Social, Search, and the Fight for Direct Bookings: A Conversation with Cendyn and HOSPITALITY X at ITB Berlin
Cendyn's CEO and HOSPITALITY X Co-Founder discuss how social media evolved from brand awareness to direct conversion channel at ITB Berlin.
Interviews
Friction, Wristbands, and Why Best-of-Breed Wins: A Conversation with TRYBE at ITB Berlin
TRYBE CEO discusses their wristband-based contactless system for spas, arguing specialized software with strong integrations beats all-in-one platforms.
The Regenerative Question: A Conversation with Willy Legrand at ITB Berlin
Dr. Willy Legrand discusses why 40 years of sustainability frameworks have failed to prevent environmental decline and explores regenerative tourism as a transformative alternative.
Meetings, Events, and a Ride in a Trabi: A Conversation with VenueSuite at ITB Berlin
VenueSuite announced demand-based pricing for meetings and events, applying room revenue management logic to meeting spaces with early results showing increased bookings on lower-demand dates.
Simone Puorto discussed Humans-as-Luxury, AI, Imperfection, and the Future of Hospitality
Puorto argues AI requires structural process changes, not just tool integration, and introduces "Humans-as-Luxury" as human service becomes a strategic differentiator.
Quinta’s Daniel Doppler on Why Hospitality AI Now Starts With Data, Not Chatbots
Quinta founder argues the AI advantage has shifted from chatbot interfaces to data quality and maintenance, with hotels needing structured knowledge systems for agent-to-agent booking futures.
Lopota Lake Resort and Spa: Building a Year-Round Destination in Georgia’s Kakheti Wine Region
The Masiuradze sisters explain their philosophy of slow, nature-first expansion at their Georgian resort, prioritizing authenticity over amenities to build year-round appeal.
Beyond Berlin and Munich: The Fontenay’s Thies Sponholz on Hamburg’s Luxury Moment
Thies Sponholz discusses winning Germany's Hotelier of the Year 2026 award and how The Fontenay has elevated Hamburg's luxury hotel scene since 2018.
Hilton’s South East Asia Playbook: Secondary Cities, Design-Led Stays, and Wellness by Intention
Hilton's Southeast Asia head discusses expansion into secondary cities, wellness integration throughout guest journeys, and deploying different brands based on market fit rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
Henri Roelings in conversation with Alexandra Murray
Another Star, same ambition to redefine hospitality
Another Star CEO discusses the company's $685M refinancing and strategic plans following citizenM's integration into Marriott Bonvoy.
Culture First, Not Campaign First: Inside Arlo’s Social Strategy
I had the opportunity to sit down with Dino Jevric, Arlo’s Social Media Manager, to discuss how the brand is taking a different path on Instagram at a time when many hotels still use social mainly to push rates and packages. Arlo is treating the platform less like a sales channel and more like an extension of the guest experience, curating its feed as a living diary of hotel life and neighbourhood energy. The aim is simple but ambitious: make people feel like they are already there, before they have even booked.
LodgIQ's CEO Vincent Ramelli on Reinventing Hospitality: Data, People and the Future of AI-Driven Hotels
Vincent Ramelli, CEO of LodgIQ, has been at the forefront of hotel technology for decades. In his recent interview for Hospitality Net, he reflects on a career that spans the early days of the internet, the rise of online distribution, and now the integration of generative AI into hotel operations.
How Club Mahindra Quietly Solved Hospitality’s Biggest Plastic Problem
India’s hospitality industry is waking up to a silent pollutant: "Plastic". While many hotel chains are still searching for alternatives, Club Mahindra has already turned sustainability into action. Partnering with WAE, the brand has installed in-house Glass Bottling Plants (GBPs) across its resorts systems that purify, bottle, and reuse glass containers, completely eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles.
EHL Back of House Podcast: Auberge Resorts' Christian Clerc: The Heart of Hospitality
In this Back of House episode, we sit down with Christian H. Clerc, President & CEO of Auberge Resorts Collection and proud EHL alumnus, for an intimate conversation about the soul of hospitality.
Christian Clerc, President and CEO, Auberge Resorts, Auberge Collection
Beyond Price: The Future of Hotel Upselling and Cross-Selling
In this insightful interview, Scott Dahl and Mercedes Blanco discuss the evolving landscape of upselling and cross-selling in the hotel industry heading into 2026. They highlight how traveler preferences have shifted away from just prices and views toward meaningful, personalized experiences, emphasizing the emotional story behind offers. Mercedes shares her extensive expertise in digital marketing and hospitality technology, underscoring the fast-paced integration of AI in enhancing guest experiences, marketing strategies, and direct booking channels.
Tech-Enabled Hospitality: Humanity, Innovation, and the Future Guest Experience
Jessica Gillingham, founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, joins Simone Puorto for an engaging discussion about her recent book, "Tech-Enabled Hospitality." As a seasoned communicator with nearly a decade of experience in the hospitality and short-term rental technology space, Jessica explores the profound transformation underway in the industry, where technology is reshaping both operational delivery and the very nature of guest experiences. Her work brings together insights from over thirty-eight leaders in technology and hospitality, giving the book a rich, multifaceted perspective.
Redefining Loyalty: Accor's Kerry Healy on Personalisation, Technology and Human Connection
As Chief Commercial Officer for Accor’s Premium, Midscale & Economy Division across the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Kerry Healy oversees some of the most diverse and fast-evolving hospitality markets in the world. In this exclusive interview, she discusses how Accor is harnessing data and AI to deliver hyper-personalised experiences at scale—without losing the human touch. From redefining loyalty beyond points and perks to embedding emotional connection and cultural relevance into every stay, Healy shares how Accor’s vision for hospitality blends innovation with authenticity to create meaningful, lasting relationships with guests.
Leading with Empathy and Purpose in Singapore: A Conversation with Angeline Tan of Momentus Hospitality
With more than three decades of experience in hospitality and real estate, Angeline Tan brings a seasoned yet people-centric perspective to her dual role as Senior Vice President of SingHaiyi Hospitality and Momentus Hospitality. Founded in 2022 under the umbrella of the SingHaiyi Group, Momentus Hospitality is a Singapore-headquartered operator dedicated to creating memorable guest experiences and lasting legacies. In this interview, Tan reflects on her leadership journey, shares how Momentus Hospitality is shaping its culture and nurturing talent, and offers her vision for the future of leadership in the hospitality industry.
Up in the air, loyalty on the ground: A conversation with Ellis Connolly
There is nothing cheap about loyalty. I wrote those words years ago while evoking Ryan Bingham and his manic pilgrimage through miles and tiers, and I still believe them today. Because the true loyalty currency is not plastic or points. Loyalty is, instead, measured in attention, presence, memory, and the feeling of being recognized.
Hotel Cybersecurity in 2025 Emphasizes the Human Stack
Cybersecurity in 2025 for hotels is a game of Russian roulette. Odds are you’ll be safe most of the time, but then there’s the outside chance that it’s game over. The risks are far too great, and this is a topic that deserves constant and close study.