Enzo, with your extensive background in shaking up B2B distribution in hospitality, how do you see revenue management technologies specifically transforming the customer experience in boutique hotels, and how does this differ from larger hotel chains?
Absolutely! Revenue management tech is a game changer, especially for boutique hotels.
For big chains, this tech is already part of the daily routine. They use it to optimize pricing, forecast demand, and manage inventory across hundreds of rooms and markets.
But boutique hotels? They're now catching up, fast. With new, easy-to-use tools, even small properties can:
- Adjust prices in real time
- Spot demand trends early
- Create personalized offers for their guests
The key difference is flexibility. Boutique hotels don’t have layers of corporate rules. They can act fast, change rates, launch a last-minute package, or tweak offers on the fly.
And most importantly, they can use this tech to enhance the guest experience, not just the bottom line. Imagine offering the perfect room at the perfect price, with a local touch that makes the guest feel truly special.
That’s where tech meets hospitality!
Could you explain how your experience with Revenue Management and launching a comprehensive dictionary on the subject has influenced your perspective on modernizing guest experiences in boutique hotels through technology?
Creating the Revenue Management Dictionary was all about democratizing access, making revenue management easier to understand and apply, especially for independent and boutique hotels.
I’ve seen how powerful these strategies can be, but I’ve also seen the resistance. Many boutique hotels still view revenue management as something complex, expensive, or only meant for big chains. That’s a missed opportunity.
Through the dictionary, I wanted to break down those barriers, simplify the language, explain the value, and show that this isn’t rocket science, it’s smart hospitality.
There’s a huge upside for boutique hotels that embrace both the strategy and the tech. They can compete more effectively, personalize guest experiences, and ultimately grow revenue without losing their identity.
But first, we need to build confidence, and that starts with education. That’s why I created the dictionary, and why I keep advocating for a more inclusive and practical approach to revenue management in our industry.
Given your expertise in market analysis and strategy implementation, what challenges do boutique hotels face when adopting revenue management technologies, and how might these challenges be overcome?
Boutique hotels often face three main challenges when adopting revenue management technologies:
1. Perception of Complexity.
Many see RM tech as something built for large chains, with complicated systems and jargon. It can feel overwhelming or “not for us.”
2. Limited Resources.
Smaller teams mean one person is wearing many hats. There’s often no dedicated revenue manager, and time is tight.
3. Fear of Losing Control.
Some owners worry that automation will remove the human touch or take decisions out of their hands.
How do we overcome this?
1. Education is key. When people understand the “why,” they’re more open to the “adoption.”
2. Choose the right tools. Today’s tech is way more user-friendly and (and cheaper). Boutique hotels should focus on solutions that offer automation with control, and insights without complexity.
3. Start small, prove the value. Even basic dynamic pricing or demand forecasting can show results fast. Once they see it works, adoption grows.
At the end of the day, it’s about building trust in the process. When boutique hotels realize that revenue tech can support their vision, not replace it, they start to see it as a strategic partner, not a threat.
How does your work with FunnelTV and your understanding of industry trends inform your approach to advising boutique hotels on improving client relations through revenue management technologies?
Through FunnelTV, I’m in constant conversation with leaders across tech, distribution, and hospitality. This gives me a real-time pulse on trends, challenges, and what’s actually working on the ground, not just in theory.
One thing that’s clear: guest expectations are changing fast. Today’s travelers want relevance, speed, and personalization, and that’s exactly where revenue management tech can help boutique hotels strengthen client relationships.
Here’s how I see it:
RM tech isn’t just about pricing anymore, it’s about using data to better understand your guests: when they book, why they book, and what they value. That insight allows you to communicate smarter, offer more relevant packages.
At FunnelTV, I spotlight tools and strategies that are agile, human-centered, and boutique-friendly. That’s helped shape my belief that boutique hotels don’t need huge budgets to deliver world-class guest experiences, they just need the right tech and mindset.
So whether it's through live discussions or direct advice, my goal is to help the hotel industry see revenue management not as a numbers game, but as a relationship-building tool that makes both the business and the guest experience better.
In your opinion, what is the future of revenue management in boutique hotels, and how might it continue to transform customer experiences in the hospitality industry over the next five to ten years?
The future of revenue management in boutique hotels (and not only) is definitely AI-powered and agent-driven.
Over the next five to ten years, I see smart AI agents becoming the backbone of the hotel industry. These agents won’t just crunch numbers, they’ll act like virtual revenue managers, continuously learning from data, guest behavior, market shifts, and even external signals like local events or competitor moves.
This agent approach is making technology more accessible, and human driven.
Read more here:
Stop Logging In. Start Talking. How AI Agents can help hoteliers better engage with technology.
How AI Might Just Redefine Revenue Management.
