Choice Hotels creates new technology division
Choice Hotels International has launched a new division aimed at developing and selling its own operating systems to other branded or independent properties.
The new unit, called SkyTouch Technology, plans to create a range of cloud-based technology products, starting with SkyTouch Hotel OS, a new property and rate management solution based on Choice’s existing choiceAdvantage property management system (PMS). Choice says the new technology has the ability to connect with other systems used by chain and independent hotels.
“choiceAdvantage has been so effective for Choice franchisees that other hoteliers, including chains and independents around the world, have asked to use it. It’s a big milestone for the company that we can now offer a similar system via SkyTouch Hotel OS,” said Stephen P. Joyce, Choice’s president & chief executive officer.
“Choice has made significant financial and strategic investments in a broad range of technologies – from emerging mobile platforms to central reservation system delivery – that play to the company’s franchising strengths,” Joyce added. “We believe that launching SkyTouch Technology as a separate line of business… gives the division the independence it needs to offer custom solutions and high levels of support, service and security to all its users.”
Choice’s estimated 6,200 franchised hotels will continued to use the choiceAdvantage PMS.