Defining Hospitality

Today’s guest is very keen on visualizing spaces in 3 dimensions. He also holds state licenses in architecture and interior design. Vito Lotta is the Vice President of Architecture & Design at Hilton Worldwide. Vito joins the host Dan Ryan for the first-ever live, in-person episode of Defining Hospitality! Vito shares his journey through the hospitality industry starting with using a drafting board that his father had all the way to being an integral part of Hilton.

Takeaways: 

• Boredom is an excellent state of mind to be in because it allows you to really drill down into your imagination. It’s hard to be imaginative if your mind is constantly coming up with new things.
• Being in the hospitality industry is providing a certain level of service to your customers, such as teaching guests who can’t dance how to dance and better themselves and providing them with an unforgettable experience.
• To improve yourself for your company and your personal life, it’s best to focus on your strengths and hone those skills to be even better.
• Hilton is going in a unique direction where it’s going to be more playful, energetic, and younger. 
• When it comes to innovation, there are technical, digital, and physical spaces to it all now. You need to find a way to incorporate all those aspects into your design.
• We still live in an analog world. There are millions of apps out there but they aren’t the answer to coming up with a great design space. 
• There are different levels of privacy that guests might want that you can integrate into your hotels. Some guests might want more privacy by using an alias while others might not care as much.

Quote of the Show:

16:50 “we're in the business of hospitality. You're supposed to use your gift of dance to make our customers, our guests feel as elegant and graceful as they aspire to be.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vito-f-lotta-464228/
• Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/corporate/

Shout Outs:

27:13 American Institute of Architects 

32:24 Know Your Strengths by Donald Clifton and Marcus Buckingham

34:40 David Goggins

44:33 Getty’s Group

46:04 Larry Traxler

46:05 Hyatt

46:56 Gensler

50:12 Hotel of Tomorrow

50:37 Ron Swidler

50:51 Rodd Kidley

52:08 Oculus

1:00:54 Wayne’s World

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/SWU9VheTiYs

Today’s guest plays an extraordinary role in the hospitality industry. He is the founder and producer of The Lodging Conference, one of the world’s premier events for hotel owners and hospitality executives. Harry Javer is the President of the Conference Bureau. Harry joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through this beautiful industry and what it all means to him. 

Takeaways: 

• The Lodging Conference was designed to be a hospitality industry event that goes on forever, not just a one-time event that gets put to the side because of different trends.
• A conference owner and a hotel owner actually have a lot in common, but the main commonality is that they both want their guests to leave happy. 
• In order to have a successful conference, you need to be well-rounded and have a natural sense of curiosity. 
• The lodging conference industry is a very resilient industry that has always bounced back from difficult times. 
• When you are planning a conference, you want to have a plan B just in case things don’t go right or the exact way you were planning them.
• One way to stay inspired is to have a great team around you. They will help you come up with new and fresh ideas. 
• Some conferences can have a massive impact on how people do business or interact with others. The Lodging Conference has impacted hundreds of lives for the better.

Quote of the Show:

14:18 “Running a conference is not much different than running a hotel. We basically want the same thing. We want our guests to leave happy.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryjaver/
• Website: http://www.conferencebureau.com/
• The Lodging Congress: https://bit.ly/3RzVAyg

Shout Outs:

5:34 Tommy Trojan

5:41 Sublime

8:45 Tony Robbins

8:53 Bernie Seigel

9:18 Barbara Sher

21:59 Forest Gump

33:18 Bruce Springfield

37:22 Robert Kiyosaki

37:32 Mark Cuban

37:41 Al Gore

37:43 Donald Trump

37:47 Magic Johnson

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/Q-u0AYBb3FY

 Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

It’s a big celebration for Defining Hospitality! We celebrate a year of podcasting with some of Dan’s most popular guests. Throughout the past year, we have heard many great stories and learned so much about what hospitality means to those who work in this beautiful industry. Listen in as Dan guides us through some of his favorite clips and conversations for this week.

Takeaways: 

• Even though there are devastating moments, there are silver linings that lead to greater opportunities. Use the difficult times as your inspiration to push forward.
• There is a shift in how to interact with design from the perspective of hotels. You have to keep in mind who you are designing for and create memorable experiences.
• The true reason hospitality exists is to bring people closer together. It helps to strengthen the common bond between people.
• Every project you work on will be narrative driven and it should reflect the values of the community the project is in.
• Providing a welcoming environment and a certain level of service in a hotel is something that can never be replaced by a robot or an Airbnb.
• Part of hospitality is how you make people feel. You want each and every guest to leave with the best experience they have ever had. 
• Hospitality is like a gathering spot for everyone to come together and find out how close we all are to each other. 

Quote of the Show:

"I walk away from each conversation completely energized. And I think that also taps into what makes our industry so special to really put others first we must excel at openhearted listening" 

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedailydanryan
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/
• Website: https://www.ninesixseven.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
• Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• Youtube : https://youtu.be/mJFJucL3X7s

Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest is highly skilled in corporate law and real estate. He joins the show to share his unique journey through #hospitality. Stephen Wendell is the CEO of Mountain Shore Properties. Stephen joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about what hospitality means to him and his passion for the industry.

Takeaways: 

• Hospitality is one of the hardest asset classes within commercial real estate. You have to deal with a lot of local politics and there is more to navigate.
• When opening up a boutique hotel or restaurant, you want to make something that the locals really care about and tourists will love and appreciate.
• There are more money-conscious decisions that you can make to save money when looking at making a hotel. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on high-speed internet when you can get it for $150.
• Hospitality is made of small moments that add up to be something meaningful for the guests. Whether it’s coffee or a well-placed reading nook, it’s a welcoming feeling.
• When designing a space, you should consider if what you are going for benefits the guest and the community you are in as a whole. 
• You don’t have to always agree with someone you are working on a project with. A healthy discussion can lead to a better product.
• When it comes to running a restaurant or a hotel, it’s important to praise the employees working through the pandemic and keeping those places open.

Quote of the Show:

17:47 “It really is the small moments which then makes developing these hotels so difficult because what really translates to the guests and gets them excited is a very, very small moment.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-wendell-5417291a/
• Website: https://mountainshoreproperties.com/

Shout Outs:

0:37 Kate Rohrer

0:38 ROHE CREATIVE

1:13 Horst Schulze

1:14 Ritz Carlton

1:59 Hampton Inn

2:19 Clarence Kerr

2:22 American Motor Inns

2:29 Sheraton

2:30 Holiday Inn

3:09 REIT

3:28 Proskauer Rose in New York

3:30 Philadelphia Eagles

4:09 Marriott

4:10 Hilton

6:51 Miranda Mancuso

6:57 Andres Belos

7:26 Bunkhouse

9:12 Andrew Benioff

9:14 Independent Lodging Congress

13:20 A League of Their Own

20:57 Ramshackle

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/bTEWgtZEsAI

Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest has a passion for hospitality. He spearheads Wimberly interior’s entertainment, gaming, nightlife F&B, and retail design environment. Josh Held is the Vice President & Director of Entertainment at Wimberly Interiors. Josh joins the host Dan Ryan to share his passion for community and his hospitality journey.

Takeaways: 

• The spaces that are being made in hospitality are all about making connections with others in the same space.
• When you think about the places you tend to go back to as a guest, you go back there because you feel comfortable and it gives you a sense of belonging.
• Burning Man created a sort of petri dish of a community with all different groups of people coming together with a common interest.
• It’s important to open your mind and let go of preconceived notions of the world around you and instead see the experiences around you and build upon the world with that.
• The best ideas often come from when you aren’t trying so hard to come up with an idea. Giving your mind space to breathe is an indispensable tool. 
• The future is undefined and unpredictable, which makes it exciting for people in the hospitality industry to try and innovate for the future. 
• Don’t be afraid to push the limit. You need to be confident and know your stuff, but pushing the boundaries is the only way to innovate with new ideas.

Quote of the Show:

5:59 “Think about the places that you tend to go back to as a guest. Just as being a normal person who interacts with spaces, you tend to go back to the places that make you feel comfortable, that give you that sense of belonging there.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshheldnyc/
• Website: https://www.watg.com/
• Instagram: @joshheldnyc

Shout Outs:

8:09 Marque in New York

17:29 David Allen

32:58 Rockwell Group

33:00 David Rockwell

33:02 David Mexico

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/ciybaWoXQPg

Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest is highly skilled at space planning. He is known for fostering excellence within his design team and uses a client's creativity, focus and experience to turn their dreams into a reality. Marc DeSmet is the Associate Principal at TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design. Marc joins host Dan Ryan to share his #hospitality journey and what it all means to him  

Takeaways: 

• Where you live in the world will influence the way you look at your design space, a faster paced environment will feel and produce a different look than a slower one.
• Hospitality isn’t just about little gift baskets in hotel rooms or flowers. It’s a feeling of welcoming and greeting someone to make them feel comfortable.
• Hospitality is about creating backdrops for memories. You want to create a positive memory for your guests and have it be something they look back upon fondly. 
• Music can play a large role in hospitality as well, as it can influence the way a setting is received by a guest.
• As an architect, it’s important to consider projects that are longer form and can be multi-generational as that can allow the space to really develop.
• You want to create a location that people will want to go back to over and over again. 
• Net Zero hotels are starting to be looked at as the way of the future for hotels to help the environment.

Quote of the Show:

9:24 “I don't think of it as a thing anymore. I think it's not a noun. Hospitality is a verb. It's an action of greeting. It's an action of welcoming.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-desmet-5a325833/
• Website: https://truexcullins.com/

Shout Outs:

0:54 Jeffrey Beers

4:37 Platinum Circle Awards

4:52 Larry Traxler

14:31 Rockwell Group

14:34 David Mexico

15:26 Mies van der Rohe

15:27 Louis Kahn

15:47 Morris Lapidus

15:58 Philip Johnson

19:20 The Cliff House

23:12 Hotel Jackson

23:59 Omni Mount Washington

26:13 Foundation Hotel

27:13 Simone Deerie

27:53 KISS

29:57 RGA Loyal 

31:16 Phish

32:25 Mike Gordon

40:38 Hotel Marcel

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/z3unMKOSp3s

 Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest is responsible for guiding the design of all North American projects for the Canopy, Tempo and Motto brands at Hilton. He has a fabulous eye for interior design and it shows in his work. Barry Sullivan is The Senior Director of Lifestyle at Hilton Worldwide. Barry joins host Dan Ryan to share his #hospitality journey and what it all means to him. 

Takeaways: 

• Hospitality is about making others feel comfortable in a place that is unfamiliar to them or a new environment. You want them to find the versions of the things they find familiar in a new setting.
• People gravitate towards areas that they are most comfortable with. You want to create a sense of comfort with them.
• A soft brand is a hotel that can be whatever it wants to be but the infrastructure might not be all the same.
• As your business grows, you need to keep your passion alive and be involved enough for it to grow in the right direction and not lose sight of the ultimate goal and culture.
• The pandemic has made some projects go on longer than were originally planned, so you want to make sure you are ready for a project to be extended in certain cases.
• It’s a rewarding experience to see a hotel from the beginning all the way to the finished project.
• How you treat your team members is how they will treat guests. You want to make sure you are taking care of the team so they can give the guests their best experiences.

Quote of the Show:

12:16 “Hospitality is making people feel comfortable, or my definition is making them feel comfortable, welcome, and warm in an environment that's not their own.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-sullivan-04933637/
• Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/corporate/

Shout Outs:

0:57 Steve Higgins

1:11 Jim Northcut

2:04 Linda Ronstadt

2:13 Harry Dean Staton

2:19 Kevin Bacon

2:43 Eda Hallinan

2:50 Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City”

6:03 Wimberly

31:44 Larry Traxler

32:29 Sue Firestone

32:42 Design One

32:57 James Northcut Associates

42:24 Margaret McMahon

44:05 Small Giants by Bo Burlingham

49:54 Chris Nassetta

51:14 Conrad Hilton

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/_VMn34qsFXo

 Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest started his hospitality career in hospitality by working in High Rise architecture, but quickly became a hospitality wizard. He has an eye for decatant design. Dieter Cartwright is a Partner at Dutch East Design. Dieter joins host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey through #hospitality and what it all means to him.

Takeaways: 

• You want to design a place where people can gather and enjoy their experience.
• As the designer, you can build a beautiful space but it is up to the owner and manager to maintain it and keep it lively.
• When designing a space, don’t be afraid to hand it over to and acknowledge someone else’s direction.
• You want to create an environment that doesn’t alienate people but instead it bring others together.
• Net Zero is a goal to go away from the dependency on fossil fuels and rather sustainable ways of providing energy.
• The barriers to any change are institutional practices. If you surround yourself with the right team you can help to change things for the better.
• Whatever you are considering building, none of it possible without the use of energy.

Quote of the Show:

9:59 ​​”As a designer, we can build the car, we can give you the keys, but you have to drive it.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dieter-cartwright-assoc-aia-ba859318/
• Website: https://www.dutcheastdesign.com/

Shout Outs:

0:48 David Kaplan

0:50 Death and Company

1:33 Demond

3:07 Setting the Table by Danny Meyer

17:19 Hotel Marcel

19:15 Tapestry by Hilton

29:54 Rich, Brilliant and Willing

32:44 Bruce Becker

39:15 Mindclick

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/RFn09BsS2qc

Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest loves to take on new and unfamiliar typologies and approach them from a hospitality point of view. He has combined strengths in architecture and interior design. Greg Keffer, the Partner at Rockwell Group, leads design studios in the firm’s New York and Madrid offices. Greg joins host Dan Ryan to talk about #hospitality and what it all means to him.

Takeaways: 

• You want to surround yourself with people who view projects in a different way than you and bring something new to the table.
• At the end of the day, hospitality helps to bring out the commonality and real life experiences that connect people.
• Hospitality is all about bringing people together. There is a lot going on in the world now and hospitality can help ease the stress and find the common bond between people.
• You need to consider the needs of your clients as every project and client is going to require a different approach.
• When creating a hospitality space, it needs to be unique and create a memorable experience for the guests so they want to come back.
• We all get caught up in our day to day lives but it’s important to take time to show gratitude and appreciation.
• There is a larger sense of community now in the hospitality industry, and it’s important to be engaged with the community you are in.

Quote of the Show:

6:53 “To me, the true reason hospitality exists is to bring people back together. We need spaces and places and something that is a common bond between people.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-keffer-aia-leed-04aa101b/
• Website: https://www.rockwellgroup.com/index.php

Shout Outs:

4:40 Imagination Playground

10:17 Neuehouse.com

10:31 WeWorks

11:31 Union Square Cafe

11:32 Danny Meyer

15:42 Glen Coben

19:32 Skidmore

19:45 Eva Maddox

20:21 Todd DeGarmo

20:35 David Rockwell

28:55 Empire Diner

37:57 Aluminairium

45:56 Aaron Richter

45:58 Equinox Hotel

47:18 Nobu Hotels

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/DAx8QdXp8OQ

Today’s guest has a keen eye for design as well as being an innovator in the hospitality industry. He is a licensed architect with the American Institute of Architects. Rado Ivanov is the Vice President of Global Design for the USA and Canada at Marriott International. Rado joins host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey through #hospitality and what it all means to him.

Takeaways: 

• When designing a space, you want to think about making that space feel like a home and feel welcoming.
• We as humans are very good at pointing out things that we don’t like, but we can’t really define things we do like.
• Hospitality is an experience. It is something that affects all the major 5 senses in a good way and leaves a lasting impression.
• Hospitality makes the world a smaller and better place through the power of travel. 
• You want people to feel comfortable with the space they are in. You don’t want to make it cold and impersonal.
• The cabinet of curiosities is a wall that shows items that are related to the people who work at the Marriott hotels.
• With the latest innovations in technology, there is a lot interesting ways you can incorporate that into a hotel room, ie 

Quote of the Show:

12:28 “Hospitality to me is an experience.”

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radoivanov/
• Website: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi

Shout Outs:

1:18 Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ

3:15 Arne Sorenson

7:25 Ty Breland

10:36 Jeff Voris

24:08 David Aleman

33:16 Gensler

48:47 AC Marriott

48:48 Courtyard 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/nWcA0EfMKiA