Matt Bell, Managing Director at Mollie’s, shares his perspective on how building a tech stack from the ground up enabled meaningful innovation at their soon-to-launch Manchester site. From shifting attitudes towards technology to the value of engaging with solution providers, Matt reflects on the changing role of tech in hospitality and what he’s most looking forward to exploring at HT360.

Mollie’s Manchester is set to open in December, how did building your tech stack from scratch allow you to innovate?

Starting with a blank canvas gave us the rare opportunity to assess the current environment with fresh eyes, then build a tech stack aligned with our core business needs. It meant we weren’t constrained by legacy systems or outdated thinking, the barriers to change were significantly lower.

That’s the real shift we’re now seeing across the tech landscape, especially with the rise of open APIs. You can design a modular tech stack that’s genuinely greater than the sum of its parts. It’s about selecting best-in-class applications and integrating them in a way that serves your specific goals.

While we began with that freedom, innovation didn’t stop there. Because our system is modular by design, we’ve continued to evolve it. Swapping out components or introducing new tools is a relatively seamless process. That flexibility has been key to driving ongoing innovation at pace.

How has technology changed the hospitality landscape?

Technology now touches every part of our lives, and hospitality is no exception. It brings a tremendous opportunity to reimagine how the industry operates, one that fully embraces tech to enhance, not replace, the guest experience.

For a long time, there was a degree of scepticism around technology in hospitality. It was often seen as being at odds with the human, service-led heart of the industry. But brands like CitizenM have helped change that perception. They’ve shown that when used well, technology can be a powerful enabler of better hospitality, streamlining operations, elevating service, and delivering more seamless, personalised experiences.

What are you most looking forward to exploring or learning at HT360?

What I’m most looking forward to is seeing how individual tech companies are approaching the challenges they’ve identified. Each one brings its own perspective on where the opportunities lie and what problems are worth solving.

It’s always valuable to engage directly with providers to understand not just the solutions they’ve built, but the thinking behind them, what inspired the innovation, what gaps they’ve spotted, and where they believe real change can happen.

Meet operators and industry leaders just like Matt at Hospitality Tech360 (HT360), launching 30 March - 01 April 2026 at Excel London as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week.  

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