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In this episode, we're diving into one of the most aspirational redemptions in the world of points and miles—Alila Ventana Big Sur, a luxurious adults-only, all-inclusive Hyatt resort tucked along California's stunning coastline. We're joined by social worker and points enthusiast Deb, who shares how she booked this $1700+-per-night property using points, and why she says it was 100% worth it.Deb opens up about how travel has become a vital outlet for avoiding burnout in her emotionally demanding career, and how discovering points and miles through a Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus changed everything. She walks us through her strategy for locking in a three-night stay at Ventana using Hyatt points, including how she searched for elusive award space using hotel search aggregator tools. She also shares details about getting there with airline miles, her room upgrade to a Big Sur suite, and all the stunning extras that made the trip unforgettable—like forest bathing, coastal hikes, beekeeping, and nightly s'mores.If you've ever dreamed of staying at Ventana—or wondered whether luxury travel on a budget is really possible—this episode will inspire you to dream bigger and dive deeper into the world of points and miles. Deb also gives us a preview of her upcoming session at the Travel More Conference, where she'll be teaching others how to find award availability for high-end hotels using advanced search tools.Submit Your Summer Road Trip Series Story HEREFacebook GroupFind Us On InstagramMary Ellen | Jo | DebHelpful LinksJoin Us At TravelMore Con In October!Affiliate LinksMary Ellen's Chase Sapphire LinkJoanna's Chase Sapphire LinkMary Ellen's Freedom Flex LinkJoanna's Freedom Flex LinkMary Ellen's Ink Business Cards LinkJoanna's Ink Business Cards Link30% off the CardPointers subscription!Credit Card Affiliate LinksThe above link includes referrals for Capital One Travel Cards. If you need AMEX or Chase please reach out and we would be happy to send you our personal referral links.We receive a small commission when you use our links. This is an amazing way to show your support for the show at no cost to you ❤️
This is episode 230, From Knysna's Burning Forests to Tolstoy's War and Peace: The World in 1869. Globally, the end of the sixth decade of the 19th Century was full of fire and brimbstone, and some technology, social change, significant moments. The construction of the the Port Nolloth-O'okiep railway line is one notable tech development, but on the down side, the Southern Cape experienced a devastating fire that began in early February in the Meiringspoort area of the Swartberg Mountains, destroying numerous homesteads and ancient yellowoods. More about this in a few minutes. IN the United States, Elizabeth Cady Stanton testified before the U.S. Congress, thus becoming the first woman to do so, and later in 1869, Stanton and Susan B. Anthony formed the National Woman Suffrage Association. Sainsbury's opened in Drury Lane in London in May, Boston University was founded in the same month. A month later, John Hyatt patented celluloid in Albany New York, a product created by mixing nitrocellulose and camphor — thus creating the basis for the coming film revolution. Like all good ideas, Hyatt had actually bought the original patent from Englishman Alexander Parkes who couldn't figure out how to make money from his invention. It's amazing how many inventions were co-opted by entrepreneurs after the inventor struggled to make a buck out of a good idea. Take the common computer mouse, invented by Stanford Research Unit student Douglas Engelbart in the early 1960s. In the late 1970s, almost two decades after the mouse's invention, Apple's Steve Jobs saw a mouse being demonstrated along with what was called graphical user interface, GUI, at Xerox labs in Palo Alto California. November the 17 however, was probably one of the most significant dates in the calendar when it came to the Cape, because that was the date that the Suez Canal was completed. For the first time in history, ships could now sail through the canal, linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, shortening the voyages between Europe and the far east by months. In Cape Town, there was fear and loathing about the Canal. And so, to South Africa, let's retrace our steps to February 1869. It began, as such stories often do, with a wisp of smoke on the horizon. According to the local newspapers, the fire that would become known ominously as the Great Fire of 1869 was first spotted on the 8th February. The conditions were perfect for a catastrophe. Southern Cape berg winds, searing, north-westerly to north-easterly gusts, swept down from the heights. Born of a low-pressure system sliding from west to east, they could reach gale-force strength, tearing through valleys like invisible predators. By the time the flames were first seen near Knysna, the air shimmered with heat, the humidity was almost non-existent, and the vegetation which was parched after years of relentless drought, stood waiting, tinder-dry.But in February 1869, the fire dominated every horizon. From its first sparks, it began a horrifying march: sweeping west towards Swellendam, east to Uitenhage, and threading through the Langkloof valley north of the Outeniqua Mountains. Then, inexorably, it spilled down towards the coast, devouring all in its path, Great Brak River, Victoria Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay.
Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!
Watch Us On YouTube! This week, we're answering the tough question: who owns the armrest in the middle seat? A flight attendant announcement has Ed all fired up. Weather woes plague Ed and Richard this week- how did Ed get to NYC?? Ed has a hotel review of the Standard High Line, one of the newest Hyatt properties to join the portfolio. Richard jumps on the soapbox to let the world know what he thinks about bank portals. And finally, there are two fun promos from airlines this week- we'll discuss the latest from Turkish Airlines and JetBlue. (Richard's cheat sheet for Turkish challenge) If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/
Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at milestomemories dot com Episode Description This week JetBlue released a very interesting promotion for their 25th birthday. In addition to earning up to 350K bonus miles, you can earn 25 years of Mosaic status as well. How many hoops do you have to jump through and does this make economic sense. More importantly do you have the time to invest into this lucrative deal? In other news Chase launched their Sapphire Business card last week along with a ton of new rules. How are the rules being enforced and which customers has a "bank error" in their favor? We also discuss: how Shawn accidentally beat jetlag, Hyatt Regency at JFK, the Savannah Bananas and how some people missed out on Amex transfers to Hawaiian. Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 0:24 Last minute Amex to Hawaiian/Alaska transfers - How much did we do? 5:00 Mark's Savannah Bananas experience 11:20 How Shawn accidentally beat jetlag 16:22 Hyatt Regency at JFK review - Good airport option? 24:00 How Chase is enforcing their new Sapphire rules 30:13 JetBlue's crazy 350K promo - Worth pursuing? Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!
Welcome to Episode 227 of Pelo Buddy TV, an unofficial Peloton podcast & Peloton news show. This week we cover the following topics: Jennifer Jacobs joined Ladder, who launched a marketing campaign against Peloton. Peloton's first walking pace target classes are live, along with some Tread Bootcamp pace targets. Peloton has closed more showrooms this month, leaving only 11 open in the US. It is “Britney Week” at Peloton, with many new Britney Spears classes and another new badge. Joslyn Thompson Rule has a new Split + Walk program. New strength programs for Tennis & Pickleball are being released on Monday. There is a one class Sunset Boulevard Broadway series that took place Saturday – with “special guests”. Chelsea Jackson Roberts & guest instructor Shayla Stonechild have a new “Power In Presence” series. There is a new collection for Christian Vande Velde's “Real Routes” classes, and he taught his first FTP test. Peloton highlighted some classes in “This Week at Peloton.” Hyatt is bringing Peloton bikes to their hotels in Mexico, Costa Rica, and more. The third lululemon members weekend took place this past weekend. Happy Birthday to Andy Speer, Denis Morton, and Katie Wang this week. Aditi Shah taught a free class for Solstice in Times square. There was a listening party for Frankie Grande's new album at Peloton. Olivia Amato was on the Cheers podcast. Christine D'Ercole discusses pelvic floor health. Peloton & GirlTrek teamed up for a Juneteenth walk. Ally Love gave away water bottles outside PSNY this week. Class Picks of the Week Enjoy the show? Become a Pelo Buddy TV Supporter! Find details here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/membership-account/membership-levels/ You can find links to full articles on each of these topics from the episode page here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/pelo-buddy-tv-episode-227/ The show is also available via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PeloBuddy This episode is hosted by Chris Lewis (#PeloBuddy) and Holly Kabler (#Crabbie_KakeS).
Highlights: 1) The "vibrational timeline" that we operate on 2) A daily practice essential to be on your miracle path 3) Your Miracle Code or Destiny Blueprint 4) How to use the foolproof AOM system Join Debbi on the Mystery Schoool cruise to Greece and Turkey - March 2026! To register (must use Debb Dachinger for your referral): https://mysteryschoolatsea.com/ My guest, Sterling Mire, has over 20 years of expertise in manifestation, life coaching, and psychology. Sterling spent years attempting to achieve lasting success and happiness using techniques from renowned leaders, until she turned setbacks and challenges into breakthroughs. This journey led to the creation of her signature Art of Manifestation – The AOM System™, an all-encompassing, foolproof practice designed to help individuals master the manifestation process easily, and powerfully. Sterling's prestigious clientele includes industry giants like Google, People Magazine, E! Entertainment, OK! Magazine, InStyle Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, A-list celebrities, Hyatt and Hilton Hotels, The Lifetime Channel, and The Beverly Wilshire Hotel. To learn more, go to: www.theaomsystem.com Subscribe now❤️ and never miss an episode! Want to know your galactic ancestry? Unlock your cosmic potential with a FREE Starseed Video and Report!
In this episode, Adrianna discusses why we're all talking about OBJ and the Giants...again. Why it's coming up, what current players have to say about him and more. She also talks about what the RBs and WRs said when they were on the Giants Huddle podcast. She shares some nuggets about the offense, player goals and more. Follow her on Instagram for more: https://www.instagram.com/newyorkgiantsfangirl/
Send us a textThe countdown to New York Giants training camp is officially on! In this full episode of 2 Giants Goofballs: New York Giants News & Updates, Drew and Rob break down everything you need to know about the upcoming season, including critical camp dates, wild trade rumors, and breakout player projections that could define the year.With rookies reporting July 15 and veterans on July 22 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Facility in East Rutherford, NJ, Giants fans finally have their first taste of football returning. The guys highlight every open practice date and preview what fans can expect at camp.The episode takes a surprising turn as the crew dives into a shocking three-team trade rumor floated by Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski that would send Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Dolphins and bring tackle Jonah Williams to the Giants—plus Tyreek Hill to Arizona. Would the Giants really trade a cornerstone pass rusher with so much promise? Rob and Drew dissect the logic and madness behind the scenario.Next, the spotlight shifts to Jalin Hyatt. After a quiet rookie year and reported clashes with staff, Hyatt has packed on muscle and developed chemistry with new quarterback Russell Wilson. Could this be his breakout season? The hosts explore why this could be a make-or-break year for the talented wideout.Then, the hype around Abdul Carter continues to grow. Pete Prisco didn't rank any rookies in his Top 100 but admitted Carter could be impossible to ignore next year. With Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux (assuming he stays), the Giants defensive front could be elite.Speaking of defense, Mina Kimes stunned the football world by ranking the Giants as a Top 10 defense in 2025. Is that too bold? Or is it finally time the Giants have an identity again—this time built on quarterback nightmares and defensive chaos?#nygiants #giantsnews #newyorkgiants #giantspodcast #giantsfootballnewsIt's a jam-packed episode full of NY Giants news and updates and everything a true Big Blue fan needs to stay informed, entertained, and fired up.Thank you for watching & for your support. You made it to the bottom of the description so you must like the show! Show Everyone You are a Goofball By Checking Out Our Merchandise Store https://2giantgoofballs-shop.fourthwall.com/ Support the Show on Buy Me a Coffee - Kill Our Livers Buy Us Beers! https://buymeacoffee.com/2giantgoofballs Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel - Best Way to Watch Our Content https://www.youtube.com/@2giantgoofballs?sub_confirmation=1 Become a Member of the YouTube Goofball Channel for Perks https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-tiLjkehiawtN-v6gMFViA/join Follow us On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/2giantgoofballs Follow us On X https://x.com/2giantgoofballs Prefer Audio Only? Check Out Those Options Here https://2giantgoofballs.buzzsprout.com/Support the showAll Episodes are shot LIVE with fan interactions on Youtube, Facebook, X, & Twitch. YouTube is the best way to watch!Sponsor the show at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/2giantgoofballsInterested in starting a podcast. We recommend using buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2012368
In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, I reconnect with Dan Sullivan for another wide-ranging conversation that blends current events, history, technology, and human behavior. We start by reflecting on the safety and comfort of life in Canada while discussing the news of missile strikes in Israel. From there, we explore the idea that innovation often advances when entrenched leaders move on—whether in science, business, or geopolitics. Dan brings up Thomas Kuhn's idea that progress happens after the old guard exits, creating room for new ways of thinking. Our conversation shifts into the role of AI as a horizontal layer over everything—similar to electricity. We compare this shift to earlier transitions like the printing press and the rise of coffee culture. Dan shares his belief that while AI will transform systems, the core of human life will still revolve around handled needs and personal desires. We wrap by talking about convenience as the ultimate driver of progress. From automated cooking to frictionless hospitality, we recognize that people mostly want things to be “handled.” Despite how fast technology evolves, it's clear that unless something is of deep personal interest, most people will let it pass by. As always, the conversation leaves room for reflection and humor, grounded in the reality that technological change doesn't always mean personal change. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Dan and I explore the complexities of living in a "world-class" city like Toronto, discussing its cultural vibrancy against the backdrop of global geopolitical tensions. Dan delves into Toronto's significant role as a financial and technological hub, emphasizing its strategic importance in trade with the United States, where a substantial portion of Canadian exports cross the border. We discuss the transformative potential of AI in today's digital revolution, drawing parallels with historical innovations like Gutenberg's printing press, and how these advancements continuously redefine our society. We examine the evolution of Starbucks, from a unique third space with artisanal baristas to a more automated environment, and ponder the implications of this shift on quality and customer experience. The conversation shifts to the rise of independent coffee shops, highlighting how they meet the demands of discerning customers by offering premium experiences. Dean reflects on our relentless pursuit of convenience in modern urban life, where technological advancements shape our daily routines and enhance our quality of life. We conclude with a discussion on habit formation and the role of technology in reinforcing existing habits, while considering the balance between maintaining old routines and embracing new ones. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan, Dan: Mr Jackson, I hope the rest of your day yesterday went well. Dean: Oh, delightful, I learned stuff yesterday. That was a very nice day, beautiful, beautiful weather today. You know what, dan, if you could, as an option at the Hazleton, upgrade to include your perfect weather for $1,000, this is what you'd order, it's this kind of day. Yeah, mid-70s perfect white fluffy clouds. Yes, it's why. Dan: Living in a safe, globally unimportant country. That's exactly right. Holy cow, I don't know if you've seen, yeah, what's uh? I woke up like literally just a few minutes ago seeing all the, uh, the raining missiles on israel right now from Iran. Have you seen that this morning? Dean: Oh yeah, there's a lot of them. Most of them don't hit anything and most of them are shot down, but still it puts some excitement in your day. Dan: I mean really, yeah, these ones look like. They're something unique about these ones that they're supersonicersonic and many of them are hitting, yeah, different than what we've normally seen. Like normally, when you see it, it's the, the iron dome or whatever is, you know, intercepting them, which is always interesting, but these ones are like Direct, like you can see them hitting in inrael that's. I mean, could you imagine, dan, like you, just look at how geographically we are. You know we've won the geographic lottery in where we're positioned here, you know, just realizing that's never. Even though you can, all you know you always take precautions with the umbrella above us, over the outside. Dean: But I mean still that today. I've lived in Toronto for 54 years now, just past the anniversary, the 54th anniversary and I think that, first of all, when you have a really large city like Toronto, the center of a lot of things that go on in Canada, A world-class city like Toronto. Well, it's not a world-class city. But yeah, they have to go five years. I'm putting a new rule in for world-class cities. You have to go five years without ever saying the words. Dan: Yeah, we're a world-class city. Dean: We're a world-class city. And that takes you to stage one probation. Dan: Yeah. Dean: No, that takes you to stage two, probation, and then stage three probation is where all the people who've been saying it's a world-class city have either died or moved, and then it's sort of like science. There was a famous he wasn't a scientist, but he was a, I think, a science historian. Thomas Kuhn K-U-H-N if you ever came across that name wrote in the 1960s and he wrote a very influential book which is called the Structure of Scientific Revolutions, and he was asked many times when you have a sudden series of scientific breakthroughs and we really haven't had any for quite a long time, it's been mostly almost a century since we've had any real scientific revolutions. So all the progress we've made over the last century were for discoveries in physics and magnetism and electricity and uh, you know nuclear but they had already worked out how that was going to happen in the by the 1920s. and he said what when, all of a sudden, when you get a breakthrough, let's say, for example, they discover a new hydrogen atom and it essentially gives everybody free energy? That would be a scientific breakthrough. Do you think that I mean? Would you think? Dan: that would be. Dean: Yeah, yeah. In other words, energy just didn't cost anything anymore, you know, and the price of energy would go down. Dan: That would free up a lot of that, free up a lot of other things energy would go down that would free up a lot of that'd free up a lot of other things, and, uh, and, and he said, the single biggest cause for scientific breakthroughs is the funerals of old scientists. Oh who everybody defers to that you can't first them. Dean: Yeah, well, defers to, but they control promotion of young scientists. They control where the money goes for a scientist and then they die and their control loosens up and to the degree that control disappears. Now you get new. Dan: Yes. Dean: Yeah, so that's a long way around. But I think that in the world today there are people who are basically in control of geopolitical systems, economic systems, you know, cultural systems, and in the next 10 years, I think, a lot of the controllers are going. They'll either die or people will think they've already died. They don't have to actually die, they just have to be in a room somewhere and no one's heard, and no one's heard anything from them recently, and uh and uh, you know, and everything like that, and then things change and then things really shifted. But my sense about Toronto is that it's going to be the Geneva of the Western Hemisphere. Dan: Okay, that's interesting. Dean: Switzerland from a geopolitical standpoint really. I mean, nobody ever talks about well, what do the Swiss think about this? But lots of stuff happens in Geneva. People meet in Geneva. There's tons of money that goes through Geneva and you know, when you know people who hate each other want to talk to each other and feel safe about it, they do it in Geneva that's interesting. Dan: How did Switzerland become its neutrality known for? Is that just because of its positioning between Austria? Dean: and Germany mountains. Yeah, the uh, the germans had given some thought during the second world war to invade switzerland, and switzerland can put into the field in a very short period of time a very big army. I don't know what the numbers are. But the other thing is, uh, for the longest period I know maybe a century long they've been howling out the mountains. So they've got, you know, they've got secret bases inside the mountains, but there's also they've created lots of dams with big reservoirs and if there was ever an invasion they would just blow up the dams and they would flood the entire lowlands of. You know, people are told to the mountains, the entire lowlands of you know, people are told to the mountains, get to your bunker. You know everybody's got a bunker and they've all got guns and they do it. You know they just want to. They're in the middle of one of the most warfare inclined continents in human history. Europe is very warlike. It's always been warlike. Dan: Europe is very warlike. It's always been warlike, but they haven't wanted to be part of the wars, so they've taken the other approach. Dean: Yeah, and Canada is kind of like that, but the US is very uniquely positioned, because a lot of people don't know this. I mean, you come to Toronto and it's big skyscrapers, yeah, you know, and it's a financial center. It's very clearly a big financial center, it's a big communication center, it's a big tech center. But a lot of people don't know it's a big manufacturing center. There's the airport here. Dan: Oh yeah, All around the airport. Dean: Mile after mile of low-rise manufacturing Industrial yeah, all around the airport Mile after mile of low-rise manufacturing Industrial. Yeah Actually, sasha Kurzmer, who you'll see tomorrow, you'll see Sasha says it's the hottest real estate in Toronto right now is industrial space Really Wow, yeah. Yeah, we have enough condos for the next 10 years. I mean most of the condos we got enough. Dan: It's enough already. Yeah, that's true. That's funny right. Dean: I mean the vast number of them are empty. They're just. You know they just built them. Dan: Money lockers. Dean: Right yeah, money lockers right, yeah and uh, but a semi-truck you know like a big semi-truck loaded with industrial products can reach 100 million americans in 24 hours and that's where the wealth. That's where the wealth of toronto comes from. It comes from that distribution. Dan: Access to American market. Dean: Yeah, that's true. So you have the bridge at Buffalo, the big bridge at Buffalo. That goes across to New York and you have the big bridge at Detroit or at Windsor that goes across to Michigan and 80% of all the exports that Canada makes goes over those two bridges. Dan: Wow. Dean: Rapid-fire factoids for our listening audience. Dan: Yeah, absolutely, I mean that's. Dean: I like things like that. I like things like that. Dan: I do too. I always learn. You know, and that's kind of the you think about those as those are all mainland exports physical goods and the like but you know that doesn't. Where the real impact is is all the Cloudlandia transfers. You know, the transfer of digital stuff that goes across the border. There are no borders in Cloudlandia. That's the real exciting thing. This juxtaposition is like nothing else. I mean, you see, navigating this definite global migration to Cloudlandia. That's why I'm so fascinated by it. You know is just the implications. You know and you see. Now I saw that Jeff Bezos is back, apparently after stepping down. He's gotten so excited about AI that's bringing him back into the fold, you know. Dean: What at Amazon? Dan: Yes. Dean: Oh, I didn't know that. Dan: I saw that just yesterday, but he was talking about AI being, you know, a horizontal layer over everything, like electricity was layer over everything. Like electricity was, like the internet is, like AI is just going to be a horizontal, like over everything layer that will there's not a single thing that AI will not impact. It's going to be in everything. And so when you think about it, like electricity, like that I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that was kind of a curiosity of mine Now is seeing who were and what was the progression of electricity kind of thing, as a you know where it, how long it took for the alternate things to come aside from just lighting and now to where it's just everything we take for granted, right, like like you can't imagine a world without electricity. We just take it for granted, it's there, you plug something in and it and it works. Dean: You know, yeah, no, I, I agree, I agree, yeah, and so I wonder who I mean? Dan: do you? Uh and I think I go all the way back to you know that was where, like gutenberg, you know, like the first, the transition there, like when you could print Bibles okay, then you could print, you know, multiple copies and you know, took a vision, applied to it and made it a newspaper or a magazine. You know all the evolution things of it. Who were the organizers of all of these things? And I wonder about the timelines of them, you know? Dean: And I wonder about the timelines of them. You know Well, I do know, because I think that Gutenberg is a real, you know, it's a real watershed and I do know that in Northern Europe so Gutenberg was in Germany, that in Northern Europe, right across the you know you would take from Poland and then Germany, you would take from Poland and then Germany, and then you would take Scandinavia, then the low countries. Lux date that they give for Gutenberg is 1455. That's when you know a document that he printed. It has the year 1455, that within about a 30-year period there were 30,000 working presses in Northern Europe. How many years. That'd be about 30 years after 1455. So by the end of the—you've already surpassed 30,000 presses. Yes, but the vast majority of it wasn't things like Bibles. Dan: The vast majority of it was't things like Bibles. Dean: The vast majority of it was contracts. It was regulations. Dan: It was trade agreements. Dean: It was mostly commercial. It went commercial and so actually maps, maps became a big deal, yeah, yeah. So that made a difference and also those next 150 years were just tumultuous, I mean politically, economically I mean yeah yeah, enormous amount of warfare, enormous amount of became. Dan: Uh, I imagine that part of that was the ability for a precise idea to spread in the way it was intended to spread, like unified in its presentation, compared to an oral history of somebody saying, well, he said this and this was an actual, you know, duplicate representation of what you wanted, because it was a multiplier, really right. Dean: I mean that's, yeah, I'm. It was a bad time for monasteries yeah, exactly. Dan: They started drinking and one of them said you know what? We should start selling this beer. That's what we should be doing. Dean: We should get one of those new printing presses and print ads labels. Dan: Oh, we got to join in. Oh man, it's so funny, dan, that's so true, right? I mean every transition. It's like you know what did the buggy whip people start transitioning into? We're not strangers to entire industries being wiped out, you know, in the progress of things, yeah. Dean: Well, it wasn't until the end of the Second World War that horses really disappeared, certainly in Europe, certainly in Europe. It's. One of the big problems of the Germans during the Second World War is that most of their shipping was still by horses. Throughout the Second World War, you know they presented themselves as a super modern army military. You know they had the Air Force and everything like that, but their biggest problem is that they had terrible logistical systems, because one of the problems was that the roads weren't everywhere and the railroads were different gauges. They had a real problem, and horses are really expensive. I mean, you can't gas up a horse like you can gas up a truck, and you have to take care of them, you have to feed them. You have to use half of them to. You have to use half the horses to haul the food for the other half for all the horses. Dan: It's a self-perpetuating system. Yeah, exactly, that's so funny. Dean: Yeah, it's really an interesting thing, but then there's also a lot of other surprises that happen along the way. You know, happen with electricity and you know everything, but it's all gases and beds. Dan: Well, that's exactly it, and I think that it's clear. Dean: It'd be interesting with Bezos whether he can come back, because he had all sorts of novel ideas, but those novel ideas are standard now throughout the economy. And can he? I don't know how old he is now. Is he 50s? I guess 50s. Dan: Yeah, he might be 60-something. Dean: Yeah, well, well, there's probably some more ingenious 20 year olds that are. Dan: You know that are coming up with new stuff yeah, that were born when amazon already existed, you know I mean, it's like howard schultz with starbucks. Dean: He had the sweet spot for about 10 years, I think, probably from, I would say probably from around 90 to 2000. Starbucks really really had this sweet spot. They had this third space. You know, they had great baristas. Dan: They had. Dean: You walked in and the smell of coffee was fantastic and everything. And then they went public and it required that they put the emphasis on quantity rather than quality, and the first thing they had to do was replace the baristas with automatic machines. Okay, so you know, a personal touch went out of it. The barista would remember your drink. You know, yeah, a personal touch went out of it. The barista would remember your drink you know yeah. Dan: They were artists and they could create you know they punched the buttons and do the things, but they were not really making. Dean: Yeah, and then the other thing was that they went to sugar. They, you know, they brought in all sorts of sugar drinks and pastries and everything else. And now it wasn't the smell of coffee. When you walked in, it was the smell of sugar drinks and pastries and everything else. And now it wasn't the smell of coffee. When you walked in, it was the smell of sugar and uh and uh. So that I mean, people are used to sugar, but it's an interesting you know, and then he also, he trained his competition, you know, if you look at all the independent coffee places that could have a great barista and have freshly ground coffee. He trained all those people and then they went into competition with him. Dan: I think what really you know, the transition or the shift for Starbucks was that it was imagined in a time when the internet was still a place that you largely went to at home or at work, and the third place was a necessary, like you know, a gathering spot. But as soon as I think the downfall for that was when Wi-Fi became a thing and people started using Starbucks as their branch office. They would go and just sit there, take up all their tables all day. Dean: I'm guilty. Dan: I'm guilty, right exactly and that that kind of economically iconic urban locations, you know where you would be a nice little oasis. Yeah, it was exotically, exotically. European, I mean, he got the idea sitting in the. Dean: Grand Plaza in Venice you know that's where he got the idea for it, and yeah, so it was a period in a period in time. He had an era, period in time to take advantage and of course he did. You know he espresso drinks to. Dan: North. Dean: America. We, you know, maxwell House was coffee before Jeff Bezos, you know, and yeah, I think there's just a time. You, you know, I mean one of the things is that we talk about. We have Jeff Madoff and I are writing a book called Casting, not Hiring where we talk about bringing theater into your business and we study Starbucks and we say it's a cautionary tale and the idea that I came up with is that starbucks would create the world's greatest barista school and then you would apply to be, uh, become a barista in a starbucks and you would get a certification, okay, and then they would cream. They would always take the best baristas for their own stores and and. But then other people could buy a license to have a barista licensed, starbucks licensed barista license yes. And that he wouldn't have gone as quickly but he would have made quality brand. Yeah, but I think not grinding the coffee was the big, the big thing, because the smell of coffee and they're not as good. I mean, the starbucks drinks aren't as good as they. They were when they had the baristas, because it was just always freshly ground. You know, and yeah, that that was in the coffee and everything like that. I I haven't been. I actually haven't been to a starbucks myself in about two years that's interesting, we've got like it's very funny. Dan: But the in winter haven there's a independent you know cafe called haven cafe and they have won three out of five years the, the international competition in in Melbourne. Uh. Dean: Australia. Yeah see, that's good, that's fantastic yeah yeah yeah and Starbucks can't get back to Starbucks. Can't get back to that. You know that they're too big right, yeah, we just in winter. Dan: I haven't been yet because I've been up here, but it just opened a new Dutch Brothers coffee, which you know has been they've been more West Coast oriented, but making quite a stir. Dean: West Coast. That's where the riots are right. The riots are in the United. Dan: States. Dean: Oh man, holy cow, riot copy, riot copy. Dan: Yeah, exactly, I mean that's yeah. I can't imagine, you know, being in Los Angeles right now. That's just yeah unbelievable. Dean: Yeah, I think they're keeping it out of Santa Monica. That's all I really care about. Dan: Nothing at shutters right. Dean: Yeah, I mean Ocean Avenue and that. Have that tightly policed and keep them out of there. Dan: Yeah, exactly, it's amazing To protect the business. Yeah, I'm very interested in this whole, you know seeing, just looking back historically to see where the you know directionally what's going to happen with AI as it progresses here. Dean: Yeah, you know like learning from the platforms it's just constant discovery. I mean, you know like learning from that, it's just constant discovery. Dan: I mean uh, you know yeah yeah, I mean it's um. Dean: I had a podcast with mike kanix on tuesday and 60 days ago I thought it was going in this direction. Dan: He says now it's totally changed it and I said, well, that's probably going to be true 60 days from now yeah, I guess that's true, right, layer after layer, because we won't even know what it's going to, uh, what it's going to do. Yeah, I do just look at these uh things, though, you know, like the enabling everything, I'm really thinking more. I was telling you yesterday I was working on an email about the what if the robots really do take over? And just because everybody kind of says that with either fear or excitement, you know, and I think if you take it from. Dean: Well, what does take over mean? I mean, what does the word take over? Dan: mean, well, that's the thing, that's the word, right. That's what I mean is that people have that fear that they're going to lose control, but I think I look at it from that you get to give up control or to give control to the robot. You don't have to do anything. You know, I was thinking with with breakfast, with Chad Jenkins this morning, and we had, you and I had that delicious steak yesterday, we had one this morning and you know just thinking. You know, imagine that your house has a robot that is trained in all of the culinary, you know the very best culinary minds and you can order up anything you want prepared, exactly how it's prepared, you know, right there at your house, brought right to you by a robot. That's not, I mean, that's definitely in the realm of, of realistic here. You know, in the next, certainly, if we, if we take depending on how far a window out you take, right, like I think that things are moving so fast that that's, I think, 2030, you know, five years we're going to have a, even if just thinking about the trajectory that we've had right now yeah, my belief is that it's going to be um 90 of. Dean: It is going to be backstage and not front stage. That's going to be backstage yes, and that's got. You know I use the. Remember when google brought out their glasses, yeah, and they said this is the great breakthrough. You know all new technology does. And immediately all the bars and restaurants in San Francisco barred Google glasses. Dan: Okay, why? Dean: Well, because you can take pictures with them. Oh, I see, okay, and say you're not coming in here with those glasses and taking pictures of people who are having private meetings and private conversations. So yesterday after lunch I had some time to wander around. I wandered over to the new Hyatt. You know they completely remodeled the Hyatt. Dan: Yeah, how is? Dean: that it's very, very nice. It's 10 times better than the Four Seasons. First of all, they've got this big, massive restaurant the moment you walk into the lobby. I mean it probably has 100 seats in the restaurant. Dan: Like our kind of seats yeah. Dean: Yeah, I mean it's nice. I mean you might not like it, but you know you know, you walk into the Four Seasons and it's the most impersonal possible architecture and interior design. This is really nice. And so I just went over there and I, you know, and I just got on the internet and I was, you know, I was creating a new tool, I was actually creating a new tool and but I was thinking that AI is now part of reality. Dan: Yes. Dean: But reality is not part of AI. Dan: Say more about that. Dean: Well, it's not reality, it's artificial, oh it's artificial. Dan: It's artificial. Oh, exactly it's artificial. Dean: I mean, if you look up the definition of artificial, half of it means fake. Dan: Yes, exactly. Dean: Yeah, so part of our reality now is that there's a thing called AI, but AI is in a thing called reality, but reality is not in a thing called AI. Dan: Right. Dean: In other words, ai is continually taking pieces of reality and automating it and everything like that, and humans at the same time are creating more reality. That is not AI. Dan: AI, yeah, and that's I wonder. You know, this is kind of the thing where it's really the lines between. I'd be very interested to see, dan, in terms of the economy, like and I'll call that like a average you know family budget how much of it is spent on reality versus, you know, digital. You know mainland versus cloudlandia. Physical goods, food you know we talked about the different, you know the pillars of spending, mm-hmm and much of it you know on housing, transportation, food, health, kids. You know money and me, all of those things. Much of it is consumed in a. You know we're all everybody's competing outside of. You know, for everybody puts all this emphasis on Cloudlandia and I wonder you know what, how much of that is really? It's digital enabled. I don't know if you know. I just I don't know that. I told you yesterday. Dean: Yeah, but here, how much of it? The better question is. I mean to get a handle on this. How much of it is electricity enabled? Dan: Oh for sure, All of it. Dean: Most of it Well, not all of it, but most of it. I mean conversation, you know when you're sitting in a room with someone is I mean it's electronically enabled in the sense you like. Have it the temperature good and the lighting good and everything like that, but that's not the important thing. You would do it. Great conversations were happening before there was electricity, so yes, you know and any anything, but I think that most humans don't want to think about it. My, my sense is, you know, I don't want to have conversations about technology, except it's with someone like yourself or anything like that, but I don't spend most of my day talking about technology or electricity. The conversation we had last year about AI the conversation we're having about AI isn't much different than the conversation we're going to have about AI 10 years from now Did you? see this Next year. You're going to say did you see this new thing? And I said we were having a conversation like this 10 years ago. Yeah, yeah, that's absolutely true, I don't think it's going to change humanity at all. Dan: Yeah, I'm just going through like I'm looking at something you just said. We don't want to think about these things. Girding of that is our desire for convenience, progressively, you know, conserving energy, right. So it's that we've evolved to a point where we don't have to think about those things, like if we just take the, if we take the house or housing, shelter is is the core thing. That that has done. And our desire, you know, thousands of years ago, for shelter, even hundreds of years ago, was that it was, you know, safe and that it was gave did the job of shelter. But then, you know, when, electricity and plumbing and Wi-Fi and entertainment streaming and comfortable furniture and all these things, this progression, this ratcheting of elevations, were never. I think that's really interesting. We're never really satisfied. We're constantly have an appetite for progressing. Very few things do we ever reach a point where we say, oh, that's good enough, this is great. Like outhouses, you know, we're not as good as indoor plumbing and having, you know, having electricity is much nicer than having to chop wood and carry water. Dean: Yeah, well, I think the big thing is that efficiency and convenience and comfort, once you have them, no longer have any meaning. Dan: Right. But the ratchet is, once we've reached one level, we're ratcheted in at that level of acceptance. Dean: I mean possibly I don't know. I mean I don't know how you would measure this in relationship to everybody's after this. First of all, I don't know how you measure everybody and the big thing. I mean there are certain people who are keenly interested in this. It's more of an intellectual pleasure than it is actually. See that technology is of intellectual interest. You me, you know, you myself and everything else will be interested in talking about this, but I'm going home for a family reunion next weekend in Ohio. I bet in the four or five hours we're together none of us talks about this because it's of no intellectual interest to anyone else. Ok, so you know but it is for us. It's a, you know, and so I was reading. I'm reading a is the observation of the interest and behavior of a very small portion of the population who have freedom and money and that. And the era is defined by the interest of this very, very small portion, the rest of the people probably they're not doing things that would characterize the era. They're doing things that may have lasted for hundreds but it doesn't. It's not interesting to study, it's not interesting to write about, and you know, I mean we look at movies and we say, well, that's like America. No, that's like actors and producers and directors saying this is how we're going to describe America, but that's not how America actually lives. Dan: Yeah, that's interesting, right, movies are kind of holding up a mirror to the zeitgeist, in a way, right. Dean: Like Strategic Coast, is not a description of how the entrepreneurial world operates no, you know the yeah. Dan: The interesting thing thinking about your thinking is is transferable across all. You know it's a durable context. That's kind of the way. That's what I look about. That's what I love about the eight prophet activators. The breakthrough DNA model is very it's a durable context. It's timeless. Dean: Yes, I mean if the Romans had the eight prophet activators, and they did, but they just didn't know they did. Dan: Right. Dean: Yeah, and you go forward to the Star Wars cafe and probably the ones who are buying drinks for the whole house are the ones who know the eight prophet activators. Dan: Secretly, secretly, secretly. Who's that? Dean: weird. Who's that weird looking guy? I don't know if it's a guy. Who is it who you know? Well, I don't know, but buy him a drink oh my goodness, yeah, I'm. Dan: I think this thing that is convenience. We certainly want things to get easier. I mean, when you look at, I'm just looking down no, we want some things to get easier. What things do we not want to get easier? Dean: The things that are handled. We don't want to get easier. Dan: Oh right exactly. Dean: Yeah, for example, if there was a home robot, we would never buy one, because we've got things handled. Dan: Yeah. Dean: Yeah, I have no interest in having a home robot. I have no interest in having a home shop for a cook. I have no interest in everything because it's already handled and it's not worth the thinking it would take to introduce that into my, into our life I mean yeah, and it right like that. So it's. Dan: There are certain things that we'd like to get easier okay, and we're and we're focused on that yeah, yeah, I think about that, like that's I was thinking, you know, in terms of you know the access we have through Cloudlandia is I can get anything that is from any restaurant you know delivered to my house in 22 minutes. You know, that's from the moment I have the thought, I just push the button and so, yeah, I don't have. There's no, no thinking about that. We were talking about being here in the. You know the seamlessness of you know being here at the Hazleton and of you know I love this, uh, environment, I love being right here in this footprint and the fact that you know the hotel allows you to just like, come, I can walk right in step, you know, get all the function of the shelter and the food and being in this environment without any of the concern of it, right? No yeah, no maintenance. No, I never think about it when I leave. Yeah, it's handled. Think about that compared to when I had a house here, you know you have so much. Yeah, that's the thing, that's a good word handled. We just want things handled. You know Our desires. We want our desires handled and our desires are not really. I think our basic desires don't really. Maybe they evolve, it's just the novelty of the things, but the actual verbs of what we're doing are not really. I think you look at, if we look at the health category, you know where you are a you know you are at the apex level of consumer of health and longevity. Consumer of health and longevity. You know all the offerings that are available in terms of you know, from the physio that you're doing to the stem cells, to the work with David Hasse, all of those things. You are certainly at the leading edge and it shows you're nationally ranked, internationally ranked, as aging backwards. Dean: I'm on the chart. You're on the chart exactly, but I got on the chart without knowing it. It's just a function of one of the tests that I take. Somebody created sort of a ranking out of this and I was on it. It's just part of something that I do every quarter that shows up on some sort of chart. They ask you whether you want to be listed or not, and I thought it was good for um, because your doctor is listed on it too, and I. I did it mostly because david hoss he gets credit for it, you know he does it for yeah you know, it's good. It's good for his advertising and you know his marketing and I mean it's just good for. It's just good for his advertising and you know his marketing, I mean it's just good for his satisfaction and everything like that. But you know that's a really good thing because you know I created that. It was like two years I created a workshop called well, it's a lifetime extender, and then I changed it to age reversal future, because not a really interesting term, because it's in the future somewhere. Right but age reversal you can actually see right now it's a more meaningful comparison number and I had hundreds of people. I had hundreds of people on that and to my knowledge nobody's done anything that we talked about which kind of proves to you, unless it's a keen interest you can have the information and you can have the knowledge. But if it isn't actually something of central motivational interest to you, the knowledge and the information just passes by. The knowledge and the information just passes. Dan: Yeah, and I think it goes. If you have to disrupt your established habits, what do you always say? We don't want any habits except for the ones that we have already established. Right, except for the ones that are existing. Dean: Reinforce them, yeah, reinforce them and anyway, today I'm going to have to cut off early because I have, and so in about two minutes I'm going to have to jump, but I'm seeing you tomorrow and I'm seeing you the next day. It's a banner week. It's four days in a row. We'll be in contact, so, anyway, you know what we're doing in context, so anyway you know what we're doing. We're really developing, you know, psychological, philosophical, conceptual structures here. How do you think about this stuff? That's what I think about it a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's always pleasurable. Dan: Always, Dan, I will. I'll see you tomorrow At the party. That's right. Have an amazing day and I'll see you tomorrow night okay, thanks, bye.
On this week's episode of Good Morning Hospitality Hotels with Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk, the crew breaks down Hyatt's decision to lay off guest service staff as tech replaces traditional roles, while the broader hotel industry faces profit pressure amid rising costs and slowed growth. Resorts World Las Vegas makes headlines by offering Apple Wallet room keys—no app required. On the travel side, we look at record-setting Fourth of July projections, the climate concerns behind Antarctica's TikTok tourism boom, and how universal travel rewards cards are disrupting loyalty norms. --- Good Morning Hospitality is part of the Hospitality.FM Multi-Media Network and is a Hospitality.FM Original The hospitality industry is constantly growing, changing, and innovating! This podcast brings you the top news and topics from industry experts across different hospitality fields. Good Morning Hospitality publishes three thirty-minute weekly episodes: every Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST and every Tuesday at 8 a.m. CET for our European and UK-focused content. Make sure to tune in during our live show on our LinkedIn page or YouTube every week and join the conversation live! Explore everything Good Morning Hospitality has to offer: • Well & Good Morning Coffee: Enjoy our signature roast—order here! • Retreats: Join us at one of our exclusive retreats—learn more and register your interest here! • Episodes & More: Find all episodes and additional info at GoodMorningHospitality.com Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible. If you have any press you want to be covered during the show, email us at goodmorning@hospitality.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week's episode of Good Morning Hospitality Hotels with Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk, the crew breaks down Hyatt's decision to lay off guest service staff as tech replaces traditional roles, while the broader hotel industry faces profit pressure amid rising costs and slowed growth. Resorts World Las Vegas makes headlines by offering Apple Wallet room keys—no app required. On the travel side, we look at record-setting Fourth of July projections, the climate concerns behind Antarctica's TikTok tourism boom, and how universal travel rewards cards are disrupting loyalty norms. --- Good Morning Hospitality is part of the Hospitality.FM Multi-Media Network and is a Hospitality.FM Original The hospitality industry is constantly growing, changing, and innovating! This podcast brings you the top news and topics from industry experts across different hospitality fields. Good Morning Hospitality publishes three thirty-minute weekly episodes: every Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST and every Tuesday at 8 a.m. CET for our European and UK-focused content. Make sure to tune in during our live show on our LinkedIn page or YouTube every week and join the conversation live! Explore everything Good Morning Hospitality has to offer: • Well & Good Morning Coffee: Enjoy our signature roast—order here! • Retreats: Join us at one of our exclusive retreats—learn more and register your interest here! • Episodes & More: Find all episodes and additional info at GoodMorningHospitality.com Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible. If you have any press you want to be covered during the show, email us at goodmorning@hospitality.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Customer Experience as the Ultimate Global Differentiator Shep interviews Katherine Melchior Ray, a professor at UC Berkeley, brand expert, and author. She talks about her book Brand Global, Adapt Local, and how brands can build value by understanding and personalizing experiences across different cultures and regions. This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more: How can cultural differences impact customer service interactions? What role does personalization play in enhancing the customer experience across different cultures? Why is it essential to understand local cultural perceptions when building brand value? How can businesses strike a balance between global brand consistency and local cultural adaptation? What impact does the country of origin have on storytelling for brands? Top Takeaways: Understanding cultural diversity builds brand value. Different countries and cities may host a variety of cultures and nationalities where diverse preferences and customer expectations coexist. By embracing these differences, businesses can tailor customer experiences to fit cultural nuances and serve diverse markets better. Customer experience is a global differentiator. Brands can no longer rely solely on product quality or price alone. The way brands engage with and serve their customers has a significant impact on their success. Personalization isn't just for luxury brands. Even small daily purchases, such as a cup of coffee, can be personalized to enhance customer satisfaction. Understanding customer preferences helps brands build confidence and provide a greater value than just the product itself. Storytelling is an essential part of creating brand value because it shapes how customers perceive a brand's origins, identity, and purpose. Understanding cultural context is important because what resonates in one region may not be as meaningful or attractive elsewhere. Brands need to strike a balance between having a consistent global message and being flexible in the experience they create to adapt to different markets' perceptions. Trust and brand loyalty are strengthened when businesses prioritize understanding their customers' cultural backgrounds and nuances. This communicates to the customer that they are valued as individuals, not just as transactions. Cultural dynamics evolve, so it is essential for brands to continually learn from diverse international markets and keep up with customer preferences. Plus, Katherine shares some interesting nuances in customer interactions from countries such as Japan, Singapore, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and more. Tune in! Quote: "The skills we learn to work across explicitly different cultures are the skills that we can use to embrace diversity in our own country." About: Katherine Melchior Ray, an educator at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, brand expert, and co-author of Brand Global, Adapt Local: How to Build Brand Value Across Cultures. She has worked with some of the world's biggest brands, including Nike, Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hyatt, Shiseido, and Babbel. Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tamara is just back from a multi-generational trip to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. If you have ever wondered what it is like to stay at one of the popular Baha Mar Resorts, now is your chance to get the scoop and see if it is really the vacation of your dreams or not. Episode Highlights: This was a multi-generational trip with 14 people ages 17-83. There were a lot of considerations when choosing a destination including budget, activities, direct flights, and mobility issues. Tamara also considered the Hyatt in Aruba, the Hilton Zemi Beach House in Anguilla, and the Westin or Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman. There are three hotels within one resort at the Baha Mar and it has multiple restaurants, making it possible to stay for a week and eat somewhere different every night without taking cabs into town. The food is really expensive at the Baha Mar so you need to build that into the budget as it is inline with going out for a nice dinner in a big city, which is similar to many other island resorts. The three hotels are: Rosewood Baha Mar - luxury property SLS Baha Mar - good for couples, friends, and more of a party scene Grand Hyatt Baha Mar - good for families and more affordable There is also a "Reserve" section of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar with suites and lounge access that is a hotel within a hotel You fly into Nassau and you fill out a form on arrival and then the immigration line was quite short. They pre-arranged hotel transfers through the concierge. There are many pools within the Grand Hyatt but if you don't reserve a cabana, sunbed or premium lounge chair it could be hard to find chairs, especially if you want a larger group to be together. They rented a cabana at the Nexus Club, which has an indoor section with a couch, television, fridge, and a full bathroom. It also had a sun bed, a table and chairs with an umbrella, and use of two in-pool loungers. It was a private pool just for those renting cabanas or staying at a certain room category that included a hot tub. It also had its own bar and food service. The beach isn't deep but it is longed and it is lined with 4-6 rows of lounge chairs packed in together and the beach was quite busy even in June. There is also a waterpark that is included for guests with some big slides and a lazy river, as well as a good restaurant. You can do paddle boarding and snorkeling and there are also paid motorized water sports and there is an activities desk that arranges excursions and day trips. The Baha Mar also has a kids club with daily activities and there are flamingos that do a "parade" every morning. The food at Baha Mar was very good and even Tamara was impressed. Regatta is where they serve a huge breakfast buffet but it costs about $44 per person. Because Tamara is a preferred partner with Hyatt Prive, she was able to get the following perks and amenities: Free breakfast for 2 people per day per room $100 per room resort credit $50 per room beverage credit automatic upgrade within 24 hours of booking There are many pool bars serving food for lunch and there are also food trucks by the beach. You need to pre-book dinner reservations and they cover the gamut from Italian, Asian, Chinese, Steak, Mediterranean, and some celebrity chef restaurants like Cafe Boulud and Marcus Fish and Chop House (from Marcus Samuelson) In Tamara's opinion, the Baha Mar is better suited for families with teens or adults versus with younger kids as the casino is really the center point of the resort. Related Episodes: Where to stay in the Turks & Caicos Everything you need to know about Beaches Turks & Caicos Sonesta Maho Beach St. Maarten Caribbean cruise Where to go in the Caribbean Planning a Barbados vacation Planning a Grand Cayman vacation
Stephanie DiPisa is an American entrepreneur who has previously worked with brands like Pampers, Hyatt, Gillette and HP in the agency marketing world prior to taking a career pause to raise her three children. Currently, DiPisa is the founder + CEO of her first entrepreneurial venture with Solara Suncare, a multi-award winning skin protection brand formulated for the love of sensitive skin, our health and the planet. DiPisa created Solara from a genuine need: to solve her children's dermatological reactions to popular sunscreen products as well as find wellness-based personal products to support her own healing journey with Lyme disease.Her brand, a favorite with celebrities, estheticians, dermatologists and beauty experts, features two product Collections that can be found on retail shelves ranging from Blue Mercury, Neiman Marcus and top luxury spas and boutiques, to Whole Foods and Target.
We talk about Airbnb's efforts to deflect blame from overtourism onto the hotel sector; we take a look at how hotel brands are choosing marketing partnerships over big advertising campaigns; and we finish with the issue of collection brands, in particular the latest from Marriott and Hyatt.
In Episode 125 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosts Angie Sparks and Cameron Laufer dive into a variety of hot topics in the travel and points world before focusing on a destination deep-dive into Iceland. They discuss recent credit card offers, including elevated Hilton Amex bonuses and a new Alaska Airlines Visa offer with a rare companion fare deal. Hyatt's bonus point promotion and Oman Air's upcoming entry into the Oneworld Alliance are also covered. On the personal front, both hosts share recent award redemptions, card strategy updates, and trip planning efforts—including Angie's family reunion logistics and Cameron's luxurious stay at Hermitage Bay.The main segment features an in-depth guide to traveling in Iceland, drawing from Angie and Cameron's separate experiences. Both traveled in August, but while Angie focused on the Golden Circle and adventurous Highlands hikes, Cameron tackled the full Ring Road route counterclockwise, visiting a broad range of regions including the East Fjords and North Iceland. They share practical advice for using points and miles for flights and accommodations, emphasizing the limited but valuable hotel options like Hilton Nordica and ION Adventure Hotel. Tips include renting a 4x4 vehicle, buying food at Costco to save money, and being prepared for strenuous hikes. The episode wraps with a fun announcement: Award Travel 101 merchandise is coming soon.Links From EpisodeOman Joins OneWorldHyatt PromotionNew Hilton OffersNew Alaska CC offerIceland Names/PlacesSouthBlue LagoonFriðheimar- Tomoto restaurantReykjadalur Hot SpringsJokulsarlon- glacier boat ride and diamond beachReynisfjara BeachSkaftafell- glacier and hikesHighlandsLandmannalauger and/or ThorsmorkSoutheastHofn- Pakkhus restaurantStokksnesEastSeydisfjordur or Borgarfjörður EystriNorth- AkureyriDettifoss waterfallLake Myvatn and bathsDimmuborgir lava fieldLeirhnjukur- bubbling hot fieldsHusavik- whale watchingSiglufjörður- orange lighthouseNorthwestSnaefellsnesKirkjufell- waterfallLodgingHunkubakkarWhere to Find Us The Free 110k+ member Award Travel 101 Community. To book time with our team, check out Award Travel 1-on-1. You can also email us at 101@award.travel Tickets are now ON SALE for our next meetup in Miami September 19-21. Secure your spot today at https://award.travel/miami2025 Our partner CardPointers helps us get the most from our cards. We love being able to automatically add all of our offers and quickly seeing the best card to use for every purchase. Signup today at https://cardpointers.com/at101 for a 30% discount on annual and lifetime subscriptions! Lastly, we appreciate your support of the AT101 Podcast/Community when you signup for your next card! Technical note: Some user experience difficulty streaming the podcast while connected to a VPN. If you have difficulty, disconnect from your VPN.
In what is the longest “Quick Hits” episode ever, DeAndre Coke shares key updates from the travel rewards world and a major shift for the podcast: joining the Voyascape network, a dedicated hub for top-tier travel podcasts. He dives into urgent news, including a once-in-a-lifetime Amex points transfer loophole that's about to end, and a long-awaited Chase feature that now lets you transfer credit lines online. DeAndre also explores tech innovations, such as the TSA's expanding support for digital IDs, changes in Hilton's loyalty program (farewell to late checkout), and new Hyatt promotions that could be worth a booking—listener questions about flight booking strategies round out this information-packed episode.If you're looking to maximize your cards, eyeing your next redemption, or just keeping up with the latest changes, this week's episode is packed with updates that savvy travelers won't want to miss.Key takeaways: Big news: The podcast is now part of the Voyascape network, bringing travel-focused sponsorships and broader reach.Sapphire Refresh: All of the new updates to the Sapphire Reserve and Business Sapphire Reserve credit cardsAmex points loophole: A rare transfer window is closing soon — take action before it vanishes.Chase update: You can now transfer credit lines between Chase cards online — no phone call required.TSA innovation: More airports are supporting digital IDs for faster, app-based security checks.Hilton changes: Late checkout has been removed as a benefit — a significant downgrade for loyalists.Hyatt Promotion: Earn Bonus Points for Eligible Stays Through September.New Aruba resort: Hyatt's Secrets Baby Beach has officially opened — adult-only and all-inclusive.Flight booking tips: Early and last-minute bookings tend to yield the best award space.Community engagement: Listener questions and feedback are always welcome and shape future episodes.Resources:Hyatt Bonus Points PromotionAct now - Protect your points!Book a Free 30-minute points & miles consultationStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook GroupInterested in Financial Planning?Truicity Wealth ManagementSome of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game:Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored linksCard Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year)Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card)
Here's the truth nobody talks about: investing isn't about saying “yes” to every shiny opportunity that comes your way. It's about discipline. It's about mastering the art of saying “no.” It's about boring consistency, and yes, sometimes it feels plain, but that's where real wealth is quietly built. Paul Moore's journey from rags to riches didn't just end with his financial exit. He wiped out his debt and embraced the mindset that no matter what, you never stop giving. Because giving fuels growth, relationships, and opportunity in ways money alone never can. What if saying “no” more often is actually the key to unlocking your financial freedom? Are you prepared to keep giving, even when it feels like you've given enough and things get tough? In this episode, founder of Wellings Capital Paul Moore, joins me to talk about real estate investing, how he went from rags to riches, and why the way out is to always give. Things You'll Learn In This Episode -Learning to say NO The most successful investors achieve their results by saying no to nearly every opportunity. How can learning to say no improve decision-making and long-term success? -The real housing crisis Many real estate developers prioritize luxury apartments, overlooking the growing demand for affordable housing. What is the impact of this unbalanced supply and demand? -Warren Buffett: rules for real estate Warren Buffett emphasizes investing in real estate with a long-term mindset, focusing on value, not hype. How can adopting a long-term, value-focused approach improve real estate investment strategy? Guest Bio Paul Moore is the Founder of Wellings Capital. After graduating with an engineering degree and then an MBA from Ohio State, Paul entered the management development track at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After five years, he departed to start a staffing company with a partner. They scaled and sold the company to a publicly traded firm five years later. After a brief “retirement” in his early 30s, Paul began investing in real estate in 1999 to protect and grow his own wealth. He completed over 85 real estate investments and exits, appeared on HGTV's House Hunters, rehabbed and managed dozens of rental properties, and developed a subdivision. After completing three successful real estate developments, including assisting with the development of a Hyatt hotel and a very successful multifamily project, Paul narrowed his focus to commercial real estate in 2011. Paul is married with four children and lives in Central Virginia. Visit https://www.wellingscapital.com/resources for more information. Find Paul's books on Amazon here To give to help save children from human trafficking go to https://aimfree.org/ About Your Host From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America's #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be. Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is currently founder of The Money School™, and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier. His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions. As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works. Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom. Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!
Mi invitado de hoy es Braulio Arsuaga: CEO de Grupo Presidente, una de las compañías hoteleras más importantes de México, con marcas internacionales como Marriott, Hyatt e InterContinental, la cadena hotelera más grande del mundo.Bajo su liderazgo, el grupo se expandió mucho más allá de los hoteles: glamping, residencias para adultos mayores, hostales culturales, y más de 50 restaurantes, entre ellos Alfredo Di Roma, reconocido en 2023 por Wine Spectator como uno de los restaurantes más prestigiosos del planeta.Es presidente del Consejo Nacional Empresarial Turístico, inversionista, ex Shark, y ha sido reconocido como uno de los 300 líderes más influyentes de México.Mientras algunos ven la hotelería como un negocio tradicional, Braulio lo ve como una oportunidad para hacer historia.Agenda tu prueba de manejo para probar el nuevo Suzuki Fronx Booster Green 2025, hoy mismo: https://www.mercatitlan.com/suzukiTú también puedes reventar el potencial de tu negocio con nuestro curso en línea de Inteligencia Artificial para emprendedores
Mailbag returns! Justin is here to answer the community's questions about OTAs and everything else that's next for the Giants. Stay tuned for the next mailbag to have your questions answered!00:00 Mailbag01:52 Will Neal or Hyatt breakout this year06:20 Who will lead the team in Sacks14:00 UDFAs that could make an impact19:30 Can the Giants have a Top 5 Offense32:30 Best Camp Battles44:05 Which FA will be the best addition45:55 TG Tailgates this year48:00 Replacing MetLife StadiumUse code GIANTS2025 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/GIAN.... Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountControl Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get 20% off + free shipping with promo code TALKINGIANTS at shopmando.com! #mandopodDownload the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use promo code JMFOOTBALLCheck out our Merch: https://shop.jomboymedia.com/collections/talkin-giantsSubscribe to JM Football for our NFL coverage: https://www.youtube.com/@JMFootballSubscribe to the JM Newsletter: http://jomboymedia.com/email#giants #nygiantsGAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY).Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT) or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply.On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $300 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets if your bet wins. Bonus Bets expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 6/22/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored byDK.
It takes determination to dive into hospitality and come out with a boutique hotel that is successful, and that is what Chris Lenz, Founder and CEO of La Compania Hotels and Resorts. Chris shares his journey from opening 37 restaurants to creating extraordinary hotels in Panama. They explore his passion for hospitality, his uncompromising vision, and the meticulous planning that goes into building unique hospitality experiences. Learn about Chris's journey from restaurateur to hotelier, his innovative trifecta perfecta concept, and his ambitious plans for redefining luxury travel in Panama.Takeaways: Always strive to create unique and memorable experiences that differentiate your property or service from others. Focus on curating personalized touches and special features in your establishment that guests will remember and talk about.Maintain an uncompromising vision and execute it with passion. The team must understand and align with this vision to consistently deliver the intended guest experience.Consider partnerships with larger brands for access to their distribution networks, loyalty programs, and market reach. Ensure the partnership aligns with your property's unique and boutique characteristics to maintain brand integrity.Enhance the guest journey by minimizing travel hassles. For example, offering private transportation or concierge services that streamline and personalize the guest's travel experience.Even with growth, maintain high standards for service, safety, and uniqueness. This is critical for retaining your brand's value and ensuring guest satisfaction.Quote of the Show:“I'm gonna build the best historic landmark hotel in Central America. I'm gonna change the tourism of this country.” - Chris LenzLinks:Website: hlcpanama.com https://www.hyatt.com/unbound-collection/en-US/ptyub-unbound-hotel-la-compania Shout Outs:2:02 - Mikey Dobin https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikey-dobin-04308468/ 2:02 - Diana Dobin https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-dobin-319108b5/ 4:25 - Journey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_(band) 4:26 - Arnel Pineda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnel_Pineda 9:36 - Setting the Table by Danny Meyer https://www.amazon.com/Setting-Table-Transforming-Hospitality-Business/dp/0060742763 10:10 - Union Square Cafe https://www.unionsquarecafe.com/ 10:15 - Gramercy Tavern https://www.gramercytavern.com/ 11:52 - McDonald's https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us.html 13:14 - Rafael Nadal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Nadal 25:27 - Holiday Inn https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/reservation 26:25 - UNESCO https://www.unesco.org/en 37:27 - Marriott https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 37:53 - Hyatt https://www.hyatt.com/ 43:41 - booking.com48:08 - Omni Hotels https://www.omnihotels.com/ 1:06:42 - Amtrak https://www.amtrak.com/home.html?msockid=13e7d50d81a968200de9c1bb80596956
Planning a trip to Spain on points and miles? It's all about the strategy—especially when you're juggling travel for multiple people! In this episode, the Travel Mom Squad dives into their recent Spanish adventure, navigating last-minute flight changes and uncovering the best of Madrid, Barcelona, and Mallorca—all while maximizing points and miles. From wandering through historic neighborhoods to cooking authentic paella, the trio experienced Spain like never before. They stayed in amazing spots like the chic Thompson Madrid and the luxe Nobu Palma in Mallorca, proving that with a little flexibility and a lot of points, you can turn any trip into an unforgettable adventure. You'll Discover: How to leverage last-minute award availability when original flight plans change. Why the Thompson Madrid offers exceptional value for Hyatt points in a prime location. How to navigate transportation options between Spanish cities efficiently. Where to find authentic cultural experiences, like a Paella Club cooking class. The distinct differences between Madrid and Barcelona. Why you NEED to add Mallorca to your Spanish itinerary. You can find links to the hotels, tours, and other resources mentioned in this episode plus the transcript here: travelmomsquad.com/133 Ready to get started with NEARLY FREE travel? Click here for the exact offers we would sign up for this month: travelmomsquad.lpages.co/bestoffers/ The Travel Mom Squad is also on YouTube! You can watch this episode here: youtube.com/@travelmomsquad Let us know what you want to hear on the podcast by sending us a DM on Instagram: instagram.com/travelmomsquad
Two of the most dynamic show skiers in the game, Ty and Bailey Hyatt, visit the Hit It Virtual Podcast this month. They talk about how show skiing brought them together, their time with the fabled Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show, and what the future holds for both athletes.
Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week Chase confirmed that there will be changes this Summer to the Sapphire Reserve card. While we have covered the rumors before, this is the first time we have confirmation. What will be changing, when can we expect to know more and what should you do. Plus Chase also dropped a bombshell indicating a new Sapphire Reserve business card is coming as well. This should be a good opportunity. In other news Mark shares from his Orlando adventures which included an incredible timeshare deal, an interesting presentation and a lot of red flags along the way. We discuss what you should consider with timeshares in general and why you probably want to consider taking them up on offers including discounted rooms, gift cards and more. We also discuss Hyatt's killer new promo, Shawn's European adventures and why skipping the line is so satisfying. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!
Join Kelsey as she chats with Angie from @angies.travel.tips, a mom of 4 boys, about their unforgettable island-hopping adventure across Oahu, Kauai, and Maui in March 2025! From snorkeling with sea turtles and cliff jumping to cage diving with sharks, this trip was full of epic moments—and Angie paid for their Hilton and Hyatt stays entirely with points. Hear about their favorite beaches, must-try shaved ice, and magical Hawaiian family moments!This episode is presented by: The Next Chapter TravelUse code TNCT100 for $100 OFF at bookingBuy Me a CoffeeMentioned in this episode:- Pro Shot Underwater iPhone Case- Barrel Point Surf Boogie/Skim Board Bag- Master Lock Travel Safe- OAHU: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach (Rainbow Tower), Round Table Pizza, Jenny's vs. Big Wave shrimp trucks, Paia Fish Market Waikiki, Haleiwa Beach + Caged Shark Diving, Matsumoto Shaved Ice, Polynesian Cultural Center, Halona Blowhole, Pearl Harbor, Electric Beach, Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm- KAUAI: Grand Hyatt Kauai, Hanalei Bay snorkeling, Tunnels Beach snorkeling, Poipu Beach sleeping turtles, Capt. Andy's Na Pali Coast Tour, Waikomo Shave Ice- MAUI: Hyatt Regency Maui, whale watching, Maui wildfire
Peloton's new CEO outlines the company's future plans and addresses program disruptions. Hyatt's Peloton promotion expands to Latin America, bringing fitness to even more travelers. Stay informed about summer studio updates and closures to plan your workouts. Subtle, but noticeable—big changes are coming to instructor profile images. Ally Love Pregnancy Rumors: OK! Magazine dives into the buzz. Tunde Oyeneyin & Sports Illustrated: Update on her SI Swimsuit appearance, and voting is now open! Hannah Corbin is featured in Women's Health. Find out why her feature is a must-read. Mariana Fernandez speaks at the World Eating Disorders Action Day, highlighting her advocacy. BowFlex issues a recall on adjustable dumbbells for safety concerns. Ali Feller (Ali On The Run Podcast Ep #221) shares heartbreaking news. Groove to the soulful vibes of the latest artist series featuring the legendary Luther Vandross. Big firsts in Peloton history as Benny Adami debuts the German Sing-Along ride. Discover this week's Juneteenth classes honoring freedom and culture. TCOTop 5: Hear our top five can't-miss highlights from this week. Class recommendations from listeners to refresh your workout routine. TCORadar: Spotlighting standout classes that deserve a shoutout. Join us in wishing Joslyn Thompson Rule a happy birthday on June 15! Stay tuned for all of this and so much more as we keep you up to date on your Peloton favorites and fitness fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Peloton's new CEO outlines the company's future plans and addresses program disruptions. Hyatt's Peloton promotion expands to Latin America, bringing fitness to even more travelers. Stay informed about summer studio updates and closures to plan your workouts. Subtle, but noticeable—big changes are coming to instructor profile images. Ally Love Pregnancy Rumors: OK! Magazine dives into the buzz. Tunde Oyeneyin & Sports Illustrated: Update on her SI Swimsuit appearance, and voting is now open! Hannah Corbin is featured in Women's Health. Find out why her feature is a must-read. Mariana Fernandez speaks at the World Eating Disorders Action Day, highlighting her advocacy. BowFlex issues a recall on adjustable dumbbells for safety concerns. Ali Feller (Ali On The Run Podcast Ep #221) shares heartbreaking news. Groove to the soulful vibes of the latest artist series featuring the legendary Luther Vandross. Big firsts in Peloton history as Benny Adami debuts the German Sing-Along ride. Discover this week's Juneteenth classes honoring freedom and culture. TCOTop 5: Hear our top five can't-miss highlights from this week. Class recommendations from listeners to refresh your workout routine. TCORadar: Spotlighting standout classes that deserve a shoutout. Join us in wishing Joslyn Thompson Rule a happy birthday on June 15! Stay tuned for all of this and so much more as we keep you up to date on your Peloton favorites and fitness fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
*Our apologies for the occasional connection issues with Nick's audio*What the heck does "Mattress Cycling the Hyatt Numbers" mean? We'll find out in today's episode. We'll also talk about using online chat with Hyatt to get your way, and we'll predict the details of the new Chase Sapphire Business card.(01:25) - Did we just beat a Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast?Listen to Tim's origin story episode here.(02:51) - You can now move your Chase credit lines between cards online(05:26) - Capital One Spark Cash: $1500 after $15K in 3 months. $95 annual fee waived 1st year. 2% on all spend(07:52) - Rakuten closing accounts for too many "ineligible" orders.Read more about Rakuten account shutdown here.(11:28) - New Hyatt promo is offering up to 16k bonus points on stays at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House & Hyatt StudiosRead more about the Hyatt promo here.(16:01) - How to turn this mattress run into a mattress cycle...(19:07) - Hyatt buys some all-inclusive group that included properties in a number of other ecosystems (Hilton, IHG, Wyndham). But all award reservations were cancelled with no notice -- not honoring awards booked through other programs. Some people really got a raw deal here, being cancelled on a few days' notice with no alternative accommodation offered(23:37) - JetBlue restricting access to Mint for partner programs(26:17) - Updated RRV process(29:55) - Highlights from Nick's 2.5-week trip to Europe...Main Event: Predicting the Sapphire Business Card(39:28) - What we know for certain: nothing beyond "coming this Summer"(41:33) - What we think we know about the refreshed consumer Sapphire ReserveRead more about our predictions for the new consumer card here.(51:23) - Questions about the business card...(1:06:43) - If our predictions are correct...would this card still be worth it?(1:09:55) - We've heard you talk about Capital One miles and Major League Baseball tickets. Can you use cash to get the same tickets?Read more about this opportunity here.Subscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie Yoder
Airbnb says it powered $90 billion in economic activity last year, but what does that really mean for STR managers, local economies, and the future of hospitality? In this episode, we break down the key findings from Airbnb's latest study and spotlight a new panel from Phocuswright Europe revealing how brands like Hyatt, Booking.com, and Amadeus are redefining ‘experiences' to build loyalty and length of stay.Are you new and want to start your own hospitality business?Join our Facebook groupFollow Boostly and join the discussion:YouTube LinkedInFacebookWant to know more about us? Visit our websiteStay informed and ahead of the curve with the latest insights and analysis.
In this Quick Hits episode, DeAndre Coke dives into the latest updates from the world of travel rewards and points strategies. He covers listener feedback, highlights a new all-inclusive Hyatt resort in Saint Lucia, unpacks the devaluation of Iberia Avios, shares tips for upgrading to Emirates First Class without elite status, and revisits the ZilMoney payroll-on-card saga. He also breaks down rumors about significant changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve and answers a listener's question about building credit as a college student. This episode provides timely guidance for maximizing redemption value amid changing reward structures and transfer ratios. DeAndre also shares personal insights on why booking all-inclusive stays with points can lead to outsized value—and how small booking details like guest count can make a big difference. If you're managing your family's rewards strategy or just starting to build credit, you'll find plenty of smart, actionable insights packed into this week's updates. Key takeaways: Chase IHG Certs Clarified: 60K certs cannot be topped off—unlike the 40K ones. New Hyatt All-Inclusive: Secrets Saint Lucia Resort is now bookable with points. Iberia Avios Devaluation: East Coast to Madrid redemptions increase by 19%. Emirates Upgrade Workaround: Non-elites can still upgrade at check-in using miles. ZilMoney Update: Payroll on credit card may return by end of June. Sapphire Reserve Rumors: $795 fee and new travel and dining benefits may be on the way. Building Student Credit: Capital One SavorOne Student is a solid early credit card option. Authorized Users & Credit History: Adding children to fee-free cards can help build long-term credit. Resources: Act now - Protect your points! Book a Free 30-minute points & miles consultation Start here to learn how to unlock nearly free travel Sign up for our newsletter! This month's best current card offers BoldlyGo Travel With Points & Miles Facebook Group Interested in Financial Planning? Truicity Wealth Management Some of Our Favorite Tools For Elevating Your Points & Miles Game: Note: Contains affiliate/sponsored links Card Pointers (Saves the average user $750 per year) Zil Money (For Payroll on Credit Card) Travel Freely Point.me FlightConnections.com Thrifty Traveler Premium LTH Online Points & Miles In Depth Course: Use coupon code "BOLDYGO" for a 50% discount! Connect with DeAndre Coke: Instagram: BoldlyGo.world TikTok: BoldlyGo.world Website: BoldlyGo.world YouTube: BoldlyGoWorld YouTube: BoldlyGo.Travels
Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!
Watch us on YouTube! Richard got the chance to stay at one of the new Standard Hotels in NYC. Take a look at his first experience, including the upgrade he scored on his stay. Capital One made some big changes to lounge access. This will impact all Venture cardholders starting next year. These are changes you need to know about if you hold one of these cards. Alaska Airlines has some new promo awards to incredible destinations around the world. Rome, Bangkok, Lisbon and more! They're launching nonstop service between Seattle and Rome, and also have a great new credit card offer that can help get you to all of these destinations. There's a targeted Chase offer for $100 off a hotel stay when booked through Chase travel. And, Hyatt has rolled out new promo tracking in their app that drastically improves the visibility of all the various promos franchisees are available. #standardhotels #capitalone #capitalonelounge #alaskaairlines #rome If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you'll take a moment to leave us a rating. That helps us grow our audience! If you're looking for a way to support the show, we'd love to have you join us in our Travel Slack Community. Join me and other travel experts for informative conversations about the travel world, the best ways to use your miles and points, Zoom happy hours and exciting giveaways. Monthly access Annual access Personal consultation plus annual access We have witty, funny, sarcastic discussions about travel, for members only. My fellow travel experts are available to answer your questions and we host video chats multiple times per month. Follow Us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milestogopodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milestogopodcast Ed Pizza: https://www.instagram.com/pizzainmotion/ Richard Kerr: https://www.instagram.com/kerrpoints/
In this week's episode of Good Morning Hospitality Hotels Edition with Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk, we unpack the surprising shift toward shoebox-sized luxury suites, Hyatt's fresh upscale brand launch, and Marriott International's push into the $100-a-night market. On the travel front, the crew covers U.S. airport tech upgrades, Southwest Airlines' big leap into global skies via Fiji Airways, and Apple's game-changing travel updates, including a digital passport and live translation tools. From design efficiency to tech-driven hospitality, this episode highlights the industry's evolving playbook for meeting modern traveler expectations. ---- Good Morning Hospitality is part of the Hospitality.FM Multi-Media Network and is a Hospitality.FM Original The hospitality industry is constantly growing, changing, and innovating! This podcast brings you the top news and topics from industry experts across different hospitality fields. Good Morning Hospitality publishes three thirty-minute weekly episodes: every Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST and every Tuesday at 8 a.m. CET for our European and UK-focused content. Make sure to tune in during our live show on our LinkedIn page or YouTube every week and join the conversation live! Explore everything Good Morning Hospitality has to offer: • Well & Good Morning Coffee: Enjoy our signature roast—order here! • Retreats: Join us at one of our exclusive retreats—learn more and register your interest here! • Episodes & More: Find all episodes and additional info at GoodMorningHospitality.com Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible. If you have any press you want to be covered during the show, email us at goodmorning@hospitality.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Travel for Free Using Credit Card Points In this episode, Dr. Danny Matta shares how clinic owners can travel—sometimes internationally—for nearly free by leveraging the power of credit card points. Whether you're booking a snowboarding trip to Utah or sending your spouse to Europe, this guide will show you how to make it happen by using points you're already earning through everyday business expenses.
Get an easy $200 from Melio for making your first payment! (Affiliate link. Terms below) https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/travelonpointsteam Episode Description This week Capital One announced some big changes to lounge access for Venture X cardholders. Like before the new rules are a bit different for the personal and business cards, however everything is getting cutback. Bye bye free guest access for most. Are these cards still worth it? Shawn also details some of the most interesting hotels of his trip including the Park Hyatt Zurich and Hyatt Place Zurich. Is the Hyatt Place a better hotel than the Park Hyatt? He also discusses a lovely Hyatt that feels like an old German grandmother's house, one of the coolest castles in the world and how knowing your travel limits is easier said than done. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com. Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 1:01 How European hotels are just different than America - Are we idiots? 4:40 How a Best Western delivered a huge surprise 11:10 Capital One's huge upcoming changes to lounge access 18:36 European rental car debacle update & how to protect yourself 24:01 Visiting Zurich - The best Hyatt Place in the world? 29:00 Park Hyatt Zurich - Is it really worth $1600 or 45K points? 34:21 The quirkiest Hyatt hotel in Europe? 39:31 How much travel is enough? You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, or via RSS. Don't see your favorite podcast platform? Please let us know!
As senior leaders shaping the future of Hyatt's wellness-focused brand Miraval, Sarah Klymson and Simon Marxer bring complementary expertise to the table: Klymson is a trained architect and global design strategist, while Marxer is a veteran spa and wellbeing innovator with roots at Canyon Ranch and Red Flower.Since Hyatt's acquisition of Miraval in 2017, the duo has worked together to evolve the brand while honoring its original mission to empower guests to cultivate balance, mindfulness, and purpose.Klymson's design leadership has been instrumental in translating Miraval's ethos into spaces that promote reflection, community, and comfort. Marxer, meanwhile, ensures that programming—from digital detoxing to equine therapy—remains immersive and emotionally resonant.Together, they're ushering Miraval into its next chapter, which includes the upcoming Red Sea resort, the brand's first international outpost. As they expand globally, Klymson and Marxer are committed to scaling not just a brand, but also an intention—one that prioritizes authenticity, self-discovery, and wellbeing in every guest interaction.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.
This week, Giants beat writer and podcaster Patti Traina joins the show! Adrianna and Patti cover off on everything Giants including what's going down at OTAs, her thoughts on the fight and why we should believe in this coaching staff. They also discuss Jaxson Dart, the upcoming season and much more. Enjoy! Follow Patti on Twitter here: https://x.com/Patricia_Traina Follow Patti on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattitraina/
Think your ad budget only buys clicks? Think again.In this episode, Alexander sits down with influencer and travel expert Julia Menez of GeoBreeze Travel.Julia shares incredible advice that helps business owners flip everyday expenses into travel rewards—without shelling out extra cash.Her typical client spends about $10k out of pocket... and gets over $100k in premium flights and hotels.Yeah, you read that right: $100k in premium benefits.In this podcast, you'll learn…
In this Midweek Mini, we dive into a listener-submitted road trip itinerary (thank you Lauren!) that kicks off in El Paso, Texas and explores three stunning national parks—Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and White Sands. We chatted about the best times to visit (hint: avoid the peak summer heat!), where to stay using points with Hilton and Hyatt, and the unique experiences each park offers—from hiking to the highest point in Texas to sledding down sand dunes.We also shared why a stop in quirky, alien-themed Roswell is worth the detour. If you're planning a Southwest loop, this episode is full of practical tips and fun ideas to help you make the most of your adventure.Submit Your Summer Roadtrip Series Story HEREFacebook Group | Support the Show: Buy Us A CoffeeSponsors For This Episode30% off the CardPointers subscription!Find Us On InstagramMary Ellen | JoAffiliate LinksMary Ellen's Chase Sapphire Preferred LinkJo's Chase Sapphire Preferred LinkSign up for the Daily Drop NewsletterCredit Card Affiliate LinksThe above link includes referrals for almost all travel cards (AMEX, CapitalOne, co-branded cards)If you need Chase links please reach out! We would be happy to send you our personal referral links or the Daily Drop newsletter link that will allow you to access our affiliate links.We receive a small commission when you use our links. This is an amazing way to show your support for the show at no cost to you ❤️
If you love points and miles, you know there's no shortage of opinions on how to get the most out of credit card rewards and travel programs. In this fun and honest chat, Alex, Jess, and Pam share their unique takes on some hot topics in the points world. They dive into everything from which credit cards score you the best lounge access, to whether chasing certain welcome bonuses is really worth it, and how to smartly position for flights. As you'll hear, there's no one-size-fits-all answer here. The best points strategy is the one that suits your unique priorities! You'll discover: How to choose the best credit card for airport lounge access based on your travel style. Why the Hyatt credit card's second-tier bonus might (or might not) make sense for you. The strategic importance of considering 5/24 status when choosing which cards to pursue. How to evaluate hotel loyalty programs beyond Hyatt for aspirational stays. Understanding different approaches to positioning flights based on personal circumstances. You can find the full show notes, resources, transcript, and more from this episode here: travelmomsquad.com/best-lounge-access-hotel-loyalty-programs Ready to get started with NEARLY FREE travel? Click here for the exact offers we would sign up for this month: travelmomsquad.lpages.co/bestoffers/ The Travel Mom Squad is also on YouTube! You can watch this episode here: youtube.com/@travelmomsquad Let us know what you want to hear on the podcast by sending us a DM on Instagram: instagram.com/travelmomsquad
On today's Good Morning Hospitality, we open with a major development out of Miami: Roami, formerly Sextant Stays, is restructuring —but not because they're shutting down. Brandreth Canaley breaks the story down for us. Then, we explore Vrbo's growing global integration with Expedia Group. A new update that could significantly impact how inventory is distributed across Expedia's brands and what that means for visibility, booking volume, and host control. Next, Hyatt unveils Unscripted by Hyatt, a fresh lifestyle brand aimed at younger travelers looking for flexible design, local culture, and lower price points. We discuss whether this is a direct response to alternative accommodations or simply a smart brand extension. Finally, we dive into Wander's newly announced $50 million Series B round. What does this raise signal about investor confidence in branded STR platforms? And can Wander continue to scale without falling into the same traps as asset-heavy operators? ---- Good Morning Hospitality is part of the Hospitality.FM Multi-Media Network and is a Hospitality.FM Original The hospitality industry is constantly growing, changing, and innovating! This podcast brings you the top news and topics from industry experts across different hospitality fields. Good Morning Hospitality publishes three thirty-minute weekly episodes: every Monday and Wednesday at 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST and every Tuesday at 8 a.m. CET for our European and UK-focused content. Make sure to tune in during our live show on our LinkedIn page or YouTube every week and join the conversation live! Explore everything Good Morning Hospitality has to offer: • Well & Good Morning Coffee: Enjoy our signature roast—order here! • Retreats: Join us at one of our exclusive retreats—learn more and register your interest here! • Episodes & More: Find all episodes and additional info at GoodMorningHospitality.com Thank you to all of the Hospitality.FM Partners that help make this show possible. If you have any press you want to be covered during the show, email us at goodmorning@hospitality.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Peloton takes a bold step with new Peri/Menopause classes, catering to more diverse fitness needs. The much-loved Free Mode is making a comeback! The PSL plans a multi-instructor ride to spice things up. Team Posts are officially live on the platform, offering new ways to connect. Alex Toussaint Scam Alert. Stay informed about potential fraud. Marcel Maurer faces health issues. Send him your support. Tunde makes waves as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit finalist! Ally Love partners with Hyatt for an exclusive private class. Aditi Shah takes the stage to host an event at Lincoln Center. Don't miss the latest Jeff Lynne's ELO Artist Series, plus a sneak peek at the June line-up. TCO Top 5. Listener-recommended classes you just have to try. TCORadar. Our team highlights classes that stood out this week. Peloton is all about collaboration this week! Check out these 2-For-1 opportunities: Matt Wilpers & Denis Morton bring their A-game to a Power Zone class. Kirra and Katie team up for an unforgettable yoga flow. Susie Chan & Joslyn Thompson Rule prepare an exciting duo session. Tunde and Alex Toussaint join forces for a dynamic ride. Unconventional Peloton meditations you'll want to explore. Could Strength for Tennis be just around the corner? Stay tuned. Peloton Birthdays Celebrate the June birthdays of Irene Scholz (6/3) and Rad Lopez (6/4). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Peloton takes a bold step with new Peri/Menopause classes, catering to more diverse fitness needs. The much-loved Free Mode is making a comeback! The PSL plans a multi-instructor ride to spice things up. Team Posts are officially live on the platform, offering new ways to connect. Alex Toussaint Scam Alert. Stay informed about potential fraud. Marcel Maurer faces health issues. Send him your support. Tunde makes waves as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit finalist! Ally Love partners with Hyatt for an exclusive private class. Aditi Shah takes the stage to host an event at Lincoln Center. Don't miss the latest Jeff Lynne's ELO Artist Series, plus a sneak peek at the June line-up. TCO Top 5. Listener-recommended classes you just have to try. TCORadar. Our team highlights classes that stood out this week. Peloton is all about collaboration this week! Check out these 2-For-1 opportunities: Matt Wilpers & Denis Morton bring their A-game to a Power Zone class. Kirra and Katie team up for an unforgettable yoga flow. Susie Chan & Joslyn Thompson Rule prepare an exciting duo session. Tunde and Alex Toussaint join forces for a dynamic ride. Unconventional Peloton meditations you'll want to explore. Could Strength for Tennis be just around the corner? Stay tuned. Peloton Birthdays Celebrate the June birthdays of Irene Scholz (6/3) and Rad Lopez (6/4). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In today's 40 Minute Mentor episode, we're joined by Tamara Lohan MBE, Co-Founder and CEO of boutique hotel travel specialists Mr & Mrs Smith. Tamara founded Mr & Mrs Smith together with her husband James in 2002. Since then, the pair have been on an incredible journey, including scaling the business to over 1.5 million members worldwide, growing their distributed team, being awarded with an MBE for their services to the British travel industry, getting B Corp certified and being acquired by Hyatt in 2023. In today's episode, you'll find out what it takes to build such an iconic brand and lots of actionable mentorship on how Tamara transitioned from CTO to COO and CEO.
Dr. Janine Lee is an award-winning Learning and Development Leader with 20 years of experience at Fortune 500 companies. In her business life, she focuses on organizational effectiveness, strategy and operations, digital transformation, change management and Belonging. She's also known to the world as JetsetJanine, a food and travel content creator who has explored over 100 countries and eaten at over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants. As a food and travel influencer, she's partnered with top brands such as Delta Airlines, Visa, Hyatt, Marriott, Four Seasons, and Cirque Du Soleil, and many others.Janine has an MBA from UC Berkeley and a Doctorate of Education from USC. She's a certified executive coach, keynote speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor, published best-selling author, and a Lecturer at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.Learn more about Janine at janinelee.com, jetsetjanine.com, and on Instagram at @drjaninelee and @jetsetjanine.~Are you a high achiever, a leader, or an Ampersand looking for a sounding board? Jessica helps executives, leaders, and founders like you gain clarity and lead bravely. As your trusted advisor and growth partner, I work with you to make the invisible visible and develop an action plan to fulfill your goals. For nearly two decades, Jessica led marketing teams, launched products, and grew businesses at places like Apple, the San Francisco Opera, Smule, and Magoosh. As an Ampersand in many facets, she knows personally what it's like to hold many roles simultaneously, to sit on the executive team, and to find fulfillment. With a BA in Music and a BS in Product Design from Stanford, coupled with an MBA from UC Berkeley and coach training from the Center for Executive Coaching, her unique mix of analytical & creative allows her to bring both depth and breadth of perspective into the coaching process.As a coach, Jessica works to champion you – the full, multifaceted you – so you can thrive.Visit jessicawan.com or BOOK AN INTRO CALL: https://calendly.com/jessicawancoaching/intro-call-coachingCreditsProduced and Hosted by Jessica WanCo-produced, edited, sound design, and original music by Carlos Schmitt
In this episode, Jess and Megan walk us through their recent family getaways to two standout Hyatt properties in the American Southwest: the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale in Arizona and the Hyatt Regency Tamaya in New Mexico. From flights on Southwest® using Companion Passes to family-friendly resort and cultural activities, they break down exactly how they booked, what they loved, and what they'd do differently next time. Grand Hyatt Scottsdale: Renovated Luxury with Resort Vibes Fresh off a huge renovation and rebrand, the former Hyatt Regency Scottsdale is now the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale—and Jess and Megan each had three-night family stays to check it out. The resort has ten pools, including a three-story water slide, a sandy beach area for little kids, and a separate adults-only pool. There's even a rock-climbing wall, putting green, and weekly birds of prey show. The club lounge, while small, included complimentary breakfast, drinks, appetizers, and desserts, and Jess made good use of the free happy hour drinks by taking them poolside. Their biggest warning? Avoid Thursday–Saturday stays if you're sensitive to noise—live music in the lobby those nights is extremely loud and carries to guest rooms. Jess called it the biggest damper on an otherwise enjoyable trip. Hyatt Regency Tamaya: Hidden Gem Near Albuquerque Megan also shares her family's stay at Hyatt Regency Tamaya, located on the Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico. Recently renovated and still a Category 4 Hyatt, it offered unique Native American cultural experiences, incredible mountain views, and tons of free family activities. Megan's family enjoyed nightly s'mores by the fire pit, cultural storytelling sessions, hands-on artisan demos, and a pueblo bread tasting. There are multiple pools, bike rentals, and even a horseback riding stable on-site. This resort is just 30 minutes from Albuquerque's airport and offers easy access to Santa Fe and Petrified Forest National Park not too far away—making it perfect for road trip loops or a more relaxing extended stay. If you're dreaming of a warm-weather escape filled with adventure, learning, and luxury—without the luxury price tag—this episode is packed with inspiration and real-world tips for traveling the Southwest on points. Hit play and start planning your family's next trip! Links: Webinar: How to Get Your Next Vacation for Nearly Free Grand Hyatt Scottsdale: https://www.hyatt.com/grand-hyatt/en-US/scott-grand-hyatt-scottsdale-resort Hyatt Regency Tamaya: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/tamay-hyatt-regency-tamaya-resort-and-spa Links For All Things Travel Mom Squad: stan.store/travelmomsquad Episode Minute By Minute: 00:30 – Intro + overview 01:00 – Flights on Southwest® + Companion Pass 03:00 – Costco car rental + tips for family travel 08:00 – Grand Hyatt Scottsdale: room types, points cost, parking fees 13:00 – Club lounge pros/cons 18:00 – Pool features, beach area, adult-only spaces, kids' activities 23:00 – Live music noise issues + what to know before booking 31:00 – Hyatt Regency Tamaya 34:00 – Hotel background, cultural ties, and points cost 38:00 – Pools, spa, activities, and Guest of Honor details 41:00 – Cultural experiences 44:00 – Horseback riding + why this property is a favorite for families
Lauren deVane is back (for the fifth time!) to help us make sense of the AI landscape—minus the tech bro energy. She and Michelle unpack what GPT-4o actually means for creative work, how to use AI tools with taste, and why brand builders can't afford to sit on the sidelines. From custom bots to off-label use cases, this conversation is a sharp, strategic look at where branding and AI intersect. Lauren deVane is the founder of The Bemused Studio, where she builds strategic, scroll-stopping brand identities for bold creatives. With 60+ client projects under her belt, she now teaches designers how to integrate AI into their workflows. Formerly leading creative at Ulta Beauty and Walgreens, Lauren's worked with celebs like Kim Kardashian and Tracee Ellis Ross, and designed for brands like Hyatt and Chicago Fire. ------------------------ In today's episode, we cover the following: Choosing the right AI tool Understanding AI models AI for brand designers Why using AI isn't a threat to your business Taste vs tools Creative direction with AI Postproduction AI hacks Democratizing branding Ethics and optimism Custom instructions and training Off-label use cases ----------------------- RESOURCES: Use the code ITSGONNABEMAY for $400 off BAIS CAMP Episode 117: Midjourney & AI with Lauren deVane Episode 133: Midjourney & AI Part 2 with Lauren deVane Episode 162: Leveraging AI Tools for Innovative Marketing with Lauren deVane Episode 192: Authenticity and AI with Lauren deVane Episode 215: Client Case Study: FRG Real Estate (Part 2) ----------------------- GUEST INFO: To learn more about Lauren and her distinct style, follow her on Instagram @TheBemusedStudio, or visit her websites, TheBemusedStudio.com and JoinBaisCamp.com. ----------------------- Your designs deserve the front page—literally. Searchlight Digital is the women-led SEO and Google Ads agency that helps creative businesses get seen, not just admired. Use code KMA100 at searchlightdigital.ca for $100 off a 60-minute Pick My Brain call and finally get found. ----------------------- WORK WITH MKW CREATIVE CO. Connect on social with Michelle at: Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook Group Instagram Tik Tok ----------------------- Did you know that the fuel of the POD and the KMA Team runs on coffee? ;) If you love the content shared in the KMA podcast, you're welcome to invite us to a cup of coffee any time - Buy Me a Coffee! ----------------------- This episode is brought to you by Zencastr. Create high quality video and audio content. Get your first two weeks free at https://zencastr.com/?via=kma. ----------------------- This episode of the Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast is brought to you by Audible. Get your first month free at www.audible.com/kma. This episode was edited by Berta Wired Theme music by: Eliza Rosevera and Nathan Menard
Embark on an insightful exploration of the hospitality sector, powered by data-driven analysis. Cindi Howson and Hyatt's data trailblazer, Ray Boyle (Vice President, Data and Analytics), are charting a course through Hyatt's data innovation. Witness how Hyatt's four-pillar data strategy is revolutionizing everything from employee empowerment to guest personalization and operational efficiency. Discover how Hyatt is democratizing data with self-service tools and pioneering an AI-powered frontier to redefine the very essence of hospitality!Key Moments: Data as an Asset (08:26): Ray emphasizes the importance of shifting the organizational mindset to view data not as a cost center, but as a critical asset. He discusses how data should be cared for, invested in, and stored like any other valuable asset, with the expectation of generating value for the business. Hyatt's Data Strategy Pillars (13:00): Ray outlines the four key pillars that form the foundation of Hyatt's data strategy. These pillars include cultivating people and building a data-driven culture, personalizing the guest and customer experience in a high-trust environment, operating with excellence by ensuring operational efficiency and information consistency, and growing with intent by integrating new businesses and data flows. Key Milestones in Hyatt's Data Transformation (16:42): Ray details the significant milestones in Hyatt's data transformation journey. These include clarifying the data strategy, establishing the data and AI operating model, building data governance capabilities, modernizing the data platform and infrastructure, expanding data assets, and releasing new services like personalization and forecasting. Data Democratization and Data Fluency (23:00): Ray explains Hyatt's strong emphasis on self-service analytics to empower users across the organization. He discusses the importance of data accessibility, trustworthiness, and usability, as well as the potential of generative AI to further democratize data access and insights. This includes building a data community to facilitate knowledge sharing and learning, as well as providing tooling and guidance to business organizations to effectively roll out analytics within their domains. AI's Impact and Collaboration (31:35): Ray explores the transformative impact of AI on businesses and its role in fostering tighter collaboration between business and technology teams. He discusses how AI is driving the need for reimagined workflows and how it's changing the way data is used and delivered across the organization.Key Quotes:“ThoughtSpot has been a key partner of ours on that journey. We just roll the data into the cloud, and we're working to publish our assets, sales, finance, loyalty, revenue, search, and marketing into that infrastructure so that there's just a growing base of information that everybody can use in the self-service context.” - Raymond Boyle"Velocity is something you build over time. It's how I think about the operating model around data, ensuring everyone plays their role and develops the necessary skills. To me, velocity increases as you establish the operating model and you have the business, technology, and data organizations, along with governance and security, all participating effectively. - Raymond Boyle"When you think about the business outcomes and how people are beginning to consider AI's potential in that transformation, I believe AI is becoming a more significant factor every quarter." - Raymond BoyleMentionsThe Four V's of Big Data, Including VelocityDalva, By Jim HarrisonMinnesota Timberwolves' SuccessGuest Bio Ray Boyle (current Vice President, Data and Analytics at Hyatt) has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning several industries and roles across consulting, software, analytics, and data leadership. His notable roles include leading strategic planning, research, and analytics for Walmart's Sam's Club division; serving as Vice President of Walmart Global Customer Insights and Analytics; Vice President of Walmart's Global Data and Analytics Platform; Vice President leading FICO's global retail and CPG practice; and Executive Vice President heading IRI's Global Shopper Analytics and Services team.Since 2019, Ray has served as Vice President, Data and Analytics at Hyatt. Aligned with Hyatt's purpose — to care for people so they can be their best — his ambition is to elevate and scale that care through data-driven decisions and automation that benefit guests, customers, owners, and colleagues.Guest Bio Ray Boyle (current Vice President, Data and Analytics at Hyatt) has enjoyed a distinguished career spanning several industries and roles across consulting, software, analytics, and data leadership. His notable roles include leading strategic planning, research, and analytics for Walmart's Sam's Club division; serving as Vice President of Walmart Global Customer Insights and Analytics; Vice President of Walmart's Global Data and Analytics Platform; Vice President leading FICO's global retail and CPG practice; and Executive Vice President heading IRI's Global Shopper Analytics and Services team.Since 2019, Ray has served as Vice President, Data and Analytics at Hyatt. Aligned with Hyatt's purpose — to care for people so they can be their best — his ambition is to elevate and scale that care through data-driven decisions and automation that benefit guests, customers, owners, and colleagues. Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.
In this episode, Pam shares her full itinerary from her recent return to Thailand—a dream trip she's been wanting to repeat since her very first adventure on points and miles years ago. From business-class flights on Singapore Airlines, to luxury stays at the Conrad, Ritz-Carlton, and Banyan Tree—and of course, daily massages for $12—Pam takes us through every high (and low!) of the trip. How Pam Booked Her Flights The trip started with a Thrifty Traveler Premium alert: saver award space on Singapore Airlines from San Francisco to Bangkok. Pam positioned to SFO from Denver and visited the Polaris Lounge before the long-haul flight—cookie skillets included! Stop #1: Koh Samui – The Conrad vs. The Ritz-Carlton Pam's first two nights were spent at the Conrad Koh Samui, booked with Hilton free-night certificates. Next, she moved to the Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui, using two Marriott free-night certificates. So which luxury resort won Pam over? Listen to find out what Pam loved about the Conrad that made it the winner over the Ritz-Carlton. Stop #2: Krabi – Luxury, Views, and Boat Tours Next up was Krabi, where Pam and her crew splurged on a paid stay at the Banyan Tree Krabi. This peaceful resort had amazing views, but the food was disappointing. It provided a great base for day trips to Hong Island, Railay Beach, and the Phi Phi Islands. And with massages available nearby from $12 to $30/hour, Pam was in heaven! Final Nights: Park Hyatt Bangkok & Grand Hyatt SFO Before flying home, Pam spent one night at the Park Hyatt Bangkok, booked for 25,000 Hyatt points. She raved about the architecture, location, outstanding food, and luxurious vibe—and she can't wait to go back. Then Pam stayed one night at the Grand Hyatt SFO, an airport hotel she loves for its breakfast and convenience—even though it's now in the same category as the Park Hyatt Bangkok! Pam's take? Thailand is one of the most affordable and rewarding destinations you can book with points and miles. Use airline miles to get there, pay cash or use points for luxury stays, and save room in your budget for daily massages!
Most consumers are a lot more hesitant to book vacations these days. At least that's what travel companies are telling us — Marriot, Hilton, Hyatt and a slew of airlines all cut revenue expectations for 2025. But one segment of the market is expected to remain strong: luxury travel. We'll hear more. But first: the details of the U.S.-U.K. trade deal and the impact of Bill Gates giving away $200 billion by 2045.