Hotelier Perspectives

When a guest walks into your hotel, they expect a seamless experience. The check-in should be quick, their key should work instantly, and payments should just happen. None of that is possible without the right infrastructure – and most of the time, when it’s working perfectly, no one notices it.

I must admit, I feel a little bad that I am only now featuring this book on Hospitality Net. Maggie Chen is a friend I have known for many years at EHL Hospitality Business School, and her latest work deserves much more attention. Hospitality Vibes is not just another industry book. It is a heartfelt and deeply researched exploration of what makes our sector truly unique. The insights she shares are, in my view, a must-read for hospitality students and professionals around the globe who want to understand how our industry can evolve with purpose.

The travel industry is on the cusp of a major transformation, and in 2025, it’s critical for vacation companies to understand shifting customers’ expectations. To stay ahead, brands must build deeper, more meaningful relationships with their customers. This significant change is being driven by younger generations — Millennials, Gen Z and Gen Alpha — who are reshaping the way we think about vacation. These generations place a premium on personalization, purpose and authenticity. They want to travel in ways that reflect their values and identities, whether that means taking a wellness retreat in the mountains, going on a cultural immersion tour, or opting for eco-conscious accommodations.

As advisors to upscale and luxury hotels, we’re always first looking holistically as to why a guest is choosing this specific hotel and why they are willing to pay substantially more per night for that experience. This is what we call the ‘reason to visit’ or R2V.

Hotel innovation is a people problem before it is a tech problem. Since HITEC, I’ve been reminiscing less about the tech I saw and more about the people I met. Yes, AI was everywhere, literally everywhere, predictive analytics, plenty of stuff some good - but not only. But the biggest takeaway wasn’t a product. It was this: success doesn’t come from the tech, it comes from the people.

Today’s travelers are no longer content with one-size-fits-all service. They seek authentic, personalized experiences tailored to their individual preferences—and are willing to pay for them. In fact, a 2024 study of nearly 1,800 hotel guests found that 61% were willing to spend more for a custom-tailored stay. For hoteliers, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity: How can hotels consistently deliver high-touch, individualized service at scale?

The hospitality industry has long revolved around the "Point of Sale" – the physical location where a transaction occurs. Whether it’s a front desk, a restaurant counter, or a retail shop, guests traditionally come to us. But in an era where guest expectations are soaring and convenience is king, simply waiting for the guest to come to our point of sale is no longer sufficient. We are rapidly shifting towards the "Point of Service Hospitality" – meeting the guest wherever they are, anticipating their needs, and serving them seamlessly.

In the bustling world of hospitality, true magic happens when service transcends the transactional and becomes transformational. Behind every perfectly made bed and meticulously plated dish lies an intricate dance of human connection that turns ordinary moments into lasting memories. As industry professionals know, hospitality isn’t merely about providing accommodation or serving food—it’s about orchestrating experiences that resonate long after checkout.

Data silos are spoken about often in the hotel industry. Different systems for different functions – all doing their respective jobs. But what’s the harm? In a world where efficiency is paramount for commercial success and guests expect seamless, hyper-personalized experiences – an effective Find, Book and Grow strategy simply cannot co-exist with data silos.

Talk to any hotelier about the guest journey, and the same themes tend to emerge: personalisation, seamless booking, loyalty, guest experience. Technology is expected to enhance all these moments. But there’s one step that often gets overlooked and yet it underpins the entire guest relationship: identity verification.