As 2017 draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead to what awaits us and we ask our panel of industry leaders to share their thoughts and personal wishes for the year to come.
Dr Jennifer Cronin, President, Wharf Hotels, Hong Kong
- One word to describe 2017: Collaboration
- One word to describe 2018: Positive
One key lesson I learnt in 2017: Importance of China’s One Belt One Road initiative
I am most concerned about … talent recruitment and retention
I am most excited about … contribution of our millennials as future hoteliers
The tech I want to invest in/or find out more about: RPA (robotic process automation) so our people can focus on meaningful activities
One destination I want to visit for leisure – Iguassu Falls
I predict … 2018 will be a year of positive change and growth, especially in APAC, bring it on!
Louise Daley, Deputy CEO, AccorHotels Asia Pacific
- One word to describe 2017: Tumultuous
- One word to describe 2018: Hopeful
One key lesson I learnt in 2017: The ever greater value of trusted connections (in business)
I am most concerned about … Speed – things are moving so quickly
I am most excited about … Marriage equality in Australia
The tech I want to invest in/or find out more about: Anything AI
One destination I want to visit for leisure: My home!
I predict … There will be more scandals.
Bobby Healy, CTO, CarTrawler
- One word to describe 2017: Trump
- One word to describe 2018: Impeachment
One key lesson I learnt in 2017: Mortality Sucks
I am most concerned about … Google
I am most excited about … Computer Vision
The tech I want to invest in/or find out more about: Computer Vision powered businesses across industries. (eg. Autonomous driving)
One destination I want to visit for leisure: Anywhere on the West coast of Ireland
I predict … Disappointment but volume success in IOT and Voice across travel and Alexa/Home applications.
Douglas Quinby, Senior Vice President Research, Phocuswright
- One word to describe 2017: Over (almost)
- One word to describe 2018 : Slower
One key lesson I learnt in 2017: Having lots of customers is much better than two customers
I am most concerned about … Not the price of Bitcoin
I am most excited about … Am I allowed to say not blockchain or voice?
The tech I want to invest in/or find out more about: AI really, once the hype cycle settles
One destination I want to visit for leisure: Anywhere my kids want to go
I predict … Google gets bigger, growth gets slower, travel gets better
Read the full article here.
