Ruben Nogales - Revolutionising Hospitality loyalty one data point at a Time

Join us on a captivating journey we chat with Ruben from Como about his journey from Spain to the UK as we explore the unexpected paths that led to a rewarding career in hospitality tech. Our discussion starts with the personal story of moving to the UK to improve his English skills, which unexpectedly turned into a long-term stay due to new job opportunities and personal connections. From selling gelato at Westfield to working at Barclays Bank, each step opened new doors, eventually leading to a pivotal role in the POS industry with Revel, igniting a passion for integrating technology with hospitality. The narrative continues with a move to Como in 2017, where innovative ordering apps and customer engagement strategies captured the imagination. Discover the evolution of loyalty platforms as we recount the transformative journey of the Como platform, from its beginnings as a basic loyalty app to a sophisticated customer engagement solution. We highlight the importance of customer feedback in driving these changes and discuss real-world examples of integration challenges and customer touchpoints. Our conversation also touches on the broader trends in loyalty programs, emphasizing the need for genuine engagement strategies in today's competitive market. Finally, we explore how technology is enhancing customer experiences in the hospitality sector, from the adoption of QR codes in restaurants to the dynamic landscape of payment providers. Listen in as we discuss the potential of integrated payment and reservation systems to revolutionize customer loyalty programs and share insights on the innovative efforts of companies like Dojo and Adyen. The episode concludes with reflections on exceptional hospitality experiences, the significance of competition in driving market improvements, and the promising future of tokenization and AI in hospitality. 🎧 Episode Highlights: (00:00) Hospitality Tech Career and Evolution (16:09) Evolution of Loyalty Platforms (23:13) Enhancing Customer Experience With Technology (25:54) Global Payments Partnership and Growth (30:56) Future of Payment Integration and Loyalty (35:24) Integration and Future of Loyalty (41:13) Innovations in AI and Loyalty (52:15) Competitive Market Dynamics and Hospitality (57:07) The Power of Technology in Hospitality Ruben's Answers: 🌟 Best Hospitality Experience Turtle Bay 🌟 Best Hospitality Tech Sentiment Search 🌟 Best Restaurant Roka, Shoru 🌟 Best Burger Honest Burgers & Patty & Bun 🌟 Best Hotel Taj Dubai Hotel 🔗 Links to check out from the show notes: 📣 Sentiment Search https://www.sentimentsearch.com 📣 Como https://www.como.com 📣 DataHawks https://www.datahawks.com 📣 Blacksheep Coffee https://www.leavetheherdbehind.com #HospitalityTech, #CustomerEngagement, #TechnologyIntegration, #LoyaltyPlatforms, #CustomerFeedback, #SeamlessIntegration, #Real-WorldExamples, #QRCodes, #PaymentProviders, #Tokenization, #AI, #CompetitiveMarketDynamics, #GlobalPayments, #Expansion, #Point-of-SaleSystems, #Personalization, #MachineLearning, #Marketing, #DataPrivacy, #Opt-InMechanisms, #GenuineLoyalty, #HospitalityIndustry, #Dubai, #London, #Technology, #CustomerService, #Ruben, #Kramer