Choice Hotels: First in Hospitality to Fully Embrace the Cloud

Choice Hotels: First in Hospitality to Fully Embrace the Cloud

By Author

Published on February 1, 2024

Big news in the hotel world! Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has just hit a major tech milestone. They're now the first hotel company to shift their entire system infrastructure to the cloud. That's right, no more data centres for them – they're fully on Amazon Web Services (AWS) now.

What does this big move mean? For starters, it's a game-changer for how they respond to market conditions. This cloud setup gives Choice Hotels a super flexible, resilient, and scalable platform. It's not just good news for the company; it's great for hotel owners and operators within the Choice system too. They're looking at more efficient hotel-facing operations, management tools, and even the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost profitability and guest experiences.

Brian Kirkland, the Chief Information Officer at Choice Hotels, is excited about what this means for their franchisees. "Moving everything to the cloud means our franchisees are always in the loop with the latest tech, saving them time and money. It also keeps us ahead in the competitive hotel booking journey," he says.

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This wasn't an overnight change. It's been a five-year journey, but what a finish line! Over 3,729 servers were decommissioned, more than 300 applications retired, and upwards of 250 applications migrated.

Matt Garman from AWS is praising Choice for their bold cloud-first approach. "They've been able to innovate, scale, pivot, and grow sustainably over these five years, thanks to their cloud-first mindset," he says.

Choice's cloud journey started back in 2015 with their cloud-based central reservation system, choiceEDGE. At that time, it was the first new CRS from a hotel company in over three decades.

Jason Simpson, Vice President of Cloud Engineering for Choice Hotels, is thrilled about leveraging their cloud-first infrastructure. "AWS Cloud was crucial for us to integrate Radisson digitally in record time and increase our traffic and booking revenue," he notes.

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Choice Hotels has been on the forefront of tech innovation in the hospitality industry for a while now:

1995: Launched the first hotel website with real-time rates and availability.

2003: Introduced the first cloud-based property management system, choiceADVANTAGE.

2009: Released the first hotel app for iOS.

2014: First hotel company to offer instant booking on TripAdvisor and listed on Forbes' Top 100 Most Innovative Growth Companies.

2016: First hotel company with instant in-app gift card downloads.

2018: choiceEDGE goes live, the first cloud-based CRS.

2019: First hotel company to commit to 100% AWS Cloud.

2021: Launched ChoiceMAX, an AI mobile-first revenue management solution.

2024: Completed cloud migration.

Fully cloud-based now, Choice Hotels is all set to continue innovating and leveraging AI for greater business value for franchisees.

About Choice Hotels®

One of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) boasts over 7,500 hotels in 46 countries and territories. With 22 diverse brands, Choice Hotels® meets traveller needs across various segments, driving value for franchise owners and shareholders. The Choice Privileges® rewards program and co-brand credit card options offer members fast ways to earn reward nights and personalised perks. Discover more at www.choicehotels.com.


EV Evolution and ServiceTry Announce $400M Joint Venture for Global Expansion

EV Evolution and ServiceTry Announce $400M Joint Venture for Global Expansion

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 12, 2024

EV Evolution, a pioneering technology hotel brand, has partnered with construction solutions company ServiceTry to form a $400 million joint venture, EV Hotel Corp. This strategic alliance is set to fund the development of EV Evolution Venue hotels across international markets.

The Eloise Project: Redefining Hospitality

The joint venture introduces The Eloise Project, a revolutionary hospitality concept designed to offer Dubai-style luxury and guest-centric experiences. The initiative aims to elevate the standard of modern hospitality by incorporating advanced amenities and unique features tailored to today’s traveler.

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The first property under The Eloise Project is slated to open by late 2025. Over the next five years, the project will expand to several cities, including Birmingham, Phoenix, Atlanta, Houston, Louisville, Kansas City, and Dallas.

Partnership Details

ServiceTry will acquire a 40% equity interest in EV Hotel Corp, granting them access to the company’s global revenue streams. Bobby Vance, Chief Design Officer at ServiceTry Integrated Services, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “The joint venture between EV Hotels and ServiceTry Integrated Services is set to revolutionize the hospitality industry, which is ripe for innovation. I’m excited to collaborate with such a talented team to shape the future of hospitality and redefine modern travel.”

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With this move, ServiceTry becomes the largest shareholder of EV Evolution. Neeti Dewan, CFO of EV Hotel Corp, highlighted the significance of the partnership, saying, “Our JV with ServiceTry is not just innovative—it’s a financial game-changer. The Eloise Project represents smart, strategic growth that will redefine the industry and positively impact our bottom line.”

For more information on The Eloise Project and the upcoming EV Evolution Venue hotels, visit the official website.


On2Cook Revolutionizes Commercial Kitchens with AI-Integrated Cooking Device

On2Cook Revolutionizes Commercial Kitchens with AI-Integrated Cooking Device

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on September 2, 2024

On2Cook, the world's fastest cooking device, has made a significant impact in the B2B cooking sector in India. Launched just a few months ago, the innovative AI-driven cooking appliance has already been deployed in over 500 units across more than 35 F&B brands, including cloud kitchens, cafeterias, restaurants, and hospitality chains. The device, created by inventor Sanandan Sudhir, has quickly gained traction for its ability to transform traditional cooking methods.

Sudhir announced that the company has also received Letters of Intent for an additional 4,000 units, set to be installed in commercial kitchens worldwide. Among the early adopters of On2Cook are brands like Grabs Kitchen, Carasid Café Goa, Hocco Eatery, Venky Residency, and Salad Time.

"On2Cook is the future of cooking, and we are thrilled by its widespread acceptance in the B2B F&B space. Our patented technology offers numerous benefits for commercial kitchens, such as eliminating the need for gas-based cooking, reducing oil usage, and replacing pre-cooked meals with freshly prepared dishes. For instance, a mid-sized kitchen serving about 100 plates daily can save over Rs 16,000 monthly just on oil consumption. The device's advantages are evident across all cooking segments, including restaurants, cloud kitchens, bakeries, casual dining, and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chains," said Sanandan Sudhir.

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Sunil Shrivastav, owner of Carasid Café Goa, shared his positive experience with On2Cook, stating, "We’ve been using On2Cook for a few months, and it’s not just fast and efficient, but also incredibly consistent, especially for our fillings made in large batches. Consistency in color, quality, and texture is crucial in our business, and On2Cook delivers on all fronts without the need for monitoring. I’m so satisfied with its performance that I plan to add up to 100 units across our café chain."

On2Cook, patented in India, the US, the UK, and Russia, significantly reduces cooking time to one-third of traditional methods, cuts power bills by up to 40%, and lowers oil consumption by around 50%, all while delivering healthier and more nutritious meals. The device also minimizes the number of cooks needed in a commercial kitchen, improving the consistency and quality of food. With an integrated app and IoT capabilities, On2Cook automates order processing and cooking, featuring over 300 predefined recipes.

First showcased during the Grand Finale of Shark Tank India Season 1, On2Cook has captured the attention of industry leaders, including Anand Mahindra, even before its official launch. The device ensures that vegetables and meats cooked retain water-soluble nutrients, minerals, structure, texture, and color, preserving elements that are often lost in traditional cooking methods.


Hotel Group Selects Zaplox for Mobile Key PoC Integration

Hotel Group Selects Zaplox for Mobile Key PoC Integration

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 1, 2024

Zaplox, a leading provider of digital guest solutions for the hospitality industry, has been selected to provide mobile key services for a proof of concept (PoC) with a prominent hotel group, whose name has not been disclosed. This collaboration marks a significant step in integrating Zaplox’s advanced mobile key technology with the hotel group’s own app.

This PoC is designed to validate Zaplox’s mobile key solutions, ensuring they meet the technical and guest satisfaction standards required by the hotel group. It also highlights the growing trend of digital self-service options in the hospitality sector, positioning Zaplox as a key player in this evolving space.

Tess Mattisson, President and CEO of Zaplox, commented, “Following the successful launch of mobile keys in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, we are seeing increased interest in our solutions. This PoC reflects the market's demand and the maturity of the industry, showcasing our role as a trusted provider of digital solutions.”

The PoC serves as a critical evaluation phase, allowing the hotel group to experience the benefits of Zaplox’s technology firsthand. This approach has previously proven successful, such as with PENN Entertainment, where a PoC led to a full contract and the implementation of mobile keys.

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Mattisson added, “While demonstrating middleware services can be challenging, this PoC allows us to showcase our technology and expertise, laying the groundwork for a potential broader rollout. We are excited to support this hotel group in their digital transformation journey.”

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lund, Sweden, Zaplox offers a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform designed to enhance the guest experience through self-service check-in and mobile key solutions. The company’s platform has become integral to the hospitality industry, assisting hotels, resorts, and casinos worldwide in providing a seamless digital experience for their guests.

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