The Hotel Investor Playbook

Most people who buy their first hospitality property don't realize they just bought themselves a 90-hour-a-week job. The difference between owning a business and being trapped inside one comes down to a single number most investors never bother to calculate before they sign.In this episode, you'll learn the exact revenue threshold your property needs to hit before you can hire real staff, implement real systems, and actually step away from day-to-day operations.A 26-year campground owner and operator who won 8 consecutive industry awards and now consults for investors and operators across North America breaks down what most first-time buyers get dead wrong. Greg Emmert has evaluated hundreds of deals and knows exactly where the line is between a profitable business and an expensive hobby.In this episode, you'll discover:The minimum revenue number that separates real business owners from glorified employeesWhy "armchair quarterback syndrome" costs first-time hospitality investors more than any bad dealThe infrastructure trap that can turn your dream property into an undevelopable piece of dirtHow the work exchange model can supplement your labor force without destroying your payrollWhy banks are now requiring third-party management before they'll write a check on hospitality assetsThe one thing experienced operators do before every acquisition that most beginners skip entirelyIf you're serious about buying a hospitality asset and actually owning it instead of working inside it, this episode will save you from the most expensive lessons in the business. Don't learn them on your own dime.About Greg EmmertGreg Emmert is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Vireo, bringing over 30 years of award-winning experience to the outdoor hospitality sector. As the former owner and operator of the 240-site Homerville KOA in Northeast Ohio for 26 years, he guided the property to consistent profitability, Net Promoter Scores in the high 80s, and eight consecutive KOA President’s and Founder’s Awards. Today, Greg leverages his extensive hands-on background to help park owners and investors navigate market feasibility, pressure-test acquisitions through rigorous due diligence, and build scalable Standard Operating Procedures. Recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Environmental Educator and a passionate "bird-nerd," he also specializes in helping operators tap into the conservation economy to design premium, nature-based guest experiences that drive intense loyalty.Connect with Greg EmmertConnect with Greg on LinkedIn.Visit their Website.Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal

Jasper Ribbers, former equity trader turned hospitality entrepreneur who runs revenue for $125M+ in STR bookings and co-founded Freewyld. He discusses which markets and niche experiences are outperforming, why 99% of operators leave up to 40% on the table with set-it-and-forget-it pricing, and how daily pacing, pricing tools, and product differentiation drive outsized returns.

Brent Bowers, a former US Army officer who built a passive-income land business with nearly 400 deals, shares practical real estate playbooks. He explains finding off-market sellers, a 3-step market selection framework, and why shifting to fewer high-margin deals changed everything. He also covers turning raw land into turnkey assets, essential due diligence, and designing strict work boundaries to protect time.

Ben Wolff, former McKinsey consultant turned hospitality developer and founder of Onera and Oasi, built scalable landscape resorts and a content-first marketing firm. He discusses choosing landscape hotels, a land-lease model that makes $7M deals work, achieving ~50% NOI with high direct-bookings, procurement lessons from a $300K mistake, and lean staffing and scaling strategies.

Ziggy Hallgarten, Co-founder and CEO of Broome and Cornell Hotel School grad who moved from hotel acquisitions to building AI tools. He discusses ALIS conference takeaways and which markets are heating up. He explains how Broome automates deal screening to slash time spent on pipelines. He shares how he prototyped without code and why focusing on one problem matters.

Sam Degenhard, founder and CEO of Campfire Ranch, builds outdoor lodges, huts, and campgrounds focused on small, high-touch stays. He explains scaling by leasing properties instead of buying, the OpCo-PropCo lease model, boots-on-the-ground due diligence, owner-operator staffing, and how unique amenities and pricing drive premium ADRs across varied outdoor assets.

Mark Podolsky, former investment banker turned land investor and author of Dirt Rich, built a multi-million automated land business. He shares a 3-step system: do it, document it, delegate it. Topics include systemizing acquisitions, using VAs and automation tools, direct-to-owner outreach for boutique hotels, deal arbitrage with minimal capital, and reclaiming time and focus.

Most hotel owners think the only way to reduce OTA dependency is to throw more money at Facebook ads or hire expensive marketing agencies. But the real solution isn't more budget, it's leveraging what you already have: authentic stories and staff who actually care about the guest experience.A hospitality marketing veteran who's advised VCs and built a 1.6 million social following reveals the direct booking playbook that independent hotels are using to reclaim revenue from OTAs. Scott Eddy has spoken at hundreds of conferences worldwide, doing the unexpected: giving away strategies that agencies charge thousands for.In this episode, you'll discover:Why rolling out the red carpet for OTA guests (instead of alienating them) converts 30%+ into direct bookersThe exact content categories that drive bookings and why shaky iPhone footage outperforms polished videosHow to make your front desk staff into content superstars without hiring an expensive agencyThe one Instagram metric (hint: it's not followers) that actually predicts revenueWhy "saves" and "comments" matter 10x more than likes for direct bookingsThe AI-discoverable scripting framework that's replacing traditional SEO for hotel discoveryHow long-form storytelling videos outperform short-form for brand discoverability (despite what Instagram tells you)The fatal mistake 80% of hotels make: posting beautiful property photos with promo text overlays that actively repel guestsIf you're serious about reducing OTA dependency and building a direct booking engine without a massive marketing budget, this episode will provide the roadmap. Don't make the expensive mistake of outsourcing what your in-house team can do better.About Scott EddyScott Eddy is a globally recognized hospitality brand strategist and digital pioneer who transitioned from a decade in investment banking to founding the first and largest digital agency in Southeast Asia. With a combined following of over 1.2 million, Scott has hosted the travel series Video Globetrotter on Lifetime Television and is consistently ranked among the top 15 hospitality influencers in the world. He now travels full-time as a consultant and keynote speaker, helping hotel brands convert authentic storytelling into measurable ROI while championing the "independent advantage" through raw, human-centered digital engagement. A genuine citizen of the world, Scott lives entirely out of hotels and cruise ships, leveraging his experiences in 85+ countries and 120+ cruises to provide a unique "perpetual guest" perspective on the evolving travel landscape.Connect with Scott EddyConnect with Scott on LinkedIn.Follow Scott on Instagram or visit his Website.Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal

Jordan Malara, a former U.S. Space Force engineer, now co-founder of Springs Hospitality, shares his journey from engineering to hospitality. He reveals insights from purchasing a 27-key motel for $2.45M, emphasizing the importance of conservative underwriting and understanding hidden costs like CapEx. Jordan discusses effective financing strategies, the crucial upgrades that enhance guest experiences, and how he uses outsourced revenue management to streamline operations. His unique perspective blends creativity and analytics, perfect for aspiring hotel investors.

Curt Marker, aka Captain Curt, is a professional private jet pilot and the CEO of Captain Capital, specializing in commercial real estate. In this discussion, he reveals how he raised $1.5 million to co-invest in a boutique hotel without any operational experience. Curt shares valuable insights on the importance of strong partnerships, effective communication with investors, and the process of capital raising. He emphasizes leveraging personal networks over social media for funding and discusses the operational strategies that boosted hotel performance.