The Modern Hotelier

In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Anurag Verma, co-founder of PriceLabs, to explore how data, revenue management, and technology are transforming pricing strategies for independent hotels and alternative accommodations.

Anurag shares his journey from growing up across India and studying mathematical optimization to working in revenue management at United Airlines and eventually co-founding PriceLabs. He explains how lessons from the airline industry, especially the importance of building systems that can handle messy, real-world data, shaped his approach to hospitality technology.

The conversation dives into why relying solely on gut instinct, historical spreadsheets, or competitor pricing can create revenue blind spots. Anurag explains how hoteliers can use market demand, booking trends, events, occupancy data, and their own property performance to make smarter pricing decisions. He also discusses the role of automation and why technology should support human judgment rather than replace it.

You’ll also hear how PriceLabs evolved from a solution for a single Airbnb listing into a global revenue management platform serving short-term rentals, independent hotels, B&Bs, hostels, RV parks, and other lodging businesses.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The biggest revenue management blind spots for independent hoteliers
• Why competitor pricing isn't always the right demand signal
• How hotels and short-term rentals can think differently about comp sets
• How PriceLabs was founded and evolved
• Why independent and smaller lodging businesses can be powerful early customers for new technology

This episode is sponsored by PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RiaMuqdwTXs
 

Links:
Anurag on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuragxverma
PriceLabs: https://hello.pricelabs.co/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/331

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

How can independent hotels build a profitable distribution strategy while navigating OTAs, direct bookings, metasearch, and AI-driven travel discovery?

In this special Independent Hotel Show Miami episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Oshick Shams, Partner Manager at SiteMinder, to explore how hotel distribution is evolving and what independent hoteliers need to know to stay competitive.

Oshick shares his career journey from sports management and recruiting to hotel technology and partnerships, along with the lessons that shaped his approach to sales, relationship-building, and business development.

They also talk about the growing role of AI in how travelers discover hotels, why having accurate information online matters, and how connected technology can help hotel teams spend less time managing systems and more time making smart business decisions. 

David, Steve, and Oshick also discuss the growing influence of AI on hotel discovery and why accurate, consistent digital information and reviews are becoming increasingly important. They explore how connected technology and data can help hotels reduce manual work, make faster decisions, and unlock greater value from their technology stacks.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to evaluate the true profitability of OTAs and other booking channels
• Why the guest booking journey is increasingly influenced by AI
• How hotels can improve their visibility across AI-driven discovery
• What to consider when evaluating hotel technology
• How smaller independent hotels can access better revenue and performance insights

 This episode is sponsored by SiteMinder: https://www.siteminder.com/

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cizfAxl2lmY

Links:
Oshick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oshick-shams-40900b106/
SiteMinder: https://www.siteminder.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/330

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What does it take to create a hotel food and beverage program that guests remember, and locals actually want to visit?

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Ami Alexander, Managing Partner at Barrel Aged Management, to explore the evolving role of food and beverage in hospitality. Ami shares lessons from her career with Hakkasan, Sydell Group, and Montage International, including the challenges of opening luxury restaurants around the world and leading a major restaurant launch in Dubai.

Ami discusses why today's travelers are increasingly drawn to authenticity, local experiences, strong restaurant concepts, and a sense of place. She explains how hotels can create F&B programs that connect with their communities while maintaining a consistent brand identity across different markets.

The conversation also covers the financial pressures facing hotel F&B operations, smarter restaurant design and programming, membership clubs, emerging hotel development markets, and ways hospitality teams can continually reinvent their spaces.

Ami also shares practical advice for hoteliers, including how to evaluate existing spaces with fresh eyes, create memorable guest experiences, hire for personality and hospitality, and avoid watering down a restaurant concept.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• The evolution of hotel food and beverage experiences
• Why local authenticity matters to today's travelers
• How hotels can attract both travelers and local guests
• Why hospitality teams should hire for personality and character
• Lessons from Ami's career opening luxury hotels and restaurants worldwide

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HnEO4pIKZnM

Links:
Ami on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ami-grilly-alexander-a6989a1a/
Barrel Aged Management: https://www.barrelagedmgmt.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/329

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What does it take to build a hotel brand that stands out in an increasingly competitive hospitality industry? 

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Phil Andreopoulos, CEO of YOTEL, to explore his remarkable career in hospitality, his leadership journey, and his vision for the future of hotel brands.

Phil shares how starting in a restaurant at just 14 years old shaped his passion for hospitality, the lessons he learned during a 25-year career at Marriott, and why he ultimately chose to leave a global hospitality giant to lead the more agile and entrepreneurial YOTEL.

The conversation dives into YOTEL's distinctive brand concept, its aviation-inspired origins, and how technology, automation, and thoughtful design are transforming the guest experience. Phil discusses YOTEL's affiliation with Hilton, the brand's ambitious growth plans across North America, opportunities in conversions and franchising, and the potential for YOTEL resorts.

He also explores the evolving expectations of hotel owners, the importance of maximizing profit per square foot, adaptive reuse, extended-stay hospitality, and the growing influence of bleisure travel. Throughout the conversation, Phil emphasizes a critical lesson for every hospitality leader: know your customer, understand what they truly want, and then overdeliver on the experience.

Whether you're a hotel owner, investor, hospitality professional, franchisee, or simply interested in the future of travel and hotels, this episode offers valuable insights into leadership, hotel development, brand differentiation, technology, and the changing needs of today's travelers.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Why YOTEL partnered with Hilton and what the affiliation means for growth
• YOTEL's aviation-inspired hotel concept and tech-forward guest experience
• The role of AI, automation, and robotics in modern hotels
• How bleisure travel is changing guest behavior
• Why distinctive brand identity matters in a crowded hospitality market

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FaiAH3aWFCo

Links:
Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philandreopoulos/
YOTEL: https://www.yotel.com/en

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/328

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What does it take to create a truly one-of-a-kind hospitality experience in the age of AI?

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Janice Wilson, founder of Menizei and Territori to explore the intersection of hospitality, technology, real estate, AI, and category design.

Janice shares her unconventional journey from law and real estate to professional dance, entrepreneurship in Cambodia, software engineering at Amazon, and building a unique hospitality concept near Olympic National Park. She explains why she believes category can matter more than data when creating differentiated hotel experiences and why relying too heavily on competitors and traditional comp sets can lead to a “crisis of sameness.” She also discusses why lifestyle operators have an advantage when experimenting with AI, the challenges of building a custom hotel tech stack, and what larger hotel brands need to consider as AI becomes increasingly embedded in hospitality.

You’ll also hear Janice’s advice for aspiring hotel owners, why design should begin earlier in the development process, and what the future of hotel technology could look like.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why category design can help hotels stand apart from competitors
• The advantages and challenges of custom hotel tech stacks
• Why lifestyle hotels can move faster than large brands
• How storytelling can become a transformational guest experience
• Why design should be part of a hotel's core concept—not just an amenity

If you're interested in hotel technology, AI in hospitality, hotel development, lifestyle hotels, guest experience, and the future of travel, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how hoteliers can think beyond traditional industry playbooks.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5sFviYGOx0k

Links:
Janice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicewilson/
Territori: https://territori.io/
Menizei: https://menizei.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/327

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What does it take to build technology that can truly transform hotel operations?

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Kevin King, CEO of Shiji, for a wide-ranging conversation about hospitality technology, artificial intelligence, leadership, and the future of the hotel industry.

Kevin shares his journey from working at a hotel front desk in Australia to leading a global hospitality technology company. He discusses how his experiences living and working in China shaped his leadership philosophy, what he learned from scaling MICROS across Asia Pacific, and why successful technology companies must ultimately be built around people, trust, and resilience.

The conversation also dives deep into AI in hospitality—and why hotels need to look beyond chatbots and flashy features. Kevin explains how connected platforms, APIs, data governance, security, compliance, and agentic AI can help hotels move from simply answering questions to actually completing operational tasks. Kevin shares his perspective on why AI will eventually become as invisible and essential as the internet, why hotels may be using only a fraction of the technology they already have, and why functionality should come before unnecessary processes and features.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The evolution of hotel PMS and enterprise technology
• How AI can create real operational value for hotels
• Data security, privacy, compliance, and data sovereignty
• Why connected platforms are critical for AI adoption
• The importance of people, resilience, and trust in hospitality leadership

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YXhod3D2m2M

This episode is sponsored by Shiji: https://www.shijigroup.com/

Links:
Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-king-9689271/
Shiji Group: https://www.shijigroup.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/326

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What’s happening across the hospitality industry right now? 

In this episode of The Modern Hotelier Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Richard Sandoval, CEO of Spire Hospitality, to unpack the latest trends and biggest stories shaping the hospitality industry—from Airbnb’s growing move into hotels and OYO’s fake hotel listings to Hilton and Marriott’s push into wellness and experiential travel. They also dive into Google’s $10 million acquisition of Spirit Airlines’ data, the growing value of data and AI in travel, and what automation means for the future of hotel operations. 

Richard also shares his vision for Spire Hospitality, the importance of the owner-operator model, and why, even as AI transforms the industry, genuine human connection, hospitality, and personalized guest experiences will remain at the heart of the business.

 In this episode, you’ll learn more about: 

• Airbnb partners with Lark Hotels
• OYO takes bookings for fake rooms
• Hilton launches Signia Restore & Marriot's Luxury Collection Unveils Expeditions
• Google buys Spirit Airlines data for $10 million
• What's new at Spire Hospitality

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oKdibg8m2z4

Links:
Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-sandoval-434234184
Spire Hospitality: http://www.spirehotels.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/325

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

How do you scale a boutique hotel company without losing the creativity, personality, and local connection that make independent hospitality so special?

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jorgan von Stiening, President of Palisociety, to explore the strategy behind scaling a successful boutique hotel company while staying true to its brand and guest experience.

Jorgan shares his journey from accounting and hospitality consulting at Ernst & Young to joining Palisociety and helping the company grow from three hotels to a much larger portfolio across multiple brands and markets. He also breaks down Palisociety’s partnership with Design Hotels and Marriott Bonvoy, explaining how the company is using Marriott’s global reach and loyalty base while maintaining its independent identity.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to scale boutique hotels without losing their identity
• Why systems and SOPs are critical to independent hotel success
• The business value of in-house design, marketing, and branding
• How Marriott Bonvoy is changing Palisociety’s customer acquisition strategy
• What major events like the 2028 Olympics could mean for Los Angeles hotels

This episode is sponsored by Sip Tea: https://sip-tea-path.com/

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HNlQ5NDIyJo

Links:
Jorgan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorganvonstiening/
Palisociety: http://palisociety.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/324

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What does it really take to own a hotel, and how can more people gain access to hotel investing?

In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, Davonne Reaves, founder and CEO of The Vonne Group and Vesterr, shares her journey from working on the front lines of hospitality to becoming a hotel owner, investor, entrepreneur, and advocate for greater access to hotel ownership.

Davonne explains how her grandmother’s hospitality influenced her career, what she learned at Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and how hotel consulting and asset management opened her eyes to the business of hotel ownership. She also shares why she created Vesterr to connect commercial real estate deal sponsors with investors.

David, Steve, and Davonne also explore the growing role of AI in hotel investing—and why some parts of the acquisition process still require a human touch.

Davonne shares candid advice for young entrepreneurs and women entering the industry: stay authentic, keep learning, find mentors, work hard, and never let someone else's “no” stop you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What working in hotel operations taught her about ownership
• How to evaluate a hotel investment opportunity
• Why the sponsor, location, brand, and operator matter
• Where human expertise remains essential in hospitality
• Advice for aspiring hotel owners and young entrepreneurs

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v4Ju_rdcVd8

Links:
Davonne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davonnereaves
Vesterr: https://www.vesterr.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/323

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with David Bowd, co-founder and owner of Salt Hotels, for a candid conversation about hospitality, leadership, design, service, and the future of independent hotels.

David shares how growing up in a small village in Staffordshire, England, and working in a local pub sparked his passion for hospitality. He also talks about leaving school at 16, discovering that the kitchen wasn’t for him, and building a career that would take him through some of the most influential lifestyle hotels in the world, including St. Martin’s Lane and Sanderson, as well as working alongside hospitality icons Ian Schrager and André Balazs.

David explains why he founded Salt Hotels and the philosophy behind combining thoughtful design, personalized service, and a strong sense of place. He also shares why memorable hotels are ultimately created by people—not just beautiful spaces—and tells a powerful story about turning a hotel disaster into an unforgettable guest experience.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The philosophy behind Salt Hotels
• Why people and service create memorable hotel experiences
• How independent hotels can build visibility and commercial success
• AI’s role in hospitality and the importance of human connection
• Why every hotel should feel connected to its location

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gB-NcS4Aj18

This episode is sponsored by Sip Tea: https://sip-tea-path.com/

Links:
David Bowd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbowd/
Salt Hotels: https://www.salthotels.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/322

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.