Last month’s EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne felt less like a conference and more like a living lab: alongside 385 participants from 20-plus countries we sat shoulder-to-shoulder with hospitality, food, and travel visionaries to tackle seven real-world innovation challenges. Over 1.5 intense days, 48 speakers, enterprising students, and 15 tasting-table start-ups showed how AI, sustainability, and human-centered design can—and must—co-exist. From forest walks that slowed our pace to lightning labs that sped it back up, the experience proved that tomorrow’s hospitality is tech AND human, profitable AND purposeful. The spirit of open collaboration ran deep, turning knowledge-sharing into hands-on co-creation and setting a new benchmark for regenerative, systems-level change. We left energized, convinced that this was just the first chapter of a much larger movement catalyzed by EHL’s Innovation Hub.
Equinox Hotels CEO Christopher Norton shares how he built a hotel brand around health pillars including fitness, nutrition, recovery, and sleep, pulling 1,500 locals daily through a 60,000 sq ft gym.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we spoke with Caty Batten, Co-founder and CEO at Intaconnected and The Nature of Business Lab, about how the hospitality industry can move beyond traditional sustainability and embrace a regenerative approach. Our conversation focused on the Net Positive Hospitality Pathway, a practical tool for building resilience and long-term value, and why regeneration must become the new standard for climate, nature, and people.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we spoke with Thierry Teyssier, Founder and CEO of Dar Ahlam and 700’000 heures Impact. Our conversation focused on the emotional essence of hospitality, why he sees privilege as more meaningful than luxury, and how impermanence can open the door to more human-centered guest experiences.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we spoke with Will Guillaume Foussier, CEO of AceUp, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping revenue strategies in hospitality and why coaching remains one of the most powerful drivers of lasting change. Will introduced his ITO framework, a structured model that connects individual growth with team alignment and organizational transformation.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we had the opportunity to speak with Ásta Kristín Sigurjónsdóttir, CEO of the Iceland Tourism Cluster, and Milena S. Nikolova, Ph.D., Chief Behavior Officer and Co-founder of BehaviorSMART. Our conversation explored how artificial intelligence might transform the way we plan and experience travel, how technology must be used with behavioral insight to enhance rather than diminish hospitality, and why the industry must rethink success in terms of community well-being—not just business outcomes.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we had the chance to sit down with Christine R. Gould, Founder and CEO of GIGA, for a conversation about the future of innovation in hospitality. Christine shared her perspective on why the next big shift won’t come from a single technology, but from a new mindset—one that values remixing over reinvention, embraces collaboration across sectors, and brings young changemakers directly into the innovation process.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we caught up with Lucas Nottaris, Partner at Visium, to discuss how agentic systems are reshaping the guest experience, why personalization must be guided by consent and human judgment, and how the hospitality industry can build trust by giving guests more control over their data.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we had the pleasure of speaking with Nelson Ole Reiyia, CEO and Co-founder of Nashulai Maasai Conservancy. Our conversation explored how technology, particularly AI, can be used to enhance hospitality without losing its human soul, and why the future of travel lies in genuine partnerships with local communities, not just surface-level consultation.
During our time at the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we caught up with Mohammed Marghalani, Chief of Franchised Assets Operations at Dan Company, to discuss how regenerative hospitality can transform the connection between agriculture and tourism. Our conversation explored why farm-to-table needs purpose, not just marketing, and how Dan is helping local farmers deliver authentic, high-quality products directly to guests, creating a hospitality experience that is as ethical as it is enriching.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we spoke with Romy Abbrederis, Co-founder of Lobby, about how generative AI is reshaping hotel operations behind the scenes. Our conversation explored how Lobby tackles the complexity of reservation emails, why modular systems are key to adapting to different hotel needs, and how AI can support hospitality teams without replacing the human element.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we sat down with Margot Stuart, Co-founder of OriginAll and ORIGINALLUXURY, to explore how blockchain and digital product passports are reshaping trust and transparency in hospitality. Our conversation looked at how these technologies can go beyond compliance to unlock deeper guest engagement, emotional storytelling, and a new kind of luxury experience rooted in authenticity.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we spoke with Anderson Yang, EAM to the General Manager’s Office at Yun Ding Food & Beverage Co. Ltd, about how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of hospitality, how innovation can thrive when rooted in tradition, and why building genuine community through storytelling is more powerful than conventional marketing in today’s evolving landscape.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we spoke with Niels de Fraguier, Founder of Empowering Potential, about the role of innovation in shaping a more inclusive and regenerative future. As an entrepreneur, ideator, and author, he shared his perspective on why technology must be rooted in life-centered thinking, how regeneration goes beyond sustainability, and why building a better future means shifting from individual gain to collective responsibility.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we had the chance to speak with Ian Millar, Senior Lecturer at EHL Hospitality Business School. Our conversation focused on why the biggest challenge in hospitality tech today is not the technology itself, but how we think about it. Ian argues that before adopting new tools, the industry must adopt a new mindset. It should prioritize understanding the real problems, embrace frontline insights, and welcome a culture of curiosity and change.
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we had the chance to sit down with Thomas Meier, CEO of Jumeirah Group, for an open conversation about the future of luxury hospitality. Our discussion touched on how artificial intelligence is helping to free up teams for more meaningful guest interactions, why true personalization must stay human and contextual, and how innovation can thrive without losing the timeless rituals that define luxury service.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Felicitas Morhart, Full Professor of Marketing at HEC Lausanne, to explore how the emerging field of longevity is starting to reshape luxury hospitality. Our conversation touched on the intersection of biotech wellness, status-driven self-optimization, and the evolving role of luxury as a space for beauty, presence, and what it means to remain human in an increasingly optimized world.
Our conversation with Bernhard Bohnenberger, CEO and Co-founder of Discover Collection, took place during the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne. We spoke with him about the role of technology in luxury hospitality, how guest expectations are evolving, and why emotional connection should remain central to high-end travel. Drawing on his background with Six Senses and now the Discover Collection, Bernhard shared his vision for what he calls “Mindful Luxury” and how technology should support—never replace—the human experience.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we had the chance to sit down with Pierre-André Krüger, CEO and Founder of Nomad Lodges. Our conversation explored the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern hospitality, the importance of working closely with indigenous communities, and why he believes that real transformation begins when guests reconnect—with nature, with others, and with themselves.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, we sat down with Rainer Stampfer, President of Global Operations, Hotels and Resorts at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Our conversation explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in luxury hospitality, the evolving expectations around personalization, and why the human element continues to be the ultimate marker of excellence in high-end service.
During the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we sat down with Diane Binder to talk about the role of virtual reality, regeneration, and what real luxury means today. As Founder and CEO of Regenopolis and Co-founder of 700’000 heures Impact, Diane brings a unique lens that bridges sustainable development, hospitality, and systemic change. In our conversation, she shared why we need to move beyond metrics, how hospitality can become part of local ecosystems, and why the next era of travel will be defined by meaning, not just experience.