Tech-Enabled Hospitality - by Jessica Gillingham (Hardcover)

About the Book

Understand the practical steps to apply the right technological strategies for your hospitality business to ease staff and management pain points, increase efficiency and profitability and heighten the guest experience.

Book Synopsis

While the hotel and short term rental sectors are growing, there is a technology divide between operators using technology strategically to run better operations and those that are not. Hospitality professionals need to understand their businesses' pain points to better invest in technology solutions and transform their businesses to be more profitable, and in some cases, more personal.

Tech-enabled Hospitality looks at how the intersection of technology and personalized service can redefine the future of hospitality, including for large chains and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the lodging sector. With its focus on practical applications of technology for enhancing both operational efficiency and guest experiences, this book is a valuable resource for those looking to modernize their hospitality business without losing the essence of personal touch.

Through real-world examples and in-depth expert interviews from brands such as Stripe, SiteMinder and Rocco Forte, this book explores hospitality functions such as hotel management, operations, revenue management, sustainability, IoT, access control, guest communications, payment processing, guest experience, virtual concierge and AI tools. This book will help hospitality professionals better understand the hows and whys of implementing technology to run everyday aspects of a hospitality business while still leaving room, if desired, to provide a uniquely human experience that underpins true 'hospitality'.

Review Quotes

"Tech-Enabled Hospitality by Jessica Gillingham is a landmark work by one of the most respected voices in travel tech. This book offers the most comprehensive research and insights our industry has seen to date. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the current landscape of travel technology-the challenges we face, the opportunities ahead and most importantly, the solutions that will shape the future. A must-read for forward-thinking professionals in hospitality and travel."-- "Terry Whyte, The Vacation Rental Software Guy"

"Tech-Enabled Hospitality is a smart, timely guide for anyone serious about the future of travel and accommodation. Gillingham distils complexity into insight, offering both clarity and vision at a moment of accelerating change."-- "David Peller, Former Global Managing Director, Amazon Web Services Travel & Hospitality"

"Tech-Enabled Hospitality is the bridge our industry needs right now, a must-read for any hospitality professional navigating the digital shift. It shows how to adopt tech without losing the human touch. A practical guide to making smarter tech investments, rooted in the real world of hotel operations and guest experience - My kind of read!"-- "Danica Smith, Founder and CEO, MorningStar GX and GAIN Advisor"

"A landmark text and required reading for anyone building or backing hospitality tech. A thorough, strategic and expertly written deep dive into the sector's key dynamics."-- "Richard Vaughton, Co-Founder, Yes Consulting and the Avio Goup"

"If profit, guest experience and long-term relevance matter to you, this is your next read. Dale Smith nails automation without the fluff. Richard Vaughton says what everyone else avoids about data. Thibault Masson brings sharp direct booking tactics that actually work. Every page feels like you're sat in on a mastermind. No filler, just stuff you can use."-- "Mark Simpson, Founder, Boostly"

"Reading this felt like clearing the cache of my brain after hearing one too many sales pitches from ChatGPT wrappers posing as innovative startups. It's sharp, focused and most importantly, actually useful. This one will very likely age well."-- "Simone Puorto, Head of Emerging Trends & Strategic Innovation, Hospitality Net"

"This is a timely and insightful book that captures how technology is reshaping both short-term rentals and hotels. Drawing on expert perspectives from across the industry, it offers practical guidance and fresh thinking for the future of hospitality. A must-read for anyone serious about staying ahead in this space."-- "James Varley, Founder and CEO, Host Planet"

"With technologies like AI now driving hotel performance and guest experiences, Tech-enabled Hospitality is a must-read for non-tech professionals in the hospitality industry wanting to understand today's changes."-- "Floor Bleeker, Hotel Tech Expert"

About the Author

Jessica Gillingham is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide, a global public relations agency that partners with technology brands and enterprise operators across hospitality and lodging to transform the industry for the future. She is a regular speaker, author, podcast host, non-exec and advisor - writing and speaking regularly on the topics of hospitality, technology and change. Jessica Gillingham is based in Bath, UK.