Hotels Don't Need More Tech! | Arne Hagstad CGO @Suusify #38

Most hotels are leaving millions on the table by treating revenue, marketing, and operations as disconnected silos, until now. Arne Hagstad, a seasoned hospitality tech leader Chief Growth Officer@Suusify , shares how aligning these functions can unlock dramatic growth, like boosting revenue per guest from €300 to €1100. In this episode, discover how hospitality businesses can harness real-time data and AI to anticipate guest needs, optimize price strategies, and deliver personalized experiences that stand out in a crowded market.00:00 - Introduction to Arne Hagstad and key themes of growth, technology, and leadership 01:20 - Arne's background in hospitality technology and journey from banking02:46 - The action-driven mindset and passion for insight over appearance 03:08 - The story of career change inspired by a mountain encounter 04:39 - The importance of understanding holistic hotel strategies 07:33 - Biggest mistake: siloed departments and disconnected strategies 10:02 - The significance of connecting revenue, marketing, and operations 12:26 - Benefits of independent hotels implementing holistic strategies faster 13:54 - Introducing the 'Hub by Suusify' BI platform 15:17 - How the platform connects data sources and aids future forecasting 16:36 - Applications of the platform in sales, demand, and guest insights 18:22 - Using data for targeted sales efforts and market analysis 20:26 - Upselling as a timely, personalized interaction, not spam 22:32 - The impact of tailored communication on guest satisfaction 23:56 - Integration of AI in travel planning and automation 24:48 - The hype versus real potential of AI in hospitality 27:46 - The role of AI in automating routine tasks and enhancing guest experiences 29:44 - Future trends: luxury's shift towards human connection and tech balance 32:07 - Technology's role in leisure and urban hotel experiences 35:34 - Concerns around data security, privacy, and ethical AI use 37:31 - Leadership lessons: building teams based on shared dreams and personality 40:08 - Hiring insights: spotting the fire, not just the CV 42:33 - Actionable advice for independent hotels and exciting tech tools to watch 44:16 - Defining 'level up' through learning from failures and successes 45:01 - Closing thoughts on the importance of continuous innovation and leadershipconnect with Arne https://www.linkedin.com/in/arne-hegstad-12293338/Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/@levelupwithhakimApple Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-with-hakim/id1872491718Amazon musichttps://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8864be9e-558a-4632-94b2-6b121a5d7ebf/level-up-with-hakim