Hospitality Daily Podcast The Dana Crawford Playbook: How Risk, Storytelling, and Grit Built Iconic Hospitality - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality Group
May 29, 2025
Walter Isenberg, co-founder and CEO of Sage Hospitality Group, dives into his impactful partnership with preservationist Dana Crawford. He discusses their transformative work on iconic projects like the revitalization of Union Station. The conversation highlights the significance of storytelling and risk-taking in hospitality design. He also shares challenges faced while revitalizing Denver’s Oxford Hotel and Larimer Square, emphasizing how a compelling narrative can shape the success of independent hotels and foster teamwork in the industry.
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Dana Crawford's Preservation Legacy
- Dana Crawford was a pioneering female historic preservationist and developer in 1960s Colorado.
- She saved Denver's Larimer Square, the first block of buildings downtown, and changed the city's landscape.
Turning Around Oxford Hotel
- Walter Isenberg met Dana Crawford at the Oxford Hotel's historic cruise room and discussed turning the hotel around together.
- They took control of the hotel after it went bankrupt and turned it into a successful independent luxury hotel in downtown Denver.
Power of Hotel Storytelling
- A great story behind a hotel attracts guests, especially for independent or soft-branded hotels.
- Today, guests increasingly prefer places with unique stories over traditional branded hotels.