The Hospitality Mentor

In this episode, Steve is joined by Richard Garcia, Senior Vice President of F&B at Remington Hotels. From dropping out of high school to becoming recognized by the James Beard Foundation and awarded a spot on the Top 40 under 40 Food Service Professional In America, Richard's journey in hospitality is nothing short of inspiring. Some of Richard's previous roles include Executive Chef at Marri...

From starting her career as a housekeeper at Marriot to becoming an Area Director of Human Resources in two different countries, Laura Barbieri's career journey shows the power of growth opportunities within the hospitality industry. In this episode, Laura joins Steve to talk about the 22 year jourey she had at Marriot International, how she transitioned into human resources, changing companies, s...

In this episode, Steve is joined by Euan McGlashan, co-founder and CEO of Valor Hospitality Partners. After years of a successful career all around the world in luxury, resorts, independent and branded hotels, Euan formed Valor Hospitality Partners in 2012 with Steve Cesinger. Now a global company with 90 properties, Euan and his team at Valor have executed on many distressed property turnarounds,...

[Replay] In this episode, Steve is joined by Patrick Goddard. Throughout his successful career in hospitality, Patrick has worked in hotel development and operations for Hilton Hotels, Loews Hotels and Rosewood Hotels. He was also a successful hospitality entrepreneur. Today, Patrick is the President of Brightline Trains, where he is responsible for the company’s multi-billion-dollar intercity pas...

[Replay] In this episode, Steve is joined by celebrity chef, entrepreneur, and inventor, David Burke. David is internationally known for his revolutionary techniques, successful restaurant empire, and many TV appearances. He has won Japan’s Nippon Award for Excellence, the Robert Mondavi Award of Excellence, and is the first American ever to win the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplome...

[Replay] In this episode, Steve is joined by Mary Rogers, General Manager of the Montage Laguna Beach. Mary has had an incredible career in hospitality, from starting at the age of 13 working at a small bed and breakfast in Ireland to managing the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, one of the world's most luxurious hotels. Throughout this conversation, Mary talks about the different roles she has worked i...

In this episode, Steve is joined by Trisha Pérez Kennealy. Trisha is the Owner and Culinary Educator of the Inn at Hastings Park, an award winning Relais & Chateaux Property. Her luxury property has 22-beautifully and uniquely decorated guest rooms as well as an amazing restaurant called Town Meeting, that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner to inn guests as well as the public. Throughout this...

In this week's episode, Steve is joined by Thatcher Brown, Chief Commercial Officer & Head of Joint Yacht Operations at Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, Owner and Joint Operator of Four Seasons Yachts. Thatcher has extensive international hospitality and travel-related business experience from working in the U.S and Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He has held senior management positi...

In this week's episode, Steve is joined by Patrick Huey, the General Manager at We Care Spa. Throughout his career, Patrick has worked in the Spa sector of hospitality all around the world, from Miami, Jamaica, Bangkok, California, and more. Some of his previous roles include; Corporate Director Spa, Fitness and Tennis at Sandals Resorts International, Corporate Director of Spa Operations at The V...

In this week's episode, Steve is joined by Nick Falcone. Nick is the CEO of Rentyl Resorts, founder and CEO of NDM Hospitality, and is leading the launch of Rentyl Homes, Rentyl Apartments, and Spire Loyalty, the first multi-industry loyalty program. In 2012, NDM Hospitality acquired the territorial rights to the Dade County BurgerFi franchise and they became the chain’s first franchisee and a mod...

In this week's episode, Steve is joined by Armando Campos, the Vice President of Food & Beverage at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Armando's previous F&B roles include Executive Director of F&B at Pendry Hotels, Director of F&B at Loews Hotel, and Director of F&B at Hilton. Armando is also the Co-Founder & CEO of the consulting company, California Investment Group. Throughout t...

In this week's episode, Steve is joined by Raul Leal, Chief Executive Officer at SH Hotels & Resorts. Prior to leading SH Hotels & Resorts, Raul was the President & CEO of Virgin Hotels where he oversaw the launch of five Virgin-branded hotels and began the development of 10 more. Raul's resume is chalk full of other impressive roles, such as President/Partner-Hotel Owner at Desires Ho...

In today's episode, Steve is joined by Chef Donatella Arpaia. Chef Donatella has made a name for herself, opening up some of New York City's top restaurants and appearing consistently on TV as an Iron Chef Judge. Now based in Miami, Chef Donatella is opening up her first restaurant in South Florida, Noma Beach at Redfish. Throughout this episode, Donatella talks about how she successfully built a...

In today's episode, Steve is joined by Adam Harris, CEO and Cofounder of Cloudbeds. With a diversified finance, transmedia marketing, and web technologies background, Adam's previous roles range from being a technology investment banker, a technology consultant to emerging business, and the founder of numerous technology start-ups. Since launching in 2012, the awardwinning Cloudbeds Hospitality Pl...

In today's episode, Steve is joined by Cessie Cerrato, public relations and social media marketing expert. Prior to founding her own agency, Cessie C. Communications, Cessie led global PR, and social media influencer brand partnerships in her role as Vice President of Public Relations for Palace Resorts and Le Blanc Spa Resorts, a chain of ten luxury resorts in Mexico and Jamaica. During her caree...

In today's episode, Steve is joined by Jennifer Kaminski. With more than 19 years of experience, Jennifer has developed a niche in directing and leading on-trend lifestyle and luxury brands as it relates to their strategies involving digital marketing, brand management, PR, social media, content creation, and partnerships. She is the Founder & Managing Director at Social Thinking, a marketing...

In today's episode, Steve is joined by his friend and fraternity brother, Memphis Garrett. Since their days together at Florida State University, Memphis has created a successful career in hospitality for himself and is now the founder and CEO of Garrett Hospitality Group. He has opened around 40 restaurants and nightclubs throughout his career and has launched some of South Florida’s most acclaim...

In this episode, Steve is joined by Jeffrey Klein, the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Williams Island. Williams Island in South Florida offers a private, exclusive, and amenity-rich lifestyle to residents that prefer the finer things in life. Prior to working at Williams Island, Jeffrey was the Vice President and Managing Director at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resor...

In this episode, Steve is joined by David Arraya. He is the General Manager at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas in Ibiza, Spain. However, David has spent his hospitality career traveling the world. Some of his former roles include Hotel Manager at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Hotel and Resorts Manager at the Four Seasons in Hawaii, Hotel Manager for Swire Hotels in Hong Kong, General Manager for Auber...

In this episode, Steve is joined by long time friend and former colleague, Jorge Ramos. Jorge is the Culinary Director of the Americas at Hilton Hotels and Resorts. Jorge has an impressive track record of former roles such as Director of Food & Beverage and Culinary at Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Executive Sous Chef at 1 Hotels, Executive Chef at The Ritz-Carlton, just to name a few. Jorge an...

In this episode, Steve is joined by the CEO of Jurny, Luca Zambello. Jurny is the hospitality industry's first vertically integrated system. Its all-in-one system includes AI pricing, automated smart access control, noise sensor dashboard, guest verification software, PMS, messaging, channel management, cleaning management system, online reputation tracker, and much more on it's all-in-one dashboa...

In this episode, Steve is joined by Chef Sean Bernal. Chef Sean has worked as an Executive Chef at top hospitality companies such as the Ocean Reef Club, The Light Group, The Mondrian Hotel, The Delano Hotel, and is currently the Executive Chef at the brand new Mayfair House Hotel and Garden in Coconut Grove, Florida. Throughout this conversation, Chef Sean shares his journey to becoming a top che...

In this episode, Steve is joined by Josh Johnston. After working in the hotel industry for years and working his way up to Director of Restaurants at the Four Seasons and Operations Training Manager at Hilton Hotels, Josh recognized a common painpoint among hotels. The room service trays that guests put in the hallway for pickup were left for far too long. Today, Josh is the CEO and Co-Founder of...

In this episode, Steve is joined by Robin Moncrieffe and Nikki Wade. Both Robin and Nikki have individually had successful careers in hospitality in sales and together they have branched out into the podcast world. Since launching their podcast, Don't Look Under The Bed, it has been listed in the top 30 podcasts in the world by the International Hospitality Institute. Throughout this conversation,...

In this episode, Steve is joined by celebrity chef, entrepreneur, and inventor, David Burke. David is internationally known for his revolutionary techniques, successful restaurant empire, and many TV appearances. He has won Japan’s Nippon Award for Excellence, the Robert Mondavi Award of Excellence, and is the first American ever to win the prestigious Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplome d’Honneu...