Hospitality Daily Podcast

In this episode, Joanna Dodaro Johansen , head of people experience for citizenM hotels in the US, shares how they create a great employee experience at one of the most innovative hotel brands in the world.  Joanna discusses their approach to recruiting, hiring, and daily practices that encourage a culture of celebrating individuality. She emphasizes the importance of employee experience in shapin...

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 high...

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...

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...

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&...

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. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here .  You can send me...

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...

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 ca...

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...

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...

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...

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 y...

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...

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 le...

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 le...

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 Pres...

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 A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here .  You can send me a messa...

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 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 I...

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...

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 A few more resour...

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...

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. Fo...

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 retenti...

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 Residen...