Episodes

In this episode, Suraj Hinduja, Managing Director of RTRX, shares how he and his team at Rockbridge are rethinking events by creating experiences centered around curiosity, connection, and impact. Originally inspired by the desire to support cancer research, RTRX has evolved from a small hospitality-focused gathering into a multi-day, cross-industry event intentionally designed to spark spontaneous discovery and meaningful interactions. Listen to learn how Suraj and RTRX use hospitality principl...

In this episode, Sarah Dinger, the first employee and now Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, shares her advice on accelerating your hospitality career by embracing opportunities—even uncomfortable ones—and the critical role mentorship plays in professional growth. She also provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes perspective from her role as Chair of AHLA’s ForWard Advisory Committee, highlighting how women are reshaping leadership in the hospitality industry....

In this episode, Sarah Dinger, Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, shares how they build strong, profitable relationships with hotel owners. Learn how Sarah and her team engage owners strategically, using technology to drive bottom-line results and deliver value for all stakeholders. Also see: How Sarah Dinger Helped Build My Place Hotels As Employee #1 How We Built an Extended-Stay Hotel Empire from the Ground Up (Ryan Rivett, My Place Hotels) A few m...

In this episode, Sarah McCay Tams, Head of Editorial at Actabl, joins Josiah Mackenzie to discuss the launch of HotelData.com and insights from their new 2025-2026 budgeting guide. The conversation explores how hotels are managing a gap between budgeted and actual RevPAR performance, while maintaining ADR discipline and successfully hitting gross operating profit targets through strategic cost management. Sarah also shares her journey from radio journalism to hospitality media and explains how d...

In this episode, Sarah Dinger, Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, shares how training and development drive guest satisfaction and fuel business growth. Sarah explains the innovative approach her team takes, including a dedicated group that regularly visits properties to ensure consistent excellence. Learn how investing in people directly impacts guest loyalty and long-term success. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. ...

In this episode, Sarah Dinger, the first employee and now Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, shares how operational culture and empowering frontline associates have driven the rapid growth and success of their brand. Also see: How Sarah Dinger Helped Build My Place Hotels As Employee #1 How We Built an Extended-Stay Hotel Empire from the Ground Up (Ryan Rivett, My Place Hotels) A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. ...

Sarah Dinger, the first employee and now Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, shares how she helped build one of America's fastest-growing hotel brands from the ground up. In this episode, Sarah discusses the crucial decisions, early strategies, and core principles, such as human-centered hospitality, that shaped My Place’s remarkable growth story. You may also like: How We Built an Extended-Stay Hotel Empire from the Ground Up (Ryan Rivett, My Place Hotels) ...

In this episode, Chris Kluis, VP of Product Operations & Data at Actabl, discusses his family's unique history with artificial intelligence, how early curiosity sparked his career journey, and why experimentation matters more than theory. Chris provides practical advice for hospitality professionals looking to start leveraging AI today, shares lessons from implementing AI at scale, and explores how digitization, effective prompting, and careful data management can unlock real business val...

In this episode, Ryan Bukstein shares what he's learned about the power of mentorship: both being mentored and mentoring others.

In this episode, Ryan Bukstein shares the behind-the-scenes process of how brands like Ace Hotel and Vacation were built, showing how curiosity, experimentation, and unexpected collaborations drove their groundbreaking approaches. Ryan reveals how Ace Hotel thrived by challenging industry norms, embracing cultural programming, and forging authentic partnerships, like its notable collaboration with Converse. He illustrates how these same principles allowed Vacation to redefine sunscreen as a play...

In this episode, Ryan Bukstein shares the behind-the-scenes story of Ace Hotel’s early days and how the punk, DIY spirit of Seattle’s cultural scene influenced its groundbreaking approach to hospitality. Ryan takes us back to when he joined Ace founder Alex Calderwood as an intern and reveals how Ace Hotel became a magnet for creative talent, driven by curiosity, mentorship, and a willingness to break traditional industry norms. He explains the unconventional strategies that enabled Ace to deepl...

In this episode, citizenM CEO Lennert de Jong shares with our innovation correspondent, Matthias Hüttebräuker, how citizenM transformed the traditional hotel loyalty model by launching a subscription program inspired by Amazon Prime and Netflix. Lennert explains how his team developed the subscription concept during COVID, initially as a response to occupancy challenges, and how it evolved into a highly successful model, signing up more than 50,000 subscribers and continuing to grow. He discusse...

In this episode, citizenM CEO Lennert de Jong shares his vision with our innovation correspondent, Matthias Hüttebräuker, on how hotel technology, AI, and guest interactions are rapidly evolving. He explains why traditional hotel processes—from front desk check-ins to booking—are ripe for reinvention, detailing how citizenM is using integrated technology and AI to streamline guest experiences and remove friction. Lennert emphasizes the necessity of automating repetitive tasks to empower hospital...

Episode Overview In this episode, Hospitality Daily Innovation Correspondent Matthias Hüttebräuker speaks with Lennert de Jong, CEO of citizenM, about the strategic decision behind citizenM's recent brand sale to Marriott. Lennert explains how the collaboration will accelerate growth, expand citizenM's global reach, and tap into Marriott's powerful Bonvoy loyalty program. He details why Marriott was the ideal partner, emphasizing alignment in technology, operations, and vision. This discussio...

In this episode, Edward Mady shares what he's learned from baseball. Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human Edge. 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...

In this episode, Edward Mady shares what he has learned about creating a culture of welcome throughout every part of a hotel business. Read Edward's article on Harvard Business Review: How Luxury Brands Can Motivate Service Employees Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human Edge. 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 actionabl...

In this episode, Edward Mady shares what he's learned about leading through crisis. Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human Edge. 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...

In this episode, Edward Mady shares some things he's learned about leadership, relationship building, and the joy of friendship and fellowship in the world of hospitality. Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human Edge. 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, subscrib...

In this episode, Edward Mady shares his experience working for Ritz Carlton founder Horst Schulze. Listen to our series with Horst Schulze here. Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human Edge. 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 Hos...

In this episode, Edward Mady shares his experience working for a tough boss - and the power of being unfazed under pressure. Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human Edge 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...

In this episode, Edward Mady shares his career story - with lessons for us all. Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human Edge 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, Edward Mady discusses his personal "board of directors" and how it helps him grow and thrive as a leader in hospitality and beyond. Links: Learn more about Edward's new book, Honing the Human EdgeThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (book) 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 epi...

In this episode, Shamim Ehsani, co-founder of Tribe Hotel in Nairobi, shares why belonging and generosity will become hospitality’s greatest competitive advantages in an increasingly AI-driven world. Shamim discusses how deepening authentic connections with local culture, prioritizing genuine guest engagement over short-term revenue, and fostering a spirit of radical generosity enable hotels to thrive amidst rapid technological change. More with Shamim: Breaking the Colonial Mold: How Kenya's ...

In this episode, Shamim Ehsani, co-founder of Tribe Hotel in Nairobi, shares how his team thoughtfully manages hospitality for royalty and A-list celebrities. Shamim explains how anticipating guest preferences, from complete privacy to curated events with local artists and creatives, enables Tribe Hotel to deliver uniquely memorable experiences. More with Shamim: Breaking the Colonial Mold: How Kenya's Tribe Hotel Sets a New Standard for Luxury Hospitality How Tribe Hotel’s Staff Created a Gue...