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The Modern Hotelier
The Modern Hotelier

#281: How to Turn Your Data in Hospitality Magic | with Josh & Dana Ellis

28 May 2026 53:45 David Millili & Steve Carran

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About this episode

How are luxury hotels currently underutilizing guest data, and what opportunities are they missing? 

In this episode, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Josh and Dana Ellis, co-founders of Abra, to explore how AI-powered personalization is transforming the guest experience in hospitality.

From luxury hotels in New York City and Maui to building one of hospitality’s most exciting AI startups, Josh and Dana share the story behind Abra and why they believe personalization is the future of guest loyalty. Dana brings firsthand experience from iconic luxury properties including Four Seasons, Peninsula Hotels, and Relais & Châteaux, while Josh combines expertise in AI, consulting, and mindfulness to help hotels unlock the power of guest data.

The conversation dives deep into:

  • How hotels can deliver true personalized service at scale
  • Why guest data is still one of hospitality’s biggest challenges
  • How team members—from housekeepers to bartenders—play a critical role in personalization
  • Why AI should empower hospitality teams, not replace human connection
  • The importance of creating memorable experiences that drive lifelong guest loyalty

Josh and Dana also share behind-the-scenes insights into building Abra inside a live hotel operation, preparing for the HITEC E20X startup pitch competition, and how hotels can create “hospitality magic” through better data and smarter technology.


Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7UfjHnd4LwQ

This episode is sponsored by Abra Hospitality

Links:
Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danasjaffe/
Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-ellis1126/
Abra Hospitality: https://abrahospitality.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/281

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

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