Hotel Tech Insider HotelTechReport

In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, we have the pleasure of speaking with Adrian Schmidt, a digital innovation leader at HR Group, a prominent Berlin-based hotel company with a diverse portfolio of 150 branded and independent hotels. Adrian shares insights from his extensive experience in telecom, media, and hospitality, focusing on enhancing guest experiences through digitization.
Adrian discusses the software buying process at HR Group, emphasizing the importance of open APIs in selecting technology partners. He highlights the critical role of property management systems in the hotel industry and shares his positive experiences with Apaleo and Opera Cloud for different types of hotels within the group.
The conversation delves into the implementation of automation tools, such as a breakfast script for optimizing food orders based on hotel occupancy. Adrian also discusses the digital check-in experience at HR Group properties, detailing the seamless process for guests from booking to check-out.
Adrian emphasizes the group's focus on automation as a key priority, using a data orchestration layer called NotMation to streamline operational tasks and boost efficiency. He stresses the importance of balancing digital innovation with maintaining the human touch in hospitality.
Adrian shares insights on the future of technology in the hotel space, including the integration of AI for tasks like review responses and chatbots. He highlights the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the rapidly evolving digital landscape of the hospitality industry.
The episode concludes with a discussion on data collection and decision-making, with Adrian advocating for a focused approach to tracking and utilizing data effectively. He encourages hoteliers to prioritize practical experimentation and implementation over excessive data collection.
Adrian Schmidt's expertise and forward-thinking approach to technology in the hotel industry provide valuable insights for hoteliers looking to leverage digital tools and strategies for success in today's competitive market. Tune in to Hotel Tech Insider for more episodes featuring industry leaders driving innovation in the hospitality sector.

Want to learn how MK Hotels uses cutting-edge technology like open APIs and mobile key solutions to streamline operations? Tune in to the newest episode of Hotel Tech Insider with Arno Sonderfeld.

In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Gorjan Lazarov, the CEO of Orea Hotels and Resorts, to dive into the topic of digital transformation within the hospitality sector. We shared our journey through both the hospitality and telecommunications fields, emphasizing how pivotal customer experience and innovation are to our industry. We discussed the technological advancements we've embraced at Orea, such as online check-in, tracking employee satisfaction, and even employing robots like Pepper for cleaning and service tasks. We stressed the crucial role that people play in our field and the necessity for digital literacy to meet evolving customer needs. Our conversation also explored the tech infrastructure at Orea, including our use of Hotel Time for managing properties and the emerging role of AI in optimizing revenue management. Additionally, we touched on our company's commitment to enhancing the guest experience, fostering employee engagement, and devising strategies for future expansion. The episode highlighted the transformative impact of technology on improving operational efficiency, increasing guest satisfaction, and steering the hotel industry towards a promising future.

In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, we had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Schwartz, the Chief Technology Officer at Sage Hospitality. Matt shared his extensive background in tech, starting from his economics major in college to his experience in various startup companies and retail giants like Staples and PetSmart. His journey into the hospitality industry began in 2010 when he worked for a ski resort company, eventually leading him to Sage Hospitality in 2015.
As the first CTO in Sage's 40-year history, Matt transformed the IT department from a cost center to a profit center. He emphasized the importance of leveraging technology to enhance business intelligence and analytics, CRM, cybersecurity, associate productivity, and the guest experience. Matt highlighted the significance of communication skills and continuous learning for success in the tech side of the hospitality space.
One of the key areas of focus for Sage is democratizing data with Microsoft Power BI, enhancing cybersecurity with partners like CrowdStrike and Arctic Wolf, and deploying innovative technologies like robots and AI for guest experiences. Matt also discussed the potential of upcoming technologies like appless mobile key systems and Apple's Vision Pro for virtual reality experiences.
Moreover, Matt shared insights into Sage's operations, including managing 65 hotels and 40 restaurants across the US, focusing on growth and acquisitions, and prioritizing guest experiences through innovative tech solutions like kiosks for self-service check-ins and biometric authentication.
Overall, Matt's expertise and forward-thinking approach to technology in the hospitality industry provide valuable insights for hoteliers looking to leverage digital tools and strategies to drive growth and innovation in their properties. Stay tuned for more episodes of Hotel Tech Insider to learn from industry experts and stay updated on the latest trends in hotel technology.

In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, we have the pleasure of speaking with Antonio Ducceschi, the Chief Commercial Officer of Star Hotels. Antonio shares his impressive career journey, starting from being one of Italy's youngest hotel General Managers to his current role at Star Hotels.
Antonio discusses the importance of having a clear vision for technology implementation to support growth, highlighting the shift from reactive to proactive technology adoption. He emphasizes the significance of distribution and revenue management systems in maximizing profitability.
Antonio shares insights on the impact of the pandemic on the hotel industry, emphasizing the need for hoteliers to hone their communication skills and challenge the status quo to drive success in today's dynamic world. He also stresses the importance of understanding cultural differences and preferences in a globalized industry.
The conversation delves into the essential skills for hoteliers, focusing on communication skills and the ability to adapt to diverse cultural backgrounds. Antonio highlights the role of technology in enhancing customer experiences, optimizing revenue, and managing reputation through tools like TrustYou for sentiment analysis.
The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of personalization in the guest experience, utilizing technology to streamline processes and meet evolving customer expectations. Antonio's insights shed light on the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry and the critical role of technology in driving success.

In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, we had the pleasure of speaking with Lior Seckler, the Senior Vice President of Revenue Management at HRI. Lior shared his extensive experience in the hotel industry, starting from his background in restaurant technology to his journey through revenue management at Hilton before landing at HRI in 2010.
Lior oversees a team of revenue managers working with both branded and independent hotels. He emphasized the importance of leveraging technology to drive revenue, increase market share, and ensure profitability. Lior highlighted the need for innovative, user-friendly, and reliable technology partners to support their revenue management strategies effectively.
One of the critical technology partners Lior mentioned was Lighthouse, which provides comprehensive BI solutions and analytics beyond just rate shopping. He also discussed the benefits of using Duetto for revenue management at their independent properties in the Bay Area.
Lior shared insights into their tech stack, including tools like OTA Insight, Spyder, TravelClick, and Vena for business intelligence and accounting. He emphasized the importance of keeping their tech stack cutting-edge and ensuring seamless integration of data from various sources.
The conversation delved into the challenges and opportunities in the hotel industry, including the impact of vacation rentals like Airbnb and the need to adapt to changing market dynamics. Lior also discussed the importance of human oversight in interpreting data and making informed decisions, highlighting the limitations of technology in certain situations.
The episode concluded with Lior's perspective on the future of technology in the hotel industry, emphasizing the need for continuous innovation and adaptation to meet evolving consumer needs and drive revenue growth.
Overall, Lior's insights provided valuable lessons on the role of technology in revenue management and the importance of a strategic approach to leveraging digital tools in the hotel industry.
Introduction to Revenue Management at HRI: 00:00:00-00:00:59
Lior Seckler's Career Journey: 00:01:10-00:06:48
Overview of Revenue Management Team at HRI: 00:06:49-00:08:08
Critical Technology Partner for Revenue Management: 00:09:11-00:10:19
Lighthouse as a Key Technology Partner: 00:10:33-00:13:16
Discussion on Duetto and Its Impact: 00:13:16-00:13:26
Use of TravelClick and Amadeus Products: 00:15:29-00:16:03
Accounting Software Vena: 00:15:52-00:16:03
Integration of Data from Various Systems: 00:16:04-00:16:36
Exploring Calibri Labs Hummingbird: 00:16:36-00:18:21
Consideration of Upselling Tools: 00:24:44-00:25:18
Focus on Total Revenue and Ancillary Revenues: 00:24:08-00:24:28
Importance of Human Oversight in Technology: 00:33:20-00:34:05
Key Skills and Characteristics for Success in the Hotel Industry: 00:31:30-00:32:54
Future of Technology in the Hotel Industry: 00:35:10-00:36:59