The Guest-Obsessed Hotelier: Personalization, Data, and the Power of AI

The dojo.live show / Interviews with Visionaries Shaping Travel Tech

What does it take to deliver guest-obsessed hospitality in a digital-first world?

In this episode of dojo.live, we explore the future of hospitality with Eric Lutz, CEO and Co-Founder of olive. Eric shares what it truly means to be guest-obsessed in today’s digital-first world. From actionable insights to smart automation, we unpack how AI is transforming the guest journey, increasing direct bookings, and building lasting loyalty. You’ll also hear about Eric’s path from hotelier to tech founder—and why putting guests first starts with smarter, more intuitive technology.

Eric Lutz is the CEO and Co-Founder of olive, the industry’s first AI-powered Booking Engine redefining the hotel booking experience. He began his career as a Night Auditor in Beverly Hills and most recently led the hotel division at a Los Angeles-based private equity firm. Frustrated by the limitations of current hotel tech, Eric founded olive to bring modern design, intelligence, and personalization to the digital guest journey. Today, olive powers industry-leading direct channel performance for leading independent hotels. A former hotelier with deep operational roots, Eric brings a guest-first lens and bold product vision to an industry long overdue for reinvention.