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Monette Canawin

784 posts

Interview with Stefano Cuoco: Miramis CEO Discusses Italian-Swedish Hospitality Fusion and Entertainment's Role in the Future

🏨 Hosted by Adam Mogelonsky, Hospitality Net’s Brand Insiders, this video series explores innovative hotel brands. Featuring Stefano Cuoco, CEO of Miramis Hospitality, the interview lasts one hour. Watch or listen on Hospitality Net to discover Cuoco's insights on blending Italian and Swedish influences in hospitality. The full video is available [here](https://www.hospitalitynet.org/podcast/4133088/stefano-cuoco-of-miramis-on-blending-italian-soul-with-swedish-precision-and-why-hospitalitys-future-is-entertainment).
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  • 2 min

Akia's AI Guest Messaging Platform Stands Out at Industry Event, Automating Full-Time Work for Small Operators

🤖 At a hospitality tech event in San Antonio, AI solutions like Akia and Alexa+ took center stage. Akia centralizes guest messages and automates queries, saving significant staff time. Amazon’s Alexa+ enhances guest experiences with in-room screen devices for service requests. Cleaning robots, deployed in thousands of rooms, assist housekeeping by vacuuming, improving efficiency in understaffed environments. The event concluded with a two-and-a-half-hour networking cruise on the San Antonio Riverwalk.
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  • 1 min

User Praises New Travel Booking Tool, Odessia, for Fast and Convenient Hotel Reservations Despite Initial Glitches

📅 In June 2026, while attending a conference, I used a new travel booking tool. Although it had some glitches like adding transportation via mobile, payment and reservation were seamless. The hotel had my reservation ready, surpassing typical OTA efficiency, and I enjoyed a great stay. Rating: Good+. The next goal is to utilize tools like Odessia to attract our ideal guests. Stay tuned for next week's newsletter covering conference highlights on AI, marketing, and more.
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Hospitality Leaders Often Struggle After Promotion Due to Lack of Proper Coaching and Leadership Training

📖 June 16, hotel-online.com, hospitality leaders face challenges post-promotion, struggling with team management, accountability, and guest experience consistency. High expectations, lean staffing, and turnover exacerbate issues. Coaching is key, bridging operational demands and leadership skills. Organizations often fail to prepare leaders, resulting in burnout and inconsistency. Addressing this through coaching improves confidence and retention, ultimately boosting business performance. Rob Spooner, a seasoned HR executive, emphasizes developing leadership to enhance service and culture.
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UK Restaurants Achieve 4.0% Growth in Delivery and Takeaway Sales in May, Best in 18 Months

Here is the summary you requested: 🍴 In May, restaurants in Britain saw their best organic growth in delivery and takeaway sales in 18 months. The NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker reported a 4.0% increase compared to May 2025. This surpasses the current inflation rate measured by the Consumer Prices Index. The uptick follows four months of sub-inflation growth and marks the highest performance since November 2024.
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John Webber of Colliers Criticizes Andy Burnham's Business Rates Policy Amid Potential Leadership Bid Against Keir Starmer

📊 Andy Burnham, former Manchester mayor, plans to contest against Keir Starmer for UK Prime Minister. John Webber, Colliers' Head of Business Rates, critiques Burnham's business rates policy, labeling it a populist approach. Webber highlights concerns over its potential economic impact. The leadership contest and policy debate occur amid broader discussions on economic strategies and governance priorities.
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Salesforce Acquires Finn for $3.6 Billion to Leverage Its Proprietary AI Customer Support Infrastructure

💰 Amex acquired TheFork from TripAdvisor for $700 million, raising questions about its relevance. Yum! sold Pizza Hut for $1.5 billion, aiming to leverage nostalgia despite franchise struggles. Salesforce bought Finn (formerly Intercom) for $3.6 billion to capitalize on its AI infrastructure. In May, the leisure and hospitality sector added 70,000 jobs, significantly surpassing the 12-month average of 14,000, with food services contributing 48,000 jobs, indicating industry growth.
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