HMSHost introduces Presto tablet in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; additional locations to follow

PHOENIX—Travelers catching a flight are always looking for ways to make their trips easier and less stressful. Now they can dine by a simple touch of a screen, with HMSHost’s rollout of E la Carte’s Presto tablets to its airport restaurants. Presto tablet allows guests to browse detailed menus with enticing pictures, receive menu recommendations, place orders, split checks and make a credit card payment—all from the comfort of their restaurant table. It even includes interactive games to entertain guests while they wait for their meal. Presto tablet will make its debut at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at HMSHost’s popular Taberna del Tequila, located in Terminal 4, with plans to roll out at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and numerous additional HMSHost airport restaurants across the United States.

“Presto tablet is a natural fit for our airport restaurants, as we constantly seek to identify innovations that will enrich travelers’ dining experiences,” said HMSHost Executive Vice President of Development Steve Johnson. “Presto tablet directly addresses travelers’ primary concerns: speed of service and convenience. It gives customers more control and allows them to pace the meal themselves, whether they’d like to sip cocktails at one of our bars while waiting for their flight, or indulge in a quick meal without having to wait for their bill. It’s truly the future of hospitality for airport dining.”

Presto’s delivery of faster service and convenience to travelers significantly increases customer satisfaction, proven by an average increase in tips by 15% and an average 10% increase in sales. By putting customers in control of when they order and when they pay their bill, HMSHost is empowering them to get in and get out at their own pace—especially important when they have a flight to catch.

Presto tablet, developed exclusively for restaurants, runs on a battery that lasts all day and is built with the durability to withstand the use of countless guests, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for restaurants and servers.

“HMSHost has been a great partner in this initiative,” said E la Carte CEO Rajat Suri. “Serving the busy road warrior is an excellent application of our Presto tablets –with HMSHost’s global reach, we are looking to fundamentally upgrade the traveler dining experience.”

For more information:
• E la Carte: www.elacarte.com
• HMSHost: www.hmshost.com

About HMSHost

HMSHost is a world leader in creating dining and shopping for travel venues. HMSHost operates in more than 100 airports around the globe, including the 20 busiest airports in North America. The company has annual sales in excess of $2.7 billion and employs more than 34,000 sales associates worldwide. HMSHost is a part of Autogrill Group, the world’s leading provider of food & beverage and retail services for people on the move. With sales of over €5.8 billion in 2011, the group operates in 35 countries and employs some 62,800 people. It manages over 5,300 stores in more than 1,200 locations worldwide. Visit www.HMSHost.com for more information and find them on Facebook at HMSHost Making the Traveler’s Day Better.

About E la Carte

E la Carte is creating a restaurant revolution by updating restaurant tables with Presto touch-screen tablets, finally propelling restaurants into the Information Age. Founded in 2008 at MIT, E la Carte is headquartered in Palo Alto, in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company has raised millions in funding, with investors such as Founders of companies such as Groupon, Dropbox, Farmville, & Reddit; plus Skip Sack, former Chairman of the National Restaurant Association.