In this episode, Craig Poole, a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and AHLA’s General Manager of the Year, shares why it’s time to go back to the basics of hospitality. Craig shares why leadership, presence, knowing your people, and engaging directly with guests still matter more than ever. Drawing on decades of experience, he offers practical reminders for hotel leaders seeking to build stronger teams, deliver better guest experiences, and build more resilient businesses.

See more with Craig: 

• Listen: People are the point of impact: How to create new beginnings and empower through leadership
• Listen: Transforming lives through hospitality: What inspired me to do more
• Listen: Be the change you want to see: My advice for hospitality leaders
• Watch: Follow Me and I Will Be Behind You
• Follow Craig on LinkedIn

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Agnelo Fernandes, CEO of Cote Hospitality, shares his take on what will matter most for hospitality leaders in the year ahead. As technology and AI continue to accelerate, Agnelo argues that people and culture—not platforms or tools—will ultimately define the winners in the industry. He explores why the guest journey is becoming more complex, why labor challenges are structural rather than temporary, and why even the best technology fails without the right teams behind it. For hospitality executives navigating rapid change, this conversation offers an expert perspective on leadership, culture, and building long-term competitive advantage.

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this short update, Josiah shares how Hospitality Daily is evolving in the year ahead. 

Ask your question here on LinkedIn

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this short episode, Craig Poole reflects on what Christmas reveals about leadership in hospitality and why this season is often when culture matters most.

You may also enjoy these from Craig: 

• When Places Are Broken, Hospitality Can Lead With Hope
• Why Hospitality Creates Hope

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Craig Poole reflects on why hospitality is uniquely positioned to create hope—especially in broken or forgotten places. Drawing on his experience turning around marginalized properties and communities, Craig explains why hope isn’t something leaders can wish for but must actively build through selfless decisions and risk-taking. The conversation explores hospitality as a giving profession—and how hope emerges when leaders invest in people others overlook. 

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie speaks with Craig Poole, a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and AHLA’s General Manager of the Year, about hospitality’s unique ability to heal broken places. Craig shares how he approaches struggling hotels and communities by changing perception first—restoring dignity, self-esteem, and hope long before financial results follow. Drawing on real-world turnarounds, he explains why investing in people and engaging the surrounding community can transform not just a business, but an entire environment. 

See more with Craig: 

• Listen: People are the point of impact: How to create new beginnings and empower through leadership
• Listen: Transforming lives through hospitality: What inspired me to do more
• Listen: Be the change you want to see: My advice for hospitality leaders
• Watch: Follow Me and I Will Be Behind You
• Follow Craig on LinkedIn

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Rob Blood, Founder and Chairman of Lark, returns for a one-year check-in following Lark’s blockbuster deal with Life House. Rob reflects on what it actually takes to scale a hospitality company after the announcement—working through integration challenges, repairing trust, and intentionally building culture under pressure. The conversation explores how values are operationalized at scale, why storytelling and culture anchor identity, and what to look for in leaders when complexity increases. 

You may also enjoy:

1. Billion-Dollar Boutique Blockbuster: The Story Behind Lark Hotels’ Joint Venture with Life House
2. How We Created An Award-Winning Boutique Hotel Management and Development Company - Meg Kennedy & Rob Blood, Lark Hotels
3. Road Trips & Revelations: Fresh Ideas for Hospitality - Meg Kennedy & Rob Blood, Lark Hotels

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie reconnects with Lynn Bruni-Perkins, Chief Marketing Officer of the San Francisco Travel Association, to talk about where San Francisco is right now and where it’s headed. Lynn shares how storytelling and hospitality play a central role in shaping a city’s future, from rebuilding civic pride to driving visitors to powering the economy. The conversation explores SF Travel’s “Believe in San Francisco” messaging platform, the importance of residents as ambassadors, and why welcoming people—especially in moments of change—matters more than ever for cities and the hospitality professionals who serve them.

• Watch "Believe in the City" on YouTube
• See the "Heart of the City" neighborhood series

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie is joined by Danica Smith, guest experience correspondent for Hospitality Daily and founder of MorningStar GX, to discuss whether hoteliers should start “vibe coding” with AI. 

Danica shares why she decided to experiment with building software herself, what surprised her most along the way, and how AI is removing long-standing technical barriers across hospitality roles. Together, they unpack where this creates real opportunity for operators, leaders, and advisors—and what still matters deeply as technology accelerates. For hospitality professionals curious about AI but unsure where to start, this conversation offers a practical perspective.

Resources:

• SheAI 
• v0 by Vercel
• GitHub

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie speaks with Mark Fancourt, cofounder and principal at TRAVHOTECH, and a former senior leader across global hospitality brands and technology companies. Their conversation moves beyond the typical AI talking points in our industry to examine the less-discussed implications for hospitality — from the workforce and robotics to shifting consumer demand and long-term industry sustainability. Mark offers a perspective shaped by decades of operational leadership and hands-on experimentation with emerging technologies. 

A few more resources:

• If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here.
• You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions
• If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.
• Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.

If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!

Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands