Today, we sit down with Shawn Tarter, CEO of RealTime Reservations, to discuss one of the biggest announcements at HITEC—the company's strategic acquisition and vision for transforming hotel technology.

Shawn shares the story behind meeting Stay's founder at a previous HITEC, how that relationship evolved into a partnership spanning more than 2,600 hotel properties, and why creating a unified platform for ancillary reservations is the future of hospitality.

The conversation explores the industry's push toward a truly connected guest journey, the importance of consolidating hotel technology, and why accurate data is the foundation for AI-driven innovation. Shawn also offers valuable advice for hoteliers navigating vendor fatigue, emphasizing the importance of cultural alignment and customer-focused product development.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why RealTime Reservations acquired Stay and what it means for hotels
• How a single checkout experience can transform the guest journey
• The role of AI in hospitality—and why clean data comes first
• Strategies for reducing tech stack complexity and vendor fatigue
• What's next for Real Time Reservations and the future of hotel technology

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kmsMEf2QlCg

Links:
Shawn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-tarter-221b52b2/
RealTime Reservation: https://www.realtimereservation.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/298

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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

In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Rodd Herron, Regional Sales Director at Sirma, to discuss how hotels can move beyond disconnected technology systems and prepare for the future of AI.

Rodd explains why fragmented hotel tech stacks continue to challenge operators and how integrating data across PMS, POS, spa, golf, and other systems creates a more unified guest experience. The conversation also explores practical strategies for implementing AI without unnecessary complexity, why security and compliance should be part of every AI conversation, and how hotels can avoid costly mistakes by taking a thoughtful, phased approach.

Whether you're evaluating AI for the first time or looking to connect your existing technology ecosystem, this episode offers valuable insights into building a smarter, more connected hospitality operation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why disconnected hotel systems remain a major operational challenge
• How AI can unify data across multiple hotel platforms
• The importance of security and compliance in AI adoption
• Why planning and starting small leads to better AI implementation
• How Sirma helps hotels integrate technology and future-proof their operations

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I4WSbmAVycg

Links:
Rodd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodd-herron-28186a1/
Sirma: https://sirma.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/297

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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

In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Apaleo co-founder Philip von Ditfurth and SVP Revenue Florian Montag to explore the future of hospitality technology, AI, and open platform architecture.

The conversation dives into why Apaleo chose a composable, API-first approach long before it became an industry trend, how leading hotel brands are leveraging technology to improve both guest experiences and operational efficiency, and what hoteliers need to do today to prepare for the rise of agentic AI.

Philip shares lessons learned from building technology platforms across fragmented industries, while Florian offers a hotelier’s perspective on AI adoption, governance, and the importance of creating a future-ready technology foundation. Together, they discuss why flexibility, open infrastructure, and strategic technology decisions will define the next generation of successful hotel operators.

Key Topics Include:

• The power of open APIs and composable hospitality technology
• Why AI readiness starts with the right technology foundation
• Lessons from innovative hotel brands like citizenM
• Building a future-proof hotel tech stack
• The balance between guest experience and operational efficiency

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uBwm8n1ExM8

Links:
Philip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-von-ditfurth-1a570/
Florian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fmontag/
Apaleo: https://apaleo.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/296

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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 David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jesús Olivares Sánchez to explore how hospitality is being reshaped by AI, data, and rapidly evolving guest expectations.

Jesús shares his journey from engineering and financial services into hospitality tech, eventually joining Amadeus, where he now focuses on connecting the hospitality ecosystem through data, distribution, personalization, and advertising. The conversation dives into how hotels can stay “discoverable” in an AI-driven world, the rise of agentic commerce, and why modern distribution strategies must balance control, relevance, and flexibility across multiple channels.

In this episode you’ll know about:

• The biggest shifts shaping hospitality today, especially the rise of AI and changing guest expectations
• How Amadeus is connecting data, distribution, and personalization across the hospitality ecosystem
• What “AI discoverability” means for hotels and how it impacts direct bookings and distribution strategy
• How agentic AI and new commerce models are changing the way travelers search, book, and experience travel
• What hoteliers need to do now to stay competitive while modernizing their tech stack for the future

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bAwJbUXbFsU

Links:
Jesús on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jes%C3%BAs-olivares-s%C3%A1nchez-2313b16b/
Amadeus: https://amadeus.com/en

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/295

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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

In this special HITEC episode of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Branigan Mulcahy, CEO and Co-founder of Virdee, to explore how AI and digital wallet technology are transforming the hotel guest experience.

Branigan shares insights into Virdee’s partnership with Apple and Google to bring hotel room keys directly into mobile wallets, eliminating many of the friction points associated with traditional digital key systems. The conversation dives into the future of contactless hospitality, AI-powered guest engagement, personalization at scale, sustainability benefits, and how hotels can balance automation with exceptional human service.

From seamless room access through Apple Wallet and Google Wallet to AI-driven guest communication and operations, this episode offers a glimpse into what the next generation of hospitality technology looks like—and why hotel operators should be paying attention.

Key Topics Covered:

• Digital room keys in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet
• Enhancing guest convenience and satisfaction
• AI’s role in the hotel guest journey
• Sustainability benefits of eliminating plastic key cards
• The future of hospitality technology and guest experiences

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/46LegJqDHdQ

Links:
Branigan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/branigan-mulcahy/
Virdee: https://virdee.ai/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/294

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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

Recorded live from HITEC, Steve Carran sits down with the Alliant leadership team—CEO Tristan Gadsby, SVP of Customer Experience Andrew Pirret, and CRO Alberto Santana—to explore how technology is transforming the guest experience while keeping hospitality at its human core.

The conversation dives into Alliant's collaboration with Les Clefs d'Or, where concierge professionals are embracing AI and modern technology to enhance personalized service. Tristan shares how technology can make hospitality professionals "superhuman" by automating routine tasks and allowing them to focus on meaningful guest interactions.

Alberto discusses the untapped opportunity hotels have to better understand why guests are traveling, using a compelling World Cup travel scenario to illustrate how hotels can move beyond generic upsells and create memorable, emotionally connected experiences. The team also explores the importance of recognizing every guest on a reservation—not just the primary booker—and how doing so unlocks deeper personalization and increased revenue opportunities.

Andrew explains why digital wallets and contactless check-in technology have reached a tipping point, making travel smoother for guests while helping hotels overcome staffing and operational challenges. The discussion also highlights how Apple Wallet integrations are changing the way travelers manage their stays and interact with hotel brands.

Finally, Tristan shares how Alliant is leveraging agentic AI, guest data, and contextual intelligence to create smarter recommendations for guests and more efficient workflows for hotel teams. From AI-powered morning briefing agents to hyper-personalized guest engagement, the future of hospitality is becoming more connected, intelligent, and guest-centric than ever before.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How concierge teams are embracing AI without losing the human touch
• Why understanding a guest's reason for travel matters more than ever
• The hidden revenue opportunities in identifying all guests on a reservation
• How digital wallets are reshaping the hotel guest journey
• The role of agentic AI in delivering personalized hospitality at scale
• Why data quality is the foundation of successful AI initiatives

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pREGBac4jyA

Links:
Tristan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristangadsby/
Alberto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsantana/
Andrew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-pirret/
Alliants: https://www.alliants.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/293

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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

In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jeff Bzdawka, CEO of Hapi and a Hall of Fame inductee in hospitality technology. Jeff shares his unique journey from aspiring dentist to hospitality technology leader, reflecting on the experiences that shaped his career across Hyatt, Pegasus, TravelClick, Noland, and now Hapi.

The conversation explores the evolving relationship between hospitality and technology, with a deep dive into what it truly means for hotels to be AI-ready versus AI-enabled. Jeff explains why clean, connected, and actionable data is the foundation for successful AI adoption, the challenges of achieving the industry's long-sought 360-degree guest profile, and how hotels can leverage technology to create more personalized guest experiences.

They also discuss operational automation, payment processing innovations, the importance of data normalization, and the future of hospitality technology as the industry moves from AI experimentation to real-world implementation. Plus, Jeff shares insights from the HITEC show floor, leadership lessons from his Wisconsin roots, and his vision for the future of guest experience.

Key Topics Covered:

• The intersection of hospitality and innovation
• Why hotels must focus on data before AI
• Payment automation and reducing operational friction
• HITEC trends and the future of AI in hospitality
• Leadership, culture, and industry transformation

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4Dg2iO2DW3M

Links:
Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbzdawka/
Hapi: https://www.stayhapi.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/292

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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 David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Anthony Vita, VP of Global Partnerships at Revenue Analytics, to explore how modern revenue management is becoming more accessible to independent hotels and boutique operators.

Anthony shares his unconventional journey from e-commerce and luxury interiors into hospitality tech, and how that experience helped shape his perspective on data, pricing, and automation. The conversation dives into the launch and expansion of Climber in North America, and how it’s aiming to level the playing field between small independent properties and large hotel groups through affordable, intelligent revenue management tools.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Climber is expanding into North America to support independent hotel operators
• How Revenue Analytics is working to democratize revenue management tools that were once only available to large hotel chains
• Why many independent hotels still rely on spreadsheets and “gut instinct” for pricing—and what’s changing
• The importance of partnerships across PMS, CRS, and hospitality tech ecosystems in scaling revenue solutions globally
• How accessibility and affordability are shaping the future of revenue management for small and mid-sized properties

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3vbrnUkyHaA

Links:
Anthony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitaanthony/
Revenue Analytics: https://www.revenueanalytics.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/291

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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