Whether it’s celebrating an anniversary, receiving an award, earning a certification, debuting a new product or expanding the business, hotel companies and vendors achieve new milestones on a daily basis. Here’s a look at recent accomplishments:
IDeaS awards 2021 Cornell Revenue Management Sponsorships
IDeaS, a provider of revenue management software and services, has revealed the 2021 IDeaS Cornell Revenue Management Sponsorship recipients, continuing its ongoing program to foster professional development in the field of revenue management.
Working in partnership with Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, these sponsorships present hospitality professionals with the opportunity to earn online certificates developed by senior Cornell faculty leaders. With applicants from across 17 countries, the 2021 global winners are as follows:
- Advanced Hospitality Revenue Management: Tiphaine Porte, multi-hotel revenue manager, Accor, U.K., and Odontuya Natsagdorj, senior manager, investment and asset management, Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar Hotel, Mongolia
- Hotel Revenue Management: Carlotta Rossi, sales and revenue executive, Lefay Resorts, Italy, and Sarah Gushurst, lodging revenue coordinator, The Biltmore Company, U.S.
- Data Analytics 360: Zackary Han Kai Tay, director of revenue management, Grand Hyatt Beijing, and Vinicius Lombardi Alves, pricing analyst, Nomah, Brazil
LG Electronics earns Leader rating in Marriott sustainability assessment program
LG Electronics has earned the highest-level rating in the 2020 Marriott Supplier Sustainability Assessment Program (MSAP), administered by MindClick. As a supplier of hotel TVs and digital signage displays for 14 Marriott brands, LG has earned this rating for six consecutive years.
The “Leader” rating demonstrates LG’s “exemplary use of environmentally and socially responsible practices throughout the life cycle of all product lines, from material choice to end-of-life solutions,” verified by MindClick through a rigorous audit process. The annual assessment recognizes the Marriott suppliers that have made significant efforts to improve product sustainability and their social and environmental footprint, and recognizes them in one of three levels: Starter, Achiever and Leader.
The assessment program evaluates suppliers in their operational footprint with environmental and social metrics such as energy, carbon and water reduction, and human and labor rights, as well as the products they supply. It also measures metrics such as carbon footprint from product use and distribution, recyclability, as well as use of sustainable materials and chemicals. In 2020, LG achieved top scores in seven of the nine evaluation categories.
UT Southwestern Medical Center Campus Dining chooses Agilysys
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Campus has implemented the Agilysys Inc.’s InfoGenesis ecosystem of modern cloud-native SaaS POS solutions for its campus dining including InfoGenesis POS, IG Buy self-service kiosks, IG OnDemand mobile ordering and payment, and Agilysys Pay for secure payment processing.
When electing to replace their existing campus POS systems, UTSW looked to their successful established relationships with Sodexo and Agilysys to leverage the solutions and relationships currently in use in their healthcare cafeterias. With the added challenges presented by the pandemic, they also needed to expand beyond traditional POS by adding contactless self-service F&B ordering and payment options. Agilysys stood out with a comprehensive proven SaaS product set that included the InfoGenesis SaaS POS system complemented by innovative, modern cloud-native self-service ordering and payment options: IG Buy and IG OnDemand, bolstered by Agilysys’ continuing commitment to robust and ongoing product R&D.
AAHOA charity golf tournaments raise nearly $100K
AAHOA’s two most recent charity golf tournaments raised nearly $100,000 for six charities. The inaugural Southeast Texas Charity Golf Tournament, held in Houston, raised more than $40,000 to benefit the Houston chapter of Sewa International, Rise Against Hunger and Nora’s Home. The Southwest Charity Golf Tournament, held in Phoenix, raised more than $56,000, which benefited the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, East Valley Firefighter Charities Foundation and St. Mary’s Food Bank. Both events were hosted outdoors with appropriate social-distancing measures, masks and other health and safety protocols in place.
“The charitable spirit of America’s hoteliers remains strong despite the hardships so many owners faced over the past year,” said AAHOA President/CEO Cecil P. Staton. “Seeing so many hoteliers and industry partners come out to support charities and causes that will benefit our communities significantly. I am particularly encouraged by the showing in Houston at the inaugural Southeast Texas Region Charity Golf Tournament and look forward to the additional inaugural events we will hold across the country this year.”
AAHOA Chairman Biran Patel said, “I am so proud that our members and our industry are stepping up to support the causes in their communities. We are over a year into this pandemic, and businesses, employees and communities continue to endure the economic fallout. I am grateful for the exceptional work that AAHOA members in Houston and Chandler did in organizing these successful and safe events. Generosity and compassion are hallmarks of the hospitality industry, and they were on full display at these two tournaments.”
WinCup receives FoodService Innovation Award
The phade brand of PHA-based straws manufactured by New WinCup Holdings Inc. (WinCup) has received the Innovation in FoodService Award for Sustainability Solutions from the National Restaurant Association and SmartBrief. The phade straw is the first mass produced marine biodegradable and home and industrial compostable drinking straw made with PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a substrate derived from the fermentation of canola oil. While maintaining the feel and user experience of a traditional plastic straw, the phade straw was recognized for its extraordinary ability to quickly biodegrade in marine and backyard and industrial compost environments.
The inaugural FoodService Innovation Awards recognize innovative, new or updated products and services that exemplify adaptability and resilience in three categories: sustainability; technology; and safety and health. Honorees were judged on several different criteria, including uniqueness in the market, ability to solve a problem and suitability for use by a panel of judges composed of restaurant industry executives, association experts and SmartBrief editors. WinCup’s phade was among just six other companies/brands recognized in the Sustainability Solutions Category, and was the only disposable product to win the award.