In this special highlight episode of The Modern Hotelier, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran take a look back at the first half of the year, revisiting standout moments from over 40 conversations with leading voices in hospitality.

Across these curated clips, hoteliers, developers, and industry leaders share what it really takes to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving hospitality landscape—from building authentic guest experiences and strong team cultures to rethinking branding, revenue strategy, and the future of hotel development.

Guests explore key themes including the importance of curiosity, staying authentic in design and operations, empowering teams as the true “secret sauce” of hospitality, and how technology, data, and shifting traveler expectations are reshaping the industry.

Featuring insights from leaders across boutique hotels, global brands, luxury operators, and innovative developers, this episode offers a powerful snapshot of where hospitality is headed—and what continues to stay timeless: people, purpose, and experience.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  Why genuine success in hospitality starts with a simple but powerful principle: truly liking and prioritizing people 
•  How curiosity, alignment, and shared goals across teams create stronger hotel cultures and better performance 
•  Why authenticity—not checklists or trends—is the foundation of memorable hotel experiences and strong brands 
•  The key strategies for legacy properties to evolve with changing guest expectations without losing their identity 
•  How mindset, attitude, and culture directly impact long-term success in hospitality organizations 
•  Why experience-led pricing strategies can sometimes outperform short-term revenue maximization 

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Cb1YFk2a_Sk

Links:
Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-pohl-8214205/
WorldHotels and International Operations for BWH Hotels: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US.html

Alpha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alpha-midiaou-barry-42a6b014/
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown Little Italy: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sandy-courtyard-san-diego-downtown-little-italy/overview/

Bradley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-steward-7b829a23/
Caravan Outpost: https://caravanoutpostojai.com/

Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-harmon-2184851/
Auberge Resorts: https://auberge.com/

aka on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aka/posts/?feedView=all
aka: https://www.stayaka.com/

Kristie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristiegoshow
Loews Hotels & Co.: https://www.loewshotels.com/

Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskanderson/
Cornell University: https://www.cornell.edu/

Dr. Sharmin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharmindharas/
Hotel ZAZZ: https://www.hotelzazz.com/

Bashar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basharwali/

Intersection Development: https://intersectiondev.com/
Atari Hotels: https://invest.atarihotels.com/

Roman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-pedan/
Kasa: https://kasa.com/

Dondra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dondra-ritzenthaler-a09158406/
Azamara Cruises: https://www.azamara.com/home

Carmen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-a-581b02183/
Ashburton Hospitality: https://www.ashburtonhospitality.com/

Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-luersen-20839113/
Coral Tree Hospitality: https://www.coraltreehospitality.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/283

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.