HTNG’s annual innovation award recognizes the digital workplace app as the hospitality industry’s ‘most innovative technology’
SAN FRANCISCO, CA March 15, 2018 – The 2018 TechOvation Award was presented yesterday to Beekeeper by Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) during the HT-NEXT Award Ceremony in San Diego. The TechOvation Award recognizes companies for innovative products new to the marketplace from 2017 or coming in 2018. Beekeeper earned the coveted award for its workplace app that digitizes hospitality workers who don’t sit behind a traditional desk and don’t have access to work email. By connecting operational systems and communication channels within one secure, intuitive platform, Beekeeper is helping hoteliers exchange information, share property updates, and communicate best practices within or across departments in 30 languages.
“The Beekeeper app uses both factors of convenience and mobility that we see rapidly growing in the hospitality industry,” said Michael Blake, CEO of HTNG. “We recognize Beekeeper for their innovation and are very happy to announce them as HTNG’s 2018 TechOvation Award Winner!”
The TechOvation Award Contest began in December with contestants producing creative videos featuring their products. During the first round of the competition, Beekeeper was chosen as a semi-finalist after its video explained how the app connects desk and non-desk employees across locations and departments in real time via mobile or desktop, and how its intelligent dashboard improves internal communications and streamlines business processes. During round two, and after presenting its workplace app solution to a panel of 34 distinguished judges comprised of individuals of HTNG’s global leadership councils, Beekeeper was named a Top 3 Finalist. In the final round, it was the audience of more than 600 hospitality technology professionals that ultimately voted Beekeeper as hospitality’s most-innovative technology solution for 2018.
“Because hotel employees do not have traditional desk jobs, and therefore emails are ineffective, many properties rely on bulletin boards for internal communication, and it isn’t resonating well with today’s employees, especially Millennials,” said Corey McCarthy, Beekeeper VP of Global Marketing. “We entered the TechOvation Award Contest because we are successfully accomplishing what no one else can, the ability to reach every single hotel employee via a web platform, mobile app and digital signage. This critical information app is also integrating with other popular applications and seamlessly bringing other tools and information to hotel employees' fingertips, such as scheduling shifts and managing tasks in real time.
“Hoteliers are unaware that a workplace app of this magnitude exists, and being named the ‘most innovative’ technology of 2018 signifies that the industry is in dire need of this digital transformation,” she said. “Beekeeper is proud to have been among such prestigious companies vying for this top honor. We owe this achievement to our staff and development team who share our vision for success. We would also like to thank HTNG for creating this award program that recognizes technological disruptors and rewards them for their unwavering commitment for enhancing the guest experience.”
