Kristi Grotsch has been promoted Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
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Hospitality Net
5 days ago
- Hospitality Net
The Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference 2025 Marks Record-Breaking Success and Celebrates the Power of Female Leadership
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference, powered by BLLA (The Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association) and the Travel Industry Executive Women's Network (TIEWN), drew leaders from across the globe for its most transformative gathering yet on July 17, 2025, in Los Angeles. The one-day experience, held at a breathtaking luxury boutique hotel reminiscent of Italy, brought together female executives, founders, and rising leaders from every corner of the hospitality and travel ecosystem, from architects and brand specialists to boutique hotel owners and tech innovators. The conference delivered a powerful mix of keynote talks, intimate circles, wellness activations, and networking opportunities designed to uplift, inspire, and connect women in the industry. A Deeper, More Personal Approach Unlike other women's conferences that attract crowds of up to 1,000 attendees, the Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference is intentionally designed to be highly curated and intimate. The smaller setting allows participants to connect on a deeper level, explore both professional and personal growth, and have authentic conversations that go beyond surface-level networking. Attendees aren't just there to listen; they're there to be heard. Through small group dialogues, wellness-infused sessions, and reflective exercises, the event encourages women to delve into the personal side of leadership — from balancing entrepreneurial ambition with life outside of business, to exploring how intuition and creativity shape bold decision-making. The Power of Community and Connection Attendees praised the event for its unique approach to leadership and empowerment. This wasn't your ordinary industry gathering… we came together for curated conversations about the future, connected with our intuition through breathwork, and chose to collaborate rather than compete. As a woman today, this was exactly the kind of creative and innovative gathering I could hope for. Isabella Skoulis, Co-Founder of tiptik Sarah Ward-Smith, Principal Client Partner at Tripadvisor, echoed the sentiment: It was amazing to be in a room with so many knowledgeable, successful, and like-minded women. Truly a wonderful experience, and I'm happy I had the chance to be a part of it. A Movement That Continues to Grow The 2025 event coincided with the official launch of the newly designed a central hub for the now 13,000+ global members of the Travel Industry Executive Women's Network. The new platform reflects the organization's mission to champion female leadership in hospitality and travel through education, connection, and collaboration. This conference was created to elevate the voice and presence of women in our industry. Seeing this many women connecting deeply, sharing openly, and building each other up shows how powerful we are when we come together. Frances Kiradjian, Founder & CEO of BLLA and TIEWN Ariela Kiradjian, Co-Founder of TIEWN and COO of BLLA, added: This isn't just a conference — it's a movement. Each attendee leaves empowered to innovate, lead, and transform their corner of the hospitality and travel world. Looking Ahead The Women in Travel & Hospitality Conference has firmly established itself as a must-attend annual event for professionals who believe in shaping a more inclusive, innovative future for hospitality. Register as a member to get more involved and attend virtual events during the year. To learn more about TIEWN, BLLA, and upcoming events: About TIEWN & BLLA Founded in 2008, the Travel Industry Executive Women's Network (TIEWN) is a global community empowering women in travel, tourism, and hospitality through connection, education, and leadership. Powered by BLLA (The Boutique Lifestyle Leaders Association) — the official voice of the world's independent boutique hotels and businesses since 2009 — the organization's members work together to drive change and elevate women-led innovation across the industry. Frances Kiradjian Founder & CEO +1 818 264 4810 BLLA
Hospitality Net
11-07-2025
- Hospitality Net
Simon Farr has been promoted General Manager for Australia at Urban Rest
Urban Rest is proud to announce the internal promotion of Simon Farr to General Manager for Australia to support our next phase of domestic growth. This marks a significant step in strengthening our leadership structure as we scale operations across our current operational regions, and prepare for our entry into new and growing cities. This appointment underscores our continued investment in bringing joy back to the way that everyone travels. Simon has played a pivotal role at Urban Rest over the past three years, leading our global Guest Experience function with unmatched dedication and vision. His tech-first approach to service design has been a cornerstone of our guest experience strategy, helping to set a new standard in premium corporate accommodation. From seamless digital check-ins to data-informed service enhancements, Simon's thinking has helped position Urban Rest as a true disruptor in the corporate accommodation space. Simon joined Urban Rest in 2022 with more than 15 years of experience across boutique and lifestyle hotels. Notably, he was responsible for launching Felix Hotel with 8Hotels, recognised as Sydney's first boutique airport hotel. His career also includes leadership roles at Citadines Connect with The Ascott Limited, Park8, Pensione Hotel and other CBD-based properties within the 8Hotels group. His track record of driving industry-leading guest satisfaction and revenue performance in the boutique hotel space. Simon's deep operational knowledge, coupled with a strong focus on scalable systems and team culture, makes him the perfect fit to lead the next phase of our growth in our home market, Australia. Urban Rest has added 14 new properties to its network in 2025 alone and continues to more than double its global footprint every year. Australia remains a core growth region, with many major cities seeing sustained and strong demand from corporate and business travellers, driven by a concentration of national and international blue-chip corporations. Simon's promotion reinforces Urban Rest's focus on promoting from within and investing in people who have contributed to the success of the brand. His appointment is both a personal milestone and a reflection of our approach to sustainable, people-led growth.
Hospitality Net
10-07-2025
- Hospitality Net
Interview with Ryan King (Shiji Group): Why Experience Is the New Currency
At HITEC 2025 in Indianapolis, we sat down with Ryan King, Senior Vice President for the Americas at Shiji Group, to unpack how hotels can measure, interpret, and act on guest experience data. Ryan explained why reputation now depends as much on real-time feedback analytics as on human service, and how tools like the Guest Review Index (GRI) are helping hoteliers identify both standout moments and systemic breakdowns. He also weighed in on AI's growing role in the industry - not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to enhance guest experience and operational focus. Why is experience measurable, and how should hoteliers act on it? Experience has always been at the heart of hospitality, but according to Ryan King, we have only recently begun to measure it meaningfully. Gone are the days of relying solely on comment cards, today's guests leave feedback on Google, TripAdvisor, and more. That constant flow of sentiment is now measurable through tools like the Guest Review Index (GRI), which not only tracks trends but also distinguishes between one-off incidents and systemic problems. When a water boiler breaks during a large conference, for example, the GRI understands this anomaly and adjusts its scoring logic accordingly. But when complaints recur, such as with hot water, the score begins to drop, prompting operational improvements. How are hotels using guest reviews to take action? King shared the story of a hotel group that fully embraced review management across all departments, not just marketing. They examined feedback syntax to adapt training programmes and revise revenue strategies. At one hotel, glowing reviews about staff friendliness led the revenue manager to adjust rates. At another, poor front office feedback triggered a corporate visit, after which new SOPs were developed and rolled out across properties, raising the GRI scores of underperforming locations. The message: feedback, when taken seriously, drives tangible improvement. Can guest sentiment reveal blind spots, even at luxury brands? Absolutely. One luxury group assumed its tone of voice and guest responses were consistent across properties. Shiji's data told a different story: customer feedback highlighted stark inconsistencies, particularly in food and beverage experiences. This prompted internal reflection and immediate onboarding of tools to help monitor and improve brand standards. Sometimes , King noted, you need measurement and data to validate what you think is happening. Is the value of an experience the same across all hotel types? Not quite. The definition of a great guest experience varies between urban business hotels and beach resorts. Travellers have different needs depending on the purpose of their trip. But in both cases, seemingly small details can matter immensely. King recounted a case where a property cut fresh flowers from the turndown service, assuming it would go unnoticed. Within weeks, guest feedback indicated a drop in perceived value. The flowers were quickly reinstated. What role does AI play, and does it risk replacing staff? King acknowledged the widespread anxiety around AI replacing human roles but offered a more nuanced view. AI, he said, is transforming, not removing, jobs. Like the rise of the internet decades ago, AI will change functions, not eliminate hospitality roles altogether. Automation of repetitive tasks, such as data entry or credit card processing, can free staff to focus on human interactions. The key is to use AI to enable more meaningful moments, 'surprise and delight,' as he put it, not to cut corners on service. Why does reputation ultimately rest with people? Despite technological advances, hospitality is still powered by human interactions. King illustrated this with a personal anecdote: after switching from United to American Airlines, he found himself missing United's warmth and consistency, like the time a flight attendant surprised him with a birthday cupcake. American, by contrast, failed to meet even the basics of promised service. In hotels, that gap is even more critical. A guest may forgive minor faults, but not the absence of a helpful human when something goes wrong. Final takeaway? Tools like GRI help hotels measure, understand, and improve guest experience. But people remain the decisive factor in reputation and loyalty. AI will play an important role in operations, but it is hospitality professionals who create the memories guests talk about, and return for.
