Top Floor

Kate Jerkens planned her childhood birthday parties with the efficiency of Jennifer Lopez in the Wedding Planner and parlayed those organizational skills into an events, sales, and marketing career in hotels. When former colleague Fawn Weaver approached with a top secret project in 2016, Kate was in, and together they launched Uncle Nearest. On its face a whiskey brand, Uncle Nearest is so much more, and Susan and Kate talk about how the company is building a legacy that transcends the liquid in the bottle.

The loading dock is the best place in a hospitality business to tell tall tales, share secrets, and generally dish the dirt. From a mysterious top hat to a motorbike accident, part two of this year's loading dock stories from the 34th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference are all over the map. ICYMI, catch part one of stories from Hunter in episode 81.

Ryan Rivett grew up surrounded by two things: fish and hotels. As CEO of My Place Hotels, Ryan sees himself as a builder, both literally as he oversees the company's construction efforts, and figuratively as he shepards his brand through its growth to more than 100 franchises. Susan and Ryan talk about the itch to travel, the inefficiencies of public space, and the dangers of fishy fish.

From being held up at gun point to mistaking a potted plant for a urinal, this year's loading dock stories from the 34th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference did not disappoint. Listen to these funny, crazy, and just-plain-weird tales from hoteliers, and count your blessings if none of this foolishness has ever happened to you. More stories from Hunter coming in episode 83.

Lori Kiel sold vacuums door-to-door and studied to be a travel agent, but she found her home in the hotel business. As Chief Commercial Officer at the Kessler Collection, Lori sees her role as directing traffic by keeping the experts in sales, marketing, and revenue strategy moving forward at the same speeds without crashing into each other. Susan and Lori talk about moving from prospecting to R&D, avoiding an obsession with the red pen, and creating special teams for special duties, including dealing with dead bodies.

Madison Rifkin invented a bike lock at age 12, patented it at 15, and is now CEO of the company it inspired a decade later. As co-founder of Mount, Madi helps travelers make memories by allowing them to easily rent equipment and gear like kayaks, golf clubs, and scooters. Susan and Madi talk about revenue streams for short-term rental hosts, fundraising, and how to (maybe?) rent a car in Hawaii.

Joanna Jagger is a championship oyster-shucker, but her real passion lies in making space for women at every table in hospitality. As a professor and leader of WORTH Association, Joanna conducts research and holds events that endeavor to move women in recreation, tourism, and hospitality forward. Susan and Joanna talk about their non-biological sisterhood, how higher ed can help hospitality, and when you've got to kick out a high-dollar guest.

Eleanor Erickson is something of a hotel unicorn. She spent the first 22 years of her career at the same hotel, rising from the front desk to regional director in the process. After wrapping up that chapter, Eleanor is now a hotel culture consultant and coach who helps properties bridge the gaps between brand identity and local operations. Susan and Eleanor talk about fried chicken vs. pizza, combing through trash, and how to keep cool when guests are acting, well, crazy.

Derrick Barker was a football player, robot maker, and Goldman Sachs trader before he started investing in multi-family real estate. After getting his hands dirty as a real estate investor, Derrick and co-founder/spouse Brittany Mosely founded Nectar, a start-up that endeavors to provide cash flow financing to the short-term rental industry. Susan and Derrick talk about parental expectations, tough markets, and why phone calls are no longer allowed at closing dinners.

Jennifer Hill is everyone's favorite revenue person, most likely because she brings an improv veteran's "yes, and" attitude to everything she does. Vice President of Commercial Strategy at Kalibri Labs, Jennifer is spreading the gospel about how data-driven decision-making and collaboration can make hotels more profitable. Susan and Jennifer talk about leaving jobs that don't quite fit, building a better revenue mousetrap, and crying at the Loading Dock.