Wilmington, NC is an awesome city.  Heck, that's why I moved here 5 years ago and was able to convince Jonas to move here a few weeks ago.

It's also a market I know very, very well - and one that I am very excited about doing a micro resort in.

Today, we pull back the curtain and deep dive into a potential deal that we are looking at so that you can see the thought process and framework we walkthrough on each deal we analyze - and how we come up with either "heck yes" or "no".

The site of our first international micro resort is:

So how did this become the first place we decided to do an international micro resort?

And where is it?

To get those answers, you've got to listen to the show!

Short answer:  VERY!

But for some people, the design process can be very overwhelming.

Today, Heather shares why design is the one of the most importance parts of any hospitality project (especially a boutique one) and why it's not JUST "oh, that's visually appealing" but that it goes much deeper.

Plus, she also gives some of her top design tips that anyone can implement, even if they aren't a designer, and the one thing she will NEVER allow in one of her properties?

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Experiential micro-resorts around the world?

Yes please!

Today, we dive into our the top 15 international destinations that we are dreaming (scheming?) of opening up micro-resorts.

3 people.

5 places each.

And some very surprising answers.

Max Lee is not your typical gym owner.  In fact, he was never even planning on going to the gym, yet alone opening up 20+ gyms across Taiwan.

Heck, he didn't even live in Taiwan 4 years ago - and he wasn't planning on staying that long.

But Max is always open to opportunities, and that's what has lead him and his family to leading such interesting lives.

You'll hear all about it in today's show, including their year of full-time worldschooling, what life is really like in Taipei and how they decided on it, and how Max and his wife found themselves opening 20+ gyms in Taiwan.

Dreaming about where to do our next project is one of the most fun parts of the whole process - and there are no shortage of epic places to pick from.

Today, we narrow down the list to our top 15 places in the US where we'd like to open a micro-resort.

3 people.  5 places each.

Including a special guest - someone who EPOP listeners will recognize.

Kevin was a burnt out Wall Street lawyer who left that life behind to "buy a drug motel at the Jersey Shore with no money."

Oh...and he had no previous hospitality experience.

What he did have was a vision - both for what a new version of hospitality could look like and for what he wanted his life to look like.  

It didn't involve going back to Wall Street...and did it did involve a lifestyle of freedom.

Over the past 7 years, he turned that first motel into a thriving hospitality brand, The Shore House, transformed an entire area, and also pulled of a multi-million dollar exit.

In his new book, The Boutique Hotel Blueprint, he documents the entire journey, and here's the cool part:

In the process, he realized that he wasn't a hotel operator, but instead, a brand creator.

So if you're into real estate and hospitality, then in this episode you'll get a masterclass from Kevin.

And if you aren't into real estate and hospitality, the major lessons Kevin learned are applicable to any facet of life where building a brand is vital (and to be honest, when ISN'T that the case anymore)?

If you like this episode with Kevin, then go grab his brand new, hot off the presses book The Boutique Hotel Blueprint on Amazon - it's worth it's weight in gold (and fortunately, only costs $30).

Two sets of bungalows.  Both on the same island.  Both owned by a one family for the last 50 years.  Both historical and charming.  

And that's where the similarities end.

In this episode, Trav walks through the lessons he learned from the first set of bungalows (and there are A LOT), how he made sure he didn't make the same mistake twice...and also why, despite the setbacks, the first set of bungalows might actually end up being a better deal (which is truly a shocker).

Despite all the similarities, no two deals are the same - and this episode proves it.  

You've thought of it.  Probably even dreamed of it. 

No worries, no stress.  All sunshine, surf, fresh coconuts.  Pure bliss.

Well...you've dreamed of doing it, but Steph and Luke have actually done it.

In 2020, they "bet it all" to move to Costa Rica and open up a hotel with two young daughters in tow.

Heck, they even got a tv show out of it - HGTV's "Betting on Paradise."

They were living the dream.

What could possibly go wrong?

Turns out...A LOT.

Here's the full, behind the scenes story of that journey, told by two people who have some of best energy you could possibly have - and still were almost broken by it!

Jonas has two development projects currently going - one in New York, one in Tennessee.  One's going very well, one's going not so well (or in his words - not at all).

So how do two projects, both with the same owner, take two drastically different paths?

Find out the biggest lessons Jonas has learned from his Tennessee project, the things he would do differently, and how, despite the development taking years longer than expected, he's still making sure that project doesn't destroy him (financially and emotionally)!