Pillow Talk Sessions

In this week’s Pillow Talk Sessions, Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski sit down with Jonathan Burridge, Founder & CEO of Utopi, to explore how his company is helping operators cut costs, reduce carbon, and improve resident engagement through data-driven technology.

💡 Highlights include:
 ⚡ How Utopi uncovered 1,400% energy consumption variance in one building
 📊 Why ESG is shifting from “compliance” to performance and ROI
 🎮 Behavioral change campaigns that save energy and build community
🤖 The role of AI in streamlining workflows, insights, and customer features
🏨 How lessons from student housing can carry into hospitality and hotels

Jonathan shares a candid perspective on how tech can drive operational excellence—without losing sight of residents or community.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

In this week’s Pillow Talk Sessions, Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski sit down with Josef Vollmayr, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Limehome, to explore how the company is reshaping hospitality across Europe with efficiency, design, and digital-first operations.

💡 Highlights include:
 🌍 Why most travelers now value clean, functional stays over luxury touches
 🤖 How Limehome achieves 85% automation without losing the guest experience
 🏗️ The building strategies behind 72% space efficiency versus hotels at 50%
 📲 Why OTAs remain vital—and how Limehome still captures loyalty post-booking
 💶 How staffing, energy, and construction costs are forcing innovation in hospitality

Josef offers a candid, insider perspective on what it takes to scale hospitality today — and where the market is heading.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

In this episode of Pillow Talk Sessions, Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski sit down with Kevin Murphy, Co-founder & COO of Renew, to explore how multifamily operators can turn one of their biggest weaknesses—renewals—into a relationship-driven advantage.

💡 Highlights include:
 🏘️ Why renewals should start on day one, not 60 days before expiry
 🏨 How “hotelification” is reshaping expectations in the rental world
 📊 Why fragmented operators struggle with loyalty—and how networks can solve it
 🤖 The balance between AI automation and human service recovery
 🌍 A vision for renting as part of the American dream by 2030

Kevin’s insights reveal a roadmap for operators to build loyalty, trust, and retention in a sector that has long struggled with churn.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

In this week’s Pillow Talk Sessions, we go behind the brand with Philip Grace, CDO at Bob W, to unpack the company’s vision of hospitality-first, asset-light, and tech-forward living across Europe.

💡 Inside the episode:
 🏘️ Bob W’s vertical villages that combine apartments, workspaces, restaurants, and rooftop pools
 🤝 How strategic partnerships beat in-house ownership for long-term profitability
 📲 What it means to run guest services across 13 countries 
 🤖 How AI is helping scale operations—without replacing the human touch
 🚪 Why 75% of guests book again directly after one stay

Philip brings decades of experience with a future-facing lens—this one’s a must-listen.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

This week on Pillow Talk Sessions, hosts Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski sit down with Nuno Jorge Trigo, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of FEEL GROUP, to discuss how the company is reshaping hospitality through its vertical building model.

💡 Key insights include:

🏙️ How combining co-working, serviced apartments, and events is changing the way we live and travel

🤝 Why proactive collaboration with city councils leads to smarter, more balanced regulation

📲 How FEEL GROUP’s tech ecosystem and proprietary data warehouse drive smarter decision-making for 60,000 clients annually

🚀 Why São Paulo and Lisbon are the next big frontiers for work-leisure living

From biophilic design to AI copilots, this episode is packed with lessons on scaling hospitality in the right way.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

This week on Pillow Talk Sessions, hosts Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski welcome Ed Ellerington, Founder & CEO of Packaged Living, to explore what it really means to bring a customer-first, tech-smart, and vertically integrated mindset to rental housing.

💡 In this episode:
 🏘️ Why the UK needs garden living and better single-family rental options
 🏨 How hospitality principles can elevate resident experiences without over-servicing
 🧩 Why flexible tech platforms are essential for future-proofing operations across asset types
 🌍 What makes Spain the ideal launchpad for flexible, mixed-length stays in Europe
 🤖 And where AI will help optimize ops while keeping human interaction at the core

From cultural nuance to tech stack strategy, Ed shares a grounded, thoughtful roadmap for the future of rental living.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

This week, we’re joined by Suraiya Comunello, CMO at Nido Living, for a deep dive into what truly matters to today’s students—and how operators can meet those expectations through service, design, and wellbeing.

From cultural contrasts in booking behavior to the rise of digital-first decision-making, Suraiya offers a rare, international perspective on how the student accommodation sector is evolving.

🎧 Here’s what to expect:

🌱 How biophilic design helps ease student anxiety and promote wellbeing

🧠 Why Nido developed a 4-year mental health program with expert Dr. Tara Quinn

📲 What it means when 66% of students book housing without ever visiting

💬 Why localized, authentic content is outperforming polished marketing campaigns

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

The coliving industry is booming—but how you scale matters. In this episode of Pillow Talk Sessions, hosts Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski sit down with Mayank Pokharna, CEO of Fllat.com and Founder of Everything Coliving, to unpack the operational, cultural, and economic realities of coliving on a global scale.

💡 Key topics:
 🛠️ Why getting the basics right is still the biggest growth unlock
 🌍 Why cultural context makes global expansion uniquely complex
 💡 How affordability vs. experience play out differently across regions
 📈 Why operators need to balance community-building with scalability
 📊 And why "community" isn’t a cost center—it’s a revenue driver when done right

From India to Europe to the US, Mayank offers practical, data-driven insights for anyone in Build-to-Rent, flex living, or residential operations.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

This week on Pillow Talk Sessions, we’re excited to release our first live-recorded episode, where we brought industry leaders together to unpack the future of resident experience in front of a live audience.

Hosts Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski are joined by:

🔹 Freya Richard (Vertus)

🔹 Philippa Wagner (PeoplePlacesSpaces)

🔹 Mitch Hammond (OnTheMarket)

💡 In this episode, we explore:

📊 Why renters are prioritizing belonging, values, and community over physical amenities

🏨 The influence of hospitality on rental living

📲 How technology must serve experience—not drive it

📍 Why authenticity, service, and local context are essential to resident loyalty

Don’t miss this dynamic panel discussion packed with real-world insight and forward-thinking perspectives.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

This week on Pillow Talk Sessions, Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski are joined by Rachel Hanniquet-Brooking, Managing Director of APO Group LTD, to explore the state of the UK rental market—and how Build-to-Rent operators can prepare for seismic change.

💡 Tune in to hear Rachel’s perspective on:

🧾 The impact of the Renters Reform Bill on no-fault evictions and lease terms

📉 Why tighter regulation could drive traditional landlords out—and open new doors for BTR

🏘️ The fine balance between automation, cost efficiency, and real service

📲 Why resident-focused tech needs to be built in early—not just added later

Rachel draws on 25+ years in hospitality and property to provide grounded, actionable insight into a sector at a turning point.

Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions
Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.