Podcasts about hoteliers

New research shows that seventy six percent of hoteliers are concerned about the outlook for the Irish economy over the next twelve months. This comes as the Irish Hotel Federation is set to meet for its annual conference later today. Speaking to Anton to discuss further was Paul Gallagher CEO of the Irish Hotels Federation.

Coming live from the UK Hotelier Roundtable Roadshow - this conversation comes from Whittlebury Park, with our hotel host Bradley Spillman, Senior Digital and Marketing Manager, alongside and a panel of experts. We look into how a family-run estate is using data, design and technology without losing that human, hospitality feel.Featuring David Ohanjanian from Up Hotel Agency, Sharon Cowler of Netaffinity, Prem Jethwa-Odedra from Biteluxe, Alessandra Leoni from Focus on Hospitality, Scot Turner from Auden HospitalityWhat We Explore- Personalisation & Story: How Whittlebury Park is using small, specific touches and guest data to move beyond generic messaging and create stays that feel remembered, not just recorded.- Websites & Conversion: Why a clear brief, flexible design and a shorter booking journey turned Whittlebury's website into both a brand window and a serious revenue driver.- Tech & Human Balance: How booking engines, WhatsApp, on-site data capture and smarter F&B and spatial design can support direct bookings and guest satisfaction without losing the heart of hospitality.What stayed with me from this roundtable is how hoteliers challenges are shared, whether running a vast estate or opening a single independent hotel. The tools are there, but the real work is choosing the right ones, aligning owners and teams, and keeping the guest's reality at the centre. Sometimes - tech is not the answer.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

New research shows that seventy six percent of hoteliers are concerned about the outlook for the Irish economy over the next twelve months. This comes as the Irish Hotel Federation is set to meet for its annual conference later today. Speaking to Anton to discuss further was Paul Gallagher CEO of the Irish Hotels Federation.

Der Hotelier Cäsar Ritz kommt am 23. Februar 1850 im Walliser Dorf Niederwald auf die Welt. Der «König der Hoteliers und Hotelier der Könige» legt eine Tellerwäscherkarriere hin, wird zum grossen Namen in der Welt des Luxus und eröffnet in Paris sein eigenes Hotel: das Ritz.

I always enjoy getting out to properties like Whittlebury Park, discovering what they have to offer across an expansive multi amenity resort and how they package it up. This conversation with Bradley Spillman, Senior Digital Marketing Manager, gave me a real behind-the-scenes look at how they juggle three very different businesses under one roof.In a tour of their impressive golf, spa, and conference facilities, we talk about their approach to digital marketing, the smart investments they're making in tech and data, and how they're getting to know their audiences better while chasing new ones like the family segment.What We Explore- Three Businesses, One Property: Creates seamless experiences for completely different crowds across golf, spa, and conferences- Digital Marketing Smarts: The tools and strategies the team uses to boost visibility, understand guest needs, and target fresh markets without losing the core appeal. - Guest-First Innovation: Why investing in data and tech is all about delivering what people really want and how that's opening doors to new demographics.Bradley's insights reminded me why places like Whittlebury thrive: it's not just about the amenities, it's about knowing your guests and evolving with them. If you're in hospitality and wondering how to blend tradition with tech, this conversation will give you plenty to think about and maybe even steal a few ideas. Thanks for listening to Hoteliers Voice. If it sparked something, share with a colleague or drop me a note. More episodes coming soon where we learn from the best in the industry.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

The 2026 Hunter Conference takes place on March 16-28, in Atlanta, Georgia, at the Signia by Hilton. Tune in to the preview episode as hoteliers and hospitality professionals prepare for the cornerstone industry event.  Special Guest, Madison Thibodeaux, Senior Manager, Events & Partnerships at Hunter Advisors, joins the Suite Spot to share insights and behind-the-scenes details about what conference attendees can look forward to from speakers, panels, themes, F&B, and much more. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree here, a familiar episode, if you can believe it. I've got a jacket on because it is absolutely frigid outside, but we're thawing out. We're getting ready for conference season and covering some of the biggest hospitality events of the season with the first one being the Hunter Conference. And I am here with, even though this is the Suite Spot's, third time attending the conference, we have a first time guest, which I'm really, really happy to bring in. Maddie Thibodeaux Senior Manager, Events and Partnerships at Hunter Advisors and Conference. Maddie, thank you so much for joining the Suite Spot. Madison Thibodeaux: Thank you for having me, Ryan. I'm really excited to be here. Ryan Embree: We are going to have a constant theme throughout this episode of a lot of the things you love about Hunter, but a lot of new things on the horizon as well, which I'm sure you and your team have been extremely busy. We can't wait. Hoteliers can't wait. Sponsors can't wait. This is gonna be one for the books, but before we get into all that, Maddie, we have kind of a tradition here on the Suite Spot, especially for our first time Suite Spot guest. Tell us a little bit about your background in the industry and the journey that led you to Hunter Advisors and Conference. Madison Thibodeaux: Yeah, I would love to talk about that. So my journey almost pretty much started at Hunter, which I know you've had Sarah as a guest on your podcast as well, and I'm sure she has a little bit of a similar story. But I was a student at Georgia State University, the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality. I am one of the odd people that when I got to college, I already knew that I wanted to be in the hospitality industry, which I think is a rare story that you hear. Most people typically fall into it. But I went into school knowing that I wanted to be in event management. I wanted to plan events. And so throughout college I had a few different internships in hospitality. So I got some experience in the different sectors of hospitality. I worked with a catering company. I worked at a hotel in Cape Cod one summer, which was a lot of fun. Got some operational experience in hotels with the front desk and housekeeping. And then my junior year of college, Dr. Debbie Cannon at the School of Hospitality made me aware of the internship that was open at Hunter for their conference intern. And so I applied for the role, got it, accepted it. I worked for Hunter my junior and senior year. Got a lot of hands-on experience planning the event as the intern. And something that Hunter does really amazingly is they really give anyone on their team, even if you're an intern, a platform and a seat at the table to where you can really innovate with them and present your ideas. And some of them you can see like actually come to life. And so I had a lot of great mentors at Hunter who really, you know, prepared me as a student with my professional development. And so had a great time with Hunter once I graduated from Atlanta, moved out to Chicago and started working in the trade show side of things for an exhibitor services company called GES and got a little bit more trade show experience so that I could come back to Hunter and, you know,

I wrapped up my Madeira trip with a real highlight: touring the Santa Maria with Nicholas D'Souza, the General Manager who's been with PortoBay for 13 years and knows every inch of this place.We chat as we wander the property, diving into how tech keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes while the team focuses on that genuine, family-feel hospitality PortoBay is famous for. Nicholas shares stories of return guests who feel like old friends, the clever systems that make operations effortless, and why Madeira's unique vibe keeps people coming back year after year.Through out conversation, Nicholas talks about his career - traveling the world and the yearning to return back to the home island that he loves.It's a relaxed, eye-opening stroll that shows why this hotel group stands out - and how to make a career in hospitality.What We Discover- The Return-Guest Secret: Nicholas explains how 60% of guests come back for the average nine-night stay – it's all about that personal touch and island charm.- Tech That Frees the Team: From seamless check-ins to inventory systems, the tools that let staff spend more time hugging regulars and less on admin.- Madeira's Magic Touch: Why the island's natural beauty and PortoBay's family vibe create experiences you can't replicate anywhere else.- Santa Maria's secret spot: How the hotel creates energy and fuels 50% of the hotel as well as feeding its guestsNicholas reminded me why I love these spots: great tech is essential, but it's the people and the place that make you never want to leave. If you're planning a Madeira getaway, Santa Maria should be top of your list.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

I've been loving this mini-series on PortoBay, and in this second part, I get to chat with two people who really bring the magic to life behind the scenes.I sit down with Fiona Fontes, who's been with PortoBay for 15 years and is now Marketing Coordinator (with a real passion for digital), and Alex Esneriaga, Resident Manager at Ilha Porto Mare, who's grown up on Madeira and knows these resorts inside out. We dig into how their app and loyalty systems keep guests coming back, the tech that supports flawless service, and why nothing beats a genuine human recommendation when you're on holiday.What We Discover- Digital Loyalty That Feels Personal: Fiona explains how the app and smart campaigns turn one-off visitors into regulars who feel part of the PortoBay family.- Tech Freeing Up People: The systems that handle everything from keys to bookings so staff can focus on real connections and those little touches that make a stay unforgettable.- Human Over Algorithm: Alex shares why guests still crave authentic local tips from someone who knows the island, not just an AI suggestion.Spending time with Fiona and Alex reminded me why PortoBay feels so special: great tech is brilliant, but it's the people using it who create memories that last. If you're thinking about guest experience or loyalty strategies, there's plenty here to borrow.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Kurien Jacob, partner at Highgate Tech Ventures, joins the show to dive deep into how AI is reshaping hospitality, from guest-facing search to operations productivity. 

How do we grow revenue, enhance experience and think about expansion when guest expectations are rising and operating pressure hasn't eased?In Part 2 of our New Forest Roundtable, recorded live at New Park Manor Hotel as part of the Hospitality Discussions UK Roundtable Roadshow, we move the conversation forward - shifting focus from cost and pressure to opportunity. Together with hotel leaders, operators and industry partners, we explore how hospitality businesses are rethinking revenue generation, guest relationships and long-term growth.Featuring Sharon Cowley from Netaffinity (silver sponsor) Prem Jethwa-Odedra of Biteluxe (Bronze sponsor) and Scot Turner from Auden Hospitality (silver sponsor), Alessandra Leoni of Focus on Hospitality our Platinum sponsor and Paul Wells from Studio Moren (bronze sponsor).This episode digs into the practical realities behind direct bookings, personalisation, technology, AI and physical space and how all of these choices shape not just guest experience, but staff experience and leadership confidence too.What We Explore- Revenue Beyond the Room: How hotels are reducing reliance on OTAs, using data and personas to drive direct bookings, and creating more meaningful upsell and experience-led revenue.- Experience as a System, Not a Moment: Why guest experience starts long before arrival and extends beyond checkout - from digital journeys and pre-arrival communication to staff experience and leadership culture.- Expansion, Design and the Role of AI: How hotels are thinking differently about growth - through better use of space, learning from other sectors, and using AI to remove friction without losing the human touch.As we wrap up this second session, one thing becomes clear: experience is no longer just about the guest. It lives in systems, spaces, data, leadership decisions and how supported teams feel day to day. Growth doesn't come from chasing every opportunity, but from making clearer choices about who we serve, how we serve them, and where we invest next.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Tune in to the very first Suite Spot episode of 2026 as special guest and Director of Product - Respond & Resolve™, Jackie Avery, features the Top 5 Guest Sentiment Tags of 2025 and what the key findings of these tags mean not only to hoteliers but the industry as a whole as we kick off travel in the new year. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Suite Spot. Happy New Year as your host. As always, Ryan Embree here with another one of our favorite annual traditions. A great way to start off and kick off the year here with Jackie Avery, Director of Product for our Respond and Resolve™ review response solution for hotels. Jackie, welcome back to the Suite Spot. Jackie Avery: Thanks. It's so great to be here. I look forward to doing this every year, so I'm happy we're back at it. Ryan Embree: Yes, again, it's an annual tradition. It's a benchmark for the beginning of the year. It's actually one of our most viewed and listened to episodes of the year, and I think it's because hoteliers really want to get a sense of what's going on over the course of the calendar year when it comes to reviews. To set this up off the top, we are looking at reputation, sentiment, data, the data within online guest reviews, that Travel Media Group actually pulls, and a lot of these reviews you and your team are responding to. Jackie Avery: Yeah. It's exciting. So if it's your first time here, welcome. And if you have been watching us the past few years, welcome back. We're excited to kind of talk through, some of the data that we kind of went through. So to put it under perspective, we're looking at information analyzed from over 45 million sentiment mentions. Ryan Embree: That's an incredible number. The popularity and importance of guest feedback and reputation right. Now, I know we talk a lot on this podcast about AI technology. We're always trying to see what's next, but there's no replacement for word of mouth. Right? And whether that's physically telling someone about your experience or sharing that, what we're talking about today, sharing that online with guest feedback and reviews, you can take away so much from that. And hoteliers, travelers obviously are looking at sentiment data, trying to figure out whether they should choose the one hotel versus another hotel. Hoteliers are looking at this data, digesting it, and trying to figure out how to improve on the guest experience. But what we're doing today is trying to find the top five sentiments. Talk about some themes. What does this mean when these types of sentiments are found in your guest feedback? Are there things you can make operationally changes? Is it training at the hotel? Is it capital investment? Sometime some of it, like location, which we're gonna talk about unavoidable, right? You can't just pick up your hotel and move it. So really interested to see the list. We always start from the bottom of the list and work our way up. So kick us off with number five. Jackie Avery: Yeah, absolutely. And like you said, it's so powerful to spend that moment reflecting. Yeah. Sometimes it's just taking the information and putting it into this bite sized way for you to process it. So hopefully everyone finds it pretty easy to kinda, you know, come along this journey with us. So, number five, it had over 3 million sentiment mentions, right? So that's a lot of people talking about it. And we're talking about facility amenities. Now, some people are listening and they're going, well, I don't have a pool, so of course I, that didn't get a mention for me, or, I do have a pool. Of course they mentioned that, but stay with me on that. That's actually its own category. So here we are talking about the lobby, the hallways, seating areas, elevators, luggage carts, right? So now think about,

I was thrilled to get invited to Madeira by PortoBay Hotels after chatting with André at IHTF Europe about their early AI adventures, and this first part of our mini-series captures why this island group feels so special.I catch up with André Dória, Head of Digital Empowerment, on the PortoBay story and Madeira's unique charm, then dive deep with Rui Alves, Head of IT, on the tech backbone powering everything from seamless reservations to smart guest experiences.We cover how they're embedding AI thoughtfully, the roadmap ahead for even smarter operations, and why blending cutting-edge systems with island hospitality keeps guests coming back.What We Explore- PortoBay's Island Soul: André shares how Madeira's natural beauty and PortoBay's family vibe set them apart in a crowded market.- Tech That Powers the Magic: Rui breaks down the IT infrastructure holding it all together, from cloud systems to data-driven decisions.- AI's Smart Role: The careful ways they're using AI to enhance guest stays without losing that personal touch.André and Rui make it clear: great hotels aren't just about beds and beaches; they're about tech that frees people to create real connections. Excited for Part 2 with Fiona and Alex.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Manchmal kann das Leben eines Reisejournalisten schon verdammt hart sein: „…Für unsere Suite im 56. Stock zahlen wir noch einmal 7000 € und sind maßlos enttäuscht. Das Essen ist schlecht (500 € für eine trockene Languste), die Technik versagt überall. Ein Zwischenstopp, den wir uns besser erspart hätten…“ Kommentar: Jürgen Drensek Na, da stellt man sich doch gerne die strenge Mine der Reisekosten-Sachbearbeiterin vor, bei der der kritische Kollege und Hoteltester (übrigens lange Jahre Ressortleiter einer renommierten deutschen Sonntags-Zeitung) hinterher seine Undercover-Recherche abrechnete. Solche unlängst tatsächlich gedruckten Kleinodien deutscher Dichtkunst sind nicht ganz unschuldig am Ruf der Reisejournaille, immer die ersten am Kaviarstand und die letzten an der Champagner-Bar zu sein. Dabei ist es doch ein Bild, das mittlerweile nur noch zum manchmal amüsanten Klischee taugt. Das Gros der Fachjournalisten, die sich dem Thema Reise und Tourismus widmen, dürfte sich weniger um angebrannte Schalentiere im arabischen Luxus-Märchenschloss sorgen, als um die Honorar-Abrechnung am Monatsende. Die Vereinigung Deutscher Reisejournalisten (VDRJ) hat sich bei den Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die vorwiegend die weite Welt in die Tageszeitungen bringen, einmal umgehört. Das Ergebnis erschreckt: knappe 1700 € beträgt das durchschnittliche Monats-Einkommen bei freiberuflichen Print-Journalisten. Vor Steuer und Renten-Versicherung wohlbemerkt. Das ist weniger, als ein Berufsanfänger tariflich nach dem Volontariat verdient; dabei sind die meisten Reisejournalisten schon weit jenseits der 40. Wer tut sich das an? Vordergründig möchte man sagen Lebenskünstler, Entdecker-Naturen, unruhige Geister, die es nicht am heimischen Redaktionsschreibtisch hält. Oder vielleicht doch eher Masochisten, denen es nichts ausmacht, im journalistischen Standesdünkel nur mit Näschen-Rümpfen als zugehörig zur Zunft akzeptiert zu werden? In einer Branche, in der Politikredakteure oder eitle Fernsehmoderatoren den Platz in der ersten Reihe beanspruchen – die sogar, wenn sie selbst das „Guten Abend“ vom Teleprompter auf der Kamera ablesen müssen… Wer sich heute mit professionellem Anspruch auf das Gebiet des Reisejournalismus begibt, braucht ein dickes Fell – und möglichst einen Partner, der das Geld verdient. Eine reiche Erbtante, die den Drang in die Ferne post mortem unterstützt, ist allerdings auch ganz hilfreich… Zwischen „Rudel-Verhalten“ und Redaktions-Alltag Aber man sollte auch durchaus selbstkritisch sein: Der anonym bleiben wollende Pressesprecher erinnert sich mit Grausen. Neulich auf Ibiza habe er bei einer typischen Journalistengruppe mal etwas „ganz Revolutionäres“ versucht: Abends sollten sich die Kollegen alleine „für die Recherche“ ins Nachtleben der Partymetropole stürzen. Sogar gegen Quittung auf Kosten des Veranstalters… Er hat sie dann doch eine halbe Stunde später alle am Anfang von Eivissas „Rennbahn“ mit der vielleicht europaweit höchsten Entertainment-Dichte wieder getroffen. Etwas hilflos als Gruppe zusammenstehend. Und mit der Bitte, ob er denn nicht einen Tipp hätte, wo man hier am besten hingehen sollte… Gemeinsam. „Wenn unsere Studienreise-Gäste in der Fremde nur halb so unbeholfen wären, wie ein Rudel verwöhnter Journalisten…“, resigniert der PR-Mann, dem nach vielen Jahren Pressebetreuung nichts Menschliches mehr fremd ist, und lässt die Antwort lieber offen… Ein Einzelfall? Wer schon einmal auf Journalistenreise dabei war – also bei der klassischen Form der „Recherche“ vor Ort – wird Dutzende ähnlicher Geschichten erzählen können. Kein Wunder, dass frustrierte Fachkollegen manchmal den Eindruck haben, der Reisejournalismus entwickele sich immer mehr zum Tummelplatz des Dilettantismus. Das Problem ist erkannt, aber nicht gebannt. Im Gegenteil. Zwar rangieren Reiseberichte gleich nach dem Sport auf einem Spitzenplatz des Leser-, Hörer- oder Zuschauerinteresses, aber in der Redaktionshierarchie sind die Tourismus-Fachleute nach wie vor die Kellerkinder. Die meisten Chefredakteure betreiben die Geringschätzung mit System: Über Reisen könne jeder schreiben. Alle sind schließlich Urlaubs-Fachleute aus eigener Erfahrung… Was bei der Beschickung selbst von langweiligen Parteitagen undenkbar wäre und zu einem Aufstand der politischen Redaktion führen würde, ist bei Presse-Einladungen touristischer Veranstalter Redaktionsalltag: Die Journalistenreise als Belohnungs-Zückerchen. Mal fünf Tage in die Sonne – aber bitte als freie Tage anmelden… So kommt es denn, dass in solchen Gruppen nicht selten fleißige Lokal-Journalisten oder uninspirierte Mikrophon-Hinhalter der Privatradios und Freizeit-Blogger in der Mehrheit sind. Dem einen oder anderen Veranstalter mag das gar nicht so unrecht sein – trotz heimlicher Frustration der begleitenden PR-Kollegen: wer die Hintergründe eines Zielgebietes nicht kennt und „eigentlich auf Urlaub“ ist, wird bei der luxuriösen Rundum-Sorglos-Betreuung auf solchen Trips wohl eher geneigt sein, schwärmerisch die schräge Palme am weißen Pudersand zu beschreiben… So geben sich alle zufrieden: der Einladende, der fachfremde aber willige Strandtester, der endlich mal weg vom Schreibtisch kam, und zähneknirschend auch der Verantwortliche für den Etat der Reiseredaktion – wieder billig ein Umfeld für den Werbeblock gefüllt. Die eigentlich Leidtragenden in diesem System der kollektiven Ignoranz sind – neben dem Leser, Hörer oder Zuschauer – aber vor allem die freiberuflichen, qualifizierten Fach-Journalisten. Nicht nur, dass auch sie mit dem Vorurteil des unreflektierten SchönwetterJournalismus fertig werden müssen; die immer weiter um sich greifende Tendenz der Austauschbarkeit und Beliebigkeit der Reise-Häppchen vor allem in den Tageszeitungen wird für sie zu einem existenziellen Problem. Da scheint kein Platz mehr für die aufwendige Reportage oder den detailverliebten Bericht. Zumindest dann nicht, wenn es ein anständiges Honorar kostet. Gar nicht zu reden von der KI, die heute schon, professionell bedient und mit guten Quellen gefüttert, Reiseberichte und Bucket-Listen ausspuckt von erstaunlicher Qualität, die kaum noch vom geschwurbelten Einheitsbrei zu unterscheiden sind, aus dem viele Reiseteile, vor allem in Magazinen, zusammengeklöppelt werden. Die betriebswirtschaftliche Analyse des „Traumberufs“ Ohne die Einladungen der Tourismus-Industrie wären die freien Schreiber aus Fleisch und Blut beruflich schon längst nicht mehr überlebensfähig. Da mag man die Lippenbekenntnisse von Chefredakteuren nur noch mit Sarkasmus zur Kenntnis nehmen, dass man frei von Sponsoring und Einflussnahme der Reisebranche sei und deshalb kritische Auseinandersetzungen mit dem Thema Urlaub erwarte. Insider sind sich einig, dass es so gut wie keine Redaktion in Deutschland gibt, die sich nicht – wenn immer möglich – die Reisekosten für einen touristischen Bericht bezahlen lässt. Nur reden darf man nicht darüber. Die Freiberufler werden dagegen immer häufiger gezwungen, solche wegen der Realität unsinnigen Redaktionsrichtlinien zu unterzeichnen, die Kostenübernahmen von dritter Seite ausschließen. So hat man zwar als Redaktion eine weiße Weste. Aber wie ein Bericht zustande kommt – so genau möchte man es dann doch nicht wissen bei oft noch nicht mal einem Euro pro Zeile… Reisekosten natürlich inklusive. „Viele Reisejournalisten sind betriebswirtschaftlich schon längst pleite und haben es nur noch nicht gemerkt.“ Da die überwiegende Zahl der Reisejournalisten in den Listen der touristischen Anbieter als Einzelkämpfer-„Redaktionsbüros“ firmieren (was für eine euphemische Bezeichnung für eine mühsam freigeräumte Ecke auf dem Wohnzimmer-Sekretär), hier mal eine kleine betriebswirtschaftliche Analyse, warum der Drang in die Sonne finanziell in der Regel keinen Platz an der Sonne hervorbringt. Wie sieht der berufliche Alltag des vulgo Freien Journalisten aus? Auf der Habenseite mag die in vielen Jahren erworbene Perfektion im Kofferpacken stehen; ein Reisepass, dessen vollgestempelte Seiten einen ähnlichen Protzwert haben, wie das klimpernde Lametta am Bändchen eines Kriegsveteranen beim Vertriebenen-Treffen, und die unbedingte Small-Talk-Tauglichkeit bei Stehempfängen, wo selbst die Stützen der Gesellschaft mittlerweile pauschal verreisen. Die dosiert eingestreute Globetrotter-Attitüde über die leider, leider nachlassende Traumziel-Qualität von Bora-Bora, sobald man endlich da ist, beeindruckt jeden Sparkassen-Filialleiter bis ins Mark. Hoffentlich aber auch so lange, bis der nächste Antrag auf Erhöhung des Dispokredits bei ihm auf dem Tisch liegt… Denn wirtschaftlich gesehen sind Reisen eher kontraproduktiv. Permanent braungebrannte Kolleginnen und Kollegen sind keineswegs die Großverdiener der Zunft – sondern haben eher die Gold-Karte des heimischen Sonnenstudios „Tamara“. Die Bilanz ist sehr einfach. Noch nicht einmal einen Taschenrechner braucht man dafür: Eines Morgens findet unser Musterjournalist eine Einladung in seinem Postfach. Hui! oder Tommy Koch Reisen laden ein: fünf Tage Nilkreuzfahrt auf den Spuren von Agatha Christie oder so. Erste Hürde: den Redaktionen dieses Thema schmackhaft machen. Abgesehen davon, dass es mittlerweile bei manchen Themen da durchaus der rhetorischen Fertigkeiten eines Goldenen Blatt Drückers an der Haustür bedarf, muss der Autor schnell sein. Die Einladung ging schließlich auch noch an andere Freie, und der Abdruck-Kuchen in den Tageszeitungen bröselt derzeit dramatisch. Zeitaufwand für alle Vorbereitungen: einen Tag. Die Recherche-Reise im Pool (und nicht am Pool) dauert in der Regel fünf Tage. Vollgepacktes Programm von Seiten des Veranstalters. Kaum Zeit für eigenes Entdecken und damit die Chance auf einen exklusiven Einstieg. Trotzdem zu Hause mit viel Einfühlungsvermögen und vorhandenem Basiswissen eine nette Geschichte geschrieben; konzentriert auf 200 Zeilen, denn mehr wird eh nicht mehr gedruckt. Und jetzt kommt die ernüchternde Abrechnung: das Blatt mit dem Erstdruckrecht zahlt dafür 200 Euro. Vielleicht sind zwei andere Regionalzeitungen interessiert. Die Mehrfachverwertung bringt noch einmal 150 Euro. Und sogar ein Foto konnte verkauft werden für, sagen wir, 75 Euro. Ergibt zusammen? 425 Euro… Wohlbermerkt für mehr als eine Woche Arbeit. Brutto. Kein Wunder, dass da selbst Finanzbeamte misstrauisch werden und naiv nachfragen, ob so viel finanzielle Selbstaufgabe nicht eher in den Bereich des Hobbys eingestuft werden müsse, denn als seriöser Broterwerb. Abhängigkeiten und die Frage der Glaubwürdigkeit Auch wenn es sich grotesk anhört: für manche Freie ist die Pressereise nicht mehr Mittel, sondern Zweck. Dabei umschwärmen beileibe nicht nur ältere Journalistinnen mit Dauerwelle die PR-Verantwortlichen der Veranstalter wegen der Einladungsliste für den nächsten Trip. Der alimentierte Jet-Set spart die Lebenshaltungskosten zuhause… Eine immer weitere Diskrepanz zwischen dem eigenen beruflichen Dasein und dem diskreten Luxus-Charme der VIP-Betreuung tut sich auf. Auch psychologisch. Eine Spirale der Abhängigkeit – selbst wenn sie gar nicht beabsichtigt gewesen sein sollte. Die Pressereise wird zum eigentlich geldwerten Vorteil. Zum „Gewinn“, so lange eben auch alles bezahlt wird. Aber die Schlinge zieht sich für die Print-Journalisten noch enger zu. Obwohl man annehmen müsste, dass der Tageszeitungs-Reiseteil das Verlegerherz entzückt – schließlich generiert er direkt Anzeigen – wird auch hier die Sparschraube brutalstmöglich angezogen. Vor allem qualitätsbewusste Redakteure sehen die Vorgaben der Geschäftsführung mit Grausen: bei fast allen Tageszeitungen wird derzeit der Honoraretat im günstigsten Fall eingefroren; wenn nicht gar reduziert. Was das bedeutet? Immer mehr Raum muss mit Agenturmaterial wie dem dpa-Themendient oder gar kostenfreien Textangeboten der PR-Schmieden gefüllt werden. Und die wenigen freien Hausschreiber wurden mit geradezu sittenwidrigen Änderungsverträgen traktiert, die noch rechtzeitig vor Inkrafttreten der überfälligen Urheberrechtsreform die Autoren im Endeffekt völlig rechtlos stellen sollten, nach dem Erstabdruck noch irgend etwas mit ihrer geistigen Arbeit tun zu können. Die entsetzten Juristen der Journalisten-Vereinigungen warnten zwar entschieden, die einseitig begünstigenden Vereinbarungen zu unterschreiben, aber viele Freie befürchteten, eh nur die Wahl zwischen Pest und Cholera zu haben: entweder die vertragliche Zumutung akzeptieren; mit der Folge, selbst bei Mini-Honoraren gleichzeitig fast alle weiteren Nutzungsrechte abtreten zu müssen, oder von den Verlagen auf die schwarze Liste gesetzt zu werden. Wer da nicht zu den Edelfedern zählt, auf die kein Verlag verzichten möchte, kann nur auf die Kollegialität und das Engagement der Redaktion hoffen, sich für die freien Kollegen „oben“ einzusetzen. So viel zum Thema Traumberuf. Es sind wahrscheinlich keine pessimistischen Annahmen, dass mittelfristig etwa die Hälfte der auf den wirtschaftlichen Ertrag angewiesenen freien Tageszeitungs-Autoren ihr Fachgebiet werden aufgeben müssen. Manche mögen sich in die – natürlich heimliche – Lohnschreiberei für PR-Agenturen begeben; mit schlechtem Gewissen, aber wenigstens anständigen Honorarerlösen. Andere akzeptieren zähneknirschend den Übergang in den „Amateurstatus“, wo der Weg zum Ziel wird. Will heißen, die Reise ist groteskerweise der Gewinn, und nicht mehr der Erlös des Abdrucks. Und es sind keineswegs nur gelangweilte Hausfrauen und rüstige Rentner, denen mittlerweile das Belegexemplar wichtiger ist als Bares. Und jetzt müssen wir die Betrachtung noch erweitern auf die – mittlerweile gar nicht mehr neuen – Player in unserem Fachgebiet: Blogger und Influencer. Letztere sollen hier keine Rolle spielen. Denn die Bastion, dass Journalismus nie etwas mit (Schleich)-Werbung zu tun haben sollte, darf einfach nicht geschliffen werden. Influencer sind im Bereich Marketing unterwegs und nicht in der professionellen, hinterfragenden Berichterstattung – auch wenn etliche touristische PR-Player das anders sehen möchten. Die vielleicht einzige Reputation, die Journalisten – und auch journalistisch tätige Blogger – noch verteidigen können und müssen, ist ihre Glaubwürdigkeit. Und die kann man nicht verteidigen, wenn es zwischen Berichterstatter und Objekt Geldflüsse und Publikations-Absprachen gibt. „Fakt ist, in immer mehr Reiseteilen von Tageszeitungen wird Alltours bestellt, aber Airtours erwartet.“ Ein wunderbares Thema für journalistische Seminare über Qualität und Ethik. Dann dürfen die Verfechter der reinen Lehre wieder salbungsvoll das weise Haupt schütteln über die vermutete unheimliche Nähe zwischen der Reisebranche und ihren journalistischen Beobachtern. Und Chefredakteure werden wieder ins Mikrophon lügen, dass Autoren in ihrem Blatt selbstredend unabhängig und frei von wirtschaftlichen Abhängigkeiten berichten – ganz ohne rot zu werden. Fakt ist, in immer mehr Reiseteilen von Tageszeitungen wird Alltours bestellt, aber Airtours erwartet. Und welche Erleichterung in der Verlagsetage, wenn sich herausstellt, dass das trockene Langusten-Würgen dann doch auf Einladung des arabischen Hoteliers erfolgte… Um das Studio-Gespräch zu hören, bitte auf das Kopfhörer-Symbol im Titelbild klicken Der Beitrag Überleben am Büffet Reisejournalismus muss man sich leisten können erschien zuerst auf Was mit Reisen.

How do we run profitable hospitality businesses when costs keep rising, expectations keep shifting, and leadership can feel increasingly lonely?This episode was recorded live at New Park Manor Hotel in the New Forest as part of the Hospitality Discussions UK Roundtable Roadshow. We're joined by hotel leaders, operators and suppliers from across the industry for an open, honest conversation about the realities facing hospitality right now - and why talking about them together matters more than ever.Featuring in this episode includesOur host - Byron Fiddler, Hotel Manager at New Park ManorPlatinum sponsor - Alessandra Leoni, Focus on HospitalitySilver sponsor - Scot Turner, Auden HospitalitySilver sponsor - Prem Jethwa-Odedra, BiteluxeSilver sponsor - Sharon Cowley, NetaffinityAlso, Shannon Rockey from Lime Wood Group, Tom Pyke of Balmer Lawn Hotel and Josie Clare from Stanwell HouseThe discussion brings together voices from across operations, technology, food and beverage, design and people leadership. What emerges isn't a list of easy answers, but something far more valuable - shared perspective, practical insight, and reassurance that many of the pressures we're feeling are widely shared.What We Explore- Cost Pressure Without Compromise: How rising costs are forcing hospitality leaders to rethink value, pricing and experience - not just efficiency.- Technology Overload and Decision Fatigue: Why hotel tech has become increasingly complex, and how leaders are trying to make clearer, more confident choices.- People, Culture and Leadership Loneliness: What it really feels like to lead in hospitality right now and why connection and peer conversation matter more than ever.As we close, one message lands clearly: the challenges facing hospitality are shared - and so are the solutions. Whether we're running independent hotels or larger groups, grappling with cost pressure, tech decisions or people leadership, there is real value in stepping out of isolation and into conversation.This roundtable isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking better questions - together.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

Theis Nørskov (Operation Manager, Aiden Hotel Denmark), Thomas Holenstein (Inhaber und Geschäftsführer, Sebotics), Pascaline Allenspach (Co-Founder, jAMAZE) und Dominik Sträuli (CEO & Founder, Future Kitchens) diskutierten im Rahmen der Sonderschau Hotel Utopia über smarte Tools, welche die Hoteliers und Hotelièren entlasten können. Das Gespräch moderierte Erik Zimmermann (Area Director Development Switzerland, BWH Hotels Central Europe). Das Podiumsgespräch fand am 17. November 2025 in den Cheminée Chats der Igeho 2025 statt.

In this episode of Hotelier's Voice, I'm in the heart of the New Forest at New Park Manor, part of the Luxury Family Hotels collection. As I walk through the grounds with hotel manager Byron Fiddler, I get a real sense of what it means to create a family-focused luxury experience - one where children, parents, and even dogs are part of the stay in equal measure.Together, we explore the property inside and out: from the spa overlooking roaming deer to the den and cinema room, the family dining experience that adapts to fussy eaters, and the design choices that stand up to the joy (and chaos) of little guests. As Byron and I sit fireside, we dig into the realities behind the scenes - staffing challenges, training and development, keeping families engaged during rainy days, and how sustainability and heritage influence the character of this historic hotel.What We Discover Together- Family Luxury, Without Compromise: How New Park Manor balances design, service and experiences so parents relax, kids explore and dogs feel right at home.- Training People, Not Just Skills: Why Byron prioritises personality-led hiring, strong development programmes, and leadership growth to support a busy, evolving hotel.- Hospitality as a Career of Possibility: We reflect on how diverse backgrounds from reception to carpentry can lead to management roles and exciting opportunities across the world.Being here at New Park Manor reminded me that great family hospitality isn't just about amenities - it's about creating a place where everyone, in every age or shape of family life, feels welcomed, known, and looked after.Hoteliers' Voice is one of FeedSpot's top Hospitality Podcasts and is produced by Urban Podcasts.

What word best describes the vibe of '25? Hoteliers and industry experts share some choices that show a mix of optimism and the challenges of a difficult year.

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie is joined by Danica Smith, guest experience correspondent for Hospitality Daily and founder of MorningStar GX, to discuss whether hoteliers should start “vibe coding” with AI. Danica shares why she decided to experiment with building software herself, what surprised her most along the way, and how AI is removing long-standing technical barriers across hospitality roles. Together, they unpack where this creates real opportunity for operators, leaders, and advisors—and what still matters deeply as technology accelerates. For hospitality professionals curious about AI but unsure where to start, this conversation offers a practical perspective.Resources:SheAI v0 by VercelGitHub 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 suggestions If 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

In this episode, Josiah Mackenzie speaks with Mark Fancourt, cofounder and principal at TRAVHOTECH, and a former senior leader across global hospitality brands and technology companies. Their conversation moves beyond the typical AI talking points in our industry to examine the less-discussed implications for hospitality — from the workforce and robotics to shifting consumer demand and long-term industry sustainability. Mark offers a perspective shaped by decades of operational leadership and hands-on experimentation with emerging technologies.  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 suggestions If 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

  Servicewüste, egal wo du hinschaust. Servicewüste ohne Ende. Kennst du das? Dinge funktionieren nicht, überall zu wenig Kunden, zu wenig Geld – und wenn ein Kunde kommt, Drama. Ich habe für einen VIP-Coaching-Kunden ein Auto gesucht, zig Autohäuser kontaktiert. Von zehn E-Mails wurden drei beantwortet. Sieben: Funkstille. Völlige Ignoranz. Gehe ich in Autohäuser rein, heißt es: „Was wollen Sie?" „Ein Auto." „Was für eins?" Keine Ahnung, ich kenne eure Modelle nicht. Er erklärt lustlos, ich darf mich „vielleicht" setzen. Als Kunde fühlst du dich wie ein Störfaktor. Lästig. Fragen zu Laufzeit, Rate, Finanzierung? „Die Kunden fragen nicht so viel wie Sie." Ja klar. Dann: „Melden Sie sich noch mal." – Kein Kunde meldet sich noch mal. Es zieht sich durch alle Branchen. Im Lokal schmeißt dir der Kellner die Speisekarte hin. Frage nach Speck im Sauerkraut? „Weiß ich doch nicht." Küche fragen? Genervt. Kommt zurück: „Ist keiner drin." Null Freundlichkeit. Und dann wundern sie sich über kein Trinkgeld. Warum kann man nicht nett sein? Vielleicht kommt der Kunde wieder. Vielleicht kauft er etwas anderes. So schwer? Arztpraxis: plumpige Arzthelferin. „Ist dir klar, dass die Patienten deinen Lohn zahlen?" Überall Unhöflichkeit am laufenden Band. Dabei wäre es so einfach: nett zu #sein, freundlich sein, sich freuen, dass jemand überhaupt kommt. Ich habe darüber ein Buch geschrieben: „Servicewüste Hotels" – 300 Seiten, eine Bibel für Hoteliers und Gastronomen. Voll mit Beispielen, wie Service wirklich gehen sollte. Und jetzt zu dir: Wie gehst du mit Mitarbeitern, Kunden, Lieferanten um? Wenn Mitarbeiter sich wohlfühlen, bringen sie Höchstleistung. Wenn nicht – genau das Gegenteil. Sei doch nett zu deinen Lieferanten, dann gehen sie die Extrameile. Kennst du Menschen, bei deren Namen du schon denkst: „Boah, Kotzbrocken"? Die immer negativ sind und glauben, sie wären toll, weil sie jemandem „die Meinung gesagt haben"? Herzlichen Glückwunsch. Bringt dir null. Zeig lieber dir selbst, dass du ein glückliches Leben haben kannst. „Das Leben ist hart." Nein, ist es nicht. Das Leben ist das, was du daraus machst. Wie nett bist du zum Chef, zu Kollegen, zu Kunden? „Warum soll ich mich ändern?" – Weil du es für dich machst. Ich sage meinen Unternehmerkunden: Sei wachsam. Schau, wer nett ist, höflich, ein Adler statt ein Huhn. Rede mit solchen Menschen, mach ihnen ein gutes Angebot – so haben wir schon fantastische Mitarbeiter gewonnen. It's up to you. Hol dir das Buch. Verschenk es an Gastronomen oder Hoteliers. Oder nutze es selbst. Da sind so viele wertvolle Inputs drin. Wehren Sie sich. Lassen Sie sich nichts bieten – auch als Gast. Freue mich auf dich. Tschüss. Bye bye. Dein Ernst. #Servicewüste #Kundenservice #Mindset #Gastronomie #Hotellerie #BusinessMindset #Leadership #ErnstCrameri #Servicequalität Hier findest du eine Übersicht aller aktuellen Seminare https://crameri.de/Seminare Bild: 1. Expertnebuch in Venedig  Crameri-Akademie Wenn Du mehr über diesen Artikel erfahren möchtest, dann solltest Du Dich unbedingt an der folgenden Stelle in der Crameri-Akademie einschreiben. Ich begleite Dich sehr gerne ein Jahr lang als Dein Trainer. Du kannst es jetzt 14 Tage lang für nur € 1,00 testen. Melde dich gleich an. https://ergebnisorientiert.com/Memberbereich Kontaktdaten von Ernst Crameri Erfolgs-Newsletter https://www.crameri-newsletter.de Als Geschenk für die Anmeldung gibt es das Hörbuch „Aus Rückschlägen lernen" im Wert von € 59,00 Hier finden Sie alle Naturkosmetik-Produkte http://ergebnisorientiert.com/Naturkosmetik Hier finden Sie alle Bücher von Ernst Crameri http://ergebnisorientiert.com/Bücher Hier finden Sie alle Hörbücher von Ernst Crameri http://ergebnisorientiert.com/Hörbücher Webseite https://crameri.de/Seminare FB https://www.facebook.com/ErnstCrameri Xing https://www.xing.com/profile/Ernst_Crame

Hungrig auf Reisen, aber die Hotelgastronomie hat zu? Mit dem Hotelmat (Hotel + Automat) zieht eine neue Option für automatisierte Verpflegung ins Gastgewerbe ein. Überall dort, wo Küchenzeiten begrenzt, gastronomische Angebote zurückgefahren werden oder Late Check-ins sich häufen. Am Hotelmat können Gäste ein Gericht auswählen, bargeldlos bezahlen, erhitzen und genießen. Warum er für Hoteliers und Mitarbeiter:innen effizient ist und weshalb Bargeld im Automatenbetrieb oft mehr Aufwand bedeutet, erklärt Adrian Ott, Leiter des Kompetenzzentrums beim süddeutschen Automatenhersteller Stüwer. Fragen und Wünsche zum #PaymentPower Podcast gerne an: podcast@paymentpower.de

Corporate travel isn't easing back into old habits — it's reinventing itself, and hoteliers who cling to the past will lose business they didn't even know they were missing. I spoke with Lukasz Dabrowski, SVP of Global Supplier Relations at HRS Group, about why 2025 became the turning point for travel procurement and how 2026 will reward hotels that understand converged demand, Level 3 data, and real-time negotiation. On #NoVacancyNews, Lukasz breaks down why annual RFP cycles are disappearing, how "travel CEOs" use invoice-level data to renegotiate instantly, and what hotels must change to stay competitive as AI and real-time visibility reshape corporate buying behavior. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Key Insights:

Most people know the names Marriott, Hilton, Wilson — but countless African American hoteliers helped build the foundation of American hospitality, and their stories rarely get told. I sat down with Calvin Stovall, author of Hidden Hospitality, to explore the remarkable journey behind his new book and the extraordinary hoteliers he uncovered along the way. Calvin spent decades researching these stories — from the late 1700s through the civil rights era — and the result is a stunning coffee table book filled with resilience, innovation, and legacy. On #NoVacancyNews, Calvin talks about the emotional moment he held the finished book for the first time, how the idea originated back in grad school, and why these stories matter for the next generation of leaders in our industry. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Key Insights:

Die Berge rufen – und zwar nicht nur die Gäste, sondern auch Investoren, Tourismusmanager und Hoteliers, die in einem sich wandelnden Marktumfeld strategisch navigieren müssen. Der aktuelle Alpine Destination Report 2026 der Prodinger Tourismusberatung liefert einmal mehr einen datenbasierten, differenzierten Blick auf die Performance der führenden alpinen Destinationen. Mit erweitertem Methodenansatz und erstmaliger Integration ausgewählter Schweizer Regionen setzt der Bericht neue Maßstäbe in der touristischen Standortanalyse. Shownotes/Links: - Link zum Blogbeitrag https://smarthotelkey.at/alpine-destination-report-2026 - Instagram https://www.instagram.com/smart.hotel.key/ - Prodinger Tourismusberatung https://tourismusberatung.prodinger.at/

Tophotel Today – Der Wochenrückblick vom 28.11.2025 mit diesen Themen: 1. Studie zeigt verändertes Buchungsverhalten fürs kommende Jahr 2. Japan inspiriert deutsche Hoteliers: fünf Learnings für die Praxis 3. La Liste: "Schwarzwaldstube" erneut an der Weltspitze

Running a hotel in 2025 requires sharper strategy, a tighter handle on costs, and leaders who can adapt faster than the market shifts. Few people understand that better than Rob Smith, CEO of Stonebridge Companies, who oversees nearly 200 properties nationwide. On #NoVacancyNews, Rob breaks down how he's thinking about margins, brand contribution, AI, leadership development, and how his newly hired Chief Strategy Officer is changing the way Stonebridge operators think about priorities. Huge thanks to my friends at Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Key Insights:

In this episode of the CoStar News Hotels Podcast, CoStar Analyst Didio Pequeno shares the latest hotel performance climate and downgraded forecast while five hoteliers weigh in on what they are grateful for in a year marked by uncertainty.

How do you decide between a best-in-class tech stack and an all-in-one platform?I caught up with Bill Fanning, CRO of Stayntouch, and Klaus Kohlmayr, Chief Evangelist at IDeaS Revenue Solutions, to discuss the new NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality Technology Report, where 300+ hoteliers shared how they're making those crucial tech decisions. On hashtag#NoVacancyNews, we look at what's driving those hashtag#hoteltechnology choices, the cultural and operational challenges behind switching systems, and why more hotels than ever plan to replace their tech stack within the next 24 months. Key Insights:

On today's episode, we sit down for Part II of our conversation with legendary Chef Christopher Gross and hospitality visionary Bill Nassikas as they explore the intersection of cuisine, creativity, and guest experience. From Michelin-level kitchens to world-class resorts, they share stories from decades at the top of the culinary and hospitality industries—along with candid conversations with chefs, winemakers, and entrepreneurs redefining what it means to serve. Insight, humor, and behind-the-scenes wisdom—straight from two masters of their craft. Website: https://wrigleymansion.com/christophers westroc.com  Instagram: christophersatwrigley   BACK STORY The president and COO of Westroc Hospitality since its founding, William J. Nassikas boasts decades of successful national and international experience in the hospitality industry. Like CEO Scott Lyon, William gained early exposure to his career path as the son of hotelier James A. Nassikas, founder of the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco. Prior to joining Westroc, William served as senior vice president of operations at Grand Bay Resorts, joining that organization as part of the merger-acquisition of Carefree Resorts. There, he was responsible for all accommodations, restaurant, spa, golf, and other guest service operations for properties including The Boulders Resort, The Buttes in Tempe, The Peaks at Telluride, Carmel Valley Ranch, The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, The Grand Bay Miami, and the famed Golden Door Spa. Among his many achievements, William was instrumental in the conception and development of Deer Valley Resort in Utah. He gained invaluable experience through executive management positions within Hyatt Hotels, as well as training throughout Europe, including the famed Restaurant Girardet in Switzerland. A graduate of Cornell University's Hotel School, William earned a Diplome Finale des Etudes from Ecole Hoteliere de la Societe Suisse des Hoteliers in Switzerland. His numerous honors include "Hotelier of the Year" by The Chaine des Rotisseurs, being inducted into The Arizona Republic's Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame, the Ivy Award from Restaurant & Institutions magazine, the CSX Award of Excellence, nomination for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art's Contemporary Catalyst Award, the 2006 Industry Leadership Award from Arizona Hospitality Industry Professionals, and AZLTA's 2019 Hotelier of the Year award. William fulfills a commitment to give back to the hospitality industry, helping train future professionals as a visiting lecturer to the Inaugural Master of Real Estate Development Class at Arizona State University, Cornell University's Hotel School, and University of New Hampshire's hospitality management program. He also serves on various boards, including the Royal St. Corporation, AZLTA and The Mission B1 Foundation.   Based in Phoenix, AZ, Christopher Gross is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef who has been recognized among the best in the United States. Famed for its modern twists on classic French fare, Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion earned a 2022 James Beard Outstanding Chef nomination. It was rated 18/20 by Gayot Guide which named it Best French Restaurant, Best 10 Restaurant Wine Lists, Best 10 Restaurants with a View, and Best Romantic Restaurants. In its five-star review, Arizona Republic called the restaurant "Phoenix's most innovative, enticing dining experience for its exclusive tasting-menu experience where the chefs also serve each dish." Named to the Scottsdale Culinary Hall of Fame, Chef Christopher has also been honored by Food & Wine magazine's "America's 10 Best New Chefs," was the first chef in Arizona to be honored with the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence and also created the nationwide "Flavors" fundraiser for the American Liver Association.   SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much!   ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE  Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE!   JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE   FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee   Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully.  

Kurz vor dem Start in die Wintersaison bleibt der Fachkräftemangel die grösste Sorge der Bündner Hoteliers. Das zeigt eine Umfrage von Hotelleriesuisse Graubünden. Der Verband erwartet, dass rund sieben Prozent der Stellen unbesetzt bleiben. Immerhin habe sich die Lage bei Unterkünften verbessert. Weitere Themen: · Ein Besuch vor Ort mit zwei Generationen Hockeyleidenschaft: Guido Lindemann, Arosa-Legende aus den 1980er-Jahren, führt heute in seinem Heimatort eine Hockeybar. Sein Enkel Colin, der beim EV Zug seine erste Profisaison spielt, hat ihn während der Nationalmannschaftspause besucht.

On today's episode, we sit down with legendary Chef Christopher Gross and hospitality visionary Bill Nassikas as they explore the intersection of cuisine, creativity, and guest experience. From Michelin-level kitchens to world-class resorts, they share stories from decades at the top of the culinary and hospitality industries—along with candid conversations with chefs, winemakers, and entrepreneurs redefining what it means to serve. Insight, humor, and behind-the-scenes wisdom—straight from two masters of their craft. Website: https://wrigleymansion.com/christophers westroc.com  Instagram: christophersatwrigley   BACK STORY The president and COO of Westroc Hospitality since its founding, William J. Nassikas boasts decades of successful national and international experience in the hospitality industry. Like CEO Scott Lyon, William gained early exposure to his career path as the son of hotelier James A. Nassikas, founder of the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco. Prior to joining Westroc, William served as senior vice president of operations at Grand Bay Resorts, joining that organization as part of the merger-acquisition of Carefree Resorts. There, he was responsible for all accommodations, restaurant, spa, golf, and other guest service operations for properties including The Boulders Resort, The Buttes in Tempe, The Peaks at Telluride, Carmel Valley Ranch, The Lodge at Ventana Canyon, The Grand Bay Miami, and the famed Golden Door Spa. Among his many achievements, William was instrumental in the conception and development of Deer Valley Resort in Utah. He gained invaluable experience through executive management positions within Hyatt Hotels, as well as training throughout Europe, including the famed Restaurant Girardet in Switzerland. A graduate of Cornell University's Hotel School, William earned a Diplome Finale des Etudes from Ecole Hoteliere de la Societe Suisse des Hoteliers in Switzerland. His numerous honors include "Hotelier of the Year" by The Chaine des Rotisseurs, being inducted into The Arizona Republic's Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame, the Ivy Award from Restaurant & Institutions magazine, the CSX Award of Excellence, nomination for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art's Contemporary Catalyst Award, the 2006 Industry Leadership Award from Arizona Hospitality Industry Professionals, and AZLTA's 2019 Hotelier of the Year award. William fulfills a commitment to give back to the hospitality industry, helping train future professionals as a visiting lecturer to the Inaugural Master of Real Estate Development Class at Arizona State University, Cornell University's Hotel School, and University of New Hampshire's hospitality management program. He also serves on various boards, including the Royal St. Corporation, AZLTA and The Mission B1 Foundation.   Based in Phoenix, AZ, Christopher Gross is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef who has been recognized among the best in the United States. Famed for its modern twists on classic French fare, Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion earned a 2022 James Beard Outstanding Chef nomination. It was rated 18/20 by Gayot Guide which named it Best French Restaurant, Best 10 Restaurant Wine Lists, Best 10 Restaurants with a View, and Best Romantic Restaurants. In its five-star review, Arizona Republic called the restaurant "Phoenix's most innovative, enticing dining experience for its exclusive tasting-menu experience where the chefs also serve each dish." Named to the Scottsdale Culinary Hall of Fame, Chef Christopher has also been honored by Food & Wine magazine's "America's 10 Best New Chefs," was the first chef in Arizona to be honored with the Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence and also created the nationwide "Flavors" fundraiser for the American Liver Association.     SUBSCRIBE TO ICONIC HOUR If you enjoyed today's podcast, I'd be so appreciative if you'd take two minutes to subscribe, rate and review ICONIC HOUR. It makes a huge difference for our growth. Thanks so much!   ICONIC LIFE MAGAZINE  Stay in touch with ICONIC LIFE magazine. We invite you to join our digital VIP list and SUBSCRIBE!   JOIN OUR ICONIC COMMUNITY Website: iconiclife.com Instagram: @iconiclifemag Facebook: Iconic Life YouTube: ICONIC LIFE   FOLLOW RENEE DEE Instagram: @iconicreneedee LinkedIn: Renee Dee   Thanks for being a part of our community to Live Beautifully.  

Das Gornerli gehört zu den grössten geplanten Wasserkraftprojekten. Doch dagegen regt sich Widerstand. Ausserdem: Recherchen zeigen die Probleme beim Gotthard-Tunnelbau. Und: Wie Rechtsextreme Jagd auf mutmassliche Pädophile machen. Walliser Widerstand: Bergführende mobilisieren gegen den Gornerli-Stausee Bei der Energiewende spielt die Wasserkraft eine zentrale Rolle. Eines der wichtigsten geplanten Projekte dabei ist das Gornerli. Oberhalb von Zermatt im Wallis plant die Grande Dixence AG einen Speichersee – in einer Landschaft unter nationalem Schutz. Doch die Kritik wächst: Bergführende, Hoteliers und Naturschützende wollen das Projekt verkleinern – oder ganz verhindern. Dazu stellt sich die Walliser Staatsrätin Franziska Biner den Fragen von Gion-Duri Vincenz. Blockierte Tunnelbohrmaschine am Gotthard: Auch Baufirma warnte vergeblich Vor einem Monat machte die «Rundschau» publik: Experten warnten beim Bau der zweiten Gotthardröhre davor, eine Tunnelbohrmaschine im heiklen Gestein am Anfang in Airolo TI einzusetzen. Jetzt zeigen weitere Recherchen: Selbst die beauftragte Tunnelbaufirma warnte während des Vortriebs mehrfach, dass die Maschine stecken bleiben könnte. Doch das Bundesamt für Strassen (Astra) ignorierte die Warnungen. Selbstjustiz gegen Pädophile: Rächer und Rechtsextreme? Sie geben sich online als 14-jährige Mädchen aus, locken mutmassliche Pädophile in die Falle – und schlagen zu. «Pedo-Hunter» sind zu einem schweizweiten Phänomen geworden. Hinter ihrem Eifer steckt eine problematische Form von Selbstjustiz – mit Gewaltfantasien und rechtsextremer Rhetorik. Wer sind die selbsternannten Pädophilen-Jäger? «SRF Impact» hat sie getroffen.

Das Gornerli gehört zu den grössten geplanten Wasserkraftprojekten. Doch dagegen regt sich Widerstand. Ausserdem: Recherchen zeigen die Probleme beim Gotthard-Tunnelbau. Und: Wie Rechtsextreme Jagd auf mutmassliche Pädophile machen. Walliser Widerstand: Bergführende mobilisieren gegen den Gornerli-Stausee Bei der Energiewende spielt die Wasserkraft eine zentrale Rolle. Eines der wichtigsten geplanten Projekte dabei ist das Gornerli. Oberhalb von Zermatt im Wallis plant die Grande Dixence AG einen Speichersee – in einer Landschaft unter nationalem Schutz. Doch die Kritik wächst: Bergführende, Hoteliers und Naturschützende wollen das Projekt verkleinern – oder ganz verhindern. Dazu stellt sich die Walliser Staatsrätin Franziska Biner den Fragen von Gion-Duri Vincenz. Blockierte Tunnelbohrmaschine am Gotthard: Auch Baufirma warnte vergeblich Vor einem Monat machte die «Rundschau» publik: Experten warnten beim Bau der zweiten Gotthardröhre davor, eine Tunnelbohrmaschine im heiklen Gestein am Anfang in Airolo TI einzusetzen. Jetzt zeigen weitere Recherchen: Selbst die beauftragte Tunnelbaufirma warnte während des Vortriebs mehrfach, dass die Maschine stecken bleiben könnte. Doch das Bundesamt für Strassen (Astra) ignorierte die Warnungen. Selbstjustiz gegen Pädophile: Rächer und Rechtsextreme? Sie geben sich online als 14-jährige Mädchen aus, locken mutmassliche Pädophile in die Falle – und schlagen zu. «Pedo-Hunter» sind zu einem schweizweiten Phänomen geworden. Hinter ihrem Eifer steckt eine problematische Form von Selbstjustiz – mit Gewaltfantasien und rechtsextremer Rhetorik. Wer sind die selbsternannten Pädophilen-Jäger? «SRF Impact» hat sie getroffen.

Doing more with less — that's the reality for every #hotel operator today. I spoke with Cam Schultz, CEO of Foodbuy, about how smarter #procurement strategies and better technology are helping hoteliers protect margins, manage supply chains, and keep kitchens running smoothly — even when staffing is tight. Cam shared how #Foodbuy is giving operators a clearer look at costs, helping teams cut waste and focus on what really matters: creating great guest experiences. If you're trying to control expenses without cutting quality, this is a must-watch.

Ever feel like you had to start over from zero? I sit down with writer and teacher Peter William Murphy, an Irish expat who rebuilt after a family business collapse, a serious injury, and a move to Reunion Island that reset his path. I wanted to understand what it really takes to choose growth when life gets loud, and Peter shows us how clear decisions, steady practice, and honest support can open new doors. We talk about the power of owning your choices, moving through anxiety, and asking for help before pride gets in the way. Peter explains how he built Peak English to help students raise their IELTS scores and change their futures. We get into how online teaching actually works when you design it with care, why in-person connection still matters, and how writing became a tool for clarity, confidence, and service. What I love most in this conversation is Peter's calm style of resilience. It is not flashy. It is daily. If you are starting over, switching careers, or simply trying to make your next decision with intention, you will hear practical steps you can use right away. I think you will walk away encouraged, with a clearer view of what steady progress looks like and how to keep going when the ground shifts under your feet.   Highlights:   00:10 – Meet the guest and set the theme of choosing growth over comfort. 01:12 – Hear how a family hospitality legacy shaped early values and work ethic. 02:25 – Learn how the 2008 crash ended the bar and pushed a search for a new path. 07:37 – See why a one-way ticket to Reunion Island became a turning point. 10:11 – Follow the move into teaching without a degree and the first classroom wins. 14:20 – Pick up online teaching tactics like gamification and lesson design. 15:56 – Understand imposter syndrome and the pivot into writing and Peak English. 21:16 – Get a clear take on when online learning works and when it does not. 28:38 – Compare virtual vs. in-person speaking for connection and impact. 32:41 – Learn Peak English's mission to make IELTS success more accessible. 46:32 – Try a simple decision tool: write pros and cons and choose with intent. 54:55 – Hear the advice to younger self: talk to someone sooner and keep going   About the Guest:   Peter William Murphy is an Irish writer, educator, and host whose path has been anything but conventional. Raised in a small family-run hotel on Ireland's west coast, Peter immigrated to America following the hotel's closure, attending school there before returning home to rediscover his Irish roots—and a deep love for sport. But beneath the rugby and soccer fields, a creative instinct stirred.   When the 2008 crash brought down his family's business for a second time, Peter booked a one-way ticket to an island off the coast of Madagascar with just €20 and no job prospects. After a brief period of sleeping rough, he was helped by strangers who offered support without judgment—a lesson in quiet empathy that never left him.   Peter made his name on Medium, where he was curated 39 times for his memoir-style essays on travel and the lessons learned along the way, before pivoting to sharp, comedic takes on current affairs. Notable among his growing body of work are original characters like Jack Hennessy, a wry Irish journalist with a nose for trouble, and the Rick and Morty-inspired duo, Peta and Freeman—two chaotic, absurdist voices that serve as both satire and self-reflection. He now splits his creative focus between personal essays, humor writing, and his new livestream comedy podcast, The Peter and Philip Show, which he co-hosts with author Philip Ogley and which is gaining a mini-cult following on Substack. Peter is currently working on a book loosely inspired by his global misadventures, missteps, and the redemptive power of human connection.   Some of Peter's creative and personal heroes include Hunter S. Thompson, Ernest Hemingway, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, as well as his mother, father, and brother—who continue to inspire his voice, values, and pursuit of honest storytelling.   Peter is currently developing the Peta and Freeman series into a comic and is halfway through writing his first novel, The Red Beach in Paradise, which tells the story of his time on Réunion Island through the fictional lens of Jack Hennessy. While Peter still teaches full-time with his own private students, he is also working on opening an online school to help students prepare for exams and gain university admission across Europe. Every cent he earns from his writing goes directly toward making that school a reality.   Ways to connect with Peter:   My GoFundMe to fund the school: Link here Peak English Instagram account: Link here Peak English TikTok: Link here My substack that contains writing and podcasts: Link here My Medium Account: Link here     About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Hi, everyone. Welcome wherever you happen to be to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. And today, I think we're mostly going to get to do the unexpected, which is anything that doesn't have to do with inclusion or diversity. Peter Murphy, or Peter William Murphy, as he refers to himself in all the emails that he sends to me, is a writer. He has been a teacher, has an interesting story, I think, all the way around, and I'm not going to tell it, because it's more fun to listen to him tell it, and we'll see what we can learn from it and how we progress. So anyway, Peter, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here.   Peter William Murphy ** 02:00 Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.   Michael Hingson ** 02:03 And although Peter is Irish, he's in Turkey today, or he's he's over there, so he does move around, as you're going to learn in the course of this next hour or so. So why don't we start, why don't you tell us, kind of about the early Peter, growing up and so on.   Peter William Murphy ** 02:19 Um, well, I'm from truly, county Terry in Ireland, beautiful small town in the west coast, the Southwest we I come from a family of Hoteliers and publicans. My great grand Well, yeah, my great grandfather had the Meadowlands hotel in Chile, and then passed to my grandfather. But then after that, my father decided to open up his own bar. And that's kind of where after growing up, you know, around the hotel and, you know, seeing all the customers talking to people, very social kind of atmosphere, but unfortunately, it closed down. We had to move to America, back to Ireland. I attended Glendale Abbey school in County Limerick and yeah, I had a great upbringing, great family, but unfortunately, I never really liked school, if I'm be honest with you, which is a strange thing for a teacher today, I did not do well in school. I did just okay. But after the economic crash in 2008 Unfortunately, our family business closed down, so I had to try and find my own path. It was a little bit different than Ireland and I took off, got myself a teaching cert, and went to Reunion Island. And from there, my story kind of took off, and it's kind of where I learned a lot of my lessons. And after that, I just kept on going and didn't stop.   Michael Hingson ** 03:59 So why did the family business closed down the first time.   Peter William Murphy ** 04:04 The first time was because my grandfather basically needed a retirement, and he sold the hotel. And then my father then decided to open up his own bar, and just rising then 10 years later, that closed down during in 2011 I think there is a big economic crash in Ireland, rents went up. People weren't eating or socializing like they were, and through no fault of RL, it was just time to close the doors, which was a pity, because name of the bar was wooly Darcy's. It was a fantastic bar, very social, no televisions, very traditional, and yeah, so we all kind of had to go off and find other ways. And, you know, figure out who we are without, say, bars or. Hells or general hospitality and so kind of, yeah, right.   Michael Hingson ** 05:06 Well, so what? What was the reason for commuting or immigrating all the way to America after that?   Peter William Murphy ** 05:14 Well, we immigrated to America after   Michael Hingson ** 05:17 the hotel, yeah, after the hotel closed, right?   Peter William Murphy ** 05:21 Yeah, that was in 1998 and we were there for maybe two years, I believe, I'm not sure, and went to school there. My father worked in summers pubs, which is owned by my uncle in Boston, and then he made enough money to come back to Ireland in 2000 and open up his own bar. But yeah, it's just,   Michael Hingson ** 05:49 why America? Why America? When the hotel closed, half   Peter William Murphy ** 05:53 our family live over there, so my mom's side of the family live in America. Yeah, okay,   Michael Hingson ** 05:59 well, that makes it a little bit more logical that you would you would consider doing that.   Peter William Murphy ** 06:05 Oh, I loved it, Michael. I After, after two weeks, I was no longer Irish. I was playing baseball, eating pizza. I good American accent. I loved America, I   Michael Hingson ** 06:17 must say now, so are you in the Boston area?   Peter William Murphy ** 06:21 Yeah, we lived in West Roxbury, okay, just outside the city.   Michael Hingson ** 06:26 I lived in Winthrop Massachusetts, which is by East Boston, for three years. Very nice. So I never really got a Boston accent, but I do know how to say things like, pack your kind of have a yacht, you know? I can, I can still do it. Great accent, actually, but that's lovely. But I enjoyed being in Boston and just being around all the history. It's pretty, pretty amazing. But then you move back to Ireland, so that worked out, and he started a bar, and then you did that. So when, when that closed, and then you left again? Why did you leave again?   Peter William Murphy ** 07:06 Uh, basically, um, it feels difficult, kind of speaking about publicly, but I, I was kind of Joe there's, and I say that because there are people out there with bigger problems than me like I was a rugby player and the son of a publican. So for my formative years, my identity, for me at least, was kind of set. I was either going to be a rugby player or I was going to work in a bar or go into hotel management or something like that, but I had a pretty horrific leg injury during rugby training, and I suffered a few blows to the head, and then the bar closed down, so it was like one year you kind of had it all figured out. And then going into university as a young man, I had nothing. I could barely really walk I my family identity was gone. We're in the midst of a economic crash, a depression, and then I kind of developed my own sort of depression, but I, at the time, I didn't know it was depression. It's only Lacher that, when I spoke about it to professional that I kind of, we kind of spoke through and just said, Yeah, that's what it was. So I kind of, I wouldn't say, lied to my parents, but I told my mom, who's listening? Hi, Mom, I love you that I got a job in France, and I'd gotten an English certificate, and I didn't want to do University. I wanted to take a year out because I just couldn't handle it. Um, so, you know, I thought solving my problems would, you know, going away would solve my problems. So I there was no job in France. In fact, I wasn't going to France. I booked a one way ticket to Reunion Island, which is an island often called to the Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.   Michael Hingson ** 09:22 So why there? Why there? Because my friend   Peter William Murphy ** 09:26 was there, and he was there getting University credits for his degree. And, you know, back then, I wasn't a very good listener. I was a bit silly. I'm sure he told me all the details, but I just, I just heard son see maybe a job, and it's not and it's not Ireland, you know, it's not gray, it's not depressed. People aren't on social welfare. Let's, let's go. So I booked a one way ticket with what remained in my savings. And blew over there. And Michael, I'm going to be honest with you, when I landed at the airport in fentanyl, and I was hit with the hot Island air, and I could see it the volcano and, you know, the blue ocean surrounding me, I immediately regretted my decision. I want to go home, but I couldn't, because I had no money to buy a return ticket. So then the kind of Island Adventure kind of started, and yeah, I was stuck there for two years trying to get home.   Michael Hingson ** 10:34 Did you ever kind of make peace with all that and decide that maybe it wasn't such a bad place?   Peter William Murphy ** 10:40 Yeah, I, I, I kind of, because I'm a storyteller. I love writing, so I'm good at, kind of, you know, I wouldn't say I think all writers are good at, you know, giving dramatic effect. You know, maybe there, there's instead of one shark, there's five sharks. Instead of a storm, it's a cyclone. But when I would tell people about it, I would say it was difficult, but looking back at it now, it was probably the best thing I ever did, just taking that leap and going for it.   Michael Hingson ** 11:19 Did you ever finish in going to university? Or did you ever   Peter William Murphy ** 11:23 No, I just kept going. Kept going, kept going. I I got a job teaching English at a course. A lady by the name of Daniela from Angola gave me my first ever job, and you know, we hit it off. And this is back in 2011 or 12. I After about six or seven months working with her, so all the kids love me, the students love me. I learned a lot about her kind of holistic approach to education and teaching, and we were speaking in her kitchen one day, and she says, okay, when all this is over, what are you going to do? And I said, Well, I'm going to try and open up my own school. And she seemed surprised, but yeah, over 1310, or 11 years later, I'm not sure that's exactly what I'm trying to do now, is open up my own school.   Michael Hingson ** 12:21 Tell   Peter William Murphy ** 12:22 me about the school. Well, my wife, well, I'll go back a little bit. When I finally built up enough money to fly home, I got a job working with a man from America, actually teaching students in Cork. And I said I wasn't ready to go back to university just yet. I'd been in university for three years before I left, and it just something wasn't clicking with me. I'm an intelligent enough person, but in university just something, it just wasn't clicking. So I've decided to, you know, go to Turkey, simply because it was, you know, the closest. It wasn't like France, which is familiar, and it wasn't like, you know, far away, like China or somewhere like that. So I went there and got a job. But within six months, I think I landed a very, very good job at the top private school there, and they knew that I didn't have a degree. They just knew that I had selfless certificates and TEFL and other English certificates. But they have about 60 campuses in Turkey, and they gave me, and one of them is a university in Istanbul. So I was given a lot of education. By then, I was kind of a teacher for 15th. I observed, if I was doing a lesson, I'd be observed lots of seminars, getting more certificates, learning more and more. And you know that as time went on, I just kind of became Mr. Murphy, you know what I mean? I became a teacher, kind of, I proved myself, and just my students started getting good results. The parents were very fond of me. My colleagues were fond of me, my boss, my principal was fond of me. So I went from kind of not really having any identity, not knowing what I was doing, to kind of having it. So I stayed working in this big school for eight years, and to get back to kind of your question on the degree and the school i i was chosen by them to give a talk in Istanbul to all my peers on online methodology and how I help kids. Do you know? With gamifications, using the right websites for them, things like this, I slowly became very adept at, and they asked me to do it the second year. And then I got offered by Pierce in Turkey, which is an educational publishing company, and to do seminars on their behalf. And then this is, it was the first time since I left Ireland. This was in 2002 or three where I began to have imposter syndrome, where I was like, Okay, I know I'm good, but am I better than the people who I'm, who I'm speaking to, you know, and I raised this with the person who gave me the opportunity, and he said, Everyone feels, feels this way, you know. But I couldn't shake it, so I decided to in 2023 to step back from teaching, and I told my principal that I'm going to take some time away from it, and I became a writer on medium, and my writing on medium then took off. I started making a lot of money, and I found myself in this little hole where everything I was I was trying, was working for me, but it still didn't feel like something that I could 100% stick with well, which is why I started writing the book, and then it's why my wife and I decided to open up our own course, which will be a methodology, kind of created by the two of us, a curriculum, curriculum created by the two of us, which will have third party eyes who will sign off on it, and it's called Peak English, and we'll take it from there. So that's kind of my long answer to your very simple question.   Michael Hingson ** 17:05 Sorry, Kay, that's fine. Going back to when you went to Reunion Island. Do you think there was something deeper than just escaping from Ireland and the life you had, or you think it was just that simple?   Peter William Murphy ** 17:24 Um, yeah, it's strange, because I have a great relationship. My brother, my father and my mother were all very close. But I, I think, I think I became afraid of life, you know, because, you know, my father's my hero, of course, and he's a well respected man in the community. He He was awarded, I can't remember the name of the award, but basically, best host of the Year, Best host in Ireland last year by the hospitality board in the country. And when I saw what the economic crash did to him, it didn't break him, but when I saw that what it did to him, I was like, my god, if life can do that to my dad, take away his bar, you know, make him sad, or whatever it's like, what's it going to do to someone like me, you know, so I became very afraid of life, and I suppose I just wanted to go somewhere that felt other worldly, and that just felt so different, you know, that just so different, Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 18:38 well, and, and now you say that you really feel that it was the best decision that you could make.   Peter William Murphy ** 18:48 Yeah, I wouldn't change it for the world. I mean, I've got some great stories. Yeah, halfway through a book about it now. So hopefully in the next year, that book will hopefully get published, and if not, I'll put it out there myself.   Michael Hingson ** 19:06 So when the pandemic hit, how did that affect or deal with your teaching and so on? Because you were teaching all that time since you you stepped back from that in 2023 so you must have had to deal with a lot of stuff with the pandemic, I would think,   Peter William Murphy ** 19:25 yeah, I know a lot of people suffered during the pandemic, but if I'm going to speak, it was difficult for everyone, but if I'm going to just for me in my apartment in Turkey, it was a good pandemic for me, you know, I took the opportunity to learn the guitar, get better at my job, did a lot of study, got more certificates, and also. Uh, I was familiar with Zoom before the big zoom thing happened. So I kind of knew before our first online lesson. You know, I spent about maybe three weeks because we went into lockdown in Turkey, I think March 2020, I believe we were a bit Lacher than most, but we, we stopped school in February, I think, and there was about a two or three week time where they were trying to figure it out. And, you know, you you know, everyone's going to go. If America and England are go and China are locked down. We're going to be locked down too. So I started doing tutorials on Zoom Near Pod, other online teaching websites, and started learning about them. So when the first lesson started on Zoom, I was really good at it, and all the students loved it. I wasn't the only teacher who did that. Lots of my colleagues I did that. But, you know, the pandemic was definitely a time where a lot of us who were lucky enough not to get ill were able to, you know, put more strings to our boat, right?   Michael Hingson ** 21:24 What do you think about all the discussions and all the arguments and all the conversations that go on now about online teaching as opposed to doing it live, and where, where all of it fits in. Can people really do it, you know, kind of what are your thoughts   Peter William Murphy ** 21:47 for children? I do not recommend this as the primary source of their education. I believe that socializing is very important for them, even having a teacher. You know, one of the biggest things you can do as a teacher with your classroom management is where you stand in the classroom. You know, being able to observe the students, then knowing that you're there as a present all the materials that you would have in the classroom. These are all things that actually, they need something small, but they do help kids that kind of five minute break every 14 minutes where they can run outside, keep a ball around and talk to each other. That's really important, yeah. But if you're talking about maybe between the 18 and up age group, I think it depends on the person. I've had students who who are prepared for IELTS, and they have needed a top score, and only have three months, and we've been face to face, working, helping them with their writing, doing everything, and it just doesn't work. There's something about the school environment where it just doesn't rub off on them. But then the minute you get them online and you start introducing games, you gamify it, just do lots of different things with them, for some reason they feel more comfortable. It could be an anxiety thing could be where they just feel more relaxed. At home, everyone's different, but for children, from my experience, definitely face to face learning is the best. Zoom is okay in an emergency. I do not recommend hybrid learning whatsoever.   Michael Hingson ** 23:40 Yeah, it's a it's a challenge. I know, for me personally, I can do online and, or and, or I can do things in person, in terms of learning and so on. I'm used to doing a lot of things outside of the typical corporate or office environment. So I can do that, but I also value and appreciate the social interaction when you go into an office and you have an opportunity to to meet with people. The only thing I would would say is way too often, unfortunately, people socialize so much that they forget in a work environment, you're really there to work and really need to figure out how to focus more on getting the job done. But I think there are a lot of aspects to that as well, because it isn't necessarily that people are lazy, but by the same token, if they don't really recognize what the job is about and what they're doing and that they have to put the appropriate time into it, or figure out a way to put in the appropriate time, then that's, you know, an issue too.   Peter William Murphy ** 24:58 Yeah, I would, you percent people. Be With You.   Michael Hingson ** 25:01 I think that, yeah, it's interesting. I've had a few people on the podcast here where we've talked about time management. We've talked about how people work in Europe, as opposed to in the United States, and some of the statistics that show that, in reality, if people put in longer days, but don't spend as many days at work, like if you put in 410, hour days, as opposed to five, eight hour days or something like that, you tend to get more work done, which I think is very interesting.   Peter William Murphy ** 25:36 Yeah, I've noticed that too, since I started working at home more and more. That I had a discussion with my wife the other day, and I said, you know, I think I need to rent an office, you know, because whilst I do like having, you know, low overheads and not paying rent. There is something about getting up in the morning, putting on a nice shirt, black coffee, and walk to the office. And you know, have your work day. One thing that I'm noticing is working online, with writing and helping students, is I'll wake up at 5am and I'll shower and I'll I'll work from 6am until midnight, and I am looking at my looking at myself in the mirror the next day and saying, Joe, this is unsustainable, like we It's you can say to yourself, oh, sure, just, you know, make your own routine. But it's very hard to stick to a routine if you are, you know, writing articles, if you have meetings at various times throughout the day, if you're dealing with multiple time zones. So there's, there is something attractive of going back and renting an office, you know, having a base where work is work and home is home. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 27:10 and I, and I appreciate that. I, I personally am able to work at home and separate that out. But I do know what you're what you're saying. And not everyone can do that. I've just done that a lot in my life because I've worked for companies where I worked remotely anyway, so I'm used to that, but I also appreciate your discipline. I'm sorry   Peter William Murphy ** 27:35 you've got discipline. It's something I need to work   Michael Hingson ** 27:38 on. Well, I guess that's probably it, yeah, I guess that's that's probably it. And I have enough other things during the day that demand time. So for example, at five o'clock, that's the time to feed the guide dog, and he wants to eat. And if I don't do that, I'm going to hear about it. So what's your dog's name? His name is Alamo. Like the Alamo? Yeah. So, you know, the issue is that I do have some things to help keep me honest, but, yeah, I can be fairly well disciplined with it, and I can make that work, and I understand that a lot of people can't. The other thing for me being a public speaker is I'm not as great a fan of speaking virtually, speaking online, as I am speaking in person. And the reason is, and it took me a while to kind of figure out why I didn't really like it as much as as probably some people that I don't have nearly the same kind of connection with the audience to whom I'm speaking if I'm doing it online, and I don't get to hear their reactions to things that I say. And for me, having that audio interaction, those auditory signals are part of what tells me if I'm doing a good job or not. On the other hand, I've done this long enough that I can pretty well tell what's probably going to work and what's not. So I'm perfectly happy to do virtual presentations, but if I have a choice, I like to do it in person, right?   Peter William Murphy ** 29:09 Yeah, I agree with you there. There is something very cool about being up on stage, yeah, and talking to a lot of people, but my favorite part has to be afterwards, when you're having the teas and the coffees and you're talking to everybody in the lobby. I really do love that part.   Michael Hingson ** 29:29 Oh, yeah. Well, and I try to integrate some of that even into the talks that I give, so that I have audiences participating. And sometimes the participation may be that I ask them something to answer, and sometimes it's how I tell a story to draw them in. And I've had any number of people tell me we were just following you down the stairs in the World Trade Center as you were telling the story. You were just so. Vivid with what you were saying. We were right there with you. And that's the thing that I think is a lot harder to do in a virtual environment than it is in a in an environment where you're actually speaking to people.   Peter William Murphy ** 30:13 Yeah, that's I told you when we had a chat before I came on, that it's really great honor to speak to you. And you know, I really do love your story and the way that you tell it, and of course, about your guide dog that led you out. It's really like an amazing story   Michael Hingson ** 30:36 well, and you know, it's it, it's a team effort. Both of us had jobs to do, and it was a matter of me being the team leader and keeping the team on course and doing the things that we needed to do. But it did work out well, and I'm glad about that. So it's that's important, but tell me more about the school that you're trying to start as you're working toward it, what will it be? Well, we   Peter William Murphy ** 31:07 are deadline to open it up was in three weeks ago, we found three buildings. I can't go into the detail, but it's, let's just say that, you know, someone said one price in the advertisements, and then when we got face to face, there was a new price. There was a lot of that kind of carry on. So my wife and I had a discussion, and we said, let's put peak English online first and get a base in because we do plan to either maybe perhaps move to Ireland in the future. So it is going to have to be a business that can, you know, move anywhere. We are going to have to have a online base. We've started working with the school in Brazil, and we've got some clients in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. So it's a nice space to get online at the moment, as we head into September, when all the kids are back to school, and then we will start small. We on sub stack. I started a small GoFundMe to help me reach my goal before the deadline, and people were very, very supportive. They gained a lot of traction. And then I spoke with my subscribers, and I said I gave them the plan because I like to tell them to know what's going to happen if they're paid subscribers, because everything I make from my writing goes directly back into education. So everything I make from medium top back, everything it goes towards building the school. And we are now going to go into September on a good footing, but we're going to have to downsize our expectations and perhaps buy some or smaller but our methodology and our mission will remain the same, to make education affordable, to help students pass their IELTS exams, to give them an opportunity to go work in Canada, America, the UK, Ireland.   Michael Hingson ** 33:15 So yes, that's peak English. Well, there you go. Which is, which is pretty cool. Well, what does your wife work? Or does she just help you with the school? Or what does she do?   Peter William Murphy ** 33:26 My wife? What does she do? My wife is an artist. She's a gamer, she's a teacher and she's a website designer. She's everything. She's the Peter whisperer. She's definitely good at when I'm in a whirlwind writing or, you know, I'll do too many things at once. She's, she's like a tablet for ADHD. I think she just, she's good at, kind of directing me calm down. So she she knows everything. Michael, she's a teacher, English language teacher. Graduated from Palm college, university, and she worked in an ink, in a in a college, and she's just about to embark on her Master's. So one of us will get that degree.   Michael Hingson ** 34:18 Yeah, one way or another, you'll have one in the family. Yeah,   Peter William Murphy ** 34:22 exactly. Well, she has one, but she'll get a master's. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 34:26 you'll have a master's in the family. Do you have any children? No, no, no, we're children. No children yet? Well, that's another thing to look forward to in in the future, which is, which is,   Peter William Murphy ** 34:38 where we don't know what to do. We love turkey, but also we want them to have a, you know, a Turkish. We want them to, you know, have an appreciation for Turkey and for Ireland. So we're trying to figure out where would be the best place to to raise kids in the in. You know, current global environment. And you know, despite all the trouble that Ireland has in 2008 every time I go home, it's still solid ground. And you know, it's the older I get, the more I'm kind of, I think we will end up there eventually, but we'll see. Yeah, well,   Michael Hingson ** 35:28 it'll all work out in time. I suspect you strike me as individuals. Yeah, you strike me as a person that will, will make things work out. And you're, you're willing to step back and and do it in a methodical and in very positive way, which is, which is pretty cool. Well, tell me about some of your writing. What kind of what have you written?   Peter William Murphy ** 35:54 Well, I told you about the book. I'm halfway through. It's the working title is becoming useful. Then on medium, I started writing about mental health, and I got imposter syndrome again. Of course, there's nothing wrong with writing anecdotally about your experience, but sometimes on the internet, it's probably better not to talk about kind of medical kind of things, you know what I mean. So I said, well, what could I pivot to? And I started writing travel memoirs about my time on the island, and I ended up getting curated about 40 times by medium selected for curation is basically where they choose the staff choose your story, and they give it a boost into the algorithm, and basically it just gets sent all over the internet. So that happened 40 times. Then I wrote for your tango, which is a New York based website. And then after a year and a half on medium, I pivoted to sub stack, where I continued to do my writing. And about three months ago, sub stack began doing live streams, kind of like on YouTube or Instagram, they have these live streams on sub stack. So I didn't feel comfortable talking about my teaching on sub stack, because I felt like my my writing persona, not that it's controversial, had its own space in my life, so I kept it separate from my teaching, and I spoke with a friend, and we saw everyone on Sub stack was doing these live one hour streams. So we thought we would do a comedy show. So we started doing these 1015, minute comedy shows live on substack, and they became very popular. And a lot of you know big authors like Walter Reed, Robin wilding, who would be very popular on that website came on as guest, and it's kind of this new outlet where everything leads back to teaching, where I'm learning about video editing now and how to reach an audience, and then straight away, with peak English, I said, Okay, so that's that. Now I know more about how the internet works, so now open up a Tiktok and an Instagram and, you know, focus that into peak English. So our Instagram account now is growing. It's got close to 1000 followers, and our Tiktok is just open. So, yeah, going to use what I learned from sub stack to reach more students give more tips on how to pass exams on other social platforms.   Michael Hingson ** 39:12 Okay, and you've, you've created some fictional characters along the way, haven't you?   Peter William Murphy ** 39:20 Yeah, I have Peter and Freeman, who have a small little cult following on on substack, kind of based on a relationship I have with a friend of mine and my brother and I. My brother has done the Olympics. He's done the not as an athlete, but he's worked for Warner Brothers and other companies, doing the filming of it, and we're both very much in the film. We're working on a script, and we're trying to develop something at the moment together. Of course, our day jobs are our main focus, but it's very nice to have a similar interest with your brother, that you can just work. Worked on together, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 40:01 yeah, well, you know, back in the days of old radio, there was a ven Troy lacherist, Edgar Bergen, who had his creature, Charlie McCarthy. And it was interesting that a lot of times Charlie spoke for Edgar. Edgar would, would would communicate through Charlie, as opposed to just communicating himself, and it was a way that he felt comfortable doing, which was interesting.   Peter William Murphy ** 40:32 Yeah, that's interesting with Murphy's Law, which is my medium pending, after about a year and a half, I, you know, I said I can't keep writing about the island or this or that, or memoirs. I have to try grow as a writer. So I started trying different styles. I started writing a satire. I started writing a political satire or just pure comedy pieces. And lo and behold, I was okay at it, and they gained traction, and they were funny. And this is strange, so then Murphy's law went to kind of satire. And then I started writing about politics, say what's happening in the USA, the friction over there, some other world events. And I enjoyed it. The editors liked it, and it was published in some very good publications. And it was great. I found many voices, you know, but as time went on, and I love medium, and I love substack, it's, it's my passion, and it has helped me grow, not just as a writer, but as I mentioned earlier, helped me hone all the skills I use that become, you know, big enough on it into how I can create this business that my wife and I try to open up, and it has really helped. But you are always chasing the algorithm, you know, and I would rather have a product out there that helps people, you know, pass their exams, give them guidance with these as, you know, do volunteer work, things like that, that will actually help people. And people will remember it as peak English, as a brand that will help them, because Murphy's Law and the exile files online, I love them, and they are my babies, but they are very much passion projects that, like Reunion Island, have helped me figure out what I want to do. You know?   Michael Hingson ** 42:58 Yeah, well now you talk about Murphy's Law. And of course, we all know Murphy's Law is, if anything can go wrong at will. But there was a book written years ago that was called Murphy's Law and other reasons why things go wrong. And the first, I think I've heard of that, and the first thing in the book after Murphy's Law was o'toole's commentary on Murphy's Law, which was, Murphy was an optimist. I always thought was cute. I like that. Murphy was an optimist.   Peter William Murphy ** 43:30 Well, it's, you know, I think in life, like you said yourself, when, when that terrible day happens in the World Trade Center, it was like you could either lose your mind or you stay calm, you know. And no, I think, I think everybody, kind of you know, can learn from that, from learn from your book, that you just have to keep going moving forward. People react differently to different you know, setbacks like I mentioned, with the leg break and the bar closing another young man, it might, it might not have affected them at all. They would have said, It's okay. I just kept going. But it just so happened that it affected me that way. And you my brother, for example, he stuck it out. He stayed in Ireland, and he he did it so it's it really does depend on the person and how they how one can deal with what life throws at you. Some people think it was like it was the best thing I ever did, but looking back on it, like I wouldn't change it, but looking back on it, I would have liked to have done it, maybe in a calmer way.   Michael Hingson ** 44:56 The other the other side of that though, is that. So there are a lot of things that happen around us, and we don't have any control over the fact that they happen as such, but we absolutely have control over how we deal with what happened, and I think that's what so many people miss and don't, don't deal with and the reality is that we can always make choices based on what goes on around us, and we can do that and and that can be a positive thing, or it can be a negative thing, and that's a choice that we have To make.   Peter William Murphy ** 45:37 Yeah, you're dead, right? Yeah, I, when I first came to Turkey, I was only supposed to be here for three months, you know, but there was something intoxicating about the country. There just the smell, the food people and I about six months into my stay here, back in 2013, or 14, like I did, have that decision where I had to kind of look at myself saying, Am I staying here because I'm running away, or am I staying here because I feel this is where I can achieve what I want to achieve. And I stayed because I felt this was like the environment where I could kind of deal with myself and kind of deal with life, and, you know, just be who I wanted to be, not that I couldn't do that in Ireland, but just the 24 year old version of myself. That's what like he was thinking, you know? And I got to respect that,   Michael Hingson ** 46:46 sure. And the other part about it, though, is that you you at least ask yourself the question, and you really took the responsibility to try to make a decision and come up with an answer, which is what a lot of people avoid doing.   Peter William Murphy ** 47:01 I wrote out the pros and cons on a piece of paper. I still have that piece of paper under your bed, and went up to the top of the mountain. There's, there's a huge mountain next to the city here. I'd go up there every day, but I just sat down and I just stared at the piece of paper. And there was just something where I said, you know, I have to try and become something here, you know, because if I can become something, even if it's something small, like something, you know, as humble, as just being a language teacher or helping one person or two people, it doesn't matter if I can do that here, then it would have been worth it. Yeah, of course. If time goes on, you learn more, you become stronger, you become more educated, you become trained. And then if you just keep going, no matter how you know down the dumps you were in the past, if you just keep going, one day, you will wake up and you will know exactly who you are and what you're supposed to do, and that's kind of what Turkey and Reunion Island gave to me.   Michael Hingson ** 48:10 Do you think that as you were growing up and so on, that the system failed you?   Peter William Murphy ** 48:18 I do remember one time. And I have to preface this for saying that I hold nothing against this person, but I remember I went to the psychologist or counselor in, I won't name the university, and the university I went to and and I didn't know them at all, and I sat down and I told them I was struggling with mental health. And, you know, there was, I'm not saying anything now like but there was a lot of young men taking their own lives in Ireland around this time, a lot and women, and I wasn't like that at all, but I was feeling down, and I wanted to see what the university could do for me. And I remember just being turned away saying, Come back next Tuesday, you know, at 405 and I did find it very hard to kind of like communicate and get help in university through Washington, like I didn't need directions on how to get to the Lacher hall or anything like that. I knew all that, but there was something else going on that I needed help with, and there, it wasn't there at all. Since then, of course, in the last 1516, years, Ireland is, you know, I suggest mental health capital of the world. But when, when I was there, maybe, maybe I just caught them on a bad day.   Michael Hingson ** 49:58 Yeah, hard to say. But the. Other part about it is look at what you've done since then, and look how you talk about it today, which really illustrates a lot of resilience on your part. And I'm sure that that's something that had to develop over time, but you still did it, and you became a more resilient individual because of all of that.   Peter William Murphy ** 50:22 Yeah, I'd say I've got that for my mom and dad. They're very resilient. But also that resilience has changed from, you know, booking a one way ticket to reunion and, you know, just doing all that crazy stuff, then go ahead and stand ball bus rides around Turkey, not knowing where I'm going, not having money, not enough for rent, all this kind of stuff. But it's changed because I remember I got a job partnering with a recruitment company that's based in Amsterdam, and I remember just willy nilly booking the flight over to Amsterdam, and just kind of, I just gotten married, and I Michael. I was not resilient at all. I did not want to go, I did not want to travel, I wanted to be at home with my wife, you know what I mean? And so I definitely got softer in other ways. So your resilience does change. It becomes more kind of a mental toughness than, say, that kind of young book physical resilience that you had when you were younger. It completely switches.   Michael Hingson ** 51:32 Yeah, well, and I think resilience is, is really, to a large degree about the whole concept of, well, mental toughness, or maybe the ability to look at what you're doing and going through and being able to make a decision about how to proceed, I think that's really kind of more of it than anything else, right, right? And so resilience, I think, as oftentimes, it's a term that's overused, but the reality is, I think what resilience really is is your ability to keep things whoever you are, keep things in perspective, and be able to step back and ask the tough questions of yourself and listen to your inner self and get the answers that you need. Yes.   Peter William Murphy ** 52:25 If that makes sense. It does. It makes perfect sense. Just gotta keep going. Yeah, yeah, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 52:35 You do have to keep going, and it's kind of important to do that, but you've had a lot of different things that you've done. You know, you've been, you're an author, by the way. Do you still make drinks anywhere?   Peter William Murphy ** 52:51 No, I just at home, right away home. Good for you. Yeah? Yeah, we it's a drinking God. Drinking is such a funny one. It's something that just, I don't know, dissolved from my life. When I aged 30, I didn't become a teetotaler or anything like that. Like I'll still have red wine and I'll be here with friends, but I rarely touch the stuff. And I think it's mostly due to the fact that I start work so early in the morning, you know, and I just cannot wake up with any sort of grogginess. I leave black coffee, you know, look at the news for 20 minutes, pet my cat, take a shower and then start, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 53:42 Well, my wife and I used to have a drink on Friday night. I mean, we're capable. We were capable of going to restaurants and parties and occasionally have something. But I know since she passed in 2022 we were married 40 years. I part of honoring her is that I have a drink on Friday night. One drink. I don't because I've never nice. I've never really felt that I need to have alcohol or anything like that. I've never been a great fan of the taste, but I have a drink to honor her on Friday night. So that's kind of fun.   Peter William Murphy ** 54:21 Yeah, that's very nice. I mean, we it's my wife's birthday in two days, actually, so I'm very lucky. She's very she's like me in a way. I want to take her to a nice, fancy restaurant, or to do this and do that, but she just wants a chicken burger. And hello, yeah, so we just go out to our favorite restaurant. And you know, they're good burgers. They're pretty gourmet, but yeah, she's pretty down to earth with me. And yeah, we have a lot of fun together. And yeah. But I'm currently planning her birthday presents as as I'm speaking to you.   Michael Hingson ** 55:07 If you could go back and talk to a younger Peter, what would you what would you tell them? What would you want them to learn?   Peter William Murphy ** 55:15 Oh, I would tell him to go straight to a to talk to somebody, yeah, just to go straight to talk to somebody, that's the biggest thing. I had an interview where I was the host yesterday with a man who does Astro photography, and one of his, you know, other projects he does. He's a recovering alcoholic. Where he's he really talks about, you know, men talking to other men too, like, if your friend call, pick up, always speak. Tell people what's going on. Of course, don't nag people and to tell them every problem you have, but if you're down into dumps, you should talk to somebody. So anybody who's like young, you know, late, late teens coming up, should definitely talk to someone straight away, because I think a few simple sentences from a professional could have saved me a lot of let's call them headaches in the future, all   Michael Hingson ** 56:28 too often we the way we're taught. We just don't get encouraged to do that, do we?   Peter William Murphy ** 56:34 No, no. People listen. People are good. People will do what they can. But I think sometimes, I think the way it's framed maybe scares men. I think we're a lot better now, but maybe 1015, years ago, and even before that, trying to get a kid to, you know, talk to professional, nobody wants to be different in that way. You know, back then anyway and but it's so healthy. It's so good to have someone who can regurgitate back what you've just told them, but in a clear, calm fashion that you know makes sense. It does the world of good. It's, it's, it's better than medicine   Michael Hingson ** 57:27 for most. Puts a lot of things in perspective, doesn't it? It does, yeah, which, which makes a lot of sense. Well, yeah, I think this has been great. I've very much enjoyed having the opportunity to talk with you and and and hear a lot of great life lessons. I hope everyone who is out there listening to us appreciates all the things that you had to say as well. If anybody wants to reach out to you, how do they do that?   Peter William Murphy ** 57:57 Well, we're on Instagram as peak English. We're also on Tiktok as peak English,   Michael Hingson ** 58:04 peak as in P, E, A, K, that's right   Peter William Murphy ** 58:07 behind me here. So if anybody can see it's there's the spelling on my wallpaper.   Michael Hingson ** 58:14 And, yeah, a lot of people probably aren't watching videos, so that's why I asked you to spell   Peter William Murphy ** 58:19 it. Yeah? Well, actually, I'm blocking it, so I moved out of the way. There   Michael Hingson ** 58:23 you go. Well, I won't see it,   Peter William Murphy ** 58:27 yeah, so I Yeah. So that's the best way to get in contact with me. You can Google me. Peter William Murphy, medium writer, I pretty much on the top of the lid, if you're interested in writing, also the exile files. And we're also on YouTube with the exile files, so there's lots of stuff going on. This is an English speaking audience, so I'm assuming nobody's going to want lessons from me. So if you're interested in my writing, check out medium and sub stack. And if you know anybody of friends who needs English, tell them about peak English, and I will help you.   Michael Hingson ** 59:11 There you go. Well, I don't know, there may be people who aren't the greatest English speakers listening who, who might reach out. Well, I hope that they do, and I hope they appreciate all that you've offered today. I really appreciate you coming on and spending an hour with us. I hope that all it's an honor. Oh, it's been fun. And I would say to all of you out there, I'd love to hear what your thoughts are. Feel free to email me at Michael H i@accessibe.com that's m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, love to hear from you. I'd love to hear your thoughts wherever you're listening. I hope that you'll give us a five star rating. We really appreciate your ratings and your reviews and Peter for you and for all of you, if you know anyone who ought to be a. Guest on the podcast. We're always looking for people to come on and tell their stories, so don't hesitate to provide introductions. We love it. We really appreciate you all doing that. And again, Peter, I just want to thank you for for coming on. This has been a lot of fun today.   1:00:14 Thank you so much. It's pleasure to speak with you.   **Michael Hingson ** 1:00:23 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

In this episode, recorded live at the Independent Hotel Show in Miami, hosts Steve and David sit down with Gage Johnston from Dalla Corte, a Milan-based manufacturer of premium espresso machines and grinders.Gage shares how Dalla Corte is helping boutique and independent hotels elevate their coffee programs with innovative automation, Italian design, and practical solutions for low-staff environments. From the Icon Espresso Machine that simplifies latte art and recipe consistency, to strategies for reducing "coffee leakage" when guests leave for Starbucks across the street, this conversation dives deep into the future of coffee in hospitality.You'll hear about:Why coffee is now one of the fastest-growing revenue drivers for hotels.How automation helps hotels deliver café-quality drinks without hiring baristas.The role of design, efficiency, and customer insights in upgrading F&B programs.Practical advice for hoteliers looking to enhance their coffee offerings without overhauling their outlets.Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P8GUWgGpTII Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More MediaLinks:Gage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gage-johnston-b59086229/ Dalla Corte: https://dallacorte.com/usa/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/214Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

Episode 275 of the Hotel Marketing Podcast uncovers the secrets of Generative Engine Optimization, or GEO. Hoteliers have three primary customers online: people, search engines, and AI. Today we delve into how you can succeed in optimizing for AI engines such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, CoPilot, and others. Get the full show notes at www.TravelBoomMarketing.com/podcast

Minister for Arts, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan has accused hoteliers of "robbing people up to their eyeballs" and has warned the industry that a promised cut in the hospitality VAT rate in October's Budget is not guaranteed.Paul Gallagher, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, and Eoghan Corry, travel journalist with travelextra.ie, join The Last Word to discuss the Minister's claim that hotels are price gouging consumers.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Budget season can be stressful for hotel leaders, but in this episode, Stephen German, SVP of Product at Actabl, shares how technology is helping hoteliers move from spreadsheets and guesswork to smarter, data-driven decisions.Stephen explains how ProfitSword provides hotel leaders with real-time visibility, alignment across properties, and powerful comparison tools, making budgeting faster and more accurate. He also highlights how recent product investments are streamlining workflows, reducing bottlenecks, and turning days of work into hours.For hoteliers seeking to reduce stress and build confidence in their planning process, this conversation provides practical insights into how technology can make a real difference this year.If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy our other episode with Stephen: The Magic Wand Question: Building Digital Night Audit (and Hotel Tech That Matters) 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 suggestions If 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

In this episode, Sloan Dean returns to share a new perspective on artificial intelligence in hospitality. While AI is often framed around efficiency and cost-cutting, Sloan points to lessons from outside the industry -- like his experience with Waymo -- that show how AI can actually enhance the customer experience and create pricing power. He explores what this could mean for hotel operations, guest interactions, and the future of luxury hospitality. Listeners will come away with a new way of thinking about AI: not just as a tool for savings, but as an opportunity to elevate service and grow demand.Resources:Not Done with Sloan Dean AI Psychosis & Humanity in Hospitality Leadership - Sloan DeanNot Done: Sloan Dean After Remington - How He's Betting on Himself and What's NextMore episodes with Sloan 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 suggestions If 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

Episode 274 of the Hotel Marketing Podcast is going to deliver the key to unlocking social media success and direct revenue through influencer marketing. Hotels have been skeptical of using influencers and today, with the help of our friends at JoyByte.com we are going to show specifically how hotels can win with influencers… when doing it the smart way. Get the full show notes at www.TravelBoomMarketing.com/podcast

Growing up in a small town in central Minnesota, Chantell Walsh's creativity took the form of graph paper floorplans and endless hours outdoors inventing adventures. A pivotal job shadow at local architecture firm KKE Architects during high school solidified her path.After earning her degree in architecture, Walsh landed in Chicago, working under a mentor who taught her to embrace process over perfection. That ethos followed her to Strategic Hotels & Resorts, where she joined as a consultant in 2010.Fifteen years later and now vice president of design and construction, Walsh leads design efforts across the company's evolving portfolio, which includes Regent's U.S. debut property in Santa Monica, California and the highly anticipated transformation of the Waldorf Astoria New York.For Walsh, success lies in crafting spaces that evoke emotion and above all tell a story.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Hotels are warning prices will rise, customers will be lost and jobs threatened if proposed water charges go ahead. They're to rise by 9.8 per cent from October for all hotels, pubs, SME's and schools. The hike was approved by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Michael Vaughan, Vaughan's Lodge Lahinch and Sean Lally, Hotel Woodstock Ennis.

In this episode recorded live at HITEC, we sit down with Estella Hale from Zucchetti North America to talk all things innovation, automation, and integration in hotel tech. With more than 15 years of HITEC experience under her belt, Estella shares insider insights into how Zucchetti is reshaping the hospitality tech landscape in North America.In this episode, we cover:How Zucchetti brings European tech excellence to North American hotelsHow generative AI is being used for translations, chatbots, and impactful visualsThe industry's ongoing challenge with tech integration—and how Zucchetti addresses itWhy integration should go beyond the “minimum common denominator"Creating data lakes to improve revenue decisions and future-proof hotel operationsWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/h2ORBFn6oI0 This episode is sponsored by Zucchetti North America: https://www.zucchetti.com/Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More MediaLinks:Estella on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estellahale/Zucchetti North America: https://www.zucchetti.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/175Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

We're live from the Stayntouch booth at HITEC with a powerhouse guest — Bill Fanning, Chief Revenue Officer of Stayntouch. From rolling out 139 properties in 90 days to launching new grab-and-go kiosk tech, Bill shares how Stayntouch is redefining PMS innovation in the hospitality industry.Tune in as we cover the latest innovations, guest experience enhancements, and the real impact of customer-led product development.In this episode, you'll learn about: How Stayntouch scaled across 139 Cobblestone properties in under 90 daysA new way to manage booking, reporting, and operations at scaleHow their self-service kiosk is transforming the late-night guest experienceWhy Stayntouch stays in its PMS lane — and thrives with over 1,200 integrationsHow hotelier feedback directly shapes new features and partnershipsListen now to hear how Stayntouch is leading the charge in hospitality tech and what's coming next in their roadmap.Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aBpJR-LyJng This episode is sponsored by Stayntouch: https://www.stayntouch.com/ Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More MediaLinks:Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billfanning1/Stayntouch: https://www.stayntouch.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/169Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

For well over a decade, civil war blighted the lives of Syrians, as rebel forces battled against former President Bashar al-Assad and his brutal regime. More than 600,000 people were killed and 12 million others were forced from their homes during this time. In December last year, everything changed when Assad's dictatorship was abruptly overthrown by his opponents. We hear from a range of people living and working in Syria as they describe how life was for them under the old regime, and how they have been affected by the country's new leadership. They also discuss how the lifting of international sanctions has started to improve their ailing economy. Hoteliers describe how their hotels are now fully booked, and they are able to maintain and upgrade their buildings again. And three artists exchange views on organising performances now and their hopes for the future. Three students describe how having freedom of speech has transformed university life. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from BBC OS Conversations, bringing together people from around the world to discuss how major news stories are affecting their lives

The Indian Premier League has been suspended by the BCCI following strikes in a host of cities –– Amritsar, Pathankot, Jaisalmer, and Jammu.