Hotel Tech Insider

• GWT Hotels' Revenue Leader on Cutting Costs with Automation

  What if removing your front desk—and doubling down on the right integrations—was the key to keeping your hotel profitable after COVID?In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, Roberto Pacaccio, Revenue & Expense Manager at GWT Hotels, shares how a five-property independent hotel group in San Francisco survived near-shutdown, rebuilt its operating model, and lowered its breakeven point by rethinking technology from the ground up.How GWT Hotels eliminated traditional front desks without sacrificing service: Roberto breaks down the exact tech stack—including PMS, digital keys, guest messaging, and centralized support—that allows four independent hotels to operate front-desk-free while still offering 24/7 guest assistance.Why integration matters more than “best-of-breed” tools: Learn how choosing tightly integrated systems (PMS + digital keys + messaging + dynamic pricing) reduced staff workload, training complexity, and operational errors—and why fragmented tools nearly derailed adoption early on.The revenue lesson most hoteliers miss: lowering breakeven beats chasing ADR:  Roberto explains how automation and labor-light operations materially lowered per-room breakeven costs—and how dynamic pricing rules tied to occupancy replaced manual rate shopping entirely.GWT Hotels didn’t modernize to “innovate”—they modernized to survive. From replacing physical metal keys to centralizing five hotels under one operational hub, this episode offers a rare, honest look at what tech adoption actually looks like for small independent hotels with no margin for error.If you’re rethinking how your hotel operates in a labor-constrained world, this episode is a must-listen. Subscribe to Hotel Tech Insider for more real-world insights from hoteliers who’ve actually done the work—and share this episode with a peer who’s questioning whether their current tech stack is holding them back.

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• Hotel Oderberger's Director on Building Her Tech Stack from Scratch

  What happens when a boutique hotel director builds a fully personalized “signature tech stack” from the ground up—and proves you don’t need to be a tech native to run one of the most digitally advanced 70-key properties in Berlin? In this episode, Tini Diekmann, Hotel Director at the acclaimed Hotel Oderberger, reveals the real-world tools, workflows, and mindsets that transformed her operations. This episode is designed for experienced hoteliers, GMs, and department heads who have lived through multiple system overhauls, survived legacy tech, and are looking for practical, proven strategies to modernize their operations without the chaos.Takeaways: • How a boutique hotel built a high-performing, revenue-focused tech stack—piece by piece. Learn how Tini turned a self-built legacy PMS into a fully integrated ecosystem using Mews, SiteMinder, RoomPriceGenie, TrustYou, and more. • Surprising operational wins you wouldn’t expect. Discover why installing a guest tablet actually slashed heating costs—thanks to a three-way integration between the PMS, in-room devices, and IoT-connected radiators. • A realistic blueprint for evaluating, selecting, and phasing in new tools. Tini explains why you should never implement more than one or two solutions per year, how to measure ROI, when to cut a tool, and how to keep staff empowered (not overwhelmed) throughout the transition. • AI in guest communication that actually works. Hear why their call volume collapsed overnight after adopting a chatbot—and how AI email responses now handle 98% of inquiries while maintaining brand tone and reducing workload.

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• CCO of Wyndham on Scaling Innovation Across 9,000 Hotels

  What happens when the Chief Commercial Officer of the world’s largest hotel franchisor rethinks the entire guest-to-tech relationship? In this episode, Wyndham CCO Scott Strickland reveals how a single global tech stack, empathetic AI, and vendor co-development are quietly reshaping hotel operations at a scale few brands on earth can match.Key Takeaways: How Wyndham uses one global tech stack across 9,000 hotels—and why standardizing CRS, PMS, loyalty, CRM, and marketing systems unlocks speed, cost efficiency, and innovation (including a surprising 25% drop in handle time from a co-built tool). Actionable strategies for building high-trust vendor partnerships—including why Wyndham gives Canary Technologies, Oracle, Salesforce, Sabre, Hapi, and Adobe physical office space inside their HQ, and how that accelerates co-innovation. The real-world playbook for operational AI—from empathetic, multi-language AI agents that guests have literally asked out on dates to omnichannel reservation automation and hyper-personalized offers that adapt to guest behavior in real time. Lessons from other industries hoteliers rarely study—how retail, manufacturing, and airlines provide blueprints for automation, app-based journeys, and guest-centric digital experiences.If you’re serious about future-proofing your tech strategy, don’t miss an episode—subscribe to Hotel Tech Insider and share this one with a colleague who’s shaping the next generation of hotel operations.

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• Canary Technologies CEO on Reimagining the Digital Guest Journey

  Did you know 30–40% of guest calls to hotels go unanswered? In this episode, Harman Singh Narula, CEO and co-founder of Canary Technologies, shares how his team is tackling this operational gap while redefining the entire digital guest journey—backed by $80M in funding and multiple HotelTechAwards wins.This episode is for veteran hoteliers, brand executives, and asset managers who want to understand where guest-facing technology is headed and how AI-driven innovations, tipping solutions, and digital workflows can translate into higher revenue and better guest satisfaction.Key Takeaways: • How Canary evolved from solving a niche payments problem to building an end-to-end guest journey platform—and what that means for tech adoption across hotel portfolios. • Why AI voice is set to eliminate missed calls and improve upsell potential—plus insights on how independents can deploy it just as effectively as enterprise brands. • The surprising shift in how major hotel chains evaluate tech partners, moving toward best-in-breed guest-facing solutions rather than relying on slow in-house builds.

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• Founder of SUM Hospitality on Running Hotels Remotely

  What if you could double your hotel’s efficiency—without adding headcount? In this episode, Michael Bohler, Founder of SUM Hospitality, reveals how he’s transforming independent hotels in Switzerland into high-performing, tech-enabled operations that run smoother, smarter, and more profitably. This episode is for hotel owners, general managers, and operations leaders looking to modernize their tech stack, reduce manual work, and build more sustainable, year-round business models.Takeaways: • Hear how Sun Hospitality uses integrated systems to automate front-office and back-office tasks, freeing staff to focus on guest experience. • Learn how streamlined tech enables year-round occupancy and better work-life balance for hotel teams in seasonal markets. • Understand why viewing technology as an investment in profitability not a cost center is key to future growth.

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