Politely Pushy with Eric Chemi Elia Wallen, CEO and founder of Hotel Engine
19 snips
May 13, 2022 Elia Wallen, CEO and founder of Hotel Engine, discusses revolutionizing corporate travel. He shares insights on how his platform simplifies hotel bookings for businesses, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Elia highlights adapting to market trends, like the increased demand for refundable rates, and the challenges of scaling in a competitive landscape. He elaborates on the importance of data in maximizing revenue and emphasizes the value of in-person collaboration in a remote-working world. Elia’s journey is a testament to innovation during adversity.
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Customer Demand Sparked Creation
- Elia Wallen started Hotel Engine because his corporate housing customers kept asking him to book hotels for them.
- He began with a manual booking team before developing technology to scale the service.
Unmanaged Lodging Is Key Market
- Hotel Engine targets companies with unmanaged lodging programs where travel is not centrally controlled.
- Company size doesn't dictate travel spend; even small firms can have significant lodging expenses.
Improve Without Disrupting Workflow
- Hotel Engine advises businesses to keep their booking methods but empower them with data and tools to make better decisions.
- Using technology to streamline reconciliation and prevent fraud improves travel program efficiency.
