Welcome to Defining Hospitality, the podcast focused on highlighting the most influential figures in the hospitality industry. In each episode we provide 1 on 1, in depth interviews with experts in the industry to learn what hospitality means to them. We feature expert advice on working in the industry, behind the scenes looks at some of your favorite brands, and in depth explorations of unique hospitality projects. Defining Hospitality is hosted by Founder and CEO of Agency 967, Dan Ryan. With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, Dan brings his expertise and passion to each episode as he delves into the latest trends and challenges facing the industry. Episodes are released every week on Wednesday mornings. To listen to episodes, visit https://www.defininghospitality.live/ or subscribe to Defining Hospitality wherever you get your podcasts.
To celebrate over three years of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan pulls together some of the most powerful moments from the show's history into one episode. From the etymology of the word "hospitality" itself to the sacred duty of welcoming strangers, this compilation revisits the ideas that have shaped the conversation around design, service, and business in our industry. Guests reflect on the moments that changed them, the leaps of faith that built their careers, and the small human details, like how a rendering makes people feel, that separate good hospitality from great hospitality. It's a reminder of just how much wisdom has passed through this mic, and why the question "what does hospitality really mean" never gets old. This episode brings back some of the sharpest minds Dan has hosted, including novelist and hospitality thinker Ian, designer and procurement leader Chelsea Hershelman, hospitality veteran John O'Sullivan, caterer to presidents Steve, architect and designer Eileen, casino and resort design expert Bruno Viterbo, real estate developer Margot Stern, and hospitality tech innovator John Duffield. Each brought a distinct perspective to the show, from the sacred history of welcoming guests to the future of biometric personalization in travel. Together, their stories map out just how wide, and how deep, the world of hospitality really runs. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Defining Hospitality 00:35 Hospitality Roots and Meaning 01:32 Designing the Guest Journey 02:14 A Sacred Sense of Belonging 02:40 Conviction as Leadership Gravity 03:14 Four Seasons Culture Shift 03:57 Hope and Opportunity Abroad 05:03 White Box to Model Room 06:03 Designing for Real People 07:11 Is It Right or Wrong 07:55 Sponsor Sustainability Update 08:20 Creating Vacation Joy 09:06 Leaps of Faith and Belonging 11:07 Friends Who Expand Possibility 12:04 Don’t Disqualify Yourself 13:46 Winning Town Alignment 15:05 High Stakes Catering Moments 15:44 Future of Travel and Wisdom Quote of the Show: "It wasn't about, hey, we have these great finishes on the walls. It was about what does it feel like to be in that place." - Bruno Viterbo Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Get Connected with the Guests Bruno Viterbo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruno-viterbo/ Chelsea Hershelman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-hershelman-a0639656/ Eileen Madigan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileenamadiganasid/ Ian Sharpe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianstuartsharpe/ John Duffield: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjduffield/ John O’Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-sullivan-6719551/ Margot Stern: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-stern-67a0a97/ Steve Fortunato: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-fortunato-3b990516/ Dan Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ Ways to Tune In: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
Gary Brandeis, CEO of Scholar Hotels, joins Dan Ryan to talk about a strategy most hoteliers never even consider: betting everything on college towns. Gary explains why a large public university like Penn State makes for one of the most stable demand drivers in hospitality, and how his company has grown to nearly 1,000 rooms in State College alone. The conversation dives into his real estate investor first, hospitality operator second philosophy, the wild 16 month renovation of the historic Nittany Lion Inn, and his new Regulation A offering that lets everyday fans, not just accredited investors, own a piece of the hotels they love to visit. It is a masterclass in finding your niche, going deep instead of wide, and turning community passion into capital. About the Guest: Gary Brandeis is the CEO of Scholar Hotels, a hotel executive and real estate investor who has spent 35 years working with major brands like Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG while building a specialized portfolio around university markets. He has also launched award winning real estate technology companies focused on innovation and tenant experience, proving he is just as comfortable disrupting the model as he is running it. What makes Gary worth listening to is his willingness to buck conventional investment wisdom, concentrating his business in college towns like State College, Pennsylvania, and turning that focus into one of the most consistent and creative hospitality plays in the industry today. Chapters: 00:00 Why Hospitality Matters 00:25 Meet Gary Brandeis 01:04 Penn State Roots and Nittany Lion 03:09 A Thousand Rooms in State College 07:22 Hospitality Meets Profitability 12:22 College Town Brands and Graduate 16:49 Graduate Growth and Real Estate Risks 20:00 Democratizing Hotel Investing Reg A 32:46 Scaling Investor Communication 35:08 Investor Updates Tech 35:57 Radical Transparency 36:42 University Demand Engine 38:44 Crowdfunding Reg A Basics 40:37 Targeting Superfans Social 44:28 Nittany Lion Inn Turnaround 46:08 Choosing The Right Designer 50:14 Hands On Ownership Grit 58:17 University Hotels Investment Thesis Quote of the Show: "If we don't make a profit and we don't invest well, our ability to provide a good experience for our guests is significantly hindered." - Gary Brandeis Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garybrandeis/ Guests Website: https://www.scholarhh.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
In this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with Michelle Finn, longtime industry fixture and the driving force behind Alis Design Plus, to trace the evolution of hospitality trade events from HD Expo's chaotic 1990s launch (earthquakes, riots and all) to today's design and investment ecosystem. Michelle unpacks her "dinner party" philosophy of hosting, the power of relationships over transactions, and how she scaled that intimacy from a dozen guests to thousands of attendees without losing the human touch. The conversation moves through mentorship, the rise of owner involvement in design, the new Alis Cala expansion into the Caribbean, and even a few fun detours into what a Vogue or Garden and Guns hotel might look like. About the Guest: Michelle Finn heads The BHN Group's hotel design and construction events, including the launch of Alis Design Plus. Previously, she led the management and development of Hospitality Design Expo, HD Boutique, HD Summit, HD Awards, Hospitality Design, Boutique Design NY, Boutique Design West, the BD Forum Series, Boutique Design and Senior Lifestyle Design Match events, the Gold Key Awards, and more. A dedicated, long standing member of NEWH, she has earned numerous awards for innovation spanning trade fair development, publishing, leadership, and service, and is firmly established as a notable presence in Chicago's hospitality landscape. Chapters: 00:00 Defining Hospitality Intro 00:35 Meet Michelle Finn 01:47 What Hospitality Means 03:38 Hosting Lessons Early On 06:00 Launching HD Expo Origins 08:48 Riots Earthquakes and Vegas Pivot 13:42 Winning Leadership Buy In 22:41 Why ALIS Design Plus Exists 25:21 Growth Plans and Industry Shifts 33:38 Analog Event Magic 34:36 Word of Mouth Wins 35:08 Hospitality Shifts 36:19 Product Categories Boom 37:47 Launching Alice Cala 39:59 Measuring Referrals 43:56 Hosting Like a Pro 48:11 Newcomer Event Playbook 52:22 Future Plans and Farewell Quote of the Show: "Identify a need, see something that doesn't exist. That's pretty much what we did." - Michelle Finn Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alis-design-plus Guests Website: https://www.alisdesignplus.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
In this episode, Dan sits down with Adrienne Scribner, principal and managing director of hospitality at Baskerville, to unpack what three decades in hotel design has taught her about the unglamorous work that actually makes projects succeed. They dig into why there is no "coordination fairy" waiting to catch your mistakes, how typing specs into a purchasing system in the early '90s built the foundation for her entire career, and why mentoring the next generation means being approachable rather than intimidating. About the Guest: Adrienne Scribner is a Principal and Managing Director of Hospitality at Baskervill, bringing more than 20 years of experience across the Maryland, Virginia, and DC design corridor. Her client roster reads like a hospitality hall of fame, including Marriott, Gaylord, Ritz Carlton, and Moxy, and her research driven approach has made her a trusted voice for owners navigating renovations of every scale. Beyond the projects themselves, she has built a reputation as a generous mentor, the kind of leader who would rather answer a question than let someone learn the hard way. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome back to Defining Hospitality 00:58 Meet Adrienne Scribner 01:41 Conference Mentorship Moment 02:52 Why She Stayed in Hotels 04:17 Learning Through Specs 07:16 Hybrid Work and Phone Calls 10:54 Marriott Years and Prototypes 14:11 No Coordination Fairy 17:57 Mentorship and Coachable Talent 31:18 Baskerville Office Footprint 32:30 Hiring Without Relocation 32:47 Why DC Attracts Designers 34:40 DC Cost and Lifestyle Reality 35:01 Sponsor Sustainability Note 35:26 Market Cycle and CapEx Slowdown 38:08 Compressed Schedules and Pauses 39:36 Mentorship Through Project Conflict 40:45 Model Rooms and Risk Management 46:40 Career Lessons From Marriott 49:25 Working With Brand Standards 54:09 Owners Concepts and AI Inspiration 57:14 Research Versus Inspiration Images 59:50 Cross-Pollination Across Verticals Quote of the Show: "If you don't know exactly who is going to do the work, it's probably you. You need to find that person." - Adrienne Scribner Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-scribner-265b045/ Guests Website: https://www.baskervill.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
Dan Ryan sat down with Alexa d'Argence, senior interior designer at Ken Fulk Inc., to explore what it really means to design spaces people fall in love with. Alexa pulls back the curtain on KFI's work at the Huntington Hotel in San Francisco and the Beverly Hills Hotel. sharing how a strong concept and cinematic vision guide every decision from the big picture down to the smallest detail. The conversation gets reflective too, touching on why slowing down is sometimes the only way forward, and what it means to truly love the work you do. About the Guest: Alexa d'Argence is a Senior Interior Designer at Ken Fulk Inc. in San Francisco. With a background rooted in hospitality and residential design, she has worked on projects ranging from The Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa to the Huntington Hotel on Nob Hill, recently featured in Architectural Digest, and is currently deep in the renovation of the Beverly Hills Hotel. A graduate of Cornell and a lifelong lover of hotels, she approaches every project as an act of care, craft, and storytelling. Chapters: 00:42 Meet Alexa d’Argence 01:45 Sketching Under Pressure 04:02 What Hospitality Means 05:03 Hotels and Childhood Memories 05:59 From Marin to Hospitality Design 07:51 Storytelling and the Movie Mind 13:23 Designing for the Guest 17:22 History Beloved and Future Dreams 28:19 Sketching Together Works 29:08 Hidden Beauty Onsite 32:05 Details Beyond The Spread 33:15 Beloved Places And Memories 34:54 Renovations And Responsibility 36:10 Sustainability Sponsor Break 36:37 Tools Sketches And Renderings 39:40 Puzzling As Design Mindset 44:19 Mentorship Scent And Farewell Quote of the Show: "It's a calling, a vocation for me. So there's a lot of love that goes into it. This is a job where you are working long hours, and if you don't love it, you're gonna burn out." - Alexa d'Argence Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexadargence/ Guests Website: https://www.kenfulk.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Alex Kuby, Associate Principal at Dyelot and a lifelong student of how built environments shape human experience. From his early days at HBA in Santa Monica to helping lead a studio through a full brand transformation, Alex has spent his career asking what it really means to make people feel seen, supported, and cared for inside a space. Together, Dan and Alex explore approachable hospitality, the power of integrated services, and what niching down actually looks like when you are doing it from the inside. About the Guest: On this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with Alex Kuby, Associate Principal at Dyelot, a hospitality interiors studio bolstered by branding, procurement, and architectural services. Alex has been part of the firm since its days as RDC, helping shape its evolution into a focused, values driven hospitality design practice. When he is not leading visioning workshops or authoring the Dylot blog, he is probably thinking about how a grocery store can double as a neighborhood heartbeat. Chapters: 00:42 Show Intro and Sponsor 01:04 Meet Alex Kuby 01:31 Shared Roots and Catching Up 03:19 Defining Hospitality 03:58 Approachable Hospitality 05:25 RDC to Dyelot Story 09:34 WELL and Sustainable FF&E 20:59 Capital ROI and Visioning 32:23 Sustainable Sponsor Shoutout 32:41 Design Meets Procurement 35:38 Why Branding Comes First 39:04 Blogging and Brand Transition 41:49 Niching Down the Studio 43:22 Grocery as Community Hub 46:09 Public Spaces and Connection 50:12 Career Advice and Mentorship 53:28 Memory Lane and Farewell Quote of the Show: "Hospitality is the humanity in the built environment, that is the way in which we express care and facilitate all of those great high touch point, high emotional engagements that the best hospitality spaces are known for." - Alex Kuby Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akuby/ Guests Website: https://dyelot.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
Dan Ryan talks with Thomas Paterson, founder and lighting designer at Lux Populi, about one of hospitality's most overlooked design disciplines… light. Thomas explains why lighting designers need a seat at the table from day one, not after the drawings are done, and shares his take on how light shapes a space's emotional experience. The conversation covers the gap between the 2% of projects that engage a true lighting specialist and the 30-50% that probably should, what it means to design from the inside out, his unconventional path from Australia to Mexico City, the sustainability case for old-school screw-in bulbs, and why asking the right question at the right moment is the smartest move a lighting designer can make. About the Guest: Thomas Paterson is the founder, director, and principal lighting designer at Lux Populi, a Mexico City based lighting design studio. He brings a first principles approach to every project, asking what light can do before how it should look. His portfolio spans luxury resorts, boutique hotels, restaurants, museums, and infrastructure, including 15 years with Sandals Resorts, the Four Seasons Los Cabos, and a landmark tunnel gateway in Sydney. Originally from Australia and formerly based in London, he landed in Mexico City by chance and built one of the industry's most distinctive lighting practices. Chapters: 00:25 Meet Lighting Designer Thomas 03:09 Hospitality Through Light 06:43 Bring Lighting In Early 10:17 Who Owns The Brief 11:46 Do Projects Hire Lighting 17:23 Lighting As Editing Tool 25:43 Fixing Spaces After Opening 29:09 Why Mexico City 31:53 Mexico City Safety Shift 32:43 Designing the Cocoon 33:17 Contrast and Tone Basics 34:14 Fixing a Brand’s Lighting 35:47 Kelvin Myths Explained 37:38 Infrared and Homogenous LEDs 42:39 Culture and Buying Bulbs 47:37 Sustainability and PoE Lighting 54:53 Future of Lighting Design Quote of the Show: "Lighting design is an editing tool. Emphasize, de-emphasize, reveal, conceal." - Thomas Paterson Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpaterson/ Guests Website: https://luxpopuli.com/New/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Larry Traxler, a 30+ year veteran of architecture and design, former SVP Global Head of Architecture & Design at Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and founder of Traxworks Hospitality Collaborative, to make the case that great hospitality design isn’t about replicating what’s trending, it’s about understanding place, people, and purpose. From breaking ceramic tiles on job sites in Japan to navigating 102 countries and opening 1,000 hotels a year at Hilton, Larry has spent his career building bridges between creative vision and business reality, and now, finally free to say no, he’s going deeper than ever. About the Guest: On this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with Larry Traxler, founder of Traxworks Hospitality Collaborative and former SVP Global Head of Architecture and Design at Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Larry has shaped some of the most memorable spaces in global hospitality, one mosaic wall, and one very deliberate hammer swing at a time. When he’s not advising owners on design strategy or racking up passport stamps across his 102nd country, he’s photographing wildlife in his backyard, plotting a month in Africa, and finally, finally, getting to put more into the projects that truly light him up. Chapters: 00:25 Welcome to Defining Hospitality 01:28 Mentors Safari and Photography 02:53 Backyard Safari and Reps 05:42 Defining Hospitality Through Design 12:09 Traxworks Freedom to Say No 15:13 Jordan Mozer Narrative Craft 22:31 Becoming the Bridge Conductor 30:36 The Clift Deep Dive Details 35:27 Nine Million Miles 36:43 Creativity in the Air 38:27 Hilton Lessons to Trexworks 43:10 Solo Founder Reality 45:13 AI as Creative Toolkit 50:00 Recessions and Resilience 54:04 Hospitality Beyond Hotels 01:00:20 Fighting Design Sameness 01:02:35 Traxworks Freedom and Farewell Quote of the Show: “It’s those people that have a fear of the future that get held back. Sometimes you just have to jump off the bridge and leap into those entrepreneurial waters.” - Larry Traxler Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrytraxler/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by BermanFalk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with John O'Sullivan, hospitality executive, published poet, painter, and Regional Vice President & General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, to make the case that great hospitality isn't a service standard, it's a soul practice. A GM at just 25 who started peeling potatoes in a small Irish hotel at 12, John has spent over three decades opening and leading luxury properties across seven countries, building a career on the radical belief that belonging is borderless, failure is just success in progress, and heart intelligence will always outperform artificial intelligence. About the Guest: On this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with John O'Sullivan, Regional Vice President and General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita in Mexico. With 31 years at Four Seasons and properties across Cairo, Bali, Jakarta, and beyond, John has spent his career quietly proving that the most powerful management tool isn't a system, it's sincerity. When he's not leading a team of more than 1,000 warriors, he's painting, publishing poetry, or stealing cookies from his director of rooms' office. He moves through the world the same way he runs his hotel, with curiosity, warmth, and zero interest in being the most important person in the room. Chapters: 00:35 Meet John O Sullivan 02:25 Defining Hospitality And Belonging 03:06 From Ireland To GM At 25 04:18 Making Room For Others 10:30 Mentors And Ripple Effects 16:22 Travel Memories And Magic Details 20:56 Why Punta Mita Wins 26:21 Creativity Process And Failure 34:02 Potato Peeler Origins 34:34 Curiosity Becomes Calling 37:06 Heart Intelligence Hospitality 38:13 Creativity Fuels Positivity 39:14 Recharging Through Adventure 41:56 Fun as Leadership 42:56 Vulnerability and Forgiveness 47:46 Egypt Opening Hope Story 54:33 Future of Authentic Luxury Quote of the Show: "Hospitality is the almost sacred act of seeing another human being and saying, without words, that you authentically belong here." - John O’Sullivan Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-sullivan-6719551/ Guests Website: https://www.fourseasons.com/puntamita/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with David Shove-Brown, architect, design leader, educator, and partner at //3877, to make the case that the most powerful thing you can put on your business card isn't a title, it's a philosophy. A firm co-founder who launched his practice in the middle of a recession with a newborn at home and a best friend from college as his only business partner, David has spent 15 years proving that relationships aren't a strategy, they're the whole game. David isn't just building great spaces. He's building a firm, a community, and a life worth writing about. About the Guest: On this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with David Shove-Brown, partner at //3877, an architecture and design firm based in DC and New York. David has spent 15 years building a practice and a reputation, on the belief that relationships come before business. Whether he's mentoring students at trade shows, swapping proposals with competitors, or just holding the door for a stranger, he moves through the world the same way he runs his firm, like every person in the room matters. Chapters: 00:51 Meet David 02:04 NEWH Mentorship Moment 03:53 Defining Hospitality 04:43 Community Over Competition 08:46 Networking Roots and Values 13:01 Relationship Building That Lasts 17:45 Balance Family and Firm 27:24 Design in the Public Interest 31:18 Losing a Mentor 32:46 Succession and Letting Go 33:56 Mentoring Through Mistakes 36:19 How to Find Mentors 38:01 Learning From Students 40:11 Community and Collisions 42:25 Craving Certainty Forward 48:25 Startup Stories and Growth 50:07 Looking Ahead and Wrap Quote of the Show: "Networking always had this underlying idea of sales, we flipped it. For us, it's really relationship building." - David Shove-Brown Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsb3877/ David’s Company’s Website: https://www.3877.design/ Dan Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Christine McGinnis, Director of Design at Wave Design Consultants, to make the case that the most powerful tool a designer can carry isn't a software subscription or a portfolio, it's a passport and a willingness to ask why. A Canadian kid who got locked in a Tiffany's display window in Hong Kong and never really looked back, Christine has spent over two decades designing across Asia, North America, and now the Canary Islands, chasing a single throughline openness. From restoring a termite-eaten 19th century Bangkok landmark to drawing her first full set of plans in Spanish, she isn't just designing spaces, she's designing a life. About the Guest: On this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with Christine McGinnis, Director of Design at Wave Design Consultants, a Canadian born, world traveling hospitality designer who logged her first miles in the Starwood design lab before most people knew that lab existed. Christine has spent 20 plus years designing hotels and restaurants across Asia, Europe, and Africa not by following the work, but by following the question. And the question, in her case, is always the same one… why? Chapters: 00:38 Meet Christine McGinnis 01:15 Journey Westward 03:15 Early Career Plans 04:09 Generations And Nomads 05:46 Starwood Innovation Lab 14:31 Openness Defines Hospitality 20:38 Spain Projects And Asking Why 26:03 Design Fatigue and Surprise 27:26 Waldorf Respite After 9/11 29:13 Hospitality Alchemy From the Heart 30:30 Design vs Service That Brings Guests Back 31:32 Aloft Seminyak Bali Success 33:48 Being Present Wherever You Land 35:31 Just Go Travel Advice 39:48 Resurgence of Analog Connection Quote of the Show: "People come to your joint once for the design, but they come back for the service and how you made them feel." - Christine McGinnis Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Christine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemcginnis/ Wave Design’s Website: https://www.wave.global/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Genna Panagopoulos, Vice President of Development at Minor Hotels, to make the case that the most exciting real estate play in hospitality right now isn't in Asia or Europe, it's right here in America. A restaurant kid from Detroit who fell in love with hotels, Genna is the one handed the keys to a 640 property global giant's entire North American future, armed with 12 brands, a freshly built franchise model, and a philosophy that deals only work when everyone at the table wins. One NH Collection in Manhattan down. Twenty four more to go. About the Guest: Genna Panagopoulos, VP of Development at Minor Hotels, a Greek American, raised in the restaurant business by an immigrant father who treated every customer like family, who somehow ended up being the person responsible for introducing one of the world's largest hotel companies to the United States. With over 15 years spanning hotel investment, brand strategy, and development at the likes of Davidson Hotels and IHG, Genna isn't just opening doors in new markets. She's the one deciding which doors are worth knocking on in the first place. Chapters: 00:35 Meet Genna Panagopoulos 02:10 Greek Roots and Philoxenia 05:43 From Restaurants to Hotels 07:03 Minor Brands and Luxury Resorts 09:50 US Growth Model and Deal Flexibility 12:02 Target Markets and Investor Mindset 15:13 Financing and Conversion Strategy 20:12 Service Culture and Scaling Luxury 27:26 Uniqueness Over Scale 28:50 Early Growth Bottlenecks 29:30 Portfolio Deals and Marketing 30:30 New Brand or Collections 32:11 Lessons From US Expansion 34:10 Where Deals Are Happening 36:09 Choosing the Right Partners 38:58 Deal Terms and Key Money 42:48 Future Vision and Wrap Up Quote of the Show: “We're not here to make money right now. We're here to plant our flags and build brand awareness." - Genna Panagopoulos Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Minor Hotels is introducing the legendary Anantara and Wolseley brands to North America: learn more about the company's strategy and ambitions!! Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Genna’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genna-panagopoulos-726a7525/ Minor Hotels Website: https://www.minorhotels.com/en Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Tanya Pratt, Global VP of Strategy and Product Management at Oracle Hospitality, to prove that the most powerful upgrade a hotel can make isn't to its lobby, it's to its data. A front desk girl turned tech executive, Tanya unpacks how Oracle is collapsing decades of fragmented systems into one seamless guest experience, why cloud adoption exploded the moment hotels ran out of people, and what happened during an 18-hour outage at 3am that changed the entire trajectory of her career. The promise of hospitality has always been human. The technology is finally catching up. About the Guest: This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Tanya Pratt, Global VP of Strategy and Product Management at Oracle Hospitality, a self described nerdy science kid who accidentally fell in love with a front desk and never really left. Thirty years later, she's the one making sure the technology behind hospitality is finally as seamless as the experience is supposed to feel. Forged at Fairmont, recognized as one of the top 25 extraordinary minds in the industry, and fluent in both boardrooms and lobbies, Tanya isn't just building better software. She's keeping the promise. Chapters: 00:35 Meet Tanya Pratt 01:27 Hearing Your Own Story 03:20 Hospitality Is a Promise 04:44 Tech Removes Friction 08:14 Unified Data at Check In 12:29 Hospitality Tech 101 16:08 One Guest One Profile 19:18 ROI and Why Hotels Lag 30:20 Tech Enables Hospitality 31:36 Finding Your Calling 33:13 Front Desk To VP 34:56 Advice For 18 Year Olds 36:01 Grit In Instant Age 39:03 Human Skills Matter 41:27 Untangling Tech Spaghetti 45:11 Crucible Command Center 56:22 Future Of Hospitality Tech Quote of the Show: "Hospitality is a promise. It's a promise that's made and kept a thousand times in small moments." - Tanya Pratt Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Tanya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pratttanya/ Oracle Website: https://www.oracle.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Larah Moravek, founding partner at Dutch East Design, to make the case that the most powerful thing a designer can bring to a project isn't a mood board, it's a story. Larah pulls back the curtain on how Dutch East blends interior design and branding under one roof, turning narrative driven frameworks into spaces that feel inevitable. With real stories from the ground including the adaptive reuse of a Marcel Breuer brutalist landmark into Hotel Marcel, the first passive house certified hotel in North America, and the Tapestry Chattanooga, a former bank building brought back to life, this episode proves that when magic and precision are working together, the constraint becomes the design. 🏠 About the Guest: Larah Moravek is a founding partner at Dutch East Design, a hospitality focused studio offering both interior design and branding under one roof. With a career shaped by two of the most iconic firms in the industry, Clodagh Design and Yabu Pushelberg, Larah brings a rare combination of instinct and rigor to every project she touches. Rooted in the belief that built environments have the power to create lasting emotional experiences, she and her partner Dieter lead a small but mighty studio known for their dense documentation, narrative driven approach, and a body of work spanning adaptive reuse, independent hotels, and licensed product collections. Chapters: 00:45 Meet Larah Moravek 01:15 Friendship and Dutch East Origins 03:58 What Hospitality Means 07:08 Clodagh to Yabu Mentorship 08:49 Branding as Decision Tool 13:37 Stewardship and Adaptive Reuse 24:04 Functional Brief and Hard Questions 27:54 Science as Magic 28:03 From Med School to Interiors 30:03 New York Design Path 30:47 Yabu Pushelberg Rigor 32:19 Burnout and Solo Asia Reset 34:41 Building a Team Culture 37:43 Sustainability in Hospitality 44:33 Licensing and Product Lines 47:59 Future Plans and Wrap Up Quote of the Show: "Sometimes you need more structure to be more creative. And I think some of the most beautiful and inspiring solutions come out of restriction." - Larah Moravek Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ Larah’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larah-v-moravek-0b714044/ Dutch East Design Website: https://www.dutcheastdesign.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ 🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 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 Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
This Earth Day, Dan Ryan welcomes back JoAnna Abrams, founder and CEO of MindClick, to make the case that sustainability isn't just good for the planet, it's good for business. JoAnna reveals how MindClick's product intelligence platform transforms the sustainability data already hiding in hotel FF&E purchases into a competitive weapon, winning corporate travel contracts, boosting sustainability ratings, and growing real revenue. With stories from the ground, including Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf, and eye-opening stats on what ditching polystyrene packaging actually means for waste, this episode proves that going green and going profitable are finally pointing in the same direction. 🌍 About the Guest: JoAnna Abrams is the founder and CEO of MindClick, a product intelligence platform helping hospitality companies unlock sustainability data across their supply chains. A multi-award winning trailblazer at the intersection of sustainability, supply chain, and finance, she has been recognized by Lodging Magazine as a female industry innovator, named a 2026 Inc. 500 Female Founders honoree, and selected for both the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and the Imagine Program funded by former Unilever CEO Paul Polman. Chapters: 00:46 Welcome JoAnna Abrams 02:00 Defining Hospitality Revisited 05:00 The ROI of Sustainability 07:30 EU Regulation Driving Corporate Demand 11:00 How Hotels Win Corporate Business with Sustainability 14:00 MindClick and Green Key Global 16:00 The Alo Index Platform Explained 19:00 Revenue Impact: 7–17% Market Share Increase 22:00 Training Sales Teams to Tell the Story 25:00 A Riskless Path for Hotel Owners 28:00 Connecting Guests and Frontline Staff 31:00 The Huntington Hotel Case Study 36:00 Polystyrene Elimination: The Numbers 40:00 Embodied Carbon and FF&E's Outsized Impact 44:00 What Hotels Can Control 47:00 Asset Value, Appraisals, and Resilience 50:00 Inc. 500, Cambridge, and the Road Ahead 52:00 How to Connect with MindClick Quote of the Show: "Today's suppliers need to understand that they're no longer just selling a product. They're selling a product with a story." - JoAnna Abrams Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ JoAnna Abrams’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannaabrams/ MindClick: https://www.mindclick.com/ Metropolis Magazine Article: https://metropolismag.com/viewpoints/four-new-roadblocks-on-the-path-to-sustainable-buildings/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ #DefiningHospitality #Sustainability #HospitalityDesign #HotelBusiness #GreenHospitality #SupplyChain #MindClick #CorporateTravel #HotelRevenue
In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Walter Peseski, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Garfield Public Private, to explore the often misunderstood world of hotel asset management and public private partnerships. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this discussion uncovers how cities, universities, and hospitals are leveraging creative financing structures to build hotels that serve as economic catalysts for entire communities. About the Guest: Walter Peseski is the Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Garfield Public Private, a firm specializing in public private partnerships for hotels, convention centers, and cultural infrastructure. With over 20 years of experience in hotel operations and asset management, Walter has built a career bridging the gap between public entities and private developers to bring transformative hospitality projects to life. An adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University and contributor to Hotels Magazine, Walter is passionate about educating the next generation on the full scope of opportunity that exists within the hospitality industry that goes far beyond the front desk. Chapters: 01:00 Introducing Walter Peseski 02:00 What Does Hospitality Mean to You? 03:00 The Valentine's Day Server Story 05:00 When Was the Last Time Service Was Memorable? 06:00 What Makes Garfield Public Private Unique? 09:00 The Role of Asset Management vs. Hotel Management Companies 13:00 How Ownership Groups Get Involved 15:00 When Does Third Party Asset Management Make Sense? 17:00 Hotels Are a Different Beast Than Multifamily 19:00 Navigating Brand Standards & CapEx 21:00 Hilton's Carrot and Stick Fee Structure 23:00 Downscaling Brands & the "Under Demolished" Theory 27:00 Blind Spots Small Operators Miss 29:00 The F&B Double Edged Sword 33:00 When Brand Standards Become a Straitjacket 34:00 What Makes a Good Deal vs. a Great Deal in Public Private 36:00 Why Cities Invest in Hotels 38:00 Where Garfield Is Seeing the Most Opportunity 39:00 How Cities Finance These Projects With Bonds 42:00 The Sweet Spot: Upscale to Upper Upscale 43:00 Why Walter Started Teaching 45:00 Career Advice for Anyone Entering Hospitality 49:00 What Walter Is Most Excited About 51:00 How to Connect With Walter & Outro Quote of the Show: "It's not how fast can we increase the value of this hotel and flip it. It's how can this hotel contribute to the community." - Walter Peseski Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/ Ed Bakos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmond-bakos-62102014/ Champalimaud Design: https://www.champalimaud.design/ Help preserve a generation of American history: https://www.tunisonfoundation.org/donate Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ Tags: #DefiningHospitality #AssetManagement #PublicPrivatePartnership #HotelDevelopment #HospitalityBusiness #HotelInvestment
In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Ed Bakos, CEO of Champalimaud Design, to explore the evolving dimensions of hospitality in the design world. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this discussion uncovers how the nuances of design, from emotional exchanges to anticipating guest needs, define luxury and authenticity in the hospitality industry today. About the Guest: Ed Bakos is the CEO of Champalimaud Design, a New York-based firm renowned for its innovative approach to hospitality design. With over 30 years of experience, Ed has continually pushed the boundaries of what luxury and hospitality can achieve through strategic and emotionally resonant design. His commitment to fostering talented teams and creating memorable experiences makes his work a benchmark in the industry. Chapters: 00:46 Welcome Ed Bakos 02:12 What Hospitality Means 04:04 Early Career Origins 07:30 First W Hotel Breakthrough 11:07 Heavenly Bed Innovation 14:13 Alexandra Legacy 18:31 Mosaic Team Culture 24:49 Flat Hierarchy Best Ideas 27:20 Project Example Clarity 28:29 Ideas From Anywhere 29:10 Designing Anticipated Needs 31:23 Service Defines Luxury 32:44 Turning Constraints Into Magic 34:59 Building A Creative Culture 37:02 Managing Creative Anxiety 40:47 Choosing The Right Clients 44:29 Aviation Passion And Purpose 49:08 Flying The C47 Across Atlantic 50:58 Remembering History And Closing Quote of the Show: "Design is a relationship between different things. Why do certain combinations of things provide us with more satisfaction? Certain combinations in certain settings are… highly successful and can be highly successful." - Ed Bakos Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/ Ed Bakos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmond-bakos-62102014/ Champalimaud Design: https://www.champalimaud.design/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ Tags: #DefiningHospitality #HospitalityDesign #HotelDesign #GuestExperience #DesignAnticipation #HotelInnovation
In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Thomas Oh, Co-Founder & General Manager of Perilla Korean American Steakhouse, and Daphne Shin, Founder & Principal Designer of the Ruimte, two passionate creators working at the intersection of culture, cuisine, and design. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, the episode delves into the unique approach Thomas and Daphne take to blend Korean cultural elements into their business ventures in Chicago. About the Guests: Thomas Oh is the co-founder and director of operations at Perilla Korean American Steakhouse. With a mission to introduce Korean culture through dining experiences, Thomas highlights the seamless integration of Korean and American culinary elements at Perilla. Daphne Shin is the founder and principal designer of the Ruimte, an interior design firm. Through her design work at L7 Hotel, Daphne strives to create environments where every guest, regardless of background, feels at home. Chapters: 02:26 Defining Hospitality 04:38 Building L7 Chicago 06:33 Designing Perilla Steakhouse 15:26 Korean DNA in the Hotel 19:40 Reception in Chicago 24:49 The K Wave Momentum 27:28 Entrepreneur Lessons 30:08 Teamwork Solves Problems 30:43 Exhaust System Collaboration 32:13 Sponsor Sustainability Note 32:48 Immigrant Path to Hospitality 34:56 Little Victories in Service 38:17 Design vs Operations Reality 42:15 Dream Projects and Timelessness 46:35 Hotel and Restaurant Synergy 49:43 How Lotte Found Them 51:09 Luck Meets Hard Work 53:27 Closing Thanks and Farewell Quote of the Show: "It's exciting for me and for the team here, for them to come into our space… We're not screaming this is Korean to them, but they're loving the design of this restaurant and the hotel." - Thomas Oh Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/ Thomas Oh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-oh-b6164570/ Daphne Shin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphne-shin-1a223b44/ Daphne Shin Email: daphne@theruimte.com Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ Tags: #hospitality #Koreancuisine #design #Kwave #defininghospitality #podcasting #ChicagoDining
In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Michaelangelo L’Acqua, a global entertainment director and music/lifestyle branding expert, to discuss hospitality as “infrastructure” built through sound, motifs, and emotional arcs across dayparts. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this conversation dives into shifting luxury expectations, analog-era craft, and mentoring creatives within business-driven environments. Michelangelo shares how sound serves as the unseen architect in the world of hospitality, crafting emotional journeys for guests. About the Guest: Michaelangelo L'Acqua is a Global Entertainment Director and Founder of his creative strategy agency, L'Acqua Agenzia. With a legacy of working with iconic brands like Virgin Voyages and W Hotels, he brings decades of experience in music branding and luxury lifestyle curation. Known for pioneering concepts like the Sonic Identity Brand Bible, L'Acqua remains a leading voice in integrating sound as a critical component of the hospitality experience, continuously shaping the future of how spaces sound and resonate with their audience. Chapters: 01:17 Whale Shark Memories 02:51 What Hospitality Means 03:52 Sonic Architect Idea 05:09 Motifs and Brand Magic 07:04 Building a Sonic Bible 10:18 Sound Drives Revenue 12:32 Mentors and Early Grind 14:29 Tom Ford Breakthrough 17:37 From Fashion to Hotels 20:30 Analog Era Work Ethic 23:04 Staying Relevant in Luxury 27:27 Timeless Formulas and Flow 30:57 Building Sonic Brand DNA 33:04 Virgin Voyages Layer Cake 36:59 W Hotel Reinvents Hospitality 39:45 Finding Local Tastemakers 41:29 Mentorship Over Ego 44:44 Sound Beats Brick 48:07 Next Decade Soundtrack 50:49 Timeless Meets New 53:30 Hall of Fame Tangent 55:46 Wrap Up And Connect Quote of the Show: "I truly believe that there are moments I can really tap into unconscious feelings within somebody. And if I can do that… you're gonna walk away from that experience and say that was a great night. I don't know why, but it was just special." - Michelangelo L’Acqua Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/ Michelangelo L’Acqua LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelangelo-lacqua/ Starwood Hotels: https://www.starwoodhotels.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ Tags: #DefiningHospitality #HospitalityDesign #HotelDesign #GuestExperience #SonicArchitect #HotelInnovation
In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Saxton Sharad to explore how hospitality and hotel design are evolving for today’s guest experience. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this conversation dives into micro vacations, invisible hospitality, and how modern leadership is reshaping the way hotels connect with travelers. Saxton shares how Hideaway Inns is redefining hospitality by blending local authenticity, frictionless experiences, and thoughtful design to meet the expectations of millennials and Gen Z guests. About the Guest: Saxton Sharad is the Founder and CEO of Revival Hotels and Hideaway Inns, where he’s building a portfolio of design-forward boutique properties in destinations like Mount Sunapee, Mount Snow, and Lenox. He previously helped scale Graduate Hotels and has worked across major brands, but is now pioneering a high-margin “invisible hospitality” model that’s delivering additional operating profit across his properties. Chapters: 01:15 Office Vibes And Intentionality 03:03 Defining Hospitality 05:58 Origins Of The Philosophy 07:51 Unplugging And Micro Breaks 09:18 Hideaway Inns Vision 11:00 Millennial Travel Shift 14:15 Building From Guest Research 17:02 Authenticity And Giving Back 25:59 Invisible Hospitality Platform 30:30 Innkeeper Model Explained 36:11 Owner Economics And Margins 39:58 Lease Deal Sweeteners 40:36 Scale And Tech Advantage 44:35 Innkeeper Career Model 46:53 Fixing Hospitality Turnover 48:15 Design Led Growth Plan 50:00 Fandom And Regional Focus 56:21 Revival Management Focus 58:41 Invisible Or Full Service 01:01:35 Authenticity Through Local Art 01:03:27 Berkshires Travel Pitch 01:07:59 Wrap Up And Thanks Quote of the Show: “ I don't care how talented you are or how much money you have in your pocket, you cannot be good at everything. Step into what you're good at, find that strength, and live that strength.” - Saxton Sharad Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on. Links: Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1 Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/ BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/ Saxton Sharad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saxton-sharad-cha-6642a49/ Hideaway Inns: https://www.hideawayinns.com/ Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/ Tags: #DefiningHospitality #HospitalityDesign #HotelDesign #GuestExperience #MillennialTravel #BoutiqueHotels #HotelInnovation
