In this enlightening recast episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens engages with Robbert Manussen, Area General Manager at Intercontinental Hotel Group in Taiwan, to delve into the intersection of technology and hospitality. Robbert offers a fascinating glimpse into how the Intercontinental brand is leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance guest experiences and streamline operations.

Throughout the conversation, Robbert shares insights from his extensive global career, explaining how his experiences across different cultures have shaped his leadership approach. He discusses Intercontinental Taiwan's innovative implementation of voice control technology, which has surprisingly been embraced most enthusiastically by senior citizens. Robbert also highlights their data-driven sustainability initiatives, including the successful replacement of plastic water bottles with in-room water taps and bamboo thermos flasks.

What You'll Learn:

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[07:21] Navigating leadership across cultures and continents - Drawing from his global experiences, Robbert reflects on how working in diverse regions like Europe, the Middle East, and Asia has shaped his leadership style. He explains how adapting to different cultures is key to leading effectively, as each region comes with unique expectations and work dynamics. For instance, in his native Netherlands, straightforward communication is the norm, while in the Middle East and Asia, the approach to leadership is more relationship-oriented and requires cultural sensitivity. Robbert learned to "become a chameleon," adjusting his style to build meaningful relationships and create value for each team, which ultimately drives business success.

[16:00] Voice-activated innovation - One of the most exciting innovations Robbert discusses is the introduction of voice control technology at the Intercontinental Kaohsiung. As the hotel caters to a tech-savvy clientele in Taiwan — a global hub for AI and semiconductors — he reveals how they've integrated voice-activated controls for everything from air conditioning to blinds and lighting. The system, developed with a local startup, allows guests to interact seamlessly with their room's amenities through simple voice commands. Notably, this technology is available in Mandarin, English, and Japanese, making it accessible to a broad range of international visitors. The convenience factor extends beyond comfort, as guests can also request services like extra water or information about the hotel — streamlining the guest experience.

[27:00] Sustainability through data-driven innovation - Sustainability is a key focus for the Intercontinental, and Robbert Manussen highlights an innovative initiative to replace plastic water bottles in guest rooms. After analyzing guest data, which showed high demand for bottled water, the hotel installed in-room water taps and introduced bamboo thermos flasks for purchase. This change reduced 1,200 monthly requests for bottled water in a 250-room hotel, dramatically cutting down plastic usage and enhancing the guest experience by offering eco-friendly options.

00:00 - Intro

00:43 - A global journey: From Europe to Asia

05:40 - Taiwan’s cutting-edge hotel experience

06:58 - Adapting leadership across cultures

14:30 - The global career ladder: From trainee to GM

16:00 - Innovation that wows: AI-powered guest experience

17:56 - Technology for all: AI for every guest

25:01 -  Data and personalization: The next frontier

29:27 - Sustainability by design: Water solutions and guest experience

31:03 - Navigating the tech revolution: Budgeting for the future

35:45 - Empowering teams through technology and training

41:02 - The future of hospitality: Attracting a tech-savvy generation