Jim Looney is the Owner and Founder of Looney & Associates. With over 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he’s an industry leader and a mentor to many. His passion for hospitality is obvious in how he carries a tradition of integrity, quality and service in all of his projects. Jim joins host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey though #hospitality and what it all means to him.

Takeaways: 

• You want to make sure that you are always meeting your deliverables and that you are keeping the clients and your employees happy.
• Gaining the trust of a client is a big responsibility. It is your responsibility to make sure that trust is rewarded.
• Hospitality is making others feel comfortable in your presence. You want others to feel comfortable around you.
• Travel is something that can inspire people and help them come up with new and innovative ideas.
• It’s important to sit back and take time to yourself occasionally and disconnect from all the technology around you.
• The pandemic allowed people to explore hospitality and the world around them in a different lens.
• A design has to feel immediately comfortable. You want guests to feel welcomed by the design and enjoy being where they are.

Quote of the Show:

11:01 “Hospitality to me is making people feel comfortable in your presence.”

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/looneydesign
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-looney-209a15a/
• Website: https://www.looney-associates.com/
• James D. Looney Award at Fay Jones School of Architecture at University of Arkansas - https://uark.academicworks.com/opportunities/22004

Shout Outs:

4:36 Michael Bedner

4:41 Lenny Parker

4:51 Trish Wilson

12:38 Dallas Independent School District

22:12 Museum of Modern Art

23:52 Marriott Wailea

24:39 John Stobbe

34:28 James Dunlop

29:24 Jim Romelspa

43:40 The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

43:43 Ayn Rand

Ways to Tune In: 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419
• Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• Youtube : https://youtu.be/qC4W3Ta10lw