Human Stack vs Tech Stack - Insights

During HITEC Toronto, Hospitality Net and HYB aim to serve as a catalyst and open platform for promoting tech-innovation in the hospitality sector. Designed as an inclusive platform, we provide a stage for diverse perspectives and opinions on how hotel technology will shape the future of hospitality. By bringing together creative minds from around the world, HN’s stage at HITEC not only unfolds cutting-edge thought-leadership but also stimulates the global hospitality industry to evolve and adapt to new challenges, paving the way for a more vibrant and prosperous future.

Supplier News Sales & Marketing

February 23, 2024

Keep the spark alive in your guest relationships

In this week’s episode of the Hotel Moment podcast, Karen Stephens, Revinate CRO, and Brian Murphy, Group CRM Executive of Cliste Hospitality, reveal what keeps the fire going between hotelier and guest: reliable, personalized, and quick communication. Murphy breaks down the misconceptions around the influence of technology on guest communication, but also why there’s no replacement for the “human touch” element of the guest experience.

By Karen Stephens, Chief Marketing Officer, Revinate, Inc.

Opinion Article

February 9, 2024

Embracing Technology without Losing the Human Touch in Hospitality

I have been chatting with a number of hotel operators over the last few weeks, and one thing is constant between each and every one of them: we must continually improve our service delivery as the adoption rate of technology is moving at lightspeed. Why? Because when technology is so incredibly prolific, we need proof of humanity and authenticity. Hotel operators want to embrace technology to help them run their businesses more effectively, but not at the cost of losing their hotel's “human touch.”

By Alan Young, VP, Strategy | Hospitality, Infor

Opinion Article Food & Beverage

February 5, 2024

The law of unintended - or is it intended? - consequences coming to a restaurant near you.

Beginning in April this year, California will require fast-food chain restaurants with at least 60 national locations to start paying a minimum of $20 an hour. This is $41,760 a year plus benefits! Many recent graduates from 4-year colleges in many states do not enjoy salaries like these.

By Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net

Opinion Article

January 22, 2024

High-Tech and High-Touch is the Only Way Forward in Hospitality

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 216,000 in December 2003, of these 52,000 were new local and federal government jobs, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

By Max Starkov, Hospitality & travel technologist and digital strategist, Hospitality Net

Opinion Article

January 15, 2024

Q&A with Dr Inversini on human-centered digital transformation

Welcome to a new Q&A feature where we shine the spotlight on our EHL research faculty and their current work. With a view to going behind the scenes to better understand the fascinating, impactful world of research, the EHL Institutional Visibility team will be regularly catching up with an EHL researcher whose work is making a difference in both classroom and industry.

By Alessandro Inversini and Beatrice Venturini

Opinion Article

January 9, 2024

Bringing Context Back to Hospitality's Labor Emergency

It's difficult for some of us in hotel leadership to remember a time when hospitality was flush with workers, but today's labor landscape is not an acceptable normal.

By Mike Nixon, President and Chief Development Officer, Expotel Hospitality Services L.L.C.

Press Release Sales & Marketing

December 6, 2023

Meet RENAI by Renaissance: The Pilot Program for Renaissance Hotels’ New AI-powered Virtual Concierge Service

Travelers staying at select Renaissance Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, will soon have instant access to vetted, insiders’ picks for vibey cocktail bars, under-the-radar attractions, top-rated breakfast spots and more through an exciting new virtual concierge service. Today the brand announced a pilot program for RENAI by Renaissance (pronounced “ren-A”), which stands for Renaissance Artificial Intelligence, and is akin to having a well-connected local who is available 24/7 all right from guests’ smartphones.

Marriott

United States

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

December 4, 2023

Merriam-Webster’s Word Of the Year For 2023 Is “Authentic”: Is Being So More Important Than Ever Before To Our Guests

As the final days of this year slip away, how interesting it is that Merriam-Webster’s “Word of the Year” for 2023 is “Authentic,” meaning it was the “most searched” on their site. Because I failed miserably at learning a second language, I have become somewhat of an Etymologist, so I was eager to see how Merriam-Webster defined it in their announcement. “Authentic has a number of meanings including ‘not false or imitation,’ a synonym of real and actual; and also ‘true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.’”

By Doug Kennedy, President of the Kennedy Training Network, Kennedy Training Network (KTN)

Opinion Article Technology

November 8, 2023

Seventy-Nine Percent (79%) of US Hotels Hit by Staffing Crisis: The Quest for Innovative Solutions

The hospitality industry has suffered major labor shortages, as of earlier this year, over 2 million hospitality jobs were open and job reports show little change since.

By Fred DeMicco, Executive Director (2019-2024), Full Professor in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the W.A. Franke College of Business, Northern Arizona University

United States

Opinion Article Technology

October 24, 2023

The role of mobile ordering in addressing staff shortages in F&B

In the bustling world of hospitality, the shortage of skilled staff has long been a persistent challenge, straining even the most esteemed properties. The demanding interplay between guest expectations and workforce limitations paints a vivid picture of the complexities plaguing the industry. However, amidst this ongoing struggle, a beacon of hope emerges in the form of mobile ordering systems, especially those tailored explicitly to meet the dynamic needs of the contemporary hotel landscape. As we explore the evolving role of technology in reshaping guest experiences, this technology stands as a testament to the potential for transformation within the hospitality domain.

By Joan Lladó, Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), STAY

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

October 20, 2023

How Workforce Management Helps Build Revenue Success

Hospitality continues to be challenged to respond to rising costs in new and creative ways–from how hotels are run to the packages and length of stay guests are booking.

By Corey McCarthy, Chief Marketing Office (CMO), Unifocus

Press Release Sales & Marketing

October 19, 2023

Accor and Adobe Sharing Insights Into Unlocking Opportunities Through Personalization at Scale

This conversation explores in more detail the insights from Accor’s ‘Hospitality Ahead’ Report published in March, exploring the ongoing changes impacting the hospitality industry at large, providing perspectives and examples to leverage these transformations into opportunities.

Accor

Press Release Technology

October 6, 2023

Why New Technology is Coming to Hotels

Imagine stepping into a hotel lobby and breezing through a check-in powered by facial recognition technology. With a key in hand, your app-ordered room service is delivered promptly by a robot.

JLL

Supplier News Technology

September 6, 2023

Rethinking Hospitality’s Approach to the Workforce: Unifocus White Paper Tackles Staffing Shortages and Rising Costs

Unifocus, the leading provider of workforce management systems to the hotel and hospitality industry, published a proprietary study offering insights into the hotel industry’s ongoing labor shortage and how operators can adapt to achieve and maintain efficiency and profitability. “The Hotelier’s Definitive Guide to Success Amid Staffing Shortages” provides new ways to control costs, optimize staffing efficiency, and reduce turnover to create a sustainable, predictable operations ecosystem.

Unifocus

Opinion Article

August 29, 2023

Unleashing Unreasonable Hospitality: 3 Tips To Human Centric Marketing

I recently heard Will Guidara speak about his new book, Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect. I brought this idea to the HSMAI Marketing Advisory Board to talk about how this concept impacts our work and think about the intersection of technology and the people centric nature of hospitality.

By Kate Lochridge, Director of Resort Marketing, Universal Orlando Resort

Opinion Article Technology

August 21, 2023

This New Integration Signals the Next Phase of Hotel Labor Controls

In speaking with hotel owners and management company executives, staffing and labor costs are perennially two of the top concerns. Indeed, this is hardly anecdotal as when AHLA’s CEO Chip Rogers referenced survey data at ALIS this past January indicating that 85% of its member properties stated they were ‘somewhat or severely understaffed’.

By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky

Opinion Article Technology

July 31, 2023

This Is Why You Need Great Tech-Enabled Hotel Employee Experiences

Since well before the pandemic, hotels have been in the midst of an ‘operations revolution’, largely by deploying better and better technology to automate mundane tasks so that teams can be more guest-facing and deliver more personalized experiences. Along the way, though, we have created a bit of a monster that has only now reared its head as labor supply issues have been priority number one.

By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky

Supplier News Technology

June 22, 2023

Holoconnects Showcases Next-Generation AI-Powered Holographic Solution for Hotels at HITEC in Toronto

Attendees and media at this year's Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) can experience firsthand the captivating holographic displays from Holoconnects and learn about the numerous benefits this technology brings to the hospitality sector.

Holoconnects

Opinion Article Human Resources

June 14, 2023

5 Strategies to Win 78% or Greater Employee Engagement

Frontline workers are the engine that drives business. Around the world, 80% of all workers serve on the frontline, working in industries such as construction, hospitality, manufacturing and retail.

By Cristian Grossmann, Founder & CEO, Beekeeper

Opinion Article Sales & Marketing

June 14, 2023

How Sales Teams Can Utilize Emerging Technology to Improve The Guest Experience

Emerging technology encourages positive change for hotel sales teams who are looking to enhance the guest and future client experience.

By Loretta Macke, Senior Vice President of Sales, Remington