The HotelTechInsider podcast interviews the top leaders at the convergence of hotels, travel and technology. Guests include founders, executives, top hoteliers and industry organization leadership. Find all of the episodes at hoteltechreport.com
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What if your hotel ran itself - an “army of AI agents” handling everything from reservations to check-in - while your staff focused entirely on guests? In this episode, Aejaz Sodawala, CEO of Yanolja Cloud Solution, shares a forward-looking blueprint for how hotel tech is evolving - from fragmented systems to unified, AI-driven platforms powering over 33,000 hotels globally. Takeaways: Why data silos are quietly killing your AI strategy — and how to restructure your tech stack around a shared da...
In this episode, Amano Group Managing Directors share how a 1,300-room urban hotel operator executed a full-stack overhaul—switching PMS, rethinking integrations, and redesigning the guest journey around automation, not tradition. This isn’t theory. It’s a live case of what happens when you treat your tech stack as infrastructure, not tooling. Key Takeaways: How to rebuild your tech stack around integrations, not vendors. Why Amano replaced nearly every core system—and how they evaluated PMS int...
Most hotels are trying to deploy AI on top of broken data. In this episode, the founder of Nomse—managing 26 independent hotels—explains why fixing your data layer is the real prerequisite to turning insights into daily decisions. Why AI fails in most hotels: Without clean, connected data across PMS, marketing, finance, and operations, AI outputs lack context and produce little value. How to turn data into daily decisions: Using pickup, pace, and on-the-books performance to guide pricing, market...
Most hotel tech stacks are overbuilt and underused. This one isn’t. In this episode, Harmeet Mann—CEO and cofounder of a 30+ property management firm—breaks down how her team runs high-performing hotels using simple systems, tight workflows, and a stack that’s largely not hotel-specific. Key Takeaways: • How to eliminate operational silos across properties by structuring communication and task ownership into one shared system—so nothing gets lost between departments. • A repeatable method for tu...
What if the biggest mistake hotels make with technology isn’t adopting it too slowly—but using it to reinforce outdated assumptions about how guests want to interact with your property? In this episode, Matt Dybing, Co-Founder and COO of Nuvho, shares a candid look at how leading operators are using automation, revenue systems, and smarter distribution strategies to outperform competitors. Nuvho advises nearly 200 hotels across Australia and the UK, ranging from small regional properties to worl...
What if 70% of your guests are willing to upgrade—but your pricing strategy is leaving that revenue on the table? In this episode, Erik Tengen, President of Hospitality at Plusgrade and former co-founder of Oaky, explains why the future of hotel profitability isn’t RevPAR—it’s total revenue, frictionless upselling, and becoming “agent-ready." Experienced hotel operators, GMs, commercial leaders, and ownership groups focused on driving profit—not just topline revenue—in an increasingly AI-driven ...
What if your busiest check-in nights didn’t require a front-desk line at all— even when most guests booked through OTAs ? In this episode, Fabio Passos, Owner & CEO of QDI USA Developments (a multi-property operator with hotels across Florida and Brazil) breaks down the practical playbook he’s used to modernize arrivals, improve security, and squeeze more signal out of property data—without waiting for a brand to catch up. Key Takeaways: How to eliminate peak-arrival bottlenecks with mobile ...
What if the fastest way to improve service, upsells, and loyalty isn’t adding staff—but redesigning how guests communicate with your hotel? In this episode, Greg Nawrocki, Director of Online Marketing at Linchris Hotel Corporation (30+ hotels across urban, resort, branded, and independent properties), delivers a rare, operator-level breakdown of how modern hotel marketing actually works in the wild—where technology has to prove ROI and still feel human. Key Takeaways: How to operationalize SMS a...
How do you scale hotel operations across brands, countries, and systems - without losing control or culture? In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider , we sit down with Øyvind Bøhm Frisak, Chief Commercial Officer at CIC Hospitality, to unpack how a fast-growing Nordic hotel operator is using AI, data, and unconventional guest-facing tech to drive efficiency, improve service, and prepare teams for the future. This conversation is especially relevant for hotel owners, operators, GMs, and commercial ...
Guest reviews aren’t just social proof anymore—they’re quietly becoming the backbone of pricing power, AI-driven discovery, and automated guest communication. In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider , Ben Jost, Founder and CEO of TrustYou, shares how nearly two decades of working with the world’s largest hotel brands has shaped his view on where reputation management is headed next—and why many hoteliers are still underestimating its impact. Ben walks through TrustYou’s evolution from an early con...
What if removing your front desk—and doubling down on the right integrations—was the key to keeping your hotel profitable after COVID? In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider , Roberto Pacaccio, Revenue & Expense Manager at GWT Hotels, shares how a five-property independent hotel group in San Francisco survived near-shutdown, rebuilt its operating model, and lowered its breakeven point by rethinking technology from the ground up. How GWT Hotels eliminated traditional front desks without sacrif...
What happens when a boutique hotel director builds a fully personalized “signature tech stack” from the ground up—and proves you don’t need to be a tech native to run one of the most digitally advanced 70-key properties in Berlin? In this episode, Tini Diekmann, Hotel Director at the acclaimed Hotel Oderberger, reveals the real-world tools, workflows, and mindsets that transformed her operations. This episode is designed for experienced hoteliers, GMs, and department heads who have lived through...
What happens when the Chief Commercial Officer of the world’s largest hotel franchisor rethinks the entire guest-to-tech relationship? In this episode, Wyndham CCO Scott Strickland reveals how a single global tech stack, empathetic AI, and vendor co-development are quietly reshaping hotel operations at a scale few brands on earth can match. Key Takeaways: How Wyndham uses one global tech stack across 9,000 hotels —and why standardizing CRS, PMS, loyalty, CRM, and marketing systems unlocks speed,...
Did you know 30–40% of guest calls to hotels go unanswered? In this episode, Harman Singh Narula, CEO and co-founder of Canary Technologies, shares how his team is tackling this operational gap while redefining the entire digital guest journey—backed by $80M in funding and multiple HotelTechAwards wins. This episode is for veteran hoteliers, brand executives, and asset managers who want to understand where guest-facing technology is headed and how AI-driven innovations, tipping solutions, and di...
What if you could double your hotel’s efficiency—without adding headcount? In this episode, Michael Bohler, Founder of SUM Hospitality, reveals how he’s transforming independent hotels in Switzerland into high-performing, tech-enabled operations that run smoother, smarter, and more profitably. This episode is for hotel owners, general managers, and operations leaders looking to modernize their tech stack, reduce manual work, and build more sustainable, year-round business models. Takeaways: • He...
What happens when a 20-hotel operator treats brand data, RMS outputs, and labor costs as one system—and then points AI at it? Takeaways: Build a single source of truth: How Hospitality America centralizes Amadeus/TravelClick market data, Hilton Grow & Marriott OneYield outputs, and Actabl (ProfitSword + Hotel Effectiveness) in a Microsoft data lake to power faster decisions. Make revenue meet labor—down to the penny: Practical ways to pair booking windows, LOS, and mix with staffing models t...
What if your team could double productivity—without adding a single new hire? In this episode, Diego Fernández, CEO of Port Hotels , reveals how his 11-property Spanish hotel group is scaling smarter by automating repetitive work and treating technology as an investment, not a cost. Takeaways: Build for scalability, not complexity: Learn how Port Hotels is using a unified PMS ecosystem to operate 11 hotels as efficiently as one. Free your team from repetitive work: Discover how AI and automation...
What if you could design the perfect hotel room—not on paper, but by testing it in real life with 200 real guests? In this episode, Asli Kutlucan, CEO of TFE Hotels Europe, reveals how her team built a “lab hotel” in Berlin to reimagine hospitality from the ground up. This episode is tailored for experienced hoteliers, executives, and owners who want to stay ahead of shifting guest expectations, leverage new technology, and explore strategies that balance innovation with operational efficiency. ...
What if you could run a 116-property hotel portfolio without a single traditional front desk? In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider , Julius Anders, Head of Operations at Numa, reveals how his team is redefining hospitality with technology at its core. Key Takeaways: AI-Driven Decision Making: How Numa uses data, automation, and AI to save up to 60% in payroll costs. Guest Experience Reimagined: What a fully digital guest journey looks like—from booking to checkout—without a front desk. Build vs...
Can rethinking something as fundamental as market segmentation unlock new performance gains in hotels? Joe Pettigrew, Group Chief Commercial Officer at L+R Hotels—one of the world’s largest privately held hotel investment and operating groups—thinks so. Takeaways: • Hear how L+R Hotels is standardizing PMS, RMS, and CRS across 100+ properties to unlock scale, consistency, and better reporting. • Learn why Pettigrew believes benchmarking intelligence platforms like CoStar, Amadeus, and Lighthouse...
Josh Edwards of Penta Hotels details their massive tech overhaul, replacing an entire legacy stack across 14 properties with modern solutions like Muse, Doove, and Think. This strategic shift not only saved over 175,000 staff hours annually by automating tasks like payment processing but also significantly increased upsell revenue with 25% of guests purchasing additional services. The episode explores the challenges of gaining internal buy-in for such a bold change and Penta's vision for future-proofing their tech, emphasizing that technology should enable, rather than replace, human service.
Bob Hotels converted 70% OTA reliance to nearly 50% direct bookings in under a year—partly by using an AI phone agent (GoodCall) to convert phone inquiries into instant SMS-driven bookings. Can a roadside motel really outperform the compset—and become the #1 value property in an entire city—within a year? In this episode, Janis Krums, Managing Partner at Bob Hotels, reveals how his team transformed a run-down Sleep Inn into a top-rated boutique brand using a fresh tech stack, street-smart brandi...
What can Four Seasons Bora Bora and a New Zealand hostel teach you about building smarter hotel tech stacks? In this episode, Michael Belanger, VP of Commercial Strategy at GCP Hospitality, unpacks the unique challenges—and surprising advantages—of managing one of the most diverse hotel portfolios in the world. Takeaways: • Learn why small and independent hotels are often more agile than global brands when it comes to adopting new technology. • Get insider strategies for tech stack decisions acr...
How can hostels balance cutting-edge technology with the irreplaceable value of human interaction? In this episode, Peter Zilke, COO of Safestay Hostels, reveals the secrets behind creating a vibrant community experience while leveraging innovative tech solutions. Key Takeaways: Discover how Safestay uses social media not just for marketing, but as a vital communication tool that enhances guest interaction before, during, and after their stay. Learn about the importance of a robust property mana...
What if a humanoid robot could revolutionize the way your hotel operates? In this episode, Filip Linek, the innovative owner of two family-oriented hotels in the Czech Republic, shares how he's leveraging AI technology to enhance guest experiences and streamline operations. Key Takeaways: Discover how Filip is integrating a humanoid robot, named Bea, to handle administrative tasks and improve communication between staff and guests, setting a new standard for hospitality. Learn about the unique c...
How can a hotel chain with over 5,700 properties transform its tech support into a human-centered experience? In this episode, Tariq Valani, Global SVP of Support Services at Accor, reveals the innovative strategies that are reshaping the way hotel technology is delivered and supported. Key Takeaways: Discover how Accor centralized its support services from eight regional desks to a single global function, enhancing efficiency and user experience across its diverse portfolio. Learn about the imp...
How can leveraging technology transform the guest experience and streamline hotel operations? In this episode, Jose Suarez, the IT Director for The Capital Hotel Group, reveals how his team is redefining the hospitality landscape through innovative tech solutions. Key Takeaways: Discover how The Capital Hotel Group built a hybrid system by integrating custom features into an off-the-shelf Property Management System (PMS), enhancing operational efficiency and guest engagement. Learn about the imp...
How can a hotel chain leverage cutting-edge technology to redefine revenue management and enhance guest experience? In this episode, Fernando Vives, Chief Commercial Officer at Minor Hotels, reveals the transformative strategies that are setting his organization apart in the competitive hospitality landscape. Key Takeaways: Discover how Minor Hotels utilizes a proprietary forecasting system to automate pricing and optimize revenue management across over 400 properties in Europe and the Americas....
What if embracing digital transformation could unlock new revenue streams for your hotel? In this episode, Jason Jackson, Vice President of Operational Strategy and Integration at Schulte Hospitality, reveals how innovative technology is reshaping the hospitality landscape. Key Takeaways: Discover the impact of digital tipping software on employee satisfaction and guest experience, with over $120,000 in tips distributed in just seven months. Learn about the critical role of business intelligence...
How can technology enhance the human touch in hospitality without losing the essence of personal connection? In this episode, Scot Hopps, Senior Vice President of Operations at Lark Hotels, reveals the delicate balance between leveraging technology and maintaining genuine guest interactions. Key Takeaways: Discover how Lark Hotels is revolutionizing the guest experience by integrating technology that enhances service without replacing the human element. Learn about the critical role of an effect...
