Hospitality Daily Podcast

David Mariotti is a veteran hospitality leader with experience including roles as GM, area GM, and VP of Operations at Remington Hospitality, managing properties like One Ocean Resort & Spa in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Recently, David began volunteering at the Gabriel House of Care , a nonprofit hospitality house on the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, Florida, that provides affordable lodgi...

In this episode, Mike Baxter , the Co-Founder of House of Gods , shares why capital isn't the biggest barrier to opening a hotel and what investors actually look for when backing new hospitality brands. This is the final episode in a three-part series hosted by guest experience correspondent Danica Smith , A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here .  You can se...

In this episode, Mike Baxter , House of Gods founder, shares why boutique hotels should be defined by purpose rather than aesthetics, and what gets lost when chains acquire boutique brands. From the financial foundations that need to come first to his concept of "demand sovereignty," Mike offers a direct challenge to operators who treat guest experience as an add-on revenue line. This ep...

In this episode, Mike Baxter , House of Gods founder, shares the origin story behind his boutique hotel brand and why he believes most hotels confuse boutique aesthetic with actual boutique identity. Mike explains why story and purpose matter more than design trends, and how the right narrative attracts both guests and team members who believe in the product. Listen for his take on why hotels shou...

In this episode, GB Sharma , the Founder and CEO of Mosaic Hospitality , shares how hotel owners can build a unified commercial engine and turn proprietary data into a competitive moat. GB breaks down the zero-click search shift reshaping discovery, why you should focus on data cleansing, and how structured proprietary data becomes a valuation layer at exit.  Watch this conversation on YouTube A f...

In this episode, Chef Franck Desplechin , the Founder and CEO of Incrementum and author of Relentless Growth , shares why development-driven leadership outperforms and how understanding each team member's individual motivation builds the kind of loyalty that survives busy weekends and hard shifts. If you're trying to engage Gen Z or rethink how you lead frontline teams, Franck's app...

In this episode, Chef Franck Desplechin , the Founder and CEO of Incrementum and author of Relentless Growth , shares why chasing titles without alignment leads to burnout and how redefining growth as depth rather than height changed his career. From becoming the youngest executive chef of a St. Regis to finding fulfillment through coaching his team, Franck offers a practical perspective on stayin...

In this episode, Dr. Noah St. John, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of 27 books, shares why most organizations are failing at AI adoption, not because of the technology, but because they're ignoring the human operating system required to use it. He walks through his "invisible brake" framework for identifying and removing the hidden fear and friction that keep teams fro...

In this episode, Kimberly Ofrecio , Group Commercial Director at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts , talks with our guest experience correspondent Danica Smith about what it takes to lead as a woman in hospitality, from unlearning the need to have all the answers to navigating the double standards that still exist in C-suite roles. With only 14% of hospitality C-suite positions held by women, Kimberl...

In this episode, Kimberly Ofrecio , the Group Commercial Director at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts , shares what hotels can learn from airlines and luxury retail about data discipline, personalization, and commercial strategy. This conversation will challenge you to rethink what happens before a guest ever arrives at your property.  This episode is hosted by our guest experience correspondent, Da...

In this episode, Azim Saju , the CEO of ARK Holdings , shares why he's raising financial literacy for every team member in his hotels, from housekeepers to front desk agents, and how that directly impacts hotel valuations, renovations, and retention.  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...

In this episode, Patrick Norton , Chief Marketing Officer and Partner at Brittain Resorts and Hotels , shares how his team drives 85% direct bookings across 30+ properties by building an always-on commercial engine that generates demand rather than waiting for it. Patrick explains why he moved the CDP to the center of his technology stack rather than the PMS, how his Seasons of Rewards campaign ge...

In this episode, Ben Campbell , the President and CEO of Hospitality America , shares why the traditional path from frontline roles to executive leadership is at risk in an AI-driven world, and what hotel companies need to do about it now. Ben discusses how he's challenging his executive team to rethink talent development, why cross-functional training across properties could be the new leade...

In this episode, Stuart Greif , Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide , asks Josiah Mackenzie what's on his mind recently.  What's your take? Send him a note here 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 insi...

In this episode, Stuart Greif , Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide , shares how his team and the broader hospitality industry responded when guests from The Summit were stranded by the war in Iran. From coordinating accommodations in Monaco and Nice with partners including Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer and Hôtel Le Negresco , to governments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai s...

In this episode, Stuart Greif , Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide , shares an inside look at The Summit by Forbes Travel Guide, where the world's top luxury hospitality leaders gathered to celebrate, learn, and experience hospitality. Stuart explains how the event brought together luxury brands such as Bugatti, Michelin-starred chefs such as Daniel Boulud and Alai...

In this episode, Stuart Greif , the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide , shares key findings from McKinsey data showing that more than 80% of how you appear in AI search is based on reputation, not your own content. Stuart breaks down what this means for operational excellence, training, and how trust becomes the ultimate differentiator. Previously with Stuart: The Next P...

In this episode, Ben Campbell , the President and CEO of Hospitality America , shares how he's navigating flat demand and rising costs by investing in data foundations and doubling down on both AI and human-led sales. You'll hear why he believes every piece of business has its own profitability, how his revenue management background shapes his strategy, and how the company's PEACH c...

In this episode, Valerie Ferguson , the former chair of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, shares why operations is the single function that defines your brand and determines whether guests come back. She explains how cleanliness, safety, and emotional connection form the foundation every brand depends on, and why she always hired for empathy over experience. Valerie also reveals how invo...

In this episode, Valerie Ferguson shares why the guests experiencing your hotel now define your brand more than your marketing ever could. Drawing on nearly five decades at Hyatt , The Ritz-Carlton , Loews Hotels , and Disney, Valerie explains why online reviews have become the most important business driver in hospitality. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here...

Josiah Mackenzie shares the top takeaways he had from this year's Hunter Hotel Investment Conference. 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...

In this episode, Valerie Ferguson , the former Director of Lodging at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and past Chairman of the American Hotel and Lodging Association , shares what she wishes she could have said earlier in her career about the tension between owner expectations and taking care of your people. Drawing on nearly five decades leading at hospitality companies, Valerie talks about the pol...

In this episode, Valerie Ferguson , an 18-year veteran of Hyatt Hotels , shares how Hyatt's culture of trust and creative freedom produced innovations, from coordinated amenities to club level.  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...

Valerie Ferguson reflects on her leadership as General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. She explains why community engagement played a central role in her leadership of the hotel and in building relationships across the city. Valerie shares how initiatives like volunteering with Project Head Start strengthened team pride, deepened empathy, and reinforced the idea that hospitality leaders serv...

Nathan Woods , founder of Beloved Hospitality , returns to share how hospitality principles apply beyond hotels and restaurants. Drawing on ideas from Unreasonable Hospitality, he explains how leaders in industries such as insurance are rethinking customer relationships through a hospitality lens. Nathan breaks down how he teaches teams to see hospitality as a posture, not an industry, and why map...