Join Steve Turk on this captivating episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as he sits down with Vanessa James, CEO and founder of VJ Media, and the visionary behind Food, Wine and Fete. Vanessa shares her incredible journey from aspiring sports broadcaster to becoming a dynamic force in the media and events industry. Discover how she navigated h…

Today we're doing a crossover episode and sharing my other podcast. I do with my co-host Victor Feria called Tangy Talks. I hope you enjoy it. Welcome to Episode 16 of Tangy Talks! In this episode, Steve Turk and Victor Feria share their summer strategies and insights into managing the hospitality business during South Florida's slower season. They…

In this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Mauro Pinho, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Acqualina Resort. Mauro shares his incredible journey from waiting tables to becoming a leader in luxury hospitality. Discover the key moments and relationships that shaped his career, the challenges and reward…

Episode Overview: In this special crossover episode, Steve Turk, founder of The Hospitality Mentor, joins David Arraya on the Conscious Hospitality Podcast. Steve shares his journey from his early days as a cabana boy to becoming a renowned leader in the hospitality industry. With stories from iconic hotels like Lowe’s, Mandarin Oriental, and Trump…

Chatting with Hotel Innovator Ryan Rivett. Dive into the exciting world of hotel life with Ryan Rivett, the brain behind MyPlace Hotels. We're talking about how he started a unique hotel brand, his adventures in the business, and what it takes to stand out in the busy world of hospitality. Ryan opens up about his grandad's legacy with Super 8 Motel…

Join Steve Turk on the Hospitality Mentor Podcast for an exclusive interview with Jennifer Barnwell, President of Curator Hotel and Resort Collection. In this episode, Jennifer shares the story of her rise through the ranks in the hospitality industry and the insights she's gained along the way. From her early beginnings in upstate New York to orch…

Today, you will learn the fantastic story of Ashish Verma’s career in hospitality. Ashish is the Senior Vice President of the Luxury Division for the Unbound Collection at Hyatt Hotels. He shares his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry, starting as a management trainee for Oberoi Hotels in India after a back injury altered his initial dre…

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 an…

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, mana…

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 …

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…

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…

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-s…

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…

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 …

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 car…

Christopher Calabrese, the Vice President and General Manager of the JW Marriott Resort and Spa and Marriott Cancun, joins the Hospitality Mentor Podcast to share his career journey and insights about the hospitality industry. Christopher discusses his roots in hospitality, which began in his mother's kitchen, and his move to roles across the Unite…

Cole Boucher, the founder and president of Essential Hospitality, joins Steve today to share his journey in the hospitality industry. Cole's first job started in his family’s company, Boucher Brothers, on Miami beach at the age of 13, and since then he hasn’t stopped. He decided to leave college and start his business, Essential Hospitality, which …

In this office hours show, Steve is answering listener questions live from LinkedIn! Steve shares his process of becoming an entrepreneur in hospitality, gives advice for entrepreneurs wishing to enter the hospitality market, and shares strategies for selecting hotels when traveling. You'll also hear his advice for vendors on understanding each hot…

Nico Foris, CEO of Guest Services Inc, joins Steve in this episode to chat about his journey in the hospitality industry. Starting as a dishwasher at 12 years old, he progressed through various industries, including working as CFO for the Washington Commanders before landing his current role at Guest Services Inc. He shares his insights about the v…

In this episode, Steve is joined by Sarah Dandashy, a seasoned hospitality expert, best-selling author and travel personality. Sarah discusses her career evolution, starting as a hostess to becoming a renowned concierge at luxury hotels and eventually launching her own successful social media platform 'Ask a Concierge'. Sarah shares what she learne…

In this solo episode, Steve shares his experience from a family trip to Washington, DC, praising the excellent services at the Intercontinental Hotel at The Wharf. Steve also answers several listener questions on topics such as the impact of climate change on travel choices, emerging accommodations for digital nomads, evolving trends in air travel,…

This week, we're revisiting an all-time favorite episode with Thatcher Brown, Chief Commercial Officer & Head of Joint Yacht Operations at Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, Owner and Joint Operator of Four Seasons Yachts. Thatcher has extensive international hospitality and travel-related business experience from working in the U.S and Canada, Europe…

Happy New Year! Today, Steve is excited to share his interview with Said Haykal, the General Manager of Faena Hotel Miami Beach & District. This interview was the most downloaded episode of 2023 for The Hospitality Mentor podcast. Said is an experienced operations leader with a ultra-successful career of working in the luxury hospitality industry. …

In this episode, you will hear from Shawn Tarter - the founder of Realtime Reservation. Shawn describes how he went from working in the finance industry to hospitality, how he got the idea for Realtime Reservation the process of building the technology, why it's important to know about the tech that you represent, why hotels are late adopters to te…

Today, you will hear Steve Turk's guest appearance on the Behind the Stays podcast with host Zach Busekrus. Zach is the Co-Founder of Sponstayneous, a platform like Scott's Cheap Flights but for Airbnbs. Each Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, Sponstayneous releases a carefully curated list of 150 of the best last-minute deals on Airbnb from Can…

In this episode, we explore the hospitality industry's latest trends and stories. Highlights include the grand opening of the Fontainebleau hotel, an $800K diamond ring found at the Ritz in Paris, and the latest online reputation rankings of hotel brands. We also preview Accor's 2024 hotel openings and discuss the emerging trend of 'surprise travel…

Welcome back to another solo show! In this episode, Steve is answer listener questions about hospitality from all around the country. First, Steve recaps Art Basel and how to create unique experiences around the holidays. You'll also hear his thoughts on spiritual tourism, how to tap into the local culture, the importance of backstories in building…

In this episode, we delve into various pertinent topics relating to the travel industry. We kick off with the bipartisan No Hidden Fees Act of 2023, which aims to ensure transparency in travel industry pricing. We also discuss a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council, which shows a significant decrease in the sector's water usage. The propose…

Hamish Brown joins Steve for this episode of The Hospitality Mentor podcast to talk all about his journey in hospitality design. Hamish is Partner at 1508 London, an interior and architecture design studio that creates exceptional spaces worldwide. Hamish graduated from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and has been with 1508 London for 13…

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality with Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk, we are excited to have William "Chip" Rogers, President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, as our special guest. Chip will share his thoughts on the current state of the hotel/hospitality industry and discuss some of the latest legislation in LA and NJ. …

Join Steve as he chats with some of the hospitality industry's leading HR professionals. You will hear advice and stories from how Isabel Porzecanski, Geri Williams-Fitts, and Laura Barbieri have created successful careers for themselves as HR leaders in hospitality. Isabel is the President of People Traction, Geri is the Chief People Officer at Hi…

Join Steve for a solo show where he is answering your questions! First, you'll hear about Steve's event at FIU and how you can use Hospitality Mentor GPT as a resource. Up next, Steve's answers to questions about iconic restaurant brands expanding to other cities, how historic culinary legacies can maintain their original essence in modern settings…

Join Sarah & Steve as they dive into the latest in the hotel and travel industry. - Miami Beach's luxury hotel condos: A threat to Art Deco heritage? - Las Vegas avoids the largest hotel strike in history. - The perennial puzzle: Why are hotel showers so complex? - Thanksgiving travel surge: TSA and airlines gear up for a record-breaking season. - …

Ignacio Garcia-Menocal, CEO and founder of Grove Bay Hospitality Group, joins us for this episode. Grove Bay Hospitality is a Miami-based award-winning restaurant group that creates innovative and memorable dining experiences through its critically-acclaimed restaurants. Ignacio and his team at Grove Bay were voted one of South Florida Business Jou…

Patrick Huey, formerly the General Manager at We Care Spa, has recently been named the Director of Operations Global Wellbeing at Hyatt Hotels Corporation. In honor of his new role, we are revisiting Patrick's interview on The Hospitality Mentor podcast. Throughout his career, Patrick has worked in the Spa sector of hospitality all around the world…

Sarah & Steve are back with more industry related news and topics for our Hotel Crew edition of Good Morning Hospitality! The title of this episode explains it all so make sure you're tuned in and ready to potentially even share your thoughts as Sarah & Steve unpack other travel topics in this episode! Follow Steve Turk on LinkedIn Follow Sarah Dan…

Ben Wolff is co-founder, developer and manager of Onera & Onera Capital. Onera is a hospitality company offering luxury, eco-focused, unique stays in beautiful, natural landscapes. His other venture, Onera Capital is an alternative lodging real estate fund focused on multiple asset types and strategies within the vacation rental, short term rental …

Another Wednesday and your favorite Hotel Crew is back on GMH with yet another great episode line up of industry related topics! Tune in with your favorite cup of coffee (or wine because we don't judge 😉) and get ready to hear from Sarah & Steve! Follow Steve Turk on LinkedIn Follow Sarah Dandashy on LinkedIn Check out Good Morning Hospitality live…

Kevin Flannery is the owner and operator of Vinyl Steakhouse, Certified Sommelier, and Certified Specialist of Wine & Spirits. Vinyl Steakhouse opened in the Spring of 2022 and is now the highest rated steakhouse in Manhattan. Vinyl is a new age Steakhouse featuring Vintage Vinyl records from the Rock, Funk, Punk, Rap & Jazz Genres as you have a 5 …

What's the opposite of junk fees? All-inclusive and everything included for your guests! Big chains are going all-in with all-inclusive resorts and finding news ways to help reward small businesses that book directly! Plus, last week Steve & Sarah shared the top frustrating airplane behaviors and you all LOVED it! So, this week, we're sharing the t…

There is no denying the magic that can be felt when staying at a boutique hotel. Whether it's a historically significant, family-run legacy, or a modern trendy property, boutique hotels are an amazing corner of the hospitality industry. In this episode, you will hear from mother-daughter duo Kathleen and Amy Smith, owners of Saratoga Arms. Original…

Another Wednesday and your favorite Hotel Crew is back on GMH with yet another great episode line up of industry related topics! Tune in with your favorite cup of coffee (or wine because we don't judge 😉) and get ready to hear from Sarah & Steve! Follow Steve Turk on LinkedIn Follow Sarah Dandashy on LinkedIn Check out Good Morning Hospitality live…

Patrick Fernandes joins Steve in this week's episode of The Hospitality Mentor. Patrick is the Executive Managing Director of the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort and CEO of Alchemy Wellness Resorts. Alchemy offers a highly specialized and pioneering approach to management services prioritizing innovative wellness programs, strategic development and …

They're back with a jam packed episode! 💥☕️ Sarah & Steve come back with more insights and stats around what a government shutdown could look like for the travel industry, how cities like LA are looking at hotels for potential homeless housing and many industry leaders are fighting this idea while others seem to be in support, and of course... hote…

This week, Steve is answering your questions in the first solo show of The Hospitality Mentor podcast. You'll hear his answers to questions about glamping, how he's seeing hotels and hospitality brands incorporate sustainability, skills that professionals need in both the hotel and vacation rental world, and more. Tune in to this solo episode and l…

Another beautiful Wednesday morning episode with our Hotel Crew, Sarah Dandashy & Steve Turk, as they cover a round of topics just for you, our loyal listeners! This episode is brought to you by our friends at sojo! Want to win a FREE Happy Hour for your housekeeping team? Get your sample kit and you will automatically be entered into our giveaway!…

Isabel Porzecanski, President of People Traction, joins Steve on this week's episode. Isabel's passion for people has guided her successful career spanning over 25 years in Operations and Human Resources within the luxury hospitality industry. She is an expert at attracting, retaining, and developing top talent and designing and implementing HR ini…

Mr. Jan D. Freitag is the National Director, Hospitality Analytics, for the CoStar Group. He moved there from STR which was acquired in October 2019 by CoStar Group. This week, our Hotel Crew has Jan Freitag joining the podcast again to discuss a line of data, occupancy, and hotel/travel impact in the current environment Tune in as Sarah Dandashy a…

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, you will hear from 5 incredible Hispanic hospitality leaders in this episode. National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history. The Hispanic hospitality leader…