Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality

Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality

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Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality episodes

  • CEO of Club Med North America: “The ’No’ Does Not Exist”

    What does it take to transform a 75-year-old hospitality brand without losing the very thing that made it iconic in the first place?

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Carolyne Doyon, President and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean, live from Skift Global Forum in New York City.

    As the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept, Club Med has spent the past two decades reinventing itself as a premium hospitality brand, expanding far beyond the traditional beach vacation to offer everything from ski resorts in the Alps to safari adventures in South Africa. But through it all, the company has remained fiercely committed to its roots and the unmistakable "Club Med spirit."

    Carolyne shares her unconventional journey from studying psychology to landing a job at Delta Air Lines without speaking a word of English, and eventually rising through the ranks at Club Med to lead more than 3,000 employees. She reveals how the company has successfully evolved alongside changing traveler expectations, why human connection remains its greatest differentiator, and what's next as Club Med sets its sights on reaching 100 resorts worldwide by 2035.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:38 Meet Carolyne Doyon

    01:43 From Montreal to Global Tourism

    03:22 Delta Leap

    07:19 Career Pivots 

    09:34 Joining Club Med

    10:16 Premium Brand Shift

    13:08 The “Club Med Spirit”

    15:53 A Word from our Sponsors

    16:50 Beyond the Resort

    19:27 New Destinations

    20:11 Surf and Safari Combo

    21:03 Beyond Beaches

    22:06 Setting Sail

    23:24 Resort Growth Roadmap

    24:52 St Croix

    25:55 All Inclusive Rebrand

    27:42 The Buffet, Reinvented

    30:17 Sports and Trendspotting

    31:36 Best and Worst Hospitality Experiences

    35:19 Suite Summary

    ⁠Connect with Carolyne:⁠


    ⁠⁠⁠⁠Carolyne's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyne-doyon-a708926b

    Club Med Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.clubmed.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    39 min
  • She Started as the Receptionist. Now She’s the CEO.

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Angela Val, President and CEO of Visit Philadelphia, to talk about her remarkable journey from answering phones as the organization’s receptionist to ultimately leading it as CEO.

    Angela shares why she didn’t apply for the CEO role the first time it became available, what finally gave her the confidence to go for the top job, and how she learned to lead by embracing her own strengths, blind spots and vulnerabilities. She also opens up about stepping into the role at a particularly difficult moment for the organization and why rebuilding the team with empathy became her first priority.

    Katie and Angela also dig into what it actually takes to market an entire city. Angela explains why Visit Philadelphia sees itself as being in the “people attraction business,” how major events like America’s 250th anniversary and the FIFA World Cup can create an impact far beyond tourism dollars, and why changing the perception of a destination can be just as important as changing the reality.

    Plus, Angela shares her perfect 48-hour itinerary for Philadelphia, from where to stay and shop to the bakeries, museums and neighborhoods worth exploring.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:37 Meet Angela Val

    02:04 Falling for Philly

    04:42 Selling the City

    06:04 Perfect 48 Hours

    09:48 Growth and Development

    11:55 Philly Vibe

    13:46 Misconceptions and Reality

    15:57 A Word from our Sponsors

    16:55 More Than Cheesesteaks

    17:42 Receptionist to CEO

    22:25 Stepping Into Leadership

    25:08 Leading With Vulnerability

    27:37 Hiring for Blind Spots

    29:25 Empathy as Leadership

    30:26 Rebuilding After COVID

    31:47 New Office, Fresh Start 

    33:35 Guiding Star

    34:17 Lean Team Strategy

    36:13 Letting Go of Control

    38:08 Marketing a City

    39:36 Impact Beyond Numbers

    42:30 People Attraction Business

    44:01 What's Next for Philly

    47:08 Best and Worst Hospitality Experiences

    50:29 Suite Summary

    ⁠Connect with Angela:⁠


    ⁠⁠⁠Angela's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-val-8252356

    Visit Philadelphia Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.visitphilly.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    55 min
  • Leela Palaces’ CEO on the Overlooked Detail That Can Make (or Break) a Hotel Stay

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Anuraag Bhatnagar, CEO of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, and explores his hospitality “calling,” hiring for values, and delivering luxury through deep human connection and anticipatory service rather than transactional SOPs.

    Bhatnagar shares lessons from Oberoi (commitment to excellence and detail), Starwood (distinct brand DNA), and Marriott (operational rigor), then explains Leela’s post-acquisition “Leela 2.0” strategy: preserve authentic true Indian luxury while adding global best practices, technology, and commercial discipline.

    He highlights initiatives like the nightly cultural ceremonial ritual, the Leela Palace Service with eight personalized touchpoints to remove friction, innovative food-and-beverage programming (about 40% of business), and Ojasya wellness evolving into longevity-focused integrated wellness.

    He also outlines growth from 8 to 15 operating hotels with 10 more in development and previews Leela’s first international project, a Palm Jumeirah Dubai resort planned for 2028.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:37 Meet Anuraag Bhatnagar

    01:50 Hospitality as a Calling

    03:18 Service Mindset

    05:39 Hiring for Values

    08:45 Lessons from Top Brands

    12:48 Leela Strategy 2.0 

    15:38 Guests and Rituals

    18:55 True Indian Luxury

    21:49 A Word from our Sponsors

    22:47 Generations of Guests

    25:32 Food and Beverage 

    30:18 Wellness 

    33:21 Authentic Spa Touches

    34:42 Mastering the Departure Experience

    35:36 Farewell Surprises

    38:38 When Hotels Get It Wrong

    41:12 Why Leela Chose Dubai

    44:12 Growth Pipeline

    45:17 Picking a Favorite Property

    48:05 Best and Worst Experiences

    51:46 What Hospitality Means

    54:42 Suite Summary


    ⁠Connect with Anuraag:⁠


    ⁠⁠Anuraag's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuraag-bhatnagar/

    The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.theleela.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1 hr
  • He Spent 20 Years in the Army. Now He Runs One of the World’s Largest Hotel Companies

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Larry Cuculic, president and CEO of BWH Hotels, the global hospitality company behind brands including Best Western Hotels & Resorts, WorldHotels and SureStay Hotels.


    Before entering the hospitality industry, Larry spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, where his career took him from West Point to serving as a prosecutor and military judge. Today, he draws on many of the same lessons he learned in the military—discipline, accountability, trust and taking care of others—to lead thousands of hotels around the world.


    Katie and Larry discuss his unconventional path from the Army to the C-suite, why guest experience is BWH Hotels’ number-one KPI, and the direct relationship he sees between taking care of guests and driving revenue. They also explore why technology can never replace genuine hospitality, how AI is changing the way travelers search for hotels, and what hotel companies need to do now to adapt.


    Larry also shares why he left the Army after 20 years, what 55 years with his high school sweetheart have taught him about listening and relationships, and why, whether he’s leading soldiers, lawyers or hoteliers, taking care of people has remained the common thread throughout his career.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:38 Meet Larry Cuculic

    01:32Joining the Army

    04:38 Family First 

    07:16 Leadership Lessons

    09:57 Why Hospitality

    13:02 West Point Mindset

    14:48 Swimming and Reflection

    17:59 A Word from our Sponsors

    18:59 Marriage and Balance

    22:14 From Counsel to CEO

    25:05 Brand Standards

    28:00 Guest Experience

    34:05 Tech Enables Hospitality

    35:36 Future Travel and Brands

    40:21 What’s Next for BWH

    46:12 Best and Worst Hospitality

    48:33 What Hospitality Means

    49:34 Suite Summary

    ⁠Connect with Larry:⁠


    ⁠Larry's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-cuculic/

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠BWH Hotels Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.bwhhotels.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    54 min
  • KAYAK’s New CEO on What No One Tells You About the Top Job

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Peer Bueller, the new CEO of Kayak, about succeeding co-founder Steve Hafner and defining Kayak’s next era.


    Peer shares what has surprised him most about stepping into the top job, why he’s more involved in the nitty-gritty of the business than he ever expected, and the leadership and productivity philosophies that have shaped his career. He also explains why he still manages his own calendar and books his own travel, how he gets more done by working at the right time rather than simply working more hours, and why he believes you can give 110% at work while still being the parent or partner you want to be.


    Katie and Peer also dig into what AI will—and won’t—change about the way we travel. Peer shares where he believes conversational AI can make planning dramatically better, why traditional side-by-side comparison still matters, and how KAYAK is thinking about earning consumer trust as the way we search for and book travel evolves.


    Plus, they discuss KAYAK’s bet on corporate travel, why Peer never had a decades-long plan to become CEO, what getting into rooms with other top executives taught him about reaching the top, and the discipline it takes to walk away from work when the work is never actually done.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠Lodgify⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:36 Meet Kayak’s New CEO

    01:26 Succeeding Steve Hafner

    02:48 AI Changes Everything

    04:17 Hybrid Search Experience

    06:27 Travel Inspiration Journey

    09:14 Trust and Neutrality

    11:41 Peer’s Origin Story

    13:57 Life in the CEO Seat

    15:10 A Word from our Sponsors

    16:11 Modern Leadership Style

    17:53 Ambition and Career Path

    21:15 Work/ Life Balance

    25:06 Ambition

    26:09 Discipline When Work Never Ends

    27:33 Hands On Leadership

    29:21 Ownership

    31:31 Kids Travel Perspectives

    33:22 Rediscovering Europe 

    34:48 Earning Trust Through Clear Comparison

    37:48 Personalized Travel With AI

    39:34 Corporate Travel 

    42:34 Hospitality Hits and Misses

    46:36 Suite Summary


    ⁠Connect with Peer:⁠


    Peer's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peer-bueller/

    ⁠⁠⁠Kayak Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.kayak.com

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    53 min
  • These Founders Have a Formula for Hospitality Design That Drives ROI

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Bri West and Jordan McDonough, co-founders of Somerled, a hospitality design firm that combines market research, guest psychology and intentional design to help owners create investments, not just interiors.

    The two began working together when Bri tapped her longtime friend Jordan to help design one of her own short-term rentals. A few properties later, other investors began taking notice and asking them to do the same for their homes. What started as a collaboration between friends has since grown into a business that has designed more than 1,500 properties across the country. Along the way, Bri has also built a portfolio of more than 35 short-term rentals of her own, giving the pair a unique perspective on the intersection of design, hospitality and ROI.

    Together, they unpack the formula behind designing spaces that don’t just look good, but perform. Bri and Jordan explain why they start with market data and the target guest before making a single design decision, how to determine which amenities are actually worth the investment, and why blindly joining hospitality’s growing “amenities arms race” can be an expensive mistake.

    They also share why owners need to stop designing for themselves, how the right experience can turn a place to stay into a reason to travel, and why rising guest expectations are ultimately a good thing for the hospitality industry. Plus, Bri and Jordan open up about building a company as longtime friends, the decision to leave corporate life behind, and why hospitality itself can be one of the most powerful growth strategies for any business.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY Lodgify plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.


    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:38 Meet the Founders of Somerled

    02:01 Bri’s Origin Story

    07:37 Jordan’s Career Path

    11:06 Scaling Rentals Fast

    14:10 Co-Founder Secret Sauce

    18:38 Going All In

    22:32 Naming Somerled

    24:23 Somerled Client Process

    30:04 Amenities That Drive ROI

    31:14 Pickleball

    33:18 Operational Reality Check

    36:13 Design Mistakes to Avoid

    37:46 Amenity Strategy Case Study

    41:52 Becoming a Top Property

    47:09 Design for the Guest

    48:08 Wellness Trend 

    50:37 Best and Worst Hospitality

    59:49 Suite Summary

    https://form.jotform.com/252193985491065?howDid=Referral&typeA19=Second%20Home%20First 

    Use the link provided to schedule your free consultation call and get $1,000 off virtual design & $3,000 off design & project management services

    ⁠Connect with Jordan and Bri:⁠


    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jordan's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-patchell-mcdonough-758a9ba4/

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bri's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bri-west-2a7a93288/

    ⁠⁠Somerled Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.somerleddesigns.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1 hr 4 min
  • This Travel Tech Founder Says We’re Entering an Era of “Unlimited” Travel Demand

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Tim Hentschel, co-founder and co-CEO of HotelPlanner, one of the world’s leading travel technology platforms.

    A third-generation hotelier who started working in hotels at just 12 years old, Tim has spent more than two decades at the intersection of hospitality and technology. He shares how he and his co-founder bootstrapped HotelPlanner in 2003, why having less money forced them to embrace automation early, and how those constraints ultimately helped them outlast better-funded competitors.

    Tim also shares his candid perspective on private equity and the risks founders take when raising outside capital, why he believes AI and humans will continue to work side by side in hospitality, and how technology has fundamentally changed the way people live, work and travel. With remote work, an aging population with disposable income and younger generations increasingly able to work from anywhere, Tim believes the industry is heading toward what he calls “unlimited demand for hotel rooms and travel.”

    Plus, he explains why, after building his career in travel technology, he’s now betting on brick-and-mortar hotels, what living and working around the world has taught him about cultural differences, and why the fundamentals of great hospitality remain remarkably unchanged.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠Lodgify⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.
    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:37 Meet Tim Hentschel

    01:25 Third Generation Hotelier

    02:46 From Cornell to Startup

    03:35 Living Around the World

    05:52 Accents and Local Culture

    09:06 Localization in Service

    10:54 American Abroad

    16:04 Why HotelPlanner Started

    18:16 Bootstrapped Wins

    21:05 Private Equity Pitfalls

    24:23 AI Meets Hospitality

    30:03 How Travel Has Changed

    35:03 Future of HotelPlanner

    39:17 Suite Summary

    ⁠Connect with Tim:⁠


    ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tim's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-hentschel-7a3b245/

    ⁠HotelPlanner Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: http://hotelplanner.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    43 min
  • He’s Planned More than 30,000 Trips: Here’s What Travelers Get Wrong

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Jonathan Alder, founder of Jonathan’s Travels, a luxury travel expert who has visited 100 countries and planned more than 30,000 trips for his clients.

    When a client tells Jonathan where they want to go, his first question is often, “Why?” Their answer typically reveals what someone actually wants from a trip, which frequently leads to booking an entirely different itinerary. He explains how the internet (and AI) get travel recommendations wrong, why some of the world’s most popular destinations don’t live up to the hype, and the under-the-radar places he believes travelers should be paying more attention to.

    They also discuss the difference between cost and value, why Jonathan is seeing clients take fewer but “better” trips, and why true luxury has far less to do with how much you spend than with personalization, service, and creating experiences someone could never have thought to ask for themselves.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠Lodgify⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:37 Meet Jonathan Alder

    01:12 Six Week Travel Sprint

    01:52 Luxury Itinerary Breakdown

    03:59 Packing and Shopping Haul

    04:45 The Founding Story of Jonathan's Travels

    07:22 Luxury Service Mindset

    08:26 Sports and Side Hustles

    11:40 Fencing to First Big Contract

    14:34 Why Advisors Beat AI

    19:33 Reality Checks and Dupe Spots

    24:17 Italy Done Differently

    27:34 Venice Carnival Magic

    30:02 Wildest Client Requests

    31:21 Hidden Japan

    32:29 Surprise Gem- Uzbekistan

    33:21 Getting There and Staying

    34:55 Summer Travel

    36:26 Australia Seasons

    38:29 Top Summer Hotspots

    42:20 Underrated Asia Picks

    43:28 Komodo Luxury Escape

    46:02 Trip Trends

    48:37 Everest by Helicopter

    49:53 Best and Worst Moments

    55:25 Suite Summary


    ⁠Connect with Jonathan:⁠


    ⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Alder's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-alder-4969a424/

    Jonathan's Travels Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.jonathanstravels.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1 hr 1 min
  • Why This Founder Believes Every Hotel Should Think Like a Media Company

    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Brandon Berkson, founder of Hotels Above Par, a boutique publication reaching more than half a million readers, as well as the creator of Mexzine. Brandon shares how getting furloughed during the pandemic led him to launch the brand, why his background in hotel PR gave him an unexpected advantage, and what he would do differently if he were building a media company from scratch today.

    They also explore why newsletters may be one of the most valuable tools hospitality brands can invest in, how to turn social media followers into an audience you actually own, and why finding a specific niche can be more powerful than trying to appeal to everyone. Brandon also explains why likes matter far less than shares and conversations—and how listening to those signals can help brands create content people actually want to consume.

    Plus, Katie and Brandon discuss the resurgence of print and in-person experiences, the difference between an audience and a true community, and why responding to a single DM or email can be one of the most powerful ways to build long-term brand loyalty.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Suite Success listeners can enjoy 20% off all MONTHLY ⁠Lodgify⁠ plans for 1 year after redemption with code SUITESUCCESS20, valid from September 14 through October 16. Offer applies to Yearly and Bi-Yearly plans.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:37 Meet Brandon Berkson

    01:13 Bellboy Beginnings

    03:33 Wild Hotel Stories

    05:06 From PR to Founder

    07:40 Hotels Above Par Explained

    10:10 ManyChat Social Funnel

    11:52 Building During the Pandemic

    15:02 Taking the Leap

    18:23 Newsletter-First Media

    20:39 Niche Media Playbook

    22:06 Journalists and Storytelling

    23:42 Two-Way Community

    24:20 Engaging Readers Everywhere

    25:12 Sudden Viral Growth

    26:49 Analytics Over Opinions

    27:53 Packaging Content Right

    29:19 Pushing Past Cringe

    31:11 Why a Print Newspaper

    33:47 Building Real Community

    38:44 Hotel First Impressions

    40:08 Best and Worst Stays

    43:17 Suite Summary

    ⁠Connect with Brandon:⁠

    ⁠⁠Brandon's LinkedIn⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-berkson-642621b3

    Hotels Above Par Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://readhotelsabovepar.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    48 min
  • The Man Behind Hospitality’s Top Events on the Biggest Threat to AI

    As artificial intelligence gets better at answering questions, analyzing data and automating work, the things it can’t replicate—bringing people together, building relationships, telling stories and making someone feel genuinely seen—could become more valuable than ever.


    On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Alexi Khajavi, Group President of Hospitality and Operational Real Estate at Questex, where he oversees an international portfolio of some of hospitality’s leading media platforms and live events, including The Hospitality Show and NYU IHIF.


    After a career spanning online travel, launching an airline in Central America, hospitality, real estate and events around the world, Alexi has built a career around connecting people. He shares why getting the right people in the room matters more than ever, how to make the most of industry events, what the best networkers and speakers do differently, and why the relationships built in those rooms can ultimately lead to some of the biggest opportunities in business.


    The conversation also explores the forces shaping hospitality today, from changing travel behavior and the return of midscale hotels to labor, AI and the growing importance of storytelling. Alexi shares why simply delivering data is no longer enough, what hospitality can teach other industries about making people feel valued and why, in an increasingly AI-driven world, the most powerful thing hospitality has going for it might be its humanity.

    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bilt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
    Timestamps:

    00:00 Welcome to Suite Success

    00:36 Meet Alexi Khajavi

    01:34 Career Path to Questex

    06:15 Global Citizen Mindset

    10:54 Starting an Airline in Costa Rica

    15:11 Learning Spanish

    16:54 Favorite Places

    19:01 Industry View

    23:41 Conference Overview

    26:38 How to Win at Events

    33:49 Why NYU IHIF Matters

    37:47 Industry Optimism vs Reality

    39:44 Travel Is Still Essential

    41:41 AI Questions Outpace Answers

    43:40 Human Connection at a Premium

    46:11 Labor and Politics

    50:39 Surprises from the Stage

    53:38 Building Stage Confidence

    57:41 Proust Questionnaire

    01:02:19 Last Three Questions

    01:07:20 Suite Summary

    ⁠Connect with Alexi:⁠

    ⁠Alexi's LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexihuntleykhajavi

    Questex Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://questex.com/

    Links:

    Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    1 hr 13 min

About Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality, a Skift Podcast, where we unlock the secrets behind the world's most successful hotel and hospitality brands. Hosted by industry expert Katie Cline,…

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