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About Us

Making Waves in the Hospitality and Lodging Pool: Dive in with Smart Pineapple

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Nurturing Growth in Tourism: Smart Pineapple's Story

The Spark that ignited Smart Pineapple

Smart Pineapple is the brainchild of Kay Walten, a trailblazer in hospitality and tourism and a certified digital marketing professional recognized by both the Digital Marketing Institute and the American Marketing Association.

Journey into the Deep: The Underwater Cave Explorer Turned Digital Maverick

Kay’s journey is as diverse as it is fascinating. She was an underwater cave explorer, an early influencer for the Riviera Maya, and an early adopter of internet technology. Her entrepreneurial spirit and visionary ideas led her to build an online vacation rental and travel service in 1996, long before the idea was mainstream, paving the way for platforms like Airbnb and TripAdvisor.

Unpacking the Suitcase of Smarts

After successfully building and selling her venture, Kay continued to foster her passion for the tourism and hospitality industry. With a Master's Degree in Travel and Tourism, Kay serves as an adjunct professor for Temple University's School of Sports, Travel, and Hospitality Management, sharing her extensive knowledge and experience.

Smart Pineapple: Igniting Smaller Businesses

Today, Kay channels her experience and digital marketing prowess into Smart Pineapple. This online platform is a transformative hub that provides upskilling services for smaller businesses in the often underserved tourism and hospitality sector. Kay's goal? To ignite these businesses with the tools, resources, and skills they need to not only survive, but thrive in a fiercely competitive marketplace.

"As a small business owner in hospitality and tourism, I have walked in your shoes, fins, flip-flops, and boots."

Kay Walten— Founder of Smart Pineapple LLC

Our Vision

No Tech Savviness Required

In an age where fresh digital content is necessary, Smart Pineapple is a leading advantage for small hotel owners, vacation rental proprietors, and property managers, making the marketing challenge feel less like a never-ending race. We're your go-to destination for user-friendly, easily accessible tools that take away your marketing and tech stress.

Shaving Off Hours from Your Marketing Tasks

Our goal is to create a complete toolkit serving as a backbone for all your marketing-related needs, making creating content easier and improving productivity. We liberate you to wear your many hats as a proprietor of a small business in accommodations and lodging and a superb host while cutting down on the time you spend struggling with marketing responsibilities.

Fresh and User-Friendly

At Smart Pineapple, we are reshaping digital marketing in hospitality through AI. Whether you manage hotels, vacation rentals, or quaint inns, your marketing journey becomes effortless with just a few clicks. We promise a quick, straightforward, yet potent approach to create a memorable impact. Embark on your journey with us, and let's redefine the digital narrative in hospitality together.
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Our Team

kay walten

Kay Walten

USA

Kay is the visionary behind Smart Pineapple, has passionately championed small lodging businesses. With adventures from underwater explorations in Mexico to pioneering digital innovations, her foresight predates giants like Airbnb. In 1996, she foresaw the digital shift in vacation rentals. An accomplished entrepreneur, Kay holds a Master's in Travel and Tourism and teaches as an adjunct professor at Temple University.

Pam Mudley

Pamela Mudley

South Africa

From the southern tip of Africa, Pam brings a wealth of experience. Hailing from Cape Town, her three-decade-long journey in strategic planning and business development is nothing short of impressive. Renowned for her results-oriented approach, Pam seamlessly blends innovative thinking with a deep-rooted commitment to sustainable tourism, always aiming to bolster a destination's global footprint.

Catalina Dragomir

Catalina Dragomir

romania

On the technological front, Catalina Dragomi, our tech maestro from Romania, is the force behind Smart Pineapple's state-of-the-art, AI-driven interface. Her relentless efforts ensure the platform remains at the forefront of technological advancements, guaranteeing users an unparalleled, tailored experience.

Vince Stoyanov

BULGARIA

From the heart of the Balkans, Vince is laser focused on making the world a better place.

Originally from Bulgaria, he spend a decade honing his problem-solving and people skills across many cultures and environments. Renowned for his outstanding communication and marketing automation abilities, Vince blends best of both worlds: Art and Science.

Smart Pineapple: Our Commitment to Positive Change and Growth

At Smart Pineapple, we believe in the power of unity, diversity, and purposeful progress. Our mission isn't just to transform businesses, but to touch lives and communities, fostering an environment where everyone can prosper. We proudly present our commitment to shaping our path and vision as a change-maker in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Commitments That Drive Us Forward

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a world where everyone's voice is heard, and every perspective is respected. We believe in each individual's potential and value diversity's richness. In our platform, we actively work to break down barriers, celebrate the strength in our differences, and provide equal opportunities. We proudly work with women and the other minority groups who form a powerful part of the hospitality workforce and aim to elevate their roles and recognition in this industry.

Career Growth and Learning

Our company is driven by an unyielding commitment to learning and growth. We enable smaller businesses to keep pace with the rapidly changing world and lead the change. We provide cutting-edge tools, resources, and upskilling services that empower these businesses to thrive in a fiercely competitive marketplace. Career development isn't just a part of our business; it's the core of our vision.

Social Impact

Smart Pineapple isn't just about business growth but community growth. We empower independent hotels and holiday properties to positively impact their communities, creating ripple effects of prosperity and well-being. We don't just transform businesses; we change lives and societies by providing tools for economic empowerment and societal improvement.

Environmental Sustainability

We understand that our actions today will shape the world of tomorrow. We are committed to promoting environmental sustainability and reducing the ecological footprint of the hospitality industry. We look to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and their sustainability development goals (SDGS) as benchmarks. We equip businesses with the tools and knowledge to make sustainable choices and implement green practices. We believe in a future where success and sustainability go hand in hand.

Fruitful Progress

Our name, Smart Pineapple, reflects our vision of a bright, vibrant, and sustainable future. Like a pineapple that stands tall and radiates warmth, we aspire to be a beacon of positive change and growth for underserved businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector. We are Smart Pineapple and committed to a future where everyone, everywhere, has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and make a difference.