Innovation in Hospitality Starts With Human Needs - Matthias Huettebraeuker
In this episode, Matthias Huettebraeuker and Josiah Mackenzie unpack what innovation actually means in hospitality, and why most efforts start in the wrong place. This conversation moves past trends to focus on first principles, specifically how designing around human needs creates more resilient, relevant hospitality businesses. Matthias shares a clear framework for rethinking hotels through convergence, fluidity, and versatility, with real-world examples from hospitality and beyond. Listeners will leave with practical ways to apply these ideas immediately, whether they work in sales, marketing, guest services, or operations.
Read Matthias' article in HospitalityNet's Hotel Yearbook: "Can we please not say Hybrid, please"
You may also enjoy:
- Rethinking Hospitality - Matthias Huettebraeuker
- From Concept to Success: The Strategy Behind Our Hospitality Innovation - Hans Meyer, Zoku & Matthias Huettebraeuker
- Culture of Innovation: How Hospitality Leaders Can Stay Ahead - Hans Meyer, Zoku & Matthias Huettebraeuker
- Hospitality Beyond Hotels: Redefining the Future of Retirement Living - Jan Garde & Matthias Huettebraeuker
- Susie Arnett's article: "Why Presence is the Next Amenity"
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Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands
Hopspitality Strategist
Hospitality Strategist. Brand Builder. Game Changer.
Passionate about hospitality, real estate based ecosystems, future of work, future cities & living.
Working with independent owners, international brands and real estate developers in creating strategy, steering innovation, building & positioning brands, shaping products, bringing insight into the organization and in sparring roles to business and innovation leaders
Keen sense of cultural relevance, market resonance & business trajectories. Unique talent to create strategy and invent & execute concepts that are both economically successful and critically acclaimed.
References ranging from the experimental pop up hotel to the billion-dollar-valued global hotel group, including investor darlings like citizenM and 25hours Hotels as well as some of the finest luxury properties in the world like Berlins Das Stue or The Setai in Miami.
Design Hotels alumnus, responsible for global Marketing and Product Development, shaping the face and character of the brand to this day.
Ex-Managing Director at much-awarded creative agencies Pixelpark and Scholz & Friends.
25-year track record working with global heavyweights across all industries, from automotive to aviation, real estate to travel, finance, telecommunications, clean energy and more.
Currently advising brands and startups in Europe, Asia and Australia.
