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Culture isn't a poster on the break room wall. It's what happens when a guest walks in and can feel, without anyone saying a word, that the team actually wants them there.

On the next Checkin' In, Jeremy Nichols and Dr. Peter Ricci sit down with two of hospitality's sharpest voices on culture and guest experience: Christine Trippi and Ryan Minton.

Christine Trippi is the founder of The Wise Pineapple and host of The YES Show. She's a TEDx speaker, author of Yes Is the Answer, and the creator of the YES Framework™, built around a simple idea: great service isn't about saying yes to everything; it's about making people feel heard. She's been named General Manager of the Year, led a Marriott International Hotel of the Year, and been recognized by the International Hospitality Institute as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Hospitality.

Ryan Minton spent over 20 years leading world-class hospitality brands, including a run as senior vice president at Hilton and Marriott, driving record revenues and engagement through operational excellence and team development. He's a 2x best-selling author, a member of the Forbes Business Council, a Newsweek expert panelist, and was named one of the World's Best Speakers in Hospitality and Customer Experience by Global Gurus.

In this conversation: what culture actually looks like on the floor, why frontline empowerment beats top-down mandates, how leaders turn service moments into loyalty, and what operators get wrong when they try to manufacture culture instead of building it.

Watch live on LinkedIn and YouTube, or catch the full episode after on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.

You can find our guests at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8D%8Dchristine-trippi-56105311/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmintonspeaks/

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

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What does a five-star rating even mean anymore when guests are used to instant feedback, instant reviews, and instant everything? In this episode, Jeremy Nichols and Jessica Platts talk with Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy, Innovation & Operating Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, about the tension between legacy hospitality standards and a generation raised on real-time validation.

Stuart brings over 30 years of global experience at the intersection of travel, hospitality, customer experience, and technology. Before Forbes Travel Guide, he served as Microsoft's Global Executive for Travel & Hospitality, led J.D. Power's Global Travel Practice, and was the Global Travel Leader for Amperity, a unicorn startup backed by early Amazon, Facebook, and LinkedIn investors. He speaks globally on AI, social commerce, and innovation in travel, sits on multiple industry boards, and has been named among the Most Inspiring, Most Influential, and Top Digital Thought Leaders in global travel and hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute.

In this conversation, we get into:

*How Forbes Travel Guide's rating standards hold up against the speed of modern guest expectations
*What AI and social commerce are actually changing about how travelers choose where to stay
*Where legacy trust systems still matter and where they're being outpaced
*What operators need to understand about the gap between star ratings and real time guest sentiment
*Where the industry is headed as technology reshapes what luxury and service mean

Checkin' In: The Hospitality & Tourism Podcast is hosted by Jeremy Nichols, Gecko Hospitality franchise owner and executive recruiter, and Dr. Peter Ricci, Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Florida Atlantic University. We talk real conversations about hospitality leadership, operations, and industry trends that operators deal with every day but don't always discuss openly.

Guest: Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy, Innovation & Operating Officer, Forbes Travel Guide
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartwgr...
Forbes Travel Guide LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forb...

Watch live on LinkedIn and YouTube, or catch the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Send us Fan Mail

Checkin' In: The Hospitality & Tourism Podcast Ep.9

Join Dr. Peter Ricci and Jeremy Nichols for a thought-provoking conversation with Henry Bowles, Ph.D., as we explore one of the most critical leadership traits in hospitality today: resiliency.

From labor shortages and economic uncertainty to operational challenges and increasing guest expectations, hospitality professionals are constantly asked to adapt, recover, and perform at a high level. But what separates leaders and organizations that thrive through adversity from those that struggle?

Henry Bowles brings a unique perspective to the discussion. Holding PhDs from both Harvard and Oxford, he is the founder of The Henry Bowles Company and creator of the REV: Respond, Expand, Venture™ framework, helping leaders, teams, and organizations develop greater resiliency, agility, and performance.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

• What resiliency looks like in today's hospitality industry

• How leaders can maintain performance during periods of stress and uncertainty

• Building teams that adapt and grow through challenges

• Practical tools for improving mindset, agility, and decision-making

• Preventing burnout while sustaining high standards of service

• Why resiliency may be the most important competitive advantage hospitality organizations can develop

Whether you lead a hotel, restaurant, resort, private club, residential community, or hospitality company, this conversation will provide actionable insights to help you navigate change, strengthen your leadership, and build more resilient teams.

*Guest:* Henry Bowles, Ph.D.
Founder, The Henry Bowles Company

*Hosts:*
Dr. Peter Ricci, Florida Atlantic University
Jeremy Nichols, Gecko Hospitality

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

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In this episode of Checkin’ In, Dr. Peter Ricci was joined by guest cohost Jessica Platts for a conversation with one of the most recognized voices in global hospitality leadership, Dr. Jeffrey O.

Dr. Jeffrey O is an internationally renowned CEO, leadership coach, educator, author, and President of the International Hospitality Institute, the leading advocacy and standards organization serving the global hospitality industry. He is also the founder of the International Hospitality Hall of Fame and has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Most Influential People in Hospitality worldwide.

This conversation explored leadership at the highest levels of hospitality, executive presence, mentorship, global industry trends, and what separates good organizations from truly exceptional ones. The episode also covered Dr. Jeffrey O’s START Model™, his experience advising major hospitality organizations, and his perspective on where the industry is headed next.

With decades of executive leadership experience and influence across the global hospitality community, this episode offers valuable insight for hospitality professionals, operators, educators, and aspiring leaders alike.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Send us Fan Mail

Checkin In Hospitality & Tourism Podcast – Episode 7
Destination Marketing Meets Big Data

Recorded live on Wednesday, April 29th at 11:00 AM

This episode is a deeper look at how data is actually shaping tourism strategy today and what it means for hospitality leaders on the ground.

This episode features:

Ktimene Axetell, CEO of Arrivalist
An economist and seasoned MarTech leader with 25 years of experience, Ktimene leads Arrivalist’s strategy and product evolution, helping position the platform as a leader in visitor intelligence, media attribution, and behavior analytics. Her background includes leadership roles with Sony Pictures Digital, Napster, IAC Advertising Solutions, and Epsilon, along with hands on destination experience with Amelia Island CVB where she earned the HSMAI Platinum Award in Sustainability. Her work bridges global media, tourism strategy, and real world application of data in destination marketing.

Jacob Pewitt Yancey, Head of Analytics at Arrivalist
Former Director of Consumer Insights & Analytics at VISIT FLORIDA, Jacob led the team responsible for measuring marketing performance, shaping statewide tourism strategy, and tracking the overall health of Florida’s tourism economy. An economist by training, his background spans multiple Florida state agencies, with a focus on turning complex data into clear, actionable insights that decision makers can actually use.

Together, we will get into:

How destination marketing is evolving with real behavioral data, not assumptions
What tourism demand actually looks like right now and where it is shifting
How operators and destinations should be thinking about attribution and ROI
Where marketing dollars are working and where they are being wasted
What hospitality leaders should be paying attention to over the next 12 to 24 months

This will be a practical, grounded conversation for hotel, resort, and tourism leaders who want a clearer view of what is actually driving demand and how to adjust strategy accordingly.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Send us Fan Mail

In Episode 6 of Checkin' In: The Hospitality and Tourism Podcast, hosts Jeremy Nichols and Dr. Peter Ricci sit down with respected voices in the private club world to unpack an industry that most people never see from the inside.

Joining us are Michael McCarthy ECM, CEO and General Manager of Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach, one of the top-ranked country clubs in the nation and the world, and Kelly Grabowsky, CCM, Managing Director of the Florida Chapter of the Club Management Association of America, the largest CMAA chapter in the country representing over 1,100 members across 360-plus clubs statewide.

Together, they pull back the curtain on what the private club industry actually looks like, from country clubs and golf clubs to yacht clubs, tennis clubs, military clubs, city clubs, and equity communities. The landscape is wider than most people realize, and the career paths within it are more distinct, more intentional, and more rewarding than many give them credit for.

We also get into the bigger picture: how is the club industry responding to the same forces reshaping hospitality broadly? Revenue optimization, technology, flexible staffing, shifting member expectations, and generational change in leadership are all in play. This is an industry that has historically operated on tradition, and it is navigating real pressure to evolve without losing what makes it unique.

If you work in hospitality, manage a club, are considering a career in the private club space, or simply want a sharper understanding of how this industry operates, this is a conversation worth your time.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Check'in In, Peter Ricci and I bring together a senior level hotel HR panel to talk about where people strategy is headed in 2026 and beyond.

Joining us:

• Caroline Warren, Chief People Officer at Pyramid Global Hospitality
• David Klein, SVP Global Talent & Organizational Development at Universal Destinations & Experiences
• Lexy Coley, Corporate Director of Talent Development at Omni Hotels & Resorts
• Michael Wiszowaty, Senior Manager University Relations & Recruiting at Marriott International

This is a conversation with leaders operating at true scale across global brands, management companies, and iconic destinations. Between them, they oversee talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning, culture, and organizational strategy, impacting thousands of employees.

We will be discussing what hotel HR looks like right now, what is changing, and what operators, owners, and executives need to be thinking about as we move deeper into 2026.

If you care about leadership pipelines, retention, development, culture, and building real talent infrastructure in hospitality, this one is for you.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Send us Fan Mail

Check'in In with the State of Food and Beverage

In this episode, Peter Ricci and Jeremy Nichols sit down with two senior leaders shaping the future of hospitality to get a clear, grounded take on where Food and Beverage stands today and where it is headed next.

Joining the conversation are Sam Bakhshandehpour, Global CEO of José Andrés Group, and Sarah King, Chief People Officer at Darden. Together, they share real world insight on operating pressure, talent strategy, culture, growth, and what leaders need to be thinking about as we move into 2026.

This is an honest, executive-level conversation about what is working, what is broken, and what smart operators should be doing right now.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Send us Fan Mail

Jeremy Nichols and Dr. Peter Ricci hosted a live panel featuring five rising hospitality leaders who offered a direct, unfiltered look at what their generation sees, expects, and wants from this industry. These students are already gaining real experience across hotels, resorts, events, private clubs, and large-scale operations, and they brought a level of honesty operators rarely get to hear.

For anyone leading teams, hiring, or focused on retention, this conversation delivered a clear advantage. The panel dug into culture, growth paths, leadership, work-life balance, and what genuinely attracts Gen Z to hospitality. Their perspective challenged assumptions and helped shed light on how to build workplaces where this generation actually wants to stay.

Our panel:

Sophia McDonnell, FAU
 Events, resort, convention center, and private club experience
 https://lnkd.in/eyhh22wd

Joaquin Dorazio, Palm Beach State College
 Operations, The Boca Raton
 https://lnkd.in/eq38Abm8

Nicole Jaimes, FIU
 Events, SOBE Food and Wine Festival
 https://lnkd.in/epjER3HD

Taylor Sackella, UCF Rosen
 Operations and HR at JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton Orlando
 https://lnkd.in/eEyRJwJZ

Dailany Echeverria, FSU Dedman School of Hospitality
 Operations
 https://lnkd.in/eMuKBmvT

This episode was a valuable discussion for anyone looking to recruit more effectively, retain stronger teams, and understand the mindset of the next generation before they shape the industry without your input. The insights from this group made the session one of our most impactful to date.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Checkin’ In, we sit down with Glenn Haussman, one of the hospitality industry’s most recognizable voices. Glenn is the host of No Vacancy, named the number one hospitality podcast from 2021 through 2024, and the International Hospitality Institute’s number one Social Media Influencer in Hospitality. He was also selected among the Top 50 Most Inspirational People in Global Hospitality in 2024 and 2025.

We dig into what leaders should really pay attention to right now, how media shapes investment and operations decisions, and why great storytelling still wins. Glenn shares lessons from interviewing public company CEOs and game-changing operators on No Vacancy Live, plus what he is seeing across No Vacancy News Today and Friday Night Audit. We touch on his award-winning work during the Covid crisis, teaching at NYU, and the mindset that keeps him consistently ahead of the curve. And most importantly, the landscape of our industry in 2025-2026.


Find Glenn at [email protected] and follow him at @TravelingGlenn.

You can follow Peter Ricci at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/

You can follow Jeremy Nichols at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/

https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols