Maxime Blot

👨‍💻 Frédéric Robles, an attorney turned tech entrepreneur, co-founded Namastay to connect reservation and payment technologies for hotels. Launched in July 2022, the company now partners with over 300 hotels in 29 countries and is an official partner of Relais & Châteaux. Namastay's solution, embedded via iframe in hotel websites, enables secure online payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, with tokenization and encryption. Offering faster, secure transactions and mobile adaptability, it improves customer experience and hotel operations, charging around 1% commission per booking with no setup costs. Namastay plans future integrations with PayPal, deferred payments (Clarna), and cryptocurrencies, and is exploring new markets like Morocco.

📊 Matthias Vivier Merle founded digital communication agency KZN in 2014, specializing in high-end clientele and complex sales. His team utilizes digital tools like social media, SEO/SEA, and digital campaigns for client communication in the hospitality industry. As of 2025, communication in the hotel sector is predominantly digital, with social media, SEO, SEA, and digital campaigns as the three main pillars. Masterclasses are available to navigate the evolving digital landscape, focusing on understanding the current digital environment, defining communication strategies, optimizing social media presence, leveraging SEO/SEA potential, and anticipating future trends such as AI and algorithm changes. 🌐

🍴 Denis Courtiade, recognized as the world's best maître d’hôtel, has been the director at the restaurant in Plaza Athénée for 25 years. He started as an apprentice at 16 and became a director at Louis XV in Monaco by 25. Courtiade co-founded the association "Au Service des Talents De Demain" and created the Trophée Maître d’Hôtel competition. He authored two books, "Pour Vous Servir" and "L’Hospitalité, le Mentorat," and emphasizes the importance of transmission, human valorization, and a positive work environment. His management style focuses on understanding team needs, autonomy, trust, and a tailored approach to each individual. Courtiade's mentoring involves sharing his experience and knowledge to help others grow.

🛈 Florence Kowalski, an expert in SPA and hospitality, lives in Canada providing consulting and ghostwriting services. Key points to improve spa profitability include: opening to local clientele, focusing on wellness spaces over treatment rooms, offering in-room wellbeing services, optimizing product sales, and managing costs effectively. A strong content strategy for hotels involves a clear website targeting the right audience, engaging newsletters, responsive handling of customer reviews, strategic social media presence, and prioritizing quality over quantity in content creation.

🏃 Paul Pécriaux, director of the event agency Lemon Grass Events for 18 years, passionate about sports, having competed in numerous triathlons and Ironman events, organizes corporate sports events. One such event is "10 Km des étoiles," a race for hotel and restaurant professionals, emphasizing team cohesion and productivity. Join the 7th edition on March 23, 2025, which is also open to individuals.