
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

Aug 15, 2024 • 13min
Where The Real AI Revolution Is Happening Now in Hospitality - Stuart Greif, Forbes Travel Guide
In this episode, Stuart Greif, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Innovation, and Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares his perspective on the biggest opportunities for AI in hospitality.Listeners will learn:Why human connection and the "psychic kick" of serving others is still at the heart of hospitality (01:28)How AI can free up time and resources for hotel staff to focus more on engaging with guests by automating time-consuming administrative tasks (03:33)Examples of how AI is being used to improve productivity and the guest experience, such as summarizing key information for travel agents (05:33)The importance of identifying specific, repetitive tasks that can be automated with AI rather than trying to map the entire organization at once (08:03)How starting with a small number of tasks and iteratively improving AI solutions can lead to significant time savings (08:55) 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

Aug 14, 2024 • 8min
AI's Impact On Our Business - Ernest Lee, citizenM
In this episode, Ernest Lee, Chief Commercial Officer at citizenM, shares how he sees AI impacting hospitality (and his business) in the years ahead and then gets specific on some ways AI-powered technology is already making his teams more efficient and effective today.Listeners will learn:How AI is causing a major platform shift that could level the playing field for independent boutique hotels and small chains (00:51)How citizenM is using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to automate repetitive manual tasks, such as reconciling guest names with confirmation codes from OTA bookings (02:32)The importance of using data and business intelligence to gain an accurate, timely, and objective perspective on the impact delivered on a day-to-day basis (03:50)More from Ernest:How Robert De Niro in "Casino" Influenced My Career in HospitalityHow I Spend My Time (And What I Focus On) As A Hospitality Leader 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

Aug 14, 2024 • 7min
What Personalized Luxury Looks Like For Us Now - Robyn Pratt, The Phoenicia Malta
Robyn Pratt, the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, is a luxury hospitality expert renowned for her dedication to creating exceptional guest experiences. In this conversation, she reveals what personalized luxury means today, emphasizing the power of meaningful interactions and thoughtful gestures. Robyn explores how understanding guest needs shapes tailored experiences, and she discusses the integration of technology and staff training to enhance service. Her insights highlight the art of blending warmth with sophistication in the luxury hotel industry.

Aug 14, 2024 • 5min
How Forbes Service Energizers Focus Our Teams Each Morning - Robyn Pratt, The Phoenicia Malta
Robyn Pratt is the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, and in this episode, shares how her teams stay focused and motivated each day with Forbes Service Energizers. Enjoyed this? Listen to more episodes with Robyn here. 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

Aug 13, 2024 • 18min
Engage, Don't Just Satisfy: A Blueprint for the "Service-Profit Cycle of Success" in Hospitality - Robyn Pratt, The Phoenicia Malta
Robyn Pratt is the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, and in this episode, she shares the "service-profit cycle of success" and why you shouldn't just focus on employee happiness. Enjoyed this? Listen to more episodes with Robyn here. 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

Aug 12, 2024 • 7min
Do We Really Need To Do This in Hotels? - Robyn Pratt, The Phoenicia Malta
Robyn Pratt is the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, and in this episode, shares what she's learned about creating value for guests - and streamlining your own work.Enjoyed this? Listen to more episodes with Robyn here. 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

Aug 12, 2024 • 10min
Starwood's Secret: How We Slashed Wait Times Using Six Sigma - Robyn Pratt, The Phoenicia Malta
Robyn Pratt is the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, and in this episode, she shares the process she used to tackle hard problems in hospitality as Vice President of Operational Innovation at Starwood Hotels - an approach that you can use as well. Enjoyed this? Listen to more episodes with Robyn here. 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

Aug 12, 2024 • 11min
How "Spiraling" Helped Me Accelerate My Hospitality Career - Robyn Pratt, The Phoenicia Malta
Robyn Pratt is the General Manager of The Phoenicia Malta, and in this episode, shares what she's learned about learning and leadership in her career. 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

Aug 10, 2024 • 19min
Why We Treat Our Guests Like Friends - Fernando Calvo, Bohemia Suites Gran Canaria
This is part of my research series with Sojern on guest experience today. Download our special report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsIn this episode, Fernando Calvo, General Manager of Bohemia Suites Gran Canaria, shares insights into creating a luxurious and personalized guest experience that feels like staying with a friend. Listen now to learn about:Philosophy of Service - Learn about the philosophy of service that emphasizes making guests feel comfortable and at home.Team Management and Motivation - Discover how the management team encourages staff to feel like hosts and part of the company.Balancing Professional and Personal Growth - Understand the importance of balancing professional growth with personal life in the hospitality industry.Guest Personalization Techniques - Explore the methods used to gather guest preferences and tailor their stay accordingly.Building Long-term Relationships with Guests - Find out how the hotel builds lasting relationships with repeat guests and creates a community.Handling Feedback and Continuous Improvement - Learn about the importance of listening to guest feedback and continuously improving the service.Maintaining Quality Basics - Understand why maintaining quality basics is crucial before building additional guest experiences.Adapting to Different Types of Hotels and Guests - Gain insights into how the type of hotel and guest expectations influence the level of service provided. 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

Aug 9, 2024 • 24min
This Cowboy Crushed TripAdvisor (And Teaches Us How) - Russell True, White Stallion Ranch
This is part of my research series with Sojern on guest experience today. Download our special report here: Unlocking Revenue - How Hoteliers Build Profitable Guest RelationshipsIn this episode, Russell True, owner and operator of White Stallion Ranch, shares insights into the unique world of dude ranches and how he and his team deliver an exceptional hospitality experience that has earned the the #1 rating on TripAdvisor. 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