Hospitality Daily Podcast Reconnecting With What Feeds the Soul - Chet Pipkin, Desolation Hotel
Nov 9, 2025
Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin and creator of Desolation Hotel, explores how nature nurtures the soul in today’s fast-paced world. He discusses the antidote to technology overload through grounding experiences in Lake Tahoe's outdoors. Chet emphasizes redefining luxury hospitality by focusing on meaningful, nourishing interactions rather than mere pampering. He also shares his personal self-care rituals that help restore balance and joy. This insightful conversation delves into the essence of soulful experiences in the hospitality industry.
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Nature Restores The Soul
- Chet Pipkin finds technology useful but warns it can drown out what "feeds the soul."
- Nature in Tahoe reliably grounds him and restores mental and emotional balance.
Tahoe Activities That Center Him
- Chet describes how hiking, biking, paddleboarding, and skiing in Tahoe calm his mind and lift his spirit.
- He rarely meets people who say they feel best locked indoors rather than in nature.
Soul Over Traditional Pampering
- Luxury hospitality is shifting from pure pampering toward experiences that ground and nourish the soul.
- Guests increasingly value being rooted and replenished over just being indulged.