Enabling the luxury experience through technology with Andrew Evers, Group Director of IT, Rocco Forte Hotels

In our latest episode, we had the privilege of hosting Andrew Evers, Group Director of IT at Rocco Forte Hotels. Andrew brought his extensive experience in the hospitality technology sector to the table, and the conversation, as always with hospitality professionals, was centred around the guest.Here's a quick recap of the key discussion points:1️⃣ The Role of Technology in Hospitality: Andrew emphasised that technology should seamlessly integrate with the overall guest experience rather than being a separate entity. He highlighted the pivotal role of the Property Management System (PMS) in hotel operations and its connection with various departments.2️⃣ Guest Experience and Technology: We delved into how technology should elevate the guest experience, providing services that go beyond what guests can get at home. Andrew shared that luxury hotels aim to offer top-tier services, such as high-grade Wi-Fi, to exceed guest expectations.3️⃣ Challenges and Opportunities: Andrew provided insights into the challenges of implementing new technology in a live hotel environment and stressed the importance of a proof of concept. He also discussed the opportunities that technology brings to streamline operations and enhance guest services.4️⃣ Data and Personalisation: The conversation covered the responsible use of guest data to create personalised experiences, ensuring guests feel valued with their preferences remembered and catered to.5️⃣ Loyalty and Guest Retention: Andrew emphasised that loyalty is something earned, not given. He highlighted the importance of technology supporting genuine human connections and memorable experiences to encourage guest retention.6️⃣ Advice for Tech Implementation: For those embarking on a tech journey, Andrew advised involving representatives from tech, user experience, finance, and guest services from day one. This approach ensures a well-rounded decision-making process.We enjoyed meeting Andrew and would love to chat with more of the senior leaders in hotels to broaden our message of creating seamless and memorable guest experiences through the support of hospitality technology.You can tune in here 👇 The Stacked⁠⁠ podcast is brought to you by Redcat, The Hospitality IT platfrom that enables you to manage multiple sites across POS, Online Ordering, Loyalty Apps, Kitchen Management, and