This week’s Partner News is highlighted by Virdee integrating with MIWA Lock Systems, Maestro PMS launching the GuestXMS module and UniFocus introducing Odin assistant for hotel operators. Read about all that and more below.
Virdee partners with MIWA
Virdee, a SaaS company delivering digital check-in and virtual concierge services to the hospitality and commercial real estate industries, has completed an integration with MIWA Lock Systems, a leader in high-performance locks and security systems serving the hotel industry. The integration allows hotels to provide an end-to-end digital check-in experience from the time the guest walks into the lobby all the way through opening their guestroom door.
Virdee provides a full contactless experience, empowering 100% of hotel guests to check-in via kiosk or their mobile device, receive a digital or physical key and head straight to their guestroom without ever standing in line at the front desk. The integration with MIWA caps a period of rapid development in which Virdee has integrated with all major hospitality lock manufacturers servicing the hospitality industry.
Through either a mobile app or kiosk experience, Virdee handles all of a hotel’s check-in needs, including ID verification, payment collection and room access. Should a guest need assistance, with one tap of a button Virdee connects them to a virtual concierge that can help walk them through the check-in process.
Maestro PMS introduces GuestXMS module
Independent hoteliers operating on Maestro PMS have added a new two-way real-time guest engagement module, GuestXMS, designed to drive guest satisfaction and improve operational efficiencies. Tightly integrated into Maestro, the tool is serving as a comprehensive guest engagement and operational communication hub for hotels, providing enhanced insights into guest needs. Powered in collaboration between Maestro and Fetch, GuestXMS enables hoteliers to send text messages to guests to gauge their satisfaction upon arrival and immediately resolve issues if necessary. Early adopters are reporting that they are receiving 20 times more responses from guests, giving them adequate time to resolve issues before guests depart.
Guest XMS encompasses on-site text message surveys, a 24/7 chat concierge, case management actionable dashboards and post-stay guest experience management (GEM) surveys to blanket the entire guest journey. Designed as an intuitive and responsive web-based application, the tool enables guests and staff to freely communicate without an app download required. Using industry-leading IBM Watson machine learning and artificial intelligence, GuestXMS also spots trends from keywords and concepts and identifies sentiments and emotions in guest comments.
UniFocus launches Odin assistant for hotel operators
UniFocus, a provider of workforce management systems, has launched Odin, an intelligent assistant specifically designed to equip operators with the relevant, timely data they need. Odin’s analytical insights are unique to each manager, allowing for quick action on controllable costs, service quality risks and performance successes.
Using a fully automated process that pulls data from UniFocus’s Labor Management and Time and Attendance platforms, Odin generates and emails a simple and actionable view of demand projections, past performance and critical issues that need to be addressed each day.
In addition to providing daily occupancy projections, Odin also highlights open shifts that may require a staff schedule realignment. Shift swaps and time-off requests that need to be approved are noted as well as overtime hours by pay period to ensure maximum scheduling efficiency. With the added inclusion of an actual vs. forecasted labor use analysis, Odin allows hoteliers to see how accurate their forecasts were and make necessary adjustments in a volatile environment.
Curator selects StayNTouch as preferred PMS partner
StayNTouch has been selected by Curator Hotel & Resort Collection as a preferred PMS partner for its growing portfolio of independent boutique hotels.
The partnership between StayNTouch and Curator enables Curator member hotels to leverage StayNTouch’s guest-centric cloud PMS and contactless solutions to facilitate smoother operations; streamline staff training and productivity; and enhance the guest welcome and departure experience.
Cvent, Uber for Business team up
Cvent, a meetings, events and hospitality technology provider, has integrated with Uber for Business, Uber’s enterprise arm. Through this integration, organizations can enhance virtual attendee engagement and facilitate seamless ground transportation options for meeting planners and in-person event attendees.
Cvent customers will be able to automatically create tailored vouchers via Uber for Business and distribute them to their attendees within the Cvent platform. Organizations can now easily expand their event offerings with meals ordered via Uber Eats, or cover transportation costs and help their customers and guests get to where they need to go using the Uber platform—whether that’s an event venue, hotel or airport.
