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

Jan 16, 2025 • 12min
Turnaround Story: How We Drove Revenue & Profitability Through F&B - Anthony Torres
Anthony Torres, a top food and beverage leader in hospitality, shares his insights from driving revenue growth at the Grand Wailea. He emphasizes the importance of listening to both team members and guests to enhance offerings. Strategies for improving F&B experiences through teamwork and innovation take center stage. Torres also discusses the exciting James Beard Celebrity Chef Tour in Maui that connects renowned chefs with local culinary talent, enriching the community and elevating the dining landscape.

Jan 15, 2025 • 30min
Beyond OTA Savings: Why Direct Bookings Are Your Key to Understanding Guests - Chris Bowling, BWH Hotels
In this episode, Chris Bowling, Head of Digital and Consumer Marketing at BWH Hotels Great Britain, shares insights on the importance of direct bookings, the role of OTAs, and the impact of AI on the hospitality industry.Read Chris' newsletter, The Hotel Hype. 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

Jan 14, 2025 • 11min
How AI Helps Me Run More Profitable Hotels - Sean Murphy, The Bower
Exploring the transformative power of AI in the hospitality industry, Sean Murphy reveals how technology can optimize hotel operations and enhance guest experiences. He shares his journey from pool attendant to a Forbes 5-Star GM and discusses the importance of balancing tech innovations with a personal touch. The conversation also highlights the challenges of integrating technology into daily operations and the value of adaptability and experimentation in achieving profitability.

Jan 13, 2025 • 34min
From Pool Attendant to Achieving Forbes 5-Star Recognition - Sean Murphy, The Bower
In this episode, Sean Murphy, General Manager at The Bower, shares his inspiring career journey in hospitality, from his beginnings at Ritz-Carlton to leading an independent hotel to Forbes five-star recognition in Mexico. 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

Jan 12, 2025 • 14min
How Creative Wellness in Hospitality Is Elevating Guest Experience and Driving Revenue Now - Lou Zameryka
In this episode, Lou Zameryka, founder of Alively and partner at Ventures Hospitality, shares insights on integrating wellness into hospitality to drive guest loyalty, boost satisfaction, and unlock new revenue streams.Check out these other episodes with Lou:Unlocking Human Potential: The Power of "Healthspan" in Hospitality - Lou ZamerykaBuilding Booking.com: Lessons In Culture, Innovation, And Global Growth from Behind The Scenes - Lou Zameryka 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

Jan 12, 2025 • 33min
50 Days, 50 Concepts: Rethinking Experiential Hospitality with Generative AI - Dylan Barahona
In this episode, Dylan Barahona shares his journey from building Lego hotels as a child to creating immersive VIP experiences at high-profile events like Coachella and Gary Vaynerchuk's VeeCon. He discusses his recent 50-day experiential hospitality challenge, where he used generative AI to visualize bold hospitality concepts, and offers insights into why brands should invest in experiential environments.View Dylan's Experiential Hospitality Challenge on LinkedIn. 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

Jan 10, 2025 • 20min
Tech CEO-Turned-Hotel CEO Shares Tech Advice - Ben Rafter, Springboard Hospitality
In this episode, Ben Rafter, President and CEO of Springboard Hospitality, shares insights on how innovation and technology can empower hospitality providers and elevate the guest experience.We cover:Springboard's dedicated department for innovationThe importance of beta-testing technologyWhat frustrates Ben about technology companiesWhat it takes to successfully implement technologyEnhancing guest interactions with technologySupporting emotional intelligence in hospitalityWhy Ben loves behind-the-scenes technology for operationsIf you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy: What Happens When a Tech CEO Leads a Hotel Company - Ben Rafter, Springboard HospitalityChatGPT for Hotel Reviews: AI Lessons From Our 1 Hour, $20 Live Experiment - Josiah MackenzieHard Truths on Hotel Tech: Unfiltered Insider Advice - Josiah Mackenzie 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

Jan 9, 2025 • 16min
What Happens When a Tech CEO Leads a Hotel Company - Ben Rafter, Springboard Hospitality
In this episode, Ben Rafter, President and CEO of Springboard Hospitality, shares his career journey from the tech industry to hospitality and his innovative approach to blending technology, transparency, and a guest-first mindset to turn challenges into opportunities.We cover:(01:08) Ben's start in hospitality(04:09) Lessons from growing Aqua Hotels during the 2008 financial crisis(06:01) Data and reports Ben focuses on(08:16) Personal development and learning(10:19) What's on Ben's mind these days 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

19 snips
Jan 8, 2025 • 13min
What’s Really Happening in Hotels Now: A Conversation with Top Hotel Asset Manager Rachel Roginsky
In this episode, Rachel Roginski, Principal at Pinnacle Advisory Group, shares her take on our State of the Hotel Industry research.You may also enjoy:The State of the Hotel Industry: 5 Things To Know for 2025 - Josiah MackenzieBeyond Efficiency: How AI Can Help Hospitality Thrive in 2025 - Lou Zameryka 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

Jan 7, 2025 • 14min
Beyond Efficiency: How AI Can Help Hospitality Thrive in 2025 - Lou Zameryka
In this episode, Lou Zameryka shares his take on the State of the Hotel Industry research discussed yesterday.Article referenced: The AI Revolution in Hospitality: Transforming the Hotel Industry through Innovation and Employee EmpowermentYou may also enjoy this from Lou: Creative but Practical Uses for AI Today in Hotel Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Management (Takeaways From HSMAI's Latest Event) 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