This episode is brought to you with support from Hireology . Check out our free masterclass: How To Hire Great People, Faster. In this episode, Meg Kennedy and Rob Blood , founders of Lark Hotels , share their insights on creativity in hospitality and their recent experiences during a road trip in Northern California. Listen to learn: How Meg and Rob approach research and draw inspiration for their hospitality services. Extended stay hospitality and its potential rebranding opportunities. Insigh...
Oct 25, 2024•21 min
This episode is brought to you with support from Hireology . Check out our free masterclass: How To Hire Great People, Faster. In this episode, Jyoti Chopra , the Chief People, Inclusion, and Sustainability Officer at MGM Resorts International, shares how AI and technology are transforming HR and learning and development at MGM Resorts. In this, we cover: How MGM Resorts is leveraging technology to propel careers forward. Learning from top innovators like Microsoft, IBM, and Workday. Real-world ...
Oct 24, 2024•10 min
This episode is brought to you with support from Hireology . Check out our free masterclass: How To Hire Great People, Faster. In this episode, Kevin Osterhaus , President of Global Lifestyle Brands at Hilton, shares his journey and insights on integrating lifestyle hotels into one of the world's largest hotel companies. In this, you'll learn: The reasons behind Kevin's move from Graduate Hotels to Hilton. The growing trend of big hotel companies acquiring lifestyle brands. Strategies for mainta...
Oct 23, 2024•22 min
This episode is brought to you with support from Hireology . Check out our free masterclass: How To Hire Great People, Faster. In this episode, Jason Himber , CEO of MINA Group , shares why a lack of strong, developed leaders is compounding staffing challenges in the hospitality industry and reveals his unique strategies to build a pipeline of empowered, adaptable leaders essential for driving success. Listeners will learn: Why traditional approaches to leadership aren't working in hospitality. ...
Oct 22, 2024•19 min
This episode is brought to you with support from Hireology . Check out our free masterclass: How To Hire Great People, Faster. In this episode, Jason Himber , CEO of MINA Group , shares how he convinced celebrity chef Michael Mina to pause the company's rapid expansion and focus on strengthening its foundation for long-term success. Listeners will learn: The importance of listening, learning, and building trust when coming into a new business How focusing on process, systems, and discipline can ...
Oct 21, 2024•15 min
This episode is brought to you with support from Hireology . Check out our free masterclass: How To Hire Great People, Faster. In this episode, Jason Himber , CEO of MINA Group , shares his insights on how hospitality is pushing boundaries and blending with retail, entertainment, and even office spaces. Listeners will learn: How the line between food and beverage and other industries is becoming blurred (00:25) How F&B is being infused into retail experiences, entertainment concepts, and off...
Oct 20, 2024•7 min
In this episode, Jason Himber , CEO of MINA Group , shares his unconventional journey from working with fast-food franchises to leading a fine dining empire, offering insights on leadership, overcoming challenges, and succeeding in the hospitality industry. Listeners will learn: The three things that made Jason "hooked" on hospitality Why hospitality levels the playing field of opportunity The story of turning around KFC The importance of building alignment and relevancy Why being overprepared i...
Oct 19, 2024•24 min
In this episode, Leanne Harwood , SVP and Managing Director of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the Americas for IHG, shares her fascinating career journey from bartending at a ski resort to leading six iconic hotel brands across the Americas. Listeners will learn: The pivotal moments that shaped Leanne's career, including her first expat role in Vietnam (02:45) and transitioning from hotel operations to corporate leadership (07:56) Practical tips for adapting to new cultures and environments when...
Oct 18, 2024•17 min
In this special sponsored masterclass, Juanjo Rodriguez , founder of The Hotels Network , shares insights on how hotels can drive more direct bookings and stand out in today's competitive landscape. ( Watch here on YouTube if you prefer.) In this, we cover: 00:00 - An introduction to Juanjo Rodriguez 01:19 - Challenges and opportunities in the hotel industry today 04:47 - How e-commerce is different in hospitality 05:51 - Growing direct business: how The Hotels Network helps hotels 09:16 - Why d...
Oct 17, 2024•44 min
In this episode, Leanne Harwood , SVP and Managing Director of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the Americas for IHG, shares insights on balancing delivering exceptional guest experiences with driving profitability in the hospitality industry. Listeners will learn: The importance of clarity and shared accountability across all levels of the business to drive performance (01:50) How a joined-up approach to performance delivery ensures everyone is focused on the same goals (02:22) The critical balan...
Oct 17, 2024•10 min
In this episode, Leanne Harwood , SVP and Managing Director of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the Americas for IHG, shares how investing in people drives success in hospitality today. Listeners will learn: Why focusing on people is crucial for delivering exceptional hospitality experiences. [02:20] Details about IHG's global program RISE, aimed at elevating female leadership through mentorship, support, and sponsorship. [03:26] Keys to building empowerment programs that last, scale, and transfor...
Oct 16, 2024•13 min
In this episode, Leanne Harwood , SVP and Managing Director of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands in the Americas for IHG, shares her recent experience at the newly opened Six Senses resort in Grenada , highlighting the exceptional hospitality and personalized touches that made her stay memorable. Listeners will learn: How the Grenadian culture and hospitality enhanced Leanne's experience (01:26) The importance of individualized experiences in luxury travel (02:42) How Six Senses incorporates the uniqu...
Oct 15, 2024•11 min
In this episode, Scott Curran , Chief Operating Officer at Reneson Hotels , shares his insights on driving revenue and profits by empowering staff and delighting guests in a branded hotel environment. Listeners will learn: How Reneson Hotels focuses on providing exceptional customer service to keep guests coming back (00:09) The importance of having great operations and good people to improve financial performance (09:14) Why Reneson Hotels invests more in customer service by staffing higher at ...
Oct 14, 2024•31 min
In this episode, Chef Tyler Florence , renowned chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, shares his passion for creating memorable experiences through his restaurants, which he considers the most important part of his work. Listeners will learn: Why restaurants are the most important part of Tyler's work, even more than his TV shows and bestselling cookbooks (01:57) How Tyler's restaurants allow people to truly experience and appreciate his culinary skills (02:08) Tyler's daily routine, balancing...
Oct 13, 2024•7 min
In this episode, renowned chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Tyler Florence shares his deep love for San Francisco and his vision for the city's future through the lens of food and hospitality. Tyler discusses how restaurants can play a crucial role in urban renewal and community building, especially during challenging times. Listeners will learn: Tyler's personal journey of falling in love with San Francisco, from childhood dreams to reality The unique attributes that make San Francisco a w...
Oct 13, 2024•15 min
In this episode, Tyler Florence , chef and restaurateur, shares his ambitious vision for a new hospitality school in San Francisco designed to rival the best in the world. Listeners will learn: Why creating a pipeline of passionate, skilled talent is key to the future of hospitality (00:10) How the perfect storm of a culinary institution and a thriving food scene in Charleston, South Carolina, shaped Tyler's early career (02:01) Tyler's plan to create a sustainable culinary program that will be ...
Oct 12, 2024•12 min
In this episode, Chef Tyler Florence, a culinary legend with a portfolio of acclaimed restaurants and 27 years as a star on the Food Network, shares his approach to crafting immersive experiences that keep guests coming back. Listeners will learn: The three key elements of an amazing hospitality experience (01:03) How to create a restaurant that transports guests to another time and place (01:25) The importance of building restaurants that feel timeless and timely (03:48) How Tyler sourced mater...
Oct 11, 2024•12 min
In this episode, Rocco Bova , an experienced hotelier and consultant, shares his insights on innovative hospitality business models and the importance of human connection in luxury service. Listeners will learn about: Rocco's background and global experience Rocco’s early jobs: best and worst experiences (01:58) Transition to consultancy (07:01) Evolution of luxury service (10:34) Impact of technology on hospitality (11:35) Challenges in recruitment and retention (13:13) Human vs. digital guest ...
Oct 11, 2024•53 min
In this episode, Charlie MacGregor , founder of The Social Hub , shares how they cultivate a diverse and connected community through their approach to hybrid hospitality . Listeners will learn: How The Social Hub runs thousands of community programs and activities to bring people together (01:29) About their partnership with Talent Garden, the largest provider of online and offline education programs, to curate programs for their community (02:10) Examples of the programs offered, from understan...
Oct 10, 2024•9 min
In this episode, Charlie MacGregor , founder of The Social Hub , shares his experience volunteering at a refugee camp and how it impacted his approach to leadership and social responsibility in his hospitality business. Listeners will learn: How Charlie and his team built a pop-up refugee camp and involved the refugee community in running various programs (02:39) The benefits of a community-driven and community-led approach (03:53) How getting off the "CEO pedestal" and personally engaging in so...
Oct 10, 2024•9 min
In this episode, Charlie MacGregor , founder of The Social Hub , shares how they pioneered the concept of hybrid hospitality, blending different groups of people and using space flexibly to maximize revenue and create vibrant, multi-use spaces. Listeners will learn: What hybrid hospitality is (01:30) How hybrid hospitality creates a fun, safe, and vibrant environment that reflects real life (03:07) The benefits of connecting workers through co-working spaces (04:32) How hybrid hospitality allows...
Oct 09, 2024•14 min
In this episode, hotel investor and Hospiamo founder Adam Zembruski shares his insights on the systemic barriers that hold hoteliers back and the practical steps needed to foster a more creative and collaborative culture in hotels. Listeners will learn: The reasons why collaboration is often an afterthought for hotel owners and how to change that mindset (01:37) The importance of encouraging creativity among hotel employees (05:32) A real-world example of successful collaboration in the town of ...
Oct 08, 2024•21 min
In this episode, hotel investor and Hospiamo founder Adam Zembruski shares his perspective on the systemic issues within the hotel industry that are holding back real innovation and progress. ( Listen to Adam's story here if you missed it earlier.) Listeners will learn: What it's really like working at a hotel today (01:47) The disconnect between leaders and the workers on the ground (06:17) The importance of an abundance mindset (14:58) The hotel companies face (16:18) Mentions: Hotel worker st...
Oct 07, 2024•24 min
In this episode, Anna Marie Presutti , the new President & CEO of San Francisco Travel , shares why she stepped into this pivotal role, what she believes it will take to bring San Francisco back into the spotlight, and the opportunities she sees for the city and its hospitality community. ( You can watch this on YouTube here if you prefer.) Listeners will learn: What excites Anna Marie most about her new role as CEO of San Francisco Travel (02:22) The progress being made in San Francisco's r...
Oct 06, 2024•27 min
In this episode, Adam Zembruski , a hotel investor and hotel industry enthusiast, is the Founder of Hospiamo, Inc. , a social enterprise, and the Hospitality Industry Impact Initiative, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. He shares his personal story and insights on the challenges and importance of staying connected with those on the front lines in the hospitality industry. Listeners will learn: Adam's career progression from front desk agent to chief operating officer and hotel investor (...
Oct 05, 2024•15 min
In this episode, Bill Graf , CEO of ONDA ( Instagram ), shares his thoughts on the future of hospitality and opportunities for innovation now. Listeners will learn: Bill’s unconventional path into hospitality and the pivotal travel experience that inspired him to start ONDA (02:41) The concept of "Hospitality 3.0" and how it's different from previous waves of innovation in the industry (09:59) Why the next big opportunity in hospitality lies in serving niches (12:47) Lessons from restaurants for...
Oct 04, 2024•45 min
In this episode, Jennifer Clay , Vice President of Hotel Operations at Appellation , shares her unique perspective on how hotel design choices play a vital role in immersing guests in a destination - and how she thinks about this as an operations leader. Listeners will learn: How hotels can embody and celebrate the destination they are in [01:58] The evolution of hotel design from formulaic to celebrating local materials and artisans [02:34] The journey of selecting specific design elements like...
Oct 04, 2024•12 min
In this episode, Jennifer Clay , Vice President of Hotel Operations at Appellation , shares how she empowers emerging talent to step into big roles and grow into confident leaders. Listeners will learn: How to cultivate curiosity, encourage collaboration, and push people to embrace discomfort as part of their growth (01:55) Why the hospitality industry is more than just a job (02:48) How to build trust and empower your team (00:31) A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start ...
Oct 03, 2024•7 min
In this episode, Jennifer Clay , Vice President of Hotel Operations at Appellation , shares what she looks for when hiring general managers and the unexpected qualities that separate a great manager from a good one. Listeners will learn: What Jennifer asks during interviews (01:28) The connection that's a key trait to look for (03:15) The importance of finding outlets to disconnect and recharge(04:14) A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here . You can send me a messag...
Oct 03, 2024•8 min
In this episode, Christopher Hunsberger , co-founder and chief operating officer of Appellation , shares how the Appellation Crafted program embeds his brand deeply into local communities through partnerships with artisans, farmers, and makers. Listeners will learn: How Appellation celebrates makers, artisans, and people who are the fabric of the community through the Appellation Crafted program (01:47) How Appellation showcases its own team members' talents and skills through the Crafted classe...
Oct 02, 2024•15 min
