The Hospitality Mentor

In this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, we sit down with Mary D’Argenis-Fernandez , President and Founder of MDA Hospitality Solutions . Mary shares her incredible journey from starting her hospitality career at Walt Disney World at 16 to now celebrating 10 years of success with her own company. Discover her insights on hospitality training, her transformative experiences at to...

Join us in this inspiring episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast as we welcome Chef Angelo Sosa , the Executive Chef of Kembara, Tia Carmen, and Carmocha. Chef Angelo shares his remarkable journey from his first job at a retirement home in Middletown, Connecticut, to becoming a successful chef and restaurateur. Learn about his early influences, including his Tia Carmen, his diverse culinary exp...

Check out Steve Turk's new book, Hospitality Unlocked: Advice, Strategies, and Insider Secrets from 75 of the World’s Top Hospitality Leaders , available now on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8JC16xJ . In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Gerald Chin, Head of Culinary for the Mina Group. Starting his journey at Carvel Ice Cream on Long Island during high school, Ch...

In this special episode of The Hospitality Mentor , I’m sharing a sneak peek of my new book, Hospitality Unlocked: Advice, Strategies, and Insider Secrets from 75 of the World’s Top Hospitality Leaders . Join me as I read the preface, offering a glimpse into the stories, lessons, and strategies that shaped this book. Whether you’re just starting out in hospitality or looking for ways to lead and g...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Steve Palmer, founder of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group . Palmer shares his journey from washing dishes at 13 to becoming a successful entrepreneur and author. He discusses his passion for hospitality, the importance of culture in business, and his personal battle with addiction. Palmer also highlights the creation an...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Winston Smith, General Manager of The Standard Spa, Miami Beach. Winston shares his incredible journey from starting in accounts payable to becoming GM, discussing his early career, transition from finance, and personal experiences that shaped his path. They explore the importance of teamwork, maintaining a positive work...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Bill and Holly Bembenek, founders of the Temecula Wine Trolley and Wine Tours . They discuss their unique business venture, detailing its inception, the challenges faced, and the exciting growth they have experienced. The Bembeneks share insights into their personal journeys within the hospitality industry, including Hol...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Bryan Tubaugh, the founder of Aligned Hospitality Management . Brian shares his unique journey starting from his early days growing up in a hospitality family to founding his own management company. He discusses the valuable lessons learned from his first job as a houseman at DoubleTree, and how pivotal moments and mento...

Join host Steve Turk on the Hospitality Mentor Podcast as he interviews Executive Chef Rebecca Tillman of the Ritz Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara. Rebecca shares her journey from her humble beginnings scooping ice cream at Swenson's to her prestigious role in one of the world's top luxury hotels. Learn about her experiences, the challenges she overcame, and the wisdom she gained from her mentors....

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk talks with Michael Friedman, the CEO of Simple Life Hospitality. They discuss Michael's career journey, which began with odd jobs in college and evolved into high-level roles in various hospitality and consulting firms. Michael shares insights on scaling businesses, emphasizing the importance of guest experience, and leveraging edu...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Steve Galbreath, the Chief Development Officer of Garfield Public Private LLC. Steve discusses his journey from being an architect to a hospitality developer. He provides insights into the work Garfield Public Private LLC does in helping cities, airports, and universities develop convention centers and hotels. The co...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Fernando Rojas, partner of Agency BE. Fernando shares his unique journey from his early passion for banking in Ecuador to his flourishing career in the hospitality and events industry. He discusses his adventurous move to the UAE, the challenges of launching an event company in Miami, and his current project, the World T...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Cesar Wurm, Vice President of Commercial, Premium Brands for IHG ® Hotels & Resorts and an accomplished author. Cesar shares his unique journey from an overnight room service assistant in Sao Paulo to a key figure in the hospitality industry. Listeners will gain insights into Cesar's career progression, his strug...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Vittorio Assaf, founder of the Serafina Group. Vittorio shares his journey from Italian stockbroker to celebrated restaurateur, recounting his early beginnings in 1986 with an investment from Andy Warhol, to the founding of the Serafina restaurants, a venture he conceived while lost at sea with his partner. The conversat...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Scott Colebourne, the founder of PICKLESTARS. Scott shares his unconventional journey from growing up in rural New Zealand, where he developed a passion for tennis, to becoming the CEO of Cliff Drysdale Management and now venturing into pickleball consulting. He discusses his experiences and challenges in the hospitality...

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk welcomes back James Ferguson, the Corporate Director of Culture for the Wurzak Hotel Group, for his second appearance on the show. They discuss James' inspiring journey in hospitality, from starting at the front desk to writing his book, 'The Confetti Culture Playbook,' and overcoming cancer. James shares insights into his unique r...

in this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Eric D. Moeller, founder and CEO of Freewyld , a boutique hospitality brand specializing in design-forward cabins located in nature-rich destinations. Eric shares his unique journey from a construction and real estate background to discovering his passion for hospitality through Airbnb. They discuss the founding of Freew...

Join Steve Turk on this captivating episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as he sits down with Vanessa James, CEO and founder of VJ Media, and the visionary behind Food, Wine and Fete. Vanessa shares her incredible journey from aspiring sports broadcaster to becoming a dynamic force in the media and events industry. Discover how she navigated her career, overcame challenges, and successfully b...

Today we're doing a crossover episode and sharing my other podcast. I do with my co-host Victor Feria called Tangy Talks. I hope you enjoy it. Welcome to Episode 16 of Tangy Talks! In this episode, Steve Turk and Victor Feria share their summer strategies and insights into managing the hospitality business during South Florida's slower season. They discuss team appreciation, the rise of midterm re...

In this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Mauro Pinho, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Acqualina Resort. Mauro shares his incredible journey from waiting tables to becoming a leader in luxury hospitality. Discover the key moments and relationships that shaped his career, the challenges and rewards of working at world-renowned properties, and his...

Episode Overview: In this special crossover episode, Steve Turk, founder of The Hospitality Mentor, joins David Arraya on the Conscious Hospitality Podcast. Steve shares his journey from his early days as a cabana boy to becoming a renowned leader in the hospitality industry. With stories from iconic hotels like Lowe’s, Mandarin Oriental, and Trump Doral, Steve provides valuable insights into lead...

Chatting with Hotel Innovator Ryan Rivett. Dive into the exciting world of hotel life with Ryan Rivett, the brain behind MyPlace Hotels . We're talking about how he started a unique hotel brand, his adventures in the business, and what it takes to stand out in the busy world of hospitality. Ryan opens up about his grandad's legacy with Super 8 Motels and how MyPlace Hotels is changing the game in...

Join Steve Turk on the Hospitality Mentor Podcast for an exclusive interview with Jennifer Barnwell, President of Curator Hotel and Resort Collection. In this episode, Jennifer shares the story of her rise through the ranks in the hospitality industry and the insights she's gained along the way. From her early beginnings in upstate New York to orchestrating the strategic direction of Curator, disc...

 Today, you will learn the fantastic story of Ashish Verma’s career in hospitality. Ashish is the Senior Vice President of the Luxury Division for the Unbound Collection at Hyatt Hotels. He shares his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry, starting as a management trainee for Oberoi Hotels in India after a back injury altered his initial dreams of becoming a professional tennis player. Ash...

Radi Garov, the General Manager at Soho Beach House in Miami, joins Steve in this episode to talk about his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry. Starting as a banquet server after moving from Bulgaria to the U.S., Radi climbed the ladder through hard work, learning, and mentorship. He shares his experiences working in various positions and hotels, from his first job at C Trail Golf Resor...