In this episode, we sit down with Michael Cole, the Director of Sales and Marketing at the iconic Warwick Melrose Dallas, to explore how this historic hotel has gracefully evolved over the past century. From its roots as 1920s apartments to a luxurious modern-day destination, Michael shares the rich story behind the walls—and what makes this hotel truly one of a kind.

What you'll hear about in this episode:

• How Michael accidentally fell into hospitality—and stayed for 32 years
• Why the Presidential Suite still feels like stepping back in time
• The recent additions: a brand-new spa, outdoor pool, and 5,500 sq ft ballroom
• How the hotel flawlessly blends old-world charm with modern luxury

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zHJX_H3-_JU

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-cole-96a08b20/

Warwick Melrose - Dallas: https://www.warwickhotels.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/186

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

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

In this episode, we sit down with Executive Chef Patrick McElroy of Landmark Prime Rib inside the iconic Warwick Melrose Hotel in Dallas. Chef Patrick shares his journey from a small island in South Jersey—where fresh seafood was caught just minutes from home—to his rise through French and Italian kitchens across the Northeast, and eventually his return to the place he now calls home: The Melrose.

We talk about the unique character of the Warwick Melrose, the revival of prime rib as an everyday luxury, and how nostalgia and neighbourhood ties have shaped this historic hotel into a modern-day favorite.

If you love stories of culinary heritage, community connection, and bringing classic hospitality back to life—this episode is for you.

In this episode, we explore:

• How his father (a corporate exec with serious grill skills) influenced his cooking
• What makes the Landmark Prime Rib and Library Bar so unique in the Dallas scene
• The deep neighborhood ties and generational loyalty to The Melrose
• Why prime rib deserves to be more than just a holiday meal
• What brought Patrick back after 2020—and why it still feels like home

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

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mcelroy-74763052/

Warwick Melrose - Dallas: https://www.warwickhotels.com/warwick-melrose-dallas

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/185

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

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

In this episode, we sit down with Mahwish Saleem, Head of Sales at FCS Solutions, to explore how hotels can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and improve guest satisfaction—all by simplifying their tech stack.

Mahwish shares her first impressions of HITEC, what excites her about the future of hotel tech, and how FCS is helping hoteliers stay ahead in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Mahwish’s first HITEC experience and why it's more than just a trade show
• How FCS Solutions helps hotels improve operations and guest service
• Why reducing the hotel tech stack is becoming a top priority
• How automation and AI are driving productivity in housekeeping and maintenance

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

This episode is sponsored by FCS Solutions: https://www.fcshub.com/en

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Mahwish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahwish-saleem-17ab1283/?originalSubdomain=ca
FCS Solutions: https://www.fcshub.com/en

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/184

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

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

Today, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Tony Ross, Director of Sales at Craftable, to talk about how technology is helping operators tackle today’s biggest hospitality challenges — especially rising costs and profit pressure.

Tony brings decades of industry experience and shares how Craftable is streamlining operations, cutting down bloated tech stacks, and helping hotels make smarter, faster decisions with AI and automation.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why “profit pressure” is one of the biggest challenges in hospitality right now
• How Craftable is helping operators manage rising food and labour costs
• The role of AI in automating invoice processing and GL coding
• How Craftable simplifies integration and helps reduce your tech stack
• What Craftable is promoting at HITEC and what’s next for the company

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

This episode is sponsored by Craftable: https://craftable.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Tony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaross1/
Craftable: https://craftable.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/183

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

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

In this live episode of The Modern Hotelier, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Jason Jenkins, Vice President & Managing Director of the Americas, HRS, to talk all things hotel tech—from AI-powered upselling to seamless system integration.

Whether you’re a HITEC veteran or a tech-curious hotelier, this episode gives you a front-row seat to how HRS is streamlining operations and enhancing the guest experience in a rapidly evolving landscape.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• Jason’s HITEC experience and what’s trending in 2025
• How HRS is using AI and automation to improve workflows and guest experiences
• The benefits of HRS’s in-house AI platform—from data security to eliminating third-party integrations
• Why system integration is still a challenge and how HRS is simplifying it
• How LTE-enabled mobile ordering boosts efficiency and revenue

This is one episode you don’t want to miss—straight from the show floor with insights that could shape your tech strategy this year.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9w05FN3UAYA

This episode is sponsored by Americas, HRS: https://hrsinternational.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-jenkins/
Americas, HRS: https://hrsinternational.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/182

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

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

In this special episode of The Modern Hotelier, we’re live from the Dallara IndyCar Factory at HITEC—and yes, the cars are as fast as the tech talk.

We’re joined by Phil Crawford, Head of Hospitality at Adyen, who dives into how they're reshaping the future of payments for the hotel industry.

From solving the chaos of fragmented systems to leveraging true AI (not just buzzword fluff), Phil breaks down how Adyen’s unified commerce approach is creating seamless, data-driven guest experiences. He shares real-world applications—from fraud prevention to global API integrations—and how they’re listening to their clients to build smarter, faster, and more flexible tools.

Whether you're a hotelier struggling with outdated systems or just a tech geek who loves a good innovation story, this episode is packed with insights you can’t afford to miss.

Tune in for:

• Behind-the-scenes of Phil’s first HITEC
• How Adyen is building payment solutions hotels actually need
• What AI should really look like in hospitality

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2z2e61p_Xds

This episode is sponsored by Adyen: https://www.adyen.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crawfordphil/
Adyen: https://www.adyen.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/181

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

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

In this episode, we’re joined by a hospitality tech powerhouse: Robert Dawson, Chief Strategist and Product Officer at IRECKONU.

Robert shares his journey from front desk college job to C-suite, how he fell in love with the hotel industry, and why solving fragmented data problems became his mission. We talk all things AI, automation, data management, and CRM evolution — and what’s making waves at HITEC this year.

We talk about:

• Why the entrepreneurial section at HITEC is the place to be
• The real opportunities (and limits) of AI in hospitality
• What IRECKONU is doing to turn data into real guest engagement

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7X3r0-OPuWc

This episode is sponsored by IRECKONU: https://ireckonu.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Robert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hospitalitytechnologyexecutive/
IRECKONU: https://ireckonu.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/180

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

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