About The Forum

The Community Putting AI to Work in Hospitality

Destination AI brings together hotel leaders, operators, owners, and technology innovators for candid conversations on what is actually working in hospitality AI, with a focus on real business impact.

Destination AI Forum

Our Mission & Goals

Destination AI started in 2024 to give hospitality professionals a place to learn about AI adoption through candid conversations and shared experiences. Our community brings together hotel leaders, technology innovators, and operators who want to stay ahead of industry change: to share what's working, discuss challenges honestly, and collaborate on solutions that deliver measurable results.

We facilitate open discussions where executives share what's working, address challenges honestly, and learn from each other's implementations. Our underlying belief is that AI should help restore the art and magic of hospitality service, not replace it. By freeing teams to focus on creating exceptional guest experiences, technology becomes a tool for enhancing the human connection.

AI won't replace humans, but humans with AI will replace humans without AI.

Harvard Business Review
The People Behind DAI

Our Team & Advisory Board

Founders and advisors who have built hospitality-tech companies, run global standards bodies, and produced the events that move industries forward.

Nazpari Aydin
Nazpari Aydin
Destination AI Forum
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Hosts DAI’s annual conferences on AI in hospitality. A hospitality asset-management and investment specialist, she holds a degree from Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration and an MBA from NYU Stern.
Alex Aydin
Alex Aydin
Destination AI Forum
Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
Serial entrepreneur and technology executive. Co-founded AI startups HousingComply and Comvoca, founded BookingPal, and co-founded Procom Technology (NASDAQ: PRCM), which he took public.
Douglas Rice
Douglas Rice
HTNG
Founder & CEO Emeritus
Founded Hospitality Technology Next Generation (HTNG) and was its first CEO (2004–2015). Inducted into HFTP’s International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jay Weintraub
Jay Weintraub
Connectiv Holdings
CEO & Founder
Founder and CEO of Connectiv Holdings, an events studio for industries undergoing massive change. Has built and sold five events across insurance tech, supply chain, and the built world.
Monika Nerger
Monika Nerger
Mandarin Oriental
Former Global CIO
A global luxury-hospitality technology leader and advisor, formerly Global Chief Information Officer at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Stuart Greif
Stuart Greif
Forbes Travel Guide
Chief Strategy, Innovation & Operating Officer
Drives strategy, innovation and operations at Forbes Travel Guide, with deep experience across hospitality, technology, and customer experience.
Cindy Estis Green
Cindy Estis Green
Kalibri Labs
CEO & Founder
Founder and CEO of Kalibri Labs and a long-standing authority on hotel revenue, data, and analytics in the hospitality industry.
George Roukas
George Roukas
Gaipan
President
President of Gaipan, advising hospitality and technology organizations on growth, innovation, and applied AI strategy.
Gaurav Sharma
Gaurav Sharma
Mosaic
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO of Mosaic, building AI-driven products and platforms for the hospitality and travel sectors.
Mauricio Prado
Mauricio Prado
Cain
Vice President, Digital & Technology
Leads digital strategy and technology initiatives at Cain International, and formerly led technology at Wynn Las Vegas.
Vijay Raghavan
Vijay Raghavan
Honeywell
Global Hospitality Portfolio Leader
Leads Honeywell’s global hospitality portfolio, connecting building technology and AI to the guest and operational experience.
Mark Fancourt
Mark Fancourt
TRAVHOTECH
Co-Founder & Principal Consultant
Co-Founder and Principal Consultant at TRAVHOTECH, advising on hospitality technology strategy, architecture, and innovation worldwide.

Join the Conversation in D.C.

September 29–30, 2026 · The National Housing Center, Washington, D.C.

Register now