Technology can make a guest's stay smoother — but it's the people who make it memorable.

I spoke with Mike Everett, EVP at CoralTree Hospitality, about how his company blends tech-driven efficiency with human-driven hospitality to elevate service across its independent, resort-focused portfolio.

We break it all down on #NoVacancyNews, from Hawaii to South Florida, exploring how CoralTree empowers its teams to create moments that apps never can — while still using AI and automation to remove friction, save time, and support staff at every level.

👋 Special thanks to Axonify, helping hotels power better guest experiences through smarter, more engaged frontline teams. Visit Axonify.com.

Key Insights

🌴 CoralTree's independent portfolio gives freedom to personalize service 🧠 AI and automation reduce redundancy so staff can focus on people 🙌 Empowered employees = exceptional experiences 💬 Personal interactions outperform even the best-designed apps 💡 Why service skills are becoming a lost art — and how to bring them back 👥 Training Gen Z associates for people-first hospitality 🚀 The luxury differentiator: connection over convenience

What's one thing your team does to bring the human side of hospitality back to the forefront?