n this episode, I sit down with John Sutton, CEO and founder of Journey—a company rethinking loyalty from the ground up. We talk about why the traditional points-based model is outdated, and how Journey is introducing a smarter, more personalized system designed for independent and boutique hotels. John shares his path from helping scale Red Ventures into a digital powerhouse to now building a platform that gives hotels the tools to drive real guest loyalty—without relying on legacy tactics.

We get into the psychology of what actually makes people come back, how personalization plays a role in the modern travel experience, and why Journey is building a network that puts both operators and guests first. Plus, we go deeper into John’s perspective as a founder, a builder, and a father—and what it really takes to challenge an industry as entrenched as hospitality.