by Vijaylakshmi 
We recently wrapped up our annual Converge Hospitality Revenue Summit in Miami, and needless to say, the energy was electric! It was a chance for hospitality pros to connect, learn, and celebrate the incredible work happening in the industry.Despite unforeseen IT challenges bringing global travel to a crawl, nearly 300 attendees from IDeaS’ global client base, industry partners, and thought leaders gathered to learn how to leverage real-time data and the latest advancements in AI to optimize revenue and achieve exceptional results. Some highlights from speakers include:The Future of Hospitality TechnologyChris Hemmeter, Managing Director at Thayer Ventures, painted an exciting picture of the future of hospitality tech. He highlighted the industry’s rapid growth – with trillions in consumer spending and billions of room nights booked annually – as a catalyst for innovation. Hemmeter also emphasized a shift from transactional, closed-loop systems to a more open, guest-centric approach. He argued that this evolution is driven by changing guest expectations, particularly among younger generations like Gen Z. By focusing on the guest experience and leveraging open APIs, hotels can unlock new revenue opportunities and deliver highly personalized services.AI: A Powerful Tool, Not a ReplacementCassie Kozyrkov, Founder and CEO of a stealth AI startup and CEO of Data Scientific, offered a fresh perspective on generative AI (GenAI). She emphasized that AI is essentially a tool, like a sticky note or a phone’s contacts app, designed to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. Kozyrkov stressed the importance of human creativity and decision-making in harnessing AI’s potential. She also emphasized that while technology can boost efficiency, it’s crucial to feed AI systems with high-quality data to avoid inaccurate results. Ultimately, she positioned humans as the architects of AI solutions, responsible for defining goals and parameters.Data-Driven Decision Making and InnovationMaricarmen Cardenas, Regional Solution Engineer at IDeaS and Rob Darrow, Corporate Director of Revenue Strategy at AutoCamp, highlighted the importance of asking “why” to uncover hidden revenue opportunities. By digging deeper into data, they argued that hoteliers can make more informed decisions and drive significant improvements to their bottom line.Klaus Kohlmayr, IDeaS’ Chief Evangelist & Development Officer, inspired attendees to become data storytellers and changemakers. He shared practical tips on how to leverage data to drive organizational change.Sanjay Nagalia, Co-founder, Chief Operating Officer & Technology Officer at IDeaS, and several members from the Product Development team provided insights into the future of IDeaS’ product roadmap. Nagalia emphasized the importance of revenue management and highlighted the role of AI in shaping the future of the industry.Recognizing Industry LeadersAttendees also celebrated innovation in revenue management strategy with the Client Excellence Awards, a program that honors individuals for their collaboration, partnership, bold thinking, and mutual support of progress and innovation. This year’s honorees include:Innovation Award – Alexis Remy, Vice President – Revenue Management & Distribution, Hard Rock International: Remy is a seasoned power user of IDeaS solutions, and as such, he is constantly sharing thoughts, opinions, and suggestions on ways IDeaS can make its tech stack bigger, better, and tailored to the needs of Hard Rock International properties. Remy asks about potential upcoming tests and to revisit the product roadmap as he wants to be at the forefront of innovations within the hospitality revenue space.Changemaker Award – Angus Blair, Director of Revenue Management, The Peabody Memphis: The Peabody has been an IDeaS client since 2007, and Blair has served as revenue director since 2013. During this time, Blair has been a great partner, reasonable when there are challenges, and consistently engaging in learning about IDeaS’ latest developments and putting them into practice for the hotel’s benefit. As a changemaker at The Peabody, Blair has continually modernized their approach to revenue management, helping to establish the hotel as a leader in the Memphis area.IDeaS Converge 2024 was proudly sponsored by Amadeus, AWS, RateGain, SiteMinder, Oaky, Revinate, Stayntouch, Shiji, HotelKey, STR, The Hotels Network, Triptease, Mews, and MeetingPackage. Amadeus and AWS also delivered keynote presentations.We’re committed to empowering hoteliers with the tools and insights they need to succeed. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Miami, and we look forward to seeing you at future Converge events!Converge Bangkok Nov. 4-5, 2024: Registration and additional event details are available here.Converge London July 22-23, 2025: Register now for our lowest price ever, which expires September 30. Take advantage of the early bird discount here.
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