Key takeaways
- Zukunft Gebucht is an industry talk by DialogShift and RateBoard, hosted by Olga Heuser and Anton von Verschuer.
- Season 1 features four episodes with 15 experts: 13 guests and two hosts.
- A new episode is released every month, free of charge after a one-time registration and available any time after that.
- Episode 1 is available, and episodes 2 to 4 are released on October 6, November 3 and December 1, 2026.
- The idea was born in January 2026 during a ski weekend at the Ganischgerhof in South Tyrol.
How did Zukunft Gebucht come about?
The idea for Zukunft Gebucht wasn’t born in a meeting room. It was born in one of the places where outstanding hospitality happens: during a ski weekend in January 2026 at the Ganischgerhof in South Tyrol.
“We sat together and thought: when the most ambitious minds of the hospitality tech scene come together, such brilliant ideas emerge. Why not turn that into a format that captures exactly this energy?”
That is how Olga Heuser describes the moment the industry talk was born. No scripts, but real thought leaders, controversial discussions and tangible learnings.
How is Zukunft Gebucht different from a webinar?
Zukunft Gebucht takes the industry’s big questions and real points of friction directly to the people who work with them. Hoteliers, thought leaders and industry experts discuss in the studio, openly and with a clear focus on practice. The goal is not more technology, but more entrepreneurial independence, so hosts have time again for what matters most: their guests.
“Zukunft Gebucht is a neutral stage for real exchange and radical practical relevance.”
Who hosts Zukunft Gebucht?
Olga Heuser is founder and CEO of DialogShift, the provider of AI guest communication via chat, phone, email and messaging.
Anton von Verschuer is Chief Commercial Officer at RateBoard, which brings revenue AI to leisure hotels. He spent many years in private hospitality and is looking for truly big ideas and bold makers.
Which episodes are in season 1 of Zukunft Gebucht?
Across four episodes, the first season moves from the industry’s biggest pain point to a strategic vision. 2 hosts, 4 episodes, 15 experts. A new episode is released every month, free of charge after a one-time registration and available any time after that. The episodes are in German.
Episode 1: The art of being different
Available now. From standard processes to a distinctive identity. What makes a hotel so special that guests never forget it, and how do you keep that feeling alive over years and generations?
Guests: Matthias Finkbeiner (Traube Tonbach), Anna Wiesler (Seehotel Wiesler), Armin Biebl (Familotel AG)
Episode 2: The end of the hotel website?
From October 6, 2026. What role does your own website play when guests plan their trips with AI and AI becomes the layer between hotel and guest? And how did one of the guests become the best speaker of OMR 2026 according to ChatGPT, even though he wasn’t there?
Guests: Manuela Machner (AI expert in tourism), Thomas Hefke (formerly Althoff Hotels), Björn Twardy (Brera Serviced Apartments)
Episode 3: How much AI can hospitality take?
From November 3, 2026. The balance between automation and what only people can deliver.
Guests: Tini Diekmann (Hotel Oderberger), Alfons Weiß (Bayerwaldhof), Prof. Dr. Kai Markus Müller (Neurensics)
Episode 4: Rule breakers, hoteliers who think differently
From December 1, 2026. Breaking taboos, new business models and radical rethinking.
Guests: Hannes Lichtmannegger (Berghotel Rehlegg), Mara Frank (Hotel Franks), Domenic Pirchner (Lebe' Apartments), joining remotely as special guest Prof. Dr. Vanessa Borkmann
After a one-time registration, all episodes are available any time. Follow Zukunft Gebucht on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook: @zukunftgebucht
Frequently asked questions
What is Zukunft Gebucht?
Zukunft Gebucht is the industry talk by DialogShift and RateBoard for the hospitality industry. Hoteliers, thought leaders and industry experts discuss the big questions of the industry in the studio, openly and with a focus on practice. You can find all details about the format on the Zukunft Gebucht page.
How much does Zukunft Gebucht cost?
Nothing. All episodes are free of charge and available any time after a one-time registration.
When are the episodes of season 1 released?
Episode 1 is available, episode 2 is released on October 6, 2026, episode 3 on November 3, 2026 and episode 4 on December 1, 2026. The article What makes a hotel distinctive when the fifth star no longer does summarizes episode 1.
Who are the guests of season 1?
Season 1 has 13 guests, including Matthias Finkbeiner (Traube Tonbach), Anna Wiesler (Seehotel Wiesler), Björn Twardy (Brera Serviced Apartments) and Hannes Lichtmannegger (Berghotel Rehlegg). In episode 4, Prof. Dr. Vanessa Borkmann joins remotely as a special guest.
About the companies
RateBoard
RateBoard develops revenue management software for hotels. The system analyzes booking data, demand and market prices and automatically calculates the best room rates. This helps hotels grow revenue and spend less time on pricing. RateBoard has been on the market for over ten years and is part of the Zucchetti Group.
DialogShift
DialogShift is a Berlin-based software company for AI-powered guest communication in hospitality. With Chat AI, Phone AI, Email AI and Journey Messaging, hotels answer guest requests around the clock on every channel, increase direct bookings and take workload off their teams.
