The HRS Group has acquired Berlin-based startup Conichi (Hotel Beacons) and will integrate their technology into the HRS payment product platform.
Launched in 2014, Conichi previously operated independently. HRS has now acquired all remaining Conichi shares, and this transaction will make the brand and all Conichi employees a part of the HRS Group.
When Conichi launched, founders Maximilian Waldmann and Frederic Haitz concentrated on digitising the hotel check-in and check-out process and streamlining it. Companies like Siemens, Telekom and Volkswagen use Conichi’s smarthotel services to optimise their travellers’ hotel stays.
HRS will continue to use the Conichi technology for the automation of check-in/out processes. Conichi in turn will become a part of a new HRS business division focusing on payment. HRS will also use Conichi’s technological know-how to further leverage its corporate payment solutions to the next level.
Conichi’s employees will work jointly with their new HRS colleagues to develop the next generation of data-driven, automated payment technologies.
Nicole Mantow, who joined HRS in June 2019, heads the payment business unit and reports directly to HRS CEO Tobias Ragge. Mantow has nearly two decades of experience in the payment industry. Before joining HRS, she was managing director for Germany at EVO Payments International. Prior to that role, Mantow was responsible for the strategy, marketing and sales of payment service provider ConCardis for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
“Payment has long been one of our most important strategic pillars. The new structure ensures the agility of the division while emphasising the importance of payment solutions as managed travel evolves,” said Tobias Ragge, HRS’ CEO, in a statement.
“An innovative and reliable payment process achieves 23 per cent higher acceptance of the travel programme by travellers no other solution offers companies such savings potential, especially with an uncertain global economy looming in 2020.”
