The Modern Hotelier

What does it really take to renovate a hotel while keeping guests happy, protecting reviews, and maximizing owner returns?

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Tom Kelley, CEO & President of Digney Holding Companies, to explore the business of hotel renovations, capital planning, and hospitality development. Drawing on decades of experience spanning architecture, Marriott, commercial real estate, and hotel construction, Tom shares practical insights into how owners can make smarter renovation decisions in today's rapidly evolving hospitality market.

From navigating brand conversions and Property Improvement Plans (PIPs) to managing rising construction costs, tariffs, and supply chain volatility, Tom explains why successful hotel projects start with careful planning, financial discipline, and a relentless focus on the guest experience. He also discusses how owners can avoid costly over-investments, balance design with ROI, and execute renovations in occupied hotels with minimal disruption.

Whether you're a hotel owner, operator, developer, investor, architect, or hospitality professional, this conversation offers valuable strategies for protecting asset value while creating exceptional guest experiences.

In this episode, you'll learn:

•  How to plan successful hotel renovations and brand conversions 
•  Why due diligence should come before design decisions 
•  The importance of aligning capital expenditures with long-term investment strategy 
•  How hospitality design continues to evolve with changing guest expectations 

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cxipY_2xW9I

This episode is sponsored by Digney-York Associates: https://digneyyork.com/

Links:
Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-kelley-84bba2aa/
Digney-York Associates: https://digneyyork.com/
 

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/311

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.

Live from HITEC 2026, we sit down with the winners of the prestigious E20X startup competition to explore the technologies redefining the future of hospitality.

First, Mergim Kacija, CEO of Stayfull AI and the E20X Grand Prize winner, shares how his experience as a hotel owner inspired him to build an AI-native property management platform designed specifically for independent hotels. Learn how specialized AI agents can automate guest communication, revenue management, marketing, and daily operations while dramatically reducing technology costs.

Then, we welcome Josh Ellis, CEO of Abra and the E20X People's Choice winner. Josh explains how Abra's guest intelligence platform unifies fragmented guest data across multiple systems, helping hotels deliver highly personalized experiences that strengthen guest loyalty and increase profitability.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How AI is transforming hotel operations and guest service
• Why independent hotels are embracing AI-powered technology
• The value of unified guest data for personalization and loyalty
• What it takes to win the hospitality industry's premier startup competition
• What's next for two of hospitality's fastest-growing technology companies

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/m_E8AmNFjZw

Links:
Mergim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/investormergim/
Stayfull.ai: https://stayfull.ai/

Josh Ellis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-ellis1126/
Abra Hospitality: https://abrahospitality.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/310

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 lead one of the world's fastest-growing global hotel groups while staying true to the heart of hospitality?

In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Gonzalo Aguilar, CEO of Europe & Americas at Minor Hotels, to discuss his remarkable journey from restaurant manager to global hospitality executive. Gonzalo shares how growing up across multiple continents, learning from his father—a lifelong hotelier—and leading hotels around the world shaped his leadership philosophy and passion for creating exceptional guest experiences.

The conversation explores Minor Hotels' global expansion strategy, its shift toward an asset-light growth model, the launch of new hotel brands, and the company's vision for expanding across the United States and Canada. Gonzalo also shares valuable insights on balancing global brand standards with local market needs, building strong owner partnerships, and why the best hotel leaders are deeply connected to their communities.

In this episode, you'll learn:

•  Why Minor Hotels is embracing an asset-light growth strategy 
•  The company's expansion plans for North America 
•  How new hotel brands are helping meet evolving owner and traveler needs 
•  The importance of adapting global hospitality strategies to local markets 
•  Why community engagement remains the foundation of exceptional hotel leadership

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7on3C3IsOOo

Links:
Gonzalo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gonzalo-aguilar-/
Minor Hotels: https://www.minorhotels.com/en

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/309

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 the future of hospitality really look like?

In this special Modern Hotelier Round Table, industry leaders come together for an honest conversation about leadership, technology, AI, hotel operations, employee engagement, and the future of guest experiences.

Joining the discussion are Shannon McCallum, VP of Hotel Operations at Resorts World Las Vegas; Dmitry (Dima) Kroshka, CEO of Phunware; Henrik Shimony, CEO & Co-Founder of Reeco; and Anthony Melchiorri, Co-Founder of the Hospitality Creator Summit and renowned hotel expert.

Together, they share career-defining lessons, leadership philosophies, and practical insights on topics including AI adoption, digital transformation, hotel technology, procurement, employee retention, guest personalization, and why hospitality remains one of the world's most dynamic industries.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The leadership advice that shaped successful hospitality careers
• How AI is transforming hotel operations without replacing people
• The biggest technology opportunities hotels should embrace
• The future of hotel operations, procurement, and digital guest experiences
• Why hospitality offers one of the most diverse and rewarding career paths

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eU1Z9fDjh2A

Links:
Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonymelchiorri/
Shannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-mccallum-09ba7a8/
Dmitry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkroshka/
Henrik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrik-shimony/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/308

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 of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with David Collyer, Global SVP of Aspire PreFlight Hospitality, to explore how hospitality principles are transforming the airport lounge experience.

David shares his fascinating career journey—from studying design in London and working with global brands like IHG, British Airways, and Accor, to leading guest experience innovation across luxury retail and aviation. He reveals how Aspire is applying hotel-style service standards, technology, design thinking, and guest insights to elevate airport lounges around the world.

 In this episode, you'll discover: 

• How Aspire is reshaping airport lounges through hospitality-first thinking
• The role of AI, occupancy management, and dynamic pricing in lounge operations
• Why guest expectations have dramatically changed post-pandemic
• The importance of guest feedback and data-driven innovation

David also shares his vision for the future of airport hospitality, including luxury airport experiences, in-terminal hotels, sustainability initiatives, and how lounges can become a seamless extension of the travel journey.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/45AdsDBRe-A

Links:
David Collyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-collyer-a1341641/
Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality: https://www.theaspireway.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/307

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 hotels use AI and location intelligence to attract new guests instead of spending marketing dollars on travelers who were already planning to book?

In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili sits down with Evan Saunders, who shares how Azira is helping hotels rethink marketing through AI-powered location intelligence and attribution. Rather than focusing on vanity metrics like inflated return on ad spend, Evan explains how hotels can identify untapped travelers, win guests away from competitors, and measure the true impact of their campaigns.

The conversation also explores the evolving role of OTAs, the importance of guest journey marketing, World Cup travel strategies, and why hotels should prioritize experience-driven campaigns over generic discounts and promotions.

In this episode, you'll learn:

•  How AI and location intelligence help hotels attract new guests 
•  Why traditional hotel marketing metrics can be misleading 
•  The power of foot traffic attribution and booking-channel-agnostic measurement 
•  Why experience-focused advertising outperforms discount-driven campaigns 

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/79-_nfYS2Xg

Links:
Evan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansaunders/
Azira: https://azira.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/306

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 hotels eliminate spreadsheets, improve financial transparency, and strengthen relationships with owners?

In this special HITEC episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Brian McGeown, General Manager of Owner Relations, to discuss how technology is transforming owner accounting and financial reporting in hospitality.

Brian shares the biggest challenges hotels face with traditional owner accounting workflows, why real-time financial transparency is becoming essential, and how automation helps management companies save time while improving accuracy. The conversation also explores seamless PMS integrations, branded owner portals, portfolio scalability, and the future of owner reporting as hotel organizations continue to grow.

In this episode, you'll learn:

•  Why spreadsheets create risk in owner accounting 
•  The importance of real-time financial transparency 
•  How automation reduces manual work and owner support requests 
•  Scaling owner accounting across multi-property portfolios 
•  Trends shaping the future of hospitality financial reporting 

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

Links:
Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-mcgeown-a0390213/
Owner Relations Technology: https://www.ownerrelations.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/305

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 special HITEC episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Kevin Bidner, Founder and CEO of HCN (Hotel Communication Network), to discuss how in-room tablets are reshaping the guest experience and driving new revenue opportunities for hotels.

Kevin shares HCN's journey from startup to industry leader, explaining why guest room tablets are becoming an essential communication platform for hotels. The conversation explores how interactive tablets improve guest engagement, increase room service revenue, reduce operational costs, and create personalized experiences through AI-powered concierge services. Kevin also reveals HCN's innovative revenue-sharing model that allows hotels to deploy tablets at no upfront cost while earning recurring income through network promotions.

Key Topics:

•  HCN's growth and acquisition of Crave 
•  Why in-room tablets outperform hotel apps 
•  Increasing ancillary revenue and operational savings 
•  HCN's free-to-hotel revenue-sharing model 
•  The future of hospitality technology showcased at HITEC 

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9xA-wYZ5DGk

Links:
Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbidner/
The Hotel Communication Network Inc.: https://hcn-inc.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/304

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 special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Chris Zach, Senior Director of Product Marketing at ServiceChannel, to explore how hotels can modernize facilities management, improve guest satisfaction, and reduce operational complexity.

Chris shares how ServiceChannel helps hotel operators manage external vendors from start to finish, streamlining everything from dispatching work orders to invoice approvals, while providing access to a network of more than 70,000 service providers. The conversation dives into the growing challenges facing hotel engineering teams, rising labor costs, and why proactive maintenance is becoming a competitive advantage.

The discussion also covers how AI is transforming facilities management by helping hotel teams prioritize critical work orders, improve response times, and make smarter maintenance decisions without adding more technology complexity. Chris explains how ServiceChannel integrates seamlessly into existing hotel tech stacks while giving operators, owners, and asset managers greater visibility into property health and long-term capital planning.

Key Topics:

•  How ServiceChannel simplifies facilities and vendor management 
•  The biggest maintenance challenges facing hotel operators today 
•  Integrating facilities management into the modern hotel tech stack 
•  Best practices for scaling maintenance across multiple properties

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XCSttDN1ATY

Links:
Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriszach/
ServiceChannel: https://servicechannel.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/303

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 special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jake Lewis, President of Jonas Hospitality Property Systems, to explore how technology is reshaping the hospitality industry. With over 25 years of experience, Jake shares insights on the shift from disconnected software systems to unified hospitality platforms, why seamless guest experiences are becoming the new standard, and how clean, connected data is laying the foundation for AI-driven innovation.

The conversation dives into the future of hotel technology, the importance of aligning tech with operational strategy, and why the most successful hoteliers focus on solving real guest problems, not simply adopting the latest tools. Jake also discusses Jonas Hospitality's vision for creating integrated ecosystems that empower both hotel staff and guests through smarter, more personalized experiences.

In this episode, you'll learn:

•  Why hospitality is moving from standalone systems to connected platforms 
•  How guest expectations are evolving in the age of Amazon-like convenience 
•  The role of clean, unified data in unlocking AI's full potential 
•  Why technology should enhance—not replace—the human side of hospitality 

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/H1Vn4jwLMJI

Links:
Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-lewis-98985110/
Jonas Hospitality: https://www.jonashospitality.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/302

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.