Teaguetalks Podcast

With 20+ years in Wall Street investment banking and a sharp eye for brand growth, Phil Zrihen—Brand COO and Head of Americas at Ennismore—brings a strategic lens to lifestyle hospitality. Through immersive design, integrated F&B, and a culture-driven operating model, he shares how Ennismore is building brands that owners want to invest in and travelers want to experience. With 180+ properties open and 140+ in the pipeline, Phil discusses how Ennismore is scaling across the Americas, what makes a lifestyle brand financially viable, and why evolving guest expectations are reshaping development strategy.

There's a reason the Savannah Bananas have a 3 million-person ticket waitlist. And there's a reason their next game is set to draw 80,000 fans. It's more than the wild choreography or the sea of yellow—it's a business model built entirely around one thing: the fan. Teague sits down for an exclusive interview with founder and entrepreneur Jesse Cole to explore how the Bananas have reimagined what a sports franchise can be. From eliminating all sponsorships to paying the taxes and fees from tickets, the Bananas are proof that putting fans first isn't just a nice idea—it's a sustainable, strategic advantage. He shares the 10+ year journey it took to get there—filled with tough decisions, financial risk, and a relentless belief in doing things differently. Learn how you can apply the same bold thinking and long-game vision to build something that truly lasts.

After announcing that the Hunter Conference will be moving to the Signia by Hilton Atlanta—Teague sits down with Hilton's President & CEO, Chris Nassetta, for a candid conversation. After serving over 250 million guests last year, Hilton is expanding its footprint with 8,400+ properties across 140 countries—and more in the pipeline. Chris shares why he believes we're in a "new golden age of travel", how Hilton continues to thrive despite industry challenges, and his perspective on interest rates, expense creep, and asset values. Despite 2024's headwinds, Hilton had a record-breaking year—hitting an all-time high stock price, launching four new brands, and forging multiple key partnerships. Don't miss this conversation about what's next for Hilton and the hospitality industry.

Teague Talks? More like Teague Tip-Off! This month, Teague takes it to the next level for an unstoppable conversation with Mit Shah, the Founder and CEO of Noble, at the Atlanta Hawks' elite training facility. Mit's journey is a masterclass in ambition, from working the front desk at his parents' motel to building one of hospitality's most respected private equity firms with over $6.0 billion in assets. They go deep on family-driven grit, the power of top-tier talent, and why education is the ultimate game-changer in leadership and philanthropy. Looking to 2025 and beyond, Mit reveals where Noble is making its biggest plays and offers a first look at the Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series at the upcoming Hunter Conference. And because no great episode is complete without a bit of action, they take the court for fast-paced, rapid-fire questions. Big moves. Big insights. Big episode.

NEW YEAR, NEW TEAGUE TALKS! Kicking off Season Five of Teague Talks, Teague sits down in the new Regent Santa Monica Beach with Andre Zotoff, CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, to explore his journey from a 16-year-old restaurant worker in Germany to a leader in luxury hospitality. Overseeing a portfolio of 13 iconic properties, Andre discusses how his culinary, operational, and cultural backgrounds shape his leadership at Strategic. From innovative renovations and redefining the luxury guest experience to a surprising IMDb connection, this episode offers plenty of laughs and an up-close look into high-end hospitality to start off 2025.  Stay tuned next week for an exclusive tour of the brand-new Regent Santa Monica Beach.

This week, Teague sits down in the brand new Regent Santa Monica Beach during its opening week for a conversation with IHG's Leanne Harwood, SVP, Managing Director, Luxury & Lifestyle Americas. With a luxury and lifestyle portfolio spanning 700 hotels across 70 countries, Leanne highlights IHG's goal to establish themselves as the core player in the space by bringing back the iconic Regent brand to the shores of America. Leanne shares what else IHG is focused on, what each brand brings to the table, and the trends she's seeing amongst travelers.

This week, Teague chats with Al Patel, President of Baywood Hotels, for an inside look at managing a vast portfolio of 125 properties, with over 10 new hotels under construction and an additional 20 projects in the pipeline. From growing up in the business to leading one of the biggest hotel management companies today, Al shares what Baywood is currently focused on, the details behind the newly-developed Moxy Miami Wynwood, and his outlook on the industry going into 2025.

With the election right around the corner, Teague sits down with AHLA's Kevin Carey and Chirag Shah to discuss what we know so far about how the presidential race may shape the future of the hospitality industry. From economic policy shifts to critical workforce decisions, they dive into the potential implications on the horizon and what they could mean for hospitality leaders, real estate, and travel alike. Tune in to learn how to navigate the polls and ensure your voice is heard. 

This week, Teague sits down with Rob Blood, Founder of Lark Hotels, for a candid conversation about the evolving boutique and independent hotel space. Recently awarded seven Michelin Keys within his portfolio, Rob shares how he began as an innkeeper in his mid-20s, what motivated him to purchase his first property in Kennebunkport, and how he transformed a nine-room inn into a profitable business that manages over 30 design-focused properties today.

This week, Teague chats with Lindsey Ueberroth, Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Lindsey leads the world's largest independent hotel brand, which represents more than 600 distinctive hotels spanning 80 countries. With rapid growth in the boutique and independent space, Lindsey shares her insights on hotels de-flagging, travel trends, and the benefits of being independent while still receiving brand support. 

Teague travels to Athens, GA, where college football is in full swing, to sit down with James Whitley, COO and Co-Founder of Landmark Properties, the leader in student housing. From flipping houses as a college student to building Landmark into an industry powerhouse, James shares the inspiration behind his recent venture into the hotel space, including his purchase of the iconic Old Edwards Inn and the transformation of an abandoned denim factory into his first independent boutique hotel, Rivet House.

Teague sits down with Rob Smith, newly appointed President & CEO of Stonebridge Companies, to discuss his journey in overseas operations, his time at Aimbridge, and the lessons learned from industry icon Navin Dimond. Rob also shares insights into Stonebridge's future growth plans following the recent acquisition of Real Hospitality Group, along with his macro view on the industry and interest rates.

Teague is joined by Jin Lee, CEO of ARA US Hospitality Trust, a Singapore-based REIT focused on select-service hotels across the U.S. Jin shares the unique story behind the company's formation, discusses the challenges of managing a Singapore-based REIT while operating in the U.S., and outlines how their investment strategy has evolved over the years.

Teague sits down with Steve Palmer, Founder & Chief Vision Officer of Indigo Road Hospitality Group, at the newly opened Rivet House in Athens, GA. Known for his remarkable success in the restaurant business, Steve talks about his transition into hotel management and the journey that led him there. Behind the scenes of his incredible career, Steve opens up about his personal battle with addiction and how he's now giving back to others in the industry who have faced similar challenges.

With a recent NYC hotel bill taking over headlines, Teague sits down with AHLA's Kevin Carey for a quick update on the details behind the proposed legislation. Tune in to learn how this could trickle down and affect other markets.

Teague is joined by Chan Patel, Chairman and CEO of the largest community bank in the U.S. focused on hospitality. From migrating to the States and purchasing his first hotel in 1976, Chan shares the incredible story behind what led him to raise $2 million and open the State Bank of Texas. The two discuss Chan's unique approach to lending, the recipe behind running a successful bank, and how he has seen the industry evolve over the years.

Teague sits down with Nolan Hecht, Senior Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at Certares, to explore why the company has been active despite the current economic conditions. Nolan shares how he's getting his deals done, his optimism about the industry, and a little bit about his amateur boxing career.

Teague sits down with the recently-appointed CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality, Craig Smith. With a few months under his belt, Craig shares what drew him out of retirement after his impactful 35+ year career with Marriott, his plans for the global management company, and the impressive team he has built around him to set Aimbridge up for success.

Teague sits down with his good friend Jon Stanner, President & CEO of Summit Hotel Properties, to hear what's going on in the world of hotel REITs. As Summit's Q2 report approaches, Jon shares which areas are experiencing the most growth, industry trends, and his team's current priorities.

In the heart of NYC, Teague sits down at The Fifth Avenue Hotel with Alex Ohebshalom, Founder & CEO of Flâneur Hospitality. An emerging hotelier, Alex is no stranger to development. He shares his journey to hospitality, what sparked his idea to convert a century-old property into a luxurious 5.5 star hotel, and the challenges of making this 10-year project come to life.

This Friday, Teague welcomes Carlos Rodriguez, Sr., Chairman & CEO of Driftwood Capital, for an insightful discussion on how capital is shaping the transactional market. From growing up in Costa Rica and pursuing a career on Wall Street, Carlos shares the candid story behind his first hotel, the challenges of raising his first debt fund, and everything in between throughout his journey to making Driftwood what it is today.

This week, Teague sits down with respected competitor and friend, David Turley, President of Cronheim Hotel Capital, to discuss the current state of the lending market from their worlds. They delve into the market's evolution, the challenges they are confronting, and the projects they are currently undertaking in their daily operations.

Ahead of NYU, Teague sits down with Jan Freitag, National Director for Hospitality Market Analytics at CoStar, for an update on the current state of the industry. As we wrap up Q2, Jan dives into interest rates, group demand, and market trends, while Teague shares his crystal ball into transactions and development. 

Steps away from IHG's Atlanta headquarters, Teague sits down for an exclusive conversation with Jolyon Bulley, CEO of the Americas. From his start behind the front desk in Melbourne to becoming the CEO for one of the world's largest hotel brands, Jolyon shares his passion for international hospitality, his microscope into global travel trends, and what's on the horizon for IHG.

Sitting in the brand new The Hiatus Clearwater Beach, Teague is joined by Hiren Desai, President & CEO of 3H Group, for an exclusive conversation. From his beginnings in Zambia to managing his first hotel in Chattanooga, Hiren shares the origin story of 3H Group, his development projects through the years, and what it's been like working alongside his brother.

This Friday, Teague is joined by David Kong, Founder & Principal of DEI Advisors and former CEO of Best Western. David shares his early days from growing up in Hong Kong, what led him to becoming the longest-running CEO of any major hotel company, and what he's doing to leave an impact on our industry.

This week, Teague sits down with Stephen Wendell, Founder & CEO of Mountain Shore Properties, for a chat on all things development. From growing up in a hotelier family while pursuing a career in law, Stephen shares how he stumbled into the real estate world, the challenges developers are facing today, and the latest projects that he's been working on in the boutique space.

Teague takes the main stage at the 35th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference alongside the leaders behind the industry's most successful private companies. The four panelists share insights into their world and offer a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in today's economic landscape.  Featuring Mitch I. Patel, Vision Hospitality Group, Inc.; Al Patel, Baywood Hotels | Hotel Management & Development, James Merkel, Rockbridge; and Greg Friedman, Peachtree Group.

At the 35th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, Teague takes the stage alongside the nation's top brokerage firms for a deep dive on the state of the market. Moderated by LW Hospitality Advisors' Evan Weiss, the four executives provide a comprehensive analysis of the current financial landscape, offering insights into trends, risks, and investment opportunities while forecasting potential market trajectories.

This week, Teague sits down with the one and only Rachel Humphrey, Founder of Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance. While many know Rachel for her incredible impact on the industry, few know her story and what led her to hospitality. After an impressive 20-year career as a trial lawyer, Rachel shares what led her to AAHOA, what she spends her time on today, and what she's looking forward to at the upcoming Hunter Conference.

On this International Women's Day, Teague sits down with powerhouse Anna Blue, President of the AHLA Foundation. From her upbringing on a hippy commune in Canada to her work on Capitol Hill, where she contributed to one of the most impactful campaigns in presidential history, Anna reflects on the influential individuals who shaped her career, sheds light on the mission of the AHLA Foundation, and provides a glimpse of what attendees can anticipate during the ForWard session at the upcoming Hunter Hotel Investment Conference.

In this week's episode of Teague Talks, David Sotolov, Managing Director at Alliance Bernstein, joins Teague for a deep dive on all things lending. From the intricacies of various asset classes to insights on current spreads and interest rates, David shares his crystal ball into the debt market landscape. Tune in as they discuss what's driving the market, which sectors are thriving, and what lies ahead for investors in 2024.

Sitting inside the brand new Signia by Hilton Atlanta, Teague is joined by Danny Hughes, EVP and President of the Americas at Hilton. Danny reflects on his early days working in his family's pub and pursuing his passion for culinary before shifting to the business side of hospitality. Beginning his Hilton career at the London Hilton on Park Lane over 35 years ago, Danny gives us insights into his journey at the company, two new Hilton brands, and their exciting plans for 2024.

Ryan Rivett, President & CEO of My Place Hotels, joins Teague from South Dakota for this week's episode. From starting out at his family's fishing lodge to founding My Place Hotels alongside his grandfather and industry icon, Ron Rivett of Super 8, Ryan dives into his company's secret sauce, the challenges with franchising today, and his 2024 outlook.

Teague sits down with Michael Bellisario, Director & Senior Research Analyst at Baird, to talk all things 2024 industry predictions. Starting with a recap of ALIS, Michael dives into the current outlook of the M&A market, what's on the economic horizon, and his hot stock tips for this year.

This week, David Duncan, President & CEO of First Hospitality, joins Teague from Chicago for an industry chat. The two dive into the recent headlines surrounding the Hostmark acquisition and what the rest of 2024 looks like for First Hospitality. David shares his take on being a hotel broker, his overall outlook on the industry, and his thoughts on the University of Michigan win.

Teague sits down for a compelling conversation with Anthony Capuano, President & CEO of Marriott International. Having once received a rejection letter from Marriott as a recent college graduate, Anthony reflects on his path that led him to fill the biggest shoes at the company today. He shares insights into the pivotal figures who shaped his career and delves into the latest Marriott headlines, unveiling the company's vision for the exciting developments awaiting in 2024.

Mehul Patel, Managing Partner & CEO of NewcrestImage, sits down with Teague to discuss the company's 2024 strategies. Having bought and sold 283 hotels since 2014, Mehul reflects on the astonishing year that the company had in 2023 and delves into what you can expect from NewcrestImage in the coming months.

Teague kicks off 2024 with David Gutstadt, Co-Founder and Principal of Good City Studio. The Philly local shares how he went from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to spearheading the luxury lifestyle concept of Equinox Hotels. Right in time for New Year's resolutions, David gives us the run-down on his latest ventures that combine world-class entertainment, social, wellness and business offerings under one roof.

Teague is joined by Lodging Magazine's 2023 Person Of The Year, JayShah, to discuss the recent headlines surrounding the Hersha acquisition. The pair dive into the details behind the $1.4 billon, all-cash transaction and how it became a full circle moment for Jay as he recalls the early days when his parents purchased their first two motels in Philadelphia. Tune in to see what's next for Hersha, the Shah family, and the future generation of hospitality leaders. 

This week, Teague sits down for a deep dive on 2024 industry predictions with Rachael Rothman, Head of Hotels Research & Data Analytics at CBRE. Rachael shares CBRE's forecast on the macroeconomic impact on the hotel industry and whether or not a recession is on the horizon. 

This week, Teague sits down for a fireside chat with father-son duo, Bob and Wes Whitman of Whitman Peterson. In this heartwarming episode, the two share their paths to the hospitality industry and how they ended up joining forces as business partners. Bob and Wes fill us in on the latest ventures of Whitman Peterson, how they gravitated towards the outdoor hospitality space, and the valuable lessons that they learned from one another along the way.

On this week's episode, Teague catches up with the one and only Jagruti Panwala, President and CEO of Wealth Protection Strategies. From immigrating to the U.S. at age fifteen and becoming an "accident hotelier" by age twenty-two, Jagruti reveals how her passion for the hospitality industry served as a driving force behind her commitment to advocacy work and her roles as the first Chairwoman at AAHOA and Director at AHLA.

This week, Teague sits down with Cody Bradshaw, Managing Director & Global Head of Hotel Asset Management at Starwood Capital Group. From his early beginnings as a Tennessee boy, Cody shares how he fell into hospitality by accident after pursuing a basketball career at Cornell. Now a London local, Cody dives into his perspective on the global economy, what it's like working for Barry Sternlicht, and what Starwood is spending most of their time on today.

Teague Talks with Chip Rogers, President & CEO of AHLA, about the Israel-Hamas War commanding headlines, gridlock in Congress, and AHLA's lobbying priorities. 

With the extended stay segment on fire, Teague sits down with Greg Juceam, President & CEO of Extended Stay America. Greg shares his journey from his early days as a bus boy to CEO of an industry leading company. Teague and Greg discuss the resilience of extended stay, Greg's thoughts on competition as the segment grows, and the importance of brand.

As Hunter Hotel Advisors celebrates 45 years, we hear from the man who started it all, Bob Hunter. In this special episode, Bob joins his son Teague to reflect on his long, illustrious career and share his advice to his sons, Teague and Lee Hunter, and this new generation of industry leaders.

From Texas' Hill Country, Teague Talks with Dupree Scovell about working with family, playing football for Mike Leach, and what drives the Woodbine Development team as the company prepares to celebrate 50 years in business.

Teague Talks with Arash Azarbarzin, Principal & CEO of Highgate, about his career working with hospitality legends Barry Sternlicht and brothers Mahmood & Mehdi Khimji, what he does to prioritize the happiness of his people, and how he is using artificial intelligence to streamline operations.

This week, Teague catches up with his old friend, David Pepper, to talk about Choice's acquisition of Radisson, the future of extended-stay, and advice for the next generation of hospitality leaders.

On the heels of Hurricane Idalia, Teague Talks the state of the insurance market in Florida and elsewhere with Brandon Bridges of McGriff. With hurricane season underway, Bridges shares factors impacting the insurance market and how hotel owners and investors can protect themselves in the face of a changing climate.