We are pleased to announce the release of the "Tourist Spot Search" function for AutoReserve, our AI-powered restaurant reservation service. This new feature allows users to search for restaurants using tourist destination names. It solves a key challenge for travelers unfamiliar with local station names, enabling them to directly find restaurants using landmark names such as "Tokyo Tower" or "Himeji Castle.”

## Background: The Booming Inbound Tourism Market and Overlooked Dining Challenges
In 2024, the number of inbound visitors to Japan reached 36.87 million, with tourism consumption hitting 8.1395 trillion yen, both record highs. (*1)

Compared to pre-pandemic 2019, the number of visitors increased by 15.6% and consumption grew by 69.1%, indicating a strong recovery in the inbound market. As the government aims for 60 million visitors and 15 trillion yen in consumption by 2030, the importance of Tourism DX (Digital Transformation) is increasing. (*2)

Despite this boom, the "dining" challenges faced by tourists at their destinations have often been overlooked. While "experience-based consumption" at tourist spots has become a trend, conventional restaurant search services are primarily based on "station names" or "area names." This presents a structural problem, making intuitive searches starting from a tourist spot difficult.

(*1) Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) ([https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/press/20250115_monthly.html](https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/press/20250115_monthly.html)), Japan Tourism Agency ([https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/news02_00024.html](https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/news02_00024.html))

(*2) Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) ([https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/m20250501_1.pdf](https://www.jnto.go.jp/news/m20250501_1.pdf))

## Development Background: The Common Challenge of "Not Knowing the Station Name"
The difficulty of "wanting to find a restaurant near a tourist destination but being unable to search without knowing the station name" is a challenge common to both international and domestic travelers.

For example, even if a user wants to "eat Italian near Tokyo Tower," they may not immediately know the closest station. If they want to "enjoy Kyoto cuisine near Kiyomizu-dera Temple," they may be confused about which station to use for their search, such as "Kiyomizu-Gojo" or "Gion-Shijo." This situation is a significant source of stress for travelers unfamiliar with the geography, often leading to them "giving up" or "settling for somewhere else," resulting in a lost consumption opportunity.

In fact, AutoReserve's search data showed a significant volume of searches by tourist spot names, particularly from international tourists. Furthermore, many destinations, such as the "Kurobe Dam" or "Mont-Saint-Michel," do not have a nearby station at all, making traditional station-based searches ineffective in these travel scenarios.

Hello Inc. recognized this issue of "not knowing the station" or "no station existing" as a structural problem affecting both travelers and restaurants, leading us to develop the Tourist Spot Search function.

## Feature Details: Enabling Intuitive, Landmark-Based Restaurant Searches
1. **Autocomplete Suggestions for Tourist Spots**

When users begin typing a landmark name like "Tokyo Tower," "Himeji Castle," "Tsutenkaku," or "Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium," relevant suggestions automatically appear for easy selection. This supports major destinations not only in Japan but also worldwide, such as "Niagara Falls" or "Buckingham Palace."

2. **Combined Search with Cuisine Categories**

Users can combine landmarks with cuisine types, such as "Tokyo Tower x Italian" or "Kiyomizu-dera x Kyoto Cuisine." This meets the diverse needs of inbound tourists, seamlessly connecting sightseeing with dining experiences.

3. **Multilingual Support**

Leveraging AutoReserve's strength in multilingual support (including Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean), users can search for tourist spots in their native language. This breaks down language barriers, enabling restaurant search and reservation anytime, anywhere.

## Social Significance: Preventing Missed Dining Opportunities and Contributing to the Regional Economy
The Tourist Spot Search function extends beyond mere convenience; it holds social significance by preventing lost consumption opportunities and contributing to regional economic revitalization.

1. **Driving Traffic to Nearby Restaurants and Creating New Customer Acquisition Channels**

This feature creates a new acquisition channel for restaurants near tourist spots that were previously overlooked due to the "station name" barrier. It presents a significant business opportunity, especially for hidden gems located away from stations or establishments situated right in front of landmarks that were hard to find via conventional search.

2. **Enhancing Traveler Satisfaction and Boosting Consumption**

By enabling travelers to smoothly realize their desired dining experiences at tourist destinations, overall trip satisfaction improves. Eliminating the frustration of "wanting to eat but not being able to find a place" allows consumption intent to translate into actual spending, contributing to the maximization of inbound tourism consumption.

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AutoReserve AI Reservation Service Launches Tourist Spot Search—No Station Name Needed, Preventing Missed Dining

The leisure hotel industry is currently facing challenges with chronic labor shortages and maintaining consistent service quality, especially during nighttime and peak business hours. F garden group has addressed these issues by implementing HelloX. The AI accurately and instantly handles phone inquiries for orders and complex rate plans, significantly reducing the burden on staff during busy periods and enabling more streamlined operations.

# Challenges Before Implementation
F garden group, which operates multiple hotels in Sasebo City, Nagasaki, was facing challenges with a high volume of calls from guest rooms to the front desk, particularly during the night and on peak days like weekends and holidays. The two main issues were "Labor Shortages" and "Over-reliance on Individual Staff."
### 1. Challenges Related to Labor Shortages
- Due to a chronic shortage of staff, front desk employees were often overwhelmed with phone calls, preventing them from focusing on their primary role of providing in-person guest services.
- During peak times, such as when the hotel was fully booked or during check-out hours, high call volumes led to long wait times for guests, resulting in decreased customer satisfaction.
- The situation was further complicated by the overlapping retirement of veteran staff and difficulties in recruiting new, younger employees due to the ongoing labor shortage.
### 2. Challenges Related to Over-reliance on Individual Staff
- Complex service details and rate plans meant that knowledge and expertise were concentrated among a few veteran employees. This created a significant risk associated with staff turnover and resulted in high costs for training new staff and sharing information.
- The speed and quality of service varied depending on the proficiency of the staff member on duty, leading to inconsistent service levels across the hotels.

# What HelloX Automates
### Answering Calls:
HelloX receives calls from both external lines and guest rooms to handle inquiries and take orders.
### Post-Call Work (ACW):
1. **Saving call logs to the dashboard:** It records the details of guest inquiries and the necessary follow-up actions on a central dashboard.
2. **Notifying staff of orders:** When an action is required, such as delivering a food order, HelloX automatically places a notification call to the responsible staff member to prompt them for the next step.

# Results of Implementing HelloX
![hellox-case-hanazonoshoji-2](//images.ctfassets.net/x0lx6207qomw/24LWGEMZBs1K7eUhPZdGun/86099558b30cc92ed9d3309a592e70df/20251010_HelloX_PR_1200_675_1_2.png)
The implementation of HelloX has enabled guests to receive smoother, high-quality service 24/7, while freeing hotel staff from the burden of telephone duties to focus on essential in-person guest services.
### Solution to Labor Shortages: Saving approximately 1,800 calls per month through automation
HelloX has fully automated telephone operations, reducing the workload at each hotel by approximately 1,800 calls per month—a task that previously placed a significant burden on front desk staff. This has liberated employees from being tied to the phone, creating an environment where they can concentrate on what matters most: providing attentive, personal service to guests. Furthermore, it has eliminated guest wait times during peak periods like full occupancy or check-out, contributing to higher customer satisfaction. As a result, F garden group has been able to maintain high-quality hotel operations despite challenges such as the retirement of experienced staff and difficulties in recruitment.
### Solution to Over-reliance on Staff: Standardizing service quality and reducing training costs
HelloX centralizes information on complex rate plans and services, providing uniform and accurate guidance 24/7. This standardizes the quality of telephone support, ensuring it no longer depends on the experience or skill of individual employees. Guests can now feel confident that they will receive the same high level of service no matter when they call. Moreover, by having the AI manage the knowledge previously held by veteran staff, the costs associated with training new employees and handovers have been significantly reduced. This also mitigates the risks associated with the departure of experienced personnel.

---

# Comment from Mr. Yasui, Representative Director of F garden group
"We see AI not merely as a tool for operational efficiency and automation, but as a powerful partner in delivering warmer, higher-quality hospitality. We will continue to strive for the optimal balance between 'tech touch' solutions like AI and the 'human touch,' ensuring we provide the best possible stay for all our guests."
# Comment from Mr. Takahashi, Head of the HelloX Business at Hello Inc.
"We are truly honored that the implementation of HelloX has contributed to F garden group's mission of providing 'higher-quality hospitality' and creating a better lodging experience for their guests. This outcome, where AI and people collaborate to expand the potential of the workforce and generate warmer service, is a significant step toward solving challenges across the entire hotel industry. We are committed to being more than just a tool for efficiency; we will strive to be an 'AI business partner' that works together with our clients to elevate the customer experience for the entire accommodation industry."


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F garden group Adopts HelloX

We are pleased to announce that "Respo by AutoReserve," the all-in-one platform for restaurants, has launched an API integration with "freee Accounting," a service provided by freee K.K. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Daisuke Sasaki).

This integration enables daily sales data from Respo to be automatically registered as transactions in freee Accounting the following day. Restaurant owners will be freed from tedious accounting tasks, ensuring accurate financial management without input errors or omissions. This allows them to focus on value-adding activities, such as improving customer service and enhancing the overall quality of their establishment.

## Background
While digital transformation (DX) is advancing in the restaurant industry due to labor shortages, much of this progress has been limited to front-of-house operations like reservations and ordering. The reality is that accounting entries are often still done manually. The increasing variety of payment methods and the need to handle multiple tax rates have further complicated these tasks. These back-office operations have become a major bottleneck, reducing the overall productivity of restaurants.

To address this inefficiency in back-office operations and provide a truly "all-in-one" experience that supports the entire restaurant business, Respo has developed this API integration.

## About the API Integration
With this API integration, sales generated in Respo are now automatically registered as transactions in freee Accounting the next day. This allows for centralized management of accounting tasks, from daily sales tracking to payment processing, all within freee Accounting.

### Key accounting data automatically synced:
- __Appropriate Account Titles__: Transactions are automatically assigned to the correct accounts, such as "Sales" for revenue and "Commissions Paid" for payment processing fees.
- __Accurate Tax Categories__: Entries are recorded with the correct tax categories based on the product tax rates (standard 10% / reduced 8%) set in Respo.
- __Sales Data by Payment Method__: Daily totals for each payment method, such as "Cash" and "Credit Card," are automatically registered.
- __Discount and Refund Data__: Discounts applied at checkout and refunds for online payments are also automatically reflected as negative transactions, deducted from sales.

## Benefits for Restaurants

__1. Automate daily sales entry and drastically reduce accounting workload__

Sales are automatically synced with freee Accounting, eliminating the need for manual data entry. The time saved can be dedicated to core business activities that directly impact revenue, such as enhancing customer service and developing new menu items.

__2. Prevent complex calculation errors and maintain an accurate, real-time understanding of your financial situation__

Not only does it eliminate the risk of human error and omissions, but it also allows for the accurate management of complex sales involving multiple tax rates. You can grasp accurate daily sales figures on freee Accounting at any time, supporting swift business decisions.

__3. Accelerate your restaurant's DX, no bookkeeping knowledge required__

As the journalizing of daily transactions is fully automated, even those unfamiliar with bookkeeping can manage their accounting with confidence. This seamlessly connects front-of-house and back-office operations, powerfully driving the digital transformation of the entire restaurant.

respo-freee-api-KV

Respo Announces API Integration with freee Accounting

## Background of the Launch
In recent years, with the rise of restaurant review sites and social media, consumer feedback has gained significant influence over the restaurant industry. However, platforms that convey the personal voices of chefs and the passion behind each dish have often been limited to a domestic audience, posing a challenge in reaching international readers.

To address this, AutoReserve, with its global user base, has launched "AutoReserve Magazine." Our goal is to increase the global recognition of Japan's remarkable restaurants and chefs and to contribute to the further growth of the restaurant industry.

## Our Three Core Values
1. Story-Driven Content Exploring the Philosophy of Chefs

Going beyond basic restaurant information, we conduct in-depth interviews with each chef to explore the narratives of their establishments, from the philosophy behind their cuisine to the history of the restaurant. Serving as a "culinary library" where readers can access the insights of master chefs at any time, the magazine allows them to discover the stories behind the food, deepening their understanding and appreciation of the richness and diversity of Japanese culinary culture.

2. A Global Perspective Reaching Readers Worldwide

Available in seven languages—Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese (Simplified, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese), and Thai—we deliver the appeal of Japan's exceptional cuisine directly to a global audience. We aim to be a trusted and valuable primary source of information, not only for food enthusiasts in Japan but also for those planning a trip to Japan and fans of Japanese food living abroad. In this role, we serve as a bridge connecting Japanese food culture with the world.

3. From Reading to Dining: A Seamless Reservation Experience

We offer a seamless, one-stop experience that transforms a reader's inspiration into a visit. Through system integration with our AI-powered restaurant reservation service, "AutoReserve," we enable readers to book a table the moment they finish an article. This convenient experience extends even to highly sought-after and hard-to-book restaurants, allowing users to act on their excitement immediately.

## A Message from Our Team
”We envision AutoReserve Magazine as more than just a restaurant guide; we aim to build it into an "archive of culinary stories" that shares the passion and philosophy of individual chefs across borders. By sharing the depth and diversity of Japanese culinary culture with readers around the world, we hope to enrich the next generation of dining experiences.”

## Overview
![ar-PR](//images.ctfassets.net/x0lx6207qomw/1boigvLOLEASTb6trVE6MO/f34b6e40141e5dfcdd7c31a5f8066fa0/20250908_AR_PR_1200_675_2.png)
- Name：AutoReserve Magazine
- URL：[https://autoreserve.com/ja/magazines](https://autoreserve.com/ja/magazines)
- Languages：Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese (Simplified, Hong Kong, Taiwanese), Thai
- Content：Interview articles with chefs from renowned restaurants in Japan

---

Please see the press release regarding this matter here.
[https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000050.000056009.html](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000050.000056009.html)


AutoReserve Magazine

[AutoReserve] Announcing the Official Launch of "AutoReserve Magazine," a Web Magazine Exploring the Stories Behind Food

As labor shortages worsen due to a declining workforce, call centers and customer service departments face a significant challenge: operators spend a great deal of time on After Call Work (ACW), such as logging call details and entering data into systems. While the rise of AI has enabled the automation of conversations, there has been little fundamental progress in reducing this ACW burden. To address this, we developed "HelloX" to achieve not just "conversation automation" but the "automation of the entire business process.”

---

## Features of HelloX
![hellox-pr](//images.ctfassets.net/x0lx6207qomw/2cqj83fFPkXrltEYD9D3x4/ac1b3d0bd7a5d2a3e49d5608feb9c342/HelloX_1200x6302__1_.png)

__1. Advanced Conversational Skills that Feel Like Talking to a Human__

HelloX's proprietary AI technology accurately understands the customer's intent to enable natural, human-like conversations, eliminating the need for conventional rule-based scenarios. This allows for contextual responses, ensuring appropriate handling even of unexpected questions.

__2. Comprehensive Automation Through System Integration, Completing Tasks Even After the Call Ends__

The key feature of HelloX is its ability to not only transcribe conversations but also to understand and summarize the content. By integrating with your existing internal systems, such as CRM and applicant tracking systems, it automates administrative tasks previously handled by humans. This allows for fundamental business process improvements by automating desired tasks as much as possible.

__3. Dedicated Consultants Specializing in Customer Support__

We go beyond simply providing an AI product. Our dedicated "AI Consultants" conduct detailed consultations during the implementation of HelloX. By thoroughly analyzing your existing systems and workflows, we identify challenges directly linked to key business metrics and support the realization of an optimal collaboration between "AI and human agents.”

---

## A Comment from Shohei Takahashi, Head of the HelloX Business
"Through HelloX, our company aims to eliminate inefficiencies in phone communications, creating a society where people can focus on more creative and value-added work. At the same time, we will advance customer support reforms that reduce the burden on customers who make inquiries by phone. To achieve this, we are moving beyond the position of a mere 'SaaS provider' that simply has customers install a product. Instead, we will support the entire market as an 'AI Business Partner,' working alongside companies to solve their customer support challenges.”

---

For more detailed information, please refer to the press release below.

[https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000049.000056009.html](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000049.000056009.html)

hellox-first-sumnail

[HelloX] Announcing the Official Launch of "HelloX," Our New Customer Support AI Agent

We are pleased to announce that as of August 2025, the number of restaurants using "Respo by AutoReserve" (commonly known as "Respo"), the all-in-one platform for restaurants provided by Hello Inc., has surpassed 3,000.

### Background of Reaching 3,000 Partner Restaurants
In just about two months since surpassing 2,000 partner restaurants at the end of May 2025, over 1,000 new restaurants have joined the Respo platform.

We believe this achievement is the result of the strong support from many restaurant owners who value our unique proposition: the convenience of Respo's all-in-one solution, which includes features like a self-ordering system and reservation management, combined with powerful customer acquisition support through free referrals from our integrated AI reservation service, "AutoReserve."

We will continue to enhance Respo's capabilities to streamline operations and boost customer acquisition, striving to create an environment where more restaurant owners can focus solely on what they do best: creating delicious food.

---

You can view the full press release [here](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000047.000056009.html).

respo-3000-restaurants

Respo Surpasses 3,000 Partner Restaurants

We are pleased to announce that we have issued a press release to commemorate a significant milestone: our AI-powered restaurant reservation service, "AutoReserve," has surpassed 100,000 registered users in both Taiwan and Hong Kong respectively.

For more information on the background of this user growth and reservation data from each country, please see the press release below.

[https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000046.000056009.html](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000046.000056009.html)

taiwan-hongkong-10

【AutoReserve】Number of Registered Users Surpasses 100,000 in Taiwan and Hong Kong

We are pleased to announce that Hello, Inc. has obtained the certification for "ISO/IEC 27001:2022," the international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

With the increasing interest in and social demands for information security in recent years, we recognize information security as a critical management issue for enhancing the reliability of our services. Therefore, we have achieved the ISO 27001 certification, an international standard.

- Certification Body: QFS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS LLP
- Accreditation Body: SCC
- Standard Acquired: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
- Registration Number: SCC/INT/2504HN/10881
- Certification Date: April 21, 2025
- Scope of Certification: Planning, development, and operation of AI-powered web systems related to restaurant reservation systems, restaurant operation support systems, and telephone answering systems.

---

At our company, we have established an Information Security Basic Policy to appropriately protect customer information and our information assets, and all employees strive to improve and maintain security awareness.

For more details, please visit the website below:　
[https://www.hello.ai/security](https://www.hello.ai/security)

Further details can also be found in our press release:

[https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000045.000056009.html](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000045.000056009.html)

iso-isms-release

Acquisition of ISMS Certification "ISO/IEC 27001:2022"

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new referral affiliate feature in "AutoReserve Affiliate," which allows affiliates to earn rewards by referring other affiliates.

AutoReserve ensures high-quality information dissemination by requiring approval for participants. By incentivizing high-quality participants to invite excellent affiliates, we aim to expand the circle of reliable information sharing. Ultimately, we hope this will allow more people to discover trustworthy restaurant experiences.

For more details, please see the press release.

[https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000044.000056009.html](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000044.000056009.html)

affiliate-referral

"AutoReserve" Offers Gourmet Affiliate Opportunities, Launches New Referral Affiliate Feature

We are pleased to announce that Respo has now exceeded 2,000 contracted stores.

We will continue to enhance our features and services to meet the needs of the food and beverage industry, and aim to further expand the number of contracted stores to support more restaurants in improving their operational efficiency.

For more details, please see the press release.

[https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000043.000056009.html](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000043.000056009.html)

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