Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast

John is a short-term rental industry expert, with particular expertise in optimizing and customizing the technology stack, driving up revenue, and continually streamlining operations. Leveraging his experience in building, growing, and operating a successful short-term rental brand from the ground up, John constantly utilizes his own short-term rental business as a fertile testing ground to roll up his sleeves and dig in to experiment with new systems, technologies, and approaches.John is an architect by training. With a Doctorate in Building Physics from Harvard University, John was previously was an expert consultant in the environmental sustainability industry. The short-term rental industry is John’s second career and he is passionate about and is dedicated to helping professionalize the industry.In this episode of Slick Talk, we dive into his personal story of becoming an entrepreneur, his "why" behind it all, the challenges on regulations in Hawaii, and his new venture with AJL.Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-an-0762b8a/www.gettechtape.comwww.ohanastay.comhttps://ajlatelier.com/team/As always, a huge thank you to our Podcast Partners, Jurny for headlining the show and for Safely being a long-time committed partner with us as well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Francois Gouelo is a serial entrepreneur and adventure traveler. Francois graduated from the University of Toronto with an honors degree in Computer Science, and Cognitive Science, and recently completed his Masters of Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge with a focus in prop-tech and real estate. Francois is the founder & CEO of Enso Connect, a travel-focused startup. Francois started the company at DCSIL and was able to survive and thrive to build the future of travel for the short-term rental industry. Backed by VCs in Europe and North America, Enso has scaled from 68 listings to over 12,000, joined Founder’s Factory, the UK’s top Accelerator program, and launched in over 17 different countries. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Jurny & NoiseAware!! Thank you for your continuous support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While I was in Florida, I had the pleasure of meeting Dennis Goedheid who is the Founder & CEO of Casiola Vacation Homes & Guestor.I joined him and Michael Scott-Lester, CFO, to go through his founders' story and dive into the development of Guestor. If you like to talk stocks and investments then buckle up, this episode is about to take you back!This episode is brought to you by our friends at NoiseAware! Use SLICKTALK20 to get 20% off all noise sensors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a bonus episode that was recorded in person at the VRMA Conference in October where I got to sit down with Brandi Canaley who is the COO of Sextant Stays based out of Miami!In this episode, we lightly chat about her story of getting into the industry, the evolution of the brand, and of course... iPad robots!You can tune in to awesome episodes like this on Hospitality.FM or your favorite listening platform!Sponsored by NoiseAware! Uses the code SLICKTALK20 and you won't regret it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joining me on the podcast, Mateo Bradford & John Stokinger, the hosts of the No BS Short-Term Rental Podcast. In this episode, we cover the golden nugget conversations that they have with industry leaders and experts and the importance of having the conversations that most are unwilling to face in our industry of hospitality.If you listen all the way through (about 42 min into the episode) you will hear a very exciting announcement about what's next for their podcast!https://thenobsshorttermrentalpodcast.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/nobsstrpodcast/www.slicktalkthepodcast.com & Hospitality.FM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have Launched our Industry Podcast Network, Hospitality.FM!With tons of different shows signed and ready to rock and roll, we couldn't be more excited to showcase the One Destination for all of your hospitality podcast needs!About Hospitality.FM:Hospitality.FM is a podcast network dedicated to bringing the best hospitality-focused podcasts to those in and around the industry. From Food & Beverage, Guest Experience, Diversity & Inclusion, Tech, Operations, Hotels, Vacation Rentals, and so much more, Hospitality.FM is passionate about giving the industry a prominent and louder voice to reach more listeners by “Going All-In On Audio.”What started as a simple podcast for Wil Slickers, over the years of growing his audience and learning the ins and outs of the podcast world, and being mentored by others along the way, he is now going all-in on audio! Most podcasts statistically don’t make it past ten episodes when they launch and with HFM, we want to make sure that statistic no longer becomes true. The audio revolution is here, and we are going to lead it all with the power of podcasting.Podcasts under the network today: Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast The No BS Short-Term Rental Podcast The GuestX Podcast The Proven Principles of Hospitality Podcast The Post Shift Podcast Good Morning Hospitality I Meet Hotel - The Hoteliers Podcast And More To Be Announced Soon! Check out the Hospitality.FM website today to learn more about Hospitality.FM and what it has to offer for the industry! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After thirty years of forming and growing many different businesses, Steve has now come to the conclusion that his successes and failures hinged on the same thing.Identifying, hiring, and engaging people.When they were with the right people in the right roles, fully engaged, they were extremely successful. When they were not, no strategic plan or amazing vision mattered. They simply could not execute to the level required.It was a true honor to record this episode in person with Steve at the VRMA Conference back in October!As a property manager, business owner, and entrepreneur, you already have so much to do in a 24 hour time period. Don’t let the worry of your property being damaged and focus back on growing your business with Safely! Safely is a proud sponsor and I love that I can use them for my business to ensure my properties are safe, protected and my homeowners know that I think of their asset as my asset too! Go to Safely.com and sign up today and let them know Wil sent you! Smart locks, Smart thermostats, automation, and a solution for any hotel and vacation rental company. Our show partners at Operto are the leading solution for operators to enhance their operations by integrating with your property management software and making sure all smart devices create a contactless guest experience while streamlining operations. Check them out on their website, send me a message, or just let them know Wil sent you and you’ll be in great hands!This episode is also sponsored by Jetstream! Jetstream is a full-service hospitality solution with a powerful team behind it! To learn more about Jetstream, just click this link! In this episode, we explore: 02:37 - Steves’ Background06:08 - It’s all about the people08:34 - Turnover of employees - finding the right person10:37 - Behavior profile14:35 - Experiencing labor shortage 17:25 - How smart managers manage properties20:57 - Finding better talents23:49 - Finding talents on LinkedIn and Indeed28:20 - Certain positions don’t need short term rental experience35:53 - Tectonic Shift happened during Covid - working from home is better Connecting with the Guest:Website: https://bettertalent.com/about/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettertalent/Slick Talk Website & Socials: https://bit.ly/3uCsm6H Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Kopel is a restaurateur, tech pioneer and environmental advocate. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the spawn of bootleggers and retail giants, he was bred for the hospitality industry. Throughout Kopel’s 20+ year career in hospitality he has managed venues ranging from the Alligator Bayou Bar, located on Alligator Bayou Road, seated on Alligator Bayou (it was exactly how you’re picturing it in your mind) to the hottest Hollywood nightclubs, bars, and ultra-lounges (far less glamorous than you’re picturing it in your mind).Kopel went independent in 2010, opening his first concept Five0Four, a New Orleans-inspired bar, on the Walk of Fame in the heart of Hollywood. In subsequent years, he would open the Michelin-rated fine dining concept, Preux & Proper as well as South City Fried Chicken, voted the best fried chicken in Los Angeles by LA Weekly. Despite his success, he saw foundational issues within the industry and set out to fix them himself.In 2018, Kopel founded FLO Hospitality Solutions, a company solely focused on leveraging tech to bring more humanity to the customer service experience, not less. His first product, FLO, launched in 2019 offering an all-in-one communication solution for restaurants, saving restaurateurs 1,500 labor hours per year while increasing their profits, on average, 5-15%. .In 2020, the pandemic offered another opportunity for Kopel to serve the industry. In response to the devastation he saw, Josh created FULL COMP, a podcast, blog and video series dedicated to seeking out thought leaders from within and outside of the hospitality industry, using their wisdom to help the restaurateurs survive the present and thrive in the future.Kopel’s varied interests and talents have landed him several positions of influence including board seats on the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council and the California Restaurant Association. He is also a co-founder of the Friends of Runyon Canyon, a non-profit focused on the protection of local Los Angeles Park areas.This episode is sponsored by our friends at NoiseAware! NoiseAware is the only 100% privacy-safe noise monitoring solution so get with NoiseAware so you don’t waste any time while you grow your professional and amazing business! Use SLICKTALK20 to get 20% off your noise devices with NoiseAware!This episode is sponsored by Hostfully! Hostfully is an industry-leading software company that provides property managers and hoteliers with a property management platform and amazing digital custom guidebooks that will make your guests' experience with you 10X better! Use SLICKTALK20 to get $100 off of their property management platform and two months free of their premium digital guidebooks!This episode is also sponsored by Jetstream! Jetstream is a full-service hospitality solution with a powerful team behind it! To learn more about Jetstream, just click this link! In this episode, we explore: 03:38 - Josh’s Background05:59 - Becoming the student of the game10:10 - Solving problems is the industry12:52 - Recipe for Success15:20 - Bringing more revenue  18:53 - Diversification of Revenue22:42 - Are you doing it wrong? - social media25:04 - Establishing Partnership28:36 - Engaging your audience to your content33:14 - Minimizing customer acquisition cost38:40 - The ability to control their behavior42:35 - Steps in the Case StudyConnecting with the Guest:Website: www.joshkopel.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshkopel/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/172117011497393/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuakopel1/Twitter: https://twitter.com/josh_kopelSlick Talk Website & Socials: https://bit.ly/3uCsm6H Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brittany Blackman is full of sunshine, Southern hospitality, and a crazy passion for the vacation rental industry. She’s been working in STR for over 10 years now and hasn’t found a day that's boring yet. After her stint as Operations Manager for the majority of that time, she left in September 2020 (yes, during the worldwide pandemic), to fly freely and start her own gig. It's been fun for her swerving around obstacles, climbing mountains, and building something from scratch. This episode is sponsored by our friends at NoiseAware! NoiseAware is the only 100% privacy-safe noise monitoring solution so get with NoiseAware so you don’t waste any time while you grow your professional and amazing business! Use SLICKTALK20 to get 20% off your noise devices with NoiseAware!This episode is sponsored by Hostfully! Hostfully is an industry-leading software company that provides property managers and hoteliers with a property management platform and amazing digital custom guidebooks that will make your guests' experience with you 10X better! Use SLICKTALK20 to get $100 off of their property management platform and two months free of their premium digital guidebooks!This episode is also sponsored by Jetstream! Jetstream is a full-service hospitality solution with a powerful team behind it! To learn more about Jetstream, just click this link!In this episode, we explore: 03:13 - Brittany’s story06:51 - Biggest takeaway to build a company10:34 - Setting up internal operations14:40 - Company standards18:11 - Shifting mindset - becoming an entrepreneur22:47 - Drawing the Energy28:15 - Scaling and Growing the operation31:58 - Building the brand internally37:32 - Managing the text messages39:59 - Hardest and rewarding thing in the industry44:10 - Where can we find the guestConnecting with the Guest:Website: https://breatheeasyrentals.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/breatheeasyrentalsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/breatheeasyrentalsPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/breatheeasyrentalsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChlMxuNJ8-P7EEU1oECFU4QLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/breathe-easy-rentalsSlick Talk Website & Socials: https://bit.ly/3uCsm6HMid Roll Ad - 20:35 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Loney currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Xplorie, the leading guest experience platform for U.S. leisure markets. Delivering best-in-life moments for millions of guests annually, Xplorie has nearly quadrupled in size over the past five years under Mr. Loney’s leadership. Prior to joining Xplorie, Mr. Loney served as an attorney and held executive positions at two national restaurant chains.This episode is sponsored by Hostfully! Hostfully is an industry leading software company that provides property managers and hoteliers with a property management platform and amazing digital custom guidebooks that will make your guests' experience with you 10X better! Use SLICKTALK20 to get $100 off of their property management platform and two months free of their premium digital guidebooks!This episode is sponsored by our friends at NoiseAware! NoiseAware is the only 100% privacy safe noise monitoring solution so get with NoiseAware so you don’t waste any time while you grow your professional and amazing business! Use SLICKTALK20 to get 20% off your noise devices with NoiseAware!This episode is also sponsored by Jetstream! Jetstream is a full-service hospitality solution with a powerful team behind it! To learn more about Jetstream, just click this link!  In this episode, we explore: 03:33 - Background of the guest07:37 - Vacation Rentals11:16 - Restaurant Concepts13:46 - Tours and Activity Industries18:25 - Directions and Decisions to take22:13 - Challenges experienced from the start26:51 - Figuring out the hurdles32:13 - Biggest Hurdle that turned into success37:37 - Voice Operated Technology - Alexa43:13 - Managing Content48:45 - Recognizing the common issues50:26 - Importance of Podcasting for the business55:50 - How podcast help other people01:00:17 - Connect with the guestConnecting with the Guest:Website: www.Xplorie.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewloney/Slick Talk Website & Socials: https://bit.ly/3uCsm6H Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices