The Hospitality Show, taking place Oct. 26-28 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, 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 Speaker Q&A, we catch up with Omar Bouchaar, general manager Wyndham Garden Brooklyn and an executive hospitality consultant. Bouchaar is part of the panel discussing AI Now: What's Actually Moving the Needle in Hotels on Monday, Oct. 27.
What’s one shift you’re excited to see gaining momentum in hospitality right now?
Optimize operations and ultimately boost revenue. In this fast-paced, ever-evolving world of hospitality, staying ahead isn’t just an option — it’s the key to survival (and success). Embracing these trends. Whether it’s leveraging technology, championing sustainability, or redefining guest experiences by using AI I'm sure that the future is bright and exciting.
What’s one overlooked trend or innovation you believe deserves more traction in the year ahead?
The hospitality industry is ever-changing, with new trends emerging as technology advances and consumer expectations shift. The future of hospitality is all about keeping up with what guests want and need. From tech innovations that ensure a seamless stay to sustainable practices that make them feel good about their choices, the industry is evolving to create personalized, memorable experiences.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity for hospitality businesses in the year ahead?
The year ahead in hospitality: Embracing opportunities, mitigating risk because the future-proofing hospitality businesses is crucial as challenges in 2025 loom. Understanding evolving tech, customer preferences and emerging risks could be key to thriving hotel operations right now the Majority of Hotels Brand are investing in commercial strategy, personalized experiences, robust loyalty programs, and dynamic pricing models. By focusing on guest-centric innovations, seamless technology adoption, and leveraging scale for strategic advantage
What advice would you give to emerging leaders in hospitality as they navigate the future of the industry?
I think that the frontline leaders are the backbone of the company's success, as more they get their organizations adopt agile structures, these leaders bridge the gap between their senior teams and their employees, transforming strategy into action. With 80 percent of the workforce looking to them for guidance, they have the power to drive performance—or derail it.
That’s why my advice is that the more we are preparing individual contributors to take on roles as frontline leaders needs to be a priority. However, developing confident, effective frontline leaders isn’t easy. It requires helping them to: adopt a people-first mindset, lead without micromanaging, navigate tough conversations, take accountability and build high-performing teams.
To learn more from Bouchaar, hear him speak as part of the AI Now: What's Actually Moving the Needle in Hotels panel at this year's The Hospitality Show, Oct. 26-28 in Denver. For more information and to register, visit www.thehospitalityshow.com.