In this episode, we discuss using personalisation on your website to increase direct booking conversion. My guest is Juanjo Rodriguez, founder and CEO of technology company The Hotels Network. Juanjo and I discuss the following: The biggest challenges hoteliers are currently facing and how technology can help. Extending personal service to deliver online personalisation. The latest machine learning and how AI can bring value to hoteliers. How ChatGPT and generative AI can be used to create personalisation online. About The Hotels Network: We are an innovative technology company that believes ..read more

In this episode, we explore the the latest trends and developments in spa and wellness with Tammy Pahel, Chief Wellness Officer for Alchemy Wellness Resorts and VP of Spa & Wellness Operations for Carillon Miami Wellness Resorts. Tammy and I discuss the following: The latest trends in Nordic spas. What makes a successful wellness retreat, and how can wellness be introduced into an existing hotel or resort? What’s new in anti-aging, and are these therapies at home in a hotel or destination spa? How spas coped, survived and modified their operations and product offerings to cope with physic ..read more

In this episode, we explore the development and launch of Appellation, a revolutionary new culinary-first hospitality concept, with Ed Skapinok, Chief Commercial Officer. The brainchild of celebrated Masterchef Charlie Palmer, CEO and former Four Seasons President of Hotel Operations Christopher Hunsberger, COO, Appellation is defining a new form of culinary hospitality through its innovative experiential resorts. Ed and I discuss the following: Why the name Appellation, and what is your purpose? How has Appellation achieved an immersive experience in the local environment? Pivoting the tradi ..read more

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The tourism and hospitality industry constantly evolves with new technologies, trends, and customer demands. Hotels have had to adapt to compete with online travel agencies to attract future guests to book direct. As hotels experiment with retail-hospitality convergence, they are learning how to create unique customer experiences through new products and services that will grow revenues and keep guests returning. In this episode, Frank Trampert, Senior Vice President and Global Managing Director of Community Sales at Sabre Hospitality Solutions, and I explore the latest trends in the hotel and ..read more

June is World Ocean Month and we’re talking with Theresa van Greunen, about the ways in which Aqua Aston Hospitality are integrating the expertise of local destinations while holding community and environmental stewardship as priority brand pillars. We discuss: How Aqua-Aston Hospitality protects the surrounding natural environment and beauty of the destinations it operates in. Some simple ways that the hospitality industry can operate more sustainably and minimize its overall impact. Measures that Aqua-Aston’s properties have taken to be more eco-friendly. The one thing brands forget about w ..read more

Professor Kimes is considered to be one of the top thought-leaders and experts in Revenue Management in the world. Sherri has been working in Revenue Management since 1988 and has had the privilege of helping to educate some of the top leaders in Revenue Management. We discuss: How room revenue management impacts F&B revenue management and how the two should work together. How F&B revenue management can positively impact the customer experience. How General Managers might approach F&B revenue management. The importance of managing conference and banqueting space in the overall F&a ..read more

At The Red Sea Development Company and AMA.ALA, John is leveraging his 38 years of international experience in delivering large scale multi-billion-dollar developments. Since 2018, John has led The Red Sea Development Company's growth from the ground up and is creating a unique eco-luxury, sustainable, regenerative tourist destination that will contribute to transforming the global tourism industry and to the diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy. We discuss: The key considerations in the design of resort developments in different ecological locations. How to approach sustainability w ..read more

At The Red Sea Development Company and AMA.ALA, John is leveraging his 38 years of international experience in delivering large scale multi-billion-dollar developments. Since 2018, John has led The Red Sea Development Company's growth from the ground up and is creating a unique eco-luxury, sustainable, regenerative tourist destination that will contribute to transforming the global tourism industry and to the diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy. We discuss: The key considerations in the design of resort developments in different ecological locations. How to approach sustainability w ..read more

What do the next 5-10 years look like? The Hospitality industry is in need of an upgrade to a new version. ‘Hospitality 2.0’ is a call to action for proactive change that will help hoteliers compete against the growing challenges presented by alternative accommodations, technological advancement, the COVID pandemic and labour constraints. It outlines a path forward for the digital transformation of our industry. Author of “Hospitality Revenue Management Made Easy”, “Hospitality 2.0” is Ira’s second book, focused on defining what we can expect in the future, the trends, consumer and industry ch ..read more