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Hotel Moment

Hotel Moment

Revinate 185 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

Hotel Moment is a podcast presented by Revinate that explores how hotel technology shapes every aspect of hoteliers' experiences. Each week, the show features interviews with hospitality professionals discussing cutting-edge technology, AI developments, and consumer trends transforming the industry. The podcast covers insights from experts across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, focusing on the future of guest experiences.

Episodes

Why the first 10 seconds make or break a guest's stay
Why the first 10 seconds make or break a guest's stay Aug 19, 2026 1336 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Andrew Shepherd, General Manager of Resorts at The Malcolm Hotel. Drawing on more than 25 years leading luxury hotels, resorts, and casinos, Andrew shares how proactive service transforms initial arrival moments into lasting loyalty. He explains why digital channels shape first impressions long before check-in, how front desk agents re
The blueprint for iconic hotel F&B
The blueprint for iconic hotel F&B Aug 12, 2026 1341 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens talks with Ami Alexander, Managing Partner at Barrel Aged Management. Drawing on two decades of experience with brands like Hakkasan Group, Sydell Group, and Virgin Hotels, Ami breaks down how guest expectations shifted from standard corporate consistency to local, intentional storytelling. She explains why developers must underwrite F&B concepts ear
The end of beigification: Why travelers are searching for something real
The end of beigification: Why travelers are searching for something real Aug 5, 2026 1363 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Preferred Travel Group, home to Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest independent hotel brand with over 625 hotels in 80 countries. Lindsey shares her unconventional path from change management consulting into hospitality, the key findings from Preferred's Luxury Travel Report on heritage travel and
Why the best luxury hotels don't sell exclusivity — They build connection
Why the best luxury hotels don't sell exclusivity — They build connection Jul 29, 2026 1257 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Dylan Cole, Managing Director, EMEA, Revinate, sits down with Lily Wecker, CEO of Aethos, a next-generation hospitality brand built on experiential luxury and meaningful connection. With leadership experience at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Lily shares how a personal health scare reshaped her definition of luxury, from material ownership to internal validation, a
Recast: Immersive hotel experiences: Bridging technology and human connection
Recast: Immersive hotel experiences: Bridging technology and human connection Jul 22, 2026 2134 In this episode of Hotel Moment, we're bringing back one of our favorite conversations where Karen Stephens engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly. Bashar, with over three decades of experience in hospitality, shares his passion for creating memorable hotel experiences that transcend the ordinary. He discusses how hot
Why great guest experiences start before check-in
Why great guest experiences start before check-in Jul 15, 2026 1073 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Lydia Bates, Director of Sales and Marketing at Dream Inn Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz's only exclusive beachfront hotel. Lydia explains why independent lifestyle hotels win on storytelling rather than transaction, how Dream Inn's on-site reservations team begins curating the guest experience from the very first call, and how targeted email
How AI uses personalization to beat pricing and win bookings
How AI uses personalization to beat pricing and win bookings Jul 8, 2026 1706 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Chris Anderson, Professor at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, who has spent more than two decades studying how pricing, distribution, and revenue management shape global hospitality. Chris explains why pricing guests differently based on willingness to pay is heading for legal prohibition, why AI will shift customiz
Keeping an authentic voice when AI can't read the room
Keeping an authentic voice when AI can't read the room Jul 1, 2026 1509 In this episode of Hotel Moment, host Karen Stephens, CMO of Revinate, sits down with Dina Niekamp, SVP of Brand and Marketing at Aparium Hotel Group, a lifestyle hospitality company known for building hotels that feel deeply rooted in the neighborhoods around them. Dina explains why emotional connection, not just amenities, has become the new standard for luxury travel, and why she believes AI wi
How hotels turn data overload into profit growth
How hotels turn data overload into profit growth Jun 24, 2026 1169 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Jeff Michael, Area Director of Revenue Management at Sage Hospitality Group, who brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience spanning operations and commercial leadership. Jeff explains why the explosion of hotel data has created a new kind of paralysis, why "commercial alignment" so often fails when departments chase different
The AI booking shift: What hoteliers need to do now
The AI booking shift: What hoteliers need to do now Jun 17, 2026 1648 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens, CMO at Revinate sits down with Dylan Cole, Managing Director EMEA at Revinate, to unpack the most consequential shift in hotel distribution in years: the rise of AI-powered booking discovery. With insights from leaders at Starwood Hotels, Highgate, and Twilio woven in, Karen and Dylan trace the arc from Google's Universal Commerce Protocol announcem
Recast: How Swiss Deluxe Hotels redefines luxury hospitality with tech | with Wilhelm Luxem
Recast: How Swiss Deluxe Hotels redefines luxury hospitality with tech | with Wilhelm Luxem Jun 10, 2026 1376 In this recast episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens sits down with Wilhelm Luxem, head of quality commission at Swiss Deluxe Hotels and former GM of the iconic Baur Au Lac hotel. With 50 years in luxury hospitality, Wilhelm shares his philosophy on technology adoption in five-star hotels, emphasizing that tech should always complement service DNA while staying in the background. From his experi
How to win direct bookings with AI search | with Jarrett Tomback
How to win direct bookings with AI search | with Jarrett Tomback Jun 3, 2026 1307 In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens, Chief Marketing Officer of Revinate, sits down with Jarrett Tomback, Vice President of Digital Strategy and CRM at Starwood Hotels, for a conversation that moves from rethinking loyalty to the most urgent distribution question in hospitality: how do hotels win direct bookings in a world where AI search models give guests three to five recommendation

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