Namaste. Today we travel to the most populous country on earth, India and to the city of Agra, famous for the Taj Mahal. Our hotel, The Oberoi Amarvilas is set just 600 metres from the Taj Mahal and close enough that marble domes and minarets feel like they rise from your balcony. This is a bucket list hotel for me and I can’t wait to share this episode with you. Here we go!

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in!

02:01 – INTRODUCTION

07:15 – HOTEL FOUNDERS

12:39 – CURRENT LEADERS

19:15 – HOTEL ROOMS

22:20 – FOOD & BEVERAGE

25:45 – FACILITIES

29:29 – CELEBRITY GUESTS

33:17 – HOTEL AWARDS

37:48 – CONCLUSION

Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at ⁠www.refresh.app⁠, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotels in the world.

Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown. Please check out a wonderful interview with the CEO of The Oberoi, Mr Vikram Oberoi, courtesy of Skift India Summit 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tp-IAHKiAc.

To reserve you stay, visit the The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra website at https://www.oberoihotels.com/hotels-in-agra-amarvilas-resort/. Please consider following the hotel on X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

This month, we transport ourselves to the desert sandsof Egypt—to a place where ancient wonders and five-star hospitality converge in a single unforgettable setting. Our destination is Marriott Mena House Cairo, a legendary hotel with perhaps the most iconic view in the world: the majestic Pyramids of Giza. This is a bucket list hotel for me in one of the most remarkable places on earth. The inspiration for today’s podcast comes from a friend who recently travelled to Egypt. I can’t wait to share this episode with you. Here we go!

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in!

02:01 – INTRODUCTION

07:15 – HOTEL FOUNDERS

12:39 – CURRENT LEADERS

19:15 – HOTEL ROOMS

22:20 – FOOD & BEVERAGE

25:45 – FACILITIES

29:29 – CELEBRITY GUESTS

33:17 – HOTEL AWARDS

37:48 – CONCLUSION

Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at ⁠www.refresh.app⁠, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotels in the world. Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown. Please check out these wonderful videos of the Marriott Mena House Cairo featured in today’s podcast: menahousehotel, Experience Egypt, Hany Farouk, I Media Production, Mareen El Masry, Polychronis Drone, Full interview with the General Manager, Omar Tantwy: https://arabfinance.com/News/newdetails/25220. To reserve you stay, visit the Marriott Mena House Cairo website at marriott.com/en-us/hotels/caimn-marriott-mena-house-cairo/. Please consider following the hotel on X, Facebook and Instagram.

I was lucky enough to travel to Canada over the last year and this was one of my favourite hotels, located in the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains, where alpine splendor, history, and luxury converge in one iconic destination. The Fairmont Banff Springs is a legendary property which has enchanted guests for over a century with its grandeur, natural surroundings, and timeless charm. It is easy to feel like royalty in this castle-like hotel. I can’t wait to share this with you. Here we go!

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and for more than a quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and as general manager of a hotel school have passed the torch to the next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise.

• 02:26 – LOCATION

• 07:30 – FOUNDERS

• 12:05 – CURRENT HOTEL LEADERS

• 15:58 – ROOMS DIVISION

• 18:47 – F&B

• 25:06 – FACILITIES 

• 29:37 – CELEBRITY GUESTS

• 34:59 – AWARDS

Thank you for joining me on this journey to one of the most inspiring resorts in the world. I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, refresh.app, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel rooms and facilities in the world. 

Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown.

To reserve your stay, visit the Fairmont Banff Springs website at banff-springs-hotel.com. Please consider following the hotel on all the socials and view the hotel videos on: youtube.com/@FairmontBanffSprings/videos.

Today, we journey far from shore and arrive in a remote and pristine corner of the Indian Ocean. Here, on the calm turquoise waters of the Maldives, lies a resort that embodies serenity, sustainability, and seclusion. This is Soneva Jani, a resort that has redefined what it means to experience barefoot luxury in the 21st century. I can’t wait to share this with you. Here we go!

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and for more than a quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and as general manager of a hotel school have passed the torch to the next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise.

• 03:16 – FOUNDERS

• 04:45 – GRAND OPENING

• 08:04 – CURRENT HOTEL LEADERS

• 14:29 – EVENTS 

• 15:13 – FACILITIES 

• 17:59 – CELEBRITIES & AWARDS

• 20:02 – FINAL THOUGHTS

Thank you for joining me on this journey to one of the most inspiring resorts in the world. I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, refresh.app, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel rooms and facilities in the world. 

Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown.

To reserve your stay, visit the Soneva Jani website at soneva.com. Please consider following the hotel on all the socials with the handle discoversoneva and view the hotel videos on YouTube.

Today we are journeying back to Dubai and to the tallest building on the planet, the Burj Khalifa. There is one hotel located within the Burj Khalifa and it is the Armani Hotel Dubai. An exquisite five-star property that exudes an almost understated confidence of the muted and elegant colors to which we associate the Armani brand. This is Giorgio Armani’s masterpiece.

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in!

00:00 – INTRODUCTION

03:43 – TAKEHIRO ITO, FormerCluster Sales Director

35:04 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at ⁠www.refresh.app⁠, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotels in the world. Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown. Please check out these wonderful videos of the Burj Khalifa featured in today’s podcast: Viktor Nsk, Dron Prog, Skyvision, Drone Snap and Emaar, the visionaries of the Burj Khalifa!

To reserve you stay, visit the Armani Hotel Dubai website at armanihotels.com. Please consider following the hotel on X, Facebook and Instagram.

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is perhaps the oldest luxury hotel in the world, it opened more than 160 years ago by the visionary, Prince Charles III of Monaco, the Hôtel de Paris was conceived as a statement—a beacon of opulence designed to put Monte Carlo on the map as a playground for the international elite. Over the decades, it has transformed from a bold experiment in luxury into an institution that seamlessly blends history with modern sophistication. I can’t wait to share this with you. Here we go!

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and for more than a quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and as general manager of a hotel school have passed the torch to the next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise.

• 03:42 – HISTORY

• 07:01 – TODAY’S LEADERS

• 09:32 – HOTEL ROOMS

• 14:56 – F&B and EVENTS 

• 17:14 – FACILITIES 

• 21:43 – CELEBRITIES & AWARDS

• 25:36 – UNIQUENESS

• 28:03 – FINAL THOUGHTS

For those of you who believe that luxury is not just about aesthetics or amenities but about an experience that touches the soul, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo stands as a beacon—a place where every corner holds a story, and every stay becomes a cherished memory.

Thank you for joining today’s episode. I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, refresh.app, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel rooms and facilities in the world. 

Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown.

To reserve your stay, visit the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo website at https://www.montecarlosbm.com/en/hotel-monaco/hotel-paris-monte-carlo. The hotel has a virtual tour available here: https://montecarlovirtualtour.com/. Please consider following the hotel on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram.

The Peninsula Hong Kong often features towards the top of the list of the best hotels in the world. This hotel is a Hong Kong icon. It is prominent, and perhaps the in best location in the city, overlooking the magnificent Victoria Harbour.

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in!

00:00 – INTRODUCTION

03:10 – FOUNDERS & HISTORY

06:49 – CURRENT LEADERS

08:44 – HOTEL ROOMS

10:37 – F&B OUTLETS

13:37 – HOTEL FACILITIES

15:39 – CONFERENCE FACILITIES

16:39 – CELEBRITIES & AWARDS

Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love showers in luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at ⁠showeraway.com⁠, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel showers in the world.

Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown. To reserve you stay, visit The Peninsula Hong Kong website at https://www.peninsula.com/. Please consider following the hotel on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Today we are travelling to the tropical island of Guam, in the heart of the Pacific and we will be exploring the Dusit Thani Guam Resort. The hotel opened 10 years ago, and we have a very special guest today, Mr Takehiro Ito, who served as the Pre-Opening Director of Sales and Marketing. He is a highly respected hotel executive with expertise leading the Sales and Marketing for hotels and hotel groups across Australia and overseas, including in Thailand, China, Dubai and of course Guam. Guam is back in business as a tourist destination, after a few tough years due to the COVID pandemic and then a typhoon in 2023. It has now regained its title as one of the top tourist destinations in the Asia-Pacific. Guam is a unique environment being perched above the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the world’s oceans. It has some of the best coral and dive sites on the planet. Here we go!

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to the next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in!

02:48 – CONVERSATION WITH TAKEHIRO ITO

05:21 – OPENING DAY

09:19 – COMPARISONS TO HAWAII

11:19 – THAI HOSPITALITY

17:39 – LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE

21:13 - FUTURE OF THE RESORT

23:40 – F&B OUTLETS

28:06 – HOTEL ROOMS

31:43 – THE FOUNDER

34:40 – CELEBRITIES & AWARDS

Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love showers in luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at ⁠showeraway.com⁠, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel showers in the world.

Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown. To reserve your stay, visit the Dusit Thani Guam Resort website at https://www.dusit.com/dusitthani-guamresort/. Please consider following the hotel on YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome to episode fourteen! Today we are travelling to a hotel that holds a special place in my family story. It is the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle and this podcast is being released to coincide with its 100th birthday celebrations on December 6, 2024! This episode is dedicated to the thousands of loyal team members who have brought this hotel to life over the past century. Here we go!I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in!

03:14 – HISTORY (Official Video – Fairmont, Images – HistoryLink, Images – Fairmont, Images – Peter DeMoor,Renovation – Fairmont, Story - Fairmont, Video – Peter DeMoor, Holidays - Fairmont, Andrew Hoge – Rachael Podolsky, Images – Todd Larson).

17:39 – TODAY’S LEADESHIP TEAM (Sunny Joseph – King 5 Evening News, Video – Peter DeMoor, Sunny Joseph - Downtown Seattle Association , Guillermo Carreno – King 5 Evening News).

21:41 – HOTEL ROOMS (Retreat – Fairmont, Images – Fairmont).  

23:15 – F&B and EVENTS (Events – Fairmont, Images – Fairmont, Weddings – Fairmont).

26:47 – FACILITIES (Experiences – Fairmont, Images – Fairmont, Images – Peter DeMoor, Retreat – Fairmont, Urban Unveiled – Fairmont, Video – Peter DeMoor).

30:38 – CELEBRITIES (Video – Peter DeMoor, Images – HistoryLink, Images – Peter DeMoor, Ramones - Fairmont).

33:58 – AWARDS (Experiences – Fairmont, Images – HistoryLink, Story – Fairmont).Congratulations on reaching 100 years! This is an incredible milestone. I am so grateful to be a small part of your celebrations. Enjoy the next hundred!  Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love showers in luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at ⁠showeraway.com⁠, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel showers in the world.Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!Music by Musictown.‘The Olympic’ - The story of Seattle’s Landmark Hotel is available for purchase at Amazon. You can read a sample of the hotel history at the official HistoryLink site curated by Alan J. Stein and Walt Crowley.To reserve you stay, visit the Fairmont Olympic Hotel Seattle website at https://www.fairmontolympic.com/. Please consider following the hotel on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome to episode thirteen! Today we are exploring how driverless cars are going to change the hotel and travel industry. We’ll discuss the major players such as Alphabet's (Google’s) Waymo, Amazon’s Zoox, Tesla, Uber and Baidu’s Apollo Go . Here we go!

I'm your podcast host, Peter DeMoor. I have a fascination for the hotel industry and over the last quarter-of-a-century I have studied it, been a hotel manager and passed the torch to next generation. Now, as part of an emerging hotel industry tech-startup, I am independent from any specific hotel or chain, and able to talk about the industry with a balanced perspective and with a certain level of expertise. It’s time to check-in!

02:27 – WAYMO (Waymo – Personal Video. Waymo – Ad1 & Ad2).

11:03 – TESLA, ZOOX, UBER and BYD (Uber – Ad. Event – Tesla. Zoox – Supercar Blondie. Zoox – Ad. Apollo Go – Ad).

20:34 – WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR HOTELS? (360c – Volvo. Mecedes-Benz – Supercar Blondie. Audi Urbansphere – Ad).

32:18 – TECH I LOVE AND HATE IN HOTELS (Phone as keycard – Hilton).

35:44 – ROBOTS IN HOTELS (Robot Bar Tender – Rich Tech Robotics).

Driverless cars are going to change the hotel industry more than anything in our lifetime. When we have robotaxis going between cities and increased leisure time and wealth held by private citizens, as a result of AI, you will see an explosion in the hotel and travel industry as it becomes possibly the largest industry on the planet. This is an exciting time for hotels and the higher numbers of travellers enjoying your hotel facilities as the years roll along, maybe you and I will join them!

Thank you for joining today’s episode. Whether you're an industry insider, a student of hotel management, or simply curious about the world of hotels, I hope you were inspired, amazed, and enlightened as we unlocked the secrets of the hotel industry's most iconic leaders and iconic hotels. If you had a wonderful time, the best way to say thank you is to follow our podcast, so that you never miss our monthly episodes. If you love showers in luxury hotels, please check-out our tech start-up, at ⁠showeraway.com⁠, where we hope one day to provide people on daytrips access to the very best hotel showers in the world. Farewell, until the next time you check-in to the Hotel Leaders podcast!

Music by Musictown.

To get a glimpse of Waymo and the future, please visit www.waymo.com, www.tesla.com, www.Hilton.com, www.supercarblondie.com and www.richtechrobotics.com!