US: Boom, an artificial intelligence [AI] platform for the short-term rental sector, has appointed Hilton’s former president of global operations and development as chairman of the company’s newly launched advisory board.
Ian Carter, who is also currently chairman at Watches of Switzerland and at Eatly, spent 15 years in the role at Hilton, where he was responsible for the company’s expansion into new markets. He is also credited for being part of the team that took Hilton Worldwide private and then public in 2013.
Carter brings over three and a half decades of senior experience in the hospitality, retail and luxury sectors across the United States and the UK. He has significant non-executive experience having served on several boards in both countries, including Burberry Group PLC between 2007 and 2019.
He joins Boom as it prepares for rapid growth in the coming months to meet rising demand for innovative AI solutions in the short-term rental market. As chairman of the advisory board, he will play a critical role in guiding the development and execution of the firm’s business strategies, driving growth and enhancing its market position.
Carter said: “Boom’s impact on the STR sector and beyond will be nothing short of transformational, and I am delighted to join at such a pivotal moment in the company’s growth.
“I also look forward to welcoming other members to Boom’s advisory board over the coming months. This is an exciting time for Boom, and I am thrilled to be leading the charge with Shahar and the team as we move forward into a new era of AI-powered innovation, efficiency and scalability,” he added.
Shahar Goldboim, founder and CEO of Boom, said: “Appointing Ian to lead our advisory board is Boom’s most significant milestone to date. His unparalleled experience and expertise will be critical in our mission to revolutionise the short-term rental sector with cutting-edge technology.
“AI-driven tools like Boom are already enabling property managers to automate a huge range of processes, tasks, and decisions across large portfolios – all while using their existing PMS platforms. This means managers and owners can run their businesses with fewer employees than ever before, freeing up headspace for them to focus on the strategic, high-level thinking that really matters,” he added.
Carter is also a former president of young people’s charity, the Dame Maureen Thomas Foundation, a former director on the boards of Visit California and Visit Florida, and a former chair of the International Tourism Partnership.
Boom’s latest strategic hire comes after the firm last month announced that Chris Mills, the former vice president of sales at Rented, had been appointed to the company’s executive team.
Launched in 2023, Boom is an AI-driven tool that sits over the top of a property manager’s existing property management software [PMS]. It acts as a ‘virtual workforce’ that automates day-to-day decision-making, freeing up time and headspace for property managers, who can instead focus on strategy and portfolio growth.
The tool automatically coordinates check-ins, responds to guest queries, schedules and predicts maintenance tasks and repairs, and takes care of accounting – all autonomously and without the input of a human property manager.
