Teague travels to Wrightsville Beach to sit down with Mike Weiss and Ben Weinberg, the visionaries behind Trailborn and founders of Castle Peak Holdings. These Goldman Sachs alums share how they built a vertically integrated hospitality platform, from development to operations, and landed a deal with Marriott with just four open properties. Trailborn is reimagining experiential lodging with thoughtfully designed hotels in iconic destinations, combining curated itineraries, local flavor, and outd...
Jun 20, 2025•37 min•Ep. 134
With 20+ years in Wall Street investment banking and a sharp eye for brand growth, Phil Zrihen—Brand COO and Head of Americas at Ennismore—brings a strategic lens to lifestyle hospitality. Through immersive design, integrated F&B, and a culture-driven operating model, he shares how Ennismore is building brands that owners want to invest in and travelers want to experience. With 180+ properties open and 140+ in the pipeline, Phil discusses how Ennismore is scaling across the Americas, what ma...
May 16, 2025•42 min•Ep. 133
There’s a reason the Savannah Bananas have a 3 million-person ticket waitlist. And there’s a reason their next game is set to draw 80,000 fans. It’s more than the wild choreography or the sea of yellow—it’s a business model built entirely around one thing: the fan. Teague sits down for an exclusive interview with founder and entrepreneur Jesse Cole to explore how the Bananas have reimagined what a sports franchise can be. From eliminating all sponsorships to paying the taxes and fees from ticket...
Apr 18, 2025•52 min•Ep. 132
After announcing that the Hunter Conference will be moving to the Signia by Hilton Atlanta—Teague sits down with Hilton’s President & CEO, Chris Nassetta, for a candid conversation. After serving over 250 million guests last year, Hilton is expanding its footprint with 8,400+ properties across 140 countries—and more in the pipeline. Chris shares why he believes we’re in a "new golden age of travel", how Hilton continues to thrive despite industry challenges, and his perspective on interest r...
Mar 28, 2025•32 min•Ep. 131
Teague Talks? More like Teague Tip-Off! This month, Teague takes it to the next level for an unstoppable conversation with Mit Shah, the Founder and CEO of Noble, at the Atlanta Hawks' elite training facility. Mit’s journey is a masterclass in ambition, from working the front desk at his parents’ motel to building one of hospitality’s most respected private equity firms with over $6.0 billion in assets. They go deep on family-driven grit, the power of top-tier talent, and why education is the ul...
Feb 21, 2025•19 min•Ep. 130
NEW YEAR, NEW TEAGUE TALKS! Kicking off Season Five of Teague Talks, Teague sits down in the new Regent Santa Monica Beach with Andre Zotoff, CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, to explore his journey from a 16-year-old restaurant worker in Germany to a leader in luxury hospitality. Overseeing a portfolio of 13 iconic properties, Andre discusses how his culinary, operational, and cultural backgrounds shape his leadership at Strategic. From innovative renovations and redefining the luxury gues...
Jan 24, 2025•36 min•Ep. 129
This week, Teague sits down in the brand new Regent Santa Monica Beach during its opening week for a conversation with IHG's Leanne Harwood, SVP, Managing Director, Luxury & Lifestyle Americas. With a luxury and lifestyle portfolio spanning 700 hotels across 70 countries, Leanne highlights IHG's goal to establish themselves as the core player in the space by bringing back the iconic Regent brand to the shores of America. Leanne shares what else IHG is focused on, what each brand brings to th...
Dec 06, 2024•28 min•Ep. 128
This week, Teague chats with Al Patel, President of Baywood Hotels, for an inside look at managing a vast portfolio of 125 properties, with over 10 new hotels under construction and an additional 20 projects in the pipeline. From growing up in the business to leading one of the biggest hotel management companies today, Al shares what Baywood is currently focused on, the details behind the newly-developed Moxy Miami Wynwood, and his outlook on the industry going into 2025.
Nov 15, 2024•32 min•Ep. 127
With the election right around the corner, Teague sits down with AHLA's Kevin Carey and Chirag Shah to discuss what we know so far about how the presidential race may shape the future of the hospitality industry. From economic policy shifts to critical workforce decisions, they dive into the potential implications on the horizon and what they could mean for hospitality leaders, real estate, and travel alike. Tune in to learn how to navigate the polls and ensure your voice is heard.
Nov 01, 2024•15 min•Ep. 126
This week, Teague sits down with Rob Blood, Founder of Lark Hotels, for a candid conversation about the evolving boutique and independent hotel space. Recently awarded seven Michelin Keys within his portfolio, Rob shares how he began as an innkeeper in his mid-20s, what motivated him to purchase his first property in Kennebunkport, and how he transformed a nine-room inn into a profitable business that manages over 30 design-focused properties today.
Oct 25, 2024•39 min•Ep. 125
This week, Teague chats with Lindsey Ueberroth, Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Lindsey leads the world's largest independent hotel brand, which represents more than 600 distinctive hotels spanning 80 countries. With rapid growth in the boutique and independent space, Lindsey shares her insights on hotels de-flagging, travel trends, and the benefits of being independent while still receiving brand support.
Oct 18, 2024•21 min•Ep. 124
Teague travels to Athens, GA, where college football is in full swing, to sit down with James Whitley, COO and Co-Founder of Landmark Properties, the leader in student housing. From flipping houses as a college student to building Landmark into an industry powerhouse, James shares the inspiration behind his recent venture into the hotel space, including his purchase of the iconic Old Edwards Inn and the transformation of an abandoned denim factory into his first independent boutique hotel, Rivet...
Oct 04, 2024•22 min•Ep. 123
Teague sits down with Rob Smith, newly appointed President & CEO of Stonebridge Companies, to discuss his journey in overseas operations, his time at Aimbridge, and the lessons learned from industry icon Navin Dimond. Rob also shares insights into Stonebridge's future growth plans following the recent acquisition of Real Hospitality Group, along with his macro view on the industry and interest rates.
Sep 20, 2024•29 min•Ep. 122
Teague is joined by Jin Lee, CEO of ARA US Hospitality Trust, a Singapore-based REIT focused on select-service hotels across the U.S. Jin shares the unique story behind the company's formation, discusses the challenges of managing a Singapore-based REIT while operating in the U.S., and outlines how their investment strategy has evolved over the years.
Sep 13, 2024•35 min•Ep. 121
Teague sits down with Steve Palmer, Founder & Chief Vision Officer of Indigo Road Hospitality Group, at the newly opened Rivet House in Athens, GA. Known for his remarkable success in the restaurant business, Steve talks about his transition into hotel management and the journey that led him there. Behind the scenes of his incredible career, Steve opens up about his personal battle with addiction and how he's now giving back to others in the industry who have faced similar challenges.
Sep 06, 2024•31 min•Ep. 120
With a recent NYC hotel bill taking over headlines, Teague sits down with AHLA’s Kevin Carey for a quick update on the details behind the proposed legislation. Tune in to learn how this could trickle down and affect other markets.
Aug 16, 2024•17 min•Ep. 119
Teague is joined by Chan Patel, Chairman and CEO of the largest community bank in the U.S. focused on hospitality. From migrating to the States and purchasing his first hotel in 1976, Chan shares the incredible story behind what led him to raise $2 million and open the State Bank of Texas. The two discuss Chan's unique approach to lending, the recipe behind running a successful bank, and how he has seen the industry evolve over the years.
Aug 09, 2024•47 min•Ep. 118
Teague sits down with Nolan Hecht, Senior Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at Certares, to explore why the company has been active despite the current economic conditions. Nolan shares how he’s getting his deals done, his optimism about the industry, and a little bit about his amateur boxing career.
Aug 02, 2024•39 min•Ep. 117
Teague sits down with the recently-appointed CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality, Craig Smith. With a few months under his belt, Craig shares what drew him out of retirement after his impactful 35+ year career with Marriott, his plans for the global management company, and the impressive team he has built around him to set Aimbridge up for success.
Jul 26, 2024•48 min•Ep. 116
Teague sits down with his good friend Jon Stanner, President & CEO of Summit Hotel Properties, to hear what’s going on in the world of hotel REITs. As Summit’s Q2 report approaches, Jon shares which areas are experiencing the most growth, industry trends, and his team's current priorities.
Jul 12, 2024•31 min•Ep. 115
In the heart of NYC, Teague sits down at The Fifth Avenue Hotel with Alex Ohebshalom, Founder & CEO of Flâneur Hospitality. An emerging hotelier, Alex is no stranger to development. He shares his journey to hospitality, what sparked his idea to convert a century-old property into a luxurious 5.5 star hotel, and the challenges of making this 10-year project come to life.
Jun 21, 2024•49 min•Ep. 114
This Friday, Teague welcomes Carlos Rodriguez, Sr., Chairman & CEO of Driftwood Capital, for an insightful discussion on how capital is shaping the transactional market. From growing up in Costa Rica and pursuing a career on Wall Street, Carlos shares the candid story behind his first hotel, the challenges of raising his first debt fund, and everything in between throughout his journey to making Driftwood what it is today.
Jun 14, 2024•43 min•Ep. 113
This week, Teague sits down with respected competitor and friend, David Turley, President of Cronheim Hotel Capital, to discuss the current state of the lending market from their worlds. They delve into the market's evolution, the challenges they are confronting, and the projects they are currently undertaking in their daily operations.
Jun 07, 2024•40 min•Ep. 112
Ahead of NYU, Teague sits down with Jan Freitag, National Director for Hospitality Market Analytics at CoStar, for an update on the current state of the industry. As we wrap up Q2, Jan dives into interest rates, group demand, and market trends, while Teague shares his crystal ball into transactions and development.
May 31, 2024•40 min•Ep. 111
Steps away from IHG’s Atlanta headquarters, Teague sits down for an exclusive conversation with Jolyon Bulley, CEO of the Americas. From his start behind the front desk in Melbourne to becoming the CEO for one of the world’s largest hotel brands, Jolyon shares his passion for international hospitality, his microscope into global travel trends, and what’s on the horizon for IHG.
May 24, 2024•42 min•Ep. 110
Sitting in the brand new The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Teague is joined by Hiren Desai, President & CEO of 3H Group, for an exclusive conversation. From his beginnings in Zambia to managing his first hotel in Chattanooga, Hiren shares the origin story of 3H Group, his development projects through the years, and what it’s been like working alongside his brother.
May 03, 2024•32 min•Ep. 109
This Friday, Teague is joined by David Kong, Founder & Principal of DEI Advisors and former CEO of Best Western. David shares his early days from growing up in Hong Kong, what led him to becoming the longest-running CEO of any major hotel company, and what he’s doing to leave an impact on our industry.
Apr 26, 2024•42 min•Ep. 108
This week, Teague sits down with Stephen Wendell, Founder & CEO of Mountain Shore Properties, for a chat on all things development. From growing up in a hotelier family while pursuing a career in law, Stephen shares how he stumbled into the real estate world, the challenges developers are facing today, and the latest projects that he’s been working on in the boutique space.
Apr 19, 2024•37 min•Ep. 107
Teague takes the main stage at the 35th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference alongside the leaders behind the industry’s most successful private companies. The four panelists share insights into their world and offer a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in today's economic landscape. Featuring Mitch I. Patel , Vision Hospitality Group, Inc. ; Al Patel , Baywood Hotels | Hotel Management & Development , James Merkel , Rockbridge ; and Greg Friedman , Peachtree Group ....
Apr 12, 2024•45 min•Ep. 106
At the 35th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, Teague takes the stage alongside the nation’s top brokerage firms for a deep dive on the state of the market. Moderated by LW Hospitality Advisors’ Evan Weiss, the four executives provide a comprehensive analysis of the current financial landscape, offering insights into trends, risks, and investment opportunities while forecasting potential market trajectories.
Apr 05, 2024•45 min•Ep. 105
