Todd Johnstone, CEO of Allbridge, offers advice for hoteliers on two paramount issues in today’s hospitality industry: data protection and cyber security. This informative conversation covers the differences between data that is collected, data that needs to be stored and data processing—and highlights why it is essential to conduct regular security audits to uncover potential areas of vulnerability, even if your property has never experienced a data security breach. Johnstone also stresses...

Ariela Kiradjian is the co-founder & COO of The Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association (BLLA), an organization devoted to the independent boutique lodging and lifestyle space. In this episode, she talks about the challenges and competitive advantages of operating a boutique hotel, highlighting the differences between what a “true” boutique hotel is and a “boutique-inspired” brand. Kiradjian details the demographic lifestyle characteristics of the type of guest who favors boutique...

Performance across the hotel industry has been steady-to-brisk in the post-pandemic, high-interest-rate, inflationary world. But it differs state to state, city to city and block to block. In this episode of The Innovative Hotelier, Annie Fitzgerald, GM of The Westgate Hotel in San Diego, discusses recovery and renaissance in this SoCal market, with highlights including the return of group business and how to cash in on the plentiful amount of and convention business opportunities.

For Keir Weimer, founder of The Weekender Hotels, you can never have enough family time. That spirit carries through in his chain of rural resort properties, an ethos he discusses with host Robin Trimingham, along with the trend of a “return to nature.” Weimer also talks about the opportunities for creating a collection of bespoke properties and travel experiences using regional and small business association financing and how this works in a high-interest-rate market.

Trey Matheu and Christopher Baran of The Nemacolin resort in Pennsylvania discuss the business case and advantages of changing staffing models for luxury properties with host Robin Trimingham. This broad-based conversation highlights the advantages, for example, of replacing the traditional front-desk team with a pre-arrival team that focuses on guest interaction and creating personalized itineraries designed to help maximize the resort experience.  

Yannis Moati, CEO of HotelsByDay, and TJ Noble, senior director of key accounts and technology solutions for DerbySoft, chat with host Robin Trimingham regarding why hoteliers should rethink their attitude toward offering day rates. This frank conversation discusses, among other things, marketing and operational challenges and also explains how technology can now make it possible to monetize hotel amenities, such as the pool, gym, spa and co-working spaces, to create scalable revenue for...

David Eisen, editor-in-chief of HOTELS Magazine, chats with host Robin Trimingham, regarding the trend of consolidation and conversion within the hotel industry. Recapping a year in which economic uncertainty and high interest rates made it extremely difficult to fund new construction, this conversation explores the many challenges of reinventing midscale hotel product in a way that satisfies both owner returns and guest experience expectations. In particular, Eisen points out that brands...

Adam Harris, the co-founder and CEO of hotel management platform CloudBeds, chats with host Robin Trimingham, about the current state of the lodging industry and, specifically, the independent hotel segment. Harris underscores the strength of independent hotels, postulating that they have outperformed brands post-pandemic and offers several trends currently dominating the independent space, including front-desk automation and the ongoing rise of blended travel.  

Michael Kennedy, director of recreation and resort logistics at Sea Island Resort, chats with host Robin Trimingham about the importance of environmental stewardship and the wide range of eco-tourism initiatives and activities now available to hotel guests. Making the point that hoteliers have an opportunity to promote lessons in sustainability that can be carried forward for a lifetime, Kennedy equally demonstrates the business case for hotel-level sustainability.

Hospitality runs in the blood of Ryan Rivett, co-founder and CEO of My Place Hotels. His grandfather, Ron Rivett, founded the company, but is also well known as the creator of the popular, economy Super 8 brand, now under Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. In this wide-ranging discussion, he chats with host Robin Trimingham about many items within the hospitality space, including the opportunities associated with the hotel franchise operating model, breaking down, for instance, what each party to...

Ivan Schwartz, director of consultant relations for audio-solutions provider AtlasIED, talks with host Robin Trimingham about diagnosing and resolving the different types of audio-quality issues found within a hotel’s public spaces and more. He explains the difference between acoustic building materials and audio equipment and opportunities to leverage new technology. He also offers examples regarding how background music can be used to set the mood in a variety of different areas that can...

Abby Shehan, senior design director at Premier, talks with Robin Trimingham, host of The Innovative Hotelier, about AI technology and how it’s being used by architects and designers to support and streamline the creative process. Stressing that AI tools enhance, but don’t replace human creativity, Shehan explains the various ways that it’s being applied to reimagine the way that humans interact with their surroundings and space, especially in a hospitality-driven environment. She also...

Janine Marshall, general manager of London’s One Aldwych, and Benedetta Cassinelli, co-founder and CEO of The Considerate Group, speak with Robin Trimingham, host of The Innovative Hotelier, about greenwashing and the difference between simply claiming that your property has an environmental program in place and really controlling and reducing your carbon footprint. Stressing that it is impossible to effectively reduce your CO2 emissions without first correctly collecting and analyzing...

Ryan Haynes, lead consultant at hospitality consultancy Haynes MarComs Limited, talks with the host of The Innovative Hotelier, Robin Trimingham, about strategies for evaluating existing supplier relationships and how to go about sourcing new vendors to improve operational efficiency, which can increase the quality of the guest experience. Highlighting the importance of considering not just what a vendor supplies a property, but also whether these products and services are meeting the needs...

In this episode we talk with Martin Reichenbach, Founder & CEO of Apaleo, about Composable Hospitality Software, or MACH, that uses third-party plugins to achieve many of its core functions rather than trying to be an all-in-one software package. It claims to offer a superior experience and more flexibility at a lower adoption capital cost. Given its rapid adoption, hoteliers seem to agree. Today, we’re speaking with Martin Reichenbach, founder and CEO of Apaleo, to explore Composable...

Chris Osaka, CEO of Tomu Inc., chats with host Robin Trimingham about the myriad benefits of modular hotel construction and why embracing a sustainable approach not only aligns with global low-impact environmental goals, but also considers the life cycle of the building.

Florence Li, director of international sales & marketing at Songtsam Hotels & Resorts, is focused on how to create a truly transformative travel experience. Here, with host Robin Trimingham, she talks about the components of what that takes, including the many ways that authentic Tibetan culture, heritage and beliefs are woven into every aspect of the guest experience.

Mark Lewis-Brown, president and CEO of Zucchetti North America, chats with host Robin Trimingham about Generation Z: how they research and book both flights, accommodations, travel experiences and more.

In-room entertainment has evolved from a “nice-to-have” amenity to a comprehensive package that has become an integral part of a hotel’s tech stack. In this episode of the Innovative Hotelier, Robert Grosz, president of WorldVue Connect, discusses infotainment platforms and what it takes to deliver a great experience with host Robin Trimingham.

David Eisen, the Editor-in-Chief of HOTELS Magazine, took over the position a little more than six months ago, but he’s been embedded in hospitality media for more than 15 years. In this wide-ranging episode with host Robin Trimingham , he discusses the trends—and emerging trends—within the global hospitality industry, how things are changing, what things are staying the same and what it takes to lead a hotel-focused publication.  

Jessica Gillingham, CEO of Abode Worldwide, talks with host Robin Trimingham on the key differences between a strategic marketing plan and a PR campaign and why a hotelier really needs to employ both.

Britnie Turner, Founder & CEO of The Aerial BVI, chats with Robin Trimingham, The Innovative Hotelier Host, regarding the advantages of utilizing the triple bottom line business model to design and operate a luxury boutique hotel facilitating transformative travel experiences.

AI is all the rage. In this podcast, Benny Bennet Jurgens, co-founder & CEO of Nect, and Christian Mager, CTO of HelloGuest Solutions, discuss with host Robin Trimingham their partnership that will seek to create an AI-based identity verification for hotel check-ins

Building a “sense of place” is vital toward creating a guest connection. In this podcast, Martein van Wagenberg, managing director of Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth, converses with host Robin Trimingham about how to build a strategic resort marketing plan and advice for meeting typical island destination challenges