Episode Details

In this special HITEC edition of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jeff Bzdawka, CEO of Hapi and a Hall of Fame inductee in hospitality technology. Jeff shares his unique journey from aspiring dentist to hospitality technology leader, reflecting on the experiences that shaped his career across Hyatt, Pegasus, TravelClick, Noland, and now Hapi.

The conversation explores the evolving relationship between hospitality and technology, with a deep dive into what it truly means for hotels to be AI-ready versus AI-enabled. Jeff explains why clean, connected, and actionable data is the foundation for successful AI adoption, the challenges of achieving the industry's long-sought 360-degree guest profile, and how hotels can leverage technology to create more personalized guest experiences.

They also discuss operational automation, payment processing innovations, the importance of data normalization, and the future of hospitality technology as the industry moves from AI experimentation to real-world implementation. Plus, Jeff shares insights from the HITEC show floor, leadership lessons from his Wisconsin roots, and his vision for the future of guest experience.

Key Topics Covered:

•  The intersection of hospitality and innovation 
•  Why hotels must focus on data before AI 
•  Payment automation and reducing operational friction 
•  HITEC trends and the future of AI in hospitality 
•  Leadership, culture, and industry transformation 

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4Dg2iO2DW3M

Links:
Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbzdawka/
Hapi: https://www.stayhapi.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/292

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Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.