Can a hotel brand expand rapidly without losing its identity? Leonardo Hotels’ journey proves just that. With 23 new properties acquired this year alone, the group has been growing quickly from a regional brand to a European leader. 

And who better to share insights into this exciting journey than Jean Buche, Vice President of Revenue Management for Central Europe at Leonardo Hotels? 

Tune in to the latest episode of LowKey by Oaky and discover: 

• How to navigate fast-paced portfolio expansion 

• How to maintain a cohesive identity while tailoring guest experiences to local markets

• Why trust is the foundation of successful leadership in hospitality

• What it takes to launch sub-brands in competitive urban markets 

• Jean’s personal reflections on leadership and mindset that anyone navigating complex growth can apply. 

Discover other episodes: https://oaky.com/en/hospitality-podcast-lowkey-by-oaky 

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Poor communication is the silent killer of hotel profits. That’s the hard truth shared by Alex Slors, Founder and Managing Director of Alex Slors Consulting, in our latest episode of LowKey by Oaky, hosted by Oaky’s CEO and Co-founder, Erik Tengen.

With decades of experience bridging the gap between owners, operators, brands, and investors, Alex unpacks why communication isn’t just a soft skill but a strategic lever that directly impacts your bottom line.

🎥 Watch on YouTube: [Insert link] 🎧 Listen on Spotify: [Insert link]

What you’ll learn:

• Why the asset manager’s role is more “glue” than “commander” or “general”

• How alignment between owners, brands, and hotel teams drives long-term value

• How poor communication quickly erodes EBITDA

• The risks of letting brand or ownership agendas overshadow hotel performance

• Surprising parallels between asset managers and startup CEOs

• When brands should push back and say “no” to owners

• Why hotel employees are the most overlooked stakeholders and why that needs to change

And more!

What is the difference between what guests truly want and what hotels believe their guests want? 

We’ve got the answer in our latest LowKey by Oaky episode featuring none other than Danica Smith, CEO & Founder of MorningStar GX and an expert in the guest experience.

Danica breaks down the blind spots hospitality leaders often overlook and explains how to bridge these gaps to meet modern guests’ expectations.

What you will learn: 

• What true personalization means and why tech is only half of the puzzle. 

• How internal silos undermine the guest experience. 

• How to align your team to fulfill the brand promise. 

• The real difference between guest needs and desires, and why fulfilling guests’ desires is essential for building loyalty. 

• Why the future of hospitality is emotion-led and what that means for the guest experience you design.

Why do some hotel teams thrive while others fail? In this LowKey episode, Philip Steiner, COO for the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal at Cycas Hospitality, and Erik Tengen, Oaky’s CEO and Co-founder, discuss the secrets of building high-performing teams. Get ready to uncover unique insights from Philip on leadership, team building, and creating a culture of positive empowerment and motivation. What you will learn: - Why planning and structure are the foundations of effective team building- Why diversity is a game-changer in creating high-performing teams- How Philip transformed the Bankside Hotel team into a TripAdvisor top performer by fostering a positive and empowering environment- Philip’s approach to handling constant challenges in hospitality- And more nuggets of wisdom and fresh perspectives on team building. Discover other episodes: https://oaky.com/en/hospitality-podcast-lowkey-by-oaky Follow us on social media:https://open.spotify.com/show/1MwAWFaykVu7O7YlMpUOSE?si=f4dbbc7b69ed443e https://www.instagram.com/oakynews/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/oaky/ https://www.facebook.com/oakynews/ https://twitter.com/oakynews

What is the difference between what guests truly want and what hotels believe their guests want? 

We’ve got the answer in our latest LowKey by Oaky episode featuring none other than Danica Smith, CEO & Founder of MorningStar GX and an expert in the guest experience, and Oaky's CRO Clément Dénarié.

Danica breaks down the blind spots hospitality leaders often overlook and explains how to bridge these gaps to meet modern guests’ expectations. 

What you will learn: 

• What true personalization means and why tech is only half of the puzzle. 

• How internal silos undermine the guest experience. 

• How to align your team to fulfill the brand promise. 

• The real difference between guest needs and desires, and why fulfilling guests’ desires is essential for building loyalty. 

• Why the future of hospitality is emotion-led and what that means for the guest experience you design.

What if your guests could choose to book directly over OTAs every time?

In this episode of LowKey by Oaky, we dive deeper into the secrets of driving direct bookings and building guest loyalty with Diego Fernández Pérez de Ponga, CEO of Port Hotels and author of The Art of Revenue, joined by Pablo Torres, Hospitality Consultant and Oaky’s Front Desk Upselling Coach.

Get ready to discover:

• Critical technical aspects your website may be missing that hinder your direct bookings
• Common mistakes hoteliers make when trying to generate direct bookings
• The key elements of a winning loyalty program
• How to make marketing work to your advantage
• Why the ancillary revenue strategy is becoming more important in modern hospitality

Data is a cornerstone of revenue management, and it becomes even more crucial as you move toward embracing total revenue management.

In this episode of the LowKey by Oaky podcast, Rebekka Berger, Director of Revenue and Business Performance at Hotel Okura Amsterdam, provides an inside scoop on how she and her team use data to optimize revenue, refine offerings, and deliver exceptional guest service.

Together with Oaky’s Saahil Karkera, VP of Customer Success, they discuss:

• The difference between traditional revenue management and total revenue management

• Why a total revenue management strategy is essential for profitability

• The challenges of data collection and management and how Hotel Okura tackles them

• How Hotel Okura Amsterdam navigates and analyzes data for data-driven decisions

• How guest demographic data is used to enhance service and drive profitability

• And much more!

Generating more revenue is just one piece of the revenue puzzle. Another key piece is optimizing your VAT strategy.

Is only one person on your team actively upselling at the front desk?

Or maybe you’re facing resistance or low motivation from your team when trying to implement a front desk upselling strategy? 

The good news is, that with the right approach, you can leave these challenges behind. In this episode of the LowKey podcast, Pablo Torres, a hospitality expert, author, and Oaky’s new front desk upselling coach, shares practical strategies to help set up your entire team for success.

Together with Oaky’s Erik Tengen, they dive deeper into: 

• Why front desk upselling matters in today’s hospitality industry

• How a front desk upselling consultant can help hotels uncover and address challenges that hold them back from executing a winning upselling strategy

• How to turn your front desk agents into top sales performers

• Traditional vs. next-generation upselling  

• How technology can make upselling more consistent, fun, and rewarding for hotel teams

• Real stories and anecdotes from Pablo’s 14-year career consulting career.

What are API-first platforms, and how are they different from regular PMSs with API capabilities? What benefits do they bring to hotels, and how are they shaping the future of hospitality?

Our latest podcast episode of LowKey is the perfect place to find answers to these questions. Hear from our guest, Ulrich Pillau, Founder and CEO of Apaleo, a seasoned hotel industry expert, joined by Oaky’s CEO and Co-Founder, Erik Tengen.

The episode sheds light on: