In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jake Lewis, President of Jonas Hospitality Property Systems, to explore how technology is reshaping the hospitality industry. With over 25 years of experience, Jake shares insights on the shift from disconnected software systems to unified hospitality platforms, why seamless guest experiences are becoming the new standard, and how clean, connected data is laying the foundation for AI-driven innovation.

The conversation dives into the future of hotel technology, the importance of aligning tech with operational strategy, and why the most successful hoteliers focus on solving real guest problems, not simply adopting the latest tools. Jake also discusses Jonas Hospitality's vision for creating integrated ecosystems that empower both hotel staff and guests through smarter, more personalized experiences.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why hospitality is moving from standalone systems to connected platforms
• How guest expectations are evolving in the age of Amazon-like convenience
• The role of clean, unified data in unlocking AI's full potential
• Why technology should enhance—not replace—the human side of hospitality

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H1Vn4jwLMJI

Links:
Jake on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-lewis-98985110/
Jonas Hospitality: https://www.jonashospitality.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/302

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, Steve Carran sits down with Mike Baldinger, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Evention, live from HITEC San Antonio, to uncover one of hospitality's most overlooked profit leaks: OTA revenue reconciliation.

While most hoteliers understand OTA commission costs, Mike explains why the real financial risk lies beneath the surface. From virtual credit card errors and overpaid commissions to billing mistakes and guest disputes, hotels could be losing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually without realizing it.

The conversation explores:

• Why OTA revenue leakage often goes undetected
• Common billing and reconciliation mistakes hotels make
• How inaccurate guest charges impact online reviews and brand reputation
• The hidden financial risks of disconnected hospitality systems
• Why Evention is building a "financial trust layer" instead of just another reconciliation tool
• Practical questions every GM and CFO should ask their finance team this week

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vfM8Oa5ZkJo

Links:
Mike Baldinger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebaldinger/
Evention: https://eventionllc.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/301

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.

How has hospitality technology evolved from the early days of CD-ROM site inspections to AI-powered sales intelligence?

In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili sits down with Michael Waltman, Founder of Interactive Sites, to explore his remarkable journey from hotel operations to building one of the industry's most trusted group sales technology companies. Michael shares the story behind Interactive Sites, the evolution of ShareIt Online, and how the platform now helps nearly 13,000 hotels improve lead sharing and qualification.

The conversation also dives into Seller Ready, Interactive Sites' latest AI-powered solution that helps hotel sales teams evaluate RFPs, identify winning strategies, and make smarter decisions faster. They also discuss the future of AI in hospitality, improving lead quality, and the energy and innovation showcased at HITEC.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Interactive Sites pioneered hospitality technology before the web era
• The evolution of ShareIt Online and its impact on group sales
• Why lead quality matters more than lead quantity
• How AI is helping hotel sales teams qualify opportunities and win more business
• Key hospitality technology trends emerging from HITEC

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gjgDUjOUy4A

Links:
Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-waltman-262a6995/
Interactive Sites: https://www.interactivesites.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/300

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.

How can AI make hospitality more human instead of less?

In this special HITEC episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Noelani Schroy, VP of Global Sales at Onyx CenterSource, to explore the future of hospitality technology and why the industry's greatest competitive advantage will always be people.

Noelani shares why hoteliers need to better understand the travel agency perspective, how fragmented technology systems silently cost hotels valuable opportunities, and why implementing new technology is only the beginning—not the finish line. She also offers practical insights on using AI to enhance guest experiences, empower employees, and strengthen leadership rather than replace it.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why AI should create more human-centered hospitality
• The hidden costs of fragmented hotel technology systems
• Why understanding travel agents improves hotel relationships
• How AI is reshaping hospitality jobs and leadership
• What technology providers must do to stay customer-focused

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/59neZld_1FI

Links:
Noelani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelanib/
Onyx CenterSource: https://onyxcentersource.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/299

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.

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.