In this episode, Walter Isenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Sage Hospitality Group, shares his reflections on 2025, the lessons he's bringing into 2026, and his perspective on the bifurcation in hospitality: commodity hotels moving toward automation and reduced staffing versus experience-driven hospitality, where people remain the competitive advantage.

More from Walter:

Walter's article in Hotel Management: "Hospitality Begins from Within"
The Letter That Turned a Young Dishwasher into a Hospitality Leader - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality Group
How Sage Hospitality Enriches Lives Through Culture - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality Group
The Dana Crawford Playbook: How Risk, Storytelling, and Grit Built Iconic Hospitality - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality Group

A few more resources:

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

Hotels Are Splitting Into Two Completely Different Businesses - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality