The Social Hotelier

Attracting Talent: How Hotels Are Transforming Recruitment into Marketing. Summary The recruitment process in the hospitality industry is changing, and hotels need to treat it like modern marketing. Selling the destination and the dream is important in attracting potential employees. The hotel’s brand story and values play a significant role in attracting job seekers. Recruitment is becoming...

Mastering Leadership in Hospitality: Insights on Challenges, Change, and Connection. In this episode, Sam-Erik Ruttmann interviews Summer Jelinek, a leadership expert with 20 years of hospitality experience. They discuss the challenges of leadership, the importance of personal connections in business, and the changing landscape of the workplace. Summer emphasizes the need for leaders to manage the...

Why Blue Zone Retreats Work – discussion with Celine Vadam, Head of Retreats. In this episode, Sam-Erik Rutmann discusses Blue Zone retreats with Celine Vadam, the founder and CEO of a wellbeing concept consultancy WE(i)Think. We explore the uniqueness of Blue Zone retreats, the proliferation of wellness retreats in the market, and the importance of regulation and quality control in the retr...

Hotel Marketing Mastery: Insider Tips to Skyrocket Your Room Bookings! In this episode, Brandon Leibowitz, the founder of SEO Optimizer, shares insights on digital marketing for the hotel industry. The conversation covers search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising, email marketing, analytics, conversion rate optimization, customer relationship...

In this episode, Steve Anderson, an expert and author of The Bezos Letters, discusses examples of the principles of growing a business like Amazon. He shares insights on customer obsession, day-one mentality, high-velocity decision-making, and more. The conversation also delves into applying these principles in the hospitality industry and the impact of automation and regenerative leadership. 🔥 J...

Bridging Finance, Hospitality, and Podcasting, discussion with Jelani Millard, founder of The Wapechi Collection. In this episode, Sam-Erik Ruttmann interviews Jelani Millard, a professional risk analyst, podcaster, and hospitality enthusiast. We discuss Jelani Millard’s background, travel experiences, involvement in hospitality, and the Wepachi Collection. We also touch on Jelani’s vision f...

From Self-Doubt to Self-Trust: A Blueprint for Entrepreneurial Triumph! In this episode, I discuss with Dawn Ledet, a certified life coach and self-trust expert. Dawn shares her professional journey from working in the hospitality industry to becoming a life coach. She explains the role and responsibility of a life coach and self-trust expert, highlighting the importance of self-trust in achieving...

Why we cannot ignore Blue Economy, discussion with Ms. Josianne Cutajar. TSHS-0077 Ms. Josianne Cutajar is a Maltese ( Gozitan ) politician elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2019, the youngest person to represent Malta in the European Parliament. She discusses her professional journey, the unique attractions of Gozo, and the importance of climate resilience and inclusive tourism. &...

Why Every Gravel  Bike Ride in Finland is a Tiny Holiday! In this episode, Sam-Erik Ruttmann interviews Sari Puumala, the founder of PK & Company, about the growing trend of travel by biking, specifically gravel biking. Sari shares her passion for outdoor activities and how she got into endurance sports like triathlon. We discuss the popularity of gravel road biking and the reasons behind it,...

Exploring Africa’s Diverse Charms: Insights on Travel, Sustainability, and Future Trends! In a comprehensive dialogue,  Pirkka Tapiola, Ambassador of Finland to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, Seychelles, and Uganda,  delves into the interplay between Africa and Europe, framing it as a pivotal element in the travel experiences of European tourists. Throughout the discussion, he underscores Africa&#...

Summary In this episode, Sam Erik Ruttmann interviews Piers Schmidt, the founder of luxury branding consultancy firm Luxury Branding. They discuss the challenges faced by luxury hotel brands in gaining global recognition and value compared to luxury goods brands. They explore the pricing premium discrepancy between luxury hotels and luxury goods, as well as the visibility and marketing challenges...

Summary This is Ep.02 of my discussion with Dr. Francesc Fuste-Forne, University of Girona, Catalonia. The Ep. 01 ¨How Instagram & TikTok are rewriting the rules of Gastronomy and Travel Marketing. TSHS-0072 is available for your listening pleasure. The conversation explores Greenland’s digital storytelling emphasizes its environmental factors and the unique culture within nature. Dr. Fr...

Summary In the conversation with Dr. Francesc Fuste-Forne, University of Girona, Catalonia, we explore the role of social media in promoting luxury gastronomy in Abu Dhabi, and the challenges faced by bakeries in Catalonia during the pandemic. The chapters cover topics such as, the balance between authenticity and aesthetics in luxury gastronomy, user-generated content’s influence, social me...

Unleashing AI’s Potential: Overcoming Common Pitfalls and Strategies for Success. Summary In this episode, Jayanth N Kolla, an AI expert, discusses the key considerations for implementing AI in businesses. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the evolution of AI and the different generations of AI technology. Jayanth advises companies to align their AI strategy with their core value...

The Power of Storytelling & Mental Health Innovation – discussion with Daniel Hettwer. TSHS-0070 In this episode, we’re thrilled to bring you a fascinating conversation with Daniel Hettwer, an innovator venturing into the mental health sphere with creative technological solutions. As our conversation unfolds, Daniel Hettwer delves into the compelling world of immersive experiences...

 Unveiling Authenticity with Aradhana Khowala Welcome to Episode TSHS-0069 of our podcast series, where we dive into profound conversations with influential personalities shaping our world today. In this episode, we’re honored to have Aradhana Khowala, an inspiring figure in the fields of entrepreneurship, hospitality, and innovation. We discuss an array of topics, ranging from embracing vul...

Paul Williams: Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit In Dubai Once in a while, you’ll stumble upon a force of nature – an individual whose entrepreneurial passion and cunning innovation reshape their field, embodying the spirit of self-belief and soaring over adversity. One such person is Paul Williams , the CEO of Spearhead Creativity. In a recent, highly engaging conversation, Paul shared...

“Bridging the Gap: How Susanna Sjöberg’s Expertise is Redefining Mental Wellness in the Hospitality Sector” TSHS-0067 To the listener and reader: What are your top three pain points in dealing with Mental Wellness challenges in your organization? Please write in the comments. Introduction: In the fast-paced world of hospitality, where customer service is at the forefront, the wel...

 The Art of Shaping Ideas and Brands – Mike Munt, Creative Director Apogii Listen in as brand and design expert, Mike Munt, shares invaluable insights about his personal experiences and techniques to successfully shape the ideas and brands in this engaging podcast. He beautifully likens brands to books, emphasizing the delicate dance of visual design and written narrative to truly capture an...

The episode titled “Branded Residences A Luxury Illusion or Real Value” discusses the concept of branded residences in the hospitality market. I am joined by my guest Mark Dardenne, an expert in the development of branded residences in the Gulf area. Branded residences have gained popularity in the past few years, especially in Dubai. Mark explains that branded residences are propertie...

The Roller Coaster Ride: What aspiring Entrepreneurs need to prepare for – Chris Nader. TSHS-0064 Chris Nader, CO-founder, of ENVI lodges talks about his background growing up in a family of hoteliers and his early exposure to the hospitality industry working at his family’s beach club at a young age. He later got a hospitality MBA from EHL, and worked with various hotel brands before...

In this episode, Ted Rubin @tedrubin—a leading Social Media Marketing Strategist, who has been on digital media since 1997—shares his perspective on how hotels and small businesses can use social media to create real relationships with their customers. Ted starts by explaining what inspired him to write his latest book, Return on Relationship: How Social Media Has Changed Customer Service. He then...

Designing for next-generation luxury customers. In this fascinating episode, we explore the changing landscape of luxury experiences with my guest Kristoff d’Oria di Cirie, Experiential Creative director and co-founder of Insogni Studio. Kristoff shares his insights on how the next generation of luxury customers value experiences over material possessions, and how brands can create meaningful and...

Join host Sam Erik as he speaks with Robyn Woodhead, who turned childhood travel adventures into a career pioneering luxury polar expeditions. Robin shares how her parents fostered her insatiable curiosity through globe-trotting from a young age.   Hear how a failed Antarctic expedition in her 20s spent stuck in a tent led Robyn to establish   with her husband the world’s first luxury camp i...

In the world of adventure travel, there are individuals who have transformed their passion into a thriving business. One such trailblazer is Luca Franco, a true connoisseur of experiential travel, and the founder of Luxury Frontiers. In this episode, we will delve into Luca’s remarkable journey and the evolution of luxury travel. We will also explore the importance of sustainability in this...