Advertisement

Interviews

HN TV
Interview

Interview with Ryan King (Shiji Group): Why Experience Is the New Currency

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Ryan King, Senior Vice President for the Americas at Shiji Group, to unpack how hotels can measure, interpret, and act on guest experience data. Ryan explained why reputation now depends as much on real-time feedback analytics as on human service, and how tools like the Guest Review Index (GRI) are helping hoteliers identify both standout moments and systemic breakdowns. He also weighed in on AI’s growing role in the industry - not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to enhance guest experience and operational focus.

Ryan KingSimone Puorto
Ryan King in conversation with Simone Puorto
HN TV
Interview

Fix the Data First: Why AI Alone Cannot Solve Hospitality’s Content Challenges

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Natalie Kimball, Vice President of Strategic Accounts for Americas and EMEA at Shiji Group, to explore the evolving role of hotel content management, data accuracy, and distribution, particularly in the complex Chinese market. Natalie also shared her candid views on AI in hospitality, the importance of operational control, and the risk of losing the entry-level roles that built today’s industry leaders.

Natalie KimballSimone Puorto
Natalie Kimball in conversation with Simone Puorto
China
HN TV
Interview

Bridging Revenue and Marketing: How IDeaS’ Spotlight Is Driving Commercial Alignment

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Klaus Kohlmayr, Chief Evangelist and Development Officer at IDeaS, to discuss how the company’s latest solution, Spotlight, is helping to close the gap between revenue management and marketing. Klaus shared insights into how unified data, AI fluency, and strategic thinking are shaping the future of commercial performance in hospitality.

Simone PuortoKlaus Kohlmayr
Simone Puorto in conversation with Klaus Kohlmayr
HN TV
Interview

From Data to Voice: How Revinate Is Rethinking Hospitality Personalisation

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we caught up with Karen Stephens, Chief Marketing Officer at Revinate, to talk about how changes in leadership are fuelling product innovation, particularly around guest data, AI, and voice. With a fresh team of tech and data leaders on board, Revinate is doubling down on efforts to unify guest profiles and rethink how technology supports human connection in hospitality. Karen also shared insights on AI’s role in luxury travel, the future of voice, and why hospitality is safe from the AI job scare.

Simone PuortoKaren Stephens
Simone Puorto in conversation with Karen Stephens
HN TV
Interview

How Mobile Engagement and AI Are Transforming the Guest Journey

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we caught up with Jeremy Krol, COO of Phunware, a company helping hotels deepen guest engagement through mobile technology and data-driven personalization. In our conversation, Jeremy explained how Phunware uses mobile apps, behavioral data, and AI to improve the guest experience and generate additional revenue. From replacing paper maps with seamless digital navigation to enabling smarter upsell opportunities, Phunware is helping properties enhance their digital footprint without losing the human touch.

Jeremy KrolSimone Puorto
Jeremy Krol in conversation with Simone Puorto
HN TV
Interview

Why HITEC 2025 Felt Like a Turning Point: Education, Innovation and the Guestroom of 2075

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Justin Taillon, President of HFTP and professor of hospitality technology, for a closing reflection on what made this year’s event stand out. From a record-breaking exhibitor floor to packed education sessions, Justin shared what makes HITEC more than just a trade show. He also gave us a preview of his next project, a bold new book on what hotel guestrooms might look like in 2075.

Simone PuortoJustin Taillon
Simone Puorto in conversation with Justin Taillon
HN TV
Interview

The End of Standards? Why AI Might Finally Break Down Hotel Tech Silos

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we caught up with Ira Vouk, Editor-in-Chief of the 2025 edition of the Hotel Yearbook – Technology Edition. A respected voice in hospitality tech, Ira curated a remarkable collection of essays from over 35 industry leaders, each offering their outlook on where hotel technology is heading. In this interview, she reflects on the themes, surprises, and controversies behind the publication, and shares her own bold view on how AI could disrupt the long-standing standards that have held hotel tech together , or perhaps back.

Simone PuortoIra Vouk
Simone Puorto in conversation with Ira Vouk
Ad HITEC 2026
Visit HITEC 2026 in San Antonio!

HITEC is the center for the latest conversations on hospitality technology. Come and see the technology shaping the industry.
Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)
HN TV
Interview

AI in Hospitality: Canary Technologies on Voice, Messaging, and Revenue Growth

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we spoke with Harman Narula, CEO of Canary Technologies, about the company’s recent AI product launches and the growing role of artificial intelligence in hotel operations. From missed phone calls to personalised upselling, Canary’s suite of AI solutions is designed to enhance the guest experience and increase hotel revenue. Narula shared how voice AI, messaging, and upselling work together to streamline operations and help hoteliers do more with fewer resources.

Harman Singh NarulaSimone Puorto
Harman Singh Narula in conversation with Simone Puorto
HN TV
Interview

HITEC 2025: Record-Breaking Attendance, Start-up Momentum, and a Look Ahead to San Antonio

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we caught up with Frank Wolfe, CEO of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), to reflect on a highly successful edition of the conference. With record-breaking numbers, exciting innovation from new exhibitors, and a packed exhibition floor, this year’s event confirmed HITEC’s role as the global stage for hospitality technology. We also looked ahead to 2026, which will bring the event to San Antonio, Texas.

Simone PuortoFrank Wolfe
Simone Puorto in conversation with Frank Wolfe
HN TV
Interview

Floor Bleeker on the Rise of AI Agents, Robotics, and the Future Tech Stack of Hospitality

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Floor Bleeker, a well-known voice in hospitality technology, to explore the future of AI in the industry. The conversation quickly moved from generative AI to autonomous agents, robotics, and the potential disruption of long-standing tech systems. Drawing from his corporate background and current advisory work, Floor offered a clear-eyed view of how fast things are evolving, and what it could mean for hoteliers, vendors, and guests.

Simone PuortoFloor Bleeker
Simone Puorto in conversation with Floor Bleeker
HN TV
Interview

Infor’s David Poprawka on Sustainable AI, Human-Centred KPIs, and the True Role of Technology in Hospitality

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we spoke with David Poprawka from Infor about the evolving role of AI in hospitality, not from a trend-driven perspective, but with a focus on long-term value, sustainability, and trust. Rather than chasing the latest buzzwords, Infor is building an architecture that helps hotels adapt at their own pace, with a strong foundation and a people-first mindset. David shared insights on the pace of change, the human side of data, and why it is time to rethink how we measure success.

David PoprawkaSimone Puorto
David Poprawka in conversation with Simone Puorto
Ad #1 Hotel PMS
See why hotels are switching to Mews

Revenue up. Manual work down. Hotels using Mews see 35% higher RevPAR and 45% more upsells. Book a free demo. 
Mews
HN TV
Interview

Seamless by Design: Why Unified Hotel Tech is No Longer Optional

As hotels evolve beyond stitched together systems and fragmented data, Shiji is betting big on unified architecture that blends flexibility with scale. Speaking at HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, Ryan King, Senior Vice President for the Americas at Shiji Group, joined me for a conversation that touched on the heart of this transformation and why hoteliers can no longer afford to ignore it.

Adam Mogelonsky in conversation with Ryan King
HN TV
Interview

Hospitality Solutions on Retailing, AI, and the Future of Hotel Commerce

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we spoke with Chris Boyle, Senior Vice President and Chief Business and Strategy Officer at Hospitality Solutions, about the company’s new chapter under TPG ownership and its evolving vision for hotel commerce. With decades of experience and a foundation rooted in reliability, Hospitality Solutions is expanding its capabilities, from distribution and booking to payments and AI-driven guest interaction. Chris shared insights on the latest innovations, including Retail Studio, Nexus Pay, and Concierge AI, and how Hospitality Solutions is positioning itself as a leader in the era of conversational commerce.

Chris BoyleSimone Puorto
Chris Boyle in conversation with Simone Puorto
HN TV
Interview

How Duetto’s New RPOs Framework Is Driving a Shift from Revenue to Profit Intelligence

At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with David Woolenberg, CEO and President of Duetto, to explore how the company is transforming hotel revenue management through its new Revenue and Profit Operating System (RPOs). With the recent acquisition of HotStats and a sharp focus on integrating data, Duetto is moving beyond traditional room-centric strategies, placing profit, and decision-making, at the heart of its platform. In this interview, David shares how RPOs will empower hoteliers to break silos, scale decisions, and focus on what matters most.

Simone PuortoDavid Woolenberg
Simone Puorto in conversation with David Woolenberg
HN TV
Interview

EHL Innovation Rewind: Romy Abbrederis on AI Agents, Email Overload, and the Future of Hotel Workflows

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.

Romy Abbrederis in conversation with Simone Puorto
HN TV
Interview

EHL Innovation Rewind: Margot Stuart on Blockchain, Digital Passports, and Building Trust in Luxury Hospitality

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.

Margot Stuart in conversation with Simone Puorto
HN TV
Interview

EHL Innovation Rewind: Michael Levie on Middleware, Microdata and the Jam Session Spirit of CitizenM

At the Open Innovation Summit hosted by EHL, we sat down with Michael Levie, Founding Partner at CitizenM Hotels. We asked him a few questions about where he sees the biggest tech shifts coming in hospitality and what makes CitizenM stand out in the way they work. Michael talked about middleware, microdata and why moving to the cloud is not enough. He also explained how the culture at CitizenM is like a jam session and how that energy still lives on today.

Michael Levie in conversation with Simone Puorto