Technology Episodes

In this episode, Mark Fancourt , founder and principal of TRAVHOTECH , shares insights into the evolving landscape of hospitality technology, drawing from his extensive experience leading technology for both hospitality companies and solution providers. Chapters: Takeaways from ILHA & How Mark Learns About Tech and Innovation (01:40) Why Work in Hospitality? (05:47) Why Luxury Hospitality Is Critical to Watch (08:06) What’s Exciting in Hotel Technology Today? (10:59) Hotel-Specific vs. Big Tech ...

In this episode, Guillaume Benezech , Senior Director of Global Brand Management and Marketing for The Ritz-Carlton, shares his insights on AI's underestimated power in hospitality and technology's role in enhancing luxury experiences. Listen now to learn about: The importance of innovation and the rapid pace of AI in hospitality. How AI can alleviate administrative burdens for hospitality leaders. The balance between human connection and technology in luxury hospitality. The impact of AI on gue...

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie reflects on what he learned building an AI bot in ChatGPT and Claude with Adele Gutman to help answer online hotel reviews. Watch Us Build an AI Bot to Answer Hotel Reviews on YouTube Listen to our other episodes with Adele: How to understand guest review scores “Good isn’t good. Only great is good.” How The Library Hotel Collection reached #1 in the world Send Josiah a text If you enjoy the Hospitality Daily Podcast, you’ll love the Hotel Tech Insider podcast -...

In this episode, Lou Zameryka , founder of Alively and partner at Ventures Hospitality , shares insights on the creative use of artificial intelligence in the commercial functions of hospitality - sales, marketing, and revenue management - from a recent HSMAI event. Listen now to hear about: The importance of understanding different types of AI and their applications in the hospitality industry. How AI can be practically applied in sales training using video avatars and gamification. The role of...

In this episode, Victoria Gordon, Front-of-House Manager at Timber Cove Resort, shares her journey from front desk agent to manager and offers her unique perspective on the role of technology in hospitality. Listen now to learn about: Victoria's career path from a front desk agent to a manager at Timber Cove Resort. The importance of community and collaboration in a remote hospitality setting. The value of training and development in hospitality careers. The transition from retail to hospitality...

In this episode, we dive into the powerful impact of AI on the hospitality industry and how it’s reshaping everything from guest interactions to digital marketing. We're learning from Adam Wallace , CEO of Spherical , who has more than 15 years of experience leading hospitality marketing innovation. Together, we explore practical strategies for hoteliers to stay ahead in an AI-driven world without losing the human touch that defines great hospitality. In this episode, we cover: AI’s Expanding Ro...

Josiah Mackenzie has spent over 20 years building, selling, and buying technology. In this tell-all episode, he shares his insider's guide to buying, implementing, and getting the most out of hotel technology today. Listen now to learn: Why technology is essential in today’s fast-paced hospitality landscape Key steps to take before searching for technology solutions Proven methods for evaluating tech solutions Tips for making a strong business case and getting buy-in How to implement technology ...

In this special sponsored masterclass, Juanjo Rodriguez , founder of The Hotels Network , shares insights on how hotels can drive more direct bookings and stand out in today's competitive landscape. ( Watch here on YouTube if you prefer.) In this, we cover: 00:00 - An introduction to Juanjo Rodriguez 01:19 - Challenges and opportunities in the hotel industry today 04:47 - How e-commerce is different in hospitality 05:51 - Growing direct business: how The Hotels Network helps hotels 09:16 - Why d...

This episode is part of our series with Staypineapple Hotels. Listen to episode 1 , episode 2 , and episode 3 if you missed them. In this episode, Dina Belon , President at Staypineapple Hotels , shares how they use technology, including AI, to enhance personalized service and create memorable guest experiences. Listeners will learn: How Staypineapple pushed its technology partners to align with their goal of delivering hyper-personalized service (01:34) The importance of collecting and using ac...

In this episode, Martin Soler , a former hotel general manager who is now a fractional CMO for large travel tech companies and the co-founder of 10minutes.news , shares a refreshing perspective inspired by Jeff Bezos on separating the signal from the noise when it comes to hospitality tech. By listening to this episode, you will learn: Why chasing every shiny new tech trend might be a distraction from what really matters in hospitality (00:54) How to apply the concept of focusing on what's not g...

In this episode, Martin Soler , a former hotel general manager who is now a fractional CMO for large travel tech companies and the co-founder of 10minutes.news , shares his insights on how hotels can use technology to provide personalized experiences for their guests at scale. Listeners will learn: Martin's bold prediction about a big tech shift coming to the hotel industry in the next 24 months (08:33) The importance of having a property management system (PMS) that is guest-centric rather than...

In this episode, Stuart Greif, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide , shares his perspective on the biggest opportunities for AI in hospitality. Listeners will learn: Why human connection and the "psychic kick" of serving others is still at the heart of hospitality (01:28) How AI can free up time and resources for hotel staff to focus more on engaging with guests by automating time-consuming administrative tasks (03:33) Examples of...

In this episode, Jordan Hollander , co-founder of Hotel Tech Report , shares insights on the evolving landscape of hotel technology, including the changing buying process, key technologies to watch, and strategies for successful implementation. Listen now to learn about: The changing buying process for hotel technology - How buyers are becoming more sophisticated, and the shift away from trade shows to online research and reviews. Decentralization in decision-making - How technology purchase dec...

In this episode, Dino Michael , Hilton's Global Category Head of Luxury Brands, shares insights into how Hilton balances technology and human interaction to elevate the guest experience. Listen now to learn about: How Hilton collects and uses guest preferences to personalize stays. Strategies for achieving excellence at scale across multiple luxury brands. The importance of taking team members on a journey to ensure they feel connected and empowered in their roles. The importance of reading gues...

In this episode, Helen Smith and Eugenio Pirri , joint CEOs of Dorchester Collection , share insights into what they call their "Golden Profiles" and how it enables their hotels to operate with excellence. Understanding the "Golden Profile" - Learn what this is and how it helps Dorchester Collection cater to each guest's individuality and needs. Technology as an Enabler - Discover how Helen and Eugenio view technology as a tool to enhance the guest experience. Structuring for Seamless Service - ...

This episode is sponsored by Revenue Analytics . In this special episode, Dax Cross , CEO of Revenue Analytics , shares insights into the evolution of revenue management in hospitality. [00:22] - Dax's background and the origins of Revenue Analytics. [03:21] - Overview of Revenue Analytics. [04:14] - The benefits of cross-pollination of ideas from different industries. [05:57] - The transition from a consulting company to a software as a service (SaaS) company. [07:35] - The size and scope of Re...

In this episode, originally recorded in January 2024 , Kari Anna Fiskvik , SVP of Technology at Strawberry , shares her insights on selecting and implementing technology in the hospitality industry. Buy vs. Build Philosophy (01:39) - Understand Kari Anna's approach to deciding whether to buy existing technology or build custom solutions in-house. Evaluating Technology Vendors (02:59) - Discover the criteria and processes used to evaluate and select technology vendors, including the importance of...

In this episode, Ben Powers , CEO of Visiting Media , shares a masterclass on how to sell effectively today with immersive technology and multi-sensory experiences. Ben Powers' Journey (01:39): Discover Ben's background as a serial entrepreneur and how he transitioned from being a wedding photographer to the CEO of Visiting Media. What Visiting Media Does (04:52): Understand how Visiting Media helps hoteliers with immersive technology and multi-sensory experiences to boost sales. Importance of S...

In this episode, we are joined by Dipesh Gupta , a hotel owner and operator at Shashi Group who has integrated cutting-edge technology into the guest experience, creating a truly personalized and innovative stay. (Which was profiled in a recent article from the Wall Street Journal, " Make Yourself at Home in the Hotel of the Future .") What You'll Learn: Lessons from His Career Journey: Discover how Dipesh went from an engineer in financial services and AI to a successful hotel investor and oper...

In this episode, Roman Pedan , the Founder and CEO of Kasa , explains how they optimize housekeeping across their portfolio of over 85+ properties. Listeners will learn about: Cost-Cutting Strategies: How Kasa is reducing expenses in housekeeping without compromising on quality. Technology Integration: Explore the 'Uber for housekeeping' model that includes scheduling, checklists, and feedback loops to maintain high standards. Quality Assurance: The unique offsite QA process using photos and how...

Roman Pedan is the Founder & CEO of Kasa , and in this episode shares how they challenge commonly accepted trends - including in hotel technology - to prioritize guest experience and operational efficiency. Listeners will learn: The Role of Property Management: Understand the responsibilities of managing diverse properties and how to maximize profitability for property owners while enhancing guest satisfaction. Balancing Technology and Guest Experience: Explore Kasa's strategic decision-making p...

Kurien Jacob is Partner and Managing Director at Highgate Tech Ventures . In this episode, you'll hear why Highgate - one of the leading hospitality investment and management companies - is investing in hotel technology, the challenges he's seen, and his advice for overcoming those challenges to succeed in hospitality today. This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern . I teamed up with Sojern to study how hoteliers use data to drive revenue and build stronger guest relationships. Yo...

Peter Fabor is the CEO of surfoffice.com and a hotel technologist and entrepreneur. In this episode, we break down the high-level concepts of AI and bring them into the practical realm of the hospitality industry. Whether you're a hotel general manager, a marketer, or someone involved in hotel operations, this episode is packed with insights on how AI can streamline your work, enhance guest experiences, and give you a competitive edge. Listeners will learn about: The concept of a custom GPT and ...

Dina Belon is President at Staypineapple Hotels . In this episode, she shares her insights and experiences on how Staypineapple is updating and improving its technology to empower its teams and enhance guest experiences. Listeners will learn about: The Importance of Technology in Guest Services : Discover why Staypineapple is committed to a tech-forward approach behind the scenes while maintaining personal guest interactions. Selecting the Right Tech Stack : Understand the rigorous selection pro...