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Pillow Talk Sessions
Pillow Talk Sessions is a podcast about modern hospitality operations and how guest experience is operationally delivered in a tech-enabled world.
Hosted by Jessica Gillingham, author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality, and produced by Abode Worldwide, the show features in-depth conversations with leaders building, operating, and scaling modern hospitality across hotels, short-term rentals, serviced living, and flexible living models.
Each episode explores how hospitality is evolving beyond traditional hotels. From the hotelization of real estate to the rise of platform-driven and automated operations, we unpack how technology, systems, and organizational design are reshaping how stays are designed, delivered, and experienced.
Pillow Talk Sessions goes deep on hospitality operations, technology, and strategy. Topics include new operating models, guest experience delivery, AI and automation, platform ecosystems, and the convergence of hotels, short-term rentals, and serviced living.
This podcast is for hospitality operators, founders, owners, and technology leaders who want to understand the future of hospitality beyond trends, and how modern hospitality actually works on the ground.
About your host
Jessica Gillingham is the author of “Tech-Enabled Hospitality – Strategies to Elevate Guest Experience and Operational Efficiency,” and is also an industry speaker, adviser, and the CEO of Abode Worldwide, a global strategic communications and PR agency for the tech transforming hospitality.
The podcast is brought to you by the team at Abode Worldwide.
Pillow Talk Sessions
Hospitality’s Digital Reset with Ulrich Pillau (Apaleo)
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In this episode of Pillow Talk Sessions, Jessica Gillingham sits down with Ulrich Pillau, Co-founder & CEO of Apaleo, to explore how AI and API-first technology are redefining what modern hospitality looks like behind the scenes and in front of guests.
Uli explains why the industry is splitting between digital-first operators and legacy brands struggling to adapt, and why simply “moving to the cloud” won’t fix broken guest journeys without a fundamental rethink of operating models.
💡 In this conversation, you’ll hear about:
🤖 How AI and LLMs are changing how guests research, book, and interact
🏨 Why replacing a PMS doesn’t automatically modernise operations
🔌 How open, API-first platforms enable faster experimentation and innovation
🔄 The emergence of hybrid models blending hotels, serviced living, and niche lodging
⚠️ Why mid-market brands face consolidation pressure without real digital reinvention
A clear-eyed look at what hospitality must rethink now to stay competitive in an AI-driven world.
Explore related industry analysis and strategic perspectives:
https://abodeworldwide.com/news-insights/
Website: https://www.pillowtalksessions.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pillowtalksessionspodcast/