Teague Talks Podcast

This week, Teague chats with Lindsey Ueberroth, Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Lindsey leads the world's largest independent hotel brand, which represents more than 600 distinctive hotels spanning 80 countries. With rapid growth in the boutique and independent space, Lindsey shares her insights on hotels de-flagging, travel trends, and the benefits of being independent...

Teague travels to Athens, GA, where college football is in full swing, to sit down with James Whitley, COO and Co-Founder of Landmark Properties, the leader in student housing. From flipping houses as a college student to building Landmark into an industry powerhouse, James shares the inspiration behind his recent venture into the hotel space, including his purchase of the iconic Old Edwards Inn a...

Teague sits down with Rob Smith, newly appointed President & CEO of Stonebridge Companies, to discuss his journey in overseas operations, his time at Aimbridge, and the lessons learned from industry icon Navin Dimond. Rob also shares insights into Stonebridge's future growth plans following the recent acquisition of Real Hospitality Group, along with his macro view on the industry and interest...

Teague is joined by Jin Lee, CEO of ARA US Hospitality Trust, a Singapore-based REIT focused on select-service hotels across the U.S. Jin shares the unique story behind the company's formation, discusses the challenges of managing a Singapore-based REIT while operating in the U.S., and outlines how their investment strategy has evolved over the years.

Teague sits down with Steve Palmer, Founder & Chief Vision Officer of Indigo Road Hospitality Group, at the newly opened Rivet House in Athens, GA. Known for his remarkable success in the restaurant business, Steve talks about his transition into hotel management and the journey that led him there. Behind the scenes of his incredible career, Steve opens up about his personal battle with addict...

With a recent NYC hotel bill taking over headlines, Teague sits down with AHLA’s Kevin Carey for a quick update on the details behind the proposed legislation. Tune in to learn how this could trickle down and affect other markets.

Teague is joined by Chan Patel, Chairman and CEO of the largest community bank in the U.S. focused on hospitality. From migrating to the States and purchasing his first hotel in 1976, Chan shares the incredible story behind what led him to raise $2 million and open the State Bank of Texas. The two discuss Chan's unique approach to lending, the recipe behind running a successful bank, and how he ha...

Teague sits down with Nolan Hecht, Senior Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at Certares, to explore why the company has been active despite the current economic conditions. Nolan shares how he’s getting his deals done, his optimism about the industry, and a little bit about his amateur boxing career.

Teague sits down with the recently-appointed CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality, Craig Smith. With a few months under his belt, Craig shares what drew him out of retirement after his impactful 35+ year career with Marriott, his plans for the global management company, and the impressive team he has built around him to set Aimbridge up for success.

Teague sits down with his good friend Jon Stanner, President & CEO of Summit Hotel Properties, to hear what’s going on in the world of hotel REITs. As Summit’s Q2 report approaches, Jon shares which areas are experiencing the most growth, industry trends, and his team's current priorities.

In the heart of NYC, Teague sits down at The Fifth Avenue Hotel with Alex Ohebshalom, Founder & CEO of Flâneur Hospitality. An emerging hotelier, Alex is no stranger to development. He shares his journey to hospitality, what sparked his idea to convert a century-old property into a luxurious 5.5 star hotel, and the challenges of making this 10-year project come to life.

This Friday, Teague welcomes Carlos Rodriguez, Sr., Chairman & CEO of Driftwood Capital, for an insightful discussion on how capital is shaping the transactional market. From growing up in Costa Rica and pursuing a career on Wall Street, Carlos shares the candid story behind his first hotel, the challenges of raising his first debt fund, and everything in between throughout his journey to maki...

This week, Teague sits down with respected competitor and friend, David Turley, President of Cronheim Hotel Capital, to discuss the current state of the lending market from their worlds. They delve into the market's evolution, the challenges they are confronting, and the projects they are currently undertaking in their daily operations.

Ahead of NYU, Teague sits down with Jan Freitag, National Director for Hospitality Market Analytics at CoStar, for an update on the current state of the industry. As we wrap up Q2, Jan dives into interest rates, group demand, and market trends, while Teague shares his crystal ball into transactions and development. 

Steps away from IHG’s Atlanta headquarters, Teague sits down for an exclusive conversation with Jolyon Bulley, CEO of the Americas. From his start behind the front desk in Melbourne to becoming the CEO for one of the world’s largest hotel brands, Jolyon shares his passion for international hospitality, his microscope into global travel trends, and what’s on the horizon for IHG.

Sitting in the brand new The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Teague is joined by Hiren Desai, President & CEO of 3H Group, for an exclusive conversation. From his beginnings in Zambia to managing his first hotel in Chattanooga, Hiren shares the origin story of 3H Group, his development projects through the years, and what it’s been like working alongside his brother.

This Friday, Teague is joined by David Kong, Founder & Principal of DEI Advisors and former CEO of Best Western. David shares his early days from growing up in Hong Kong, what led him to becoming the longest-running CEO of any major hotel company, and what he’s doing to leave an impact on our industry.

This week, Teague sits down with Stephen Wendell, Founder & CEO of Mountain Shore Properties, for a chat on all things development. From growing up in a hotelier family while pursuing a career in law, Stephen shares how he stumbled into the real estate world, the challenges developers are facing today, and the latest projects that he’s been working on in the boutique space.

Teague takes the main stage at the 35th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference alongside the leaders behind the industry’s most successful private companies. The four panelists share insights into their world and offer a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in today's economic landscape.  Featuring Mitch I. Patel , Vision Hospitality Group, Inc. ; Al Patel , Baywood Hotels | Hotel Manag...

At the 35th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, Teague takes the stage alongside the nation’s top brokerage firms for a deep dive on the state of the market. Moderated by LW Hospitality Advisors’ Evan Weiss, the four executives provide a comprehensive analysis of the current financial landscape, offering insights into trends, risks, and investment opportunities while forecasting potential market t...

This week, Teague sits down with the one and only Rachel Humphrey, Founder of Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance. While many know Rachel for her incredible impact on the industry, few know her story and what led her to hospitality. After an impressive 20-year career as a trial lawyer, Rachel shares what led her to AAHOA, what she spends her time on today, and what she's looking forward to at...

On this International Women’s Day, Teague sits down with powerhouse Anna Blue, President of the AHLA Foundation. From her upbringing on a hippy commune in Canada to her work on Capitol Hill, where she contributed to one of the most impactful campaigns in presidential history, Anna reflects on the influential individuals who shaped her career, sheds light on the mission of the AHLA Foundation, and...

In this week’s episode of Teague Talks, David Sotolov, Managing Director at Alliance Bernstein, joins Teague for a deep dive on all things lending. From the intricacies of various asset classes to insights on current spreads and interest rates, David shares his crystal ball into the debt market landscape. Tune in as they discuss what's driving the market, which sectors are thriving, and what lies...

Sitting inside the brand new Signia by Hilton Atlanta, Teague is joined by Danny Hughes, EVP and President of the Americas at Hilton. Danny reflects on his early days working in his family’s pub and pursuing his passion for culinary before shifting to the business side of hospitality. Beginning his Hilton career at the London Hilton on Park Lane over 35 years ago, Danny gives us insights into his...

Ryan Rivett, President & CEO of My Place Hotels, joins Teague from South Dakota for this week's episode. From starting out at his family’s fishing lodge to founding My Place Hotels alongside his grandfather and industry icon, Ron Rivett of Super 8, Ryan dives into his company’s secret sauce, the challenges with franchising today, and his 2024 outlook.