This was the core message delivered by David Poprawka, Innovation Strategist at Infor Hospitality, during his 2026 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) session, where he argued that the industry needs a fundamentally different approach to innovation: the moonshot mindset.
The role of the moonshot factory
Poprawka leads what he calls the Infor™ Hospitality’s “moonshot factory”—a space where ideas are explored before they’re safe, ready or fully formed. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s momentum.Why hospitality struggles with innovation
The industry is overwhelmed:
- Too much change
- Too much noise
- Too many promises
- Too many vendors claiming artificial intelligence (AI) will fix everything
When overwhelmed, the human brain shuts down. Innovation stalls.
The moonshot mindset breaks this cycle by focusing on one problem at a time.
Innovation begins with one question
The most dangerous—and most powerful—question in innovation is: “What if?”
This question led Poprawka’s team to explore augmented reality (AR), predictive intelligence and new operational frameworks.
The power of one problem
Poprawka challenged the audience to identify one team in their hotel that works harder than it should—and to commit to solving one problem for that team.
Not a transformation. Not a roadmap. Just one step.
This is how real innovation begins.
The call to action
Next year, Poprawka won’t ask, “What did AI become?”
He’ll ask: “What did you do with it?”
Watch David Poprawka’s full HITEC 2026 session, an exclusive on-demand recording that expands on the moonshot mindset and the future of hospitality innovation.
Continue the HITEC series with the foundational AI philosophy behind modern hotel intelligence in “The Architecture of Intent” and see how AR is transforming frontline-operations in “What If? How AR is redefining hotel operations.”