Hospitality Daily Podcast

In this special bonus episode, we share a recent Actabl webinar where Head of Editorial Sarah McCay Tams and Senior Vice President Lindsey Goedeker unpack the real story behind 2025 hotel performance. >> Access the slides with data from this presentation here << Drawing on data from thousands of U.S. properties, they reveal how operators protected profit despite a 15% revenue shortfall, and why agile labor management became the story of the year. Lindsey also shares what this means for 2026 planning, from grounding budgets in reality to building more responsive, data-driven operations.More:Slides from this presentation & access to Q3 update webinarHotelData.comLearn more about Actabl 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, Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group and the Kepler International Hospitality Academy, joins our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker to explore how hotels can design experiences that really meet guests' needs. Drawing from his background leading award-winning luxury properties such as The Beaumont in London, Jannes challenges the industry’s habit of thinking “solutions before problems.” He shares how re-centering on fundamental human needs—from rest and attention to connection and understanding—creates more meaningful, memorable stays.  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 conversation, Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group and the Kepler International Hospitality Academy, shares a contrarian view of hospitality in an age of abundance with our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker. Drawing on two decades leading some of the world’s finest hotels, Jannes shares why fulfillment for many often comes not from comfort, but from challenge, purpose, and intentional living.Together, they discuss how luxury hospitality can evolve beyond pampering and abundance to help guests sustain meaningful routines, pursue well-being, and reconnect with what really matters. For hospitality leaders, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at how difficulty may become the next true differentiator in a world where “more” is no longer enough. 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, Jannes Sörensen—founder of Kepler Hotel Group and the Kepler International Hospitality Academy, and former General Manager of London’s award-winning Beaumont Hotel—joins our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker to discuss what it really takes to lead consistent excellence in hospitality.Building on yesterday’s conversation about service, Jannes explains why structure, systems, and culture—not endless SOPs—are the foundations that allow great hotels to deliver truly remarkable guest experiences. He shares lessons from his time leading The Beaumont on balancing discipline with creativity, developing leadership at every level, and creating a culture where consistent excellence becomes second nature. 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, we're learning from Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group and the Kepler International Hospitality Academy, in a conversation hosted by our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker. After years leading some of the world’s best hotels, Jannes shares why differentiation and success in hospitality today comes not from design or amenities, but from the emotional experience we create for guests.He explains how hospitality education and leadership must evolve to drive competitive advantage in a world where service, empathy, and emotional intelligence matter. You’ll hear why luxury can no longer be defined by the size of a lobby or number of pillows, and how great hotels win by making people feel something. 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

What does it take to build a global career in travel and hospitality — one that spans brands at the top of our industry?In this conversation, our career correspondent, and hertelier founder Emily Goldfischer, sits down with Carolyn Turnbull, the CEO of Nammos Hotels & Resorts, whose journey has taken her from Aman to Tourism Western Australia and beyond. Carolyn shares what she’s learned about leadership, trust, and building culture through change — lessons gained from decades working alongside some of hospitality’s most visionary people.You’ll hear how she’s shaping Nammos’s global expansion, what it means to lead in the fast-growing ultra-luxury segment, and how relationships and focus have guided her every step of the way.Want more? Read on hertelier: From Country Girl to CEO: Carolyn Turnbull on Why Nammos Is Hospitality’s Next Big Luxury Brand 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

Eugene Leonard, General Manager of Hotel Café Royal, shares his journey in luxury hospitality, emphasizing a people-first leadership style. He discusses balancing the historic charm of the hotel with modern guest expectations, like sneaker cleaning. Arrival rituals create unforgettable first impressions, while empowering staff sparks innovation in service. Eugene values every role in enhancing guest experience and shares insights on attracting talent in London's competitive market. He believes in the power of small gestures, illustrating this with a delightful Maldives sand-crab race story.

Eugene Leonard, General Manager of Hotel Café Royal, brings his luxury hospitality expertise to the forefront alongside Danica Smith, founder of MorningStar GX. They dive into how technology is revolutionizing the guest experience, from unifying 90 disconnected systems into one seamless communication platform to leveraging AI tools for rapid decision-making. Eugene emphasizes personalization through intentional listening and insights gathered from guest profiles while maintaining the essential human touch in service. Their discussion offers a fresh perspective on balancing technology and authentic hospitality.

In this episode, you'll hear an excerpt of Josiah Mackenzie's conversation with Sloan Dean on the Not Done podcast, where he talks about the state of hospitality technology from his perspective as head of marketing at Actabl: what’s working, what’s not, and what leaders can do right now to drive change.They explore why tech adoption in hotels has often lagged, how poor rollouts can backfire, and what it takes to align innovation with the realities of operations and profitability. Josiah shares his personal motivation for working in hotel technology -- empowering the people who power hospitality -- and outlines where he sees opportunity today: in digitization, better processes, and technology that actually saves time and improves profit margins.Want more? Listen to Josiah's full conversation with Sloan on Not Done hereLearn more about Actabl here, and their Digital Night Audit technology here.More related episodes:The Magic Wand Question: Building Digital Night Audit (and Hotel Tech That Matters) - Brian Blanda & Stephen German, ActablMore conversations about hospitality technology with Actabl's teamMore conversations with Sloan Dean 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, Abigail Tan, CEO of St Giles Hotel Group, joins our correspondent and hertelier founder Emily Goldfisher to share the story behind Hotels with Heart, a program using hospitality to provide housing, training, and new opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. Started during the pandemic, the initiative has grown into a full-fledged Hospitality Academy that equips participants with skills, confidence, and pathways to employment. Abigail’s vision shows how hotels can go beyond business to become platforms for community and compassion.Also see:Offering Hope Through Hospitality: How We Worked with St. Giles Hotels to Create Opportunities for our Community - Greg Früchtenicht, Saira HospitalityHerstory: Abigail Tan on Leading St Giles and Building Hotels with Heart 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