The dojo.live show / Interviews with Visionaries Shaping Travel Tech

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Sep 2025

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Join us on Dojo.live as we explore how organizations can adapt for the future with the latest solutions and inspirational stories directly from industry experts. Our video podcast features C-level leadership sharing insights and lessons learned from the forefront of the Travel and Hospitality Technology sector. Don't miss your gateway to driving the Travel & Hospitality industry forward with Dojo.live! Check out our sponsor's Travel & Hospitality page for more information: Encora Travel & Hospitality. https://www.encora.com/industries/travel-hospitality-logistics

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September 16, 202539 min

The Connected Journey: Paco Pérez-Lozao on What’s Next in Travel & Hospitality

What does the future of hospitality look like in an era of AI, personalization, loyalty and sustainability? And how can providers keep pace with rising guest expectations?In this special episode of dojo.live, we sat down with Paco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, President of Hospitality at Amadeus IT Group, during the company’s media event in New York City. The conversation unpacks insights from Amadeus’ latest global research report, Connected Journeys: How will technology transform travel in the next decade? and explores what it all means for the future of hospitality.From the role of generative AI in shaping inspiration, search, and booking to the evolving power of hotel loyalty programs, Paco shares a forward-looking perspective on how technology is reshaping the guest journey. We discuss why disruption management is emerging as a true competitive differentiator, where automation must be balanced with the human touch, and how hoteliers can leverage modern retailing and personalization while safeguarding traveler privacy.The conversation also touches on sustainability, industry-wide tech gaps, and the pace of adoption—highlighting the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as hospitality providers move from “crawl” to “run” mode. Packed with data and insights from Amadeus’ research, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of how travel is evolving and what hospitality leaders need to know to stay ahead.About Paco Pérez-LozaoPaco Pérez-Lozao leads Amadeus’ global Hospitality business since 2018, including its Destinations line, overseeing tech solutions that help hotels and destination organizations grow, optimize operations, and elevate the traveler experience. Since spearheading the creation of the Hospitality business unit in Amadeus, he has played a key role in positioning Amadeus as a trusted technology partner across the hospitality and travel ecosystem.A seasoned executive with over 30 years in travel technology, Paco has held senior roles in Commercial, Corporate Strategy, M&As, and Business Development at Amadeus, contributing to the company’s diversification and expansion into new markets. He previously led the Strategic Growth Business Unit to support growth in key areas of the travel sector, such as Airport IT, Travel Intelligence, and Digital Payments. Some of these Amadeus businesses have evolved to become top players in their respective sectors.Paco began his career in consulting at Accenture and holds an MBA from INSEAD, along with two engineering degrees from the Technical University of Aachen, in Germany. He brings a global perspective and a deep understanding of the intersection between technology, travel, and investment.

July 30, 202535 min

Designing the Future of Travel: Solving Content Chaos with Intentional Innovation

From fragmented systems to seamless journeys, how SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace is reshaping the travel buying experience by design.In this episode of dojo.live, we’re joined by Kathy Morgan, SVP of Product Management at Sabre, to explore how one of the most established names in travel is tackling one of its most pressing modern challenges: content fragmentation. With more than 91% of agencies managing four or more booking systems, Kathy shares how SabreMosaic™ Travel Marketplace is intentionally engineered to bring “the whole world of travel into one place”—offering unified access to multi-source content, AI-driven personalization, and a flexible, modular architecture that redefines what a modern travel platform can be.From NDC readiness and low-cost carrier integration to what it really means to “access everything with confidence,” Kathy pulls back the curtain on Sabre’s product strategy and the design decisions that position SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace for long-term scalability. This conversation also dives into evolving traveler expectations, the shifting role of user experience in corporate travel, and the rising demand for intelligent automation that still leaves room for trust. Plus: a look at how voice, AI, and modular partner ecosystems could shape the future of discovery and booking.About Kathy MorganWith more than three decades at Sabre, Kathy Morgan is one of the most experienced product leaders in the travel technology sector. She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Product Management, where she is responsible for several of Sabre’s key strategic initiatives—including its approach to modern airline retailing and NDC.Kathy has held a range of leadership roles across Sabre’s agency and supplier-facing businesses, giving her deep insight into the changing dynamics of travel distribution. Her work has been instrumental in driving the evolution of Sabre’s product suite from traditional systems to open, modular, and AI powered intelligent platforms that align with the demands of today’s retailing environment.In her current remit, Kathy focuses on building end-to-end solutions that connect supply and demand through a seamless ecosystem—from content ingestion and offer management to booking, fulfilment and servicing. She is a driving force behind Sabre’s transition to a marketplace model, helping the company and its partners move beyond traditional GDS boundaries.Throughout her career, Kathy has been recognised for her ability to bridge commercial priorities and technical delivery, ensuring Sabre’s roadmap supports both airline retail innovation and agency usability at scale. Her leadership continues to shape how travel is retailed, distributed, and delivered in a digital-first world.Additional ResourcesUncover the impact of content fragmentation and how content unification is shaping the future of travel in Sabre’s latest research report.

July 22, 202510 min

Beyond the Booth: GBTA 2025 with HRS's Tobias Bittner

How can corporate travel programs scale smarter while staying sustainable, automated, and traveler-focused?In this episode of dojo.live, we catch up with Tobias Bittner, Vice President of Marketing at HRS, for a conversation that spans automation, sustainability, and the evolving expectations of enterprise travel programs. Live from GBTA 2025, Tobias gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how HRS is helping large organizations manage the full lifecycle of lodging and meetings, from procurement to payment, through a single, scalable platform.We explore how GenAI and automation are moving from buzzwords to tangible business tools, not only helping travel teams do more with less, but also creating better experiences for the end user. Tobias also unpacks HRS’s bold sustainability commitment as a signatory of The Climate Pledge and shares candid insights from conversations with travel buyers across the expo floor.Tobias Bittner is the Vice President of Marketing at HRS. He oversees marketing operations and strategy for the company’s AI-powered lodging and meetings management platform, targeting the corporate hospitality ecosystem by managing content, communications, events and partnerships. Bittner joined HRS in 2017, ascending to his current role after serving in several branding and marketing engagement positions supporting the HRS Group. Prior to his current role, he was instrumental to introducing HRS’ business traveler loyalty program. Bittner also guided HRS’ marketing engagement transition during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted by the staging of multiple Corporate Lodging Forums online in early 2021. Before joining HRS, Bittner held senior marketing roles Esprit and L’Oréal. With a degree from the European Business School in Oestrich-WInkel, Germany, Bittner is based at HRS’ North American headquarters in New York City.

July 22, 202512 min

Beyond the Booth: GBTA 2025 with Conferma’s Stuart Davenport and BCD Travel’s Neil Fyfe

Are hotel payments still stuck in the past and what would it take to modernize them for good?In this episode of dojo.live, we welcome Stuart Davenport, Chief Product Officer at Conferma, and Neil Fyfe of BCD Travel for a candid conversation about the modernization of hotel payments in corporate travel.Despite the surge in digital innovation, hotel payments remain one of the most outdated parts of the travel experience, often still relying on manual processes like faxed credit card authorizations. Stuart and Neil explore why this friction persists, what it means for travelers and TMCs alike, and how virtual cards can offer a path forward—but only if the user experience and data flows are aligned across the ecosystem.The discussion also highlights the broader impacts of payment inefficiencies, from traveler dissatisfaction to policy compliance challenges, and what meaningful improvements could look like if the industry commits to deeper collaboration.Stuart Davenport is Chief Product Officer at Conferma, where he is responsible for defining the direction of product innovation and platform goals. Prior to this, Stuart held the role of Chief Innovation Officer, where he contributed to the development of new payment flows and supported business development teams. Stuart also has experience as the Director of Mobile Development, leading a team to extend the reach of virtual card technology. He has a strong background in solutions architecture, having designed core virtual card platforms and implemented prepaid solutions for an airline. Additionally, he has held leadership positions and played a key role in various software development projects. Before joining Conferma, Stuart worked as a Web Developer and IT Support Analyst at Expotel, where he maintained internal systems and provided technical support.Neil Fyfe serves as Head of Payment Solutions at BCD Travel, a position he took on after joining the company in January 2024. He is focused on simplifying virtual payments for global travel programs and driving innovation across digital payment technologies. Under his leadership, BCD Pay is helping clients gain greater visibility and control over travel spend, reduce fraud risk, and enhance traveler satisfaction. With a strong career background in travel technology and payments, including leadership roles in product and account technology, Neil brings a strategic vision that positions him at the forefront of transforming how payments are managed in corporate travel.

July 22, 20258 min

Beyond the Booth: GBTA 2025 with CEO Suzanne Neufang

How do we lead through disruption while designing a better future for business travel?In this episode of dojo.live, we welcome Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), for a candid conversation on the evolving role of leadership in today’s travel landscape. Suzanne shares timely insights from the newly released 2025 Business Travel Index Outlook, revealing the economic and behavioral shifts that travel professionals need to watch most closely. From AI’s growing impact on personalization and predictive analytics, to the balance between innovation and advocacy in a global association, this conversation explores how GBTA is helping the industry stay both future-ready and people-centered. Whether you’re navigating tech transformation or redefining program strategy, Suzanne offers a grounded, forward-looking perspective on the road ahead for corporate travel.About Suzanne NeufangSuzanne Neufang is CEO of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). She oversees the association’s mission to deliver community, learning and advocacy for industry members and partners worldwide. She is a transformation-focused executive who has successfully led teams and innovation through times of change —”connecting dots” across people, geographies, functions, and results. She’s held leadership positions within the travel industry for more than 20 years, including at HRS, Sabre and Travelocity, as well as for tech and telecom industry giants Intuit, Verizon and GTE. Neufang and her husband live in New York City and have two sons and a granddaughter. An avid traveler, she has visited over 45 countries in her professional and personal travels and flown over 3 million miles.

July 22, 202515 min

Beyond the Booth: GBTA 2025 with Fox World Travel’s Sam Hilgendorf

What if AI, automation, and thoughtful design could smooth out managed travel while still keeping it human?In this episode of dojo.live, we sit down with Sam Hilgendorf, Chief Information Officer at Fox World Travel, as part of our exclusive GBTA 2025 series. From automation to AI assistants, Sam unpacks how Fox is tackling some of managed travel’s stickiest pain points, like unused ticket redemption and group air coordination, with tools built for both scale and empathy.We dive into the vision behind Colby, Fox’s proprietary AI travel assistant, and explore how it’s helping to streamline traveler experiences in real time while giving travel managers more visibility and control. Sam also shares key insights from the “From Friction to Flow” panel, reflecting on how AI and NDC can work together to bring clarity and speed to traditionally clunky workflows.This conversation offers a grounded perspective on where tech innovation meets real traveler needs and how organizations like Fox are designing with both in mind.About Sam HilgendorfSam Hilgendorf has served as Chief Information Officer at Fox World Travel since 2018, where he leads the company’s technology strategy across IT, business intelligence, product development, and project management. Under his leadership, Fox has introduced innovative tools such as a cloud-based collaboration suite, a modern customer contact center, and an enterprise data management platform, all aimed at enhancing performance and customer experience.Sam’s efforts have earned Fox multiple Magellan Awards from Travel Weekly and recognition as a Distinguished Partner for SAP Concur, thanks to their custom integration work with the Concur Travel platform. He is also an active contributor to industry conversations around emerging tech, including AI, blockchain, and automation, and was recently named Wisconsin’s CIO of the Year.A firm believer in the power of technology to unlock human potential, Sam is passionate about building high-performing teams and delivering meaningful innovation. Outside of work, he enjoys life with his wife and daughter, and proudly embraces all things nerdy—from tabletop gaming to comic books to Renaissance fairs.

July 22, 202515 min

Beyond the Booth: GBTA 2025 with TripAI’s Samar Khan

How can AI close the gap between sustainability goals and real-world travel operations?In this episode of dojo.live, we welcome Samar Khan, Founder of TripAI Technologies, a company using AI to drive smarter, more sustainable solutions across aviation, travel, and hospitality. The conversation explores how TripAI is tackling one of the industry’s biggest challenges: translating sustainability commitments into scalable, automated action. Samar shares insights into the overlooked components of the tech stack that are making real change possible, and explains why deeper ecosystem collaboration is still missing from the sustainability equation. With a human-centered approach to AI, Samar emphasizes the need to keep travelers and stakeholders in mind when designing next-gen travel tech. He also reflects on standout innovations from GBTA 2025’s AI & Innovation Pavilion.About Samar KhanSamar Khan is the Founder of TripAI Technologies, a product and technology services company focused on applying AI in the aviation, travel, and hospitality sectors. With over 20 years of experience developing, delivering, and maintaining mission-critical software across multiple industries, he is recognized as a thought leader in sustainability, cloud computing, and AI technologies. Samar holds a BS (Honors) from the University of Texas at Arlington and an MBA from the SMU Cox School of Business.

July 21, 202518 min

Beyond the Booth: GBTA 2025 with Cerebri AI’s Jean Belanger and Steve Harter

What happens when corporate travel stops optimizing for cost alone and starts optimizing for everything that matters?In this episode of dojo.live, we sit down with Jean Belanger, Co-Founder & CEO, and Steve Harter, Chief Technology Officer at Cerebri AI, to explore how AI is redefining the way enterprise travel is measured, managed, and optimized.The conversation delves into how unifying fragmented data across departments, vendors, and ecosystems is becoming essential to delivering not only savings, but also progress on CO₂ emissions, traveler satisfaction, and even DEI goals. Jean and Steve unpack the mounting complexity facing travel managers today, and explain how Cerebri AI’s modeling approach is helping to translate that complexity into usable insights.They also spotlight an often-overlooked pain point, guest travel, as one of the biggest unmanaged costs in enterprise programs. With GenAI-powered workflows, this category could finally be brought under control.From the growing role of GenAI to the risks of ignoring hidden costs and blind spots, this discussion offers a sharp look at where corporate travel is headed and what it will take to move from static benchmarks to dynamic intelligence.About Jean BelangerJean Belanger is the co-founder and CEO of Cerebri AI Inc., his second data science startup after a career spanning investment banking, venture capital, and tech innovation. He holds 30+ patents (23 granted) and has led companies from startup to acquisition, including Metrowerks (sold to Motorola) and Reddwerks.Jean has been recognized with MacWorld’s World Class Award, named Austin’s fastest-growing company in 2010, and was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Today, he drives AI innovation for global enterprises at Cerebri AI.About Steve HarterSteve Harter is a highly accomplished technology professional with a successful 25-year career creating vision, identifying opportunities, building organizations, and delivering strong technology solutions within intensely competitive markets. He has spent his career on converting data into information through continuous contributions to industry best practices. He has held senior technology positions with UnitedHealthCare, TRX, IBM, Griffin, Anthem, Titus Human Performance and is the current Chief Technology Officer at Cerebri AI. He is a former member of the Cambridge Who’s Who list of data professionals and a TDWI top 100 member. Steve has published multiple white papers and spoken at technical conferences across the US.

July 10, 202532 min

La Nueva Era de la Hospitalidad: Tendencias, Marketplaces e Integraciones en un Ecosistema Conectado

¿De qué manera un ecosistema abierto demuestra que la hospitalidad del futuro se construye en comunidad y no solo con un proveedor?En este episodio de dojo.live, conversamos con Fabricio Titiro, Director de Partnerships a nivel mundial en Oracle Hospitality, sobre cómo la hospitalidad del futuro se está construyendo desde un enfoque colaborativo y conectado. Fabricio analiza las tendencias tecnológicas emergentes para América Latina—desde la migración a la nube hasta el uso estratégico de la inteligencia artificial—y cómo estas están redefiniendo la eficiencia operativa, la personalización y la rentabilidad hotelera.También exploramos el rol de los marketplaces de aplicaciones y las integraciones abiertas (como OHIP) como aceleradores de innovación accesible, además de casos reales en los que la colaboración entre hoteles, proveedores y socios tecnológicos ha dado lugar a mejoras concretas en métricas como el ADR, la retención y el upselling. Este episodio es una hoja de ruta clara y práctica para quienes buscan avanzar hacia un modelo hotelero más ágil, abierto y alineado con los hábitos del viajero actual.Acerca de Fabricio TitiroFabricio Titiro es un reconocido experto en la industria de la tecnología aplicada a la hospitalidad, con 30 años de experiencia dedicados a la innovación tecnológica y la transformación digital del sector. Actualmente se desempeña como Director de Partnerships a nivel mundial en Oracle Hospitality, donde lidera un equipo de expertos e impulsa iniciativas estratégicas para ayudar a hoteles y proveedores de tecnología a adoptar ecosistemas conectados, marketplaces y plataformas de integración. A lo largo de su carrera, y con una sólida experiencia global, Fabricio ha asesorado a numerosas empresas en la mejora de la experiencia del huésped y la optimización de resultados a través de la tecnología. Su visión combina un profundo conocimiento de las tendencias internacionales con un enfoque práctico y orientado a la excelencia operativa. Originario de Argentina, reside actualmente en Madrid, España, y ha residido también en Irlanda y el Reino Unido.

July 9, 202533 min

Technology Breakthroughs and Predictions from HITEC 2025

What stood out on the HITEC 2025 show floor? What trends will shape hospitality’s next wave of innovation? And what does it mean for your hotel? In this episode of dojo.live, we’re joined by Katie Moro, Vice President of Data Partnerships at Amadeus Hospitality, for a post-HITEC 2025 debrief that goes beyond the booth to explore what’s truly shaping the future of hotel tech. From AI-driven commercial alignment to traveler personalization trends, Katie unpacks the technologies and insights that stood out across the show floor and what they actually mean for hotel operators right now.Joined by Shridhar Padmanabhan, Encora’s VP of Travel and Hospitality, this conversation also dives into how hospitality leaders can move from innovation fatigue to smart, scalable adoption. Whether it’s making sense of rising guest expectations, turning market-level data into action, or filtering the noise around AI, Katie and Shridhar bring a grounded yet forward-looking lens to what hotels should prioritize next.About Katie MoroKatie Moro is a veteran of the hospitality industry and a pioneer in hospitality demand data. She joined TravelClick (now an Amadeus company) in 2011 and is responsible for the global expansion of Demand360©, the hospitality industry’s only and most comprehensive forward-looking data tool designed to help hotels maximize their revenue.Previously, Katie led a major accounts sales team at Rubicon, a provider of competitive market intelligence to the travel and hospitality industry and held sales roles at Morgans Hotel Group and Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.Katie was named by Hotel Management Magazine as one of 2018’s Influential Women in Hospitality. In 2020, Katie joined the board of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI). Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Georgia.About Shridhar PadmanabhanShridhar Padmanabhan is VP of Travel & Hospitality @ Encora Inc. He is known for his empathetic leadership style and ability to build strong, trust-based partnerships with clients and stakeholders. With a deep background in sales and business development across the Travel & Hospitality sector, he brings a strategic mindset to solving complex challenges at scale. His focus on collaboration and innovation helps organizations drive meaningful transformation and measurable results.