Roger Franke is currently the Vice President and CIO at Aramark Destinations, bringing extensive experience from previous roles at Xanterra Travel Collection, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Aramark and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. He earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Roger has made a significant contribution to the industry through a robust skill set in Team Building, Consulting, Operations, Budgeting and more.

Please share your journey over the years in the industry and mention your key roles and responsibilities at your organization.

I am currently the vice president and CIO at Aramark Destinations. I embarked on my journey in the casino industry, working in the vendor sector to support casinos before transitioning to roles among them. I have engaged with renowned organizations like Bellagio and Beau Rivage for Mirage Resorts in Las Vegas. I was also involved with the hospitality industry, serving the second tenure at Aramark for 20 years. Throughout my career, I have worked with national and state parks, particularly in remote and unique locations.

What are some of the major challenges that the CIOs are facing today?

I have encountered two major challenges in the industry - labor shortage and accessibility of AI. We all know how AI has taken the world by storm, opening up numerous opportunities. However, the locations where we work in numerous national and state parks have bandwidth constraints for business operations and guest services. This results in subpar internet access as there is very little scope to explore the implications of AI and automation.

What are the trends or strategies the CIOs need to implement to mitigate these challenges?

I believe we should prioritize internal education before seeking new talent externally. First, we need to strengthen the base by investing in the growth of existing employees to bridge every prevailing knowledge gap in the industry. This leads to sustainability and talent retention, which helps prevent pricing challenges caused by external hiring.

“We prioritize flexibility and adaptability in the ever-evolving world of technology, embracing innovation and receptiveness to serve our guests and clients. Our premise for innovation is set on understanding the needs of every individual.”

Is there any recent project initiative that you have been a part of and you were successful in implementing?

Recognizing the prevailing challenges, we have started working on supplementing bandwidth through non-traditional opportunities. The other area of focus is automation since there is a labor shortage. We are working on automating tasks by using technology that can seamlessly fulfil our client’s expectations.  It is important to have employees in the hospitality industry, but we have to be creative and look at options to fulfill the needs of our guests and operations.  

How do you envision the industry's future in a couple of years, and how should CIOs adapt to the changes?

I think we need to be more flexible and open to changes to best serve the needs of business. In the fast-paced world of technology, it is important to emphasize the need for constant innovation and responsibility for technological changes for better outcomes.

What advice or suggestions would you like to impart to your fellow CIOs?

The only advice I want to give to my fellow peers is to be an active listener before becoming a good speaker. This will help you better analyze the business landscape and explore opportunities. You should ensure that you are heard and seen as a partner and a leader.