In this episode of This Week in Hospitality, Zach Busekrus sits down with Scott Eddy, Ben Wolff, and Edwin Kramer to unpack three major stories dominating the travel and hospitality world. From Sonder’s dramatic collapse following Marriott’s termination, to Hilton’s launch of the Outset Collection, to Airbnb’s bold embrace of hotels — this was one of the most consequential weeks the industry has seen in years.

The team brings perspectives spanning global travel, hotel development, luxury operations, and hospitality tech. Fast-paced, unfiltered, and deeply informed — this is the weekly breakdown every hotelier, operator, developer, and investor should be listening to.

Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.

Key Topics & Timestamps

00:00 — Introductions & why this podcast exists

09:12 — Story #1: Sonder × Marriott partnership collapses

17:08 — Ben’s take: STR brand value & commodity product problem

23:45 — Marriott, scale, loyalty, and future brand strategy

25:47 — Story #2: Hilton launches The Outset Collection

33:50 — Owner perspective: data, flag strategies, ROI trade-offs

39:01 — Independents vs. major flags: the next 10 years

42:11 — Story #3: Airbnb officially welcomes hotels

45:42 — Airbnb’s evolution into a hospitality ecosystem

50:51 — Does Airbnb need a total rebrand?

54:00 — “Back to hospitality roots” debate

54:53 — Wrap-up & what’s coming next

Zach Busekrus — Journey

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/

Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/

Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/

Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinkramer/

Every Friday morning, This Week in Hospitality brings you the most important stories, insights, and innovations shaping the global hospitality industry — distilled and discussed by people who actually build within it.

Hosted by Ben Wolff, Scott Eddy, Edwin Kramer, and Zach Busekrus, this weekly conversation is crafted for the founders, operators, and dreamers creating the next generation of hospitality brands.

You’ll get more than just headlines — you’ll get perspective. Each episode breaks down the week’s most compelling hospitality stories and explores what they really mean for independent hotel owners, boutique brands, and experiential travel entrepreneurs. From brand strategy and design trends to tech disruption and capital markets, This Week in Hospitality keeps you informed, inspired, and ready for what’s next.

So grab your morning coffee, and catch up on the stories that matter — before your guests check in.

New episodes every Friday morning.

Ben Wolff

Scott Eddy

Edwin Kramer

Zach Busekrus