The project dashboard is a free tool that is only available to verified hoteliers to make adopting new technology easier by streamlining their research and simplifying their communication workflow.
TLDR
We analyzed 1,931 verified hotelier reviews, compared feature sets, pricing, and real-world case studies to break down where each platform delivers. The right choice depends on your property type and priorities:
Canary Technologies shines in guest messaging and two-way texting — especially for extended-stay properties (4.9/5), with exclusive features like Broadcast Messaging and Mobile Keys.
Monscierge shines in guest experience optimization.
Side-by-side ratings based on 1,931 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $300/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 1,656 | 275 |
After analyzing 1,931 verified reviews, Canary Technologies users most value its guest messaging and two-way texting, contactless and pre-arrival check-in, guest service recovery and operational visibility, while Monscierge users highlight guest experience optimization, content management & customization, guest messaging & requests. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Guest messaging and two-way texting
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Guest Experience Optimization
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Contactless and pre-arrival check-in
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Content Management & Customization
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Guest service recovery and operational visibility
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Guest Messaging & Requests
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Credit card authorization and fraud prevention
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Cost Savings through Cable Elimination
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Customization and workflow flexibility
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Integration Challenges
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Notifications, alerts, and message timing
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Content Loading & Performance Issues
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AI replies and chatbot accuracy
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How each product ranks among Guest Messaging Software vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #2 96 reviews | #4 73 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #1 1059 reviews | #4 120 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #1 276 reviews | #6 33 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #1 87 reviews | #8 13 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #1 698 reviews | #3 136 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #1 496 reviews | #6 63 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #1 822 reviews | #3 102 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #1 153 reviews | #7 15 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #1 1391 reviews | #2 228 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #8 35 reviews | #12 16 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #4 23 reviews | #10 2 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #3 10 reviews | #4 7 reviews |
Canary Messages by Canary Technologies and Monscierge Guest Messaging both address the core challenge of improving guest communication and operational efficiency for hotels. The fundamental divergence lies in Canary’s comprehensive, AI-powered guest management platform designed for a full-service hotel operation, versus Monscierge’s focused guest messaging integrated with entertainment and content management, favored by boutique and vacation rental properties.
Canary Messages excels in automating pre-arrival check-in, secure credit card authorizations, upsell campaigns, and fraud prevention, making it suited for properties prioritizing revenue generation and staff efficiency at scale. Monscierge, with its Apple TV integration and guest messaging, fits hotels that emphasize guest entertainment alongside communication, especially in boutique and vacation rental segments. Both platforms streamline guest communication workflows, reducing front desk interruptions and speeding guest response times, but Canary offers a deeper operational toolkit beyond messaging.
If your hotel is a small to large full-service property seeking a secure, scalable guest management solution with advanced upselling and fraud prevention, choose Canary Messages. This choice is supported by 1632 verified reviews with a 4.8/5 rating, including 185 recent reviews confirming consistent performance. Properties like branded hotels (19% of Canary’s user base) and airport/conference hotels (2%) report benefits in reducing front desk calls and increasing ancillary revenue. Canary’s PCI Level I compliance and digital credit card authorization differentiate it for properties handling sensitive payment workflows.
If your property is a boutique hotel, vacation rental, or prioritizes integrated guest entertainment via Apple TV, Monscierge Guest Messaging is a fit. Its 275 reviews at 4.8/5 overall reflect satisfaction in guest experience enhancements, especially its streaming and local recommendation features. Monscierge holds 37% of its user base in boutique hotels and 19% in vacation rentals, indicating a niche fit. However, Monscierge has no reviews in the last six months, which limits insight into its current product state.
For hotels where integration with multiple PMS providers and advanced AI-driven guest messaging are critical, Canary’s 62 verified integrations and AI functionality offer stronger operational support compared to Monscierge’s 11 integrations, which focus more on content and Apple TV management.
Both Canary Messages and Monscierge Guest Messaging receive high marks for ease of use and onboarding, reflecting intuitive interfaces and manageable staff adoption. Canary scores 4.9/5 for ease of use and 4.7/5 for onboarding, while Monscierge scores slightly lower at 4.7/5 ease of use and 4.8/5 onboarding. Reviewers for Canary praise the platform for reducing front desk interruptions and simplifying guest communication without requiring guest app downloads. Monscierge users appreciate the straightforward guest interface, especially on Apple TV, though some mention wanting clearer onboarding instructions for device setups.
Staff adoption for both platforms is facilitated by minimal required training and workflows that integrate into daily front desk operations. Some Canary reviews note a learning curve for less tech-savvy staff, mitigated by comprehensive onboarding support. Monscierge users occasionally mention setup challenges with hardware and integration, particularly in remote locations. Overall, the usability differences are marginal.
Edge: Even.
Canary Messages offers 59 unique features not available in Monscierge, which has no exclusive features beyond the 12 it shares with Canary. Canary’s unique capabilities include advanced AI messaging with self-learning natural language processing, secure credit card authorization, PCI compliance auditing, digital tipping, upsell fulfillment tracking, broadcast messaging, chatbot booking agents, and mobile key integration. These features transform guest messaging into a multi-faceted guest management system that supports revenue growth, fraud prevention, and operational automation.
Monscierge’s core value is guest messaging integrated with Apple TV content management, remote device administration, and streaming service consolidation, none of which are standalone features listed alongside Canary. However, Monscierge lacks unique features in guest messaging or upsell management compared to Canary.
Operationally, Canary’s feature set enables front desk and concierge teams to automate guest communications, drive upsells through targeted campaigns, and secure payments digitally, reducing manual tasks and boosting revenue. Monscierge primarily enhances guest entertainment and basic messaging workflows without additional revenue or compliance tools.
Edge: Canary Messages.
Customer support ratings for Canary Messages and Monscierge Guest Messaging are closely matched, with Canary scoring 4.7/5 and Monscierge slightly higher at 4.9/5. Onboarding ratings are also similar: 4.7/5 for Canary and 4.8/5 for Monscierge. Reviewers of both products commend responsive and knowledgeable support teams.
Canary users highlight support that facilitates smooth PMS integrations and helps resolve AI messaging nuances, though some report challenges with notification syncing that require support intervention. Monscierge reviewers praise attentive support during hardware setups and content management, but a few mention onboarding documentation could be clearer, especially for remote deployments.
Both products maintain high recommendation likelihood at 96%, reflecting consistent customer satisfaction with support quality.
Edge: Even.
Canary Messages leads integration capabilities with 62 verified partners, compared to Monscierge’s 11. Both integrate with major PMS providers and hospitality platforms such as Stayntouch, Oracle Hospitality, Cloudbeds, Vingcard, Amadeus, and Hapi. Canary extends integration reach to Priority Software, Visual Matrix PMS, FLEXIPASS Mobile Access, RoomRaccoon, HOTELTIME, eviivo, WebRezPro, and innRoad, enhancing compatibility with diverse hotel tech stacks.
Monscierge’s unique integrations include SHR Group, MyCheck.io, Cendyn, and Telkonet, which support remote device management and guest engagement but lack the breadth of PMS and upsell system integration Canary offers.
Hotels requiring seamless PMS connectivity, payment gateways, and multi-property management benefit from Canary’s extensive partner ecosystem. Properties focused on guest entertainment and Apple TV streaming may find Monscierge’s specific integrations adequate but limited for broader operational needs.
Edge: Canary Messages.
Both Canary Messages and Monscierge Guest Messaging hold an overall rating of 4.8/5. However, Canary’s rating reflects a substantially larger sample size: 1632 total reviews including 185 in the last six months, indicating current and consistent performance. Monscierge’s 275 reviews contain no recent submissions, limiting evidence of product evolution or current satisfaction.
Segment ratings show that Canary scores uniformly 4.8 to 4.9/5 across diverse hotel types, including Bed & Breakfast Inns (761 reviews), Branded Hotels (875), and Boutique Hotels (726). Notably, Extended Stay and Motels rate Canary highest at 4.9/5 with over 100 reviews each.
Monscierge is rated 4.8/5 in Boutique Hotels (136 reviews), Branded Hotels (102), and Vacation Rentals (69), matching Canary’s scores but with fewer reviews and no recent data. Limited data in segments like Hostels (2 reviews) for Monscierge preclude conclusions.
The volume and recency of Canary’s reviews provide stronger confidence in its sustained quality across hotel types.
Edge: Even.
Canary Messages publishes a base price of $300.00 with no freemium, trial, or per-room pricing. No implementation fees are charged. The pricing model suggests a flat fee for access to Canary’s modular guest management platform, which includes advanced features and integration support.
Monscierge Guest Messaging does not publicly disclose pricing, lacking published base fees, per-room models, or trial options. This absence limits direct price comparison and requires hotels to consult Monscierge for customized quotes.
Without transparent pricing from Monscierge, hotels must assess Canary’s $300 starting price against Monscierge’s undisclosed costs, considering Canary’s broader feature set and integration ecosystem.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
The core difference between Canary Messages and Monscierge Guest Messaging lies in scope and operational depth. Canary offers a robust, AI-powered guest management platform with advanced features for upselling, secure payments, and integration across 62 partners. Monscierge focuses on guest messaging combined with Apple TV streaming and remote device management, serving boutique and vacation rental segments.
Choose Canary Messages if your hotel values comprehensive guest communication that integrates tightly with PMS and payment systems, supports revenue growth through upsells and digital tipping, and requires top-level security. Canary’s extensive feature set and active recent reviews underscore its suitability for medium to large hotels and branded groups.
Select Monscierge Guest Messaging if your hotel prioritizes an integrated guest entertainment experience via Apple TV, coupled with straightforward messaging and remote device control. Boutique hotels and vacation rentals that emphasize guest streaming services and simple communications workflows will appreciate Monscierge’s platform despite its narrower integration and feature scope.
The data supports Canary Messages as the better fit for hotels focused on operational efficiency, revenue optimization, and security, while Monscierge suits properties with specialized entertainment needs and lighter messaging requirements.
Guest Messaging Software pricing is rarely straightforward. Here is what we know from each vendor's public pricing data. Always request a custom quote for your property size.
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| Starting Price | From $300/mo | — |
These are the features each vendor has configured, organized by feature group — the same data shown in the vendor dashboard. Expand a group to compare features side by side.
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Unified Inbox
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| Team Messaging | ||
| Broadcast Messaging | ||
| Desktop App (non-web based) | ||
| Photo Sharing | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Mobile Friendly | ||
| Live Translations | ||
| Website Livechat | ||
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Multi-Channel
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| Whatsapp Integration | ||
| Facebook Messenger Integration | ||
| SMS text messaging | ||
| Website Livechat | ||
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Automation
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| Message Routing | ||
| Automated Replies | ||
| Chatbot Booking Agent | ||
| Broadcast Messaging | ||
| Upsell Fulfillment Tracking | ||
| Open API | ||
| Automated Workflows | ||
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Upselling & Ancillaries
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| Upsell Marketplace | ||
| Offer Campaigns | ||
| Upsell Fulfillment Tracking | ||
| Purchase Links | ||
| Charge to Folio | ||
| Room Upgrades Campaigns | ||
| Upselling Campaigns | ||
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Task & Request Management
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| Ticketing System | ||
| Tasks & Checklists | ||
| Inspections | ||
| Recurring Tasks | ||
| Upsell Fulfillment Tracking | ||
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Surveys & Feedback
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| Messaging Guest Surveys | ||
| TripAdvisor Review Partner | ||
| Guest Reviews Campaigns | ||
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Reporting & Analytics
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| Analytics dashboard | ||
| Guest History | ||
| Upsell Fulfillment Tracking | ||
| Team KPIs Dashboard | ||
| Custom Goal Setting | ||
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Compliance & Privacy
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| Automated Opt-In/Consent Collection | ||
| Secured Data Protection | ||
| Open API | ||
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Digital Registration & Check-in
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| Document & Passport Scanning | ||
| Credit Card Authorization | ||
| Mobile Keys | ||
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Pre-Stay
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| Chatbot Booking Agent | ||
| Booking Recovery Campaigns | ||
| Behavioral Marketing Campaigns | ||
| Email to Chatbot Automation | ||
| Smooth Handover to Human Agents | ||
| Click to Call | ||
| Lead Qualification | ||
| OTA Price Comparison | ||
| Interface Personalization | ||
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In-Stay & Post Stay
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| Digital Check-in | ||
| Room Upgrades Campaigns | ||
| Upselling Campaigns | ||
| Automated Workflows | ||
| Custom Routing and Escalations | ||
| Pre-programmed Guest Notifications | ||
| Guest Reviews Campaigns | ||
| Retention Campaigns | ||
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Back-Office
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| Unified Omnichannel Inbox | ||
| Status Tabs in Inbox Navigation | ||
| Assigning Agents | ||
| Canned Responses | ||
| User Profile Customizations | ||
| Multi Property Management | ||
| Customizable Working Hours | ||
| Unlimited Users | ||
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Artificial Intelligence
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| Chatbot Booking Agent | ||
| Sentiment Analysis | ||
| Self-Learning NLP | ||
| Syntax & Semantic Analysis | ||
| Behavioral Analysis | ||
| Customer Profiling | ||
| Prediction & Forecasting |
We analyzed 8 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"Since implementing Canary, our response time to guest inquiries is twice as fast and staff efficiency has increased by 20%."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"I’m very happy with the value Canary provides and looking forward to working with more of the platform’s solutions as time goes on."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
Reviewers most often praise Canary Technologies for making it easy to text guests before, during, and after their stay, which reduces phone calls and... Reviewers most often praise Canary Technologies for making it easy to text guests before, during, and after their stay, which reduces phone calls and keeps requests organized. Hotels say this improves response speed, guest satisfaction, and service recovery by letting staff resolve issues before they escalate.
Hotels value Canary Technologies for digitizing pre-arrival registration and speeding up arrivals, often reducing lobby lines and paper handling. Revi... Hotels value Canary Technologies for digitizing pre-arrival registration and speeding up arrivals, often reducing lobby lines and paper handling. Reviewers also note that it helps gather IDs, payment details, and guest preferences ahead of time so staff can focus on higher-touch service when guests arrive.
Reviewers use Canary Technologies to catch issues early, follow up on complaints, and keep departments aligned on guest needs and room status. This re... Reviewers use Canary Technologies to catch issues early, follow up on complaints, and keep departments aligned on guest needs and room status. This reduces negative reviews and helps staff resolve problems before checkout, though some want better room-status visibility and stronger internal routing to housekeeping or management.
Where hoteliers push back
A recurring request is for more customizable forms, templates, dashboards, branding, and routing rules so hotels can better match their own policies a... A recurring request is for more customizable forms, templates, dashboards, branding, and routing rules so hotels can better match their own policies and brand voice. Reviewers want the product to be easier to tailor for different property types, guest segments, and operational workflows without needing support for every small change.
Hotels frequently mention wanting clearer, louder, and more reliable alerts for new messages, check-ins, authorizations, and AI handoffs. They also wa... Hotels frequently mention wanting clearer, louder, and more reliable alerts for new messages, check-ins, authorizations, and AI handoffs. They also want better control over timing so automated messages do not arrive too early, too often, or without enough staff visibility during busy shifts.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
Users consistently mention the positive impact of the Monscierge platform on improving the overall guest experience. Features such as streaming servic... Users consistently mention the positive impact of the Monscierge platform on improving the overall guest experience. Features such as streaming services, local recommendations, and guest messaging are highly appreciated for adding value to guest stays. Hoteliers note the system's ease of use and its ability to centralize multiple guest services.
Many reviews highlight the ability to remotely upload and change content, which enhances operational efficiency. However, some users express a desire... Many reviews highlight the ability to remotely upload and change content, which enhances operational efficiency. However, some users express a desire for more customization options such as editing fonts, colors, and layouts to align with their branding. Others would like simpler workflows for managing multiple properties.
The system's guest messaging and request features are frequently cited as invaluable for streamlining communication between guests and staff. These to... The system's guest messaging and request features are frequently cited as invaluable for streamlining communication between guests and staff. These tools are praised for improving guest satisfaction by enabling quick responses to requests and offering an efficient way to manage and monitor guest needs.
Where hoteliers push back
While the Monscierge platform offers several beneficial features, some users report integration challenges, particularly with existing Property Manage... While the Monscierge platform offers several beneficial features, some users report integration challenges, particularly with existing Property Management Systems (PMS) and TV providers. Improved integration is a frequent request to streamline operations further.
A few reviews mention performance issues such as slower loading times for content and apps, particularly when using slower internet connections or dur... A few reviews mention performance issues such as slower loading times for content and apps, particularly when using slower internet connections or during peak usage hours. Users also express interest in preview features for content changes.
Ranks higher for
It depends on your requirements. Canary Messages and Monscierge Guest Messaging share many core Guest Messaging Software features, but each has unique capabilities. Canary Messages offers 62 verified integration partners, while Monscierge Guest Messaging offers 11. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Canary Messages leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 vs 4.7/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
Canary Messages: No. Monscierge Guest Messaging: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Guest Messaging Software vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.
The HT Score is a composite ranking that considers 4 criteria groups and over a dozen variables to help hoteliers objectively compare hotel technology products. Canary Technologies has an HT Score of 100 and Monscierge has 15. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
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| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
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How highly do users recommend this product? Ratings Score, Review Volume, Share of Voice, Review Depth, Review Recency, Success Stories ▾ The most heavily weighted factor. Analyzes average satisfaction ratings (likelihood to recommend, ease of use, support, ROI), total review count relative to category peers, review recency (at least 20 reviews in the trailing 6 months), and share of voice across unique hotel clients to detect selection bias. |
| Partner Ecosystem |
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How highly do tech partners recommend this company? Partner Recommendations, Integration Quantity, Integration Quality ▾ Evaluates partner recommendations as expert votes of confidence, the number of verified integrations, and ecosystem quality — the average HT Scores of integration partners. Products with higher-quality integration ecosystems are more likely to deliver a connected tech stack. |
| Customer Centricity |
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How customer-centric is this organization? Certified Support, Review Consistency, Profile Completeness ▾ Assesses whether the company has earned HTR Customer Support Certification, maintains consistent review collection over time (an indicator of feedback-driven culture), and keeps product profiles complete with capabilities, screenshots, pricing, and features. |
| Reach, Staying Power & Resources |
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How extensive is this company's reach and resourcing? Geographic Reach, Staying Power, Company Resources, Trending Score ▾ Measures global presence (countries and regions served), years in business as a stability proxy, team headcount as a resource proxy, and a trending score based on trailing-twelve-month buyer inquiries, reviews, partner recommendations, and press activity. |
Customer ratings and reviews are by far the most important factor in the HT Score algorithm. HTR does not accept payment for higher rankings. All reviews are verified — only hotel industry practitioners with confirmed affiliations can submit ratings. View full HT Score methodology →
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