Product Feature
25
etail spaces are expanding across
hotel categories, offering snacks,
beverages and essentials 24/7.
Kiosks and mini-marts have become
standard in full- and limited-service
hotels, driven by changes in food and
beverage operations and demand for
quick retail. Operators and owners
see retail as a revenue stream as the
outlets prove efficient and profitable.
Hotels now favor automated solutions
as a cost-effective amenity aligned with
guest behavior.
“Vending is not a new concept on
hotel property, but automated retail
solutions is more relevant now than
ever before for the hospitality sector,”
said Mark Farshtchi, sales manager at
Seaga Manufacturing, Inc., a vending
technology and inventory control
provider. “My quarter century of
ARS experience has taught me that
the adage of what is old is new again
rings true. However, nothing about
the current generation of vending
machines is old or outdated. In fact,
it was during the Covid-19 years that
ARS and vending machines achieved
greater cultural relevance for their
safe and effective distribution of
essential items, including non-
traditional PPE. Vending has moved
beyond snacks and beverages. Today’s
machines vend consumer electronics,
OTC products, industrial solutions,
laundry items, meal replacements and
more.”
A growing number of brands now
make mini-marts standard. Hyatt
Place properties include The Market,
offering packaged snacks, salads and
hot meals. Hilton’s The Shop, rolled out
across Hampton by Hilton and Home2
Suites, focuses on grab-and-go items,
beverages and basic sundries. Marriott’s
Courtyard and Fairfield Inn brands also
feature lobby markets, often positioned
beside the front desk.
Automated retail
solutions
ARS lets guests purchase snacks,
beverages and travel essentials
without staff interaction. Systems
such as smart vending machines and
robotic cabinets can be managed
remotely, reducing labor costs and
tracking inventory in real time. Hotels
can adjust offerings based on guest
preferences and sales data and some
report significant revenue increases
after implementation. Integration
of automated retail is becoming
a standard strategy to streamline
operations and boost sales.
Farshtchi outlined ARS’s role in
hospitality.
“Because you are someone’s home
away from home,” he said. “You
provide a safe space for families,
businesspeople and those that move
about the country for one reason
or another. ARS provides snacks,
products people forgot to pack and
entertainment solutions that single out
your property from any other property
in your area.”
Seaga provides vending solutions
across multiple sectors, including
hospitality. The company’s equipment
includes traditional coil delivery
systems, lockers and closed-system
check-in and check-out solutions.
Advanced systems generate revenue
through screen advertising,
gamification and demographic
data, enabling deeper engagement
with customers. Seaga, which owns
Automated Merchandising Systems,
has four manufacturing facilities, two
in the U.S., allowing global service.
Its team, distribution network and
operator partners support resorts,
full-service, budget and extended-stay
properties.
Why vending over
micro-markets?
“The average cost of a micro market is
two to four times the cost of a vending
machine,” Farshtchi said. “Not all
markets work 24/7 for security reasons.
By Vishnu Rageev R
The business of lobby retail
Hotels add retail to drive
revenue and serve guests
www.asianhospitality.com
September 2025 | Issue 240
Hotels continue to turn to minimarts and vending machines in their lobbies to offer guests sundries
and to generate revenue.