Defining Hospitality

Today’s guest has been immersed in the hospitality industry since the age of 13. Will Guidara is the author of many books, including a new one called “Unreasonable Hospitality”. Will has been trained in the dining rooms of Tribeca Grill, Spago, and Tabla and opened the restaurants at the Museum of Modern Art. Will joins the host Dan Ryan to discuss his journey through hospitality and what it all means to him. Takeaways: Having board games along with fine dining provides an experience that makes the guest feel comfortable and at home. It reminds them of home-cooked meals and time with family and friends.Will has always had a passion for creating spaces where people can get together and enjoy being around friends and family. This is part of what led him to be in the hospitality industry. America used to be a manufacturing economy but now 65% of our GDP is driven by the service industry. This means we have shifted the focus of our economy to be in the service industry and provide people with memorable experiences of hospitality.The culture of your company is a living, breathing tangible thing. It’s not just part of a checklist; if you don’t live by the cultures of your company, then the culture will die.The best way to talk about hospitality is to compare it to service. Service is bringing the right plate to the right person on time but hospitality is how you make them feel when you bring them their food. Your values transcend everything. If you bring your values to the front and make them a core part of who you are, then those values will drive you and help you succeed. Don’t be afraid to look at yourself and tell yourself that you can handle anything that comes your way. Quote of the Show:9:24 “It has always brought me joy to create spaces where people can come together.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-guidara-b64952243/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wguidara/?hl=enBook Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B13W5GPT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0Welcome Conference: https://www.thewelcomeconference.com/ Shout Outs:1:36 The Nomad05:47 Simon Sinek25:39 James Corden25:43 Balthazar25:51 Keith McNally36:09 Rookie Smarts by Liz WisemanEleven Madison ParkWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/o2-7Ko4_P9w

Today’s guest has worked on big and small projects, from multimillion-dollar resorts to small home renovations and everything in between. Geoffrey Cramer is the Partner at Murphy Cramer Design. Geoffrey is passionate about creating distinctive architecture and interiors for private and corporate clients. He joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through hospitality and what it all means to him.  Takeaways: At the end of the day, you have to be willing to take a chance on yourself and know that you will find the solution to whatever problem you face. Don’t be in a place where you think you have the answer to a conversation. Build up the courage to ask a question and don’t be afraid to hear the answer.It’s better to take your time on a  design project and push the deadline out further to show something beautiful rather than force everyone to meet tight deadlines and turn in an average-looking design. The work that is done on a project is just as important as the content. You always want to put all your effort into every design project and make it a welcoming space. When it comes to hospitality, it is all about providing strangers and guests with a sense of comfort and a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment. You want to slowly shift your focus as new opportunities arise. This will allow you to be more adept in different areas and hone new skills. In the hospitality industry, you want to try and predict your guest's needs ahead of time and anticipate what they might want in a certain situation and have that ready for them. Quote of the Show:19:05 “Really it's being or providing strangers or guests, kind of this comfortable, warm, friendly, welcoming sort of experience.” Links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/geoffreycramerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffreycramer/ Website: https://www.mcdesign.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphycramerdesign/?hl=en Shout Outs:2:58 Morgan Brody4:29 Pat Murphy4:30 Susan Seifert5:44 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl8:26 Helen Jorgenson8:28 Venus Williams11:00 Hilton12:01 Larry Traxler24:49 The Blind Side by Michael Lewis37:07 IHG37:09 MarriottWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube: https://youtu.be/l40KPcrf4NM

Today’s guest is an industry innovator who uses her talented mind to create beautiful spaces. Alexandra Cole is the Principal and US Managing Director at DesignAgency. Alexandra is incredibly skilled at Interior design and running teams across many different timezones. She joins the host Dan Ryan to share her journey through hospitality and what it all means to her.  Takeaways: After discovering that she has dyslexia, Alexandra looked forward to the creative arts in school and she found the arts to be a creative outlet.Hospitality is the feeling of welcoming, accepting, and coming together and sharing experiences with people. There are certain scenarios that exude hospitality like a nice warm farm and a comfortable couch and armchairs. These are part of the overarching feeling of having a space where you feel like you belong.The “instagramable moments” are a faux pa in the design world. You don’t make designs to be seen on Instagram, you make designs that are comfortable and make the guest feel warm and invited. It’s always a good idea to push the envelop of curiosity and try to increase your knowledge about your industry and the world around you.Coming out of COVID, there has been a lot of opportunities in the hospitality industry for branded spaces to really take off. People will get used to certain brands and staying at the same hotels because it provides them with a sense of familiarity and a feeling of welcomness.  Quote of the Show:15:17  “It's really kind of about that feeling of welcoming and acceptance and the coming together of experiences and people.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-cole-15aab316/Website: https://www.thedesignagency.ca/ Shout Outs:1:18 Dune6:08 Vito Lotta6:09 Hilton23:49 Ennismore23:50 Hoxton24:03 David Collins24:38 The Connaught Bar25:00 Ritz-Carlton26:15 Aliya Khan36:36 ILC44:28 Bentley Residences Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube : https://youtu.be/BDAFehGxzxY

Today’s guest is a passionate hospitality leader with more than 25 years of experience in growing hospitality brands and nurturing successful partnerships in more than 70 countries around the world. Daniel del Olmo is the President & Chief Operating Officer of Sage Hotel Management. Daniel stopped by to preview the upcoming Independent Lodging Congress! Takeaways: The 2022 Independent Lodging Congress is being held at the Line Hotel in Los Angeles from October 11th-13th. The link to register is included below. The welcome cocktail will be held at the newly opened Hotel Per La on the first day of the Independent Lodging Conference.What sets the ILC apart from other hospitality industry conferences is that it feels more like a community than a typical conference. Instead of standard presentations, the ILC is about bringing like-hearted people together to share their diverse experiences.From its inception, ILC has brought together many different points of inspiration from both inside and outside the hospitality industry. This basis is still felt today and it’s hard not to be inspired by the varied perspectives on display.The ILC highlights the extended family of the hospitality world by featuring all of the disciplines that interact with hospitality, like music, art, culture, etc.If you’re on the fence about going to ILC, ask yourself when was the last time that you felt inspired by going to a conference. Also, set some goals for yourself and your company and see how many of them overlap with those of people attending ILC. Quote of the Show:2:19 “In the case of ILC, I've always found that it's a platform that brings together people that are like-hearted, different minded, and with a whole slew of different experiences and perspectives” Links:If you plan to go to The Independent Lodging Congress in Los Angeles October 11-13, use “DefiningHospitality” when checking out and save 10%. Buy passes here: https://ilcongress.com/ilc/indie-congress-2022LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldelolmo/  Sage Hospitality Group website: https://www.sagehospitalitygroup.com/ Shout Outs:3:00 Andrew Benioff5:26 Hotel Per La5:36 Jeremy SelmanVipin Nambiar Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube: https://youtu.be/LUvU2mkFSmc

Today’s guest is the most decorated black interior designer of our time. Kia Weatherspoon is the President and Founder of Determined by Design. Kia focuses on making interior design a standard for all, not a luxury for a few.  Kia joins the host Dan Ryan to share her powerful journey of finding her way into the hospitality industry. Takeaways: Kia’s first introduction into the hospitality industry was during her time overseas in the military where she made space out of three sheet walls inside a tent. In that space she felt comforted and felt solace.Hospitality is all about being people driven. You want to focus on making sure that you are giving the people a sense of belonging and a place they can be comfortable in and call home.To serve people, you have to be grounded and be people focused. That way you can be the best advocate for equal design outcomes for everybody.Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself as that shows how worthy you think you are. It’s often the small things that leaders forget. You want to humanize people and not go by just their title then you will find the right people to design for.Getting recognized is the least important thing. Instead of being recognized, it’s important to make a change in the world and help others when you can.Radical hospitality is this feeling of being welcomed, embraced, included, accepted, and seen, but without any barriers, bias or judgment.To help build the pipeline for people of color that are in creative industries there will need to be $30 Million in 30 years.  Quote of the Show:13:35 “Being people driven is always about hospitality in my mind.” Links:Twitter: DetrminedDesignLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiaweatherspoon/Website: https://www.determinedbydesign.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kianweatherspoon/ Shout Outs:1:14 Stacy Shoemaker10:31 Alvin Ailey20:20 Cheryl Durst37:31 Sequoyah Hunter Sujay42:16 Jack Travis42:57 Ashli Johnson - Executive Director Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at Howard University 43:20 Arne Sorenson43:21 Marriott Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/YcfLBt3voG4

Are you looking to make your big break into the hospitality industry? Well, look no further because today’s guest is looking for an Intermediate Interior Designer! Sonya Haffey is the Principal at V Starr, the design company that was founded by Venus Williams. Sonya joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about the need to hire in this industry and what to look for in new employees. Links to the job opening in the show notes. Takeaways: When you are looking at hiring someone, you want to try and hire someone that is smarter than you and can push you to be better yourself. It’s essential to give new hires space to be themselves but also space to fail. It’s important for them to use failure as a learning lesson and grow from it.You don't want to deal with drama in the workplace. Hire people that are not going to bring negative energy into the workplace or cause issues. In the hospitality industry, it is very common for people to burnout and not have a good work/life balance. At V Starr, they make sure to have to keep that balance to avoid burnout. Quote of the Show:1:18 “My goal in life is for you to prove me wrong at least three times a day. If you can prove me wrong, you'll make my day, I'll be the happiest person alive.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-haffey-b054b320/Website: https://www.vstarr.com/Intermediate Interior Designer job opening: https://www.vstarr.com/careers/  Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/CRg1clxzZFk

Today’s guest has over 25 years of experience in luxury hotel and residential design. With each project, she brings an unparalleled amount of knowledge. Anne Wilkinson is the Principal at BAMO, Inc. Anne joist the host Dan Ryan to share her hospitality journey and what it means to her to be a part of this industry. Takeaways: Working with different principles is similar to working with different clients where each one has a different style that they like and a different process of getting work done.At its core, hospitality is about caring. It's about taking care of people that come to stay with you and paying attention to their needs. A lot of the “check boxes” for what makes a hotel a luxury hotel can be seen as outdated and they aren’t the end all be all for the standard of luxury hotels.Everybody is focused on bringing people back to the office, so they are looking at having the office spaces be redesigned to be fun and exciting and create a sense of identity amongst the people who work there.It’s important to try and look at ways to make your design or space more sustainable so that in the long run it will be better for everyone.There are some designs that remain timeless and can be used in any setting. Design actually reflects what is going on in the current world.When you are designing a space for anyone, it’s a good idea to listen to what the people who will be using the space are looking for and try to meet their needs and wants. Quote of the Show:9:40 “At its core, hospitality is about caring.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-wilkinson-70738512/Website: http://www.bamo.com/ Shout Outs:28:43 Justin Herman Plaza28:49 Embarcadero31:46 Tahmahlah34:43 Mindclick38:35 Carmelo Resort44:12 The Aesthetics of Joy Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube : https://youtu.be/2rq5SDrxPzg

Today’s guest is very keen on visualizing spaces in 3 dimensions. He also holds state licenses in architecture and interior design. Vito Lotta is the Vice President of Architecture & Design at Hilton Worldwide. Vito joins the host Dan Ryan for the first-ever live, in-person episode of Defining Hospitality! Vito shares his journey through the hospitality industry starting with using a drafting board that his father had all the way to being an integral part of Hilton. Takeaways: Boredom is an excellent state of mind to be in because it allows you to really drill down into your imagination. It’s hard to be imaginative if your mind is constantly coming up with new things.Being in the hospitality industry is providing a certain level of service to your customers, such as teaching guests who can’t dance how to dance and better themselves and providing them with an unforgettable experience.To improve yourself for your company and your personal life, it’s best to focus on your strengths and hone those skills to be even better.Hilton is going in a unique direction where it’s going to be more playful, energetic, and younger. When it comes to innovation, there are technical, digital, and physical spaces to it all now. You need to find a way to incorporate all those aspects into your design.We still live in an analog world. There are millions of apps out there but they aren’t the answer to coming up with a great design space. There are different levels of privacy that guests might want that you can integrate into your hotels. Some guests might want more privacy by using an alias while others might not care as much.Quote of the Show:16:50 “we're in the business of hospitality. You're supposed to use your gift of dance to make our customers, our guests feel as elegant and graceful as they aspire to be.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vito-f-lotta-464228/Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/corporate/ Shout Outs:27:13 American Institute of Architects 32:24 Know Your Strengths by Donald Clifton and Marcus Buckingham34:40 David Goggins44:33 Getty’s Group46:04 Larry Traxler46:05 Hyatt46:56 Gensler50:12 Hotel of Tomorrow50:37 Ron Swidler50:51 Rodd Kidley52:08 Oculus1:00:54 Wayne’s WorldWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/YouTube : https://youtu.be/SWU9VheTiYs

Today’s guest plays an extraordinary role in the hospitality industry. He is the founder and producer of The Lodging Conference, one of the world’s premier events for hotel owners and hospitality executives. Harry Javer is the President of the Conference Bureau. Harry joins the host Dan Ryan to share his journey through this beautiful industry and what it all means to him.  Takeaways: The Lodging Conference was designed to be a hospitality industry event that goes on forever, not just a one-time event that gets put to the side because of different trends.A conference owner and a hotel owner actually have a lot in common, but the main commonality is that they both want their guests to leave happy. In order to have a successful conference, you need to be well-rounded and have a natural sense of curiosity. The lodging conference industry is a very resilient industry that has always bounced back from difficult times. When you are planning a conference, you want to have a plan B just in case things don’t go right or the exact way you were planning them.One way to stay inspired is to have a great team around you. They will help you come up with new and fresh ideas. Some conferences can have a massive impact on how people do business or interact with others. The Lodging Conference has impacted hundreds of lives for the better. Quote of the Show:14:18 “Running a conference is not much different than running a hotel. We basically want the same thing. We want our guests to leave happy.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryjaver/Website: http://www.conferencebureau.com/The Lodging Congress: https://bit.ly/3RzVAyg Shout Outs:5:34 Tommy Trojan5:41 Sublime8:45 Tony Robbins8:53 Bernie Seigel9:18 Barbara Sher21:59 Forest Gump33:18 Bruce Springfield37:22 Robert Kiyosaki37:32 Mark Cuban37:41 Al Gore37:43 Donald Trump37:47 Magic JohnsonWays to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube : https://youtu.be/Q-u0AYBb3FY Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

It’s a big celebration for Defining Hospitality! We celebrate a year of podcasting with some of Dan’s most popular guests. Throughout the past year, we have heard many great stories and learned so much about what hospitality means to those who work in this beautiful industry. Listen in as Dan guides us through some of his favorite clips and conversations for this week. Takeaways: Even though there are devastating moments, there are silver linings that lead to greater opportunities. Use the difficult times as your inspiration to push forward.There is a shift in how to interact with design from the perspective of hotels. You have to keep in mind who you are designing for and create memorable experiences.The true reason hospitality exists is to bring people closer together. It helps to strengthen the common bond between people.Every project you work on will be narrative driven and it should reflect the values of the community the project is in.Providing a welcoming environment and a certain level of service in a hotel is something that can never be replaced by a robot or an Airbnb.Part of hospitality is how you make people feel. You want each and every guest to leave with the best experience they have ever had. Hospitality is like a gathering spot for everyone to come together and find out how close we all are to each other.  Quote of the Show:"I walk away from each conversation completely energized. And I think that also taps into what makes our industry so special to really put others first we must excel at openhearted listening" Links:Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedailydanryanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/Website: https://www.ninesixseven.com/ Ways to Tune In: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/Youtube : https://youtu.be/mJFJucL3X7s Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/