Edinburgh hotel app company Criton acquired by Nonius

Scottish businesswoman Julie Grieve has sold her travel technology company Criton to European hotel solutions provider Nonius.

The combination of Edinburgh-based Criton, the company said to be the biggest provider of guest apps for independent hotels in Britain, and GuestU, Nonius "mobile solution, will serve 700 hospitality locations in a market that has grown since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The pandemic led to a marked growth in demand for Criton's product, as hotels tried to figure out how to satisfy the guest's demand for contactless solutions that make it possible to check in faster, make use of mobile keys that allow guests to go directly to their rooms, and make a mobile order.

Established in 2005, Nonius delivers internet access, network management, interactive television, digital signage, voice commuting, and the GuestU platform to over 3.950 hotels worldwide.

Ms Grieve, who will remain Criton's Director, says: "I've been hugely impressed with their Nonius Hub and believe that together, our products will deliver exactly what hoteliers and their guests want, simple and effective mobile solutions bringing much needed digital transformation to a sector that has a challenging technology landscape and has been significantly impacted over the past two years of the pandemic."