#317: Navigating the Shifts Disrupting the Hotel Industry | with Kathleen Cullen — The Modern Hotelier

The hotel industry is undergoing a major transformation—and hotels that continue operating the way they always have may struggle to keep up.

In this episode, David Millili sits down with Kathleen Cullen, Executive Vice President of PTG Consulting, to unpack the major shifts disrupting hospitality today. From the rise of AI and changing distribution models to B2B discount stacking, revenue management, technology, and evolving sales strategies, Kathleen shares what hotel leaders need to understand to stay competitive.

Kathleen explains why hotels must rethink how they approach revenue, sales, marketing, PR, distribution, and technology—and why profitability, not simply top-line revenue, should be the ultimate goal. She also discusses how AI is changing the way travelers discover hotels, why fast and accurate responses to RFPs are becoming critical, and how independent hotels can use their flexibility as a competitive advantage.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How B2B distribution and discount stacking are disrupting hotel rates
Why AI is becoming a new audience hotel must be discoverable through
Should Hotel Leaders Prioritize Profitability Over Revenue
The hotels can rethink sales and RFP response strategies
Why creating a unique hotel story and customer experience matters

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uBEODwtL2xY

Links:
Kathleen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-cullen-ptgconsulting/
PTG Consulting: https://www.ptgconsulting.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/317

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Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.