Uniguest acquires Volara to launch voice tech division

Uniguest , a global provider of connected technology solutions for hospitality, entertainment, sports and other industries, has acquired Volara, a PhocusWire Hot25 Startup of 2021 that provides voice-based engagement software.

Financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed. The entire Volara team will continue with Uniguest, and Volara founder and CEO Dave Berger will become executive vice president of Uniguest’s new voice division, which will maintain the brand name of Volara.

“In early 2016, we envisioned voice-first technologies managing customer relationships across many commercial properties. With that aim we focused on three requirements: robust customer privacy protections, impenetrable security of client data and seamless integrations into the technology ecosystem of each vertical where our solutions were engaged,” Berger says.

“Today, as the leading voice assistant solution for hotels and senior living communities, I’m excited to accelerate our growth in both our existing and new verticals as part of Uniguest.”

Founded in 2016, Volara’s software, which is hardware and platform agnostic, is used by hotels to enable guests to request things such as in-room dining or extra towels and to hear information on property services or nearby attractions. Additionally, Volara is an authorized solution provider for Google Assistant’s Interpreter mode, enabling 29-language translation through its system.

“We are very excited to add Volara to the Uniguest suite of solutions, especially since it fits so well across the key industries our brands operate in,” says Jeff Hiscox, Uniguest CEO.

“Voice creates contactless experiences, and we see it has a big part in future technology, and by offering a secure and functional software like Volara’s, we expect to see high adoption rates from current and new customers alike.”

Nashville-based Uniguest also includes Touchtown, Tripleplay and Janus Displays technology providers.

* Check out Berger's presentation at The Phocuswright Conference 2020.