Restaurant And Hospitality News – September 22, 2014
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In news this week, the Palmer House Hilton marks another first, while McDonald’s is piloting tablet ordering to boost sales. Panera is also eager for its launch of Apple Pay in October, and Subway is deploying a new mobile payment service. Also, hospitality tech needs to respond to changes in the industry.
Palmer House Hilton in Chicago Rolls out Computer Tablets in Guest Rooms
According to this article from Hotel Interactive, Chicago’s Palmer House Hilton has announced the introduction Of HCN Tablet Navigators To Guest Rooms, trending forward With the addition of tablets as the newest in-room amenity. The first hotel in the nation to use Edison’s invention of the light bulb, offer in-house telephone capabilities and more, the Palmer House Hilton is once again at the forefront of technological advancement, adding to its ever evolving list of ‘firsts.’
McDonald’s Pilots Tablet Ordering In Bid To Turn Around Slumping Sales
The Washington Post reported that McDonald’s, facing the largest sales slump in a decade amid increasing competition in the market, has begun to pilot a tablet ordering system that allows customers to order their personalized burger-to-order with no human interaction necessary. The tablet system might also help cut down on staffing needs, and the made-to-order burgers could potentially be more expensive, helping improve the company’s bottom line.
Panera 2.0 Ready for Apple Pay
According to a press release, Panera is among the first to adopt Apply Pay when it is released in October. It will be integrated into the new Panera 2.0 program. Utilizing the Panera Bread iOS App, guests will be able to conveniently and securely place an order from their iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and check out with Apple Pay using Touch ID, allowing them to more quickly order ahead and have their order ready for pick up or delivery.
Subway to Deploy Mobile Payments Service Through Softcard
The Nation’s Restaurant News reported that Subway will deploy mobile payments nationwide starting Oct. 1 through Softcard, a joint venture of AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA Inc., and Verizon Wireless. The system uses NFC technology. Although Apple iPhone 6 users won’t be able to pay via Softcard, since that phone will only allow Apple Pay, Subway said Softcard is available on more than 80 devices and is preloaded on more than 30 devices.
Hospitality Tech Evolves To Incorporate Payment Changes
This article from Business Solutions Magazine examines how restaurants, hotels, and other merchants are being driven to upgrade their point of sale (POS) systems from ones that accept magnetic stripe cards to EMV-compliant terminals that accept more secure chip-based payment cards (the standard in Europe and Canada). Yet, hospitality technology needs to reflect more than the shift to EMV. It also needs to incorporate a host of advanced capabilities such as loyalty applications, gift cards, mobile ordering, and check-in. Some of the most advanced systems also enable the user to see sales in real time, who is on the clock, real-time labor costs, and data on voids.