Building experience and revenue simultaneously from Kent roundtable

In this episode we look at how to build experience and tap into events in a large countryside resort - identifying opportunity for operational efficiency and revenue optimisations. Paul Wells from Studio Moren kicks us off by discussing the evolution of UK resort development. We examine how country house hotels are rethinking their extensive grounds to function more like modern resorts, touching on the key opportunities of space utilization and the complex realities of navigating planning permissions - while securing more high-value revenue. Next, Geraldine Brennan from Oracle provides a deep dive into managing weddings, parties, and conferences in a countryside setting. Geraldine shares the latest industry wedding trends and explains how hotels can master event management on large resorts through streamlined communications, efficient processes, and mobile accessibility. We also look at how leveraging the right technology can eliminate administrative errors by reducing double-entry and fragmented management.The conversation then shifts to the guest experience, with Prem Jethwa-Odedra from Biteluxe exploring how AI-led messaging can treat every guest like a VIP. We discuss actionable goals for introducing these tools and analyze the commercial impact of AI-driven guest engagement. Finally, Renato Machado from Upsell Guru shares expert advice on tapping into additional revenue streams, covering high-converting packages and the best practices for managing upsell products. The episode concludes with hoteliers sharing real-world insights on overcoming spa management challenges to successfully capture extra spend.