The Hospitality Connection

In this episode of Hospitality Connection, we sit down with keynote speaker and hospitality leader Ryan Minton to talk about the people, purpose, and perspective that shape successful careers. Ryan shares lessons from his own hospitality journey, the importance of finding great mentors, why you should “choose the leader, not the company,” and how taking a long-term view can change the trajectory of your career. We also explore why hospitality remains fundamentally human in an increasingly AI-driven world, how leaders can help their teams find purpose in their work, and what it takes to maintain a genuine passion for serving others. Whether you're just starting your hospitality career or leading teams of your own, this conversation is a reminder that where you're going matters...but who you learn from along the way may matter even more. Connect With The Hospitality Connection Great conversations lead to great connections. Have a question, an industry insight, or a topic you'd like us to explore? We'd love to hear from you. Scott Samuels | CEO & Founder scott@horizonhospitality.com Alex Gould | Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing alex@horizonhospitality.com Horizon Hospitality Website: https://www.horizonhospitality.com General Inquiries: talent@horizonhospitality.com Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of the future of hospitality leadership.

What does it take to build a hospitality career that reaches the C-suite? In this episode, Cohosts Scott Samuels and Alex Gould talk with Justin Fowler, Chief Operating Officer of Sage Hospitality Group as Justin traces his path from scooping ice cream in a family restaurant to running a restaurant division, and lays out the habits that move someone from manager to executive. With more than 35 years in hospitality, Justin explains why financial fluency (reading a P&L cold) is the real foundation of leadership, why he stayed quiet in rooms until he could back up an answer, and how earning respect came before demanding it at every step. He and the hosts also get into the resume patterns that give a recruiter pause, the role of emotional intelligence in managing people, and why staying curious matters more the higher you go. Connect With The Hospitality Connection Great conversations lead to great connections. Have a question, an industry insight, or a topic you'd like us to explore? We'd love to hear from you. Scott Samuels | CEO & Founder scott@horizonhospitality.com Alex Gould | Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing alex@horizonhospitality.com Horizon Hospitality Website: https://www.horizonhospitality.com General Inquiries: talent@horizonhospitality.com Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of the future of hospitality leadership.

What makes a great bar program actually work? In this episode of Hospitality Connection, Scott and Alex sit down with Ben Potts of Unfiltered Hospitality to talk about the systems, standards, and service mindset behind successful bar and beverage programs. Ben shares his path from finance and investment banking into hospitality, then breaks down what operators often get wrong when building cocktail programs. From greeting and guest engagement to menu design, training, checklists, batching, and bar profitability, this conversation is packed with practical insights for hospitality leaders. If you lead a restaurant, hotel, bar, or F&B operation, this episode is a strong reminder that the bar is not just an amenity. Done right, it is a major revenue driver, a guest experience touchpoint, and a reflection of the entire operation. In this conversation, they cover: • How to tell if a bar program is well run • The biggest mistakes operators make with cocktail menus • Why training cannot stop after onboarding • Whether personality or technical skill matters more behind the bar • How guest psychology influences drink sales • The systems every operation needs to execute consistently Connect with Ben Potts / Unfiltered Hospitality: Instagram: @unfilteredhosp / @benpottsbenpotts Website: unfilteredhosp.com LinkedIn: Ben Potts / Unfiltered Hospitality Connect With The Hospitality Connection Great conversations lead to great connections. Have a question, an industry insight, or a topic you'd like us to explore? We'd love to hear from you. Scott Samuels | CEO & Founder scott@horizonhospitality.com Alex Gould | Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing alex@horizonhospitality.com Horizon Hospitality Website: https://www.horizonhospitality.com General Inquiries: talent@horizonhospitality.com Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of the future of hospitality leadership.

What does it really take to leave the corporate restaurant world behind and build something of your own? In this episode of the Hospitality Connection Podcast , hosts Scott Samuels and Alex Gould sit down with Kevin Timmons to explore his journey from corporate restaurant leadership to independent restaurant ownership. Kevin shares his perspective on the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, the transition from managing within a corporate structure to making decisions as an owner, and how his approach to leadership has evolved along the way. Together, they explore the realities of restaurant ownership, building a strong team and culture, balancing creativity with profitability, and the lessons learned when the risks and rewards become personal. Whether you're an aspiring restaurateur, an experienced operator, or a hospitality leader considering your next career move, this conversation offers valuable insights into what it takes to make the leap from corporate leadership to independent ownership. Connect With The Hospitality Connection Great conversations lead to great connections. Have a question, an industry insight, or a topic you'd like us to explore? We'd love to hear from you. Scott Samuels | CEO & Founder scott@horizonhospitality.com Alex Gould | Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing alex@horizonhospitality.com Horizon Hospitality Website: https://www.horizonhospitality.com General Inquiries: talent@horizonhospitality.com Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of the future of hospitality leadership.

Alissa Thomas didn't plan on becoming a recruiter. She was managing restaurants when an opportunity landed in her lap, and now she's a Vice President of Recruiting at Horizon Hospitality. Turns out, the skills that make someone great at hospitality translate perfectly to finding the people who'll be great at it too. Here's what Alissa knows that most recruiters don't: personality beats qualifications almost every time. A resume can tell you where someone's been, but it can't tell you if they'll actually fit your culture or care about the work. We talk about why years of experience matter more than degrees, how to dig into what candidates are really looking for, and why talking to "unqualified" candidates might lead to your best hire. She also breaks down what companies get wrong in their hiring process, why understanding culture is everything, and shares the story of how her team hired 200 employees in six weeks for a major client. This is for anyone hiring in hospitality who's tired of making the wrong call. Connect With The Hospitality Connection Great conversations lead to great connections. Have a question, an industry insight, or a topic you'd like us to explore? We'd love to hear from you. Scott Samuels | CEO & Founder scott@horizonhospitality.com Alex Gould | Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing alex@horizonhospitality.com Horizon Hospitality Website: https://www.horizonhospitality.com General Inquiries: talent@horizonhospitality.com Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of the future of hospitality leadership.

Luxury hospitality isn't what it used to be. And according to Bernardo Netto, that's a good thing. Bernardo has worked his way through some of the world's most prestigious hotels, and he's watched luxury evolve from pure opulence to something more interesting: connection, authenticity, and entertainment. We talk about why personalization matters more than thread count, how cultural differences shape what luxury actually means, and why empowering your staff is the only way to create experiences guests remember. If you think luxury is just about having the best of everything, this conversation will change your mind. It's about understanding what the modern traveler actually values and creating moments that feel genuine, not scripted. This is for anyone working in luxury hospitality or trying to figure out where the industry is headed. Connect With The Hospitality Connection Great conversations lead to great connections. Have a question, an industry insight, or a topic you'd like us to explore? We'd love to hear from you. Scott Samuels | CEO & Founder scott@horizonhospitality.com Alex Gould | Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing alex@horizonhospitality.com Horizon Hospitality Website: https://www.horizonhospitality.com General Inquiries: talent@horizonhospitality.com Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of the future of hospitality leadership.

What happens when your executive chef walks off the job on a Friday night? Who do you call, and how do you keep your operation running? Welcome to The Hospitality Connection , where we tackle the real challenges, tough decisions, and everyday realities of the hospitality industry. Join Scott Samuels, CEO of Horizon Hospitality, and Alex Gould, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing , as they bring decades of experience in hospitality leadership, executive recruitment, food and beverage operations, and business development to the conversation. From hotels and restaurants to resorts and beyond, we're talking with industry executives, operators, and HR leaders about hiring the right people, building strong teams, developing leadership, and keeping top talent. Expect candid conversations, fresh perspectives, industry insights, and a little humor along the way. Whether you're running a restaurant, managing a hotel, or building your career in hospitality, this is where the people shaping the industry come together. The Hospitality Connection: The Voice of Hospitality Leadership. Powered by Horizon Hospitality. Connect With The Hospitality Connection Great conversations lead to great connections. Have a question, an industry insight, or a topic you'd like us to explore? We'd love to hear from you. Scott Samuels | CEO & Founder scott@horizonhospitality.com Alex Gould | Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing alex@horizonhospitality.com Horizon Hospitality Website: https://www.horizonhospitality.com General Inquiries: talent@horizonhospitality.com Stay connected, join the conversation, and be part of the future of hospitality leadership.