

Defining Hospitality
Dan Ryan
Welcome to Defining Hospitality, the podcast focused on highlighting the most influential figures in the hospitality industry. In each episode we provide 1 on 1, in depth interviews with experts in the industry to learn what hospitality means to them. We feature expert advice on working in the industry, behind the scenes looks at some of your favorite brands, and in depth explorations of unique hospitality projects.
Defining Hospitality is hosted by Founder and CEO of Agency 967, Dan Ryan. With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, Dan brings his expertise and passion to each episode as he delves into the latest trends and challenges facing the industry.
Episodes are released every week on Wednesday mornings.
To listen to episodes, visit https://www.defininghospitality.live/ or subscribe to Defining Hospitality wherever you get your podcasts.
Defining Hospitality is hosted by Founder and CEO of Agency 967, Dan Ryan. With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, Dan brings his expertise and passion to each episode as he delves into the latest trends and challenges facing the industry.
Episodes are released every week on Wednesday mornings.
To listen to episodes, visit https://www.defininghospitality.live/ or subscribe to Defining Hospitality wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 14, 2022 • 53min
The Dream of Hospitality - Miriam Torres - Episode # 084
Today’s guest is a master at hospitality design. She is a 2022 Platinum Circle Inductee, as well as designing projects with major hotel brands from Four Seasons, to Fairmont, Marriott, Ritz Carltons, Sonesta, Hilton, Hyatt, and InterContinental, as well as independent hoteliers. Miriam Torres-Smalankas is the Co-owner and co-founder at Parker-Torres Design Inc. She joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about her journey through the world of hospitality and what it all means to her. Takeaways: Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and host. It’s the embodiment of caring and providing a welcoming environment where you share what you have with the guest. In all projects, there will be a lot of research that you need to do. The narrative or the story of the design space will drive the rest of the project and what it will look like. Hospitality design is the mother of all designs. The influence it has stretches from corporate, to healthcare, to education and all areas in between. The people who go into the hospitality world are very passionate about what they do, they don’t do it for the money but rather the love of creating something beautiful and memorable. When looking at expanding your team, consider hiring people that are better than you. You want them to motivate you to become better at what you do. When people start off in a new venture, they might think to themselves that they are a fraud or an imposter but you have to accept that you aren’t a fraud, but rather a strong and brave individual for taking a chance. Perseverance is an important trait to have in the hospitality industry. Others may tell you a design might not work but keep trying until you get it just right. Quote of the Show:2:21 “hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-torres-smalanskas-1042581a8/Website: https://www.parkertorres.com/ Shout Outs:4:37 Ken Hurd4:49 Waldorf Astoria5:19 Ritz-Carlton6:43 Barbara Parker8:29 Graham International10:18 Hyatt10:21 Fairmont Copley10:25 Marriott Marquis10:57 Henry David Thoreau12:41 University of Massachusetts Amherst12:51 MIT14:43 Hilton23:12 Cornell30:54 Alan Benjamin41:41 Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg44:51 Larry Summers44:59 Barack Obama45:02 FacebookWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube : https://youtu.be/XYhAynf1VaQ

Dec 7, 2022 • 1h 11min
Breaking the Design Mold - Andrew Alford - Episode # 083
Today’s guest is a creative design sage. With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, today’s guest is truly an expert in this field. Andrew Alford is the Founder/Owner/Designer/ Chief Creative officer/chef/cook and bottle washer of Andrew Alford Creative. Andrew worked his way from answering phones at a high-end residential design firm to leading his own company where he gets to let his true creativity shine. Andrew joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey through design and hospitality and what it all means to him. Takeaways: The real innovation in hospitality comes from the people who grew up with little to nothing to their name. People like that grow up wanting a luxurious environment and want to give that idea of luxury to everyone.Hotels should be an experience that helps lift away any suffering you have and transport you to a better state of mind. They are the backdrop to our most precious memories.The whole objective for design is not to make something look good or to be a background in a selfie. The actual point is that design should be something that makes you stop and appreciate the beauty around you and be a transformative experience in itself.A work life balance is something that is incredibly important and can help prevent you from feeling burnt out. You want to make sure that you aren’t working after your normal hours and set boundaries so that you can enjoy your work and not have it feel like a chore.When it comes to design, you want to make sure that you stand out and that you are unique. The same bland, beige and boring designs won’t get noticed. If you are going to stand out like a unicorn, stand out like a unicorn in every way.The word “interbeing” comes from a Buddaheist poet Thich Nhat Hanh. It describes the relationship between everything in the world and how it all works together in order to create the environment we see around us.Design has been so serious for many years, and it’s time that the seriousness needs to be stopped and new, creative ideas need to be implemented. Every design doesn't have to copy something else that is already out there. Quote of the Show:15:37 “Design [is] not to make it pretty, it's not a selfie background. It's a transformative experience.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewalfordcreative/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewalfordcreative/ Shout Outs:4:41 Kimpton Hotels5:22 IHG9:44 Ed Labrano13:25 Raptor roller coaster14:46 SpringHill Suites by Marriott26:25 Hospitality Design Summit28:00 Alec Baldwin41:58 American Utopia by David Byrne43:18 Thich Nhat Hanh45:14 Free Think46:58 Star Trek47:09 Reasons to be Cheerful50:00 Soho House50:20 Delano50:21 Philippe Stark50:32 Ace Hotels53:10 Modern Elder Academy53:12 Chip Conley1:02:38 The Hoffman Process Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube : https://youtu.be/UCzEZwSoRIU

Nov 30, 2022 • 1h 2min
Leading the Charge - Brian Quinn - Episode # 082
Today’s guest is a recognized leader in domestic and international real estate, travel, lodging, and restaurant industries. He is a proven, articulate thought leader and has delivered exceptional results in the hospitality industry. Brian Quinn is the Chief Development Officer at Sonesta. Brian joins the host Dan Ryan to share what he had learned through his journey in the world of hospitality.Takeaways: In the hospitality industry, everyone works together to help achieve a goal. A great design can only come to life if someone is willing to put it in their building. If you are an owner or operator of a hotel or hospitality business, you will bring a different level of energy and care to a project. You will be more focused on the return on investment in that aspect. In 2012 the RMR Group acquired hospitality spaces, bringing a whole new level of finance and real estate expertise into the hospitality industry.During the COVID pandemic, there was a higher demand for extended stays and economy-style hotel stays as more people worked from home. The top three things that make Sonesta a good brand to join are the market availability, the access to an executive team, and the last piece is the owner lens. There are a few ways to underwrite a CapEx renovation; one is to think about what happens to your performance if you do nothing, and the other way is to check for any headroom in the market and see if you can perform better. Whether a recession comes or not, if unemployment remains low then people are going to spend their disposable income on dining, travel, and other hospitality experiences. Quote of the Show: “Whether we technically go into a recession or not, if unemployment stays low, people are going to spend their disposable income on dining out and traveling.” - Brian QuinnLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-quinn-778b9018/Website: https://www.sonesta.com/careersShout Outs: 2:26 Holiday Inn 7:17 The RMR Group10:58 Marriott11:00 IHG Hotels12:00 John Murray12:04 Keith Pierce12:06 Wyndham12:09 Red Lion 13:58 Intercontinental13:59 Kimpton Hotels14:00 Crowne Plaza14:01 Candlewood14:02 Staybridge19:26 Hilton19:27 Statler20:47 Jeremy Selman23:50 The Benjamin23:53 The Shelbourne23:57 The Gardens24:07 The James33:04 Wells Fargo33:09 WachoviaWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/dcPalDoHZPE

Nov 23, 2022 • 60min
Learning From the Team - Oswaldo Barrios - Episode # 081
Today’s guest is a hospitality guru. He’s an innovative industry leader who is an architect by training as well as a raving fan of interior design. Oswaldo Barrios is the Senior Director of Design & Project Management Luxury Brands at Marriott International. After getting a degree in Architecture in Venezuela, he started from the bottom and worked his way to a very important role at Marriott. Oswaldo joins the host Dan Ryan to share more about his journey through hospitality and how he sees this industry through his eyes. Takeaways: When it comes to the hospitality industry, it’s ok to question why things are done in a certain way. This can lead to a new emergence of ideas or help to create a beautiful space. Hospitality is a combination of multiple different senses, ranging from how you feel about something and the experience that you are getting out of a space, to how the space feels and smells. It’s a very carefully done process to bring out the best in any space. Putting together a memorable space and experience is almost like being on a stage. You want to make sure that all the pieces are in the right spaces and that everyone is doing their part to make it run smoothly.There is a certain level of detail that goes into hospitality that overlaps with architecture as well. These two aspects can be combined to help create a memorable experience in a space that evokes an emotional response. It’s important for everybody to know their role in a design project and to protect that role because if you don’t then you can end up with a mishmash of ideas and the piece won’t be as creative or strong.The hardest part of any design project is getting the teams and donors to understand the non-public areas that you need to serve as a product. When it comes to working on a hotel, you develop a really strong relationship with everyone who was a part of the project. Quote of the Show:"Hospitality is a combination between what you feel and the experience that you get into the space." - Oswaldo Barrios Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oswaldo-barrios-80407289/Website: https://www.marriott.com/default.miEdition Hotels: https://www.editionhotels.com/ Shout Outs:0:41 Ian Schrager0:52 Edition Hotels5:54 Grammercy Park Hotel22:04 Mies van der Rohe48:49 Arne Sorenson 51:22 StarwoodWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/9iPo9CrVjPk

Nov 16, 2022 • 1h 2min
The Alchemy of Collaboration - Jeremy Selman - Episode # 080
Today’s guest is a hospitality champion and an ingenious thought leader. He is a lifestyle hotel advisor and entrepreneur. Jeremy Selman is the Principal at Fishtown Collective and HN Capital Partners. Jeremy is breaking the mold of luxury for hospitality and wants to give each guest an experience that is unique to them and brings a smile to their face. Jeremy joins the host Dan Ryan to share his thoughts about the hospitality industry and what it means to him. Takeaways: In hospitality, you are touching upon all human needs. In a hotel, you are given the opportunity to provide a holistic experience to every guest in a way that dining can’t reach.The traditional standard of luxury was where the brand defined what luxury was and delivered that in a formulaic way. Jeremy is focusing on the ability to read a guest and understand what will make them smile. A hotelier is similar to a conductor or producer on a movie set in the sense that they manage the big-picture items going on. Hoteliers' taste often changes with age as well, so you shouldn’t base your designs on taste at the exact moment. Being a hotelier requires a high level of collaboration in order to make sure everything runs smoothly. If everyone isn’t on the same page or rowing in the same direction, then the end goal can’t be achieved. In the hospitality industry, you can’t be afraid to try new ideas. Not everything will work, but it’s worth pioneering and trying to see if there is a new way to uplift an old project or create a new idea from scratch. When going into a new market, you have to really believe that you can get people to buy into what you are presenting and reach the goal of having a beautiful space that all can enjoy. Jeremy is excited about the challenge of balancing technology and service in the hospitality industry. Quote of the Show:“I think culture is something that needs to be openly spoken about and talk.” - Jeremy Selman Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-selman-1900b68a/Website: https://hncapitalpartners.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jselmannyc/?hl=en Shout Outs:6:13 The Nomad6:22 The Line in DC and LA15:18 Hotel Per La15:23 Adam Sydenham 21:01 Danny Meyer29:30 Scott Rudin28:23 Daniel Del Olmo38:45 Vipin Nambiar43:48 Michael Eisner44:08 Gary Berman44:09 Berman Falk52:52 Amazon52:53 Jeff Bezos53:20 Mark ZuckerbergWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube: https://youtu.be/OfOIMtOULNw

Nov 9, 2022 • 59min
First Party Management - Scott Hammons - Episode # 079
Today’s guest is an expert in conducting the symphony of insanity of what it takes to open a hotel. He’s a hospitality leader in the Luxury, Full Service, Select Service, Branded, and Independent hotel spaces and is well-versed in the various needs and variables in all sectors. Scott Hammons is the President of Design and Construction of HEI. Scott joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through the hospitality industry and what it all means to him. Takeaways: The way the market is right now if a hotel is going to acquire that is because there is room to improve the hotel or reinvent it. This can happen when a branded hotel gets bought by another company or when it goes independent.First-party project management is a term that Scott has coined to describe his new company, Ground Floor Hospitality. It’s a subsidiary of HEI but he refers to it as “first-party project management” because he oversees the whole project rather than someone he is not affiliated with.The hospitality industry is such a dynamic industry. It evokes so many different emotions and uses all 5 senses in order to create an unforgettable experience.Being in an entrepreneurial environment allows for more flexibility for new operations and provides room for growth in process improvements. Scott is excited about the diverse opportunities in the hospitality industry. There are many different aspects of hospitality that you can branch into and each project is its own experience. You want to find a space where when you go to work every day, it doesn’t feel like a typical work day or feel draining. You want to work in a place where you find yourself being passionate about what you do. If you are a mentor, you want to prepare your team leaders or other people in your company for a meeting they are about to walk into but still make them walk in the meeting. This will help them to prepare and feel more comfortable for what will happen during that time. Quote of the Show:“There's no business like the hospitality business.” - Scott Hammons Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkhammons/Website: https://www.heihotels.com/ Shout Outs:0:51 Aaron Anderson1:35 Josh Pearlman15:02 Mohawk Mountain House17:40 Kimpton17:47 Schrager19:35 Marriot29:19 Mark Wilson29:20 Yoko Ishihara33:05 Clark Henrati49:51 Christopher Nassetta51:42 Avengers Infinity War Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube: https://youtu.be/rnnG9aI3BY0

Nov 2, 2022 • 1h 3min
Setting the Tone - Kavitha Iyer - Episode # 078
Today’s guest is a hospitality hero to many in the industry. She is highly skilled at architectural design and believes good design is good business. Kavitha Iyer is the Head Of Design Strategies for the Americas 14 out of the 17 global brands at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Kavitha joins the host Dan Ryan to share her journey through hospitality and what it all means to her. Takeaways: Just because something has been done before doesn’t mean that it’s right. Different people can have different ideas and you can always improve upon something that has already been done. It’s important to make your designs feel like they enrich the lives of those who come into the space and also find a way to give back to the community that is hosting your space.When you are living in a community, you are not just a guest but you are a part of the community and you welcome others in as well. Hospitality is being generous with your time and sensibilities. Doing this will bring joy to those around you that you can notice in the little moments by their smile or by helping them discover something new. You want to make people feel like they are wanted. It’s more than just making them feel relevant, you have to make them feel like they are special as they walk through the door.In the Indian culture, there is a phrase “Atithi Devo Bhava” which means “Guest is God”. This speaks to hospitality is built into the Indian culture and something that all hotels and restaurants can take note of. You want to think about what you bring to the table in terms of design and how unique it is. The more unique your style is the more likely you are to find a place that will appreciate that. Quote of the Show:16:10 “I think that's what hospitality is, you are generous with your time and you're generous with your sensibilities.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriyer1/Website: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/ Shout Outs:3:50 University of Madras22:17 Damon Lawrence30:17 Frank Lloyd Wright35:11 Plato’s Republic52:19 David Bowie Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/8mqzEwb0eJA

Oct 26, 2022 • 43min
The Little Moments Are The Most Precious - Will Guidara - Episode # 077
Today’s guest has been immersed in the hospitality industry since the age of 13. Will Guidara is the author of many books, including a new one called “Unreasonable Hospitality”. Will has been trained in the dining rooms of Tribeca Grill, Spago, and Tabla and opened the restaurants at the Museum of Modern Art. Will joins the host Dan Ryan to discuss his journey through hospitality and what it all means to him. Takeaways: Having board games along with fine dining provides an experience that makes the guest feel comfortable and at home. It reminds them of home-cooked meals and time with family and friends.Will has always had a passion for creating spaces where people can get together and enjoy being around friends and family. This is part of what led him to be in the hospitality industry. America used to be a manufacturing economy but now 65% of our GDP is driven by the service industry. This means we have shifted the focus of our economy to be in the service industry and provide people with memorable experiences of hospitality.The culture of your company is a living, breathing tangible thing. It’s not just part of a checklist; if you don’t live by the cultures of your company, then the culture will die.The best way to talk about hospitality is to compare it to service. Service is bringing the right plate to the right person on time but hospitality is how you make them feel when you bring them their food. Your values transcend everything. If you bring your values to the front and make them a core part of who you are, then those values will drive you and help you succeed. Don’t be afraid to look at yourself and tell yourself that you can handle anything that comes your way. Quote of the Show:9:24 “It has always brought me joy to create spaces where people can come together.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-guidara-b64952243/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wguidara/?hl=enBook Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B13W5GPT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Welcome Conference: https://www.thewelcomeconference.com/ Shout Outs:1:36 The Nomad05:47 Simon Sinek25:39 James Corden25:43 Balthazar25:51 Keith McNally36:09 Rookie Smarts by Liz WisemanEleven Madison ParkWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/o2-7Ko4_P9w

Oct 19, 2022 • 57min
Getting Over the Speed Bump - Geoffrey Cramer - Episode # 076
Today’s guest has worked on big and small projects, from multimillion-dollar resorts to small home renovations and everything in between. Geoffrey Cramer is the Partner at Murphy Cramer Design. Geoffrey is passionate about creating distinctive architecture and interiors for private and corporate clients. He joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through hospitality and what it all means to him. Takeaways: At the end of the day, you have to be willing to take a chance on yourself and know that you will find the solution to whatever problem you face. Don’t be in a place where you think you have the answer to a conversation. Build up the courage to ask a question and don’t be afraid to hear the answer.It’s better to take your time on a design project and push the deadline out further to show something beautiful rather than force everyone to meet tight deadlines and turn in an average-looking design. The work that is done on a project is just as important as the content. You always want to put all your effort into every design project and make it a welcoming space. When it comes to hospitality, it is all about providing strangers and guests with a sense of comfort and a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment. You want to slowly shift your focus as new opportunities arise. This will allow you to be more adept in different areas and hone new skills. In the hospitality industry, you want to try and predict your guest's needs ahead of time and anticipate what they might want in a certain situation and have that ready for them. Quote of the Show:19:05 “Really it's being or providing strangers or guests, kind of this comfortable, warm, friendly, welcoming sort of experience.” Links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/geoffreycramerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycramer/ Website: https://www.mcdesign.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphycramerdesign/?hl=en Shout Outs:2:58 Morgan Brody4:29 Pat Murphy4:30 Susan Seifert5:44 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl8:26 Helen Jorgenson8:28 Venus Williams11:00 Hilton12:01 Larry Traxler24:49 The Blind Side by Michael Lewis37:07 IHG37:09 MarriottWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube: https://youtu.be/l40KPcrf4NM

Oct 12, 2022 • 51min
A Place of Belonging - Alexandra Cole - Episode # 075
Today’s guest is an industry innovator who uses her talented mind to create beautiful spaces. Alexandra Cole is the Principal and US Managing Director at DesignAgency. Alexandra is incredibly skilled at Interior design and running teams across many different timezones. She joins the host Dan Ryan to share her journey through hospitality and what it all means to her. Takeaways: After discovering that she has dyslexia, Alexandra looked forward to the creative arts in school and she found the arts to be a creative outlet.Hospitality is the feeling of welcoming, accepting, and coming together and sharing experiences with people. There are certain scenarios that exude hospitality like a nice warm farm and a comfortable couch and armchairs. These are part of the overarching feeling of having a space where you feel like you belong.The “instagramable moments” are a faux pa in the design world. You don’t make designs to be seen on Instagram, you make designs that are comfortable and make the guest feel warm and invited. It’s always a good idea to push the envelop of curiosity and try to increase your knowledge about your industry and the world around you.Coming out of COVID, there has been a lot of opportunities in the hospitality industry for branded spaces to really take off. People will get used to certain brands and staying at the same hotels because it provides them with a sense of familiarity and a feeling of welcomness. Quote of the Show:15:17 “It's really kind of about that feeling of welcoming and acceptance and the coming together of experiences and people.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-cole-15aab316/Website: https://www.thedesignagency.ca/ Shout Outs:1:18 Dune6:08 Vito Lotta6:09 Hilton23:49 Ennismore23:50 Hoxton24:03 David Collins24:38 The Connaught Bar25:00 Ritz-Carlton26:15 Aliya Khan36:36 ILC44:28 Bentley Residences Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube : https://youtu.be/BDAFehGxzxY


