The Modern Hotelier - Interviews with Hoteliers and Experts in Travel, Hospitality, Events & Food & Beverage David Millili & Steve Carran

In this monthly "Hospitality Hot Topics" segment, David and Steve dive into the most pressing issues and exciting developments in hospitality. From the booming wellness sector to music tourism's impact on hotel bookings, they explore how these trends are transforming the guest experience and affecting business strategies.
They also tackle important industry challenges, such as ongoing staffing shortages, and discuss potential solutions. With a mix of data-driven analysis and personal insights, they offer valuable perspectives for both seasoned hoteliers and newcomers to the field.
Whether you're interested in luxury experiences, technology integration, marketing stunts, or industry events like HITEC, The Modern Hotelier keeps you informed and prepared to navigate the ever-evolving hospitality landscape. Tune in for expert commentary, practical advice, and engaging conversations that will help you stay ahead in the dynamic world of modern hospitality.
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/74Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Paul Rantilla is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Hospitality Ancillaries at Plusgrade. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated expertise in hospitality management, market expansion, sales strategies, and marketing leadership.
Prior to joining Plusgrade, Rantilla held key positions at prominent companies in the hospitality technology space. He was the Chief Commercial Officer at Birchstreet Systems, where he oversaw sales, marketing, and global brand relationships. Additionally, he served as the Executive Vice President of Global Sales at Amadeus Hospitality. With his extensive background and strategic vision, Rantilla plays a crucial role in shaping the future of ancillary revenue solutions in the global hospitality sector at Plusgrade.
In this episode, Steve and David sit down with Paul Rantilla, and they dive deep into the transformative power of Plusgrade, a comprehensive data-driven upselling platform designed to enhance guest experiences and drive revenue growth. From innovative bidding strategies for room upgrades to leveraging AI for pricing and data analysis, Plusgrade is reshaping how hotels engage with their guests.
Listen in as we explore how Plusgrade is working with top brands like Amtrak, Royal Caribbean, and Emirates, and discover the significant shift towards combining marketing and revenue management to engage guests in a more personalized way.
In this episode, you'll learn:
PlusGrade's approach to securing upgrades for accommodations and transportationThe importance of engaging guests at the right time and through the right channels to offer upgrades and ancillary servicesBest practices for hotels to leverage revenue management tools and marketing strategies to drive ancillary revenueThe role of AI in pricing, data analysis, and enhancing guest experiences in the hospitality industryPersonal anecdotes and insights from Paul's experiences in the hospitality industryDon't miss this episode packed with insights, humor, and valuable tips for modern hoteliers looking to boost their revenue and enhance guest satisfaction!
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Sponsor spot
Plusgrade: https://www.plusgrade.com/
Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-rantilla-033219/
Plusgrade: https://www.plusgrade.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/73Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

The remarkable journey of Sonesta, including its entrepreneurial spirit, growth strategies, and invaluable insights for aspiring hoteliers.
In today’s episode, we dive into the world of hospitality with our special guest, Elizabeth Harlow, the Chief Brand Officer at Sonesta. Join hosts Steve Carran, and David Millili as they uncover Elizabeth’s fascinating journey—from skiing in the Swiss Alps to shaping luxury hospitality brands with her wealth of experience from Leading Hotels of the World and Starwood. We explore the entrepreneurial spirit at Sonesta, their exponential growth, and the success of their partnership with Grubhub. Elizabeth also shares invaluable advice for young professionals in the industry, discusses the pivotal role of sustainability, and highlights how independent hotels can set themselves apart through intentional design and unique guest experiences. Whether you’re an industry veteran or a budding hotelier, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and strategies you won’t want to miss. So, let’s get started!
In this episode, you'll learn (key points/topics covered):
How Elizabeth approaches brand strategy, marketing, and shaping the guest experience, drawing from her decades of experience working with iconic luxury hotel brands.The importance of truly understanding one's core customer, brand positioning, and differentiation in order to drive successful marketing campaigns.Finding the right balance between the "art and science" of marketing through creative concepts backed by data-driven strategies.Elizabeth advice for younger professionals looking to get into hospitality marketing, emphasizing networking, strategic career moves, and marrying their passions.The sustainability trends and low-hanging opportunities for hotels to reduce waste and environmental impact.Tips for independent hotels to effectively market their brands and craft a differentiated guest experience.Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-harlow-1345997/
Sonesta Hotels: https://www.sonesta.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/72Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Providing next-level experiences is more important than ever in the Hospitality Industry. 
In this episode, we focus on experiential hospitality and unique stays with Ben Wolff. Ben is co-founder and developer of Onera, a luxury treehouse resort in Texas Hill Country. His experiential hospitality firm Oasi develops and manages a portfolio of landscape resorts, boutique hotels, and luxury retreats. 
Onera’s first location sold to Summit Hotel REIT in 2022, representing the first public REIT exit of a glamping resort. Ben is leading Onera’s $35M expansion across 50 keys and two locations in the Texas Hill Country to be completed by Q2 2025. Prior to Onera, Ben grew Blink Hospitality a short-term rental management company from 8 to 200 units under management in less than two years. 
In this episode, you'll learn (key points/topics covered):
The journey of building and developing an experiential hospitality firmThe vision behind creating unique luxury retreats and stays.What the modern traveler wantsThe value of a collaborative customer experience vs. the traditional transactional experience. What it means to focus on the experienceHow to market alternative and unique staysWhy you need to make your property shareableWhy Instagram will be the biggest booking platform by 2030Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Onera: https://www.stayonera.com/
Oasi: https://stayoasi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayonera/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/71Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Hospitality Hot Topics - May 2024
Join hosts Steve Carran and David Millili as they discuss the latest hospitality industry news and trends from May 2024.This month's hot topics include:
The top U.S. markets for new hotel construction pipelines, including surprising leaders Dallas and the Inland Empire region of CaliforniaRising prices for luxury travel and higher guest expectations in the post-COVID eraThe resurgence of business travel in 2024, with over 80% of business travelers planning the same or more tripsA look at Hotel Magazine's Top 25 Hotels in the World for 2024, spanning classic luxury to modern boutique propertiesRitz-Carlton's ambitious plans to launch a 790-foot superyacht with 224 suites, ushering in a new era of luxury cruise experiencesSteve and David provide insights analyzing these stories through their industry expertise. Get the inside scoop on where hotels are being built, what's driving travel demand, and how hospitality brands are innovating to meet shifting consumer desires.
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:Q1 Construction Pipeline
Luxury Travel Prices
Business Travel Demand
Top 25 Hotels in The World
Ritz-Carlton Super Yacht

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/70Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Ever walked into a Starbucks and immediately thought “this looks like every other Starbucks?” Probably not. But, the painstaking effort organizations go to to maintain brand standards is manual and phenomenal. 
Huibin Yu is the founder of Fohlio. Fohlio is building a better path to digitize the process of product data management, specification, procurement, brand standards, and inventory. Creating tech in an industry that is the last frontier for technology and defining the industry standard.
In this episode, we talk about about some of the challenges that hotels face in product data management, specification, procurement, brand standards, and inventory.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The challenges hotels and design firms face in managing specifications, procurement, and project timelines across multiple brands and locations.How Fohlio's platform helps organizations streamline their specification and procurement workflows while enabling collaboration between teams.The importance of data visibility, cost control, and value engineering in hospitality design and construction projects.The role of an international, diverse team in providing multilingual support to global clients.
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Sponsor spot
Fohlio: https://www.fohlio.com/
Fohlio is building a better path to digitize the process of product data management, specification, procurement, brand standards, and inventory. Creating tech in an industry that is the last frontier for technology and defining the industry standard.
Links:Huibin Yu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huibinyu/
Fohlio: https://www.fohlio.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/69Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...