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Independent analyst Jimmy Moyaha unpacks SA's sovereign credit upgrade from S&P and what a positive outlook really signals. Bastian Teichgreeber from Prescient Investment Management cuts through the G20 noise to focus on what's driving local exchange performance. Marriott's Scott Cooper explains how they're positioning portfolios.
Live at the Marriott.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Live at the Marriott.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Live at the Marriott.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Subscribe to This Week in Hospitality wherever you get you podcasts: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5oPExA0txHMjEI5Ye13IUy Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-hospitality/id1849637233 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinHospitality In this episode of This Week in Hospitality, Zach Busekrus sits down with Scott Eddy, Ben Wolff, and Edwin Kramer to unpack three major stories dominating the travel and hospitality world. From Sonder's dramatic collapse following Marriott's termination, to Hilton's launch of the Outset Collection, to Airbnb's bold embrace of hotels — this was one of the most consequential weeks the industry has seen in years. The team brings perspectives spanning global travel, hotel development, luxury operations, and hospitality tech. Fast-paced, unfiltered, and deeply informed — this is the weekly breakdown every hotelier, operator, developer, and investor should be listening to. This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey. Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary. If you're an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com. Key Topics & Timestamps 00:00 — Introductions & why this podcast exists 09:12 — Story #1: Sonder × Marriott partnership collapses 17:08 — Ben's take: STR brand value & commodity product problem 23:45 — Marriott, scale, loyalty, and future brand strategy 25:47 — Story #2: Hilton launches The Outset Collection 33:50 — Owner perspective: data, flag strategies, ROI trade-offs 39:01 — Independents vs. major flags: the next 10 years 42:11 — Story #3: Airbnb officially welcomes hotels 45:42 — Airbnb's evolution into a hospitality ecosystem 50:51 — Does Airbnb need a total rebrand? 54:00 — “Back to hospitality roots” debate 54:53 — Wrap-up & what's coming next Your Hosts: Zach Busekrus — Journey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/ Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/ Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/ Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinkramer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
ABOUT DINA TOWNSEND Dina's Linkedin Profile: linkedin.com/in/dinatownsendDINA TOWNSEND BIOAs Chief Sales Officer at Mamava, Dina leads the Sales Organization with energy, optimism, and a genuine passion for building connections. She is rooted in the belief that strong business acumen and a meaningful mission can be seamlessly intertwined. After a purpose-driven career pivot from Digital Signage Technology to Mamava, she channels her expertise into propelling sales for this mission-centric company. Beyond her professional endeavors, Dina is a former skydiver, a hobby homesteader, an avid college football fan, and a well-intentioned, albeit average, golfer.email: dinat@mamava.com | 802.347.2111 (o) Website: www.mamava.comSay yes to dignified lactation spaces! Be a hero—here's how you can help. SHOW INTRO:Welcome to Episode 82! of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast…In every episode we continue to follow our catch phrase of having “Dynamic Dialogues About DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts.” And as we continue on this journey there will be thought provoking futurists, AI technology mavens, retailers, international hotel design executives as well as designers and architects of brand experience places.We'll talk with authors and people focused on wellness and sustainable design practices as well as neuroscientists who will continue to help us look at the built environment and the connections between our mind-body and the built world around us.We'll also have guests who are creative marketing masters from international brands and people who have started and grown some of the companies that are striking a new path for us follow.If you like what you hear on the NXTLVL Experience Design show, make sure to subscribe, like, comment and share with colleagues, friends and family.The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is always grateful for the support of VMSD magazine.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. I think the IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing us to keep on talking about what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience.SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org Today, EPISODE 82… I talk with Dina Townsend Chief Sales Officer at Mamava a company whose mission is to create a healthier society through infrastructure and support for breastfeeding. And, along with partners who share in in their purpose of celebrating and supporting breastfeeding, Mamava is moving closer to creating a future where there is a dignified lactation space anywhere a parent may go. We'll get to my discussion with Dina in a minute, first though a few thoughts…* * * *A few episodes back I had Claire Coder founder and CEO if Aunt Flow on the show. That was an interesting conversation since we crossed what I think were a few boundaries (at least for me) and we talked quite candidly about menstruation. Not just about the biology of women's monthly cycle but about the fact that there are many women who have faced the scenario of getting their period unexpectedly and not have pads or tampons to meet them in their moment of need.Enter the company Aunt Flow who provides free feminine hygiene products in public restrooms, schools and other public buildings and to Fortune 500 corporate headquarters - for which tens of thousands of women are eternally grateful.This conversation with Dina Townsend, I guess you could say, falls in the Aunt Flow camp of subjects. Breast feeding moms was not a subject that I had on the list of things to address on the podcast. But here we are nevertheless with a subject that piqued my curiosity because the company Dina works for, Mamava, checks most of the boxes in our Dialogues on DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and he Arts” catch phrase.First off…I did not know there was something called the “Pump Act”. For the curious out there, a little internet searching comes up with this:“…The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, enacted in December 2022, expands workplace protections for nursing employees by requiring employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for pumping breast milk for up to one year after a child's birth.This law allows for legal action if employers fail to comply…”Now… Dina will contend that many employers do in fact provide such a space and also that a janitors closet with a folding chair would be in line with the requirements. Sure, a closet meets the description of a ‘private space' but it wholly underserves the needs of a nursing mother in terms of experience.I am aware that there are widely divergent views on the whole subject of breast feeding – we are not going to go there – except that I'll say that I fully line up behind my wife who breastfed our two sons.My discussion with Dina moves from the necessity to provide environments for nursing mothers to breastfeed their infants while in public places to the buying power of mothers who statistics indicate make an enormous amount of the buying decisions in households to how tying Retail Media Networks - RMNs – to Mamava pods serve a triple bottom line serving People, Planet and Profit. It's a way of shifting our thinking about business from “How much money did we make?” to: “Did we make money in a way that benefits society and the environment too?”Nielsen, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Harvard Business Review research tells us that Women drive 70–80% of consumer purchasing decisions in the U.S. and that is even for products they don't personally use. And that their annual global consumer spending, is $20 trillionwhich, by the way, is a number projected to rise to $28 trillion. In many households, women make or heavily influence91% of new home purchases, 92% of vacation decisions, and 80% of healthcare choices says research by the Yankelovich Monitor, Marketing to Women Conference data.And Millennial and Gen Z mothers are even more influential: they control about $1 trillion in direct annual spendingand are primary decision-makers for food, home goods, education, and entertainment – says research by the Pew Research Center.So, women and moms are a force to be reconned with in terms of buying power and why Mamava pods are more than an economic discussion. The behavioral and psychographic aspects of them is important as well.Women increasingly valuebrands that support family life, caregiving, and inclusivity and so features like Mamava pods in retail locations or corporate HQs or parental-leave policies have brand-equity impact.We have known for some time that brands that are considered authentic exhibiting genuine empathic concern for their customer and employeesare major drivers in establishing brand affinity and purchase decisions. The BabyCenter “State of Modern Motherhood” report says that “ 9 in 10 mothers say they are more loyal to brands that “understand the challenges of motherhood.”And then there is mom's digital influence. Pew Internet studies explains that“80% of moms research products online before buying and that 60% follow parenting or lifestyle influencers for purchase guidance.”When you combine these factors with the emergence of Retail Media Networks, RMNs, you have a value add to placing Mamava pods in places that do not actually take up any more space on the sales floors of a store than is already being occupied with stuff that does support the brand experience or selling anything.Use to be that when digital screens came into the retail world, we had kiosks as wayfinding devices. Then a proliferation of screens emerged in the market where walls were more digital wallpaper crowding the environment with content and, in my opinion adding little to experience, arguably creating a shopping experience with more visual distraction and diminishing the overall experience. Painting the environment with the broad-brush stroke of digital media is often ineffective in capturing and retaining attention and doesn't lead to the positive results we think it does.That said, well considered application of digital media like those found on Mamava pods creates an opportunity to provide messaging to customers that could be more like a public service announcement, like ‘get your flu shot here today,' or a focused marketing piece that invites customers to consider a particular product that they may not have thought of prior to arriving at the store.So, you might ask why this matters to retail designWomen and mothers aren't just your average everyday consumers, they're key decision-makers shaping the social expectations of brands and spaces. Retailers, airports, and workplaces that provide amenities like Mamava pods, family restrooms, or flexible shopping experiences are responding directly to data-driven insights like:Increased dwell time and spending when caregivers feel accommodated.Higher brand loyalty and word-of-mouth among mothers.Positive CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility - and inclusivity signaling which is important for both consumer and employee attraction.If you have recently traveled through an airport, you may have already come upon a Mamava pod or maybe you have seen their “bench” version in a retail store. Fed up with pumping in bathrooms and borrowed spaces—Mamava's co-founders, Sascha Mayer and Christine Dodson, applied their decades of expertise in design and brand strategy to solve a problem that was largely invisible: the lack of lactation spaces in workplaces and public spaces and as a result, the Mamava pod was born.Tying together the Mamava pod, and its various incarnations, and retail media needed some savvy about how to create an effective in-store media application that wouldn't end up as just another screen in an already overwhelming environment.Enter Dina Townsend.As Chief Sales Officer at Mamava, Dina leads the Sales Organization with energy, optimism, and a genuine passion for building connections. She is rooted in the belief that strong business acumen and a meaningful mission like the Mamava brand platform can be seamlessly intertwined. After a purpose-driven career pivot from the world of Digital Signage Technology to Mamava, Dina channels her expertise into propelling sales for this mission-centric company. ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645 (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore. In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production is by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.
Dave and Chuck the Freak talk about Dave losing his Apple Watch, emailer had to break into her own house with no pants on, people mover at airport crashed, update on plane crash with hurricane relief supplies, video of sassy check-in agent, hotel had to file for bankruptcy one day after cutting ties with Marriott, cop and his dispatcher brother help woman deliver her baby at side of road, Chihuahua’s recognition of Spanish got him a new home, Jason’s breakfast biscuits in fridge, cereal and junk food, update on Antonio Brown, possible MLB lockout, sports betting is costing player integrity with fans, food influencer died in horrible accident, pay package for Elon Musk, Amy Schumer lost weight, Eddie Murphy cured his OCD, Dolly Parton talks about aging, bagpipers make it into Guinness Book of World Records, Uber driver stops to poop during ride, guy stole construction vehicle, restaurant manager accused of planting hidden cam in bathroom, perv sentenced after hiding camera in a rental, update on guy who ran over lady for not letting him smell her feet, man took city bus for joyride with passengers on board, man rushed to hospital after his dog accidentally shot him, man limped into bank and robbed it, update on drunk guy who fell out for carnival ride, guy whose photos have been used for romance scams, exploding sun roofs, guy sells fried rice out of trunk, iPhone Pocket, and more!
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we're talking to Anthony Cawdron, Westwood event coordinator and estate manager, and adjunct hospitality and tourism management faculty member. Westwood has been home to four Purdue University presidents and their families since it was donated to the university in 1971, and for the last 25 years, Anthony has been instrumental in the operations of what he calls the “front door to Purdue University.” He's also an expert in all things etiquette. This incredible conversation first aired last November, and since it's one of our most popular episodes, we wanted to share it again as the holiday season approaches. Get ready to entertain your guests, crush that big job interview or impress at your next networking event after listening to this one! In this episode, you will: Discover his path from working in several castles in Europe to his time in America and following former President Martin Jischke from Iowa State to Purdue Explore behind-the-scenes stories of Westwood from its interesting history to what it takes to host events for guests ranging from Boilermaker students and faculty to U.S. secretaries of state Gain insight into what Anthony teaches his students about networking, job interviews and standing out at professional events through his business etiquette course in Purdue's White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Learn more of Anthony's expert etiquette tips for both hosting and attending holiday parties You don't want to miss this episode, which is jam-packed with expert etiquette tips and historical details about Westwood — one of the landmarks of the Purdue community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sonder's bankruptcy has shaken the short-term rental world — and for good reason. Once the poster child of the “hotel-meets-Airbnb” model, Sonder's downfall marks a pivotal moment for operators everywhere. In this episode, AirDNA's Chief Economist Jamie Lane and co-host Scott Sage unpack what went wrong, what it signals for the rental arbitrage model, and how changing travel demand is reshaping the industry.From a surprising partnership failure with Marriott to the ripple effects in urban markets still struggling post-COVID, Jamie and Scott connect the dots between Sonder's story and broader market trends. They also dig into fresh October 2025 performance data, including occupancy declines, rate adjustments, and a critical PSA for hosts affected by Airbnb's new service fee model.The episode closes with a behind-the-scenes look at AirDNA's latest data model upgrades, revealing how machine learning is improving accuracy and trust in industry insights — setting the stage for even more powerful analytics ahead.You don't want to miss this episode — especially if you rely on rental data to guide your business decisions.Key Takeaways for STR Pros
In this episode of The Liquidity Event, AJ and Shane cover everything from shattered mirrors to shattered housing markets. AJ shares an update on her book deadline and upcoming Thanksgiving travel while Shane recounts a chaotic morning involving a Roomba and a broken mirror. The duo unpack the hidden tax pitfalls of S-Corps in New York City, debate credit card rewards and travel perks, and react to the Frontier Airlines CEO telling customers to buy a backup ticket. They also dive into the strange slowdown in new home sales, the Trump administration's proposed 50-year mortgage, Elon Musk's massive pay package, and whether the AI boom is already bubbling over. Timestamps (00:00) Welcome, introductions, and AJ's end-of-year check-in (01:00) Shane's Roomba disaster and chaotic morning (02:30) AJ's book update and Thanksgiving travel plans (04:00) Delta, Marriott, and Chase credit card strategy for the holidays (08:45) Why S-Corps don't make sense in New York City (12:20) Frontier Airlines CEO tells customers to buy a backup ticket (15:15) AJ on the government shutdown and SNAP benefits (18:15) Housing market troubles and unsold new builds (23:10) The Trump administration's 50-year mortgage proposal (29:45) AI, crypto, and whether the boom is just another bubble
Episode 2681 - Who said if you don't work you don't eat? Tucker covers chemtrails? Marriott closes a brand? Is antisemitism rampant in DC? Young children being exposed to filth ? Human hunting parties? Was WW1 due to the FED? Plus much more. Audio only today.
Dr. Haley Perlus is a Doctor of Performance Psychology, speaker, author, and coach specializing in sport-specific techniques to optimize the mental game for athletes and high achievers. With a PhD in Sport Psychology, MS in Sport Pedagogy, and certifications in coaching, fitness, and nutrition, she draws from her elite athlete background to deliver practical strategies. Haley has worked with Marriott, Starbucks, NASA, Johnson & Johnson, Deloitte, U.S. Air Force, Oprah, and ESPN on embracing pressure, building focus, and overcoming mental blocks. Author of Personal Podium, her keynotes like "Harnessing Stress as a Performance Enhancer" and "Optimal Energy Flow for Success" help turn stress into power and sustain energy. Her philosophy—"Perform with heart. Win with mind"—guides Olympic hopefuls and executives toward peak performance and well-being.ParentShift course 30% off with the code TRIBE. Link below: ParentShift (English): https://www.hernanchousa.com/courses/parentshift?ref=c23daaEntrena Tu Legado (Spanish): https://www.hernanchousa.com/courses/entrenatulegado?ref=c23daaConnect with Haley on LinkedIn: Haley PerlusOther Social Media Links for Haley:Instagram: @drhaleyperlus Youtube: @drhaleyperlusWebsite: https://drhaleyperlus.com/Haley's book "Personal Podium: How to Use Your Mind to Maximize Your Potential in Sport and Life" You can explore more of Hernan's work on his website, https://www.hernanchousa.com/.Music Production by Sebastian Klauer. You can reach him at klauersebas@gmail.com.
Lisa Holladay is the first Chief Experience Officer at TIGER 21, where she crafts learning, access, and connection for a global community of ultra-high-net-worth, largely first-generation entrepreneurs. Formerly the global brand leader for The Ritz-Carlton and a luxury portfolio lead at Marriott, Lisa brings a rare guest-centric lens to designing unforgettable moments online and off. Susan and Lisa talk about privacy, personalization, and peer-to-peer power. What You'll Learn About: • How Shakespeare and student teaching shaped Lisa's storytelling superpowers • The pantyhose policy heard 'round the world • Why "over-engineered" hotel rooms (hi, mystery nightlights) kill delight • Turning virtual events from sleepy streams into sparky, small-group salons • TIGER 21's Learn–Access–Connect framework for members who "have everything" • Designing money-can't-buy moments (like lunch on a Costa Rican cane-sugar farm) • Hosting without being subservient: "ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen," updated • Measuring what matters: retention, sold-out events, and the "you can feel it" factor • The next luxury frontier: invisible security and privacy as core experience • Breaking the ballroom mold—escaping the sea of sameness in event design Our Top Three Takeaways 1. Storytelling and Empathy Are the Heart of Hospitality Lisa traces her career from Shakespearean acting to luxury marketing, showing that storytelling, performance, and understanding your audience are universal skills. Whether crafting a brand narrative or leading a guest experience, she believes the best hospitality professionals think like empathetic storytellers—anticipating needs, creating emotional resonance, and delivering "the right kind of drama." 2. Exceptional Experiences Are Built on Authenticity and Human Connection From Ritz-Carlton to Tiger 21, Lisa emphasizes that the most meaningful luxury isn't opulence—it's authenticity, access, and connection. At Tiger 21, she and her team design "money-can't-buy" moments that surprise even ultra–high-net-worth members, like an unglamorous but deeply human visit to a family-run cane sugar farm. Whether at a five-star resort or a midmarket hotel, she believes memorable experiences come from personal touches, genuine local insight, and small gestures that foster belonging. 3. The Future of Luxury Is Privacy, Security, and Individualization Lisa predicts that true luxury will soon be defined by safety and discretion as affluent travelers become increasingly protective of their digital and physical privacy. She calls on the industry to go beyond superficial personalization and cookie-cutter design—to innovate around invisible service, security, and emotional intelligence. Her "magic wand" wish is to see hospitality move away from sameness and toward transformative, one-of-a-kind experiences that feel both safe and singular. Lisa Holladay on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaholladay01/ TIGER 21 https://tiger21.com/ Other Episodes You May Like: 165: Purple Flower Luxury with Florence Li https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/165 210: Six Months at the Waldorf with Josh Kremer https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/210 29: Buzz Sawed Tables with Marc Eliot https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/29
“The tide is turning, but it hasn't gone out yet.” — Alex Quilici, CEO, YouMail In this Technology Reseller News podcast, Doug Green speaks with Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail, about how the company is helping both carriers and enterprises identify, block, and eliminate fraudulent robocalls and impersonation attacks. After peaking at nearly 5 billion robocalls per month, U.S. volumes have fallen by more than a billion calls—a positive trend, though the fraudsters behind the remaining calls are earning more money with fewer calls. Quilici explains that YouMail, a Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA) member, is helping stop telecom “troublemakers” through a suite of AI-driven solutions that protect consumers, carriers, and enterprises alike. For carriers, YouMail's Watch and Score products flag risky robocallers by monitoring live calling behavior. Carriers upload the phone numbers they issue, and YouMail reports back when any number engages in suspicious or illegal activity—empowering providers to act quickly and shut bad actors off the network. For enterprises, YouMail's Quash solution identifies and suppresses impersonation campaigns in real time. Using analytics and carrier collaboration, Quash helps organizations such as banks and hospitality brands detect where fraudulent calls originate, block offenders, and even prepare evidence packages for law enforcement. Case studies on Regions Bank and Marriott highlight real-world success: a 60 percent reduction in telecom attacks and an $8 million fraud judgment. The results demonstrate how YouMail's technology helps legitimate businesses reclaim trust in their communications. Looking ahead to 2026, YouMail is developing a referral and reseller program to extend its protection ecosystem to more carriers and call-center partners. Learn more at youmail.com.
Marriott and Sonder’s messy breakup leaves guests stuck in the middle as cancellations and confusion pile up. Then, Andy introduces Frolly, the new dating app bringing dog lovers together - because why not find love through your pup? Finally, we explore the haunting yet heartwarming story of the dogs of Chernobyl, the resilient descendants of pets left behind who’ve adapted to one of the most radioactive places on EarthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The world's biggest hotel development story isn't in the U.S. or Europe — it's in Asia-Pacific. I connected with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, to break down the data behind the region's record-setting pipeline growth — from China's near–million-room surge to luxury expansion across Indonesia and Thailand. We examine the factors shaping this boom on #NoVacancyNews, including how master franchise deals, soft brand launches, and Western brand expansion are redefining the region, while construction delays from the pandemic are now converting into a flood of new openings.
On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, and Brandreth Canaley are joined by Skift Senior Hospitality Reporter Sean O'Neill to unpack the breaking story of Marriott Bonvoy ending its licensing agreement with Sonder Inc. after the company defaulted on the deal. The partnership had been a much-needed lifeline for Sonder, allowing its apartment-style properties to be listed across Marriott's booking channels. But with the agreement now terminated, and Sonder's own website currently showing zero available listings, the situation is raising questions about the company's operations, liquidity, and future as a public brand. Marriott has said it's assisting guests with existing bookings made through its platforms, while those who booked via third parties should contact their providers directly. As this story continues to develop, Sean shares what's known so far, and the GMH crew digs into what this could signal for Marriott's extended-stay ambitions, Sonder's next move (if any at all), and how confidence in hotel–tech partnerships may shift in the days/weeks ahead. Presented by Lodgify Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Wil Slickers – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Update: This episode was recorded just an hour before Sonder published its official notice of shutting down operations. Read more here. On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, and Brandreth Canaley are joined by Skift Senior Hospitality Reporter Sean O'Neill to unpack the breaking story of Marriott Bonvoy ending its licensing agreement with Sonder Inc. after the company defaulted on the deal. The partnership had been a much-needed lifeline for Sonder, allowing its apartment-style properties to be listed across Marriott's booking channels. But with the agreement now terminated, and Sonder's own website currently showing zero available listings, the situation is raising questions about the company's operations, liquidity, and future as a public brand. Marriott has said it's assisting guests with existing bookings made through its platforms, while those who booked via third parties should contact their providers directly. As this story continues to develop, Sean shares what's known so far, and the GMH crew digs into what this could signal for Marriott's extended-stay ambitions, Sonder's next move (if any at all), and how confidence in hotel–tech partnerships may shift in the days/weeks ahead. Presented by Lodgify Follow the Hosts: Brandy Canaley – LinkedIn Wil Slickers – LinkedIn Michael Goldin – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
Justin Nielsen and Mike Webster analyze Friday's market action and discuss key stocks to watch on Stock Market Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us a textThere's a brand new hotel in downtown Las Vegas. It's a non-gaming and non-smoking hotel. It's also a dual brand. We went over to take a look and it's really nice! A cool event is taking place at Oscar's Steakhouse at the Plaza. It's a special installment of Oscar's Dinner Series and will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie Casino. Parts of the film were shot in Las Vegas and Oscar Goodman will be there to talk about it. It's a benefit for The Space 2.0 Capital Campaign. The Titanic Exhibit at the Luxor has a beautiful diamond ring on display. The jewelry was recovered from the first recovery expedition in 1987. There's also a new Saturday Dim Sum brunch at Genting Palace at Resorts World. Monsoon damage? Insurance company low-balling you? Call Jonathan Wallner of Galindo Law for a FREE Claim Review at 800-251-1533. If your home was damaged in the California wildfires, Galindo Law may be able to help you get more compensation. Call 800-251-1533 or visit galindolaw.com VegasNearMe App If it's fun to do or see, it's on VegasNearMe. The only app you'll need to navigate Las Vegas. Support the showFollow us on Instagram: @vegas.revealedFollow us on Twitter: @vegasrevealedFollow us on TikTok: @vegas.revealedWebsite: Vegas-Revealed.com
India's travel industry shows two sides of the same boom, Marriott doubles down on luxury and loyalty ahead of 2026, and American Airlines joins the wave of corporate layoffs reshaping aviation. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy unpacks what's driving confidence in India, how Marriott is positioning itself for the next travel cycle, and why airlines are getting leaner — and more premium — by design. Articles Referenced: IndiGo Takes a Hit, IHCL Shines: What Their Earnings Say About India's Travel Market Marriott's 2026 Outlook: New Credit Card Deals, World Cup Boost, and Luxury Premiums American Airlines Layoffs to Hit Corporate Jobs Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
This week on GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk are joined by Skift Airlines Reporter, Meghna Maharishi, to kick off the show with updates on how the government shutdown has impacted the airline industry and what ripple effects it's had on Marriott's business performance. After Meghna's segment, Sarah and Steve dive into Marriott International's 2026 outlook, unpacking the company's plans for new credit card partnerships, expected gains from the World Cup, and continued strength in the luxury segment. They also discuss the latest corporate layoffs at American Airlines and explore how hotels and travel companies are turning to soil carbon credits as part of their sustainability strategies. From shutdowns and staffing to carbon markets and brand growth, this episode offers a grounded look at the forces shaping hospitality right now. Presented by Lodgify Follow the Hosts: Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
This week on GMH Hotels, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk are joined by Skift Airlines Reporter, Meghna Maharishi, to kick off the show with updates on how the government shutdown has impacted the airline industry and what ripple effects it's had on Marriott's business performance. After Meghna's segment, Sarah and Steve dive into Marriott International's 2026 outlook, unpacking the company's plans for new credit card partnerships, expected gains from the World Cup, and continued strength in the luxury segment. They also discuss the latest corporate layoffs at American Airlines and explore how hotels and travel companies are turning to soil carbon credits as part of their sustainability strategies. From shutdowns and staffing to carbon markets and brand growth, this episode offers a grounded look at the forces shaping hospitality right now. Presented by Lodgify Follow the Hosts: Sarah Dandashy – LinkedIn Steve Turk – LinkedIn Connect with Skift: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
You have until the end of the year to earn the number of elite nights required for the elite level you're aiming for, so it's time to start thinking strategically!(00:58) - Which status levels are worth targeting?Read more about which Marriott elite benefits apply and when here.(03:23) - Shortcuts (You can read more about this here.)(05:11) - Learn more about Marriott credit card eligibility here.(08:42) - Nick's plan(12:25) - Greg's planVisit 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
Die CEOs von Morgan Stanley und Goldman Sachs warnen, während der HSBC-Chef vor überzogenen KI-Investitionen warnt. Michael Burry setzt auf fallende Kurse bei Palantir und NVIDIA. Trotz starker Zahlen stehen Palantir, Shopify und Uber unter Druck – Anleger nehmen Gewinne mit. Auch außerhalb des Tech-Sektors enttäuschen viele Unternehmen: Clorox, Eastman Chemical, Hims & Hers, Norwegian Cruise, Stanley Black & Decker, Harley-Davidson, Molson Coors und Marriott. Lichtblick: Pfizer hebt Prognose an. Nachbörslich folgen noch AMD, Arista Networks und Super Micro.Kurz gesagt: Tech-Aktien wanken, Gewinnmitnahmen nehmen zu – die Wall Street steht unter Druck. Abonniere den Podcast, um keine Folge zu verpassen! ____ Folge uns, um auf dem Laufenden zu bleiben: • X: http://fal.cn/SQtwitter • LinkedIn: http://fal.cn/SQlinkedin • Instagram: http://fal.cn/SQInstagram
Die CEOs von Morgan Stanley und Goldman Sachs warnen, während der HSBC-Chef vor überzogenen KI-Investitionen warnt. Michael Burry setzt auf fallende Kurse bei Palantir und NVIDIA. Trotz starker Zahlen stehen Palantir, Shopify und Uber unter Druck – Anleger nehmen Gewinne mit. Auch außerhalb des Tech-Sektors enttäuschen viele Unternehmen: Clorox, Eastman Chemical, Hims & Hers, Norwegian Cruise, Stanley Black & Decker, Harley-Davidson, Molson Coors und Marriott. Lichtblick: Pfizer hebt Prognose an. Nachbörslich folgen noch AMD, Arista Networks und Super Micro.Kurz gesagt: Tech-Aktien wanken, Gewinnmitnahmen nehmen zu – die Wall Street steht unter Druck. Ein Podcast - featured by Handelsblatt. +++ Alle Rabattcodes und Infos zu unseren Werbepartnern findet ihr hier: https://linktr.ee/wallstreet_podcast +++ +++ Hinweis zur Werbeplatzierung von Meta: https://backend.ad-alliance.de/fileadmin/Transparency_Notice/Meta_DMAJ_TTPA_Transparency_Notice_-_Ad_Alliance_approved.pdf +++ Der Podcast wird vermarktet durch die Ad Alliance. Die allgemeinen Datenschutzrichtlinien der Ad Alliance finden Sie unter https://datenschutz.ad-alliance.de/podcast.html Die Ad Alliance verarbeitet im Zusammenhang mit dem Angebot die Podcasts-Daten. Wenn Sie der automatischen Übermittlung der Daten widersprechen wollen, klicken Sie hier: https://datenschutz.ad-alliance.de/podcast.html Impressum: https://www.360wallstreet.de/impressum
In this week's episode of WSJ's Take On the Week, guest host Miriam Gottfried speaks with Eric Resnick, CEO of private equity investment manager KSL Capital Partners, about the resilience of the travel and leisure sector. He explains why he sees leisure travel demand as a powerful anchor that allows the sector to defy pressures typically seen during an economic downturn. We dive into the outlook for corporate travel, the challenges facing new hotel construction, the rising experiential economy and what investors should be watching for as lodging companies like Marriott and Airbnb release their earnings this upcoming week. Correction: Hilton Grand Vacations released their earnings on Oct. 30. An earlier version of this podcast incorrectly said it was releasing its earnings this upcoming week. (Corrected on Nov. 3) This is WSJ's Take On the Week where co-hosts Gunjan Banerji, lead writer for Live Markets, and Telis Demos, Heard on the Street's banking and money columnist, cut through the noise and dive into markets, the economy and finance—the big trades, key players and business news ahead. Have an idea for a future guest or episode? How can we better help you take on the week? We'd love to hear from you. Email the show at takeontheweek@wsj.com. To watch the video version of this episode, visit our WSJ Podcasts YouTube channel or the video page of WSJ.com For more coverage of the markets and your investments, head to WSJ.com, WSJ's Heard on The Street Column, and WSJ's Live Markets blog. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Follow Gunjan Banerji here and Telis Demos here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Greg Friedman is the Founder and CEO of Peachtree Group, a real-estate investment firm focused on acquisitions, development, and lending across commercial real estate with a strong hospitality footprint. Since launching Peachtree in 2007, Greg has overseen more than $11 billion in real-estate investments and built one of the country's most active private-credit and loan-acquisition platforms. He has been a 3i Member since 2024. Listen to the episode to hear:How Greg launched Peachtree on the eve of the 2008 financial crisis and turned it into an advantageThe firm's philosophy of identifying “mispriced risk” and moving faster than banksPeachtree's expansion into film financing, tax-credit strategies, and other adjacent venturesLearn more about 3i Members at 3imembers.com and follow us on LinkedIn for updates.
When RateGain went public, it made history as India's first SaaS listingFounder Bhanu Chopra talks about what went into that call, how investors saw it, and what it revealed about the Indian capital market. He shares how RateGain built its global presence before turning to India, and why he bet big on a $250 million acquisition.Today, travel is changing faster than ever with travellers planning differently, hotels pricing dynamically, and APAC leading the global recovery. Bhanu breaks down how RateGain powers this, from AI that talks directly to hotels and travellers, to India's hospitality industry that aims to grow 100% every year.Valued at nearly $1Billion with over $120 million in annual revenue, RateGain counts some of the biggest names in travel among its customers including Airbnb, makemytrip, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Expedia, and Booking.com. From taking RateGain from zero to IPO and growing revenue tenfold in a decade, Bhanu's journey offers a grounded view of what it takes to build companies that last. This episode is about more than travel or tech, it's about how India's next generation of founders can think global.0:00 — Trailer1:00 — How RateGain became India's first SaaS IPO6:31 — Was India ready for a SaaS IPO?7:31 — The $250M acquisition that cost 25% of market cap10:58 — Why Indian SaaS is listing locally14:48 — Travel is booming in APAC15:34 — RateGain's business Explained19:09 — AI that talks to consumers and hotels21:00 — Building a billion-dollar company is totally possible23:03 — Why the hotel industry is too complex for LLMs25:40 — $300M of $7.5B TAM26:45 — Indian hotel chains aims to grow at 100%29:39 — Travel trends across the US, Europe and APAC32:25 — How travel behaviour changed after COVID?33:34 — The 0→1, 1→10 and 10→100 journey37:57 — What growth means to Bhanu as a founder-------------India's talent has built the world's tech—now it's time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It's about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that's done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we're doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us a text
Bonnie Tinder is the founder and CEO of Raven Intelligence, an independent B2B peer review site that amplifies the voice of the customer. She focuses on software customers, consulting partners, and software vendors and helps identify the best partners for their needs. In this episode, she shares powerful insights from leading organizations on how AI is being used not to replace employees, but to enhance experiences, streamline operations, and drive better business outcomes through purpose-driven, human-centered deployment strategies.Episode 56 | Human-Centered AI StrategiesThe Big Themes:Augments, Not Replaces Humans: AI should enhance the human experience, not eliminate it. Real-world examples, such as Marriott's use of AI to improve the check-in process, demonstrate that AI can remove operational friction and allow frontline staff to focus on hospitality and customer engagement. In the energy sector, utilities are embedding AI into safety systems to make work more accurate and proactive. These examples show that the most successful AI deployments begin by identifying pain points in human workflows.Cultural Readiness Is Crucial for AI Success: AI adoption is not just a technical project; it is a cultural transformation. Multiple examples made it clear that even the most advanced tools can fail without the right introduction. One university CHRO compared AI implementation to sneaking vegetables into meals. By avoiding technical jargon and focusing on small improvements, they saw stronger adoption. People often resist what they do not understand, especially when it feels like a threat. Leaders who frame AI as a tool for reducing stress, reclaiming time, and increasing impact are more likely to succeed.AI Should Start with Outcomes: Real AI value begins with the business goal, not the technology itself. Companies that succeed with AI are the ones that begin by identifying the result they want to achieve. Whether it's streamlining hotel check-ins, reducing safety risks in energy infrastructure, or accelerating clinical breakthroughs, effective strategies start with specific problems. These companies ask their teams where the friction lies, and then choose tools to fix those issues. This is a shift from a technology-first mindset to an outcome-first mindset.The Big Quote: “I hope you know business people will all start to get to the point of like, yes, the nature of work is going to change. But AI is not going to spell doom and gloom for every worker on Earth. It's going to give many, many, many of them an opportunity to do better things." Visit Cloud Wars for more.
From border security to brand strategy, today's Skift Daily Briefing with Sarah Dandashy covers the shifting face of travel. The U.S. moves to expand facial recognition for nearly all international travelers, a new coalition pushes to fix visa delays and airports before the World Cup, and Marriott reveals what travelers really want in their next stay. Articles Referenced: U.S. to Expand Facial Recognition For International Travelers U.S. Travel's New Policy Arm Pushes Airport, Visa Fixes Before World Cup What Travelers Told Marriott About AI and Their Tastes in Hotels Honorable Mention: Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
This week we're heading to the stunning island of Curaçao, where Outlander Travel agent Stacey, just spent a few unforgettable days at the breathtaking Marriott Beach Resort. From turquoise waters and white-sand beaches to mouthwatering cuisine and world-class amenities — Stacey’s got the inside scoop on what makes this resort a must-visit for your next […]
ABOUT CHRISTIAN DAVIES:Christian's LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/christian-davies-fcsd-3728a513Websites: https://www.bergmeyer.comemail: cdavies@bergmeyer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianthdavies/ Christian Davies Bio: Davies brings 30+ years' experience as a creative leader, working with brands across the globe, from disruptive startups to the very top Fortune 500 contenders in retail, experiential, beauty, fashion, hospitality, technology, luxury, and more. His veteran status includes over 100 national and international design awards (15 of which earned top honors for Store of the Year Awards), including a five-time winner of design:retail's Retail Design Influencer as well as a coveted Retail Design Luminary award. As a Chief Strategy Officer for Bergmeyer, strategic innovation and design leadership define Davies role, stemming from a robust background in creative direction and design thinking. His approach harnesses the power of diverse, interdisciplinary teams, developed through hands-on experience in various roles across a wide variety of companies throughout his career. As Chief Strategy Officer, steering the business strategy and our passion for innovation encapsulates my daily mission.Prior to Bergmeyer, Davies served as Managing Director of the Creative Marketing Group at Verizon, Creative Vice President of Global Design and Innovation for Starbucks, Executive Creative Director of the Americas at Fitch, and Vice President/Managing Creative Director at FRCH Design Worldwide.Also See: https://www.bergmeyer.com/people/christian-davies SHOW INTRODUCTION:Welcome to Episode 81! of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast…What started at a pivotal moment during the COVID pandemic in early 2020 has continued for seven seasons and now 81 episodes. This season we continue to follow our catch phrase of having “Dynamic Dialogues About DATA: Design, Architecture, Technology and the Arts. In the coming weeks we have some terrific conversations that are both fun and inspiring. They are going to include thought provoking futurists, AI technology mavens, retailers, international hotel design executives as well as designers and architects of brand experience places.We talk with authors and people focused on wellness and sustainable design practices as well as neuroscientists who will continue to help us look at the built environment and the connections between our mind-body and the built world around us.We'll also have guests who are creative marketing masters from international brands and people who have started and grown some of the companies that are striking a new path for us follow.The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is grateful for the support of VMSD magazine.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. The IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing us to keep on talking about what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience.SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org Today, EPISODE 81… I talk with Christian Davies. We actually recorded this discussion months ago and Christian wondered if publishing it now was still relevant.I assured him it was, since Christian tends to unearth issues that are future forward - things to be mindful about should we want to address the issues we all face as individuals or societies or as architects and designers making places and things as we serve as our clients creative sherpa guides bringing ideas into the built world. Now… Christian has been sitting atop the heap of 80 conversations as the most listened to episode since we recorded our first talk a couple years ago. So, I thought, well why not do Christian Davies 2.0?Christian does not disappoint - never has – over a couple of decades, Christian has consistently drawn audiences and colleagues into conversation, sometimes challenging, and always brilliant and things that drive design thinking. His matter-of-fact English attitude to the world of design is sometimes a ‘no holds barred' reality check that makes you think twice about the truths you have held dear. His drive towards excellence is irrepressible. That makes him, some may say, demanding because I think he expects that we all give a damn about what we are brining into the world. And why not? We all share space on this little blue dot and, we had better get it, and soon, that we are part of a vast ecosystem of interdependencies.We cover a lot of ground in this open-ended conversation – I'd not expect less from Christian - And here is a few thoughts on subject areas we touch on…1. Entropy:Entropy is a scientific measure of disorder, randomness.Astrophysicist and other cosmologists have postulated that our universe is continuing to expand to a maximum state of entropy from a moment in time, the beginning of the Universe that they have called The Big Bang.There's lots of great content that you can certainly dig up on what happens when the universe finally expands to maximum entropy and all particles are spread out evenly within the unimaginably large space of the universe. It's suggested that of course this maximun expansion will take something like 10 to the 36 or 37 power years in other words trillions and trillions of years. A very very long time….But for now, the way I try to think of it is things will expand and eventually slow down as they all spread out to be evenly distributed throughout the universe… seems reasonable…It's kind of like imagining the initial moments after a massive explosion. Things spread out pretty quickly from the epicenter of the explosion and as they're flung far and wide, particles eventually slow and if you think of it in terms of entropy they all reach maximum randomness.I kind of think that right now, today, considering that the scientists think that the universe has only been around for 14 1/2 billion years or so, that we're kind of right at that very beginning stage of the explosion and things are moving faster and faster away from the epicenter of The Big Bang. This is interesting if you think that the universe will continue to be expanding for a few trillion years so right now yeah, we're kind of sort of in the one second after the explosion time frame. Anyway I am not an astrophysicist and some of these enormous ideas still leave me scratching my head…If we look at today, and everything around us, it certainly seems that things are speeding up and becoming more distributed, more random.I know I've talked about the whole idea of the pace of change in a number of episodes but I find this really interesting because, as I discussed with Christian, it's really hard to design into a future state when you consider that the sands beneath your feet are always shifting.How do we know which step is the right one? How do you know when we step on solid ground or drop forever into a bottomless void…I think the challenge here for designers is that, at least for a time, we need to have a sense of stability and order. The challenge is, I think, is that we're moving to an increasing rate of change where stability and order might be elusive to say the least.2. Moments of human connection make experiences great:I think as we speed along and never ending sea of change perhaps one of the things that we can hang on to, a stake in the ground if you will, will continue to be our ability to maintain our relationships.Change has a funny way of, well… changing people. And, one of our jobs will be to keep up with changing expectations of brands and their customers. One thing is sure, as we scream along this ever changing path, relationships will remain as one of the fundamental qualities of great experiences. Both brand experience architecture and the means with which we engage with brands will change to meet evolving expecations but, my expectation, (or maybe it's just my hope) is that humans still stay at the center of it all - Since at least for this short little time that humans have been in existence, we have relied on the empathic connection between individuals to help create meaning and connection to the world around us as well as the things well as the things we simply buy.And I, like Christian, believe that in the end, when you look at successful projects in our long design careers, the good ones, I mean the really good ones, we're not just because we received a great brief with an inspired client who had a vision of changing up the world,but that the teams we were connected to both on the consultant and client sides were also great. There was something that clicked. There was a gel in communication, respect and collaboration that drove these projects forward.Some may have heard me say before projects will come and go but the relationships are really what make the work great. I'd rather lose a project than trash the relationships…3. Three things that facilitate success stories in the world of retail place-making:So, if you're going to look at success stories over a career full of projects, when you look back at what really made them great was, of course that they were successful from a financial point of view, that they drove increase customers and deeper brand relationships and better revenues all those things are important indicators of success but that there are things that are required to make all of that happen. One would be that there's a big idea someone at the helm of a brand or business that has a thought about doing something different breaking out of a traditional way of bringing goods or services to market, of serving a customer in a different way and technology is often being a facilitator of that.There was coffee long before Starbucks. There was getting from A to B lby horse, camel, richshaw, long before Uber. There were places to stay along the Silk Road before Airbnb. And if you had a shaman in your village you could likely find out where you ame from and where your future was going to be long before there were anything like 23&Me or ancestry.com. In some ways the goods or services have not really changed. How we get them in the hands of customers has changed and that has often been facilitated with new technologies.4. AI – as a new tool for ideation and the ‘why' behind design:One of those technological advances of course that everybody is talking about these days is artificial intelligence.AI it's both causing a lot of excitement about what it sees has to offer in the short term, becoming a new tool in the architect and designers toolbox for ideation as well as causing a lot of concern about what happens to humankind when we finally get to general AI or super artificial intelligence.I am both excited and increasingly aware of influences that it will have on the job market, delivery of goods and services and other parts of the ecosystem like education and manufacturing etcetera etcetera.But if we just for a moment set some of the anxieties aside and simply look at as a tool for imagination and engagement with clients fostering the collaborative process of ideation, it has extraordinary potential to change the game of how we designers and architects work with our clients and create ideas about bringing their goods and services to market.There's a lot of opportunity and uncertainty about what happens when you turbocharge the creative process with AI tools.In the end though, at least for now, the question remains - is that there is a human at the helm of prompt curation?The output is only as good as the input that I'm able to suggest as a prompt. If not… garbage in – garbage out.This of course is interesting because it puts the initial burden still on people to be able to articulate their vision in language and use AI tools to refine the visualizations and other content that emerges from using them.As we use these tools they make things faster but I also sometimes wonder about whether they simply make us lazy and remove our thinking from the process.So Christian does talk about the idea of the drawings or images being very compelling but also needing to ask, and answer, the question of ‘why this particular approach or output is relevant and connected to the brand or customer that we're trying to serve?In the end it's not about the ‘what' of things that make solutions to design challenges great but more and more about the ‘why' you're doing certain things.It's about the process by which you got to the solution rather than simply the solution itself.Don't get me wrong the solutions to the challenges are sometimes very satisfying but what I'm ultimately interested in is the thinking process that led you to along this pathway… it's the journey not just the destination that's important in the creative process….And I think it's ever more important to our clients in the design world that they're looking for people who are not just production oriented but who are also focused on guiding them through an uncertain future5. B-Corporations:And this in a way leads us to the part of our my discussion with Christian about how his company Bergmeyer has recently become a B-Corp.A B-Corporation is a for profit company, but it is certified by the non-profit B Lab Global and the whole idea is that it seeks to meet high standards for social and environmental performance and accountability and even more so transparency in the ways that they are doing business in support of being good stewards of our environment.In the changing sands that we're all standing on, as entropy increases and uncertainty continues to unfold in front of us, there is certainty that our planet is also in peril as climate change continues to wreak havoc on environmental systems. These B-corporations are seen as a force for good who work to balance profit with a commitment to both people and our planet. What differentiates them from other traditional companies is that they prioritize the social and environmental impacts of their business while at the same time not discounting the fact that they still are in business - that they are accountable to stakeholders as well as shareholders.The stakeholders can be considered as all of us because as companies continue to pull resources out of the ground and push the byproducts of industrialization into landfills and oceans all of our lives are at stake.All right then that's a not so brief summary of some of the ideas that Christian and I riff on in our conversation…Let's dig into some of the details…ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites: https://www.davidkepron.com (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645 (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore. In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com. The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production is by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.
Thu, Oct 23 6:51 AM → 8:47 AM Base Added Radio Systems: - San Diego City Trunk Radio System
Miles to Go - Travel Tips, News & Reviews You Can't Afford to Miss!
Watch Us On YouTube! On this week's episode of Miles to Go Podcast:
Wyndham rolled out a $95/year Wyndham Rewards Insider subscription for U.S. customers, offering at least 10% off rates at 8,000+ properties (excluding Echo Suites), automatic Gold status, and flight discounts up to 15% international and 5% domestic to keep the brand relevant between stays. Major hotel chains head into a tough earnings season after two straight quarters of RevPAR declines through September, with economy hotels down 3% year-over-year and analysts watching for further corporate headcount cuts following reductions at Marriott and Hyatt. Meanwhile, GetYourGuide says it's profitable for the first time, booking a record 10 million experiences in Q3 (up 30% YoY) and nearly $1.2B in annual revenue, as a Skift x McKinsey report pegs global experience spending at over $1T and up to $310B for paid, structured activities. Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.
True North Hotel Group, in partnership with RCI Group, will break ground on a new Residence Inn by Marriott at Steelpointe Harbor. The 6-story hotel will feature 142 rooms with views of Steelpointe Marina, direct access to I-95, MetroNorth and Amtrak and pickle-ball courts. We spoke with Bobby Christoph, President of RCI Group. Image Credit: Getty Images
We share the chaos and charm of two farm dinners—one drenched mid-course and saved in the barn, the other a flawless do-over—then pivot to a late-night hotel scare in Atlanta, roof insurance headaches, internet “icks,” and the saga of a cat that won't stop hitching rides. Don't forget to join our online community at WhosDrivingPodcast.com Join the conversation by calling their hotline at 864-982-5029 with your own stories or topic suggestions, and experience the authentic charm of two best friends who truly never know who's driving or where they're headed.Look For The Water Bottle! Tap Here For Hidrate Spark water bottle.Visit www.WesleyTurnerLiving.com to find so much more about all the things we do! Follow Steven on Instagram at @Keepinupwithsteven and follow Wesley on Instagram at @WesleyTurnerLiving. Shop our online store at TheNestedFig.Com Find The Nested Fig on Instagram at @TheNestedFig We mentioned The Nested Fig App in this episode. You can Tap Here to get our app and join our live sales
In this episode, hosts David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Zack Gharib, the President of Red Roof, to explore leadership, innovation, and the future of hospitality.Zack shares his incredible journey — from growing up in Lebanon and discovering his passion for hotels, to leading one of America's most recognized hospitality brands. Learn how Red Roof is embracing AI-driven technology, enhancing the guest experience, and building a culture of genuine relationships and real results.Discover what it takes to thrive in hotel management, lead through change, and balance guest satisfaction with franchisee success. Zack also opens up about his leadership lessons from Mr. Marriott, his transition from Marriott and La Quinta to Red Roof, and why relationships and culture remain at the heart of hospitality.In this episode, you'll learn:How Red Roof is using AI and Hotel IQ to optimize pricing and revenue managementThe importance of team culture, leadership, and franchise relationshipsHow technology is transforming the guest experience in 2025 and beyondInsights into Red Roof's new mobile app, loyalty program, and guest analytics initiativesWhy authentic leadership and passion are key to long-term success in hospitalityWatch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V8hnpGv2IIALinks:Zack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-gharib/Red Roof: https://www.redroof.com/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/220Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.
Travel Planning with Points & Miles Join Spencer Reese and Jamie as they dive deep into the tactical strategies for planning and booking travel using credit card points and miles. This comprehensive guide walks through the entire process from initial flight searches to hotel bookings, with a focus on maximizing value while avoiding common pitfalls. Topics Covered Flight Booking Strategies: How to prioritize travel goals (destination, dates, airline, class of service) Finding direct flight routes and connections Searching for award availability across multiple loyalty programs Setting up price and availability alerts The importance of booking directly with airlines Avoiding third-party booking sites and potential complications Understanding partner airlines and fifth freedom routes Hotel Booking: Searching for hotel availability with points Using free night certificates effectively Maximizing Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) benefits Fifth night free promotions When to choose hotels vs. short-term rentals Advanced Tips: Transfer partner bonuses and timing Combining points between household members Seat selection strategies for different aircraft types Using expert booking services (when they're worth it) Setting realistic expectations for award availability Resources & Links Mentioned Free Flight Search Tools: Google Flights Flight Connections - Route mapping Points Path (Chrome extension) - Points comparison on Google Flights Points Search Platforms: PointsYeah.com - Search 22+ loyalty programs (paid version recommended) Point.me / Amex.Point.me - Transfer partner search Seats.aero - Award availability search (paid) ExpertFlyer.com - Seat maps and availability (paid) Hotel Tools: MaxFHR.com - Fine Hotels & Resorts property search HigherAspire.com - Hilton Aspire credit usage Booking.com - General hotel search Hilton.com, Marriott.com, Hyatt.com - Direct hotel searches Other Resources: SeatGuru - Aircraft seat maps and reviews Airbnb & VRBO - Alternative accommodations Credit Cards Discussed: Chase Sapphire Reserve American Express Platinum Card Delta SkyMiles Reserve (Amex) Bilt Credit Card Hilton Honors Aspire (Amex) Key Takeaways Don't let points optimization ruin the vacation - Balance maximizing value with maintaining trip enjoyment and minimizing planning stress Book directly when possible - Avoid third-party sites to ensure better customer service and easier modifications Be flexible - More flexibility with dates, airports, and airlines leads to better redemptions Start searching 6-9 months out - Award availability is typically best well in advance Check for transfer bonuses - Can increase point value by 20-30% or more Set up alerts - For both cash prices and award availability to catch deals Budget for tools if needed - Some paid subscriptions may be worth it for major trips Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 20,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, including waived annual fees, on elite cards like the American Express Platinum Card® and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.
Mitch Harper and Kyle Ireland talk basketball, recapping the blue/white scrimmage that took place earlier this week before getting into some bold predictions for this year's team.
➡️ Today we have a very special guest, Ben Marriott, joining us on the show! Ben is a motion designer and illustrator from Sydney, Australia, and is one of YouTube's biggest animation educators. His entire design process is all about creating work that is intentional and impactful, something that he shares in both his courses and tutorials, and a point he makes about his Favorite Frame™ that he's sharing with us today. Tune in as he discusses his detailed motion design workflow with us, including his initial design-thinking for every project as well as his technical expertise in traditional and digital media to bring his concepts to life, and so much more!➡️ Check out this episode of the podcast on Youtube as well.➡️ Come connect with us on social: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.➡️ Enjoying the show? Feel free to leave us a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.➡️ Today's show notes:Ben's Website, https://www.benmarriott.com/aboutBen's Courses, https://www.benmarriott.com/Design Breakthrough, https://www.benmarriott.com/design-breakthroughBen's Youtube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/@BenMarriottPixorama, https://www.instagram.com/pixo.rama/Buck, https://buck.co/Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/Creativity Talk by John Cleese (1991), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvKeu46jgwoMonty Python, https://www.montypython.com/Discovering the WHY Behind Your Styleframes with Ryan Summers (Ep. 8), https://youtu.be/ThJIz9esa4M?si=-Un6Ad0PoKM9SdpNAdobe Photoshop, https://photoshop.adobe.com/?promoid=HHJ4XB3V&mv=other&mv2=ahome&lang=enAdobe Illustrator, https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/free-trial-download.htmlAdobe After Effects, https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html—➡️ Affiliate links:If you decide to make a purchase through one of our affiliate links we will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that we would recommend these products regardless of their commission-based opportunities.Riverside—➡️ Theme Music:Late Night Latte by Harrison Amer. Licensed by Premiumbeat.➡️ Other Music:Hold Music by Eldorado. Licensed by Premiumbeat.➡️ Styleframe Saturdays is a proud member of the Formerle brand family.Permissions granted by the artist.
Chef Abhi Sukul, the esteemed owner of Lajawab Indian Cuisine, embodies the essence of culinary dedication, having transformed his passion for cooking into a thriving endeavor in St. Petersburg, Florida. Born in Kolkata, a city renowned for its vibrant food culture, Chef Abhi's culinary journey began in his mother's kitchen, where he learned that cooking is an art requiring both patience and passion. In this enlightening discourse, we delve into his remarkable odyssey, from navigating the global hospitality landscape with Marriott to overcoming the adversities posed by the pandemic, which initially threatened to derail his ambitions. Chef Abhi's unwavering spirit led him to rebuild, ultimately establishing Lajawab, where he meticulously crafts dishes that not only reflect the rich tapestry of Indian cuisine but also aim to evoke joy in every guest. Join us as we explore the intersection of tradition and innovation through the lens of a chef who ardently believes that every dish should leave a lasting impression, not merely of satisfaction but of sheer delight.Lajawab - Authentic Indian CuisineLajawab Indian Cuisine (@lajawab4u) • Instagram photos and videosTakeaways: Chef Abhi Sukul emphasizes the significance of patience and passion in culinary arts, which he first learned in his mother's kitchen. The chef's journey from Kolkata to global experiences showcases the universality of hospitality in the culinary field. Chef Sukul's dedication to authentic Indian cuisine is reflected in his meticulous preparation of dishes, such as his signature butter chicken and coconut mushroom curry. The story of overcoming adversity during the pandemic illustrates the resilience of entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry. Abhi Sukul's commitment to mentorship in the culinary arts highlights the importance of passing on knowledge to future generations of chefs. The chef's culinary philosophy centers around the joy of cooking and the profound impact that food can have on people's happiness.
Episode 141 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosted by Mike Zaccheo with Angie Sparks, opens with the “highlight post” about the demise of the popular Red Aviator “Sub for a SUB” card—long favored for its easy single-purchase American Airlines miles bonus. The news roundup covers major developments: the completion of the Hawaiian-Alaska merger and Alaska's award chart updates, elevated Chase Ink offers and limited-time Hilton Amex bonuses Angie also reviews several active transfer bonuses.In personal updates, Angie notes her Atmos bonus posting, Aviator annual-fee payments pending, a Hilton Surpass FNC spend met, and plans to downgrade her Ritz card. Mike reports no new activity since his Atmos and Citi Strata Elite bonuses. Angie also shares exciting travel news: booking saver business-class seats from Dallas to Istanbul via a Citi-to-Turkish transfer for her upcoming Switzerland trip, while Mike outlines firmed-up details for his 2026 Japan journey—Singapore's LAX-NRT fifth-freedom flight, five nights at Park Hyatt Tokyo using a suite upgrade, and a return on JAL booked through a Capital One transfer bonus.The main segment centers on Angie's family reunion and leaf-peeping trip through New England, where she splurged on Alaska First Class (75 k miles for four tickets) and balanced multiple travel-portal, Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt redemptions worth $2.2 k in cash value. She leveraged credits across Capital One, Citi, and Amex for lodging, dining, and rental cars, plus AA lounge access. Her takeaway: though scenic, the trip involved excessive driving, heavy traffic, and limited dining availability. The “Tip of the Week” urges listeners to review unused credits before year-end.Links to Topics DiscussedAtmos Rewards Award Chart ChangesNo Fee Chase Ink Business Card OffersHilton Amex OffersCredit Card Transfer Bonuses SummaryWhere to Find Us The Free 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 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.
At Viirtue Connect, Purav Maisuria, General Manager at Phonesuite, joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, to discuss how Phonesuite is helping MSPs tap into new opportunities in the hospitality market through purpose-built communications solutions. Founded in 1988, Phonesuite provides voice and communication platforms designed exclusively for the hospitality industry, serving more than 10% of the global hotel market. The company is brand-approved by major hotel groups including Hilton, Marriott, and IHG, meeting each brand's strict requirements for reliability, security, and compliance. Maisuria noted that many MSPs already handle hotel networking and Wi-Fi but overlook telephony — a critical element of guest experience and operations. “It's a great opportunity,” he explained. “Hotels are looking for cybersecurity, better networks, and full IT support. By adding Phonesuite's voice solutions, MSPs can deliver a complete 360-degree service.” Phonesuite's hosted hospitality platform simplifies deployment and introduces features that directly address hotelier needs, such as missed call alerts, enhanced reporting, and mobile access for managers. These tools help prevent lost reservations and improve customer service by ensuring every call is answered — even after hours. “The front desk is the hotel's heartbeat,” Maisuria said. “When calls are missed, revenue is lost. Our solutions ensure staff stay connected and responsive, wherever they are.” To learn more, visit www.phonesuite.com.
What happens when luxury design meets the wild?Award-winning designer, Graeme Labe, Managing Partner and Chief Design Officer at Luxury Frontiers, shares how he's redefining hospitality by crafting experiences that connect people deeply to nature, while championing sustainability and community. Graeme shares his journey from traditional hospitality design to founding Luxury Frontiers, which focuses on creating unique, luxurious experiences in remote locations. The conversation covers topics such as the importance of experiential hospitality, the challenges of working in remote environments, and the role of sustainability and community engagement in their projects. Graeme also discusses the innovation culture within his team, their participation in the Radical Innovation Award, and the significance of site-specific design.Takeaways: Focus on creating unique, immersive experiences that connect guests to their environment, rather than just providing traditional luxury.Design experiences that gently push guests out of their comfort zones, allowing them to grow while still feeling safe and cared for.Integrate sustainability into every aspect of your projects: from site selection and building materials to community engagement and ongoing operations.Foster a culture of innovation within your team. Set up internal labs or competitions to encourage experimentation with new materials and ideas.Use natural materials and let the surrounding environment take center stage in your designs. Break down barriers between indoors and outdoors to enhance biophilic experiences.Thoughtfully integrate technology to improve comfort and accessibility, but also create opportunities for guests to disconnect and fully immerse themselves in the experience.Treat logistical, regulatory, and environmental constraints as opportunities to innovate and improve your designs.Quote of the Show:“ It's those moments that take you out of your comfort zone, when you're truly immersed in a place, that change your life. That's the kind of experience we try to design for.” - Graeme LabeLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graeme-labe-a0332b19/ Website: https://www.luxury-frontiers.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxury_frontiers/ Shout Outs:1:16 - Radical Innovation https://www.radicalinnovation.io/ 1:53 - AHEAD Awards https://www.aheadawards.com/ 5:26 - The Lion King https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King 7:08 - Orient Express Hotels https://www.orient-express.com/hotels 9:47 - Volkswagen https://www.vw.com/en.html 9:48 - Coleman https://www.coleman.com/ 22:16 - Luca Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-franco-5507b311/ 28:18 - Blue Sky Award https://www.blueskyawards.com/en/ 30:41 - Anomien Smith https://www.linkedin.com/in/anomien-smith-73917715/ 35:02 - The Crown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crown_(TV_series) 35:05 - King George https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III 35:09 - Queen Elizabeth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_II 41:34 - Hirsch Bedner https://hba.com/ 41:45 - Michael Bedner https://hba.com/legacy/ 50:59 - Six Senses https://www.sixsenses.com/en/ 51:04 - Ritz Carlton https://www.ritzcarlton.com/ 51:06 - Marriott https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 51:07 - Four Seasons https://www.fourseasons.com/
In Episode 140 of the Award Travel 101 podcast, hosts Mike Zaccheo and Cameron Laufer cover a range of topics from heartwarming uses of points to travel industry updates and destination planning. They open with a moving story from a community member who used 18,000 AA miles to fly an old friend across the country for emotional support—highlighting how miles can offer more than just luxury travel. Mike and Cameron then discuss notable credit card updates, including new Capital One transfer partners like Qatar Airways and Japan Airlines (with a 30% bonus), and question whether the $895 Amex Platinum fee is worth it given the long list of credits offered. Transfer bonuses from Citi and Amex are also covered, and they touch on current promotions like Chase Freedom's Q4 5x categories.The main segment dives into Cameron's recent trip to the Dolomites in Italy. He provides a detailed rundown on how to get there using points and miles from various programs—highlighting Emirates' fifth-freedom JFK–Milan route, and Star Alliance partners like United and Lufthansa. For accommodations, they explore luxury hotel options using programs like I Prefer, Marriott, and portals from Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One. Ground transportation tips emphasize renting a car over relying on trains and buses. Cameron wraps up with Dolomites-specific advice like reserving parking at Tre Cime, getting to Seceda early, and hiking resources, making this episode both informative and personal.Episode Links:Capital One new Transfer PartnersCapital One To JAL Transfer BonusOther Transfer BonusesAmex Platinum DetailsChase Freedom Q4 5x CategoriesDolomites Points & Miles PostWhere to Find Us The Free 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 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 a special presentation of Smart Travel, learn what your points and miles are really worth in 2025 — and why the answer might change how you book travel. Should you take a $650 flight voucher or 32,500 miles? How much are your points and miles actually worth? Smart Travel hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle break down the latest NerdWallet valuations to help you make smarter redemption choices. But first, they cover recent travel headlines, including Southwest Airlines' new partnership with EVA Air, Frontier's companion certificate promotion and status match, and JetBlue opening up award bookings with Condor Airlines. Then, travel Nerd Craig Joseph joins Meghan to discuss NerdWallet's latest airline, hotel, and credit card point valuations, with tips and tricks on comparing loyalty programs, maximizing transfer partners, and deciding when cash is more valuable than points. They also discuss the impact of devaluations, how close-in bookings can save you points, and why premium cabins can sometimes offer outsized redemption value. Plus: Craig's hot take on airport lounges. Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews: Is the Frontier Airlines World Mastercard Worth Its Annual Fee? https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/is-the-frontier-airlines-world-mastercard-worth-its-annual-fee Citi Strata Credit Card Review: Solid Rewards for No Annual Fee https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/citi-strata Citi Double Cash Review: A Solid Choice for Everyday Spending https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/citi-double-cash Citi Custom Cash Card Review: Low-Maintenance 5% Cash Back https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/citi-custom-cash Citi Strata Premier: Big Rewards Across Top Spending Categories https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/citi-strata-premier Is the New Alaska Atmos Summit Card Worth a $395 Annual Fee? https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/is-the-alaska-airlines-atmos-summit-card-worth-its-annual-fee Resources discussed in this episode: Airline Miles vs. Cash Calculator https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/calculator-should-you-book-a-flight-with-cash-or-miles How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2025? https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/airline-miles-and-hotel-points-valuations Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. In this episode, the Nerds discuss: points and miles valuation, airline miles value, hotel points value, credit card points value, Southwest EVA Air partnership, Frontier Companion Certificate, JetBlue Condor award booking, Citi American Airlines transfer, Amex Membership Rewards value, Capital One points value, Bilt points value, Hyatt points value, Hilton points value, Marriott points value, Wyndham points value, IHG points value, Alaska miles value, JetBlue points value, American Airlines miles value, United miles value, Southwest points value, Virgin Atlantic miles value, ANA miles value, Avianca LifeMiles value, best way to use Amex points, best way to use Citi points, best way to use Capital One points, use cash or points for flights, last minute award flight value, premium cabin redemption value, economy flight points value, airline devaluation, hotel point devaluation, cash vs points travel booking, when to transfer credit card points, how to maximize travel rewards, and NerdWallet points and miles calculator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“Everything is hard until it's easy. The only way it gets easy is practice.” Episode Highlights [00:01:36] Lee recalls his first attempt at public speaking at Marriott. [00:02:45] Advice from Bill Marriott's father-in-law [00:03:55] Practice as the path to confidence. [00:06:26] How fear holds people back from trying. [00:07:39] Explain things simply to prove understanding. [00:08:33] Improvement through courses, reading, and daily study. Lee Cockerell opens up about his early struggles with public speaking and the lessons that helped him turn fear into confidence. He explains why passion and personal stories make presentations more engaging and memorable than polished scripts. Lee reminds us that practice is the only way to build true confidence, and that fear is often the biggest barrier to growth. This conversation highlights simple, practical steps anyone can take to improve their communication skills and become more effective leaders. Read the blog for more from this episode. Resources Creating Magic Mastermind October 2025 CockerellStore.com The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Jody Maberry Travel Guidance Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.