Latest news with #RyanKing
Hospitality Net
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Interview with Ryan King (Shiji Group): Why Experience Is the New Currency
At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Ryan King, Senior Vice President for the Americas at Shiji Group, to unpack how hotels can measure, interpret, and act on guest experience data. Ryan explained why reputation now depends as much on real-time feedback analytics as on human service, and how tools like the Guest Review Index (GRI) are helping hoteliers identify both standout moments and systemic breakdowns. He also weighed in on AI's growing role in the industry - not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to enhance guest experience and operational focus. Why is experience measurable, and how should hoteliers act on it? Experience has always been at the heart of hospitality, but according to Ryan King, we have only recently begun to measure it meaningfully. Gone are the days of relying solely on comment cards, today's guests leave feedback on Google, TripAdvisor, and more. That constant flow of sentiment is now measurable through tools like the Guest Review Index (GRI), which not only tracks trends but also distinguishes between one-off incidents and systemic problems. When a water boiler breaks during a large conference, for example, the GRI understands this anomaly and adjusts its scoring logic accordingly. But when complaints recur, such as with hot water, the score begins to drop, prompting operational improvements. How are hotels using guest reviews to take action? King shared the story of a hotel group that fully embraced review management across all departments, not just marketing. They examined feedback syntax to adapt training programmes and revise revenue strategies. At one hotel, glowing reviews about staff friendliness led the revenue manager to adjust rates. At another, poor front office feedback triggered a corporate visit, after which new SOPs were developed and rolled out across properties, raising the GRI scores of underperforming locations. The message: feedback, when taken seriously, drives tangible improvement. Can guest sentiment reveal blind spots, even at luxury brands? Absolutely. One luxury group assumed its tone of voice and guest responses were consistent across properties. Shiji's data told a different story: customer feedback highlighted stark inconsistencies, particularly in food and beverage experiences. This prompted internal reflection and immediate onboarding of tools to help monitor and improve brand standards. Sometimes , King noted, you need measurement and data to validate what you think is happening. Is the value of an experience the same across all hotel types? Not quite. The definition of a great guest experience varies between urban business hotels and beach resorts. Travellers have different needs depending on the purpose of their trip. But in both cases, seemingly small details can matter immensely. King recounted a case where a property cut fresh flowers from the turndown service, assuming it would go unnoticed. Within weeks, guest feedback indicated a drop in perceived value. The flowers were quickly reinstated. What role does AI play, and does it risk replacing staff? King acknowledged the widespread anxiety around AI replacing human roles but offered a more nuanced view. AI, he said, is transforming, not removing, jobs. Like the rise of the internet decades ago, AI will change functions, not eliminate hospitality roles altogether. Automation of repetitive tasks, such as data entry or credit card processing, can free staff to focus on human interactions. The key is to use AI to enable more meaningful moments, 'surprise and delight,' as he put it, not to cut corners on service. Why does reputation ultimately rest with people? Despite technological advances, hospitality is still powered by human interactions. King illustrated this with a personal anecdote: after switching from United to American Airlines, he found himself missing United's warmth and consistency, like the time a flight attendant surprised him with a birthday cupcake. American, by contrast, failed to meet even the basics of promised service. In hotels, that gap is even more critical. A guest may forgive minor faults, but not the absence of a helpful human when something goes wrong. Final takeaway? Tools like GRI help hotels measure, understand, and improve guest experience. But people remain the decisive factor in reputation and loyalty. AI will play an important role in operations, but it is hospitality professionals who create the memories guests talk about, and return for.
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Special Transportation Provider ADROIT Taps Motive to Strengthen Student Safety and Support Drivers Behind the Wheel
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ADROIT Advanced Technologies, a leading alternative student transportation company, today celebrated a new partnership with Motive, the AI-powered Integrated Operations Platform. ADROIT partners with school districts to provide accessible transportation for special needs students who require accommodations or live outside standard bus routes. Now, through this partnership, ADROIT will equip its vehicles with Motive's industry-leading AI-powered fleet safety cameras, strengthening visibility, accountability, and protection for special needs students, drivers, and school districts. The partnership follows a successful three-month pilot program of Motive and other leading competitors' AI dashcams in Massachusetts and Arizona to ensure ADROIT was selecting the most accurate and effective safety solution. ADROIT selected Motive for its real-time safety alerts, on-demand trip footage, and 24/7 support, all key capabilities and services for providing more visibility into vehicle activity and meeting school district requirements. ADROIT is now expanding the availability of Motive's Vehicle Gateways and AI Dashcams to support all customers nationwide. Motive will help ADROIT meet operational and compliance standards while improving communication, reducing accidents, and giving parents and schools greater peace of mind. 'Safety is at the heart of our commitment to the education communities we serve,' said Ryan King, Vice President of Operations for ADROIT. 'We're proud to announce our new partnership with Motive to offer AI-powered fleet safety cameras and vehicle reporting to provide more transparency to families, drivers, and school districts. The platform is designed not only to support our drivers and passengers today, but well into the future.' 'Creating safer roads for students and drivers with accurate AI is one of the most meaningful ways we can make an impact with Motive,' said Abhishek Gupta, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Motive. 'We're proud to support ADROIT's goal of modernizing student transportation with smarter technology that reduces risk and enhances the safety, productivity, and impact of their operations.' ADROIT supplements schools' existing fleets by conducting comprehensive background checks and requiring certified, wheelchair-accessible vehicles. To date, ADROIT has safely transported students more than 3 million miles. Learn more about ADROIT's services here and Motive's Driver Safety Solution here. About ADROIT Advanced Technologies: ADROIT Advanced Technologies, part of the Beacon Mobility family, was founded in 2017 on the premise that school transportation needs to be as varied and unique as the students and districts it serves. For five years, ADROIT has successfully complemented school transportation in communities in California and Arizona with recent expansion into Wisconsin, Missouri, and Texas. Their unique model of ensuring their carefully vetted drivers are partnered with children based on their unique needs and IEPs ensures a transportation solution that perfectly serves parents, children, school districts, and communities. To learn more, visit: To learn more about Beacon Mobility, visit: About Motive: Motive empowers the people who run physical operations with tools to make their work safer, more productive, and more profitable. For the first time, safety, operations, and finance teams can manage their workers, vehicles, equipment, and fleet-related spend in a single system. Motive serves more than 100,000 customers from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises such as KONE, Komatsu, NBC Universal, and Maersk across a wide range of industries including transportation and logistics, construction, energy, field service, manufacturing, agriculture, food and beverage, retail, waste services, and the public sector. Visit to learn more.
Malaysian Reserve
16-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Shiji and IPORT Partner to Transform Hotel and Restaurant Operations with All-in-One iOS Mobility Solution
New collaboration delivers modular, future-ready devices that unify PMS, POS, guest activity management and guest feedback tools, empowering hospitality teams to serve anywhere, anytime. HOLLYWOOD, Fla., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Shiji, a global leader in hospitality technology, has joined forces with IPORT to launch a fully integrated, all-in-one tablet and payment solution designed for hotels and restaurants. Built around the iPadOS ecosystem, this partnership integrates Shiji's Daylight PMS, Infrasys POS, Meridian Experiences, and Reviewpro Reputation solutions with IPORT's modular hardware, enabling seamless mobility across the entire property. The result is a scalable, secure, and familiar platform that empowers staff to deliver exceptional guest experiences, whether at the front desk, poolside, or in a pop-up venue. IPORT's modular hardware seamlessly supports a wide range of iOS devices (including iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPhone) offering unmatched flexibility across hospitality environments. From handheld iPads in protective cases for tableside service to docked configurations ideal for banquet setups or pop-up venues, and centralized charging at the front desk, IPORT enables hotels to tailor their technology to their unique service models. Through this collaboration, IPORT's hardware works hand-in-hand with a broad range of core Shiji solutions, ensuring that hotels can unify guest service, operations, and reputation management across a single mobile platform. This seamless integration not only simplifies workflows but enables staff to stay connected and responsive from anywhere on the property. 'We're proud to partner with IPORT to deliver a solution that aligns perfectly with the way modern hospitality operates,' said Ryan King, Senior Vice President of Shiji in the Americas. 'Hotels and restaurants need flexible, secure, and scalable tools that can evolve with their service models. By integrating Shiji's software with IPORT's modular hardware, we're helping hospitality teams create more mobile, efficient, and guest-focused experiences—without the need to overhaul their tech stack.' The integrated solution simplifies the payment process by seamlessly integrating with multiple payment gateways, allowing hoteliers to choose the system that best suits their needs. This reduces operational complexities, minimizes errors, and saves valuable time and resources. Furthermore, the use of iOS devices ensures a familiar and reliable environment for staff, reducing the training curve and instilling confidence in IT teams regarding security and robustness. 'At IPORT, we design modular, enterprise-grade solutions that unlock the full potential of iOS in hospitality,' said Chris Lawson, Head of Sales & Partnerships at IPORT. 'Our collaboration with Shiji brings together best-in-class hardware and software to create seamless, mobile-first experiences for hotels and restaurants. Together, we're empowering operators to move beyond legacy systems and embrace a more agile, guest-centric future.'This collaboration addresses key challenges in the hospitality industry by replacing purpose-built, end-of-life hardware with sleek, iOS devices that are scalable and easy to update. By removing limitations created by fixed provider partnerships, hotels gain more control over their payment ecosystems. The modular solution empowers IT and operations teams with a future-ready system that adapts to changing property layouts and service models, ensuring longevity and adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry. For more information, visit Shiji Group. About Shiji Shiji is a global technology company dedicated to providing innovative solutions for the hospitality industry, ensuring seamless operations for hoteliers day and night. Built on the Shiji Platform—the only truly global hotel technology platform—Shiji's cloud -based portfolio includes Property Management System, Point-of-Sale, guest engagement, distribution, payments, and data intelligence solutions for over 91,000 hotels worldwide, including the largest chains. With more than 5,000 employees across the world, Shiji is a trusted partner for the world's leading hoteliers, delivering technology that works as continuously as the industry itself. That's why the best hotels run on Shiji—day and night. While its primary focus is on hospitality, Shiji also serves select customers in food service, retail, and entertainment in certain regions. For more information, visit About IPORT In 2004, the team at Sonance saw an opportunity to integrate everyone's favorite Apple products into our everyday lives in a simple way. This led to the launch of IPORT. Beginning with the world's first in-wall dock for iPod, and later evolving into in-wall mounts for iPad and iPod touch, IPORT evolved to become a tool to help end-users turn their tablet into a simple and functional home controller or business tool. Today, industry-wide praise continues to grow as IPORT redefines where and how Apple devices can be used in residences and commercial applications, alike. From homes, hotel rooms, retail stores, restaurants, corporate offices, yachts, and fleet vehicles, IPORT products solve real problems and enhance the usability of iOS devices at home and for business. To learn more about how IPORT transforms iPads and iPhones for Hospitality visit Media Contact:Gabriella Alverio AlborsMarketing Manager, AmericasShiji (404) 948 – 4001
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chime Financial (CHYM) Opens at $43 in Nasdaq Debut After Pricing IPO at $27
Chime Financial (CHYM, Financials), a digital banking app provider based in San Francisco, made its public market debut on Nasdaq Thursday, opening at $43 after pricing its initial public offering above range at $27. Chime sold 25.9 million shares in the IPO, while early backers sold another 6.1 million, bringing the total raise to $864 million. The offering was led by Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan. The stock briefly hit an intraday high of $44.94 before dipping as low as $38, according to FactSet. The debut gave Chime a market cap of $11.6 billion well below its $25 billion private valuation from 2021. Despite the markdown, Chime's IPO is among the more notable fintech debuts in recent years, reflecting renewed investor interest in digital finance platforms after a slowdown in tech listings. Chime, founded by CEO Chris Britt and CTO Ryan King, offers app-based checking accounts, savings tools, and debit cards geared toward fee-free banking. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chime, which almost sank in 2016, makes strong Wall Street debut; what changed?
Chime Financial made a strong debut on the Nasdaq , as investor enthusiasm for the much-awaited listing lifted the stock. The counter rallied 37% on its first day after raising $864 million through the IPO. The digital banking startup set a price of $27 for its shares at open, slightly above the earlier announced range of $24 to $26. They rose as much as 66% to $43, before closing at $37.11 apiece. For founders Ryan King and Chris Britt, the successful listing was the culmination of a long and difficult journey, one that saw the company almost go under in 2016, when its runway almost ran out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Rich Man Keeps Annoying Royal Guard, But He Didnt Expect This To Happen Learn It Wise Undo Business model Founded in 2012 by Britt and King, Chime provides online banking products in partnership with US national banks and money management services. Live Events Chime claims it earns primarily from interchange fees—charges merchants pay to process card payments—instead of levying overdraft fees, monthly service fees, or minimum balance fees. The tech-backed business model allows it to offer banking services at affordable costs, it said. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories The company handled transactions worth $121 billion in the year ended March 31, 2025, with a customer base of 8.6 million. DST Global, Crosslink Capital, Len Blavatnik's Access Industries, General Atlantic, Menlo Ventures, Cathay Innovation and Iconiq are invested in the fintech firm. This is a far cry from a decade ago, when venture capitalists summarily rejected the company's business model, seeing no future in it. According to news site TechCrunch, they got a lifeline from Lauren Kolodny, then a partner at Aspect Ventures, who gave them a $9 million extension. The grateful founders invited Kolodny, now a co-founder of Acrew Capital, to the podium to ring the opening bell at the Nasdaq. Financial performance Chime has been consistent with its financials over recent quarters, indicating it is on the path of sustainable growth. In 2024, its total revenue increased by more than 30% to $1.67 billion. According to TechCrunch, the company's losses contracted from $203 million in 2023 to $25 million in 2024. Chime reported a net profit of $12.9 million on revenue of $518.7 million for the three months ended March 2025, according to its latest filing. Rejuvenating the IPO market Chime's debut has come as a shot in the arm for the American IPO market. The strong performance by the stock could encourage other fintech majors, including Klarna, Gemini, Medline, and Cerebras Systems, to hasten their listing efforts.
