Unpacking Travel: Hospitality Talks with Amadeus

In this episode we speak with Tammy Pahel, Chief Wellness Officer at Alchemy Resorts about the growing impact of wellness on travel, how to use wellness to personalize experiences in the ways travelers want, and how leaders can use wellness strategies to improve the staff experience. We also dive into the various initiatives going on at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort and the success gained from an all-in focus on wellness. To learn more about Carillon and other Alchemy Wellness resorts, check out their website here.

In this episode, explore in great detail with David Axelrod what it takes to personalize a modern guest experience, the things you need to listen to, and how to approach your guests where they are. David is an all-around expert on personalization, dedicating his career to writing best-selling books, designing bespoke luxury experiences, and consulting with various companies to improve personalization. We highly recommend checking out his book on how to create and inspire amazing travel experiences.

In this episode, we talk with Scott Lamont, CEO of EDSA, an organization that specializes in urban design, landscape architecture, and design planning for the hotel and other global industries. We explore why hotels aren't maximizing their use of physical space in this post-pandemic world, and then break down why it's so important to re-think the use of places such as staff offices and public areas in order to improve staff and guest wellbeing. Scott provides some expert advice as to what hotels can do right now to maximize their physical spaces and improve the wellbeing of staff and guests.

In this episode, we have a chat with Cheryl Durst, CEO of the International Interior Design Association. First, we discuss a few practical ways in which hoteliers can use design strategies to improve staff and guest experiences. We then learn about the power of having purpose when making design choices for team spaces and guest rooms; investment strategies a hotel might use when considering a design update; and the impacts – some surprising – that a design choice may have on a hotel, including in staff operations. We finish off our conversation on the topic of how hoteliers can benefit from using a "design mindset" when seeking to improve hotel operations and elevate the overall staff and guest experience.  If you like what Cheryl has to say, she also hosts her own Skill Set podcast you should check out for more personal and business tips and tricks!

In part two of a new miniseries with Atrium Hospitality we explore how to improve guest satisfaction by putting your core values into action. If you haven't heard our first episode with Atrium, click here and take a listen. So what does it take to actually work smarter and not harder?  What advice can be given to hoteliers that also want to work smarter and not harder?  Take a listen to hear Atrium's answers along with what it takes to truly live out your company's core values.

In part one of a new miniseries with Atrium Hospitality we explore how to improve guest satisfaction. So how has Atrium Hospitality become #1 in customer satisfaction from J.D. Power among third party hotel management companies? That question is quite easy to answer.  Atrium treats their company's core values as much more than a HR poster on their office walls. So how did they put their core values into action? It takes a lot more than you may think.  Take a listen to see what it takes to truly live out your company's core values, and learn how Atrium has come to master theirs.

In this episode with Katie Moro and John Hach, we dive into detail about what areas of market data and intelligence truly allow a hotel to thrive without needing to guess what its future demand is looking like.  We debate the critical needs of what our industry has to act on to do better when sourcing, aggregating, and exposing market data for hoteliers. We then lastly discuss a framework for where the future of market intelligence is going. Have a listen if you are questioning your own market data and if it's good enough for you.

In this episode, we chat with Peter Altmann, Head of Mobility and Insurance at Amadeus, about travel in regard to sustainable mobility. Why are travelers focusing on sustainability with mobility, and what does "sustainable mobility" really mean?  What opportunities does this priority present to hotel and travel suppliers, and what can the industry do better to give travelers the info they actually need to make the most informed and sustainable travel decisions?  We answer those questions and a few more.  Take a listen and find out how to empower travelers to be more sustainable during their trips.

In this episode, we break down our forward-looking, on-the-books market data for the fall season with our resident market experts Katie Moro and John Hach. We take a look at what hotel demand is actually looking like in the coming months, and what hoteliers need to be prepared for.  What is market performance stacking up to previous years, what do hoteliers need to be acting on now to remain resilient, and what should the industry focus on to be profitable as we move through the rest of this year and beyond?  Listen in to find out. If you want to see the data for yourself, you can get global and regional reports at our complimentary Market Insights Portal.

In the last of our miniseries with Taylor Scott, we break apart the fundamentals of what the hospitality industry needs to start, stop, and continue doing to improve staff retention. We are at an inflection point with the staff experience in our industry where staff have different expectations about what their employers should prioritize to support them. Taylor walks us through realistic steps on how to identify what your staff truly need, and how to put your strategies into action. Take a listen and learn how to improve the experience and culture among your teams. You can also check out his book, Lead with Hospitality, if you want to dive head first into improving your life as a hotelier.

We are back to give you a new episode with our market data experts Katie Moro and John Hach.  After looking at the data with some new details… a lot of spicy conversation topics were revealed. Will the velocity of new demand remain with group and business travel segments? Is it just too expensive to guess about where demand is going to go with these travelers in the long-term? What if you only have access to historical market data right now?  We answer a lot of those questions and a few more in our discussion. If you want to get straight to the data and discover your own insights, you can download complimentary reports over at our Market Insights Portal.  Oh, by the way... did you know the data in our podcasts and market reports is also factual, pulled from on the book's reservations, and it's forward-looking? Where else can you get that sweet sauce?

In part three of our Leading with Hospitality miniseries featuring Taylor Scott, we share how hospitality leaders can recognize team members in an emotionally intelligent way to ensure they feel seen and heard. Taylor also shares examples of environments in which team members recognizing each other breeds more positivity, productivity, creativity, and collaboration.Stay tuned for the next episode in the miniseries. We will dive into how to create a pandemic-proof employee retention strategy. If you enjoyed this episode, check out Taylor's book: Lead with Hospitality.For episodes one and two of our Leading with Hospitality miniseries, or additional information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, we sit down with Iype Abraham, Commercial Development Director at Edwardian Hotel Group, to learn about the digital and cultural transformation the group began in 2019, and the decision to double-down on those investments despite the COVID-19 pandemic.Iype teaches us the importance of investing in the future – even during periods of uncertainty – to cultivate a sustainable business in the long-term. We also explore how the group's generational investment strategy has led to increased staff tenure and low turnover. For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In our first episode of 2022, we sit down with Amadeus Vice President of Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach to demystify the current state of business and group travel. While projections keep changing the outlook, causing confusion among hospitality professionals, it's more important than ever look at reliable, on-the-books data in real time and be flexible in adjusting.  Listen in to get a clearer picture on business and group travel, and what you need to be asking as you develop your budgets and strategies.For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In part two of our Leading with Hospitality miniseries featuring Taylor Scott, we deconstruct the one-on-one meeting between leaders and team members as the pandemic continues to reshape our industry and how we utilize our time.With this is mind,  we break down realistic ways to conduct one-on-one meetings with limited time and resources. We also explain how to use emotional intelligence and empathy when engaging during one-on-one meetings to ensure your team members know they are valued. Stay tuned for the next episode in the miniseries. We will dive into how to improve your team pre-shift meetings. If you enjoyed this episode, check out Taylor's new book: Lead with Hospitality. Episode one of our Leading with Hospitality miniseries can be found here. For additional information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, we wrap up 2021 by taking a look back with Amadeus Vice President of Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach. We cover what lessons we've learned over the past year, and why 2022 is going to be a year of continued change - and increased opportunity - for hoteliers, convention & visitors bureaus, and destination marketers.For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

This special episode is the first in our new miniseries with acclaimed author, speaker, consultant, and leadership expert Taylor Scott: Leading with Hospitality. We explore how the current pandemic has driven an industry-wide re-focus on the human element of hospitality. We also examine ways you can better connect with yourself in a workplace with fewer resources, and how to engage and connect with others on your teams using emotionally intelligent practices. Stay tuned for the next episode in the miniseries. We will dive into how to improve your one-on-one meetings with your teams. If you enjoyed this episode, check out Taylor's new book: Lead with Hospitality.

In this episode, Amadeus Vice President of Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach provide exclusive insight into the latest in corporate travel, the current GDS booking trends, and why both corporate and leisure travelers are still booking within seven days or less. We also dive into what the rest of the Fall and Winter seasons will look like for hoteliers as international travel continues to open up.

In this episode, we sit down with Jon Davis, Chief Technology Officer at Village Hotels, to learn how his teams were able to diversify their offerings and launch a fully-evolved loyalty program to better suit their most profitable business segments. We also take a closer look at how technology and data allowed Village Hotels to reopen while still giving guests the same level of service they have come to expect, and how hoteliers can adapt these concepts regardless of size or budget.For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, we talk with acclaimed author, speaker, and hospitality industry veteran Taylor Scott about why this pandemic has refueled a focus on emotional intelligence in the hotel industry. We then dive into the first steps to take to improve your emotional intelligence as a leader during recovery by leading with hospitality. To find out more about how you can lead with hospitality, check out Taylor's new book. For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, we are joined by world-renowned speaker, author, and television personality Shane Green. We discuss the importance of understanding the moments that matter in a guest's journey and incorporating the human element as the foundation of a hospitality business.  We also talk about how to build a culture of creativity, problem-solving, and excellence at your property to navigate through the pandemic and beyond.For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, we sit down with Ford Blakely, the founder of Zingle, to discuss the current state, emerging trends, and areas of opportunity for contactless technology. We learn how text messages and digital communication channels are enabling better, faster, and safer experiences by creating physical distance between hotel staff and guests; a key element that has evolved from a “nice to have” to a “must-have” over the course of the pandemic.

In this episode, Amadeus Vice President of Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach discuss two uncertainties around the industry's recovery. First, we discuss the challenges with using 2020 data as a comparison to 2021 performance. Then we dive into the current booking trends and what we are currently seeing as we move through spring and summer.For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, Amadeus Vice President of Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach share the top travel trends emerging as Spring arrives and how they will impact hoteliers' recovery strategies. These industry trends based on market data include:The growing leisure segment and their behaviors from looking to bookingAppealing to a different type of traveler who has unique expectationsThe importance of transparency, credibility, and building trust along the traveler journeyExperience-driven loyaltyFor more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, we learn from Kristi White, Vice President of Product at Knowland, about their insightful meeting planner survey during recovery and best practices to shift share. We discuss the various trends as we move through 2021 about how small events and group business are out there to be had. We also outline best practices for what hoteliers can do right now to start capturing group event bookings while many businesses and travel groups are already searching for where to plan their small events.

This episode of Unpacking Travel features Rand Fishkin, founder and CEO of SparkToro, a market research and audience intelligence tool. We discuss the guest journey from search to post-stay, and how hoteliers can maximize both their marketing efforts and their budgets. For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast. If you are interested in learning more about how to improve your marketing and engagement efforts, check out our Digital Media and Guest Management solutions.

In this episode, Amadeus Vice President of Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach highlight the industry trends and market data you need to know as we kick off 2021. Editor's note: this episode was recorded at the end of December 2020.For more information, visit www.amadeus-hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode Ed Burke, VP of Rooms and Engineering at Aimbridge Hospitality, and Alberto Santana, VP of Sales at Amadeus Hospitality, discuss how to empower your staff and embrace recent trends in guest behavior. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.

We interview HSMAI CEO Bob Gilbert to understand the most compelling trends for hoteliers heading into 2021. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.

In our second monthly demand data update, Amadeus Vice President, Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach talk through actionable strategies for the hospitality industry to drive transient business to their hotels and properties. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.

The booking behavior, on-trip expectations, and post-trip loyalty of leisure travelers are rapidly evolving and demanding that hoteliers think differently or get left behind. In this episode, we welcome Jacki Brown, Director of Product Marketing at Amadeus, to dive into industry research and data that highlights the most important travel behavior trends and what the hospitality industry needs to do in response. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.

How has Covid-19 impacted hospitality sales teams? What can hoteliers start doing today to bring revenue back in the door? Holly Zoba, HSMAI board member and owner of Scout Simply, answers these questions and more as we dive into the shifting world of hospitality sales and discuss tactical advice to help hoteliers and their teams evolve with the changing landscape. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.

In the first monthly demand data update, Amadeus Vice President, Data Partnerships Katie Moro and Senior Industry Analyst John Hach break down the most important insights and trends in hospitality. Using our Business Intelligence solution data and industry expertise, this episode explores the unprecedented compression of the reservation booking window and what it means for hoteliers around the world. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.

We continue our conversation with Paco Pérez-Lozao, President of the Hospitality Division of Amadeus, and examine the changing traveler’s experience. Paco provides his perspective on what the acceleration of contactless technology means for the hospitality industry’s future as well as which trends are here just for the moment and which are here to stay. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.

In this episode, Paco Pérez-Lozao, President of the Hospitality Division of Amadeus, dives into the major forces impacting the hospitality industry and explores how emerging trends in the traveler’s journey have been irreversibly accelerated. For more information go to www.Amadeus-Hospitality.com/podcast.