Visual Matrix Brings More than 70 Hotel Industry Leaders Together for Collaboration, Inspiration, and Innovation

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 19, 2025--

Visual Matrix, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the hospitality industry, celebrated its annual Townsquare event in Fort Worth, Texas, February 17 – 20, 2025, where more than 70 attendees strategized ways to expand collaboration between technology providers and hoteliers, shared tips to combat human trafficking and more. Those in attendance joined as Visual Matrix shared insight and perspective on the current state of hospitality, technology and safety while also gathering valuable feedback on how to increase collaboration across the industry.

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Attendees included leaders from Sonesta, Best Western, Westmont Hospitality Company, Hospitality Technology Consulting, Canary Technologies, RockCheetah and Shift4.

Brought together with key support from Actabl, the hotel industry’s leading platform for maximizing profitability through operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making, Visual Matrix’s 2025 Townsquare took place at the Hotel Drover in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards, and was attended by more than 70 hotel owners, operators, franchisees, technology providers and consultants.

Speakers at the event included:

“We are thrilled with the turnout at our recent Consultants Townsquare in Fort Worth, where our attendees were united in collaboration, innovation and inspiration as they shared novel approaches to improving hospitality from all angles,” said Georgine Muntz, CEO of Visual Matrix. “Looking back at the discussions that took place, which ranged from musings on the current state of hotel technology partnerships to actionable ways to reduce human trafficking across our industry, I find a renewed excitement for the future of hospitality and how we can work together to continue making a difference.”

The program began with a collaborative panel discussion on ways individuals can help improve technology innovation, and how our industry can remove barriers to new integrations and partnerships. The panel addressed several major questions, including whether the industry is falling short of technology adoption goals, when AI will begin to have an impact on hotel operations and more.

“We are honored to partner with Visual Matrix for the latest Consultants Townsquare in Fort Worth,” said Lindsey Goedeker, SVP of Sales at Actabl. “The hotel industry is constantly evolving with new technologies and strategies, but it’s critical to optimize existing resources—ensuring hotels maximize profitability while maintaining the right staffing levels to enhance operations and reduce turnover. There is no silver bullet for improving our industry, but conversations like these can help shift the conversation toward positive change.”

Key attendees shared observations on the event:

Walking the Walk

The final day of the conference began with a panel discussion on human trafficking and how hoteliers can make an impact in the fight against this practice. The group was joined by Melissa Ice, Founder and Executive Director of The Net Fort Worth and co-founder of the Worthy Co., organizations built with a focus on reducing the spread of human trafficking throughout Texas and supporting survivors in their recovery process. Her suggestions and feedback for hotel consultants were met with an undercurrent of support from industry leaders who are using technology such as cameras, heat maps and more to overcome stigmas associated with spotting and combatting human trafficking in practice.

The event ended with a meeting of the Hospitality Women’s Innovation Council. The discussion not only continued to examine opportunities to overcome human trafficking in hospitality, but also addressed the need to uplift women across hospitality and break through the glass ceiling that still exists. Attendees were urged to remain vulnerable and honest while delivering their message to the industry.

For more information on Visual Matrix, visit www.visualmatrix.com. For more information on the Hospitality Women’s Innovation Council, visit visualmatrix.com/women-hospitality-innovation-council.

About Visual Matrix

More than 3,000 properties in 30+ countries worldwide choose the Visual Matrix hospitality operating platform to optimize hotel operations and serve guests from reservation to return stay. Our system includes a game-changing PMS supported by powerful features and key integrations that are easy to use, including revenue management with automated rate tiering, a fully integrated channel manager, and a mobile app for tracking performance on the go. The Visual Matrix MOP housekeeping and maintenance tool automates routine tasks and streamlines communication to keep the front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance staff focused on guests It also includes a built-in panic button as an Emergency Safety Device (ESD) to help keep hotel staff from harm. For more information, visit visualmatrix.com.

Visual Matrix Brings More than 70 Hotel Industry Leaders Together for Collaboration, Inspiration, and Innovation

Visual Matrix Brings More than 70 Hotel Industry Leaders Together for Collaboration, Inspiration, and Innovation

Visual Matrix Brings More than 70 Hotel Industry Leaders Together for Collaboration, Inspiration, and Innovation

Visual Matrix Brings More than 70 Hotel Industry Leaders Together for Collaboration, Inspiration, and Innovation

The Florida Panthers ensured they would not lose any of their grit with A.J. Greer expected to leave in free agency by acquiring Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers in a trade Thursday.

Florida sent a fifth-round pick in the draft Saturday and a fourth-rounder next year to Philadelphia for the 34-year-old winger. Hathaway has one season left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $2.4 million.

Hathaway joins the Panthers fresh off them trading for Brady Tkachuk to unite him with brother Matthew after missing the playoffs following back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and '25.

Greer played a key depth role on the second of those title runs. Now 29, he could be a coveted addition when he hits the open market Wednesday.

The Washington Capitals made another move during their busy week, sending pending restricted free agent forward Hendrix Lapierre to rival Pittsburgh. The Penguins traded a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-rounder for the 24-year-old who never fully realized his potential with the team that drafted him and may benefit from a change of scenery.

Washington subtracted after adding two potential difference-makers in trades for Jordan Kyrou and Alex Tuch.

With the first round of the draft Friday night, the wheeling and dealing is only expected to pick up. After sending Kyrou to the Caps for fellow forward Connor McMichael, the 16th pick and a prospect, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said the trade “allows the other 31 teams to digest what St. Louis is trying to accomplish and see if they can participate.”

“Instead of 12 hours, it allows them 48-plus hours to really dig into what they have and what we have and see if there’s a potential match there,” said Armstrong, whose team has a league-high four first-rounders. “Everyone knows what we have, and if they want to engage St. Louis at pick 1, 2, 3, 4, they know what we have and I would welcome the call.”

Toronto's John Chayka told reporters Wednesday the Maple Leafs listened to calls about the first pick but decided to keep it. They are expected to take Penn State's Gavin McKenna, a winger from the Yukon who has generated buzz for quite some time.

San Jose is worth watching closer after trading young forward William Eklund, who is cost-controlled through 2029, to Ottawa for the No. 9 pick, giving the Sharks another in the top 10 after No. 2.

“I think teams are curious to what what our plan was to do with 9,” GM Mike Grier said. “There's lots more calls on 9 and probably two more on 2 — one that's real interesting. ... All stuff for us to consider.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

FILE - Philadelphia Flyers' Garnet Hathaway celebrates after scoring during the second period of Game 2 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)