The Culinary Brilliance Behind Hilton & Wolfgang Puck - Adam Crocini, SVP of Global Design, Wellness, and Food & Beverage @ Hilton

Oct 8, 2025

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In this episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak sits down with hospitality leader Adam Crocini for a deep dive into the intersection of food, beverage, and hotel design. Adam shares his journey from working as a teenage barback in Connecticut to shaping global hospitality experiences with iconic brands like Wolfgang Puck, Capella Hotels, and Hilton. Together, they explore how restaurant culture defines hotel success, the role of thoughtful design in guest experience, and why details, from lighting to linen color, can transform an entire property.

They discuss:
• The early influences that sparked Adam’s passion for hospitality
• Lessons learned from building and leading world-class restaurants and hotel programs
• How food and beverage can be the defining feature of a hotel brand
• The importance of design diversity and collaboration between hotel and restaurant designers
• Global labor and service culture differences shaping the future of hospitality

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:01:03) - Adam’s career and background
(00:05:57) - Challenges and failures in the restaurant business
(00:09:26) - The role of landlords and location in restaurant success
(00:12:19) - The impact of food and beverage on hotel differentiation
(00:14:53) - The evolution of hotel food and beverage
(00:20:02) - Designing successful hotel restaurants
(00:36:00) - Balancing independent and hotel restaurant operations
(00:42:39) - Reflecting on past experiences
(00:43:30) - Challenges and strategies in hospitality
(00:48:03) - Global perspectives on service culture
(00:50:09) - The evolution of Singapore's hospitality industry
(00:53:49) - Labor challenges in the U.S. hospitality sector
(01:02:00) - Transitioning to hotel management
(01:10:23) - The importance of details in luxury hotels
(01:15:55) - Future opportunities in hospitality
(01:25:39) - Favorite hotels and closing thoughts

Links:

Adam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-crocini/

Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak 1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coaching Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo