KEUK GROUP: Specialisation as a Success Factor

Digitalisation is our thing. We are proud to have focussed on state-of-the-art communication channels and everything that goes with them right from the start. We have been successful on the market for more than 20 years now and are growing continuously, but at the same time with a sense of proportion. As an owner-managed company, we are fully aware of our responsibility towards our customers and employees. Our established structures and our focus on a digital future, which is becoming increasingly important in every area of life, are evidence of this. We look to the future without losing sight of our roots. That is why thinking globally is just as important as acting locally. And this applies to every division within the KEUK Group.

Belden is a global, publicly traded company specializing in the design, manufacture, and distribution of end-to-end networking, security and connectivity products. The company serves the Industrial Automation Solutions, Smart Buildings and Broadband & 5G markets.

Zaplox is a trusted provider of digital guest solutions for the hospitality industry. Its SaaS platform is designed to enhance the guest experience, offering a comprehensive suite of services, including self-service check-in and mobile keys. Zaplox’s platform is a valuable complement to hospitality, supporting hotel chains, resorts, and casinos in EMEA, North America, and APAC to provide a seamless digital experience for their guests. Founded in 2010 in Lund, Sweden, Zaplox has established itself as a leading innovator in the industry, enabling its customers to provide their guests with the best possible experience from the time of reservation to departure. The company is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market.

MeetingPackage was founded in 2014 when our CEO faced the frustrating reality of how difficult it was to search for and book a meeting room. Bookers often spend hours finding the right venue, while venues waste valuable time creating quotes with a low conversion rate. This challenge inspired us to create MeetingPackage, with the mission to help hoteliers sell their meeting rooms as easily as they sell bedrooms. We developed the world’s first Central Reservation System (CRS) for Meetings & Events (M&E) and group bookings. Our platform helps venues increase revenue, streamline operations, and improve the booking experience through automation. MeetingPackage helps in possible sales channels, offline or online, with seamless integration to backend systems and distribution channels. Join us in transforming the way meetings and events are booked—making it easier, faster, and more profitable for venues everywhere.

With over 15 years in hospitality, I embarked on a journey fuelled by a passion for exceptional experiences and service. From a Front Office Associate to Revenue Management across Dubai's hotel groups, I've found fulfillment in growth. Eagerly absorbing insights, I embrace the evolving revenue management landscape. My expertise lies in leading cross-functional teams to drive transformative change and profitability. Skilled in strategic planning, I optimize strategies for sustainable results. Whether as a leader or advisor, I prioritize efficiency and innovation, fostering collaboration to meet industry demands. With a customer-centric approach, I maximize revenue potential and ensure long-term business growth.

Dr Pablo Pereira-Doel is a lecturer in Hospitality Information Technology and the Biometric Laboratory lead at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey (UK). He is also the Water Innovation and Sustainability program co-lead in the Institute for Sustainability at the University of Surrey. After several years in the hospitality/tourism industry in Spain, France, The Gambia, and the UK, he is now an applied social scientist who uses sustainability-oriented innovations, consumer nudging, persuasive communication, biometric technology, design thinking, and experimental research methods to enhance experiences in the visitor economy.

With over 20 years of experience in the commercial field, I am a dynamic leader in the hospitality industry, specializing in Digital Transformation in Hotels, Sales and Marketing, Revenue Management, and Distribution Planning. Renowned for my strategic planning and technology adoption, I drive innovation and efficiency. With a proven track record in sales training and development, I excel in market analysis and change management.

In 1997, Miguel Velez concluded a degree in Management in the Porto Catholic University and in 2001 he finished an Executive MBA in Marketing in the Porto Business School being on the 3 top students. After this period, he has also updated his skills and knowledge with several executive courses in the London Business School and INSEAD. He started his career in Sonae Group being the Assistant CEO of the Group Selfrio. After that, he accepted several different challenges in the sales and marketing areas and with 30 years old he was promoted and he became for the first time Director – GlobalMarketing Director at Sogrape Wine Company. He started his career in hospitality in 2005, and he became General Manager at the Porto Palácio Congress Hotel & Spa at the age of 34, after having had an experience at a five star luxury resort in the Algarve. His last position, in this resort, was Board Advisor after having had different responsibilities leading several business units. After leading Porto Palácio Hotel, he was promoted General Manager of Sonae Tourism having the responsibility of managing five hotels. He was responsible for restructuring all hospitality business and creating a corporate managing center. During one year, Miguel Velez was the Porto Officer Leader at Mercer Consulting and after this period he was invited to be the General Manager of The Yeatman with three main goals: create nationally and internationally a big and strong awareness of the hotel, increase very significantly the sales and create a control cost policy. Some years after Miguel invited the CEO of the Group, Adrian Bridge, to be is partner at Unlock Boutique Hotels. Miguel Velez was previously a member of the Executive Committee of Pestana Group and Member of the Board of Pousadas de Portugal with the main goal of repositioning the business and to prepare the hospitality offer to the future. Actually, Miguel Velez is the CEO and founder of Unlock Boutique Hotels, a hotel management company, dedicated to boutique hotels with 19 hotels & suites and apartments in 11 locations, presently in is portfolio. He became also shareholder in several hotels. Miguel Velez was a teacher during several years in one of the most recognized universities in Portugal, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in the Master of Hospitality course.

Dr. Willy Legrand is Professor at the IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany with a specialization in sustainable management. Over the past two decades, he has established over two dozen undergraduate and graduate courses on sustainable development in business and hospitality management in Europe, South and North America, the Middle East and Asia. He is the lead author of Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry: Principles of Sustainable Operations (4th ed., 2023, Routledge) and of Critical Questions in Sustainability and Hospitality (2023, Routledge ). Prof Legrand chairs the Hospitality Net World Panel on Sustainability in Hospitality where 100+ industry experts regularly interact with the aim is to get sustainability anchored more than ever into the business conversation and decision-making. He sits on multiple journal and professional boards and is the co-editor of the Journal of Global Responsibility. He is currently working on two new edited books on (1) ESG in Hospitality & Tourism and on (2) Regenerative Tourism and Net Positive Hospitality Business.

Ana-Maria Girtu is a distinguished Director of Cruise Hotel Operations at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, based in Monte Carlo, Monaco. With over a decade of experience in the cruise, travel, and tourism industry, Ana-Maria excels in leading hospitality operations with a strong emphasis on event management, sustainability, and IT integration. Ana-Maria oversees Guest Services, Entertainment, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), and Housekeeping Operations across the fleet, consistently enhancing operational efficiency and guest experience while championing environmental sustainability. In addition to her sustainability initiatives, Ana-Maria is proficient in IT and software management. Her IT expertise supports her event management capabilities, ensuring the technological aspects of events are seamlessly integrated and functional. Her educational background includes diplomas in Project Management, Event Management, and Graphic Design, alongside a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages for Business. Fluent in English, Italian, French, Spanish, and Romanian, Ana-Maria is known for her exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.

Joao Pronto is IT Professor (since 1996) at ESHTE - Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies, the main Hospitality University in Portugal. He teaches and research mainly the workflows of Hyper-personalization processes, Unified Communications, and tech innovations in the Hospitality Field, as In-Room entertainment innovation and Guest Experiences supported by technology. His research in master’s degree, (2002) was about an Expert System (an Artificial Intelligence System) that provides to the Tourists a dashboard where they can choose thematic pics and videos, and the System reply to the Tourist, personalized tourist services based in the Tourist aims and behaviors. Now a days, we call to this approach hyper-personalization in tourism and hospitality. In the past 17 years, in the PhD studies, João Pronto his collaborating with some of the main Hotel Chains in Portugal. His main publications, and speech are: IGI Global Publication Book: Optimizing Digital Solutions for Hyper-Personalization in Tourism and Hospitality, 2022. IHTF 2024, in-room Guest experience, Barcelona; IHTF 2023, in-room entertainment innovation, Vienna Austria; Host Level-UP Lisboa, Data Science and data security – in the Hospitality, Lisbon; Algarve Summit – Disrupt’22 – Hyper- Personalization in Hospitality, 2022; 7th Circle Conference – eServices and strategy in the Hospitality Industry: The Altis Hotels Business Case, 2010; Eyefortravel, The Empowerment of Internet 2.0 in Hospitality and Tourism, 2007. In www.turisver.pt writes opinion articles, in a monthly base, about tech applied to the Hospitality field.

After completing his training as a hotel specialist, Christian worked for companies such as Accor and Starwood. From 2017, he led the Implementation Team at the hotel software provider Shiji Group, overseeing the setup of Property Management Systems and Interfaces for various hotels and hotel chains in Europe, including Hetras, StayNTouch, and Shiji Enterprise Platform. Before joining Schani Hotels, Christian served as a Senior Project Manager at Guestline. Since April 2022, he has been responsible for all digital systems and interfaces as the Group Manager of Technology for the innovative hotel brand based in Vienna.

Tomas Holan works with OREA Hotels & Resorts from 2022, where he contributes to the company's strategic initiatives focusing on Digital. He has been instrumental in implementing marketing campaigns such as 'Oreagování' aimed at attracting more guests by promoting the unique experiences offered by OREA hotels.

Nicolas Frangos is a disruptive yet pragmatic, action-oriented executive with innovative entrepreneurial approach in creating added value, and extensive experience in providing strategic shared vision and leadership.Renowned as a change catalyst, with distinctive knowledge in luxury & lifestyle tourism destinations, international events, leisure & entertainment, real estate, project development and asset management in travel & hospitality, with consistent history of business growth and achievement of global commercial goals, within intensively competitive markets, delivering significant return on equity and invested capitals (ROIC). Nicolas is the Founder and CEO of Luxxie Lime, a trend-setting lab revolutionizing, re-inventing luxury and lifestyle hospitality brands in a new business ecosystem, which is undergoing a substantial social, economic, cultural, and technological evolution. Before joining Luxxie Lime Nicolas served as the President & Board Director of Marriott International MEA, previously COO at Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Co. Qatar, engaged in hotels & mixed-use developments and acquisitions, with a primary focus on the Luxury & Lifestyle hospitality internationally. Prior to assuming this role, he was the CEO of Luxury Hospitality Holdings, owner, developer and operator of iconic properties, setting new standards in luxury by blending exceptional concepts with the highest customized quality services, he was also the CEO of Lutèce - Hediard Hospitality F&B Co., developer and operator of Relais & Chateaux, and exclusive Michelin star restaurants. Highly recognizable for its international procurement & distribution network, private dining, exclusive catering, boutique retail shops & deli restaurants. Nicolas holds an MBA in Tourism & Hospitality from Napier Edinburgh University Business School, BBA from Business School of Strasbourg University, and he is a CHA of American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute.

Dr. Alexander Lennart Schmidt, a distinguished European scholar born in Germany and based in Amsterdam, is Professor of Technological Innovation at Hotelschool The Hague (The Netherlands). With a rich academic background, including a PhD from the VU University in Amsterdam, Dr. Schmidt specializes in disruptive business models and technological innovations within the hospitality industry. His positions at various universities across Europe have been marked by significant contributions, particularly in understanding the intersection of digital technologies, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and immersive technologies, with business model innovation. His research, recognized for its practical applicability, offers management tools tailored for navigating the challenges of continual industry disruption. An advocate of cross-industry collaboration, Dr. Schmidt's work explores the transformative impact of digital technologies, propelled by market players outside traditional industry boundaries. He identifies as an insightful innovation enthusiast, tirelessly pushing the boundaries of possibility. His interactions with students, founders, and seasoned managers have sharpened his skills in delivering personalized education and training formats. His passion for innovation and entrepreneurship has inspired many to become innovation-makers in their respective fields.

As the Chief Commercial Officer of the Starhotels Group, I manage Sales, Marketing,Revenue, and Distribution for our 30 prestigious properties. Leading a team of 85 professionals, I focus on driving growth and excellence. Previously, I was the Cluster General Manager for Starhotels Collezione Division, overseeing 11 properties across Italy, the UK, and France with a team of 8 General Managers. My career includes roles such as Regional Director of Sales & Marketing, Europe at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Monaco, Director of Global Accounts for MPI in Luxembourg, and Area Director of Sales & Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Academically, I hold a CMM from MPI and Cornell University, a CHBA from HSMAI, and completed the AVIRA course at INSEAD. I actively participate in professional associations, having held various leadership positions including Vice President of the Hotelier Association of Ravenna, Vice President of Skal International in Monaco, President of MPI Italy, and currently I serve as Vice Chair of Finance for the MPI Foundation Global Board of Trustees. Personally, I am an avid marathon runner and live in Florence with my wife Francesca and our children, Alessandro and Leonardo.

Gabor has 15 years of IT management in Hospitality with multi-country, multi-brand hotel chains: Accor, Danubius, Ensana.My focus is on guest experience and satisfaction, sustainability, and cost efficiency. In developing and implementing the strategy, we focus on cloud technology, digitalization, mobility, and security.