Hospitality Daily Podcast

Agnelo Fernandes wanted to work in hospitality so badly that he removed his MBA from his resume just to land an entry-level job in the industry. Today, he's the CEO of Cote Hospitality , and his path there was anything but traditional. In this episode, Agnelo shares the moments that pulled him away from investment banking, why he believes hospitality is actually harder than rocket science or...

In this episode, Craig Poole reflects on how a lifetime in hospitality built the resilience and mindset he’s relied on while fighting cancer. He shares lessons drawn from decades of leadership — gratitude, selflessness, adaptability, and compassion — and explains why hospitality uniquely prepares people to face life’s hardest challenges. Craig also revisits his philosophy of leadership, community,...

In this episode, Hospitality Daily host Josiah Mackenzie joins a roundtable of the top podcasters in hospitality for an unfiltered look at the stories that defined 2025 and what leaders can anticipate for the year ahead. Moderated by Katie Cline , host of Suite Success , the discussion brings together Zach Busekrus ( Behind the Stays ), David Millili and Steve Carran ( The Modern Hotelier ), and G...

In this episode, we're learning from Craig Stanghetta , Founder and Creative Director of Ste Marie , about why the most successful hospitality concepts are designed around emotion rather than just aesthetics. Drawing on his background in theatre, Craig shares how story, risk, and a balance of comfort and wonder shape spaces guests actually return to. He also shares what emotional design looks...

In this special bonus episode, we break down Actabl's Q3 2025 Hotel Labor Benchmarking Data and explore what it means for hotel operators planning for 2026. Sarah McCay Tams , Head of Research and Editorial for HotelData.com, walks through the major trends shaping wages, overtime, headcount, and productivity across U.S. hotels. She’s joined by experienced operators Shanell Marinuzzi and Peter...

In this episode, we're learning from Daniel Lauber , founder of CERVO Mountain Resort , in a conversation with our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker about reimagining what hospitality can be today. Daniel shares how CERVO evolved from a modern hunting lodge concept into a holistic “way of living” rooted in community, culture, and connection. He explains why mindfulness and enjo...

In this conversation, our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith , interviews Matthew Bell , Managing Director at Mollie's , and former Chief Hotel Operations Officer at citizenM, about why so many digital initiatives continue to underperform. Matt explains how misaligned goals, over-engineered projects, and a lack of clear value metrics often hold hotels back, and why a more incrementa...

In this solo Thanksgiving episode, Hospitality Daily founder and publisher Josiah Mackenzie reflects on the bright spots he saw across the hospitality industry this year—from operators protecting profit amid headwinds to a renewed respect for on-property teams and the smart use of technology to drive results. He highlights the leadership, culture, and operational fundamentals that carried the indu...

In this conversation, our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith , speaks with Matthew Bell , Managing Director at Mollie's , and former Chief Hotel Operations Officer at citizenM, about what it really takes to scale a hospitality brand without losing its soul and energy. Matt explains the “starfish principle” behind great organizational design, showing how cross-functional, self-contai...

Matthew Bell , Managing Director at Mollie's , shares the foundational ideas that shape his approach to building modern hospitality brands in this conversation with our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith -- from applying critical thinking and experimentation to empowering frontline teams through an inverted-pyramid culture. Drawing on formative experiences and a decade leading opera...

In this episode, we're learning from Jannes Sörensen , founder of Kepler Hotel Group and the Kepler International Hospitality Academy , in a conversation hosted by our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker .  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 m...

In this solo episode, Josiah shares why 2025 became the “Year of the Operator,” drawing on newly released hotel performance data and trends seen across the industry. He breaks down how top operators protected profitability despite softer-than-expected top-line performance and why operational excellence is emerging as the defining advantage heading into 2026. Josiah also explores the broader “virtu...

In this episode, Ryan Magnon , Chief Operating Officer at Ithaka Hospitality Partners , shares how his team is reimagining food halls as vibrant “third places” that bring communities together. He explains why chef-driven concepts, flexible gathering spaces, and thoughtful experience design are fueling the rise of modern food halls, and what they reveal about how people want to connect today. A few...

In this episode, Ryan Magnon , Chief Operating Officer at Ithaka Hospitality Partners , explains why strong operations are defining hospitality performance today. Drawing on experience shaped by quality management at Capella, operational leadership at Chick-fil-A, and his early career as a U.S. Air Force officer, Ryan outlines what great operators do differently: study their business as intentiona...

Ryan Magnon , now Chief Operating Officer at Ithaka Hospitality Partners , draws on nearly 14 years at Chick-fil-A to explain what hotels can learn from one of the country’s most consistently high-performing service brands. In this conversation, he breaks down the cultural foundations Chick-fil-A refuses to compromise on, from aligning teams around purpose to maintaining uncompromising standards o...

Ryan Magnon , Chief Operating Officer at Ithaka Hospitality Partners , returns to explore the early experiences that shaped his approach to leadership today. In this episode, he reflects on his formative years as a young Air Force officer and the lesson that defined his career: learning to rely on the expertise of the seasoned leaders who led him. Ryan explains how humility, trust, and listening b...

Ryan Magnon , Chief Operating Officer at Ithaka Hospitality Partners , shares how his early experience as a bat boy for the Atlanta Braves shaped his approach to hospitality and time management. He explains how serving players taught him the fundamentals of anticipating needs, managing time with intention, and developing habits of personal excellence long before he entered the hotel business. This...

In this final episode of our series with Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin and an investor and advisor shaping innovation in education, sustainability, and hospitality, we zoom out to explore the major forces he believes will define the future. Chet reflects on how he recognized the rise of personal computing in the 1980s and shares the “next big waves” he’s watching now, including AI, energy, wellne...

Chet Pipkin built Belkin into a billion-dollar global company, and today, he’s applying those same leadership principles in hospitality through Desolation Hotel in Lake Tahoe. In this conversation, he shares how his leadership philosophy has evolved and why empowering people at every level is essential to organizational health. At the end, Chet also reveals what he sees as the biggest risk leaders...

Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin and Desolation Hotel , shares how he’s bringing decades of experience building one of the world’s largest consumer technology companies into the hospitality industry. From EV charging to booking systems and even something as simple as checking out a bike, Chet explains how he designs every touchpoint with technology to feel effortless. In this episode, he breaks down...

When Chet Pipkin moved from founding Belkin to creating Desolation Hotel , he brought with him a deep curiosity about how people experience the world—and a lifelong habit of solving problems through design. In this episode, Chet shares how he and his team built Desolation Hotel to create what he calls “aha moments”—those small surprises that make a guest’s stay effortless and memorable. From EV ch...

Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin and now Desolation Hotel , shares how he’s applying decades of experience in innovation and leadership to reimagine what a hospitality business can be. After growing Belkin into a global technology brand, Chet turned his attention to creating meaningful, sustainable experiences in Lake Tahoe—guided by a one-page business plan rooted in simplicity, clarity, and purpos...

What makes someone who’s reached the highest levels of entrepreneurship and corporate leadership step into the world of hospitality? In this episode, Chet Pipkin—founder of Belkin and now Desolation Hotel —shares the experiences that shaped his vision of hotels as an "immersive portal." A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here .  You can send me a message...

Today we’re kicking off a new series with Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin, who’s now building Desolation Hotel — a hospitality brand rooted in nature, balance, and meaning. In this episode, we get into why he’s doing this work. You’ll hear how time in nature grounds him, what “feeding the soul” means in a world of constant connection, and how that personal motivation is shaping the hospitality he’s...

In this episode, Jannes Sörensen , founder of Kepler Hotel Group and the Kepler International Hospitality Academy , shares reflections on leadership and inspiration with our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker .  Drawing from his experience leading executive teams at the highest levels of hospitality, he reveals why the higher you rise in hospitality, the lonelier it can become, and w...