PR: UWINK WINS HOSPITALITY TECHNOLOGY’S BREAKTHROUGH AWARD FOR OVERALL TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
LOS ANGELES – September 22, 2008 – uWink (OTCBB:UWKI), an entertainment and hospitality software company and operator of an interactive restaurant concept, announced today that it has won Hospitality Technology Magazine’s Breakthrough Award for overall technological innovation. Brent Bushnell, uWink’s CTO and architect of uWink’s award-winning technology, accepted the award on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at Hospitality Technology’s Restaurant Executive Summit in Los Angeles.
The Breakthrough Awards, now in their fourth year, are presented annually at Hospitality Technology’s Restaurant Executive Summit. The awards seek to honor restaurant companies for their outstanding achievement in increased business growth and innovation within the last year. The awards are judged in three categories by Hospitality Technology’s editorial staff: Overall Technology Innovation, Excellence in Guest Services, and Brand Growth.
"The pool of nominees for the Breakthrough Awards grows in size and stature each year and, despite current economic challenges, this year is no exception. The restaurant industry continues to innovate and strive for excellence. It is our pleasure to recognize these restaurant operators for their outstanding vision and execution," said Abigail A. Lorden, editor of Hospitality Technology.
Overall Technological Innovation: This award is presented to a company that has leveraged technology beyond standard practice, and has achieved proven results. Technologies can include both back-of-house and/or front-of-house implementations, as well as guest- and/or employee-facing technologies.
"uWink is a harbinger of what is to come in the hospitality industry," said Nolan Bushnell, CEO of uWink. "We have demonstrated that our customer-facing self-service and entertainment technology injects speed and fun into the restaurant experience while significantly improving labor efficiency. We are very gratified that our vision and results are validated by this award."
Past Breakthrough Award Winners include: Legal Sea Foods (2007), Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (2007), Kahala – Cold Stone Creamery (2007), Jason’s Deli (2006), Noodles & Co. (2006), Buca, Inc. (2006).
About uWink’s technology:
uWink’s customer-facing interactive digital content operating/display system and real-time, multi-player game platform allows intuitive and easy access to and interaction with various forms of digital content and custom applications including menus, games, videos and music. The software also allows patrons to take control of many aspects of the dining experience, including check-in/checkout and food/drink ordering using uWink’s tabletop touch interface.
About uWink:
uWink develops digital media entertainment and hospitality software and an interactive restaurant concept that allows customers to order food, drinks, games and other digital media at the table through proprietary touch screen terminals. uWink is led by entertainment and restaurant visionary Nolan Bushnell, founder and former CEO of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese (NYSE: CEC). For more information: www.uwink.com.