In this episode, Ryan Magnon, Chief Operating Officer at Ithaka Hospitality Partners, explains why strong operations are defining hospitality performance today. Drawing on experience shaped by quality management at Capella, operational leadership at Chick-fil-A, and his early career as a U.S. Air Force officer, Ryan outlines what great operators do differently: study their business as intentionally as they run it, develop their people with purpose, and commit to constant improvement.

He also breaks down the metrics, dashboards, and “listening posts” that reveal what’s really happening inside an operation — and why understanding the guest journey is essential to staying competitive.

Read the research:

• Q3 2025 Hotel Results: The Profit Story Behind the Numbers (Actabl)
• Q3 2025: How Hotels Pivoted to Protect Profitability (HotelData.com)

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Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands