Cloudbeds appoints two AI and ML experts to c-suite

Amit Popat and Nikhil Shah will take on the firm's most senior technical roles

Hospitality management technology provider Cloudbeds has announced two new major hires.

The technology specialist has appointed AI and Machine Learning experts Amit Popat as the new head of machine learning and Nikhil Shah as its new head of data science.

It hoped the appointments will be the key to developing "unparalleled applications" for the hotel industry.

The investment in artificial intelligence by the firm is to improve its offerings for customers.

Popat and Shah, both mathematicians who met at the University of Cambridge, bring a wealth of experience in leveraging AI and machine learning to translate advanced analytics into tangible value for hoteliers. 

Their expertise in applying causal inference to hospitality data will combine well with Cloudbeds’ extensive data sets.

Popat is a machine-learning expert with a career that has so far seen him hold senior roles at Valtech and London Town Group. 

He went on to establish his own AI software consultancy firm, where he pioneered cutting-edge AI analytics and marketing solutions for FTSE-250 companies and multinational giants such as easyJet, Shell Energy, and Herbert Smith Freehills.

Meanwhile, Shah holds a PhD in large-scale computational optimisation from Imperial College London. 

He went on to co-found S-Cube, an award-winning energy tech spin-out from his PhD. 

He has since worked with global industry giants such as Chevron, Woodside and Petrobras, spearheading impactful research and practical applications in the upstream energy sector. 

Together, Popat and Shah co-founded the AI analytics and e-marketing platform Hotel Cloud in 2020, an intelligence platform designed to maximise revenue at every stage of the guest journey. 

Their combined expertise will now fuel Cloudbeds’ vision of developing the industry’s most comprehensive, intelligent platform serving hoteliers.

Adam Harris, co-founder and CEO of Cloudbeds, said: "The hospitality industry has long sought a solution to break down departmental silos, enabling revenue, marketing, and operations teams to work together collaboratively to drive profitability across the entire hotel. 

"Amit and Nikhil are two of the brightest minds in AI and ML, and they’re helping Cloudbeds achieve just that. 

"These individuals are scary brilliant, and they know hospitality. All we have to do is give them a place to thrive with the resources they need and plenty of snacks.

"We are more than excited about the applications this will have for our hotelier customers."