Numa Head of Operations on Scaling Front Desk Free Hotels
What if you could run a 116-property hotel portfolio without a single traditional front desk? In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, Julius Anders, Head of Operations at Numa, reveals how his team is redefining hospitality with technology at its core.Key Takeaways:AI-Driven Decision Making: How Numa uses data, automation, and AI to save up to 60% in payroll costs.Guest Experience Reimagined: What a fully digital guest journey looks like—from booking to checkout—without a front desk.Build vs. Buy Strategy: Why Numa develops 60% of its tech in-house and how that shapes innovation and operational agility.With consumer behavior shifting and traditional hotel models under pressure, this conversation offers a roadmap for future-ready operations.👉 Subscribe to Hotel Tech Insider on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and share this episode with a colleague shaping the future of hotel operations.
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CCO of L+R Hotels on The Future of Segmentation Strategies
Can rethinking something as fundamental as market segmentation unlock new performance gains in hotels? Joe Pettigrew, Group Chief Commercial Officer at L+R Hotels—one of the world’s largest privately held hotel investment and operating groups—thinks so.Takeaways: • Hear how L+R Hotels is standardizing PMS, RMS, and CRS across 100+ properties to unlock scale, consistency, and better reporting. • Learn why Pettigrew believes benchmarking intelligence platforms like CoStar, Amadeus, and Lighthouse matter more to revenue success than any single operational system. • Discover why stablecoins and AI discoverability could reshape payments, loyalty, and how hotels appear in future travel searches—insights most hoteliers aren’t yet preparing for. While most industry conversations fixate on personalization, Pettigrew argues it’s overrated—with limited returns compared to getting the fundamentals right in segmentation, benchmarking, and tech consolidation. Don’t miss this rare inside look at how one of the industry’s most sophisticated ownership groups is thinking about technology. Subscribe to Hotel Tech Insider for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of hotels.
What do you get when a 14-property hotel brand rips out its entire legacy tech stack—and lives to tell the tale? In this episode, Josh Edwards, Operating Systems Manager at Penta Hotels, takes us behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious tech overhauls in the European hotel market.Takeaways: • Hear how Penta Hotels saved 175,000+ staff hours annually by replacing outdated systems with a next-gen stack—without sacrificing service. • Learn how to successfully manage change at scale, from piloting PMS platforms to gaining buy-in from skeptical hotel teams. • Discover why 25% of guests now purchase upsells, and how thoughtful use of automation and kiosks can unlock new revenue without alienating staff or guests. Penta Hotels isn’t just any brand—it’s a forward-thinking company that dared to question every operational assumption. From payments to POS, CRM to guest messaging, Josh shares the blueprint for future-proofing your tech without losing your brand’s soul. One surprising insight? Automating card payments alone accounted for the majority of the 175K hours saved. If you’re thinking about upgrading your systems—or questioning whether bold change is worth it—this episode is for you. Subscribe to Hotel Tech Insider for more insider stories from leaders shaping the future of hospitality.
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BOB Hotels Managing Partner on Elevating Budget Stays with Tech
Bob Hotels converted 70% OTA reliance to nearly 50% direct bookings in under a year—partly by using an AI phone agent (GoodCall) to convert phone inquiries into instant SMS-driven bookings.Can a roadside motel really outperform the compset—and become the #1 value property in an entire city—within a year? In this episode, Janis Krums, Managing Partner at Bob Hotels, reveals how his team transformed a run-down Sleep Inn into a top-rated boutique brand using a fresh tech stack, street-smart branding, and startup-level hustle.This episode is for experienced hoteliers, GMs, and asset managers looking to revitalize underperforming assets, modernize their tech stack, and rethink guest engagement for today’s traveler—without breaking the bank.Takeaways: • How to build a modern tech stack from scratch: Janis walks through the exact vendors and decision-making logic behind Bob Hotels’ PMS, booking engine, CRM, guest messaging, revenue tools, and even an AI-powered phone agent. • Using social proof and reviews as growth engines: Learn how the team grew to 1,100+ Google reviews with a 4.8-star rating in less than a year—and how that impacted OTAs, pricing, and occupancy. • Why legacy vendors are getting left behind: Hear Janis’ frank take on why most hotel tech incumbents miss the mark—and why younger, hungrier companies are earning his business.
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GCP Hospitality's VP of Strategy on Automating Revenue Without Losing Control
What can Four Seasons Bora Bora and a New Zealand hostel teach you about building smarter hotel tech stacks? In this episode, Michael Belanger, VP of Commercial Strategy at GCP Hospitality, unpacks the unique challenges—and surprising advantages—of managing one of the most diverse hotel portfolios in the world.Takeaways: • Learn why small and independent hotels are often more agile than global brands when it comes to adopting new technology. • Get insider strategies for tech stack decisions across both luxury resorts and hostels—including tools like Mews, Triptease, and SiteMinder. • Discover how GCP is rethinking the role of CRM vs PMS—and why that shift could unlock the next era of personalization and profitability.Don’t miss an episode—subscribe now to Hotel Tech Insider for more real-world strategies from the industry’s top leaders and innovators.
The HotelTechInsider podcast interviews the top leaders at the convergence of hotels, travel and technology. Guests include founders, executives, top hoteliers and industry organization leadership. Find all of the episodes at hoteltechreport.com
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