Episodes

May 12, 2025

Unleash Your Inner Creative: How Hospitality Leaders Can Build Something Meaningful - Ben Wolff

In this episode, Ben Wolff, co-founder and developer of Onera and CEO of Oasi , shares his journey of discovering creativity in hotel development and why he views it as an artistic act, not just a business endeavor. Connect with Ben: LinkedIn Twitter (@UniqueStaysGuy) Instagram (@IAmBenWolff) Newsletter See our other episodes with Ben: Why Most Hotels Fail at Social Media (And How to Get It Right) How We're Scaling Innovation and Investment from Short-Term Rentals to Hotels A few mo...
May 11, 2025

From Overdrive to Reset: How Hospitality Leaders Can Stay in the Game - Ben Wolff

In this episode, Ben Wolff, co-founder and developer of Onera and CEO of Oasi , shares his insights on staying resilient in the hospitality industry and the importance of recovery for long-term success. Connect with Ben: LinkedIn Twitter (@UniqueStaysGuy) Instagram (@IAmBenWolff) Newsletter See our other episodes with Ben: Why Most Hotels Fail at Social Media (And How to Get It Right) How We're Scaling Innovation and Investment from Short-Term Rentals to Hotels A few more resources:...
May 10, 2025

Why Most Hotels Fail at Social Media (And How to Get It Right) - Ben Wolff

In this episode, Ben Wolff, co-founder and developer of Onera and CEO of Oasi , shares how his team has proven that social media can drive real results for traditional hotels and the surprising attribution gap they uncovered by just asking guests how they found them. Connect with Ben: LinkedIn Twitter (@UniqueStaysGuy) Instagram (@IAmBenWolff) Newsletter See our earlier episode with Ben: How We're Scaling Innovation and Investment from Short-Term Rentals to Hotels A few more resource...
May 9, 2025

What 80 Years of Hotel Performance Tells Us About 2025’s Biggest Challenges - Robert Mandelbaum

In this episode, Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels, shares insights backed by over 80 years of hotel performance data, discussing shifting guest behaviors, the evolution of service expectations, and the critical importance of understanding the real drivers of hotel success. See the rest of our series with Robert: Meet Robert Mandelbaum: The Man Who Turns P&Ls into PlaybooksUnderstand Your P&L to Boost Profits and Accelerate Your CareerProfit Margins Under Pressure: H...
May 8, 2025

Why Luxury Hotels Thrive and Economy Hotels Struggle - Robert Mandelbaum

In this episode, Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels, shares insights on maintaining profitability in the hotel industry when revenue growth slows, highlighting the performance differences between luxury and economy hotels and the impact of location and operating models. Also see: Meet Robert Mandelbaum: The Man Who Turns P&Ls into PlaybooksUnderstand Your P&L to Boost Profits and Accelerate Your Career A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start ...
May 7, 2025

The #1 Expense You Can Control in Hospitality - Robert Mandelbaum

In this episode, Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels, shares how to identify and focus on what you can directly influence in the hotel business to achieve better results. Also see: Meet Robert Mandelbaum: The Man Who Turns P&Ls into PlaybooksUnderstand Your P&L to Boost Profits and Accelerate Your Career 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 g...
May 6, 2025

Profit Margins Under Pressure: How Smart Hoteliers Think About Profitability - Robert Mandelbaum

In this episode, Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels, shares insights on the shift towards profitability in the hospitality industry, the challenges faced by operators, and strategies for maximizing profits. Also see: Meet Robert Mandelbaum: The Man Who Turns P&Ls into PlaybooksUnderstand Your P&L to Boost Profits and Accelerate Your Career A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments,...
May 5, 2025

Understand Your P&L to Boost Profits and Accelerate Your Career - Robert Mandelbaum

In this episode, Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels, shares insights on analyzing profit and loss statements to boost performance, delight investors, and fast-track your career in hospitality. References: Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI) Hospitality Financial Technology Professionals (HFTP) Also see: Meet Robert Mandelbaum: The Man Who Turns P&Ls into Playbooks A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a ...
May 4, 2025

Meet Robert Mandelbaum: The Man Who Turns P&Ls into Playbooks

In this episode, we meet Robert Mandelbaum, Research Director at CBRE Hotels Research. 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 ...
May 3, 2025

Could Sound Design Be Your Hotel's Secret Weapon? (Dr Michelle Ulor & Clay Bassford)

In this episode, Clay Bassford, founder of Bespoke Sound, speaks with Dr Michelle Ulor, founder of Kinos Studio, a research-led music psychology consultancy helping brands and teams use music to enhance wellbeing, connection, and impact. More: Sunday Slowdown: A Bespoke Sound Takeover with Clay Bassford How To Use Music To Elevate Your Guest Experience - Clay Bassford, Bespoke Sound A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with ques...
May 2, 2025

Finding Gold in Your 'Data Attic': How Margaritaville's Chief Data Officer Unlocks Hidden Opportunities

In this episode, Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, shares how her team harnesses data to unlock new opportunities, enhance guest experiences, and drive innovation across their diverse businesses. 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. ...
May 1, 2025

Don’t Assume, Listen: Margaritaville’s Secret to Guest-Led Innovation - Claudia Infante, Margaritaville

In this episode, Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, shares how listening to and understanding your guests and partners can lead to better products, happier customers, and a stronger business. 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. Foll...
April 30, 2025

How Margaritaville's "Surprise and Delight" Loyalty Strategy Drove $160M - Claudia Infante, Margaritaville

In this episode, Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, shares how an innovative loyalty program has attracted about 400,000 members and driven $160 million in revenue by focusing on delighting guests. 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....
April 29, 2025

Hospitality vs. Lodging: How Real Hospitality Drives Revenue and Profits - Claudia Infante, Margaritaville

In this episode, Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, shares insights on the distinction between hospitality and lodging, as well as why investing in service is a smart business move. 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 Hospita...
April 28, 2025

Get Out from Behind Your Desk (And Other Hospitality Career Secrets) - Claudia Infante, Margaritaville

In this episode, Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, shares her career journey so far, the lessons learned from her mentors, and the importance of building relationships and sharing ideas. 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 H...
April 27, 2025

A Corner Store, a Bus Driver, and the Moment Hospitality Changed My Life - Claudia Infante, Margaritaville

In this episode, Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, shares a story of an early experience she had and how it shaped her understanding of 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 conversa...
April 26, 2025

Discover Some of the World's Most Inspiring Hotels with Design Hotels’ Stijn Oyen

In this episode, Matthias Huettebraeuker speaks with Stijn Oyen, Managing Director at Design Hotels, about some of the world's most innovative hotels and what makes them special. See all of the properties mentioned today at DesignHotels.com If you liked this episode, you may also like: Inside Design Hotels: How Stijn Oyen Curates a Global Collection of Hospitality Innovators How Culture and Originality Create Standout Hospitality Experiences A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality...
April 25, 2025

Reduce Turnover & Boost Team Performance: How We're Gamifying Employee Engagement in Hotels - Roger Robles & Emma Christensen, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]

Staffing and turnover remain challenges in hospitality, but you can tackle this head-on. In this special sponsor bonus episode, Josiah sits down with his colleagues at Actabl, Roger Robles and Emma Christensen, to unpack “Associate Engagement,” a new feature inside Transcendent that turns routine maintenance into a live scoreboard, gives engineers the recognition they deserve, and helps you see who’s really performing.​​ Request a call here with Actabl to learn more about this A few more resour...
April 25, 2025

Future Forecast: Why "Community Capital" is Transforming Luxury Hospitality - Stijn Oyen, Design Hotels

In this episode, Matthias Huettebraeuker interviews Stijn Oyen, Managing Director at Design Hotels, about the future of hospitality, the concept of "community capital," and trends unfolding in the industry today. See the report from Design Hotels, “Further Forecast 2025—Community Capital,” and their article "Travelers Are Seeking Community: Here’s How to Build It." If you liked this, you may also like: Inside Design Hotels: How Stijn Oyen Curates a Global Collection of Hospitality Innovators ...
April 24, 2025

Beyond Authenticity: How Culture and Originality Create Standout Hospitality Experiences - Stijn Oyen, Design Hotels

In this episode, Matthias Huettebraeuker interviews Stijn Oyen, Managing Director at Design Hotels, about authenticity, culture, and originality in hospitality today. Also see: Inside Design Hotels: How Stijn Oyen Curates a Global Collection of Hospitality Innovators 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 delivere...
April 23, 2025

Inside Design Hotels: How Stijn Oyen Curates a Global Collection of Hospitality Innovators

In this episode, Matthias Huettebraeuker interviews Stijn Oyen, Managing Director at Design Hotels. They highlight the unique qualities and curation process of Design Hotels, as well as how the company maintains its distinctiveness in the hospitality industry. 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 yo...
April 22, 2025

Beyond AI: Engineering the Future of Luxury Travel - Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Accor

Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Chief Executive Officer of Orient Express and Group Chief Strategy Officer at Accor, shares her insights on the broader applications of technology and innovation in the hospitality industry. Also, see our other episodes with Gilda: Reinventing the "Art of Travel": Inside Orient Express's Quest to Redefine Luxury Hospitality LVMH and Orient Express: How Luxury Leaders Navigate Legacy in an Era of Change Leading Through Change: Adaptability in a Turbulent World A few more r...
April 21, 2025

Leading Through Change: Adaptability in a Turbulent World - Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Accor

Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Chief Executive Officer of Orient Express and Group Chief Strategy Officer at Accor, shares her insights on leadership, adaptability, and innovation in the hospitality industry today. Also, see our other episodes with Gilda: Reinventing the "Art of Travel": Inside Orient Express's Quest to Redefine Luxury Hospitality LVMH and Orient Express: How Luxury Leaders Navigate Legacy in an Era of Change A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You c...
April 20, 2025

Sustaining Peak Performance: How Hospitality Leaders Can Thrive Beyond the 9-5 - Josh Wyatt

In this episode, Josh Wyatt (IG @therealjoshwyatt), CEO of Avant Gardner, shares what he's learned about operating at your best as a hospitality leader. Also, see our other episodes with Josh: Why Creativity Wins—Even in a Recession: The Generator Hostels Story Inside Avant Gardner: Creating The World's Most Innovative Entertainment Destination 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 ...