

Hospitality Daily Podcast
Josiah Mackenzie
Stay informed and inspired to delight people and grow your business with daily conversations with interesting people doing interesting things. Hosted by Josiah Mackenzie.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 3, 2025 • 11min
Better Together: How We Aligned Hotel Operations, Staffing & Financial Performance with Actabl - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts [Sponsor Bonus]
In this bonus episode, Steven Marais, Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, shares his experience working with Actabl's suite of products: Alice: Software for Operations, Housekeeping, Guest Messaging & MoreProfitSword: BI for Data-Driven Hotel ManagementHotel Effectiveness: Labor Management & Staffing SchedulingTranscendent: Hotel Asset Management SoftwareSee more episodes with Steven: Why I Stayed: How Growth, Culture, and Opportunity Kept Me in HospitalityExecution is Everything: Turning Hospitality Ideas into Exceptional Guest ExperiencesCreating Careers, Not Just Jobs: How to Recruit, Retain, and Inspire Great Hospitality TalentHotel Tech Integration: Why It's Still Broken (And How You Can Fix It) 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

Apr 3, 2025 • 12min
Hotel Tech Integration: Why It's Still Broken (And How You Can Fix It) - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts
In this episode, Steven Marais, Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, shares insights on simplifying hotel tech stacks, the challenges of integrations, and the journey towards a more unified, cloud-based technology foundation.We cover:(00:56) Steven's role and responsibilities (02:08) The importance of interfacing in hospitality tech(03:52) Challenges with legacy systems and new tech(05:01) Preparing for a future with more AI(05:56) Standardizing the tech stack across properties(07:33) Building partnerships with tech companies(08:58) Evaluating and choosing the best tech partners 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

Apr 2, 2025 • 11min
Creating Careers, Not Just Jobs: How to Recruit, Retain, and Inspire Great Hospitality Talent - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts
In this episode, Steven Marais, Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, shares insights on challenges and strategies for recruiting and retaining talent in the hospitality industry, including the importance of creating career paths and a fun work environment. 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

Apr 1, 2025 • 8min
Execution is Everything: Turning Hospitality Ideas into Exceptional Guest Experiences - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts
In this episode, Steven Marais, Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, shares the most valuable lesson he's learned in his career: that execution is everything. He discusses the importance of follow-through in hospitality, the role of training and preparation, and how to handle high-pressure events. 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

Mar 31, 2025 • 10min
Why I Stayed: How Growth, Culture, and Opportunity Kept Me in Hospitality - Steven Marais, Noble House Hotels & Resorts
In this episode, Steven Marais, Vice President of Rooms at Noble House Hotels & Resorts, shares his journey from bellman to VP, the importance of culture and opportunity in career growth, and insights into leading through change in the hospitality industry.(00:00) Introduction (00:32) Steven's career journey from Bellman to VP(01:47) How Steven got started in hospitality(02:33) Career opportunities in the hospitality industry(03:09) Steven's current role as VP of Rooms(04:04) The intersection of technology and hospitality(04:28) The power of longevity in building a career(05:09) Transition from Kimpton to Noble House(06:40) Importance of culture and team strength 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

Mar 30, 2025 • 31min
What Hospitality Leaders Stopped Talking About (And Why It Matters Now) - Anna Blue
In this episode, Anna Blue shares insights on the current state of the hospitality industry, including DEI, women's empowerment programs, and practical steps leaders can take to drive positive change.We cover:(01:16) Current chaos and volatility in the industry(02:07) Industry's silence and its impact(03:11) Importance of transparency (05:06) DEI discussions behind closed doors(07:08) Disconnect between C-suite and staff(08:25) Effectiveness of DEI programs(09:09) Programs for women in hospitality(10:56) Shaping the narrative as a leader(13:01) Learning and development for all employees(15:44) Creating real opportunities for underrepresented groups(17:22) Immigration(23:53) Opportunities for hourly wage workers(24:49) Personal story: Anna's son See our previous conversation: Supporting A Stronger Hotel Workforce 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

Mar 29, 2025 • 24min
White Lotus and the End of Surface-Level Hospitality - Samantha Hardcastle
In this episode, Samantha Hardcastle, Founder & Creative Director at The Storied Experience, shares lessons every hospitality provider can learn from White Lotus.Also see:Official White Lotus Podcast on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyStory-Driven Hospitality - Samantha HardcastleThese Slovenian River Guides Showed Me "Experience" Doesn't Have to Cost Anything - Samantha HardcastleThe Two Chemicals Behind The Best Hospitality Experiences - Samantha Hardcastle 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

Mar 28, 2025 • 32min
How to 'Disneyfy' Your Hospitality Business to Delight Guests and Drive Revenue - Vance Morris
In this episode, Vance Morris, a former Disney leader and founder of Deliver Service Now, shares how hospitality businesses can create extraordinary guest experiences—and significantly increase revenue—by implementing the proven systems behind Disney’s magic. 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

Mar 27, 2025 • 11min
Behind the Scenes of SCP Hotels' Sustainability Strategy - Kathy Sue McGuire
In this episode, Kathy Sue McGuire, President and CEO of Sustainable Hospitality Solutions, shares how sustainability initiatives can create cost savings, engage teams, and drive revenue growth through a story of her work with Soul Community Planet Hotels.Also check out: Soul Community Planet: Creating a Healthier, Happier Future for Hospitality - Pam & Ken Cruse, SCP HotelsSustainability That Pays: How One Hotel Saved Tens of Thousands on Trash Bags - Kathy Sue McGuire 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

Mar 26, 2025 • 31min
Sustainability That Pays: How One Hotel Saved Tens of Thousands on Trash Bags - Kathy Sue McGuire
In this episode, Kathy Sue McGuire, President and CEO of Sustainable Hospitality Solutions, shares insights on how sustainability can be a smart business strategy for hotels, helping them cut costs, grow revenue, and engage their teams.(00:00) Introduction to Kathy Sue McGuire(01:18) Kathy's journey into sustainability(03:21) Current challenges in the hotel industry(04:31) Case study: Saving on trash bags(05:44) Case study: Switching to toiletries dispensers(07:10) Kathy's early experiences with sustainability(10:17) Sustainability as good business practice(13:25) Case study: Reducing plastic disposables(14:55) Increasing revenue through sustainability(17:30) Employee engagement through sustainability(21:07) Getting started with sustainability in hotels(24:03) Creating a green team and assessment(26:15) Green Key certification processMore mentions:American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA)Green Key Global ProgramSustainable Hospitality SolutionsSustainable Hospitality Training 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