The Modern Hotelier

In this special Destination AI episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili sits down with Evan Saunders of Azira to explore how location intelligence, behavioral data, and AI are transforming hotel marketing and travel demand generation.Evan explains how hotels can use competitive intelligence and audience segmentation to identify high-intent travelers beyond their existing customer base, understand competitor audiences, and turn those insights into targeted marketing campaigns that drive incremental revenue. He also discusses the growing shift away from traditional OTA-dependent marketing, the changing ways travelers discover properties, and how AI helps hospitality brands analyze large volumes of data and reach the right audiences more effectively.The conversation also explores the Sofitel New York campaign, measuring marketing performance beyond clicks and direct bookings, and the importance of using attribution and transaction data to understand the true impact of advertising.In this episode, you'll learn about:How location intelligence helps hotels identify high-intent travelersUsing competitive insights to attract guests from competing propertiesHow AI improves audience segmentation and hotel marketingWhy traveler loyalty is becoming increasingly fragmentedThe future of AI-driven marketing in hospitalityWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VCqkbZ8H49c Links:Evan Saunders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansaunders/?isSelfProfile=falseAzira: https://www.azira.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/347Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

How is AI transforming the hospitality industry, and what will the hotel of the future look like?In this special roundtable episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran bring together five hospitality and technology leaders at Hotel Zena in Washington, DC, during Destination AI to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping hotel operations, technology investments, and the guest experience.Joining the conversation are Raymond Martz, Co-President and CFO of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust; Stephen German, SVP of Product at Actabl;  Keryn McNamara, CIO of Aimbridge Hospitality; Sajid Shariff, CEO and Founder of Dextr AI; and Omri Shalev, Co-Founder and CEO of Reeco.Together, they explore where AI is delivering the greatest value in hotel operations, from labor efficiency and autonomous procurement to revenue optimization, direct bookings, and better guest experiences. They also discuss the importance of clean data, system integration, AI adoption, and why successful technology implementation requires more than simply adding another tool to a hotel's tech stack.The panel shares practical insights on evaluating AI investments, measuring return on investment (ROI), improving hotel profitability (GOP), reducing operational workloads, and preparing hospitality teams for an increasingly AI-driven future.In this episode, you'll discover:Where AI can deliver the biggest impact on hotel profitability, labor costs, and operational efficiency.How hotel owners and operators should evaluate AI investments and measure ROI.Why clean, accurate data and connected hotel systems are essential for successful AI adoption.The biggest red flags to watch for when choosing AI vendors and hospitality technology.How AI can reduce manual tasks, improve productivity, and enhance the guest experience.What the future of hotel jobs, front desk operations, and hospitality careers could look like.Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9PdGAwmYUswLinks:Raymond Martz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-martz-4771847/Pebblebrook Hotel Trust: http://www.pebblebrookhotels.com/Stephen German on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-german-88aa8b51/Actabl: https://actabl.com/ Keryn McNamara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerynmcnamara/Aimbridge Hospitality: https://www.aimbridgehospitality.com/ Sajid Shariff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shariffsajid/Dextr AI: https://www.dextr.ai/ Omri Shalev on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omri-shalev-reeco/Reeco: https://www.reeco.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/346Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect 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 Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili welcome Simone Harms, Managing Director of The  Ameswell Hotel, to discuss the latest trends shaping the hospitality industry.The conversation explores the ongoing hotel worker strikes in Chicago, the rapid growth of luxury travel, and the importance of personalized guest experiences. They also examine the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in hospitality, the challenges of implementing AI without a clear strategy, and how technology can streamline hotel operations while allowing teams to focus on delivering exceptional service.Simone shares insights into The Ameswell Hotel’s innovative experiences, including its immersive seven-course dining experience, NASA-inspired dinners, and stargazing experiences. She also discusses the property’s partnership with AI Hospitality Group and how AI-powered solutions can simplify hotel technology systems and improve the guest experience.In this episode, you'll discover:Union Hotel Workers Strike in ChicagoLuxury Continues Growth GloballyAdopting & Beta Testing A.I. in HotelsWhat's New at The Ameswell HotelPartnership with A.I. Hospitality GroupWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/D_sIoekPCC0Links:Simone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-harms-3a77024Company Website: https://www.theameswellhotel.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/345Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Oksana Gyulnazaryan, Area General Manager at Viceroy and Highgate, to discuss her journey in hospitality, leadership lessons, and the importance of creating unique, locally inspired guest experiences.From starting as a front desk agent to leading two distinctive Washington, D.C. properties, Oksana shares how working across different hotel brands, departments, and markets shaped her leadership philosophy. She also discusses her recognition as Viceroy Hotels and Resorts’ 2026 General Manager of the Year and what makes Viceroy Washington, D.C. and Hotel Zena stand out.Oksana explains how hotels can maintain consistent service standards while developing their own identities, build meaningful connections with local communities, and create team cultures that reflect their property's values. She also offers advice for aspiring hospitality professionals and shares why genuine passion for the industry remains essential.The conversation wraps up with a discussion about the future of hospitality, including how artificial intelligence and technology can support hotel teams, streamline operations, and enhance guest service without losing the human connection at the heart of hospitality.In this episode, you'll discover:How Oksana built her career from front desk agent to hotel leadershipWhat leading two distinct hotel properties requiresHow Hotel Zena celebrates women's stories through art, design, and cultureWhy local partnerships and authentic experiences matter to today's hotel guestsWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pgWVvN73CugLinks:Oksana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksana-gyulnazaryan-68011039/Highgate: https://www.highgate.com/Viceroy Hotels and Resorts: https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/344Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Rocco Bova, founder of the Summit Latinoamericano Branded Residences, to discuss the future of hospitality in Mexico and Latin America, the growth of luxury branded residences, and the importance of human connection in the guest experience.With a career spanning international hospitality brands such as Jumeirah, Four Seasons, Hilton, Aman, and St. Regis, Rocco shares how his global experiences shaped his leadership philosophy and inspired him to launch hospitality-focused summits and challenge traditional approaches to industry education.In This Episode, You'll Learn About:How working across different countries and cultures shapes better hospitality leaders and strengthens people-management skills.Why hospitality education needs to evolve to attract younger generations through shorter, more practical training programs.What is driving the growth of branded residences in Mexico and what developers and investors need to understand about these business models.Why Mexico presents significant opportunities for luxury hospitality development and investment.How hotels can build financial resilience and prepare for economic uncertainty without relying primarily on workforce reductions.Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OYtV98L5C18Links:Rocco on LinkedIn: https://mx.linkedin.com/in/roccobova Summit Latinoamericano Branded Residences: https://sumexhosp.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/343Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.