What do hoteliers need to know about PMS implementations, hospitality tech, and leadership today?

In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Ryan King, Senior Vice President of Americas at Shiji, for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about hospitality, technology, leadership, and the future of guest experience.

Ryan shares his journey from working on-property in Washington, DC to leading Shiji’s growth across the Americas, including the strategic decision to shift operations to Mexico as a hub for North and South America. Along the way, he opens up about career pivots, leadership lessons, and why curiosity, humility, and communication are essential for long-term success in hospitality tech.

In this episode, we cover:

• What lessons from working on-property still shape Ryan’s approach to hotel tech today?
• How important are communication and change management during a system rollout?
• The Shiji’s philosophy on all-in-one platforms vs best-of-breed solutions
• What are the fastest wins hoteliers can achieve when adopting new technology?
• Why PMS implementations succeed or fail (and it’s not the technology)

This episode is sponsored by Shiji: https://www.shijigroup.com/

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R3aCzbt_4Ac

Links:
Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-king-11083842/
Shiji Group: https://www.shijigroup.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/243

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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

Ever wondered what it takes to run luxury and international hotel brands?

On this episode of The Modern Hotelier, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Ron Pohl, President of World Hotels and Head of International Operations for Best Western, to talk all things hospitality.

Ron shares his journey from growing up in Ohio to leading hotels across the globe, and gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run luxury, upscale, and international hotel brands. They dive into hot topics like hotel storytelling, guest experiences, sustainability, and how technology like AR, VR, and AI is shaping the future of hospitality.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• The strategy behind growing Best Western & World Hotels into 18 brands worldwide
• How storytelling and crafted hotel experiences drive guest loyalty and ROI
• The role of sustainability and technology as revenue drivers
• Lessons on building a successful career in hospitality and leading teams

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sSky7DGRyTY

Links:
Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-pohl-8214205/
WorldHotels and International Operations for BWH Hotels: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US.html

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/242

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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

David Millili & Steve Carran sit down with Steve Slack, General Manager of the iconic Lafayette Hotel & Club in San Diego, for a deep dive into hospitality leadership, community-driven hotels, and what it takes to run a Michelin-recognized property.

In this episode, Steve Slack shares his journey from growing up in Oceanside, California, to leading one of the most talked-about boutique hotels in the country. From early days in golf operations to becoming a hotel general manager, Steve breaks down the mindset, hustle, and attention to detail required to succeed in modern hospitality.

We also explore the historic renovation and relaunch of the Lafayette Hotel, the unique ownership model behind CH Projects, and how food, beverage, and community engagement drive the hotel’s success. Steve opens up about earning a Michelin Key, traveling to Paris for the award ceremony, and how the Lafayette has reclaimed its place as a cultural landmark in San Diego.

Plus, we take you behind the scenes of the Lafayette’s legendary holiday transformation, including the viral hanging Christmas trees, in-house decorating process, and why guests and locals alike keep coming back.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why community-driven hotels outperform traditional models
• How CH Projects operates 20+ restaurants and boutique hotels
• The role of food & beverage in creating unforgettable guest experiences
• How the Lafayette Hotel became a San Diego destination again

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Sa3tbaOzSF8

Links:
Steve Slack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveaslack/
The Lafayette Hotel & Club: https://lafayettehotelsd.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/241

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

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