Check-In with Bryan

Christmas is sneaking up fast and we are very much in the thick of it. In this week’s Check-Out Friday, Bryan and Tyler talk last-minute holiday shopping, shipping chaos, brutally cold weather, and of course—Christmas movies (yes, including the eternal “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” debate).

In this episode, we chat about:

• Holiday gifting, delayed Amazon orders, and surprise customs fees
• Traveling, blizzards, and wild “I probably shouldn’t be driving in this” stories
• Our go-to Christmas movie lineup: Elf, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and more
• The very serious question of whether Gremlins and Die Hard count as Christmas movies
• A shoutout to recent and upcoming episodes with Jill Szmanda (Forward Tilt) and Scott Eddy (live from Bangkok, Thailand)
• Bryan’s upcoming 2026 Hotel Owners Growth Lab workshops in Phoenix, Houston, and Chicago

Check-Out Fridays are our fast, no-fluff weekly episodes where Bryan and Tyler talk hospitality headlines, travel stories, industry happenings, and whatever else comes up while closing out the week. Think of it as a fun end-of-week debrief with your hospitality nerd friends.

If you enjoy this episode, make sure to:

• Subscribe for more Tuesday interviews + Friday Check-Outs
• Drop a comment with your all-time favorite Christmas movie
• Share this with someone in hospitality who loves the holidays as much as we do

#CheckOutFridays

#CheckInWithBryan

#HospitalityPodcast

#ChristmasMovies

#TravelAndHospitality

#HolidaySeason

What happens when you bring true hospitality thinking into offices, schools, hospitals, and corporate HQs—not just hotels? In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, Bryan sits down with Jill Szmanda, Director of Sales at Forward Tilt, a Scottsdale-based full-service workspace design and commercial furniture firm that’s helping companies turn “just an office” into experience-driven spaces people actually want to be in.

From Dutch Bros’ HQ to NextSpace’s three-story showroom, Jill has spent her career bridging the gap between design vision and operational reality—making sure what looks gorgeous on paper actually works in real life (and doesn’t fall apart like a Wayfair sofa in a hotel lobby).

Along the way, you’ll hear about:
•How Forward Tilt approaches offices as a “magnet, not a mandate” to bring people back to work after years of remote culture
•Why hospitality isn’t just for hotels anymore—and how it’s shaping offices, healthcare, schools, and even vet clinics
•The biggest design mistakes owners and developers make (hello, white sofas and angry yellow walls)
•How to create spaces that reflect a company’s identity and culture without feeling over-designed or cookie-cutter
•The rise of color, pattern, and custom pieces (like Dutch Bros’ peace-sign conference table) and why “millennial grey” is officially over
•Practical tips for balancing budget vs. experience—where to splurge, where to save, and why that $14k coffee table might not be the flex you think it is
•The importance of experience design: scent, music, lighting, art, furniture placement, and even the way power outlets are planned
•The connection between how people live at home and how they show up in shared workspaces (plus some hilarious real-life stories)

If you’re an owner, developer, asset manager, or leader trying to:
•Refresh an office or workspace
•Design a new hotel, amenity space, or shared lobby
•Make your workplace feel more like an experience than a cubicle farm

…this conversation will give you a ton of practical insight, a few “oh no, we did that” moments, and some fresh ideas you can bring straight to your next project.


Check-In with Bryan is hosted by Bryan Fish, CEO of Reliance Hospitality, where he sits down with industry leaders, designers, owners, and innovators reshaping the future of hospitality, travel, and experience-driven spaces.

This episode was recorded at NextSpace in partnership with Immedia.

Enjoyed this episode?
•👍 Like the video if you got value from the conversation
•💬 Drop a comment with your favorite takeaway—or the worst design choice you’ve ever seen in a hotel or office
•🔔 Subscribe to Check-In with Bryan for new episodes and our Friday Checkout mini-episodes

Black Friday isn’t just about TVs and gadgets—this week we’re talking travel deals, Hilton’s huge sale, and what the Sonder–Marriott mess really means for guests.

In this Check-Out Friday episode of Check-In with Bryan, host Bryan Fish and producer Tyler Alexander catch up post-Thanksgiving and cover everything from Black Friday software buys to why airlines are in the business of service, not hospitality—a callback to a powerful analogy from recent guest Sarah Dandashy (@askaconcierge).

They also unpack highlights from this week’s long-form conversation with hospitality attorney and professor Stephen Barth (HospitalityLawyer.com), including:

• The Sonder–Marriott case study and why it’s such a big deal for the industry
• Who actually owns your hotel, who really has your money, and why that matters
• Why travel insurance might be worth it—especially when you’re dropping $10K+ on a trip
• How loyalty points, third-party ownership, and franchise structures can leave guests confused and frustrated

Then Bryan shifts gears into practical Black Friday and holiday travel tips, including:

• Details on Hilton’s major Black Friday sale and how to maximize the promo window
• Why you should avoid third-party booking sites like Expedia/Booking.com for “deals”
• How to use airline vacation packages (like AA Vacations, Delta Vacations, etc.) to bundle flights + hotels for better value
• How advanced pricing algorithms and AI-driven revenue systems changed the old “book on Tuesday” travel hacks

Along the way, Bryan and Tyler riff on:

• Overhead bin drama, basic economy, and the eternal carry-on battle
• Why some airline staff feel firmly “service only” while hotels lean into hospitality
• Holiday chaos, family dinners, and the golden rule of returning the Tupperware

If you’re in hospitality, hotel ownership, or just a frequent traveler trying to protect your wallet and your sanity during peak travel season, this Check-Out Friday is for you.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe to Check-In with Bryan for more candid hospitality conversations every Tuesday, plus our lighter, fast-hit Check-Out Fridays with Bryan & Tyler.

When a brand implodes overnight, is it just a contract dispute—or a hospitality failure?

In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, host Bryan Fish sits down with Stephen Barth—founder of HospitalityLawyer.com, longtime professor at the University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton College, and one of Global Gurus’ Top 30 hospitality professionals—to unpack what really happened in the Sonder–Marriott breakup and what it means for owners, operators, and guests.

They dig into:

• Why your brand is defined less by the crisis itself and more by how you respond
• What a “default” in a license/franchise agreement typically looks like
• Why so many guests were left stranded and who actually holds the legal responsibility
• How the asset-light, franchise model confuses consumers who think they’re “staying with Marriott or Hilton”
• Practical steps guests can take after a collapse like this (travel insurance, credit card disputes, understanding terms & conditions)

From there, Bryan and Stephen zoom out and tackle the big legal minefields facing hospitality leaders heading into 2026, including:

• Hiring, training, and building a culture of safety, empathy, and compliance
• Human trafficking risk and why daily room entry and awareness matter
• Cybersecurity and why hotel owners can’t assume the brand “handles all the tech”
• Alcohol service, dram shop liability, and the dangerous myth that “guests will just go upstairs and sleep it off”
• The often-overlooked protections of EPLI and other targeted insurance coverages

If you own, operate, or advise hotels—or you just want to better understand your rights and risks as a traveler—this conversation will change the way you think about hospitality law, crisis management, and guest care.

This episode is presented by Reliance Hospitality Global—where hospitality meets strategy. From development and operations to profitability and outsourced services, Reliance helps owners, investors, and partners unlock value at every stage of the hotel lifecycle. Learn more at reliancehospitality.com.

👉 If you enjoy conversations at the intersection of hospitality, leadership, and law, make sure you:

• Subscribe to Check-In with Bryan on your favorite podcast platform
• Follow so you don’t miss this week’s Friday “Checkout” episode
• Share this episode with a fellow hotel owner, asset manager, or hospitality leader

Thanks for checking in—and remember: in a crisis, guests may forgive the mistake, but they won’t forget your reaction.

Happy Friday and welcome back to Check-Out Fridays on Check-In with Bryan 

This week, Bryan is coming to you from New York City, catching up with Executive Producer Tyler Alexander for an end-of-week debrief that’s equal parts travel diary, holiday preview, and behind-the-scenes hospitality talk.

In this Check-Out Fridays episode, Bryan recaps a whirlwind stretch that took him from Phoenix → Houston → Sarasota → New York City, with plenty of hospitality touchpoints along the way:

In this episode, Bryan & Tyler chat about:

🛎️ Hotel highlights in Sarasota & NYC

• A stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota and what made the service stand out
• A shout-out to the Holiday Inn on 26th Street in Chelsea and front desk star Rovina, plus thoughts on IHG’s new H5 design and why “New York nice” hits differently

🎄 QVC Holiday House & TikTok Shop

• Bryan’s experience at QVC’s Holiday House activation in NYC
• Meeting Kathy Hilton, hanging with Lara  (@prettyconnected) and her dog Wink
• How TikTok Shop and affiliate-style shopping are reshaping how brands reach guests and consumers

❄️ Somewhere Nowhere’s Winter Wonderland igloo experience

• Rooftop vibes, holiday season energy, and why immersive experiences still matter in a city full of options

🎁 Holiday shopping, QVC gift sets & the Hulken bag

• Bryan & Tyler’s honest thoughts on Black Friday, “fake discounts,” and thoughtful vs. throwaway gifting
• The Hulken bag as a surprisingly practical city accessory

👨‍👩‍👦 Holidays, money, and what really matters

• Why time together often beats expensive gifts
• Stories from family holidays, QVC over-shopping, and how financial realities shape how we celebrate

🚢 Looking ahead: travel & episodes to come

• Bryan’s upcoming Virgin Voyages New Year’s cruise to the Caribbean
• Teasing upcoming Check-In with Bryan guests including Sarah Dandashy, Stephen Barth (hospitalitylaw.com), Scott Eddy, and more
• Plans for a festive New York holiday episode with Laura / Pretty Connected and friends

Throughout the conversation, Bryan and Tyler keep bringing it back to what hospitality really is:

not just five-star brands, but how you make people feel—at the front desk, at a rooftop igloo, online in a TikTok shop, or sitting around the table during the holidays.

👉 Don’t miss this week’s main episode!

If you haven’t already, go check out our Season 4 kickoff with Sarah Dandashy (@askaconcierge), where we dig into the difference between service and hospitality and why it matters more than ever in today’s travel landscape.

💌 Stay connected with Check-In with Bryan & Check-Out Fridays

If you’re a hotelier, hospitality leader, or travel-obsessed operator, make sure to:

• Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts
• Share this episode with a colleague who loves NYC, QVC, or holiday-season hotel stories
• Follow along for upcoming interviews on law, operations, branding, tech, and storytelling in hospitality

See you next week—and enjoy your weekend.

We’re officially kicking off a brand-new season of Check-In with Bryan — and we couldn’t start with anyone better than global concierge, travel expert, and best-selling author Sarah Dandashy.

Sarah is one of the most recognizable voices in luxury hospitality today. She’s worked with iconic properties like The London West Hollywood, Four Seasons Washington DC, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, and L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, and she was named Best Young Concierge by Les Clefs d’Or. She’s also a Georgetown School of Foreign Service grad, a TEDx speaker, a best-selling author, and a worldwide travel expert with over 200+ nights a year on the road.

In this conversation, we dive deep into:
•The state of hospitality in 2025 and where guest expectations are shifting
•How AI is changing travel, concierge work, and guest experience
•Why the human element still matters more than ever
•Service vs. hospitality — and why travelers can feel the difference instantly
•U.S. travel trends, global travel slowdowns, and where Americans are going instead
•Sarah’s insane “2 World Wonders in 1 Weekend” story (Rome ➜ Cairo)
•What cities are surprising her with amazing service
•Destinations she believes will blow up in 2026
•Why she thinks next year may be the “Year of the Safari”
•Writing her second book, staying grounded while traveling 200+ days a year, and what really makes travel meaningful

Whether you’re in hospitality, leadership, brand strategy, or just love travel — this episode sets the tone for an exciting new season.

🎙 Thank you to our studio partners NextSpace and Immedia for hosting us and helping bring this season to life.

#HospitalityIndustry
#TravelExpert
#GuestExperience
#HotelLeadership
#CheckInWithBryan

This week, Bryan sits down with Ryan Rivett, CEO of My Place Hotels of America, to unpack how a lean, owner-friendly brand is scaling nationwide in extended stay—without the bloat. From small-footprint prototypes and vertical integration to pragmatic amenity choices (no free breakfast, smart alternatives) and tech that actually helps operators, this is a masterclass in building hotels that pencil and perform.

What You’ll Learn

• How My Place balances guests, franchisees, and brand standards
• Why smaller footprints (64/86 keys) unlock A-location sites
• Smart amenity strategy: pools optional, Breakfast-in-Bed program
• Construction & cost control via vertical integration + one prototype
• Extended-stay revenue mix: weekly+ base plus short-stay demand
• Site selection playbook: demand facilitators over acreage myths

Resources & Links

• Learn more: My Place Hotels — franchising info on the site
• Recorded at NextSpace Studios (Scottsdale, AZ) in partnership with Immedia
• NextSpace Studios: https://www.nextspaceaz.com/nextspace-studios
• Immedia: https://www.immedia-tech.com/
• Listen to last Tuesday’s episode with Ryan Bodine (NewGen Advisory)

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe and drop a comment: What’s one extended-stay feature you think owners overvalue—or undervalue?

Listen on Apple/Spotify/Youtube and join our newsletter for weekly hospitality insights.

#CheckInWithBryan #Hospitality #HotelManagement #ExtendedStay #MyPlaceHotels

This week’s Check-Out Fridays gets real (and hilarious) about guest behavior, staff sanity, and the messy truth behind “the customer is always right.” From viral hotel-review segments to a wild Bonefish Grill incident and a Chick-fil-A drive-thru puzzle, Bryan and Tyler share frontline stories and practical takeaways every hotel operator—and every traveler—should hear.

What You’ll Learn

• Why “the customer is always right” can hurt service quality
• Simple scripts for handling unreasonable manager requests
• Smart ways to defuse lobby meltdowns during sell-outs
• How to prevent (and document) pet-policy abuse and room damage
• The psychology of online reviews—and prompting balanced feedback
• Three guest-facing rules to post for fewer complaints & better scores

Enjoy these Friday check-outs? Subscribe and tell us: What’s the wildest guest request you’ve ever handled—or received?

Listen on Apple/Spotify and join our newsletter for show notes, tools, and weekly hospitality intel.

#CheckInWithBryan #Hospitality #HotelManagement #TravelBusiness #CheckOutFridays

What separates smart hotel deals from painful ones in 2025? Hotel broker Ryan Bodine (NewGen Advisory) joins Bryan to unpack what buyers/sellers keep getting wrong—overpaying under 1031 pressure, ignoring transfer PIPs, and underinvesting in staff—and how to prep your asset for a saner exit in the next 6–12 months.

About the guest: Ryan advises owners and investors across limited-service to full-service assets, with a straight-shooting, relationship-first approach. Fresh off the 2025 Lodging Conference, he brings a frank read on where pricing, lenders, and brands are actually headed.

You’ll learn:
 • Why “overpaying to avoid taxes” is wrecking deals—and how to resist 1031 clock pressure
 • How defaults, lender workouts, and price resets could shape a buyer’s market
 • PIP strategy: which hills to die on vs. where to concede (and how to use leverage)
 • Extended-stay realities: why proven operating models outperform shiny new flags
 • Labor as asset value: paying more now vs. slow erosion later (reviews, corporate accounts)
 • Financials that sell: USALI-style reporting, T-12s, and clean data rooms that attract real buyers
 • Capital today: DSCR expectations, who’s lending, and what “makes sense” in 2025–26

Studio Partner

NextSpace Studios is an executive-level studio providing top-tier podcast studio space, equipment, and engineering. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, NextSpace Studios delivers state-of-the-art production technology through Immedia, its sister AV/IT integration company.
NextSpace Studios: https://www.nextspaceaz.com/nextspace-studios
Immedia: https://www.immedia-tech.com/

#HospitalityPodcast #HotelInvestment #HotelManagement #PIP #ExtendedStay

It’s another Check-Out Friday — and this week, Bryan and Tyler are kicking back from Scottsdale, Arizona, recording out of the gorgeous NextSpace Studios while reflecting on a wild production week.

From hilarious Reddit hotel reviews (featuring a mysterious “Mountain Lion Club” next door 😅) to Tyler’s missed flight adventure, and a deep dive into whether Outback Steakhouse still holds up — this episode is all about travel chaos, hospitality humor, and the art of not taking yourself too seriously at the end of a long week.

💬 Topics this week:

• The beauty of mobile podcasting setups (shoutout to NextSpace Studios!)
• How Reddit reviews can go off the rails fast
• Why Tyler’s trip to Phoenix didn’t go as planned
• Planning 10 social media shoots in one day (and maybe only hitting 5 😉)
• Our ongoing loyalty to Diet Dr Pepper and Outback’s blooming onion

Whether you’re in hospitality, travel, or just love a good behind-the-scenes laugh, this is your Friday reset button.

🎧 Stream the full Check-In with Bryan podcast everywhere podcasts are found, and make sure to:

👉 Subscribe on YouTube

👉 Rate & follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

👉 Drop a comment — What’s your most ridiculous hotel review story?

#CheckInWithBryan #HospitalityPodcast #TravelHumor #OutbackSteakhouse #ScottsdaleArizona