Strategy Episodes

Robyn Pratt is the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, and in this episode, shares what she's learned about creating value for guests - and streamlining your own work.Enjoyed this? Listen to more episodes with Robyn here.This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. Download our latest research report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsNew to Hospitality Daily? Start here.Want to get my summary and actionable insights from each e...

Robyn Pratt is the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, and in this episode, she shares the process she used to tackle hard problems in hospitality as Vice President of Operational Innovation at Starwood Hotels - an approach that you can use as well.Enjoyed this? Listen to more episodes with Robyn here.This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. Download our latest research report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsNew to Hospitali...

This is part of my research series with Sojern on guest experience today. Download our special report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsIn this episode, I share my thoughts on the importance of online reviews in the hospitality industry and how they can be leveraged to improve guest experience and internal operations. Listen now to learn about:The Evolution of Guest Feedback - How online reviews have transformed the way hotels receive and act on g...

In this episode, Christian de Boer, Managing Director of Jaya House Hotels, shares his insights on the importance of TripAdvisor and other review platforms in the hospitality industry and how his hotel maintains an impeccable reputation.The significance of TripAdvisor (01:07) -Christian discusses the impact of TripAdvisor today.Avoiding negative reviews (03:00)—Jaya House has zero negative reviews, and Christian explains how being on the ground and directly interacting with guests helps...

In this episode, Christian de Boer, Managing Director of Jaya House Hotels, shares how he rethought everything to create and provide a radically guest-focused experience that has earned his hotel a spot in TripAdvisor's top 25 hotels in the world for five consecutive years without a single negative review.Listen now to learn about:The importance of a guest-focused experience - How Christian's approach to hospitality stands out by focusing on taking care of guests in a way that feels intui...

In this episode, Tony Greenberg, co-owner of SingleThread, shares insights into the strategy and unique approach that has helped SingleThread become one of the top hospitality businesses in the world.Tony's perspective on the evolving hospitality economy (01:40) - Learn about the shift from material goods to transformational experiences, and the integration of restaurants and hotels in the hospitality industry.The role of the inn in SingleThread's business model (05:25) - Discover how the in...

What does it take to not only spot an opportunity but to act on it so your hospitality business thrives? In this episode, we learn how that's done by exploring the expansion of Remington Hospitality under the leadership of CEO Sloan Dean. Discover how Sloan and his team identified a significant opportunity in the Caribbean and Latin American markets and executed a successful expansion there in record time.Listen now to learn about:Identifying Market Gaps: Learn how Remington Hospitality...

Sabrina Cendral is a hospitality advisor and strategist and the former senior vice president of marketing and sales for Club Med North America. In this episode, you'll discover the unique aspects that make all-inclusive resorts a preferred choice for guests seeking a hassle-free vacation experience. Sabrina shares her extensive knowledge of the operational complexities, the innovative strategies for enhancing guest experiences, and the profitability of the all-inclusive business model.Listener...

In this episode, Roman Pedan, the Founder and CEO of Kasa, explains the strategies that have allowed their hospitality business to thrive in challenging markets environments. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how Kasa has structured its operations to maintain high guest satisfaction while significantly reducing operational costs.What You Will Learn:Efficient Business Structures: Discover how Kasa has structured its company to optimize efficiency and thrive in tough markets or economi...

Ashish Verma is Senior Vice President of the Luxury Division at the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. In this episode, he shares what truly defines luxury in the hospitality industry.Listeners will learn:The Essence of Luxury: Understand the importance of creating exceptional and personalized experiences for guests that go beyond the conventional definitions.Rejecting Mediocrity: Hear the significance of not settling for mediocrity, both professionally and personally, and the potential we have ...

In this episode, Caitlin Ornitz, Vice President of Strategy at Champagne Hospitality, draws from her background in management consulting with McKinsey & Company to share how she pushes through tough industry problems to stay ahead of competitors, innovate, and attract guests. Listen to gain insights on how to empower your team, make big bets, and position your hospitality business to be durable and relevant for years to come.You may also enjoy:Our other episode with Caitlin: How Our Hotel...

This episode is sponsored by Sojern - the #1 marketing platform for hospitalityA few weeks ago, Kristie Goshow joined us to share the idea of The Great Crossover - and how it can unlock innovation in hospitality. Kristie Goshow is the Chief Commercial Officer for KSL Resorts. Since you loved what she shared last time, I wanted to bring her back to talk more about how she stays connected with cultural trends that matter today - and how she thinks about the future and what providing hospitality m...

This episode is brought to you with support from Ecodrive - which is helping hospitality companies cut housekeeping costs.Phil Hospod is one of the top lifestyle hotel developers and owners in the world - he's the founder and CEO of Dovetail + Co - and he didn't get to where he is today by thinking the same as everyone else. In this episode, you'll hear some common misconceptions that cause businesses to lose the magic of hospitality and the opportunities that excite him the most now.Let's ...

Chekitan Dev is a professor at Cornell University and wrote the world’s first and only book on Hospitality Branding. In this episode, you'll hear what he sees in the market today - and how you and your brand can stand out.Let's connect!Engage with the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedInSubscribe to the Hospitality Daily YouTube channel hereJoin The Huddle - Hospitality Daily's private membership communitySend me a message if you'd like to appear on the show or if you have any ...

Today, we're joined by Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.In this episode, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the current state of travel, the challenges faced by the industry - and the critical role travel plays in our economy, community, and personally. Geoff shares his insights on why travel should never be taken for granted, the unintentional harm caused by policymakers, and the need for improved travel infrastructure and policies.You'll learn:The eco...

In this episode, we speak with Alastair Thomann, CEO of Generator and Freehand Hotels, about the innovative strategies that have propelled their properties to success in the competitive hospitality landscape. You're going to learn about:The unique positioning of Generator and Freehand brands in the market and how they cater to different age demographics with a focus on social experiences.The pivotal role of food and beverage in creating memorable guest experiences and driving significan...

In this episode, Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express and Group Chief Strategy Officer at Accor, discusses her new roles and observations so far.You'll learn about the process of managing a historic luxury brand such as Orient Express, the strategic vision behind Accor's diverse hospitality portfolio, and Gilda's approach to integrating sustainability and global perspectives into corporate strategy.This episode offers valuable insights into modern hospitality management and strategic ...

Booking.com is one of the most powerful companies in hospitality today, and the story of how it got started and grew has lessons for all of us - wherever we are in the hospitality and travel ecosystem.Lou Zameryka was an early employee and eventual Director of Global Accounts for the company, where he led the efforts to engage with the world's biggest hotel brands.In this episode, he shares the fascinating story of Booking's growth and evolution. You'll hear about the company's origins and l...

Whether you're still working on your budgets for the year ahead or have those all done, our guest today has advice for what it will take to succeed over the year ahead. Bill Walshe is the former CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group, and today, he's helping others in hospitality as a board member, strategic advisor, and keynote speaker. In this episode, you'll learn the two titles Bill wants you to have - as well as how you need to think about balancing bold pricing with generosity.Follow Bill on Link...

In this episode, Carl Oldsberg, CEO of eBerry by Strawberry, discusses the remarkable story of how Nordic Choice Hotels underwent a major rebranding to position itself to expand the way they provide hospitality far beyond the hundreds of hotels, restaurants, and spas they have.Facing the challenges brought on by the crisis, the company initiated a strategy process involving a hundred employees to look beyond the pandemic and strengthen their business model. The rebranding not only created enga...

David Rust is the founder and CEO of Sagra, a hospitality business whose mission is to bring awareness to regenerative agriculture and support the farms that practice it.David was one of the first 20 team members at Lyft, which achieved a $24 billion valuation at its IPO and was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Yesterday we learned about why and how he's building Sagra to introduce more people to sustainable farming, and in this episode, you'll hear what he's learned about building compan...

Jacqui Nunley is a Travel & Hospitality Advisor at Salesforce, one of the most advanced companies in the world when it comes to AI, and in this episode, we dive into the implications of AI on jobs and talent in hospitality.Listen to our previous episode with Jacqui: Career Lessons in Hospitality TechnologyFollow Jacqui on LinkedInLearn more about Salesforce for Travel & HospitalityJoin the conversation on today's episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page.Hospitality Daily isn't j...

Lauren Phelps is a strategic advisor in the hospitality industry with a long track record of value-add projects in hotel investing, management, and operations. She was the Director of Strategy for Broadreach Capital Partners, leading key projects across their portfolio of independent hotels. She opened and later was the General Manager of the Ameswell, a 255-room full-service independent property in Mountain View, CA. Lauren is incredibly passionate about technology and its application in hotel ...

Philippe Zrihen is Head of Americas for Ennismore.In this episode, you'll learn about what it takes to create and cultivate strong brands in hospitality.Follow Philippe on LinkedInLearn more about EnnismoreOperating lifestyle hotel brands: Lessons from Philippe Zrihen at Ennismore (HotelOperations.com)Join the conversation on today's episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page.Hospitality Daily isn't just a podcast! Every morning - Tuesday through Friday - I summarize the stor...