The Turndown: The Podcast for Hoteliers

The vacation rental industry has become highly lucrative – and competitive – in recent years. As Global Head of Connectivity Account Management at Vrbo, Gavin Gray has a wealth of insights to share about the vacation rental industry, including top trends, hot destinations, and essential technology tools needed to gain a competitive edge. He highlights the differences between hotels and vacation re...

During his long career in hospitality education, Dr. Stowe Shoemaker (Ph. D. Cornell University) has witnessed the hospitality curriculum evolve into a business-focused teaching. But should hospitality be all business? He discusses the challenges of educating and attracting a new generation to the hospitality industry and explores the value of applying hospitality principles in other industries, e...

Running a resort & spa in the middle of remote Utah has proven to be one of life’s greatest adventures for Dallin Tait. After spending the better part of his career running an excursion company, Dallin also took on the role of General Manager at his family-owned hotel in Bluff, Utah – a sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts. He shares his success journey, from starting a destination hotel business...

Jacqueline Nunley has been at the forefront of revolutionizing travel industry technology for over two decades. As the Industry Advisor for Travel & Hospitality at Salesforce, she has dedicated her career to guiding companies to transform with innovative solutions. She shares her perspective on the importance of discovering and adopting new tools, the impact technology has on hospitality job r...

From business setbacks to viral TikToks, Bianda Brasdorp has experienced a full spectrum of challenges and triumphs on her journey to becoming the successful owner of multiple female-only hostels in Europe. She shares her experience and recommendations for aspiring hostel owners, including coming up with a unique concept, making the most of social media marketing, and maintaining a positive mindse...

Love them or hate them, social media influencers are on the rise. As the co-founder of Anorak Travel, an influencer company focused on the tourism industry, Anne-Julie Karcher has made a career of strategically matching hoteliers with influencers who can help them reach their marketing goals. She provides insights into the costs and budgeting of influencer marketing and how to choose influencers w...

In our inaugural season of The Turndown podcast, host Sebastien Leitner has led conversations with hospitality leaders from all corners of the industry. Now, we’re turning the tables and putting Sebastien in the guest seat to get to know more about his illustrious hospitality career that spans hotel management, travel distribution, technology partnerships, and beyond. Get to know more about his pa...

What’s the difference between Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning? Jason Pinto, Co-founder and COO at Pace Revenue, can not only answer that question in a way that’s easy to understand, he can also explain how these tools are impacting revenue management in the hotel industry. He shares how AI-and-ML-backed technology is bringing hotel revenue managers greater results, more informed decis...

Richard Brosal is a hotelier who operates without “bricks or mortars.” As Co-Founder & Owner of Jet Luxury Resorts, a niche hospitality company in the condo hotel space in Las Vegas, Richard has the unique challenge of not only keeping guests happy but also satisfying the owners and investors of the properties he runs. He shares how rising inflation, costs, and guest expectations have presente...

Having worked as a housekeeper in the past, Luka Berger, Founder & CEO of Flexkeeping, is passionate about bringing technology to properties that are still managing housekeeping using pen and paper. With some hotels either canceling, upselling, or charging for housekeeping, Luka also discusses solutions for forecasting staffing needs, plus the difference between implementing green initiatives...

When we hear the word “sustainability,” we often think of green initiatives and the environment. Julie Cheetham, Founding Member & Managing Director of Weeva, a digital system for managing sustainability in tourism, helps hoteliers take a more holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing not only conservation, but also commerce, community, and culture. Julie discusses measuring your prope...

Asa Firestone started his career as a National Geographic grant-sponsored mountain climber and now runs a private, family-owned property that caters to adventure enthusiasts. From hair-pulling maintenance issues to starting a campervan and beer garden side venture right before the pandemic, Asa shares how he tackles the challenges of running bootstrapping businesses head-on – plus how he maintains...

Would you leave home without your wallet? James Lemon does. As Global Lead of Travel, Transport, & Leisure at Stripe, James relies on his digital wallet for making payments and works to connect the hospitality industry with the latest innovation in payments. What does a future of frictionless, invisible payments while traveling look like, and what challenges stand in the way of that? James exp...

As Vice President of Distribution at MGM Resorts, Sarah Fults is a hardcore hotelier who is known as a tough boss when it comes to managing partners. But when it comes to her team of 34, Sarah is a “mama bear” who knows all the kids’ and pets’ names. How does she keep that balance and manage to lead a loyal team even as many others in the industry are struggling with staffing issues? Sarah shares...

When Giancarlo Carniani, General Manager of ToFlorence Hotels and President and Founder of the Hospitality Innovation Academy noticed that his hotel’s room rates were always selling at their peak, he had an idea – what if he stopped limiting the revenue management system and set the rates free? Hear about his experience removing the ceiling from his rate restrictions as well as how he handles recr...