Opinion Articles

The Russians

When heads of state come to visit your hotel they usually make a bit of a show. The Russians are no exception; they even bring their own warship, the KGB and a wad of cash!

Why your upsell strategy is failing: When digital & voice live in different worlds

Upselling should be a seamless part of the guest journey, elevating the experience for guests, while strengthening the bottom line. Yet many properties invest heavily in offers, scripts, and campaigns — only to see limited return. The root cause is rarely the quality of the upgrade itself, but the disconnect between digital browsing behavior and voice-channel conversations.

Unlimited Content, Unlimited Boredom?

There’s something paradoxical about our times. We are entering an era of unlimited content. AI is generating articles, videos, music, animations (Sora and others are opening up new visual glut/slop - let’s just call it streams). But despite this tidal wave of creativity, we’re seeing a steady rise in boredom. [link]

Using Hotel Data to Identify Recurring Customers Versus Loyal Guests

With AI at the gates, 2025 is already shaping up to be the ‘Year of Data’; it’s all about getting your data rivers flowing into a lake, cleaned up and curated for machine learning (ML) applications. One of many lucrative prospects pertains to segmentation and answering a question that in the past we’ve treated with more an ounce of human-bias-driven hunch: how can you tell the difference between recurring guests and truly loyal customers?

Welcome is a Feeling: How Modern Hospitality is Redefining Guest Experience

In an era where customer expectations are higher than ever, the hospitality industry is undergoing a quiet revolution. It’s no longer just about fluffy pillows, complimentary breakfast, or check-in mints. The new gold standard in hospitality? Emotionally resonant, hyper-personalized guest experiences that make people feel seen, valued, and connected.

From Hospitality to Monetization: The Identity Crisis of the Big Brands

There was a time when booking on a hotel brand’s website truly meant something. It meant trust. It meant consistency. It meant a promise delivered. If you chose Hilton, you knew what Hilton stood for. If you picked Marriott, you knew exactly what kind of experience awaited you before you even set foot in the lobby. These brands were not just logos—they were a signal to travelers of a clear, dependable standard of hospitality.