Encalm Enhances Customer Engagement & Drives Loyalty at Airport Lounges
Encalm Hospitality is reshaping the role of airport lounges, turning them into strategic environments where brands can build meaningful, measurable customer loyalty. In an era dominated by digital noise, airport dwell time offers a rare opportunity for focused attention. Encalm leverages this moment by creating immersive, brand-driven experiences that go beyond traditional hospitality, helping partners convert passive waiting time into deeper engagement and lasting brand affinity.
Encalm Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. Group CEO Vikas Sharma said, “In today’s attention-fragmented landscape, brands need physical environments that foster genuine connection and sustained engagement. Airport lounges provide that rare opportunity. At Encalm, we have witnessed a 40% increase in traffic across our lounge formats, reflecting how effectively our approach converts dwell time into meaningful engagement. We enable our partners to transform moments of transit into immersive brand experiences that build trust, affinity, and long-term loyalty.”
Beyond its flagship partnerships, Encalm offers a portfolio of proprietary hospitality formats tailored to different traveler segments and brand goals. These include Encalm Card Lounges for loyalty-driven access, Encalm Privé for elevated premium experiences, Encalm Xenia for ultra-personalized luxury environments, and Atithya by Encalm, which provides end-to-end meet-and-assist services. Together, these formats enable brands to engage travelers at varying levels of exclusivity while extending their presence across the entire airport journey.
Learn more here.
Toast Unveils Enterprise-Grade Drive-Thru to Enhance the Customer Experience
Toast has introduced Toast Drive-Thru, an enterprise-level solution designed to help quick-service restaurants improve speed, accuracy, and labor efficiency through a single, integrated platform. With more than 140,000 drive-thru locations across the U.S., operators face increasing pressure to deliver fast, error-free service while managing labor constraints. Toast’s new system addresses these challenges by replacing fragmented, outdated setups with a unified ecosystem that combines hardware, software, and AI-driven tools.
Toast President and Co-Founder Steve Fredette said, “In the drive-thru lane, every second matters. As one of the important service models for QSR profitability, brands are constantly being pushed to balance speed and guest convenience with efficiency. At the same time, AI is giving brands new opportunities to impact this equation. By seamlessly integrating POS, KDS, outdoor digital menu boards, and AI voice ordering partnerships, Toast Drive-Thru gives operators the tools they need to keep pace with peak demand today, and the flexible foundation required to adopt new innovations in the future.”
The platform integrates POS systems, kitchen display systems, digital menu boards, and AI voice ordering into one seamless experience. Features like a specialized drive-thru POS mode, real-time order confirmation screens, and speed-of-service reporting help streamline operations and reduce errors. Backed by Delphi’s established hardware, the system also ensures reliable performance across various environments while allowing restaurants to adopt new AI innovations as they emerge. In addition to technology, Toast provides full-service support, including site design, installation, and creative content for digital menus. Early users report improved efficiency and smoother operations, with tools that simplify order tracking and enhance the guest experience. Rolling out to larger restaurant brands first, Toast Drive-Thru positions itself as a comprehensive solution for modernizing drive-thru operations and meeting the evolving demands of high-volume quick-service environments.
Read all about it here.
Luxury Travel in 2026 Pivoting Toward Longer Trips, Bigger Suites, and More Personalization
Luxury travel in 2026 is evolving as travelers of all ages seek more personalized and meaningful journeys. According to Pavlus Travel & Cruise, clients are increasingly eager to explore the world on their own terms, with strong demand for luxury cruises and tours—especially in the Mediterranean and emerging destinations like Antarctica. Bookings have surged early in the year, revealing changing preferences that reflect both lifestyle shifts and a desire for more value-driven, immersive travel experiences.
Pavlus Travel & Cruise Founder and CEO Craig Pavlus said, “But whether they’re 25, 50, 75, or older, they ‘go, go, go. In 2026, our luxury clients can’t wait to experience the world on their own terms. They believe—as do we—that they deserve a fabulous luxury vacation, and we strive to provide that.” Pavlus added, “Our Pavlus team is seeing several shifts in luxury travelers’ 2026 booking behavior. These range from small nuances to broader marketplace trends, but all point to how upscale clients’ vacation preferences are evolving and what matters most to them this year. Here’s a look at a few of those shifts.”
One notable trend is a decline in brand loyalty among frequent cruisers, as travelers become more open to trying new luxury providers—particularly those offering inclusive experiences like shore excursions. At the same time, many guests are upgrading to higher-end suites, drawn not only by larger spaces and premium amenities but also by smaller perks such as laundry service. Travelers are also opting for longer vacations, often booking extended itineraries or back-to-back trips, motivated by both convenience and rising airfare costs, which make fewer, longer journeys more appealing. In addition, there has been a rise in last-minute bookings, signaling a growing “travel now” mindset. Destination preferences are shifting as well, with strong interest in Japan, the Arctic, and parts of Europe, while travelers increasingly seek deeper cultural engagement rather than traditional sightseeing.
Original Article Links:
Brand Loyalty Reimagined: How Encalm Transforms Airport Lounges into Strategic Engagement Hubs
Toast Launches Enterprise-Grade Drive-Thru Solution
Pavlus Travel & Cruise Sees Shifts in 2026 Luxury Booking Dynamics