Jennifer Barnwell is an advocate for independent hotels. As President of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection, she offers independents the opportunity to harness the power of scale and access cost savings through vendor negotiations, ultimately helping them stay independent and be more profitable. She discusses the challenges and opportunities for independents in terms of funding, brand awareness, and loyalty programs, as well as which key technology investments to prioritize.

With hospitality students graduating with skills that can be applied to other industries with better salaries and work-life balance, how will the industry retain its top-tier talent? As Dean of Hotel Institute Montreux and Assistant Dean of Swiss Hotel Management School, Claire Jollain has direct contact with future hospitality professionals and shares her perspective on how the industry needs to adapt to appeal to the upcoming generation of leaders.

Additional resources on this topic:

• A 2024 guide to hotel automation
• What is a hotel chatbot? 9 benefits and key features to look for

When was the last time you spent the night camping? As Global Director of Partnerships at Hipcamp with over 15 years of experience in the outdoor hospitality and tech industry, Kristen Vasan is dedicated to getting travelers to experience nature as a way of promoting environmental stewardship. She shares her transition from working in New York City to spending half the year sleeping in a tent and her thoughts on the transformative power of nature in sparking collective humanity.

Additional resources on this topic:

• 6 ways to make your hotel more sustainable
• 10 types of hotel guests who might walk through your door