Lennert de Jong

Lennert de Jong, CEO of citizenM, shares insights on the company’s strategic sale to Marriott, highlighting how this move will propel global expansion and enhance brand identity. He discusses leveraging Marriott’s Bonvoy loyalty program while maintaining operational excellence. De Jong likens the partnership to a child's growth, illustrating citizenM's readiness for new challenges. The conversation dives into the significance of retaining control over assets post-sale and emphasizes the importance of innovation in the hospitality industry.

Lennert de Jong, CEO of citizenM, dives into the hotel chain's innovative subscription program, inspired by models from Netflix and Amazon Prime. He reveals how this idea emerged during the pandemic to tackle occupancy challenges, leading to over 50,000 subscribers. Lennert highlights a shift from traditional rewards to genuine customer relationships, discussing the importance of addressing customer pain points. Through the MyCitizenM+ initiative, he showcases how reimagined loyalty can foster deeper engagement and loyalty in the hospitality landscape.

Lennert de Jong, CEO of citizenM, a cutting-edge hotel company, discusses the future of hospitality with innovation correspondent Matthias Hüttebräuker. He shares how integrated technology and AI can simplify hotel check-ins, transforming them into a seamless one-touch experience. Lennert emphasizes automating repetitive tasks to allow staff to focus on personal guest interactions. He also explores the shifting landscape of hotel discovery driven by AI, predicting a significant evolution in how travelers choose accommodations.