Hospitality Daily Podcast

Steve Palmer, founder of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, dives into how transformational hospitality has shaped his life and business. He recalls profound advice from mentor Chris Goss that redefined his perspective on true hospitality versus mere service. Steve shares a heartwarming story from Montage Los Cabos, emphasizing the power of belonging in the hospitality community. He highlights his philosophy, 'To Serve is to Love,' and discusses the importance of genuine connections, regardless of technological advancements. Discover his vision for maintaining consistent hospitality across diverse concepts.

In this episode, Steve Palmer, founder and chief vision officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his inspiring journey to sobriety and how it has influenced his approach to developing a supportive culture within his company. What You'll Learn:Steve Palmer's Personal Journey to Sobriety (01:17) - his early struggles with addiction and the pivotal moment that led him to choose rehab over losing his job.Challenges of Sobriety in the Hospitality Industry (02:10) - the difficulties of maintaining sobriety in an industry where alcohol and drug use are prevalent and how he overcame these challenges.Impact of Sobriety on Career and Company Culture (03:24) - how Steve's sobriety journey led to the creation and success of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group and how it has shaped the company's culture.The Founding of Ben's Friends (05:00) - the story behind Ben's Friends, a support group for hospitality professionals struggling with addiction, and its growth into a nationwide initiative.The Importance of Mental Health Awareness (06:17) - the need for mental health awareness in the hospitality industry and shares how his company supports its employees' well-being.Learn more about Steve's book, Say Grace: How the Restaurant Industry Saved My Life. 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

Join Jen Worthington, co-founder of Play Social and a former film producer turned hospitality innovator, as she shares her exciting transition to the hospitality world. Discover the challenges of opening the Coyote Ugly bar and how it prepared her for success in Vegas. Jen emphasizes the importance of playful experiences at the Luxor, especially post-COVID, fostering community and connection. Learn about the innovative designs of Play Playground and their plans for expansion, making laughter and high-fives the new measure of success.

In this episode, Kate Gagliardi, Complex Executive Chef for the Asbury Collection, shares her unique journey from finance to culinary leadership and offers insights on what it takes to create a positive work environment.You'll learn about:Kate's Career Journey (00:42) - Hear about Kate's transition from finance to becoming an executive chef.Creating a Positive Work Culture (01:03) - Learn how Kate encourages her teams to be creative, bold, and take care of themselves.Differences Between Restaurant and Hotel Culinary Operations (03:19) - Discover the unique challenges and exciting aspects of running a culinary operation in a hotel setting.Work Culture in Kitchens (04:07) - Gain insights into the demanding work culture in kitchens and how it can be improved.Influential Mentors and Leadership Styles (05:18) - Learn about the mentors who shaped Kate's leadership style and her approach to managing her team.Menu Development and Team Collaboration (07:35) - Understand how Kate collaborates with her team on menu development and encourages creativity.Staffing Challenges in Hospitality (15:37) - Explore the staffing challenges in the hospitality industry, especially post-pandemic, and how to address them.Misconceptions About the Culinary Industry (17:18) - Correct common misconceptions about working in the culinary industry and highlight its rewarding aspects. 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, Josiah Mackenzie shares his thoughts and reflections on the 2024 NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, covering:The Importance of Capital in Hospitality (0:43) - why staying close to the world of owners and investors is crucial for operational success.Current State of the Lodging Economy (1:15) - an overview of the U.S. lodging and travel economy, including STR's downgraded outlook and the split impact on different chain scales.Geopolitical Risks and Recession Fears (2:07) - top concerns for CEOs and leaders in the industry, based on Ernst & Young's market research.Operational Innovation from Smaller Margins (3:01) - how pressure from owners and investors can lead to reimagining business and operating models.The Role of Technology and Gen AI (4:06) - how new technologies like Gen AI can help rethink operational models and improve margins.Expanding Hospitality Beyond Hotels (4:48) -  the potential of applying hospitality principles to other types of real estate and mixed-use developments.Building a Strong Customer Base (5:10) - the importance of providing a differentiated experience and cultivating loyal customers, supported by technology and first-party data.Opportunities in Group Business (6:13) - the emerging demand for group business, especially among small and medium enterprises, and how to cater to this segment. AI in Hospitality (8:09) - the various applications of AI in hospitality, from revenue management to personalized training, and the realistic expectations of its impact.Personal Performance Evaluation Using AI (11:10) - how AI can be used as a tool for personal and professional development, acting as a coach or advisor to improve effectiveness.Resources:How Hotel Brands Are Using First-Party Data to Drive Revenue & Build Stronger Relationships (Research from Sojern)How We Build Strong Brands - Chris Silcock, Hilton 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 joined by Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean, who shares what he sees as the danger of private equity in the hospitality business today.You'll learn about:The Role of Private Equity (PE) in Hospitality: Understand the dynamics of PE ownership in hospitality operating platforms and why it often leads to overvaluation - and undervaluation - in critical areas.Challenges of Scaling: Discover why scaling beyond a certain number of hotels can lead to diminishing returns and how the relationship-oriented nature of the business complicates large-scale operations.Public vs. Private Valuation: Learn about the pitfalls of attempting to arbitrage between private and public valuations, and why the dream of going public often remains unfulfilled.Impact of High Interest Rates: Explore how high interest rates and leveraged buyouts are affecting operating platforms, leading to cost-cutting measures that can degrade service quality.The Importance of "Smart Growth": Hear why organic, steady growth is more sustainable than rapid expansion, and how PE's aggressive strategies have led to value destruction in many cases. 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 joined by Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean, who shares his experience and insights on what it takes to successfully transition into managing a new hotel, and ensure both the staff and the property thrive under new leadership.Listen now to learn about:The Importance of Associates: Discover why the associates are the first priority in any hotel takeover and how to manage their fears and expectations during the transition.Effective Communication: Learn about the significance of town halls, rallies, and direct communication from leadership to calm fears and build excitement among the teams.Leadership Selection: Understand the process of evaluating and selecting the right general manager who aligns with the needs of both your organization and the owner.Iterative Training Approach: Hear about Remington's unique approach to training and integrating new team members.Recruitment Strategies: Gain insights into how being a high-energy, pro-associate employer helps in recruiting the best talent in the industry.If you liked this episode, you may like this other one with Sloan: Being The "Chief Recruiting Officer" 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, Sarah Gulla and Justin Epps from the Hospitality Asset Managers Association join us to discuss into the role of hotel asset managers in the hospitality ecosystem - and the results of a recent industry outlook survey they conducted.What You'll Learn:Role of Hotel Asset Managers: Understand the pivotal role hotel asset managers play in influencing behaviors, managing managers, and setting strategic directions for hotel investments.Hospitality Asset Managers Association: Discover the Hospitality Asset Managers Association's mission and activities, including its membership criteria, educational resources, and networking opportunities.Industry Outlook: Get insights from the association's latest industry outlook report, including current trends, economic conditions, and performance metrics within the hospitality sector.Challenges and Solutions: Learn about the challenges hotel asset managers face, such as rising expenses and labor costs, and explore potential solutions including technology adoption and best practices sharing.Networking and Collaboration: Hear about the importance of networking and collaboration within the industry to share best practices and find innovative solutions to common problems. 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 joined by Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean, who shares his observations on trends in the market today. You'll learn about:What's Happening in Hospitality Today: Understand the current state of the hospitality market, including domestic and international travel trends.Consumer Behavior: Learn how the pandemic has fundamentally changed consumer behavior, drawing parallels to the Great Depression's impact on spending habits.Group and Business Travel: Discover why group demand is outperforming and how business transient travel is recovering.Labor Market: Get insights into the labor market, including wage growth trends and the impact of automation on hospitality jobs.Future Outlook: Hear Sloan's outlook for the industry, including the potential for AI and automation to improve productivity. 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, Sloan Dean, CEO of Remington Hospitality, joins us to share his insights on staying energized and motivated as a leader. Sloan discusses the importance of self-care and how it impacts leadership effectiveness in hospitality.Listen now to learn about:Self-Care for Leaders: Learn why you can't give what you don't have and how taking care of yourself is crucial for taking care of your team and guests.Personality Insights: Discover how Sloan's ENTJ personality type and being a double extrovert help him thrive in his role.Balancing Personal and Professional Life: Hear about Sloan's personal life setup, including shared custody of his kids and a supportive spouse, which allows him to manage his demanding job.Healthspan Focus: Understand the concept of healthspan and how Sloan incorporates practices like sleep tracking, regular workouts, and contrast therapy to maintain his energy levels.Stress Management: Gain insights into how Sloan manages stress by being internally driven and not comparing himself to others.Criticism and Feedback: Learn why it's important to consider the source of criticism and focus on being better than you were yesterday.Whether you're a CEO or a bellman, this episode offers valuable lessons on self-care, leadership, and personal growth.  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