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Ever wonder what keeps hoteliers up at night? Or what helps them sleep easy? In “The Turndown,” host Sebastien Leitner of Cloudbeds chats with hospitality executives and industry leaders about their latest challenges and breakthroughs, the inspirations and innovations that keep them going, and the life lessons that go along with working in this chaotic, yet rewarding, industry.
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Jennifer Barnwell: Empowering independent hotels in a brand-centric market
47:12
47:12
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Jennifer Barnwell is an advocate for independent hotels. As President of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection, she offers independents the opportunity to harness the power of scale and access cost savings through vendor negotiations, ultimately helping them stay independent and be more profitable. She discusses the challenges and opportunities for ind…
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Claire Jollain: Appealing to the next generation in hospitality
43:47
43:47
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43:47
With hospitality students graduating with skills that can be applied to other industries with better salaries and work-life balance, how will the industry retain its top-tier talent? As Dean of Hotel Institute Montreux and Assistant Dean of Swiss Hotel Management School, Claire Jollain has direct contact with future hospitality professionals and sh…
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Kristen Vasan: The greater purpose in exploring the great outdoors
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29:01
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When was the last time you spent the night camping? As Global Director of Partnerships at Hipcamp with over 15 years of experience in the outdoor hospitality and tech industry, Kristen Vasan is dedicated to getting travelers to experience nature as a way of promoting environmental stewardship. She shares her transition from working in New York City…
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Julia Krebs: Inspiring young minds to join the hospitality field
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44:26
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As someone who joined the hospitality industry right after high school, lecturer Julia Krebs has deep passion, understanding, and experience in the field that she draws from to connect with students at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management. She emphasizes the importance of inspiring young adults to choose a career in hospitality and d…
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Gavin Gray: Essential tools and tips for running a successful vacation rental business
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33:05
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The vacation rental industry has become highly lucrative – and competitive – in recent years. As Global Head of Connectivity Account Management at Vrbo, Gavin Gray has a wealth of insights to share about the vacation rental industry, including top trends, hot destinations, and essential technology tools needed to gain a competitive edge. He highlig…
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Dr. Stowe Shoemaker: The business of educating future hospitality leaders
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49:29
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During his long career in hospitality education, Dr. Stowe Shoemaker (Ph.D. Cornell University) has witnessed the hospitality curriculum evolve into a business-focused teaching. But should hospitality be all business? He discusses the challenges of educating and attracting a new generation to the hospitality industry and explores the value of apply…
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Dallin Tait: The wild adventures of building a destination hotel
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37:40
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Running a resort & spa in the middle of remote Utah has proven to be one of life’s greatest adventures for Dallin Tait. After spending the better part of his career running an excursion company, Dallin also took on the role of General Manager at his family-owned hotel in Bluff, Utah – a sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts. He shares his success journ…
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Jacqueline Nunley: Innovation, adaptation, and the future of hospitality
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Jacqueline Nunley has been at the forefront of revolutionizing travel industry technology for over two decades. As the Industry Advisor for Travel & Hospitality at Salesforce, she has dedicated her career to guiding companies to transform with innovative solutions. She shares her perspective on the importance of discovering and adopting new tools, …
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Bianca Brasdorp: Running a thriving business as a woman in hospitality
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From business setbacks to viral TikToks, Bianda Brasdorp has experienced a full spectrum of challenges and triumphs on her journey to becoming the successful owner of multiple female-only hostels in Europe. She shares her experience and recommendations for aspiring hostel owners, including coming up with a unique concept, making the most of social …
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Anne-Julie Karcher: Unlocking the potential of social media influencers for hotels
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Love them or hate them, social media influencers are on the rise. As the co-founder of Anorak Travel, an influencer company focused on the tourism industry, Anne-Julie Karcher has made a career of strategically matching hoteliers with influencers who can help them reach their marketing goals. She provides insights into the costs and budgeting of in…
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Sebastien Leitner: Reflections from a lifelong career in hospitality
31:41
31:41
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In our inaugural season of The Turndown podcast, host Sebastien Leitner has led conversations with hospitality leaders from all corners of the industry. Now, we’re turning the tables and putting Sebastien in the guest seat to get to know more about his illustrious hospitality career that spans hotel management, travel distribution, technology partn…
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Jason Pinto: Revolutionizing hotel revenue management with AI and Machine Learning
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33:13
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What’s the difference between Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning? Jason Pinto, Co-founder and COO at Pace Revenue, can not only answer that question in a way that’s easy to understand, he can also explain how these tools are impacting revenue management in the hotel industry. He shares how AI-and-ML-backed technology is bringing hotel rev…
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Richard Brosal: The challenges of meeting rising guest expectations post-pandemic
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Richard Brosal is a hotelier who operates without “bricks or mortars.” As Co-Founder & Owner of Jet Luxury Resorts, a niche hospitality company in the condo hotel space in Las Vegas, Richard has the unique challenge of not only keeping guests happy but also satisfying the owners and investors of the properties he runs. He shares how rising inflatio…
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Luka Berger: Exploring shifting standards in housekeeping, from automation to upselling
35:46
35:46
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Having worked as a housekeeper in the past, Luka Berger, Founder & CEO of Flexkeeping, is passionate about bringing technology to properties that are still managing housekeeping using pen and paper. With some hotels either canceling, upselling, or charging for housekeeping, Luka also discusses solutions for forecasting staffing needs, plus the diff…
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Julie Cheetham: How to measure your hotel’s sustainability impact
34:11
34:11
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When we hear the word “sustainability,” we often think of green initiatives and the environment. Julie Cheetham, Founding Member & Managing Director of Weeva, a digital system for managing sustainability in tourism, helps hoteliers take a more holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing not only conservation, but also commerce, community, and…
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Asa Firestone: Bootstrapping business insights from a rock climber-turned-hotelier
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Asa Firestone started his career as a National Geographic grant-sponsored mountain climber and now runs a private, family-owned property that caters to adventure enthusiasts. From hair-pulling maintenance issues to starting a campervan and beer garden side venture right before the pandemic, Asa shares how he tackles the challenges of running bootst…
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James Lemon: Envisioning a future of fully frictionless payments while traveling
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41:00
Would you leave home without your wallet? James Lemon does. As Global Lead of Travel, Transport, & Leisure at Stripe, James relies on his digital wallet for making payments and works to connect the hospitality industry with the latest innovation in payments. What does a future of frictionless, invisible payments while traveling look like, and what …
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Sarah Fults: How to successfully lead a big team with heart
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34:21
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As Vice President of Distribution at MGM Resorts, Sarah Fults is a hardcore hotelier who is known as a tough boss when it comes to managing partners. But when it comes to her team of 34, Sarah is a “mama bear” who knows all the kids’ and pets’ names. How does she keep that balance and manage to lead a loyal team even as many others in the industry …
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Giancarlo Carniani: What happens when you unleash your hotel’s earning power?
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35:43
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When Giancarlo Carniani, General Manager of ToFlorence Hotels and President and Founder of the Hospitality Innovation Academy noticed that his hotel’s room rates were always selling at their peak, he had an idea – what if he stopped limiting the revenue management system and set the rates free? Hear about his experience removing the ceiling from hi…
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