Travel Market Life

In this episode of Hoteliers' Voice we are joined by the Director of Technology & Digital at CitizenM, Bojan Pavicic who has worked across different industry sectors for 20 years and explains his approach to the tech stack and what they are trying to achieve for the portfolio. With 34 properties worldwide, we discuss: • AI and automation deployment at CitizenM • How they approach new tech to be an innovative hospitality brand • The future of in-room tech and ensuring efficient hotel operations? • The hotel tech stack and role of headless systems • Industry frustrations and selecting a new tech partner • Bringing experience to hospitality industry This episode is part of the Media Partnership with IHTF, in which Bojan presents on: Charting new territories: A fresh look at future hotel innovation and advancements. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In this episode we look into hotel technology and an IHTF review following the event in April, we look at We’re joined by our regular panellist Jon Sibery, Group Revenue Manager, Sarova as he shares the challenges of F&B profitability and his time at IHTF. Tess Matisson, President and CEO of Zaplox shares er advice on approaching the tech stack and selecting the right systems Simone Puorto, industry futurist, author and consultant gives us the future of technology for hotels. For Simone's book, visit Amazon How to make hotel F&B profitable HotStats data shows that while room revenue per available room are up by 17 percent in Europe compared to January 2020, F&B is at just 5 percent. UK hotels saw a 2.8 percentage point drop in gross operating profit margin between 2019 and 2023, and of that, 3.1 percentage points came directly from food and beverage profitability as margins fell from 30 percent to 22 percent. Premier Inn ad banned for promoting rooms 'from only £35 a night' by advertising authority The Advertising Standards Authority said it was misleading to promote £35 rooms when only a small percentage of nights had such a low rate available. In the future, a higher percentage of rooms must be available at the advertised rate. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Travel Market Life hosted live discussions featuring insights from hoteliers and technology experts on innovative approaches to hotel management, revenue optimisation, and the significance of digitalisation and direct bookings: Henrique Tiago de Castro, GM at Evolution Hospitality's Cascais-Estoril Hotel, shares pre-opening challenges for Lisbon's only lifestyle hotel. James Lemon from Stripe dives into decision-making nuances between global brands and smaller groups in tech investments. Charlotte Newton teases IHTF Singapore's arrival, targeting APAC markets and potential expansion to the Middle East. Alberto Plaza of IDeaS Revenue Solutions emphasises the power of data-driven decision-making in hotel revenue management. Raimund Notz of Preferred Hotels & Resorts highlights tech adoption's role in enhancing guest experiences and revenue optimisation. Carsten Wernet, CEO at SIHOT Group, discusses cloud and SaaS systems' pivotal role in modern hospitality. Markus Mueller of GauVendi explores leveraging emotions and dynamic pricing in the booking process. Piergiorgio Schirru from Blastness stresses revenue management and direct bookings' importance. Gérald Lampaert of VERTU Hotels shares project management insights for tech adoption and expansion goals. Christoph Peppers from H-Hotels.com delves into the significance of affiliate marketing in driving direct bookings. Jon Siberry, Group Revenue Manager at Sarova, unveils AI's rising prominence and the concept of 'digital workers' in hotels. Matthew Prosser of Agilysys discusses the value of IHTF for suppliers in understanding industry challenges. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In this episode, we deep dive into drip-pricing the practice when a headline price is initially shown to travellers when they are browsing online, where additional elements of the price being added or ‘dripped’ as they move through the checkout process. Richard Collie, Managing Associate for TLT LLP a consumer law expert at award-winning law firm with particular specialism in the leisure industry, including advising on consumer regulatory matters looking at investigations brought by the Competition and Markets Authority. We look at For further reading check out: The UK government has made it clear that it wants to stamp out the most harmful forms of ‘drip pricing’. On 24 January 2024 it announced that it would bring forward new legislation banning hidden fees. The policy justification behind the new rules are as follows: difficult for consumers to make informed purchasing decisionslimits price competitionhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68075851 https://news.sky.com/story/drip-pricing-three-psychological-reasons-we-fall-for-the-technique-and-how-to-resist-the-it-12959042 https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/25491349/hotel-costs-drip-pricing-extra-fees-charges-holiday/#:~:text=HOTELS%20have%20been%20accused%20of,the%20overall%20price%20actually%20is. https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2024/01/25/Hospitality-sector-welcomes-legislation-to-ban-drip-pricing https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/government-confirms-plans-to-tackle-drip-pricing Note that DBT also commissioned a detailed report estimating the prevalence and impact of online drip pricing in certain sectors – including hospitality and travel. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

For the Travel Monthly Review Show - April 2024 edition - with our expert panel featuring Will Plummer (CEO, Trust My Group), Claire Steiner (UK Director, Global Travel and Tourism Partnership), and James Clarke (General Manager, Travelzoo UK), In this episode we’ll tackle: REFERENCES Spain to tackle decrease in UK visitor durations Dynamic (Surge/Demand) Pricing Is Coming for Everything in Travel AVIS BUDGET GROUP REVAMPS ITS LOYALTY INITIATIVE Expedia Group launches single loyalty programme but Hotels.com customers will earn less Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In this episode of Hoteliers' Voice season 4, we speak with Mustafa Gokcen, Head of Information Technology, Cheval Collection - an award-winning hospitality group with 13 luxury all-apartment locations in London, Edinburgh and Dubai. Mustafa has worked in the hospitality industry since 2012 following a move from the IT industry where he had spent the first 10 years of his career. He has worked with brands including Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott before joining Cheval Collection in 2023. In this episode, he explains the moment he realised that hospitality is more than rooms and services and the impact this has had on his perception of the role of technology and strategic development. He shares his progression from IT to hospitality IT and how he approach leadership and recruitment. Through our conversation we learn; Mustafa will be speaking at the IHTF 2024 which Travel Market Life is a media partner Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In this episode of Hoteliers' Voice, we are honoured to be joined by Marriott International's Director of Employer Branding - Central Europe to discuss the initiatives that are engaging and attracting staff. Florian Hepp started his career at Marriott before developing his career at Westin Hotels, and Sofitel Luxury Hotels & Resorts, back at Marriott he utilised his sales and marketing training in HR and employer branding. Florian will speak about Attracting talent, managing staff shortages and the role of technology at 21st IHTF in Barcelona, but here we look at the operational aspect: For the survey Florian refers to - please see this resource https://www.presseportal.de/pm/56177/5429436 Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In our April edition of the Hospitality Monthly Review Show with our expert panel: We look at pressing issues in the industry, as well as the landscape in front of us - getting insider knowledge from our expert panel and guest interviewees. This is a pretty packed episode full of additional contributors, we’ll be tackling We end with the quick quiz - who will win? Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In this episode of Hoteliers' Voice Season 4 we explore the hostel market with Diogo Vaz Ferreira, head of commercial at Clink Hostels. Diogo has worked with Clink since 2021, he previously worked for Accor and Hilton having worked in guest experiences, revenue, and general manager positions. He is also part of the management board chairing the accommodation panel at the WYSE Travel Confederation (WYSE Travel Confederation is a global not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for the youth, student and educational travel industry.). In our discussion, we look at Diogo will be speaking at the IHTF 2024 on the topic - Technology, tactics and profit optimisation: Boosting revenue management strategies Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Welcome to the Travel Monthly Review Show - March 2024 edition. In this episode we tackle: UKInbound Featuring Will Plummer (CEO, Trust My Group), Claire Steiner (UK Director, Global Travel and Tourism Partnership), and James Clarke (General Manager, Travelzoo UK), REFERENCES: Trade predicts strong lates market but warns keen pricing ‘will be crucial’ Nearly half of Advantage agents still paying off Covid debts NEW GLOBAL TRAVEL TECH ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES FEATURE TOPIC UK - Spring budget - election year Budget 2024: key points for hospitality at a glance Chancellor cuts NI by a further 2p as part of Spring Budget TOURISM ALLIANCE SPRING BUDGET 2024 REACTION 'MISSED OPPORTUNITY': TRAVEL LUKEWARM ON CHANCELLOR'S SPRING BUDGET Air- passenger Duty: Holiday lets: Freezing alcohol duty: Employee and general business 2% cut in National InsuranceIncreasing the VAT threshold from £85,000 to £90,000 from AprilIncreasing the threshold that Child Benefit Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In this episode of Season 4 Hoteliers' Voice, we speak with Karen Weisheit, Hotel Manager at the Grove of Narberth in Wales, with 25 bedrooms. Spotted as one of Boutique Hotelier's women in hospitality 2023 Karen shares her career ladder so far and what makes her tick. We look at the challenges in recruitment and retention as she shares some of the initiatives they employ at the property as we discuss cross-departmental training and a four-day week in hospitality. Karen also shares: Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Welcome to the March edition of Hospitality Monthly Review Show with our panel We look at pressing issues in the industry, as well as the landscape in front of us tackling Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In this extended interview we speak to Clive Wratten, Chief Executive of Business Travel Association, which also featured in our Travel Monthly Review Show February. He guides us through Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

In February episode we look at: Business Travel Association Featuring Will Plummer (CEO, Trust My Group), Claire Steiner (UK Director, Global Travel and Tourism Partnership), and James Clarke (General Manager, Travelzoo UK), Industry News Holidays the ‘exception’ as consumers cut leisure spend HOLIDAY EXTRAS LAUNCHES NEW AI TOOL AFTER IT REVEALS 55% OF TRAVELLERS DON'T READ INSURANCE DOCUMENTATION PROPERLY Millennial men in the U.K. are helping drive a trend of falling working hours, and it might be starting to hurt the country’s economy RYANAIR NEWS RYANAIR AGREE NEW Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Hospitality Monthly Review Show - February 2024 edition with our two panelists Thibault Catala, CEO, Catala Consulting and Jonny Sibery, Group Revenue Manager, Sarova In our review shows, we look at pressing issues in the industry, as well as the landscape in front of us - getting insider knowledge from our expert panel. In this episode, I’ll take a moment to introduce our panellists and what makes them tick, as we tackle What lies ahead in 2024, yes - we’ll be looking at DISCLAIMER - All opinions are their own. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Speaking to Gill Haigh (Managing Director, Cumbria Tourism) we get a first-hand look at regional tourism in one of the UK’s most visited regions exploring the challenges ahead in 2024 and where the local tourism market needs to focus to deliver for domestic and inbound market. We explore the difficulties of staff shortage, the commercial impact and the solutions businesses are coming up with to solve this dilemma from collaborative working to creating attractive working environments and packages including apprenticeships. This interview featured in part in the Travel Monthly Review show January edition. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Entering 2024 - what have we learnt and what do we see in front of us. Join the January edition of our regular format to review industry developments in the UK and beyond. Featuring Will Plummer (CEO, Trust My Group), Claire Steiner (UK Director, Global Travel and Tourism Partnership), and James Clarke (General Manager, Travelzoo UK), the first episode addresses the trends that defined 2023, and predictions for the year ahead. A quick review of the latest consumer travel behaviour reports, Gill Haigh (Managing Director, Cumbria Tourism), joins the conversation to provide a first-hand look at regional tourism in one of the UK’s most visited regions, before the panel discusses the impact of domestic and inbound tourism around the UK, concluding with the monthly quick-fire quiz. Look out for our Hospitality Monthly Review edition as we specifically look at the accommodation sector. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Looking back on our third Season of Hoteliers' Voice, find out which episode was the most popular in 2023 and some of our favourite episodes in the series. Hoteliers' Voice S3 covered everything from data, to sustainability, augmenting luxury experience to performance campaigns and utilising AI, with a mix of portfolio groups, independent hotels, franchise and global brands. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Discover the rundown of the new series Hotel Partner and snippets from the conversations in 2023 that covered everything from sustainability, eco credentials, staffing shortages, spa and wellness and robotic process automation. We give some insights to the podcast Travel Market Life and the most popular Hotel Partner episode of the year. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/

Here's a summary of some of the technology chats of 2023 as we look at; Some quick snippets and outtakes from our guests for this year. Listen to more episodes of the hospitality industry podcast Travel Market Life and subscribe for the latest news at http://travelmarket.life/ Follow us on LinkedIn for more thought-provoking content: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-market-life/ Do you have a story to share about technology, digitalisation or culture changes within the hospitality and travel industry? We'd love to hear what your company is doing and the impact it is having. Please contact us through http://travelmarket.life/