Recapping yesterday's Tech Pitch Competition

Each year, the AAHOA Tech Pitch Competition, co-powered by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), aims to discover and promote companies with groundbreaking ideas and products poised to assist the hospitality industry amidst ongoing challenges, such as workforce shortages and the evolving needs of hotel-staying guests. Notably, this year's competition introduced a unique focus on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in hospitality technology, highlighting solutions geared toward enhancing hoteliers' operational efficiency and profitability.

"As hoteliers, we are constantly asking how we can improve our bottom line. Technology is the answer," said Nishant (Neal) Patel, AAHOA Past Chairman (2022-23) and event emcee.

Entrants, Patel said, would be evaluated on four key points:

1. Cost of implementation
2. Implemenatation of AI
3. Return on investment
4. The benefit a product/service provides to the industry

After all eight participating companies made their pitch and took questions from the four-judge panel, Kings III was crowned this year's winner for the company's pitch on helping bring hotel elevator communication devices up to recently updated ADA codes for sight- and hearing-impaired guests. “We've been in the emergency communications business for over 30 years now,” said Clarisa Miranda, Business Development Manager, Hospitality Vertical, Kings III Emergency Communications. “We never had to target hospitality before because there was never a need. But with code changes that are happening with elevator technology and with landlines going away, there's now reason that hotels need us here at Kings III Emergency Communications. We provide a full turnkey solution for any emergency phone that you need, especially the ones that are code-required - elevators, pools, parking garages, areas of refuge. wheelchair lifts. We do it all.”