In this episode, I’ve got some big news to share: Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast , Good Morning Hospitality , and Suite Success by Katie Cline have officially been acquired by Skift — the leading voice in global travel and hospitality media. This is a full-circle moment for me, and I couldn’t be more excited to join the Skift team as their new Director of Video and Audio Strategy . I’ll be overseeing a growing slate of shows, video content, and creative across the platform as we level up wh...
Jul 29, 2025•5 min
In this episode, Wil Slickers interviews Jon Gardner , the Global President of Development at F1 Arcade. As a huge Formula 1 and Motorsports fan, Wil dives deep into the world of F1 Arcade, a unique concept that combines advanced F1 racing simulators with exceptional hospitality. They discuss the F1 Arcade experience, how it brings the thrill of Formula 1 racing to everyone, and the journey from concept to reality. Jon shares his transition from oil and gas to experiential hospitality, his partn...
May 21, 2025•48 min•Season 13Ep. 19
In this episode, we welcome Susan Barry, host of the Top Floor podcast and founder/CEO of Hive Marketing. Dive into Susan's extensive background in hospitality, from her early days in restaurant catering to her significant role in Starwood, opening New Build hotels. Discover her journey of starting her own business during the financial crisis and evolving it into a B2B marketing powerhouse in the hospitality industry. Susan shares how she launched her podcast, Top Floor, and its growth over the ...
May 07, 2025•1 hr•Season 13Ep. 18
In this heartfelt episode, Wil Slickers sits down with Tom Goodwin , a hospitality veteran and current co-owner of Mountain Laurel Chalets. Tom shares the incredible journey of taking over his in-laws' legacy business, the challenges faced, and the personal growth he's experienced over the years. From leading a successful hospitality firm to creating a podcast that tells the rich stories of Gatlinburg, Tom's insights into leadership, vulnerability, and the importance of lingering in life are pro...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 13Ep. 17
Join us for an exciting episode as we chat with Steve Carran , the co-host of the Modern Hotelier Podcast ! In this episode, we geek out about the ins and outs of podcasting, discussing the behind-the-scenes work, the rise of AI in hospitality, and the importance of personalization in enhancing guest experiences. Steve shares his journey from working under a property management company to spinning off the Modern Hotelier as an independent media brand. We also dive into trending topics in the hot...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 13Ep. 16
In this episode of Slick Talk, Wil Slickers is joined by Jennifer Barnwell from Curator Hotel Collection . They discuss the unique perks of operating an independent hotel versus being part of a major brand like Marriott or Hilton. Jennifer shares her journey in the hospitality industry, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, creativity, and community within the independent boutique hotel space. They explore Curator's role in supporting independent hotels through vendor partnerships, cost-sav...
Apr 16, 2025•55 min•Season 13Ep. 15
Welcome back, Slick Talkers! In this episode, Wil Slickers sits down with Boris Pavlov , a European entrepreneur and expert in the hospitality industry, to discuss his journey and the innovations he's spearheading with Flataway . Boris shares his experience scaling a property management company from 0 to 700 properties, selling it, and moving forward with new ventures. We explore the current landscape of vacation rentals, the challenges with OTAs, and how the book direct movement is evolving. Bo...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 13Ep. 14
In this episode, Wil sits down with Jeff Low , CEO and founder of Stash Hotel Rewards , to discuss the evolution of loyalty programs within the hotel industry. They dive into Jeff's journey, starting Stash Hotel Rewards in 2010 and its mission to support independent hotels against larger chains and OTAs. Jeff shares fascinating insights on how modern loyalty programs have shifted, the importance of personalized guest experiences, and the challenges posed by the dominance of OTAs like Expedia. Tu...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 13Ep. 13
Join Wil Slickers as he dives deep into an insightful conversation with Benjamin Gross , Co-Founder of Minty Living . In this episode, Benjamin shares his journey from quantitative trading in New York to dominating the property management industry in Atlanta. The discussion spans a variety of critical topics including the limitations of siloed technology, achieving consistency at scale, and the need for better data integration in vacation rental management. Discover how Minty Living has managed ...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 13Ep. 12
In this episode, Wil Slickers sits down with Nathan Woods to dive deep into the art of crafting amazing guest experiences. They discuss the importance of utilizing data, mid-stay engagement, digital touchpoints, and personalized hospitality to create memorable moments for guests. Nathan shares insights from his diverse background in hospitality, e-commerce, and sports, along with practical tips for both remote and onsite operators. Learn how to anticipate guest needs, integrate technology effect...
Mar 19, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 13Ep. 11
Join Wil Slickers in an engaging conversation with Josiah Mackenzie, Head/VP of Marketing at Actabl and host of Hospitality Daily. In this episode, we dive deep into the intersection of profitability and culture in the hospitality industry. Learn about the importance of real-time data, the role of leadership in driving innovation, and ways to attract the younger generation to hospitality careers. Josiah shares his insights on creating operational efficiency, enhancing guest experiences, and buil...
Mar 12, 2025•51 min•Season 13Ep. 10
In this episode, Wil welcomes Eli Pritykin , the founder of Hudson Creative Studio , to discuss Eli's journey in the world of short-term rentals and hospitality. Eli, who initially majored in computer science but found his passion in visual communications and marketing, shares his experience working for Spears Group and eventually starting Hudson Creative Studio in 2021. The conversation delves into the concept of transitioning from being a co-host under platforms like Airbnb to establishing one...
Mar 05, 2025•55 min•Season 13Ep. 9
Join us for a conversation with James Lemon from Stripe as we explore the landscape of payments in the hospitality industry. Discover how modern payment solutions can drive higher conversions, improve operations, and even create new business models. James will break down the complexities of payment systems and highlight their strategic importance, using real-world case studies and discussing emerging technologies like stablecoins and AI. Whether you're a hotelier or a vacation rental manager, th...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 13Ep. 8
In this cross-promoted episode originally from Good Morning Hospitality , Wil Slickers interviews Christian Lee , CEO of Mint House , about their first acquisition, Locale, as well as the exciting changes and developments happening in the multifamily urban operator sector. They discuss Christian's experiences, the benefits of the acquisition, the importance of scale, and the future plans for integration and growth. Christian shares insights into how Mint House is leveraging technology for guest ...
Feb 19, 2025•24 min•Season 13Ep. 7
Superhost status has long been seen as a mark of excellence, but is it still relevant, or just the baseline? In this episode, Wil unpacks the realities of maintaining Superhost at scale, the overlooked safety concerns in Airbnb’s system, and whether the status truly reflects hospitality excellence. He also explores how Airbnb could evolve the program into something more meaningful and what hosts should really be striving for. If Superhost disappeared tomorrow, would your business still stand out...
Feb 12, 2025•17 min•Season 13Ep. 6
In this episode, Wil Slickers sits down with Justin Pera , the founder and CEO of Fido , formerly known as Trash Caddies. They discuss the challenges and necessity of standardizing the short-term rental industry, focusing on issues such as trash removal, inspections, and operational efficiency. Justin shares his entrepreneurial journey from Albania to the United States, the evolution of Fido through acquisitions and rebranding, and the importance of building strong partnerships with other indust...
Feb 05, 2025•46 min•Season 13Ep. 5
The past decade has been a wild ride—growth, success, struggles, and hard lessons. But as I step into the next 10 years, I’ve made one of the biggest decisions of my life: choosing full sobriety. In this episode, I open up about the breaking point that led to this choice, why it’s about more than just quitting alcohol, and how it’s shaping the way I live, love, and lead. But this isn’t just a personal shift—it’s a new era for Slick Talk and Hospitality.FM . I share what’s changing across the net...
Jan 31, 2025•20 min•Season 13Ep. 4
In this insightful episode of Slick Talk, Wil Slickers introduces a new format that expands beyond hospitality into business and entrepreneurship. Wil is joined by Shane Bauman , founder of RISE Wealth Strategies and host of 'Building the Biz' podcast. Shane shares his vision of freeing people from debt and the constraints of the financial system to enable them to live beyond money. Together, they dive into creating sticky company cultures, overcoming mindset challenges, fostering empathy in the...
Jan 29, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 13Ep. 3
In this episode of Slick Talk, Wil Slickers sits down with Victor Feria to discuss the delicate balance of delivering operational excellence and exceptional guest experiences in the hospitality industry. The conversation dives into the innovative approaches Victor's company, Tangy, employs, such as personalized VIP programs and unique guest experiences, including 'Tangy Radio.' They discuss the diversification into boutique hotels and long-term rentals and how these different models can support ...
Jan 22, 2025•50 min•Season 13Ep. 2
Join Wil Slickers in this episode of Slick Talk, where he sits down with Lee Curti s, CEO and founder of Reside Worldwide . With over 30 years of experience in corporate housing and extended stay accommodations, Lee discusses Reside's recent partnership with Wyndham Hotels to launch 'Reside, a Wyndham Residence' , an upscale extended stay brand in the U.S. They delve into the ethos of hospitality, the importance of in-person service, and how to navigate through regulatory challenges. Lee also sh...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 13Ep. 1
In the first Slick Talk episode of 2025, Wil Slickers welcomes Frank and Fred from Hostfully to discuss their annual industry report. This episode delves into the main concerns of the hospitality industry, highlighting tech challenges and opportunities. Key topics include the shift toward direct bookings, the rise of AI, optimization of guest experiences through digital guidebooks, and emerging trends in property management technology. The discussion also covers the importance of embracing growt...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr•Season 12Ep. 28
In this episode of Slick Talk, Wil Slickers sits down with Matt Orley , CEO of Red Cottage , a company known for its thoughtfully curated vacation rentals in the Northeast. They discuss the importance of removing surprises for guests and ensuring they know exactly what they're booking. Matt shares insights into expanding Red Cottage's reach through property management acquisitions and innovative membership programs. The conversation delves into the significance of communication in the hospitalit...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 12Ep. 27
Join Wil Slickers in an engaging episode of Slick Talk, as he sits down with Jeremy Werden , co-founder of BNB Calc and host of the Short Term Rental Pros Podcast. Jeremy shares his entrepreneurial voyage, starting from managing vacation rentals to transitioning into property ownership in his twenties. He provides insights on the significance of virtual assistants, sustainable growth, and the challenges of balancing various business ventures, including his intriguing boat rental business. Wil an...
Dec 11, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 11Ep. 26
In this episode of Slick Talk, Wil Slickers interviews Chris Wheeler , co-founder and managing partner of Scenic Stays , a vacation rental management company with over 460 properties across the Southeast. Chris shares his journey from traditional hotel roles at Marriott and Hilton to leading Scenic Stays and blending hotel expertise with innovative vacation rental strategies. They discuss the importance of recovering guest experiences, how to maintain effective communication, the challenges and ...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 11Ep. 25
In this in-depth episode of Slick Talk, Wil Slickers sits down with Jamie Lane, chief economist at AirDNA, to discuss numerous facets of the short-term rental and hospitality industry. From the unexpected impacts of COVID-19 and its role in reshaping market dynamics to the economic factors driving the current landscape, Jamie provides eye-opening insights and data-backed predictions for the future of the STR market. The conversation delves into the significant churn rates in STR, tech integratio...
Nov 27, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Season 11Ep. 25
In this episode, Wil Slickers dives deep into the world of dynamic pricing and distribution optimization with guest Bart-Jan , co-founder of Otamiser and AutoRank. Bart shares his journey from a finance student in Belgium to a startup founder revolutionizing online distribution and booking optimization for hotels and short-term rentals. The conversation covers industry trends, the evolution of revenue management, the challenges of API connectivity, and the impact of over-saturated markets. Bart ...
Nov 20, 2024•53 min•Season 14Ep. 24
In this episode, Wil dives into an engaging conversation with Jasmine Seliga , Co-Founder of Affixify , a platform designed to help hotels connect with technology vendors. Jasmine shares her incredible journey from aspiring medical sales professional to becoming a leading figure in hospitality technology. The discussion covers the highs and lows of building Affixify, the common mistakes hotels make when selecting tech vendors, and the future of AI and robotics in the hospitality sector. Jasmine ...
Nov 13, 2024•1 hr•Season 14Ep. 23
In this episode, Wil Slickers brings Arthur Colker from StayFi back for a deep dive into the role of AI in the hospitality industry, the growth and challenges of 2024, and StayFi's innovative email marketing solutions. They discuss how AI is not always the optimal solution and the importance of a well-constructed marketing strategy. Arthur also shares insights on booking trends, the significant role of OTAs, and the need for resilience in the industry. Additionally, they touch on the evolving te...
Nov 06, 2024•39 min•Season 14Ep. 22
In this episode, Wil Slickers sits down with Brian Meyer , co-founder of FLOHOM , an experiential hospitality company specializing in luxury houseboats as short-term lodging experiences. Brian shares his unique journey from growing up on the water to studying in Hawaii, becoming a competitive paddler, and eventually starting a paddleboard shop in Annapolis, Maryland. He also delves into the inception and growth of FLOHOM, where he aims to modernize on-water living and make it accessible to a bro...
Oct 30, 2024•56 min•Season 14Ep. 21
In this episode of Slick Talk, Wil Slickers talks with industry expert Simon Lehmann live from VRMA. They discuss the critical need for professionalization in the short-term rental industry amidst economic challenges and regulatory impacts. The episode emphasizes the necessity of standards and accreditation akin to a 'driver’s license' for property managers, highlighting technological advancements, reliable guest experiences, and the fragmented state of the industry. The conversation underscores...
Oct 25, 2024•25 min•Season 14Ep. 20
