Panel Topics & Speakers

Panel 1 - The Hotel Quality Lab: Experimenting with Service Quality

The hospitality industry is all about service. The quality of a hotel’s service is what makes the difference between a room with a bed, and an experience to be remembered. This panel therefore recognizes the need to revolutionize service quality, and examines the different levels of service quality and its impact on consumers. A major question is the establishment of a guest-centric service culture. Additionally, it will discuss possible new standards and adjustments, and how innovation and technology may shape the future of service quality.

Panel 2 - Seizing Top Tech Opportunities: When Data is Everything

As the rate of technological advancement reaches unprecedented highs, professionals across different industries have come to recognize the importance of using technology – or more specifically, “Big Data”, in understanding and grasping the complexities of customer relationship management. This panel will thus discuss the trends, roles, and importance of Big Data, and how it has revolutionized operations and consumer interactions in the hospitality industry.

Panel 3 - Disrupting Distribution: Game - Changers

The distribution landscape has become an important topic of discussion as distribution costs increase with the rise of OTAs. This panel, thus, discusses the distribution landscape and its future developments. It will also discuss the competition that new and existing players in the industry face in optimizing their distribution strategies, and which new technologies and resources these players may use to compete.

Panel 4 - The Pitfalls and Challenges in 21st Century Management and Leadership

As employee loyalty begins to wane with employees constantly seeking career advancement opportunities, and diversity in the workplace becomes increasingly important, managers and leaders of the 21st century face unique challenges in managing and retaining talent. This panel will therefore seek to address the problems of talent shortages, the need for diversity in the hospitality industry, the importance of organizational culture, as well as structural shifts towards building a network organization.

Panel 5 - Global Brand Expansion: Adaptation and Development

Mergers and acquisitions between existing hotel brands are becoming increasingly commonplace in the hospitality industry, while new entrants are adopting unique business models to establish themselves. This panel seeks to investigate the effectiveness of these different brand expansion strategies, in consideration of the tips and tricks of investors and consultants use at the negotiation table in order to seal the deal.