AI Won't Kill Hotels, It'll Upgrade Them with Dr. Fredrik Sjoberg
Thu Dec 25 2025
AI isn’t coming to replace hospitality, it’s coming to restore it.
In this final episode of Hospitable, host Rob Napoli sits down with Dr. Fredrik Sjoberg to explore how unified data, better hotel education, and AI-driven tools will shape the next decade of hotel innovation. As founder of Maison and a professor at NYU, Fredrik brings a rare combination of academic insight and hands-on startup execution.
From shifting guest expectations to the real problem behind “bad tech stacks,” this conversation uncovers why the future belongs to hotels that connect their systems, elevate their teams, and adopt AI as a co‑pilot, not a replacement.
🧩 Topics Covered- Why AI will transform hotel service without removing the human touch- How data unification unlocks real personalisation & operator advantage- Why hospitality schools must teach business, tech & integrations- How AI can relieve staffing shortages and operational overload- Where hotels should begin their digital transformation journey- Why young talent and student collaboration will drive the next wave of innovation
Whether you’re a hotel operator, tech leader, educator, or future hospitality founder, this episode breaks down the mindset and ecosystem needed to thrive in the next era of guest experience.
📢 Like, subscribe, and comment: What’s one task you’d let AI handle tomorrow?
🔗 Learn more about Maison: https://www.maison.cx🔗 Learn more about Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.com
⏱️ Timestamps02:45 How Gen‑Z Views Hospitality Careers05:30 Confusion Around Hospitality Jobs08:40 Guest-Facing Roles vs. Corporate Paths10:55 The Future of In‑Keeping & Personality-Driven Hotels13:50 Travel Culture, Work Flexibility & Misconceptions16:50 How Travelers Choose Hotels Today20:12 Community-Driven Hotels & “Hidden Neighborhoods”23:30 Data: The Operator’s Missing Advantage26:05 Connectivity Problems & Bad Integrations29:35 Tech Stack for Next-Gen Hotels33:20 Unique Concepts & Rapid Hotel Iteration36:15 Why AI Matters for Operators39:45 Conversational AI & Personalisation47:00 The Future: Human Service + Digital Co‑pilots
ConnectDr. Fredrik Sjøberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrik-sjoberg-6851174Maison: https://www.maison.cxRob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnapRob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.comOmniboost: https://www.omniboost.io
Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com
#HospitalityTech #AIinHotels #HotelTechnology #HotelInnovation #DataUnification #FutureOfHospitality #HospitalityEducation #HotelOperations #GuestExperience #ConnectedEcosystem #MaisonTech #Omniboost
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AI isn’t coming to replace hospitality, it’s coming to restore it. In this final episode of Hospitable, host Rob Napoli sits down with Dr. Fredrik Sjoberg to explore how unified data, better hotel education, and AI-driven tools will shape the next decade of hotel innovation. As founder of Maison and a professor at NYU, Fredrik brings a rare combination of academic insight and hands-on startup execution. From shifting guest expectations to the real problem behind “bad tech stacks,” this conversation uncovers why the future belongs to hotels that connect their systems, elevate their teams, and adopt AI as a co‑pilot, not a replacement. 🧩 Topics Covered- Why AI will transform hotel service without removing the human touch- How data unification unlocks real personalisation & operator advantage- Why hospitality schools must teach business, tech & integrations- How AI can relieve staffing shortages and operational overload- Where hotels should begin their digital transformation journey- Why young talent and student collaboration will drive the next wave of innovation Whether you’re a hotel operator, tech leader, educator, or future hospitality founder, this episode breaks down the mindset and ecosystem needed to thrive in the next era of guest experience. 📢 Like, subscribe, and comment: What’s one task you’d let AI handle tomorrow? 🔗 Learn more about Maison: https://www.maison.cx🔗 Learn more about Omniboost: https://www.omniboost.com ⏱️ Timestamps02:45 How Gen‑Z Views Hospitality Careers05:30 Confusion Around Hospitality Jobs08:40 Guest-Facing Roles vs. Corporate Paths10:55 The Future of In‑Keeping & Personality-Driven Hotels13:50 Travel Culture, Work Flexibility & Misconceptions16:50 How Travelers Choose Hotels Today20:12 Community-Driven Hotels & “Hidden Neighborhoods”23:30 Data: The Operator’s Missing Advantage26:05 Connectivity Problems & Bad Integrations29:35 Tech Stack for Next-Gen Hotels33:20 Unique Concepts & Rapid Hotel Iteration36:15 Why AI Matters for Operators39:45 Conversational AI & Personalisation47:00 The Future: Human Service + Digital Co‑pilots ConnectDr. Fredrik Sjøberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredrik-sjoberg-6851174Maison: https://www.maison.cxRob Napoli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robnapRob Napoli: https://www.robnapoli.comOmniboost: https://www.omniboost.io Show Produced by: Niranjan Deshpande (Nick), Broken Frames Studio, www.brokenframesstudio.com #HospitalityTech #AIinHotels #HotelTechnology #HotelInnovation #DataUnification #FutureOfHospitality #HospitalityEducation #HotelOperations #GuestExperience #ConnectedEcosystem #MaisonTech #Omniboost