The Modern Hotelier
by David Millili & Steve Carran
Latest episode
#349: Dormakaba Acquires Alliants: Digital Keys, Wallet IDs & the…
#349: Dormakaba Acquires Alliants: Digital Keys, Wallet IDs & the…
About this podcast
Each episode we discuss industry trends, talk about new technologies, and speak to industry experts. All so that you, The Modern Hotelier, can succeed in a new age of hospitality.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 350 episodes
- #349: Dormakaba Acquires Alliants: Digital Keys, Wallet IDs & the Future of Seamless Hotel Guest Experience | Tristan Gadsby & Darien Long · 33 minWhat happens when a 160-year-old access control giant buys a guest experience platform? In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, Steve Carran sits down with Darien Long (SVP…
- #348: How Kohler Built a Luxury Resort Empire: Innovation Meets Tradition | with Stephen Beaumont · 58 minStephen is President and COO of Kohler Hospitality — the division behind Whistling Straits, The Old Course Hotel at St Andrews, and Lodge Kohler. In this episode of The Modern…
- #347: How Sofitel is Using Competitive Intelligence, Location Data, and AI to Improve Hotel Marketing | with Evan Saunders · 10 minIn this special Destination AI episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili sits down with Evan Saunders of Azira to explore how location intelligence, behavioral data, and AI…
- #346: Hospitality AI Roundtable: How Hoteliers Can Trust, Deploy, and Profit from AI · 58 minHow is AI transforming the hospitality industry, and what will the hotel of the future look like? In this special roundtable episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and…
- #345: Hotel Worker Strikes, The Luxury Boom, and A.I. Rollouts in Hotels | with Simone Harms · 16 minIn this episode of The Modern Hotelier Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili welcome Simone Harms, Managing Director of The Ameswell Hotel, to discuss the latest…
- #344: Leading Two Independent Hotels & Winning General Manager of the Year | with Oksana Gyulnazaryan · 16 minIn this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Oksana Gyulnazaryan, Area General Manager at Viceroy and Highgate, to discuss her journey in hospitality…
- #343: The Future of Hospitality in Latin America | with Rocco Bova · 39 minIn this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Rocco Bova, founder of the Summit Latinoamericano Branded Residences, to discuss the future of hospitality in Mexico…
- #342: Hotel Financing: Rates, Deal Killers, & Flags vs. Independents | with Ryan Bosch · 29 minHow do hotel financing decisions impact profitability, deal viability, and investment opportunities? In this episode, hosts Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Ryan…
- #341: 4 vs 5-Star Service, AI's Timeline, and Scaling Unique Hotel Brands | Hospitality Roundtable · 1 h 0 minWhat does the future of hospitality look like as hotels balance rising costs, evolving guest expectations, and the rapid growth of AI? In this special roundtable episode of The…
- #340: Streamlining Wi-Fi Management for Your Hotel | with Hannah Greenberg, CEO of Eleven · 47 minHow can hotels use technology, AI, and better Wi-Fi to improve guest experience? In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Hannah Greenberg, CEO of Eleven, to…
- #339: Cabañas Launch Astound, Dormakaba Acquires Alliants, Booking on Social Media | Christopher Ahlgrim · 22 minOn this episode of The Modern Hotelier Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Christopher Ahlgrim from Preferred Travel Group to talk about the…
- #338: Why Hotels Need Custom AI Workflows | with Sajid Shariff · 33 minIs your hotel lost in the "AI pilot trap"? In this episode recorded live at AI Washington, D.C., David and Steve sit down with Sajid Shariff, Founder and CEO of Dextr AI, to…
- #337: How Revenue Management Is Changing & Giving Independent Hotels An Advantage | with Steve Taft & Tim Kolman · 28 minWhat can a modern revenue management system (RMS) actually do for an independent hotel? In this episode, David Millili sits down with Steve Taft, VP of Partnerships at ampliphi…
- #336: What the Next Generation of Hotel Technology Looks Like | with Mark Bloomquist & Steve Burman · 22 minroommaster is evolving—and the future of hotel technology is all about modernization, flexibility, and helping hoteliers work smarter. In this episode, recorded at the…
- #335: How Custom Furniture Help Hotels Tell A Story | with Chandler Smith & Natali Jones · 8 minIn this special episode of The Modern Hotelier, hosted by David Millili live from the Independent Hotel Show Miami, we sit down with Chandler Smith and Natali Jones, the creative…
- #334: Building an AI Workforce For Hotels | with Jonathan Lei · 8 minHow are hotel AI employees and hotel software automation reshaping front-desk workload, guest messaging, and back-office efficiency? In this special Independent Hotel Show Miami…
- #333: How A Loyalty Program Helps Independent Hotels Compete | with Audrey Yates & David Gavaldon · 15 minIndependent hotels have a secret weapon that the big chains don't have, and in this episode, we unpack exactly how to use it. Welcome to The Modern Hotelier. Today's guest is…
- #332: The Importance of Scent & Guest Amenities for Hotels | with Kim Peterson & John Farrell · 24 minHotel amenities are the touchpoints guests remember, they matter just as much at $200 a night as at $1,000. In this episode, Steve and David sit down with John Farrell, CEO and…
- #331: How Independent Hotels Should Think About Pricing | with Anurag Verma · 36 minIn this episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Anurag Verma, co-founder of PriceLabs, to explore how data, revenue management, and…
- #330: The Biggest Change in Hotel Distribution | with Oshick Shams · 21 minHow can independent hotels build a profitable distribution strategy while navigating OTAs, direct bookings, metasearch, and AI-driven travel discovery? In this special…
- #329: How To Develop a Successful Hotel Food & Beverage Program | with Ami Alexander · 42 minWhat does it take to create a hotel food and beverage program that guests remember, and locals actually want to visit? In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down…
- #328: How a European Hotel Brand Is Expanding in America | with Phil Andreopoulos, CEO of Yotel · 48 minWhat does it take to build a hotel brand that stands out in an increasingly competitive hospitality industry? In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Phil…
- #327: Designing Unparalleled Hospitality Experiences | with Janice Wilson, Founder of Menizei · 41 minWhat does it take to create a truly one-of-a-kind hospitality experience in the age of AI? In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Janice Wilson, founder of…
- #326: The Future of AI in Hospitality: Hotel Technology, Data & Automation | with Kevin King · 53 minWhat does it take to build technology that can truly transform hotel operations? In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Kevin King, CEO of Shiji, for a…
- #325: Hospitality Hot Topics August 2026: Airbnb & Lark Hotels, Hilton & Marriott New Soft Brands, & More! | with Richard Sandoval · 23 minWhat’s happening across the hospitality industry right now? In this episode of The Modern Hotelier Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Richard…
- #324: How Boutique Hotels Can Stand Out & Thrive | with Jorgan von Stiening of Palisociety · 42 minHow do you scale a boutique hotel company without losing the creativity, personality, and local connection that make independent hospitality so special? In this episode, David…
- #323: Making Hotel Ownership and Commercial Real Estate Investing Accessible | with Davonne Reaves · 49 minWhat does it really take to own a hotel, and how can more people gain access to hotel investing? In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, Davonne Reaves, founder and CEO of The…
- #322: Boutique Service, Authentic Design, and Cultivating Hospitality’s Future | David Bowd of Salt Hotels · 45 minIn this episode, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with David Bowd, co-founder and owner of Salt Hotels, for a candid conversation about hospitality, leadership, design…
- #321: How Streamlining Procurement Can Help Hotels Thrive | with Jesse Messitte · 30 minHow can hotels make smarter purchasing decisions, control costs, and use technology to work more efficiently? In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jesse…
- #320: Hotel P&L Benchmarking & The Impact of the World Cup | with Jan Freitag & Amanda Hite · 20 minIn this special episode, David Millili sits down with industry leaders at the Hotel Data Conference in Nashville to explore the latest trends shaping hotel profitability…
- #319: The Opportunity in Getting Hotel Tech Integrations Right | with Kelly Popp · 12 minWhat happens when hotel teams have plenty of technology but still struggle to work from the same information? In this special HDC Nashville episode of The Modern Hotelier, David…
- #318: From On-Property to Expedia to Hotel Technology | with Nick Farrell · 39 minWhat happens when you combine hands-on hotel experience, OTA expertise, hospitality technology, and a test-and-learn mindset? In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, David…
- #317: Navigating the Shifts Disrupting the Hotel Industry | with Kathleen Cullen · 32 minThe hotel industry is undergoing a major transformation—and hotels that continue operating the way they always have may struggle to keep up. In this episode, David Millili sits…
- #316: What It Takes to Lead Luxury Resorts | with Robert Marusi of Hotel Del Coronado & Grand Wailea · 31 minRobert Marusi shares the leadership principles, technology strategies, and commercial mindset that have helped him lead some of the world's most iconic luxury resorts, including…
- #315: Managing the Vibe at the NYC Hard Rock Hotel | with David Salcfas · 50 minWhat does it take to lead one of New York City's most iconic hotels? In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, we sit down with David Salcfas, General Manager of Hard Rock Hotel…
- #314: World Cup Tourism, Booking Based on F&B, Creative Travel for Summer Vacations | Hospitality Hot Topics with Dean Compoginis · 19 minIn this episode of Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili are joined by Dean Compoginis, the iconic voice of The Modern Hotelier, to break down the biggest…
- #313: A Journey of Hospitality Innovation: From Cairo to Hotel Brand COO | with Karima Zaki · 52 minWhat does it take to build a hospitality career that breaks barriers while staying ahead of constant industry change? In this episode, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down…
- #312: Relational Wellness is the Foundation of this Hotel | with Elizabeth Mullins · 52 minWhat if the future of hospitality isn't just about exceptional service—but about creating meaningful human connection? In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran…
- #311: How Your General Contractor Executes Hotel Renovations Without Disruption | with Tom Kelley · 54 minWhat does it really take to renovate a hotel while keeping guests happy, protecting reviews, and maximizing owner returns? In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit…
- #310: HITEC E20X 2026 Winners | with Mergim Kacija & Josh Ellis · 9 minLive from HITEC 2026, we sit down with the winners of the prestigious E20X startup competition to explore the technologies redefining the future of hospitality. First, Mergim…
- #309: Think Global, Act Local: Insights from an International Hotelier | with Gonzalo Aguilar · 35 minWhat does it take to lead one of the world's fastest-growing global hotel groups while staying true to the heart of hospitality? In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, hosts…
- #308: Hospitality Roundtable: Shannon McCallum, Anthony Melchiorri, Dmitry Kroshka & Henrik Shimony · 1 h 9 minWhat does the future of hospitality really look like? In this special Modern Hotelier Round Table, industry leaders come together for an honest conversation about leadership…
- #307: Elevating the Airport Lounge Experience | with David Collyer of Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality · 51 minIn this episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with David Collyer, Global SVP of Aspire PreFlight Hospitality, to explore how hospitality…
- #306: A Better Way For Hotel Marketing | with Evan Saunders · 18 minHow can hotels use AI and location intelligence to attract new guests instead of spending marketing dollars on travelers who were already planning to book? In this special HITEC…
- #305: Transparency & Confidence is Key in Owner Accounting | with Brian McGeown · 7 minHow can hotels eliminate spreadsheets, improve financial transparency, and strengthen relationships with owners? In this special HITEC episode of The Modern Hotelier, David…
- #304: How In-Room Tablets Are Increasing Guest Engagement & Unlocking Revenue | with Kevin Bidner · 19 minIn this special HITEC episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Kevin Bidner, Founder and CEO of HCN (Hotel Communication Network), to discuss…
- #303: How Hotel Maintenance Impacts the Guest & the Bottom Line | with Chris Zach · 8 minIn this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Chris Zach, Senior Director of Product Marketing at ServiceChannel, to explore…
- #302: How the Best Hotel Operators Are Approaching Technology | with Jake Lewis · 13 minIn 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…
- #301: Helping Hotels Reduce Revenue Leakage | with Mike Baldinger · 14 minIn 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…
- #300: Innovating the Meeting & Events Sales Process | with Mike Waltman · 11 minHow 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…
