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Boutique Inns Are Beating Big Hotels at Their Own Game with AI-Powered Pricing Platform TakeUp

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Boutique Meets Big Tech: Devonfield Inn’s Secret to Higher Revenue

LEE, Mass., March 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfasts have long faced an uphill battle competing with large hotel chains, which have deep pockets and access to sophisticated revenue management tools. But that’s changing. Independent properties like the Devonfield Inn in Lee, Massachusetts, are now leveraging AI-powered pricing technology once reserved for global hotel brands to boost revenue, optimize pricing, and compete on a whole new level.

Devonfield Inn co-owner Doug Bagnasco had spent years managing pricing manually, relying on intuition and competitor comparisons to set room rates. But after realizing that he was often undervaluing his own property, he turned to TakeUp, an AI-driven revenue management platform designed for independent hospitality businesses. The results were undeniable: in less than a year, the inn saw average room rate increases of 15%—without sacrificing occupancy or guest satisfaction.

AI Levels the Playing Field for Independent Inns

For decades, revenue management tools were only available to large hotel chains that could afford dedicated teams of data scientists and analysts. TakeUp is changing that, providing boutique properties with an affordable, AI-powered pricing platform that reacts to real-time demand, market trends, and booking patterns.

“At first, I thought I had pricing figured out,” said Bagnasco. “I was relying on intuition and assumptions about what guests would pay. But when I started using AI-driven pricing, I saw that my rates had been lower than they should have been. The increase in revenue went straight to the bottom line.”

With TakeUp’s automated pricing recommendations, Bagnasco no longer spends hours manually adjusting rates or second-guessing pricing decisions. Instead, he works closely with a dedicated revenue strategist from TakeUp, who acts as an extension of his team, providing expert guidance and ensuring pricing aligns with the inn’s business goals.

“The ability to have a revenue strategist from TakeUp in my corner has been invaluable,” said Bagnasco. “They don’t just hand over an AI tool and walk away—they’re constantly monitoring performance, adjusting strategy as needed. It’s like having an in-house revenue expert without the overhead of hiring one.”

Breaking the Pricing Fear Factor

One of the biggest mental hurdles for independent innkeepers is the fear of overpricing and losing guests. Bagnasco shared that before using AI, he hesitated to push rates higher, assuming guests would resist paying more.

“The biggest detractor from pricing wasn’t the guest—it was me,” Bagnasco admitted. “I was more worried about their perception of price than they were. Once I let AI take over, I realized guests were still booking, even at higher rates. In fact, when they see strong reviews and high rankings, they often expect to pay more.”

Sustained Growth, Even in a Challenging Market

Like many boutique properties, Devonfield Inn experienced a post-pandemic revenue surge. However, while others saw their numbers flatten or decline in recent years, Devonfield’s revenue continued to climb after implementing AI-driven pricing.

“For three years, our revenue remained flat despite strong demand,” said Bagnasco. “Once TakeUp got involved, we saw an increase we hadn’t seen before. That was the clearest sign that AI-driven pricing was working.”

Balancing Profitability with Guest Trust

One of Bagnasco’s biggest concerns when adopting AI-driven pricing was ensuring guests never felt taken advantage of—even if demand allowed for much higher rates.

“With TakeUp, I can set boundaries on how high rates go,” he explained. “I never want guests to feel like they’re being overcharged just because we could get more. TakeUp allows us to optimize pricing while keeping it within a range that aligns with our values. It’s about fair pricing, not just maximizing revenue.”

The Future of Boutique Lodging is Smart, Not Big

Independent inns and boutique hotels are proving that success in the hospitality industry isn’t just about scale—it’s about strategy. AI-powered tools like TakeUp are allowing smaller properties to optimize revenue and stay competitive without the complexity and cost of traditional revenue management systems.

“For a long time, this kind of technology was out of reach for small properties,” said Bagnasco. “Now, boutique inns have the same capabilities as big brands. It’s a game-changer.”

About Devonfield Inn

Centrally located in the heart of the Berkshires, this historic 1800 bed and breakfast near Lenox, Massachusetts offers a luxurious retreat with unmatched service and countryside views for every season. Relax at the top-rated, romantic Devonfield Inn set on 32-acres in Lee, MA, just minutes to Tanglewood and all the cultural gems of the Berkshires.

About TakeUp

TakeUp is a leading revenue optimization platform designed for boutique hotels, inns, and alternative accommodations. Through AI-driven pricing and personalized revenue strategies, TakeUp empowers small hospitality businesses to maximize their earnings and save valuable time.

Devonfield Inn Media Contact
Doug Bagnasco
Owner
392265@email4pr.com

TakeUp Media Contact
Kelly Campbell
Marketing & Communications
619.895.0029
392265@email4pr.com

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SOURCE TakeUp

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Hexagon Composites ASA: Eirik Løhre appointed permanent CFO

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May 5, 2026

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OSLO, Norway, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement dated 11 November 2025, where Eirik Løhre was appointed interim CFO in Hexagon Composites.

The Company is pleased to inform that Eirik Løhre has been appointed permanently to the role of CFO in Hexagon Composites, effective today.

Eirik Løhre has been with the Company since 2021 and prior to his role as interim CFO, he served as EVP Corporate Development on the Executive Team.  

“Eirik has demonstrated strong financial leadership and execution, and he has been instrumental in strengthening our financial performance. I look forward to continuing our work together to develop and position Hexagon in this next phase of growth,” said Philipp Schramm, CEO, Hexagon Composites. 

For more information:
Berit-Cathrin Høyvik, Senior Director, Communications, Hexagon Composites
Tel: +47 988 92 161, berit-cathrin.hoyvik@hexagongroup.com

About Hexagon Composites ASA
Hexagon delivers safe and innovative solutions for a cleaner energy future. Our solutions enable storage, transportation and conversion to clean energy in a wide range of mobility and industrial applications. Learn more at www.hexagongroup.com and follow @HexagonASA on LinkedIn.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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LONGPORT Whale Enters Malaysian Market with Next Generation Trading Infrastructure for Local Brokerages

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32 minutes ago

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May 5, 2026

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LONGPORT Whale, with proven track record across 100+ institutional clients in Asia, makes its Malaysia debut at Bursa Malaysia Stockbroking Trade Fair 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LONGPORT Whale, a provider of AI-Ready securities trading infrastructure, is making its entry into the Malaysian market at the Bursa Malaysia Stockbroking Trade Fair 2026. The move comes as Malaysia’s Capital Market Masterplan 2026–2030 (CMP4) continues to hone in on local brokerages to modernise core systems, balancing investor experience, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience simultaneously.

Malaysian brokerages are increasingly confronted by a challenge that goes beyond front-end upgrades. Legacy architectures struggle to keep pace with digital-native investor expectations, rising cybersecurity standards, and the demand for multi-market expansion simultaneously. For many such brokerages, the question is no longer whether to modernize, but how to do so without adding complexity or disrupting the business continuity that clients depend on.

Zhong Hua, CEO, LONGPORT Whale, said, “Core trading infrastructure must support continuous evolution — in investor experience, compliance, and AI readiness — without adding unnecessary complexity. The brokerages that lead the next decade won’t be the ones with the best system today; they’ll be the ones whose systems are designed to keep getting better. LONGPORT Whale aims to bring its Asia-proven experience to help Malaysian brokers strike that balance.”

Built on a cloud-native microservices architecture and trusted by more than 100 institutional clients in Asia, Whale’s platform is engineered by industry professionals and refined through years of first-hand operational experience. For the Malaysian market, it addresses four priorities: a best-in-class trading experience validated across competitive, highly regulated markets in Asia; system resilience and performance built for institutional scale, with high system performance and output, real time risk management, and low system latency; global market connectivity spanning Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, US, and Japan without requiring system rebuilds; and an API-first, data-unified architecture that gives brokerages a practical foundation for AI adoption.

Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, where Whale serves online brokers, traditional banking firms, banks and wealth management institutes in a stringent regulatory environment, serve as the primary reference market for its Malaysia expansion. The company said it aims to work with local industry participants as both an infrastructure partner and a contributor to broader conversation on responsible modernization under CMP4.

About LONGPORT Whale

LONGPORT Whale provides integrated securities trading infrastructure to brokers, banks, fund houses, wealth managers, and family offices across Asia. Its cloud-native platform supports multi-market, multi-asset trading across front-, middle-, and back-office workflows, with a deployment model designed for regulatory alignment and long-term scalability. Website: www.longportwhale.com

Media Contact
LONGPORT Whale PR Team
Email: media@longportwhale.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/longport-whale-enters-malaysian-market-with-next-generation-trading-infrastructure-for-local-brokerages-302761411.html

SOURCE LONGPORT Whale

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Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania Unite to Power Cross-Border M-Pesa Payments Across China and Uganda

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32 minutes ago

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May 5, 2026

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Collaboration revolutionises trade & financial convenience for Tanzanian merchants and consumers

SINGAPORE, May 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, has joined forces with Vodacom Tanzania, the country’s leading telco company, to transform cross-border trade and digital financial inclusion with Vodacom’s new M-Pesa Global Payment solution. Thanks to the collaboration, Vodacom customers in Tanzania can now seamlessly pay merchants in Uganda and China directly from their mobile phones.

This milestone solution responds to growing demand from Tanzanian traders who engage in commerce with Ugandan and Chinese markets but often face challenges with costly, slow, and insecure payment methods. With this innovation, leveraging the Thunes Direct Global Network, Vodacom aims to bridge those gaps, offering secure, real-time digital payments across borders and reinforcing its leadership in mobile money innovation in Africa.

The solution supports trade with two key markets for Tanzania. For eight consecutive years, China has been Tanzania’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting $8.8 billion in 2024. In the same year, bilateral trade between Tanzania and Uganda reached approximately $2.23 billion, an increase of 64% on the previous year.

Epimack Mbeteni, M-Pesa Director at Vodacom Tanzania said: “This is more than just a payment feature, it is a catalyst for economic empowerment and a gateway for small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs in Tanzania to compete and thrive in regional and global markets. Through Thunes’ expansive and trusted Network we are enabling seamless, secure, and affordable cross-border payments that empower people, fuel trade and place M-Pesa at the center of Africa’s digital commerce future.”

Through Thunes’ Direct Global Network, customers can now send payments to merchants in Uganda using MTN MoMo and to Chinese merchants through the Alipay network, all through the M-Pesa USSD menu or the M-Pesa Super App. The process is secure, user-friendly, and eliminates the burden of traditional banking barriers for everyday traders and businesses.

Dawei Wang, SVP Network at Thunes, added: “Vodacom Tanzania joining the Thunes Direct Global Network to digitise cross-border payments is a game changer for local businesses. By combining Vodacom’s technology with Thunes’ trusted and proprietary Network, Tanzanian customers can pay partners in China and Uganda in real time. This innovation accelerates interoperability along with international trade and business growth and supports our vision of connecting the next billion end users to the global economy.”

This initiative stands as a strategic enabler for consumers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who need reliable and quick financial tools such as mobile money. A 2025 GeoPoll survey on Tanzania Financial Services and Usage found that 94% of the survey’s respondents use mobile money.

The Thunes and Vodacom Tanzania alliance is set to transform the lives of millions of consumers by dismantling cross-border barriers. By hyper-connecting Tanzania to global powerhouses like China and streamlining intra-African trade, the collaboration is helping to build an inclusive economy and grow Tanzania’s role as a force in the global market.

About Vodacom Tanzania

For more information, visit: https://www.vodacom.co.tz/

About Thunes

For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thunes-and-vodacom-tanzania-unite-to-power-cross-border-m-pesa-payments-across-china-and-uganda-302760085.html

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