OUR EXPERTS
World renowned hospitality industry leaders convene at Hotel Tech Network to share their insights and experiences with the attendees of the event. Bringing new ideas, sharing latest innovation and explore the most successful practices, our experts unveil new opportunities, inspire audience and connect the industry community.


Sascha Dalig
Regional Director
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Sascha Dalig is Regional Director Central Europe with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
He did a classical hotel apprenticeship, is trained trainer, examiner, and Bachelor Professional of Business.
In his career he learned to work in private hotels, as well as global chains. His expertise ranges from Hotel operations to strategic management.
His Vision:
„Technology will be the key for holistic travel experiences and enables hosts to be hosts again. Communication between guests and teams will become less process and more exchange. Options will be created to support the human factor in hospitality.“
Sascha Dalig
Regional Director
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts


Siren Knudsen
Head of Digital Transformation
PURO Hotels
Siren Knudsen is a Norwegian citizen living in Poland for the last 20 years. Having completed her Management studies in Bath, UK, she has worked for several industries in several roles where transformation, digitalisation and wellbeing have been a red thread throughout her career.
Currently she is, among other things, responsible for the Digital Transformation in PURO Hotels.
PURO Hotels is a lifestyle hospitality brand, valuing innovation and creativity with art and design as cornerstones.
Siren is married and has two adult daughters.
Siren Knudsen
Head of Digital Transformation
PURO Hotels


Alber Maes
Vice President IT
H-Hotels GmbH
Having worked for both international and independent hotel chains such as Mandarin Oriental, Starwood, Accor and Leonardo Hotels, as well as hospitality service providers, Albert now brings his hands on approach to the table at H Hotels with a strong operational and results oriented focus. Bringing together the goals of corporations, vendors and customers through digital transformation of processes is key to his technology philosophy.
Alber Maes
Vice President IT
H-Hotels GmbH


Rohit Mishra
Digital Experience Manager
PPHE Hotel Group
As Manager, Digital Experience at PPHE Hotel Group, Rohit Mishra heads the effort towards Guest Experience Transformation and Process Optimization through a blend of technology and culture change. Rohit views himself as a gatekeeper and brings operations, commercial and tech teams together to deliver programs that elevate guest experience, such as online check in, digital key and 24/7 live chat with the reception, among others.
Prior to working with PPHE, Rohit lived a different life as programmer in the tech industry and has an MBA with a specialty in marketing. At PPHE, he has led large scale web and digital (marketing) projects and collaborated with other leading brands in the industry to create digital synergy. He centralized guest experience data analysis to create a brand led guest experience strategy. In his current role, he combines his previous experience to bring technology and people together to elevate guest satisfaction.
Rohit Mishra
Digital Experience Manager
PPHE Hotel Group


Riko Van Santen
CIO & Member Of The Management Board
Kempinski Hotels S.A.
Riko is based at Kempinski’s headquarters in Geneva overseeing the Technology, Digital and Distribution Strategy of the group.
Riko joined Kempinski in 2012 as Vice President Digital Strategy and Distribution, and successfully implemented a brand wide CRM platform, launched the brand’s first responsive website and brand app, migrated the group’s distribution systems, and conceptualized a web based business intelligence tool and guest intelligence solution.
Prior to joining Kempinski, Riko oversaw 1,100 properties under 7 brands ranging from budget to high end luxury, as Vice President Distribution and E-Commerce at Louvre Hotels Group, based in Paris, France.
Riko began his career gaining experience in the front office and revenue disciplines at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam, followed by revenue management, distribution, IT and digital marketing positions with Pegasus Solutions, NH Hotels, and Golden Tulip Hotels.
Riko graduated with an Honours degree in Hotel Management from Middlesex University, London, and obtained a post graduate degree in Japanese Business Studies, and served as Vice President and Executive Advisor to HTNG (Hotel Technology Next Generation).
Riko Van Santen
CIO & Member Of The Management Board
Kempinski Hotels S.A.


Raimund Notz
Director, Hotel Revenue Optimization – Central & Eastern Europe
Preferred Hotels & Resorts
I have been working in the hospitality industry for over 20 years with a strong on property operational but also a solid multi property / regional expertise.
On property, I was serving in different functions starting from Reservations Agent, over Conventions Sales Agent to Director of Revenue Management. During my career, I was able to gain experience with different hard-brands including Hilton, Accor and Starwood.
Six years ago, I moved into the regional role as Director Hotel Revenue Optimization with Preferred Hotels & Resorts supporting around 45 member hotels in Central & Eastern Europe in the area of distribution optimization. I am CRME certified by HSMAI and proud member of HSMAI DACH Advisory Board since May 2022.
I am very keen to coach and consult the hotels in the areas of revenue management as an extended team member. It’s also key to provide our hoteliers with global market intelligence data to increase business from both feeder and emerging markets in order to maximize the hotels but also our company´s income and profit.
Raimund Notz
Director, Hotel Revenue Optimization – Central & Eastern Europe
Preferred Hotels & Resorts


Jill Simpson
Head of Digital Procurement
IHG
Jill Simpson is Head of Digital Procurement at IHG. She is responsible for digitizing the procurement function and building the procurement – hotel owner engagement strategy. Managing a global team who are based in North America, China, India and the UK, she is based at the headquarters near London. Jill has 20 years’ experience in Procurement and Operations working for global organizations leading significant transformations that have secured financial savings, embedded standard ways of working, enhanced capability and achieved performance targets. Jill has worked with numerous suppliers along with developing in-house solutions and is excited about bringing the digital benefits to life at IHG. New to the hospitality industry, a seasoned professional in Procurement Excellence and leading transformation programmes within oil and gas, mining, utilities, engineering, construction and manufacturing industries. Operations She started with IHG in May 2021.
Jill Simpson
Head of Digital Procurement
IHG


Victoria Fischer
Head of Revenue
Penta Hotels
Victoria Fischer joined Penta Hotels end of 2021 and in her new role as head of revenue she leads a team of revenue management and distribution experts responsible for 21 hotels across Europe. Within the new commercial structure at Penta, her focus is to develop a holistic data-driven automated total revenue strategy.
A true specialist in revenue management she holds a BA in hospitality management from Hamburg international academy and Victoria started her career at the Kempinski Bristol Berlin before moving on to revenue management roles for the Swissôtel in Berlin and Bremen. Her most recent role was with H-Hotels where she was responsible for the total revenue performance of 23 hotels in southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary.
Victoria Fischer
Head of Revenue
Penta Hotels


Simon Schwitallik
Head of Channel Analytics
Design Hotels GmbH
With 20 years of industry experience Simons knowledge expands across multiple commercial disciplines, which he gained at an interesting mix of forward-looking organization.
He stated he career at Ritz-Carlton and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and he had roles in Quality and Revenue Management.
At TravelClick he then specialized in e-commerce and headed up the expansion of the Demand360 Business Intelligence Application into international hotel chains.
Afterwards he was part of a large revenue management transition at NH hotels and is now helping hotels build streamlined technology landscapes and effective business tactics for Design Hotels
Simon Schwitallik
Head of Channel Analytics
Design Hotels GmbH


Stefan Urdl
Corporate Director IT
Vienna House
- Corporate Director IT from Vienna House
- Joined Vienna House and the hospitality industry in 2016
- Responsible for all IT Applications + IT Infrastructure projects
Stefan Urdl
Corporate Director IT
Vienna House


Siim Karu
Chief Commercial Officer
Generator and Freehand Hotels
Siim Karu
Chief Commercial Officer
Generator and Freehand Hotels


Evert Schuele
Chief Commercial Officer
HR Group
Evert Schuele as Chief Commercial Officer is responsible for the overall commercial strategy within HRG Hotels’ portfolio. His responsibilities span more than 100 hotels within the owner operated brands of the HR Group. This ranges from hotels in the budget to premium segment in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands & Poland together with franchise partners such as Accor, Dorint, Vienna House, Deutsche Hospitality, IHG, Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt to a selected number of white label hotels.
Evert Schuele has been responsible for numerous brand-specific strategies in his career and has worked for companies such as Kempinski, Starwood and Hyatt in London, Munich, Dubai, Vienna and Zurich. Evert Schuele has been in his current position at HRG Hotels in Germany since August 2021.