Whole Systems Hospitality Podcast

In this episode of the Whole Systems Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with Paul Marquez, Global Head of Specifications and Sustainability at Excel Dryer, to explore how restroom design connects to sustainability, public health, operational efficiency, guest experience, and whole systems thinking. From reducing paper waste to improving hand hygiene and lowering operational cost...

  In this episode of The Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with Tammy Pahel, Vice President of Spa & Wellness Operations, and Executive Chef Christopher Robinson of Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. Together, they unpack what it truly means to operate a wellness-focused resort—far beyond a traditional spa offering.   The conversation explores how Carillon integrat...

In this episode of The Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire speaks with Greg Poirier, Global Director of Hospitality Certification at Audubon International. Greg shares how the organization evolved from wildlife protection into one of the most influential sustainability certification bodies in hospitality—now active in 37 countries. They explore why third-party verification is b...

In this episode of The Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with Michael Gulich, Vice President of Sustainability at MGM Resorts International, for a masterclass on scaling sustainable operations across one of the largest hospitality portfolios in the world. From pioneering LEED certifications for 16 million square feet of development to building the world’s largest re...

In this inspiring episode of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire talks with Michael Balcom, General Manager of the Renaissance Indianapolis North, to uncover how his hotel earned a Green Key Global eco-certification—and turned it into a catalyst for culture, creativity, and community impact. Michael shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to get cert...

What if investing in your building could transform not only the guest experience, but also the lives of employees? In Part 4 of our Wellness Series, host Kathy Sue McGuire speaks with Rachel Hodgdon, President & CEO of the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Rachel shares how WELL Certification helps hotels and hospitality businesses create people-first spaces that improve staff well...

What if hospitality could go beyond “doing less harm” and actually restore the places it touches? In Part 3 of our Wellness Series, host Kathy Sue McGuire speaks with Professor Dr. Willy Legrand to explore the concept of regenerative hospitality. Together, they examine how hotels, resorts, and destinations can learn from nature, heal ecosystems, and create guest experiences that leave people and p...

Wellness in hospitality is far more than spas and fitness centers. In this episode, Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with Oxana Spivey, VP of Wellness and Standards Development at Wellness in Travel & Tourism (WITT), to explore how hotels can embrace holistic wellness certification that goes beyond the surface. Oxana shares:• The five pillars of wellness (healthy eating, holistic healing, nature, m...

In this episode of the Sustainable Hospitality Podcast, host Kathy Sue McGuire sits down with David Stephens, wellness-first event strategist, co-founder of Olympian, and advisor to the Wellness Travel & Tourism Board. David shares how he’s redefining corporate meetings and conferences by designing them around wellness from the ground up. From negotiating coffee pricing to prioritizing sleep,...

What does true sustainability look like at scale, and why is it smart business? Kathy Sue McGuire welcomes Megan Brumagim, Vice President of Upscale Brands and Chief Sustainability Officer at Choice Hotels International, for an in-depth conversation on how one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors is tackling sustainability head-on. From corporate reporting and franchise accountability to quirk...