Hospitable

We explore the future of hospitality technology with Maximilian Huber, integration specialist at gastronovi. Max shares his journey from growing up in a family-owned hotel to becoming a leader in gastronomy tech, offering valuable perspectives on how technology is transforming restaurant and hotel operations.

Key topics discussed include:
- The evolution of gastronomy technology and its impact on hospitality.
- How gastronovi’s modular systems simplify complex processes for restaurants and hotels.
- The rise of ghost kitchens and self-ordering systems.
- How AI is reshaping restaurant workflows, from QR code menus to automation.

Discover how gastronovi is driving innovation to streamline operations while maintaining the human connection at the heart of hospitality.

📢 What trends do you think will shape hospitality in 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments!

👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more episodes exploring the intersection of technology and hospitality.

Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Hospitable with Rob Napoli
00:03 Meet Maximilian Huber: From Hotels to Tech Innovation
00:45 Growing Up in Hospitality: Max’s Unique Perspective
01:20 The Complexity of Hospitality Tech and Frontline Solutions
03:15 How gastronovi Simplifies Gastronomy Digitization
05:30 Modular Systems for Restaurants: Flexibility Meets Function
08:20 Ghost Kitchens: A Trend or the Future?
11:15 How AI Enhances Restaurant Operations
13:40 Improving Guest and Staff Experiences Through Tech
16:00 Gastronomy Trends to Watch for in 2025
19:50 Closing Thoughts: The Future of Hospitality Innovation

Connect
gastronovi: http://www.gastronovi.com
Maximilian Huber: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximilian-huber-24061995/
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

An inspiring conversation with Wink Jones, CEO and founding member of Meal Ticket. Since its launch in 2011, Meal Ticket has been transforming the food service industry with cutting-edge technology.

Wink takes us on his journey from starting in a small garage to leading a company that processes billions in sales data. He shares the challenges and rewards of building relationships in the food tech space, highlights the value of face-to-face interactions, and explains how Meal Ticket uses data to empower restaurants and distributors.

We explore the current state of hospitality technology, the growing influence of AI, and emerging trends to watch as we approach 2025. Wink also offers actionable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of financial awareness and perseverance in achieving success.

Whether you're part of the hospitality industry or curious about how technology is reshaping food service, this episode is filled with insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss!

Audio Timestamps.

[00:01:43] Distributor data mining for marketing.

[00:08:11] Relationship first in technology.

[00:10:41] Data ownership and management.

[00:11:47] Human to human relationships.

[00:16:20] Building relationships in business.

[00:20:28] Travel's impact on business perspective.

[00:25:19] AI's impact on the restaurant industry.

[00:26:31] AI in operational efficiency.

[00:30:35] Startup challenges and serendipity.

[00:33:49] Serendipitous luck in entrepreneurship.

[00:36:16] Guest suggestions and topics.

Quotes
00:01:20 - "I think it's really hard to engage in a partnership or do something really strategic unless you've sat down at dinner together."
00:04:22 - "We got like crazy click rates, and then they sold out in like two hours."
00:05:40 - "The fun and challenging thing about food tech is that I think we're behind the technology curve as an industry in general."
00:08:59 - "What we do want to do is help them stay in business. We want them to be smarter."
00:12:24 - "But the way that we treat data, the sanctity that we treat data with, it's one of our core values is that your data is your data."
00:12:30 - "Data does tell a story. They could tell us the right story, but we have to put it in a way to make that story accessible, understandable, and usable."
00:16:45 - "I think it's really hard to engage in a partnership or do something really strategic unless you've sat down at dinner together."
00:18:24 - "Technology is only as good as the people that are using it, right?"
00:22:03 - "I didn't expect what I experienced there."
00:25:01 - "We have to make sure that what we're providing isn't just a nice to have, but it actually is saving them money and helping them stay in business."
00:27:12 - "I don't think anybody wants to sit at a bar and be served by a robot yet."
00:28:14 - "I'd like to say in a cheeky way that we've been using AI since AI was cool."
00:32:43 - "You can't underestimate the amount of work that goes in and the amount of serendipity that is responsible for success."
00:34:24 - "Just be careful about taking on financing and you're married to your investors."
00:36:25 - "It's really easy to get lost in the here and now and not the full picture."

Connect
Meal Ticket: https://www.mealticket.com/
Wink Jones:https://www.linkedin.com/in/wink-jones-ba58b0/
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

Hospitality veteran Chris Tripoli shares his journey through the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of passion, connection, and adaptability. Chris offers practical advice on creating memorable guest experiences, managing operations with technology, and balancing vision with flexibility in a competitive market.

Chris reflects on the role of tech in enhancing efficiency and guest satisfaction, stressing its support for personal, guest-focused service. With stories of travel and cultural inspiration, he highlights the enduring value of genuine hospitality.

Tune in for insights and inspiration from one of the industry's most seasoned professionals!

Timestamps
[00:04:11] Lifelong passion for restaurants.

[00:07:38] People serving people in hospitality.

[00:09:04] Passion in the restaurant industry.

[00:13:02] Restaurant ownership challenges.

[00:18:04] Money management technology in dining.

[00:20:42] Guest experience in dining.

[00:22:37] Community events impact restaurant planning.

[00:26:52] Managing restaurant data effectively.

[00:29:58] Annual planning and technology.

[00:35:03] Guest experience and technology.

[00:36:13] Corner Booth podcast discussion.

Quotes
00:01:12 - "It's one of the hardest things you'll ever do. And if you don't love it... If you just don't have that personal connection, I don't know, it's going to be too hard down the line."
00:07:08 - "It's a people business. You enjoy serving people, but you do this because you must enjoy working with people."
00:09:33 - "The principle is you have to like working with people in a way that serves people."
00:10:38 - "What I want to hear first is somebody's leading with passion."
00:12:47 - "Not everyone needs to own a restaurant. Yeah. And because it isn't for everyone."
00:15:17 - "It starts with passion, right? And, and, and looking for passion."
00:18:16 - "The absolute minimum, though, is a POS system that's going to be able to help you manage product and labor."
00:21:13 - "It doesn't have to be a special occasion restaurant to make somebody's occasion feel special."
00:23:11 - "Technology becomes such a really cool piece in why restaurateurs need to understand the value of technology and the value of choosing the right things."
00:25:32 - "The best restaurants today are managed week by week."
00:28:03 - "It's there for a reason."
00:30:07 - "If you're moving, you're managing and the technology's in your hand."
00:34:01 - "It's going to be the rediscovery of the guest."
00:35:38 - "Our operations are going to be measured by the improved guest experience."

Connect
The Restaurant Clinic: https://www.therestaurantclinic.com/
Chris Tripoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctripoli/
Chris Tripoli: https://www.christripoli.com/
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

We sit down with Greg Früchtenicht, Chief Operating Officer at Saira Hospitality, to explore how technology and human connection can work hand-in-hand to create meaningful change in the hospitality industry. Saira Hospitality, a pioneering nonprofit, builds pop-up hospitality schools worldwide to train and empower local communities, equipping individuals from underserved areas with the skills to thrive in luxury hospitality environments.

Greg shares his journey with Saira and dives into the organization's mission to uplift local talent, reducing reliance on overseas hires and fostering a stronger sense of community impact. We discuss how automation and technology help alleviate repetitive tasks, freeing up hospitality teams to focus on exceptional guest experiences. Greg also highlights Saira’s unique partnerships with luxury hotels and tech companies like Mews, showing how Saira is preparing its graduates with essential tech skills for the evolving hospitality landscape.

Whether you’re passionate about hospitality, technology, or social impact, this episode offers inspiring insights into how Saira Hospitality is transforming lives and the industry as a whole. Tune in to discover how technology can complement a human-centered approach, making hospitality more accessible and impactful for everyone involved.

Thank you for listening! Be sure to like, subscribe, and share to support our channel and help spread the word about how technology and community can come together in powerful ways.

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Greg's journey to Saira Hospitality
03:00 Overview of Saira Hospitality's mission
10:00 The impact of technology in hospitality
20:00 Partnerships with tech companies
30:00 Curriculum development and community engagement
38:00 How to get involved with Saira Hospitality

Quotes
00:00:45 - "If you are able to automate and simplify some of the more mundane or less human tasks in a hotel, that frees up so much headspace and so much actual time for the teams to celebrate and deliver great hospitality."
00:04:58 - "Opportunities should be given to local community members and considering local community members is not having the right skills to work in a luxury lifestyle hotel is simply wrong."
00:06:45 - "We shouldn't just be poaching people anymore or flying people in from overseas. We should be giving people opportunities."
00:09:12 - "Hospitality is a transformative experience for so many people."
00:11:41 - "Sometimes you got to shoot your shot when you hear about something that excites you."
00:13:28 - "It's really easy to see is the impact that a hotel at any level, especially luxury hotels, has a huge impact on the community."
00:15:45 - "Automation... frees up so much headspace and so much actual time for the teams to celebrate and deliver great hospitality."
00:19:49 - "AI and automation is not meant to replace, it's meant to help."
00:22:03 - "If as a technology company, you're able to say we're supporting a nonprofit, and we're also able to say to our customers, we're bringing in newly trained teams who are impassioned by our tech, but also your brand, you start to solve two problems."
00:25:32 - "It's easy to talk about these things, hard to put into practice."
00:26:59 - "Most people or many people do want to do the right thing. It's just how do you take your focus off profitability?"
00:30:36 - "No two destinations are the same."
00:32:01 - "You're much more interested in who they are as a person and their personality than what they studied at school 10 years ago."
00:35:30 - "It's how can we start to partner with... brands that we feel are aligned with the vision that we have and the impact that we're having."
00:36:17 - "I often find that you guys are great problems solvers."
00:39:01 - "the impact that you're creating in communities."

Connect
Saira Hospitality: https://www.sairahospitality.com/
Greg Früchtenicht: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-fr%C3%BCchtenicht-8070569a/?originalSubdomain=uk
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

We delve into the intersection of technology and the human experience in the restaurant industry. Join us as we welcome Tom Rutledge, owner and managing partner of RDMS Group, who brings over 20 years of expertise to the table. Tom discusses how to blend culinary artistry with operational efficiency and financial savvy, emphasizing the critical role of technology in creating extraordinary dining experiences. 

Key themes include data-driven decision-making, the balance between digital tools and personal service, and the importance of financial literacy in restaurant management. With insights into average check size and prime cost, Tom sheds light on how restaurateurs can leverage data to optimize operations and elevate customer satisfaction, making this episode a must-listen for anyone in the hospitality sector.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more episodes that explore the integration of technology in the hospitality sector!

Timestamps

[00:04:37] Restaurant industry data challenges.

[00:08:34] Restaurant concept clarity.

[00:11:25] Financial literacy in restaurant startups.

[00:14:34] Average check size dynamics.

[00:17:18] Business model of culinary experiences.

[00:22:19] Importance of prime cost analysis.

[00:22:50] Prime cost management strategies.

[00:26:31] Food cost management strategies.

[00:30:21] Technology in restaurant service.

[00:32:46] Menu psychology in restaurants.

[00:38:00] Data utilization in restaurants.

[00:39:43] Data-driven decision making in restaurants.

[00:43:04] Authentic Italian dining experience.

[00:46:37] Technology's impact on restaurants.

[00:50:07] Restaurant management meetings effectiveness.

[00:52:36] Consistency in restaurant data analysis.

Quotes

00:01:01 - "For me, it's can you explain your restaurant in a sentence? What is your vision?"

00:03:33 - "The restaurant space is amazing and terrible and fun and awful and all those fun things all at the same time for a lot of reasons."

00:06:46 - "This industry can get overly saturated with ideas, but not necessarily execution when it comes to technology in particular."

00:10:08 - "Can you explain your restaurant in a sentence?"

00:12:49 - "If your lease is going to be 20% of your monthly revenue, you're dead before you open."

00:15:00 - "Food is a religion, right? And you go to dinner, it's a two-hour affair."

00:17:45 - "You have to listen more than you have to like be a trendsetter."

00:19:50 - "Just who do you want to be?"

00:20:42 - "We have a low bar and we deliver higher."

00:23:11 - "The classic move in the restaurants is often to just cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, as opposed to analyze and reassess."

00:27:13 - "When avocado goes through the roof, we tell our servers, hey guys, avocado is really expensive. Sell the trio."

00:28:12 - "I'm an open checkbook. I'm kind of like, make me happy and I will just order things."

00:31:13 - "Management shouldn't be compiling data; they should be using data."

00:34:10 - "I think the physical menu in the restaurant, regardless of how digital it can get, you lose something when you just give somebody their phone and they have to scroll."

00:35:36 - "I still think at my core, 90% of the neighborhood full service restaurants it's a people game more than it is anything else."

00:39:57 - "Data for data's sake is useless unless you understand what you're looking at and how you're using it."

00:40:56 - "Does the guest see you the way you see yourself, I think is another important comment."

00:44:39 - "It was a love letter to my grandmother, and it was New York Italian."

00:46:50 - "it's all about how the guest gets to see themselves when they sit down and how they feel when they leave."

00:48:52 - "I think you just have to do things very deliberately in this industry more so than ever before."

00:50:34 - "That's where I think data becomes really impactful with these different technology systems is that you can look at trends over time."

00:53:15 - "I actually think there's one piece of technology that is a false claim in this industry that I think a lot of people spend a lot of time and money on that I don't think works for most people."

00:55:22 - "I wake up dreaming of it every morning."

00:56:38 - "Make sure you be a tier one, like, subscribe, review, do all those things."

Connect

RDMS: https://www.rdmsgroup.com/

Tom Rutledge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-rutledge-53830033/

Tom Rutledge: https://www.instagram.com/rdmsgroup/

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

Ready to take your travel experience to the next level? In this episode of "Hospitable," co-founders Roeland Verhamme and Jeroen Vaassen of ExpectMe reveal how their cutting-edge platform is revolutionizing hotel stays by allowing guests to select specific rooms based on personal preferences. Imagine choosing a room just like you would a seat on a plane – it’s a game-changer! We dive into the power of personalization in hospitality, the impact on guest satisfaction, and how hotels can unlock hidden revenue with this innovative approach. Whether you're a frequent traveler or a hotelier, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss!

Tune in, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!

Timestamps
[00:03:58] Room selection in hospitality.

[00:08:45] Guest experience and technology integration.

[00:11:00] Personalized guest experiences.

[00:14:20] Personalized hotel room selection.

[00:18:04] Unique travel experiences for guests.

[00:19:01] Room selection and guest preferences.

[00:23:36] Guest experience and hotel flexibility.

[00:25:44] Human connection in hospitality.

[00:30:01] Guest experience and room selection.

[00:34:39] Customer lifetime value in hospitality.

[00:37:11] Flexibility in hotel room selection.

[00:39:57] Guest experience in podcasting.

Quotes
00:01:08 - "You can create so much of a unique opportunity for the guest experience and the hotel that provide that guest experience."
00:04:43 - "That was a real anticlimax because I booked a room with a sea view... but that expectation was definitely not met."
00:09:07 - "I do think that also bringing somebody in that's not his whole career and whole life could also be super helpful by thinking about how do we build a better mousetrap."
00:10:55 - "I think that hotels, they can do such a great job by focusing more towards the experience that they can provide."
00:14:11 - "I love this idea that you can actually personalize that experience based on the city that you're in and the type of travel that you're doing."
00:16:02 - "I think if you think about the rigid room types, you're sort of forcing people to think in what makes sense for you as a hotel."
00:19:31 - "I want a different experience every time I go somewhere."
00:22:09 - "There's only one person that knows which room you really would like and that's you as a hotel guest yourself."
00:24:39 - "Even if some of those simple questions, that could have been a huge change in the guest experience taking into account."
00:27:11 - "We want to take the burden away from the hotel as well so that they can actually have time to spend with the guests on talking about how was your flight?"
00:28:36 - "That is something to pay attention to, right? And that does affect the guest experience."
00:31:07 - "For them it's a no-brainer because they all say, I mean, yeah, why am I not able to select my room? Yeah, that would be actually a really great experience."
00:34:03 - "I think that's such a unique, there's a uniqueness to this where this could really change how you experience the hotel."
00:35:58 - "I think we're just at the beginning, right? And I think to your point, we're obviously a startup, we're just getting warmed up."
00:38:51 - "We're omnivores. We love automation. We love process simplicity, right? That's the name of the game."

Connect
ExpectMe: https://expect-me.com/
Roeland Verhamme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roelandverhamme/
Jeroen Vaassen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jvaassen/
Roeland Verhamme: https://www.instagram.com/roeland.verhamme/
Jeroen Vaassen: https://www.instagram.com/jvaassen/
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

We’re joined by Saxton Sharad, CEO and founder of Revival Hotels, to explore the art of building brand ethos and the revival of boutique hotels in today's hospitality landscape. Saxton takes us on a journey through his early influences in the industry, from writing pretend restaurant menus as a child to working with his parents at Hilton Hotels, shaping his unique approach to hospitality.

Saxton introduces us to the mission behind Revival Hotels, a brand breaking away from traditional third-party management models that prioritize revenue over genuine profit. Revival focuses on aligning management goals with the success of hotels and their guests, with an emphasis on creating frictionless and authentic experiences—what Saxton calls "invisible hospitality." This seamless experience ensures that technology and hospitality services work behind the scenes, allowing guests to immerse themselves in local culture and experience something more than just a place to stay.

We dive into the concept of the "experience seeker," a new type of traveler who values authentic local experiences over amenities. Saxton shares how Revival Hotels embraces this by creating environments that encourage exploration, making the hotel a gateway to the local market rather than the destination itself.

If you're passionate about hospitality, curious about the future of boutique hotels, or just looking for insights into creating meaningful guest experiences, this episode is for you. Tune in to hear Saxton’s vision for boutique hotel revival and how Revival Hotels is setting a new standard in the industry.

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more inspiring episodes!

Audio Timestamps

[00:00:16] Experience seekers in hospitality.

[00:04:22] Hospitality industry integration challenges.

[00:07:45] Unique hotel experiences in college towns.

[00:10:49] Third-party management solutions.

[00:13:37] Management focus on small hotels.

[00:18:40] Experience seekers in hospitality.

[00:19:39] Invisible hospitality and guest experience.

[00:25:34] Frictionless hotel experiences.

[00:26:15] Hotel experience versus short-term rentals.

[00:32:23] Unapologetically unique guest experiences.

[00:33:05] Hotel industry innovation and fear.

[00:38:00] Fear as a motivator.

[00:39:49] The gift of taking breaks.

[00:45:38] Hidden gems in small towns.

[00:47:11] Unique experiences in hospitality

Quotes

00:04:09 - "In my fifth grade yearbook, all my classmates, doctor, lawyer, football player, police officer, my fifth grade yearbook says I wanna own and operate my own hotel someday."

00:06:41 - "The guest, who is the most important person in the whole piece of everything, doesn't care about the silo."

00:10:32 - "It's that level of detail to me that made Graduate extremely special and what makes our business special."

00:12:45 - "As long as the manager gets paid on revenue and the owner gets paid on profit, there will always be a misalignment."

00:15:02 - "The best crops grow in the gardener's shade."

00:17:56 - "It is a blessing and a curse."

00:19:15 - "We search for a specific guest that we have coined the experience seeker, that person who wants the authentic feel, that person who wants to eat from the local restaurant, that person who wants to hear the local music, that person who wants to feel what it's like to be in these markets."

00:22:08 - "One of the biggest things we found is guests want a frictionless experience."

00:25:30 - "If you say, hey, I want to go hit the slopes. I want to hit the beach. I want to go to the nightclub. I don't want to come back till two, three in the morning after I've really had that experience, had that adventure I'm looking for."

00:27:40 - "But if the coffee when you wake up is not good, that is heartbreaking."

00:28:36 - "You might tell me, hey, Saxton, you know, or I might say, hey, Rob, go to our hotel in Groton, and it's a beautiful hotel. You could have a great stay. When you and your wife want to go someplace next, you're not going back to Groton. It's another roll of the dice."

00:32:15 - "You could be the same person, right? Some nights I want to be the rock star. Well, other nights, I wanna be the father."

00:34:41 - "I'm excited for people to see that hotels don't have to be what they think of when they think of hotels."

00:36:09 - "1% better every day is a massive improvement."

00:42:14 - "What we do is so special because we give people the opportunity to take a break."

00:46:27 - "Get in your car. Get in. Explore. See something new. See something different. And that's really what travel is about."

Connect

Revival Hotels: https://www.revivalhotels.com/

Saxton Sharad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saxton-sharad-cha-6642a49/

Saxton Sharad: https://www.instagram.com/thesaxoflife/

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

In this episode of Hospitable, we sit down with Joe Sykes, Co-Founder and Director of ecommit, to explore the critical role data plays in driving sustainability within the hospitality industry. Together, we delve into how hospitality brands can leverage data to create awareness around CO2 emissions, ensuring that sustainability efforts move beyond mere buzzwords into actionable strategies. Joe shares insights from his journey, starting from a family-run restaurant in the Netherlands to building a platform that helps businesses offset their carbon footprint through clear, impactful data.

Throughout the conversation, we discuss the importance of small, manageable changes and how collective efforts can make a significant impact. We explore the balance between unavoidable and avoidable emissions, and how hospitality businesses can contribute to sustainability without sacrificing operational efficiency or guest experience. Joe emphasizes that while data is essential, it’s only valuable when acted upon, and he illustrates this through practical examples from his work with ecommit. The conversation highlights how data-driven, transparent sustainability practices can lead to lasting change, both for businesses and travelers.

Whether you’re a hospitality professional or someone passionate about sustainability, this episode offers valuable insights on how we can all take meaningful steps toward greener travel experiences. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more thought-provoking discussions on making hospitality more sustainable and human.

Timestamps

[00:01:16] Data's actionable importance in sustainability.

[00:04:19] Sustainable travel experiences.

[00:09:19] Unspoken expectations in sustainability.

[00:11:37] Hospitality's role in sustainability.

[00:17:37] Small changes, big impact.

[00:20:05] Small habitual changes for sustainability.

[00:23:00] Unavoidable emissions in hospitality.

[00:25:55] Data in the hospitality industry.

[00:30:42] Theory versus execution in sustainability.

[00:33:34] Perfection vs. Imperfection in Impact.

[00:36:51] Future collaborations and meetings

Quotes
00:02:31 - "Data is king. But I always ask, is data still king if you don't do anything with it?"
00:07:40 - "That's not very hospitable."
00:10:34 - "It shouldn't be thrown around as a buzzword. It should just be covered. It should just be done, right?"
00:12:41 - "But I think that in all those small things do add up to make big impact."
00:16:30 - "You basically would need the surface area of the state of New Jersey to compensate those emissions of the complete hospitality industry in the US."
00:19:23 - "the impact of doing a few small things is huge."
00:20:59 - "It's only small changes that can have actually the biggest impact, right? Because it's small changes by many people, not just by a few, right?"
00:25:09 - "First is awareness, then it's identifying what is unavoidable."
00:26:22 - "Small small things can result in very big things."
00:30:07 - "I think highlighting that and knowing what's unavoidable versus what is avoidable, and then creating that visualization."
00:34:06 - "Perfect gets in the way of good."
00:35:43 - "Perfection creates inaction, doesn't it?"
00:36:58 - "It's data-driven automated climate impact. So it's going to be reportable. It's all going to be fantastic." 

Connect
ecommit: https://ecommit.nl/
Joe Sykes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-sykes-335779ba/
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

We sit down with Susan Graves, a former hotelier turned solution provider, to explore the future of hospitality. Susan shares her passion for modernizing the industry through sustainability, automation, and AI, all while enhancing the guest experience.

Discover how easy-to-use and affordable solutions can significantly impact guest and employee satisfaction. Susan discusses innovative approaches like automating linen inventory management for predictive budgeting and ordering, which streamlines operations and boosts efficiency. Learn about the importance of providing bite-sized, mobile-friendly training modules that empower staff without disrupting daily tasks, ultimately leading to superior guest service.

The conversation also delves into sustainability in the hospitality industry, highlighting solutions that reduce energy expenses by up to 40% and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Susan emphasizes that sustainable practices are not only environmentally friendly but also financially beneficial, attracting eco-conscious travellers and improving hotel reputation.

This episode is packed with actionable insights on leveraging automation, AI, and sustainable practices to modernize your hospitality business. Whether you're interested in improving operational efficiency, enhancing guest experiences, or embracing sustainability, this episode offers valuable strategies for driving long-term success.

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and comment to stay updated with the latest insights from Hospitable. Join us on the journey to modernize and sustain the hospitality industry!

Timestamps

[00:00:25] Modernizing the hospitality industry.

[00:04:44] Automation in the hospitality industry.

[00:07:26] Repetitive questions at the front desk.

[00:12:10] Elevating guest experience through technology.

[00:15:23] Guest experience innovation in hospitality.

[00:20:01] Utilizing underutilized urban spaces.

[00:22:49] Opening up new revenue streams.

[00:25:08] Sustainable solutions in hospitality.

[00:28:20] Sustainability in hospitality industry.

[00:33:16] Modernizing the Hospitality Industry.

[00:36:11] Be a tier one.

Quotes 

00:00:13 - "Our most valuable asset right now is our people."

00:03:23-00:03:34 - "I want employees to be able to be happier at work. I want guests to have a better guest experience and let the automation take care of some of the workflow where it can and let the people work with the people. So that's what this industry is all about."

00:06:08 - "Yeah, that's what I said. Like, where were you when I was managing hotels? But like, Something as simple as like, how do we reduce repetitive tasks?"

00:09:32-00:09:43 - "a necessary question, but does it have to be answered by the desk clerk or could AI step in with a real human voice"

00:12:32 - "the guest experience by freeing up the human from repetitive tasks and repetitive calls and repetitive questions to be able to deal with the human to give them a better guest experience."

00:15:43-00:15:54 - "Yeah, great question. I think the brands are hungry for it. I meet with a lot of brand personnel now. They're hungry for it."

00:18:24 - "The whole context of creating the guest experience changes."

00:20:43 - "Everyone talks about it, but not everyone's doing it."

00:22:18-00:22:28 - "In this position, this actually created a wonderful job for her, and she's making more money than working three jobs running around. That's amazing."

00:26:32 - "I actually found solutions that actually save you money."

00:29:44 - "A property that's including sustainability, 70% will swing right now."

00:31:32-00:31:43 - "I want to bust the myth on this. Like it seems scary, but when you break it down base layer, there are some easy steps you can implement to already do ABC."

00:34:40 - "Hospitality is a tremendous industry."

00:35:30 - "And to have people, folks out there like yourself, who are looking at how do we create change in the most effective way possible so that we can reduce the headache of implementing new stuff is going to be super impactful."

Connect

Experience Alive: https://www.experiencealive.com/

Susan Graves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suegraves/

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

We sit down with Michel Meeuwse, Chief Data & Strategic Projects at Omniboost, to unveil the secrets of the data services team. Discover how Omniboost's data team transforms raw data into actionable insights and enhances customer experiences with their innovative projects. Michel shares insights into the team's approach, from data flexibility and unification to recent projects like the Strawberry project and the Sweep Action integration.

Join us as we explore the importance of good data practices, tackle data integration challenges, and discuss the role of AI and automation in shaping the future of data services. Michel highlights the collaborative nature of their work, emphasising how learning from colleagues and customers drives Omniboost’s success. Don’t miss this deep dive into how Omniboost is revolutionising data services in the hospitality industry!

Audio Timestamps

[00:04:19] Data flexibility and unification.

[00:09:16] Sweep action integration.

[00:12:10] Data integration challenges and solutions.

[00:15:28] Data Ownership and Trust.

[00:18:38] AI, ML, automation opportunities.

[00:21:15] Customer-focused solutions for growth.

[00:24:05] Discovering with the Omniboost team.

Quotes

00:02:17 - "Probably our best kept secret, but it's no longer a secret anymore, is it?"

00:03:37-00:03:47 - "Because there's a lot of information of data, but it's not yet information."

00:05:24-00:05:35 - "This is where I love, you know, we talk about data unification, but we also talk about data flexibility."

00:09:46-00:09:56 - "to serve, as you know. And we also try not to say no, it's not possible upfront, but let's dig in. And what can we do for you? What can we accomplish together?"

00:11:26-00:11:37 - "For accounting purposes, you need to 100% correct."

00:13:47-00:13:58 - "It's so cool. I mean, when you put people in a room and just think of ideas, you don't limit yourself."

00:17:46-00:17:57 - "When you think about accounting, traditional accounting, you have to wait for the month end and they close out and they get that report."

00:20:54-00:21:04 - "But AI automation is not meant to replace. It's meant to enhance, speed up."

00:21:29-00:21:39 - "Yeah. You know, you can automate accounting and there's a lot of things we could do, but there still has to be a checks and balances."

Connect

Omniboost: https://omniboost.io/

Michel Meeuwse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelmeeuwse/

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

Episode 24: What does Data Unifcation really mean in Hospitality? w/ Kyle McCaig from MCR: https://youtu.be/pKs_A6NmU4M?si=8mbSrJk0zS3koAmM

Episode 3: How Does Technology Help Ensure Customer Experience w/ Strawberry VP of Technology: https://youtu.be/XvF92YZq8yk?si=hH39xV7qgN2NJ89X