The Stage Debate Podcast

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for a special conversation with Asi Cymbal, Chairman and Founder of Cymbal DLT, a South Florida real estate development and construction company. Asi shares his journey from growing up in public housing in Brooklyn to building a billion-dollar development platform, including the lessons he learned from his family, the importance of grit, and how a chance opportunity helped change the trajectory of his career. The conversation covers delegation and building the right team, vertically integrated development, raising equity, navigating the challenges of large-scale projects, and the vision behind the Nautical District in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Asi also shares advice for investors and entrepreneurs, why opportunities often emerge during times of disruption, and the importance of staying disciplined, building relationships, finding mentors, and never giving up. Perfect for real estate developers, investors, family offices, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the mindset behind building something from the ground up.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Azim Saju, Chief Executive Officer of ARK Holdings Group. Azim shares his family’s journey into the hotel industry, from purchasing their first hotel in 1981 to building a growing hotel ownership, development, and management platform. He discusses navigating the Great Recession, growing ARK Hospitality to more than 100 managed hotels, building trust with lenders, creating strong owner relationships, and giving team members “skin in the game.” The conversation also covers entrepreneurship, hotel development, working with major brands, mentorship, family, and the importance of creating value for others. Perfect for hotel owners, hospitality professionals, real estate investors, developers, and entrepreneurs looking for practical lessons on building a successful business and playing the long game.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for a special election-focused episode featuring a debate between candidates running for Secretary of AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. This episode features Dhiren Masters, Partner at The Lion Group DFW, and Mahendra (MZ) Patel, Founder of MHO Hotels and AAHOA Regional Director, as they share their backgrounds, leadership experience, and vision for the future of AAHOA and the hospitality industry. The conversation covers key topics including hotel profitability, rising operating costs, franchising challenges, legislative advocacy, member engagement, and the evolving role of first- and second-generation hotel owners. With perspectives rooted in both decades of experience and next-generation thinking, this episode offers valuable insights for hotel owners, real estate investors, and hospitality professionals looking to understand the future of the industry.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Michael Procopio, CEO of The Procopio Companies, a fourth-generation real estate development and construction firm founded in 1949. Michael shares how the company evolved from a small family homebuilder into a vertically integrated multifamily platform with more than $1 billion in ground-up development, and explains how partnerships with institutional capital including The Carlyle Group helped fuel that growth. This episode covers raising private equity, identifying overlooked submarkets before they take off, build-to-rent single family communities in the Northeast, improving NOI through in house property management, applying hospitality principles to multifamily housing, leadership lessons, mentorship, and balancing business success with family priorities. Perfect for real estate developers, multifamily investors, capital raisers, and entrepreneurs looking for practical insights on scaling a real estate company in today’s market.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Zack Gharib, President of Red Roof. Zack shares his journey into hospitality and breaks down what it takes to lead a 700+ hotel brand in today’s competitive market. This episode covers hotel franchising vs. independent hotels, franchisee relationships, cost pressures, technology, brand standards, and strategies hotel owners need to succeed in 2026. Zack also explains how Red Roof supports franchisees through scale, transparency, and disciplined growth. Perfect for hotel owners, franchisees, hospitality investors, and real estate professionals looking for practical insights on navigating the hotel industry.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Zach Gharib, President of Red Roof. Zach shares his journey into hospitality and breaks down what it takes to lead a 700+ hotel brand in today’s competitive market. This episode covers hotel franchising vs. independent hotels, franchisee relationships, cost pressures, technology, brand standards, and strategies hotel owners need to succeed in 2026. Zach also explains how Red Roof supports franchisees through scale, transparency, and disciplined growth. Perfect for hotel owners, franchisees, hospitality investors, and real estate professionals looking for practical insights on navigating the hotel industry.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for a high-impact conversation with Ricky Raman of PeachState Hospitality and Saagar Parikh of Spark GHC as they share their journeys, development strategies, and real-world insights on navigating today’s hotel market. Ricky discusses PeachState’s focus on disciplined development, market intelligence, and building durable lender and brand relationships, while Sagar brings a Wall Street-honed perspective on capital, culture, investor relations, and long-term thinking. Together they break down the challenges of financing new construction, entering unfamiliar markets, understanding brand saturation, and managing risk in a shifting hospitality landscape. The episode also spotlights Project Scarlet, Spark GHC’s innovative Marriott Tribute hotel and apartment concept in downtown Cleveland, and concludes with honest, practical advice for new hotel investors on curiosity, relationships, transparency, and playing the long game.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an exciting episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring Ravi Patel, Chief Executive Officer of SINA Hospitality; Ashok Patel, VP of Development at Jamsan Hotel Management; and Chico Patel, Co-CEO of Wealth Hospitality Group. Dive into their inspiring stories as second and third generation hoteliers building impressive portfolios across the U.S. in 2025. Discover insights on overcoming early struggles, navigating COVID's impact, ground-up development vs. acquisitions, financing challenges in a post-pandemic world, brand selection strategies, and innovative amenities to enhance guest experiences. Gain valuable advice for aspiring hoteliers on hard work, market exploration, and balancing product, people, and debt. Ideal for hotel investors, developers, operators, and entrepreneurs looking for actionable hospitality wisdom on growth, resilience, and industry trends.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an engaging episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring Taran Patel, MBA, Managing Principal of A-1 Hospitality Group, and Bhavin Patel, CEO and Founder of Shreem Capital. Explore their journeys from second-generation hoteliers to leading dynamic hospitality companies in 2025. Learn innovative strategies for boosting ancillary revenue, managing bad reviews, and navigating guest challenges. Discover Taran’s leadership in AAHOA and Bhavin’s passion for boutique hotels. Perfect for hotel investors, hospitality professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking insights on operations, growth, and industry advocacy.

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring Ravi Desai, Principal and CEO of Opal Hotels Group, and Bhavesh Lad, MBA, Managing Principal of Spark Hotels. Dive into their journeys from humble beginnings to building thriving hotel portfolios in 2025. Discover strategies for navigating financing challenges, scaling operations, and fostering strong partnerships in the competitive hospitality industry. Perfect for hotel investors, hospitality professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking actionable insights on leadership, acquisitions, and market trends.