At this year’s National Hotel Marketing Conference, industry leaders shared bold insights and strategies for 2025. In this episode, we explore how guest personas elevate experiences and integrated booking systems drive revenue. AI transforms personalisation and search, fuelling authentic marketing.

A clear theme from this year’s conference is that hotels can inspire through storytelling and trust.

Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Can AI transform hospitality without losing its heart? In this episode of Travel Market Life, recorded live at the IHTF in Portugal, I sit down with André Doria, digital pioneer at PortoBay Hotels & Resorts, a 16-property Madeira treasure known for its soulful guest connections. Hailing from the stunning Madeira Islands, André reveals how his team crafted a custom AI to empower staff—predicting cancellations, streamlining operations—while keeping guest experiences warm and authentic. His passion for merging cutting-edge tech with ironclad security sparks a bold vision for AI in a people-first industry

We dive into PortoBay’s recipe for fierce staff loyalty on an island where tourism drives 80% of the economy. André shares how experimenting with open-source AI has sharpened their edge, sidestepped data risks, and preserved hospitality’s essence—like cherished guest postcards that still bring smiles years later.

Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What’s fuelling travel and hospitality in 2025? I’m joined by experts Claire Steiner, Will Plummer, and James Clark to unpack insights from our last six episodes. From Instagram-driven bookings to new Labour laws, tech mergers, financial risks, and smart travel hacks, we’re diving into what’s shaping the industry.

Giants like EasyJet and Jet2 are thriving as smaller operators falter amid mergers. Global tensions, trade tariffs, and shifting budgets are shaking up travel, yet spending is soaring. Is this hiding stagnation, or can niche players like eco-tourism startups shine? We’re also exploring tax hikes, remote work’s decline, and budget tips clients love.

Travel Market Life is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Gregor Ritchie, Director of Optimum Hotel Management and CEO of Luxury Leisure Group, has poured 18 years into keeping country house hotels alive with heart and soul. From his early days as a porter in a grand Stratford hotel, he’s fought to preserve these historic gems in a tough, ever-changing hospitality world, facing challenges like construction disputes for spa projects, pleasing high-net-worth owners, and tackling staff shortages amid rising costs.

Gregor shares his hard-earned wisdom on what keeps these hotels thriving. He swears by a tight-knit management team, weaving tech into the timeless charm of human connection, and boosting income through spas, leisure breaks, and quirky bookings—without letting OTAs eat the profits. He reveals how a clever refurb can lift room rates by £50 without touching a bedroom and why high-value guests are the lifeblood of independents.

Travel Market Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Hotels are racing into the tech age! AI makes check-ins fast and staff apps shine, while cloud tech is booming. Smart rooms? They’re not quite ready, and guests might not mind. At the International Hotel Technology Forum 2025, I sat down with leading voices sharing bold ways to boost bookings, simplify stays, and unlock data’s magic.

Here’s their take:

• James Lemon from Stripe: Simple payments win guests’ hearts every time.
• Michael McCartan from IDeaS RMS: Smart marketing skyrockets your profits.
• Frank Wagner from ACT International: Cloud tech and data unlock huge gains.
• Carsten Wernetfrom SIHOT: Slick tools deliver seamless guest stays.
• Markus Mueller from Gauvendi: Sell rooms like Amazon—crafted for each guest.

Expect top insights on how you can grow bookings, ease stays, and boost profits for your hotel.

Travel Market Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Technology is reshaping travel and hospitality in profound ways. In this episode of Travel Market Life, I am joined by with Andrew Metcalf, CTO of Access Hospitality and a small hotel owner, about how AI is streamlining operations, the challenges of outdated systems, and the impact of industry consolidation. James Clarke from TravelZoo shares their switch to cost-effective off-the-shelf tech, while Claire Steiner discusses how technology empowers neurodiverse talent and young innovators. Will Plummer explains AI’s role in preventing fraud.

Our conversation tackles big questions: Can independent hotels stay competitive? How do we preserve hospitality’s human essence amid advancing tech? It’s an honest look at an industry in transformation.

Travel Market Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Austin’s Convention Centre is closing for a huge four-year overhaul. I check out how the city’s tackling it—ripping it down and rebuilding right on the spot, no temporary setup, a move no other U.S. city has tried. In this episode, I’m joined by Steve Genovesi from Visit Austin, keeping tourism steady, and Josh Delgado from the AT&T Hotel and Conference Centre, stepping up his venue as a go-to event space. We dive into how Austin’s hotels are teaming up to keep conventions rolling in the absence of a convention centre.

Austin’s not just hanging on—it’s pushing forward. With a buzzing tech world, a growing airport, and a $30 million hotel refresh, the hospitality scene is hustling to keep the industry alive. This is a real insight into a city that thrives on collaboration.

Travel Market Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.

This episode of Travel Market Life is recorded live at the International Hotel Technology Forum in Vila Mora, Portugal. While the weather might be rather grey, I’m joined by some of hospitality’s sharpest minds—Diogo Vaz Ferreira from Clink Hostels, Tiago Alves from Belmond, Rohit Mishra from Park Plaza, and Luis Martins from SHR. Together, we’re diving into how technology is shaking up the industry.

We’re talking about the big stuff: how automation saves time without ruining the guest vibe, the struggle of getting used to new tools, and keeping things personal in a world overflowing with digital noise. We discuss how hoteliers can streamline operations, cutting costs, and level up guest experiences.

Travel Market Life is produced by Urban Podcasts.