive 12-month complimentary Inspirato Travel Membership, granting them access to Inspirato's handpicked selection of over 750 luxury vacation options across 100+ global destinations, all at privileged, members-only pricing, ensuring an unmatched travel experience.
As TJH clients eagerly await the completion of their new homes, they have the remarkable opportunity to embark on global adventures, luxuriating in Inspirato's opulent residences across preferred destinations such as the serene coastal vistas of Los Cabos, the alpine splendor of Vail, Colorado, or the timeless charm of Tuscany, Italy. This exceptional partnership not only grants access to picturesque locales but also ensures that clients receive the impeccable first-class service that characterizes Inspirato's offerings, including personalized pre-trip planning, daily housekeeping, and the assistance of on-site concierges. Furthermore, TJH introduced the Private Client Group, a dedicated sales team committed to supporting the company's innovative BUILD by TJH solution, which aspires to unlock the potential of existing homes by replacing them with new, more functional ones, all backed by TJH's price and on-time delivery guarantees. This innovative approach simplifies the traditional custom-building model, integrating architectural design, permitting, and construction management, ensuring prompt, on-time delivery and eliminating costly overruns and delays.
Complementing its BUILD program, TJH's BUY offerings extend clients can access to an array of design-driven pre-construction and move-in-ready homes throughout sought-after locales spanning Southern California, Northern California, Arizona, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest. TJH is poised to deliver an impressive inventory of 275 to 300 spec homes across high-demand neighborhoods in the coming year. These homes, thoughtfully crafted by a team of eminent architects and designers, epitomize the essence of modern living. Infused with the latest advancements in smart home technology, they exude contemporary design trends and offer versatile living spaces, aligning perfectly with homeowners' ever-evolving lifestyles and preferences. With an unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence, the company continues to shape the landscape of residential living by providing quality and choice to its valued customers.
About Inspirato
Inspirato is a luxury travel subscription enterprise distinguished by its unique approach to granting exclusive access to a meticulously curated collection of premium vacation opportunities. Founded on the principles of unwavering service quality, reliability, and customer value, the company's innovative model is dedicated to meeting the discerning expectations of its clientele. The Inspirato portfolio encompasses an array of opulent vacation residences, lodging options at prestigious five-star hotels and resort collaborators, and tailor-made travel experiences, all harmoniously designed to cater to the most refined travel tastes.
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Hospitality Trends, Hospitality Management
Brittain Resorts & Hotels | September 27, 2023
Brittain Resorts & Hotels (BRH), the leading full-service hospitality management company in the Southeast, today introduced an industry-leading AI-driven business intelligence technology matrix, putting the company at the forefront of AI-led efforts within the industry. The move comes as BRH increases its service offerings as it expands further into third-party management for hotel owners seeking improved values and satisfaction measurements.
“While the hospitality industry traditionally has taken a ‘wait and see’ approach to new technologies, we have taken a much more aggressive approach at Brittain,” said Christy Jernigan, chief development officer, BRH. “AI and business intelligence are major data and analytics initiatives for Brittain, and we have integrated AI into its strategy. The business intelligence component allows us to understand and interpret our data across all channels for ongoing analysis and simplified reporting back to our owners. For the new systems we’ve added, the integration of AI, machine learning or business intelligence not only automates tasks but also offers predictive insights, optimization suggestions and enhanced user experiences.”
The new matrix includes multiple platforms, including guest data, social media management, guest messaging communication, revenue management, CRS, customer relationship management, market data, parity management, payroll and HR systems. For each, AI has been applied to improve the respective processes. For example, AI can analyze guest preferences and behaviors to automate and personalize marketing campaigns or optimize rate management by analyzing vast datasets, predict market demand, and adjust pricing strategies in real-time to maximize revenue. The system will run under Power BI, a robust data visualization and business analytics tool developed by Microsoft that connects to multiple data sources, allowing users to aggregate, analyze, visualize and share insights through interactive dashboards and reports.
“We are applying our Business Intelligence capabilities to provide multiple, tangible benefits to the hotels we operate,” Jernigan added. “From integrating with a hotel's property management system (PMS) to provide insights into guest demographics, preferences and behaviors to analyzing operational data to uncover inefficiencies in housekeeping, maintenance or F&B operations, this platform represents a cutting edge approach to working with the newest technologies available. These tools produce meaningful improvements to operations, which in turn lead to increased values for our shareholders.”
About Brittain Resorts & Hotels
Brittain Resorts & Hotels (BRH) is a full-service hospitality management company providing multi-layered expertise in all disciplines of hotel and resort operations. Since 1943, BRH has been enriching the lives of its team members, guests, partners, and the communities they serve by providing exceptional guest experiences, a supportive work environment, and superior returns. With over 4,000 rooms, suites, and condos in the portfolio, the company currently operates 22 hotels and resorts and 45+ restaurants & bars within the United States.
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