Hospitality Daily Podcast

In this episode, Sarah Dinger, Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, shares how they build strong, profitable relationships with hotel owners. Learn how Sarah and her team engage owners strategically, using technology to drive bottom-line results and deliver value for all stakeholders.Also see:How Sarah Dinger Helped Build My Place Hotels As Employee #1How We Built an Extended-Stay Hotel Empire from the Ground Up (Ryan Rivett, My Place Hotels) A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Sarah McCay Tams, Head of Editorial at Actabl, joins Josiah Mackenzie to discuss the launch of HotelData.com and insights from their new 2025-2026 budgeting guide. The conversation explores how hotels are managing a gap between budgeted and actual RevPAR performance, while maintaining ADR discipline and successfully hitting gross operating profit targets through strategic cost management. Sarah also shares her journey from radio journalism to hospitality media and explains how data storytelling connects to the human side of hospitality operations.Resources:Learn more about hotel labor managementLearn more about Actabl's products, ProfitSword and Hotel Effectiveness A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Sarah Dinger, Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels, shares her expertise on leveraging training and development to enhance guest experience and loyalty. She discusses how comprehensive training programs, like My Place University, are pivotal in empowering staff and promoting cross-functional skill growth. The conversation also covers innovative strategies for employee retention and leadership engagement, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in achieving long-term success in the hospitality industry.

Sarah Dinger shares insights on how empowering frontline associates transforms operational culture in hospitality. She discusses the vital role of teamwork and strong relationships with hotel owners in building a successful brand. The conversation highlights the connection between operational excellence and guest experiences, showcasing that true brand development prioritizes employee engagement over traditional marketing tactics. This approach has fueled the rapid growth of My Place Hotels.

Sarah Dinger, the Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations at My Place Hotels and its first employee, shares insights on her journey building the brand from scratch. She reveals the crucial early decisions that established a human-centered hospitality approach. Dinger discusses the challenges and excitement of growing a new company and emphasizes the importance of personal connections in creating memorable guest experiences. Her stories highlight how genuine care and attention to detail can transform hospitality into meaningful relationships.

Chris Kluis, VP of Product Operations & Data at Actabl, shares insights from his family's inspiring legacy in AI. He emphasizes why experimentation is crucial for leveraging AI in hospitality. Chris discusses practical AI applications, from enhancing advertising to digitizing workflows. He encourages hoteliers to treat AI like a new employee for maximum impact. The conversation also touches on effective prompting for AI and the balance between technology and human oversight, shaping a dynamic future for the industry.

Ryan Bukstein, Founder of SMPL and mentee of Ace Hotel's Alex Calderwood, discusses the crucial impact of mentorship in personal and professional growth. He emphasizes vulnerability and the importance of being present over having all the answers. The conversation highlights active learning in the hospitality industry and the need for sharing knowledge, especially in today's evolving work environments. Ryan also suggests practical ways to foster mentorship within communities, making it more vital than ever for the younger generation.

Ryan Bukstein, with a rich history at Ace Hotel and currently leading SMPL, discusses the art of building brand equity through curiosity and collaboration. He shares how Ace Hotel challenged conventions, creating cultural connections through innovative partnerships like Converse. Bukstein also reveals how Vacation transformed sunscreen into a nostalgic brand experience. This engaging conversation highlights the power of personal connections, experimentation, and authenticity in driving brand success and community involvement.

Ryan Bukstein, former intern and VP of brand at Ace Hotel, reveals the brand's punk-inspired beginnings that shaped its unique hospitality approach. He shares how the creative spirit of Seattle influenced Ace's vibrant community hubs and mentorship culture. Bukstein discusses unconventional marketing strategies that broke industry norms, enabling deep connections with locals and fostering collaboration. His journey from intern to leader illustrates the power of community in hospitality and how genuine innovation can transform an entire industry.

Lennert de Jong, CEO of citizenM, dives into the hotel chain's innovative subscription program, inspired by models from Netflix and Amazon Prime. He reveals how this idea emerged during the pandemic to tackle occupancy challenges, leading to over 50,000 subscribers. Lennert highlights a shift from traditional rewards to genuine customer relationships, discussing the importance of addressing customer pain points. Through the MyCitizenM+ initiative, he showcases how reimagined loyalty can foster deeper engagement and loyalty in the hospitality landscape.