SevenRooms, which works with hospitality venues like hotels and restaurants, has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round led by Providence Strategic Growth.
Joel Montaniel, CEO & co-Founder at SevenRooms, announced the fresh injection of capital first on Cheddar Thursday morning, a feat particularly in the current economic climate.
"It's never easy to raise money," he told Cheddar. "I think what COVID really did was accelerate the need for a platform like SevenRooms that has a unique value proposition, unique platform capability set, which is really all about helping operators create profitability and amazing guest experiences."
Montaniel says SevenRooms will use the fresh capital to develop its platform and to expand globally.
While SevenRooms may not be a household name for consumers, the end-to-end guest management platform is used by hospitality giants like MGM Resorts International and Bloomin' Brands, which operates restaurant chains Carrabba's, Outback Steakhouse, and Bonefish Grill.
SevenRooms uses customer data to help its customers better understand the needs and wants of its customers.
Montaniel says it's this focus on the guest experience that sets SevenRooms apart from rival OpenTable, which is owned by Booking Holdings.
"Our goal, really, is to help operators understand their guests through data and build direct and personalized relationships with them, which ultimately increases profitability and revenue," he said.
The company had been locking horns with OpenTable over whether restaurants can use data discovered through OpenTable to enhance their other systems, like SevenRooms.
OpenTable decided to charge restaurants a $250 a month data-sharing fee the company says is justified.
"It's been an interesting partnership with them and relationship," Montaniel said, adding the two companies have found a way to work together. "We think that the restaurant should be able to control channels and shouldn't have to pay for every guest, in some cases."
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President Donald Trump's administration last month awarded a $1.2 billion contract to build and operate what's expected to become the nation’s largest immigration detention complex to a tiny Virginia firm with no experience running correction facilities.
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Cracker Barrel said late Tuesday it’s returning to its old logo after critics — including President Donald Trump — protested the company’s plan to modernize.
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Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo. For now. But the chain is also apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.
