The Modern Hotelier

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Bill Graf, the visionary founder of ONDA Hotels, to uncover how a former finance exec traded spreadsheets for surf towns and is now building a hospitality brand for the modern traveler. Bill shares the bold story of how a sabbatical, a motorcycle, and a post-COVID pivot led to the creation of ONDA—a growing hotel brand designed to...

Today's episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Travis Mckie, former pro basketball player turned champion for independent hotels at AHLA (American Hotel & Lodging Association). Travis shares his fascinating journey from the courts of Wake Forest and international basketball leagues to leading the charge for boutique and independent hoteliers across the country. He opens up about...

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Dean Stambules, Chief Investment Officer at Sage Hospitality Group, live from the ILC CONfab in Chicago. Dean shares his unique path into the hospitality world—from his family's deep roots in the industry to his early career in appraisal work that led to a passion for hotel investment. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sage Ho...

In this episode, hosts welcome back Jeremy Wells, author, brand strategist, and co-owner of The Ozarker Lodge and the newly reimagined Parker Hotel in Colorado. Jeremy shares what it’s been like since opening The Ozarker Lodge—lessons learned, community wins, and how indie spirit fuels every project. He also dives into his second book, Indie Hotels , a heartfelt blend of memoir and hospitality ins...

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with the dynamic Meg Gutowski, Executive Director of the Independent Lodging Congress (ILC), live from ILC CONfab in Chicago. Meg shares her unconventional journey from catering weddings to leading one of the most vibrant communities in independent hospitality. She opens up about what makes ILC truly special—from building real partners...

In this special edition of The Modern Hotelier: Hospitality’s Most Engaged Podcast , David Millili, Steve Carran, and Jon Bumhoffer take a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead as we hit the halfway point of 2025. From standout interviews and hotel experiences to hilarious behind-the-scenes moments and the hustle of live events, the trio shares their favorite memories, biggest surprises, and wh...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Cole, the Director of Sales and Marketing at the iconic Warwick Melrose Dallas, to explore how this historic hotel has gracefully evolved over the past century. From its roots as 1920s apartments to a luxurious modern-day destination, Michael shares the rich story behind the walls—and what makes this hotel truly one of a kind. What you'll hear about in thi...

In this episode, we sit down with Executive Chef Patrick McElroy of Landmark Prime Rib inside the iconic Warwick Melrose Hotel in Dallas. Chef Patrick shares his journey from a small island in South Jersey—where fresh seafood was caught just minutes from home—to his rise through French and Italian kitchens across the Northeast, and eventually his return to the place he now calls home: The Melrose....

In this episode, we sit down with Mahwish Saleem, Head of Sales at FCS Solutions, to explore how hotels can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and improve guest satisfaction—all by simplifying their tech stack. Mahwish shares her first impressions of HITEC, what excites her about the future of hotel tech, and how FCS is helping hoteliers stay ahead in an increasingly complex digital landsc...

Today, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Tony Ross, Director of Sales at Craftable, to talk about how technology is helping operators tackle today’s biggest hospitality challenges — especially rising costs and profit pressure. Tony brings decades of industry experience and shares how Craftable is streamlining operations, cutting down bloated tech stacks, and helping hotels make smarter,...

In this live episode of The Modern Hotelier , Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Jason Jenkins, Vice President & Managing Director of the Americas, HRS, to talk all things hotel tech—from AI-powered upselling to seamless system integration. Whether you’re a HITEC veteran or a tech-curious hotelier, this episode gives you a front-row seat to how HRS is streamlining operations and enha...

In this special episode of The Modern Hotelier , we’re live from the Dallara IndyCar Factory at HITEC—and yes, the cars are as fast as the tech talk. We’re joined by Phil Crawford, Head of Hospitality at Adyen, who dives into how they're reshaping the future of payments for the hotel industry. From solving the chaos of fragmented systems to leveraging true AI (not just buzzword fluff), Phil breaks...

In this episode, we’re joined by a hospitality tech powerhouse: Robert Dawson, Chief Strategist and Product Officer at IRECKONU. Robert shares his journey from front desk college job to C-suite, how he fell in love with the hotel industry, and why solving fragmented data problems became his mission. We talk all things AI, automation, data management, and CRM evolution — and what’s making waves at...

Today’s episode features hosts Steve Carran and David M., broadcasting from the iconic Dallara IndyCar Factory in Indianapolis with special guest Jason Craparo, CEO of Hovr—the company revolutionizing hotel websites with video storytelling. We dive into: How Hovr helps guests' book with confidence through seamless video integration The power of generative AI to supercharge marketing decisions How...

In this special HITEC 2025 edition of The Modern Hotelier: Hospitality's Most Engaged Podcast, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Dan Bell, VP of Hotels and Resorts at Agilysys, for an energized and insightful conversation straight from the show floor. Dan shares his journey from his blue-collar roots in Easton, Pennsylvania, to leading hospitality tech innovation at Agilysys. He o...

In this episode of The Modern Hotelier , we’re live from the iconic Dallara IndyCar Factory in Indianapolis, joined by Tristan Gadsby, CEO of Alliants, and Alberto Santana, CRO of Alliants. Together, we explore how hospitality is shifting gears from clunky, fragmented tech to seamless, guest-first experiences. From reinventing contactless solutions post-COVID to ditching plastic key cards in favor...

Today, we sit down with Will Gilbert, co-founder of Bodhi, a groundbreaking platform transforming hotel operations through AI, automation, and integration. With over 25 years of system integration experience, Will shares how Bodhi acts like a virtual technician , working 24/7 to ensure every device in a hotel—regardless of brand—is functioning flawlessly. From a universal guest app that requires n...

In this episode recorded live at HITEC, we sit down with Estella Hale from Zucchetti North America to talk all things innovation, automation, and integration in hotel tech. With more than 15 years of HITEC experience under her belt, Estella shares insider insights into how Zucchetti is reshaping the hospitality tech landscape in North America. In this episode, we cover: How Zucchetti brings Europe...

Hosts Steve Carran and David M. sit down with the powerhouse women behind the movement, including Mercedes Blanco and Silvia Camarota, the co-founders of Women in Travel Thrive. They share the inspiring story of how a grassroots idea born during the pandemic became a global nonprofit that’s transforming the travel and hospitality industry — one Day of Impact at a time. You'll also hear from partic...

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 reu...

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. Discove...

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...

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 insigh...

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-l...

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 insi...