Verdict Food Service

Daily Newsletter

11 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

Sonesta partners with Grubhub for food delivery at its hotels

Hotel guests are eligible for Grubhub+, Grubhub’s loyalty programme and free for two months.

US hotel group Sonesta has partnered with online food-ordering platform GrubHub to bring mobile ordering and delivery to two Sonesta hotel brands, Extended Stay (ES) Suites and Simply Suites.

The partnership allows guests at more than 120 hotels of Sonesta ES Suites and Sonesta Simply Suites in the US to order food locally through Grubhub.

Guests can access Grubhub’s network of more than 365,000 restaurant partners using the app and through quick response (QR) codes displayed by the site that bring them to the Grubhub Marketplace.

Grubhub chief operations officer Eric Ferguson said: “We’re redefining the dining experience for hotel guests by making it easier than ever to bring more dining options and convenience right to guests’ doors no matter where their travels take them.

“With Sonesta, we’re excited to help support a dining need at these properties and play a role in keeping guests fed, happy and energised.”

Guests are also eligible for Grubhub+, Grubhub’s loyalty programme, free for two months. This programme will help guests access zero-charge delivery on all orders worth more than $12.

Sonesta chief brand officer Elizabeth Harlow said: “Sonesta ES Suites and Simply Suites apartment-styled accommodations provide guests with a fully equipped kitchen, giving them a sense of normalcy and a home away from home.

“We are excited to be partnering with Grubhub to provide our guests with easy access to mobile ordering and delivery services which will enhance our extended stay hotel experience.”

Generative AI remains an untapped potential across the consumer industry

GlobalData estimates the total AI market will be worth $909 billion in 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.2% between 2022 and 2030. The consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors are undergoing digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer preferences. AI can help companies operating in these sectors by significantly reducing costs and production times. In Nestlé's 2022 full-year results, the company announced a renewed focus on digitalization to drive growth. Financial and reputational pressures associated with supply chain disruptions and sustainability concerns are also driving interest in the digitalization of supply chains. Data science and ML are strong investments across all areas. However, the sectors cannot stop at AI-powered data analytics applications. They must also explore computer vision (CV), smart robots, AI sensors that automate manufacturing and distribution logistics, and generative AI tools that increase efficiency across corporate departments and customer service operations and enable innovation in product design. For the most part, the consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors will not play a significant role in creating and developing AI hardware or platforms. Instead, these sectors will help scale up the adoption of AI technologies, such as CV, conversational platforms, and smart robots. This adoption will be driven by the financial benefits and potential cost savings AI automation delivers across global supply chains.