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Locked-In on the Future: A COO’s Perspective on Smarter Hospitality and Sustainable Growth

Written by Valerie Herrin | Oct 15, 2025 3:00:01 PM

My Personal Strategy as COO of OpenHotel

(Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond)

As COO, my mission is to guide OpenHotel’s growth with precision, empathy, and innovation — ensuring that every decision strengthens our customers, our team, and our technology. As we look toward 2026, we’re not just scaling — we’re evolving into a smarter, more connected ecosystem of hospitality software solutions.

  1. Secure Q4 Revenue Without Compromising Future ARR

Our goal is clear: drive meaningful growth without undermining long-term value. I’m leading our sales and strategy teams to close this quarter with focus and discipline — by showing the measurable impact of OpenHotel’s platform, not discounting its worth. Every partnership we build should strengthen our Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and reinforce our customers’ trust in the sustainability of our technology.

As part of this mission, we’re continuing to refine our hotel revenue management tool, ensuring hoteliers can access clear pricing intelligence and automation that drive sustainable profitability — the foundation of any best hotel revenue management software suite.

  1. Align Product With the Market — and the Future of AI in Hospitality

OpenHotel’s next evolution will be defined by how we integrate AI-driven insights into our PMS and operational workflows. I’m ensuring our product roadmap mirrors real-world hotelier needs — from predictive occupancy analytics to automated guest communication.

By integrating advanced AI-powered hospitality reservation software, we’re creating tools that help properties respond faster, adapt smarter, and deliver more personalized guest experiences. As we build toward 2026, AI won’t replace our people — it will empower them to make faster, more accurate decisions that redefine efficiency in the hospitality industry.

  1. Build a Culture of Customer Value and Collaboration

Our culture must revolve around one principle: customer success is company success. I’m championing cross-team collaboration among sales, support, and product so every customer touchpoint delivers measurable value. Through shared success metrics — retention, satisfaction, and response time — we’ll celebrate results, not just revenue.

This approach also strengthens our commitment to customer relationship management in the hospitality industry, where understanding and anticipating guest needs is essential. By aligning our teams around proactive service and deep customer insight, OpenHotel turns relationships into long-term success stories.

  1. Recognize and Reward High-Impact Contributions

Innovation happens where ownership meets excellence. I will personally recognize and reward high-impact employees and teams — those who deliver standout results like flawless implementations, customer praise, or data-backed improvements.

Whether it’s a successful rollout of our hospitality reservation software or a customer testimonial highlighting improved efficiency, celebrating these moments reinforces our culture of excellence and accountability.

  1. Lead as a Data-Driven, AI-Enhanced Integrator

Data is our truth. As we enhance our analytics suite with machine learning and AI forecasting tools, my goal is to make data the language of every department. By 2026, OpenHotel will not only track KPIs — we’ll predict them.

By leveraging integrated hotel revenue management software, we’ll ensure every decision — from pricing to guest engagement — is informed by clear, reliable insights. This transparency empowers our teams and customers alike to make smarter, faster, more confident choices.

  1. Empower and Develop Future Leaders

True scalability depends on leadership depth. I’m committed to coaching and empowering managers to act as owners — giving them autonomy, accountability, and the tools to innovate. With AI-assisted reporting, collaboration platforms, and real-time feedback systems, we’ll strengthen communication and leadership confidence across the organization.

These same tools allow hotel teams using hospitality software to make data-driven decisions and create value at every operational level, turning insights into meaningful results.

  1. Collaborate Beyond Our Walls

The future of hospitality technology is connected. I’m focused on building strategic collaborations with AI partners, data providers, and integration platforms to make OpenHotel a true open ecosystem for innovation. By 2026, our customers will experience a seamless digital infrastructure, powered by human expertise and intelligent automation.

Our open architecture allows hospitality software integrations across property management, reservations, and hotel revenue management systems, giving our customers the flexibility and power to thrive in a connected world.

Conclusion: Building the Future of Hospitality, Together

At OpenHotel, we believe technology should serve people — not replace them. As we move toward 2026, I’m committed to leading with clarity, empathy, and data-driven innovation to ensure our growth benefits everyone — our customers, our employees, and the future of hospitality itself.

The future of hotel technology is here. From property management to guest engagement, OpenHotel gives every property the tools to thrive.

👉 Visit www.openhotel.com to see what’s new, or connect with our team to schedule your demo.
📧Email sales@openhotel.com | 📞 (702) 628-5037