Career Episodes

In this episode, Kevin Kelleher , a former hotel leader who is now an account manager at Actabl , shares a surprising insight about leadership that anyone in hospitality can learn from. Recommended next episode with Kevin: The 70% Rule: Why Hospitality Leaders Grow Faster by Stepping Beyond Their Comfort Zone A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summ...

In this episode, Kevin Kelleher , a former hotel leader who is now an account manager at Actabl , shares what he's learned about growth in hospitality. Recommended next episode with Kevin: From Heart of House to Leadership: Lessons From My Journey to Hospitality Excellence A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each...

In this episode, Kevin Kelleher shares what he's learned along his career journey so far. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free . Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube , LinkedIn , and Instagram . If you want to adv...

In this episode, Emily Goldfischer, founder and editor-in-chief of hertelier, interviews Hazel Hagans Farris, Le Meridien Washington, D.C., The Madison. Hazel shares her unconventional journey from studying chemistry to becoming a leader in the hospitality industry, tackling leadership challenges, and championing women in hospitality. In this, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (00:21) Hazel's background and career shift (01:17) First role at W Atlanta Buckhead (02:46) Gradual realization of pa...

In this episode, Anna Blue, a seasoned leader in hospitality and beyond, shares her insights on navigating career transitions, the importance of finding purpose, and the power of saying "I don't know yet." We cover: (00:00) Intro: Layoffs in the U.S. and career transitions (00:32) Anna's own career transition (03:09) Being "highly employable" (04:50) Learning from others' experiences (05:40) Balancing work and personal life (07:07) Finding excitement in new opportunities (09:17) Career a...

In this episode, Steven Marais, Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, shares insights on challenges and strategies for recruiting and retaining talent in the hospitality industry, including the importance of creating career paths and a fun work environment. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode...

In this episode, Steven Marais, Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, shares his journey from bellman to VP, the importance of culture and opportunity in career growth, and insights into leading through change in the hospitality industry. (00:00) Introduction (00:32) Steven's career journey from Bellman to VP (01:47) How Steven got started in hospitality (02:33) Career opportunities in the hospitality industry (03:09) Steven's current role as VP of Rooms (04:04) The inte...

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie, founder of Hospitality Daily and Head of Marketing at Actabl, shares more takeaways from the recent Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, highlighting the opportunity in hotel operations today. Also check out: Control What You Can: How Top Hoteliers Are Navigating Chaos in 2025 (Hunter Hotel Investment Conference Insights) A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest sug...

In this episode, Sara Masterson, President of Olympia Hospitality, shares what photography taught her with our host, Nancy Mendelson. More with Sara: Learning, Leading, and Letting Go: Sara Masterson’s Approach to Hospitality Leadership Why Staying in One Company Can Actually Accelerate Your Hospitality Career Mastering Hotel Onboarding: Olympia’s People-First Strategy for Seamless Transitions A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message her...

In this episode, Sara Masterson, President of Olympia Hospitality, shares what she's learned about the value of tenure with our host and career correspondent, Nancy Mendelson. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily a...

In this episode, Eva Klausner, Director of Guest Experience at Numa, shares how she and her company pushed through tough times to succeed. This episode is hosted by our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith, founder of MorningStar GX. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day,...

Josiah Mackenzie shares what he's learned about influence in hospitality and beyond. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Da...

In this episode, Abdul Baaghil, co-founder of Harvest Cotton Tail, shares what he's learned about recharging. This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern, the leading marketing platform built for hotels. With their fully managed email solution, hoteliers can re-engage past guests, drive direct bookings, and keep more revenue in their pocket through Sojern’s transparent pay-for-performance commission model. Learn more at Sojern.com. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitalit...

In this episode, Sarah Dandashy, an award-winning concierge and thought leader in travel and hospitality, shares insights from her TEDx talk, "The Secret to Making Someone Feel Special," and discusses the importance of genuine connection. Watch Sarah's TEDx talk: The Secret to Making Someone Feel Special See our other episode with Sarah: Mastering Media: How I Became An In-Demand Travel & Hospitality Expert For TV, Newspapers & Social Media Watch Sarah's series with Anthony Melchiorri and Cur...

In this episode, Emily Goldfischer, founder and editor of hertelier, interviews Candice D'Cruz, Vice President of Luxury Brands at Hilton. Read on hertelier - Maximizing Your Mentorship Experience: A Guide For Mentees If you missed it, check out Personal News + Changes Coming to Hospitality Daily A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actiona...

In this episode, Marc Schwarz, Director of Service at Thrive Hospitality, shares what he's learned about a life and career in hospitality. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and ...

In this episode, Leigh Silkunas, Founder and CEO of 1AX Consulting, takes us through her journey in hospitality—from the childhood moment that sparked her love for the industry to her unexpected pivot from revenue management to digital marketing. She shares invaluable insights on career growth, the power of mentorship, and how embracing change led her to build a consulting firm that has helped over 500 hotels maximize their digital strategies. Whether you're looking to advance your career or ret...

In this episode, Michiel Bakker, President and CEO of the Culinary Institute of America, shares why he's so excited about shaping the future of culinary and hospitality education. This episode is brought to you with support from Shiji Group, the global hospitality technology leader that helps hotels streamline operations and transform guest experiences. Recognized by their clients for their best-in-class solutions and exceptional service and support, Shiji Group is trusted by leading brands wor...

In this episode, Michiel Bakker, President and CEO of the Culinary Institute of America, shares his journey through the hospitality industry, pivotal career moments, and the lessons he's learned along the way. This episode is brought to you with support from Shiji Group, the global hospitality technology leader that helps hotels streamline operations and transform guest experiences. Recognized by their clients for their best-in-class solutions and exceptional service and support, Shiji Group ...

In this episode, Steve Turk, founder of The Hospitality Mentor, shares insights from his new book "Hospitality Unlocked." Listen to Steve's conversation with Santiago Rodriguez. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the...

In this episode, Michael Levie shares his journey from a young hospitality enthusiast to a leader (including co-founding citizenM), his experiences with technology in hospitality, and his advice for aspiring hoteliers. This episode is brought to you with support from Shiji Group, the global hospitality technology leader that helps hotels streamline operations and transform guest experiences. Recognized by their clients for their best-in-class solutions and exceptional implementation support, Sh...

In this episode, Sean Murphy, General Manager at The Bower, shares his inspiring career journey in hospitality, from his beginnings at Ritz-Carlton to leading an independent hotel to Forbes five-star recognition in Mexico. Send Josiah a text Take the Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality survey now to understand how others use AI and the opportunities for you and your hospitality business. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here w...

Listen to Hospitality Daily founder and host Josiah Mackenzie share what he sees as the opportunity for hospitality ahead. Links: Simon Sinek: Start with Why The Power of Hospitality to Bring Us Together How Napa Valley's Tourism Strategy Can Boost Your Hospitality Business - Linsey Gallagher, Visit Napa Valley A Chef's View on Food, Community, and Renewal - Tyler Florence Engineering Training & Mentorship at The Hoxton, Downtown LA Why The Hotel Industry is at a Pivotal Moment - Zach Demuth, ...

In this episode, Guillaume Benezech, Senior Director of Global Brand Management and Marketing for The Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Reserve, shares his journey in luxury hospitality, career transitions, and the mentorship experiences that shaped his leadership style. Send Josiah a text Take my State of Hotel Industry Survey now to get insights on challenges, priorities, and opportunities in hospitality today. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send ...