What if future guests could help fund a hospitality project before construction is complete?

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, Zeke Freeman is with Mark Pecota, founder of LaunchBoom, to explore how hospitality developers are using crowdfunding and pre-booking campaigns to generate capital, validate demand, and build an audience long before opening day. 

Mark shares how LaunchBoom evolved from launching consumer products on Kickstarter into helping boutique hotels, glamping resorts, and experiential hospitality concepts raise significant pre-booking revenue through guest deposits and discounted future stays. Together, they discuss the mechanics behind hospitality crowdfunding, the role of renderings and storytelling, how developers can test market demand before building, and why some projects generate hundreds of thousands of dollars before a single guest checks in. 

For anyone exploring creative alternatives to traditional debt and equity financing, this conversation offers a practical look at a rapidly growing funding strategy.

What You'll Learn

• Learn how hospitality crowdfunding differs from traditional investor-backed fundraising. 
• Discover how pre-booking campaigns can generate revenue before a property opens.
• Understand why small guest deposits can become powerful indicators of market demand. 
• Explore how renderings, visuals, and storytelling help sell an experience before construction is complete. 
• Hear how hospitality projects like Cosmos generated over $1.9 million in pre-bookings through crowdfunding.
• Learn how developers can use pre-launch data to refine concepts and reduce risk before construction begins. 

Listen to the full conversation for practical insights on crowdfunding, guest demand validation, and innovative hospitality funding strategies.

Connect with Mark Pecota
Website: https://www.launchboom.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markpecota/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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Most people work their way up into boutique hotels from short term rentals, but Sujay Mehta came at it from the other direction, and that changes almost everything.

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, Zeke Freeman sits down with Sujay Mehta of Bloom Ventures in Columbus, Ohio. Sujay spent years in the branded, flagged hotel world before pushing his portfolio toward boutique, experiential hospitality, and he brings a rare mix of operations discipline and creative ambition. They talk about chasing corporate demand instead of only leisure guests, building ancillary revenue around the rooms, and why he believes nobody will ever care about your property more than you do. 

Sujay shares how he learned operations by working night shifts and driving the guest shuttle, why your first deal should probably be an acquisition, and how owning a cluster of properties in one market unlocks real economies of scale. Zeke adds stories from the Red Hotel in Morrison and a mountain project at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.

What You'll Learn

• Discover why boutique hotels can win corporate demand that leisure-focused owners miss.
• Learn how to build ancillary revenue with bars, local restaurant partnerships, merch, and white-labeled wine.
• Understand why nobody cares about your property more than you, and what that means for self-management.
• Hear how Sujay turned a $44,000 repair quote into a $4,500 fix in one hour.
• Explore why your first hotel deal should be an acquisition before you ever try a ground-up build.
• Learn how working the night shift and driving a shuttle taught him operations no SOP could.

There is a lot more in the full conversation, from a golf resort with a vineyard to a private member social club. Give it a listen.

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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Most people think the hard part of a short-term rental is buying it, but the real work starts the day a guest checks in.

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, Zeke Freeman was with Tim Hubbard, founder and CEO of Corzly and host of the Short Term Rental Riches podcast. Tim got into real estate sixteen years ago chasing financial freedom, bought his first short-term rental in California eleven years ago, and slowly turned a remote operation into a business that now supports owners and managers across more than fifty cities. He runs it all from South Brazil with a team spread across the globe.

Tim and Zeke get into what it really takes to operate rentals well, where AI helps and where it still falls short, and the honest lessons from Tim's boutique hotel project in Medellin. It is a practical, grounded conversation about operations, technology, and building hospitality businesses that last.

What You'll Learn

• Learn how Tim structures a fully virtual team into four focused groups that keep operations running smoothly
• Discover the partnership model that lets owners keep their brand and their listings while handing off the day-to-day
• Understand exactly where AI helps in guest communication and where it still needs a human
• Explore the real numbers and setbacks behind a boutique hotel build in Colombia
• Hear why good reviews, not good marketing, decide which properties win in a crowded market
• Understand what to check before you ever invest in real estate in another country

If you own, manage, or dream about short-term rentals, this conversation is worth your time. Listen to the full episode with Tim Hubbard on the Radical Hospitality Podcast.

Connect with Tim Hubbard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-hubbard-str/
Website: https://corzly.com/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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Bruce O'Neal chased money through his whole twenties, hit every goal he set by 27, and still woke up empty for six months straight.

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, Zeke Freeman sits down with Bruce O'Neal, founder of Manna Worldwide, at the organization's headquarters in Dallas. What started as one small calling has grown into 247 projects across more than 40 countries, including schools, nutrition centers, clean water initiatives, and medical clinics. 

Bruce shares the whole arc: growing up poor with an alcoholic father, building a successful exotic flooring company, finding faith at 27, and then selling everything to become a missionary in Japan and the Philippines. He opens up about the first feeding center that began with 10 kids and grew to 250 in three months, the motto that drives everything he does, the discipline that keeps Manna's overhead near 5%, the Mango Tree coffee shops that fund the mission, and why he handed leadership to his son Keith while he is still around to mentor him.

What You'll Learn

• Learn why chasing money left Bruce empty even after he reached every goal he set.
• Discover how one feeding center for 10 children grew into 247 projects worldwide.
• Understand why staying long-term matters more than short bursts of generosity.
• Explore how Manna keeps overhead near 5% while most nonprofits spend close to half.
• Hear how a coffee shop became one of the busiest in Denver and funds hungry kids.
• See why Bruce built the organization to outlast him and handed it to his son Keith.
• This one goes deeper than a business conversation. Listen to the full episode to hear Bruce tell his story in his own words.

Connect with Bruce O'Neal
Website: https://mannaworldwide.com/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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Most people hear Padre Island and think spring break, but two developers are quietly turning it into one of the most interesting hospitality markets in the country.

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, Zeke sits down with Tiffany Zhou and Chris Kilcullen to compare the North and South ends of the longest barrier island in the world. Chris walks through Whitecap Resort, a 240-acre master-planned resort near Corpus Christi with canals for direct Gulf access, a fully automated boat storage facility, a world-class marina, and hundreds of homes entitled for short-term rental. 

Tiffany shares what is happening on the South side, where SpaceX and Starbase are pouring billions into the Rio Grande Valley and reshaping a historically overlooked border region. Along the way they get into cheap land, fast permitting, designing for real guests, the value of getting in the room with people who scare you, and why being early is still the best edge an investor has.

What You'll Learn

• Learn why Padre Island is being called one of America's most overlooked hospitality markets
• Discover how White Cap is turning 240 acres into a waterfront destination with direct Gulf access
• Understand how SpaceX and Starbase are changing real estate on the South side
• Explore why fast permitting and low land cost give Padre a real advantage over Colorado, California, and Florida
• Hear how Tiffany runs a full-cycle design, build, and operate model for short-term rentals
• Learn the networking and risk-taking habits that helped both guests build their businesses

Connect with Tiffany Zhou
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-zhou-design/
Website: www.tiffanyzhou.com

Connect with Chris Kilcullen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kilcullen/
Website: https://www.avisonyoung.us/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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In this episode, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Tim Ensmann, founder of the Boutique Hotel Fund and managing partner of the Pine Tree Hotel. Tim shares how he went from investing in short-term rentals to building a fast-growing boutique hotel business.

Many investors start with short-term rentals, but Tim Ensmann believes boutique hotels create a better path to long-term wealth. In this conversation, he shares how his team transformed an underperforming hotel into a profitable business using strong branding, direct bookings, social media marketing, and group experiences. He also talks about the mistakes they made during renovations, why marketing should start before opening day, and how they are applying those lessons to build an even bigger boutique hotel portfolio.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Tim shifted from short-term rentals to boutique hotels
• How direct bookings increase profit and reduce OTA dependence
• The marketing strategy that filled hotel bookings before opening
• Why group bookings create more predictable revenue
• How to use social media to grow a hospitality brand
• The biggest renovation mistakes to avoid
• Why investor expectations matter during hotel development
• How to decide whether boutique hotels fit your investment goals

Connect with Tim Ensmann
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ensmann/
Website: https://boutiquehotelfund.com/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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In this Radical Hospitality Podcast episode, host Zeke Freeman talks with Kerri Gibson, co‑founder of Chalet Hygge and Motel Boutique Hygge, a growing boutique hospitality brand in Quebec’s ski country. Kerri explains how she walked away from a top general‑manager role in a multinational tech company, reinvented her life and career, and built a hands‑on portfolio of chalets and a boutique motel grounded in hygge‑inspired design, disciplined numbers, and intentional lifestyle choices.

You’ll learn how she and her husband Philippe structure deals, renovate while cash‑flowing, use government loans and grants, and create guest experiences that consistently outperform the local market on ADR, occupancy, and reviews


Key topics covered

• Kerri’s journey from CPA and software executive to full‑time boutique hospitality owner in Quebec
• How a winter trip to Norway and discovering “hygge” reshaped her design philosophy and lifestyle priorities
• The three‑phase model they use for every project: acquisition and underwriting, renovation, and property management/operations
• Why they chose to renovate their 16‑room roadside motel while keeping it open and cash‑flowing—and how that reduced long‑term debt needs
• Creative financing strategies: personal savings, pulling equity from existing chalets, and leveraging Quebec and Canada government programs for a 20‑year loan and grants
• The operational reality of running short‑term rentals versus a motel: guest planning behavior, communications, staffing and guest expectations
• KPIs they track (ADR, RevPAR, occupancy, pacing) and how they lifted ADR from ~139 CAD to ~189 CAD in 18 months, with even higher rates in peak summer
• Building a cohesive brand across multiple properties, staying within a tight “buy box,” and leading with passion and guest experience in every acquisition decision
• How local and regional tourism boards and influencer collaborations drive “warm” demand for their properties
• Kerri’s “life 2.0” reflections on leaving corporate, redefining wealth, and designing a business around her strengths and values

Connect Kerri Gibson
Chalets Hygge: https://chaletshygge.com/
Hygge Motel Boutique: https://www.motelboutiquehygge.com/en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerri-gibson-cpa/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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In this episode, Zeke sits down with Tyler Coon, founder and CEO of Savvy Realty, a network of over 50 short-term rental specialists across 25+ markets in the United States. Tyler shares how he went from renting out a spare bedroom to afford his first home in 2020 to building a nearly $20 million short-term rental portfolio in just six years. 

They dig into what makes a great STR agent, how Tyler's team uses local case studies instead of relying purely on data algorithms, and why experiential amenities like indoor laser tag arenas and outdoor pools are reshaping what investors need to compete. Tyler also breaks down market saturation, how appraisals are starting to catch up to luxury short-term rental values, tips for maximizing your sale price, and his read on where Airbnb and Booking.com are headed next.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• How Tyler turned a single homestay rental into a $20 million short-term rental portfolio
• What separates a great short-term rental agent from a typical real estate agent
• Why Tyler relies on local case studies instead of trusting data algorithms alone
• How to tell if a short-term rental market is getting saturated
• What outdoor amenities and design features are driving bookings in 2026
• The right way to price and prepare a short-term rental for a maximum sale
• Why appraisals are starting to catch up with luxury short-term rental value
• What's changing with Airbnb and Booking.com and what it means for hosts

Connect with Tyler Coon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-coon/

Website: https://www.savvy.realty/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

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In this episode of Radical Hospitality, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Ishita Lalan, founder of Ishita Interiors, to talk about how she and her husband Harshad built a short-term rental design and investment business from the ground up. 

Ishita shares her journey from working a W2 job in architecture to becoming a full-time designer after a visa delay during COVID opened an unexpected door. She breaks down how their early investing experience, including a BRRRR deal that took a property from $330,000 to a $475,000 valuation in just six months, shaped the way she now designs for return on investment. 

The conversation covers her studio's process, pricing structure, favorite design features, and how she has scaled a team of 30 designers while still staying hands on with every project.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Ishita and Harshad used the BRRRR strategy to force appreciation on their first short-term rental
• What happens during their 90-minute client consultation call and why it matters
• The three service tiers they offer (virtual design, full design, and white glove) and how pricing works per square foot
• Why landscaping and outdoor amenities can double a property's rental income
• The design trend Ishita says is overused and should be retired (hint: neon signs)
• How she built and structured a 30-person design team using a pyramid model
• What makes short-term rental design different from residential or commercial design
• Her advice for scaling a creative business without losing quality control
  
  

Connect with Ishita Lalan
Website: https://discovery.ishitainteriors.com/

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

Follow, Rate & Review...

In this episode, host Zeke Freeman sits down with Garrett Brown, founder of Cameron Ranch Glamping, short-term rental expert at BiggerPockets, and author of The Glamping Investor. 

Garrett shares how he went from a music career and three downtown Houston condos to running a 20-plus unit glamping business across two Texas markets. He opens with one of the wildest short-term rental stories you'll ever hear, then digs into the real lessons behind his growth: why commercial real estate and micro resorts beat one-off cabins, how partnerships opened doors without big money down, and why branding and marketing are the real difference between a forgettable stay and a fully booked one. He also reveals his newest project, Paw House Resort, a dog-first luxury nature hotel built to scale.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why micro resorts and commercial real estate build more wealth than single cabins, thanks to economies of scale and net operating income valuation
• How to use partnerships and park model financing to get into hospitality without a hedge fund behind you
• Where to spend your build budget (hint: don't go cheap on the outdoor landscaping and amenities)
• Why dominating one market beats spreading yourself thin across many
• How to spot an untapped niche and turn passion into a brand people will pay a premium for
• The exact three-step marketing funnel Garrett uses to turn social media views into actual bookings
  
  
  

Connect with Garrett Brown:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-brown-03b673169/
Website: https://cameronranchglamping.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/cameronranchglamping

Zeke Freeman's new book, Radical Hospitality, is coming this September.

The book explores how to build cool stuff, serve a lot of people, and create lasting wealth, and how hospitality can be the vehicle for all three.

Join the waitlist: https://radicalhospitality.life/join

Grab the free Radical Hospitality Starter Kit → root-ad.com/starter

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

Ready to get started with your hospitality project?
https://root-ad.com/

Get in Touch: Stay connected with the Radical Hospitality podcast for more episodes exploring the intersection of architecture, design, and unforgettable guest experiences.

Follow, Rate & Review...