Alumni from the Rady School of Management share how they used their degrees to disrupt their industries to bring innovative ideas, products and programs to the market.
Richard Castle – The Future of Hospitality Management
When booking a vacation or business trip, consumers want things to run smoothly. From check in to check out, hotel staff work tirelessly to ensure the needs of guests are not only met, but exceeded. But how do hotel operations ensure everything about a guest’s stay is as perfect as possible? Enter Cloudbeds, a company developed by Richard Castle (MBA ‘13) and Adam Harris.
Cloudbeds provides hospitality software that helps independent operators run their properties’ operations. The Cloudbeds system provides a variety of services, including the software the property uses to check people in, manage reservations, run important reports, distribute inventory and more.
Thanks to the internet, travelers have the technology at their fingertips to book accommodations anywhere in the world. Thanks to Cloudbeds, booking is easier for travelers and managing operations is easier for providers. The streamlined platform is making waves in the industry – Cloudbeds programs are used by tens of thousands of properties in more than 100 countries to help properties generate more reservations and provide a better guest experience.
“Powerful property management and channel management software was previously only available to the largest hotel brands in the world,” Castle said. “Cloudbeds provides a flexible, cost-effective software solution that helps independent properties navigate an ever-changing industry.”
Castle’s time at the Rady School of Management was integral to the creation of Cloudbeds. From an emphasis on innovation and creative thinking to courses dedicated to providing insight on starting a business, Castle credits the Rady School for helping his business interrupt the hospitality industry.
“As Cloudbeds grows, the skills that I acquired at Rady continue to apply and I feel that I’m continuously reflecting on all of my coursework, faculty lectures, and conversations with my fellow alumni.”