Lodging Leaders

Imesh is a second-generation hotelier from New Mexico who has owned and managed hotels for more than 25 years. He currently owns and manages 7 franchised properties and he has two more under construction and scheduled to open in 2019.

Imesh has served on the franchise advisory councils of LaQuinta and IHG, and has led the New Mexico Lodging Association for three years. He has also been active in AAHOA in a variety of leadership positions, and currently serves on the Board of Directors.

In This Episode, Imesh reveals …

* The background regarding nuisance lawsuits against hotel owners based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), how it all started, how the problem has progressed, and what you steps you can take to protect your property.

* Key political initiatives today, why you should get involved, and why working with government is so important for hotel owners.

* His experience as an owner/developer which led to his service on various owner councils, including LaQuinta and IHG, some of the main issues franchisees are facing today, and his objectives for improving relations between franchisors.

* Why he’s running for AAHOA Secretary and what he hopes to accomplish.

Resources & Links

Imesh Vaidya

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

* Facebook profile

* Imesh for AAHOA Secretary Facebook page

* Instagram

* Twitter

* Website

Belinda O’Kelly brings a decade of experience, a comprehensive skill set and dedicated design focus to O’Kelly + Kasprak. She is a licensed architect in Illinois, as well as a LEED accredited professional with a specialty in building design and construction.

David Kasprak has been leading the highest quality restaurant, hotel, and retail design teams for decades, and he’s known for designs that are not only award winning, but that also work functionally and are not cost prohibitive.

David holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in architecture, is self-certified for the City of Chicago, and is also a LEED accredited professional.

In This Episode, Belinda and David Reveal …

* The biggest things often overlooked from a design perspective, including creativity, flexibility and durability.

* The biggest trends they’re seeing in hotel design now, including tech, textures, authenticity and local focus.

* Some game changers in the industry – what is really innovating the hotel game – again, including tech, social media, and data-driven design.

* The biggest challenges in the design field right now.

Resources & Links

Belinda O’Kelly

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

David Kasprak

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

O’Kelly Kasprak

* Website

* Twitter

* Facebook

* Instagram

* LinkedIn

Liat Siegel is Owner/Founder of Hadar Interiors Inc., a fearless mother of 5 and a trailblazing entrepreneur. She works with businesses to brand their interiors and set themselves apart from the competition. Liat uses interior design to revitalize a space and modernize it for the digital age.

In This Episode, Liat Reveals …

* The power of strategic, data-driven design, and Liat reveals her ROED Method – Return on Emotional Design – what it is, and why it’s important.

* The first step hoteliers should take for those about to do a renovation or a facelift on their property.

* What you stand to gain if you invest in strategic interior design services versus the traditional methods, and what you stand to lose if you don’t make that investment.

* What she thinks will be the next big trend.

Resources & Links

Mentioned in this Episode

* Hotelier Lounge Podcast

Liat Siegel

* LinkedIn

* Email: [email protected]

Hadar Interiors

* Website

* Twitter

* Facebook

* Instagram

* LinkedIn

Shruti Gandhi Buckley is global head of Hampton by Hilton. In her role, Buckley is responsible for the overall brand strategy, which includes driving brand growth and development, diversifying and increasing revenue and sustaining customer loyalty. With a deep understanding of the hospitality business, Buckley fosters innovation and success for Hampton by Hilton, Hilton’s largest brand, which has more than 2,300 properties globally with 620 on the horizon, marking the largest pipeline in brand history.

In This Episode, Shruti Reveals …

* The vision behind Hilton’s expansion into the Middle East, and why they chose Dubai as the location for the largest property in their portfolio.

* The property itself, and as you heard in the opening soundbite, they paid attention to every detail.

* The market in Dubai, and the kind of travelers they expect this property will attract.

* They have a female GM – Nayla Chowdhury – at the helm of the new Dubai property, and Shruti gives advice to women looking to succeed in the hospitality industry.

* And, we talk about what’s next for Hampton by Hilton.

Resources & Links

Shruti Gandhi Buckley

* LinkedIn

Hilton

* Corporate Website

* Twitter

* Facebook

* LinkedIn

Known to many as Mr. Persuasion, Jeff Tippett is a subject matter expert on persuasive communications.

Speaking to international audiences through keynotes and seminars, Jeff helps attendees increase their effectiveness, gives them powerful tools to help reach their goals, and empowers attendees to positively impact their organizations or businesses.

In 2014, Jeff founded Targeted Persuasion, an award-winning public affairs + communications firm. He has worked with renowned brands like Airbnb, The National Restaurant Association, and The League of Women Voters.

Jeff believes that we all live or die based on our ability to persuade.

In This Episode, Jeff Reveals …

* The superpower of persuasion, and the difference between persuasion and manipulation.

* How to help others find their win (so you win), and he offers some helpful tips for assisting an unhappy guest.

* The correlation between how customers view a given brand … and how they consider that brand when they book in the future, and how we can make a memorable connection with a guest that leads to brand loyalty.

* How to position your messages so that people say yes, and how to craft a call to action that people can’t resist.

* A heartfelt story of his experience with an international adoption, and he connects that profound message for people within the lodging industry.

Resources & Links

Jeff Tippett

* Email: [email protected]

* Website

* Twitter

* Facebook

* Instagram

* LinkedIn

* YouTube

Julia Felton is the Founder of Business HorsePower, which delivers leadership and team development to CEO’s, entrepreneurs and executives.

Julia is a veteran of the hospitality industry having been the creator the HotelBenchmark Survey which provided the lodging industry with monthly statistics on its performance. She took that business from an idea on a piece of paper to the global market leader providing data to hoteliers in all regions across the world, apart from North America. In 2008 that business was sold to STR and became STR Global.

Julia holds a degree in Hospitality Management and has also worked in a variety of luxury five star hotels across the world. She is an international speaker and a best-selling author.

In This Episode, Julia Reveals …

* The business case for organizational alignment through improving team engagement.

* Why employee engagement is becoming so important right now, the percentage of the workforce that are not engaged, and what that means to your bottom line.

* Some of the common myths around employee engagement.

* The key elements of an engaged organization – what that looks like – and the benefits of having a highly engaged workforce.

Resources & Links

Mentioned in this Episode

* Engaged Purpose Workbook (Free)

* Free Engagement Assessment

Julia Felton

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

* Twitter

* Facebook

* YouTube

Business HorsePower

* Website

* Facebook

Jeffrey Davidson is engaging, thought-provoking, and sometimes gets so excited you think he forgot to breathe. Jeffrey has been exploring the boundaries of world-class teams for over 20 years. As a recognized expert in strengthening leaders and building teams, he has worked with 100s of teams, taught thousands, and consulted with multiple Fortune 100 corporations.

A dynamic presenter, Jeffrey speaks at conferences across the United States and Canada, and audiences love his interactive, high-energy talks because they include humor and real-life stories of success … and his many brushes with failure.

Jeffrey’s goal is simple, he wants you to be outstanding … and he wants your team to be even better.

In This Episode, Jeffrey Reveals …

* The UNASKED questions every employee needs answered … things like:

* Does this job have meaning and what is it?

* How do we know we’re working on the right stuff?

* What’s your definition of success?

* The first thing a busy manager should do to turn their team from MEH to STAND-OUT … it’s about creating and sharing a meaning statement.

* How to connect with your team, outside of an annual performance review, in a clear, positive manner – where you constructively share with them what they can build upon, and where they can refocus.

* How creating a culture where your team asks for feedback from other teammates and their boss on a weekly basis makes them more receptive to it.

Resources & Links

Jeffrey Davidson

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

Leading Great Teams

* Website

* Twitter

* Email: [email protected]

* Phone: (972) 965-1830

* Address:

2628 Rolling Mdw

Carrollton, TX 75010

Bijal Patel guides San Jose-based Coast Redwood Hospitality, which owns and operates a portfolio of multiple real estate and hotel projects. He is a third-generation hotelier who signed his first franchise agreement while a senior in high school and earned the prestigious Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation at age 20. He enthusiastically gives back to his chosen industry, serving currently as an officer of the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) as well as being active in the 17,000-member Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) as an Ambassador for the North Pacific Region and as a member of the Young Professionals Committee.

In This Episode, Bijal Reveals …

* His unique perspective on the state of our industry right now … and in the months ahead

* His choice of hospitality as a career … which wasn’t always his first choice

* His ideas about being a third-generation hotelier

* His recent dinner meeting with UN Ambassador Nikki Haley

Resources & Links

Bijal Patel

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

* Instagram

* Twitter

* Facebook (profile)

* Bijal for AAHOA Young Professional Director Facebook Page

Coast Redwood Hospitality

* Website

Mentioned in this Episode

* California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA)

* Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)

Nick Lawniczak has more than 10 years of experience specializing in the luxury hospitality market. Over the years, he’s worked on a wide array of projects ranging from residential remodels, note rebranding, commercial tenant improvements, shopping centers and the development of new high rise luxury condominiums.

Nick feels his greatest strength is his ability to build meaningful and trusting relationships which, he believes, is the key to gaining the confidence and support of the team and departments.

In This Episode, Nick Reveals …

* His career journey, and he shares some of the typical job responsibilities he has had while serving as Director of Engineering for multiple companies.

* Several tips for avoiding common ADA pitfalls that can impact your bottom line.

* The importance of developing key relationships with local governmental agencies, like fire and police, but also developing relationships within other departments at the property.

* Staffing challenges he’s face, and a few things he’s done to foster higher engagement and improve employee retention.

* Some creative ways to recapture revenue for your department.

Resources & Links

Nick Lawniczak

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

Cynthia Bock joined Waterton in 2010 and serves as senior vice president, business development for the hospitality platform. In this role, she is responsible for maintaining and expanding relationships with investors and operating partners related to third party management contracts. Prior to her current role, Cynthia served as senior vice president of sales and marketing, where she was responsible for all top line sales, marketing and revenue management efforts for the hospitality portfolio. She was promoted to senior vice president of development in 2017.

Prior to joining Waterton, Cynthia served as director of sales and marketing for Hyatt, Hilton and InterContinental Hotel Group hotels. She’s worked with full service hotel brands such as Hyatt Regency, Hilton Suites, Doubletree Guest Suites & Conference Center, Crowne Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, as well as focused service brands like Hilton Garden Inn and Doubletree Club.

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in both Marketing and Public Relations from Bradley University in Peoria, IL.

In This Episode, Cynthia Reveals …

* This history of Waterton, their hospitality platform, and the mix of properties in their portfolio which includes both owned and 3rd party managed.

* WHY an owner would hire a management company, and what to look for (good and bad) to find the right management company.

* What sets Waterton apart from other third party management companies, and what you can expect after hiring them.

* And, Cynthia offered to provide a complimentary hotel assessment for the listeners so you can see where the opportunities for improvement and growth are. To get started, call or email Cynthia directly.

Resources & Links

FREE Hotel Assessment

* To take advantage of Cynthia’s offer for a complimentary hotel assessment, call her direct at 630.421.3742 or email her at [email protected].

Cynthia Bock

* Email: [email protected]

* LinkedIn

* Phone: 630.421.3742

Waterton

* Website

* Facebook

* Twitter

* Instagram

* Pinterest

* LinkedIn