The Modern Hotelier

David Millili & Steve Carran
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Each episode we discuss industry trends, talk about new technologies, and speak to industry experts. All so that you, The Modern Hotelier, can succeed in a new age of hospitality.

  1. 6 hrs ago

    #303: How Hotel Maintenance Impacts the Guest & the Bottom Line | with Chris Zach

    In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Chris Zach, Senior Director of Product Marketing at ServiceChannel, to explore how hotels can modernize facilities management, improve guest satisfaction, and reduce operational complexity. Chris shares how ServiceChannel helps hotel operators manage external vendors from start to finish, streamlining everything from dispatching work orders to invoice approvals, while providing access to a network of more than 70,000 service providers. The conversation dives into the growing challenges facing hotel engineering teams, rising labor costs, and why proactive maintenance is becoming a competitive advantage. The discussion also covers how AI is transforming facilities management by helping hotel teams prioritize critical work orders, improve response times, and make smarter maintenance decisions without adding more technology complexity. Chris explains how ServiceChannel integrates seamlessly into existing hotel tech stacks while giving operators, owners, and asset managers greater visibility into property health and long-term capital planning. Key Topics:  How ServiceChannel simplifies facilities and vendor management  The biggest maintenance challenges facing hotel operators today  Integrating facilities management into the modern hotel tech stack  Best practices for scaling maintenance across multiple propertiesWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XCSttDN1ATY Links:Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriszach/ServiceChannel: https://servicechannel.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/303 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    8 min

  2. 13 hrs ago

    #302: How the Best Hotel Operators Are Approaching Technology | with Jake Lewis

    In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jake Lewis, President of Jonas Hospitality Property Systems, to explore how technology is reshaping the hospitality industry. With over 25 years of experience, Jake shares insights on the shift from disconnected software systems to unified hospitality platforms, why seamless guest experiences are becoming the new standard, and how clean, connected data is laying the foundation for AI-driven innovation. The conversation dives into the future of hotel technology, the importance of aligning tech with operational strategy, and why the most successful hoteliers focus on solving real guest problems, not simply adopting the latest tools. Jake also discusses Jonas Hospitality's vision for creating integrated ecosystems that empower both hotel staff and guests through smarter, more personalized experiences. In this episode, you'll learn:  Why hospitality is moving from standalone systems to connected platforms  How guest expectations are evolving in the age of Amazon-like convenience  The role of clean, unified data in unlocking AI's full potential  Why technology should enhance—not replace—the human side of hospitality Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/H1Vn4jwLMJI Links:Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-lewis-98985110/Jonas Hospitality: https://www.jonashospitality.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/302 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    13 min

  3. 1d ago

    #301: Helping Hotels Reduce Revenue Leakage | with Mike Baldinger

    In this episode, Steve Carran sits down with Mike Baldinger, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Evention, live from HITEC San Antonio, to uncover one of hospitality's most overlooked profit leaks: OTA revenue reconciliation. While most hoteliers understand OTA commission costs, Mike explains why the real financial risk lies beneath the surface. From virtual credit card errors and overpaid commissions to billing mistakes and guest disputes, hotels could be losing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually without realizing it. The conversation explores: Why OTA revenue leakage often goes undetectedCommon billing and reconciliation mistakes hotels makeHow inaccurate guest charges impact online reviews and brand reputationThe hidden financial risks of disconnected hospitality systemsWhy Evention is building a "financial trust layer" instead of just another reconciliation toolPractical questions every GM and CFO should ask their finance team this weekWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vfM8Oa5ZkJo Links:Mike Baldinger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebaldinger/Evention: https://eventionllc.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/301 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    14 min

  4. 2d ago

    #300: Innovating the Meeting & Events Sales Process | with Mike Waltman

    How has hospitality technology evolved from the early days of CD-ROM site inspections to AI-powered sales intelligence? In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili sits down with Michael Waltman, Founder of Interactive Sites, to explore his remarkable journey from hotel operations to building one of the industry's most trusted group sales technology companies. Michael shares the story behind Interactive Sites, the evolution of ShareIt Online, and how the platform now helps nearly 13,000 hotels improve lead sharing and qualification. The conversation also dives into Seller Ready, Interactive Sites' latest AI-powered solution that helps hotel sales teams evaluate RFPs, identify winning strategies, and make smarter decisions faster. They also discuss the future of AI in hospitality, improving lead quality, and the energy and innovation showcased at HITEC. In this episode, you'll learn:  How Interactive Sites pioneered hospitality technology before the web era  The evolution of ShareIt Online and its impact on group sales  Why lead quality matters more than lead quantity  How AI is helping hotel sales teams qualify opportunities and win more business  Key hospitality technology trends emerging from HITEC Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gjgDUjOUy4A Links:Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-waltman-262a6995/ Interactive Sites: https://www.interactivesites.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/300 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    11 min

  5. 2d ago

    #299: Adding the Human Back into Hospitality | with Noelani Shroy

    How can AI make hospitality more human instead of less?  In this special HITEC episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Noelani Schroy, VP of Global Sales at Onyx CenterSource, to explore the future of hospitality technology and why the industry's greatest competitive advantage will always be people. Noelani shares why hoteliers need to better understand the travel agency perspective, how fragmented technology systems silently cost hotels valuable opportunities, and why implementing new technology is only the beginning—not the finish line. She also offers practical insights on using AI to enhance guest experiences, empower employees, and strengthen leadership rather than replace it. In this episode, you'll learn:  Why AI should create more human-centered hospitality  The hidden costs of fragmented hotel technology systems  Why understanding travel agents improves hotel relationships  How AI is reshaping hospitality jobs and leadership  What technology providers must do to stay customer-focused Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/59neZld_1FI Links:Noelani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelanib/Onyx CenterSource: https://onyxcentersource.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/299 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    12 min

  6. 3d ago

    #298: Why Consolidation Is the Biggest Opportunity in Hospitality | with Shawn Tarter

    Today, we sit down with Shawn Tarter, CEO of RealTime Reservations, to discuss one of the biggest announcements at HITEC—the company's strategic acquisition and vision for transforming hotel technology. Shawn shares the story behind meeting Stay's founder at a previous HITEC, how that relationship evolved into a partnership spanning more than 2,600 hotel properties, and why creating a unified platform for ancillary reservations is the future of hospitality. The conversation explores the industry's push toward a truly connected guest journey, the importance of consolidating hotel technology, and why accurate data is the foundation for AI-driven innovation. Shawn also offers valuable advice for hoteliers navigating vendor fatigue, emphasizing the importance of cultural alignment and customer-focused product development. In this episode, you'll learn: Why RealTime Reservations acquired Stay and what it means for hotelsHow a single checkout experience can transform the guest journeyThe role of AI in hospitality—and why clean data comes firstStrategies for reducing tech stack complexity and vendor fatigueWhat's next for Real Time Reservations and the future of hotel technology Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kmsMEf2QlCg Links:Shawn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-tarter-221b52b2/RealTime Reservation: https://www.realtimereservation.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/298 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    6 min

  7. 5d ago

    #297: The Importance of Connecting & Security Your Hotel's Technology Systems | with Rodd Herron

    In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Rodd Herron, Regional Sales Director at Sirma, to discuss how hotels can move beyond disconnected technology systems and prepare for the future of AI. Rodd explains why fragmented hotel tech stacks continue to challenge operators and how integrating data across PMS, POS, spa, golf, and other systems creates a more unified guest experience. The conversation also explores practical strategies for implementing AI without unnecessary complexity, why security and compliance should be part of every AI conversation, and how hotels can avoid costly mistakes by taking a thoughtful, phased approach. Whether you're evaluating AI for the first time or looking to connect your existing technology ecosystem, this episode offers valuable insights into building a smarter, more connected hospitality operation. In this episode, you'll learn: Why disconnected hotel systems remain a major operational challengeHow AI can unify data across multiple hotel platformsThe importance of security and compliance in AI adoptionWhy planning and starting small leads to better AI implementationHow Sirma helps hotels integrate technology and future-proof their operationsWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I4WSbmAVycg Links:Rodd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodd-herron-28186a1/Sirma: https://sirma.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/297 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    7 min

  8. 5d ago

    #296: Giving Hoteliers Flexibility to Build Their Ideal Tech Stack | with Philip von Ditfurth & Florian Montag

    In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Apaleo co-founder Philip von Ditfurth and SVP Revenue Florian Montag to explore the future of hospitality technology, AI, and open platform architecture. The conversation dives into why Apaleo chose a composable, API-first approach long before it became an industry trend, how leading hotel brands are leveraging technology to improve both guest experiences and operational efficiency, and what hoteliers need to do today to prepare for the rise of agentic AI. Philip shares lessons learned from building technology platforms across fragmented industries, while Florian offers a hotelier’s perspective on AI adoption, governance, and the importance of creating a future-ready technology foundation. Together, they discuss why flexibility, open infrastructure, and strategic technology decisions will define the next generation of successful hotel operators. Key Topics Include:  The power of open APIs and composable hospitality technology  Why AI readiness starts with the right technology foundation  Lessons from innovative hotel brands like citizenM Building a future-proof hotel tech stack  The balance between guest experience and operational efficiency Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uBwm8n1ExM8 Links:Philip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-von-ditfurth-1a570/ Florian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmontag/Apaleo: https://apaleo.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/296 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-.. Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

    17 min
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About

Each episode we discuss industry trends, talk about new technologies, and speak to industry experts. All so that you, The Modern Hotelier, can succeed in a new age of hospitality.

Information

  • Creator
    David Millili & Steve Carran
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    304
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © David Millili & Steve Carran
  • Show Website
    The Modern Hotelier

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