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Tune in to this podcast episode [in GERMAN] discussing Training for all - where are we now, and where is the journey going? Die neue Ausbildungsordnung ist nun fast 1 Jahr live.

Dietlind Maaß, Hoteldirektorin des Flussbett Hotels und Arete Schäffler, Human Ressources Manager des Steigenberger Hotel München und Mitglied im Expertenkreis HR & Employerbranding sprechen gemeinsam mit unserem Moderator Sascha Dalig, Regional Director Central Europe der Wyndham Hotels & Resorts und ebenfalls Mitglied im selbigen Expertenkreis über Chancen die sich für Individual- und Kettenhotels ergeben und blicken auf die ersten Prüfungen in diesem Jahr (2024). Themenschwerpunkte wie die Tatsache, dass Auszubildende keine billigen Arbeitskräfte sind und Inklusion finden ebenfalls ihren Platz in dieser unterhaltsamen Ausgabe der #happyhour

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members.

Visit hsma.de for more information.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series

Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube.

The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation, co-hosted with Userguest

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

To all COLLECTIVE sessions Video l Podcast

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Three industry experts joined the roundtable discussion on Sustainability, sharing their views and perspectives:

The Imperative for Change - Macro-environment
The need for common Measurements, Monitoring, and Reporting
Sustainable Events in 2023 and beyond
A real life Case Study - Onyria Quinta da Marinha, Cascais, Portugal

As part of the session the winners of the Great Hotels of the World Sustainability Awards were announced, which consists out of 4 different categories:

Environmental
Social
Economic
Sustainable Events

- This COLLECTIVE #SusainabilityBEAT session was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 19th January 2023.

Monika Krauthahn (Sustainability Catalyst in Hospitality Consultant), Jack Marczewski (Event Director The Meetings Show & Sustainable Events Course), Paulo Figueiredo (COO at Onyria Group) joined host Rita Machado (Great Hotels of the World) to discuss and share their insights.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series

Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube.

The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation, co-hosted with Userguest

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

To all COLLECTIVE sessions Video l Podcast

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Revenue Marketing Automation (RMA) - How do hotels know which strategies to apply and when? How to boost demand strategically on specific dates? How to apply revenue strategies to brand.com and how to create visibility of revenue strategies via the hotel website?

That’s discussed in this 3rd COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation session, which was streamed live on Linkedin & Youtube on 15 December 2022.

Erik Muñoz (Userguest), Daniela Hupfeld (Pierre & Vacances), and Daniella Boeken (Ruby Hotels) joined host André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) to discuss and share their insights.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

Userguest is a Member of techtalk.travel.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series

Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube.

The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation, co-hosted with Userguest

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

To all COLLECTIVE sessions Video l Podcast

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Heiko Rieder from Hirmer Hospitality joined Co-Hosts Pedro Colaco (Great Hotels of the World & Guestcentric) and André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) to discuss the latest The Hotelier Pulse Report findings. They discussed what implications Heiko sees for hotel and travel markets regarding international leisure travel and the growing interest around the performance of GDS in 2023.

If you prefer tuning in to the video version, find it here, and on our YouTube Channel. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

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The Basic Principles of Revenue Management - Benchmarking

Podcast Episode with Monica Xuereb (Loews Hotels), Vikram Singh, and Chris Baniewicz (Expedia Group)

Benchmarking will wrap up the Revenue Performance Principles series, co-created with Expedia Group, by demonstrating how hotels may use benchmarking to compare their revenue performance with the local market and specific competitors.

In this third and last part of this series Monica Xuereb, Chief Revenue Officer at Loews Hotels & Co, Vikram Singh, Digital Marketing & Revenue Optimization Specialist, and Chris Baniewicz, Senior Manager, Revenue Performance Solutions at Expedia Group, join André Baljeu to discuss their expertise on this topic.

What role does historical data play in benchmarking?
Why is measuring the effectiveness of your revenue strategy important for hotels?
What are important KPIs that smaller hotels should focus on?
What are the different types of hotel benchmarking?
What signs should hotels look out for to determine when to adjust and adapt?
How to analyze data to convert useful insights.

Monica Xuereb, Chief Revenue Officer at Loews Hotels & Co

In her role as Chief Revenue Officer at Loews Hotels, Monica Xuereb is responsible for guiding and supporting all sales and revenue processes; including leading the strategy for generating more efficient, predictable, and profitable revenue to support company growth and value.

Ms. Xuereb joined Loews Hotels in 2013 as Vice President of Revenue Management after successfully running her own consultancy for more than three years. Her company assisted with revenue management, pricing, and distribution strategies to independent hoteliers and small hotel groups such as Dorchester Collection, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Morgans Hotel Group, and Viceroy Hotels and Resorts.

She spent 17 years in total with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Marriott International, holding several senior Revenue Management positions at the Regional, Area, and Property levels, including Vice President of Revenue Management, International, where she oversaw the yield strategies of 34 Ritz-Carlton and Bvlgari Hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Connect with Monica on LinkedIn.

About Loews Hotels

Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels owns and/or operates 27 hotels and resorts across the U.S. and Canada. Located in major city centers and resort destinations from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with exciting, approachable, and local travel experiences.

Vikram Singh, Digital Marketing & Revenue Optimization Specialist

Vikram is a global thought leader in hospitality and travel, known for speaking his mind on topics that affect hotel operators worldwide. His extensive experience and deep understanding of hotel operations, technology, online marketing, and revenue management have allowed him to optimize revenue for a wide portfolio of hotel clients for over 20 years.

During his career, Vikram has delivered portfolio-wide audits, asset turnaround strategies, and other high-level consulting services to real estate investment funds and property management groups across the globe. His strategies have helped power some of the biggest and most successful hotel equity turnaround deals in the last decade. Vikram is also a big supporter of small businesses and is passionate about giving small hoteliers access to world-class strategies to help them thrive.

Vikram authors the popular hospitality and travel marketing strategy blog at “Words of Vikram.com.” He has been quoted in publications such as the New York Times and Travel Weekly.

Vikram is a frequently requested speaker at industry conferences. Former hosts include the US Department of Commerce, American Express Travel, American Hotel & Lodging Association, Arabian Travel Market, and Airbnb. He is a perennial favorite of audience members and clients everywhere because he communicates clearly, loves to answer questions, and emphasizes action-oriented strategies.

Connect with Vikram on Linkedin.

Chris Baniewicz, Senior Manager, Revenue Performance Solutions at Expedia Group

Chris Baniewicz is a Sr. Manager for the Revenue Performance Solutions team at Expedia Group. This team is driven by the mission to power revenue performance insights for everyone, everywhere. By leveraging Expedia Group data, technology, global reach, and machine learning capabilities, they aim to level the playing field for all lodging & vacation rental partners. They are focused on accelerating commercial outcomes for Expedia Group’s supply partners using immersive & intuitive products, APIs, and innovative data & technology partnerships. Chris is passionate about helping lodging partners be successful by adopting revenue performance technology and practices.

Before joining Expedia Group, Chris was a Director of Revenue with Accor Hotels. Chris completed his bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from The Pennsylvania State University. In addition, he holds a Certificate in Hotel Revenue Management from The School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University.

Connect with Chris on Linkedin.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere, through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. The Expedia Group family of brands includes Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Expedia® Partner Solutions, Vrbo®, trivago®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Hotwire®, Wotif®, ebookers®, CheapTickets®, Expedia Group™ Media Solutions, Expedia Local Expert®, CarRentals.com™, and Expedia Cruises™.

Expedia Group is a Founding Member at techtalk.travel

Also make sure to find these supporting content elements of the editorial Adopting Revenue Management Principles - Hotel Benchmarking:

And also find the first and second editorial of this series discussing Revenue Performance Principles:

The first Editorial discussing Revenue Performance Principles for Independent Hotels
The second Editorial discussing Monitoring Demand for Effective Forecasting

To all techtalk.travel editorials

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A topic that needs to be tackled: Is the Hospitality Industry ready for the Metaverse? What does the future of the hotel industry look like? What trends to watch, and how to deal with the scarcity of the workforce? Is the hotel sector prepared for the Metaverse? How vital are Artificial Intelligence and Data for the hospitality industry moving forward? What's the role of sustainability? - These were the main questions at the "Redebedarf" QR industry event. These industry experts joined Carolin Brauer, CEO at QR Quality Reservations, to discuss these questions and share their views on them:

Frank Trampert, SVP & Managing Director - Commercial - Global - Hospitality at Sabre
Sesilia Kalss, Senior Consulting Manager bei American Express (AMEX)Global Business Travel
Andreas Neumann, Geschäftsführer bei ADAC Reisevertrieb
Christian von Rumohr, Hoteldirektor bei THE LIBERTY Hotel Bremerhaven
Anna Heuer, Verbandsgeschäftsführerin bei HSMA Deutschland e.V.

You can read more about the "Redebedarf" QR industry event here.

Tune in to the podcast [in German] and hear about the expert's takes on current trends and developments impacting the hospitality industry.

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Time Stamps

00:00:00 - 00:00:44

Introduction (Carolin Brauer) * 00:00:45 - 00:04:32

Das World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) hat die Pandemie als beendet erklärt. Wie entwickeln sich die Märkte? Was kann der deutsche Hotelmarkt erwarten in Sachen incoming travel?

(Frank Trampert l Sabre) * 00:04:33 - 00:07:24

Die Hotelraten steigen - Was sind Geschäftsreisende bereit zu zahlen? Wie bereit sind Unternehmen, höhere Preise im Flug- und Hotelsegment zu akzeptieren?

(Sesilia Kalss l AMEX GBT) * 00:07:25 - 00:09:15

Der ADAC hat heute 176 Geschäftsstellen – was ist der Plan, was ist das Konzept? Was hat der ADAC mit Blick auf Reisen vor?

(Andreas Neumann l ADAC Reisevertrieb) * 00:09:16 - 00:11:29

Was wird aus der traditionellen Gruppenreise? Was ist mit Bus-Veranstalter-Reisen?

(Andreas Neumann l ADAC Reisevertrieb) * 00:11:30 - 00:13:48

THE LIBERTY Hotel Bremerhaven bietet high-end Gastronomie (3 Sonnen im Savoir Vivre) mit höchster Qualität. Wie schafft ihr das trotz Fachkräftemangel?

(Christian von Rumohr l THE LIBERTY Hotel Bremerhaven) * 00:15:10 - 00:17:52

Die HSMA Deutschland e.V. hat 1.600 Mitglieder. Was muss die Hotellerie tun, um Mitarbeiter zu begeistern? Welche Best Practice Beispiele gibt es aus den Mitgliederreihen?(Anna Heuer l HSMA Deutschland e.V.) * 00:17:55 - 00:20:17

Zukunft der Messen - Was ist die Prognose für internationale Messen (HITEC, ITB, etc.)?

(Frank Trampert l Sabre) * 00:20:30 - 00:23:33

New Work - Sind Arbeitsmodelle wie z.B. die 4 Tage Woche in der Hotellerie realistisch?

(Andreas Neumann l ADAC Reisevertrieb, Frank Trampert l Sabre) * 00:23:34 - 00:26:22

Wie wichtig ist „gemanagtes Reisen“? Wohin geht der Trend? (Krisen, Unsicherheiten)

(Sesilia Kalss l AMEX GBT) * 00:26:22 - 00:32:43

Einschätzungen zur Akzeptanz von Chat Funktionen, Chatbots, Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) in der Hotellerie?

(Anna Heuer l HSMA Deutschland e.V., Frank Trampert l Sabre, Christian von Rumohr l THE LIBERTY Hotel Bremerhaven) * 00:33:44 - 00:26:30**

Welche Rolle spielen Daten und Künstliche Intelligenz im Reisevertrieb? Welche Rolle spielen Daten im Ausschreibungsprozess von Reisen?

(Andreas Neumann l ADAC Reisevertrieb, Sesilia Kalss l AMEX GBT) * 00:37:00 - 00:39:24**

Nach welchen Kriterien wählen Sie Hotels für Ihre Corporate Kunden aus?

(Sesilia Kalss l AMEX GBT) * 00:40:56 - 00:42:27

In welchen Bereichen müssen Corporates und Hoteliers mehr Verständnis füreinander erlangen?

(Sesilia Kalss l AMEX GBT, Christian von Rumohr l THE LIBERTY Hotel Bremerhaven)* * *00:42:28 - 00:45:03

Was sind die kulturellen Unterschiede in den Erwartungen der Corporates?

(Frank Trampert l Sabre) * 00:45:04 - 00:46:18

Nachhaltigkeit - Wie steht der ADAC zur Bedeutung von Nachhaltigkeit und Reisen?

(Andreas Neumann l ADAC Reisevertrieb) * 00:46:19 - 00:47:58

Nachhaltigkeits-Zertifizierungen - Wer versteht all diese Siegel noch? Wie vergleichbar sind die Klassifizierungen?

(Sesilia Kalss l AMEX GBT, Andreas Neumann l ADAC Reisevertrieb) * 00:47:59 - 00:52:05

Gibt es Hotelkategorien, oder -Konzepte, die krisensicherer sind als andere?

(Anna Heuer l HSMA Deutschland e.V.) * 00:52:06 - 01:00:32

Automatisierung - Revenue Management, welche Rolle spielt das? Wie wird das Thema Revenue Management an Mitarbeiter vermittelt? (in der Praxis) Wie wichtig ist das Thema Revenue Management – gerade, wenn höhere Preise argumentiert und durchgesetzt werden müssen?

(Christian von Rumohr l THE LIBERTY Hotel Bremerhaven, Frank Trampert l Sabre, Anna Heuer l HSMA Deutschland e.V.) * 01:00:33 - 01:08:56**

2023 - Wie wird das Jahr? Was sind die Trends?

(Frank Trampert l Sabre, Christian von Rumohr l THE LIBERTY Hotel Bremerhaven, Andreas Neumann l ADAC Reisevertrieb, Anna Heuer l HSMA Deutschland e.V., Sesilia Kalss l AMEX GBT)****

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Tune in to this podcast episode [in GERMAN] discussing Payment - where are we now and where is the journey going? Tobias Warnecke, Geschäftsführer beim Hotelverband Deutschland (IHA), teilt in dieser Folge mit Anna Heuer, Verbandsgeschäftsführerin des HSMA Deutschland e.V., seine Erfahrungen und sein Wissen zu diesem Thema.

Das Thema Payment hält Hoteliers immer wieder “auf Trab”. Spätestens nach der Einführung der PSD2 beschäftigt sich jedes Unternehmen innerhalb unserer Branche mit diesem Thema - so auch die Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), die sich immer wieder spannende Möglichkeiten einfallen lassen, die Kommunikation und Interaktion mit den Hotel-Gästen mehr und mehr auf ihre Seite zu ziehen.

Tobias und Anna unterhalten sich über Chancen und Risiken auf diesem Gebiet und geben einen Überblick über den aktuellen Stand der Entwicklungen im Bereich Payment.

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members.

Visit hsma.de for more information.

RELATED CONTENT.

[Editorial] - Payment in Hospitality
[Video Interview] - Marcus Mosen, FinTech Advisory & Investor auf dem HSMA eDay 2020 zu Digital Payment Trends
[Video Interview] - HEDNA Global Distribution Conference - The Ultimate Guide to Payment Business Cases, Hilton, Xander Pay and Adyen.

EXPLORE FURTHER.

HSMA #happyhour Podcast l To all episodes
Video Interviews - HSMA Day 2022
Recap with [Downloads] and [Videos] - HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA eDay 2020

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Metaverse-Environment & MICE Remote Selling Opportunities in 3D Digital Hotel Twins. How can these help hotels and venues with regards to Marketing and Sales? What are other use cases of Metaverse in the Hospitality Industry? What are the Commercial Opportunities? Is the Metaverse replacing the MICE hotels and venues?

That's discussed in this COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT session, which was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 25th October 2022.

Iulia Popescu, Director Of Event Management at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel and Feray Özcan, Senior Business Development Manager at Allseated Europe joined Co-Hosts Rita Machado from Great Hotels of the World and our Lea Jordan to share their insights, and to discuss with the techtalk.travel community.

The Collective #MICEBEAT sessions are informal live think tanks focusing on the Meetings & Events industry’s future. Taking stock of where we as an industry are, where we need to go, and how we will get there, co-hosted by Rita Machado, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Great Hotels of the World, and Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel. Providing a platform for the hospitality industry to exchange knowledge, pollinate ideas and connect.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live sessions here, and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

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Rajesh Vohra from Sarova Hotels joined Co-Hosts Rita Machado (Great Hotels of the World & GuestCentric) and André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) for this COLLECTIVE #hotelierPulse session to discuss the latest The Hotelier Pulse Report findings. They discussed what implications Rajesh sees for hotel and travel markets, the commercial strategies for hotels, and more.

If you prefer tuning in to the video version, find it here, and on our YouTube Channel. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Also, make sure to read the spotlight interview with Rajesh, you can find it here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are usually co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and GuestCentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

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Revenue Marketing Automation (RMA) - What does it mean? And how to apply the concept of RMA to hotel websites?

That’s discussed in this 2nd COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation session, which was streamed live on Linkedin & Youtube on 20th September 2022.

Erik Muñoz (Userguest), Eva Kaminski (MEININGER Hotels), and Tobias Köhler (BIG MAMA Hotels & HSMA Deutschland) joined host Lea Jordan (techtalk.travel) to discuss and share their insights.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

Userguest is a Member of techtalk.travel.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube. The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation, co-hosted with Userguest

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

To all COLLECTIVE sessions Video l Podcast

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Die Distributions-Landschaft in der Hotellerie wandelt sich stetig. Vermutlich gab es selten mehr Veränderung als während und nach der Pandemie. Tune in to this podcast episode [in GERMAN] discussing current trends and developments in the hotel distribution space. Die HSMA Expertenkreis Mitglieder Isabell Kunert, Inventory & Distribution Manager at Meininger Hotels, Imke Rapp, Leitung strategischer Verkauf, Dorint Hotels & Resorts Schweiz und HSMA Fachvorstand Distribution & Revenue Management Wilhelm (Wilko) K. Weber, Partner at SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions teilen ihre Einschätzungen, Erfahrungswerte und Wissen in dieser Episode.

Erfahrt mehr darüber, warum sich Hotels mehr und mehr von gewissen Kanälen verabschieden und welche Auswirkungen dies hat, welche Einflüsse China mittlerweile auf die europäische Hotelwelt hat, wie relevant die Auswahl des Hotel Technology Stacks in Bezug auf Abhängigkeiten zu anderen Märkten ist und welche Gefahr eine komplette Ausrichtung am Property Management System (PMS) bedeutet. Selbstverständlich ist auch das Thema Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) / Direktvertrieb dabei und wird von unterschiedlichen Seiten beleuchtet.

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the new podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members.

Visit hsma.de for more information.

RESOURCES

ARTICLE l HSMA Facts & Faces: Verschiebung der Buchungswege von Isabell Kunert
PRESENTATION l HSMA e & MICE Day, Wilhelm K. Weber: Direct 4.0 - das Ende des PMS?

RELATED CONTENT - discussing trends and developments in the Meetings & Events Industry

Editorial - The Hotel Technology Stack
[Video Interview] - Wilko Weber at HSMA e & MICE Day 2021: Hotel Distribution 4.0, The End of the PMS, and why it's necessary to rethink direct bookings
Editorial - Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)
Editorial - The Evolution of the Property Management System (PMS)

EXPLORE FURTHER.

HSMA #happyhour Podcast l To all episodes
Video Interviews - HSMA Day 2022
Recap with [Downloads] and [Videos] - HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA eDay 2020

View Details

The Basic Principles of Revenue Management - Demand Monitoring Podcast Episode with Monica Xuereb (Loews Hotels), Vikram Singh, and Chris Baniewicz (Expedia Group) Aspects discussed in this episode: What is the importance of Demand Forecasting for small and independent hotels? What Demand Forecasting Methods can hotel operators apply? What Tools and Technology can hoteliers and lodging operators leverage for Demand Monitoring and Data Collection? What is the difference between the three main types of demand forecasting? What are the current post-Covid budgeting challenges hoteliers are facing, and more.

Also, find this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcasts.

Resources mentioned in the Conversation

Traveler Value Index: 2022 Outlook l Travel Trend Report l Q1 2022

Monica Xuereb, Chief Revenue Officer at Loews Hotels & Co

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Connect with Monica on LinkedIn.

Vikram Singh, Digital Marketing & Revenue Optimization Specialist

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Vikram is a global thought leader in hospitality and travel, known for speaking his mind on topics that affect hotel operators worldwide. His extensive experience and deep understanding of hotel operations, technology, online marketing, and revenue management have allowed him to optimize revenue for a wide portfolio of hotel clients for over 20 years.

During his career, Vikram has delivered portfolio-wide audits, asset turnaround strategies, and other high-level consulting services to real estate investment funds and property management groups across the globe. His strategies have helped power some of the biggest and most successful hotel equity turnaround deals in the last decade. Vikram is also a big supporter of small businesses and is passionate about giving small hoteliers access to world-class strategies to help them thrive.

Vikram authors the popular hospitality and travel marketing strategy blog at “Words of Vikram.com.” He has been quoted in publications such as the New York Times and Travel Weekly.

Vikram is a frequently requested speaker at industry conferences. Former hosts include the US Department of Commerce, American Express Travel, American Hotel & Lodging Association, Arabian Travel Market, and Airbnb. He is a perennial favorite of audience members and clients everywhere because he communicates clearly, loves to answer questions, and emphasizes action-oriented strategies.

Connect with Vikram on Linkedin.

Chris Baniewicz, Sr. Manager, Revenue Performance Solutions at Expedia Group

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Chris Baniewicz is a Sr. Manager for the Revenue Performance Solutions team at Expedia Group. This team is driven by the mission to power revenue performance insights for everyone, everywhere. By leveraging Expedia Group data, technology, global reach, and machine learning capabilities, they aim to level the playing field for all lodging & vacation rental partners. They are focused on accelerating commercial outcomes for Expedia Group’s supply partners using immersive & intuitive products, APIs, and innovative data & technology partnerships. Chris is passionate about helping lodging partners be successful by adopting revenue performance technology and practices.

Before joining Expedia Group, Chris was a Director of Revenue with Accor Hotels. Chris completed his bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from The Pennsylvania State University. In addition, he holds a Certificate in Hotel Revenue Management from The School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University.

Connect with Chris Baniewicz on Linkedin.

About Expedia Group Expedia Group, Inc. companies power travel for everyone, everywhere, through our global platform. Driven by the core belief that travel is a force for good, we help people experience the world in new ways and build lasting connections. We provide industry-leading technology solutions to fuel partner growth and success while facilitating memorable experiences for travelers. The Expedia Group family of brands includes Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Expedia® Partner Solutions, Vrbo®, trivago®, Orbitz®, Travelocity®, Hotwire®, Wotif®, ebookers®, CheapTickets®, Expedia Group™ Media Solutions, Expedia Local Expert®, CarRentals.com™, and Expedia Cruises™.

Expedia Group is a Founding Member at techtalk.travel

Also make sure to find these supporting content elements of the editorial Demand Monitoring for Effective Forecasting

ARTICLE l Demand Monitoring for Effective Forecasting authored by Vikram Singh & Chris Baniewicz (Expedia Group)
INFOGRAPHIC l Demand Monitoring Map
VIDEO l Demand Monitoring with Monica Xuereb (Loews Hotels), and Chris Baniewicz (Expedia Group)

Also, find the first Editorial discussing Revenue Performance Principles for Independent Hotels

To all techtalk.travel editorials

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Aviation Expert Gavin Eccles joins (once again) Co-Hosts Pedro Colaco (Great Hotels of the World & Guestcentric) and André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) to discuss the latest The Hotelier Pulse Report findings. They discuss what implications Gavin sees for hotel and travel markets and how the airline industry's performance will impact and shape thereof. How can hotels and airlines cohesively manage delays and cancellations? What would be your recommendations for an agile response that still delivers the best possible experience to travelers?

If you prefer watching the video version, find it here, and on our YouTube Channel.

Gavin Eccles, Aviation expert, and Management Consultant & Professor (Aviation and Tourism) Gavin Eccles has worked across the world to link Aviation and Tourism development and has been associated with airlines, hotels, airports, and tour operators. Previous roles included development in British Airways and consultancy projects for United Airlines, American Airlines, Qantas, and supporting the development of low-cost carriers to tourist destinations. In Portugal, Gavin has been the advisor to the Board of Visit Portugal on aviation development and working on numerous projects with ANA Airports Portugal on opening international air routes to the country. With hotels, Gavin has worked with numerous chains and has had secondment positions at TUI. Gavin has been awarded a Master of Philosophy from the University of Surrey and an Honours Degree in Management from Sheffield Hallam University.

Connect with Gavin on Linkedin.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

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Revenue Marketing Automation (RMA) - What does it mean? What is the gap between Marketing & Revenue Management teams in hotels about? How can we bridge the gap between Marketing and Revenue Teams? How does this change the landscape for Marketing & Revenue teams? What are the benefits?

That’s discussed in this 1st COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation session, which was streamed live on Linkedin & Youtube on 12th July 2022.

Erik Muñoz (Userguest), Amanda Du (Penta Hotels), and Deniel Frey (H-Hotels.com & HSMA Deutschland) joined host Lea Jordan (techtalk.travel) to discuss and share their insights.

Find the podcast episode also on Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

Userguest is a Member of techtalk.travel.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube. The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #RevMarketingAutomation, co-hosted with Userguest

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

To all COLLECTIVE sessions Video l Podcast

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Sascha Dalig, Regional Director Central Europe at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, joins Co-Hosts Pedro Colaco (Great Hotels of the World & Guestcentric) and André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) to discuss the latest The Hotelier Pulse Report findings. Sascha shares insights on his involvement in the renewal of the German apprenticeship, what trends he sees in terms of direct vs. 3rd party distribution, and the friction between guest expectations being back to normal while hotels are still facing restrictions.

If you prefer watching the video version, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

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Hoteliere Alicja Likus from Hotel Warszawa in Warsaw and the Likus Hotel & Restaurants Group in Poland, joined this session to share her insights and experiences and to discuss the status of the hotel industry markets across Poland and Eastern Europe during the current conflict situation.

Alicja Likus is Co-Owner of Likus Hotels and Restaurants group owning and running 7 luxury hotels in various cities in Poland. Focused on personalisation and innovation in hospitality.

If you prefer watching the video version, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

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Ein Exkurs über die aktuellen Herausforderungen und Chancen der MICE Industrie. Tune in to this podcast episode [in GERMAN] discussing opportunities and challenges in the MICE and Convention Sales industry, MICE Revenue management and what’s to come for the sector. MICE Revenue Management ist in aller Munde. Doch anders als im Rooms Revenue Management, wagen sich die wenigsten an dieses komplexe Thema. Ein dynamisches Umfeld, noch begrenzte Kapazitäten, erhöhter zeitlicher Aufwand und das alles bei einem erheblichen Fachkräftemangel.

Das alles klingt nach einer sehr großen Herausforderung, doch welche Chancen bringt dies mit sich?

Darüber diskutieren HSMA Expertenkreis Mitglieder Sandra Gerland (Penta Hotels) und Gerhard Wasem (MICE Rate) mit HSMA Fachvorständin MICE & Sales Alexandra Weber (Lindner Hotels & Resorts und me and all hotels).

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the new podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members.

Visit hsma.de for more information.

RELATED CONTENT - discussing trends and developments in the Meetings & Events Industry

On-demand [Videos] and [Podcasts] - COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT series, co-hosted by Great Hotels of the World & techtalk.travel
Editorial l MICE Digitization & Technology (Article, Video, Podcast & Infographic)
[Video] - The MICE market in transition, trends, and how Accor does it. Interview with Alexandra Weber (Lindner Hotels AG) and Katja Reisch (Accor)
[Video] - Automate or Die - Why Automation is becoming a Necessity for Survival. Interview with Felix Undeutsch (hivr.ai)

EXPLORE FURTHER.

HSMA #happyhour Podcast l To all episodes
Recap with [Downloads] and [Videos] - HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA eDay 2020

View Details

Vikram Singh, Digital Marketing & Revenue Optimization Specialist, and Chris Baniewicz, Senior Manager, Revenue Performance Solutions at Expedia Group, join André Baljeu to discuss the principles of Revenue Management for hotels and accommodation providers.

Tune in to understand the basic principles of hotel revenue management: Forecasting, Market Segmentation, Pricing & Distribution. Vikram and Chris share practical tips on where and how to start: How can hotels apply these revenue performance principles to grow market share and profitability in their daily business.

Vikram Singh, Digital Marketing & Revenue Optimization Specialist

Connect with Vikram on Linkedin.

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Chris Baniewicz, Senior Manager, Revenue Performance Solutions at Expedia Group

Connect with Chris on Linkedin.

Expedia Group is a Founding Member at techtalk.travel

Also find these supporting editorial elements about Adopting Revenue Performance Principles

ARTICLE l Adopting Hotel Revenue Performance Principles
VIDEO l The Adoption of Hotel Revenue Management Principles
INFOGRAPHIC l Revenue Management Strategy Bulls-Eye

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Mario Candeias, Managing Director at Espinas Hotel Group in Tehran, Iran, Co-Hosts Pedro Colaco from Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and Andre Baljeu from techtalk.travel discuss the key findings of the recent The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the hospitality and travel markets. This session was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 28th April 2022.

Mario Candeias shares insights on how he sees the key findings of the latest Hotelier PULSE Report reflect in Tehran's and the Middle Eastern hotel market. He speaks about their Commercial Strategies, what is to consider when operating hotels in the Iranian market, what he is anticipating in terms of consumer demands, answers audience questions and more.

If you prefer watching the video version, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

View Details

MICE & Group Sales - Where is the Innovation at? What’s to come, what’s long overdue to change? What are the pain-points? Who will drive innovation in Group and MICE sales?

That's discussed in this COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT session, which was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 26th April 2022.

Marion Gösweiner, Global Sales Manager Meeting Industry at Vienna House and Joost Doevendans, Head of Sales at Proposales join co-hosts Rita Machado from Great Hotels of the World and our Lea Jordan to share their insights, and to discuss with the techtalk.travel community.

The Collective #MICEBEAT sessions are informal live think tanks focusing on the Meetings & Events industry’s future. Taking stock of where we as an industry are, where we need to go, and how we will get there, co-hosted by Rita Machado, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Great Hotels of the World, and Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel. Providing a platform for the hospitality industry to exchange knowledge, pollinate ideas and connect.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live sessions here, and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

You might also find interesting:

Editorial l MICE & Technology
On-demand [Videos] and [Podcasts] - All past COLLECTIVE #MICEbeat sessions
[Video] - The MICE market in transition, trends, and how Accor does it. Interview with Alexandra Weber (Lindner Hotels AG) and Katja Reisch (Accor)
Recap with [Downloads] and [Videos] - HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
[Video] - Automate or Die - Why Automation is becoming a Necessity for Survival. Interview with Felix Undeutsch (hivr.ai)

View Details

Tune in to this podcast episode [in GERMAN] discussing leadership in hospitality.

Sarah Dönnebrink, Director Employer Branding & Recruiting at Motel One GmbH, and chair of the HSMA HR & Employer Branding expert circle, Marie-Therese Heep, FUTURE Coach, Trainer and Consultant, and Marc Stickdorn from Upstalsboom Hotel Varel share their know-how and insights.

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the new podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members.

Visit hsma.de for more information.

EXPLORE FURTHER.

HSMA #happyhour Podcast l To all episodes
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA eDay 2020

View Details

Maurizio Bonivento, Area Managing Director at Highgate Hotels (THE ROW NYC Hotel and THE MICHELANGELO HOTEL), Co-Hosts Pedro Colaco from Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and Andre Baljeu from techtalk.travel discuss the key findings of the recent The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the hospitality and travel markets. This session was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 31st March 2022.

Maurizio Bonivento shares what implications he sees for commercial strategies for hotels, how he and his teams have re-evaluated and adjusted their Sales & Marketing strategies, and what changes in consumer demands he is anticipating, and more.

If you prefer watching the video version, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

View Details

Monika Sledz, Group Director of Sales at Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences, Co-Hosts Pedro Colaco from Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and Andre Baljeu from techtalk.travel discuss the key findings of the recent The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the hospitality and travel markets. This session was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 24th February 2022.

Monika Sledz shares insights on how Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences re-evaluated their Leisure and Corporate Sales strategy. How she sees the key findings of the latest Hotelier PULSE Report reflect in the various markets they're operating in, what she is anticipating in terms of consumer demands, how they leveraged partnerships and collaborations, and more.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

View Details

Automated Personalization, Insights on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Hospitality - How can AI and ML drive innovation in the hotel industry? - How can AI and ML assist in personalization in the hotel industry? What can usage and examples look like? What are the key challenges?

That's discussed in this COLLECTIVE #automatedpersonalization session, which was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 23rd March 2022.

Michaela Papenhoff (h2c GmbH), Daniela Hupfeld (Pierre & Vacances), Daniel Frey (H-Hotels.com)- both also members of the Revenue Management Advisory Board at HSMA Germany, and Christin Haensel (h2c GmbH) join host André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) to discuss the findings and implications of h2c's recent Global Automated Personalisation Study, and how artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation drives innovation in the hotel industry.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube. The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

To all COLLECTIVE sessions Video l Podcast

View Details

Tune in to this podcast episode [in GERMAN] discussing the opportunities and challenges of automation in the hotel industry, focusing on hotel teams.

HSMA Technology Expert Circle members Tobias Köhler, Chief Commercial Officer at Big Mama Hotels, and Florian Montag, Business Development Manager at apaleo, join Anna Heuer, Managing Director at HSMA Deutschland e.V to share their know-how and insights.

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the new podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members.

Visit hsma.de for more.

EXPLORE FURTHER.

Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA eDay 2020
HSMA #happyhour Podcast l To all episodes

View Details

'Our students, the young generation - they are the motor of innovation. They will drive that innovation that our industry needs.' - claims Regine von Stieglitz, President at Hotelschool The Hague

In this episode of the techtalk.travel industry interviews, André Baljeu sat down with Regine von Stieglitz to hear more about her background, what sets Hotelschool The Hague graduates apart, and why it is worth going for a career in hospitality, especially today, what the essential skill-set needed entails, what the hotel industry can do to attract and retain talent, and more.

Time-Stamps

00:56 - Regine’s Career Journey

03:03 - Leadership Learnings & Challenges throughout the pandemic

06:05 - Post-Pandemic Challenges for Higher Education Institutions

14:32 - What makes a successful Hospitality Career today? What sets Hotelschool The Hague Graduates apart?

21:50 - Why choose a Hospitality Career now?

25:12 - How can the hospitality industry attract and retain talent?

31:10 - The Sustainable Hospitality Challenge

39:12 - Hotelschool The Hague's Partnerships & Collaborations

43:18 - The HTH Research Centre

49:30 - Regine’s most memorable hotel experience

52:27 - Regine’s favourite restaurant experience

If you prefer watching the video-version of this conversation, find it here and on all main podcast platforms.

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Companies mentioned in the conversation

Marriott l Sustainable Hospitality Challenge l AHIC Dubai l Accor l Rijks Restaurant l Anantara Hotels Thailand l HTH Research Centre

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More interviews Also, find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Interview episodes with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; Grit Pauling, General Manager at The 25hours Hotel The Circle Cologne; Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group, Inès Blal, Managing Director & Exec. Dean at EHL Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, and Jan Frederik Valentin, Partner at HOWZAT ennea Group.

Season 3

Interview episodes with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag when with Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Cole from TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds.

Season 2

Interview episodes with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tengen from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP

Season 1

Interview episodes with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber from SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

View Details

Pedro Ribeiro, Commercial Director at Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection, Co-Hosts Pedro Colaco from Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and Andre Baljeu from techtalk.travel discuss the key findings of the recent The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implication for the hospitality and travel markets. This session was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 27th January 2022.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

View Details

Automated Personalization, Insights on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Hospitality - How can AI and ML assist in personalization in the hotel industry? What can usage and examples look like? What are the key challenges? That's discussed in this COLLECTIVE #automatedpersonalization session, which was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 20th January 2022.

Michaela Papenhoff (h2c GmbH), Oliver Stotz (Lindner Hotels AG), Lijeesh Rajan (Rotana Hotels & Resorts), and Christin Haensel (h2c GmbH) join host André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) to discuss the findings and implications of h2c's recent Global Automated Personalisation Study.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube. The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

To all COLLECTIVE sessions Video l Podcast

View Details

Tune in to this episode [in German] all about Revenue Management, the job profile and responsibilities of a Revenue Manager in the hotel industry, and more.

HSMA Revenue Management Expert Circle members Steffi Breitsprecher, Director of Revenue & Distribution at Meininger Hotels, and Bastian Däullary, Senior Expert Revenue & Capacity Management at Deutsche Hospitality, join Christian Meissner, Senior Director Commercial Systems, Hotel Applications & CRM at Deutsche Hospitality and member of the Revenue Management, E-Commerce, CRM & Marketing und Distribution advisory board at HSMA Deutschland e.V to share their knowledge and insights.

Darüber sprechen Steffi, Bastian und Christian in dieser Folge:

Was ist eigentlich Revenue Management?
Wie hat sich dieser Fachbereich verändert?
Welche Skills und Erfahrungen braucht ein Revenue Manager?
Inwieweit ist der Job auf andere Branchen adaptierbar?
Was macht die Revenue Management Systemwelt?
Was hat der Tulpen Verkauf in Amsterdam damit zu tun?
Automatisierung & Revenue Management
Woran muss noch gearbeitet werden und welche Rolle spielt Revenue Management innerhalb des gesamten Unternehmens?
Bastian wirft mit Zahlen um sich
22 Millionen - Warum brauchen wir 67 Revenue Manager?
Wo schlägt die Erfahrung den Algorithmus - in München.
Differenzierte Meinungen zum Thema Outsourcing im Revenue Management.
Wohin hat es sich entwickelt? Wie sehen die Anforderungen aus?

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members. Also, tune in to the first Episode discussing the job profile and responsibilities of a hotel digital marketing manager.

Visit hsma.de for more.

EXPLORE FURTHER.

Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA eDay 2020
HSMA #happyhour Podcast l To all episodes

View Details

Tune in to this on-demand podcast episode with the recording of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube on 02 December 2021. With special guest Nadja Dahlmann, Head of PR & Marketing at the Empire Riverside Hotel and the Hafen Hotel Hamburg, and member of the expert circle advising on Digital Marketing, CRM, and eCommerce at HSMA Deutschland e.V.

Nadja joins Pedro Colaco, CEO at Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World, and our André Baljeu to discuss together with the community the findings of the 19th edition of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implication for the hotel and travel markets. Nadja shares what implications she sees for commercial strategies for hotels, what best practices there are in terms of digital marketing, and guest engagement, and what market developments she is anticipating.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original live broadcasting Linkedin link, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

View Details

MICE & Group Sales of tomorrow & Technology - What has fundamentally changed in Group Sales? What are the implications for Marketing and Sales strategies for convention hotels and venues, and how to leverage technology best? - That's discussed in this podcast episode with the recording of the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT session, which was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 7th December 2021.

Katja Reisch, Director Mice & Leisure Distribution Northern Europe at Accor, and Simon Dowell, Commercial Director at Upmail, join co-hosts Rita Machado from Great Hotels of the World and our Lea Jordan to share their insights, and to discuss with the techtalk.travel community.

The Collective #MICEBEAT sessions are data-driven live think tanks focusing on the Meetings & Events industry’s future. Taking stock of where we as an industry are, where we need to go, and how we will get there, co-hosted by Rita Machado, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Great Hotels of the World, and Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel. Providing a platform for the hospitality industry to exchange knowledge, pollinate ideas and connect.

If you prefer tuning in to the video version of this session, find it here and on all leading podcast streaming platforms. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live sessions here, and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

You might also find interesting:

Editorial l MICE & Technology
On-demand [Videos] and [Podcasts] - All past COLLECTIVE #MICEbeat sessions
[Video] - The MICE market in transition, trends, and how Accor does it. Interview with Alexandra Weber (Lindner Hotels AG) and Katja Reisch (Accor)
Recap with [Downloads] and [Videos] - HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
[Video] - Automate or Die - Why Automation is becoming a Necessity for Survival. Interview with Felix Undeutsch (hivr.ai)

View Details

Tune in to this episode [in German] all about the job profile and responsibilities of a digital marketing manager in the hotel industry.

HSMA Digital Marketing Expert Circle members Nadja Dahlmann, Head of PR & Marketing at Hotel Empire Riverside and Hotel Hafen in Hamburg, and Alexander Schuster, Head of Digital at opensmjle join Anna Heuer, Managing Director at HSMA Deutschland e.V. to share their knowledge and insights.

Find out more about HSMA on their website.

The HSMA Happy Hour [In German] - that’s the new podcast series that we are co-hosting together with our friends from HSMA Germany - the hotel association with more than 1.500 members from the German-speaking hotel market.

HSMA will use this format to regularly discuss current trends and developments in the hotel industry, and share exclusive insights and knowledge from their various expert circles and best practices from their members.

Visit hsma.de for more.

EXPLORE FURTHER.

Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA e & MICE Day 2021
Recap incl. all Videos l HSMA eDay 2020
HSMA #happyhour Podcast l To all episodes

View Details

How to improve Golf Resort Guest-Experience by leveraging Technology? Tune in to this podcast version of the COLLECTIVE #golfresorttech live session we co-hosted together with techtalk.travel member Concept. It was streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube on 30th November 2021.

Matt Roberts (59club), Christopher Reeve (The Belfry), and Bruno Martins (Concept) join host André Baljeu (techtalk.travel) to discuss among other aspects

How to select technoloygy and software solutions for Golf and Resort Hotels. What aspects to consider?
How to fit a golf resort management technology nicely into the existing hotel technology stack of the enterprise?
How to increase ancillary revenues per customer? What opportunities are there for yielding?
How to digitize the booking process, how to best manage guest data?
How to best manage guest data and preferences?
How to optimize guest service across all areas on a resort, how to manage memberships and activities?
What best practices can be shared?

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original live broadcasting Linkedin link, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

Matt Roberts, Company Director at 59club

59club was established in the UK in 2007 by current CEO Simon Wordsworth and is now the market leader in providing bespoke performance measurement and management programs for the golf, leisure, spa, events, F&B, and hotel industries.

Its premise is the elevation of service standards to new heights, across several industry sectors, through the gathering of primary data – mystery shopping, customer satisfaction surveys, and business metrics – and the implementation of strategic training and development solutions.

Connect with Matt on Linkedin.

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Christopher Reeve, Director of Golf at The Belfry Hotel & Resort

Christopher Reeve was appointed Director of Golf in 2017. Most recently, Reeve was the director of golf at the Foxhills Club and Resort in Surrey. Before this, he managed the Marbella Golf Coaching program before becoming the academy manager at the Burhill Group, running 22 courses across several regions.

The Belfry is home to the Professional Golf Association (PGA) and has hosted four Ryder Cup tournaments, more than any other venue in the world. Located near Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield, right in the heart of England, The Belfry is one of the most sought-after golf resorts in the UK. It offers excellent golf packages, including golf days and overnight stays, custom fitting, and a very own golf shop.

Connect with Christopher on Linkedin.

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Bruno Martins, Senior Product Manager, Concept

Bruno Martins is an experienced IT professional who has spent 24 years in the hospitality technology industry. With an educational background in information technology and economics, Bruno began his career as an IT specialist at Escola Secundária de Loulé. After a stint in the Portugal Army in 1996, Bruno started his career in the hospitality technology industry, working with the team that would become Conceptek. Starting as an IT administrator, Bruno quickly moved through the ranks to become a Product Specialist for Conceptek solutions.

Shiji Group acquired Conceptek in 2018, which led to Bruno’s promotion to Senior Product Manager. In this role, Bruno oversees the development of the Concept Spa & Golf software line. Driven by a love of building technology, Bruno has grown in and with the hospitality technology industry. Bruno currently resides in the Algarve region, where he has spent the majority of his life.

Connect with Bruno on Linkedin.

About Concept Concept provides golf and activity reservation management software solutions for enterprise hotels and resorts with locations worldwide. With over 25 years of experience and installations in 58 countries, Concept has developed a comprehensive reservation management product that includes solutions to manage every aspect of a Golf, Spa, or Leisure operation.

Concept is a Contributing Member at techtalk.travel.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube. The COLLECTIVE sessions are co-hosted by techtalk.travel and our members. The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building, and knowledge transfer, inviting the community to actively take part by adding their questions and views, too.

Join us live, discuss with us, hear from our guest speakers, and connect.

About COLLECTIVE #HotelierPULSE, co-hosted with Guestcentric and Great Hotels of the World

About COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT, co-hosted with Great Hotels of the World

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‘A smart hotelier is a data-driven hotelier who understands the value of open technologies, integrations, and a single source of truth for guest data.’** - states Michael Kessler, CEO at ReviewPro, in this interview.

In this episode, André Baljeu sat down with Michael Kessler at the ReviewPro office in Barcelona. Michael speaks about his background and career journey, what ReviewPro is all about, what learnings he can share from starting a CEO role during a global pandemic, how to move technology adoption in hospitality forward, and next-generation guest intelligence solutions, and more.

Time stamps:

00:25 - Michael’s Career Journey.

02:15 - About ReviewPro.

04:19 - ReviewPro’s global footprint.

05:10 - Starting as a CEO during a crisis - Lessons and Changes due to Covid.

14:30 - Customer Technology Decision Making.

19:03 - Moving Technology forward - What’s holding the hotel industry's tech adoption back?

26:00 - Managing Guest Data & the Single Guest Profile - Who should take the lead?

31:43 - Next Generation Guest Intelligence Solutions.

34:24 - ReviewPro’s Sweet Spot in the Market.

36:15 - Michael’s Definition of a Smart Hotelier.

37:29 - Michael’s most memorable travel experience.

38:52 - Michael’s favourite food and restaurant.

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If you prefer watching the video version this conversation find it here and on our Youtube Channel.

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ReviewPro is a Founding Member at techtalk.travel.

Content co-created with ReviewPro

Editorial l Chatbots in the Hospitality Industry
Editorial l Automation in the Hospitality Industry

To all techtalk.travel editorials.

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More interviews Also, find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Interview episodes with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; Grit Pauling, General Manager at The 25hours Hotel The Circle Cologne; Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group, Inès Blal, Managing Director & Exec. Dean at EHL Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, and Guillermo Gaspart, Founder & CEO at BYHOURS.

Season 3

Interview episodes with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag when with Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Cole from TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds.

Season 2

Interview episodes with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tengen from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP

Season 1

Interview episodes with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber from SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

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'In my opinion, there are three main challenges for the hotel industry in the coming years: To respond to the heightened need for Personalization, Flexibility, and the adoption of the Pay-per-Use Concept.' - states Guillermo Gaspart, CEO & Founder at BYHOURS, and Co-Founder & Partner at Atiram Hotels in this interview.

In this episode, Lea Jordan sat down with Guillermo Gaspart at the BYHOURS office in Barcelona to hear more about his background and career journey; why he founded BYHOURS; micro hotel stays and the pay per use model in the hotel and travel industry; overall trends in travel, the travel technology start-up scene in Barcelona, and more.

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Time-stamps:

00:36 - Who is ByHours, and what are they about?

01:34 - About Guillermo’s background and career journey.

02:34 - Why ByHours?

04:53 - Removing the stigma.

09:40 - Opportunities from the crisis.

13:07 - Where is the growth coming from?

15:38 - Market demands.

16:53 - Travel industry trends.

19:53 - Pay-per-use acceptance in the hotel industry.

21:20 - Guilermo’s learnings from the crisis.

23:25 - How did the hotels adjust during the pandemic?

25:06 - Barcelona’s travel tech start-up ecosystem.

26:54 - 2 stand-out travel technology start-ups from Barcelona.

28:43 - Guillermo’s favorite travel experience.

29:55 - Guillermo’s favorite restaurant.

If you prefer watching the video version of this conversation, find it here and on our Youtube Channel.

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Companies mentioned in the conversation:

Atiram Hotels l Sabre l Amadeus l Travelport l TravelPerk l Aervio l Siteminder l Gran Hotel La Florida Barcelona l Beso Beach Formentera

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More interviews Also, find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Interview episodes with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; Grit Pauling, General Manager at The 25hours Hotel The Circle Cologne; Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group, and Inès Blal, Managing Director & Exec. Dean at EHL Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.

Season 3

Interview episodes with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag when with Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Cole from TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds.

Season 2

Interview episodes with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tengen from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP

Season 1

Interview episodes with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber from SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

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'What we really need is that next evolution and technology to make travel seamless and really easy.' - states Jan-Frederik Valentin, Partner at HOWZAT ennea Group in this interview episode.

In this podcast episode, André Baljeu sat down with Jan-Frederik Valentin to hear more about his background, what HOWZAT ennea Group is about, how they identify potential investment success stories, the role of higher education in entrepreneurship, what the challenges and opportunities for disruption in travel are, and more.

Time-stamps:

00:34 - Jan’s career progression

04:15 - What is it HOWZAT ennea Group (HEG)does, and how are they structured?

05:21 - A typical day in Jan’s life

06:46 - How to determine potential investment success stories?

08:41 - How is the current investor sentiment?

12:08 - Jan’s take on investor commitment

14:16 - How can higher education support young entrepreneurs?

16:47 - What are the pain points and opportunities for travel disruption?

20:05 - Jan’s advice for entrepreneurs wanting to break into travel

22:40 - What were the biggest surprises from investments so far?

24:40 - Jan’s most memorable travel and hotel experience

26:07 - Jan’s favorite restaurant

If you prefer watching the video-version of this conversation, find it here and on our Youtube Channel.

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Companies mentioned in the conversation:

weg.de l Unister l Kayak l Süddeutsche Zeitung l ennea l HOWZAT l Solana l Viselio l Hopper l Liligo l Hometogo l Lambus l EHL Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne l EHL Innovation Village l Munich Business School l Sticks'n'Sushi l Katz Orange

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Industry Terms and Abbreviations used in the conversation:

GAFA - Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple, also known as Big Tech or the Tech Giants, Big Four, or Big Five (if Microsoft is included), the four or five largest and most dominant companies in the information technology industry of the United States.

SPAC - Special Purpose Acquisition Company

A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is a company with no commercial operations, formed strictly to raise capital through an initial public offering (IPO) to acquire or merge with an existing company. Also known as "blank check companies." (Source: Investopedia)

Metas - Meta Searcher. Find this techtalk.travel editorial about Meta Search in Hospitality

LPs - Limited Partner. The term refers to investors who become members of a fund or SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) by making a capital contribution, i.e., an investment.

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About HOWZAT ennea Group HOWZAT ennea Group is an European investment and consultancy firm and partners with excellent founders and teams to build, scale and establish outstanding technology companies. Through its venture capital arm HOWZAT Partners, it invests globally into seed and mid-stage start-ups, with a primary focus on Europe. Through its advisory arm, ennea Capital Partners, it provides M&A advisory and strategic consultancy services to growth companies as well as established corporations, leveraging years of expertise within this field.

Make sure to connect with HOWZAT ennea Group on Linkedin, Twitter, and Medium.

HOWZAT ennea Group is a Founding Member of techtalk.travel.

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More interviews Also, find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Interview episodes with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; Grit Pauling, General Manager at The 25hours Hotel The Circle Cologne; Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group, and Inès Blal, Managing Director & Exec. Dean at EHL Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.

Season 3

Interview episodes with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag when with Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Cole from TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds.

Season 2

Interview episodes with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tengen from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP

Season 1

Interview episodes with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber from SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

View Details

Tune in to this on-demand podcast episode of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube on 13th October 2021, with special guest Jens Egemalm, Director of Distribution at Pandox AB.

Based on the 18th edition of The Hotelier PULSE Report, Jens Egemalm discussed together with the hosts Pedro Colaco and André Baljeu current hotel and travel market developments and how Pandox is responding in terms of commercial strategy, distribution, and digital marketing.

Some aspects discussed were among others:

The 18th edition of The Hotelier Pulse report indicates the industry is optimistic about business performance over the next 12 months.

What are hoteliers seeing in their business today, and what are the expectations for the next 12 months? * Since May 2021, Guestcentric's market trends analysis shows consistent growth in international hotel bookings. There is also a growing expectation among Hoteliers for international travel to contribute to the recovery significantly.

What are Jens's expectations, and what should Hoteliers be doing to capitalize on this? * Although the expectation for international travel to resume is growing, most Hoteliers surveyed expect international business travel to only recover in 2023.

What are Jan's expectations for the recovery of this segment, and what are the implications for hotels impacted by business travel? How should Hoteliers adjust their strategies to align with this? * The market trends analysis shows the direct channel is recovering faster, and the majority of Hoteliers surveyed aim to establish their direct channels as the top source of reservations.

Considering the rise of Google MetaSearch in 2021 and how Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) are reverting to pre-pandemic visibility marketing efforts, what are the implications to distribution, and what should Hoteliers be aware of when planning their strategies for 2022 and beyond?

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original live broadcasting Linkedin link, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

Related techtalk.travel editorials

Google in Travel l Editorial
Meta Search & Hotels l Editorial
Internet Booking Engine (IBE) for Hotels l Editorial
Modern Demand Generation l Editorial

To all techtalk.travel editorials

View Details

The return of the MICE business - Learnings from US meetings and events market data, and how to leverage Technology to win more groups business - faster. That's what is discussed in this COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT session, that was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube 5th October 2021.

KRISTI WHITE, Chief Product Officer at Knowland and DAN HUMBY, Vice President Sales at Groups360 join co-hosts RITA MACHADO from Great Hotels of the World and our LEA JORDAN to share their insights, and to discuss with the techtalk.travel community

The Collective #MICEBEAT sessions are data-driven live think tanks focusing on the Meetings & Events industry’s future. Taking stock of where we as an industry are, where we need to go, and how we will get there, co-hosted by Rita Machado, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Great Hotels of the World, and Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel. Providing a platform for the hospitality industry to exchange knowledge, pollinate ideas and connect.

If you prefer tuning in to the video-version of this session, find it here and on our YouTube channel. Also, find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live sessions here, and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

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Technology, F&B, restaurants & events - opportunities & challenges in tomorrow’s events business - that's what is discussed in this COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live session, that was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube 8th September 2021.

Isabel Steinhauer, Director of Food & Beverage at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam (a member of Great Hotels of the World); Angelo Vassallo, Food & Beverage Director, at the Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona; and ; Michael Madison, CEO & Founder at menumodo join co-hosts Rita Machado from Great Hotels of the World and our Lea Jordan to share their insights, and to discuss with the community.

The Collective #MICEBEAT sessions are data-driven live think tanks focusing on the Meetings & Events industry’s future. Taking stock of where we as an industry are, where we need to go, and how we will get there, co-hosted by Rita Machado, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Great Hotels of the World, and Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel. Providing a platform for the hospitality industry to exchange knowledge, pollinate ideas and connect.

If you prefer watching the video-version of this session, find it here. Also, find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live sessions here, and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE sessions here.

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'Now is THE time for a career in Hospitality. Everything is possible.' - states Inès Blal, Managing Director & Executive Dean at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) in this in-depth interview.

André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel sat down with Inès Blal at the EHL campus in Lausanne, Switzerland. In this conversation, Inès shares her thoughts and views about how higher education and hotel business schools adapt to the change accelerated by the crisis and how the EHL community navigated through this difficult time. She speaks about what future challenges educational institutions face, the importance of the learner's journey, customer-centricity, the problem of hospitality businesses copying each other, the EHL Innovation Village, and much more.

Time-stamps:

00:35 - Adjusting to radical change

09:06 - Key messages to students and faculty

11:40 - Future challenges for educational institutions

19:56 - Vision on digitization in higher education

24:21 - Why choose a career in hospitality now?

30:53 - Retaining talent and future leaders

34:34 - The EHL Innovation Village

37:24 - Digitizing the academic portfolio and learning experience

39:04 - Inès' favorite hotel and hotel experience

42:28 - Inès' favorite restaurant and food

If you prefer watching the video-version of this conversation, find it here and on our Youtube Channel.

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About EHL and Inès Blal

Founded in 1893, EHL is considered one of the best hotel management schools in the world. Inès heads up 170 people on the faculty and 3,700 students.

Inès is the first woman and the youngest person ever to hold the position. First coming to EHL as an undergraduate, Inès earned an MBA in Hospitality Administration. In 2006, she returned as an instructor while completing a Ph.D. in Strategic Management in Hospitality and Tourism at Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). During her first term, Inès worked to foster a transparency and collaboration culture and develop a strategy for digital instruction. The COVID pandemic was her first crisis as a senior executive. Inès found herself working up to 16 hours a day, making the necessary adjustments to keep classes running virtually and on-site.

Connect with Inès on Linkedin.

Visit EHL's website.

Resources

EHL Advisory Services
The Institute of Customer Experience Management (ICEM)
EHL Innovation Village

Also, find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Interview episodes with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; Grit Pauling, General Manager at The 25hours Hotel The Circle Cologne; and Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group.

Season 3

Interview episodes with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag when with Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Colefrom TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds.

Season 2

Interview episodes with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tengen from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP

Season 1

Interview episodes with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber from SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

View Details

Tune in to this on-demand podcast episode of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube on 29th July 2021, with special guest João Pinto Coelho, Sales Director at Onyria Golf Resorts.

Based on the 16th edition of The Hotelier PULSE Report, João Pinto Coelho discussed together with the hosts Pedro Colaco and André Baljeu current hotel and travel market developments and how Onyria Golf Resorts is responding in terms of commercial strategy.

Some aspects discussed were among others:

The number of Hoteliers that expect revenue in 2021 to outperform 2020 has fallen sharply according to the latest survey results.

How does João predict the financial recovery for golf and tourism to unfold for the remainder of 2021 and beyond? * Travel restrictions have impacted consumer confidence, and in June 2021, hotel bookings once again dipped below pre-pandemic levels.

What are some of the strategies Onyria Golf Resorts has implemented to respond to these market disruptions and cater to guest demands during these times? * Recent editions of The Hotelier Pulse Report show a steady increase in international travel bookings.

How optimistic is João that this trend will continue to rise in 2021 and beyond, and why? How significant will this be for the recovery of your business? * In our Question of the Month this edition, we asked Hoteliers to share their top concerns for their hotel (group) this summer. The majority voted to 'Maintain Direct Channel Resilience & Growth'. Does João agree with this sentiment for Onyria Golf Resorts business on the road to recovery? Why is that?

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original live broadcasting Linkedin link, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

View Details

Tune in to this podcast episode of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube on 24th June 2021, with special guest Ben Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Penta Hotels.

Based on the 15th edition of The Hotelier PULSE Report, Ben Thomas discussed together with the hosts Pedro Colaco and Lea Jordan current hotel and travel market developments and how Penta Hotels is responding in terms of commercial and digital strategy.

Some aspects discussed were among others:

Reason to be optimistic?

Given how the EU is expected to reopen travel for US tourists and other selected markets, the 15th edition of The Hotelier PULSE Report shows the most significant increase in international bookings since April 2020, accounting for over 60% of total bookings May 2021.

Is international travel likely to resume in 2021? Should we anticipate any disruptions to this measure? What are Penta Hotels doing to prepare for this? * There is a sharp decrease in Hoteliers shaping offers around the local, domestic market and an increased focus on upskilling the hotels' workforce.

Does the same apply to Penta Hotels? What topics are top of mind for Ben and his teams as the industry responds to the pent-up demand and recovers? * Europe-based Hotels show lower levels of confidence around the level of vaccination in their respective destinations.

How does Penta Hotels see this? What have been some of the strategies to respond to the prevailing uncertainties and disruptions around this issue?

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original live broadcasting Linkedin link, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

Resources

Download The Hotelier PULSE Report for free
Brief Video, Highlight of the 15th edition The Hotelier PULSE Report
techtalk.travel editorial Automation in Hospitality

View Details

Tune in to this podcast episode of the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live session with special guests Lidia Sakarapani, Head of Sales & Marketing at Principal. Global Eventsand Tracy Scott, Chief Executive Officer Hotel Division at CWW connectworldwide. The session was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 25 May 2021.

As we learned in the previous COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT session in the US, with large-scale vaccine roll-out, events are coming back. Slowly but surely. In this session, we discuss with the audience, amongst others, these questions:

How can we, in Europe and the Middle East, prepare for the comeback of meetings and events and groups business in hospitality?
How can hotels increase the chances of winning whatever business is out there?
What learnings can be shared from the UK hospitality meetings & events market?
What aspects to consider when setting the hotel groups & events sales strategy?
What type of events are customers requesting? Who is the actual buyer, did their profile change?
Will hybrid events be as successful as in-person events? Will hybrid events become the new standard?
Will there be changes in prices across the value chain within meetings & events?

Tune in to this session to hear what our expert panelists are seeing and what the buyers (event agencies, etc.) are currently learning from their clients and hotel partners.

The Collective #MICEBEAT sessions are data-driven live think tanks focusing on the Meetings & Events industry’s future. Taking stock of where we as an industry are, where we need to go, and how we will get there, co-hosted by Rita Machado, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Great Hotels of the World, and Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel. Providing a platform for the hospitality industry to exchange knowledge, pollinate ideas and connect.

If you prefer watching the video-version of this session, find it here. Also, find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live sessions here, and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE sessions here.

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Tune in to this podcast recording of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube 29th April 2021, with special guest Daniella Boeken, Group Vice President Commercial at Ruby Hotels.

In this session, Daniella shared her views and insights on questions such as:

What are expectations in terms of travel demand for the summer 2021 and do you still think there may be a chance that international travel will resume this year? If so why?
Based on the findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report, Hotel Occupancy expectations in April 2021are looking better than March 2021, and the CRS data shows that occupancy in April has also outgrown the same period in 2020. Interestingly, City Hotels expect the highest occupancy levels in April.

Are you experiencing this in the Ruby Hotel’s City properties as well, particularly in partially-reopened hubs such as London? Why do you think that is? * On a more optimistic note, Hoteliers seem less concerned with previously dominant issues that impacted consumer demand, such as Health & Safety concerns, tighter consumer budgets, and flight capacity. As such, Hoteliers continue to prioritize reshaping their marketing strategies to reach new markets and cater for domestic travelers. Do you agree with this sentiment?

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original live broadcasting Linkedin link, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

Resources

Free Download, The Hotelier PULSE Report - 13th Edition
Brief Video, Highlights of the 13th The Hotelier PULSE Report

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Tune in to this on-demand podcast recording of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube 27th May 2021, with special guest David Chestler, Partner & Senior Managing Director, PROVision-Partners.

Aspects discussed are amongst others:

Hotel bookings in the US hotel market in April 2021 significantly exceeded 2019 values. How will this signal of 'Revenge Travel', or 'Pent-Up Demand' develop globally as more destinations reopen?
For the first time in the Hotelier PULSE series, the industry's expectations are that ADR (Average Daily Rate) may moderately increase in the next 12 months. Is this trend expected to hold and evolve up until 2022? What pricing strategies should Hoteliers take now to capitalize on the demand in the upturn that's coming?
The April 2021 survey reveals that two-thirds of hoteliers expect 2021 to be a better year than 2020 in terms of hotel revenue. We all know what happened after summer 2020, but vaccination is a critical change in 2021. Is this a realistic expectation? What could change - for better or worse?
The 14th edition reveals a growing expectation that corporate travel will resume. GDS (Global Distribution System) data shows a small, but steady recovery and group demand is returning focused on Q4’2021 and Q2’2022. Will this trend continue to grow globally? If so, why?
Throughout the economic fallout, the Direct Channel has been the most resilient - outperforming major OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) and recovering faster ahead of the summer demand. How can hotels maintain control of distribution as life continues to return to normal, and third-party competitors ramp up investment in visibility marketing?

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original live broadcasting Linkedin link, including all comments and questions from the audience, here.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric, and André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel.

Pedro and André discuss with their changing guests the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

RESOURCES

Free Download of the 14th edition of The Hotelier PULSE Report
Brief Video, Highlight of the 14th edition The Hotelier PULSE Report
MICEBEAT session, discussing current market data for the Meetings & Events industry, with Kristi White from Knowland: On-demand Video & Handout
techtalk.travel editorial Meta Search for Hotels & Accommodations

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Tune in to this podcast episode, the HN world panel live TECHNOLOGY session we streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube, Wednesday, 12th May 2021.

TECHNOLOGY IN HOSPITALITY - SHIFT + DEL! Do we need a massive reset?

That's the central question the audience and host André Baljeu discussed with these panelists, who shared their views and perspective on the complexity, and fragmentation of the hotel technology space:

Adam Harris, CEO & Founder at Cloudbeds
Anna Sophia Stimpfl, Final-year student at EHL (2021)
Andrew Evers, Group IT Manager at Red Carnation Hotels
Floor Bleeker, Chief Technology Officer at Accor
Ian Millar, Senior Lecturer Information Technology at EHL - Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne

This viewpoint provided by Ian Millar initiated the debate:

From the days of holidex, Fidelio v6 and Micros 2700 we have for the last 30 years been adding technology upon technology in hospitality. In my previous classes with my students (online), one reoccurring question was always, "why is there not one solution that can do everything". Once we discussed this more (language requirements, local fiscal reporting, support, etc.…), the students got the complexity of using software and systems to run businesses. But moving forward, future managers will want their hospitality software to behave more like WhatsApp, Instagram, or Snapchat. Download, install and work. No training or massive configuration is needed.

So, where does this leave the hospitality industry?

Do we keep going with our "Lego" approach, or do we need to say hold on, that's enough? So let's restart from scratch. What would that look like, and how could we conceivably even do that?

Read here 20+ responding viewpoints from industry experts.

If you prefer watching the video version of the session, find it here. Find the original live stream video, including all comments and questions from the community as well, here.

The HN world panel live TECHNOLOGY sessions are a joint project of Hospitality Net and techtalk.travel, and are co-hosted by André Baljeu and Henri Roelings.

Also, find these HN world panel sessions

Hotel Technology during Crises - Does it innovate? l March 2021 with Kevin King from Shiji Group, Martin Bookallil from Marriott International, Nick Price from NetSys and Martin Soler from Soler & Associates - Video l Podcast
Robotics in Hospitality l April 2021 with Max Starkov, Hospitality & Online Travel Tech Consultant; Kathryn Murphy, Owner at The Murphy Dublin; and Micah Green, Founder, CEO & President at Maidbot - Video l Podcast

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Tune in to this on-demand podcast of the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live session with special guests Kristi White, Vice President Product Management from Knowland,and Luke Stevenson, Regional Sales Manager at Encore Global (formerly PSAV). The session was streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube on 27 April 2021.

Find it also on all major podcast platforms, i.e. Spotify; Apple Podcasts; or Google Podcasts.

The Collective #MICEBEAT sessions are data-driven live think tanks focusing on the Meetings & Events industry’s future. Taking stock of where we as an industry are, where we need to go, and how we will get there, co-hosted by Rita Machado, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Great Hotels of the World, and Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Also, find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #MICEBEAT live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE sessions here.

Resources and Downloads from the session

MICEBEAT 27 April - Knowland insights - handout.pdf

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Tune in to this on-demand podcast episode of the HN world panel live TECHNOLOGY session we streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube, Wednesday, 13th March 2021.

Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Are Robots coming to a hotel near you?

That's the question the audience discussed with these expert panelists:

Max Starkov, Hospitality & Online Travel Tech Consultant
Kathryn Murphy, Owner at The Murphy Dublin
Micah Green, Founder, CEO & President at Maidbot

A recent University of Houston report on robots in hospitality claims that by 2030 over a quarter of hospitality jobs will be replaced by robots. Will robots ever replace all humans in hospitality? Next-gen technology will undoubtedly replace mundane, repetitive, and dangerous jobs in hospitality performed by housekeepers, porters and baggage handlers, concierges, security guards, line cooks, room service, bartenders, waiters, etc. Some hoteliers claim that hospitality is an industry of "people serving people" and robots will be playing only a marginal role. Others, citing the high labor costs which constitute as much as 50%-84% of overall hotel costs in these low travel demand, low occupancies era, predict that robots will replace humans in all dangerous, repetitive and mundane jobs at the property.

The question is, are robots coming to a hotel near you anytime soon?

-

If you prefer watching the video version of the session, find it here. Find the original live stream video including all comments and questions from the community as well, here.

The HN world panel live TECHNOLOGY sessions are a joint project of Hospitality Net and techtalk.travel, and are co-hosted by André Baljeu and Henri Roelings.

Resources mentioned during the session

HN world panel Technology - Robotics in Hospitality l Viewpoints from 10+ industry experts
Suggested read by Stanislav Ivanov: Robonomics l The rise of the automated economy
Editorial l Chatbots and Conversational AI in Hospitality
Editorial l Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the Hospitality Industry

Also, find these HN world panel sessions

Hotel Technology during Crises - Does it innovate? l March 2021 with Kevin King from Shiji Group, Martin Bookallil from Marriott International, Nick Price from NetSys and Martin Soler from Soler & Associates - Video l Podcast

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"When considering the discussion about (the lack of) central guest profiles, loyalty and knowing your guest: How would the guest journey change if a mobile device can securely be linked to a central guest profile? Imagine you identify and know the guest, the moment he/she arrives on premises, by mobile, and start servicing." - This question was posed initially on Linkedin by Hauke Lenthe.

Tune in to this podcast episode discussing exactly that: The Guest Journey, the role of their Mobile device and the Single Guest Profile

If you prefer to watch the video version of this session - find it here.

Tim Weiland, General Manager at The Alpina Gstaad; Richard Valtr, Founder at Mews; Hauke Lenthe, Managing Director APAC & EMEA at Nomadix and Martin Bookallil, VP Information Technology at Marriott International joined André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel to share their views and perspectives on this.

Tim Weiland, General Manager at The Alpina Gstaad

Born in Germany, but then having grown up, studied, and worked in a dozen different countries, Tim Weiland embodies and lives the multicultural and diverse world of international luxury hospitality. He previously held General Manager roles with various Aman resorts across different continents and now leads The Alpina Gstaad in the Swiss Alps since 2018. He embraces and follows the ideal of respect for natural resources and the local environment, working on bringing these elements closer to the guest experience while still living up to the highest expectations of today’s demanding travelers.

About The Alpina Gstaad

Featuring 56 rooms and suites, the hotel nestles in 20 hectares of park grounds just above the charming centre of Gstaad village. Opened in December 2012, it is already the recipient of numerous awards, including the GALA SPA AWARD in the category “Best Luxury Hotel City/Resort”; the “Best Ski Spa de Luxe above 1000 metres” award from Handelszeitung magazine; the Prix Bienvenu; and the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award 2018 (number one in the category ‘Luxury Hotel’ in their Top 25 Luxury Hotels award category). The establishment regularly appears in lists of best hotels published by renowned magazines, such as SonntagsZeitung, Travel + Leisure (best 100 hotels worldwide), and the Condé Nast Gold List. Most recently, The Alpina Gstaad has been ranked for the second year in a row, #1 in the new hotel rating published by Switzerland’s NZZ, won the Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ ‘Hotel of the Year: Europe’ 2019, Best Transformative Spa in the Organic Spa Magazine’s top Wellness Travel Awards 2019 and was awarded one of 41 hotels across 17 countries with the “World’s Best Rooms 2019”. The hotel was also awarded a five star rating by Forbes Travel and won Best Luxury Ski Hotel Worldwide 2019 in the Hotel of the Year Awards.

The hotel is justifiably proud of its Six Senses Spa with Himalaya Salt Grotto, Hammam steam room and indoor and outdoor pools, as well as of the Sommet restaurant (18 GaultMillau points, 1 Michelin star), Swiss Stübli restaurant, and MEGU Japanese gourmet restaurant (15 GaultMillau points) – the latter is the first iteration of this famous concept in western Europe. The Alpina Gstaad is a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend collection, the exclusive Virtuoso travel network, and Swiss Deluxe Hotels. The hotel is also a member of the NOW Force for Good Alliance and certified Silver by EarthCheck.

Richard Valtr, Founder at Mews

Richard Valtr is an entrepreneur and ex-hotelier with an extensive background in hotel investment and management. Richard was educated at UCL in London before returning to his native Czech Republic where he became a project manager for a number of property developments, culminating in the creation of the Emblem Hotel. The idea for Mews originated from his time spent leading the concept development, design, procurement and project management of the Prague based luxury hotel where he experienced the inadequacies of traditional hotel management systems first-hand.

Hauke Lenthe, Managing Director APAC & EMEA at Nomadix

Hauke Lenthe is the Managing Director, EMEA & APAC of Nomadix, Inc., the leader in hotel internet services and guest technologies. He brings more than 25 years of hospitality and international hotel technology experience, spanning from managed internet services to operational PMS and guest-facing software.

Martin Bookallil, VP Information Technology at Marriott International

Martin Bookallil is an Australian Hospitality technology leader who, after graduating with a Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management, has been contributing to Global Hotel groups for 38 years. Martin is the Continent leader, based in Hong Kong, as Vice President, Information Technology Asia Pacific for Marriott International, reporting to the APAC Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, as well Global Chief Information & Digital Officer. He oversees iT functions for 700+ managed Hotels/160+ franchise Hotels, 800+ pipeline Hotels and 20+ Company owned offices encompassing 1,100+ IT Associates operating in 25 countries.

Brands include Bulgari, The Ritz-Carlton and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, EDITION, W Hotels, St. Regis, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Le Méridien, Westin, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection Hotels, Moxy Hotels, Courtyard, Four Points by Sheraton, Fairfield by Marriott, AC Hotels, Aloft Hotels, Element Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Delta Hotels, Design Hotels and Marriott Executive Apartments.

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Tune in to this on-demand podcast of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube 25th March 2021, with special guest Steffi Breitsprecher , Director of Revenue & Distribution at MEININGER Hotels and member of the Revenue Management & Pricing advisory board at HSMA Deutschland e.V.

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric. Pedro joins André Baljeu, and with their changing guests they discuss the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here. Find the original Linkedin Live Video, including all comments and questions from the audience here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

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Tune in to this podcast episode of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live session we streamed live on LinkedIn and Youtube 25th February 2021, with special guest and Aviation expert Jonathan Gavin Eccles, Management Consultant & Professor (Aviation and Tourism)

The techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions are co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric. Pedro joins André Baljeu, and with their changing guests they discuss the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report and its implications for the respective markets represented and overall market developments impacting the hospitality and travel industry.

If you prefer watching the video version of this session, find it here.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE live sessions here and make sure to join the upcoming ones too.

Also, find all past COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here.

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Tune in to this podcast recording from the HN world panel live TECHNOLOGY session we streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube, Thursday, 18th March 2021.

Hotel Technology during crises, does it innovate? - That's the question the audience discussed with these panelists:

Martin Bookallil, Vice President of Information Tech. APAC (Consumer Operations, Technology and Emerging Businesses) at Marriott International
Nick Price, CEO at NetSys
Martin Soler, Partner at Soler & Associates
Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group

The HN world panel live TECHNOLOGY sessions are a joint project of Hospitality Net and techtalk.travel, and are hosted by André Baljeu.

Read more about the HN world panel TECHNOLOGY here.

If you prefer watching the video of the session, find it here. Find the original live stream video including all comments and questions from the community as well, here.

Resources mentioned during the session:

INFOGRAPHIC l Timeline of History & Evolution of Hotel and Travel Technology, co-created with Shiji Group and Hotelschool The Hague
HN WORLD PANEL VIEWPOINTS from 18+ industry experts on the question 'Hotel Technology during crises, does it innovate?'
ARTICLE l Hotel Technology in Hospitality, Evolution, Innovation and Guests by Martin Soler

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Watch the recording of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE session that was streamed live 28th January 2021 on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Youtube.

The COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE series is co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric.

Based on the latest findings of 10th edition of The Hotelier PULSE Report this live panel invited the community to discuss how these findings reflect in the respective hotel markets currently, what the sentiments are like, the key findings of the survey, and their impact on the coming months.

Joao Corte-Real, General Manager of Tivoli Mofarrej in São Paulo, Brazil, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World joined Pedro Colaco and André Baljeu sharing his takes and observations about the current development of the travel and hotel markets.

You prefer watching this session? Find the video version here.

techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE - The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building and knowledge-transfer. Hoteliers will share their best practices and reflect on the past months experiences, as well both their learnings and expectations for the months to come.

Read more about the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE sessions here and make sure to be part of the upcoming sessions.

Great Hotels of The World is a Founding Member, Guestcentric is a Contributing Member of techtalk.travel.

Learn more about the techtalk.travel member companies.

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Tune in to the recording of the COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE session that was streamed live 17th December 2020 on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Youtube.

The COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE series is co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric.

Based on the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report this live panel invited the community to discuss how these findings reflect in the respective hotel markets currently, what the sentiments are like, the key findings of the survey, and their impact on the coming months.

Daniela Hupfeld, Commercial Director at Pierre & Vacances Espana joined Pedro Colaco and André Baljeu sharing her takes and observations about the current development of the travel and hotel markets.

You prefer watching this session? Find the video version here.

techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE - The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building and knowledge-transfer. Hoteliers will share their best practices and reflect on the past months experiences, as well both their learnings and expectations for the months to come.

Great Hotels of The World is a Founding Member, Guestcentric is a Contributing Member of techtalk.travel.

Learn more about the techtalk.travel member companies.

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Tune in to this recording of the first COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE session that was streamed live 26th November 2020 on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Youtube.

The COLLECTIVE #hotelierPULSE series is co-hosted by Pedro Colaco, CEO at Great Hotels of the World and Guestcentric.

Based on the latest findings of The Hotelier PULSE Report this live panel invited the community to discuss how these findings reflect in the respective hotel markets currently, what the sentiments are like, the key findings of the survey, and their impact on the coming months.

Kyp Charalambous, Vice President of Sales at the iconic Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai joined Pedro Colaco and André Baljeu sharing his takes and observations about the current development of the travel and hotel markets.

techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE - The hotel industry's open sessions for all industry stakeholders facilitating exchange, relationship-building and knowledge-transfer. Hoteliers will share their best practices and reflect on the past months experiences, as well both their learnings and expectations for the months to come.

This podcast is also available on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

Please note: As during the session various slides with market data are shown, you might prefer to watch the video recording of the session.

Great Hotels of The World is a Founding Member, Guestcentric is a Contributing Member of techtalk.travel.

Learn more about the techtalk.travel member companies.

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Grit Pauling is the General Manager at the 25Hours Hotel The Circle in Cologne, Germany.

Grit speaks with André Baljeu, Founder at techtalk.travel and shares insights about her background, what a typical day of hers looks like at the moment, how the hotel has been performing during the crisis, if and how they adjusted the hotel's tech stack during the past months and much more.

Time-stamps

00:23 - Grit's Background

01:42 - A Typical Day

02:51 - Hotel is doing well

04:36 - COVID19 Adjustments in Hotel Operations

07:31 - Message to Guests & Staff

09:40 - Government Support

12:40 - Tech Adjustments in Support of COVID

15:34 - Guest Expectations around Contactless Technology

16:46 - Distribution Changes

21:01 - The Front Desk

23:01 - Grit's Travel Peeves

24:55 - Grit's Restaurant Tip in Cologne

The Restaurants Grit recommends in Cologne are Neni Cologne and C.C. Kowalski

You prefer watching the video version of the Interview? Find it here.

About 25hours Hotels

25Hours Hotels offer a unique hotel concept providing contemporary answers to the cosmopolitan urban traveler's needs, through a range of services offered with great charm and personality. Each of its addresses takes its authenticity from a unique character, with its own story and forged in a particular style. This unique brand is already present in all the largest cities in Germany as well as Zurich, Vienna and Paris and will soon make its arrival in Dubai, Florence and Copenhagen.

Visit 25hours-hotels.com

Also find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Find Interviews with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; and Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group. * Season 3

Find Interviews with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag from Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Colefrom TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds. * Season 2

Find interviews with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tengen from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP. * Season 1

Find interviews with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber when with SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

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Tune in to this interview: Kevin King, Chief Operating Officer at Shiji Group speaks with André Baljeu and shares exclusive insights about his very own background, his career highs and lows, what sets Shiji Group apart and much more.

Time Stamps:

02:17 - Kevin's Background

09:50 - Career Highs & Lows

13:11 - What makes Shiji Group different?

16:22 - What keeps Kevin King up at night?

18:13 - Current Challenges

22:47 - Selling StayNTouch

27:26 - Could it happen again?

29:20 - Applying Historical Learnings

32:21 - Hotels Hesitation with Technology

36:04 - What Kevin looks for in talent

38:27 - Merging Company Cultures

40:01 - Too many brands, or not enough?

41:37 - What is Kevin's favorite Hotel and why?

This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

You prefer to watch the video version?

This interview is also available as video. Find it here.

Kevin King is the Chief Operating Officer of Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co. ltd.

Kevin King has worked as the Chief Operating Officer of Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co. Ltd since June 30, 2015. Kevin focuses on the domestic management and growth of Shiji and oversees the globalization of the company. Prior to joining Shiji, Kevin worked with leading hospitality technology solution provider, MICROS Systems Inc., which merged with Oracle in 2014, for over 17 years in various operational and business management roles, including the business and technical development of global payment solutions.

About Shiji Group

Shiji Group provides software solutions and services for the hospitality, food service, retail and entertainment industries, ranging from hotel management solutions, to food and beverage and retail systems, payment gateways, data management, online distribution and more. Founded in 1998 as a network solutions provider for hotels, Shiji Group today comprises 5,000 employees in 80+ subsidiaries and brands, serving over 74,000 hotels, 200,000 restaurants and 600,000 retail outlets.

Shiji Group is a Founding Member of techtalk.travel

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Tune in to the recording of the second COLLECTIVE #hoteliers session that was streamed live 5th June 2020 on LinkedIn and Youtube.

Find the podcast also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The following hoteliers joined David Turnbull in this conversation and shared their experiences and views about the current situation:

Dirk Fuehrer, Chief Commercial Officer at Vienna House

Karen Nedergaard Svendsen, CEO at Absalon Hotel Group

Michael End, Managing Director at 25hours Hotels

Rajesh Vohra, Owner & Director at Sarova Hotels UK

03:50 l Managing Today What’s your current status (low-point to now)? What was/is the biggest challenge for you? What is the biggest learning you personally take away from this situation to date?

29:00 l Consumer Behavior Hygiene and Sanitation, is that the new Luxury? Where are the Customers at? What has been the biggest surprise you have seen with regards to the customers?

37:26 l Sustainability Are we moving backwards with regards to our industry's performance regarding environmental sustainability?

41:55 l Technology What are the barriers to implement new Technology?

42:53 l Audience Questions How are you dealing with sanitation? How are you embracing technology to support here?

47:30 l Preparing for Tomorrow What is the future of a hotel, when we cannot rely on half upon the segments that make up our businesses up in a 'normal' business scenario? Where do you see the major risks and opportunities?

1:11:00 l Audience Questions What is your advice to graduates and young talent aspiring a career in the hotel industry? What can they expect with regards to career building looking at a depressed market?

1:15:00 l Audience Question How long will the emphasis on cleanliness last? What do you think the impact will be on Airbnb?

1:17:30 l Audience Question Are you taking specific measures to increase revenue, as for example enhanced cross-selling?

You prefer watching the session? Find the Video here.

Read more about techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series here.

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Tune in to the recording of the wrap-up session of season 1 of the COLLECTIVE series, bringing all perspectives together to discuss the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the various segments and on the industry at large. #thecollective was streamed live 29th May 2020 on LinkedIn and Facebook.

The following panelist joined André Baljeu in this conversation and shared their experiences and views:

#consultants perspective: Charlotte Davies, Founder & Principal Consultant at A Bright Approach

#hotelschool perspective: Dana Jiménez Herrera, MBA, Lecturer/Trainer Management Skills and Mentoring, Project Leader "Practical Placement Experience" at Hotelschool The Hague

#hoteliers perspective: George Westwell, CEO at Cheval Collection

#vendors perspective: Julie Grieve, Founder & CEO of Criton

#nextgeneration perspective: Sina Ritter, current and soon-to-be graduated student of the Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business at EHL – Ecole hotelière de Lausanne

Find this podcast also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

You prefer to watch the recording?

Find the recorded video of the session here .

Read more about techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE here.

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Tune in to the Podcast version of the recording of the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #nextgeneration - the live session for hotel management students, recent graduates and soon-to-be graduates and representatives of the leading educational institutions and hotelschools - that was streamed live on Facebook and Linkedin and recorded 8th May 2020.

The following panelist joined Lea Jordan in this conversation and shared their experiences, sentiments and views about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on their very own situation, role and educational programs within the hotel industry:

Dana Jiménez Herrera, MBA, Lecturer/Trainer Management Skills and Mentoring, Project Leader "Practical Placement Experience" at Hotelschool The Hague
Sina Ritter, current and soon-to-be graduated student of the Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business - a unique program created in partnership with the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong and the University of Houston - at EHL – Ecole hotelière de Lausanne
Yasemin Oruc, MSc. MBA, Senior Lecturer Marketing & Innovation and Research Fellow at Hotelschool The Hague
Dr. Achim Schmitt, Professor of Strategic Management and Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at EHL – Ecole hotelière de Lausanne
Bente Griffejoen, last year student, Bachelor Business Administration in Hotel Management at Hotelschool The Hague

This open session covers 2 major aspects being impacted by the current situation: 'Managing, Studying and Teaching today' and 'Preparing for Tomorrow'

Find this podcast also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

You prefer to watch the recorded video of the session? Find the video version here, and the original Linkedin Live Post, as well as the original Facebook Live Post.

Read more about techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE here.

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Tune in to the recording of the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE session for hotel consultants, that took place 4th May 2020.

The following panelist joined André Baljeu in this conversation and shared their experiences and views about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on their own business as well as the hotel, as well travel industry at large:

Charlotte Davies, Founder & Principal Consultant at A Bright Approach

Gregg Hopkins, Partner and Senior Managing Director at PROVision Partners

Jeremy Rock, Owner at RockIT Group

Mark Fancourt, Co-Founder at TRAVHOTECH

Michaela Papenhoff, Managing Director at h2c GmbH

Find this podcast also on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Find the recorded video of the session here.

COLLECTIVE #consultants was streamed live on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Read more about the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series here.

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Recording of the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE #vendors live session: The following industry experts joined André Baljeu in this conversation sharing their views, experiences and expectations regarding the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

James Bishop, Senior Director Global Demand Partnerships at SiteMinder
Julie Grieve, CEO & Founder at Criton
Moritz Klussmann, CEO at Customer Alliance
Sascha Hausmann, CEO at Busy Rooms and Partner at HOWZAT Partners
Ulrich Pillau, Co-Founder at apaleo

This open session for hotel technology providers covers 3 major aspects being impacted by the current situation: 'Managing today', 'Preparing for Tomorrow' and 'Consumer Behavior'.

00:06:00 MANAGING TODAY

How are you currently supporting your existing customers (existing & future) and is there more that can be done?

What are other terms you are helping hotels financially through this downturn - without compromising your own business needs and objectives?

Audience question: Have you see an Uplift in inquiries even during these downtimes. If so, how are you going to harness the new market without actually putting sales messages out there? How do you manage this by making sure to get the balance right?

00:40:30 PREPARING FOR TOMORROW

Audience question: How do you expect things to move over in the next 3-6 months?

Have the industry's expectation towards vendors/Hotel Technology providers changed and will they change (after Covid-19)?

Audience question: Do you believe that guests are going to be raising their expectations on the facility providing clear and visual information regarding the indoor air quality as well as providing PPE amenities. Where if anywhere would technology play its role in there?

01:04:40 CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

How long is it going to take for technology and hotel companies to have build up enough money again to start to spend it?

Hospitality was the first one to lock down. Will it also be the last one to bounce back, due to economic, social as well as legal restrictions?

You prefer watching the session?

Find the video version of this session here.

The COLLECTIVE #vendors was streamed live on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Read more about techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE here.

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Lea Jordan, Co-Founder at techtalk.travel sits down with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager of THE STUDENT HOTEL BERLIN.

This interview was recorded after Philip and his team supported and hosted a very successful "Mini ITB" movement which offered a great alternative for travel and hospitality professionals for the cancelled ITB Berlin 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Philip and Lea talk about his career journey in the hospitality industry, the transition from Accor to his current role at The Student Hotel, his career highs and lows and how technology is used to support his teams.

Time stamps

00:57 - Chapter 1 - Philip's background.

03:49 - Chapter 2 - The Student Hotel - What is it all about?

08:54 - Chapter 3 - Applying technology in hotel operations.

12:56 - Chapter 4 - Technology replacing people?

19:26 - Chapter 5 - Philip's career highs & lows.

29:57 - Chapter 6 - Staffing challenges in hospitality and in the Berlin hotel market.

38:00 - Chapter 7 - Philip's top tips for young talents seeking a career in the hotel industry.

If you prefer watching the video version of this interview, find it here.

Connect with Philip on Linkedin.

THE STUDENT HOTEL BERLIN: www.thestudenthotel.com/berlin/

Also find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Find Interviews with Grit Pauling, General Manager at 25hours Hotel The Circle Cologne, Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; and Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group. * Season 3

Find Interviews with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag from Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Colefrom TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds. * Season 2

Find interviews with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tenges from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP. * Season 1

Find interviews with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber when with SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

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During a trip to Munich, I sat down with Pontus and Lars who founded Berner+Becker. They offer hotels tailor-made outsourced revenue management, revenue management project consulting and training, delivering quality and cost-efficient revenue management services for all types of hotels.

00:41 - Chapter 1 - Background

08:10 - Chapter 2 - Skills of a Revenue Manager

10:05 - Chapter 3 - Spark behind Berner + Becker

13:26 - Chapter 4 - Key findings from clients

21:12 - Chapter 5 - Outsourcing Revenue Management

25:04 - Chapter 6 - Market Awareness

26:51 - Chapter 7 - How do hotels know what tech is right for them?

30:00 - Chapter 8 - Most common mistakes

36:48 - Chapter 9 - The next 5 years

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During the World Travel Market 2019 in London, we took that chance to sit down with Leif and Alexander from Atomize. Talking about their current market position, challenges to get their Revenue Management platform into the marketplace and what they see as the differentiating factors that stand between today's Revenue Management solutions.

Chapters

00:41 - Background & Motivation

05:14 - Start-Up Experience

06:50 - Global Footprint

07:41 - The Integrations

09:57 - Data Quality

12:20 - Machine Learning

15:54 - A Competitive Landscape

18:58 - Customer Acceptance

22:03 - Marketplace participation

23:13 - Tips to the new start-up

25:00 - What stood out in 2019

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On a recent trip to Berlin, David Turnbull joined André Baljeu in interviewing two of the three Co-Founders of Hotelhero, Florian Montag and Thibault Gence, at their Berlin Offices.

We discussed a range of topics from their motivations to start a company right out of Hotelschool right through to their learnings over the last 3 years.

Time stamps

Part One

00:39 - Background & Motivation

04:15 - Hotelhero's Evolution

09:15 - Hotel's adopting an R&D approach

12:57 - Balancing Technology vs. Service

20:45 - Learning from Hotels

Part Two

00:11 - The Necessary Resources

02:18 - Tech Providers Opportunities

06:57 - AI & Robotics in the future

17:54 - Guest Experience always wins

20:35 - Advice for Start-ups

Also find these interviews with inspiring hospitality industry professionals and leaders:

Season 4

Find Interviews with Philip Ibrahim, General Manager at The Student Hotel Berlin; and Kevin King, COO at Shiji Group. * Season 3

Find Interviews with Pontus Berner and Lars Becker from berner+becker revenue management; Leif Jägerbrand and Alexander Erdström from Atomize; Thibault Gence and Florian Montag from Hotelhero; Moritz Klussmann from Customer Alliance; Kristian Valk from Hotelchamp; John Burns; Connie Reams when with Beekeeper; Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Colefrom TRAVHOTECH & Testbeds Vegas; Mike Ford from SiteMinder; and Adam Harris and Richard Castle from Cloudbeds. * Season 2

Find interviews with Michael Curtis when with Airbnb; Yannis Moati from HotelsByDay; Sarah Fults from MGM Hotels & Resorts and when President at HEDNA; Erik Tenges from Oaky; Maarten Plesmann when with Revinate; Brendan May from HERA Hotel Res Bot; Ben Stephenson from Impala; Martin Stockburger from Concept Hotels; Ulrich Pillau and Martin Reichenbach from apaleo; Iris Steinmetz when with Snapshot; and Ricco de Blank from SHKP. * Season 1

Find interviews with Ullrich Kastner from Myhotelshop; Johannes Thomas when with Trivago; Robin Rossman from STR; Rajesh Vohra from Savora Hotels in UK; Steve Rubin from TRI Hospitality; Mike Keriakos from Curacity; Kurien Jacob from Highgate Ventures; Maximilian Waldmann when with Conichi; Wilhelm K. Weber when with SHS Swiss Hospitality Solutions; and Erik Munoz when with Vertical Booking.

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We went to Berlin to talk with Moritz Klussmann, CEO and Co-Founder of Customer Alliance.

Celebrating their 10 year anniversary, Moritz tells us about his journey starting a company right out of university, lessons learned and challenges faced.

Today with over 7000 customers worldwide, Customer Alliance provide Online Reputation Management & Customer Experience Management tools for their customers. Helping them provide engaging experiences at all stages of their own customers' journey, collecting feedback and improve their business.

Chapters

00:28 - Background

03:59 - Challenges

05:35 - Customer Journey

07:17 - Voice Technology & Chat Bots

10:01 - Today's Smart Hotelier

14:47 - Online Reputation

15:35 - Today's Technology Gaps

18:49 - Personal Travel Expectations

This podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

You prefer to watch the Interview? Watch the video version here.

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We sit down with Co-Founder & CEO of HotelChamp, Kristian Valk. Based in Amsterdam, Kristian talks about Hotelchamp's company culture, customer stickiness, startup challenges, maximising data and of course the state of the nation around the best methods for boosting direct bookings and building guest relationships.

Hotelchamp have a great product, a fantastic team of people and it was a great pleasure spending time with them and talking shop with Kristian.

Chapters

00:22 - Background

02:55 - Company challenges & advice

05:17 - Company Culture

07:53 - Lookers to Bookers

11:25 - The Guest Journey

15:50 - Kristian's thoughts on Google

20:23 - Maximising Data

24:54 - Voice & AI

29:18 - Personal Points of Value

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During a trip to Sydney we took the opportunity to sit down with Mike Ford, Founder and Managing Director at SiteMinder. Mike shares with us the challenges he faced building SiteMinder to the business it is today, the current state of the hotel technology space, Direct versus OTA and 3rd party bookings, Book on Google, and other great insights.

Chapters

00:33 - Background

05:28 - Describing what SiteMinder does

06:28 - SiteMinder scaling challenges

10:09 - Direct Reservations versus OTA and 3rd party Bookings

13:39 - Book on Google

15:26 - Technology challenges for independent hotels

20:02 - New application categories

23:32 - Mike’s opinion on technology in the next 3-5 years

27:06 - 5 minutes with a room of hoteliers

This podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

You prefer watching the interview? Find the video version here.

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The Aussie invasion of Cologne... It was a pleasure to sit down in this episode with Mark Fancourt and Cheyne Cole, founders of Travhotech and TestBedsVegas during their recent European trip. Both Mark and Cheyne bring a diverse range of experiences to our industry and we talk about where hotel tech has come from and where it is heading.

Chapters

0:16 - Customer Journey Optimization

10:06 - TestBedVegas vs. TRAVHOTECH

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The Aussie invasion of Cologne: André Baljeu and Daniel Zelling sat down with Mark Fancourt and Cheyne Cole during their Europe trip in May 2019. Both are the Founders of TRAVHOTECH - Travel & Hospitality Technology Consultants and TESTBED.VEGAS - the travel & hospitality innovation community in Las Vegas. Mark and Cheyne bring a diverse range of experiences to our industry and we talk about their professional backgrounds, where hotel technology has come from, and where it is heading.

Chapters

0:58 - Cheyene's Background

4:27 - Mark's Background

10:53 - Current Hotel Technology Environment

If you prefer watching the video version of this episode find it here and on the techtalk.travel Youtube account.

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Also, find the second part of this interview:

Part 2 - Mark Fancourt & Cheyne Cole from TRAVHOTECH and TESTBED.VEGAS VIDEO l PODCAST

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More techtalk.travel content co-created with Mark Fancourt:

Editorial Article - Google's Influence in Travel (Part 1)
Editorial Article - Between now and then - An update on Google in travel (Part2)
COLLECTIVE #hotelconsultants live think tank VIDEO l PODCAST

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We sat down with Connie Rheams, VP Hospitality from Beekeeper whilst at HEDNLA LA 2019 for a chat about her journey and experiences in the hotel tech industry.

Connie is a highly respected innovative visionary and proven leader in the hospitality space, being recognised in 2014 by the Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals as one of the hospitality technology industry’s notable and influential female IT executives.

Chapters

0:45 - Background

5:05 - Beekeeper

6:52 - Hotel’s Pain Points

9:40 - Integrations

12:52 - Connie’s travel expectations

14:33 - Tech Predictions

17:03 - US Economic Downturn?

18:18 - Advice to graduates

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We sat down with John Burns during the HEDNA LA conference in January 2019 for a very enjoyable chat about his experiences in the hotel tech industry. Discussing topics such as the European Tech scene, mergers and acquisitions, and the Chinese travellers to name a few. A true stalwart of our industry, John is the President of Hospitality Technology Consulting.

Chapters:

00:35 - Background

03:00 - Evolution of Tech

05:30 - The European Tech Scene

08:09 - The Future of the Front Desk

09:36 - Industry Mergers & Acquisitions

11:31 - Advice to Students & Tech Startups

13:32 - Preparing for the Chinese Traveler

15:26 - US Property Development Challenges

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Daniel Zelling and André Baljeu sit down with the founders of Cloudbeds, Adam Harris and Richard Castle. Based in San Diego, they share their journey on how Cloudbeds started and their take on the current landscape of hotel technology.

"It all comes back to the guest experience."

This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Chapters

00:32 - Background

01:46 - What started it?

04:21 - Evolution of Product

10:08 - Simplifying Integrations

15:07 - PMS (Property Management System) or HMS (Hotel Management System)?

21:06 - The decision-making process

23:11 - The European Market

25:09 - Next Industry Big Thing

26:44 - 5 Mins in a room of Hoteliers

29:26 - Front Desk. Is there an expiry date?

You prefer watching the interview? Find the video version here.

Cloudbeds is a Founding Member of techtalk.travel.

techtalk.travel: Recent Episodes

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series

Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series

Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube.

About the techtalk.travel COLLECTIVE series

Online Think-Tanks for the Hotel Industry, streamed live on Linkedin and Youtube.

The Basic Principles of Revenue Management - Benchmarking

Podcast Episode with Monica Xuereb (Loews Hotels), Vikram Singh, and Chris Baniewicz (Expedia Group)

Monica Xuereb, Chief Revenue Officer at Loews Hotels & Co

About Loews Hotels

Vikram Singh, Digital Marketing & Revenue Optimization Specialist

Chris Baniewicz, Senior Manager, Revenue Performance Solutions at Expedia Group

About Expedia Group

MICEBEAT session, discussing current market data for the Meetings & Events industry, with Kristi White from Knowland: On-demand Video & Handout