In this episode, Ryan Mann, Partner at McKinsey & Company, shares how "AI has become agenda item one, two, three, four, and five" for hotel leaders worldwide. Recorded at ALIS in January 2026, this conversation explores how AI has shifted from experimentation to executive priority in a matter of months.

Ryan outlines three key arenas shaping hospitality today: internal automation, on-property operational efficiency, and the high-stakes disruption of search and booking. He explains why AI is no longer a technology problem but an adoption challenge, why data readiness and trust will determine visibility in AI-driven discovery, and how leaders should think in scenarios as OTAs, suppliers, and agentic systems compete for control of the booking relationship.

This episode offers a clear framework for where to act now and how to prepare for a rapidly shifting distribution landscape.

See our previous conversation: How The World's Best Hotels Deliver Exceptional Service - Ryan Mann, McKinsey & Company

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
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If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Bashar Wali shares a personal look at how he approaches travel, often landing in a city for less than 24 hours and skipping the landmarks altogether. Instead of checking boxes or chasing must-see attractions, he spends his time in conversation, sitting at coffee shops and bars, speaking with strangers about their lives, ambitions, and perspectives. In this episode, he reframes travel as a tool for self-discovery rather than sightseeing, arguing that depth of connection matters more than distance covered. For hospitality leaders, the takeaway is clear. If you want to understand a place, a culture, or even yourself, start with people.

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, challenges one of the most common habits in life and work: leading with “What do you do?” He explains why that question limits connection, reinforces hierarchy, and undermines the core spirit of hospitality. Drawing from his global travels and leadership experience, Bashar makes the case for curiosity as a discipline and introduces a better starting point: “Where are you from?”

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, shares why staying culturally relevant is your responsibility.

Read more from Bashar: The Merchants of Cool™

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this conversation, Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Wellness Collective, returns to move the conversation from wellness theory to practical execution. Drawing on her background in luxury mystery shopping and experiential audits, she explains how a structured wellness audit helps hotels uncover hidden revenue opportunities already inside their operations. From sleep-focused room upgrades and minibar redesigns to team training and retreat partnerships, she outlines how operators can drive incremental top-line growth without major capital investment. If you are looking to offset rising costs, improve retention, and open new pockets of demand, this episode gives you a clear framework to turn wellness into a measurable profit center.

More from Emily:

• Elevate Wellness Collective
• Substack
• Instagram

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this conversation, Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Wellness Collective, joins the show to unpack what hotels often misunderstand about wellness. Drawing on her background in hotel investment and development, Emily explains why wellness extends beyond the spa and how mental health and emotional well-being shape the overall stay. The discussion explores wellness as a strategic lens for design and operations, not a standalone amenity, and why hospitality leaders need to rethink how wellness fits into their business objectives.

More from Emily:

• Elevate Wellness Collective
• Substack
• Instagram
• Global Wellness Institute post
• LinkedIn post: Accor x Globetrender study
• LinkedIn Post: Global Wellness Summit recap
• Article: How Integrating Mental Health Into the Guest Journey Drives Profit

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, shares how observing human behavior shapes his perspective on hospitality.

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, shares a candid perspective shaped by staying in a different hotel every night he travels, explaining how overdesigned spaces, sensory overload, and scripted service have pushed hospitality away from its core purpose. This conversation reframes hotels as a respite from daily chaos, not an experience competing for attention.

Also see:

• Delighting Guests: Easier Than Ever? (Bashar Wali, Practice Hospitality)
• Let's Return To The Art of Hospitality - Bashar Wali, Practice Hospitality

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands