Technology Episodes

Learn about technology in hospitality from these podcast episodes.
AI in Hospitality: How Sage’s Chief Creative Officer Uses Tech Without Losing the Human Touch - Jessica Werner, Sage Hospitality Group
July 25, 2025

AI in Hospitality: How Sage’s Chief Creative Officer Uses Tech Without Losing the Human Touch - Jessica Werner, Sage Hospitality Group

In this episode, Jess Werner , Chief Creative Officer at Sage Hospitality Group , explores how AI is reshaping hospitality without losing its essential human touch. Jess explains how Sage integrates AI to enhance operational efficiency and brand consistency, from refining marketing strategies to maintaining impeccable guest experiences. Yet, she emphasizes that technology must complement, not replace, genuine human connection and creativity. Jess also shares why authentic, experiential hospital...
The People Side of Data: How We Spend Less Time on Reports, More Time with Guests (And Still Thrive) - Shozib Khan, Spire Hospitality
July 22, 2025

The People Side of Data: How We Spend Less Time on Reports, More Time with Guests (And Still Thrive) - Shozib Khan, Spire Hospitality

In this episode, Shozib Khan , VP of Hotel Performance and Analytics at Spire Hospitality , shares what he calls "the people side of data" and his approach to freeing hoteliers from being overwhelmed by reports, empowering them to focus on their guests and support their teams. Learn more about ProfitSword by Actabl - the tool Shozib mentioned several times in the show. Also see: The Chemistry Major Who Makes Hotels Better, One Data Point at a Time: Shozib Khan, Spire Hospitality Episode Overview...
The Chemistry Major Who Makes Hotels Better, One Data Point at a Time: Shozib Khan, Spire Hospitality
July 21, 2025

The Chemistry Major Who Makes Hotels Better, One Data Point at a Time: Shozib Khan, Spire Hospitality

Episode Overview In this episode, Hospitality Daily host Josiah Mackenzie interviews Shozib Khan , VP of Hotel Performance and Analytics at Spire Hospitality , about his unconventional journey from chemistry student to hospitality analytics leader. Khan shares how his scientific background shaped his approach to solving operational challenges through data-driven insights and the scientific method. The episode explores his early career progression from shuttle driver to assistant general manager ...
AI Experimentation in Hospitality and Beyond: Practical Ideas for Immediate Impact - Chris Kluis
July 14, 2025

AI Experimentation in Hospitality and Beyond: Practical Ideas for Immediate Impact - Chris Kluis

In this episode, Chris Kluis, VP of Product Operations & Data at Actabl, discusses his family's unique history with artificial intelligence, how early curiosity sparked his career journey, and why experimentation matters more than theory. Chris provides practical advice for hospitality professionals looking to start leveraging AI today, shares lessons from implementing AI at scale, and explores how digitization, effective prompting, and careful data management can unlock real business val...
citizenM CEO on the Future of Hotel Tech, AI, and Guest Experience: Lennert de Jong
July 8, 2025

citizenM CEO on the Future of Hotel Tech, AI, and Guest Experience: Lennert de Jong

In this episode, citizenM CEO Lennert de Jong shares his vision with our innovation correspondent, Matthias Hüttebräuker , on how hotel technology, AI, and guest interactions are rapidly evolving. He explains why traditional hotel processes—from front desk check-ins to booking—are ripe for reinvention, detailing how citizenM is using integrated technology and AI to streamline guest experiences and remove friction. Lennert emphasizes the necessity of automating repetitive tasks to empower hospita...
The Magic Wand Question: Building Digital Night Audit (and Hotel Tech That Matters) - Brian Blanda & Stephen German, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]
June 11, 2025

The Magic Wand Question: Building Digital Night Audit (and Hotel Tech That Matters) - Brian Blanda & Stephen German, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]

What if one simple question could transform hotel operations? In this episode, Actabl ’s Stephen German and Brian Blanda share the behind-the-scenes journey of creating Digital Night Audit, a new product designed to eliminate tedious manual tasks and free hospitality professionals to focus on meaningful work. Listen to discover how digitizing processes can not only streamline your operations today but also position your hospitality business to leverage future innovations such as AI. Learn more a...
Why AI in Hospitality is Still Stuck in First Gear (And How to Accelerate) - Josiah Mackenzie
June 6, 2025

Why AI in Hospitality is Still Stuck in First Gear (And How to Accelerate) - Josiah Mackenzie

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie shares ideas from his panel discussion at the 2025 NYU International Hotel Investment Forum. Also see: The Money Behind the Magic: A Different Take on Hospitality - Josiah Mackenzie Think Like An Owner, Act Like A GM - Josiah Mackenzie Hospitality Is The Place To Be Now, And For The Future (My Thoughts from NYU IHIF) - Josiah Mackenzie A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, ...
Your Reporting Is Killing Profitability (Here’s How to Fix It) - Lindsey Goedeker, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]
May 28, 2025

Your Reporting Is Killing Profitability (Here’s How to Fix It) - Lindsey Goedeker, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]

In this special sponsored episode, Lindsey Goedeker from Actabl shares how ProfitSword and ProfitOwner can give you the power to profit. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free . Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube , LinkedIn , and Ins...
From Chaos to Clarity: Using Tech as a Force Multiplier in Your Hotels - Kevin Kelleher [Sponsor Bonus]
May 22, 2025

From Chaos to Clarity: Using Tech as a Force Multiplier in Your Hotels - Kevin Kelleher [Sponsor Bonus]

In this sponsored episode, Kevin Kelleher, a former hotel leader who is now an account manager at Actabl, shares how technology can help you. Learn more about how Actabl can help you: ProfitSword business intelligence Hotel Effectiveness labor management Alice operations and guest service software Transcendent asset management software Request more information from Actabl here now You may also like this article with Kevin: What the Best Hotel Leaders Know About Staff Scheduling A few more resour...
Reduce Turnover & Boost Team Performance: How We're Gamifying Employee Engagement in Hotels - Roger Robles & Emma Christensen, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]
April 25, 2025

Reduce Turnover & Boost Team Performance: How We're Gamifying Employee Engagement in Hotels - Roger Robles & Emma Christensen, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]

Staffing and turnover remain challenges in hospitality, but you can tackle this head-on. In this special sponsor bonus episode, Josiah sits down with his colleagues at Actabl , Roger Robles and Emma Christensen , to unpack “Associate Engagement,” a new feature inside Transcendent that turns routine maintenance into a live scoreboard, gives engineers the recognition they deserve, and helps you see who’s really performing.​​ Request a call here with Actabl to learn more about this A few more resou...
My AI Research Results: 87% of Hospitality Pros Already Use AI (Here's How) - Josiah Mackenzie
April 9, 2025

My AI Research Results: 87% of Hospitality Pros Already Use AI (Here's How) - Josiah Mackenzie

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie shares some top takeaways from his latest research, including how 87% of hospitality professionals participating in the study already use AI to improve efficiency, creativity, and guest experience. Listen now for practical examples, underutilized AI opportunities, and actionable insights you can use in your hotel or hospitality business. Also see: AI 2027 Project What AI Might Bring Hotels in 2025 - Martin Soler America's Chief AI Officer for Travel Shares Advic...
Less Ringing, More Hospitality: AI-Powered PBX To Give Our Teams More Time for Guests - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts
April 4, 2025

Less Ringing, More Hospitality: AI-Powered PBX To Give Our Teams More Time for Guests - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts

In this episode, Steven Marais , Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts , shares an exciting new initiative to free up his teams to spend more time with guests. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free . Follow Hospitality Daily and join the con...
Better Together: How We Aligned Hotel Operations, Staffing & Financial Performance with Actabl - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts [Sponsor Bonus]
April 3, 2025

Better Together: How We Aligned Hotel Operations, Staffing & Financial Performance with Actabl - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts [Sponsor Bonus]

In this bonus episode, Steven Marais , Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts , shares his experience working with Actabl 's suite of products: Alice : Software for Operations, Housekeeping, Guest Messaging & More ProfitSword : BI for Data-Driven Hotel Management Hotel Effectiveness : Labor Management & Staffing Scheduling Transcendent : Hotel Asset Management Software See more episodes with Steven: Why I Stayed: How Growth, Culture, and Opportunity Kept Me in Hospitality Execut...
Hotel Tech Integration: Why It's Still Broken (And How You Can Fix It) - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts
April 3, 2025

Hotel Tech Integration: Why It's Still Broken (And How You Can Fix It) - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts

In this episode, Steven Marais , Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts , shares insights on simplifying hotel tech stacks, the challenges of integrations, and the journey towards a more unified, cloud-based technology foundation. We cover: (00:56) Steven's role and responsibilities (02:08) The importance of interfacing in hospitality tech (03:52) Challenges with legacy systems and new tech (05:01) Preparing for a future with more AI (05:56) Standardizing the tech stack across p...
Why Real-Time Operations Will Define Success in Hospitality - Josiah Mackenzie & Wil Slickers
March 17, 2025

Why Real-Time Operations Will Define Success in Hospitality - Josiah Mackenzie & Wil Slickers

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie and Wil Slickers discuss the major shifts happening in the hotel industry now, the importance of real-time data, and innovative strategies for improving operations and profitability. (00:31) Josiah's recent career change (02:00) Building Hospitality Daily and market research (03:03) Challenges in the hotel industry (04:25) The shift towards operational efficiency (05:07) Future of the hotel and hospitality landscape (06:02) Moving beyond traditional metrics (07:...
How Any Hotelier Can Start Innovating Today (Even in a Traditional Hotel) - Eva Klausner, Numa
March 14, 2025

How Any Hotelier Can Start Innovating Today (Even in a Traditional Hotel) - Eva Klausner, Numa

In this episode, Eva Klausner , Director of Guest Experience at Numa , shares how any hotelier can think about innovation -- wherever they are working. This episode is hosted by our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith , founder of MorningStar GX . A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbo...
Unlocking Revenue Growth: How Technology Enhances F&B Operations - Christine Lising, Shiji [Sponsor Bonus]
March 13, 2025

Unlocking Revenue Growth: How Technology Enhances F&B Operations - Christine Lising, Shiji [Sponsor Bonus]

In this sponsored episode, Christine Lising , Director of the Solutions Engineering Team at Shiji , shares practical insights on leveraging technology to enhance food and beverage operations in the hospitality industry. Learn more about Infrasys POS : The trusted POS for the world’s top hotels. In this episode, we cover: (01:56) Christine's role at Shiji Group (03:19) Understanding client challenges (04:45) Key questions for identifying business problems (06:10) Evaluating the guest experience (...
The Future of Hotel Management: Automation, AI, and Innovation - Sloan Dean, Remington Hospitality
Feb. 5, 2025

The Future of Hotel Management: Automation, AI, and Innovation - Sloan Dean, Remington Hospitality

In this episode, Sloan Dean , CEO of Remington Hospitality , shares insights on how AI and automation are transforming the hotel industry, the future of back-of-house operations, and the importance of learning from other industries to spark innovation in hospitality. Check out our other episodes with Sloan here . A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and ac...
What I've Learned Building Productive Tech Partnerships - Michael Levie
Jan. 22, 2025

What I've Learned Building Productive Tech Partnerships - Michael Levie

In this episode, Michael Levie , co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer of citizenM, shares his insights on effectively working with technology partners to create innovative solutions and maximize impact in hospitality. This episode is brought to you with support from Shiji Group , the global hospitality technology leader that helps hotels streamline operations and transform guest experiences. Recognized by their clients for their best-in-class solutions and exceptional implementation sup...
How AI Helps Me Run More Profitable Hotels - Sean Murphy, The Bower
Jan. 14, 2025

How AI Helps Me Run More Profitable Hotels - Sean Murphy, The Bower

In this episode, Sean Murphy , General Manager at The Bower , shares how technology like AI can optimize operations, free your team to elevate guest experiences, and deliver a strong ROI. Hear more of Sean's story: From Pool Attendant to Achieving Forbes 5-Star Recognition Send Josiah a text Take the Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality survey now to understand how others use AI and the opportunities for you and your hospitality business. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Dail...
Beyond Efficiency: How AI Can Help Hospitality Thrive in 2025 - Lou Zameryka
Jan. 7, 2025

Beyond Efficiency: How AI Can Help Hospitality Thrive in 2025 - Lou Zameryka

In this episode, Lou Zameryka shares his take on the State of the Hotel Industry research discussed yesterday . Article referenced: The AI Revolution in Hospitality: Transforming the Hotel Industry through Innovation and Employee Empowerment You may also enjoy this from Lou: Creative but Practical Uses for AI Today in Hotel Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management (Takeaways From HSMAI's Latest Event) Send Josiah a text Take the Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality survey now to understand how...
America's Chief AI Officer for Travel Shares Advice for 2025 - Janette Roush, Brand USA
Jan. 4, 2025

America's Chief AI Officer for Travel Shares Advice for 2025 - Janette Roush, Brand USA

Take our Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality survey In this episode, Janette Roush , the SVP of Innovation and Chief AI Officer at Brand USA, shares her insights on embracing AI in the workplace and how it can drive innovation in the tourism industry. Watch this conversation on YouTube Mentions: Brand USA & AI (including framework for use) Listen to Janette Live From Travel Week: Leadership Alignment with Generative AI Conor Grennan , Chief AI Architect at the Stern School of Business Ethan M...
Guest Experience Tech: What I Learned Building, Selling, and Using It - Danica Smith
Dec. 19, 2024

Guest Experience Tech: What I Learned Building, Selling, and Using It - Danica Smith

In this episode, Danica Smith , Founder of MorningStar GX , shares her insights on using technology to enhance guest experience in the hospitality industry. Listen now to learn: The importance of focusing on guest satisfaction as the ultimate goal of implementing new technology. The significance of simplicity and clarity in technology adoption and project goals. The value of beta testing and ensuring the basics of guest experience are covered before implementing advanced tech solutions. The impo...
The Human Side of Hotel Tech: A GM's Perspective - Justin Rodriguez, Shashi Hotel
Dec. 17, 2024

The Human Side of Hotel Tech: A GM's Perspective - Justin Rodriguez, Shashi Hotel

In this episode, Justin Rodriguez , General Manager at the Shashi Hotel , shares insights on how technology is transforming the hospitality experience at their hotel in the heart of Silicon Valley. Listen to learn: How Shashi Group is using technology to create a customizable room experience for guests. The impact of technology on the hotel's staff and operations. The benefits and challenges of implementing new tech in a hospitality setting. How the hotel uses guest data to enhance service and i...