Episodes

Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares what he’s seeing as AI adoption inside hotel companies enters its next phase. Drawing on his involvement with Destination AI and insights from a panel he led with leaders from major global brands, Stuart explains how hotels are building on early efficiency gains and broadening their focus. He walks through concrete examples of how AI already supports revenue, sales velocity, staffing decisions, and the guest exper...

Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares how luxury’s rapid growth is reshaping hospitality. Stuart breaks down the data behind luxury’s expansion, then explores the second- and third-order effects, including changes in the workforce, leadership readiness, training, and differentiation in an increasingly crowded market. The conversation also looks ahead, discussing how hospitality could play a larger role as other industries change and why human connecti...

Josiah Mackenzie shares what he's looking for at the ALIS conference this week -- a quick solo episode from the road! 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 wa...

Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares how he approaches industry conferences like ALIS with intention, curiosity, and care. He explains how he balances business goals with human connection, why he avoids over-scheduling meetings, and how leaving space for unplanned conversations leads to better relationships and ideas. The conversation also covers rotating events to stay exposed to new communities, avoiding transactional networking, and managing energ...

In this episode, Melissa Maher, a former travel and hospitality executive and author of Holding Your Own, unpacks the leadership skills many professionals never get taught on the job. Melissa shares why she wrote the book and how confidence, self-advocacy, executive presence, and communication shape career progress more than performance alone. The conversation explores practical ways to build trust, navigate feedback, strengthen personal brand, and adapt in a fast-changing, AI-influenced workpla...

In this episode, Matthias Huettebraeuker and Josiah Mackenzie unpack what innovation actually means in hospitality, and why most efforts start in the wrong place. This conversation moves past trends to focus on first principles, specifically how designing around human needs creates more resilient, relevant hospitality businesses. Matthias shares a clear framework for rethinking hotels through convergence, fluidity, and versatility, with real-world examples from hospitality and beyond. Listeners ...

In this episode, Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, shares why having a clear point of view defines effective leadership. Drawing from her early career inside global fashion brands, she explains how leaders build trust by showing up with conviction, articulating rationale, and setting direction instead of reacting to others. See our earlier conversation: From 14-Year-Old Housekeeper to Ralph Lauren to CEO: What I've Learned in Hotel Management and Beyond - Sarah Eustis, Main Street H...

In this episode, Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, shares how she leads with what she calls “the box and the wavy line.” She explains how disciplined operating systems, clear SOPs, and financial rigor create the stability teams need in a volatile market. Sarah also breaks down why structure does not limit creativity and how it creates room for innovation, new concepts, and thoughtful growth. This conversation offers a practical leadership framework for hospitality executives balancin...

In this episode, Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, explains how the company earned an employee Net Promoter Score of 78 in an industry known for hiring and retention challenges. She breaks down the specific leadership behaviors, hiring philosophy, and feedback systems that shape engagement long before someone’s first day. The conversation focuses on interviewing for emotional intelligence, using 360-degree input, and treating development and feedback as daily operating disciplines. H...

In this episode, Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality, shares her perspective on leadership and alignment across a diverse, multi-property hotel portfolio. Sarah explains how she defines leadership, why inclusion and shared authorship matter, and how alignment holds culture together across teams, properties, and regions. She also walks through her approach to decision-making and change management. This conversation offers practical insight for hospitality leaders at any level who want to...

In this episode, Betsy Freeman joins Josiah Mackenzie to share her thinking behind creating Hospitality Daily’s first piece of merch: a special edition t-shirt. The conversation explores how art, feeling, and collaboration shape brand identity. Betsy breaks down her creative process, why emotion matters, and how collaboration leads to great outcomes. Watch on YouTube Get the shirt Learn more about Betsy's work A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You ...

In this episode, Jeremy Wells, principal at Longitude and partner at Flyover Developments, shares more on his LinkedIn post exploring hospitality through the lens of Christian faith. He explains how Christianity shapes his view of hospitality as love expressed through everyday actions at work, with guests, teams, and peers. The conversation focuses on integrating belief into professional life with humility, openness, and service. Read Jeremy's post on hospitality as an act of love Listen to our...

In this episode, Jeremy Wells, principal at Longitude and partner at Flyover Developments, shares more on his recent LinkedIn post where he reflects on his life and career and how it connects to a key shift he made. Jeremy shares how years of trying to look and act the part in creative circles pulled him away from the work he actually wanted to do. He explains how leaning into his roots and his real strengths changed the kinds of opportunities, partners, and projects that started finding him. Th...

In this episode, Jeremy Wells, principal at Longitude and partner at Flyover Developments, walks through his latest project in the Ozarks and then gets into what it might reveal about where lifestyle hospitality is headed. Jeremy's LinkedIn post with photo of fishing books Learn about The Ozarker Lodge (Jeremy's other hotel) Buy Jeremy's book -- INDIE HOTEL: Why Hoteliers Are Breaking Free from Chains and Choosing Independence Listen to our first recording: "Why I moved from tech to hospitalit...

Rob Blood, founder and chairman of Lark, and principal at Elder & Ash, joins the show to talk about what it looks like to put down roots in a place so projects can connect to each other. Drawing from recent work in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he explains how lodging, bars, bookstores, and cultural spaces create more value together -- when they encourage people to stay, linger, and build relationships. Rob shares why spending time in a community leads to deeper learning and better hospitality exper...

Rob Blood, founder and chairman of Lark, joins the show to reflect on the collapse of Sonder and what it revealed for owners, operators, brands, and technology companies. Drawing from firsthand experience working with properties affected, Rob explains where the master lease model broke down and why control and transparency matter when hotels operate at scale. The conversation explores the right role of technology in hospitality, the limits of venture-driven growth, and how strong partnerships he...

In this episode, Tony Roumph, Managing Director of Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, shares a practical look at how his team balances timeless hospitality with modern operational realities. This episode includes a case study on how AI and workflow automation reduced front desk call volume by 80 percent, freeing teams to focus on the people in front of them. Technologies Tony mentions: EHVA AI Alice by Actabl Also see: "He Gave Me the Opportunity to Fail, and That Changed Everything" - Tony Rou...

In this episode, Tony Roumph, Managing Director of Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, shares why mentorship produces stronger leaders than micromanagement and why teaching people about the P&L changes how they think, lead, and collaborate. The conversation focuses on breaking down silos, building business understanding beyond individual roles, and using culture as a practical management tool. If you lead teams and carry responsibility for results, this episode offers lessons you can apply today. ...

In this episode, we hear the career journey of Tony Roumph, Managing Director of Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, and the formative leadership lesson that shaped how he leads today. Tony reflects on the moment a former boss gave him the opportunity to fail—and how that trust built confidence, accountability, and long-term growth. He shares how that experience influences his approach to hiring, mentoring, and developing teams in hospitality. This conversation is a reminder that great leaders don’...

In this episode of San Francisco Sundays, Josiah sits down with Tony Roumph, Managing Director of Argonaut Hotel, to talk about what community engagement really looks like for hotels operating in a complex, evolving city. Drawing on the Argonaut’s historical roots and Tony’s civic involvement across San Francisco’s tourism and neighborhood organizations, the conversation explores how hotels and hoteliers can act as active participants in their communities. Tony reflects on San Francisco’s shifti...

In this episode, Mews founder Richard Valtr shares a practical look at how AI is reshaping hotel operations, guest experience, and revenue strategy. The conversation focuses on why hoteliers should design the guest journey first, then apply technology to scale it—along with concrete ideas for monetizing beyond rooms and preparing teams for what’s coming next in hospitality tech. Resources: Our previous conversation with Richard: Hospitality is 'eating the world' - here's what it means for your...

In this episode, Monika Nerger, former Group Global Chief Information Officer at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, shares a leadership perspective on AI in hospitality. Drawing on her experience leading global digital transformation—and her current immersion in the AI and technology ecosystem in San Francisco—Monika introduces the concept of “calmxiety”: the tension leaders feel between urgency and uncertainty. She shares why trust, foundations, and clarity matter more than rushing into tools, how ...

In this episode, Monika Nerger, former Group Global Chief Information Officer at Mandarin Oriental, shares how she led a large-scale digital transformation by putting brand DNA—not technology—at the center of the strategy. She explains why data governance became the foundational layer, how cross-functional collaboration reshaped decision-making, and what it took to drive real change during the pandemic and beyond. The conversation explores the often-overlooked role of change leadership, trust, a...

In this episode, Craig Poole, a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and AHLA’s General Manager of the Year, shares why returning to the basics of hospitality starts with leadership presence on the floor. He shares how being visible to guests, employees, and the surrounding community directly impacts revenue, demand, and long-term growth. Craig explains the concept of the “point of impact,” why managing from reports creates blind spots, and how walking lobbies and working banquets unlocked new ...