Technology companies and hoteliers discuss the digitisation of the sector
HotelTech Summit is held for the first time in Ibiza with a great success of participation. Professionals from the hotel and technology sector share a day of debate and reflection on leadership, digitisation and new technologies.
The rain did not prevent professionals from the tourism and technology sector from meeting to talk about digitisation and learn about the best tools to improve hotel operations. Leading the technological transformation, finding the most suitable partner for our business, optimising resources and improving operations, designing a strategy for where we want to go, listening, not being in a hurry. These are some of the issues that were discussed at the HotelTech Summit Ibiza, which took place at the THB Los Molinos in Ibiza and was attended by professionals from the tourism and technology sector.
HotelTech Summit is an event organised by GuestPro that was born in Menorca in 2019 with the aim of weaving a network of trust between technology companies and the hotel sector. After the forced break due to COVID-19, this event has been held in different locations in the Balearic Islands, Menorca, Mallorca and now Ibiza, and has also visited Valencia and Benidorm.
Xavier Pallicer, CEO & Founder of GuestPro - Photo: Aisha Bonet
Disruptive companies
The Ibiza meeting brought together five technology companies, experts in hotel management, revenue management, distribution, operations and digitisation, with the aim of engaging in direct conversation with hoteliers, consultants and, in general, all types of professionals in the tourism industry.
Irene Guinarte, CEO & Co-founder of the Ibizan company Wavyssa, began the presentations with a lesson on revenue, analysing how to make a good segmentation in the holiday hotel sector. Xavier Pallicer, CEO & Founder of GuestPro and organiser of the event, presented his new hotel management proposal focused on the interaction between the client and the hotel and with a high degree of automation. Its PMS model is far from the traditional "cul de sac" structure, giving the client the possibility to consult directly through a Webdesk. Next, Patricia Rosselló, CEO & Founder of Roibos, which was celebrating its second anniversary, spoke about its innovative B2B distribution model, an Amazon-style marketplace that gives the hotelier total control over distribution. Xavier López, CEO of the Mallorcan company EISI SOFT, gave a perfect analysis of how your technology partner should accompany you in the digital metamorphosis of your hotel and the importance of three aspects in this process: consultancy, training of your team and software. Ignasi Olivé, CEO & Co-founder of REVO, closed the speeches by talking about his "turnkey" technological solution, a perfect POS for the management of points of sale within a hotel.
Some of the speakers - Photo: Aisha Bonet
The hoteliers' experience in an exciting debate
After a short coffee break to recharge the batteries, it was time to open the debate in a face-to-face discussion between technology companies and hoteliers. María Rodríguez, hotel manager known for her podcast Desde cero en turismo, moderated the debate, which was joined by Ángel Piné, Commercial and Operations Director of Hotel Torre del Mar, Alicia Reina, Director of Migjorn Ibiza Suites and President of AEDH in the Balearic Islands, and Diego Fernández Pérez De Ponga, Corporate Director of Revenue and Distribution at Palladium Hotel Group.
Relaxed discussion between hoteliers and technology - Photo: Aisha Bonet
In a relaxed atmosphere, the complicity between the participants was noticeable despite their disagreement on some aspects of digital migration. The speed of change, what the objectives should be when implementing a new technology, the importance of analysis, who should be your technology partner throughout this process, how people and their training are key to change... These and other topics were discussed during an hour in which those attending the event also had the opportunity to intervene with their questions and opinions.
Group photo of hoteliers and speakers - Photos: Aisha Bonet
Finally, a cocktail on the garden porch was the perfect moment for a lively networking session in which speakers, hotel guests and attendees were able to chat in a relaxed atmosphere. The season about to start was one of the topics of conversation and optimism brought to a close an event in which technology companies, hoteliers and professionals from the tourism sector in general had the opportunity to share experiences and knowledge.
Good atmosphere for networking - Photo: Aisha Bonet
