CEO MONTHLY | Female CEO of the Year Awards 2024 12 lthough she may not have the traditional technology background enjoyed by many leaders in the tech industry, what Tess Mattisson brings to the table is a wealth of experience in the multifaceted hospitality sector. Having witnessed the ins and outs of this dynamic environment over the course of a storied career – which has taken her from being responsible at the Blue Moon Bar in Stockholm, to serving in a variety of management and executive roles for Nordic Choice Hotels (today known as Strawberry) – Tess knows what guests want. Having focused on digitising international hotel chains and groups in previous positions, Tess has made significant leaps in her mission of improving guest experiences through technology since joining Zaplox, which was founded in 2010, in early 2022. Moving from working for big companies with all of the answers to asking the important questions herself was certainly a challenge, but the culture of openness and curiosity that Zaplox operates atop of has allowed for true growth and innovation to be experienced in this field. “While some may see Zaplox as a small player in the sea of giants, I see opportunity. Opportunity to disrupt, to innovate, and to leave a mark on the industry.” One does not have to look very far to see this mark that Zaplox has left on the industry, something achieved by Tess striving to do things nobody else has done before and saying yes to things which initially may seem impossible. Her extensive experience in tech and digitization with various hotel groups has certainly helped set the wheels in motion for this innovation, as those with a deeper understanding of the field could be less likely to disrupt, instead sticking to familiar territory and treading the same old ground. This is far from the case with Zaplox, which has entered into agreements with such industryleading hotel chains as the Radisson Hotel Group, not to mention the series of gamechanging innovations delivered to Strawberry. As an example of this innovation, Strawberry had the first hotel in the world capable of offering guests their room keys through Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. The impact of this cannot be overstated, with this leap ushering in a new era of convenience and eliminating the headaches of traditional key cards. Best Hospitality Guest Innovation CEO 2024: Tess Mattisson Tess Mattisson is Zaplox’s President and CEO, with this innovative SaaS company based in both Sweden and the US delivering a suite of solutions for the likes of hotels, resorts, and casinos, allowing them to enhance guest experiences across stays. From checkin to check-out and everything in between, these SaaS solutions promote seamless digital interactions, allowing discerning enterprises to stay one step ahead of the curve in the everevolving landscape of hospitality today. Exploring what this solution represents concerning both the present and future of the hospitality industry, Tess tells us: “The pace of digital transformation is speeding up, but the real game changer for any hotel isn’t just about adopting the latest technology – it’s about understanding how your guests engage with that technology and why they behave the way they do.” Getting to the root of this is one of Zaplox’s key focus areas and is something made possible by the combined expertise of Tess and her dedicated team. By embracing this collective knowledge, Zaplox is continuing to push the needle and achieve greatness. With a C-suite comprised of 50% women – not as a statement, but because the best person for the job was hired – Zaplox is creating a culture for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background. For Tess: “Business growth is all about getting a group of different individuals in the same room, pointing them in the right direction and encouraging them to use their different perspectives to collectively reach a mission.” “It is so important to understand that true diversity goes beyond merely ticking boxes – it’s about recognising and nurturing talent based on potential. If my former leader had not been brave enough to invest in my potential when I had no experience, I would not be in a position where I could do the same for others today.” A selfless leader who has proven herself to be empowering and insightful in equal measure, Tess Mattisson is an integral part of Zaplox’s ongoing success, and her desire to constantly take the company to that next level has resulted in her being recognised with this well-deserved award, which will only fuel her passion as we move further into 2025. A Contact: Tess Mattisson Web Address: zaplox.com
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