Hospitality Daily Podcast

This is part of our series on SingleThread. Listen to episode 1 here.In this episode, Katina and Kyle Connaughton, founders, owners, and leaders of SingleThread, share their unique perspectives on hospitality, which have led to their recognition as one of the best in the business.The Power of Place: Katina discusses how Healdsburg shapes their work and the importance of human connections in their community. [01:32]Culinary Innovation: Kyle reflects on his experiences in Los Angeles, Japan, and the UK and how these shaped his approach to innovation in the culinary world. [03:03]The Role of Storytelling : Kyle explains how the narrative and storytelling aspects of dining have evolved and become integral to the guest experience. [04:35]The Connection Between Farming and Fine Dining: Katina and Kyle talk about the relationship between their farm and kitchen and how it influences their culinary creations. [08:09]The Evolution of Fine Dining: Kyle discusses the shift from luxury ingredients to a focus on authenticity, seasonality, and locality in fine dining. [11:12]Building the SingleThread Farm: Katina shares the origins of their farm, the influence of Japanese agricultural techniques, and the importance of community among farmers. [16:02]Daily Operations and Technology: The Connaughtons describe how they use technology to maintain a strong connection between the farm and the kitchen. [20:24]Guest Experience and Education: Kyle shares how they educate guests about the farm-to-table process and create a unique dining experience that tells the story of the day. [24:27] 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, Katina and Kyle Connaughton, founders, owners, and leaders of SingleThread, share their journey and insights that have shaped them into award-winning hospitality leaders. Listen now to learn about:Early Influences and Background (2:20) - Katina and Kyle discuss their early experiences with hospitality, including family influences and their time in Japan.The Role of Community and Subcultures (6:08) - They explore how the punk rock, skateboarding, and snowboarding scenes have influenced their approach to hospitality and community building.Challenges and Rewards of Moving to Japan (10:22) - The Connaughtons talk about their decision to move to Japan, the challenges they faced, and how they immersed themselves in the culture.Integrating into the Farming Community (15:55) - Katina shares her experience of integrating into the farming community in Japan and how it shaped her understanding of seasonality and food systems.The Concept of SingleThread (17:04) - They discuss the meaning behind the name SingleThread and how their diverse life experiences have come together to create a unique hospitality experience.Finding Purpose and Passion (21:00) - Katina reflects on how various life changes and intersections have led her to devote her energy to the land and create a meaningful food system. 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 special sponsored episode, Dax Cross, CEO of Revenue Analytics, shares insights into the evolution of revenue management in hospitality.[00:22] - Dax's background and the origins of Revenue Analytics.[03:21] - Overview of Revenue Analytics.[04:14] - The benefits of cross-pollination of ideas from different industries.[05:57] - The transition from a consulting company to a software as a service (SaaS) company.[07:35] - The size and scope of Revenue Analytics' business in hospitality.[09:01] - Trends in revenue management today.[11:20] - The shift towards "above-property" revenue management.[14:12] - The importance of thinking at a higher level for commercial strategy and how technology can enable this shift.[17:04] - Challenges in managing data and the importance of synthesizing information for better decision-making.[21:00] - Insights from enterprise companies that can be applied to midsize hotel groups.[25:06] - A case study of a midsize hotel group that successfully transitioned to a more automated revenue management system.[27:57] - The importance of building trust in technology and the role of transparency in system recommendations.[30:14] - Advice for overwhelmed revenue managers on how to move towards a more strategic approach.[32:29] - Resources and next steps for listeners interested in learning more.Resources:Learn more about N2Pricing RMSFree guide: Experience a day in the life with N2Pricing™ RMS See more resources from Revenue AnalyticsA 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, Kristie Goshow, Chief Commercial Officer at KSL Resorts, shares insights on the evolving role of the Chief Commercial Officer in the hospitality industry and how a holistic approach can drive innovation, revenue, and guest satisfaction. Listen now to learn about:The rise of the Chief Commercial Officer in hospitality - Understand the importance of a holistic view combining sales, marketing, and revenue.The power of partnerships and collaborations - Learn how collaborations with brands can enhance guest experiences and create new revenue streams.Innovative examples of brand partnerships - Discover real-world examples like the Wonka Room experience and Barbie suites that illustrate successful brand collaborations.Financial contributions and revenue opportunities from partnerships - Explore how hospitality brands can benefit financially from partnerships and sponsorships.Holistic business thinking in the role of Chief Commercial Officer - Gain insights into how a Chief Commercial Officer can create new demand and revenue streams.Utilizing technology to enhance guest experiences - Learn about the use of mobile technology and AI to engage guests and create meaningful experiences.Addressing societal issues like loneliness through hospitality - Understand how the hospitality industry can play a role in combating loneliness and promoting wellness.The definition of hospitality and its impact on guests, employees, and communities - Hear Kristie's perspective on what hospitality means and its significance for guests, employees, and the community.Making lives better through hospitality - Discover the internal motto "MLB - Make Lives Better" and how it drives the actions and attitudes of hospitality staff. 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, Ed Skapinok, Chief Commercial Officer at Appellation, shares insights on building a brand new technology infrastructure for a luxury hotel brand from scratch. Listen now to learn about:The importance of starting technology projects with the right questions.The benefits of having a blank slate to work with and how this approach can be applied to any organization.The staggering number of business functions and technology pieces in a typical luxury hotel and how Appellation reduced this complexity.The process of evaluating and selecting technology partners, including the importance of having a consultant with relevant industry experience.How Appellation's brand strategy of personalization informs their technology choices and guest experience.Integrating all inventory (rooms, dining, spa, experiences) into a single system to improve guest and employee interactions. The challenges and solutions in encouraging staff to use technology seamlessly to enhance guest experience.The potential for technology systems to make intuitive business decisions based on comprehensive customer data.The importance of building a strong technology foundation to leverage AI and machine learning effectively.If you liked this episode, you may enjoy:Culinary-Forward Luxury HospitalityTech, Talent & Strategy: What One of Hospitality's Hottest New Companies Is Doing Now to InnovateIs Success in Hospitality Really All About Operations?....or these other episodes on technology 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, Shelly Brown, an author, speaker, and former hotelier, shares insights on the importance of belonging in hospitality and how leaders can foster a culture of inclusion and safety.Introduction to the concept of belonging in hospitality - Understanding the fundamental need for belonging in hospitality and the importance of belonging for hospitality providers, teams, and guests.Details about Shelly Brown's event - Information about the Belonging Equation event on Monday, June 24th, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina (Click here to register)The Belonging Equation explained - The formula, and the significance of safety in terms of diverse elements like sexual orientation, skin color, abilities, and neurodiversity.The role of leaders in fostering belonging - How leaders can create an environment that supports belonging, and the impact of personal biases and judgments on fostering a sense of belonging.Practical advice for leaders and individuals - Encouragement to ditch the "should show" and align actions with personal and organizational values.Action items for you today 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, Dorothy Dowling, Managing Director of Horwath HTL, shares her insights on HITEC and the Commercial Strategy Conference coming up this week and discusses the importance of integrating marketing technology in the hospitality industry.Dorothy's perspective on the events - the importance of HSMAI as a community for professional growth, and the benefits of the overlap between HITEC and the Commercial Strategy Conference.Key themes and topics for 2024 - the commercial framework encompassing sales, marketing, distribution, and loyalty.Specific sessions and areas of interest - the importance of understanding FinTech and loyalty convergence, sessions on AI, search evolution, and sales discipline changes.Challenges and opportunities in thte sales space - The convergence of B2C and B2B expectations and the need to modernize legacy systems to meet new demands.Details on Dorothy's session at the event - an overview of the panel discussion on Tuesday discussing the HSMAI State of Talent Report 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, Dorothy Dowling, Managing Director of Horwath HTL, shares her insights on staying curious, continuous learning, and career development in the hospitality industry, including:The notion of a "curiosity quotient" and its importance Balancing day-to-day responsibilities with personal growthThe importance of networking and industry engagement Investing time in volunteer work and peer mentorshipMaking deliberate career decisions and avoiding future regretsIf you liked this, you might enjoy our other episode with Dorothy - My Journey Learning and Leading Global Hospitality Businesses - or our other career episodes. 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, Philip Bates, CEO of TMC Hospitality, shares his journey in creating purpose-built brands that cater to evolving traveler preferences and the importance of blending technology with a personal touch in hospitality.Formative Travel Experiences (01:07) - Philip recounts his first international trip to Prague and how it shaped his perspective on travel and hospitality.Defining Great Hospitality (03:29) - Insights into what makes hospitality exceptional, including a recent experience in Costa Rica.Career Transition to Hospitality (05:34) - Philip discusses his move from private equity and venture capital to the hospitality industry and the entrepreneurial spirit that drove this change.Understanding The Motivations of Investors (07:15) - The importance of understanding the motivations of investment capital and how it impacts business decisions in hospitality.TMC Hospitality's Vision (09:18) - An overview of TMC Hospitality and the evolving travel and hospitality landscape.Creating Drift and Bode Brands (14:42) - How TMC Hospitality's brands, Drift and Bode, are designed to meet modern traveler expectations with a focus on design, food, and personalized experiences.Balancing Technology and Personal Touch (31:07) - The role of technology in enhancing guest experiences while maintaining a personal touch in hospitality.Hiring for Hospitality (35:00) - The qualities TMC Hospitality looks for in their staff to ensure exceptional guest experiences. 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, Greg Cook, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, shares insights on empowering teams and delivering extraordinary service in luxury hospitality.Early Influences in Hospitality (01:40) - Greg discusses his early experiences that sparked his interest in hospitality, including his father's international travels and his first job as a bellman.Leadership and Team Management (04:06) - Learn about Greg's leadership style and the importance of creating a supportive and empowering environment for team members.The Importance of Lineups (06:05) - Greg explains the concept of daily lineups, their evolution, and their role in maintaining high standards and communication within the team.Creating Wow Stories (08:23) - Discover the significance of storytelling in hospitality and hear a recent example of a "Wow Story" that exemplifies Ritz-Carlton's culture.Building a Winning Culture (11:45) - Greg delves into the elements that contribute to a strong organizational culture, including the importance of hiring the right people and fostering a competitive spirit.Effective Training Methods (15:13) - Insights into the training processes at Ritz-Carlton, including the role of audits and the importance of follow-up to ensure lasting impact.Prioritization and Focus (19:58) - Greg shares his approach to prioritizing tasks and initiatives, emphasizing the importance of focusing on key areas that drive results.The Five F's of Leadership (22:42) - Learn about Greg's five F's framework for leadership: Fair, Firm, Friendly, Fun, and Forward Motion, and how they guide his management style.Activating the Hotel (27:36) - Explore the various initiatives Greg has implemented to activate the hotel, including culinary events, wellness programs, and entertainment.Community Engagement (35:07) - Understand the importance of community engagement and how The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island contributes to local causes and 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