Hospitality as Stewardship: The Delight and Dignity of Caring for People, Places, and Moments - Jimmy Peña

Sep 9, 2025

Jimmy Peña, a hospitality executive, best-selling author, and nonprofit leader, shares his transformative journey from health and fitness to luxury hospitality. He reflects on how a childhood experience of ‘radical hospitality’ shaped his career and emphasizes stewardship as central to the industry. Drawing on his Ritz-Carlton experiences, he explores the importance of structure and standards in elevating service. Listeners gain insights on creating memorable guest experiences while leading with heart and excellence.

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ANECDOTE

Childhood Moment That Sparked A Calling

As a child Jimmy Peña experienced "radical hospitality" at a home restaurant that left a lasting impression on him.
That early memory shaped his desire to anticipate needs and create wow moments throughout his career.

ANECDOTE

From Fitness To A Broader Purpose

While fitness editor Jimmy Peña saw physical achievement, he also witnessed human frailty in Joe Weider struggling with a walker.
That contrast led him to rethink purpose and seek a role that honored stewardship beyond bodies alone.

ANECDOTE

Joining The Ritz-Carlton Revealed Identity

Jimmy was recruited into the Ritz-Carlton and helped open hotels, quickly falling in love with serving both external and internal guests.
He initially worried about fitting in but discovered hospitality helped him become more authentically himself.

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Jimmy Peña is a hospitality executive, best-selling author, and nonprofit leader whose career spans luxury hotels, estate operations, publishing, and ministry. A graduate of Baylor University and the University of Texas at Tyler, Jimmy began in the world of health and fitness — becoming Worldwide Fitness Editor for Muscle & Fitness and M&F Hers, co-writing the New York Times bestseller Extra Lean with Mario Lopez. But as he explains in this episode, a childhood experience of “radical hospitality” shaped his view of service and ultimately led him to the Ritz-Carlton, where he earned the prestigious Leader of the Year Award and discovered hospitality as his true calling.

Today, Jimmy serves as Director of Estate Operations for a private, ultra-high-net-worth individual, overseeing world-class service standards and asset management. He also consults with families, estates, and businesses, helping them elevate their operations and culture by drawing on Ritz-Carlton–inspired practices.

In this conversation, Jimmy reflects on what he’s learned along the way — from the role of structure and standards in elevating service, to why stewardship is central to hospitality, and how caring for people, places, and moments brings both delight and dignity to the work we do. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of service as stewardship — and how to lead with both heart and excellence in every guest experience.

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Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands