Good News Fills HT's List Most-Read Stories For April

Hospitality Technology’s most-read restaurant stories for April is a treasure trove of good news -- including stories about tech innovators leveraging their loyalty programs to boost their bottom lines and tech solutions and operators that made a difference during 2020.  Plus, some sage advice for all hospitality businesses wanting to encourage their workforce to get vaccinated against COVID-19.  

Honorable mention: 
Loyalty Program Pays Off for Starbucks

This April 29 story quickly moved to the top HT’s list of most-read stories, and for good reason. Starbucks Rewards tops 22.9 million active members amid “a full sales recovery in the U.S.!”  Fewer but larger orders from Starbucks’ most loyal customers account for more than half of its U.S. sales.  Read on for more about this tech innovator’s Q1 tech accomplishments and future initiatives.

5.  PAR Technology Buys Punchh
ICYMI: this $500 million buyout is on track to one of the biggest restaurant tech stories of the year. PAR’s point-of-sale and back-office solutions combined with Punchh's loyalty and engagement platform give restaurants an end-to-end solution that’s perfect for the times.  Read on! 

4.  Thinking of Mandating the COVID-19 Vaccine for Your Hospitality Employees?
This story contains some good advice for hospitality companies of all stripes. HT’s senior editor Michal Escobar caught up with Chelsea Smith, a labor and employment attorney at the law firm Hall Estill, who is advising clients not to mandate vaccines, but to incentivize vaccinations instead. As the vaccine rollout continues, this is a must-read for restaurants looking for best practices that encourage their workforce to get their shots.  Read on! 

3. Chipotle Breaks Its Digital Records
Stories about the beloved fast-casual brand always attract a lot of readers and this story about its Q1 performance is no exception.  March was a record-breaking month for Chipotle -- the most digital orders, the most app downloads and the most new digital customers!  Plus get a glimpse of this tech innovator’s future roadmap to innovation.  A must read!  Read on! 

2.  Slice Launches POS System Exclusively Built for Local Pizzerias
Mom and pop pizzerias are getting their own slice of POS technology. This story about Slice Register attracted a lot of eyeballs in April – and is marketed as “the same tech tools and data insights that Domino’s franchisees receive directly into the hands of independent pizzeria owners.” Also Slice announced the launch of Slice Rewards – a new loyalty program for Slice app users. Check out the story here.  

1. Hospitality Technology Announces Its 2021 Top Women in Restaurant Technology Award Winners and Industry Heroes Awards
Everyone loves a feel-good story. And the most-read story on HT for the month of April is loaded with warm fuzzies.  At a special online networking reception on April 14 at MURTEC, HT revealed the winners of the Top Women in Restaurant Technology and the Industry Heroes awards.  

HT recognized 10 women for their accomplishments in restaurant technology and presented 6 Industry Hero awards. With these awards, HT recognizes companies - both restaurants and tech providers -  for their exemplary contributions that kept revenues flowing during 2020. 

All winners will be profiled in the Summer 2021 issue of Hospitality Technology magazine and in digital profiles on hopsitalitytech.com in the coming weeks, but you can check out the list of winners here now.