SMACK Hospitality

What if the best hotels stopped trying to worship you? Flo just sat down with Lily Wecker, CEO of Aethos, who's building hotels that treat you like an actual human being. No pedestals, no scripts: just real conversation, human to human. Revolutionary? Maybe. Refreshing? Absolutely. This episode was recorded at the amazing IHIF EMEA, and is brought to you by our sponsor RoomPriceGenie. Check them o...

“There are a lot of logos in this industry. Very few brands.” When Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Hotels, drops a line like that at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin, you sit up straight. What's the difference between a real luxury brand and just a fancy logo, you may ask? In the latest SMACK episode, Fritz gets the unfiltered answer from Barbara. They're talking heritage, gravitas, and turni...

What if the most important career advice you get this year comes from an ex-investment banker? That's exactly what happened when Florian sat down with the incredible Eu Chin Fen, CEO of Frasers Hospitality, for a LIVEPodcast at IHIF EMEA’s Under 30s Hangout. Eu Chin Fen didn't come from a traditional hotel background, and that's exactly why her take on how to win in this industry is a highlight. H...

"Projects always go wrong." That’s not us being cheeky, that’s a direct quote from a VP of Development. This week, Florian’s got Jan Heringa, VP Development and Project Management at Leonardo Hotels, in the SMACK spotlight. From kitchen chaos at 15 to masterminding the launch of iconic brands like NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels across Europe, Jan’s career is pure, unfiltered hotelier grit. But trus...

The brand is sold, the tech is integrated, and a new star is rising. If you are wondering what hotel operations will actually look like in the next few years, Lennert De Jong is already there, blueprint in hand. In the latest SMACK episode, Florian sits down with the CEO of Another Star (and ex-CitizenM legend) to unpack one of the most talked-about moves in hospitality lately: CitizenM selling th...

Building a travel media empire isn’t for the faint-hearted, and Rafat Ali knows exactly what he’s talking about. This December, Fritz sits down with Rafat, founder and CEO of Skift, for a conversation loaded with insider insights on travel media, startups, and the raw realities of running a global brand. They get into everything from how Skift carved out a voice that matters worldwide, to keeping...

Money talks, but hotels walk the walk! And Dirk Bakker knows exactly which ones are worth your attention… We’re warming up this month of November with an episode packed with insider perspectives from Dirk, Head of EMEA Hotels at Colliers. During the Future Hospitality Summit 2025 in Dubai, Dirk and Fritz dove into what’s shaping hotel investments, how destinations get Instagram-famous overnight, a...

What does it really take to grow a hotel brand across continents? SMACK is back with an episode packed with insider insights from Elie Milky, Chief Development Officer of Radisson Hotel Group for the Middle East, North East Africa, Cyprus, and Greece. In preparation for the upcoming Future Hospitality Summit, he joined Fritz in Dubai to unpack how Radisson Hotel Group develops brands that last, na...

Two industry titans in one iconic room?! SMACK Season 7 is officially starting, and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick it off. Christopher Hartley, CEO of Global Hotel Alliance, and Simon Naudi, Group CEO of Corinthia Hotels, joined Fritz at the stunning Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria Brussels during the GHA’s annual CEO meeting. The result? A masterclass in loyalty, luxury, and GRAND Boutiq...

First it was finance spreadsheets, now it’s suite dreams: Ian Di Tullio’s journey to the top of Minor Hotels is anything but ordinary. Let’s just say: it started with data and ended with loyalty (lots of it). We mic’d up with the Global Chief Commercial Officer, Ian Di Tullio, who went from flying high with Air Canada & Accor to shaking up hospitality from Bangkok with brains, heart, and some seri...

Say hello to Samuel Njoroge, Director of Quality Assurance & Sustainability at Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA, joining our latest Breaktime episode with the fabulous Mari. Talking trash (literally), tech, and turning purpose into planet-saving action. From phone operator in 2009 to full-blown eco-legend today, Samuel’s journey is pure SMACK: hustle, heart, and a whole lot of green ambition. Wha...

From courtroom to boardroom, now serving global hospitality with that Spanish spice. Meet María Zarraluqui, VP of Global Development at Meliá Hotels International, lawyer-turned-development-queen and Mallorca-based hospitality firecracker. We caught up with her at IHIF2025 in Berlin, where our host Florian had the mic, and María brought the magic. In this episode: How a life twist landed her at Me...

Swiping Right on Luxury & Small Hotels. The wait is finally over… As you might know, Richard Hyde, COO of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, took the hot seat SMACK Live at Young Hoteliers Summit at #EHL in Lausanne and here comes his podcast episode. From his slide into hospitality to building what he calls the “Tinder of Hotels” – matching dream stays with the perfect guests – Richard spilled the...

Are you ready for some stories about waffles, wellness, and the CIA? Adam Crocini isn’t just shaping Hilton’s F&B scene across 8,000+ properties - he and his team have also been pushing those legendary DIY waffles like true breakfast evangelists. Yes, the iconic Hampton by Hilton ones. As SVP of Global Design, Wellness, and Food & Beverage at Hilton, Adam oversees everything from restaurant concep...

Buckle up, hospitality fans, this episode is double trouble on the mic! Glenn Hausman, Podcast Host and initiator of THE No Vacancy Podcast, joined Flo to discuss how one moves from editing hip-hop videos to running one of the biggest podcasts in #hospitality. Flo and Glenn chat about personal branding, career moves, and why AI will never be able to replace real human connections. Glenn gets real...

What do sustainability, the future of hospitality, and King Charles III have in common? Turns out, more than you’d think – and Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is here to spill the tea (or should we say, the royal Earl Grey?). In this episode, Glenn met with Phil to chat about what sustainability really means for #hospitality and tourism and how ‘the Alliance’ is...

How to avoid cranky customers and rainy days 🌧☂ Ever wondered what happens when a #climate scientist becomes a travel enthusiast? Meet Nick Cavanaugh, who turned his PhD in atmospheric physics into a solution for weather-impacted #travelplans. In this Breaktime episode, Lisa chatted with the founder and CEO of Sensible Weather, who is planning to make travel more predictable one booking at a time...

What makes The World’s 50 Best Hotels award so iconic? In this Breaktime episode, Mari has a delightful chat with Emma Sleight, Head of Content at The World’s 50 Best Hotels - aka the Oscars of hospitality. Emma gives us a peek into the special award categories, like the SevenRooms Icon Award, Flor de Caña Eco Hotel Award, and Nikka Best New Hotel Award… plus all the behind-the-scenes magic that c...

What's the secret behind leading a team to the World’s 50 Best Hotels award? Hint: It’s not a killer minibar! John Blanco, General Manager of Capella Bangkok, sits down with Phil to share his journey. From chef to hotel industry pro, John’s worked on every continent and brought those global insights with him to create a winning team at Capella. It’s a mix of leadership, passion, and a whole lot of...

How does Hyatt approach hotel development? For this episode Felicity Black-Roberts Senior Vice President of Development for EAME at Hyatt met with Fritz at the FHS world to chat about hotel development in Europe and the Middle East. They explored how the hotel investment landscape has transformed and what this could mean for the hospitality industry's future. Felicity gives us a peek into how Hyat...

Ever dreamed of living in Karl Lagerfeld’s world of fashion and design?  Well, it’s about to get real!  In this SMACK episode Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of Karl Lagerfeld, shares exclusive insights on how the brand has evolved since the maestros passing, his visionary approach to luxury, and the creative legacy he left behind. Fritz and Pier Paolo met during #FHSworld to discuss how Pier is guiding Kar...

This is hotter than your morning coffee! Join us for our very first #Breaktime episode on SMACK! Mari is kicking things off with Mieke Berkers, Director of European Business Development at Montgomery Group, who’s giving us the inside scoop on the Independent Hotel Show Munich making its first German appearance. Ever wonder why this #event is such a unique show for hoteliers? Or why Munich is the p...

Are you the driver of your career or just a passenger along for the ride? In this episode, Pat sits down with Daniel Afonso, Senior VP of People & Culture at Radisson Hotel Group, and trust us, staying stagnant is not on the agenda. Daniel shares his story – From a start in finance to his accidental start in #hospitality, and how he seized every opportunity to create the life he wanted. They dive...

We’re kicking off Season 6 in the vibrant streets of London, where Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench, met with Fritz to explore the past, the present and the future of hospitality and its exciting global development. With the FHS World in Dubai just around the corner, Jonathan shared his insights on the Middle East’s remarkable transformation over the past two decades and highlighted v...