Join me, Steve Turk, on the Hospitality Mentor podcast as we dive into the personal stories of some of the world's best Hospitality Professionals. We follow the journey of their ups, downs and wild turns and find out what it truly takes to make it in the amazing world of hospitality.
In this “random show” episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk shares a multi-generational Miami Beach staycation at the Marriott Stanton South Beach , highlighting the South of Fifth location, Michelin star-winning The Den inside Azabu, and strong beach service and guest acknowledgment as a key hospitality lesson. He also recommends the Loews Miami Beach Hotel’ s Sushi Bar inside Bar Collins, praising Chef Khaleel Ali and the value of standout culinary “hidden gems” in big hotels. The family then takes the Brightline train from Miami to Orlando for a Disney trip, emphasizing assigned seating, onboard amenities, and the productivity and low-stress benefits versus driving. In Orlando, he reviews the Signia by Hilton (connected to Waldorf Astoria) as a strong value with great rooms, pool, restaurants, and fireworks views, noting slower bus transport to the parks, and shares a Disney day tip: book an air-conditioned sit-down meal like the Brown Derby. He announces the launch of staybaya.com for Baya , his upscale resort on a tropical fruit farm in Miami’s Redland area targeting a mid-year opening next summer with a $50 VIP program offering 40% discounts, and he confirms plans for a Hospitality Power Breakfast series, with the first eight-person event hosted at The Moor in the Design District. Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Lodgif y. Make sure to use promo code THM60 for 60% off. 00:00 Welcome and Topics 00:39 Sponsor Lodgify 01:25 Miami Beach Staycation 02:37 South Beach Service Lesson 03:54 Loews Sushi Find 05:28 Brightline to Orlando 07:31 Signia Hotel Review 09:41 Disney Dining Tip 11:05 Train Back and Florida Travel 12:08 Baya Resort Announcement 13:31 Hospitality Power Breakfast 14:14 Wrap Up and Subscribe
In a solo “random show” episode, Steve shares recent travel experiences and hospitality takeaways. He recaps six weeks of travel from HITEC in San Antonio to San Francisco with the Baya team, a visit to One Thread Farm, scouting land in Desert Hot Springs, and a last-minute trip to St. John in the US Virgin Islands, noting “island time” and the national-park beaches. A highlight is chartering to Jost Van Dyke to swim ashore to the Soggy Dollar Bar, home of the original Painkiller, and lessons on memorable arrival, history, and premium branding. He previews upcoming stays at Marriott Stanton Miami Beach and a family trip to Disney via Brightline, discussing hotel and Disney upsells and reducing purchase friction. He announces a new Hospitality Power Breakfast launching next month at The Moore in Miami, and gives a Baya Miami update, including site work, a 2027 opening plan, and an upcoming website launch. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify with code THM60 for 60% off yearly products 00:00 Solo Random Show 00:25 Sponsor Lodgify 01:36 Travel Whirlwind Recap 02:34 Island Time St John 03:24 Soggy Dollar Adventure 04:33 Painkiller And Vibes 07:06 Lessons And Branding 08:07 Miami Beach Birthday Stay 09:01 Brightline To Disney 10:14 Upsells And Disney Planning 12:05 Hospitality Power Breakfast 13:32 Launching At The Moore 14:47 Topics And Third Places 15:44 Baya Miami Update 16:17 Wrap Up And Farewell
Host Steve Turk interviews Mario Del Duca, Managing Director of Nuba , a 30+ year-old luxury travel company focused on high end outbound leisure that expanded into the Americas via acquisitions in Mexico and Miami. Mario oversees the Americas and says the business has nearly tripled under his leadership. Mario shares his nontraditional path from banking in London/New York to an MBA at IE in Madrid, entrepreneurship in Mexico, and a year and a half of world travel that led to social media driven hotel partnerships and eventually becoming an independent travel consultant before Nuba acquired his agency. They discuss serving high and ultra-high net worth clients, the importance of client profiling and problem solving, using technology and AI to enhance (not replace) advisors, growth plans across Latin America, and travel trends like Japan and slower, secondary destination travel. The Hospitality Mentor Podcast is sponsored by Lodgify (60% off yearly/bi-yearly plans with code THM60) 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:31 Sponsor Lodgify 01:34 Meet Mario Del Duca 01:53 What Is Nuba 03:31 From Banking To Travel 07:22 Quitting Banking For MBA 10:54 Entrepreneur Roots 12:02 Moving To Mexico 13:03 Remote Work World Travel 17:44 From Influencer To Advisor 20:50 Luxury Advisor Reality Check 22:31 Owning Client Problems 23:51 Perks and Lifestyle 24:48 Remote Discipline 26:25 Nuba Client Profile 29:51 Designing Bespoke Trips 32:38 AI Versus Human Touch 37:18 Growth and Hiring Advisors 40:48 Hot Destinations Trends 44:37 Career Advice Closing
Host Steve Turk interviews Nikheel Advani , co-founder and COO of Grace Bay Resorts , who shares how he entered hospitality at 16 after his father pushed him to work, leading to dishwashing, banqueting, and founding a small events company in Singapore. He trained at UMass Amherst, worked in restaurants and hotels, joined a Pizza Uno turnaround team, then spent years with Ritz-Carlton opening multiple properties and emphasizing mentorship. He became hotel manager at Singapore’s Raffles, helped elevate its global ranking, then moved to Turks and Caicos to build a hotel into Grace Bay Resorts, focusing on training, local talent, service excellence, food and beverage, airlift, and a luxury branded-residence model that funds development and gives owners hotel access and rental income. It's an amazing episode with fantastic stories and pieces of advice that you should listen to today. A big thank you to our sponsor, Lodgify . Make sure to use promo code THM60 when you sign up at Lodgify 00:00 Sponsor Lodgify 01:07 Meet Nikheel Advani 01:48 First Hospitality Job 02:08 Dad’s Tough Lesson 03:21 Starting a Company at 16 04:42 Choosing Hotel School 07:18 UMass and Working Through School 08:42 Pizza Turnaround Years 10:09 Breaking Into Ritz Carlton 11:48 Mentors That Changed Everything 14:42 Leaving for Raffles Singapore 16:24 Running an Iconic Hotel 17:28 Profit Meets Guest Experience 18:35 Leap to Turks and Caicos 20:57 Caribbean Service Reset 21:55 Risk and Ownership Leap 22:55 Partners and Fast Decisions 23:56 Awards and Signature Wins 25:43 Building Local Talent 28:29 Selling a New Destination 31:46 Airlift and Island Strategy 34:08 Next Projects Pipeline 36:06 Branded Residences Model 38:59 Advice and Farewell
Live from HITEC in San Antonio, the Steve Turk and Sarah Dandashy recap the inaugural Hospitality Creator Summit , created by Anna Blue and Anthony Melchiorri, which drew 200+ attendees for a full day of networking and creator-focused education. Sara shares first impressions of the high-energy event, meeting online peers in person, and the supportive, low-ego atmosphere. A panel on “behind the brand deal” featured Margaritaville and My Place Hotels discussing how brands choose creators, partnership paths from in-kind to paid, and the challenge of tracking bookings driven by content, including working with small-audience creators for fit and aesthetic. They note sessions on newsletters and podcasting milestones, HITEC’s creator booth with interview and green-screen setups, and floor trends like better booth experiences, fewer AI buzzwords but more specific integrations, data consolidation, and room automation savings, plus a push for brands to create personality-driven, value-first content. A big shout out to our sponsor Lodgify ! Starting June 17th to June 30th, use promo code THM60 for 60% off 00:00 Live From HITEC 00:21 Sponsor Shoutout - Lodgify 00:58 Creator Summit Recap 02:55 Brand Deals Panel 05:09 Creator Growth Tips 05:50 Meet Tyler Behind Scenes 06:37 Content Booth Setup 07:31 HITEC Floor Highlights 08:27 Tech Trends And AI 09:57 Venue Vibes San Antonio 10:16 Creators Take Over 10:57 Booth Snacks and Vibes 11:24 Why Brands Need Content 12:55 Make Value Not Ads 14:19 One Post Big Impact 16:05 HCS First Day Energy 17:54 After Party and Wrap
Host Steve Turk interviews Milan Mijatovic, founder of SILA Miami . Milan explains SILA as a social wellness club in Upper Buena Vista featuring longevity services (float tank, hyperbaric oxygen, lymphatic suit, red light therapy, bioscan/bodywork), outdoor classes (yoga, Pilates, functional strength, kettlebells), and contrast therapy (cold plunges and a 14-person sauna). He recounts starting in hospitality as a dishwasher at Atlanta’s Dante’s Down the Hatch, moving to Chicago to become a bartender and competition mixologist, then relocating to Miami where he worked at the Versace Mansion reopening, Regent Cocktail Bar alongside Julio Cabrera, and as a cachaça brand ambassador. After nightlife management at Rockwell and reflecting on industry excesses, a trucking-business detour, and a renewed focus on recovery and nature, he launched SILA without a formal business plan, emphasizing community support, systems, and a goal of a second location and future beach flagship. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:31 Sponsor Lodgify 01:34 Meet Milan 02:48 What Is Sila 04:13 Steve Joins Sila 05:17 First Hospitality Job 09:52 Chicago Hustle 12:13 Cocktail Roots 14:18 Mixology Rise 15:31 Miami Calling 17:31 Cuba Turning Point 20:58 Versace And Regent 22:32 Brand Ambassador Era 23:48 Nightlife Management 26:43 Surviving The Scene 28:59 Wellness Seeds 30:11 COVID Pivot to Trucking 31:34 Owning the Leap 33:17 Back to Nightlife Again 34:31 Wellness Aha Moment 35:35 Cold Plunge Origins 38:11 Third Shot at Business 40:25 CELA Vision and Nature 42:37 Finding the Perfect Space 46:08 Building Sila Community 50:08 Next 12 Months Vision 51:57 Trust the Journey 52:59 Closing and Sponsor
Host Steve Turk welcomes Larry Korman, co-CEO of Korman Communities and president of AKA Hotel Residences , to discuss his lifelong path in hospitality and residential real estate, from childhood work in the family business to leading a five-generation legacy. Korman explains how his father’s pie-shaped Philadelphia apartments sparked the furnished-apartment concept, later branded as Korman Suites, and how Larry and his brother built Korman Communities and evolved the model into luxury hotel residences under AKA, now spanning 16 properties over 22 years. He shares formative training in England, insights from Japanese hospitality, and a leadership philosophy centered on earning respect by doing frontline work, supporting teams and staying on property. Korman details AKA’s partnership with Airbnb that helped shape Airbnb Luxe, a strategy of optimizing cash flow, and plans to repurpose iconic hotels, expand in Florida, and grow globally with a strong health and wellness focus. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:31 Sponsor Lodgify 01:34 Meet Larry Korman 02:03 Early Hospitality Roots 02:57 Five Generation Legacy 04:11 Birth of Furnished Stays 04:51 Branding Korman Suites 07:03 Design Passion Duke Days 08:17 Old School Training 09:28 Japan Hospitality Lessons 12:27 Earning Team Respect 15:21 COVID Leadership Onsite 16:29 Synergy And Marketing 20:31 Why Residences Win 23:14 Airbnb Luxe Partnership 27:07 Scaling AKA And Ave 30:03 Collaboration Culture 30:49 Leading Without Dashboards 31:28 On Site Hospitality 32:29 Home Away From Home 33:36 Brother Partnership Split 35:28 Growth Through Repurposing 38:34 Miami Florida Expansion 40:01 Global Wellness Vision 43:08 Hospitality Role Models 45:30 Keeping Teams Loyal 49:33 Advice To Younger Self 50:54 Wrap Up Sponsor Biscayne Coffee
Host Steve Turk revisits an archived Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring award-winning chef and restaurateur David Burke , who shares his path from dishwasher at a Sheraton to culinary school, Europe, and major New York kitchens. Burke recounts being mentored by a country club chef named Jose, attending the CIA, traveling through Europe, and working in top French restaurants and pastry school despite language barriers. He describes returning to the U.S. to work with, Daniel Boulud, and Charlie Palmer, then becoming executive chef at The River Café, earning a three-star New York Times review with a notable photo and winning the 1988 Tokyo culinary Olympics. Burke discusses opening and expanding restaurants, learning business under Alan Stillman, fighting for signature dishes like his pork shank, navigating partnerships, mentoring teams, and advising young cooks to stay focused, learn constantly, document, embrace mistakes, and find balance. Thank you to our sponsor Lodgify for this episode. Make sure to try Lodgify with our promo code THM60. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:33 Sponsor Lodgify Platform 01:35 Chef David Burke Intro 02:19 First Kitchen Job 03:25 Jose Tough Lesson 06:34 Parents and Early Drive 10:14 Culinary School Path 11:21 CIA Mindset and Growth 12:57 Europe Opportunity 16:13 Chefs and Styles Abroad 18:59 Back to New York Rise 21:33 Leading River Cafe 24:48 Finding Personal Style 26:08 Critics and Pressure 27:37 Fearless Creativity Basics 28:23 NYT Three Star Breakthrough 29:21 Chocolate Butterfly Story 30:25 Park Avenue Cafe Deal 31:34 Miami Beach Opening Chaos 33:22 Pork Shank Menu Fight 35:13 First Restaurant Renegades 37:21 Expansion Partner Fallout 38:21 Choosing Business Partners 40:14 How Chef Culture Changed 43:52 Cookbooks Nightlife Pitfalls 45:56 Building Restaurants Today 47:08 Mentoring Creative Chefs 48:13 Advice To Young Dishwasher 50:45 Closing Thanks Sponsor
Host Steve Turk introduces an archived 2022 Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring Raul Leal, then CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts (now CEO of Starwood ). Leal recounts starting at Miami’s Everglades Hotel working with his Cuban-immigrant father, setting early goals to become a GM, and progressing through front desk and food-and-beverage roles, including managing a Sheraton with a major nightclub, before becoming a GM in La Jolla and later leading larger Sheraton properties in Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, and Miami. He describes launching and scaling Teton Hospitality and its boutique arm, Desires Hotels, driven by frustration with legacy-brand sameness and belief in internet-driven distribution. Leal shares how meeting Richard Branson led him to build Virgin Hotels from scratch, and why he later joined Starwood/SH Hotels to lead brands including 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse, emphasizing sustainability, better back-of-house spaces, mentorship, clear goals, and kindness in leadership. Try Lodgify with a 60 percent discount on all their yearly and bi-yearly plans with our code THM60 , and that's THM60 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:33 Sponsor Lodgify 01:38 Archive Episode Setup 02:10 First Hospitality Job 04:12 Choosing Hospitality Career 05:18 Learning Without College 05:55 Climbing Into Management 08:21 First GM Move West 09:27 Mentors And GM Life 10:24 Big Hotels Career Ladder 11:59 Entrepreneurial Leap 14:10 Building Boutique Portfolio 15:47 Travel Reality Check 17:40 Why Launch Desires 20:26 First Boutique Wins 21:43 Lifestyle Hotel Edge 23:00 Richard Branson Connection 23:43 Meeting Richard Branson 25:12 Consulting Turns Into Leadership 26:41 Inside Virgin Culture 28:45 Building Virgin Hotels From Scratch 31:00 Choosing The First Property 32:24 Chicago Launch And Expansion 34:20 Leaving Virgin For SH Hotels 36:16 SH Brands And Sustainability 40:31 Growth Plans And Openings 41:28 Reimagining Back Of House 44:04 Advice For Young Leaders 45:46 Closing And Sponsor Message
Host Steve Turk welcomes Elizabeth Mullins, President of Evermore Hospitality, who shares her start as a server at New Hampshire’s Lobster Shack and her first hotel role as a Ritz-Carlton Boston management trainee after earning hospitality and business degrees. Mullins recounts being inspired by a childhood Ritz-Carlton visit, spending 28 years with Ritz-Carlton as it grew from six to 99 hotels, opening multiple properties across Asia, becoming a GM multiple times, and later an area vice president. Recruited to Disney, she led global hotel development, renovations, premium services, and worked through the pandemic including the NBA bubble. She then helped open New York’s Fifth Avenue Hotel as COO/Managing Director, learning independent distribution and culture measurement, before joining Evermore after being approached for her luxury-and-scale expertise. She describes Evermore’s “togetherness” concept, Conrad Orlando anchor, 300+ villas/homes around an 8-acre Crystal Lagoon, extensive amenities, and plans for growth, and closes with career advice on courage, speaking up, integrity, and hospitality as a lifestyle. This episode was brought to you by Lodgify . Use code THM60. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:33 Sponsor Lodgify 01:38 Meet Elizabeth Mullins 02:00 First Hospitality Jobs 03:17 Ritz Spark at Five 05:44 Ritz Career Growth 09:28 Asia Expat Adventure 17:04 Service Lessons Abroad 18:54 Leaving for Disney 21:07 Disney Hotels Role 23:15 Frictionless Check In 26:14 Independent Hotel Leap 28:36 Independent Hotel Wins 29:17 No SOP Reality Check 30:06 Distribution Lessons 30:54 Agritourism Marketing Advice 32:34 Building Culture Systems 35:25 Evermore Recruitment Story 38:49 Togetherness Travel Concept 42:27 Evermore Scale and Amenities 44:53 Service Model Evolution 46:50 Growth Plans and Year Three 49:23 Advice to Younger Self 53:58 Wrap Up and Sponsor
Host Steve Turk interviews Jessica and Damien Zouaoui, founders of Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver, a social wellness concept combining a craft beer and wine self-pour taproom with four private spa suites featuring infrared saunas, rain showers, and hydrotherapy tubs infused with hops, malt, and herbs, plus optional zero-gravity robotic massage chairs and room-service refills. They share their hospitality backgrounds, leaving corporate jobs in New York City, and traveling to 25 countries to find a scalable U.S. concept after discovering a beer spa in Poland in 2018. They detail market research that led to Denver, funding challenges solved through Denver’s economic development loan program and a nonprofit SBA lender, difficulty securing a lease, and a DIY buildout using auctions during COVID. Oakwell opened February 26, 2021, emphasizing five-star yet non-stuffy service, adding non-alcoholic options, and aiming to franchise within a year. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:33 Sponsor Lodgify 01:38 Meet Oakwell Founders 02:10 Beer Spa Explained 02:36 Suites And Addons 04:22 First Hospitality Jobs 05:44 Quitting Corporate Life 07:20 World Trip For Ideas 10:18 Discovering Beer Spa 12:34 Why It Clicked 14:49 From Idea To Plan 17:09 Funding And Finding Space 20:29 Landing the Space 20:52 SBA Loan Reality 21:35 From Church to Spa 22:39 DIY Build and Auctions 25:18 Opening Day Playbook 26:58 Michelin Casual Service 29:35 Touchless Spa Model 33:09 Wellness and Moderation 36:15 Franchise Plans Ahead 37:28 Leap of Faith Advice 39:09 Wrap Up and Sponsor
Host Steve Turk welcomes Tim Major, CEO of Operto , to discuss how AI is reshaping hospitality through “agentic teammates” designed role by role to assist or replace specific hotel tasks. Tim shares his path from early hospitality exposure as a Volkswagen tour guide in Vancouver/Whistler to building computers, creating award-nominated music-industry websites, founding a hospitality-focused development company that was acquired by RoomKey, and rising from VP roles to CEO. He explains RoomKey’s early PMS integrations (including with Expedia), the industry’s fragmented tech landscape, and how RoomKey was acquired by Full Steam to consolidate and standardize PMS capabilities across North America. Tim describes using multiple LLMs across departments, AI-driven productivity and potential burnout, and why Operto focuses on outcomes—especially direct bookings, distribution, fraud detection in brand-search ads, and surfacing real-time operational insights—while avoiding AI that harms guest experience. He emphasizes hotels being discoverable in LLMs and advises professionals to start using AI tools now. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:33 Sponsor Lodgify 01:38 Meet Tim Major 02:26 Aperto AI Agents 03:57 First Hospitality Taste 05:34 Early Tech Roots 06:36 Music Websites Breakthrough 08:09 Founding in Hospitality Tech 09:48 RoomKey Career Rise 11:40 Mentors and Learning 13:42 Hard Lessons Contracts 14:58 Full Steam Consolidation 17:47 Joining Maestro AI Strategy 18:50 Building Aperto AI Native 21:26 AI Shift Reflections 22:33 Everyday AI Workflows 24:39 Adoption Gaps and Burnout 25:47 Hospitality AI Strategy 27:06 Distribution Monitoring Agents 27:53 Stopping Brand Ad Fraud 31:21 Back of House Automation 32:16 Unifying Hotel Data 35:56 Personalized Direct Booking 38:42 Wellness Itinerary Curation 40:16 Next 12 Months Focus 41:58 Career Advice and Wrap
Host Steve Turk welcomes listeners to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, brought to you by sponsors Lodgify and Biscayne Coffee , He interviews Adam Tuttle, co-founder of Yipy , described as the industry’s first hospitality standards management system that centralizes hotel standards by role, adds analytics, and supports inspections and audits. Adam shares his early hospitality work in a Nevada casino, his first professional role as an Eiffel Tower elevator operator in Las Vegas, and studying hospitality at UNLV. He moved from Caesars Entertainment to help open a La Quinta, gaining broad operational and sales exposure. Through mentorship, he joined Four Seasons, worked in multiple markets including opening Four Seasons Orlando at Disney World, and later returned to Las Vegas. After reconsidering his GM path, he launched a consulting business and then created Yipy to solve persistent standards and measurement challenges, building it with co-founder Phil Erickson and client-driven development. Adam discusses Yipy’s pre-seed $1M raise, partnerships including Leading Hotels of the World, Marriott approved vendor status, and excitement about AI, and closes with advice on relationships and networking. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:33 Sponsor Lodgify 01:38 Meet Adam Tuttle 01:54 What Is YPI 02:50 First Hospitality Job 03:56 Choosing Hospitality 05:21 Vegas During Recession 07:46 Opening La Quinta 10:07 TripAdvisor Success 11:53 Mentorship To Four Seasons 14:25 Learning Luxury Service 16:19 Go To Grow Culture 18:27 Four Seasons Disney Magic 22:03 Entrepreneurial Turning Point 23:50 Starting Consulting Business 24:39 Landing First Clients 25:19 Leaving Ops for Consulting 26:14 Landing First Clients 27:31 Finding a Consulting Niche 28:22 Just Do It Mindset 29:16 Why Yippy Was Born 29:47 Proving Training ROI 31:44 Building the First Tool 32:43 From Tool to Platform 34:51 Coding Reality Check 36:02 Customer Led Product Design 37:09 Hoteliers in Tech 38:27 Funding and Big Partnerships 41:38 AI and the Standards Database 44:20 Advice to Younger Self 46:24 Wrap Up and Sponsor
Host Steve Turk welcomes Sean McCarron, General Manager of Conrad Orlando at Evermore , to discuss Sean’s path through luxury hospitality and what it takes to lead and open award-winning resorts. Sean shares how he entered hospitality through a Ritz-Carlton management trainee program at Pentagon City (placed as a bartender), discovered hotel school in Switzerland after soul-searching in college, and committed his career to luxury service. He explains his passion for food and beverage, his moves across cities and cultures, and his transition from Ritz-Carlton to Four Seasons via a recruited lateral move that led to 16 years with Four Seasons, multiple hotel openings, and progression into hotel management. Sean describes opening Four Seasons Baltimore as his first hotel manager role and later moving to Las Vegas, then leaving Four Seasons to become GM of Waldorf Astoria Orlando with Hilton, where he focused on training teams in luxury, building a people culture, improving service and guest loyalty, and achieving Forbes Four Star for the resort. He details joining Conrad Orlando nearly 19 months pre-opening as the first employee, leading the opening within the broader Evermore Orlando Resort featuring a 17-million-gallon, eight-acre freshwater lagoon, beach areas, vacation rentals, golf courses, and a spa, and emphasizes leadership through daily walkthroughs, balanced meetings, guest and team engagement, and the principle of “inspect what you expect.” Sean discusses Hilton’s focus on technology and AI to make team members’ jobs easier and free up time for guest relationships, how the resort differentiates itself as a destination beyond theme parks, and recent recognitions including AAA Five Diamond (2025), Forbes Four Star for the hotel and resort, Forbes Four Star for the spa, and a Top 20 ranking in Spas of America’s Top 100 for the second year in a row. He closes with career advice: excel in your current role while acting for the job you want, continually ask what could be done differently or better, and never forget to give back through mentoring and development. 00:00 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast 00:33 Sponsor Break: Lodgify All-in-One for Hospitality 01:38 Meet Sean McCarran, GM of Conrad Orlando 01:56 First Hospitality Job: Ritz-Carlton Trainee to Bartender 02:27 Finding Hospitality: Hotel School in Switzerland & Love for Luxury 04:16 Why Food & Beverage: A Lifelong Passion for Cuisine 05:07 Moving Cities & Building a Luxury Career (Ritz-Carlton Years) 06:15 Switching Brands: Recruited to Four Seasons + 16-Year Run 07:55 From F&B to Hotel Leadership: Mentors, Openings & Becoming a GM 12:21 Vegas Chapter: Hospitality Epicenter & Celebrity Chef Scene 14:40 Leaving Four Seasons: Waldorf Astoria Orlando GM & Hilton Luxury 18:45 Waldorf Highlights: Culture, Team Growth & Forbes 4-Star Win 20:28 Building Conrad Orlando: Pre-Opening, Evermore Lagoon & Mega-Resort Vision 24:55 Leadership Playbook: ‘Inspect What You Expect’ + Daily Walks & Meetings 27:56 Tech, AI & the Future of Hospitality Teams 30:17 Standing Out in Orlando: Owning the ‘Off Day’ as a Destination Resort 32:41 Big Accolades: AAA Five Diamond + Forbes Four Star (Hotel & Spa) 35:21 What’s Next: Maturing the Resort & Raising the Bar 37:04 Advice to Young Sean: Act for the Job You Want & Keep Giving Back 39:34 Wrap-Up, Share the Episode + Sponsor: Biscayne Coffee
In this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Alexander Kandalaft, the General Manager of the Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue . Discover how this all-in-one platform, Lodgify, can help short-term rental hosts and hospitality operators stay organized. Alexander shares his journey in the hospitality industry, from his early days as a PBX operator at Boston University to managing luxury hotels in Singapore and the US. Learn about the unique offerings at the Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue, including their high-end culinary experiences and the innovative Saks Fifth Avenue personal shopping suite. Don't miss out on Alexander's insights on building trust with your team, navigating international hospitality landscapes, and staying ahead in the competitive world of luxury hotels. Make sure to check out this episodes sponsor Lodgify and for 20% off use code THM20 00:00 Introduction to Lodgify: The Ultimate Hospitality Management Tool 01:00 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast 01:47 Alexander Kala's Journey in Hospitality 03:18 From Student to General Manager: Early Career Insights 05:30 Climbing the Ranks: From Stewarding to Management 09:23 International Moves and Leadership Lessons 13:09 Experiencing Singapore: Professional and Personal Growth 17:15 Navigating COVID-19: Challenges and Adaptations 20:52 Housekeeping Team's Return Post-COVID 21:51 Task Force Assignments in New York 23:53 Moving to Seattle Bellevue 25:24 Becoming a General Manager 30:03 Unique Offerings at the Bellevue Property 34:11 Balancing Hotel Guests and Residents 36:39 Intercontinental's Global Reputation 38:06 Excitement for the Upcoming Year 39:37 Advice for Aspiring Hoteliers
Join our host Steve Turk as we explore the dynamic and inspiring career journey of Deniz Dorbek, the founder of the Regulus Collective , in this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast. Starting from her first job as a front desk agent in Istanbul, Deniz narrates her ascent through various roles in the hospitality industry across multiple countries. Deniz shares her insights on revenue management, the importance of mentorship, coping with global crises, and her exciting new venture in hospitality technology and lifestyle branding. Don't miss her incredible stories and invaluable advice for anyone in the luxury hospitality sector. Special thanks to our sponsor, Lodgify , for supporting this episode. Use code THM20 for a 20% discount on all Lodgify yearly and bi-yearly plans! 01:08 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast 01:18 Meet Denise Dobe: Founder of The Regulus Collective 02:27 Denise's Journey Begins: From Istanbul to Edinburgh 05:21 Exploring Revenue Management and Global Opportunities 07:13 Challenges and Growth in Thailand and Dubai 18:18 Navigating Crisis and Leadership in Jordan 20:49 Homecoming: Leading in Istanbul 23:36 A Warm Welcome Back Home 24:11 Golden Era of Turkish Hospitality 24:46 Transition to London and Wyndham Hotels 25:50 Building a Commercial Engine from Scratch 28:00 Promotion to Vice President 28:46 Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis 34:35 Stepping into Operations with Hyatt 39:22 Becoming a CEO in Hospitality Tech 40:50 Founding Regulus and Future Plans 44:53 Advice to Young Professionals
Join us on an exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as host Steve Turk dives into the incredible journey of Francesco Balli, co-CEO of Grove Bay Hospitality Group . Discover the unique paths that led Francesco and his partner from being CPAs to successful restaurateurs, the challenges they overcame, and the wisdom they've gathered along the way. This episode is a must listen for anyone interested in the hospitality industry, as Francesco shares insights on building a business, the impact of AI, and the exciting future of their ventures. Special thanks to our sponsor Lodgify for making this episode possible. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation! 00:00 Introduction to the Hospitality Mentor Podcast 00:44 Sponsor Spotlight: Lodgify 01:38 Guest Introduction: Francesco Bali 02:08 Francesco's Early Career and First Job in Hospitality 02:28 The Journey from CPA to Hospitality 02:51 Family Influence and Entrepreneurial Spirit 04:34 The Leap from Ernst and Young to Areas USA 15:36 Navigating the Concession World 18:40 The Birth of Grove Bay Hospitality Group 24:27 Acquiring the Airport Restaurant 26:06 Winning the Coconut Grove Contract 28:01 Launching Glass and Vine 30:37 Partnering with Top Chef Jeremy Ford 33:11 Expanding with Stubborn Seed and Stiltsville Fish Bar 35:01 Venturing into Airport Concessions 41:10 Future Prospects and AI in Hospitality 42:57 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs
Join host Steve Turk in this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as we sit down with Adam Sperling, the General Manager of the iconic Charles Hotel in Cambridge 's Harvard Square. From starting as a front desk agent to leading one of the most admired independent hotels, Adam shares his incredible journey, the importance of mentorship, and the unique challenges and rewards of managing an independent hotel. Discover how Adam navigated various roles, adapted to different ownerships, and continuously innovated to stay ahead in the hospitality industry. Don't miss his valuable advice for aspiring hospitality professionals and the exciting future plans for Charles Hotel. Tune in to learn why independent hotels hold a special place in the industry and get inspired by Adam's passion for excellence in hospitality management! 00:00 Introduction to Lodgify : The Ultimate Hospitality Management Tool 01:05 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast 01:16 Meet Adam Sperling: General Manager at The Charles Hotel 02:31 Adam's Journey: From Front Desk Agent to General Manager 04:27 The Knickerbocker Hotel and Early Career Lessons 05:43 Mentorship and Career Growth at The Omni Ambassador East 07:38 The DoubleTree Experience and the Warm Cookie Story 11:01 Leadership Lessons and the Path to General Manager 19:11 The Independent Hotel Spirit: Hotel Tria and Beyond 25:09 The Big Break That Wasn't 26:17 Strategic Career Moves 31:00 Staying Motivated for 17 Years 32:30 Adapting to Different Ownerships 37:05 A New Opportunity at the Charles Hotel 40:07 The Value of Independent Hotels 47:44 Advice to My Younger Self
Join Steve Turk on The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, where he delves into the career journey of Darragh McGillicuddy, founder of McGillicuddy Hospitality . Discover insights from Darragh's leadership roles in renowned organizations like Ritz-Carlton and Royal Caribbean, as well as his transition into the entrepreneurial world. Learn about the evolution of the hospitality industry, the importance of leadership development, and how Darragh's company is setting new standards in hospitality training. This episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone passionate about hospitality management and leadership. 00:44 Sponsor Spotlight: Lodgify - The Ultimate Hospitality Management Tool 01:38 Guest Introduction: Dara McGill Cuddy of McGill Cuddy Hospitality 02:36 Dara's Early Days in Hospitality 04:16 Family Legacy: The Story of Bally Garry House 07:21 Hospitality Education: Shannon College of Hotel Management 09:28 Career Journey: From Ireland to Ritz Carlton 14:20 Ritz Carlton Experience: Culture and Empowerment 19:15 Transition to Cruise Industry: Joining Royal Caribbean 23:42 The Evolution of Cruise Ship Deployment 24:16 Royal Caribbean's Innovative Approach 25:14 Transitioning to Food and Beverage Management 26:23 Specialty Dining and Concept Development 29:36 Leadership and Succession Planning 33:12 Starting an Entrepreneurial Journey 35:21 Building a Global Hospitality Training Business 40:47 Future Plans and Industry Insights 43:14 Advice for Aspiring Hospitality Professionals
In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk welcomes Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry . They discuss the distinct qualities of Select Registry, including its focus on independently-owned inns, bed and breakfasts, and boutique hotels, all adhering to a high standard of quality assurance. Mark shares his journey from working for Ford Motor Company to running a successful bed and breakfast with his wife, and eventually becoming the CEO of Select Registry. The conversation covers the evolution and promotion of 'craft lodging,' the importance of unique guest experiences, and how Select Registry supports its members. Mark also touches on exciting future plans involving AI to improve customer journeys. Tune in for insights into the specialty lodging industry and tips for those looking to venture into this field. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:43 What is Select Registry? 03:42 Mark's Journey to Hospitality 07:15 Starting the Bed and Breakfast 13:39 Challenges and Successes 20:20 Working with Select Registry 24:40 Future of Select Registry 32:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
