Building Sustainable Hospitality with Marc Laros (The Usual Hotels)

We Grew Too Fast and Nearly Lost Everything - With Njål Elliasson, Proptonomy & Heimby

When Njål Elliasson co-founded his Norwegian-based short-term rental property management company, Heimby, in 2022, he was over the moon as it quickly grew in size and profit. But before he knew it, his company started crumbling, going from a $100k profit in year one to a $200k loss by the end of year two.  By the end of 2023, Njål was forced to start over, prioritizing quality of product over profit and growth. He got rid of all of his team, downsized to just the 20 best homes, hired at CTO and spent a year working on a tech product that would help him scale, but this time better. He is now also the founder of Proptonomy, an AI-driven operations platform built to solve the challenges he encountered while scaling and his property management company is doing better than ever.  In this episode of the Pillow Talk Sessions Podcast, Njål's shares his story. This is not a straightforward success story, and in today's interview, he shares all the lessons he learned from starting, failing, and restarting Heimby, going from catastrophic failure to building a completely different, AI-driven approach to hospitality. The conversation explores: • Why so many short-term rental operators hit a ceiling when they try to scale • The operational mistakes that nearly brought Heimby down • Why quality and process matter more than chasing margins • The lessons learned from rebuilding a company from the ground up • How AI is being used to streamline maintenance, onboarding, and day-to-day operations • Why technology can become a competitive moat in property management • The changing relationship between operators and property owners Njål challenges some of the industry's assumptions. While many operators view relationships as their primary competitive advantage, Njål argues that technology and operational excellence may ultimately prove more scalable. He also makes the case that owners should take greater responsibility for the performance of their own assets, rather than relying on operators to absorb every problem. What emerges throughout the conversation is a picture of an industry wrestling with complexity. Short-term rentals have often been built on hospitality principles, but as portfolios grow, logistics, systems and operational discipline become increasingly important. Looking ahead, Njål's focus is on helping other operators avoid the mistakes he made. Through both Heimby and Proptonomy, he is exploring how technology, process, and accountability can help property managers scale without sacrificing quality. 🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear how Njål Eliasson went from rapid growth to operational collapse and back again — and what his experience reveals about the future of short-term rental management. Njål Elliasson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/njaleliasson/?locale=en_US [https://www.linkedin.com/in/njaleliasson/?locale=en_US] Heimby LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/heimby-no/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/heimby-no/]Heimby website: https://www.heimby.no/ [https://www.heimby.no/] Proptonomy LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/proptonomy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/proptonomy/]Poptonomy website: https://proptonomy.ai/ [https://proptonomy.ai/] Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions Jessica Gillingham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagillingham/?originalSubdomain=uk] is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide [https://abodeworldwide.com/], a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality [https://www.koganpage.com/business-and-management/tech-enabled-hospitality-9781398620285], a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

How Mollie's is Running Hospitality Like a High Street Retailer - With Matt Bell, Mollie's Motels

What does it take to build a hospitality brand that delivers genuine quality at a budget price point? Matt Bell is the Managing Director of Mollie's, a design-led motel and diner concept with properties in Oxford, Bristol, and Manchester. With nearly two decades in independent hospitality, Matt brings a rare mix of operational rigour and brand instinct to everything Mollie's does. In this episode, Matt breaks down the philosophy behind the brand — why budget doesn't have to mean boring, and how Mollie's is building what he calls a value-lux proposition. Great design, thoughtful food, and a deeply human guest experience, all at an accessible price point.exclusive to the luxury end of the hospitality chain.  The conversation gets into: * What it means to run a hospitality brand like a retailer — and where that analogy breaks * Why technology should remove friction without replacing warmth, and how Mollie's walks that line * The three-part test every decision at Mollie's gets held against: guest satisfaction, financial viability, and team performance * Why Mollie's embraces failure, iterates fast, and doesn't wait for perfect * How a young brand thinks about scale — and the discipline required to get there What makes Mollie's worth paying attention to is the clarity of thinking and deliberation. In a sector where budget often means transactional and the bare minimum, Matt and his team are making a deliberate case that the guest experience and the price point don't have to trade off against each other. The design, the diner, the technology, the people — each one is chosen to pull in the same direction. Matt is also clear about what technology should and shouldn't do. At Mollie's, it's an enabler — centralising expertise, reducing friction, and freeing up the floor team to focus entirely on the guest in front of them. The human side of the experience is non-negotiable, and the technology is there to protect it, not replace it. Looking ahead, Matt sees Mollie's growing through discipline. A standardised, refined product that can scale quickly, into locations with the right blend of corporate and leisure demand. The goal is a brand guests actively seek out — not just somewhere reliable to stop, but somewhere they actually want to be. 🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear how Matt Bell and the team at Mollie's are building a hospitality brand where great design, smart operations, and genuine warmth are designed to work together, not compete. #Hospitality #HospitalityTech #PillowTalkSessions Explore related industry analysis and strategic perspectives: https://abodeworldwide.com/news-insights/ [https://abodeworldwide.com/news-insights/] Website: https://www.pillowtalksessions.com/ [https://www.pillowtalksessions.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pillowtalksessionspodcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/pillowtalksessionspodcast/] Tech-Enabled Hospitality: https://techenabledhospitality.com/ [https://techenabledhospitality.com/]  Matt Bell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcrbell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcrbell/] Mollie’s Motels: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mollies/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mollies/]  Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions Jessica Gillingham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagillingham/?originalSubdomain=uk] is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide [https://abodeworldwide.com/], a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality [https://www.koganpage.com/business-and-management/tech-enabled-hospitality-9781398620285], a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

How CitizenM Mastered Hospitality Automation with Mike Rawson (Formerly CitizenM)

Mike Rawson spent seven years as CIO of CitizenM, one of the most tech-forward hotel brands in the world. His biggest lesson? Technology comes last. In the latest episode of Pillow Talk Sessions, Mike joins me to break down what most hotels are getting wrong about automation and how CitizenM built an NPS score good enough to catch Marriott's attention. His belief: you shouldn't reach for technology until you understand the real requirement, the business value it will bring, and most fundamentally, the people around it. In this episode, Mike shares with me: * Why the speed of AI innovation is making decision-making so difficult for operators right now * How most operators are currently stuck between paralysis and poor decisions * The compliance, governance and control conversation nobody in hospitality is having — and why that's going to hurt * How AI, done right, frees people for the moments that actually move NPS * What Mike's ideal hotel would look like if he were starting from scratch in 2026 #HospitalityTech #CitizenM #HotelTech #PillowTalkSessions Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions Jessica Gillingham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagillingham/?originalSubdomain=uk] is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide [https://abodeworldwide.com/], a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality [https://www.koganpage.com/business-and-management/tech-enabled-hospitality-9781398620285], a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

The Rise of Agentic AI in Hospitality with Tim Major (Operto)

In this episode of Pillow Talk Sessions, Tim Major, CEO of Operto, joins host Jessica Gillingham to explain how agentic AI is shifting hospitality from automation to autonomous execution. Through Operto One, Operto is building an AI workforce capable of performing operational and marketing tasks, optimizing performance, and driving outcomes across hotel systems. The conversation explores what this shift means for hotel teams, guest experience, and business performance. While AI offers significant potential, most hotels face a fundamental challenge. Data readiness. Without structured, accurate content, AI systems struggle to deliver reliable results. Tim outlines how hotels can begin adopting AI in a controlled, practical way, focusing on high-impact areas like direct bookings and operational efficiency. Key themes explored: What agentic AI means for hospitality operations Why direct booking optimization is a key AI opportunity How hotel teams will evolve into hybrid human-AI workforces The importance of ethical, consent-based data use Why structured data is critical for AI performance How hotels can approach AI adoption without falling into hype For hospitality leaders, this episode provides a clear view of what AI will actually change, and what foundations must be in place to make it work. #HospitalityTech #AIinHospitality #AgenticAI #FutureOfWork #HotelTech #PillowTalkSessions Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions Jessica Gillingham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagillingham/?originalSubdomain=uk] is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide [https://abodeworldwide.com/], a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality [https://www.koganpage.com/business-and-management/tech-enabled-hospitality-9781398620285], a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.

Privacy, Safety & the Future of Rentals with Nils Mattisson (Minut)

In this episode of Pillow Talk Sessions, Nils Mattisson, CEO & Co-Founder of Minut, explains how privacy-first technology is solving one of hospitality’s most complex challenges. Balancing guest privacy with host security. Minut developed a system that detects events such as noise, overcrowding, and smoking without recording or storing audio. This approach builds trust while enabling operators to maintain control over their assets. The conversation expands into broader industry shifts, including the convergence of short-term rentals, student housing, and senior living, all of which are adopting similar technologies and service expectations. At the same time, upcoming EU and UK regulations are expected to reshape supply, pricing, and operational strategies across the market. Key themes explored: How privacy-first monitoring builds trust between hosts and guests Why asset classes are converging across hospitality and living sectors The impact of new EU and UK short-term rental regulations How AI and automation are transforming guest experience and operations Why guest safety remains an underdeveloped area in hospitality The future of building-level monitoring and operational intelligence For hospitality and real estate leaders, this episode highlights a critical shift. The next generation of operations will be defined by how well technology balances privacy, safety, and efficiency. #HospitalityTech #PropTech #ShortStay #DigitalTransformation #GuestSafety #PillowTalkSessions Meet the host of Pillow Talk Sessions Jessica Gillingham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagillingham/?originalSubdomain=uk] is the Founder and CEO of Abode Worldwide [https://abodeworldwide.com/], a strategic public relations agency dedicated to elevating the profile of transformative technology solutions in global hospitality, lodging, and rental living. An established industry thought leader, Jessica is a frequent conference speaker and author of Tech-Enabled Hospitality [https://www.koganpage.com/business-and-management/tech-enabled-hospitality-9781398620285], a new book exploring the innovations shaping the sector.