
Teague Talks Podcast
Teague Hunter, President and CEO of Hunter Hotel Advisors, created Teague Talks in 2020 to connect and educate the hospitality industry in a time of unparalleled uncertainty. Today, Teague Talks continues to bring our industry together and inspire the next generation of hospitality leaders with monthly episodes featuring industry leaders and exclusive hotel tours through the addition of accompanying YouTube video series, Teague Walks. Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
You can learn more about Hunter Hotel Advisors at hunterhotels.net.
Latest episodes

Sep 20, 2024 • 29min
Teague Talks with Rob Smith, President & CEO of Stonebridge Companies
Teague sits down with Rob Smith, newly appointed President & CEO of Stonebridge Companies, to discuss his journey in overseas operations, his time at Aimbridge, and the lessons learned from industry icon Navin Dimond. Rob also shares insights into Stonebridge's future growth plans following the recent acquisition of Real Hospitality Group, along with his macro view on the industry and interest rates.

Sep 13, 2024 • 35min
Teague Talks with Jin Lee, CEO of ARA US Hospitality Trust
Teague is joined by Jin Lee, CEO of ARA US Hospitality Trust, a Singapore-based REIT focused on select-service hotels across the U.S. Jin shares the unique story behind the company's formation, discusses the challenges of managing a Singapore-based REIT while operating in the U.S., and outlines how their investment strategy has evolved over the years.

Sep 6, 2024 • 31min
Teague Talks with Steve Palmer, Founder & Chief Vision Officer of Indigo Road Hospitality
Teague sits down with Steve Palmer, Founder & Chief Vision Officer of Indigo Road Hospitality Group, at the newly opened Rivet House in Athens, GA. Known for his remarkable success in the restaurant business, Steve talks about his transition into hotel management and the journey that led him there. Behind the scenes of his incredible career, Steve opens up about his personal battle with addiction and how he's now giving back to others in the industry who have faced similar challenges.

Aug 16, 2024 • 17min
Teague Talks with Kevin Carey, Interim President & CEO of AHLA
With a recent NYC hotel bill taking over headlines, Teague sits down with AHLA’s Kevin Carey for a quick update on the details behind the proposed legislation. Tune in to learn how this could trickle down and affect other markets.

Aug 9, 2024 • 47min
Teague Talks with Chan Patel, Chairman & CEO of State Bank of Texas
Teague is joined by Chan Patel, Chairman and CEO of the largest community bank in the U.S. focused on hospitality. From migrating to the States and purchasing his first hotel in 1976, Chan shares the incredible story behind what led him to raise $2 million and open the State Bank of Texas. The two discuss Chan's unique approach to lending, the recipe behind running a successful bank, and how he has seen the industry evolve over the years.

Aug 2, 2024 • 39min
Teague Talks with Nolan Hecht, Senior Managing Director & Head of Real Estate at Certares
Teague sits down with Nolan Hecht, Senior Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at Certares, to explore why the company has been active despite the current economic conditions. Nolan shares how he’s getting his deals done, his optimism about the industry, and a little bit about his amateur boxing career.

Jul 26, 2024 • 48min
Teague Talks with Craig Smith, CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality
Teague sits down with the recently-appointed CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality, Craig Smith. With a few months under his belt, Craig shares what drew him out of retirement after his impactful 35+ year career with Marriott, his plans for the global management company, and the impressive team he has built around him to set Aimbridge up for success.

Jul 12, 2024 • 31min
Teague Talks with Jonathan P. Stanner, President & CEO of Summit Hotel Properties
Teague sits down with his good friend Jon Stanner, President & CEO of Summit Hotel Properties, to hear what’s going on in the world of hotel REITs. As Summit’s Q2 report approaches, Jon shares which areas are experiencing the most growth, industry trends, and his team's current priorities.

Jun 21, 2024 • 49min
Teague Talks with Alex Ohebshalom, Owner of The Fifth Avenue Hotel and Flâneur Hospitality
In the heart of NYC, Teague sits down at The Fifth Avenue Hotel with Alex Ohebshalom, Founder & CEO of Flâneur Hospitality. An emerging hotelier, Alex is no stranger to development. He shares his journey to hospitality, what sparked his idea to convert a century-old property into a luxurious 5.5 star hotel, and the challenges of making this 10-year project come to life.

Jun 14, 2024 • 43min
Teague Talks with Carlos Rodriguez, Sr., Chairman & CEO of Driftwood Capital
This Friday, Teague welcomes Carlos Rodriguez, Sr., Chairman & CEO of Driftwood Capital, for an insightful discussion on how capital is shaping the transactional market. From growing up in Costa Rica and pursuing a career on Wall Street, Carlos shares the candid story behind his first hotel, the challenges of raising his first debt fund, and everything in between throughout his journey to making Driftwood what it is today.