In this episode Wilhelm K. Weber, Member of the Board at Swiss Hospitality Solutions (SHS) and Vice President Global Revenue and Digital Strategy at Kempinski Hotels, shares his takes on Revenue Management Education (ECRME), how Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning and the Rise of Revenue Management Systems influences the Hotel Revenue Manager's role in the future, the influence of the Swiss on Hospitality, traditions versus the future, Airbnb's impact on the distribution landscape, his very own booking habits and more.

Chapters

0:58 - Revenue  Management Education and ECRME 

4:27 - The Swiss influence on hospitality 

7:49 - Traditions vs. The Future 

11:22  - Will Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning replace the Hotel Revenue Manager? 

17:36 - AIRBNB - New OTA? 

25:09 - Wilko's Hotel Booking Habits

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On this episode we talk with Max Waldmann, Founder & CEO of Conichi about the challenges faced by hotel tech start-ups, hoteliers and the corporate traveller.  

Conichi's technology allows guests to check-in & out using their mobile or online, to guarantee their booking and provide mobile payments for hotel guests.

Chapters

0:32 - Personal Background

1:58 - Corporate traveler of today

8:10 - A hotel tech start-ups biggest hurdle

15:53 - A hoteliers tech priorities

20:20 - Conichi's technology stack

26:35 - Brand Hotel Operators vs. Independents

29:46 - 5 Minutes with 100 Hoteliers

In this episode of techtalk.travel we sit down with Kurien Jacob, Principal at Highgate Ventures in New York City.

Kurien has over 18 years of experience in Revenue Management, Distribution & Marketing. He is regularly called upon to deliver keynote speeches at leading Travel events & conferences and a specialist in these fields.

Kurien currently spearheads Highgate’s investments in disruptive technologies related to Revenue Management, Distribution and Marketing in the travel business.

Chapters

0:44 Career Background 

3:59 Personal Booking Habits 

7:46 Future is communal 

10:28 Too much technology? 

12:28 Pre Revenue Management Systems 

15:31 Future Revenue Management Systems 

19:00 Outsourcing Revenue Management 

24:41 Next New York stay 

25:43 Go to place in NY with visitors

In this episode of techtalk.travel we sit down with Michael Keriakos, Founder and CEO of Curacity Inc.

Michael founded Curacity as a way of helping publishers make the digital leap in travel while creating the most important new marketing channel for luxury and cool hotels since the OTA. Building a data-stack/marketplace required for publishers/hotels to measure the impact of content marketing on revenue.

Chapters:

0:54 Career Background

6:25 What sparked Curacity?

8:08 Why only the Luxury Market?

13:43 How does Curacity Work?

20:13 Next 3 Years.

21:19 Influencers

27:49 Personal Travelling Habits

In this episode we talk with Steven Rubin, Founder of TRI Hospitality and Adjunct Professor at NYU about his personal hotel experiences, what independent hotel operators need to consider when sourcing new technology, the evolving Chinese Traveler and his take on the future talent of the hotel industry. 

Chapters: 

1:10 Motivations to work in Hospitality 

4:19 Personal Booking Habits 

7:40 What does Airbnb want to be? 

11:11 Advice for the independents 

17:11 China 26:01 Blockchain 

23:33 The Art of Hospitality 

33:37 Today's Hospitality Student 

36:12 Hotel Schools 

39:21 NYC's Best Red Velvet Cupcakes

In this episode we talk with Rajesh Vohra (Director) of Sarova Hotels about his esteemed career and memories, current issues a modern hotelier deals with on a daily basis, blockchain and about his time as President of HEDNA.

Chapters:

0:44 Memories and Challenges

4:37 Today's distribution landscape

6:56 Hotels & Technology

12:09 Blockchain

19:39 HEDNA Achievements

22:31 Advice to future managers

In this episode we talk with Robin Rossman (MD) of STR about the competitive landscape hotels face, AirBNB, the influence of the evolving Chinese traveler and big chain acquisitions.

Chapters 

0:50 Career Background 

4:33 Mergers & Acquisitions 

9:04 Brands vs. Airbnb 

19:48 Influence of the Chinese traveller 

23:58 Career Advice

In this episode, we talk with Richard Valtr (Founder) of MEWS Systems about his personal hospitality experiences that influenced his vision for MEWS Systems.

0:30 Personal Operational Experiences 

4:29 Today's Hotelier 

7:50 Today's Technology Providers 

10:07 Maintaining Company Culture 

12:44 Best way to acquire a global chain 

14:54 GDPR 

18:56 Should Booking or Expedia buy a PMS? 

22:52 Advice for hotel school graduates

In this episode we talk with Johannes Thomas (MD & CRO) of Trivago about his personal travel bookings habits, what he feels are hotels biggest challenges today, metasearch, and a range of other interesting topics.

Chapters: 

0:50 Operational Memories & Challenges 

5:09 Personal Booking Habits 

9:09 Hotels Optimising their direct channel 

13:34 Centralised Hotel Solutions 

17:43 Kayak, Google, TripAdvisor & Trivago - Is there a difference? 

22:32 AI's Future Influence 

27:01 From Operations to Technology

On this episode we visit Myhotelshop in Leipzig, Germany and talk with Founder and CEO, Ullrich (Ulli) Kastner.

MAIN TOPICS: 

1:02 - Who is Myhotelshop?

4:48 - Challenges faced by hoteliers today

7:38 - Consumer booking habits 

11:07 - Options for hotels 

13:28 - Increasing Direct Bookings through smart Meta Campaigns 

15:05 - Understand the hotel distribution landscape 

16:22 - Don't fear the unknown 

18:07 - Who moved my cheese? 

19:21 - Be one to new options 

20:18  - Direct business still a major factor

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