Today’s guest uses the spaces he creates to tell a story, all while re-imagining the visual landscape through stylish, spirited and sophisticated design. Currently, he is working on a diverse array of residential and commercial projects, including high profile hotels, restaurants, and retail. Please welcome to the show, Dan Mazzarini! Dan is the Owner and Creative Director at BHDM Design. He joins the host Dan Ryan to share his views on the hospitality industry and what it means to him. Takeaways: Hospitality boils down to two key components; Anticipating the guests needs and exceeding their expectations. Without these being in place then it is not true hospitality you are delivering.The longer that Dan has spent in the design field, the more he has realized that it is more of a service field. It’s all about the end user and the notion of trying to meet their needs while going above and beyond what they expect. While working at Ralph Lauren, Dan spent time helping people with their apartments on the weekends. During this time he discovered that not only does he like retail, but he was also enjoying the relationships with personal clients. One thing that holds people back from following their dreams is their fear. But if you think about the worst case scenario for starting your own business, it’s worth the risk to try and venture out on your own.Don’t be afraid to ask for the better option or to underscore the importance or value of something that is authentic. This will help set you apart from the rest of the designers as no two people will have the same idea of authentic design.It’s important to evolve your business as time goes on. Don’t be afraid to take a chance and work on a project that is unfamiliar to you as it can help you grow in a tremendous way.Designers for hospitality are in the business of building spaces for people to come together and experience the physical environments around them.Quote of the Show:3:19 “I think [hospitality] is really about two small things. One is anticipating needs and the second is exceeding expectations.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-mazzarini-95553117/ Website: https://www.bhdmdesign.com/ archivebydm.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/danmazzarini/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/archivebydanmazzarini/?next=%2FShout Outs:1:21 The Virgin hotel1:22 Ritz Carlton1:34 Eventi Hotel5:51 Ralph Lauren6:32 Kramer Design6:35 Robin Kramer6:35 Philip Rosenswag7:30 Michael Kors7:47 Macy’s7:48 Bloomingdale’s10:05 Jennifer Lopez10:06 Water Work Studio10:10 Movado Watches10:12 Shiseido Cosmetics13:20 Trading Spaces13:24 HGTV13:47 The Lion15:43 Lord’s South Beach20:43 Brimfield Flea Market23:14 Wheel of Fortune42:19 the Brian Paul HotelWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 YouTube : https://youtu.be/QOwxtAmhkxs

Today’s guest is a valued member of the hospitality community with over 30 years of experience. She consistently composes and collaborates with world-class teams of architects and designers to execute unique and innovative hotel concepts. Please welcome to the show, Christina Zimmer. Christina is the Senior Vice President of Design at Highgate Hotels, and she joins the host Dan Ryan to share her views on hospitality and how it interacts with the world around us.Takeaways: According to the original definition from Webster’s dictionary, hospitality has always been about the experiences that you can give guests rather than the actual location or the food you provide them with.Every now and then, it’s nice to get outside of your own environment and try working on different kinds of projects. It’s like a breath of fresh air and helps you to gain a new perspective on future projects you will have.Culture plays an important role in hospitality. When you go to a unique place or another country, you can immerse yourself in the culture and really experience the place you are at.The most fond memory that Christina has of her trip to Europe was her visit to the Louisiana Museum in Denmark. She holds this memory close to her because she went to that museum with her mother.We all stand on the shoulders of those who have helped us reach our goals and be where we are today. It’s important to acknowledge this and respect those around you and be a positive leader yourself.There is a certain sensibility to Danish design that permeates the entire Danish society, and this helped to lead Christina to discover her passion at an early age.An interesting challenge facing hospitality now is how can you make furniture and design more sustainable for a modern age, while also being comfortable and welcoming.Quote of the Show:2:06 “It's not about just giving you a place to sleep and some food to eat. It's about much more than that. The original definition did come from the experiences that you would give to a guest. So it's much deeper than just meeting the basic needs.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-zimmer-4b17ba11/ Website: https://www.highgate.com/ Shout Outs:7:17 Stonehill Taylor14:17 Guggenheim22:05 Turner22:58 Louisiana Museum in Denmark27:16 Paul Taylor34:39 Refinery Hotel in New York39:19 Tales of the City by 40:46 Waiting for Guffman41:35 Park Central San Francisco41:38 Hyatt42:28 Berman Faulk46:55 Kimpton47:05 MC Escher52:41 Hilton 52:41 MarriottWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/Lh76kNqYXh0

Today’s guest is a 2022 Inductee into Interior Design Hall Of Fame,and he approaches design with 5 key elements; sustainability, technology, the client, timelessness and innovation. He pushes beyond the familiar to create buildings and interiors that are distinctive, imaginative and site specific. Please welcome to the show, Gray Davis! Gray is the Co-Owner & Co-Founder of Meyer Davis, Designer. Gray joins the host Dan Ryan to share his inspirations from the hospitality world and how he journeyed his way through this beautiful industry.Takeaways: Hospitality is all about the experiences for the guest. It allows the owner or operator of the hotel to be a storyteller and provide the guest with a unique experience that they won’t be able to receive elsewhere.When you are designing a hotel, you want to make sure that it is a welcoming environment to the guest, and the best way to do this is by being a good listener. Think about the goals the brand or the client wants to achieve and use it as a guide. Typically, design firms are focused on one area but you can learn from every project you work on. This prevents people from being pigeonholed and allows a designer to see all the perspectives on different projects. If Gray could go back and see his younger self, the biggest piece of advice he would offer is to follow your passion. Through all the struggles that he faced, he wouldn’t change anything for the outcome he got.At the end of the day, the design for a hotel should be something that puts a smile on someone’s face  or shines a light on something that they never knew or thought before. A great idea can come from anywhere and anyone on the team. It doesn’t matter what role they play, whoever has the best idea is the one that you should run with.Quote of the Show:3:24 “There's nothing more rewarding than completing a project, a hotel or resort, somewhere and then seeing how people experience it and react to it.”Links:Website: https://www.meyerdavis.com/ Hoist fixtures: https://rbw.com/collections/hoist Shout Outs:1:21 Will Meyer1:26 Cindy Allen1:27 Interior Design Magazine7:41 Dream Hotel in Nashville9:34 W Hotels10:25 Marriott15:18 Randy Gerber 15:20 Cindy Crawford21:11 Rich, Brilliant and Willing28:53 Stacy Shoemaker28:59 Nick Jones29:01 SoHo House33:56 David Brawley34:40 John Saladino35:03 Four Seasons35:43 Guacame Siegel35:50 Aero35:50 Bill Sofield35:51 Thomas O’Brien36:34 Raul’s in SoHo41:53 Red Sea Development CompanyWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 YouTube : https://youtu.be/0XKTOcJCBfc

Today’s guest is an entrepreneur and opportunist at heart. With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he has discovered his favorite part is “wowing” his clients. Please welcome to the show, Scott Lee! Scott is the President and Principal at SB Architects. Scott joins the host Dan Ryan to share his experiences from working on the architecture of a prison to where he is now.  Takeaways: Hospitality at its core is about truly experiencing the place you are staying at. Whether it’s going away on vacation or visiting a familiar place, a great hospitality experience is defined by coming home and sharing stories of what you experienced while away.When you are looking to add people to your design firm, you want to strike the balance of getting like minded individuals as well as getting people that will help push the envelope in a positive way. Hiring people that are a cultural fit for your firm is a key component of doing interviews. If they aren’t a cultural fit, then don’t waste time looking at their drawings or design ideas as it will never work out right.One way to keep employees motivated and committed to your company is to sell them a piece of the company. This way they behave like owners and take more responsibility and they will feel a sense of ownership and pride as the company grows.New ideas can come from anybody at a company. There is no such thing as bad ideas so it’s a good idea to make your company feel like it’s an open environment where everyone is allowed to speak up and share ideas.Some people consider luxury to be crown moldings or marble on marble or other extravagant trappings, but there is more of a shift over to focusing on the quality of the luxury you are receiving rather than the quantity of it.Scott’s biggest advice to his younger self is to take risks and don’t be afraid to try something new. If you are waiting for that perfect time it might never come and life will pass you by, so jump in and take a chance.  Quote of the Show:2:22 “I think hospitality is going to a place and experiencing the place.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-a-lee/ Website: https://sb-architects.com/ Shout Outs: 0:51 David Kennedy3:31 Hill Glazier Architects6:45 Rivana at Innovation Station7:00 Michael Hsu16:05 Don Sandy16:12 Sandy Babcock16:17 Ritz-Carlton25:59 Farmhouse Inn Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/WDYRN7OF03o

Today’s guest is a hotel project management expert with extensive experience leading the development, renovation, and repositioning of upscale hospitality assets. Please welcome to the show, Ethan Gabany! Ethan is the Senior Manager of Hospitality Project Management at CBRE. Ethan joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey from pumping gas in a small rural town in Pennsylvania to where he is now.  Takeaways: Hospitality is all about meeting a guest's needs before they even realize that they have them. You want to be able to deliver a product or a service in that way with compassion and empathy. The first time you work with a client, you have to learn what makes them tick and the things that they enjoy and what they don’t like. This way when it is your second or third time working with them you’ll know exactly what they are looking for in a project. As a manager, it's your job to cut through the noise and distill it to the essence of what is nice to have and what is a must have while also having everyone feel comfortable enough to share their voice and be heard. When people go out to eat at a conference, they are now looking for restaurants that are designed with a unique aspect and are drifting away from the commercialized aspect that used to be popular. From a young age, Ethan was always the planner for the family vacations. He viewed vacations as escape from reality and when he and his family went on a trip to Philadelphia, a chance encounter with a cook helped him to find his passion. Ethan’s first job at 12 years was pumping gas for the gas station his dad had in a small town in Pennsylvania. Ethan found that he had an innate passion for human connection while doing this which eventually led to his career in hospitality.Ethan has a passion for the more upscale projects as they tend to allow more creative freedom with their designers.  Quote of the Show:1:38  “I would define hospitality as meeting a guest's needs before they have even realized them themselves with compassion and empathy”. Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/egabany/ Website: https://www.cbre.com/  Shout Outs:10:55 Liam Neeson12:23 Ritz Carlton Philadelphia14:44 Cornell University14:47 Babson College 15:44 Omni Resort15:49 Rosewood18:39 Retina McCarthy18:53 Stephanie Robinson18:54 Brad Wellstead19:34 Ron Harrison19:35 Marriott20:18 Bill Walsh20:19 Viceroy Hotel Group22:34 ALIS Conference25:34 Bob Webster31:25 Meyer Davis32:45 Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be by Frank Burni32:51 New York Times35:51 Fairfield by Marriott38:59 Bonvoy43:25 Bennett Thomas43:40 Hersha Hospitality TrustWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/U1Z6_cVvtxU

Today’s guest is committed to elevating communities and creating wealth through hospitality ownership and leadership. She is a recent recipient of the FIU Alumni Award, and a hospitality sharpshooter. Please welcome to the show, Ashli Johnson! Ashli is the ​​Executive Director of the Marriott Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at Howard University. Ashli joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about how Howard University is shaking up the hospitality industry and working on getting more diversity in the c-suite level in hospitality. Takeaways: Hospitality can be viewed through two different parts that combine to make up the whole picture. The first part is the business of service and the second part is the heart and delivery of service. At Howard University, hospitality isn’t a major but the Marriott Sorenson Center allows students to explore what it takes to be a leader in the hospitality industry and create more diversity in the c-suite level of this industry.The three main areas that Howard University wants to focus on is that they want their students to learn, understand and impact the hospitality, investment, real estate, and tech and innovation industries. As a society, we have to recognize our own personal bias and really focus on the talent that is fit to lead. We need to stop looking at who we are connected with and rather focus on the merits and what people bring to the table.When you are working for an organization, there is a layer of sponsorship that helps you to become aware of positions that are opening up in the company. Having someone work on your behalf to talk about you positively is always a good thing to have.Having someone be your sponsor doesn’t have to be a formal position. It can be something as simple as offering some help to a younger person who is looking to grow within the company.Growing up with a father who was a Marine Corps Officer, Ashli traveled often and found her passion for hospitality when she was the one in charge of deciding which hotels they would stay at on road trips, or places they would eat, or houses they would move to. Quote of the Show:2:05 Hospitality to me is two parts. Hospitality is most certainly the business of service and it's also the heart and the delivery of service.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsashlijohnson/ Website: https://howard.edu/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsashlijohnson/?hl=en  Shout Outs:1:11 Damon Lawrence 1:13 Homage Hospitality1:38 Arne Sorenson8:26 Independent Lodging Conference26:15 Lowe’s29:20 Ray BennettWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/VkdBkKhSsWQ

Today’s guest is a leader and motivator who champions involvement. He is an innovative problem solver and has a progressive record of achievements with significant experience in global business strategy. Daniel del Olmo is the President of Hotels and Restaurants at Sage Hospitality Group. Daniel joins the host Dan Ryan to share his views on the hospitality industry and talks about how enriching lives can lead to a better experience for everyone. Takeaways: The true purpose of hospitality is to enrich the lives of the guests, associates and the communities that you serve. You want to have a positive impact on the people who are coming into your restaurant or your hotel, and without having that impact then hospitality truly can’t be reached.There’s no way to get a better sense of how your culture is thriving within your company than spending time with your team. Take the time to sit down and hear what members of your team are saying and see what you can do to help them.There is a misconception that you need to have worked in operations or previously worked as a general manager at a hotel to be promoted to being a general manager. You could be in almost any position to be promoted to a general manager as long as you show the skills and determination to do the job right.Many people have heard of having a work/life balance, but there is also work/life presence. This is a newer mindset where instead of focusing on how many hours someone works, you focus on what they do in those hours and what work they get done.Providing competitive benefits and having a positive reputation with your employees is a great way to attract more people to work with you, and it will help you retain employees as well.There is a tangible energy with a company that is creating a positive culture and that energy will bring the right people to your company. As a leader, it’s important to have each member of your team contribute to the greater good and have everyone on the same page to achieve the same company goal. You want people to feel like they belong to something so special in the making. Quote of the Show:1:41 “Hospitality then for me is really about enriching lives.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldelolmo/ Website: https://www.sagehospitalitygroup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsquare32/?hl=en Shout Outs:0:32 Independent Lodging Congress0:48 The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS)23:10 Danny Meyer32:02 Small Giants by Bo Burlingham45:02 Fred Reichheld46:22 Net Promoter Score47:14 Winning on Purpose by Fred Reichheld Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/eVmE78VGboc

Today’s guest found his passion for hospitality at a young age. He is a results driven global hospitality executive with extensive operational and development experience, as well as being a passionate, driven leader with a no-nonsense approach. Keith Pierce is the EVP, President Franchise & Development at Sonesta. Keith joins the host Dan Ryan to share his viewpoints on the benefits of franchising a hotel and Sonesta’s unbelievable climb to being the 8th largest hotel in the United States. Takeaways: At its core, hospitality is the business of caring. This means that you care for your employees, your guests, the development team and the community. Without that sense of caring it will be hard for your hotel to be genuine. During the pandemic, Sonesta managed to create a truly remarkable feat by growing from just 50 hotels to over 1200 hotels that they own or operate. This growth happened when the reit that owned 300 hotels elected to take hotels from the brand they currently had and put them into the Sonesta brand.In 2019 the hospitality industry was thriving and seeing the best business it had seen in 40 years, but once 2020 came along that brought the industry down to the lowest it has ever been in 40 years. Sonesta today has a franchise model, a management model and an ownership structure, all which are unique for the Sonesta brand.Having a culture of caring for your franchisees helps to sway independent hotels in the decision of who they want to partner with. Sonesta Hotels acts as an owner and operator of a franchisee which helps to provide a comfort level to their franchisees.Creating a level of caring and a good culture at a company starts with hiring the right people and having everyone work in the office together. This will help to make sure that everyone has the same goal in mind and works together well. Quote of the Show:1:19 “I define hospitality as the business of caring.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-pierce/ Website: https://www.sonesta.com/  Shout Outs:0:33 Marriott Desert Ridge3:26 John Murray3:33 SVC4:27 Adam Portnoy and the Portnoy Family4:44 Marriott4:45 IHG4:47 Wyndham 4:48 Radison7:15 Candlewood7:20 Residence Inn7:55 Redline Hotel Company11:48 MIT31:55 Lodging Hospitality32:01 New York Hotel Show32:07 Mandarin Oriental 32:09 Time Warner Center33:05 Waldorf Astoria33:30 Hawthorne Suites33:32 Joe McInerney Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/P4pHq99wmMs

Today’s guest is passionate about the design of communities, spaces, and experiences that connect people. She is an architect, innovator, and culture advocate. Alex Lopatynsky is a Principal & The Managing Director of the NY Office at Cooper Carry. Alex joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about her views on hospitality and what it all means to her. Takeaways: Hospitality doesn’t necessarily have to be about the place itself where you are staying. It’s more about the feeling you receive from the employees and the feeling the room gives you when you arrive. Even at the smallest of spaces, or minimally designed spaces, as long as you are welcoming people as if you are welcoming them to your home then it will be a memorable experience.The hospitality industry has been a big influence on many aspects, not just hotels. Nowadays, a business will look at gathering spaces for their employees or design rooms in a certain way to make people feel welcome.Culture and hospitality have interconnecting points where they interact with each other. Culture is looked at as the human element and hospitality can bring everyone together.Our best work and best collaboration is often done in person. Humans by nature are social creatures and there are great opportunities to enhance an idea of design when talking with a co-worker or friend.There is a lot of value in having people come to the office. It allows for people to interact with each other and feel connected to everyone around them.Everyone brings a unique perspective to solving issues within the hospitality industry, which allows the industry to expand with new ideas.  Quote of the Show:1:27 “Hospitality is less about, in my mind, the physical place, but it's the emotional feeling you experience from entering it.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-lopatynsky-85305810/ Website: https://www.coopercarry.com/  Shout Outs:3:37 Graffiti3:41 Jehangir Mehta17:29 Stephanie Hopkins17:30 Marriott31:36 Julia Cosencos31:42 Ribas25:15 George Sawiki25:54 Ukrainian Scout Organization35:24 Sawiki Tarella Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Youtube : https://youtu.be/rWUDni_sUhY

Today’s guest loves helping create spaces and experiences where people will make lasting memories. With hospitality being engrained in her soul, she is ready to see it make a comeback. Stephanie Hopkins is the Senior Interior Design Manager at Marriott International. Stephanie joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about her journey in this beautiful industry and how she sees hospitality through her eyes.  Takeaways: Hospitality is more about the overall experience that you get and experiencing everything there is to offer. Growing up in Texas, Stephanie’s mom was the example she had for what hospitality really is because she was always entertaining and providing a welcoming environment for friends and family. Stephanie spent time working in London and New York doing interior design, and that is where she discovered her passion for hospitality and design. Working with an independent hotel and boutique hotels will help you to learn how to think on your feet and find solutions to unique problems.Every piece of detail matters to a guest and it impacts their experience at a hotel. You want to make sure that you are planning out every detail as much as you can and using the detail to make the guest have a wonderful experience.Not every brand or hotel is for every person. You want to build a hotel and think about the customers that you are trying to attract without also confusing the design of the brand for other hotel designs. Through the pandemic, a lot of people developed a longing for travel as that was taken away from them. People are now wanting to go out and experience new places and see beautiful hotels.  Quote of the Show:3:56 ​​ “What hospitality means to me it's more of that kind of that overall experience, kind of that 360 degree view.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hopkins-28445a71/ Website: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi  Shout Outs:1:10 Kristen Conry1:16 Marriott2:04 BDYN7:20 Tony Chi7:58 Chip Conley9:19 Bridgeton10:58 Journey East Hampton11:14 Atit Jariwala18:25 Johnny Marsh24:38 Oswaldo Barrios25:00 Arnie Sorenson25:17 Hilton25:18 Accor27:55 Edition31:36 Kelsey Linz31:51 Reggio Emilia40:06 Mindclick41:30 JoAnna Abrams46:36 Airstream47:40 Mattel Rancho48:33 Bunkhouse48:37 Liz Lambert48:53 McGuire Lambert Hospitality Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/7cAbPtTrW00

Today’s guest is an accidental hospitality leader. She has been in the hospitality industry for more than a decade and half, all while managing the ongoing renovation work across the growing portfolio for the 8th largest hotel company in the US. Bridget Rooks is the Senior Director, Renovation and Capital Projects at Sonesta Hotels. Bridget joins the host Dan Ryan to share her journey through the hospitality industry and how her playwriting skills have influenced  her views on hospitality.  Takeaways: Hospitality is like a warm welcome to a guest. You are ready to greet the guest and meet any needs they have for their occasions, all while being prepared to exceed those expectations. For customer renovations, think of your design narrative as your thesis statement or elevator pitch. The stakeholders are a part of this process so don’t forget to include them as well. Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know the answer to something. You will never get the right answer or learn how to properly do something if you aren’t vulnerable and ask questions.In order to make your work process better, it’s important to learn from past experiences. You can look back and see what you could do differently and make the process run better. Getting feedback from the development team is important for making sure that a design is going in the right direction. This will help guide you toward what the client had in mind and what else might need to be included. The needs for clients and guests will vary between the quality of a hotel. For example, an upscale hotel would have different needs than an upper upscale hotel.You won’t be able to respond to what each guest says that can be improved in a hotel. But it’s still important to try and balance all of them and hear what guests are saying and improve the hotel in the best way possible for everyone. Quote of the Show:2:22 “I would define hospitality as a warm welcome” - Bridget Rooks Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-rooks-9452934b/ Website: https://www.sonesta.com/  Shout Outs:1:23 Brian Quinn6:40 Trader Joe’s7:03 Benjamin West7:33 Toby Nudelman8:45 Vicky Smith37:18 Sonesta Select Prototype Hotel37:20 Foxboro, MA37:50 DLR Group Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Youtube :

Today’s guest is accredited by the American Institute of Architects, LEED AP, and certified with the National Council of Architecture Registration Boards. He also has over 25 years of experience with award winning projects around the world. Chris McDonough is the Principal at The Gettys Group Companies. Chris joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through the hospitality industry and what it all means to him.  Takeaways: Every design has a story behind it and it can transport you to a different mindset when you are there. That is part of the beauty of hospitality.Hospitality can be a form of escape from the daily lives that everyone lives. Oftentimes a change in scenery or design can really change a person's perspective or outlook.Interior Architecture is a marriage between interior design and architecture. Combining both of these creates a very successful process for designing a unique space. Not only does a space need to be beautiful, but it needs to function and work well. If it doesn’t meet both of these standards, then the space will remain empty and unused, leaving you frustrated.When you are building a hotel, you have the freedom to test it against the market knowledge and see what works as a design aspect and what doesn’t work.You want to create a space that makes guests want to come back and tell others about the amazing experience that they had and how much they loved it.When it comes to building a brand or a soft branded hotel, you want to narrow what your demographic is and if you focus on catering to the small group of people who will always return, then you will have created raving fans. Quote of the Show:3:05 “My heart’s really in hospitality mostly because of the feeling you get or the feeling that we want to give to guests and people that are experiencing the spaces we design.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mcdonough-aia-leed-ap-a8650211/ Website: https://www.gettys.com/  Shout Outs:0:42 Wilco9:58 University of Illinois10:07 Chicago Cubs10:08 Chicago White Sox10:46 Admirals Club10:45 San Francisco International Airport10:51 Joe DiMaggio17:54 Hotel of Tomorrow18:41 John Lasseter24:41 The Farnham in Omaha25:34 Curio27:25 Roger27:25 Andrew27:26 Ron34:34 Leveque Tower34:57 Empire State Building35:09 Roger Hill35:32 Hotel Verdant53:52 BDNY Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Youtube : https://youtu.be/2pFTRNfHYaQ

Today’s guest is an entrepreneur and leader with a passion for change. He’s the host of the podcast “Scaling Culture” and the author of a couple of books - Outrageous Empowerment & Scaling Culture. Ron Lovett is the Founder and Chief Community Officer at VIDA. Ron joins the host Dan Ryan to share his hospitality journey and what it all means to him. Takeaways: When you are looking at building your business, you want to cut 10% of the company out and own 70% of that 10% that you saved for yourself. If you break down great customer service, it comes down to the ability to care for those around you and put yourself in their shoes.If you are adding new members to your team, consider trying to find out how they would react to something in the real world. This way you can see who they are as a person instead of just hiring someone because they smile and seem nice.You can’t teach empathy as a skill. It’s something that you are either born with or you won’t be able to learn the skill.Having core values as a company is incredibly important as they are your guiding light, but when it comes to interviews you don’t need to screen potential hires based on your core values. Instead you can screen for other factors.During difficult times, it’s important to look at the things that are going right and try to brighten your current viewpoint. When you design a new space, you want to create a sense of community and belonging for everyone that lives there.  Quote of the Show:10:41 “If you think what attribute drives excellent customer service,it's the ability to care for those around you to put yourself in someone else's shoes.” Links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/ronnielovett?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-lovett/?originalSubdomain=ca Website: https://www.vidaliving.com Book Link: shorturl.at/lnxPU Podcast: https://scalingculture.podbean.com/  Shout Outs:1:29 MIT4:12 Verne Harnish6:35 Uncommon Service by Frances Frei10:34 John DiJulius11:36 Danny Meyer11:41 Setting the Table by Danny Meyer12:11 Ashley Goodall12:15 Marcus Buckington14:17 Southwest Airlines30:46 Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee26:49 Jay-Z37:19 Nicole Kidman43:51 Jack Daily Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/ybZSHeGc69I

Today’s guest is an interior designer with a focus on and passionate about hospitality design. Valentina Castellon is the Principal and National Hospitality Design Leader at DLR Group based in Minneapolis. She enjoys seeing a project work its way from birth to completion. Valentina was also a Boutique 18 Inductee in 2020. Valentina joins the host Dan Ryan to share her journey and thoughts about the hospitality industry in the built environment. Takeaways: Hospitality is all about opening up your home and yourself to provide a memorable experience for anyone who stays with you. The hospitality industry is not for everyone, as it requires long hours and a lot of attention to detail, but the people who stay are bit by the “hospitality bug” and want to bring great designs to other people's lives. Whenever you think about hotel design, it might look pretty but there is a deeper meaning to it. Not only is the design aspect important, but it needs to serve a functional purpose as wellWorking in a  collaborative process allows you to get voices from multiple different avenues. This can help point you in the right direction for a design or give you more data points for what works and what doesn’t.When working on designs for different companies or spaces, you don’t want to stay stagnant. You want your designs to be different and unique to the point that people will be asking who designed rather than it being the same design over and over again.When you have an influx of demand, you have to think about the three C’s for your company; Your capacity to do the project, if it’s a creative fit for your company and if you like working with the clients.Hospitality is a space that is meant to be shared and enjoyed by others. It allows you to reach people and their feelings all over the world and not just one particular area or group. Quote of the Show:1:15 “Hospitality for me is…this idea of really opening yourself up and catering to other people.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-castellon-77a35650/ Website: https://www.dlrgroup.com/ Shout Outs:5:17 Staci Patton17:34 Dream Hotel Group17:40 Hyatt28:37 Bricklle, Miami Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/ugLkgHQK2-M

Today’s guest is a master at hospitality design. She is a 2022 Platinum Circle Inductee, as well as designing projects with major hotel brands from Four Seasons, to Fairmont, Marriott,  Ritz Carltons,  Sonesta, Hilton, Hyatt, and InterContinental, as well as independent hoteliers. Miriam Torres-Smalankas is the Co-owner and co-founder at Parker-Torres Design Inc. She joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about her journey through the world of hospitality and what it all means to her.  Takeaways: Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and host. It’s the embodiment of caring and providing a welcoming environment where you share what you have with the guest. In all projects, there will be a lot of research that you need to do. The narrative or the story of the design space will drive the rest of the project and what it will look like. Hospitality design is the mother of all designs. The influence it has stretches from corporate, to healthcare, to education and all areas in between. The people who go into the hospitality world are very passionate about what they do, they don’t do it for the money but rather the love of creating something beautiful and memorable. When looking at expanding your team, consider hiring people that are better than you. You want them to motivate you to become better at what you do. When people start off in a new venture, they might think to themselves that they are a fraud or an imposter but you have to accept that you aren’t a fraud, but rather a strong and brave individual for taking a chance. Perseverance is an important trait to have in the hospitality industry. Others may tell you a design might not work but keep trying until you get it just right.  Quote of the Show:2:21 “hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-torres-smalanskas-1042581a8/ Website: https://www.parkertorres.com/  Shout Outs:4:37 Ken Hurd4:49 Waldorf Astoria5:19 Ritz-Carlton6:43 Barbara Parker8:29 Graham International10:18 Hyatt10:21 Fairmont Copley10:25 Marriott Marquis10:57 Henry David Thoreau12:41 University of Massachusetts Amherst12:51 MIT14:43 Hilton23:12 Cornell30:54 Alan Benjamin41:41 Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg44:51 Larry Summers44:59 Barack Obama45:02 FacebookWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Youtube : https://youtu.be/XYhAynf1VaQ

Today’s guest is a creative design sage. With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, today’s guest is truly an expert in this field. Andrew Alford is the  Founder/Owner/Designer/ Chief Creative officer/chef/cook and bottle washer of Andrew Alford Creative.  Andrew worked his way from answering phones at a high-end residential design firm to leading his own company where he gets to let his true creativity shine. Andrew joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey through design and hospitality and what it all means to him. Takeaways: The real innovation in hospitality comes from the people who grew up with little to nothing to their name. People like that grow up wanting a luxurious environment and want to give that idea of luxury to everyone.Hotels should be an experience that helps lift away any suffering you have and transport you to a better state of mind. They are the backdrop to our most precious memories.The whole objective for design is not to make something look good or to be a background in a selfie. The actual point is that design should be something that makes you stop and appreciate the beauty around you and be a transformative experience in itself.A work life balance is something that is incredibly important and can help prevent you from feeling burnt out. You want to make sure that you aren’t working after your normal hours and set boundaries so that you can enjoy your work and not have it feel like a chore.When it comes to design, you want to make sure that you stand out and that you are unique. The same bland, beige and boring designs won’t get noticed. If you are going to stand out like a unicorn, stand out like a unicorn in every way.The word “interbeing” comes from a Buddaheist poet Thich Nhat Hanh. It describes the relationship between everything in the world and how it all works together in order to create the environment we see around us.Design has been so serious for many years, and it’s time that the seriousness needs to be stopped and new, creative ideas need to be implemented. Every design doesn't have to copy something else that is already out there.  Quote of the Show:15:37 “Design [is] not to make it pretty, it's not a selfie background. It's a transformative experience.”  Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewalfordcreative/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewalfordcreative/  Shout Outs:4:41 Kimpton Hotels5:22 IHG9:44 Ed Labrano13:25 Raptor roller coaster14:46 SpringHill Suites by Marriott26:25 Hospitality Design Summit28:00 Alec Baldwin41:58 American Utopia by David Byrne43:18 Thich Nhat Hanh45:14 Free Think46:58 Star Trek47:09 Reasons to be Cheerful50:00 Soho House50:20 Delano50:21 Philippe Stark50:32 Ace Hotels53:10 Modern Elder Academy53:12 Chip Conley1:02:38 The Hoffman Process Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Youtube : https://youtu.be/UCzEZwSoRIU

Today’s guest is a recognized leader in domestic and international real estate, travel, lodging, and restaurant industries. He is a proven, articulate thought leader and has delivered exceptional results in the hospitality industry. Brian Quinn is the Chief Development Officer at Sonesta. Brian joins the host Dan Ryan to share what he had learned through his journey in the world of hospitality.Takeaways: In the hospitality industry, everyone works together to help achieve a goal. A great design can only come to life if someone is willing to put it in their building. If you are an owner or operator of a hotel or hospitality business, you will bring a different level of energy and care to a project. You will be more focused on the return on investment in that aspect. In 2012 the RMR Group acquired hospitality spaces, bringing a whole new level of finance and real estate expertise into the hospitality industry.During the COVID pandemic, there was a higher demand for extended stays and economy-style hotel stays as more people worked from home. The top three things that make Sonesta a good brand to join are the market availability, the access to an executive team, and the last piece is the owner lens. There are a few ways to underwrite a CapEx renovation; one is to think about what happens to your performance if you do nothing, and the other way is to check for any headroom in the market and see if you can perform better. Whether a recession comes or not, if unemployment remains low then people are going to spend their disposable income on dining, travel, and other hospitality experiences. Quote of the Show: “Whether we technically go into a recession or not, if unemployment stays low, people are going to spend their disposable income on dining out and traveling.” - Brian QuinnLinks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-quinn-778b9018/ Website: https://www.sonesta.com/careers Shout Outs: 2:26 Holiday Inn 7:17 The RMR Group10:58 Marriott11:00 IHG Hotels12:00 John Murray12:04 Keith Pierce12:06 Wyndham12:09 Red Lion 13:58 Intercontinental13:59 Kimpton Hotels14:00 Crowne Plaza14:01 Candlewood14:02 Staybridge19:26 Hilton19:27 Statler20:47 Jeremy Selman23:50 The Benjamin23:53 The Shelbourne23:57 The Gardens24:07 The James33:04 Wells Fargo33:09 WachoviaWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/dcPalDoHZPE

Today’s guest is a hospitality guru. He’s an innovative industry leader who is an architect by training as well as a raving fan of interior design. Oswaldo Barrios is the Senior Director of Design & Project Management Luxury Brands at Marriott International. After getting a degree in Architecture in Venezuela, he started from the bottom and worked his way to a very important role at Marriott. Oswaldo joins the host Dan Ryan to share more about his journey through hospitality and how he sees this industry through his eyes. Takeaways: When it comes to the hospitality industry, it’s ok to question why things are done in a certain way. This can lead to a new emergence of ideas or help to create a beautiful space. Hospitality is a combination of multiple different senses, ranging from how you feel about something and the experience that you are getting out of a space, to how the space feels and smells. It’s a very carefully done process to bring out the best in any space. Putting together a memorable space and experience is almost like being on a stage. You want to make sure that all the pieces are in the right spaces and that everyone is doing their part to make it run smoothly.There is a certain level of detail that goes into hospitality that overlaps with architecture as well. These two aspects can be combined to help create a memorable experience in a space that evokes an emotional response. It’s important for everybody to know their role in a design project and to protect that role because if you don’t then you can end up with a mishmash of ideas and the piece won’t be as creative or strong.The hardest part of any design project is getting the teams and donors to understand the non-public areas that you need to serve as a product. When it comes to working on a hotel, you develop a really strong relationship with everyone who was a part of the project. Quote of the Show:"Hospitality is a combination between what you feel and the experience that you get into the space." - Oswaldo Barrios Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oswaldo-barrios-80407289/ Website: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi Edition Hotels: https://www.editionhotels.com/  Shout Outs:0:41 Ian Schrager0:52 Edition Hotels5:54 Grammercy Park Hotel22:04 Mies van der Rohe48:49 Arne Sorenson 51:22 StarwoodWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube : https://youtu.be/9iPo9CrVjPk

Today’s guest is a hospitality champion and an ingenious thought leader. He is a lifestyle hotel advisor and entrepreneur. Jeremy Selman is the Principal at Fishtown Collective and HN Capital Partners. Jeremy is breaking the mold of luxury for hospitality and wants to give each guest an experience that is unique to them and brings a smile to their face. Jeremy joins the host Dan Ryan to share his thoughts about the hospitality industry and what it means to him. Takeaways: In hospitality, you are touching upon all human needs. In a hotel, you are given the opportunity to provide a holistic experience to every guest in a way that dining can’t reach.The traditional standard of luxury was where the brand defined what luxury was and delivered that in a formulaic way. Jeremy is focusing on the ability to read a guest and understand what will make them smile. A hotelier is similar to a conductor or producer on a movie set in the sense that they manage the big-picture items going on. Hoteliers' taste often changes with age as well, so you shouldn’t base your designs on taste at the exact moment. Being a hotelier requires a high level of collaboration in order to make sure everything runs smoothly. If everyone isn’t on the same page or rowing in the same direction, then the end goal can’t be achieved. In the hospitality industry, you can’t be afraid to try new ideas. Not everything will work, but it’s worth pioneering and trying to see if there is a new way to uplift an old project or create a new idea from scratch. When going into a new market, you have to really believe that you can get people to buy into what you are presenting and reach the goal of having a beautiful space that all can enjoy. Jeremy is excited about the challenge of balancing technology and service in the hospitality industry.  Quote of the Show:“I think culture is something that needs to be openly spoken about and talk.” - Jeremy Selman Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-selman-1900b68a/ Website: https://hncapitalpartners.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jselmannyc/?hl=en  Shout Outs:6:13 The Nomad6:22 The Line in DC and LA15:18 Hotel Per La15:23 Adam Sydenham 21:01 Danny Meyer29:30 Scott Rudin28:23 Daniel Del Olmo38:45 Vipin Nambiar43:48 Michael Eisner44:08 Gary Berman44:09 Berman Falk52:52 Amazon52:53 Jeff Bezos53:20 Mark ZuckerbergWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/OfOIMtOULNw

Today’s guest is an expert in conducting the symphony of insanity of what it takes to open a hotel. He’s a hospitality leader in the Luxury, Full Service, Select Service, Branded, and Independent hotel spaces and is well-versed in the various needs and variables in all sectors. Scott Hammons is the President of Design and Construction of HEI. Scott joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through the hospitality industry and what it all means to him. Takeaways: The way the market is right now if a hotel is going to acquire that is because there is room to improve the hotel or reinvent it. This can happen when a branded hotel gets bought by another company or when it goes independent.First-party project management is a term that Scott has coined to describe his new company, Ground Floor Hospitality. It’s a subsidiary of HEI but he refers to it as “first-party project management” because he oversees the whole project rather than someone he is not affiliated with.The hospitality industry is such a dynamic industry. It evokes so many different emotions and uses all 5 senses in order to create an unforgettable experience.Being in an entrepreneurial environment allows for more flexibility for new operations and provides room for growth in process improvements.  Scott is excited about the diverse opportunities in the hospitality industry. There are many different aspects of hospitality that you can branch into and each project is its own experience. You want to find a space where when you go to work every day, it doesn’t feel like a typical work day or feel draining. You want to work in a place where you find yourself being passionate about what you do. If you are a mentor, you want to prepare your team leaders or other people in your company for a meeting they are about to walk into but still make them walk in the meeting. This will help them to prepare and feel more comfortable for what will happen during that time.  Quote of the Show:“There's no business like the hospitality business.” - Scott Hammons Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkhammons/ Website: https://www.heihotels.com/  Shout Outs:0:51 Aaron Anderson1:35 Josh Pearlman15:02 Mohawk Mountain House17:40 Kimpton17:47 Schrager19:35 Marriot29:19 Mark Wilson29:20 Yoko Ishihara33:05 Clark Henrati49:51 Christopher Nassetta51:42 Avengers Infinity War Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419 Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/rnnG9aI3BY0