Everyone talks about how to open a bar, restaurant, or hotel (including us). But few talk about what it actually takes to open one successfully.

In this episode of Hospitality Reinvented, Doug Radkey pulls back the curtain on the real preparation required before opening: personally, professionally, and financially.

It’s not just about pre-opening checklists, design, and strategy. It’s about:
✅ Financial security — building stability before taking risk.
✅ Personal and professional support teams — because no one builds greatness alone.
✅ Time, sacrifice, and the mindset to navigate both.
✅ Systems that scale, not just function.
✅ Leadership, communication, and adaptability as the true keys to longevity.

Doug breaks down the truths most consultants won’t tell you — the ones that separate those who survive their first year from those who create sustainable, profitable, legacy-driven businesses.

If you’re thinking about opening a hospitality concept, than this episode will challenge how you plan, how you lead, and how you define readiness.

Because the real work doesn’t start when the doors open. It starts long before that.