Rethinking Hospitality: Bold Moves for 2025 and Beyond - Matthias Huettebraeuker

In this episode, Matthias Huettebraeuker, an independent hospitality strategist with experience at citizenM and Design Hotels, shares how we can break free from outdated thinking, embrace innovation, and create hotels and hospitality businesses that people love.

• (01:27) The shift in the hospitality industry 20 years ago
• (02:09) Importance of community 
• (03:13) The need to rethink and innovate
• (03:42) Knowing your "why" 
• (05:08) Developing a niche and "personality"
• (06:06) Bold hospitality
• (08:46) Importance of storytelling in hospitality
• (09:38) Claus Sendlinger's new development
• (10:00) Cultural relevance and resonance
• (11:04) Physical and social aspects of hotel experiences
• (12:08) Asking the right questions
• (12:39) User stories and use cases
• (13:00) Serving local communities
• (13:43) Expanding beyond traditional hotel services
• (14:52) Iterative development in hospitality
• (15:09) Pop-up hotel example in Munich
• (17:08) Structuring real estate for flexibility
• (18:09) "Stage for life" concept
• (18:51) Learning from citizemM
• (20:32) Power of asking the right questions
• (21:03) Cross-fertilization concept
• (21:55) Learning from the automotive industry
• (23:12) Rethinking hospitality and real estate
• (25:08) Growth potential for big hotel groups
• (26:11) Being an "everyday brand"
• (27:55) Recognition vs. reward in hospitality
• (28:05) Conclusion and where to learn more about Matthias

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Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands