This week’s Partner News is highlighted by UniFocus launching the Gratitude digitalized tipping solution; Hotel Internet Services (HIS) expanding its online-based services with the availability of the Ruckus IoT Suite; Cendyn appointing Subhobroto (Subho) Biswas as the managing director/GM for Cendyn India; and more.
UniFocus unveils Gratitude digitalized tipping platform
UniFocus, a leading provider of workforce management systems, has launched Gratitude, an employee tipping platform that provides hotel guests with the ability to tip staff throughout a property without requiring the use of an app or physical cash.
With modern travelers often carrying just credit or debit cards, the lack of at-hand cash has resulted in a substantial decrease in the number and amount of tips left to a hotel’s staff. This reduction in overall wages has only been partially addressed by minor hourly rate increases and can play a significant factor in staff decisions to seek out other employment options. With Gratitude by UniFocus, hoteliers can finally reverse this trend by providing guests with the option to leave a tip using either credit/debit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Via a secure mobile-compatible portal that can be tailored to a hotel’s branding, guests can submit the tip amount they wish to provide and can leave feedback on the quality of service received.
Native to the UniFocus workforce management system, Gratitude ensures that tips are shared with the appropriate staff. Hoteliers are able to create “tip jars” by department, such as for housekeeping, valet services, the front desk and concierge. Gratitude further facilitates guest use and increases the likelihood of leaving behind a tip by allowing guests to scan a QR code to be instantly directed to the correct tip jar. Hoteliers can place such QR codes within guestrooms, lobby areas, vehicles and more to provide guests with a more convenient tipping experience and to promote awareness of the service.
HIS expands services with availability of Ruckus IoT Suite
Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service provider of internet services and solutions for the hospitality industry, has expanded its online-based services with the availability of the Ruckus IoT Suite. The Ruckus IoT suite serves as an advanced solution able to ensure the seamless connectivity and device management that today’s interconnected hotel environments now require.
HIS with the Ruckus IoT Suite ensures that hoteliers can adopt a single network able to consistently provide high-performance quality for all their IoT needs. Capable of supporting a vast range of devices and systems, the Ruckus IoT suite utilizes network technology that can accommodate a multitude of platforms while still delivering high-speed communication abilities.
“IoT technology represents a decisive turning point in our industry but such solutions are only as effective as the underlying network that supports them,” said Gary Patrick, CEO, HIS. “As more hotel devices and services come online in order receive the enhanced benefits that connectivity provides, HIS is committed to equipping hoteliers with the latest technologies that allow them to realize their goals of reducing costs, streamlining operations and enabling a personalized guest experience.”
Designed as a flexible platform able to adapt to a property’s existing infrastructure, the Ruckus IoT Suite can be deployed either by using WiFi 6 access points or by attaching a USB IoT module to pre-WiFi 6 access point hardware. Either option ensures that connected devices are able to seamlessly transmit and receive data without running into weak signal issues.
Cendyn names Subhobroto Biswas managing director/GM of India
Cendyn has appointed Subhobroto (Subho) Biswas as the managing director/GM for Cendyn India.
Biswas is a results-driven, strategic leader responsible for successfully leading, accelerating and expanding Cendyn’s footprint in India, according to the company. He joins Cendyn with demonstrated expertise in start-ups and proven success across private equity-owned businesses and Fortune 500 companies.
Before Cendyn, he founded ROYB, a start-up for corporate online reputation, and held strategic leadership roles for Open Solutions, Fiserv and ADP across multiple geographies.
Three Maestro PMS clients add PurpleCloud platform
PurpleCloud has revealed that three properties are running on Maestro PMS with its integrated housekeeping module, which tracks real-time check-ins and checkouts to create an efficient schedule based on “true clean times.”
Properties can use the housekeeping module in tandem with PurpleCloud’s Hotel Service Optimization Platform that facilitates multi-language text and voice messaging between front-line workers and their managers.
The three resorts have become the latest to implement the Service Optimization Platform primarily to optimize housekeeping. They are the Resort at Governor’s Crossing and Country Cascades Waterpark Resort in Gatlinburg, TN, and Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan in Chelan, WA.
Managers enjoy access to dashboards that indicate housekeeping progress across a property, as well as dashboards that track the individual performance and progress of housekeepers. The application outlines their projects, pushes relevant alerts, displays their standing on the leaderboard, plus more.
IDeaS, Jonas Chorum finalize two-way data integration
IDeaS has partnered with Jonas Chorum to provide two-way data integration between IDeaS’ G3 Revenue Management System (RMS) with Chorum Property Management System (PMS). This partnership ensures rates are distributed on schedule, optimizes revenue through data-driven decisions, and allows IDeaS G3 RMS customers to dynamically price all key products.
G3 RMS provides the ability to price key products such as advance purchases, packages, promotions, loyalty tiers and more, supported through the Jonas Chorum and IDeaS integration. This enhances rate management and distribution, and most importantly, drives incremental revenue.
The integration frees up time for hotel staff to focus on revenue strategy by eliminating the manual processes for pricing, forecasting, managing overbooking and rate restrictions.
