Margin Is the Mandate, and AI Is the Lever
At the 2026 Lodging Conference in Phoenix, the AI conversation moved from guest-facing experiments to the back office, where margin is made or lost. My takeaways: connect your data before adding intelligence, start with spend management, and measure results in P&L terms.
Beyond the Back Office: How AI Is Reshaping Hospitality Procurement
Hospitality procurement has always run behind the scenes, but rising complexity is changing that. In this piece, BirchStreet’s Mark Haywood explores how AI can surface pricing variances, consolidate demand across properties and strengthen supplier relationships, all while keeping procurement professionals in the driver’s seat on final decisions.
Improving Sustainability Through Procurement Optimization
Sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. In Hospitality Technology, BirchStreet’s Valerie Layman explains how smarter procurement technology can reduce waste, improve transparency, and support more efficient hospitality operations.
Hospitality’s Sustainability Evolution: A Closer Look at Industry Insights
At the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge Conference, hospitality leaders discussed how sustainability initiatives and evolving regulations are reshaping hotel operations and supply chains.
The Biggest Challenges With Vendor Payments (And How Hotels Can Overcome Them)
A recent BirchStreet survey found many hoteliers are struggling with outdated, manual payment processes. Modern AP automation and digitized payment platforms can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and even create new rebate opportunities.
Top European Themes Influencing Hospitality Procurement: Agility, Sustainability, and Digital Enablement
Procurement has always been rooted in the fundamentals: balancing cost, quality, and supply. But today, the hospitality industry faces rapid change that is redefining procurement’s role. Inflation, labor shortages, and new regulations are converging with digital transformation, AI adoption, and rising expectations for sustainability. The result: procurement leaders are no longer back-office operators but rather strategic […]
Holding the Reins Too Tight? Why Hotels Should Reconsider Using Embedded Payments to Maximize Efficiency.
Picture this. You’re running a busy hotel, your guests are focused on poolside margaritas and conference breakout sessions, while you’re deep in the weeds, managing accounts payable (AP) by hand. Payments are trickling out, invoices are piling up, and addressing every vendor request feels like wrangling quicksand. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The latest BirchStreet Systems […]
Insights Into Pay Survey Report
BirchStreet Systems and Hotel Management discuss how AP leaders are addressing rising costs, fraud risks, and operational challenges through automation, embedded payments, and stronger financial controls.
Mid-Year Checkpoint: What are hospitality teams thinking about to maximize impact?
As hospitality teams continue to execute their annual plans, the second half of the year offers a valuable moment to assess progress and recalibrate. It’s the perfect time to ask: How can we realign our goals to maximize impact and finish the year strong? Imagine stepping into your next strategic meeting armed with the insights […]
Smarter Payments, Stronger Hospitality: Key Insights from BirchStreet at HITEC 2025
BirchStreet joined the dojo.live podcast to discuss how automation, digital payments, and smarter AP workflows are helping hospitality organizations reduce fraud, improve efficiency, and adapt to today’s economic challenges.