The Hospitality Mentor

Host Steve Turk interviews Mario Del Duca, Managing Director of Nuba , a 30+ year-old luxury travel company focused on high end outbound leisure that expanded into the Americas via acquisitions in Mexico and Miami. Mario oversees the Americas and says the business has nearly tripled under his leadership. Mario shares his nontraditional path from banking in London/New York to an MBA at IE in Madrid...

Host Steve Turk interviews Nikheel Advani , co-founder and COO of Grace Bay Resorts , who shares how he entered hospitality at 16 after his father pushed him to work, leading to dishwashing, banqueting, and founding a small events company in Singapore. He trained at UMass Amherst, worked in restaurants and hotels, joined a Pizza Uno turnaround team, then spent years with Ritz-Carlton opening multi...

Live from HITEC in San Antonio, the Steve Turk and Sarah Dandashy recap the inaugural Hospitality Creator Summit , created by Anna Blue and Anthony Melchiorri, which drew 200+ attendees for a full day of networking and creator-focused education. Sara shares first impressions of the high-energy event, meeting online peers in person, and the supportive, low-ego atmosphere. A panel on “behind the bra...

Host Steve Turk interviews Milan Mijatovic, founder of SILA Miami . Milan explains SILA as a social wellness club in Upper Buena Vista featuring longevity services (float tank, hyperbaric oxygen, lymphatic suit, red light therapy, bioscan/bodywork), outdoor classes (yoga, Pilates, functional strength, kettlebells), and contrast therapy (cold plunges and a 14-person sauna). He recounts starting in...

Host Steve Turk welcomes Larry Korman, co-CEO of Korman Communities and president of AKA Hotel Residences , to discuss his lifelong path in hospitality and residential real estate, from childhood work in the family business to leading a five-generation legacy. Korman explains how his father’s pie-shaped Philadelphia apartments sparked the furnished-apartment concept, later branded as Korman Suites...

Host Steve Turk revisits an archived Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring award-winning chef and restaurateur David Burke , who shares his path from dishwasher at a Sheraton to culinary school, Europe, and major New York kitchens. Burke recounts being mentored by a country club chef named Jose, attending the CIA, traveling through Europe, and working in top French restaurants and pastry sc...

Host Steve Turk introduces an archived 2022 Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring Raul Leal, then CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts (now CEO of Starwood ). Leal recounts starting at Miami’s Everglades Hotel working with his Cuban-immigrant father, setting early goals to become a GM, and progressing through front desk and food-and-beverage roles, including managing a Sheraton with a major night...

Host Steve Turk welcomes Elizabeth Mullins, President of Evermore Hospitality, who shares her start as a server at New Hampshire’s Lobster Shack and her first hotel role as a Ritz-Carlton Boston management trainee after earning hospitality and business degrees. Mullins recounts being inspired by a childhood Ritz-Carlton visit, spending 28 years with Ritz-Carlton as it grew from six to 99 hotels, o...

Host Steve Turk interviews Jessica and Damien Zouaoui, founders of Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver, a social wellness concept combining a craft beer and wine self-pour taproom with four private spa suites featuring infrared saunas, rain showers, and hydrotherapy tubs infused with hops, malt, and herbs, plus optional zero-gravity robotic massage chairs and room-service refills. They share their hospital...

Host Steve Turk welcomes Tim Major, CEO of Operto , to discuss how AI is reshaping hospitality through “agentic teammates” designed role by role to assist or replace specific hotel tasks. Tim shares his path from early hospitality exposure as a Volkswagen tour guide in Vancouver/Whistler to building computers, creating award-nominated music-industry websites, founding a hospitality-focused develop...

Host Steve Turk welcomes listeners to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, brought to you by sponsors Lodgify and Biscayne Coffee , He interviews Adam Tuttle, co-founder of Yipy , described as the industry’s first hospitality standards management system that centralizes hotel standards by role, adds analytics, and supports inspections and audits. Adam shares his early hospitality work in a Nevada casin...

Host Steve Turk welcomes Sean McCarron, General Manager of Conrad Orlando at Evermore , to discuss Sean’s path through luxury hospitality and what it takes to lead and open award-winning resorts. Sean shares how he entered hospitality through a Ritz-Carlton management trainee program at Pentagon City (placed as a bartender), discovered hotel school in Switzerland after soul-searching in college, a...

In this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Alexander Kandalaft, the General Manager of the Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue . Discover how this all-in-one platform, Lodgify, can help short-term rental hosts and hospitality operators stay organized. Alexander shares his journey in the hospitality industry, from his early days as a PBX operator at Bos...

Join our host Steve Turk as we explore the dynamic and inspiring career journey of Deniz Dorbek, the founder of the Regulus Collective , in this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast. Starting from her first job as a front desk agent in Istanbul, Deniz narrates her ascent through various roles in the hospitality industry across multiple countries. Deniz shares her insights on revenue managemen...

Join us on an exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as host Steve Turk dives into the incredible journey of Francesco Balli, co-CEO of Grove Bay Hospitality Group . Discover the unique paths that led Francesco and his partner from being CPAs to successful restaurateurs, the challenges they overcame, and the wisdom they've gathered along the way. This episode is a must listen for anyon...

Join host Steve Turk in this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as we sit down with Adam Sperling, the General Manager of the iconic Charles Hotel in Cambridge 's Harvard Square. From starting as a front desk agent to leading one of the most admired independent hotels, Adam shares his incredible journey, the importance of mentorship, and the unique challenges and rewards of managin...

Join Steve Turk on The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, where he delves into the career journey of Darragh McGillicuddy, founder of McGillicuddy Hospitality . Discover insights from Darragh's leadership roles in renowned organizations like Ritz-Carlton and Royal Caribbean, as well as his transition into the entrepreneurial world. Learn about the evolution of the hospitality industry, the importance of...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk welcomes Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry . They discuss the distinct qualities of Select Registry, including its focus on independently-owned inns, bed and breakfasts, and boutique hotels, all adhering to a high standard of quality assurance. Mark shares his journey from working for Ford Motor Company to running a successful bed an...

In this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk chats with Anand and Nina, owners of the Barn B&B in Walla Walla, Washington. They share their inspiring journey from their extensive careers in the hospitality industry to fulfilling their dream of creating a unique luxury B&B. The discussion covers their initial planning, challenges faced during construction, the impact o...

In this special episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk reveals an exciting new project he's been working on for the past two years, BAYA. Previously envisioned as a glamping site, the project has evolved into a breathtaking landscape resort called BAYA, located in South Florida. Steve introduces his partner, Ben WolfF, and together they dive into the inspiration, development jo...

From Adventure Travel to Hotel Management: Amanda Arling's Journey in Hospitality In this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Amanda Arling, the president of The Whalers Inn in Mystic, Connecticut . Amanda shares her unique career path from studying microbiology to working in adventure travel for the company Back Roads. She discusses how her love for travel and cu...

Join Steve Turk on the Hospitality Mentor Podcast as he delves into the inspiring story of BCB3 Hospitality, a dynamic partnership between Babak Bina, Andy Cartin, and Jamie Bissonnette. In this episode, they share their unique paths into the hospitality industry, the challenges and successes of opening four innovative restaurant concepts in Boston, and the passion and collaboration that fuel thei...

Join host Steve Turk on the Hospitality Mentor Podcast as he dives into the inspiring journey of Brett Friedman, founder of A21 . Discover the stories behind Brett's rise in the hospitality industry, from humble beginnings as a pizza delivery guy to leading one of the largest culinary events agencies in the world. Learn essential tips on creating successful events, building a passionate team, and...

Welcome to the Hospitality Mentor Podcast! In this episode, host Steve Turk interviews Ji Hye Kim, the chef-owner of Miss Kim Korean Restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ji Hye shares her unconventional journey from being an economics and political science student at the University of Michigan to becoming a renowned Korean chef. Starting as a server at a Japanese restaurant, Ji Hye recounts her tran...

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Eli Pritykin, founder of Hudson Creative Studio , a leading company specializing in creating high-converting websites for hospitality companies. Eli shares his incredible journey from working in the food industry and studying at Yeshiva University to becoming a successful tech entrepreneur. Dis...