alan young
Hospitality Technology in the Spotlight:: HITEC Is a Time for Tech Vendors to Shine
Alan Young | March 23, 2023
Leading the charge toward that future at industry's most influential event in Toronto, from June 26th to 29th By Alan Young, Hospitality Industry Advisor, College Professor, and Co-Founder of Puzzle Partner With more than 50 years under its belt, HITEC is something of a household name in the hospitality industry. Produced by HFTP, HITEC reigns supreme as the world’s largest hospitality technology conference, attracting thousands of industry leaders and technology innovators to its stage each year. This year, the highly anticipated showcase and networking event will be taking place in Toronto, ON from June 26th to 29th and will, as a...
A Time for Hotel Growth: Interview With Ryan Hamilton, CEO/Co-Founder of SalesAndCatering.com
SalesAndCatering.com | March 8, 2023
By Alan Young There is no denying that 2021 and 2022 were challenging years for the hospitality industry. While hotels remained shuttered and planes remained uncharacteristically desolate amid the COVID-19 pandemic, hoteliers and hospitality technology vendors contemplated the same question – what would the post-pandemic landscape look like, and when would it (finally) come into view? The long-awaited period of industry revival is now undeniably upon us, and hospitality brands have surged back to life as travelers worldwide look to make up for lost time. In many ways, though, the pandemic served as an opportunity for recalibration acr...
HITEC Entrepreneur 20X Competition Comes to Toronto In 2023
Alan Young | February 17, 2023
By Alan Young World’s largest hospitality technology conference brings highly anticipated startup competition to the Canadian tech hub When you think of the city of Toronto, what comes to mind? For starters, Toronto may conjure images of the CN Tower, world-class food, and entertainment, or lyrics to one of Drake’s many songs in which he highlights the city he calls home. But over the last decade, Toronto has become recognized for more than its architecture, events, food, and local celebrities; it’s become the Canadian tech hub. In 2019, Toronto was named one of the fastest-growing tech markets in North America and, since then, ha...
Destination HITEC® 2023: Toronto
Alan E. Young | January 26, 2023
Largest International Hotel Technology Conference To Be Held In Toronto, Canada Jun 26 – 29 By Alan Young, Hospitality Industry Advisor, College Professor, and Co-Founder of Puzzle Partner They say the only guarantees in life are death and taxes, but if you work in the hospitality technology space, at least one other certainty exists - the annual meeting of the minds that is HITEC®. For over 50 years, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) has become an industry staple, giving attendees a unique opportunity to witness new product launches and innovations while listening to expert panels, partaking in ex...
ChatGPT Is Scary Good, But Can It ‘Rewrite’ the Future as We Know It?
Alan E. Young | January 16, 2023
By Alan Young “Do you think we’re going to be replaced?” My colleague's question hung in the air between us as I considered my response. She was, after all, asking me something I’d asked myself. If we’re being honest, it’s precisely the question many of us have contemplated as news of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) innovations continue to splash across headlines and invade conversations on a weekly, if not almost daily, basis. “No,” I eventually answered. “But it will certainly change the game – or at least, change the way we play it.” As a hospitality professional whose agency specializes in content develop...
Is Hospitality Moving Towards Zero-Touch With Service Automation?
Alan E. Young | December 12, 2022
By Alan Young The journey to high tech vs high touch has begun, but studies show that brands risk losing trust, and business, by neglecting human connection With each new technological breakthrough and innovation, what once may have seemed dystopian or impossible is now simply a modern-day reality. Let’s take, for example, Amazon Go stores, which allow patrons to select the products they need, and effectively check out by simply leaving the store – no cashier interaction or self-checkout kiosk required. The store uses an Amazon Go app for iOS or Android linked to individuals’ Amazon accounts for automatic billing to ensure a truly...
Is TikTok the Best Kept Secret for Hospitality and Travel Marketing?
Alan E. Young | October 20, 2022
By Alan Young TikTok has become a worldwide phenomenon spanning across age groups and a marketing tool for both B2C and B2B brands If you think TikTok is a corner of social media reserved solely for digitally-savvy teens with a penchant for dancing or lip-syncing in front of the camera – think again. While the platform initially made waves due to its virality amongst a younger demographic (here’s to you, Generation Z), TikTok has since evolved to not only become a worldwide phenomenon spanning across age groups but a critical marketing tool for both B2C and B2B brands. In fact, it’s one of the fastest-growing social media ap...
Are Hotels Putting People’s Lives at Risk, Just to Save Some Money?
Alan E. Young | September 20, 2022
By Alan Young Not everyone has an appetite for adrenaline, but let’s pretend you are about to jump out of a plane, ready to free-fall 10,000 feet into a sprawling field below. Just moments before you tuck and roll your way out of the plane, the skydiver beside you gives you a nudge and a wink before saying, “hopefully, we all make it down in one piece, eh?” a parting sentiment that sends a current of fear and uncertainty coursing through your body. Noticing your body language, the diver you’re paired with gives you a warm smile, “Don’t worry, he’s mostly kidding. It’s just that the parachutes we are using are old, and one m...
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