Technology Episodes

A year ago, Brett and Casey McManus went viral for transforming a rundown Vermont roadside motel into a thriving new hospitality concept: Après Inn in Killington, Vermont. In this follow-up conversation, Brett reflects on what he’s learned as a first-time innkeeper: the highs and lows of running a seasonal business, what technology actually enables, and why guest conversations drive reviews and revenue. He also shares lessons from expanding to a second property, the efficiencies that come with s...

Budget season can be stressful for hotel leaders, but in this episode, Stephen German, SVP of Product at Actabl, shares how technology is helping hoteliers move from spreadsheets and guesswork to smarter, data-driven decisions. Stephen explains how ProfitSword provides hotel leaders with real-time visibility, alignment across properties, and powerful comparison tools, making budgeting faster and more accurate. He also highlights how recent product investments are streamlining workflows, reducin...

In this episode, Sloan Dean shares why curiosity and the willingness to keep learning might be the most important leadership trait in hospitality today. In a candid conversation, Sloan shares his view on the flat state of RevPAR, the generational gap slowing AI adoption, and why the industry risks falling behind if it only experiments on the fringes. Drawing on his own deep dive into AI education and lessons from other industries, he offers a challenge to rethink how we grow, lead, and adapt. ...

In this episode, STR President Amanda Hite shares how she’s thinking about the role artificial intelligence could play in the future of hospitality forecasting. Recorded at the 2025 Hotel Data Conference, this conversation explores why STR’s 40 years of proprietary hotel data remain its greatest advantage, how her team is cautiously testing AI tools without risking data integrity, and the opportunities AI presents for improving data onboarding and analysis. Amanda also explains why human judgmen...

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 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 Over...

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...

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...

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 hospital...

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...

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 question...

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 ...

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 mor...

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 resour...

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 Share...

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 co...

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 Executi...

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 acro...

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 metric...

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...

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 gu...

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 a...

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 supp...

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 Dai...