In this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline chats with Kerri Gibson— former CPA and corporate tech executive turned boutique hotelier, chalet host, and founder of Experiences Hygge. What started as a sabbatical to recover from burnout quickly turned into a passion for hospitality, renovation, and creating warm, welcoming spaces rooted in intention. Kerri shares how her journey from the boardroom to the boutique motel wasn’t a straight line—but it was a fulfilling one. Tune in to hear how she:

–Leveraged her accounting background to build a profitable hospitality business

–Navigated burnout and reclaimed joy through creative work

–Moved from the U.S. to Quebec for love (and learned French along the way!)

–Blends Scandinavian-inspired design and French Canadian culture in her properties

–Discovered the unexpected magic of slower travel, seasonal rhythm, and thoughtful hosting

Kerri also elaborates on how she built a successful direct booking strategy with a 70% direct booking rate and offers practical advice on constructing a tech stack for business efficiency. Whether you’re dreaming of your own pivot or just love a good reinvention story, this episode is filled with actionable takeaways and will leave you inspired to chase your “life 2.0”.

Connect with Kerri:

Chalets Hygge Website - Link

Chalets Hygge Instagram - Link

Aux Portes du Soleil Instagram - Link

Kerri Reinvented Instagram - Link

Kerri's LinkedIn - Link

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

Lodgify: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.lodgify.com/?afmc=28y⁠⁠⁠

Use code SUITE20 for 20% off all annual plans

FeedCheck

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠FeedCheck.co/SuiteSuccess⁠⁠⁠⁠ to book a demo!

Flytographer

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠flytographer.com/SuiteSuccess⁠⁠⁠⁠ for $25 off your first shoot!

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠Link⁠

Spotify - ⁠Link⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠Link⁠

⁠Connect with Katie⁠ 

—

Suite Success is part of the ⁠Hospitality.FM⁠ podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the ⁠Hospitality.⁠FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

Summer travel is heating up—and we’ve got the data to prove it. In this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes Misty Belles, Vice President of Global Public Relations at Virtuoso, the world’s leading luxury and experiential travel network. Dubbed the Wander Woman of Travel, Misty shares an exclusive first look at Virtuoso’s top travel trends for Summer 2025—just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Tune in to hear about:

–Why travelers are skipping the usual capital cities for secondary and off-the-beaten-path destinations

–The surprising spike in demand for places like the UK countryside, Montenegro, and Turkey

–How climate concerns and overtourism are quietly influencing travel behavior

–Why booking windows are longer—and what that says about traveler confidence

–Whether luxury travel is immune to economic uncertainty and tariffs

Plus, Misty and Katie nerd out on data (in the best way), reflect on post-pandemic growth, and explore what it really means to travel well in today’s world.

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

Lodgify: ⁠⁠https://www.lodgify.com/?afmc=28y⁠⁠

Use code SUITE20 for 20% off all annual plans

Flytographer

Visit ⁠⁠⁠flytographer.com/SuiteSuccess⁠⁠⁠ for $25 off your first shoot!

FeedCheck

Visit ⁠⁠FeedCheck.co/SuiteSuccess⁠⁠ to book a demo!

Links:

Apple Podcasts - Link

Spotify - Link

Suite Success Website - Link

Connect with Katie 

—

Suite Success is part of the Hospitality.FM podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

In this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down for a candid conversation with Brian Kelly, known to millions as “The Points Guy”. The trailblazing founder of the world’s most influential travel and points platform pulls back the curtain on how the idea for a points travel agency evolved into a personal blog — and ultimately grew into a global media empire with a fiercely loyal global following.

Brian shares how he transformed a passion for travel and loyalty programs into a brand that redefined how people think about points — turning everyday spending into unforgettable adventures. He opens up about the early hustle, building trust through transparency, and why authenticity has always been his North Star.

From mastering personal branding to disrupting the travel space, Brian’s journey is equal parts hustle and heart. He also reveals behind-the-scenes stories about penning his first book, How to Win at Travel, and what made becoming a New York Times bestseller so deeply fulfilling. Whether you’re a marketer, entrepreneur, points junkie, or travel enthusiast, this conversation is packed with insights on turning niche knowledge into massive impact, and doing it on your own terms.

Connect with Brian

https://instagram.com/briankelly

https://thepointsguy.com/

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

Lodgify

Use code SUITE20 for 20% off all annual plans

FeedCheck

Visit FeedCheck.co/SuiteSuccess to book a demo!

Flytographer

Visit flytographer.com/SuiteSuccess for $25 off your first shoot!

Links:

Apple Podcasts - Link

Spotify - Link

Suite Success Website - Link

Connect with Katie 

—

Suite Success is part of the Hospitality.FM podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

In this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Nicole Smith, the visionary founder of Flytographer — the world’s first global vacation photography platform. What started as a creative side hustle after a weekend in Paris with her best friend has grown into an eight-figure, profitable business that spans over 350 destinations and has helped over 100,000 travelers capture meaningful moments across the globe.

Nicole shares how she went from working full-time at Microsoft with no entrepreneurial background to launching Flytographer in 2013 with 18 photographers in 18 cities. She has since grown the brand and the company, which has put more than $30 million into the pockets of local creatives worldwide. She opens up about trusting the whisper of an idea, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why your next best business idea might just be hiding in plain sight.

Whether you’re a founder, creative, or travel enthusiast, Nicole’s story is full of heart, hustle, and takeaways that will inspire you to follow that spark — no matter your age or experience.

Connect with Nicole:

Company:

Flytographer Website - Link

@flytographer on all socials

Personal:

LinkedIn - Link

Instagram: @flytographerfounder

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

Lodgify: ⁠https://www.lodgify.com/?afmc=28y⁠

Use code SUITE20 for 20% off all annual plans

Flytographer

Visit ⁠⁠flytographer.com/SuiteSuccess⁠⁠ for $25 off your first shoot!

FeedCheck

Visit ⁠FeedCheck.co/SuiteSuccess⁠ to book a demo!

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠Link⁠⁠

Spotify - ⁠⁠Link⁠⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠Link⁠⁠

⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠ 

—

Suite Success is part of the ⁠⁠Hospitality.FM⁠⁠ podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the ⁠⁠Hospitality.⁠⁠FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with one of the most influential communications leaders in hospitality and beyond: KC Kavanagh. Currently serving as the Chief Communications Officer for Visa, KC has also held top communications roles at companies like AT&T, Bacardi, and, of course, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Throughout her 18 year tenure with the hotel company, she helped shape the narrative and cultural cachet of brands like W Hotels, Westin, and St. Regis, just to name a few. From boardroom chaos to brand-building brilliance, KC shares behind-the-scenes stories few have ever heard: the fierce rivalry that began with a comment about a backpack; the power plays that led to Marriott’s blockbuster acquisition; and the inside scoop on the unexpected resurgence of the Starwood brand. This conversation is a love letter to bold moves, creative risk-taking, and the art of reinvention. Whether you’re in hospitality, communications, or just obsessed with brand storytelling, let this be your permission slip to think big, trust your instincts, and embrace the comeback.

Connect with KC:

LinkedIn - Link

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

Lodgify: https://www.lodgify.com/?afmc=28y

Use code SUITE20 for 20% off all annual plans

FeedCheck

Visit FeedCheck.co/SuiteSuccess to book a demo!

Flytographer

Visit flytographer.com/SuiteSuccess for $25 off your first shoot!

Links:

Apple Podcasts - ⁠Link⁠

Spotify - ⁠Link⁠

Suite Success Website - ⁠Link⁠

⁠Connect with Katie⁠ 

—

Suite Success is part of the ⁠Hospitality.FM⁠ podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the ⁠Hospitality.⁠FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

On this Earth Day-inspired episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes Leo Ghitis, the visionary owner of Nayara Resorts. Leo is an entrepreneur who’s redefining what it means to run luxury eco-lodges with purpose. He personifies blending a deep love of nature with his mission-driven mindset, resulting in an unwavering commitment to transformative hospitality. His properties have earned global recognition, including the title of #1 Hotel in the World by Travel + Leisure, but Leo believes the most meaningful accolades aren’t about thread counts or poolside views—they’re about reforestation, regenerative travel, and making a positive impact on local communities. From building a wildlife sanctuary for rebellious sloths (yes, really!) to developing a housing community for his team, Leo is proof that hospitality can be both profitable and sustainable.

Connect with Leo:

Leo's LinkedIn - Link

Nayara Resorts Instagram - Link

Nayara Resorts - Link

Photo credit: Nick Garcia, originally published in South Florida Business & Wealth.

Links:

Apple Podcasts - Link

Spotify - Link

Suite Success Website - Link

Connect with Katie 

—

Suite Success is part of the Hospitality.FM podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline is joined by Chris Holdren, a visionary marketing leader whose career has shaped some of the world’s most iconic hospitality and entertainment brands. Most recently, Chris served as EVP Chief Marketing Officer and later Co-President of Caesars Digital, where he helped lead the brand’s foray into the digital gaming world.

Katie and Chris first met during their time at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where Chris spent 15 years leading digital innovation, loyalty programs, partnerships, and brand strategy during one of the most transformative eras in hospitality. Prior to that, he was with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online, helping pioneer the intersection of entertainment and technology.

In this candid conversation, Chris shares how his grandfather’s small motel business sparked a lifelong passion for hospitality, how Starwood’s global culture and spirit of innovation inspired him to stay for more than a decade, and what it was like to help launch game-changing initiatives like Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), collaborations with Apple and mobile keyless entry. From his early days in digital strategy to navigating major brand integrations and launching Caesars Sportsbook, Chris offers insights on leading through change, building loyalty in a crowded market, and the lasting impact of working with purpose-driven people.

Connect with Chris:

Chris's LinkedIn - Link

Links:

Apple Podcasts - Link

Spotify - Link

Suite Success Website - Link

Connect with Katie 

—

Suite Success is part of the Hospitality.FM podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline interviews Madi Johnson, a design-driven short-term rental investor known for transforming historic homes in upstate New York into impeccable guest-centric retreats. She’s also the co-founder of The Short-Term Rental Book Club, a community for hospitality entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and grow in the ever-evolving short-term rental industry. Madi shares her strategies to find, finance and design unique properties that outperform the competition. Together with her team, they have built a real estate portfolio exceeding $3 million, primarily with little to none of her own money invested in the deal. Madi’s story is an inspiration for anyone who loves design and wants to get started in short-term rentals, emphasizing the importance of taking calculated risks, focusing on guest experience, and building a strong community.

Connect with Madi:

Madi's LinkedIn - Link

Madi's Instagram - Link

Madi's TikTok - Link

Links:

Apple Podcasts - Link

Spotify - Link

Suite Success Website - Link

Connect with Katie 

—

Suite Success is part of the Hospitality.FM podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline chats with Christine Morairty, Vice President of Brand and Marketing at Palisades Hospitality Group. Together, they explore the ever-evolving world of hospitality, branding, and intuitive service. Christine shares her journey from New York to Bali and now, to San Francisco, revealing how a single conversation shifted her entire perspective. She unpacks the power of adaptability—whether in business or personal growth—and explains why the best brands let the market guide their evolution. Christine highlights the importance of mastering the basics before chasing grand concepts, why hotel-quality sleep trumps flashy amenities, and how identifying market gaps can become your biggest advantage. She also shares the boutique hotel brands she keeps an eye on, the balance between feeling at home and feeling transported, and gives a sneak peek into her personal real estate investments in Idaho.

Connect with Christine:

Christine's LinkedIn - Link

Palisades Hospitality - Link

Links:

Apple Podcasts - Link

Spotify - Link

Suite Success Website - Link

Connect with Katie 

—

Suite Success is part of the Hospitality.FM podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes Frits van Paasschen, the former CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Frits takes us through his fascinating career journey—from his early days as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group and McKinsey, to leadership roles at powerhouse brands like Nike and Disney, and ultimately steering Fortune 500 giants like Coors and Starwood. He shares insights from his best-selling book, The Disruptors' Feast, unpacks what visionaries like Danny Meyer and Arianna Huffington have in common, and explains why being an "information omnivore" is a game-changer (and why you should be one too). His passion for creativity, innovation, and collaboration is both inspiring and actionable. Tune in for a masterclass in leadership, adaptability, and the future of hospitality from one of the industry’s most forward-thinking minds.

Connect with Frits:

Frits's LinkedIn - Link

Get Frits's latest book - Link

Links:

Apple Podcasts - Link

Spotify - Link

Suite Success Website - Link

Connect with Katie 

—

Suite Success is part of the Hospitality.FM podcast network and a Hospitality.FM Original. If you like this podcast, then you'll also love our other podcasts directly on Hospitality.FM!

Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible, and if you like this show, please leave us a review and share it on your network!