Adam Seskis, CEO of RMS, joined us at HITEC 2025 to talk about North American growth, the power of embedded payments, and how AI is transforming, not replacing, hospitality roles.

A new chapter with Advent Partners

Seskis started by explaining the recent partnership with Advent Partners, a private equity firm based in Melbourne. They saw the opportunity for RMS to really scale, particularly in North America, he said. With 7,000 properties globally and 600 in North America alone, RMS is relaunching its brand in the region with a dedicated sales and marketing team, aiming to triple its footprint in the coming years.

The company’s founder, still active on the board after 40 years, remains a key contributor to the product roadmap. It’s about keeping that product DNA alive while scaling globally, said Seskis.

Embedded payments: saving time and cutting fraud

RMS is now processing $100 million per month through its embedded payment solution. Reconciliation between PMS and card acquirers was a challenge, Seskis noted. We built a seamless, embedded solution that saves hotels hours of admin every day, reduces fraud and chargebacks, and eliminates drop cards.

By integrating Adyen as the payment gateway, RMS offers global capability with local ease. It’s a win on multiple fronts, he said.

Serving 7,000 properties, from RV parks to luxury resorts

When asked how RMS can serve such a wide variety of properties, from boutique hotels to RV parks and large resorts, Seskis emphasized tailored usability. Under the hood, it’s a complex, powerful system, he explained. But for the user, we deliver only what they need, specific interfaces and workflows for each vertical.

RMS organizes user groups by segment to stay close to customers’ needs and constantly adapts as travel habits and guest expectations evolve. The key is to stay ahead, said Seskis.

AI: not about replacement, but enablement

With AI dominating the HITEC conversation, Seskis sees the technology as an enabler, not a threat. We’re not replacing people, he emphasized. We’re building leverage. RMS focuses AI development on three areas:

1. Revenue optimization – Let AI handle routine pricing decisions while revenue managers focus on strategic context.
2. Operational efficiency – Use AI for admin tasks, freeing up staff to spend more time with guests.
3. Personalized guest experiences – Enhance service quality using AI insights, not at the expense of human touch.

Humans must stay in the loop, he said. It’s about spending less time on repetitive tasks and more on what only humans can do, understand context, strategy, and care.

The evolving skillset of hospitality teams

While AI will not eliminate jobs, Seskis believes it will change who gets hired and how teams work. The profile of employees will evolve. People will need to know how to use these tools effectively. That’s where the shift is coming.

About RMS

RMS is a leading hospitality platform trusted by over 7,000 businesses across 70 countries and all hospitality verticals. Designed to streamline operations, elevate the guest experience, and foster sustainable business growth, RMS connects people, technology, and places. With a comprehensive suite of tools and real-time insights, RMS empowers operators of hotels, serviced apartments, short-term rentals and campgrounds to thrive in an ever-evolving and competitive industry. Discover more at www.rmscloud.com.