The Hospitality Show, now in its second year, will take place at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio from Oct. 28-30, 2024. The Show will bring together 5,000 attendees and promises to drive profitability for owners, operators and hospitality innovators through dedicated content, extensive networking and 400+ operations and technology vendors.
In this installment of The Hospitality Show Advisory Board Q&A, we catch up with David Goldstone, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at WorldVue.
What do you think is the biggest problem for the industry currently?
From a technology point-of-view, the industry needs to bolster education around emerging technologies. We are all aware of the benefits new technology solutions can provide, but there are certain infrastructure and connectivity requirements that are needed to make sure the new tech works seamlessly in a hotel environment, and many owners and operators are not aware of the extra steps it will take to implement these solutions. The industry’s non-technology problems are two-fold: labor retention and human trafficking.
What new trends do you see affecting the hospitality industry the most in 2024?
AI and its effect on hospitality is a huge topic of conversation. Recently, AI has been touted as a replacement for employees, rather than an enhancement for human touchpoints. We are an industry of people serving people and we cannot move away from this. Some new-trend technologies are trying to push the replacement of the human touch point. The technology would be best utilized as an assistant or an extension of the employee, elevating the guest experience without removing the face-to-face service element guests have become accustomed to.
What do you see as the biggest opportunities for the industry this year?
As brands continue updating in-room technology, they have the opportunity to assess guest needs and use this feedback to drive enhancements, making their hotel stay as comfortable and seamless as being at home.
What do you think the industry's biggest accomplishment has been in the past year?
AHLA has made incredible strides against legislation not friendly to our industry. I am also proud of the widespread efforts by almost every brand to end human trafficking.
What are you most looking forward to at The Hospitality Show?
The Hospitality Show will bring the industry together to network with and educate hoteliers on the latest technology and how it will help drive guest satisfaction and ROI.