Radi Garov, the General Manager at Soho Beach House in Miami, joins Steve in this episode to talk about his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry. Starting as a banquet server after moving from Bulgaria to the U.S., Radi climbed the ladder through hard work, learning, and mentorship. He shares his experiences working in various positions and hotels, from his first job at C Trail Golf Resort to leading roles at FAENA and eventually Soho House. Radi talks about the unique challenges and learning opportunities at each step, including moving into luxury hospitality, mastering service stand ..read more

Welcome back to another office hours session! Before Steve dives into the Q&A, he shares his experiences from the ongoing challenge of visiting 50 hotels in 50 days, focusing on finding unique, accessible amenities in hotels.  Steve then answers questions from listeners, addressing subjects like using technology to improve customer experiences, managing high guest turnover in vacation rentals, staff training for maintaining service standards, and the effectiveness of loyalty programs. He gives advice on creating innovative strategies for hotels to partner with local businesses, the fi ..read more

This week, Steve is sitting down with Omri Shalev, the CTO and co-founder of Reeco. Reeco is a company aiming to simplify the hospitality industry's operational side. Omri shares his journey from falling in love with coding in Mexico City at 15, through his various roles in startups and big tech companies like Samsung and Microsoft, to co-founding Reeco. Reeco's mission is to streamline hospitality operations by integrating purchasing, invoice management, recipes, and inventory count into one platform, leading to significant time and cost savings for hotels. Throughout this episode, Omri provi ..read more

Tune in to hear the most downloaded episode of The Hospitality Mentor podcast, an interview with Mary Rogers! She is now the Managing Director and Area General Manager for these hotels: Montage Healdsburg, Pendry San Diego, Pendry West Hollywood. Mary has had an incredible career in hospitality, from starting at the age of 13 working at a small bed and breakfast in Ireland to managing the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, one of the world's most luxurious hotels. Throughout this conversation, Mary talks about the different roles she has worked in hotels, the importance of building relationships, and ..read more

Gabriel Perez, COO of Lodging for the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his extensive journey in the hospitality industry, beginning as a pool bar attendant in Venezuela. With experiences ranging from managing operations at the Intercontinental Hotel to navigating the challenges of condominium hotels and the impacts of the 2008 financial crisis, Gabriel provides valuable insights into the rewards and complexities of a career in hospitality. He emphasizes the importance of culture, giving back, and creating memorable guest experiences, even amid tribulations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Gabr ..read more

Sami Kohen, Vice President of Food and Beverage for Princess Cruises, joins Steve this week to share his remarkable journey from working as a bellman in Istanbul to excelling in various roles across the hospitality and cruise industry. Sami dives into his entrepreneurial endeavors and challenges in Miami's restaurant scene, his transition from on-ship to shore-side roles, his achievements and lessons learned along the way, and his current responsibilities at Princess Cruises. Sami provides incredible insights into managing operations for a large cruise line, adapting to new challenges, and emp ..read more

Sami Kohen, Vice President of Food and Beverage for Princess Cruises, joins Steve this week to share his remarkable journey from working as a bellman in Istanbul to excelling in various roles across the hospitality and cruise industry. Sami dives into his entrepreneurial endeavors and challenges in Miami's restaurant scene, his transition from on-ship to shore-side roles, his achievements and lessons learned along the way, and his current responsibilities at Princess Cruises. Sami provides incredible insights into managing operations for a large cruise line, adapting to new challenges, and emp ..read more

Lance Sanson, Vice President of Campus Dining at John Knox Village, exploring his extensive career in hospitality. Starting as a busboy in Eugene, Oregon, Lance describes his early years, learning under notable figures, progressing through various roles including management positions in airport dining and eventually transitioning into senior living facility dining services. He outlines the evolution of his career, emphasizing the importance of being a sponge for knowledge, the power of innovation, and the significance of understanding generational dining preferences. You'll also hear about the ..read more

This week, we're excited to revisit Kirk Peterson's episode. Kirk is the President at Sightline Hospitality and his journey in the hospitality industry, starting from his very first job in food and beverage at a country club to becoming an influential figure in the industry, is fascinating. Kirk discusses the critical role mentors played in his career, the importance of relationships and hard work, and the pivotal transition from working in the investment world to leading operations in hotel management. He also outlines the evolution and strategic positioning of Sightline Hospitality as an exp ..read more

Dive into the exciting world of Airbnb in this podcast episode, where we uncover how Airbnb is changing the game in travel and leisure. We look into why Airbnb stands out, focusing on its new types of stays, high-end offerings, and how it uses artificial intelligence to tailor experiences just for you. The episode also highlights the huge interest in Airbnb rentals for the upcoming US solar eclipse, showing how Airbnb offers more unique places to stay than traditional hotels right where the eclipse can be best seen. Plus, we tackle the issue of places on Airbnb that cost way more than they sho ..read more