On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Davonne Reaves—hotel owner, asset manager, and founder of The Vonne Group—to break down how hotel deals actually get done.

From her start at the front desk to managing over $1 billion in hotel assets, Davonne has built a career rooted in understanding both the operational and financial sides of the business. Today, she’s focused on making hotel ownership more accessible and showing others what’s truly possible.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice. Davonne unpacks the realities of the capital stack, how investors play a role in funding deals, and why most people are thinking about “affordability” all wrong. She also shares why starting smaller is often the smartest move, and how building the right team can make or break a deal.

The result is a clear, honest look at what it really takes to buy a hotel—and why it might be more within reach than most people think.

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:38 Meet Davonne Reaves

03:04 Path to Ownership

05:10 Asset Management Lessons

08:39 First Hotel Deal

12:25 Capital Stack Basics

17:27 Crowdfunding 

22:36 Asset Management Explained

25:52 Hotels Need Humans

26:57 Service Scores Collapse

28:37 You Cannot AI Hospitality

29:50 Start Small Strategy

32:06 How to Pick the Right Investment

33:58 Big Brands versus Independent

35:13 Pitching Lenders

37:05 Build the Right Team

39:39 First Deal Fundamentals

40:44 Passive Investing 

49:14 Suite Summary

⁠Connect with Davonne:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Davonne's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davonnereaves

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Vonne Group's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://thevonnegroup.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Jim Nagle, owner and managing partner of the Drake Oak Brook, an Autograph Collection Hotel, to unpack one of the most unconventional paths into hotel ownership. From starting as a Chicago attorney and bus driver to acquiring a legacy hotel with no money down, Jim’s story challenges everything we think we know about risk, experience, and what it really takes to win in real estate.

But this isn’t just a story about a deal—it’s about proximity, persistence, and the mindset required to see opportunity where others see uncertainty. In fact, a visit to Richard Branson’s Necker Island offered a front-row seat to world-class brand building and reframed how he thought about opportunity.

Today, The Drake Oak Brook is recognized as one of the Top 50 hotels by Condé Nast Traveler, but getting there required navigating the Great Recession, rebuilding during COVID, and redefining what hospitality means at its core.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠Lodgify⁠ &⁠ Bilt⁠

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:37 Meet Jim Nagle

01:48 From Law to Real Estate

03:38 Mentor and Mindset

05:14 Buying the Drake Brand

06:21 Necker Island Lessons

08:59 Pulling the Trigger

11:38 CTA Bus Driver Days

13:21 Drake Decline and Ponzi Scheme

14:28 Rebuilding Through Crises

19:31 Hard Times 

20:18 COVID Renovation Hustle

21:07 Discovering Hidden Talent

24:45 Hospitality Learning Curve

26:34 Top 50 In The World

29:41 Scholarships For Families

31:48 Expanding Into Africa

37:43 Suite Summary

⁠Connect with Jim:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jim's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-nagle-b6777368/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Drake Oak Brook's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline interviews Dieter Schmitz, an original cast member of Laguna Beach who has since built a distinguished career in hospitality.

From starting as a beach attendant to becoming a General Manager at just 25 years old, Schmitz has opened and repositioned nine hotels throughout his career across brands including Accor, IHG, Marriott and more.

Now, as General Manager of the Sofitel New York, he led a full-scale renovation of the flagship property while maintaining operations—an undertaking that required both operational precision and cultural transformation.

In this conversation, Schmitz reflects on the experience of early visibility, the professional implications of reality television, and the deliberate choice to pursue a long-term career in hospitality. He also shares a detailed look at building culture and assembling teams, while underscoring the central role people play in driving performance and guest satisfaction.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:34 Meet Dieter Schmitz

01:39 From Beach Attendant to GM

02:32 Laguna Beach Fame

05:57 Stigma and Persona

10:53 Laguna Beach Reunion

15:55 Hospitality as a Safe Space

17:30 AI and the Future of Hospitality

19:24 Opening Hotels 

21:02 Sofitel Renovation Playbook

24:16 Guest Communication Tips

25:20 Winning Back Guests

26:05 Reopening for Staff

28:27 Culture is Key

31:19 Restaurant Gamble

35:01 Big Brands vs Independent

40:27 Improving Struggling Hotels

47:14 Suite Summary

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with Dieter:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kolin's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dieterbschmitz

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sofitel New York's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.sofitel-new-york.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What does it really take to break into one of the most exclusive industries in the world?

On this episode of Suite Success, Katie sits down with Kolin Jones, Founder and CEO of Amalfi Jets—a $120M private aviation company he started at just 19 years old with no planes, no capital, and no connections.

On the heels of Masters Weekend, now one of the biggest private aviation events in the world, Kolin takes us behind the scenes of what it actually looks like to operate at the highest level of luxury, logistics, and demand.

But this conversation goes far beyond private jets.

From sending 2,500 cold emails a day, to creating a fake persona just to get industry intel, to building the most-followed private aviation brand on social media, Kolin shares how doing things differently became his greatest competitive advantage.

And why in today’s world, attention isn’t optional—it’s everything.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:36 Masters Weekend

04:36 Parking Chaos

05:14 Ways To Fly Private

08:30 Augusta Volume Crunch

09:56 Pilot Origin Story

13:41 Founding Amalfi Jets

17:47 Hustle

20:09 TikTok Growth Engine

28:10 Brand And Operation

31:39 Beyond Aviation Influencers

32:05 Platform Strategy and Tracking

33:57 Algorithm Hacks

39:12 Hiring Outside the Industry

40:50 Authenticity

44:26 Hospitality and Tech

50:37 Triathlon Content Flywheel

57:39 Suite Summary

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with Kolin:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kolin's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kolin-jones/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amalfi Jets's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://amalfijets.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline is joined by Fran Maier—entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Match.com. After helping build one of the most iconic companies of the internet era (and selling it far earlier than she would have liked), Fran went on to do what most people don’t: she started again.

Her next company, BabyQuip, is now the leading baby gear rental platform in the world, operating in thousands of locations and helping families travel more easily. Along the way, she took the company to Shark Tank, scaled a nationwide network of providers, and built a business rooted in trust, safety, and hospitality.

In this conversation, Fran reflects on the early days of building Match.com, the lessons she learned from selling too soon, and how those experiences shaped the way she approaches BabyQuip—from fundraising to brand-building to long-term vision. She also shares what it was like to pitch on Shark Tank, why she believes AI is the next major technological shift, and how she’s created opportunities for thousands of women to build businesses of their own.

Throughout the episode, one theme is clear: success isn’t about getting it perfect the first time—it’s about having the conviction to build again, and the resilience to keep going.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:38 Meet Fran Maier

01:40 Introducing BabyQuip

02:33 A Vacation Saved

04:59 Hospitality And NPS

07:27 Shark Tank Storytime

10:55 Valuation And Growth

12:59 AI And The Next Wave

14:27 Word Of Mouth Marketing

15:35 Pandemic Pivot Lessons

17:32 Trust and Safety Standards

19:57 Training Entrepreneurs

20:27 Working With Family

23:22 Startup Dynamics

24:49 Moms And Career Shifts

25:26 Why Providers Join

26:18 Financial Freedom Stories

27:54 Travel Gear Pain Points

29:58 Partnerships and Expansion

31:09 From Host To CEO

36:47 Match.com Lessons Learned

43:22 Women and Venture Capital

50:02 Suite Summary

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with Fran:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fran's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franmaier/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BabyQuip's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.babyquip.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline is joined by architect and hospitality design expert David Shove-Brown, co-founder of the award-winning firm //3877. With a portfolio spanning hotels, restaurants, and mixed-use spaces across the country, David brings a rare perspective on how design, operations, and human behavior intersect to shape the guest experience.

In this conversation, David shares what he notices within seconds of walking into a hotel and why those first moments matter more than most operators realize. From the layout of a front desk to the lighting in a bathroom, he explains how seemingly small design decisions can influence how a guest feels about their entire stay—often without them even realizing it.

Katie and David also explore the tension between designing spaces that look impressive versus those that actually function well, and where hotels often misallocate budget as a result. They discuss the psychology behind guest satisfaction, the importance of designing for both employees and guests, and why great design is often invisible when done right (but immediately noticeable when it’s not).

Finally, David reflects on how guest expectations have evolved in the age of social media, why design is becoming table stakes, and what today’s travelers are really looking for—from ease and intuitiveness to values like sustainability and authenticity.

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:37 Meet David Shove-Brown

02:51 First Impressions

04:52 Design Details That Fail

06:35 Designing for Operations

08:43 What Feels High End

13:08 Bathroom Lighting Psychology

15:28 Common Hotel Design Mistakes

19:19 Guest Room Details

23:40 How to Balance Your Budget

24:47 Rising Guest Expectations

26:17 Designing Beyond Instagram

27:46 Favorite Projects

30:44 Next Gen Values Shift

33:26 Brands vs. Independents

34:40 Future of Hospitality Design

42:15 Suite Summary

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with David:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsb3877/

David's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsb3877/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠//3877's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.3877.design/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline interviews Gary Sherwin, President and CEO of Visit Newport Beach, to unpack the strategy behind building a destination people don’t just visit but aspire to be part of.

Gary shares why most destinations get branding wrong, the surprising shift from selling hotel rooms to telling holistic stories, and how a single, well-defined brand promise can influence everything from luxury hotel development to how local police interact with visitors.

From celebrity influence and global perception to the power of authenticity over aspiration, this conversation reveals what it really takes to create a place people fall in love with and keep coming back to.

Whether you're in hospitality, marketing, or building a brand of your own, this episode will change how you think about experience, storytelling, and what it means to be truly essential.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:38 Meet Gary Sherwin

01:49 What Is Destination Marketing

03:45 Tourism As Economic Engine

06:40 Aligning Local Stakeholders

09:41 The Newport Beach Brand 

11:55 Building Brands With Data

14:28 Delivering on a Brand Promise

17:05 Social Media and Reputation

18:20 Police as Tourism Ambassadors

22:02 Brand Research

26:17 Authenticity Over Aspiration

28:09 Taglines Done Right

32:45 Celebrity Pop Culture Halo

35:33 The Future of Destination Marketing

45:05 Suite Summary

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with Gary:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gary's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-sherwin-a261871/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Newport Beach's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://visitnewportbeach.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline interviews Carlotta Carabba Tettamanti, owner of Tenuta di Murlo, an 18,000-acre Umbrian estate in Italy that has been in her husband’s family for 300+ years. What began as a castle, working farmland, and a collection of abandoned stone farmhouses has, over the past 18 years, been thoughtfully restored into a luxury hospitality concept featuring private villas, hotel suites, a restaurant, and more.

In this conversation, Carlotta shares how she and her husband transformed the estate without a background in hospitality, the realities of restoring centuries-old buildings for modern guests, and how they balance preservation with luxury. She also discusses what today’s traveler is truly looking for, why authenticity has become such a powerful driver in travel, and the operational complexities of running a storied hotel across such a vast property. We also get into how she built a service culture rooted in passion, why overcommunicating with guests before arrival is critical, and the role of storytelling, history, and human connection in creating memorable stays—along with the unexpected experiences guests love most, from truffle hunting to ceramics.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:38 Meet Carlotta

01:48 Vision for the Estate

04:50 First Villa Restoration

07:23 Building Hotel Services

11:39 Luxury Meets Heritage

15:43 Five Star Service

19:56 Hiring and Training Staff

23:11 The Piazza Hub

27:19 Guest Activities

30:40 Estate Activities Beyond Truffles

31:27 Why Umbria Feels Wilder

33:22 Assisi And Hidden Frescoes

37:40 Motherhood And Managing Tenuta di Murlo

41:14 What Travelers Want Today

43:19 Best Guest Moments

48:10 Suite Summary

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with Carlotta:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Carlotta's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlotta-carabba-tettamanti-radziwill-097a5427/

⁠⁠⁠⁠Tenuta di Murlo's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.murlo.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline speaks with Barry Collymore, a prominent Barbadian-born hotelier, developer, and tourism leader based in Grenada. His work spans multiple facets of the Caribbean tourism industry—he’s the Owner and Executive Chairman of Mount Cinnamon Beach & Wellness Resort, as well as the Director and Partner of the West Indies Management Company. He also co-founded the West Indies School of Hospitality, which aims to create learning paths for Caribbean people in the Hospitality and Service Industries.

Barry’s career spans journalism, government, tourism leadership, and resort ownership — including serving as Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of Grenada and Chairman of the Grenada Tourism Authority. Today, he’s focused on developing world-class Caribbean hospitality while investing in the next generation of industry leaders.

This conversation explores what true wellness really looks like, and why it has far more to do with nature, community, and rhythm of life than spa menus and cold plunges. It also highlights Barry’s vision for the Caribbean as a collective tourism powerhouse. Whether you're a hotelier, a tourism leader, or simply someone who loves to travel, Barry’s perspective offers a thoughtful look at the future of hospitality.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

00:37 Meet Barry Collymore

02:34 All About Grenada

03:42 Mount Cinnamon

05:48 Defining Wellness

09:28 How Grenada Became Home

11:08 From Guest to Owner

15:56 Public and Private Sector Work

20:29 Caribbean Unity 

26:44 Building Talent With WISH

31:35 Next Gen Skills

38:34 Grenada Misconceptions

43:36 Suite Summary

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with Barry:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Barry's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-collymore-99222a10/

⁠⁠⁠Mount Cinnamon's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.mountcinnamon.com/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What does it really take to deliver true five-star service?

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Sarah Dandashy, world-class concierge, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author. She unpacks the mindset that separates good service from a truly unforgettable experience.

From her early days working at the Four Seasons in Washington, DC to refining luxury standards at The Peninsula Beverly Hills and The London West Hollywood, Sarah has had a front-row seat to how the world’s best hotels operate. But as she explains, the real differentiator isn’t memorizing restaurant lists or knowing every answer off the top of your head. It’s something far more powerful.

In this episode, Sarah shares:

-The #1 mindset shift that distinguishes five-star concierges from everyone else

-Why “I don’t know” can actually build credibility (when handled correctly)

-How eliminating red tape elevates luxury service

-Why the best hotels empower their teams instead of scripting them

-The difference between standards and trust — and why both matter

-What winning Best Young Concierge taught her about legitimacy and positioning

Whether you’re in hospitality, short-term rentals, building a personal brand, or simply looking to level up how you show up for others, this episode reveals a timeless truth: five-star service isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about owning the outcome.

This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Connect with Sarah:⁠

⁠⁠⁠Sarah's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: linkedin.com/in/sarahdandashy

⁠⁠Ask A Concierge's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://askaconcierge.tv/

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠