Joining the show this week is an industry titan who is shaping the next generation of hospitality professionals. Our guest is none other than Founder of the Radical Innovation hospitality awards, Founder and Chairman of the Hardy Group, John Hardy!

John joins Host Dan Ryan to discuss the importance of innovation and creativity. John reflects on his journey, the challenges, and triumphs of innovative hospitality development, and the future trends shaping the industry. Discover his insights on creating unique, experiential hotels and the importance of continual innovation.

Takeaways: 

• Hospitality is about how you treat guests whether they are in your house or hotel. It is about making them feel comfortable, providing for their needs, and surprising them with extras. 
• Innovation in the hotel industry often comes from outsiders rather than industry insiders, encouraging radical thinking. Creativity thrives when intuition guides decision-making, paving the way for unconventional ideas to flourish.
• Innovation often arises from challenging industry norms and embracing creativity. Embrace unconventional thinking and foster a culture of innovation to drive progress and success in your endeavors.
• The shift towards experiential accommodations like AutoCamp and Airbnb reflects a growing trend among younger consumers who are less brand loyal. To stay competitive, big brands are adapting to offer unique experiences tailored to this trend.
• Embrace risk, dedication, and innovative ideas to drive success. The people who will drive the industry forward are those who are willing to put in the time and effort and aren’t afraid to risk failure. 
• In challenging times with fluctuating interest rates, it's an opportunity to elevate deal-making skills and seize smarter opportunities for future success. Success lies in mastering both the risk and reward game throughout fluctuating cycles.

Quote of the Show:

• “I never let somebody second guess what I thought was the right thing to do.” - John Hardy

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hardy-3a677812/ 
• Website: https://www.radicalinnovation.io/ 
• Website: https://www.jhgi.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• 15:46 - I. M. Pei
• 15:49 - Philip Johnson
• 15:51 - William B Tabler
• 16:03 - Morris Lapidus
• 16:18 - Hilton: https://www.hilton.com/en/ 
• 17:52 - Hyatt Atlanta: https://www.hyatt.com/grand-hyatt/en-US/atlgh-grand-hyatt-atlanta-in-buckhead 
• 18:02 - Trammell Crow 
• 20:24 - Marriott: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 
• 25:12 - Barry Sternlicht: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Sternlicht 
• 26:42 - Bill Kimpton
• 31:26 - Westin Hotels: https://westin.marriott.com/
• 32:15 - HD Magazine: https://hospitalitydesign.com/ 
• 32:30 - Mike Mazigian
• 32:31 - Simon Turner
• 32:34 - Jim Woods
• 32:46 - Wing Chow
• 40:34 - UNLV: https://www.unlv.edu/ 
• 40:39 - NYU: https://www.nyu.edu/ 
• 48:48 - Autocamp: https://autocamp.com/
• 49:03 - Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/ 
• 54:51 - Steve Higgins
• 54:54 - W Hotels: https://w-hotels.marriott.com/ 

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