Every year, IDeaS’ Converge Client Summit brings together some of the brightest minds in hospitality to share ideas, challenge assumptions and explore what’s next. This year’s gathering at the Omni Hotel in Fort Lauderdale was no exception.
Under the theme “Reimagine What’s Possible,” hospitality leaders from around the world came together to discuss the forces reshaping the industry, from evolving guest expectations and commercial strategy to AI, leadership and the future of revenue management.
The result? A day packed with fresh perspectives, practical insights and meaningful conversations about how hospitality organizations can position themselves for continued success.
For those who couldn’t join us, here are a few highlights from Converge 2026.
Reimagining the Future Starts with Better Questions
After kicking things off the night before with a fabulous reception (thanks again to our partners in fun RateGain for sponsoring) it was time to get down to business. The day began with a simple but provocative challenge: What in your business needs to be reimagined?
That question became the thread connecting the conversations, presentations and debates that followed throughout Converge 2026.
Leadership expert Nick Jankel opened the event by encouraging attendees to rethink how they respond to change. His keynote explored how leaders can create environments that encourage innovation, curiosity and more adaptive decision-making rather than simply reacting to disruption. His message was clear: excellence isn’t achieved solely through efficient execution—it requires challenging established thinking.
That theme carried into a lively panel discussion on merchandising and ancillary revenue growth, where Tom Blomquist (Vice President of Commercial Strategy at Scandic Hotels) and Nicole Di Maio-Kennedy (Vice President of Revenue at EOS Hospitality) shared how their organizations are creating new value through personalized offers, upselling strategies and guest-centric experiences. The discussion highlighted both the opportunities and operational realities of building commercial strategies that extend well beyond the guestroom.
AI also took center stage throughout the day. Former hospitality executive and Not Done podcast host Sloan Dean challenged attendees to look beyond AI as simply another technology initiative and instead rethink how hospitality organizations are structured and operated—a critical step as organizations seek to move from AI experimentation to maturation. His presentation focused on the organizations that will succeed not because they deploy the most AI, but because they reimagine how people, technology and decision-making work together and structure themselves accordingly.
Converge attendees also received an inside look at the future direction of IDeaS. During a series of product and vision sessions, leaders including Sanjay Nagalia (Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technical Officer), Stephen Hambleton (Associate VP, Product Management) and Fallon Torp (Director of Product Management) shared how we’re reimagining the IDeaS platform experience, expanding AI-powered capabilities and making sophisticated revenue science more intuitive and accessible than ever before. These can’t miss sessions centered on demonstrating how upcoming product developments will help hospitality organizations act faster, personalize workflows and unlock even greater value from their commercial technology investments.
Other standout discussions covered the future of planning and forecasting with Michael Klein (SVP, Global Revenue Management at Hyatt), how Spotlight’s shaping the evolution of commercial strategy with Claudia Infante (Chief Data Officer, Margaritaville), and how hospitality organizations can better align teams, technology and decision-making to drive stronger business outcomes. Throughout the day, attendees weren’t simply hearing about industry trends. They were learning how leading companies are staying ahead of the curve with proactive strategies powered by both intelligent people and intelligent technology.
Of course, some of the most valuable conversations happened between sessions. From the opening reception through the closing networking opportunities, clients, partners and industry leaders connected to share challenges and exchange ideas that will continue shaping their businesses long after Converge ended.
Celebrating Clients Who Continue to Raise the Bar
Converge Client Summit 2026 wasn’t just a showcase for product innovations or an opportunity to dive deep into the top-of-mind commercial challenges hospitality commercial teams face—it’s also a celebration of the clients who collectively push and inspire us to reimagine what it means to be an excellent technology provider.
For us, one of the most anticipated moments of Converge each year is the opportunity to publicly recognize the individuals and organizations that keep us sharp and inspire progress across the hospitality industry.
This year’s award recipients exemplify the spirit of innovation, partnership and leadership that fuels our client community.
Independent Excellence Award | Colin O’Donnell, Saunders Hotel Group | The Lenox Hotel
Known for combining curiosity with a relentless focus on results, Colin has been an early adopter—and champion—of IDeaS’ suite of solutions including Optix, RevPlan, and SmartSpace. His willingness to explore new opportunities and continually ask how technology can drive greater business impact made him a natural choice for this year’s Independent Excellence Award.
Partnership Award | Mark Molinari, Venetian Las Vegas
A true partner in every sense of the word, Mark is known for rolling up his sleeves, challenging assumptions and pushing for better outcomes. Through continuous collaboration, candid feedback and a willingness to test new ideas, he has helped advance innovation not only within his own organization but across the broader casino hospitality segment.
Changemaker Award | Clément Deplanche, Accor
Always searching for ways to improve, Clément has built a reputation for asking smart, incisive questions and for pushing beyond “good enough”. His determination to see initiatives through to meaningful results has made him a catalyst for change and innovation throughout his organization.
Strategic Impact Award | Jessica Szymczyk, Choice Hotels
Jessica was recognized for her ability to navigate complexity while keeping major strategic initiatives moving forward. Known for bringing people together around a common goal, she has consistently transformed ambitious ideas into tangible business outcomes and lasting impact.
Together, these award winners reflect the talent, creativity and determination that continue to move our industry forward.
Cruise Leaders Chart the Course Ahead
Converge also served as an important opportunity for cruise industry leaders to come together and discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of cruise revenue management at our annual Cruise Revenue Council.
The attendee list for this year’s Council roughly doubled in size from last year, a testament to the growing momentum we’re seeing in this vertical—and the appetite cruise operators and thought leaders have for a community to discuss the future of cruise commercial strategy, technology and innovation.
While specifics of what was discussed at this invite-only gathering won’t be disclosed, it presented a rare opportunity for industry leaders to speak frankly about the challenges they’re currently facing with their approach to revenue management, share what’s going well, and to potentially inform our future product development roadmap.
“As technology partners, it’s hard to overstate how valuable these candid discussions are,” says Crystal Pernici, Manager of Global Sales for IDeaS New Ventures. “Taking the time to really listen and dig into what’s on industry leaders’ minds is what builds trust, helps us better understand their challenges, and in turn stand out as a technology partner—we tailor what we do to the real needs of the industry.”
Looking Ahead
If Converge 2026 demonstrated anything, it’s that hospitality’s future won’t be defined by standing still.
From commercial strategy and revenue management to leadership development and AI adoption, the conversations throughout the day centered on a common theme: the organizations that thrive will be those willing to rethink old assumptions, embrace new possibilities and continually evolve alongside the industry they serve.
To everyone who joined us in Fort Lauderdale, thank you for helping make this year’s event such a success. But the conversation doesn’t stop here. Just next at Converge Bangkok on November 9-10th, or start planning ahead for Converge Client Summit London in July 2027. Each event will bring together hospitality professionals for thought-provoking content, industry perspectives and—for the first time ever—we’ll be offering dedicated learning experiences for IDeaS users. Featuring expert-led sessions, peer collaboration, and practical takeaways, these sessions are designed to help you get even more value from your technology investment.
Continue following IDeaS on LinkedIn for additional event photos, highlights and behind-the-scenes moments from Converge 2026.