Spherical was honored to have our founder, Adam, host the recent INDIECultivate event. The event was packed with insightful thought leaders who delved into the dynamic world of hotel technology. Here are a few key themes Adam noted: • Data-Driven Revenue: eric lutz emphasized the importance of tailoring AI-powered insights to drive targeted messaging and boost revenue. • Hospitality is Everywhere: Morgan Wiley showcased how Union Square Hospitality Group uses technology to elevate the guest experience across all touchpoints. • Data with Purpose: Darius N. stressed operationalizing data with a hands-on approach. He said, "Never run a restaurant from the board room; live it from the floor." • The Human Connection: Shannon Knapp of The Leading Hotels of the World highlighted the enduring power of genuine human connection in marketing. "They don't want to hear about your product specifications," she emphasized. Thank you to the Independent Lodging Congress team for such a valuable event! A strategic blend of technology and a human-focused approach is essential for success in the independent hotel landscape.
It was great to host the Independent Lodging Congress Cultivate event yesterday. Kurien Jacob put together a day packed with influential players in the hotel technology space. An ecosystem at the intersection of hoteliers, entrepreneurs and investors shaping the future of hotel technology. A few highlights that stood out from my perspective: - An innovative approach to the connection of IMPACT AND COMMERCE has been created by Lauren Scott-Harris with EARNT. They’ve created a new concept of VIP access to things only accessible through giving back - eric lutz grounded the big picture discussion on data fueling AI, with the important point “the real ART is in REVENUE GENERATION”. Meaning it’s about what you do with the data to deliver the right message to the right customer at the right time. - “HOSPITALITY at every touch point” Morgan Wiley spoke to how Union Square Hospitality Group is leveraging tech to improve hospitality service - Hotels can get BOGGED DOWN WITH DATA “never run a restaurant from the board room, live it from the floor” Darius N. Connected the use of tech to improve operations from the floor. - There’s a clear new race in where payments fall in the tech stack, Tom Botts spoke to this being an important point in REDUCING FRICTION in customer journey - “FOCUS ON HUMANITIY” has been a driving force in marketing for Shannon Knapp of The Leading Hotels of the World. “They don’t want to hear about your product specifications”. - “the pendulum needs to swing back to TOP OF FUNNEL MARKETING” Nick Slavin - “80% of the engineering time is spent on integrations” Dermot Quigley speaking to the massively FRAGMENTED TECH LANDSCAPE. - “we actually want to deliver KICK ASS SERVICE” Kerry Mack expressing a continued need for best in class tech - “NPS is the magic in our underwriting” Steve LeSieur speaking to the importance of customer satisfaction. “The ALCHEMY is in WORD OF MOUTH”. A big thanks to Andrew Benioff Erik Warner Stephen Chan and the Independent Lodging Congress team for include me and Spherical in this day.
