In this episode of Hotel Tech Insider, we had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Schwartz, the Chief Technology Officer at Sage Hospitality. Matt shared his extensive background in tech, starting from his economics major in college to his experience in various startup companies and retail giants like Staples and PetSmart. His journey into the hospitality industry began in 2010 when he worked for a ski resort company, eventually leading him to Sage Hospitality in 2015.
As the first CTO in Sage's 40-year history, Matt transformed the IT department from a cost center to a profit center. He emphasized the importance of leveraging technology to enhance business intelligence and analytics, CRM, cybersecurity, associate productivity, and the guest experience. Matt highlighted the significance of communication skills and continuous learning for success in the tech side of the hospitality space.
One of the key areas of focus for Sage is democratizing data with Microsoft Power BI, enhancing cybersecurity with partners like CrowdStrike and Arctic Wolf, and deploying innovative technologies like robots and AI for guest experiences. Matt also discussed the potential of upcoming technologies like appless mobile key systems and Apple's Vision Pro for virtual reality experiences.
Moreover, Matt shared insights into Sage's operations, including managing 65 hotels and 40 restaurants across the US, focusing on growth and acquisitions, and prioritizing guest experiences through innovative tech solutions like kiosks for self-service check-ins and biometric authentication.
Overall, Matt's expertise and forward-thinking approach to technology in the hospitality industry provide valuable insights for hoteliers looking to leverage digital tools and strategies to drive growth and innovation in their properties. Stay tuned for more episodes of Hotel Tech Insider to learn from industry experts and stay updated on the latest trends in hotel technology.