Defining Hospitality

Today’s guest is a hospitality champion and an ingenious thought leader. He is a lifestyle hotel advisor and entrepreneur. Jeremy Selman is the Principal at Fishtown Collective and HN Capital Partners. Jeremy is breaking the mold of luxury for hospitality and wants to give each guest an experience that is unique to them and brings a smile to their face. Jeremy joins the host Dan Ryan to share his thoughts about the hospitality industry and what it means to him.

Takeaways: 

• In hospitality, you are touching upon all human needs. In a hotel, you are given the opportunity to provide a holistic experience to every guest in a way that dining can’t reach.
• The traditional standard of luxury was where the brand defined what luxury was and delivered that in a formulaic way. Jeremy is focusing on the ability to read a guest and understand what will make them smile. 
• A hotelier is similar to a conductor or producer on a movie set in the sense that they manage the big-picture items going on. Hoteliers' taste often changes with age as well, so you shouldn’t base your designs on taste at the exact moment. 
• Being a hotelier requires a high level of collaboration in order to make sure everything runs smoothly. If everyone isn’t on the same page or rowing in the same direction, then the end goal can’t be achieved. 
• In the hospitality industry, you can’t be afraid to try new ideas. Not everything will work, but it’s worth pioneering and trying to see if there is a new way to uplift an old project or create a new idea from scratch. 
• When going into a new market, you have to really believe that you can get people to buy into what you are presenting and reach the goal of having a beautiful space that all can enjoy. 
• Jeremy is excited about the challenge of balancing technology and service in the hospitality industry. 

Quote of the Show:

“I think culture is something that needs to be openly spoken about and talk.” - Jeremy Selman

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-selman-1900b68a/
• Website: https://hncapitalpartners.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jselmannyc/?hl=en

Shout Outs:

6:13 The Nomad

6:22 The Line in DC and LA

15:18 Hotel Per La

15:23 Adam Sydenham 

21:01 Danny Meyer

29:30 Scott Rudin

28:23 Daniel Del Olmo

38:45 Vipin Nambiar

43:48 Michael Eisner

44:08 Gary Berman

44:09 Berman Falk

52:52 Amazon

52:53 Jeff Bezos

53:20 Mark Zuckerberg

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/OfOIMtOULNw

Today’s guest is an expert in conducting the symphony of insanity of what it takes to open a hotel. He’s a hospitality leader in the Luxury, Full Service, Select Service, Branded, and Independent hotel spaces and is well-versed in the various needs and variables in all sectors. Scott Hammons is the President of Design and Construction of HEI. Scott joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through the hospitality industry and what it all means to him.

Takeaways: 

• The way the market is right now if a hotel is going to acquire that is because there is room to improve the hotel or reinvent it. This can happen when a branded hotel gets bought by another company or when it goes independent.
• First-party project management is a term that Scott has coined to describe his new company, Ground Floor Hospitality. It’s a subsidiary of HEI but he refers to it as “first-party project management” because he oversees the whole project rather than someone he is not affiliated with.
• The hospitality industry is such a dynamic industry. It evokes so many different emotions and uses all 5 senses in order to create an unforgettable experience.
• Being in an entrepreneurial environment allows for more flexibility for new operations and provides room for growth in process improvements.  
• Scott is excited about the diverse opportunities in the hospitality industry. There are many different aspects of hospitality that you can branch into and each project is its own experience. 
• You want to find a space where when you go to work every day, it doesn’t feel like a typical work day or feel draining. You want to work in a place where you find yourself being passionate about what you do. 
• If you are a mentor, you want to prepare your team leaders or other people in your company for a meeting they are about to walk into but still make them walk in the meeting. This will help them to prepare and feel more comfortable for what will happen during that time. 

Quote of the Show:

“There's no business like the hospitality business.” - Scott Hammons

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottkhammons/
• Website: https://www.heihotels.com/

Shout Outs:

0:51 Aaron Anderson

1:35 Josh Pearlman

15:02 Mohawk Mountain House

17:40 Kimpton

17:47 Schrager

19:35 Marriot

29:19 Mark Wilson

29:20 Yoko Ishihara

33:05 Clark Henrati

49:51 Christopher Nassetta

51:42 Avengers Infinity War

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/rnnG9aI3BY0

Today’s guest is a hospitality hero to many in the industry. She is highly skilled at architectural design and believes good design is good business. Kavitha Iyer is the Head Of Design Strategies for the Americas 14 out of the 17 global brands at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Kavitha joins the host Dan Ryan to share her journey through hospitality and what it all means to her. 

Takeaways: 

• Just because something has been done before doesn’t mean that it’s right. Different people can have different ideas and you can always improve upon something that has already been done. 
• It’s important to make your designs feel like they enrich the lives of those who come into the space and also find a way to give back to the community that is hosting your space.
• When you are living in a community, you are not just a guest but you are a part of the community and you welcome others in as well. 
• Hospitality is being generous with your time and sensibilities. Doing this will bring joy to those around you that you can notice in the little moments by their smile or by helping them discover something new. 
• You want to make people feel like they are wanted. It’s more than just making them feel relevant, you have to make them feel like they are special as they walk through the door.
• In the Indian culture, there is a phrase “Atithi Devo Bhava” which means “Guest is God”. This speaks to hospitality is built into the Indian culture and something that all hotels and restaurants can take note of. 
• You want to think about what you bring to the table in terms of design and how unique it is. The more unique your style is the more likely you are to find a place that will appreciate that.

Quote of the Show:

16:10  “I think that's what hospitality is, you are generous with your time and you're generous with your sensibilities.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriyer1/
• Website: https://www.ihgplc.com/en/

Shout Outs:

3:50 University of Madras

22:17 Damon Lawrence

30:17 Frank Lloyd Wright

35:11 Plato’s Republic

52:19 David Bowie

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/8mqzEwb0eJA

Today’s guest has been immersed in the hospitality industry since the age of 13. Will Guidara is the author of many books, including a new one called “Unreasonable Hospitality”. Will has been trained in the dining rooms of Tribeca Grill, Spago, and Tabla and opened the restaurants at the Museum of Modern Art. Will joins the host Dan Ryan to discuss his journey through hospitality and what it all means to him.

Takeaways: 

• Having board games along with fine dining provides an experience that makes the guest feel comfortable and at home. It reminds them of home-cooked meals and time with family and friends.
• Will has always had a passion for creating spaces where people can get together and enjoy being around friends and family. This is part of what led him to be in the hospitality industry. 
• America used to be a manufacturing economy but now 65% of our GDP is driven by the service industry. This means we have shifted the focus of our economy to be in the service industry and provide people with memorable experiences of hospitality.
• The culture of your company is a living, breathing tangible thing. It’s not just part of a checklist; if you don’t live by the cultures of your company, then the culture will die.
• The best way to talk about hospitality is to compare it to service. Service is bringing the right plate to the right person on time but hospitality is how you make them feel when you bring them their food. 
• Your values transcend everything. If you bring your values to the front and make them a core part of who you are, then those values will drive you and help you succeed. 
• Don’t be afraid to look at yourself and tell yourself that you can handle anything that comes your way.

Quote of the Show:

9:24 “It has always brought me joy to create spaces where people can come together.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-guidara-b64952243/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wguidara/?hl=en
• Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B13W5GPT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
• Welcome Conference: https://www.thewelcomeconference.com/

Shout Outs:

1:36 The Nomad

05:47 Simon Sinek

25:39 James Corden

25:43 Balthazar

25:51 Keith McNally

36:09 Rookie Smarts by Liz Wiseman

Eleven Madison Park

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/o2-7Ko4_P9w

Today’s guest has worked on big and small projects, from multimillion-dollar resorts to small home renovations and everything in between. Geoffrey Cramer is the Partner at Murphy Cramer Design. Geoffrey is passionate about creating distinctive architecture and interiors for private and corporate clients. He joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through hospitality and what it all means to him. 

Takeaways: 

• At the end of the day, you have to be willing to take a chance on yourself and know that you will find the solution to whatever problem you face. 
• Don’t be in a place where you think you have the answer to a conversation. Build up the courage to ask a question and don’t be afraid to hear the answer.
• It’s better to take your time on a  design project and push the deadline out further to show something beautiful rather than force everyone to meet tight deadlines and turn in an average-looking design. 
• The work that is done on a project is just as important as the content. You always want to put all your effort into every design project and make it a welcoming space. 
• When it comes to hospitality, it is all about providing strangers and guests with a sense of comfort and a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment. 
• You want to slowly shift your focus as new opportunities arise. This will allow you to be more adept in different areas and hone new skills. 
• In the hospitality industry, you want to try and predict your guest's needs ahead of time and anticipate what they might want in a certain situation and have that ready for them.

Quote of the Show:

19:05 “Really it's being or providing strangers or guests, kind of this comfortable, warm, friendly, welcoming sort of experience.”

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/geoffreycramer
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycramer/ 
• Website: https://www.mcdesign.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphycramerdesign/?hl=en

Shout Outs:

2:58 Morgan Brody

4:29 Pat Murphy

4:30 Susan Seifert

5:44 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

8:26 Helen Jorgenson

8:28 Venus Williams

11:00 Hilton

12:01 Larry Traxler

24:49 The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

37:07 IHG

37:09 Marriott

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/l40KPcrf4NM

Today’s guest is an industry innovator who uses her talented mind to create beautiful spaces. Alexandra Cole is the Principal and US Managing Director at DesignAgency. Alexandra is incredibly skilled at Interior design and running teams across many different timezones. She joins the host Dan Ryan to share her journey through hospitality and what it all means to her. 

Takeaways: 

• After discovering that she has dyslexia, Alexandra looked forward to the creative arts in school and she found the arts to be a creative outlet.
• Hospitality is the feeling of welcoming, accepting, and coming together and sharing experiences with people. 
• There are certain scenarios that exude hospitality like a nice warm farm and a comfortable couch and armchairs. These are part of the overarching feeling of having a space where you feel like you belong.
• The “instagramable moments” are a faux pa in the design world. You don’t make designs to be seen on Instagram, you make designs that are comfortable and make the guest feel warm and invited. 
• It’s always a good idea to push the envelop of curiosity and try to increase your knowledge about your industry and the world around you.
• Coming out of COVID, there has been a lot of opportunities in the hospitality industry for branded spaces to really take off. 
• People will get used to certain brands and staying at the same hotels because it provides them with a sense of familiarity and a feeling of welcomness. 

Quote of the Show:

15:17  “It's really kind of about that feeling of welcoming and acceptance and the coming together of experiences and people.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-cole-15aab316/
• Website: https://www.thedesignagency.ca/

Shout Outs:

1:18 Dune

6:08 Vito Lotta

6:09 Hilton

23:49 Ennismore

23:50 Hoxton

24:03 David Collins

24:38 The Connaught Bar

25:00 Ritz-Carlton

26:15 Aliya Khan

36:36 ILC

44:28 Bentley Residences

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/BDAFehGxzxY

Today’s guest is a passionate hospitality leader with more than 25 years of experience in growing hospitality brands and nurturing successful partnerships in more than 70 countries around the world. Daniel del Olmo is the President & Chief Operating Officer of Sage Hotel Management. Daniel stopped by to preview the upcoming Independent Lodging Congress!

Takeaways: 

• The 2022 Independent Lodging Congress is being held at the Line Hotel in Los Angeles from October 11th-13th. The link to register is included below. 
• The welcome cocktail will be held at the newly opened Hotel Per La on the first day of the Independent Lodging Conference.
• What sets the ILC apart from other hospitality industry conferences is that it feels more like a community than a typical conference. Instead of standard presentations, the ILC is about bringing like-hearted people together to share their diverse experiences.
• From its inception, ILC has brought together many different points of inspiration from both inside and outside the hospitality industry. This basis is still felt today and it’s hard not to be inspired by the varied perspectives on display.
• The ILC highlights the extended family of the hospitality world by featuring all of the disciplines that interact with hospitality, like music, art, culture, etc.
• If you’re on the fence about going to ILC, ask yourself when was the last time that you felt inspired by going to a conference. Also, set some goals for yourself and your company and see how many of them overlap with those of people attending ILC.

Quote of the Show:

• 2:19 “In the case of ILC, I've always found that it's a platform that brings together people that are like-hearted, different minded, and with a whole slew of different experiences and perspectives”

Links:

• If you plan to go to The Independent Lodging Congress in Los Angeles October 11-13, use “DefiningHospitality” when checking out and save 10%. Buy passes here: https://ilcongress.com/ilc/indie-congress-2022
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldelolmo/  
• Sage Hospitality Group website: https://www.sagehospitalitygroup.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• 3:00 Andrew Benioff
• 5:26 Hotel Per La
• 5:36 Jeremy Selman
• Vipin Nambiar

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/LUvU2mkFSmc

Today’s guest is the most decorated black interior designer of our time. Kia Weatherspoon is the President and Founder of Determined by Design. Kia focuses on making interior design a standard for all, not a luxury for a few.  Kia joins the host Dan Ryan to share her powerful journey of finding her way into the hospitality industry.

Takeaways: 

• Kia’s first introduction into the hospitality industry was during her time overseas in the military where she made space out of three sheet walls inside a tent. In that space she felt comforted and felt solace.
• Hospitality is all about being people driven. You want to focus on making sure that you are giving the people a sense of belonging and a place they can be comfortable in and call home.
• To serve people, you have to be grounded and be people focused. That way you can be the best advocate for equal design outcomes for everybody.
• Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself as that shows how worthy you think you are. It’s often the small things that leaders forget. You want to humanize people and not go by just their title then you will find the right people to design for.
• Getting recognized is the least important thing. Instead of being recognized, it’s important to make a change in the world and help others when you can.
• Radical hospitality is this feeling of being welcomed, embraced, included, accepted, and seen, but without any barriers, bias or judgment.
• To help build the pipeline for people of color that are in creative industries there will need to be $30 Million in 30 years. 

Quote of the Show:

13:35 “Being people driven is always about hospitality in my mind.” 

Links:

• Twitter: DetrminedDesign
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiaweatherspoon/
• Website: https://www.determinedbydesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kianweatherspoon/

Shout Outs:

1:14 Stacy Shoemaker

10:31 Alvin Ailey

20:20 Cheryl Durst

37:31 Sequoyah Hunter Sujay

42:16 Jack Travis

42:57 Ashli Johnson - Executive Director Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at Howard University 

43:20 Arne Sorenson

43:21 Marriott

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/YcfLBt3voG4

Are you looking to make your big break into the hospitality industry? Well, look no further because today’s guest is looking for an Intermediate Interior Designer! Sonya Haffey is the Principal at V Starr, the design company that was founded by Venus Williams. Sonya joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about the need to hire in this industry and what to look for in new employees. Links to the job opening in the show notes.

Takeaways: 

• When you are looking at hiring someone, you want to try and hire someone that is smarter than you and can push you to be better yourself. 
• It’s essential to give new hires space to be themselves but also space to fail. It’s important for them to use failure as a learning lesson and grow from it.
• You don't want to deal with drama in the workplace. Hire people that are not going to bring negative energy into the workplace or cause issues. 
• In the hospitality industry, it is very common for people to burnout and not have a good work/life balance. At V Starr, they make sure to have to keep that balance to avoid burnout.

Quote of the Show:

1:18 “My goal in life is for you to prove me wrong at least three times a day. If you can prove me wrong, you'll make my day, I'll be the happiest person alive.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-haffey-b054b320/
• Website: https://www.vstarr.com/
• Intermediate Interior Designer job opening: https://www.vstarr.com/careers/ 

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/CRg1clxzZFk

Today’s guest has over 25 years of experience in luxury hotel and residential design. With each project, she brings an unparalleled amount of knowledge. Anne Wilkinson is the Principal at BAMO, Inc. Anne joist the host Dan Ryan to share her hospitality journey and what it means to her to be a part of this industry.

Takeaways: 

• Working with different principles is similar to working with different clients where each one has a different style that they like and a different process of getting work done.
• At its core, hospitality is about caring. It's about taking care of people that come to stay with you and paying attention to their needs. 
• A lot of the “check boxes” for what makes a hotel a luxury hotel can be seen as outdated and they aren’t the end all be all for the standard of luxury hotels.
• Everybody is focused on bringing people back to the office, so they are looking at having the office spaces be redesigned to be fun and exciting and create a sense of identity amongst the people who work there.
• It’s important to try and look at ways to make your design or space more sustainable so that in the long run it will be better for everyone.
• There are some designs that remain timeless and can be used in any setting. Design actually reflects what is going on in the current world.
• When you are designing a space for anyone, it’s a good idea to listen to what the people who will be using the space are looking for and try to meet their needs and wants.

Quote of the Show:

9:40 “At its core, hospitality is about caring.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-wilkinson-70738512/
• Website: http://www.bamo.com/

Shout Outs:

28:43 Justin Herman Plaza

28:49 Embarcadero

31:46 Tahmahlah

34:43 Mindclick

38:35 Carmelo Resort

44:12 The Aesthetics of Joy

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/2rq5SDrxPzg