
Hospitality Daily Podcast Why Most Hospitality Tech Isn't Delivering, and What I've Found Actually Works - Matthew Bell, Mollie's
Nov 28, 2025
In this discussion, Matthew Bell, Managing Director at Mollie's and former Chief Hotel Operations Officer at citizenM, shares insights on hospitality technology. He highlights why many digital initiatives fall short due to misaligned goals and overly complex projects. Matthew advocates for a guest-centered, incremental approach to tech, emphasizing the importance of personal devices and identity verification in enhancing the guest experience. He offers a framework for hospitality leaders to effectively evaluate their tech strategies and focus on what truly delivers results.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Progress Over Smugness
- Matt says it's fine not to be smug about digital transformation but notes many arrive late to useful ideas.
- He stresses surrounding yourself with inspiring people instead of naysayers to move innovations forward.
The Device Is The Identity Key
- Identity tied to a guest's personal device unlocks personalization through biometrics and single sign-on.
- Matt argues the device is the gateway to trust, security, and tailored guest experiences.
Measure Value And Iterate Small
- Define how a technology materially adds value and set measurable metrics to prove the business case.
- Deploy changes small and incremental, and prefer flexible stacks to enable agile experimentation.
