

Hospitality Daily Podcast
Josiah Mackenzie
Stay informed and inspired to delight people and grow your business with daily conversations with interesting people doing interesting things. Hosted by Josiah Mackenzie.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 28, 2026 • 21min
Beating The Trap That Burns Out Hospitality Leaders - Franck Desplechin
In this episode, Chef Franck Desplechin, the Founder and CEO of Incrementum and author of Relentless Growth, shares why chasing titles without alignment leads to burnout and how redefining growth as depth rather than height changed his career. From becoming the youngest executive chef of a St. Regis to finding fulfillment through coaching his team, Franck offers a practical perspective on staying connected to the craft that brought you into hospitality. A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 27, 2026 • 26min
The "Invisible Brake" Holding Your Team Back from Using AI - Noah St. John
In this episode, Dr. Noah St. John, keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of 27 books, shares why most organizations are failing at AI adoption, not because of the technology, but because they're ignoring the human operating system required to use it. He walks through his "invisible brake" framework for identifying and removing the hidden fear and friction that keep teams from leveraging AI, and offers a practical starting point any leader can act on today.Links:Noah St. John on LinkedInNoahStJohn.com (get your free Invisible Brake Score)Book an Invisible Brake AuditWatchNoahTV.com (Noah's YouTube channel)BookNoah.com (book Noah to speak) A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 26, 2026 • 26min
Stop Waiting Until You Feel Ready - Kimberly Ofrecio, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
In this episode, Kimberly Ofrecio, Group Commercial Director at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, talks with our guest experience correspondent Danica Smith about what it takes to lead as a woman in hospitality, from unlearning the need to have all the answers to navigating the double standards that still exist in C-suite roles. With only 14% of hospitality C-suite positions held by women, Kimberly shares how her cross-industry, cross-cultural career shaped a leadership style built on directness, empathy, and curiosity, and why the best advice she can give aspiring leaders is to stop waiting until they feel completely ready. A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 26, 2026 • 22min
Guest Experience Starts Long Before Check-In - Kimberly Ofrecio, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
In this episode, Kimberly Ofrecio, the Group Commercial Director at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, shares what hotels can learn from airlines and luxury retail about data discipline, personalization, and commercial strategy. This conversation will challenge you to rethink what happens before a guest ever arrives at your property. This episode is hosted by our guest experience correspondent, Danica Smith. A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 25, 2026 • 13min
Why (And How) This CEO Teaches Housekeepers to Read a P&L: Azim Saju, ARK
In this episode, Azim Saju, the CEO of ARK Holdings, shares why he's raising financial literacy for every team member in his hotels, from housekeepers to front desk agents, and how that directly impacts hotel valuations, renovations, and retention. A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 24, 2026 • 37min
How Brittain Resorts & Hotels Makes More Money for Owners with a Contrarian Commercial Strategy - Patrick Norton
In this episode, Patrick Norton, Chief Marketing Officer and Partner at Brittain Resorts and Hotels, shares how his team drives 85% direct bookings across 30+ properties by building an always-on commercial engine that generates demand rather than waiting for it. Patrick explains why he moved the CDP to the center of his technology stack rather than the PMS, how his Seasons of Rewards campaign generated $102 million in revenue with a 5,500% ROI, and why he treats OTAs as one-time matchmakers to build guest history quickly. You'll also hear his approach to AI-assisted recruiting and how condo-hotel management requires a fundamentally different playbook from traditional hotels.Learn more about Brittain Resorts and HotelsA few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 23, 2026 • 12min
The AI Talent Crisis Nobody's Talking About Yet - Ben Campbell, Hospitality America
In this episode, Ben Campbell, the President and CEO of Hospitality America, shares why the traditional path from frontline roles to executive leadership is at risk in an AI-driven world, and what hotel companies need to do about it now. Ben discusses how he's challenging his executive team to rethink talent development, why cross-functional training across properties could be the new leadership pipeline, and why he's cautious about deploying AI tools to properties before solving for confirmation bias.Listen to the first part of our conversation: How a Revenue Manager-Turned-CEO Drives Profit as Market Conditions Shift A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 23, 2026 • 3min
Three Things I Can't Stop Thinking About Right Now - Josiah Mackenzie
In this episode, Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, asks Josiah Mackenzie what's on his mind recently. What's your take? Send him a note hereA few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 22, 2026 • 5min
War in Iran: "Hospitality Steps Up" - Stuart Greif
In this episode, Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares how his team and the broader hospitality industry responded when guests from The Summit were stranded by the war in Iran. From coordinating accommodations in Monaco and Nice with partners including Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer and Hôtel Le Negresco, to governments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai stepping up to cover hotel costs for stranded travelers, Stuart reflects on hospitality's role as a refuge in crisis.A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Mar 21, 2026 • 29min
What We Can Learn From The Best Invite-Only Event in Luxury Hospitality: The Summit by Forbes Travel Guide (Stuart Greif)
In this episode, Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, shares an inside look at The Summit by Forbes Travel Guide, where the world's top luxury hospitality leaders gathered to celebrate, learn, and experience hospitality. Stuart explains how the event brought together luxury brands such as Bugatti, Michelin-starred chefs such as Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse, and speakers ranging from Chris Gardner to Joe Pine -- and why hospitality is becoming the unifying thread across luxury automotive, fashion, and real estate. A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands


