puzzle partner
Tech-Enhanced Slumber: Why Hotels Are Investing in Sleep Innovations That Range From Affordable to Extravagant
Ivana Johnston | September 30, 2024
By Ivana Johnston, Co-founder and CEO of Puzzle Partner Ever noticed how a good night's sleep can make or break a trip? Well, the savviest hotels sure have. They’re not just fluffing pillows anymore; they’re pulling out all the stops, using the latest tech to ensure you get those much-needed Zs. The idea of sleep tourism is growing faster than you might think. According to HTF Market Intelligence, we're looking at an impressive growth of nearly 8%, adding over $400 billion by 2028. That's right—hotels worldwide are pulling out all the stops for our bedtime routines. Picture this: serene settings, cutting-edge sleep technology, a...
Ivana Johnston Named CEO of Hotel Tech Advisory Firm Puzzle Partner
Puzzle Partner | June 17, 2024
The current co-founder and chief marketing officer of the industry’s most trusted technology marketing consultancy will transition to chief executive officer. Toronto, Ontario (June 17, 2024)—Puzzle Partner, a leading strategy and marketing agency in the hospitality and travel technology industry, has appointed Ivana Johnston as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). With a wealth of experience in the sector and as a co-founder of the firm founded over 10 years ago, Johnston is set to bring a fresh perspective, accelerate transformation, and drive new growth initiatives to the company. Puzzle Partner has helped clients outperform the ...
Empowering Great Hospitality: Hospitality Tech Pioneer Dexter McKenzie Shares His Entrepreneurial Journey and Secrets to Over 3 Decades of Success
Alan Young | June 11, 2024
By Alan Young, Hospitality Industry Advisor and Co-Founder of Puzzle Partner Most of us look back on our first job with a mix of nostalgia and relief; after all, the traditional entry points into the job market are typically far from glamorous. From serving fast food to stocking shelves, bagging groceries, babysitting, or summer hours spent running a paper route and cutting grass, these jobs typically require no shortage of elbow grease in exchange for a modest paycheck, a small taste of independence, and a life lesson (or many). For Dexter McKenzie, who introduced the STS sales and catering platform to the hospitality industry –...
The Experiential Travel Boom: The Big Summer Travel Trends for 2024
Ivana Johnston | May 23, 2024
By Ivana Johnston Even with the economy's ups and downs, travelers are spending more on experiences. They're going for bucket-list adventures that showcase their unique passions. This booming industry is expected to reach $1.6 trillion by the end of 2024! Airbnb is also stepping up its experience game with the announcement of its Summer 2024 Icons Program. This new initiative promises a collection of extraordinary experiences hosted by the biggest names in music, film, TV, art, sports, and much more. What's fueling this surge? It's the irresistible allure of adventure and novelty. According to a recent survey by GetYourGuide, 90% of tra...
From Wall Street and Silicon Valley to Hospitality Leader: Exclusive Interview and Insights From DerbySoft Co-Founder Feng Ou
Alan E. Young | April 24, 2024
By Alan Young Steve Jobs once said, “The mark of an innovative company is not only that it comes up with new ideas first, but also that it knows how to leapfrog when it finds itself behind.” There is, perhaps, no more relevant sentiment to apply to the hospitality industry – a sector that is continuously molded by the fire of consumer preference yet often utterly resistant to the crashing waves of technological change. Of course, this isn’t a novel observation; hospitality has long been criticized for its slow adoption of new-age technology and processes. However, it is a reality that bears repeating, both to identify the progr...
Trust and Relationships: The Twin Pillars of Hospitality Business Growth
Alan Young | February 29, 2024
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The Critical Role of Leadership in Championing Guest Service in the Hospitality Industry, Guest Service in the Hospitality Industry
Alan Young | February 22, 2024
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Embracing Technology Without Losing the Human Touch in Hospitality
Alan Young | February 8, 2024
By Alan Young I have been chatting with a number of hotel operators over the last few weeks, and one thing is constant between each and every one of them: we must continually improve our service delivery as the adoption rate of technology is moving at lightspeed. Why? Because when technology is so incredibly prolific, we need proof of humanity and authenticity. Hotel operators want to embrace technology to help them run their businesses more effectively, but not at the cost of losing their hotel's “human touch.” In a world increasingly dominated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technological advancements, the hospitality in...
