In a world where traditional hotel experiences are becoming obsolete, how can the hospitality industry transform from merely providing a place to stay into a platform for genuine human connection and personal transformation?

In this episode, Steve Carran speaks with Bashar Wali and Eric Jafari as they challenge the status quo of hotel innovation. Moving far beyond traditional wellness concepts, they explore how the next generation is redefining hospitality through community, belonging, and transformative experiences.

Key Topics include:

• The death of conventional hotel models
• How Gen Z and Millennials are reimagining wellness as a social, communal experience
• Why hotels must shift from transactional services to creating genuine human connections
• Lessons from innovative retail concepts like Erewhon and Goop
• The critical importance of making guests feel they truly belong

Drawing from personal experiences and industry insights, Wali and Jafari argue that the future of hotels isn't about amenities, but about creating tribes, cultivating culture, and helping guests feel they matter in an increasingly disconnected world.

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:
Bashar Wali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basharwali/

Practice Hospitality: https://www.practicehospitality.com/

Eric Jafari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjafari/?originalSubdomain=uk

AENDRE Limited: https://www.aendregroup.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/121

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, Steve and David speak with Brad Steward from Caravan Outpost and JC Curleigh, CEO of Pelican Products, as they share their insights on building momentum through impactful moments in their respective industries. Brad Steward discusses his transition from the action sports business to hospitality, highlighting the creation and unique selling points of Caravan Outpost. He emphasizes the importance of consumer marketing and creating genuine experiences.

Following Brad, JC Curleigh elaborates on Pelican Products' mission to protect and equip for critical missions, unveiling exciting new products that will extend Pelican's reach. He provides advice on leadership and the importance of patience, asking the right questions, and not taking oneself too seriously.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How does Caravan Outpost's approach to hospitality differ from traditional hotels?
• What's the significance of the "three W's" in city growth?
• How is Pelican expanding from professional/military cases to consumer travel products?
• What does "rugged luxury" mean in product development?

This engaging discussion offers valuable lessons for any aspiring entrepreneur or business leader.

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:
James 'JC' Curleigh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-jc-curleigh-41698739/

Pelican Products, Inc.: https://www.pelican.com/

Bradley Steward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-steward-7b829a23/

Caravan Outpost: https://caravanoutpostojai.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/120

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, 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...

This episode features Ryan Heideman, Vice President of Sales at React Mobile, as he joins hosts Steve Carran and David Millili to discuss the latest innovations in hotel safety technology. Ryan shares his journey into the hospitality tech space and provides an in-depth look at how React Mobile is leading the way in workplace safety for hotels.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The evolution of React Mobile’s enterprise safety platform and its critical role in the hospitality industry.
• How their range of panic buttons, including Bluetooth, standalone cellular, and LoRa devices, ensures safety in all areas of a hotel.
• The importance of geolocation technology in providing precise room-level accuracy during emergencies.
• React Mobile’s collaboration with AHLA and their contributions to the Alert Device Buyer's Guide.

Discover how React Mobile is helping hotels create safer environments for their teams and guests alike.

Sponsor spot:
This episode is sponsored by React Mobile: https://www.reactmobile.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:
Ryan Heideman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanheideman/
React Mobile: https://www.reactmobile.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/116

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, host Steve Carran speaks with Pablo Revale, CEO of Zerf, and Rodrigo Perez Garofalo, CPO of Zerf, live from the floor of The Hospitality Show.

Zerf is a tech company helping hotels recover lost revenue by securing more direct bookings through website optimization, testing, and data-driven solutions. Pablo and Rodrigo discuss their diverse backgrounds, the challenges hotels face with OTAs (Online Travel Agencies), and how Zerf is working to empower hotels to regain control over their sales and booking processes.

Key Topics:

• How does Zerf help hotels increase direct bookings by reducing dependency on OTAs?
• What are the industry challenges?
• Why do hotels struggle to convert website visitors into direct bookings due to poor clarity, trust, and user experience?

This episode provides valuable insights for hoteliers looking to improve their website's performance and capture more direct bookings.

Sponsor spot:

This episode is sponsored by Zerf: https://zerf.tech/

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:
Pablo Revale on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-revale/
Rodrigo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rperezgarofalo/

Zerf: https://zerf.tech/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/115

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 Adam Smock from Impulsify, a retail technology company revolutionizing hotel grab-and-go markets. A former hotelier with over 20 years of experience, Smock discusses how Impulsify helps properties maximize their retail spaces through custom technology solutions, data analytics, and innovative design. Learn about their impressive success stories, including a Hilton property that saw ROI in just 13 days, and discover emerging trends in hotel retail, from self-service alcohol sales to AI-powered satellite coolers. Recently acquired by 365 Retail Market, Impulsify continues to evolve, offering solutions that help non-retailers succeed in the retail space while enhancing the guest experience.

Key Topics:

• Where are grab-and-go markets most successful?
• What are the technology integration features of Impulsify?
• How Impulsify helps properties maximize their retail spaces through custom technology solutions?

Sponsor spot:

This episode is sponsored by Impulsify: https://www.impulsifyinc.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:
Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammsmock/

Impulsify: https://www.impulsifyinc.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/114

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...