SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 21, 2025 - Kitchenless Clinches Top Spot at AAHOACON25
Kitchenless has emerged as the grand prize winner of the AAHOA 2025 Tech Pitch Competition, co-powered by HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals). The prestigious event took place during the annual AAHOACON25, recognizing standout innovation in hospitality technology.
Revolutionizing Food Service with Smart Tech
The company received top honors for its groundbreaking food platform, which leverages proprietary steam technology to deliver ready-to-serve, chef-curated Kitchenless dishes. The platform operates via QR code intelligence, eliminating the need for traditional kitchen infrastructure and equipment.
“This win isn’t just about Kitchenless—it’s about what’s possible when innovation meets real-world hospitality challenges,” said Sharon J. Pantong, cofounder/COO, Kitchenless. “It validates not just our technology, but shows that we fundamentally simplify food service and empower the hospitality industry with a smarter, faster, and more profitable solution. We’re incredibly grateful to be part of this journey with the AAHOA family.”
Judges Recognize Innovation That Solves Real Challenges
A panel of five judges, with expertise in both hospitality and technology, selected Kitchenless from a strong field of six finalists:
- Cloudbeds
- Digit7
- Kitchenless
- M3
- Mews
- Orca
Digit7 and Orca tied for second place, while M3 took home third.
“Year after year, this competition proves that technology is a game-changer for hospitality,” said Kamalesh (KP) Patel, chairman, AAHOA. “As someone who grew up in this industry, I understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve. It’s inspiring to see how these companies tackle real-world challenges with smart, practical solutions. Congratulations to Kitchenless for their leadership.”
A New Business Model for Hotel Food Operations
“Kitchenless is redefining hotel food service,” said Mike Özkan, founder/CEO, Kitchenless. “We enable everyone to serve consistent, high-quality dishes across their entire portfolio—with zero kitchen infrastructure, minimal labor and no compromise on quality or taste. At the press of a button, hotels can unlock new revenue streams, increase profitability, and elevate the guest experience—all while simplifying back-of-house operations. It’s not just a tech upgrade—it’s a new business model for food service.”
Celebrating Forward-Thinking Hospitality Solutions
This year’s judging panel included:
- Nishant (Neal) Patel, AAHOA past chairman (2022-23), emcee and judge
- Amy Hellen, managing editor, Hotel Online (HFTP)
- Arpit Mehta, cofounder/CEO, Data Intellect
- Mart Riley, VP, sales, Kings III Emergency Communications
- Nil Kumar, president/chief product officer, Anand Systems
The AAHOA 2025 Tech Pitch Competition spotlighted transformative technologies aimed at enhancing guest experiences and helping hoteliers reduce operational costs.
“The level of creativity and problem-solving we saw in this year’s competition was outstanding,” said Laura Lee Blake, president/CEO, AAHOA. “Technology is transforming our industry at an incredible pace, and it’s exciting to see solutions that directly address the needs of hotel owners. We applaud every company that participated for their commitment to innovation and for bringing fresh ideas that can make a tangible impact.”
Looking Ahead: Kitchenless Heads to AAHOACON26
As the first-place winner, Kitchenless has earned a complimentary exhibit booth at next year’s AAHOACON26 in Philadelphia.
“If you believe in your solution and its impact, AAHOA’s Tech Pitch is the perfect platform,” added Özkan. “It’s more than a competition—it’s a chance to connect with an amazing community and move the industry forward, together as a team.”
For more information about Kitchenless, visit https://www.kitchenless.com.