In this episode, David and Steve interview Jeff Kessinger, Vice President of Sales at Jonas Hospitality, who shares his journey from being a night auditor to becoming a 20-year veteran in hotel technology sales.

Jeff dives into pressing industry challenges like labor shortages, technology overload, and fragmented systems, while exploring solutions to enhance guest experiences and loyalty. He sheds light on the future of direct bookings, the evolving expectations of travelers, and how an integrated tech stack can empower hoteliers to stay ahead.

Key Topics Covered:

• The evolution of hotel technology and its impact on the hospitality industry
• How to Overcome Challenges Such as Labor Shortages and Operational Inefficiencies?
• What are the pros and cons of using all-in-one tech solutions for hotel operations?
• The role of unified platforms in enhancing the guest journey

Sponsor spot:
This episode is sponsored by Jonas Hospitality: https://jonashospitality.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkessinger/
Jonas Hospitality: https://jonashospitality.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/119

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

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

This episode features an engaging conversation with Katherine Grass, CEO of Optii. Discover how technology, AI, and data-driven solutions are revolutionizing hotel operations, improving efficiency, and enhancing the guest experience.

Katherine discusses her journey into hospitality technology and how AI is transforming hotel operations, particularly through Optii's innovative approach to housekeeping and maintenance. She highlights the importance of user-friendly technology, the ongoing labor challenges, and the integration with other tech tools to enhance operational efficiency.

Key Topics Covered:

• What is the role of AI and predictive technology in optimizing housekeeping and operational efficiency?
• How Optii differs from traditional task management tools?
• What are the labor challenges facing the hospitality industry?
• The importance of open APIs for seamless tech integration.

Sponsor spot:
This episode is sponsored by Optii: https://www.optiisolutions.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Katherine on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinegrass/
Optii: https://www.optiisolutions.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/118

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

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, hosts Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Joonas Ahola, founder of Meeting Package. Having started his entrepreneurial journey at age 16 with an event agency, Ahola discusses how his frustration with the RFP process led him to create Meeting Package, a comprehensive CRS platform for groups, meetings, and events sales.

He shares insights on the differences between European and US markets in hospitality tech adoption, current challenges facing hoteliers in managing group sales, and Meeting Package's ambitious plans to reach 50,000 properties by 2027. The conversation explores how the platform is leveraging AI and partnerships to revolutionize the fragmented world of hotel group bookings and events management.

In this episode, you'll discover about:

• How Meeting Package serves as a centralized platform for managing group bookings, meetings, and events across all sales channels - from direct to indirect, online to offline
• What are the two major challenges hotels face today?
• What are the Future Innovations from Meeting Package?

Sponsor spot:
This episode is sponsored by Meeting Package: https://meetingpackage.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Joonas Ahola on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joonasahola/?originalSubdomain=fi
Meeting Package: https://meetingpackage.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/117

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

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