Defining Hospitality

Today’s guest is highly skilled in corporate law and real estate. He joins the show to share his unique journey through #hospitality. Stephen Wendell is the CEO of Mountain Shore Properties. Stephen joins the host Dan Ryan to talk about what hospitality means to him and his passion for the industry. Takeaways: Hospitality is one of the hardest asset classes within commercial real estate. You have to deal with a lot of local politics and there is more to navigate.When opening up a boutique hotel or restaurant, you want to make something that the locals really care about and tourists will love and appreciate.There are more money-conscious decisions that you can make to save money when looking at making a hotel. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on high-speed internet when you can get it for $150.Hospitality is made of small moments that add up to be something meaningful for the guests. Whether it’s coffee or a well-placed reading nook, it’s a welcoming feeling.When designing a space, you should consider if what you are going for benefits the guest and the community you are in as a whole. You don’t have to always agree with someone you are working on a project with. A healthy discussion can lead to a better product.When it comes to running a restaurant or a hotel, it’s important to praise the employees working through the pandemic and keeping those places open. Quote of the Show:17:47 “It really is the small moments which then makes developing these hotels so difficult because what really translates to the guests and gets them excited is a very, very small moment.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-wendell-5417291a/Website: https://mountainshoreproperties.com/ Shout Outs:0:37 Kate Rohrer0:38 ROHE CREATIVE1:13 Horst Schulze1:14 Ritz Carlton1:59 Hampton Inn2:19 Clarence Kerr2:22 American Motor Inns2:29 Sheraton2:30 Holiday Inn3:09 REIT3:28 Proskauer Rose in New York3:30 Philadelphia Eagles4:09 Marriott4:10 Hilton6:51 Miranda Mancuso6:57 Andres Belos7:26 Bunkhouse9:12 Andrew Benioff9:14 Independent Lodging Congress13:20 A League of Their Own20:57 Ramshackle 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/bTEWgtZEsAI Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest has a passion for hospitality. He spearheads Wimberly interior’s entertainment, gaming, nightlife F&B, and retail design environment. Josh Held is the Vice President & Director of Entertainment at Wimberly Interiors. Josh joins the host Dan Ryan to share his passion for community and his hospitality journey.Takeaways: The spaces that are being made in hospitality are all about making connections with others in the same space.When you think about the places you tend to go back to as a guest, you go back there because you feel comfortable and it gives you a sense of belonging.Burning Man created a sort of petri dish of a community with all different groups of people coming together with a common interest.It’s important to open your mind and let go of preconceived notions of the world around you and instead see the experiences around you and build upon the world with that.The best ideas often come from when you aren’t trying so hard to come up with an idea. Giving your mind space to breathe is an indispensable tool. The future is undefined and unpredictable, which makes it exciting for people in the hospitality industry to try and innovate for the future. Don’t be afraid to push the limit. You need to be confident and know your stuff, but pushing the boundaries is the only way to innovate with new ideas.Quote of the Show: 5:59 “Think about the places that you tend to go back to as a guest. Just as being a normal person who interacts with spaces, you tend to go back to the places that make you feel comfortable, that give you that sense of belonging there.”Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshheldnyc/Website: https://www.watg.com/Instagram: @joshheldnyc Shout Outs: 8:09 Marque in New York17:29 David Allen32:58 Rockwell Group33:00 David Rockwell33:02 David MexicoWays 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/ciybaWoXQPg Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest is highly skilled at space planning. He is known for fostering excellence within his design team and uses a client's creativity, focus and experience to turn their dreams into a reality. Marc DeSmet is the Associate Principal at TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design. Marc joins host Dan Ryan to share his #hospitality journey and what it all means to him  Takeaways: Where you live in the world will influence the way you look at your design space, a faster paced environment will feel and produce a different look than a slower one.Hospitality isn’t just about little gift baskets in hotel rooms or flowers. It’s a feeling of welcoming and greeting someone to make them feel comfortable.Hospitality is about creating backdrops for memories. You want to create a positive memory for your guests and have it be something they look back upon fondly. Music can play a large role in hospitality as well, as it can influence the way a setting is received by a guest.As an architect, it’s important to consider projects that are longer form and can be multi-generational as that can allow the space to really develop.You want to create a location that people will want to go back to over and over again. Net Zero hotels are starting to be looked at as the way of the future for hotels to help the environment.Quote of the Show: 9:24 “I don't think of it as a thing anymore. I think it's not a noun. Hospitality is a verb. It's an action of greeting. It's an action of welcoming.” Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-desmet-5a325833/Website: https://truexcullins.com/Shout Outs: 0:54 Jeffrey Beers4:37 Platinum Circle Awards4:52 Larry Traxler14:31 Rockwell Group14:34 David Mexico15:26 Mies van der Rohe15:27 Louis Kahn15:47 Morris Lapidus15:58 Philip Johnson19:20 The Cliff House23:12 Hotel Jackson23:59 Omni Mount Washington26:13 Foundation Hotel27:13 Simone Deerie27:53 KISS29:57 RGA Loyal 31:16 Phish32:25 Mike Gordon40:38 Hotel MarcelWays 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/z3unMKOSp3s Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest is responsible for guiding the design of all North American projects for the Canopy, Tempo and Motto brands at Hilton. He has a fabulous eye for interior design and it shows in his work. Barry Sullivan is The Senior Director of Lifestyle at Hilton Worldwide. Barry joins host Dan Ryan to share his #hospitality journey and what it all means to him. Takeaways: Hospitality is about making others feel comfortable in a place that is unfamiliar to them or a new environment. You want them to find the versions of the things they find familiar in a new setting.People gravitate towards areas that they are most comfortable with. You want to create a sense of comfort with them.A soft brand is a hotel that can be whatever it wants to be but the infrastructure might not be all the same.As your business grows, you need to keep your passion alive and be involved enough for it to grow in the right direction and not lose sight of the ultimate goal and culture.The pandemic has made some projects go on longer than were originally planned, so you want to make sure you are ready for a project to be extended in certain cases.It’s a rewarding experience to see a hotel from the beginning all the way to the finished project.How you treat your team members is how they will treat guests. You want to make sure you are taking care of the team so they can give the guests their best experiences.Quote of the Show: 12:16 “Hospitality is making people feel comfortable, or my definition is making them feel comfortable, welcome, and warm in an environment that's not their own.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-sullivan-04933637/Website: https://www.hilton.com/en/corporate/Shout Outs:0:57 Steve Higgins1:11 Jim Northcut2:04 Linda Ronstadt2:13 Harry Dean Staton2:19 Kevin Bacon2:43 Eda Hallinan2:50 Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City”6:03 Wimberly31:44 Larry Traxler32:29 Sue Firestone32:42 Design One32:57 James Northcut Associates42:24 Margaret McMahon44:05 Small Giants by Bo Burlingham49:54 Chris Nassetta51:14 Conrad HiltonWays 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/_VMn34qsFXo Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest started his hospitality career in hospitality by working in High Rise architecture, but quickly became a hospitality wizard. He has an eye for decatant design. Dieter Cartwright is a Partner at Dutch East Design. Dieter joins host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey through #hospitality and what it all means to him.Takeaways: You want to design a place where people can gather and enjoy their experience.As the designer, you can build a beautiful space but it is up to the owner and manager to maintain it and keep it lively.When designing a space, don’t be afraid to hand it over to and acknowledge someone else’s direction.You want to create an environment that doesn’t alienate people but instead it bring others together.Net Zero is a goal to go away from the dependency on fossil fuels and rather sustainable ways of providing energy.The barriers to any change are institutional practices. If you surround yourself with the right team you can help to change things for the better.Whatever you are considering building, none of it possible without the use of energy.Quote of the Show: 9:59 ​​”As a designer, we can build the car, we can give you the keys, but you have to drive it.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dieter-cartwright-assoc-aia-ba859318/Website: https://www.dutcheastdesign.com/Shout Outs: 0:48 David Kaplan0:50 Death and Company1:33 Demond3:07 Setting the Table by Danny Meyer17:19 Hotel Marcel19:15 Tapestry by Hilton29:54 Rich, Brilliant and Willing32:44 Bruce Becker39:15 MindclickWays 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/RFn09BsS2qc Defining Hospitality is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Today’s guest loves to take on new and unfamiliar typologies and approach them from a hospitality point of view. He has combined strengths in architecture and interior design. Greg Keffer, the Partner at Rockwell Group, leads design studios in the firm’s New York and Madrid offices. Greg joins host Dan Ryan to talk about #hospitality and what it all means to him.Takeaways: You want to surround yourself with people who view projects in a different way than you and bring something new to the table.At the end of the day, hospitality helps to bring out the commonality and real life experiences that connect people.Hospitality is all about bringing people together. There is a lot going on in the world now and hospitality can help ease the stress and find the common bond between people.You need to consider the needs of your clients as every project and client is going to require a different approach.When creating a hospitality space, it needs to be unique and create a memorable experience for the guests so they want to come back.We all get caught up in our day to day lives but it’s important to take time to show gratitude and appreciation.There is a larger sense of community now in the hospitality industry, and it’s important to be engaged with the community you are in.Quote of the Show: 6:53 “To me, the true reason hospitality exists is to bring people back together. We need spaces and places and something that is a common bond between people.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-keffer-aia-leed-04aa101b/Website: https://www.rockwellgroup.com/index.php Shout Outs:4:40 Imagination Playground10:17 Neuehouse.com10:31 WeWorks11:31 Union Square Cafe11:32 Danny Meyer15:42 Glen Coben19:32 Skidmore19:45 Eva Maddox20:21 Todd DeGarmo20:35 David Rockwell28:55 Empire Diner37:57 Aluminairium45:56 Aaron Richter45:58 Equinox Hotel47:18 Nobu HotelsWays 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/DAx8QdXp8OQ

Today’s guest has a keen eye for design as well as being an innovator in the hospitality industry. He is a licensed architect with the American Institute of Architects. Rado Ivanov is the Vice President of Global Design for the USA and Canada at Marriott International. Rado joins host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey through #hospitality and what it all means to him.Takeaways: When designing a space, you want to think about making that space feel like a home and feel welcoming.We as humans are very good at pointing out things that we don’t like, but we can’t really define things we do like.Hospitality is an experience. It is something that affects all the major 5 senses in a good way and leaves a lasting impression.Hospitality makes the world a smaller and better place through the power of travel. You want people to feel comfortable with the space they are in. You don’t want to make it cold and impersonal.The cabinet of curiosities is a wall that shows items that are related to the people who work at the Marriott hotels.With the latest innovations in technology, there is a lot interesting ways you can incorporate that into a hotel room, ie Quote of the Show: 12:28 “Hospitality to me is an experience.”  Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radoivanov/Website: https://www.marriott.com/default.miShout Outs: 1:18 Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ3:15 Arne Sorenson7:25 Ty Breland10:36 Jeff Voris24:08 David Aleman33:16 Gensler48:47 AC Marriott48:48 Courtyard 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/nWcA0EfMKiA

Today’s guest began his journey through hospitality working in a small property on the California coast and then built the number one hotel marketing blog in the world. He’s the publisher of Hospitality Daily, which is dedicated to helping hoteliers provide better guest experiences. Josiah Mackenzie is the Principal at Benchmark Research Partners, and he joins host Dan Ryan to share his experiences and passion about #hospitality and what it all means to him.Takeaways: Hospitality is a gift that you can give to others. It is the feeling of safety, of being creatively free and being inspired by others and what is around you.The hospitality career path is more steep than it has ever been now and that makes it a perfect time to join this industry.People who work in the hospitality industry have a desire to meet new people from across the world and serve these people. Hospitality is something that you learn from observation and seeing how the professionals handle themselves and clients.When designing a great guest experience it is important to focus on the F&B moments as those can allow you to create moments to surprise and delight guestsHospitality isn’t just welcoming people to your hotel. There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into getting everything.Real estate is becoming a better environment to work in and it is worth investing your money into hospitality.Quote of the Show: 2:21 “I think hospitality at its core is really a gift. It's a feeling of being safe, of being free, of being inspired.”Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahmackenzie/Shout Outs: 1:00 Skift1:28 Andrew Benioff1:30 Independent Lodging Congress3:55 Aaron Richter3:58 Equinox13:34 Adele Gutman15:41 The Grand Hotel16:47 Remington Hotels20:56 Horst Schulze35:25 Sweet Green37:26 Hoxton Hotels38:14 Sharan Pasricha from Ennismore38:52 IHG38:58 Kimpton40:45 ZokuWays 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/XSWERxaustQ

Today’s guest has more than 14 years of experience in the lodging industry. She also has a passion for people and pineapples. Davonne Reaves is Founder/Hospitality Strategist at The Vonne Group. She is also the author of How To Buy A Hotel - Roadmap to Hotel Ownership. Davonne joins host Dan Ryan to talk about her journey in hospitality and what it all means to her. Takeaways: Owning a hotel requires a lot of work, you have to keep up with the land and raise capital and hire staff among many other things. When starting your own business, you want to start small and work your way up to becoming a bigger company. When looking at buying a hotel, you want to know the surrounding community and have them feel comfortable with you.People are what make the hospitality industry so special and unique, most people will stay at a hotel for the human connection and interaction.You need to know your purpose, if you don’t have a clear purpose for your business that it will not last.Knowing how to invest the right money into the right places for buying a hotel can help you to financially be all set. There will always be people who don’t believe in your dream or help you along the way, so it’s important to have thick skin and move past it. Quote of the Show: 18:52 “You could automate the hospitality industry as much as you possibly can, it's the people, it's even some people who would prefer to stay in a hotel over an Airbnb, just because of the human connection and that human interaction.”Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/thevonnegroupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davonnereaves/Website: https://thevonnegroup.comBook Link: https://www.amazon.com/TIDBITS-EMERGING-PINEAPPLE-PROFESSIONAL-DEQUAN/dp/1791966365 Shout Outs: 3:50 ACS4:05 Hyatt4:42 Jessica Meyers31:30 Shannon Steel31:45 Dr. Mina James31:58 Andre Arbrieten57:35 Skift57:39 Highgate57:41 JLL58:43 Swiss HotelWays 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/ZLMSqY07U2Q

Today’s guest has extensive global experience in designing mixed use developments. He has a passion for design and uses that passion to create beautiful spaces. Host Dan Ryan is joined by Aaron Richter, The Senior Vice President of Design for Equinox Brands at Equinox to talk about hospitality and what it all means to him  Takeaways: Having a good sleep cycle is incredibly important to having a productive day and keeping you on track.Building a community around your hospitality center and making it all in a walkable area is one way to feel a sense of community. People don’t go to hotels to drink at the pool anymore. Now, people are considerate of their health and want to travel to a place where they feel healthier and get a better experience. Being social is an important part of your well being. You want to be a part of the community that you are in.You don’t need to have your hospitality space be the “cool new thing” or be a different space for everyone. Instead, just build your space to the people you want to attract to the space.Make sure that you are showing appreciation for all the members of your team so they feel recognized and their hard work is being noticed. When designing a hospitality space, you want to keep the guests on the property and part of that is by having everything be visible to the guests as they are more likely to engage with something if they can see it first.Quote of the Show: 13:34 “People are waking up again to the fact that oh I should take care of myself. My health is important. My immunity is important. This is all very topical and germane at the moment. People are saying I want to live a different way.” Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-richter-7b7b45/Website: https://careers.equinox.com/Shout Outs: 0:40 Starwood 3:39 Barry Sternlicht3:42 Park Lane Hotel3:46 Patrick Jwuan3:51 Vespa11:09 Eurov20:43 Josiah McKinsey22:47 Dina Lamanna22:49 HOK23:00 Nike23:09 Pottery Barn24:30 “Rookie Smarts” by Liz Wiseman25:07 John Hoke32:18 Johnny Ives32:19 Steve Jobs46:23 Whole Foods46:26 Trader Joe’s 50:43 Seattle Mariners51:00 Tiki Barber1:00;18 Lone Tree Scout ReservationWays 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/54p3A9mNfFA