Editorial Board   Guest Author

Mr. Meghji

Karim Meghji

Head Of Product, BookingSuite (USA), Inc.

Karim Meghji is a passionate executive and entrepreneur with 20 years of experience building successful products and businesses in consumer software and online services. Among other specialties, his areas of expertise include user interface and user experience management, online marketing and customer acquisition, technical operations management, and strategic, business and product planning. Most recently, he was Chief Product Officer and VP of Engineering at buuteeq, Inc., a leading software provider in the hospitality industry. Upon its acquisition by the Priceline Group, it became integrated into the Booking.com family of companies, and Karim took on his current position as the Head of Product at BookingSuite (USA), Inc. In both of these roles, he has led the effort to build cloud-based SaaS software and related services that help global accommodations providers of every size build an online presence, increase bookings, and improve everyday workflow. Prior to his current role, Karim was Vice President of Products and Engineering at Yapta, an early-stage, venture-funded startup focused on helping leisure and corporate travelers save money. At Yapta, he led a major B2C to B2B product pivot and delivered MasterCard PriceAssure to market, a PCI-compliant web-based service for price tracking. Before his role at Yapta, he founded and bootstrapped his own startup, HelpHive, which made it easier for homeowners to find trusted recommendations for local home service professionals. Early in his career, Karim spent 10 years at Real Networks where he served as a key member of the executive team in various product leadership roles, including on Rhapsody (Real's music subscription service), on Real's advertising business and on their flagship RealPlayer product. Karim holds a BS in Computer Science from San Jose State University.

Please visit www.suite.booking.com for more information.

Mr. Meghji can be contacted at 206-910-1890 or karim.meghji@booking.com

Coming up in May 2020...

Eco-Friendly Practices: Creative Innovation

Being eco-friendly is no longer a fad. It is an urgent planetary need and hotels are actively doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint by implementing sustainable, green practices. In addition to the goodwill derived from doing the right thing, hotels are also realizing the benefits to their business. A large percentage of Millennials expect hotels to be eco-friendly and will only patronize those properties that are proudly conforming. Consequently, more hotels are realizing that sustainability is a key element in a successful branding strategy. In addition, going green can lead to a more profitable bottom line, as savings on electricity, water and cleaning materials can add up. Also, there are other advantages that come with being an eco-friendly business, such as government subsidies and tax and loan incentives. As a result, many hotels are finding innovative ways to integrate eco-friendly practices into their business. Geo-thermal energy systems, along with energy-from-waste systems, are being used to heat and cool the property. Passive solar panels, green roofs, natural lighting and natural ventilation strategies also assist in energy conservation. Low-flow water systems and plumbing fixtures make a contribution, as does eco-friendly hardwood flooring, and energy efficient televisions and appliances throughout the property. In addition, some hotels have implemented in-room recycling programs, and only provide all-natural, personal care items. One hotel has actually constructed a bee-keeping operation on their grounds. Not only is this good for the bees but the hotel also produces products from the operation which they sell. This kind of creative innovation also holds enormous appeal to guests. The May issue of the Hotel Business Review will document what some hotels are doing to integrate sustainable practices into their operations and how they are benefiting from them.


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