Lodgify appoints Chief AI Officer and new CTO to boost efficiency in vacation rental operations
Lodgify was founded in Barcelona, Spain in 2012 and now has 300 employees working remotely across the world.
Lodgify, the vacation rental platform that empowers hosts with the essential tools to start, manage, and grow their business, announces two key leadership appointments underscoring its commitment to staying at the forefront of the latest innovations to benefit both its customers and internal teams.
Co-founder Marco De Gregorio elevated as first-ever Chief AI Officer
Marco De Gregorio, who served as Chief Technology Officer since the company’s inception in 2012, played a pivotal role in bringing Lodgify’s software and Engineering team to life, which now consists of over 100 Software Developers. He was instrumental in the development of Lodgify’s core products, such as its Website Builder, which enables anyone to create a professional website and accept direct bookings in minutes. To date, Lodgify-powered websites have processed over 2.7 million direct bookings for vacation rentals in more than 100 countries.
In his new role as Chief AI Officer, De Gregorio alongside his team of Machine Learning Engineers will spearhead the integration of artificial intelligence within multiple aspects of the business. His mission is to make the technology accessible to all departments in order to enhance both Lodgify’s industry-leading software as well as its internal team productivity.
“Exploring the immense potential of AI has been a passion of mine for years now, and I’m excited to dedicate myself to taking advantage of its capabilities,” said De Gregorio. “We’re really proud of what we do and look forward to leveraging AI to provide an even better experience to our global community of hosts.”
Lodgify recently launched its first AI-powered product, AI Assistant, a messaging tool that enables hosts to respond to guest inquiries more efficiently, and is actively working on new AI features to further simplify day-to-day tasks.
Adevinta’s Marco Cupidi steps in as Chief Technology Officer
Marco Cupidi, who joined Lodgify in early 2023 as VP of Technology, was previously Engineering Director of Adevinta, the leading European classified ads marketplace, where he was responsible for building the framework for data analysis and technical decision-making for its global market portfolio.
De Gregorio said about his successor, “Cupidi was able to achieve very promising results and demonstrate in practice what he learned during his career as a data-driven technology leader. I have complete confidence that he’ll elevate our technological evolution to new heights in his role as our new CTO.”
“What excited me most about joining Lodgify was its vibrant and dynamic team and their collective willingness to succeed,” said Cupidi. “I saw Lodgify as an opportunity to apply my knowledge, but also learn through trial and error, which was welcomed by my new colleagues.”
In his new role as Lodgify’s Chief Technology Officer, Cupidi’s mission is to enhance product reliability, expedite product development, and solve customer challenges in a faster and more sustainable way.
“Our customers run their entire businesses through our software, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” says Cupidi. “I look forward to building on Lodgify’s already significant contributions in delivering the most effective solution for vacation rental professionals.”
A bright future ahead
With the global short-term rentals market estimated at $250 billion USD each year, Lodgify remains favorably positioned for substantial growth.
Lodgify’s intuitive all-in-one software simplifies the entire process of running a vacation rental so hosts can focus on the guest experience rather than the technical complexities. The company recognizes the importance of multichannel selling and diversifying revenue streams, and offers seamless API integrations with today’s most popular travel booking platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, and more) so hosts can expand their reach and secure bookings from multiple avenues while managing all activity from a single centralized dashboard.
The company’s new leadership structure will enable Lodgify to accelerate its mission to democratize the industry by providing innovative and user-friendly tools to streamline vacation rental management for both professional hosts and enthusiasts alike.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.