22nd Annual International Hotel Technology Forum 2025 (IHTF)

The ultimate forum for hoteliers across Europe and beyond to discover the latest advancements in hotel technology that will drive seamless experiences, boost revenue and increase operational efficiency.

18 - 20

March

2025
  • Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort
  • Complimentary
  • Why attend?
  • 2024 Agenda
  • 2024 Speakers
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Event Gallery
  • Sponsors
  • Media Centre
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Why attend?

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR 2025?

 

 

200+

Attendees to meet each year

30+

Exhibitors to meet each year

80%

Attendees at Director+ level

200+

Attendees to meet each year

30+

Exhibitors to meet each year

80%

Attendees at Director+ level

IHTF Europe 2024

2024 Agenda

  • 16 Apr 2024
  • 17 Apr 2024
  • 18 Apr 2024
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Streams

Stream one

Technology & Operations

Stream two

Distribution & Marketing

10 AM

Registration, morning refreshments & networking

11 AM

Chairs opening remarks

Speakers

Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates

11:15 AM

Keynote Address: Surfing into the future: Unleashing Accor’s guest Wi-Fi journey

  • Implementing strong and secure Wi-Fi solutions to accommodate the demands of future technology and guests' expectations
  • Accelerating experiences through seamless roaming, speed and welcome-back
  • Unlocking the power of Wi-Fi to enhance brand loyalty

Speakers

Roger Tabbal
VP Global Guest Technology & Innovation – Tech for Hotels, Accor

11:45 AM

Unified payments solutions: Powering the new wave of hospitality

  • How innovation drives hotel and guest experiences
  • How payments quickly scale large operations and streamline processes
  • Our customer story – B&B Hotel: Driving business growth through payments

Speakers

Karim El Habashy
VP Sales Hospitality, Adyen
Fleur Besteman
Sales Manager, Adyen

12:15 PM

Networking Lunch

1:15 PM

Panel Discussion: Embracing the tech boom: Future-proofing hotel business models

  • Strategically preparing hotel business models to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technologies
  • Adapting technological investments, maintaining alignment, and bringing together technology partners
  • Delving into steps to ensure successful application in complex legacy systems
  • Achieving sustained growth and unmatched competitiveness through effective tech, Wi – Fi and automation implementation

Speakers

Roger Tabbal
VP Global Guest Technology & Innovation – Tech for Hotels, Accor
Mustafa Gokcen
Head of Information Technology, Cheval Collection
Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates
Steve Johnson
Senior Director Hospitality EMEA, Ruckus
Patrick Lomsdalen
CEO, FLEXIPASS
Andrew Kraemer
Senior Vice President of Operations

1:45 PM

Next-Generation AI-driven Networks for HSP

  • In a highly fragmented scenario of powerful but disjointed technologies, the risk for the hotel market is to end up adapting business to technology and not the other way around
  • Modern technological developments in AI, Private Networks, building automation, cloud/edge architectures and cybersecurity offer undisputed advantages when introduced with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of hotel management while preventing complexity from becoming a distraction to the real core business
  • Let's find out together what modern design criteria and technology choices maximize the convergence of network infrastructures and applications for the HSP market

Speakers

Steve Johnson
Senior Director Hospitality EMEA, Ruckus

2:15 PM

Hospitality: The New Cyber Battlefield

  • An overview of the tools, techniques and procedures being applied by threat actors to breach hotels
  • A deep dive into current social engineering techniques
  • Approaches for detecting and stopping threats

Speakers

Adam Blake
CEO, ThreatSpike Labs

2:45 PM

Enhancing efficiency and experiences: Harnessing in room smart technologies

  • Unleashing latest in room innovations shaping the guest experience
  • Investigating techniques to engage and empower staff members to use and maintain in-room smart technologies

Speakers

João Pronto
Professor, ESHTE
Albert Creixell
Head of Alexa Enterprise Spain & UK, Amazon
Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates

3:15 PM

Embracing AI: A Story of How Fear becomes Empowerment in Hospitality

  • In this uncertain new age of AI, many of us worry how our careers will be affected by this technology - how much will my job change? Will I be replaced? How will my industry look in the future?
  • If any of these questions have crossed your mind, then join Miklos Belan, CEO & Founder of Everguest, as he explores the emotional journey professionals undergo while learning to embrace AI as a powerful ally
  • Listen to a story highlighting resilience and adaptation, leading to the creation of Everguest Intelligence. This revolutionary solution exemplifies the powerful synergy between human emotional intelligence and AI capabilities, poised to redefine the landscape of hospitality
  • Belan's story underscores the indomitable spirit of innovation, showcasing how technology and human insight together forge a path to unparalleled guest service excellence and efficiency in hospitality

Speakers

Miklós Belán
Founder & CEO, Everguest

3:45 PM

Coffee break

3:55 PM

Business meeting 1

4:30 PM

Business meeting 2

5:05 PM

Business meeting 3

5:35 PM

Visionary leadership: fast-tracking PMS adoption in a digital-first era

  • Showcasing the pivotal role of a change champion in driving efficiency within the organisation of an international hotel group
  • Highlighting how an open infrastructure resulted in the fastest PMS migration for a mid-sized hotel group, setting new industry benchmarks for efficiency and scalability
  • Discussing the strategic importance of adopting an API-first platform in the hospitality industry
  • Challenges and lessons learned

Speakers

Philip von Ditfurth
Founder, Apaleo
Stefan van Welie
Head of Technology Hotel Solutions, citizenM

6:05 PM

Fireside chat: Navigating Transformation: Building a change-ready culture

  • Putting in place effective leadership strategies in times of change and turbulence
  • Ensuring lasting positive impacts across the hotel model
  • Reacting to new digital advancements and emerging tech trends

Speakers

Ester Abad
Head of Digital Change Management, Meliá Hotels International
Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates

6:40 PM

Conference Close and Networking Drinks Sponsored by m3connect

7:40 PM

Networking Dinner

11 AM

Chairs opening remarks

Speakers

Ryan Haynes
Director Haynes MarComs

11:15 AM

Keynote Address: Branding in the digital age: Harnessing the power of multi-channel marketing

  • Leveraging multi-channel advertising and targeting generational needs through radio, Spotify, and on-demand TV channels
  • Implementing personalisation in the marketing strategy to enhance guest satisfaction
  • Utilising automation as a web tool to stay ahead in the competitive landscape

Speakers

Chris Bowling
Head Of Digital Marketing & Ecommerce at Best Western Hotels GB Best Western

11:45 AM

Personality crisis: Am I a hotel or a retailer

  • Travelers prefer to buy ancillaries after the initial booking - what does this mean for the hotels?
  • Travelers have a spending mindset – but what does that mean for the hotels?

Speakers

Bojan Jokic
Co-Founder and CEO, Epteca

12:15 PM

Networking Lunch

1:15 PM

Panel Discussion: From data to delight: Cultivating guest centricity through a data driven culture

  • Elevating the guest experience through data driven decision making
  • Unveiling the direct correlation between data culture and enhanced profitability
  • Exploring robust frameworks to collect, analyse and leverage guest data effectively
  • Encouraging teams to foster a data driven mindset

 

Speakers

Sanchit Juneja
Director-Product of Big Data & Machine Learning Platform
Oliver Benalal
Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development, Hesperia World
Sal Capizzi
VP of Marketing, Book4Time
Michael McCartan
Area Vice President EMEA, IDeaS Revenue Solutions
Guy Barnes
Head of Sales Europe, Sabre Hospitality
Ryan Haynes
Director Haynes MarComs

2:15 PM

PCI 4.0 What do the next 12 months look like for Hospitality?

  • Requirements for Filing
  • Major Changes to Operations
  • Remote Assessments? No More!
  • Responsibility for Third Party Service Providers

Speakers

David Durko
CEO, Security Validation | SecValMSP

2:45 PM

Case Study: Attracting top talent: Technology, employer branding and creative campaigns

  • Showcasing company culture, values and opportunities through effective marketing
  • Presenting storytelling techniques to communicate employee experience and career growth prospects
  • Utilising technology-driven methods to spread digital content

Speakers

Florian Hepp
Director of Employer Branding, Marriott

3:15 PM

Evolution of Purchasing

Join this session to hear from Mark Haywood as he discusses the Evolution of Purchasing in hospitality and how technology can enable businesses to maximize savings, control spend and optimize procure-to-pay process. Topics will include:

  • Digitization of Procurement Processes: Procurement in the hospitality industry has evolved significantly with the adoption of digital procurement software. This evolution has streamlined purchasing processes, making them more efficient and transparent
  • Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing: There's a growing focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing in the hospitality industry. Technology can support these initiatives by providing tools to evaluate supplier practices, track sustainable product certifications, and enforce ethical sourcing policies
  • Data Analytics and Reporting: Advanced technologies provide robust analytics and reporting capabilities. Hospitality businesses can leverage this data to identify trends, make informed purchasing decisions, and negotiate better deals with suppliers

Speakers

Mark Haywood
Chief Commercial Officer & SVP EMEA, BirchStreet Systems

3:45 PM

Coffee break

5:35 PM

Reserved for sponsorship

6:05 PM

Unlocking growth strategies: Maximising hotel food and beverage revenue

  • Demonstrating tactics for expanding hotel F&B revenue through dynamic pricing and capacity strategies
  • Enhancing revenue from menu development and room service orders
  • Navigating effective waste-reduction strategies
  • How can technology revolutionise hotel F&B processes?

Speakers

Dario Artiola
Directore Revenue Performance, Radisson Hotel Group

Streams

Stream one

Technology & Operations

Stream two

Distribution & Marketing

8 AM

Registration

8:45 AM

Chairs opening remarks

Speakers

Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates

8:50 AM

Panel Discussion: Advancing hotel technology in a cost-efficient era

  • Ensuring the smooth migration of hotel systems and software to cloud-based platforms
  • Digitalising hardware services to streamline processes and reduce maintenance cost
  • Defining solutions that meet a range of demands, from luxury to budget hotels
  • Sharing success stories from hotels that have implemented creative cost-cutting measures

 

Speakers

Riko Van Santen
CIO Kempinski Hotels S.A.
Bojan Pavicic
Director Technology & Digital, citizenM Hotels
Piotr Lipiec
Samsung Senior Hotel TV BDM Europe
Frank Wagner
Director -International Sales, Advanced Computer Technology
Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates
Daniel Lister
CEO, DanMagi
Dhiraj ‘DJ’ Singh
Vice President of Sales, Canary Technologies

9:30 AM

The power of personalization: Harnessing data to meet rising guest expectations

  • Emphasising the significance of data in achieving guest personalization and recommendations
  • Navigating the tools needed as a foundation for personalisation approaches
  • Mastering integrations and cost reductions, shortening “time to market” for digital services
  • Usage of machine learning models to ensure service standards and tailored experiences
  • Using technology to go beyond traditional hospitality paradigms and deliver personalised visitor experiences

Speakers

Roberto Gobo
Director of digital strategy and technology Valamar Riviera

10 AM

Unravelling the chaos: The impact of traditional payment solutions on hotels

  •  On average less than 5% of hotel eCommerce is managed by traditional payment gateway solutions
  • Discover why hotels get stuck with manual payment processing and how to fix it
  • Unveil the inherent flaws in the architecture of traditional payment systems crippling hotels

 

Speakers

Faisal Memon
Founder & CEO, iOL

10:30 AM

From conception to completion: The IT journey in hotel openings

  • Understanding the hotel project lifecycle
  • Highlighting strategies for optimization and success in hotel IT projects
  • Mastering negotiation, procurement and installation
  • Ensuring string collaboration with internal and external stakeholders

Speakers

Gerald Lampaert
Founder and CEO

11 AM

Coffee Break

11:10 AM

Next Level Guest & Employee Experience, powered by AI – THE McDreams Hotels Journey

Ralf & Markus will showcase how McDreams Hotels took their Guest & Employee Experience to the next level as a foundation for future growth

Speakers

Markus Feller
CEO, LIKE MAGIC
Ralf Bonin
Director of Operations, McDreams Hotel GmbH

11:50 AM

Business meeting 4

12:25 PM

Business meeting 5

1 PM

Business meeting 6

1:35 PM

Networking Lunch

2:35 PM

Optimising technical product development for hotel strategy transformation

  • Developing agile processes that allow quick adaptation to evolving customer preferences, market dynamics and tech advancements
  • Enhancing operational and service efficiency through fostering cross-functional collaborations
  • Creating a culture of ownership and engagement within the team
  • Making data driven decisions to contribute to the success of the hotel transformation strategy

Speakers

Mathias Althin
VP technology, Strawberry

3:05 PM

How to compete with the big players in the digitalisation of the hotel industry

  • Create a network with the best partners: what works for some does not necessarily work for all. How to find the best partners for your property?
  • Use technology at your guest service: digitalisation does not need to be a headache. A seamless digital guest journey is at your fingertips: from booking to security
  • Make it through the jungle: get expert advice from and guidance to create your digitalisation strategy based on your needs and goals

Speakers

Carsten Wernet
CEO, SIHOT Group

3:35 PM

Afternoon Coffee Break

3:50 PM

Business meeting 7

4:25 PM

Business meeting 8

5 PM

Business meeting 9

5:35 PM

Charting new territories: A fresh look at future hotel innovation and advancements

  • Future of in-room tech and cloud architectures
  • Smart use of digital development, scripting, and automation in checking the room technology
  • Usage of AI and ML to gain competitive advantage in networks, finance, and other areas
  • Headless Systems Strategies and importance of integrations in modern hospitality

Speakers

Bojan Pavicic
Director Technology & Digital, citizenM Hotels

6:05 PM

Conference Day Two Close & Networking Drinks

7:10 PM

Networking Dinner

8:45 AM

Chairs opening remarks

Speakers

Ryan Haynes
Director Haynes MarComs

9 AM

Keynote Address: TikTok short-form-video and the evolving travel marketing landscape

  • Implementing effective campaigns for hotel content and influencer marketing
  • Unleashing the power of TikTok and short videos to showcase culture and destinations
  • Utilising digital marketing including TikTok for talent acquisition

Speakers

Michael Schumacher
Brand Partnerships Lead - Travel & Mobility, TikTok

9:30 AM

Panel Discussion: Guest behaviour in 2024 and beyond: Adapting strategies for changing behaviours

  • Reflecting on shifts in guest behaviour since the re-emerge of travel
  • Examining the impacts of evolving guest preferences, last minute bookings and the role of inflation in shaping booking habits
  • How can we adapt distribution strategies to changing guest behaviours?
  • Focusing on mobile apps, website enhancements, contactless checks- ins and voice automation for effortless bookings

 

Speakers

Raimund Notz
Director, Hotel Revenue Optimization Central & Eastern Europe, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Matthew Prosser
Senior Sales Director, Agilysys
Cinta Massó
CCO, Hotelverse
Markus Mueller
Managing Director, GauVendi
Ryan Haynes
Director Haynes MarComs

10 AM

Modernising the MICE & group buyer experience

  • Why did the MICE & Group booking process not evolve like most other buying processes in this day and age?
  • 70% of MICE & Group sales is done offline but direct, what are the pains and gains?
  • Why hotels should prevent 3rd parties from getting in control of their data and distribution mix (like OTA's did to room sales)

Speakers

Carlos Calvo
Head of Sales, Proposales

10:30 AM

Attracting the new wave of guests

  • Connecting with consumers through effective marketing strategies
  • Appealing to the new generation of guests with wellbeing showcasing
  • Highlighting hotel innovation and technology in the marketing story

Speakers

Sofía Muntaner Ordinas
Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Meliá Hotels International

11 AM

Coffee Break

11:10 AM

Maximize direct bookings and optimize your website into a revenue-generating asset

  • Enhance your data-driven strategies with Dual Revenue Management and achieve a Sustainable Distribution for your hotel
  • Deploy automation strategies comprehensive scenario analysis, ensuring seamless integration between pricing and marketing actions
  • Learn how impactful it can be having a large database fed by multiple sources such as PMS, Metasearch, OTA, Google, Market Data, Competitor’s prices, in order to turn unrefined data into actionable strategies
  • Gain insights from case studies and best practices shared by our top-performing partners

Speakers

Piergiorgio Schirru
EVP, Head of Revenue Management and Research & Development, Blastness

1:35 PM

Networking Lunch

2:35 PM

Affiliate E-commerce: Unearthing the hidden gems

  • Exploring affiliate networks in the hotel industry
  • Analysing the impact of building brand partnerships with travel related brands
  • Understanding the potential of awareness and performance-driven channels
  • Identifying key strategies for successful collaboration and mutual growth

Speakers

Christoph Peppers
Director E-Commerce H-Hotels.com
Patrick Reder
Senior Key Account Partnership Manager, Awin

3:05 PM

Travel ancillaries – a US$240B opportunity for the hotel industry or an elusive dream?

Travelers, ancillaries, and hotdogs: What can hotels learn from the airlines and one of the world's leading lifestyle brands?

Speakers

Bojan Jokic
Co-Founder and CEO, Epteca

3:35 PM

Afternoon Coffee Break

5:35 PM

Technology, tactics and profit optimisation: Boosting revenue management strategies

  • Aligning revenue management with business goals and pinpointing key areas for investment returns
  • Exploring integrated revenue approaches and concepts
  • Utilising automation to transform revenue management processes
  • Identifying crucial data points for accurate forecasting
  • Highlighting the role of human judgement in revenue management decisions

Speakers

Diogo Vaz Ferreira
Head of Commercial, Clink Hostels

Streams

Stream one

Technology & Operations

Stream two

Distribution & Marketing

8 AM

Registration

8:50 AM

Chairs opening remarks

Speakers

Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates

9 AM

Keynote Address: Defining your strategy for attracting and selecting the right partner

  • Evaluating criteria for selecting the right partner
  • Creating a barrier of mutual understanding and outlining financial expectations
  • Ensuring initial contact is clear and concise while validating technical specs and criteria
  • Investigating various IT and technological solution areas

Speakers

Matt Arnull
Head of Architecture and Strategy Whitbread

9:30 AM

Case study: Commitment to the community: Inspiring the next generation of hoteliers

  • Implementing placements and innovative programmes to benefit the local community and recruit talent
  • Making a difference by collaborating with schools, local governments, and the community
  • Understanding how the hotel industry can make a genuine contribution to a larger societal purpose, that in turn significantly aids senior level recruitment into the hotel

Speakers

Veryan Palmer
Director, The Headland Hotel

10 AM

Future horizons: Emerging ESG tech and solutions

  • Utilising data analytics to measure ESG performance and set benchmarks
  • Exploring AI, blockchain and other innovative tech for sustainable hospitality
  • Looking at accessibility focused technology for all guests
  • Using innovation to foster local engagement and support to nearby communities

Speakers

10:15 AM

The ages of AI: How will generative AI affect the hotel industry?

  • Elevating the guest experience; how will generative AI affect guest interactions?
  • Overcoming real-world obstacles and constraints in AI adoption
  • Exploring the potential of AI in the years ahead from predictive services to sustainable practices

 

 

Speakers

Charlotte Newton
Senior Analyst, Thematic Intelligence, GlobalData

10:30 AM

Designing the future of hospitality

  • Designing the physical guest experience alongside the digital journey
  • Digital development as a catalyst for brand evolution in design
  • Do disturb! Case study for the seamless guest journey

Speakers

Uri Yeger
Design Director, citizenM Hotels

11 AM

Coffee Break

11:10 AM

Business meeting 10

11:45 AM

Business meeting 11

12:20 PM

Business meeting 12

12:55 PM

Diving into sustainability: Putting ideas into action

  • Digging deeper into the concept of sustainability; what does this really mean to the industry?
  • Embedding sustainability into business models and taking smaller steps to lay the groundwork
  • Creating a valuable foundation to ensure long-term success

Speakers

Patrick Apostolo
Corporate Operations & Business Transformation Director, Radisson Hotel Group

1:25 PM

Panel Discussion: Fostering ESG responsibility across the hotel ecosystem

  • Responding to consumer pressure, tightening regulations and laying out net zero strategies
  • Highlighting the social aspect of ESG and nurturing community engagement through technology
  • Evaluating the environmental footprint of digitalisation in hotels and identifying areas of improvement
  • How can technology providers and hotels collectively promote sustainable practices?

Speakers

Paloma Zapata
Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Travel International
Veryan Palmer
Director, The Headland Hotel
Patrick Apostolo
Corporate Operations & Business Transformation Director, Radisson Hotel Group
Frederik Steensgaard
Chief Executive Officer, BeCause

1:55 PM

Networking Lunch

2:25 PM

Close of Conference

8:50 AM

Chairs opening remarks

Speakers

Ryan Haynes
Director Haynes MarComs

9 AM

Panel Discussion: Revolutionising guest communication: Chatbots and beyond

  • Evaluating the role of chatbot communication in the hotel industry
  • Harnessing automation to create personalised offers based on visitor trends
  • Offering innovative guest service approaches including interactive greetings

Speakers

Christoph Peppers
Director E-Commerce H-Hotels.com
Ryan Haynes
Director Haynes MarComs

9:30 AM

Session reserved for sponsorship

10 AM

Localisation vs globalisation: Blending global branding and cultural identity

  • Establishing a worldwide presence while connecting with local audiences
  • Crafting memorable consumer experiences and showcasing a unique service
  • Customising brand messages and experiences and maintaining brand relevance in a changing landscape

Speakers

Henrique Tiago de Castro
General Manager, EVOLUTION Cascais-Estoril Hotel

11 AM

Coffee Break

2024 Speakers

Select a speaker to learn more

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Roger Tabbal
VP Global Guest Technology & Innovation – Tech for Hotels, Accor

Roger Tabbal was appointed Accor Tech VP Global Guest Technology & Innovation, Tech for Hotels in July 2022. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Roger is responsible for driving innovation and guest technology product evolution in 5,400 hotels worldwide, a key focus of Accor Tech’s strategy in creating the future of hospitality.

Roger joined Accor as Executive Director Customer Technology Services for IMEA from Movenpick Hotels & Resorts in 2019. With over 23 years’ IT experience in the hospitality industry, Roger has played an integral role in major tech rollout projects, including PMS Cloud, POS Cloud, Wi-Fi seamless experience, and Cloud Backup, ensuring hotels meet company IT standards and are able to benefit from the technological innovations that are transforming the hospitality industry.

Roger holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Lebanese University, Lebanon, and is pursuing his Executive MBA with City University of London. He also holds certification in Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and is a Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP). Roger has completed Project Leadership & Systems Architecture courses from Cornell University.

Session Details:

Keynote Address: Surfing into the future: Unleashing Accor’s guest Wi-Fi journey

2024-04-16, 11:15 AM

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Embracing the tech boom: Future-proofing hotel business models

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Mathias Althin
VP technology, Strawberry

As an experienced Vice President of Technology with a passion for technology, innovation, collaboration, and infusing a sense of fun into the workplace, I've had the privilege of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of technology and leadership.

With a career spanning over 20 years in the industry, I've leveraged my expertise to drive growth, foster strong teams, and create a workplace where both productivity and enjoyment thrive. My mission is clear: to drive technological excellence, empower my teams, foster collaboration, and make work an enjoyable journey for all.

Session Details:

Optimising technical product development for hotel strategy transformation

2024-04-17, 2:35 PM

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Dario Artiola
Directore Revenue Performance, Radisson Hotel Group

Over 10+ years experience in the hospitality industry Dario has become a revenue expert, working in different companies, and has lived abroad in many European cities, from Milan to Wien and from Brussels to Madrid. Dario is currently Director of Revenue Performance at Radisson Hotel Group, responsible for the results of 150+ hotels together with 50 revenue managers and specialists. From April 22, Dario has been admitted to the Global Executive MBA ( worldwide ranking: 34# Financial Times/ 23# The Economist) of the prestigious WU Executive Academy in Wien, a double master degree in partnership with Carlson University in Minneapolis. Dario’s lifetime passions are Football, Formula 1, cinema and currently, he is very passionate about cyber security and data protection.

Session Details:

Unlocking growth strategies: Maximising hotel food and beverage revenue

2024-04-16, 6:05 PM

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Riko Van Santen
CIO Kempinski Hotels S.A.

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Advancing hotel technology in a cost-efficient era

2024-04-17, 8:50 AM

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Chris Bowling
Head Of Digital Marketing & Ecommerce at Best Western Hotels GB Best Western

As a passionate digital marketer with a fascination for everything e-commerce, Chris currently leads the digital team at Best Western Hotels GB. Chris and his team have delivered strong performance in an ever-changing digital landscape. Originally joining Best Western GB as a website executive, Chris has progressed through a variety of roles that have allowed Chris to put passion into action. Whether this is CRO, project management or digital strategy Chris has consistently delivered business objectives. Chris is passionate about motivating his team to deliver exceptional results, be this by helping them as they grow there skillset or allowing them to take on new projects, Chris aims to create a team that works together in synergy.

Session Details:

Keynote Address: Branding in the digital age: Harnessing the power of multi-channel marketing

2024-04-16, 11:15 AM

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Ester Abad
Head of Digital Change Management, Meliá Hotels International

Session Details:

Fireside chat: Navigating Transformation: Building a change-ready culture

2024-04-16, 6:05 PM

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Christoph Peppers
Director E-Commerce H-Hotels.com

Session Details:

Affiliate E-commerce: Unearthing the hidden gems

2024-04-17, 2:35 PM

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Revolutionising guest communication: Chatbots and beyond

2024-04-18, 9:00 AM

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Patrick Lomsdalen
CEO, FLEXIPASS

Patrick is a connector and loves helping customers and partners succeed. Early on he embraced open technology connecting the industries most innovative keyless hotel guest services. While others were developing all in one closed systems, Patrick went the other direction letting each innovative party focus on their core knowledge. Today this has proven at the winning solution as customers are able to experience and connect the industry's best innovative keyless hospitality solutions. 

International Business Development Executive with 20+ years of experience in Hospitality
From launching the world’s first virtual hospitality fair, to providing door access and in room technology to global hotel chains as Marriott, HILTON, IHG, Accor, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and private boutique hotels, his current focus is delivering keyless hotel door opening experiences connected with the world's most innovative guest communication providers. 

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Embracing the tech boom: Future-proofing hotel business models

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Roberto Gobo
Director of digital strategy and technology Valamar Riviera

Roberto Gobo is the Director of digital strategy and technology in Valamar Riviera, the largest and leading tourism company in Croatia (7,000 employees), which – in its 61 hotels, resorts, camping sites – can simultaneously accommodate 58.000 guests. Roberto is highly technical, dedicated and result oriented senior software director with a successful track record in the sourcing and delivery of software projects, complex products and data services launches for Enterprise Clients. He has worked as Developer, Technical Lead, Architect, Delivery Manager, Director (in the USA, Ireland, India, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia) with HP, Vodafone, Mobitel, BT, O2, Danieli etc. in delivering outsourced software projects, setting up outsourced operations, improve development process, developing new products and introducing release process into organizations. His main focus in Valamar is digital strategy and transformation of the company, future software architecture, technologies and delivery of strategic digital projects. Roberto’s interests are enterprise architecture, emerging technologies, real time data streaming, Data platforms and adoption of AI/ML.

Session Details:

The power of personalization: Harnessing data to meet rising guest expectations

2024-04-17, 9:30 AM

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Sanchit Juneja
Director-Product of Big Data & Machine Learning Platform

As the Director-Product of Big Data & Machine Learning Platform at Booking.com, I manage one of the largest home-grown data-lake and MLOps platforms in the travel industry. With over 10 years of experience in product management, customer success, and technical solutions, I lead a team of 20+ product managers and 150 developers to deliver data-driven and scalable solutions for Booking's ecosystem.My core competencies include data analytics, business analysis, team management, and stakeholder alignment. I have a strong background in electrical and electronics engineering, and a master's degree in business administration with a focus on marketing and analytical finance. My mission is to leverage data and machine learning to create value for Booking's customers, partners, and employees, and to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within my product group.

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: From data to delight: Cultivating guest centricity through a data driven culture

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Oliver Benalal
Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development, Hesperia World

A dedicated and highly revenue-oriented Commercial Director with over 15 years of experience managing all aspects of the sales funnel and sales team as well as managing relationships with international clients

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: From data to delight: Cultivating guest centricity through a data driven culture

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Michael Schumacher
Brand Partnerships Lead - Travel & Mobility, TikTok

Session Details:

Keynote Address: TikTok short-form-video and the evolving travel marketing landscape

2024-04-17, 9:00 AM

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Bojan Pavicic
Director Technology & Digital, citizenM Hotels

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Advancing hotel technology in a cost-efficient era

2024-04-17, 8:50 AM

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Charting new territories: A fresh look at future hotel innovation and advancements

2024-04-17, 5:35 PM

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Mustafa Gokcen
Head of Information Technology, Cheval Collection

Accomplished IT Leader with experience communicating IT strategies and goals to meet business demands. Highly motivated professional with over 15 years of experience in a variety of IT operational and leadership positions. Strong business acumen and technical knowledge with a strong background in managing teams across 100+ countries, and multi-million dollar budgets. Analytical and dedicated with the ability to deploy emerging technologies to optimize workflows and provide efficiencies. Proven success in shaping Global IT strategies and roadmaps. Leveraged excellent leadership skills to motivate teams to meet and exceed organizational objectives. Possess complementary strengths in designing and deploying key Infrastructure initiatives globally.

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Panel Discussion: Embracing the tech boom: Future-proofing hotel business models

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Stephen Danelian
CEO, NexGenGuest

Stephen is a serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in the senior advertising and marketing industries. His extensive background in researching and studying consumer behaviors has allowed him to identify the architecture behind transforming maximum engagement into revenue. With acute skill in the world of digital engagement, Stephen has created and launched two successful platforms prior to NexGen Guest. Having traveled the world and stayed in numerous hotels, Stephen has always been obsessed with the hospitality industry and its transformative potential.

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Markus Mueller
Managing Director, GauVendi

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Panel Discussion: Guest behaviour in 2024 and beyond: Adapting strategies for changing behaviours

2024-04-17, 9:30 AM

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João Pronto
Professor, ESHTE

Joao Pronto is IT Professor at ESHTE - Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies, the main Hospitality University in Portugal, since 1996. He teaches and research mainly the workflows of Hyper-personalization processes, Unified Communications, and tech innovations in the Hospitality Field, as In-Room entertainment innovation. His research in master’s degree, (2002) was about an Expert System (an Artificial Intelligence System) that provides to the Tourists a dashboard where they can choose thematic pics and videos, and the System reply to the Tourist, personalized tourist services based in the Tourist aims and behaviors. Now a days, we call to this approach hyper-personalization in tourism and hospitality. In the past 17 years, in the PhD studies, João Pronto his collaborating with some of the main Hotel Chains in Portugal. His main publications, and speech are: IGI Global Publication Book: Optimizing Digital Solutions for Hyper-Personalization in Tourism and Hospitality, 2022. Algarve Summit – Disrupt’22 – Hyper- Personalization in Hospitality, 2022. 7th Circle Conference – eServices and strategy in the Hospitality Industry: The Altis Hotels Business Case, 2010. Eyefortravel, The Empowerment of Internet 2.0 in Hospitality and Tourism, 2007. In www.turisver.pt writes opinion articles, in a monthly base, about tech applied to the Hospitality field.

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Enhancing efficiency and experiences: Harnessing in room smart technologies

2024-04-16, 2:45 PM

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Florian Hepp
Director of Employer Branding, Marriott

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Case Study: Attracting top talent: Technology, employer branding and creative campaigns

2024-04-16, 2:45 PM

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Raimund Notz
Director, Hotel Revenue Optimization Central & Eastern Europe, Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Raimund has worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years and has both strong on-property operational expertise as well as multi-property and regional capabilities. Raimund has worked in various roles during his diverse career including reservations management, conventions sales agent, and director of revenue management for hard brands including Hilton, Accor, and Starwood. In 2016, Raimund joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts as Director of Hotel Revenue Optimization, supporting over 45 independent member properties across Central & Eastern Europe. Raimund is CRME certified by HSMAI and has been a proud member of HSMAI DACH Advisory Board since May 2022. A keen coach and consult to hotels in the area of revenue management, he provides hotel members with global market intelligence data to increase business from both feeder and emerging markets in order to maximize the hotels but also the brand’s income and profit. Raimund lives in Munich with his family and has a BA in Business with a major in Finance Management and Sales & Marketing from Hamburger Fernhochschule.

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Panel Discussion: Guest behaviour in 2024 and beyond: Adapting strategies for changing behaviours

2024-04-17, 9:30 AM

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Matthew Prosser
Senior Sales Director, Agilysys

Skilled over the past 20 years in Sales, Sales Management, Account Management, Team Leadership, and Strategic Planning. I have had the pleasure on working with and on some of the most iconic sporting venues known around the world. I continue to enjoy sharing those experiences with new and existing clients in order to promote best practice and customer engagement through innovative technology.

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Panel Discussion: Guest behaviour in 2024 and beyond: Adapting strategies for changing behaviours

2024-04-17, 9:30 AM

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Paloma Zapata
Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Travel International

s CEO of Sustainable Travel International Paloma leads the organization's global efforts to maximize tourism's contribution to conservation and development in order to protect destinations, preserve natural environments, and improve community well-being. With over 15 years of experience in sustainable tourism and economic development, Paloma has designed and implemented impactful initiatives and projects in 25 nations across the globe. Her work has ranged from addressing the shortcomings of the current tourism supply to deriving sustainable development strategies and formulating policies. Some of her achievements include contributing to the creation of sustainable tourism master plans for Belize, Bermuda, Colombia and Panama, as well as developing a plan to link disenfranchised communities in Cambodia’s Siam Reap region to the tourism value chain. Paloma joined Sustainable Travel International in 2015 and previously served as Vice President. Prior to joining Sustainable Travel International, she served as a Senior Consultant for Tourism & Leisure consulting, leading numerous transformative tourism development projects around the world. Earlier in her career she worked for IBM's microelectronics division as Staff Industrial Engineer and registered three patents.Paloma holds a master’s in business administration and a postgraduate degree in tourism management from ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. She is a native speaker of Spanish and English.

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Panel Discussion: Fostering ESG responsibility across the hotel ecosystem

2024-04-18, 1:25 PM

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Sofía Muntaner Ordinas
Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Meliá Hotels International

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Attracting the new wave of guests

2024-04-17, 10:30 AM

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Piergiorgio Schirru
EVP, Head of Revenue Management and Research & Development, Blastness

Passionate, positive and hard worker with over 20 years' experience in Revenue Management & Digital Marketing, Piergiorgio started his career working for airline companies on intercontinental markets, switching to the hospitality industry in 2009 and since 2011 he applied his knowledge to create in Blastness the largest italian independent team of Revenue Management with focus on direct bookings.

In Blastness Piergiorgio developed the next step of “Web Revenue Management” as it plays a crucial role in the process of boosting direct sales. With a degree in Economics, a Master in Big Data, and an MBA, he is also one of the most quoted professors in LUISS Business School for over than ten years

Session Details:

Maximize direct bookings and optimize your website into a revenue-generating asset

2024-04-17, 11:10 AM

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Veryan Palmer
Director, The Headland Hotel

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Fostering ESG responsibility across the hotel ecosystem

2024-04-18, 1:25 PM

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Case study: Commitment to the community: Inspiring the next generation of hoteliers

2024-04-18, 9:30 AM

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Diogo Vaz Ferreira
Head of Commercial, Clink Hostels

Currently serving as the Head of Commercial at Clink Hostels, Diogo oversees all commercial teams and has spearheaded the implementation of various tools and systems, enhancing operational efficiency and performance. Clink Hostels are pioneers in the early adoption of numerous hospitality systems such as Mews, Pace, Groupcorner, HiJiffy, and more. The goal for the future is a seamless integration of BI Tools to facilitate data-driven decision-making.

With a background in business management, hospitality, and asset management, complemented by a Certificate in Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell, Diogo brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. He holds a Master's in Hospitality Management from the Glion Institute of Higher Education and a Bachelor's in Business Management from the University of Coimbra.

Session Details:

Technology, tactics and profit optimisation: Boosting revenue management strategies

2024-04-17, 5:35 PM

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Nicholas Wyatt
Head of R&A, Travel & Tourism, GlobalData

Nick has over 14 years of experience in the business intelligence industry with particular expertise in market sizing, competitive assessment, company strategy, and product management. He leads the development and content production of new and existing products within GlobalData’s Travel & Tourism business information division. He is responsible for ensuring the design, publication and delivery of market-leading content to a diverse client base in the travel & tourism sector including DMOs, airlines, hotels and consulting groups. He also supports sales and consulting teams by directly engaging with industry stakeholders to understand and fulfil their needs.

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Daniel Lister
CEO, DanMagi

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Panel Discussion: Advancing hotel technology in a cost-efficient era

2024-04-17, 8:50 AM

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Uri Yeger
Design Director, citizenM Hotels

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Designing the future of hospitality

2024-04-18, 10:30 AM

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Henrique Tiago de Castro
General Manager, EVOLUTION Cascais-Estoril Hotel

Dynamic and "disruptive" lifestyle hotels lover with the ambitious urge to shake & stir an F&B and lifestyle-centric hotel. My path starts with an amuse-bouche in cookery and is followed by a 7-course meal – having worked in hotels across 7 (very different) countries –, this is paired with a full-bodied hotel management diploma. In simple terms, these experiences made me fluent in 4 languages (PT, DE, EN & ES). Far beyond this, living within different communities has refined my natural adaptability and contributed to my deep appreciation of cultural differences. I thrive during high-pressure periods and never shy away from a challenge. I think my biggest asset is the ability to use my "always ready" attitude into bringing energy and progress to any project I become part of. However, I also believe that achieving peak performance is impossible without a strong team spirit, where everybody feels empowered.

Session Details:

Localisation vs globalisation: Blending global branding and cultural identity

2024-04-18, 10:00 AM

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Ted Horner
Owner E Horner & Associates

In 1989, Ted Horner launched a consulting practice specializing in technology consulting to the hospitality industry. He is now widely respected as Australia's leading consultant in this area. In 1996 he launched Australia's first dedicated hospitality technology exhibition and conference. Today this event is still going, and it is now called Hotel Operations Technology (HOT).

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Ryan Haynes
Director Haynes MarComs

Session Details:

Chairs opening remarks

2024-04-16, 11:00 AM

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: From data to delight: Cultivating guest centricity through a data driven culture

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

Session Details:

Chairs opening remarks

2024-04-17, 8:45 AM

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Guest behaviour in 2024 and beyond: Adapting strategies for changing behaviours

2024-04-17, 9:30 AM

Session Details:

Chairs opening remarks

2024-04-18, 8:50 AM

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Panel Discussion: Revolutionising guest communication: Chatbots and beyond

2024-04-18, 9:00 AM

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Cinta Massó
CCO, Hotelverse

Cinta Massó serves as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Hotelverse, a technology company that aims to revolutionize the hotel room reservation model and enhance the digital customer experience. She is responsible for leading and managing the company's commercial strategy on an international level. With a professional career spanning over 15 years in the tourism sector, Massó brings extensive expertise in strategic management of online sales, online hotel distribution, e-commerce, customer loyalty strategies, and brand image enhancement. Prior to joining Hotelverse, she held various leadership positions at renowned organizations and companies in the sector, including The Hotels Network and Booking.com.

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Panel Discussion: Guest behaviour in 2024 and beyond: Adapting strategies for changing behaviours

2024-04-17, 9:30 AM

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Charlotte Newton
Senior Analyst, Thematic Intelligence, GlobalData

Charlotte is an Senior Analyst with GlobalData’s Thematic Research Team. Since joining the team, Charlotte has written on important technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, ESG, Internet of Things, and Augmented Reality. Her comments regarding the Metaverse have also appeared in Time magazine. Prior to joining GlobalData, Charlotte studied for an MSc in Political Science, with a focus on Russia and Eastern Europe.

Session Details:

The ages of AI: How will generative AI affect the hotel industry?

2024-04-18, 10:15 AM

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Piotr Lipiec
Senior Hotel TV BDM Europe, Samsung
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Frank Wagner
Director -International Sales, Advanced Computer Technology

Frank is part of the hospitality IT world since the early days of Fidelio Software, where he initially joined in 1995. Since then, he held various managerial roles at Micros and Oracle Hospitality,  before joining ACT International as its Director International Sales for ACT’s Hospitality Group.

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Panel Discussion: Advancing hotel technology in a cost-efficient era

2024-04-17, 8:50 AM

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Sal Capizzi
VP of Marketing, Book4Time

Sal is a spa and wellness operations expert, he has a rich background in business management and elevating guest experiences. His leadership transformed wellness programs at Equinox and NEXUS Club New York. Recognizing technology's potential, he joined Book4Time in 2020, enhancing operational efficiency, customer engagement, and growth through software solutions and insights. Sal continues to innovate in technology, SaaS, and wellness.

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Panel Discussion: From data to delight: Cultivating guest centricity through a data driven culture

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Carsten Wernet
CEO, SIHOT Group

Passionate about technology and dedicated to the hotel industry.

CEO and board member of SIHOT Group, owner of the SIHOT hotel management system, since 2019, having previously led the company as Support and General Manager since 2008. Also, Addipos director since November 2022.

He has led the company through its digital transformation, evolving its platform to meet the traveller’s technological expectations, improving the guest experience and bringing greater efficiency to hotel operations.

He has also been involved in its international expansion (for example, as Project Manager in Australia) and the development of new products (such as SIHOT.SAAS and SIHOT.CLOUD).

Session Details:

How to compete with the big players in the digitalisation of the hotel industry

2024-04-17, 3:05 PM

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Albert Creixell
Head of Alexa Enterprise Spain & UK, Amazon

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Enhancing efficiency and experiences: Harnessing in room smart technologies

2024-04-16, 2:45 PM

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Gerald Lampaert
Founder and CEO

Founder, Owner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at VERTU International and at Hotels and Resorts, Gérald carries an extensive background in various areas of the upscale & luxury service and hospitality industry.

Gérald started his career in 1992 at the Walt Disney company, holding various positions from hotel operations, sales, marketing and the organisation of very large conferences, as well as digital information management. He also worked with Florida based A&L Associates to run Hard Rock Café Europe secret shoppers and service quality management. Seven years later, Gérald pursued his career at the Imperial Palace in Annecy and at the end of 2000 returned to Paris as a regional director continental Europe for Millenium & Copthorne hotels.

In 2002, Gérald started his first privately owned Paris based and highly successful company, Luxury Communication and simultaneously held various Vice President positions for international groups in headquartered in New York and Houston including Dolce International and Benchmark Hospitality.

Gérald moved to Zurich in 2015 where he was appointed Managing Director at LUXCOM GmbH prior to deciding the creation of the VERTU International Group in 2015 and the launch of his own very specific hotel brand concept, VERTU Hotels and Resorts in 2018.

Session Details:

From conception to completion: The IT journey in hotel openings

2024-04-17, 10:30 AM

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Philip von Ditfurth
Founder, Apaleo

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Visionary leadership: fast-tracking PMS adoption in a digital-first era

2024-04-16, 5:35 PM

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Stefan van Welie
Head of Technology Hotel Solutions, citizenM

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Visionary leadership: fast-tracking PMS adoption in a digital-first era

2024-04-16, 5:35 PM

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Guy Barnes
Head of Sales Europe, Sabre Hospitality

Guy Barnes leads the Sabre Hospitality sales team for Europe and is passionate about helping hotels generate more revenues through innovative ecommerce and distribution technologies. A commercial leader with 25+ years of experience in driving revenue performance, he is used to dealing with complex challenges and working with senior stakeholders as an advisor to develop revenue opportunities. Guy previously spent 18 years with IDeaS managing strategic relationships and leading new sales for enterprise hotel groups in EMEA, and latterly airport parking globally. Prior to joining IDeaS, he held a number of corporate revenue management positions with Forte and then Macdonald hotels.

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Panel Discussion: From data to delight: Cultivating guest centricity through a data driven culture

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Mark Haywood
Chief Commercial Officer & SVP EMEA, BirchStreet Systems

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Evolution of Purchasing

2024-04-16, 3:15 PM

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Patrick Apostolo
Corporate Operations & Business Transformation Director, Radisson Hotel Group

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Diving into sustainability: Putting ideas into action

2024-04-18, 12:55 PM

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Panel Discussion: Fostering ESG responsibility across the hotel ecosystem

2024-04-18, 1:25 PM

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Faisal Memon
Founder & CEO, iOL

Faisal Memon founded iOL over 25 years ago and has made it his mission to solve some of the travel industry’s most daunting problems through the power of cutting-edge technology. Faisal possesses a remarkable gift: the unique ability to unravel some of the most intricate challenges in the travel industry through the
lens of technology. This unique fusion of expertise distinguishes Faisal as a true changemaker in his field. Under Faisal’s leadership, iOL’s innovative suite of technology solutions have become a cornerstone for many leading companies in the global travel sector – a true testament to his unwavering commitment to
empowering clients, and ensuring their journey towards success is supported by seamless technology.

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Unravelling the chaos: The impact of traditional payment solutions on hotels

2024-04-17, 10:00 AM

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Frederik Steensgaard
Chief Executive Officer, BeCause

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Panel Discussion: Fostering ESG responsibility across the hotel ecosystem

2024-04-18, 1:25 PM

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Steve Johnson
Senior Director Hospitality EMEA, Ruckus

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Panel Discussion: Embracing the tech boom: Future-proofing hotel business models

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Next-Generation AI-driven Networks for HSP

2024-04-16, 1:45 PM

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Michael McCartan
Area Vice President EMEA, IDeaS Revenue Solutions

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Panel Discussion: From data to delight: Cultivating guest centricity through a data driven culture

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Markus Feller
CEO, LIKE MAGIC

Markus is the CEO of LIKE MAGIC (www.likemagic.tech). He has strong leadership skills and extensive experience in innovation, business transformation and change management in the financial (banking, credit cards) and hospitality industry. He has a proven track record in identifying, designing and implementing user-centered innovations within corporates as well as with start-ups that have a direct impact on the company's bottom line. A skill he also demonstrates in his current role as CEO of LIKE MAGIC, which he built from the ground up, successfully spun out (subsidiary of SV Group) and secured a global investor. LIKE MAGIC generate after one year an ARR of CHF 1m & is being successfully embraced by a growing number of hotels & serviced apartment providers in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Australia & soon in Türkiye as well as the Netherlands.

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Next Level Guest & Employee Experience, powered by AI – THE McDreams Hotels Journey

2024-04-17, 11:10 AM

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Ralf Bonin
Director of Operations, McDreams Hotel GmbH

Ralf is the Director of Operations at McDreams (www.mcdreamshotels.de)

McDreams Hotels is an innovative budget hotel concept with eight locations in Germany. As a family-owned business, we prioritize the long-term development of our brand and company. Proudly, we've significantly reduced our ecological footprint in recent years. Our goal is to make overnight stays affordable and environmentally friendly. We achieve this through ongoing technological advancements in streamlined processes.

Ralf leads all operational belongings within McDreams with a 15years hospitality background. Ralf aims to introduce, advance, and thereby achieve the best fit for contemporary business travel by implementing automated and lean structures into the corporate context.

Session Details:

Next Level Guest & Employee Experience, powered by AI – THE McDreams Hotels Journey

2024-04-17, 11:10 AM

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Patrick Reder
Senior Key Account Partnership Manager, Awin

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Affiliate E-commerce: Unearthing the hidden gems

2024-04-17, 2:35 PM

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Miklós Belán
Founder & CEO, Everguest

Miklós Belán, Founder & CEO of Everguest, initiated a significant shift in the hospitality landscape in 2020. With expertise in marketing, tourism, and AI, he has guided Everguest to become a notable name in hospitality management.
Having experienced the inner workings of hotel management with outstanding results, Miklos then proceeded to earn a Master’s degree from Harvard. With this strong foundation and his entrepreneurial spirit, he set himself to the new field that would change everything – Artificial Intelligence.
Everguest brought together a team of driven and talented professionals to create Everguest Intelligence, an AI-driven software transforming hospitality management and setting industry benchmarks. This solution elevates guest experiences and enhances decision-making in unprecedented ways, marking a new era in hospitality.

Session Details:

Embracing AI: A Story of How Fear becomes Empowerment in Hospitality

2024-04-16, 3:15 PM

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David Durko
CEO, Security Validation | SecValMSP

David Durko, CEO of Security Validation | SecValMSP , was an instrumental leader of the Security and Compliance team for Wyndham Hotels focused on the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. Following Wyndham’s third publicized breach he was tasked and successful in driving Wyndham to their first successful Attestation of Compliance as a Service Provider. Following his tenure at Wyndham David became the Senior Vice President of Incident and Crisis Management for MasterCard Worldwide. In his role, David leveraged his knowledge of the hospitality industry and data security to help mitigate financial damage for payment acquirers and the Mastercard brand. David is the QSA and Chief Compliance Officer of record for Security Validation | SecValMSP.

Session Details:

PCI 4.0 What do the next 12 months look like for Hospitality?

2024-04-16, 2:15 PM

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Andrew Kraemer
Senior Vice President of Operations

Andrew is a lifelong hotelier, starting his career as a bellman.  Over the years he worked numerous property level operational roles. He’s had key leadership roles at the Wyndham Hotels and Red Lion Hotels. Currently, Andrew manages all operations at ENG Infotech, a hospitality-focused, software training powerhouse.

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Embracing the tech boom: Future-proofing hotel business models

2024-04-16, 1:15 PM

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Adam Blake
CEO, ThreatSpike Labs

After a career with Accenture and Deloitte, advising some of the largest companies in the world on information security strategy, Adam founded ThreatSpike Labs where he developed a first-of-its-kind software-defined security platform and grew the business to over 500+ customers spanning 80 countries.

Session Details:

Hospitality: The New Cyber Battlefield

2024-04-16, 2:15 PM

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Carlos Calvo
Head of Sales, Proposales

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Modernising the MICE & group buyer experience

2024-04-17, 10:00 AM

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Bojan Jokic
Co-Founder and CEO, Epteca

Business innovator bringing ‘first mover’ tech-driven solutions for leading travel companies since 1997, including a European first B2B e-commerce solution.
Bojan is co-founder at Epteca, an emerging technology company bringing unique 'smart selling and personalization' capabilities to airlines, hotels, and premium brands worldwide, resulting in new revenue streams and enhanced guest experience.

Session Details:

Personality crisis: Am I a hotel or a retailer

2024-04-16, 11:45 AM

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Travel ancillaries – a US$240B opportunity for the hotel industry or an elusive dream?

2024-04-17, 3:05 PM

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Karim El Habashy
VP Sales Hospitality, Adyen

Leading the Hospitality efforts for Adyen in the DACH region, always with the goal of providing the best guest experience with the latest in payments technology.

Session Details:

Unified payments solutions: Powering the new wave of hospitality

2024-04-16, 11:45 AM

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Fleur Besteman
Sales Manager, Adyen

Fleur is a spontaneous, open-minded, and compassionate professional who values sincerity, generosity, and openness. With a background in FinTech, she has transitioned from tech to commercial roles at Adyen. In her current sales position, she thrives on educating and challenging hotel businesses to embrace state-of-the-art technology in order to provide a seamless guest experience.

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Unified payments solutions: Powering the new wave of hospitality

2024-04-16, 11:45 AM

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Dhiraj ‘DJ’ Singh
Vice President of Sales, Canary Technologies

DJ Singh is Vice President Of Sales at Canary Technologies and has led the global sales team for the past 5 years. DJ has partnered with leading hotel brands, including Four Seasons, Rosewood, Wyndham, Club Quarters, Millennium, and many more.

Session Details:

Panel Discussion: Advancing hotel technology in a cost-efficient era

2024-04-17, 8:50 AM

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Herdip Kaur

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+44 207866 9436

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Jessica Hartley

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SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES

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Herdip Kaur

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+44 207866 9436

SPEAKING ENQUIRIES

To enquire about speaking opportunities for the conference, please contact:

Jessica Hartley

Head of Production