Join our CEO Denis Ahern and Business Development Manager Helena O' Brien on Ep #2 of the IMS Hotel Tech Unwrapped podcast series, where we unravel the pivotal role of technology in hospitality. In this episode, the hosts discuss the evolution of hospitality technology and the importance of cloud-based systems and APIs. They explore integration examples and the role of AI in the industry. They also provide insights on driving direct bookings and offer key takeaways for decision makers in the hospitality sector.Takeaways

• Work with partners who deliver cloud-based platforms and have an open API.
• Find partners who are advancing on the AI journey to gain a competitive advantage.
• Focus on driving direct bookings by capturing first-party data and offering personalized experiences.

00:00 - Introduction03:25 - The Evolution of Hospitality Technology04:52 - The Importance of Cloud-Based Systems07:26 - Understanding APIs08:44 - Integration Examples17:59 - The Role of AI in Hospitality Technology22:15 - Driving Direct Bookings27:35 - Key Takeaways29:31 - Closing Remarks

Resources:

• Hospitality Technology Ecosystem by Ira Vouk: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4118850.html
• Hospitalitynet Tech Opinion pieces by Max Starkov: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/author/148001045/starkov.html
• Hotel Tech Report: 75+ Hospitality Statistics You Should Know (2024) - https://hoteltechreport.com/news/hospitality-statistics
• Europe’s Independent Hotels Lag U.S. Brands on Google Hotels: New Skift Research: https://skift.com/2023/11/15/europes-independent-hotels-lag-u-s-brands-on-google-hotels-new-skift-research/