Hospitality Podcast: LowKey by Oaky

Mental health in hospitality often remains a taboo subject . Yet it affects professionals across every level of the industry. Tune in for an honest conversation about burnout, leadership, resilience, and recovery between Linus Fredberg, Regional Director of Revenue Management La Maison-Northern Europe, and Oaky’s Clément Dénarié. Linus shares his deeply personal journey of overcoming challenges an...

Can a hotel brand expand rapidly without losing its identity? Leonardo Hotels’ journey proves just that. With 23 new properties acquired this year alone, the group has been growing quickly from a regional brand to a European leader.  And who better to share insights into this exciting journey than Jean Buche, Vice President of Revenue Management for Central Europe at Leonardo Hotels?  Tune in to t...

Poor communication is the silent killer of hotel profits. That’s the hard truth shared by Alex Slors, Founder and Managing Director of Alex Slors Consulting, in our latest episode of LowKey by Oaky, hosted by Oaky’s CEO and Co-founder, Erik Tengen. With decades of experience bridging the gap between owners, operators, brands, and investors, Alex unpacks why communication isn’t just a soft skill bu...

What is the difference between what guests truly want and what hotels believe their guests want?  We’ve got the answer in our latest LowKey by Oaky episode featuring none other than Danica Smith, CEO & Founder of MorningStar GX and an expert in the guest experience. Danica breaks down the blind spots hospitality leaders often overlook and explains how to bridge these gaps to meet modern guests...

Why do some hotel teams thrive while others fail? In this LowKey episode, Philip Steiner, COO for the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, and Portugal at Cycas Hospitality, and Erik Tengen, Oaky’s CEO and Co-founder, discuss the secrets of building high-performing teams. Get ready to uncover unique insights from Philip on leadership, team building, and creating a culture of positive empowerment and motivati...

What if your guests could choose to book directly over OTAs every time? In this episode of LowKey by Oaky, we dive deeper into the secrets of driving direct bookings and building guest loyalty with Diego Fernández Pérez de Ponga, CEO of Port Hotels and author of The Art of Revenue, joined by Pablo Torres, Hospitality Consultant and Oaky’s Front Desk Upselling Coach. Get ready to discover: Critical...

Data is a cornerstone of revenue management, and it becomes even more crucial as you move toward embracing total revenue management. In this episode of the LowKey by Oaky podcast, Rebekka Berger, Director of Revenue and Business Performance at Hotel Okura Amsterdam, provides an inside scoop on how she and her team use data to optimize revenue, refine offerings, and deliver exceptional guest servic...

Generating more revenue is just one piece of the revenue puzzle. Another key piece is optimizing your VAT strategy. In this episode of LowKey by Oaky, we sat down with Martin Morawski, VAT Lawyer and Partner at Hamelink & Van den Tooren, to explore practical VAT optimization strategies to drive profitability. With extensive experience working with OTAs, booking platforms, and major hotel chain...

Is only one person on your team actively upselling at the front desk? Or maybe you’re facing resistance or low motivation from your team when trying to implement a front desk upselling strategy?  The good news is, that with the right approach, you can leave these challenges behind. In this episode of the LowKey podcast, Pablo Torres, a hospitality expert, author, and Oaky’s new front desk upsellin...

What are API-first platforms, and how are they different from regular PMSs with API capabilities? What benefits do they bring to hotels, and how are they shaping the future of hospitality? Our latest podcast episode of LowKey is the perfect place to find answers to these questions. Hear from our guest, Ulrich Pillau, Founder and CEO of Apaleo, a seasoned hotel industry expert, joined by Oaky’s CEO...

Creating a hotel budget is a complex process that involves coordinating many different elements.  To make this process easier for you, we’ve taken a closer look at all the budget aspects you need to consider to ensure your budget plan is robust. Our guest Gaby Maaswinkel-vd Bosch, Regional Director of Revenue Optimization for Central Europe & Prize by Radisson, will walk you through the ins an...

Luxury travel is booming in the Asia-Pacific region. But how can you stand out from the competition and attract affluent travelers specifically to your hotel? 🌴 Together with Saahil Karkera , VP of Customer Success at Oaky, and Marjorie Tann , Customer Success Manager, we will dive deeper into how getting a creative edge can help you thrive in the competitive market. What you will discover: ✅ Ho...

Ever wondered how you can decode the guest journey at its best? We have the answers! Join our host Cristina, Head of Marketing, and guest Nada, Key Account Manager at Oaky, for a new, exciting episode of LowKey by Oaky as they dive into the evolving customer journey in hospitality. Learn more about: - How guest expectations have changed over the years and how hotels can adapt to meet these new dem...

Welcome to episode #18 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast , our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. Get ready to dive into: How collaboration drives innovation, enhances guest experiences, and builds brand credibility. Identifying current industry challenges and potential areas for collaboration Successful collaborations in the industry...

Welcome to episode #17 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast, our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. Looking to maximise your hotel room types and cater to a diverse range of guest preferences?  Join us on the latest episode of the LowKey Hospitality Podcast, featuring Gail Peters, Head of Revenue at the Q Hotels Collection, and Allison Ch...

Join Michiel Bogaert, Revenue and Distribution Manager at Pillows Hotels, and Clement Denarie, Chief Revenue Officer at Oaky , on 30 April at 11:30 AM CET to discover how a strong upselling culture inspires the Pillows Hotels team and how you can effectively implement it at your hotel. Gain valuable insights into: Fundamentals for building a thriving upselling culture at your hotel Strategies Pill...

Why is overbooking an essential revenue management strategy at hotels? And how to manage it effectively? Discover how Accor approaches it in our upcoming LowKey by Oaky podcast episode featuring Clément Deplanche, Director of Revenue Strategy at Accor. In this episode, we'll explore: ✅ The impact of overbooking on revenue ✅ Handling overbookings while keeping guest satisfaction at the forefr...

Welcome to episode #14 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast, our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. Tune in to discover the 2024 trends shaping the hotel tech industry. Together with Ashley Williams, General Manager at Mitel, we will delve into all the insights to prepare you for the year ahead:  The power of AI: how advanced technology c...

In this episode, we unravel the intricate web of hotel technology and delve into the complexities that shape the hospitality landscape with Ira Vouk , Industry consultant and Author ( Hospitality 2.0 Consulting ), and Erik Tengen , CEO and co-founder at Oaky . The hotel tech ecosystem: decoding the intricacies via Ira Vouk's visual diagram .  Is the Property Management System (PMS) still at th...

Welcome to episode #12 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast , our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. In this episode, we uncover the secrets to attracting and retaining top talent in the hospitality industry with Thomas Finn, Managing Director at the Staffing and Recruiting company Edwards & Finn Ltd . How talents’ priorities have evo...

Welcome to episode #11 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast, our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. In this episode, we're diving into how Millennials and Gen Z are shaping the hospitality world. Renata Komarzinska, General Manager at Nhow Amsterdam RAI, and Fabrizia Sant’Elia, PR & Event Manager at Oaky, are your hosts for this j...

Welcome to episode #10 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast , our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. Today, you’ll hear a captivating conversation with Lucas Schopman, Managing Director at the Ambassade Hotel , and Erik Tengen, CEO and Co-founder at Oaky, as we explore the evolution of hospitality and technology. Discover how the team at...

Welcome to episode #9 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast, our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. As your guests grow more tech-savvy, embracing technology is a must to thrive in the hotel industry. To assist you on your path to adopting these new technologies, we've invited a true expert in the field. Tune in to the new episode of L...

Welcome, to episode #8 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast, our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. Don't miss out on an incredible episode featuring Matthijs Welle, Co-founder and CEO at Mews, and Erik Tengen, Co-founder and CEO at Oaky. Hear their personal experiences and insights as successful entrepreneurs.  We touched upon the fo...

Welcome to episode #7 of LowKey Hospitality Podcast, our easygoing sessions for hotel professionals where we chat about industry trends, issues and solutions. This new episode showcases two strong leaders in the marketing field discussing branding: Hannah Luffman, Senior Director of Global Marketing & Non-Exec Director at Duetto , and Marieke Wisse, Head of Marketing at Oaky . A valuable contr...