Hosts Steve Carran and David M. sit down with Noelani Schroy, VP of Global Territory Sales at Onyx CenterSource. Broadcasting from the bustling trade show floor in Indianapolis, Noe shares how Onyx is transforming the often-complicated world of hotel commission payments into a seamless experience for both hotels and travel agencies.

They dive into:

• Why HITEC feels like a “dysfunctional family reunion” (in the best way)
• How Onyx removes the friction from B2B commission payments
• The role of travel agents in today’s direct booking vs. OTA conversation
• The launch of Onyx Insights, a data-driven solution to help hotels grow and retain agency partnerships

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e16U0nky9m8

This episode is sponsored by Onyx CenterSource: https://www.onyxcentersource.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Noelani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelanib/
Onyx CenterSource: https://www.onyxcentersource.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/173

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, we’re coming to you from the floor of HITEC in Indianapolis, where Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Kevin Bidner, CEO of Hotel Communication Network (HCN).

Kevin shares the incredible journey from being a serial tech entrepreneur to disrupting the hospitality industry with an innovative, guest-centric solution: in-room tablets that redefine hotel communication. Discover why HCN’s technology is quickly becoming the global standard, how it’s solving the decades-old problem of digital guest engagement, and how it's now accessible to hotels of all levels through an ad-subsidized model.

We also dive into HCN’s latest breakthrough: a conversational AI concierge that speaks every language, solves problems instantly, and helps guests explore the city — revolutionizing the travel experience from the inside out.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why hotel apps fall short, and tablets win the engagement battle
• How HCN became the global leader after acquiring Crave
• The real impact of guestroom tablets on satisfaction and hotel revenue
• How AI is transforming the hotel experience — in-room and beyond
• The bold vision to become “the concierge to the world”

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TU0bR74Jpd0

This episode is sponsored by HCN: https://hcn-inc.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbidner/
HCN: https://hcn-inc.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/172

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this HITEC Trade Show edition, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down at the MeetingPackage booth with Tania Sidokpohou, Partnerships Director at MeetingPackage. With a rich background in digital marketing and hospitality tech—from Cloudbeds to APO—Tania shares how she’s helping redefine the group booking space.

We unpack:

• The power of partnership ecosystems: How tech and distribution partners each play a role
• MeetingPackage’s focus on ease of integration and API-driven scalability
• How hotels can enhance existing sales and catering tools like Opera and Event Temple with a digital front door
• The upcoming launch of MeetingPackage Pay and what it means for frictionless transactions
• Why now is the time to digitize the meetings and events space—and how MeetingPackage is leading the charge

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L64fbBYG5fg

This episode is sponsored by MeetingPackage: https://meetingpackage.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Tania on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taniasidokpohou/
MeetingPackage: https://meetingpackage.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/171

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

Live from the buzzing HITEC trade show floor, The Modern Hotelier sits down with Darien Long, SVP of Specialty Access Control at dormakaba — and trust us, this isn’t your average corporate interview.

From growing up in small-town Texas with a love for sunsets and strong coffee to running a 250-person team in a global powerhouse, Darien’s journey is packed with grit, charm, and game-changing insights.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The best advice she ever got (spoiler: it’s about money vs. experience)
• Why fashion-forward PPE should be a thing (yes, really)
• The future of hotel access, cloud tech, and how AI could transform your next stay

Tune in to find out why access control is no longer just about locks — it’s about experience.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OvJp0-_L9hs

This episode is sponsored by dormakaba: https://www.dormakaba.com/us-en

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Darien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darienlong/
dormakaba Americas: https://www.dormakaba.com/us-en

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/170

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

We’re live from the Stayntouch booth at HITEC with a powerhouse guest — Bill Fanning, Chief Revenue Officer of Stayntouch. From rolling out 139 properties in 90 days to launching new grab-and-go kiosk tech, Bill shares how Stayntouch is redefining PMS innovation in the hospitality industry.

Tune in as we cover the latest innovations, guest experience enhancements, and the real impact of customer-led product development.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How Stayntouch scaled across 139 Cobblestone properties in under 90 days
• A new way to manage booking, reporting, and operations at scale
• How their self-service kiosk is transforming the late-night guest experience
• Why Stayntouch stays in its PMS lane — and thrives with over 1,200 integrations
• How hotelier feedback directly shapes new features and partnerships

Listen now to hear how Stayntouch is leading the charge in hospitality tech and what’s coming next in their roadmap.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aBpJR-LyJng

This episode is sponsored by Stayntouch: https://www.stayntouch.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfanning1/
Stayntouch: https://www.stayntouch.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/169

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Dino Pietropaolo, the dynamic Chief Technology Officer at Optii. From global tech ventures to co-founding a cybersecurity firm, Dino’s journey into hospitality tech is anything but ordinary.

We dive into how AI can truly revolutionize hotel operations—not just through automation but by enhancing the human connection. With practical insights and a few laughs (and even a surprise gift!), this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Dino's background in cybersecurity and big data led him to hospitality
• Why hospitality is slow to adopt AI, and how that's changing fast
• The difference between buzzword AI and AI that actually drives business outcomes
• How Optii’s new tools let hotels automate job requests with voice, pictures, and natural language
• What “job automation through AI” really means and why resolution time matters
• Why personalization is the overlooked secret to guest experience

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bx65jDNyedc

This episode is sponsored by Optii: https://www.optiisolutions.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Dino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinopietropaolo/
Optii: https://www.optiisolutions.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/168

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What do tequila, ghost peppers, and hotel pricing have in common?

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Bobby Marhamat, the CEO of TakeUp.ai.
The conversation covers Bobby's background, including his upbringing in Nebraska and California, his education at San Jose State, and his career progression in sales and tech. Bobby shares insights about his passion for hot peppers and hot sauces, and his COVID-era venture into starting a tequila company.

The episode concludes with a detailed demonstration of TakeUp's web-based platform, and its features designed to enhance revenue management for hotels. The show promises valuable insights for those interested in the intersection of AI and hospitality.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• What real AI actually means (and why most tools are just pretending)
• How hotels are making 22% more revenue using TakeUp
• The new rules of proactive pricing, demand prediction & transparency

Tune in now to learn how AI + Human Strategy is reshaping hospitality, one rate at a time.
Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vwuO_NNXO24

This episode is sponsored by TakeUp: https://takeup.ai/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Bobby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbymarhamat/
TakeUp: https://takeup.ai/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/167

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.