Episodes

In this episode, Anthony Melchiorri discusses the state of the hotel industry and the interconnected relationships between owners, real estate investors, brands, and management companies. He emphasizes the challenges faced by the industry, such as rising costs and the importance of working together, along with the need to balance profit-making with preserving the soul of the industry. Anthony highlights the significance of strong relationships between these stakeholders and the impact they will ...

In this episode, we're learning from Mint House CEO Christian Lee about the story behind their tech-forward hospitality company, whose board and investors include former chief executives from Four Seasons, Disney, Club Med, Starwood Hotels, St. Regis Hotels, JBG Smith, and Travelocity. Christian shares his unique global perspective and how it has shaped his career in hospitality. You'll hear what sets Mint House apart, the trends they are tracking, and the creative approaches they are taking to...

If you care about hospitality, why should you care about finance and Wall Street? To answer that question, I went to Wall Street in New York and met with Trica Jean-Baptiste, Founder and CEO of Morgensheer Hospitality, who has a fascinating career that started in hospitality, PR, and media and has evolved into her current work as a capital connector - someone at the heart of the investment world in hospitality today. In this conversation, you'll learn about how Trica built and evolved her care...

Tanner Cummings is creating a "deconstructed resort" based on an old Celtic concept of "thin places" - the notion of heaven meeting earth. In this episode, you'll learn how he and his wife Melissa drew from their background of ministry and caring for others into the opportunity they had to create a radically different kind of hospitality business in northern Georgia. You'll learn how they also draw from their career experiences in technology and e-commerce to build this business, how they think...

Fernando Vives is the Chief Commercial Officer of NH Hotel Group, and one of the biggest takeaways I had from our conversation is the need to never stop learning. In this episode, you'll learn why he encourages us to live with a learner's mindset and stay curious to succeed in hospitality today. Join in the conversation on this episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page here. This episode is brought to you with support from Sojern. Finding and appealing to travelers online means getting to...

Everyone wants to be innovative, create something remarkable, and provide memorable hospitality - but what does that take....really? Getting to know our guest today, Adam Wallace, over the past 15 years has shown me the answer to that question is culture. Early in his career, Adam worked at his family's hotel in New York, getting national media coverage for the innovative community building they were doing - and today runs Spherical, a hotel marketing agency with a client roster that's a who's...

Are you looking to attract more travelers to book a stay with you and enhance their experience when they do? If so, you'll love this episode because we're learning from Gina Lambright, VP of Marketing at Sojern, a SaaS-based travel marketing platform powered by AI and machine learning. Gina shares insights on how hospitality providers can use data to drive direct bookings, increase campaign ROI, and build long-term loyalty. You'll learn about the importance of owning and managing data well, the...

Populus is going to be the first carbon-positive hotel in America when it opens in Denver in 2024, which basically means it leaves the planet in a better place than before it existed because it's removing carbon dioxide (C02) emissions from the air. In this episode, we’re going behind the scenes with the developer of the incredible project, Jon Buerge of Urban Villages, to hear all about how it got started and the opportunity it presents for all of us in hospitality. Follow Jon on LinkedIn ...

Melissa Maher helped build Expedia over 20 years into one of the biggest companies in the world as its Chief Marketing Officer. In this episode, you'll hear the career and leadership lessons she learned through that experience - as well as how she planned and navigated her transition into the work she's doing today. Watch Melissa's interview with DEI Advisors on her career journey Follow Melissa on LinkedIn Learn more about Pinnacle Enterprises Group Join in the conversation on this episode...

Stefan Merriweather is Head of Creative for The LINE hotels, and today, we're learning from him about everything from developing new projects to collaborating with artists to empowering team members. After listening to this episode, you're going to be inspired to use art, design, and creativity as a powerful way to delight your guests and grow your hospitality business. Follow Stefan on LinkedIn Follow Stefan on Instagram Join in the conversation on this episode on the Hospitality Daily Li...

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, we delve into the transformative hospitality and strong convictions of Jeff Stanford, co-owner (with his wife Joan) of the Stanford Inn in Mendocino, California. They are not just passionate about providing a great guest experience; they're committed to promoting plant-based eating, local travel, and a connection with nature. Join us as we explore how the Stanfords are using their inn as a tool to inspire positive change in the world. Join in the conversation on this episode ...

In this episode, Lou Zameryka discusses his transition from being an early leader at Booking.com and building that business to focusing now on health, wellness, and longevity. You'll hear about the importance of health and wellness in unleashing human potential, along with insights on how you can lead a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. But it doesn't stop there - stay tuned to learn the concept of "healthspan" - and the unique opportunity hospitality providers have in moving wellness fro...

Anthony Melchiorri started his hospitality career working at an Embassy Suites in Kansas and then worked his way up to becoming one of the most successful hotel general managers in New York City. Throughout that journey, he discovered some practical things that allowed him to show up for himself and for the hotels and people he served. Then in 2012, he landed a deal with the Travel Channel that led to him hosting nine seasons of the hit show, Hotel Impossible, where he gave millions of people a...

A new opening sets the tone for a hotel's success for years to come - so what does it take to do it right? I can't think of someone better to answer this question than Jorge Treviño, who, in his first role dedicated to this, opened up 44 hotels for Kimpton - before opening countless others as executive vice president at Two Roads Hospitality, and his most recent role as Senior Vice President of Openings and Operations for Hyatt. In this episode, we cover everything from what's at stake during ...

In this episode, Melissa Maher, Founder and CEO of Pinnacle Enterprises Group, shares her insights on what it takes to be a successful leader today - drawing from her experience as Expedia's former Chief Marketing Officer. Follow Melissa on LinkedIn Learn more about Pinnacle Enterprises Group Join in the conversation on this episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page here.

In this episode, Fernando Vives, Chief Commercial Officer at NH Hotel Group, discusses the evolution of revenue management from the earliest days to the opportunity today, something he calls "bionic revenue strategy" - which is all about combining the best of human intuition with the power of artificial intelligence. Listen to learn how this approach is revolutionizing pricing strategy in hospitality and increasing customer satisfaction by creating a more personalized guest experience. Follow ...

In this episode, we're learning from Ira Vouk, a former hotel operator and technology company founder turned industry advisor and educator. Ira's viral illustration of the hotel tech stack gained widespread attention recently, and today she breaks down the key components and their connections - as well as gives her advice for shopping for technology and where technology is headed. See Ira's illustration of the hotel tech stack here Follow Ira on LinkedIn Visit Ira's website Join in the con...

Zach Busekrus has one of the best hospitality podcasts I've come across: Behind the Stays. As its name suggests, he gets the backstory of some of the coolest people in hospitality and does a deep dive into how they built what they built. That's why I was thrilled and honored when he reached out and asked to do a story on Hospitality Daily - the inside story of everything that led up to it, the opportunity I see here for all of us, and where we're going. I've never shared this much detail on al...

In this episode, Margaret Lefton, Creative Director at Yours Truly, shares the importance of deep, meaningful conversations - a foundation of hospitality - and how you can create environments that are conducive to this. Follow Margaret on LinkedIn Listen to our other episodes with Margaret: How We Turned Our Hotel Into a Community Hotspot How I Stay Creative And Fight Burnout Join in the conversation on this episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page here. This episode is brought to...

How can you turn your hotel into a community hub that drives business from both locals and people visiting your city? In this episode, you'll hear from Margaret Lefton, Creative Director at Yours Truly, a hotel in Washington, DC, about the practical ways they did this. Follow Yours Truly on Instagram Follow Margaret on LinkedIn Listen to our other episode with Margaret: How I Stay Creative And Fight Burnout Join in the conversation on this episode on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page her...

In this episode, Eli Sokol, Vice President of Development and Investment at citizenM Hotels, shares the unique business model of citizenM and how they maintain momentum while staying innovative. From their "asset-heavy" approach to working with companies like Meta, to technology and urbanism, Eli shares insights on what growth in hospitality can look like in a rapidly changing world. Follow Eli on LinkedIn Learn more about citizenM Join in the conversation on this episode on the Hospitalit...

In this episode, we learn from Michelle Duffy, the general manager of the Best Western Novato Oaks Inn. Michelle shares her secrets to winning the prestigious M.K. Guertin Award 14 years in a row, making her hotel the only Best Western out of over 2,000 to achieve this feat. Learn how Michelle's strategies and dedication have led to exceptional guest satisfaction ratings, employee retention, and business success. Follow Michelle on LinkedIn Learn more about Best Western Novato Oaks Inn Lear...

In this episode, Dr. William Murray, an associate professor in the School of Hospitality, Food, and Tourism at the University of Guelph, shares his experience as a "Thinker in Residence" for one of Canada's most innovative hotel brands. We hear his observations and insights on culture, service, and providing remarkable hospitality. About William (0:59) The "Thinker in Residence" program (2:47) Access that enables this (5:21) What he is hearing and learning (8:35) How to study cul...