Hospitable

AI isn’t coming to replace hospitality, it’s coming to restore it.

In this final episode of Hospitable, host Rob Napoli sits down with Dr. Fredrik Sjoberg to explore how unified data, better hotel education, and AI-driven tools will shape the next decade of hotel innovation. As founder of Maison and a professor at NYU, Fredrik brings a rare combination of academic insight and hands-on startup execution.

From shifting guest expectations to the real problem behind “bad tech stacks,” this conversation uncovers why the future belongs to hotels that connect their systems, elevate their teams, and adopt AI as a co‑pilot, not a replacement.

🧩 Topics Covered
- Why AI will transform hotel service without removing the human touch
- How data unification unlocks real personalisation & operator advantage
- Why hospitality schools must teach business, tech & integrations
- How AI can relieve staffing shortages and operational overload
- Where hotels should begin their digital transformation journey
- Why young talent and student collaboration will drive the next wave of innovation

Whether you’re a hotel operator, tech leader, educator, or future hospitality founder, this episode breaks down the mindset and ecosystem needed to thrive in the next era of guest experience.

📢 Like, subscribe, and comment: What’s one task you’d let AI handle tomorrow?

🔗 Learn more about Maison: https://www.maison.cx
🔗 Learn more about Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.com

⏱️ Timestamps
02:45 How Gen‑Z Views Hospitality Careers
05:30 Confusion Around Hospitality Jobs
08:40 Guest-Facing Roles vs. Corporate Paths
10:55 The Future of In‑Keeping & Personality-Driven Hotels
13:50 Travel Culture, Work Flexibility & Misconceptions
16:50 How Travelers Choose Hotels Today
20:12 Community-Driven Hotels & “Hidden Neighborhoods”
23:30 Data: The Operator’s Missing Advantage
26:05 Connectivity Problems & Bad Integrations
29:35 Tech Stack for Next-Gen Hotels
33:20 Unique Concepts & Rapid Hotel Iteration
36:15 Why AI Matters for Operators
39:45 Conversational AI & Personalisation
47:00 The Future: Human Service + Digital Co‑pilots

Connect
Dr. Fredrik Sjøberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrik-sjoberg-6851174
Maison: https://www.maison.cx
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com
Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.io

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#HospitalityTech #AIinHotels #HotelTechnology #HotelInnovation #DataUnification #FutureOfHospitality #HospitalityEducation #HotelOperations #GuestExperience #ConnectedEcosystem #MaisonTech #Omniboost

The best hotel tech doesn’t replace people, it empowers them.

In this episode of Hospitable, host Rob Napoli sits down with Ricarda Müller, COO and Partner Manager at ibelsa, to explore how their people-first, modular PMS became a favorite across the DACH market. From zero downtime in 8+ years to smart integrations and AI-driven workflows, ibelsa is proving that great tech starts with great relationships.

🧩 Topics Covered
- Why modular PMS beats all-in-one systems for scaling with control
- How ibelsa achieved 8 years of zero downtime, and why it matters at reception
- Building trusted integrations (POS, Omniboost, accounting, and more)
- How AI, automation, and mobile-first tools are transforming operations
- The hidden advantage of having no outside investors
- What hotels really need in a tech partner (hint: it’s not more features)

Whether you’re running 20 rooms or 200, this episode is packed with practical lessons for choosing, scaling, and trusting the right hospitality tech.

📢 Like, subscribe, and comment below: What tech decision helped your team the most this year?

🔗 Learn more about ibelsa: https://www.ibelsa.com
🔗 Explore Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.com

⏱️ Timestamps
02:08 “Find a way to make fun”, Workaholic or passion-driven?
03:38 How ibelsa differentiates in a crowded PMS market
06:36 Eight years with zero downtime
07:47 Customer-led roadmap & no external investors
09:27 Modular PMS: Scaling from 10 to 150 rooms
11:04 Why “all-in-one” systems rarely win
13:01 Building smooth integrations with POS, channels & Omniboost
16:04 Staff shortages, AI, and dynamic pricing as must-haves
21:09 “AI today is the most immature it will ever be”
22:20 What’s next on ibelsa’s roadmap
24:19 Best travel memories & belief in people

Connect
Ricarda Müller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricarda-m%C3%BCller-carminho-75324039
ibelsa: https://www.ibelsa.com
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com
Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.io

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#hospitalitytech #hotelpms #cloudpms #hotelsoftware #hospitalityindustry #ibelsa #omniboost #hoteltechnology #hospitalityautomation #hotelintegration #dynamicpricing #hotelmanagementsoftware #aiforhotels #hospitalityai #pmsintegration

How do you build a connected tech ecosystem for 42 luxury properties, across trains, safari camps, river cruises, and hotels, in multiple legal jurisdictions?

In this episode of Hospitable, host Rob Napoli sits down with Tiago Alves of Belmond to unpack one of the most ambitious digital transformations in global hospitality. From fragmented PMS systems to a unified, cloud-based platform, with 40+ integrations and an in-house API layer, Belmond’s journey is a masterclass in data unification, change management, and making hospitality tech actually work for people.

🧩 Topics Covered
- From duplicated guest profiles to a single source of truth
- Why Belmond built its own API & integration layer
- The role of “property champions” in driving adoption
- Legal, tax & compliance realities of cloud PMS across multiple countries
- Lessons from delayed go-lives—and what they’d do differently
- How Belmond automates the predictable so staff can focus on guests

If you're leading a PMS migration, building a hotel tech stack, or struggling with data silos, this episode is a blueprint you can’t afford to miss.

📢 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment: What's your biggest challenge in connecting your hospitality systems?

🔗 Learn more: https://www.omniboost.com
🔗 Explore Belmond: https://www.belmond.com

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Cold Open: Building a Connected Ecosystem
01:14 Meet Tiago & Belmond’s Tech Award
02:12 “Just Another Tech?” – Why This Project Mattered
03:23 20 Years in Hospitality Tech
04:27 Who is Belmond? A Diverse Luxury Portfolio
05:14 The Problem: Fragmented PMS Databases
06:42 Finding the Right Partner in a Legal Landscape
08:20 Involving Cross-Functional Teams from Day One
10:00 Property Champions & Local Ownership
11:37 Balancing Standards & Local Needs
13:19 Change Management & Tech Aversion
19:03 Delays & Building an In-House API Layer
22:35 Scaling to 40+ Integrations
26:05 Go-Live Realities: Migration & Cleanup
29:06 Owning the Data Pipeline
31:38 What Tiago Would Do Differently
36:26 Automating the Predictable to Free Up Staff
44:18 How to Reach Tiago & Closing Thoughts

Connect
Tiago Alves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talves
Belmond: https://www.belmond.com
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com
Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.com

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, http://www.brokenframesstudio.com

#hospitalitytech #hotelpms #belmond #cloudpms #hotelsoftware #hospitalitydata #systemsintegration #hospitalityapi #hoteltechnology #dataplatform #aiforhotels #hospitalityautomation #hotelmanagementsystem #pmsintegration #connectedhospitality

From scattered to seamless: one integrated dashboard for your hospitality data.

In this episode of Hospitable, Rob Napoli (COO, Omniboost) is joined by Daniel Costa (Sr. Data Engineer) and Quinten de Putter (Sr. Data Scientist) to reveal how Omniboost is transforming backend complexity into intuitive dashboards. No more spreadsheet chaos. No more clunky PowerBI setups. Just smart, scalable business intelligence, built for hospitality.

🧩 Topics Covered
- From data warehouses to dashboard UX: how the backend powers the front-end
- What Omniboost is doing differently in BI
- How dynamic dashboards let hoteliers define and track the KPIs that matter
- Eliminating manual journal entries and reducing reconciliation headaches
- Preparing the platform for AI-powered forecasting, automation, and insight
- What proof-of-concept testing revealed—and what’s coming next

If you’ve ever struggled to unify PMS, POS, HR and accounting data into something useful, this conversation will change how you think about business intelligence in hospitality.

📢 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment: What dashboard metric do you wish you had in real-time?

🔗 Learn more: https://www.omniboost.io

⏱️ Timestamps
00:41 Lessons Learned from Data Lakes & Warehouses

01:36 Why Static BI Tools Fall Short for Hotels

03:14 The Shift Toward Unified Dashboards

04:11 Building a Scalable, AI-Ready Infrastructure

05:16 Creating System-Agnostic Data Flows

06:17 Testing the First Version with Customers

07:09 Static vs. Customizable KPI Dashboards

08:21 Preparing for Proof of Concept Launch

09:49 How AI Will Deliver Out-of-the-Box Insights

11:58 Customization & Dynamic Visualization at Scale

13:36 Overcoming System Mapping Challenges

14:46 User Experience & Self-Onboarding Goals

16:56 Why Timing Matters for Hospitality Tech

18:43 Looking Ahead: Demos & Product Roadmap

20:18 Final Thoughts: A Game-Changer for Hotels

Connect
Daniel Costa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-de-souza-p-costa-b094b959
Quinten de Putter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinten-de-putter-07944a1a9
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap
Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.io

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#HospitalityTech #HotelData #Omniboost #BusinessIntelligence #HospitalityInnovation #DataAnalytics #HotelManagement #HospitalitySolutions #HospitalityDashboard #HospitalityPodcast #HospitalityAI #HospitalityFuture #HotelTechnology #HospitalityBusiness #DataDrivenDecisions

Manual processes. Disconnected systems. Expensive errors. Hospitality is full of friction, and Omniboost is removing it.

In this on-the-ground episode recorded after a major hospitality event in Las Vegas, host Rob Napoli sits down with two of Omniboost’s key players to explore how automation, integrations, and consultative SaaS are reshaping hotel and restaurant operations. Vincent Gitsels and Romano Ruijtenburg share how Omniboost is solving industry pain points, one data connection at a time.

🧩 Topics Covered
- Lessons from the Vegas hospitality tech floor: what hotels are asking for now
- Consultative SaaS: the blend of software + service that drives results
- Breaking financial data silos across POS, PMS, and accounting systems
- Why AI is becoming central to hospitality automation
- Self-onboarding, human error reduction, and operational scale
- What’s next for Omniboost: product roadmap insights

Whether you’re a tech leader, GM, finance head, or systems integrator, this episode unpacks the next phase of hospitality success.

📢 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment to share what automation challenge you're solving this year.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.omniboost.io

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Hospitable with Rob Napoli
02:00 Lessons from the Las Vegas event
03:00 Vincent’s journey at Omniboost
04:30 Consultative SaaS explained
05:45 Breaking data silos
07:00 AI and automation in hospitality tech
08:20 POS to PMS to accounting integrations
09:10 Reducing human error with Omniboost
10:30 Insights from customer conversations
12:00 Future projects at Omniboost
13:30 Self-onboarding and operational efficiency
15:00 Final takeaways from Vegas

Connect
Vincent Gitsels: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-gitsels
Romano Ruijtenburg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romanoruijtenburg/
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap/
Omniboost: https://omniboost.io
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#HospitalityTech #Omniboost #DataIntegration #HospitalityAutomation #SaaS #HotelManagement #POS #PMS #AccountingSoftware #AIInHospitality #DataSilos #BusinessAutomation #OmniboostPodcast #HospitalityInnovation #HotelTech

What do jazz bass, project management, and ESG have in common? More than you’d expect.

In this episode of Hospitable, host Rob Napoli sits down with Gerald J. Leonard, musician, author, TEDx speaker, and CEO of Turnberry Premiere, to explore how hospitality leaders can embed sustainability into the DNA of their businesses. From “micro-impact” practices to leadership habits that mirror music performance, Gerald reveals how sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet, it’s about better business.

🧩 Topics Covered
- The “Three-Legged Stool” of ESG: Environment, Social, and Governance explained
- Why practice *is* the performance, on stage and in leadership
- How project maturity assessments shine a light on hidden inefficiencies
- What sustainable hotels do differently to boost loyalty and efficiency
- Data-driven sustainability: turning insight into action
- Why sustainability builds emotional ROI with modern guests

Whether you're running a boutique hotel or leading operations at a global chain, this episode offers a roadmap for putting purpose into practice, without sacrificing profit.

📢 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment to share how you’re making sustainability work in your business.

Learn more: https://www.omniboost.io

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Hospitable with Rob Napoli
01:52 – Gerald’s Beatles-on-Bass EP & New Book
03:27 – Music Lessons for Business Success
04:26 – How Vertigo Changed Gerald’s Path
06:28 – Sustainability = Project Management?
07:21 – The ESG “Three-Legged Stool” Explained
11:27 – Measuring Sustainability: What Really Matters
13:13 – Hotels, Guests & Micro-Impact Practices
14:30 – Helping Big Companies Act Sustainably
15:45 – Maturity Assessments & Turning on the Lights
18:46 – Sustainability = Revenue + Efficiency + Loyalty
20:40 – Rethinking ROI in Hospitality
25:01 – Gen Z, Diversity & Why Social Equity Matters

Connect
Gerald J. Leonard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldjleonard/
Gerald J. Leonard: https://geraldjleonard.com/
Turnberry Premiere: https://www.turnberrypremiere.com/
Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.io/
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap/
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com/

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, http://www.brokenframesstudio.com

#Sustainability #HospitalityTech #GeraldLeonard #LeadershipPodcast #HospitablePodcast #ESG #HospitalityInnovation #DataDrivenDecisions #HotelTech #GreenBusiness #CustomerLoyalty #PracticeIsPerformance #TurnberryPremier #HospitalityLeadership #Automation

What happens when a hospitality tech startup from a small Dutch town decides to go global on its own terms?

In this special Founder Talks episode, Omniboost CEO Kees Zorge sits down with COO and podcast host Rob Napoli to unpack what it really takes to scale a people-first, partner-driven SaaS company in the hospitality industry. From redefining what it means to “fail fast” to the power of servant leadership and purposeful travel, this is a no-fluff conversation on building global tech with heart, grit, and a whole lot of integrations.

🧩 Topics Covered
- The “Second Violin” mindset: Why Omniboost plays behind the scenes to help partners shine
- Building trust through consultative SaaS: Listening, adapting, iterating
- Growing a global team without losing your culture
- What 8,000+ daily integrations teach you about system unification
- AI with accountability: Why data hygiene is the real frontier
- Why hospitality founders still need to shake hands

Whether you're scaling a SaaS startup, leading tech transformation, or unifying hotel systems across continents—this one’s for you.

📢 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment to share how you’re tackling data silos in hospitality.

Learn more: https://www.omniboost.io
Read the feature: Omniboost: The Team Behind Every Touchdown → https://omniboost.io/media/omniboost-the-team-behind-every-touchdown

Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Hospitable with Rob Napoli
01:10 First Company-Wide Town Hall: Emotions & Pride
04:48 Servant Leadership at Scale
06:32 Interns Speak Up—Keeping Culture Intact
08:54 Preserving DNA Across 85 Countries
11:25 Partnership as a Behavioral Trait
14:05 Consultative SaaS Explained
16:35 Active Listening & Solving the Real Ask
18:06 8,000+ Daily Integrations: Platform Stats
20:00 Fail Fast, Learn Faster—US vs EU Mindset
24:57 Founder Travel Philosophy
29:40 Letting Employees Grow (and Err)
34:00 AI Hype vs Data Purification Reality
37:12 Crafting the Narrative: Second Violin & Unification
45:00 The Edgers Mindset & Final Thoughts

Connect
Kees Zorge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keeszorge/
Omniboost: https://omniboost.io/
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap/
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com/

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#HospitalityTech #DataUnification #SaaSFounders #StartupCulture #Omniboost #HotelTechnology #ServantLeadership #ConsultativeSaaS #HospitalityInnovation #TechPodcast #FounderTalk #GlobalStartup #APIAutomation #PMSIntegration #TheEdgersMindset

We sit down with Romano Ruijtenburg, Sales Lead at Omniboost, to uncover what truly sets Omniboost apart: consultative SaaS selling, deep technical collaboration, and building long-term partnerships in the hospitality industry.

From solving the complex Midas Hospitality integration across legacy PMS systems to managing clients across time zones, Romano shares how Omniboost simplifies data unification at scale — with a human touch.

🧩 Topics Covered
- What is consultative SaaS selling?
- The Midas Hospitality case study: PMS to accounting automation
- How Omniboost supports 8500+ integrations in 85+ countries
- Legacy tech challenges (Opera, PEP, ONQ) and Omniboost’s semantic layer
- Why trust and flexibility are key to client success

🔔 Subscribe for more insights from global hospitality leaders.
 
📩 Got questions or want to work with us? Drop a comment or connect on LinkedIn.

Learn more at: https://www.omniboost.io

Timestamps

04:30 – The Two-Sided Omniboost Model: Partner vs Direct
05:32 – From Intern to Sales Lead: Romano’s Career Journey
11:41 – Selling Without Selling: How Tech Enables Trust
15:18 – What Is a Semantic Data Layer?
16:39 – Automation at Scale: PMS to Accounting
18:00 – Every Hotel Is Unique — and Why That Matters
18:39 – Consultative SAS in Action: Asking the Right Questions
21:03 – Midas Hospitality: A Case Study in Complexity
24:30 – “It’s Not a Workaround — It’s Innovation”
25:37 – Support and Overcommunication: The Omniboost Difference
28:43 – Global Client Management: How Romano Handles Time Zones
34:40 – The Power of Integrations: 7500 and Counting
37:38 – Why Omniboost Frees Time to Focus on Guests

Connect
Romano Ruijtenburg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romanoruijtenburg/
Omniboost: https://omniboost.io/
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap/
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com/

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#HospitalityTech #SaaSSales #DataAutomation #HotelTech #ConsultativeSelling #Omniboost #HospitalityInnovation #GlobalSales #PMSIntegration #AccountingAutomation #TechLeadership #MidasHospitality #SaaSConsulting #HospitalitySoftware #RobNapoli

What if hotels weren’t just places to stay, but models for sustainability and innovation?

In this episode of Hospitable, Rob Napoli sits down with Levar Jackson, CEO of Yogh Group, to discuss the reality of “lazy business” in hospitality — and what needs to change. From innovative ROI-backed sustainability solutions to challenging industry norms, Levar shares real talk and real solutions to make hospitality smarter, greener, and more impactful.

🧠 Topics Covered
- Why sustainability must be additive, not subtractive
- How lazy thinking affects the bottom line
- Building HVAC systems that generate profit
- Partnerships with universities to spark innovation
- How inclusivity fuels innovation in hospitality

💡 Whether you're a hotelier, operations leader, or hospitality tech professional — this episode will shift how you think about efficiency, sustainability, and growth.

📢 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more game-changing conversations.

Learn more at: https://www.omniboost.io

Timestamps
00:29 – Rob introduces Levar and the Yogh Group
01:45 – How Levar entered hospitality via art
02:47 – Hotel waste: Why art and furnishings go to landfills
04:17 – “We have all the tools we’re just using the wrong ones”
05:38 – Almond trees in SoCal = unsustainable agriculture
06:21 – The social cost of skipping travel
08:30 – ROI on sustainability: It’s already there
11:22 – Minibar logic: Use ROI to drive sustainable upgrades
12:19 – Turning HVAC into a power generator
18:32 – How conglomerates can engage universities for innovation
21:30 – The $22k scholarship story that changed a life
28:17 – Friction in leadership = stronger ideas

Connect
Yogh Group: https://www.yogh.group/
Levar Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/levarjackson/
Omniboost: https://omniboost.io/
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap/
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com/

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#HospitalityInnovation #SustainableHotels #LevarJackson #YoghGroup #HospitalityTech #HotelSustainability #GreenHospitality #LazyBusiness #HospitalityLeadership #FutureOfHotels #RobNapoli #OmniboostPodcast #HospitablePodcast #SmartSustainability #HospitalityROI

We sit down with Koen Lavrijssen, Founder & CEO of Winston POS, to explore how his company is redefining point-of-sale technology for the hospitality industry.  

Born from a single frustrating restaurant experience, Winston POS was built to work with hospitality staff—not against them. Koen shares his journey from tech to POS, highlighting the importance of simplicity, usability, and innovation in restaurant and hotel operations.  

Key takeaways include:  
- Why most POS systems fail hospitality businesses  
- The importance of keeping systems simple yet powerful  
- How Winston POS’s dealer and partner model accelerates growth  
- Expanding into the U.S.: Unique challenges & opportunities  

Discover how Winston POS is transforming the industry with a fresh approach to POS technology.  

📢 What features do you think make the perfect POS system? Let us know in the comments!  

👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insights on hospitality technology.

Timestamps

[00:01:18] – How Winston POS was born from restaurant frustration
[00:02:21] – What makes a POS system truly user-friendly
[00:05:40] – The balance between simplicity and functionality
[00:10:41] – The dealer model: Why it’s essential for restaurant tech
[00:15:17] – Why POS should integrate rather than compete with other tech
[00:18:28] – “Hospitality is Chaos in Motion” – Adapting to fast-paced environments
[00:24:17] – How technology gives staff more time to focus on customers
[00:28:02] – Winston POS’s upcoming U.S. launch: What to expect
[00:29:26] – The philosophy behind “A system that works with you, not against you”
[00:30:24] – Where to find more about Winston POS & how to connect

Connect
Winston: https://winstonpos.com
Koen Lavrijssen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klavrijssen/
Omniboost: https://omniboost.io/
Rob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnap/
Rob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.com/

Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com

#HospitablePodcast #HospitalityTech #POSInnovation #WinstonPOS #RestaurantTech #HotelTech #FutureOfHospitality