Episodes

In this episode, Andrew Arthurs, President and Chief Operating Officer at Actabl, and former CIO for some of the world’s largest hotel management companies, shares how AI and smart data use are elevating the associate experience in hospitality. He explains why digitizing manual workflows isn’t just about efficiency but about empowering teams and improving operations. You’ll hear his perspective on where to start, how to approach data strategy, and why the best tech initiatives begin with underst...

In this episode, Andrew Arthurs, President and Chief Operating Officer at Actabl, shares how hospitality professionals can accelerate their careers by creating value through problem-solving. Drawing on his experience as a former Chief Information Officer for major hotel management companies, Andrew explains why the most successful leaders start by asking the right questions, focusing on the real problems to solve rather than the technology itself. He also reveals a simple framing question that h...

In this episode, Andrew Arthurs, President and COO of Actabl, joins us to discuss one of hospitality’s biggest challenges: managing labor costs. Drawing on his experience leading at the largest hotel management companies and his recent articles in Hotel Management, Andrew shares how top hotel operators are enhancing labor efficiency through cross-functional collaboration and data-driven decision-making. Read Andrew's articles: Hotel's talent crisis is getting worse: How empathy can help Labor ...

This week, Josiah Mackenzie and Andrew Arthurs are in Phoenix for The Lodging Conference, talking about what’s top of mind for hotel owners and investors today. Andrew, who is President and COO of Actabl, shares how the smartest owners are thinking about people, partnerships, and technology to protect and grow asset value. Also see: Building Trust & The Network Effect in Hospitality A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with quest...

Andrew Arthurs was previously CIO for some of the world’s largest hotel management companies and is now President and Chief Operating Officer of Actabl, embodying what it looks like to live and lead with hospitality. In this episode, Andrew teaches us about the network effect in hospitality: how trust and relationships built over time shape careers, companies, and leadership. Also see: Brené Brown's "marble jar" analogy and building trust Why Great Hospitality Leaders Always Return to the Fro...

Before her role today at Actabl, Shanell Marinuzzi learned the importance of "speaking owner" as a hotel general manager, connecting her work building culture and driving performance in a way that resonates with investors. In this episode, she shares how knowing the numbers, aligning team goals, and translating results into owner-friendly language helped her drive buy-in and deliver results. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message he...

In this special bonus episode, Megan Yagoda Kaplan, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Actabl, explains how hotel leaders can unlock performance from technology by partnering with customer success teams. With a background in consulting and a team of former hoteliers, Megan shares how Actabl helps operators align tech adoption with strategic goals and measurable outcomes. This episode shows why customer success is the key to driving real results in hospitality today. Links: Request...

Before her role today at Actabl, Shanell Marinuzzi built a reputation as a hotel fixer, turning around underperforming properties. In this episode, she shares how relying on pen, paper, and spreadsheets became a limiting factor for her -- and how technology gave her time back to focus on guests and her teams. She also explains why adoption is the real key to results, and what leaders can do to make new tools stick. Also see: The Hotel Fixer: Turning Around Performance Through Leadership and Cu...

Shanell Marinuzzi has been called in again and again to turn around underperforming hotels. In today’s episode, she shares how she did it: building culture, lifting morale, and driving performance without big budgets. Also see: This Is Where Hotel Teams Win or Lose Today - Shanell Marinuzzi 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 fr...

In this episode, we hear from Shanell Marinuzzi -- a hospitality leader known for turning around hotel performance and building strong teams -- who now helps hotel companies through her work at Actabl. She begins by recapping insights from a recent Hotel Investment Today webinar on labor strategies, and then shares why she believes it’s moments like these that make or break hotel teams. You’ll hear practical ways she led through tough times, empowered staff, and built a winning culture. Also s...

Podcasts are a powerful way for hospitality leaders to share stories and ideas, but being a great guest takes preparation. In this solo episode, Josiah Mackenzie shares lessons from 1,000+ interviews on how to prepare, communicate with confidence, and create value for listeners. 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 epis...

Claudio Meli, Virtuoso’s Hotelier of the Year and General Manager of THE PLACE Firenze, shares how he redefines luxury by connecting guests to the city’s artisans and cultural heritage. In this conversation, he explains the creation of The Place of Wonders, a foundation that supports Florence’s craftspeople while offering travelers rare access to workshops normally closed to the public. Meli also discusses the broader impact on community, sustainability, and overtourism, showing how longer, mor...

In this episode, Virtuoso’s Hotelier of the Year for 2025, Claudio Meli, General Manager of The Place Firenze, shares why true luxury begins at arrival, how "sartorial hospitality" creates unforgettable experiences, and what hospitality leaders everywhere can learn from rethinking the guest journey from the ground up. 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 summar...

In this episode, we get to know Virtuoso's "Hotelier of the Year" for 2025, Claudio Meli, General Manager of THE PLACE Firenze. 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...

Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, returns for a conversation with our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith, to share the non-negotiable at the core of her leadership philosophy: caring deeply — or, as she puts it, "giving a ****." In this candid conversation, Dina explains how purpose-driven leadership connects personal values with guest experience, culture, and sustainability. She reflects on aligning her career with her ethos, creating spaces that enable meaningful memories, and ...

Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, returns for a conversation with our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith, to share how she would approach the first 30 days of leading a new hotel. Instead of relying on a pre-set formula, Dina explains why she treats the city itself like a resort -- drawing on local culture, parks, and other businesses as amenities that elevate the guest experience. She also shares how engaging associates unlocks creative ideas and how win–win community partnershi...

Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, returns for a conversation with our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith, to share how her team built “Chat Pineapple,” an in-house AI tool that connects guest insights across systems. More important than the technology, Dina says, is the culture that empowers teams to act creatively on that information -- turning surveys, reviews, and guest histories into memorable experiences. You’ll hear what surprised her most about pre-stay guest responses, ho...

In this episode, we continue our series with Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, in a conversation hosted by our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith. Dina shares why kiosks don’t belong in her hotels, what that reveals about the role of technology in the guest experience for her company, and how independent hoteliers can compete with big brands by choosing the right tech partners. See our previous episodes with Dina: How Staypineapple Enables Every Employee to Surprise and Delight...

In this episode, we continue our series with Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, in a conversation hosted by our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith. Building on yesterday’s discussion about empowerment, Dina shares the practical ways Staypineapple frees its teams to focus on people. You’ll hear how they eliminate SOPs and scripts, centralize administrative work to keep managers out on the floor teaching their teams, and use intuitive technology that supports rather than hinders hu...

In this episode, we welcome back Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, for a conversation with our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith. Dina shares how Staypineapple empowers every team member to bring their full, authentic selves to work -- and how that translates into deeply personal guest experiences. From interviewing every employee to capture their passions, to connecting those passions with guest stories, Dina shows why empowerment, not SOPs, is the foundation of their culture. ...

In this episode, Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Hotels, reflects on her journey to the top and how she’s working to elevate more women into leadership roles across the company. She shares how turning perceived weaknesses into advantages has helped her career, why she believes creating opportunities—not protections—is key for women leaders, and the importance of building trust and transparency as a CEO. Barbara also offers practical advice for aspiring executives on playing to strengths, pr...

In this episode, Hospitality Daily careers correspondent Emily Goldfischer, who is also founder and editor-in-chief of hertelier, sits down with Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Hotels. Barbara reflects on her first year leading the world’s oldest luxury hotel brand, drawing on lessons from her career in the cruise industry. She shares insights on the “secret sauce” behind Kempinski’s culture of genuine hospitality, why an asset-heavy approach matters for growth, and how the brand is positio...

In this episode, Hospitality Daily careers correspondent Emily Goldfischer, founder and editor-in-chief of hertelier, sits down with Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Hotels. As the first woman to lead the 162-year-old luxury hotel group, Barbara shares her remarkable career journey from shaping the cruise industry to steering one of hospitality’s most iconic brands. You’ll hear lessons from leading through crisis, navigating global scale, and balancing heritage with reinvention. Read on her...

In this episode, Leora Halpern Lanz, award-winning hospitality marketing leader and Associate Professor at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, shares how visibility can directly impact guest satisfaction. Using a real-world hotel case study, she shows why physical and digital visibility matter as much as the investments we make in renovations. Leora challenges hospitality leaders to think beyond promotion, asking whether we’re measuring the right things and whether our mar...