Podcasts about Marriott

What if your next customer isn't a person, but an AI agent acting on their behalf? And what if that agent is evaluating your brand on a purely logical, data-driven basis, completely devoid of the emotional hooks your marketing has always relied on?Agility requires not just adapting to changing customer behaviors, but also redefining who—or what—our customer even is. It demands that we build operational and strategic frameworks that can cater to both human emotional drivers and the cold, hard logic of machines.Today, we are at Forrester CX in New York City, and we're going to talk about a fundamental shift in the customer journey: the rise of the AI agent as an influential, and in some cases, decision-making persona. This isn't just about using AI in our marketing; it's about marketing to AI. We'll explore what it means when our brand's message needs to be optimized not just for human perception, but for machine interpretation and evaluation.To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome Chuck Gahun, Principal Analyst at Forrester. About Chuck Gahun Chuck is a leader in Forrester's Digital Business & Strategy practice serving business and digital executives. His research coverage includes content management systems (CMSes), product information management (PIM) systems, and commerce services and strategy for B2B and B2C companies. Chuck helps executives design strategies that deliver customer and business value by partnering with technology vendors and services providers. Chuck has 20 years of experience in content and commerce. He specializes in digital strategy, experience design, and technology initiatives in CMSes, e-commerce systems, digital asset management (DAM) systems, PIM systems, digital experience platforms (DXPs), and several others. He has led strategy and implementations for brands like Goldman Sachs, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Hilti, Marriott, AARP, and the Centers for Disease Control. Prior to joining Forrester, Chuck was a managing director and partner at Shift7 Digital (a Merkle company) and held senior management positions at ZS Medullan and Publicis Sapient. Chuck holds a BA in government and international politics and an MS in technology management from George Mason University. Chuck Gahun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckgahun/ ---------- Resources ---------- Forrester: https://www.forrester.com We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873fThe most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What separates investors who scale from those who stay stuck? In this episode of the Abundance Mindset Podcast (Abundance Thursdays), Vinney Chopra and co-host Gualter Amarelo break down one wealth-building principle that's behind every deal Vinney has ever closed: accept what can't be changed — then create an advantage.   Vinney walks through the real numbers on his Columbus, Ohio hotel: bought for around $11M, undergoing a $25M renovation, converting from a Hilton into a full-service Marriott, and expanding from 195 doors to 230 keys — with a projected exit near $70M. You'll also hear how he turned 1,000 unused lockers into revenue-producing meeting rooms, refinanced his way out of a variable-rate apartment deal in Knoxville, and survived the COVID gut-punch when occupancy on a brand-new hotel fell from 87.5% to 25% overnight.   If you're a real estate investor, capital raiser, or aspiring syndicator trying to build wealth in a high interest rate environment, this conversation is a masterclass in solution-focused thinking. As Vinney says: whenever there's a big wall, there's always a window somewhere — you've got to find the window.   ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – "There's Always a Window": The Mindset Behind Every Deal 00:35 – The Columbus Hotel: A $25M Renovation Into a Full-Service Marriott 01:20 – Accept What Can't Be Changed → 195 Doors Become 230 Keys 02:15 – Estimating a $70M Exit (+ Accredited Investor Disclaimer) 03:00 – What a 506(c) Offering Actually Means for You 03:40 – 1,000 Lockers Into Meeting Rooms: Finding Hidden Revenue 04:25 – The Knoxville Apartment & the Variable-Rate Problem 05:00 – Refinancing the Wall Into a Window 06:00 – Why a HIGH Interest Rate Market Works in Your Favor 07:50 – The Hilton-to-Marriott Flag Change & Marriott "War Rooms" 08:40 – Control the Controllables 09:10 – The Banker Call That Saved $60K Now + $60K Every Year 11:00 – The Exit Plan: Sell, Go Passive, Manage the Managers 13:50 – Hospitality Roars Back + the New Tampa Acquisition 15:00 – Finding an Operator Who Isn't Stretched Too Thin 16:00 – No Capital or No Experience? Partner & Create an Advantage 18:30 – The COVID Gut-Punch: A Hotel Bought December 31, 2019 19:20 – From 25% Occupancy to a $6M → $12M Win 20:30 – Build a Mind That Hunts for Solutions 21:20 – FREE Books & Resources (the "Keep More" Tax Guide) 23:00 – Vinney's Closing Message  

Minneapolis and St. Paul surprised us in the best way! From iconic landmarks and scenic riverfront walks to incredible local food, rooftop cocktails, and hidden gems, we packed a lot into 48 hours in the Twin Cities. Join us in this episode  as we take you along on a Minneapolis food tour, explore historic milling ruins, visit famous attractions like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Minnehaha Falls, and uncover some of the best restaurants, bars, and cultural experiences the city has to offer.Minneapolis Travel Tips:Pack layers because Minneapolis weather can change quicklyBrowse the Meet Minneapolis website, it is so helpful with tips, recommendations of food, hotels, activities, and trip planning. Here are two articles that had great recommendations: 150 Things to do in Minneapolis10 Essential Things To Do on Your First Visit to MinneapolisStay at Hotel Emery, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. Hotel Emery has a Spyhouse Coffee in the lobby and Giulia, their signature restaurant onsite! If Emery is fully booked, consider staying at Tru By Hilton or Hyatt Centric  Things to Do in Minneapolis & St Paul:Experience Don't skip the Mill District, which combines history, architecture, and riverfront viewStart your trip with a guided Minneapolis Riverwalk Food Tour by Experience The Twin Cities  to learn the city's history and layoutNorseman Distillery - delicious cocktails from first legal distillery in Minneapolis since prohibition

What if one of the most important health crises affecting men today wasn't being caused by aging, but by the environment we live in? In this eye-opening solo episode, Darin Olien investigates the alarming decline in testosterone levels, fertility, and reproductive health among men worldwide. Drawing on decades of research, epidemiological studies, environmental science, endocrinology, and public health data, Darin examines the growing evidence connecting endocrine-disrupting chemicals, microplastics, sleep deprivation, chronic stress, poor lifestyle habits, and environmental toxins to declining testosterone levels across generations. From BPA, phthalates, atrazine, PFAS, and microplastics to sleep quality, circadian rhythms, cholesterol metabolism, cortisol regulation, and natural testosterone-supporting strategies, this episode explores what may be one of the most underreported public health issues of our time—and what men can do to take control of their health today.     What You'll Learn Why testosterone levels have been declining for decades The startling research on global sperm count decline How endocrine-disrupting chemicals interfere with hormone production Why BPA and phthalates may disrupt testosterone synthesis The role of atrazine, PFAS, and environmental toxins How chronic stress diverts resources away from testosterone production Why sleep may be the most important testosterone intervention The connection between cholesterol and hormone production How microplastics are being found throughout the human body The surprising relationship between statins and testosterone levels Natural lifestyle strategies that support healthy hormone production Practical steps to reduce environmental exposure and improve health     Chapters 00:00:00 – Welcome to SuperLife 00:00:33 – Sponsor: Fatty15 and cellular health 00:04:17 – The testosterone collapse explained 00:04:51 – Testosterone levels have been declining for decades 00:06:03 – Global sperm count decline and accelerating trends 00:07:02 – Why treating symptoms misses the root cause 00:07:27 – The hidden public health crisis 00:08:03 – Why low testosterone isn't just about aging 00:09:12 – Why hormone health affects longevity 00:09:53 – Low testosterone and increased mortality risk 00:10:35 – Testosterone's role in metabolism and cardiovascular health 00:11:27 – Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and hormone disruption 00:12:44 – BPA and its effects on testosterone production 00:13:59 – Phthalates and their impact on hormone pathways 00:16:00 – Glyphosate, atrazine, and pesticide exposure 00:17:07 – PFAS and reproductive health concerns 00:17:55 – Environmental toxins and population-wide effects 00:18:11 – Sponsor: Shakeology 00:20:02 – Cholesterol and hormone production 00:20:53 – Chronic stress and cortisol dominance 00:21:45 – Actionable solutions begin 00:21:56 – Why sleep is essential for testosterone production 00:23:07 – How sleep deprivation rapidly lowers testosterone 00:23:21 – Light pollution and circadian disruption 00:23:41 – Foods and nutrients needed for hormone health 00:24:23 – Microplastics and testicular tissue 00:24:53 – Statins and unintended hormonal consequences 00:25:39 – A practical testosterone sovereignty protocol 00:25:48 – Water filtration and reducing toxic exposure 00:26:13 – Eliminating plastics and fragrance chemicals 00:26:35 – Why organic food matters 00:26:45 – Sunlight and vitamin D 00:27:05 – Magnesium, omega-3s, and iodine 00:27:26 – Pine pollen and natural androgen support 00:28:01 – Tongkat Ali and ashwagandha 00:28:48 – Strength training and lifestyle interventions 00:29:10 – Habits that naturally support testosterone 00:29:27 – Darin's approach to healthy aging 00:29:37 – Plants, herbs, and common sense 00:29:51 – Reclaiming your health and sovereignty 00:30:00 – Final thoughts and closing message     Thank You to Our Sponsors Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/DARIN and using code DARIN at checkout. Shakeology: Get 15% off with code DARINO1BODI at Shakeology.com.     Join the SuperLife Patreon: This is where Darin now shares the deeper work: - weekly voice notes - ingredient trackers - wellness challenges - extended conversations - community accountability - sovereignty practices Join now for only $7.49/month at https://patreon.com/darinolien     Find More from Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness     Key Takeaway "The testosterone crisis may be about far more than aging. It may be a reflection of the modern environment itself—one increasingly saturated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals, chronic stress, poor sleep, circadian disruption, and toxic exposures. While many of these forces feel outside our control, the encouraging reality is that many of the most powerful interventions remain accessible: improving sleep, reducing toxic load, eating whole foods, getting sunlight, managing stress, exercising regularly, and reclaiming responsibility for our health. The goal isn't fear. The goal is awareness—and action."     Bibliography/Sources: The Decline — Primary Research Levine, H., Jørgensen, N., Martino-Andrade, A., et al. (2022). Temporal trends in sperm count: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis of samples collected globally in the 20th and 21st centuries. Human Reproduction Update, 29(2), 157–176. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmac035 Lokeshwar, S. D., Patel, P., Fantus, R. J., et al. (2021). Decline in testosterone levels in men aged 15–40: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999–2016. World Journal of Urology, 39(2), 447–452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03227-1 Spital Clinic. (2026, March). Declining testosterone levels by generation. https://www.spitalclinic.com Travison, T. G., Araujo, A. B., O'Donnell, A. B., Kupelian, V., & McKinlay, J. B. (2007). A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 92(1), 196–202. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2006-1375 Low Testosterone — Mortality & Disease Risk Muraleedharan, V., Marsh, H., Kapoor, D., Channer, K. S., & Jones, T. H. (2013). Testosterone deficiency is associated with increased risk of mortality and testosterone replacement improves survival in men with type 2 diabetes. European Journal of Endocrinology, 169(6), 725–733. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-13-0321 Shores, M. M., et al. (2006). Low testosterone associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166(15), 1660–1665. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/410754 Yeap, B. B., Marriott, R. J., Dwivedi, G., et al. (2024). Associations of testosterone and related hormones with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and incident cardiovascular disease in men. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/M23-2781 Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Associations between endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure and fertility outcomes: A decade of human epidemiological evidence. (2024). PubMed Central (PMC12299029). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12299029/ Hayes, T. B., Haston, K., Tsui, M., et al. (2002). Herbicides: Feminization of male frogs in the wild. Nature, 419, 895–896. https://doi.org/10.1038/419895a Mechanisms of testicular disruption from exposure to BPA and phthalates. (2020). Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(2), 471. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7074154/ Meeker, J. D., Calafat, A. M., & Hauser, R. (2014). Urinary phthalate metabolites and their biotransformation products: Predictors and temporal variability among men and women. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140814124330.htm Zhao, Q., et al. (2023). Male reproductive toxicity of microplastics: Head and tail of the sperm. Science of the Total Environment, 872, 162181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162181 Zhong, B., et al. (2024). Mixed EDC exposure associated with reductions in testosterone and free androgen index. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-76972-z Cortisol, Stress & the HPG Axis Bielohuby, M., et al. (2012). Swiss military cadets prolonged stress study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. Preprints.org. (2025). Sleep deprivation: A modifiable cause. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202505.0580.v1 SiPhox Health. (n.d.). Summary of Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism data. https://www.siphoxhealth.com Viau, V. (2002). Functional cross-talk between the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and -adrenal axes. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 14(6), 506–513. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2826.2002.00798.x Sleep & Testosterone Leproult, R., & Van Cauter, E. (2011). Effect of 1 week of sleep restriction on testosterone levels in young healthy men. JAMA, 305(21), 2173–2174. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1029127 Reiter, R. J., et al. (2021). Melatonin and male reproductive health: Relationship to oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and Leydig cell protection. Endocrine. Tan, D. X., Hardeland, R., Manchester, L. C., et al. (2023). Melatonin as a pleiotropic antioxidant hormone. Journal of Pineal Research. Nutrition — Zinc, Vitamin D, Cholesterol Corona, G., et al. (2010). Statin therapy and testosterone levels in men: A systematic review. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Daniell, H. W. (2002). Hypogonadism in men consuming sustained-action oral opioids. The Journal of Pain, 3(5), 377–384. https://doi.org/10.1054/jpai.2002.126790 Pilz, S., Frisch, S., Koertke, H., et al. (2011). Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 43(3), 223–225. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1269854 Prasad, A. S., Mantzoros, C. S., Beck, F. W., Hess, J. W., & Brewer, G. J. (1996). Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition, 12(5), 344–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0899-9007(96)80058-X Natural Testosterone Support — Botanical Evidence Pine pollen impacts testosterone-related symptoms in men. (2024). ACMCR Case Reports, 14(5), 1–9. Chinnappan, S. M., George, A., et al. (2021). Effect of Eurycoma longifolia standardised extract Physta on testosterone levels in ageing males: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study. Food & Nutrition Research, 65. https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v65.5647 Lazarev, A., & Bezuglov, E. (2021). Testosterone boosters intake in athletes: Current evidence and further directions. Endocrines, 2(2), 109–120. https://doi.org/10.3390/endocrines2020011 Leisegang, K., et al. (2022). Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) improves serum total testosterone in men. Food & Nutrition Research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36013514/ Leitão, A. E., et al. (2021). 6-month double-blind RCT: Eurycoma longifolia 200mg + concurrent training. Maturitas. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.10.005 Lopresti, A. L., Smith, S. J., et al. (2019). An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha extract. Medicine, 98(37), e17186. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000017186 Pandit, S., Biswas, S., Jana, U., De, R. K., Mukhopadhyay, S. C., & Biswas, T. K. (2016). Clinical evaluation of purified shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. Andrologia, 48(5), 570–575. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12482 Saden-Krehula, M., Tajic, M., & Kolbah, D. (1971). Testosterone, epitestosterone and androstenedione in the pollen of Scotch pine Pinus sylvestris L. Experientia, 27(1), 108–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02137731 Wankhede, S., Langade, D., Joshi, K., et al. (2015). Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 12, 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-015-0104-9

About Thomas: Thomas' LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/thomas-dijkman Website: qanda.nl (Company), https://www.ebeltoftgroup.com  Phone: +31652656347 (Work) Email: tdijkman@qanda.nl Thomas' Bio: Thomas Dijkman is a Senior Retail Consultant at Q&A Retail, a Netherlands-based retail consultancy. He is Co-chair of the “Young Ebeltoft” initiative, a global collective of next-generation retail thinkers within the Ebeltoft Group.  Thomas specializes in translating insights, market expertise, and creativity into practical solutions that help leading retailers adapt and thrive in a fast-changing retail environment. He has worked with retailers such as SPAR, Action, Nexeye, and A.S. Watson, advising on strategy, positioning, consumer engagement, and store and format optimization.  With a no-nonsense, data-driven approach, he supports retailers in strengthening their concepts and improving performance across channels. Through his focus on generational insights, Thomas helps retailers better understand what young consumers want and how to turn those insights into action. SHOW INTRO: Today, EPISODE 89… I talk with Thomas Dijkman a Gen Z researcher, which is to say that he is part of Gen Z at 28 years old, who was a speaker at Euroshop 2026. Thomas and the company he work with called Q&A Retail, had just published research on Gen Alpha, which was chock full of insights on this emerging generation of global consumers. We'll get into all of that in a minute but first a few thoughts… *                     *                          *                          * ABOUT DAVID KEPRON: LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582b Websites:  https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website) vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog) Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.com Personal 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.  I caught up with Bryan at the SHOP Marketplace event in Charlotte and chatted about his focus on shaping what comes next in digital signage and experiential design.   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.

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   This week opens in full TWIH chaos: Zach and Scott are somehow a mile apart in San Antonio and still not together, Ben is on the Connecticut shore debuting smarter-looking glasses, and Edwin is back in Barcelona sweating through a muted AC situation. Then the guys get into the real stories moving hospitality. CoStar and Tourism Economics upgrade 2026 RevPAR forecasts, but the panel is skeptical. Luxury keeps pulling away, select service is stuck below inflation, and Ben argues the real problem is product-market fit: too many boring midscale hotels charging more without giving guests a reason to care. Edwin warns that the rush into luxury could create a wave of copy-paste properties that look expensive but mean nothing. Scott lands the bigger question: are we measuring industry health while ignoring the health of the guest experience? From there, Marriott hits 10,000 properties with the JW Marriott Ranthambore in India — and the milestone becomes a debate about scale, owner trust, Bonvoy economics, and whether loyalty programs are quietly becoming financial institutions. Edwin points to owners pushing for a bigger slice of Marriott's credit-card and loyalty revenue, while Ben argues younger hoteliers may not see the same value in flags that previous generations did. The crew digs into whether AI, better data, and a more independent-minded generation of owners could start cracking the big-brand moat. In What's in Your DMs, Ben is seeing a wave of narrative-driven independent hotel projects, Scott hears from a travel advisor whose clients are bringing AI-generated itineraries for human validation, Edwin is getting flooded by designers looking for work, and Zach admits he built a Claude agent to help find better podcast guests. Finally, Edwin breaks down Amsterdam's tourist-tax fight, where the city is pushing toward a 20% tax by 2030 and hotel leaders are moving from dialogue to lawsuits. The group debates overtourism, whether cities want visitor revenue without visitor relationships, and why Europe is starting to feel materially more expensive for travelers. Spice of the Week closes with World Cup infrastructure chaos in Miami, six-hour stadium commutes, and Ben's Messi doppelgänger moment. 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 https://www.journey.com/alliance   Key Topics & Timestamps 00:00 — Intro 06:51 — Story #1: CoStar's Hotel Forecast Reversal 24:00 — Story #2: Marriott Hits 10,000 Hotels 46:50 — What's In Your DMs: AI Travel Planning & Independent Hotel Momentum 1:00:13 — Story #3: Amsterdam's Tourist Tax Revolt 1:11:22 — Spice of the Week   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/iambenwolff/   Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

Peter Frampton, for goodness sake! Part of our lives at Word In Your Ear since we were teenagers. Played guitar on national telly when he was 14. Joined the Herd at 16 and Humble Pie two years later. Had the biggest-selling album in American history in 1976 and now releasing his first new record in 16 years. From his home in Nashville, he looks back here – with great modesty, humour and affection - at how he adjusted to such mountainous success and to “when it all came crashing down” while throwing in a winning impression of George Harrison. This too … … the Herd pursued by screaming girls across Streatham Ice Rink … when “the Face of 1968” (Frampton) joined “the Face of 1967” (Marriott) … recording with George, Ringo, Billy Preston, Steve Stills and Phil Spector (aged 20) - “where the hell am I and how did I get here?” … “I'd fallen off the radar and Bowie gave me the biggest gift anyone could give me” … the petrifying success of Frampton Comes Alive! - “I felt I'd be like a Rubik's Cube, here today, gone tomorrow” … the Scout Club gig (aged 12) that lit the fuse and playing Ready Steady Go! when he was 14 (same show as the Stones) … when his father met Mick Jagger … making the doomed Sgt Pepper film with the Bee Gees … working with Sheryl Crow who'd had a poster of him when she was 14 … and revisiting his childhood home in Beckenham. Order ‘Carry The Light' here: https://www.frampton.com/Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Frampton, for goodness sake! Part of our lives at Word In Your Ear since we were teenagers. Played guitar on national telly when he was 14. Joined the Herd at 16 and Humble Pie two years later. Had the biggest-selling album in American history in 1976 and now releasing his first new record in 16 years. From his home in Nashville, he looks back here – with great modesty, humour and affection - at how he adjusted to such mountainous success and to “when it all came crashing down” while throwing in a winning impression of George Harrison. This too … … the Herd pursued by screaming girls across Streatham Ice Rink … when “the Face of 1968” (Frampton) joined “the Face of 1967” (Marriott) … recording with George, Ringo, Billy Preston, Steve Stills and Phil Spector (aged 20) - “where the hell am I and how did I get here?” … “I'd fallen off the radar and Bowie gave me the biggest gift anyone could give me” … the petrifying success of Frampton Comes Alive! - “I felt I'd be like a Rubik's Cube, here today, gone tomorrow” … the Scout Club gig (aged 12) that lit the fuse and playing Ready Steady Go! when he was 14 (same show as the Stones) … when his father met Mick Jagger … making the doomed Sgt Pepper film with the Bee Gees … working with Sheryl Crow who'd had a poster of him when she was 14 … and revisiting his childhood home in Beckenham. Order ‘Carry The Light' here: https://www.frampton.com/Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Frampton, for goodness sake! Part of our lives at Word In Your Ear since we were teenagers. Played guitar on national telly when he was 14. Joined the Herd at 16 and Humble Pie two years later. Had the biggest-selling album in American history in 1976 and now releasing his first new record in 16 years. From his home in Nashville, he looks back here – with great modesty, humour and affection - at how he adjusted to such mountainous success and to “when it all came crashing down” while throwing in a winning impression of George Harrison. This too … … the Herd pursued by screaming girls across Streatham Ice Rink … when “the Face of 1968” (Frampton) joined “the Face of 1967” (Marriott) … recording with George, Ringo, Billy Preston, Steve Stills and Phil Spector (aged 20) - “where the hell am I and how did I get here?” … “I'd fallen off the radar and Bowie gave me the biggest gift anyone could give me” … the petrifying success of Frampton Comes Alive! - “I felt I'd be like a Rubik's Cube, here today, gone tomorrow” … the Scout Club gig (aged 12) that lit the fuse and playing Ready Steady Go! when he was 14 (same show as the Stones) … when his father met Mick Jagger … making the doomed Sgt Pepper film with the Bee Gees … working with Sheryl Crow who'd had a poster of him when she was 14 … and revisiting his childhood home in Beckenham. Order ‘Carry The Light' here: https://www.frampton.com/Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get 50% off Cardpointers+ - Track cards, automatically load Chase & Amex Offers + a lot more. Lock-in lifetime membership at half off. (affiliate) https://milestomemories.com/go/cardpointers/  Shawn's Capital One Shopping referral - https://capitaloneshopping.com/r/424785a3-c3f2-4b84-a077-f724abcd89ff It was a wild week in the points world. An email to Chase Ink Plus cardholders made it look like 5X on office supplies was getting axed, the internet panicked, and we called it as a likely mistake before Chase confirmed it was just human error. We also break down the Paze spend 10 dollars get 10 dollars promo that people abused so hard with New Egg gift cards that Chase started shutting down options in a single day, and the new Amex Resy credit changes coming August 1 that may or may not be a big deal. Then we get into the meatier stuff: a great One Mile at a Time piece on hotel owners pushing Marriott for a bigger cut, why that means points will likely cost all of us more, and Ben's editorial on whether miles and points is even fun anymore. Plus a Capital One Shopping shout out and why those targeted offers are worth a look.  Episode Guide: 0:00 - Intro: The Great Office Supply 5X Scare of 2026 1:37 - Chase Ink Plus 5X Email: Mistake or Devaluation? 3:55 - The Paze Promo That Got Abused (and Nerfed) 6:54 - Amex Resy Credit Changes Coming August 1 10:14 - Capital One Shopping: Don't Sleep on the Offers 12:09 - Hotel Owners vs Marriott: Why Points Will Cost More 17:01 - Is Miles and Points Even Fun Anymore? 20:08 - Better Earning vs Worse Availability 22:20 - Going Mainstream Killed the Simplicity 24:55 - Social Media Killed the Loophole 26:52 - A Tip of the Cap to Lucky and Wrap-Up ✈️ Track your travel credit cards for free

The Social Success Series is back with a brand new episode featuring a very special guest and hospitality's no-nonsense voice, Mr. Scott Eddy!  Scott Eddy joins the podcast to give audiences his perspective and insights on where the future of hospitality is headed, social media growth in hospitality, and how AI technology is the biggest innovation that the industry has ever seen. If you are looking to stay ahead of the hospitality technology curve by getting the latest hospitality information, tune in to the episode. Cassady Quintana: Welcome to the Social Success Podcast, where we have conversations with top hospitality professionals about successful digital marketing strategies, emerging trends, and how to connect with today’s travelers. I’m your host, Cassady Quintana. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Social Success series. My name is Cassady Quintana and I am the brand ambassador here at Travel Media Group. And today we have an awesome guest. I am super excited, a hospitality influencer, celebrity to me. Super excited to have the no nonsense voice of hospitality. Mr. Scott Eddy, thank you so much for joining me. Scott Eddy: Thanks so much for having me, man. Cassady Quintana: Yeah, super excited. So, right now you’re in Spain. We talked a little bit about that, but for people that may be a little bit unfamiliar with you and your history, talk us through how you got involved in hospitality and how you got to where you are today. Scott Eddy: Yeah, so I actually didn’t come from a hospitality at all. I came from investment banking, which I think gives me a very different lens of the world. So I look at hospitality through psychology, positioning, ROI, branding human behavior before I even look at aesthetics, which actually means nothing. after my banking career ended, I went to Thailand on a two week trip, and after four days I called my mom. I was like, I’m never coming home. I love this place. And I ended up living in Bangkok for 11 years. So I went over there in 99, several years before social media came out. So for the next four or five years, I basically just partied my butt off all over Asia, made a lot of friends and just getting acclimated with the region. ’cause it was just, it’s like a different world over there. So then social media came out and I started the first digital agency in Asia, and we were the biggest for five years. And all my clients were hotels. So my very first client in this industry was the first Aman property on earth. Aman…, which was in Phuket. And that really taught me the whole quiet, luxury, luxury persona. Like that whole thing. It really like it was like a, like a, like a weight in my brain that is still there today. It’s really, really stuck with me and a lot of things that I learned from that project. Really, I use it every day. Cassady Quintana: Yeah. No, that’s awesome. I feel like a lot of the people I talk to and we talk to here, it’s kind of a similar story. They fall into hospitality, they don’t realize, and it happened to me too, like I was working just in normal social media marketing before I got into hospitality. And that’s kind of how it happens for a lot of people. So you live in hotels, you’re traveling constantly. A lot of people would only dream of that. I wish I could do something like that. So for you, at what point did you realize, like, this wasn’t travel anymore, but you could kind of turn that into your brand and a business for yourself? Scott Eddy: So, okay, so as I was doing the agency, and again, I just hired really smart people that worked at advertising agencies. And just watched them. But during that time, that’s when social media first came out. And I’m very early on every platform. I was probably first 2000 people on Twitter. And Twitter was it back then. So that’s actually where I built my brand. And I was the first American expat in every Asian country to have a million followers on Twitter, which back then got me headline news, which got me speaking gigs, which got me consulting gigs. So after a while, all my business was coming through my social media. And again, this is back when there was no term influencer, there was no term personal brand. There was no, that might have been a thing, but it wasn’t a thing. So eventually I just decided to sell the agency because it just made no sense to me to have a brick and mortar office paying 37 full-time employees when the clients are coming through my phone or my computer. Like, it just didn’t make sense. So I sold it and started traveling around. In total did 11 years in Thailand, one year in Philippines, one year in Sri Lanka, four years in Spain, one year in Portugal, and one year in London. And then I came back to the US in 2015, thereabouts. And that is when I literally blew up because that is when real budgets were starting to be applied to social media marketing. And I was approached by a PR agency as soon as I came back to be the travel host for the first video, for the first travel show that was gonna be a lifetime. And it was like a Anthony Bourdain type show. It was called Video Globetrotter. So that solidified me in the U.S. Then I just started doing just huge campaigns with F1, with Air New Zealand, with like, all these big brands. I was a brand ambassador for Lexus for two years. I mean, it was, it was very, very cool. But when I, before I came back to the States when I was in Europe, I was just looking at like what was gonna happen when I went back to the States and I was like, well, I don’t want to get a lease and like have like a normal life. I haven’t had a life for a very long time. So I ended up selling everything that I own while I was in Europe and even now. So I was born in Michigan, but I was grow, I grew up in Fort Lauderdale since I was little. I used to only have a storage unit in South Florida. So I used South Florida as a base in between all my trips. But I’m there two, three days. Like, I was just there this past weekend. I went to F1 and then I came to Europe right away. That’s awesome. So, yeah, I mean, it just happened. When did it happen? Who knows? But it just, I’ve been in the trenches of hospitality marketing for 17 years, since day one of social media. Not that we were doing social media strategies on day one. Back then it was like websites and SEO and graphic design. Remember when people paid for that? Cassady Quintana: Yeah. Scott Eddy: So the services side is very different now. But it’s fun. But it’s fun and hospitality, like it’s the greatest people in the world. Cassady Quintana: I couldn’t agree more. I mean, how could you not be happy with being able to travel to all these places and meet new people and stay in different hotels and you’ve experienced, a wide range of different hotels. So when you think back of all these places you’ve stayed at, for you what makes a memorable stay versus one that’s kind of forgettable? Scott Eddy: And I’ve had both. The difference is emotional impact. That’s it. Most luxury hotels today are physically beautiful. And emotionally empty. The industry has been become obsessed with that whole polished and everything else. But forget humanity. Guests don’t remember the sink design or the way the lobby looked. They remember how your people made them feel. And I’ll give you a perfect example, and this is not to put them down, but I just left Tulsa. I was there for eight days. I mean, you’re talking about Tulsa, Oklahoma. Like it’s not New York City, it’s not Paris, it’s not Hong Kong, it’s Tulsa. And I was at the Marriott there. And again, this is not a ultra luxury property, I’m telling you right now, I stay over 300 nights in hotels and have done so for the more than eight, nine years. This was the best employees, the best staff that I’ve ever met in my life, ever. And I’ve lived in Asia for 13 years. And Asia has, I mean, the best of the best. But I mean, it, it was crazy. Like the finance lady coming out and she’s like smiling and laughing with the staff. Have you ever seen finance person smile? Like that’s where the creativity goes to die. That’s the person who’s telling me, no, no, no, we don’t have the money for this. Like, it was unbelievable like every day I was just like pinching myself. I’m like, is this real? It was just, it was really crazy that the best experience that I’ve had ever in hospitality just happened. Cassady Quintana: Oh, that’s awesome. And I feel like this is something that a lot of hotels should be posting about on social media because I always say like, your hotel and the way it looks is part of the experience, but what makes it memorable or what makes it terrible for people is how the service was. So, and that can be hard to translate online. So when you are looking at a hotel, social media page for you, like what makes something make you gravitate towards it and wanna engage with it, rather than it being a promotional or sale. Like how can hotels translate that inhuman experience and how awesome their staff is and how awesome their staff makes you feel to social media so that potential guests can feel that through the phone? Scott Eddy: I mean, first off,I browse through social media profiles of hotels every day. I mean, I’m, I’m talking dozens and it’s, it’s honestly most of it just makes me wanna throw. It is ridiculous. We are in the most feel good, fuzzy warm feeling industry in the world. And they can’t stop taking these gorgeous pictures of rooms and dead pictures of an empty swimming pool. And like, it’s unbelievable. Most hotels, social media feels like it was approved by seven people in a boardroom and a legal department. That’s the problem. Everything is safe, polished, filtered, and emotionally flat human beings connect with people, not corporate perfection. When are you gonna wake up? Like, I don’t understand. It’s 2026. It’s almost as if they don’t have a calendar. Like show it, show the chef, show the bartender, show the housekeeper, show them, show humor. I mean, like, it’s crazy. Cassady Quintana: And I think that’s the thing, like when Instagram first came out, it was that opposite, right? We need the perfect photo, we need the perfect shot. We have to use the perfect filter. And now it’s, it’s kind of gone to the opposite. And maybe this is with AI becoming so pertinent in all of these things, but people want to see that real moment. Because it’s hard to imagine yourself in a perfect photo of a hotel room. Like, I wanna see someone enjoying their coffee, or like you said at the pool, things like that. So obviously you’ve followed this since it’s started and it’s changed. We’ve seen new trends. We’ve seen Instagram change its algorithm completely. So beyond that human emotion, is there anything else that you think hoteliers are still getting wrong in 2026 with their social media? Scott Eddy: I mean, the biggest mistake hotels are still making is thinking that content is the strategy. Content is not the strategy. Content is the vehicle. Emotional relevance is the strategy. Anybody can create content. Now, do you have a phone? You can create content, you have AI, it can create content. So the value is no longer in simply producing the content. The value is in perspective, storytelling, culture, trust, leadership, and emotional connection. That is the number one. Most hotels still have no clear voice online. What I love to ask hotels. I love to say, what is your brand personality? They don’t know how to answer. Like, how do you not know that there’s no founder visibility, there’s no staff involvement, there’s no community building. God help you if you can find a GM. They’re heading in the office. There’s no understanding of platform psychology. I was talking to a guy who is part of a group of a hotel group, and they own 11-17, they owned a bunch of hotels. And I asked him about one of the properties. So before we hopped on the call, I went on every platform to see where they are, how active they are. That way I have the ammunition. We get on the phone and I ask him, what about X, Y, Z property? I couldn’t find them on TikTok. Why aren’t they, oh, I don’t like TikTok. That wasn’t a question. Cassady Quintana: Right. Scott Eddy: And then, with me, I dive deeper. I’m like, why don’t you like it? kids dancing. Come on. That’s the way it started. I said, the average, the average age demographic that’s most active right now is 38 to 57. Luxury brands are killing it on TikTok. I love when people say can’t sell luxury on social media. What? These are the people that aren’t on their phones. Right. Come on, man. Cassady Quintana: No, and I love that you mentioned that because especially TikTok, it had that, that image, especially in 2020 of just being that platform where people dance. But it goes beyond that now because we’re starting to see integrations with, Booking.com on TikTok and Expedia on Instagram. Like, there the conversation of is important is long gone. Now it’s, why are you not on this? It’s kind of almost weird and embarrassing if you’re not on social media. Like, what do you mean you’re not on social media? ’cause that is, and especially my, I’m older, gen Z, but as these new demographics start to have buying power, this is where we’re searching. Likeand it, and like you said, TikTok is now that age group of 30 to 50. Like those are the people with the most buying power. So what do you mean, like that it, and it’s hard to get people to see that sometimes because when they have that preconceived notion of what social media is, to try and get them to a point of believing in it is tough. But I mean, the proof is in the pudding. We can show them how important that is. So kind of in that same world, I mean we’re seeing a lot of influencers in hospitality now. And we actually, I did an exercise last week where I was searching, hotels and the most viral videos and most of them came from influencers. So where do you see the value with influencers in hotels and maybe where do you see that continue to go? Scott Eddy: The problem with the whole influencer space, and I hate that word so much. Just because influencers ruined, just like marketers ruin the term marketing. Influencers have ruined the term influencers. I mean, it’s just such a egotistical. Ridiculous word. It’s just such a saturated market. So much so that I don’t even work in South Florida and I rarely work in Florida. And if I can avoid it, I rarely work in the U.S. I’d much rather work overseas. South Florida, it’s like all the big cities are just saturated. So, I mean, of course in between all my trips I get offered to do a million free things and I’m like, bro, I’ve been building my brand for 17 years. Like I’m not in the intern stage right now. Like, I already built my brand. I don’t, I don’t need your $20 meal for Instagram posts. I appreciate it though. But I mean, most hotels, they still evaluate influencers completely wrong. They obsess over follower accounts instead of trust and audience alignment. I can’t tell you how many times, so if somebody doesn’t know me, they don’t follow me on LinkedIn or a lot of other platforms and they just look from the outside looking in and they just see a big audience. So the first thing they’re gonna say, okay, this guy’s an influencer. Which I don’t mind. I still being an influencer, I hate it. But doing that is still a lot of what I do. Because yes, I travel with a video guy. They’re get and a photographer, one of the top photographers in hospitality by the way. And they both arrive here on Friday and we’re going on a cruise. So I do travel with a video guy and we do long form storytelling. We do a lot of things and we do complete photo shoots and this and that, but they always want my distribution. So like, I would never run away from that because I have a very good audience. I’m deep in the wine world. I’m deep in the finance world. I mean, my audience spends, so I know creators with massive audiences that couldn’t drive a booking if their life depended on it. Meanwhile, smaller niche creators, which strong trusts absolutely crush it because their audience actually listens to them. Listen, it’s the micro influencers that are killing it right now. Their engagement rates are in the teens, people like me, people with over a million followers, generally if you have a anywhere from one to 3% engagement rate, you’re killing it. I get very high engagement. So I mean, I just figured it out two days ago because I’m launching a new website and new media kit and whatnot. I just did my media kit or my engagement rate on Instagram so far in 2026 and I’m at 6.5%. Oh, that’s awesome. I mean, that’s like top tier, right? For somebody in my space. But I mean, most macro, most big, I think they call ’em mega like over one, two, 3 million. You’re lucky if you get one to 2%, but the numbers still work out to somebody who has 20,000 who’s getting an 11% engagement rate. Things like that. So, I mean, hotels need to stop treating creators like vending machines. Here’s a free room now, make us viral. It’s not a strategy. I can’t tell you how many hotels tell me that they want to go viral if I can help them. And I, and I asked them, I’m like, what is getting going viral gonna do for you? And they can’t answer going viral 90% of the time, does nothing. My photographer that I traveled with, he did a hyperlapse video on a river cruise that we were on of like a locks opening up and closing. It was very cool. I think it got like 12 or 15 million. I’ve never even gotten those numbers. I mean, he’s still sitting, like, he didn’t gain a hundred thousand followers. He didn’t get 10,000 brands commenting oor wanting to work with him. Viral does nothing without a proper strategy attached to it. What I mean? So the, the problem is these brands, they don’t do the research. I can’t tell you how many times I get reached out to and they’re like, Hey, we want you to do this campaign. And I’m like, this is not even my niche. Oh, sorry. It was a copy and paste email. Well, no kidding. Of course. It was like, it just, listen, over the next few years, creators are gonna evolve into, and they already are full blown media companies, production, distribution, consulting, storytelling, community building, all of it. The creator economy, let me tell you, and I’d much rather call it that than influencer space. It’s becoming one of the most powerful engines in hospitality because the bigger AI gets, and listen, a lot of these companies will go to the wayside. But AI, the technology is here. The bigger AI gets, the more valuable humans are gonna be. Cassady Quintana: Absolutely. We, we say that all the time, especially because AI is gonna fuel the tech. But at the heart of hospitality is the people and it will always be the people. And you can’t replace that people to people emotion. And like you said earlier in this episode about how that’s what you remember the most right. Is how the staff made you feel. And AI will never be able to do that. So I’m glad you brought up AI because we are seeing that start to shape the traveler journey. Like I mentioned with the integrations with Expedia and Instagram and their AI agents that are building these itineraries. So where do you think AI and social media and hospitality are headed now and in probably the next couple of years? Scott Eddy: I honestly think that most of the hospitality industry still underestimates how massive this shift is. This is bigger than social media. This is big tech, bigger than mobile phones, bigger than websites. AI is fundamentally changing how humans make decisions, right? We’re moving from search behavior to recommendation behavior. And that changes everything. Your website is no longer the front door to your brain. AI is becoming the front door. Yeah. Travelers are increasingly asking ai what hotel fits their personality, what cruise line matches their lifestyle, where they should go for a specific emotional experience. Yeah. So now your digital footprint matters more than any more than ever. Consistency matters more than ever. The brands that survive this next era are gonna be the brands that feel the most human, have the clearest voice and create the strongest emotional connection online, generic corporate garbage. You’re done. Cassady Quintana: Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, and we’re already in the middle of that. I feel like we know a lot of us, we don’t necessarily know how big AI is gonna be and where we’ll be this time next year. I mean, I bet in just a few weeks we could be having this conversation again and it would be something new. So course it’s definitely always changing and I recommend everyone that’s listening to this episode to follow you because this is the kind of stuff that you’re talking about and you’re following and it’s, it’s super important. Hotels are busy and a lot of the time they don’t have the time to do the research. So if they can find people like you to get that information from, it’s extremely helpful because it’s, it’s changing every single day. So if you can stay up to date and understand it and what’s going on and how you need to adjust your social strategy and your marketing strategy as a whole, you’re gonna be ahead of the pack. And so with that, thank you for all that awesome information. I kind of wanna shift gears to get to know you a little bit more Sure. With some rapid fire questions. So first thing that comes to mind that you can think of. So favorite hotel you’ve ever stayed in? Scott Eddy: I have a couple, but let’s say Kuda Duke in Maldives. Cassady Quintana: Alright. I love that. Scott Eddy: It’s insane. Insane. Cassady Quintana: Okay. And then what do you think is the most underrated destination right now? Scott Eddy: Right now? Sri Lanka. I lived in Colombo for a year. It’s seriously underrated. I think it’s, I mean, and it’s already bubbling, right? But I think it’s just gonna explode soon. Cassady Quintana: Is there a best time of year to visit there? Scott Eddy: Just like, you’re in Orlando, right? Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I’m in Orlando. Scott Eddy: So, so just like us, winter time is their high season just like Florida. Cassady Quintana: Okay. Noted. Perfect. Okay. Do you have any travel habits that you swear by? Scott Eddy: Yeah. I, and this is a life habit. I mean, just ’cause my whole life is travel, but I wake up super early every day and I’m up for the sunrise and I go for sunrise walks. If you ever follow, especially my Instagram stories, I’d post sunrise almost every day. I think there’s no better way to start the day. I think it’s impossible to have a bad day when you start the day like that. Cassady Quintana: Right. That’s why they recommend you get 10 minutes of sunlight every morning. Right. There’s, there’s something to that. So definitely everyone follows Scott’s Instagram so you can get that morning motivation for your walks. Okay. One hotel that is crushing social media right now, or one that you’ve seen recently that you loved? Scott Eddy: Wow. That is a great question. Wow. That’s a good question. . You can, there’s a lot out there you can tell. I didn’t really go over your notes, . Cassady Quintana: That’s okay. Scott Eddy: I never do. ’cause that’s like the, that’s when you get the raw answers? Cassady Quintana: Exactly. And then you overthink it. Scott Eddy: Let’s go back to that. Let me think about that for a couple minutes. Cassady Quintana: Okay, perfect. Well that was the last rapid fire question I had. So maybe people just need to follow you and find out later.. Scott Eddy: But let’s talk about brands as a whole. So like, I love, I love fun luxury and I guess they would call them luxury lifestyle or whatever, but I love the one hotels. Okay. All over. I really love, so if you really follow, I used to be, I used to do a lot of work with Ritz Carlton pre pandemic and now they’re just garbage. But horse, the guy who co-founded it started Capella. Capella Hotels is really cool, really fun. It’s just, I like brands that don’t take themselves too seriously. I mean, I hate the whole corporate stuffy stuff. And listen, I’m titanium bonvoy, like I stay in Marriott properties all over the world. Just so I can hit that status. Right. It’s easy because they’re large, they’re boring. The marketing is, I mean it’s, it’s so vanilla, it’s so beige. It’s so like, like it’s forgettable in 10 seconds. Never used to be, and it’s interesting. I remember when W first came out when they were Starwood. W was awesome. I mean fun, great, great, great. Like the marketing was like, just so off the chart and now they just look like any other hotel. Cassady Quintana: Which is so interesting. ’cause social media is like the place to be crazy and be fun because there are really no rules. And like why wouldn’t you be, especially if you were that at one time and your competitors are doing that. Why? I wanna, I wanna know like what the logic is behind that. Like are they trying to keep an image or? Scott Eddy: No? Well, well the ones that are that fly a big flag like Marriott and Hilton and that, they always hide behind, oh, well I can’t do that. ’cause of brain guidelines. Right? So you can’t show fun. Of course you can, right? They just hide behind the rule book and everything takes 15 approvals. So by the time you do have a good idea and you want to execute it, it’s gone. Cassady Quintana: It’s too late. The trend is over. Scott Eddy: It’s about speed. Cassady Quintana: Absolutely. Yeah. Well, I’ll definitely go check out those brand Instagram pages. ’cause that’s the kind of stuff I like to look at. I mean, that’s what makes me as a traveler, I don’t really have much brand loyalty. So I like to do research and look at their Instagram pages and social media, and I’m gonna pick the one that looks the most fun to me. So super important. Okay. Well as we wrap up, Scott, I’m so excited we had this conversation, but for anybody that’s listening, what are you up to next? Where can they find you? You have any campaigns or exciting things coming up? Scott Eddy: I mean, I’m pretty much, I mean, you’re all of this month I’m going, so the, the the top vacation club company and now they’re transforming into just hotels. Nice. But, it’s called Ante in Mexico. So they just launched their ultra luxury cruise line here in the med couple weeks ago. And we’re going out there to film and, and to shoot. That’s the cruise we’re joining on Saturday. And then I’m spending the last two weeks this month in Rome. And then next month I, I’m going to Ellie Miami the first week of June. And then I go to Sicily to speak at a conference. And yeah, so I’m going nonstop and at the same time I’m doing a whole rebrand. So in the next few days I’m launching new website, new logo, new everything. So it’s fun. Cassady Quintana: Well, perfect. By the time this episode comes out, you’ll have your full rebrand. Scott Eddy: There you go. Cassady Quintana: So when people listen to this and they find you, you’ll be ready. So, perfect. Well, I’m excited to, to watch your travels and of course I’m connected with you on LinkedIn and love to see everything that you’re up to. I’ll make sure to follow your Instagram too so I can get that morning inspiration for my Sunrise walks. But thank you so much for taking a little bit of your time out of your day. I know you’re super busy with travel and things going on, so I really appreciate it and I know our listeners do. So thanks for joining me. Scott Eddy: Thanks for having me, man. Cassady Quintana: All right, cool. Well, thank you everybody for listening to another episode of the Social Success Series, and we’ll see you next time. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast so you don’t miss an episode. The Social Success Podcast is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Cassady Quintana, and we hope you enjoyed this episode.

The perk trap is costing organizations thousands while leaving teams burned out. Yolanda Fraction, author of the book Joyful Workplaces, joins us to share how leaders can move past surface-level culture and design systems that deliver both joy and results. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why multi-billion dollar corporate perks like unlimited PTO and cold brew fail to fix the root causes of team burnout The critical operational shift from viewing talent development as a cost center to treating it as a core business driver What it means to lead as a steward of people rather than a controller, and how that impacts daily management decisions How to utilize tactical self-leadership tools like the Johari Window and 360-degree feedback to expose your own leadership blind spots Why corporate culture is never a kickoff project and how to accurately diagnose your workplace using the culture iceberg Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (00:33) The Reality of the Perk Trap (03:15) Designing Systems for Joy and Performance (05:48) Shifting From Controller to Steward of People (08:53) The True Human Cost of Broken Systems (13:51) Using Self Leadership to Drive Team Clarity (19:01) Uncovering Blind Spots and Reflective Leadership (21:20) Diagnosing Culture Beyond the Surface (25:31) A Brand That Makes Yolanda Smile (27:38) Where to Connect with Yolanda Fraction About Yolanda Fraction Yolanda Fraction, M.Ed., is an organizational development consultant, leadership advisor, and corporate trainer with more than two decades of experience helping executives build healthier, high performing workplaces. Currently pursuing her PhD in industrial organizational psychology, Yolanda holds a graduate degree in adult and organizational learning, bringing a deeply practical and human centered approach to talent management across corporate, nonprofit, academic, and government sectors. She is the author of Joyful Workplaces: How People and Systems Create Energy, Resilience, and Results, and she hosts the Teamwork Sandbox podcast, where she explores the direct ways leaders influence and shape modern organizational culture. What Brand Has Made Yolanda Smile Recently? Yolanda shared a powerful story about Marriott that perfectly illustrated care beyond measure. While managing a hectic work travel schedule and undergoing IVF treatments, she arrived well before check-in at a Marriott property needing a safe place to store her temperature-sensitive medications. Instead of sticking strictly to standard front desk policy, an empathetic employee stepped up, securely stored the medication in a staff refrigerator, and personally ensured it safely reached her room later. For Yolanda, this moment of going above and beyond proved that a culture of genuine care is truly embedded within the Marriott brand. Resources & Links Connect with Yolanda on LinkedIn. Learn more about Yolanda Fraction and her work at her website. Listen & Support the Show Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I'll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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   Two of the biggest casino operators in the world became takeover targets in the same week — and the squad has thoughts. Barry Diller's People Inc. just offered $18 billion to take MGM Resorts private, days after Fertitta agreed to buy Caesars. MGM's own CFO didn't argue the company was fairly valued — he argued investors aren't doing the work. Ben, Scott, and Edwin debate whether public markets are simply too lazy to underwrite experience-driven hospitality, and what the next-generation casino actually looks like. Then: the deal that almost rewrote the industry. On a recent podcast, Airbnb's former Chief Strategy Officer Chip Conley revealed that Marriott and Airbnb spent six months negotiating a major partnership in 2016 — including talk of earning and burning Bonvoy points on Airbnb stays — before Marriott's owners killed it. Was it the most expensive "no" in hospitality history? Plus: Zach got access to Odesia, the AI travel search platform from Sonder's co-founder that just landed $6M from Sequoia — and it's the best AI trip-planning experience he's seen, full stop. And a new survey of 2,000 travelers reveals what premium guests will actually pay more for: quiet rooms, verified sustainability, and tech that connects rather than dazzles. Spoiler — it's a home-field advantage for independents. Spice of the Week covers a sandwich shop that turned away revenue over a tiny dog, why full hotels fool owners into thinking their marketing works, the OTA-fee budget shell game, and Zach's big announcement: Journey's new strategic partnership with Cloudbeds. 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 https://www.journey.com/alliance   Key Topics & Timestamps 00:00 — Intro 05:08 — Story #1: MGM's Take-Private Bid and the Value of Live Experience 16:31 — Story #2: Marriott and Airbnb's Partnership That Never Happened 33:43 — Story #3: Travelers Will Pay More for Quiet, Calm, and Credibility 44:54 — Spice of the Week   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/iambenwolff/   Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

Dans cet épisode de CHEFS D'ENTREPRISE-S, on reçoit Félix de La Haye, directeur général de Tomorrow Food, cabinet de conseil en stratégie restauration et loisirs qui aide hôteliers, foncières et opérateurs de grandes surfaces à créer leur offre de restauration.Félix a grandi à Compiègne, pas bon élève. Son chemin passe par une licence de droit redoublée, un départ en Australie où il découvre l'adrénaline des cuisines de Melbourne, puis un retour en France comme formateur RH chez Canard Street. Il rejoint Tomorrow Food en stage, en devient directeur général en quatre ans et pilote la cession de la boîte à un opérateur immobilier. Aujourd'hui l'agence travaille pour Marriott, la Française des Jeux, des chaînes hôtelières 4 étoiles en créant des concepts qui collent aux territoires et aux publics locaux.Un épisode sur l'art de dire à un client que son idée ne peut pas fonctionner et sur cette conviction que la restauration et les loisirs sont les seules activités que personne ne pourra se faire livrer à domicile.Cet épisode existe grâce au soutien de notre partenaire LightSpeed, une solution ultra efficace pour les professionnels qu'on vous invite à découvrir ici !

Marriott Media Network's Chris Norton discusses how the hotelier is differentiating itself in the crowded field of retail media networks, including through partnerships with United Airlines and Dick's Sporting Goods. The hotel chain's senior VP of marketing capabilities and general manager also talks about Marriott's in-room media channel and why the hotelier is prioritizing measurement. Dig deeper: ~Retail media's growth and the big platforms shaking up retail media trading ~Uber's ad chief on becoming a "mindset media company" ~The ANA's industry guidebook on how marketers should organize oversight of retail media ~How travel brands are attracting Gen Z

Chad and Joel, drag Meghan Rhatigan (VP of Talent Acquisition Experience at Marriott International) into the interrogation room to find out how a hospitality giant survives a global punch in the face. Marriott used to live in a pre-2020 la-la land where millions of candidates just fell into their laps organically. Then the pandemic hit, the world shut down, and Marriott was caught flat-footed trying to fill 200,000 global roles using the same old clunky tech and slow-as-molasses hiring managers. Enter Meghan and her organizational change management background to fix a "fat funnel" nightmare where the interview process alone took two agonizing weeks. The "Legal AI" Secret Sauce The ROI: The 5-Million Candidate Bench The Loyalty Program Hustle: Listen and enjoy!

Robert is five days away from retirement, and after decades in high-stress telecom and cybersecurity roles, hundreds of flights, and more than six years spent living in Marriott hotels, he's finally choosing something he's never had enough of: time.In this episode, we explore what it really looks like to retire at 52 after a career built on mission-critical work, nonstop travel, and round-the-clock responsibility. Robert shares how moving to a Montana horse property shifted his priorities, why stress caught up faster than he expected, and the exact moment he realized he didn't need to wait until 70 to make work optional.You'll hear how he evaluated his finances using simple “back-of-the-napkin math,” how his superhero brokerage account bridges the gap until traditional retirement ages, and why recreational employment (like growing his woodworking YouTube channel, Rusted Nut Workshop) is the perfect next chapter. We also talk about identity, marriage, health, estate planning, and the emotional process of telling your company you're done.--The statements provided are from individuals who are not clients of Root Financial Partners, LLC. These individuals were not compensated for their comments, and their views do not necessarily reflect those of Root Financial Partners, LLC. The information shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation or testimonial regarding advisory services.Advisory services are offered through Root Financial Partners, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Viewing this content does not create an advisory relationship. We do not provide tax preparation or legal services. Always consult an investment, tax or legal professional regarding your specific situation.The strategies, case studies, and examples discussed may not be suitable for everyone. They are hypothetical and for illustrative and educational purposes only. They do not reflect actual client results and are not guarantees of future performance. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal.Comments reflect the views of individual users and do not necessarily represent the views of Root Financial. They are not verified, may not be accurate, and should not be considered testimonials or endorsementsParticipation in the Retirement Planning Academy or Early Retirement Academy does not create an advisory relationship with Root Financial. These programs are educational in nature and are not a substitute for personalized financial advice. Advisory services are offered only under a written agreement with Root Financial.Create Your Custom Early Retirement Strategy HereGet access to the same software I use for my clients and join the Early Retirement Academy hereAri Taublieb, CFP ®, MBA  is the Chief Growth Officer of Root Financial Partners and a Fiduciary Financial Planner specializing in helping clients retire early with confidence.

We're going up on a Marriott roof to tackle some exciting new Meshcore and antenna work! This diy project involves integrating solar power for an off grid setup. It's all about making sure our communications are reliable and efficient.

In today's episode, Greg shares the story of how Citi shut down his accounts and what's next for him. (What will he do without his beloved Prestige card?) Read more about Greg's situation with Cit here.Giant Mailbag(01:06) - Russel discusses how Barclays American Airlines card is not a way back to Citi(02:57) - Flyguy talks about also being shutdown by Citi for paying the bill from multiple checking accounts in a single cycleBonvoyed(04:53) - American Airlines blocking close-in domestic award availability to partners here(07:58) - Alaska Airlines: Increased partner award fees & no points or status points on saver fares here(13:36) - What are Hilton points worth? Find out here(21:00) - Hyatt reasonable redemption value previewAwards, Points, and More(23:26) - Vacations by Marriott here(28:42) - World of Hyatt to launch early access bookings for elites and cardholders June 30th.(30:01) - Credit card referral offers(32:53) - Learning to love Instacart credits hereMain Event: Life after Citi(37:25) - Greg's shutdown storyRead more about Greg's situation with Cit here(52:12) - There was a brief window to transfer points(58:40) - Globe Card (from Aviator Silver) opened shortly after shutdown(1:03:41) - What's lost and what to do about it(1:07:51) - Citi's unique transfer partners(1:11:42) - AA status: Will pursue AK status instead(1:14:38) - Priority Pass restaurants: US Bank Altitude Connect(1:16:58) - Grocery(1:23:44) - DiningSubscribe and FollowVisit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe/ to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – “Ocean Deep” by Annie YoderMentioned in this episode:Frequent Miler Beginner's Guidehttps://frequentmiler.com/start-here/Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of Voyascape, a podcast network that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Most leaders are experimenting with AI…

Alissa Coram and Mike Webster walk through Friday's market action and discuss key stocks to watch in Stock Market Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Christy is breaking down why creatives lose deals to cheaper, closer, or more experienced competitors - and the exact middle funnel strategy that flips that around, even when you're the most expensive option in the room.Most photographers, filmmakers, content creators, and social media managers focus almost entirely on portfolio content and conversion content. What gets skipped is the middle: the content that makes someone actually like you. And without that, even a warm inquiry turns cold the second they see your price.Christy uses a story from her stay at the Montage in Laguna Beach to unpack why luxury brands are actually the most personal brands - and how that applies directly to your marketing. The Marriott is polished and professional. The Montage knows your name. That difference is what gets clients to choose you over someone cheaper, more convenient, or more local.She also walks through the Identity Pillar Framework she teaches inside the Creativ Rise Mastermind: three specific content pillars that build the know, like, and trust factor your funnel is missing.Here's what's covered:Why the "like" factor is the most skipped piece of the marketing funnelWhat luxury brands do differently (and how to apply it to your creative business)The Identity Pillar Framework and how to pick your three pillarsWhat identity matching is and why it closes deals at higher price pointsWhere to start sharing your pillars without overhauling your whole content strategyStart building the middle of your funnel and the right clients will start choosing you - even when you're not the cheapest, closest, or most experienced option.P.S. If you want to build the full funnel that closes clients at higher prices, get on the waitlist for the next round of the 6 Week Creativ Rise Mastermind at www.creativrise.com.FREE TOOLS & TRAININGS→ Pricing Calculator: https://www.creativrise.com/pricingcalculator→ Pitching Masterclass Course: https://www.creativrise.com/pitchingmasterclass→ Sales Call Formula Course: https://www.creativrise.com/offers/RM2ZPtZx/checkout→ Productivity Course: https://www.creativrise.com/productivity→ Money Management Training: https://www.creativrise.com/moneytraining→ Fix Your Inquiry Form: https://www.creativrise.com/inquiryformLISTEN & SUBSCRIBE→ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/creativrise→ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/creativriseFOLLOW ALONG→ Instagram: @creativrise | @joeyspeers | @christyjspeers

Mark Donne, general manager of Mount Juliet Estate, talks with James Shillinglaw of Insider Travel Report about his classic five-star Irish estate hotel located in County Kilkenny. Located in the middle of 500 acres of gardens and parkland, this Georgian estate, part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, now features completely renovated rooms and suites, revamped dining options and myriad activities to engage every luxury guest. For more information, visit www.mountjuliet.ie. All our Insider Travel Report video interviews are archived and available on our Youtube channel  (youtube.com/insidertravelreport), and as podcasts with the same title on: Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Listen Notes, Podchaser, TuneIn + Alexa, Podbean,  iHeartRadio,  Google, Amazon Music/Audible, Deezer, Podcast Addict, and iTunes Apple Podcasts, which supports Overcast, Pocket Cast, Castro and Castbox. 

The Break Room (WEDNESDAY 6/3/26) 7am Hour 1) Juuuuust when you thought you were an official empty nester... 2) Shark meat at the market 3) Name three Knicks!

In this celebratory episode, The Suite Spot hosts two TMG veterans, Director of Product – Respond and Resolve™, Jackie Avery, and Chief Technology Officer, Jason Lee, on the podcast to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the Respond and Resolve™ digital solution.  Jackie Avery discusses what the milestone means to her and her team, and how responding to reviews is the foundation for connecting to guests and why it’s critical for hoteliers to give authentic responses to their guests. Jason joins the podcast to share the history and evolution of the Respond and Resolve™ digital solution and how it has become the industry solution service it is today.  Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot, a celebration, my favorite type of episodes we have on the Suite Spot. Very excited to share a milestone and achievement, a celebration, like I said, a 10 year anniversary of our award-winning, industry leading Respond and Resolve™, review response solution. Here with the Product Director of Respond and Resolve™, Jackie Avery. Jackie, welcome back to the Suite Spot. Jackie Avery: Thank you. I’m so happy to be here. I’m so excited to talk about this too. Ryan Embree: Congratulations, what a feat. 10 years of responding to reviews. We are gonna have the opportunity to speak with Jason Lee, our Chief Technology Officer, and we’re gonna talk to him about really the history and evolution of this solution, and really guest feedback management in general, how that’s evolved over time. But with you, I thought we’d start with talking about present today and this solution respond and resolve, again, responding to guest, hotel, guest reviews. What makes this so special? What is the secret sauce? Why has it seen such an explosion of growth from our hotel partners, and what do people love about it? Jackie Avery: Yeah, so I’d say everyone on my team probably has a different answer to this, but for me, it really comes down to passion, time, and flexibility. So we’re really passionate about that connection making, you know, that moment with the guest truly matter. Taking the time to really connect in that way with them. And I’d say, I guess right, others might say, well, you know, these other people within the industry or at the hotel also have that passion and, and care about that connection. So, I think we all agree that that’s really important. But then you come to also adding in time. So someone might be able to dedicate an hour to responding to their guest reviews, or maybe even a few hours a week, and they feel really good about that. But like for us, right? This is day in, day out. This is what we do all day long. We really have the time to not only have the passion for that connection with the guest, but take the time to think about what they wrote and how they wrote it. And so, and there are gonna be people who have the passion and have the time, and I absolutely do not wanna diminish that. I’m so happy that they do. I’d say the third, and just as equally important aspect though, is flexibility. So this is an ever changing landscape, right? One moment. The M dash in writing makes you sound human. It’s casual. This is how you connect. The very next day, that’s an indicator of AI. If you’re using that, no one thinks you’re you. So in the past, right, you would start writing a response and you just wanna make sure you’re not sounding defensive, you’re not being dismissive of, whatever their concern is. And that’s still important, but that’s not where you start anymore. You start by convincing someone that you’re a person, you’re sitting at a computer taking away from all of these other aspects of your job, and you’re like, my first step is showing everyone that I’m me and I’m real. So, on top of all of that, right now, you’ve got that going on. Maybe, you know, you feel like you’ve got a handle on it. There is a very intense, again, ever changing landscape when you’re thinking about the political climate, the economic climate, and those impacts the guests and travel. We all know that. And so it’s really hard to meet a guest where they’re at. If you’re not keeping up to date with everything going on. You have to be aware of those shifts that are happening all the time to everyone. Ryan Embree: Yeah. It’s ever changing, especially over the course of a decade, which has obviously been the timeline of this solution here. And you’re absolutely right. I mean, that authenticity is so key to show the guest that you actually care about what you wrote. And you’re right, there’s a challenge now to almost convince that guest that I am real. I am listening to you and I’m connecting. And there’s a reason why in this age of technological advancement and AI, we were talking about it every single day. We’re at the peak of technological advancement. Every single day we move forward, there are still hotels that come to us and say, we want to maintain a human to human connection. We don’t want AI to be responding or generating responses that are going straight to our guests. Why do you feel like that is, and and what are the feedback you’re hearing for these hotel partners? Jackie Avery: Yeah, so when you zoom out, right? Guests are the entire reason that hotels exist. So when you’re considering reviews and checking reviews before you stay somewhere or leaving a review, after you’ve departed, these are really important aspects of the guest journey. They’re a part of your guest experience. So when you are a property who is fully invested in your guests having a great experience at your hotel, you want them to be surprised when they come in the best ways. You want them to leave with the best memories and spread that by word of mouth and online, you understand that you have to continue that real connection the same way you want to at the front desk in those points online. You have to connect with them human to human in that review response. Ryan Embree: You know, Jackie, one of the things that I think makes the solution so special, and something you’ve done a great job of is curating this team of professional writers where a lot of these writers here went to school for writing and communication. You know, these are degrees that are their specialty. They have a passion for this, right? And you talk to a general manager nowadays maybe they didn’t, maybe they don’t have a passion in writing, right? Like, that wasn’t why they got into hospitality to say, I wanna be a writer. But, you know, you created this team that also understands the nuances of the hotel world. It’s the only vertical that we work with in hospitality. And there’s so many of those little nuances that you have to teach and you have to incorporate in your messaging and in your review response writing to make sure that is articulated so clearly to your guests, or really it undermines your reputation as a whole. Talk to us a little bit about some of those nuances, maybe some examples and how you’ve been able to generate just this team of, again, just incredible writers. Jackie Avery: So, I’m fortunate because we’re doing this episode to celebrate 10 years. So we know what we’re looking for and we have experience in how to train specifically writing for hospitality and guest reviews. So fortunately, you have these degrees where people come in, they’re educated, they know how to write well, and then you have this training based on real world experience. And having seen the evolution of guest reviews. You used to get it where guests only left reviews when they’re angry. That’s not the case anymore. Guests go, they love the praise of feeling rewarded for leaving a good review. They wanna leave a good review. And having written so many, right? Each individual learns something and takes it back to the team. So it’s consistent workshops, it’s creative workshops, it’s adjusting to the new landscape, right? Being aware of what is seen as AI and what is AI. Being able to identify a review where a guest used AI to leave it, maybe. Or also being able to take a moment and pause and know the best way to reach another human when they’re being skeptical. So where as someone on property, right? They’re so focused maybe on, well, I wanna let this guest know that’s not how we do things, or that’s not really what happened here. And this professional writer on the team realizes the first line of this review was, and I bet a bot is gonna answer this. You have to cross that bridge first. You have to tackle that first. And if you don’t know how, it’s gonna be really hard to get your actual message across to this person that you really want to. So, we’re always building on what we know, because we realize what we know today can’t be what we rely on forever. Everything is gonna be different in three months. Everything will be different in one year. And when you’re set up to be able to make those adjustments, and you’re excited about that, when you love writing, when you love being able to write in a different way and connect with someone, and this is your passion, you know, you thrive in that landscape, it’s not a challenge that you don’t wanna take on. You look forward to it. Ryan Embree: Yeah, absolutely. And you’re absolutely right about the landscape. Completely changing. Sometimes, even though over the course of 10 years, I mean, booking has their pros and cons. They actually essentially solicit some of the negative feedback so that you can address that character count, right? With a TripAdvisor and maybe now going into reviews with no content at all, and responding to those PPI and personal information using people’s names in those responses. Is that something that a site allows or not? All of these are things that you wouldn’t really think through in responding to reviews, but it’s so critical and so important because, again, it’s an underlying foundation of your reputation management. And why do we respond to reviews to show we care? So if that care isn’t being shown, it really undermines your reputation. So, anything that lasts for 10 years obviously, means that it’s a success. I’m sure you’ve heard over the years some really, really rewarding pieces of feedback from our hotel partners. Can you share, we love a good story here on the Suite Spot in the podcast. Can you share any examples, maybe just one or two of some special moments or conversations with some of our Respond and Resolve™ clients? Jackie Avery: Yeah. Thinking back, because it feels really relevant this year, because it does seem to be happening more frequently, I think back to an email I got from a client, and they were going through it, their property started receiving hundreds of reviews within an hour to, because of something happening within the city, it was something going on. That was happening citywide and really had nothing to do with their hotel. And you can imagine in that moment, they’re fielding calls at the front desk from guests who haven’t arrived yet. They’re trying to ease concerns from guests in house, and their online listings are just being flooded from people who aren’t there and are just saying stuff. And really, it’s just because of the city they’re in and something that the property has nothing to do with. So in those moments, I’m so grateful that we can help. I got this email from this hotel, and they were just like, thank you. I had so much on my shoulders, and I know I have this support and this, and I put out these things, you know, to these other people at the property who help us. But in that moment, I knew, I knew you guys were there. Yeah. And I knew that you could give advice on what to do. You’ve seen it before. You helped guide my steps. And I’m so grateful for that, that our years of experience mean that in the moment a guest can be served face to face, and we can be assisting, you know, with things happening outside of this property’s control. Ryan Embree: And what a line to tiptoe too, if AI is involved, right? And that, and the messaging is not communicated the right way there, it could mean so much more than just a one star review. It could mean detrimental damage to your reputation, especially in those moments of crisis. Jackie Avery: Absolutely. And some sites let you edit what you post back and some don’t. So the stakes are high. And it’s happening fast. Ryan Embree: Absolutely. Very fast. And so, as we wrap up our conversation here, and again, congratulations. As Product Director, you look at this, what do you look at this 10 year milestone? What does it mean to you and what’s your vision for the future of this solution? Jackie Avery: Yeah, this milestone, I feel it, I feel it personally. Not just for me but my entire team. When you genuinely care about connecting with other people and helping and being support in this way, it’s really easy to feel the joy in what you’re doing. So this milestone, to me, is just something that I am reflecting on that I’m so grateful, I’m so grateful to be able to work with clients across the country and help people out there connect in a space where they’re expecting not to have that opportunity. More often than not, people are expecting not to hear back, or they don’t wanna get their hopes up that they will hear back, but they do. Yeah. And it feels great. And I love that. Ryan Embree: Yeah. The stakes can’t be any higher right now when it comes to that. And hotels are getting creative with trying to figure out ways to connect with guests in a world where, you know, you don’t have to visit the front desk anymore. You can, you don’t have to interact with hotel staff anymore. So hotels are trying to figure out ways that they can keep a constant line of communication. And this is always gonna be a place where guests are, are gonna be, do not make it a one-way conversation. They’re gonna continue to leave feedback. Are you genuinely listening? Are you authentically responding? And we’re so grateful to have you on this podcast to celebrate this milestone. Thank you, Jackie. And congratulations again to you and your team. Jackie Avery: Ah, thanks so much. It was great to be here. Ryan Embree: Next wee’re gonna be talking with Jason Lee, Chief Technology Officer at Travel Media Group, where we’ll talk a little bit about the history and evolution of this Respond and R™esolve solution, which just turned 10 years old. Ryan Embree: Hello everyone. Welcome to part two of our 10 year celebration of TMGs Respond and Resolve™ review response solution. I am here with one of the architects, CTO, Jason Lee, congratulations to you and your team 10 years. Jason, you know, we love a good origin story. Talk to us, bring us back 10 years ago when you started, maybe it was even before 10 years. But tell us a little bit about how Respond and Resolve™ came to be and kind of the evolution of the solution that now turns 10 years old. Jason Lee: I mean, I think we at that time, we had been kind of doing reputation for hotels for a little bit, mostly in post-day engagement. And then also monitoring reputation scores and reputation flow. And we were getting questions like, hey, can you handle review response? And so we sat down and we were like, we’re getting this more and more. And we had salespeople that were saying the same thing, like, hey, I just got the phone with this guy, and he said he would buy except if we had this product. And so we sat down and we started thinking about like, what is it gonna take to, to get this done? And we had, we happened to have a tech summit during that same time, and we all sat down. So at that time, it was all the tech leaders we had and our tech team as well. And we really just kind of mapped out, like, what would it take to, to do this? Yeah. And at the time I was like, listen, the only way this is gonna work, anybody will even buy this, is if they can ensure that whoever is providing them the response is gonna do it in their voice is gonna be able to do it in a way that they would do it. Speak to their guests in the way that they would wanna be spoken to. And so we sat down and we put together what was kind of the building blocks of what is today’s, Respond and Resolve™, Travel Media Group. But at the time was even more complicated. It had multiple touch points. So it had a single, it had a touchpoint of the review coming in. It had a touchpoint, after the response where we would audit the response before the response went to the hotel, the hotel would then approve the response. And then once the hotel approved this approved the response or edited the response, it would come back to us and we would touch it one more time before we would then publish that response. So we had this, like, we had a three touch internal, like four touch, if you include the hotelier system. And, you know, and of course, you know, anybody who’s done any kind of product work or anything would think like, that’s an insane amount of touches, that’s a crazy amount of scaling. And so then our secondary thing was like, how do we do this based on the number of reviews or whatever? And we weren’t even thinking that way. We’re like, because there’s an unknown number of reviews, how do we even do this? So we started the product out with, with that kind of cadence, with 20 reviews being kind of the core. So you get 20 reviews a month, and it was TripAdvisor only. Yeah. And you had this one critical response. So we would like, you know, if there was a, something that really, that happened that was really bad, we would write this like very specific kind of PR version of a response. And that was the original product. So we put it all together, we put our price point out, and, and I believe you were the first person to sell one to a hotel. So, so as we got that going, then it was, you know, then, then we went through the rest of kind of like the evolution of the product. But at that time, it was something I think one other company was doing, but we, you know, we didn’t really know what they were doing or how they were doing it. So we kind of took our own path in how we created it. Ryan Embree: And we were talking off camera about, you know, some of the challenges. And maybe I think it’s through some of the unexpected. ’cause you think about, all right, you know, if tomorrow, you know, someone was like, let’s, let’s create a company that responds to reviews, and then all of a sudden you start building that and you come across these challenges, these, these issues, these problems that you’re like, well, I didn’t think about that. I just kind of thought about the output and input. What were some of those kind of learning lessons along the way, and how did you kind of adapt to that, whether using efficiencies technology, because it’s a lot more difficult than just saying, Hey, we’re just gonna respond to your reviews. I think the biggest challenge and where we had our biggest evolution in the solution was in when we converted what we were doing. So at the time when we started it, we were using third party data. And we were pulling some stuff, but some stuff was being pulled through a third party vendor. And it wasn’t until we launched one view where we controlled the entirety of the dataset. And not just the entire, not just the entirety of the dataset, but the frequency of the dataset, which was insanely important. So this has to do with when it is received from the time that it was published live. And so that in itself sort of opened up this new lane, but in doing so, it also opened up our eyes to this really one like incredible flaw to our system, which was how we were pricing it. But that has to do with how we sort of viewed the, the universe of reviews for a single property. So when we started, we had that 20 Right. The next little jump was, well, maybe we’ll start charging by the room. And this was something we had heard other other vendors doing, and we’re like, oh, this is a good idea. We’ll start charging by the room. What we found immediately was that we were massively overcharging some hotels. And way undercharging other hotels. So a destination 80 room hotel could be doing three or four times the review volume that a 250 room corporate hotel was doing. Like, that’s straight up like extortion on one side and then just us just like.. Ryan Embree: And extended stay sometimes, you don’t have the frequency. Jason Lee: Completely, completely. So, so I think pricing, getting that pricing down. So once we then controlled the universe of reviews, we then, so at, at the time we launched OneView, we had a 360 view of a 365 to be exact, day view of a properties reputation. So we could sort of forecast their total quantity of reviews over a year and then, and then, and then sort of amortize that out to create pricing around review flow. So I believe we were one of the first to do review flow, and I think we might still be one of the only companies that prices that way, where we actually look at quantity of reviews and surveys that a property gets. And then we price knowing exactly what we’re going, what we’re up against, including the 35% ish increase over the summer months that that happens just based on review flow. You know, guest flow. So, so I think those were those big things, kind of those big hurdles, like, internally pricing it the right way, doing it in a way where we could, we could ensure that whatever we said we were going to do, we could 100% do. We had the staff to do it, we had the technology do it, and all the pieces in play. And then I think from there, it was then understanding the sort of undulation of the acquisition of review data. And that is a crazy space because, if you’re scraping the data directly from a site, then you’ve got that whole thing that that’s going on where sites are continually sort of trying to thwart that. You have the API side of that where you can get API but that requires you to get these relationships with these various sites. And so, so our, we were just like, just, just dogged determination To like secure better and better and better and better data sets. And we did that through, eventually through getting partnerships with the major review providers like Expedia, Booking.com and Google. And so inside of doing that, we were able to really secure a data set that then allowed us to respond in a timely manner and efficient manner, and in a way that, you know, could completely solve this issue for a hotel. Ryan Embree: I think some of the biggest learnings or we’ve had is through those challenges, but also through the close relationships that we’ve had with our hotel. Partners and those hotels that we say it all the time when it comes to reputation. I mean, feedback, you want feedback, right? Whether it be from your partners who who travel media group are working with, whether it be from your guests, and you’re a hotelier, you want that feedback. Because that means it’s striking some kind of cord, whether it’s good or bad. ’cause then you can make adjustments. So, the actually hearing what our hoteliers had to, to, to say about our, our reviews and our I’m sorry, what they had to say about our responses helped us. Collaborate or calibrate rather their voice and tone and everything that to kind of get us right in harmony with how they wanted responses. And I think for me at least, it was very surprising to see the spectrum at which people wanted, how they wanted their responses handled. Whether it’s, you know, we don’t want an apology ever to be heard on our responses or, you know, we, we always apologize whether it’s our fault or not. We’re always going to say the customer is always right. And there’s everything in between. We want our voice a little bit more laid back. We want it more of a professional tone. You know, you’ve gone through these patterns and trends of try to use keywords in every single one of your review responses. Aside from the challenges, what have you learned? Maybe talking to hotel partners or hearing them, seeing some of that feedback that comes in about our responses. ’cause I know, although you’re the CTO, you’re very close to that feedback and are in there and seeing what our hotel partners are saying every day about our responses. Jason Lee: That’s a great question. And I think it hits at the evolution of the benefits of this need. And I think that’s what’s so interesting about, about doing this for this length of time. So in the very beginning, I talked about that very complicated setup that we had where we were like approving the response before we sent it to the hotelier, and then we had the hotelier approve the response and edit the response, and then we publish the response. We kept a bunch of that together. So we kept the right approved by the hotelier edit and resolve or audit and resolve, process on our side. And so in doing that, even though it was overkill in the beginning, we had people saying, we don’t wanna approve it. We don’t wanna approve it because we’re, because we’re like, this takes too much time. And because I’m not around on the weekend or whatever. And, but what ended up happening is that as the sort of understanding of what review response was doing, so the review response kind of needs sometimes is hinges on what is the downward pressure to get this done? So is this coming from my management company? Is it coming from the brand? Is it coming from an OTA that says I’ll get better placement if I do this this way? So this becomes this becomes thing. Or like you said oh, I heard that I get better SEO get better placement if I use keywords in my responses. So this becomes this sort of meta benefit. And I think through the through line that we took from the very beginning and way before, I feel like a hoteliers wanted us to do it that way. And maybe today there’s still a few hoteliers that are just like, whatever, man, just get it done. You know, is that we really wanted to communicate with the guest who wrote the review. And we wanted to make sure that whatever we were writing in our response, that that communication was clear. It was clear in gratitude on five stars. It was clear in empathy and resolution in one star reviews. And it was, it was really trying to find that balance when there was no feedback. Even if the get, even if the hotel didn’t care maybe as much about the content of the response that they trusted us to make that response. But what we find is like now, 10 years later, that where, where we have had a complete shift in our property profile at Travel Media Group, where I think we started with a lot of economy properties and select service properties where we’ve, we’ve reached into these incredibly large resorts luxury properties. Some of the nicest properties in the United States are our clients. And I think it’s because we’ve stuck with that. So you talk to the hotelier that has a $200 or $300 a night guest, or even a $1,200 a night guest, in some cases, their feeling about the retention of that guest is very different than a select service, than a select service. But they’re, but they’re also their version of, like, that this activity promotes acquisition of guests. And so the stakes are high. In this space. And I think we’re reaching into like a whole new era where this information, the review and the response are affecting generative search. And we’re reaching a whole new era of economizing the search time with massive amounts of review data. In an individual research session for a guest is really changing the importance of this activity together. So I think, I know I kind of took a windy road on that, but I think the biggest thing is that the evolution of expectation from the guest, but also then from the hotel has changed. And we’ve stayed close to it this entire time. And like, like everything that we do at Travel Media Group, we are sort of singularly focused. So we’re so focused on this as this. We probably, when I talk to hotels sometimes, they’re like, man, you are really exaggerating the importance of this activity. And I’m like, no, it’s everything. This is like, this is about you securing the relationship with this guest. This is everything. But hopefully you want a partner like that has that sort of dogged determination to make sure that it’s done correctly. But I feel like, so to kind of wrap this up, I do feel like that that is what we’ve done, that’s been the through line is like focusing on the need and like you said, focusing on the voice make, altering account by account. So now you’re talking about a few thousand hotels. That we’re scaling, you know, we’re where we’re like in the off months, we’re doing somewhere, you know, around 20,000 – 25,000 reviews. And we’re able to then inside of that still create personalization, still create a voice of a hotel. Still be able to hit the right kind of policies, the right kind of renovation details, the right kind of care to each individual review, or each individual guest as we see that to make this thing work. Ryan Embree: I mean, every hotel we have found out is so drastically different from the way they want thing hand handled, but also, just their properties are different, right? Their locations, their markets, occupancy drivers, the type of traveler that they bring in that they want to attract. There’s so many different elements. That speak to that. And it’s with the, Jackie and her team do a fantastic job to the point to the precision, we want to be completely aligned with that hotel partner. And what you were talking about was some of the newer luxury properties that we’re now partnering with. I mean, the stakes are high in the sense of they’ve had decades long reputation. They have built that. And it is no longer a negotiable for them to make sure that that reputation is protected. And a solution like this, like respond and resolve, really can help solidify that and also just serve as such a foundation and a security blanket in case some of these, Jackie had a couple examples of these things right now that can go wrong at a property. We hate to see it, but it happens every single day in a trusted partner like Travel Media Group and Respond & Resolve™ team behind you can really help give you a little bit of peace of mind for a hotelier. And you’re absolutely right. Obsessed is a great word to put it and passionate about review response. I mean, this is something that we’ve done for 10 years, but I think it’s been a little bit longer that we’ve been in the reputation game. And you know, you can’t, in 2026, you know, we, I had a podcast episode, late last year where it was actually with the co-founders of ILHA and they were talking about how you cannot in 2026 cannot be a complete expert at every aspect of hospitality. You just can’t. It’s just, it’s one of those unique industries where you can’t know everything about everything. You will never be the expert of chemicals for your hotel pool. But it’s important to know those things, and it’s important and critical to have a valuable partner that knows those things. So you think about that as one element, chemicals in a pool, curtains, flooring, review response is a very important element to your digital and online reputation there. And we talked with Jackie about, you know, obviously AI and how that has certainly changed in the last 10 years. And it’s how it’s come in, talk to us, because I think a lot of times people might hear us and think that we are anti AI or anti-technology, and it’s actually the exact opposite. It’s an incredible piece of technology that we can use in elements of reputation, but not necessarily for the actual response. So how are you kind of using AI? And we do have an AI solution, not 10 years old yet. We’ll be doing that in in several years. But talk to us about how you’ve used technology and AI kind of hand in hand with Respond and R™esolve for the past 10 years. Jason Lee: Yeah. I mean, I would say in the last 18 months we have evolved our core platform probably more than we did maybe in four years. So we’ve done a lot recently. And a lot of it is that a, like a whole new world of data analytics has been opened up. By this, so something that I would needed maybe two or three data scientists to help me with. I can do, can do with, with an API through anthropic, or through Open AI. And working with members of my team and putting some data together, we’re able to find like really interesting insights. And so the first thing we launched last year was the guest experience snapshot. And that was an a completely AI driven report. And the sort of origin of that was to show the hotel the top things that was that a guest was experiencing great. And then the top things that they, that was going wrong, and some of that was to show them multiples of the things that we were responding to. So the things that, so using this data to kind of, to shine a little light on like, Hey, we can only say sorry for this so many times. You know, but also to show them the other side of it where it’s like, Hey, this is where you guys are winning. You guys are winning in these very, in these areas. And this feedback isn’t always a negative. There’s a bunch of great stuff in here. And I think, so we’ve then continued that by continuing to analyze trends to continue to analyze, review flow, to analyze the sentiment data. And it just continues and continues and continues, as we sort of unlock the use cases of these tools. But for us, I think like the big pieces of the tools that are really exciting coming forward are the ways that we can scale personalization, in a way that we couldn’t do without major data science. And, and so we’re able to scale personalization, so taking the personalization that a hotelier gives us about very specific things about their property, and not writing the response based on that, but sort of confirming the response against the voice. So I can take a response and confirm then the voice, you know, and it says, yeah, this, this matches what they’re, what they asked us to do. And so that can get very, that in our world, that’s probably one of the more complicated pieces of it, especially where you have a very lengthy voice note, you have a massive policy note. You have a massive amenity amenity note. So these are these these spaces where a writer could get turned around on something. But where this could verify, hey, the response you just wrote is missing this one piece. Ryan Embree: Notes are changing seasonally based on restaurant menus, based on programming that the resort is conducting out. And its amenities classes that it has timing. I mean, all of those elements are notes that that can be provided and are so important. I mean, we think of it as oh, well, if we get a date wrong or if we get an item wrong, I mean, that has a pure, such a big impact on the guest experience and their impression of your hotel. And the care that you’re taking, so it’s just one of those elements, again, we talked about it with Jackie of, you have to prove essentially at this time that you’re not AI and that you do care and that, it’s so important to these guests and hoteliers, all this. Jason Lee: I think that’s where it all boils down to is that when I get that email from Booking.com as a guest that’s from the hotel, and I open that up and I read the response to the review that I wrote, does it feel authentic? Does it feel like it came from them? Does it mean anything to me? Is there any kind of meaning to that at all? Or is this like, or does this intensify, does this intensify my advocacy of this property, or does this intensify my anger? And you or does this turn me around? Does this make me wanna and I think these are these opportunities you have in this space that does make a huge difference. And I think AI will help us enhance the personalization of our individual properties and help help us, like put that really, like that perfect response together that helps the guests know that they’re cared for. Ryan Embree: It’s a feeling. I mean, Jackie talked about it getting that feedback from our partners about, this was a repeat guest, this is someone that stayed with us and they talked about our response back to them. They thanked us. And those are the moments that we strive here at Travel Media Group for, and we’ve seen so many over the last decade of doing this review response. And here we are at 10 years as you look towards the future, the landscape ever changing, you know, what do you see kind of for the future of Respond and Resolve™? And maybe we can open it up just to guest feedback management. I mean, were really at a inflection point I feel like right now. Jason Lee: Yeah. I mean, I think, I think it’s kind of more of the same in terms of what this has been about all the all along, which is the guest experience. And how do we react to the guest experience react to the specific experience the guest is giving us in a response, but act then multiple guest having similar experiences. How do we react to that? How do we improve the guest experience over time? And I think that that’s where the opportunity is right now, is that there are so many tools available to us to understand this in a much more granular level, in a much more specific level. So the old way of, of asking questions, I think of guests, I think is gonna go away at some point us sort of like, asking guests the same questions over and over again. You know, would you recommend, how clean was your room? What was the breakfast like? You know, rate that, I think we’re gonna get to a spot where we sort of understand these elements, but we can take broader textural, data points and start to really dial in to, so what does a 3 in breakfast mean? What does, what does it mean when somebody says that they would recommend at a 7? Or a thumbs up or a thumbs up or a thumbs down. I think this is where, you know, this is where these kinds of scales get a little funky. And so AI could help a guest actually articulate themselves in a response in a survey, for example. AI could also obviously take this data and take patterns of data and help a hotel understand the fail points of their service. And I think those are these really amazing opportunities for hotels that want to engage there. And, but all of this together is also doing something really interesting in the generative search world. So, we’re seeing people flock generative search more and more and more because it economizes that effort. I can read hundreds of reviews, I can have hundreds of reviews read for me and summarized, based on a very specific question. So I can ask about the breakfast, for example. And I get this summary. So none of that is gonna come through a three on a guest experience survey a guest satisfaction survey is not gonna affect that. But the 25 Expedia reviews that you’ve gotten in the last 90 days will. And I think those are those things that start to inform the traveler are going to be the quantity of signals. Whether they’re positive or negative and then the sort of inference of that signal, it’s not binary, it’s not good or bad, it is this other thing. Which is sort of the feeling of a guest. And I think a AI is getting better and better and better, and is getting to a point where it can sort of relay the feeling that multiples of guests have had about your property to a prospective guest. And that either should thrill you or it should scare you. Because this part of technology that I think get that we are all enjoying in some ways, right? Because it’s saving us time, it’s saving us effort, but in other ways, there is no place to hide. So you can’t hide behind, the first 200 reviews that you received at your hotel anymore. Where you got that, the first 200 reviews, you netted out a 4.4, and you’ve sort of been riding on that for the last like five, six years, more and more. That’s score is going to be irrelevant. Ryan Embree: That’s what I was gonna say, that I think the historical data is just gonna become less and less vital and critical. And it’s gonna be a moving type. It’s what you want. It’s absolutely something in the now what is the guest doesn’t care about what your hotel was like five years ago. When somebody at the front desk had a great, was really personable and friendly to them. They want to know what that front desk agent is doing today. What that room looks like today. So it’s going to be this living almost a living reputation. Jason Lee: And it is today. Yeah, it is now. But it’s different because, because a guest won’t research that deeply. It is today, I think it’s living today. And I think the hotels that are winning today will continue to win. Because it means that you’re doing the right thing by your guest. And I think that continues this cycle of sort of looking at the guest experience and finding your fail points and fixing ’em, finding ’em, fixing, finding and fixing is the real key. But it’s also empowering your front desk. It’s, it’s making sure that nobody leaves your property upset. It’s all of the things that we should be doing anyway that affect thhis. This is true hospitality. At its core but I think, what’s interesting about what AI is doing is it’s kind of shining a light into the, I guess, residual needs here. But I think this also gives you an unprecedented opportunity at your hotel to share this information with your staff, to, to take this back and, and really like, like dig in and make it work. The other thing I was gonna say, the other thing I was say on that, what I think on the future of guest feedback management will be the number of companies coming in an AI play today is crazy. There’s a lot of new companies that are coming in there, and there’s, and then there’s like long-term companies like Medallia, and Qualtrics and other companies that are offering AI responses inside of their platforms. And I think this all economizes that activity, but it does not remove our obligation to have authentic voice at our property and to communicate with guests that need to be communicated with. And the guests that needs to be communicated with. If you communicate well there, and I’ve said this over and over and over, if you communicate with the guest who wrote the review, well that will impact guest acquisition a hundred percent. Ryan Embree: Absolutely. Jason Lee: So the authentic voice is gonna be at a premium. The canned voice, the canned templated voice of AI, I think will end up, will end up being able to spot it. I mean, I think in some ways it, nothing changes, right. In other ways, everything changes. Ryan Embree: Yeah. Yeah. I absolutely agree with you on that, Jason. I think it is going to be a priority for hotels that truly care to rise above the sea of sameness. And as your response and the templates, you know, that was kind of that first tide, was that the templates you wanted to show your guests that you actually cared, write something that looked better than a template. Better than a thank you for your feedback. ’cause that’s what all you were getting. Now, the, the reputation response ecosystem is even more ingrained because more and more people are coming in and using AI to respond. You’re going, it’s going to be a premium to show that you’re going to be looking for those edges and places that you can show guests that you care differently from the hotel next to you. And authentic review response, caring review response is gonna be one of those. Jason Lee: But authenticity all the way around, I mean I saw this I saw a video of the CEO of Marriott talking about specifically saying, use this technology to give yourself more time with the guest. Give yourself a few extra minutes with the guest to create relationship to create authenticity in person. Ryan Embree: The general manager of the future might look closer to the general manager of the past than it does right now. Interesting times. Here to celebrate, again, 10 years of Respond and Resolve™. Congratulations, another milestone, another chapter. Congrats to you and your team, and thanks for celebrating with us here on the Suite Spot. Jason Lee: Thanks, Ryan. Ryan Embree: To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five star rating on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell, with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.

Dylan and Max talk Alaska dreams, Southwest's new nonstop to Anchorage, lake lodge podcast fantasies, and Max's brave decision to bypass the discounted Marriott burger for Yemeni cuisine. In the Mailbag, listener Elijah checks in with a unique path back into aviation after the Air Force and a decade away from flying. For Flight Advice, the guys break down why using the GI Bill for PC-12 initial training, single-engine ATP currency, and an Alaska 135 strategy might actually be a no-brainer. Also: meta glasses, janky gravel strips, and potential tax treatment for baklava. TankerBot - Try out the beta version of the Dylan's Tankering Calculator! NewYorkTurk - NYC Food Reviews Show Notes 0:00 Intro 3:55 Max's Musings: Sitting Reserve 15:21 MD-11: PSE vs SSI  27:35 Airports & Tangents 32:37 Special Announcement: Tankering Calculator 35:25 Spirit Comments 41:59 Comments & Reviews 55:16 AI & Mailbag 1:09:35 Flight Advice Our Sponsors Tim Pope, CFP® — Tim is both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a pilot. His practice specializes in aviation professionals and aviation 401k plans, helping clients pursue their financial goals by defining them, optimizing resources, and monitoring progress. Click here to learn more. Also check out The Pilot's Portfolio Podcast. Advanced Aircrew Academy — Enables flight operations to fulfill their training needs in the most efficient and affordable way—anywhere, at any time. They provide high-quality training for professional pilots, flight attendants, flight coordinators, maintenance, and line service teams, all delivered via a world-class online system. Click here to learn more. Raven Careers — Helping your career take flight. Raven Careers supports professional pilots with resume prep, interview strategy, and long-term career planning. Whether you're a CFI eyeing your first regional, a captain debating your upgrade path, or a legacy hopeful refining your application, their one-on-one coaching and insider knowledge give you a real advantage. Click here to learn more. The AirComp Calculator™ is business aviation's only online compensation analysis system. It can provide precise compensation ranges for 14 business aviation positions in six aircraft classes at over 50 locations throughout the United States in seconds. Click here to learn more. Vaerus Jet Sales — Vaerus means right, true, and real. Buy or sell an aircraft the right way, with a true partner to make your dream of flight real. Connect with Brooks at Vaerus Jet Sales or learn more about their DC-3 Referral Program. Harvey Watt — Offers the only true Loss of Medical License Insurance available to individuals and small groups. Because Harvey Watt manages most airlines' plans, they can assist you in identifying the right coverage to supplement your airline's plan. Many buy coverage to supplement the loss of retirement benefits while grounded. Click here to learn more. VSL ACE Guide — Your all-in-one pilot training resource. Includes the most up-to-date Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) for Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, CFI, and CFII. 21.Five listeners get a discount on the guide—click here to learn more. ProPilotWorld.com — The premier information and networking resource for professional pilots. Click here to learn more.   Feedback & Contact Have feedback, suggestions, or a great aviation story to share? Email us at info@21fivepodcast.com. Check out our Instagram feed @21FivePodcast for more great content (and our collection of aviation license plates). The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers.

Most global businesses enter Asia with a playbook built elsewhere. The pricing models, growth assumptions, labour structures, and definitions of value that worked in North America or Europe get applied to markets that operate by fundamentally different rules. The result, as Eric Stryson has observed across nearly two decades of on-the-ground leadership work in Asia, is failure - not dramatic failure, but the slow erosion of credibility that comes from never truly understanding where you are.Eric Stryson is Managing Director at The Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), an independent pan-Asian think tank with offices in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. He has designed and facilitated more than 60 experiential leadership programmes across fifteen countries in Asia and the Middle East, working with over 3,000 executives from organisations including HSBC, Petronas, Marriott, MasterCard, and Standard Chartered. His public sector clients include the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Dubai Government, and the Central Bank of Malaysia.In this episode, Eric argues that much of what organisations believe they know about Asia is filtered through AI systems, research, and analysis shaped by Western institutions and historical precedents. Even conventional online research surfaces insights produced predominantly by incumbent Western policy and academic bodies, reinforcing a narrow and often distorted lens. Challenging these assumptions, he contends, requires moving beyond second-hand analysis and grounding decision-making in on-the-ground observation and lived experience.From renegotiating what 'value' means to understanding why Western growth models break down in Asia's diverse political and social contexts, Eric offers a rare perspective on what it actually takes to operate credibly in a post-Western, Asia-led growth environment. Discussion Points·       Why Western-filtered research and AI-generated analysis fail businesses trying to understand Asian markets·       Concrete examples of Western business models and assumptions breaking down on the ground in Asia·       How Asian markets define value differently - and why pricing strategies built elsewhere so often misfire·       Why 'scale fast, dominate markets' growth assumptions need renegotiating in Asia's diverse contexts·       What nearly 20 years of field project work in Asia reveals that research reports and case studies don't·       How consumption patterns and labour structures in Asia require businesses to rethink core operating models·       What 'post-Western world' means in practice for businesses operating in China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East·       How to use AI tools responsibly when the training data reflects predominantly Western institutional perspectives·       Why Hong Kong businesses face an urgent reinvention moment - and what that looks like in practice·       The single most important thing Western businesses should do differently before entering or scaling in Asian marketsGuest BioEric Stryson is Managing Director at The Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), an independent pan-Asian think tank with offices in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. He has designed and facilitated more than 60 experiential leadership programmes across fifteen countries in Asia and the Middle East, working with over 3,000 executives from C-suite to high-potential talent. His corporate clients include AIA, BASF, CITIC, DBS, FedEx, HSBC, Marriott, MasterCard, Panasonic, Petronas, Prudential, and Standard Chartered. His public sector clients include the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Dubai Government, the Central Bank of Malaysia, and various provincial and county governments in mainland China. Eric's articles have appeared in the South China Morning Post, Financial Times, China Daily, and The Straits Times, and he has been interviewed by CNBC. Links & Resources·       GIFT website: www.global-inst.com·       Eric Stryson profile: global-inst.com/team/eric-stryson·       SCMP: Reinvention must start now if Hong Kong businesses are to survive change·       FT Letter: A Bric in a de-dollarised wall or a new architecture?·       Digital Transformation Documentary: Eric Stryson on technology causing problems

Welcome to Episode 271 of Pelo Buddy TV, an unofficial Peloton podcast & Peloton news show. This week we cover the following topics: Peloton is bringing back live classes on Sundays in London starting in July. Classes were cancelled on Friday in New York due to smoke from fires in a nearby subway line. Peloton has permanently lowered the price on the Original Series Refurbished Bike+ The feed feature has an update, and now has tabs so you can filter between different views. There is a bug with the Apple Watch for WatchOS 8 / Apple Watch Series 3 causing it to crash. There are more Club Peloton Live classes this week with Jon Hosking & Hannah Corbin. Peloton had some more HYROX classes, and there are some Hyrox events in NYC this week. Peloton highlighted some classes in "This Week at Peloton." Peloton & Spotify teamed up for a bodyweight strength class with Sofi Tukker & Rebeca Kennedy. There is a new German language program for 7 Days To Better Posture. Sid Thacker has been named as Peloton's new Chief Financial Officer. Peloton was added to the S&P Smallcap 600 Index this week. A lawsuit has been filed against Peloton alleging patent infringement. Happy Birthday to Benny Adami & Jess King this week. Denis Morton is teaching a Yoga class in Nashville during CMA Fest week. Rebecca Kennedy has a new in-person event series. Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts is teaching a yoga session in Harlem. Peloton has a Global Running Day event in Sydney. Robin Arzon is on Good Morning America. Alex Karwoski is on the Mindset Connection podcast. Rebecca Kennedy was in Forbes. Rebecca Kennedy was featured in Flow Space. Tunde Oyeneyin is part of the BET Experience. Logan Aldridge gave a keynote speech at Marriott. Chelsea Jackson Roberts & Ash Pryor were at NAMICon in Atlanta. Jess King had a DJ set at Bottlerock Napa festival. Class Picks of the Week Enjoy the show? Become a Pelo Buddy TV Supporter!  Find details here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/membership-levels/ You can find links to full articles on each of these topics from the episode page here: https://www.pelobuddy.com/pelo-buddy-tv-episode-271/ The show is also available via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PeloBuddy This episode is hosted by Chris Lewis (#PeloBuddy).

He went from $180K for 14 units… to 7,500 multifamily units… to NOW closing 7 hotels in a single year with $40M of investor capital.   In this short clip from Abundance Mindset, Vinney "Smile" Chopra breaks down:

Own Your Results. Own the Returns. Why the Smartest Accredited Investors Are Going All-In on Hotels.   In this episode of Abundance Mindset, Vinney "Smile" Chopra joins co-host Gualter Amarelo for a raw, real, and revelation-packed conversation about what it truly means to OWN your results — in business, in investing, and in life.   Vinney pulls back the curtain on his personal pivot from 7,500+ multifamily units to a laser focus on hospitality — and why he believes hotel rooms are apartment units on steroids.   Here's why: unlike a 12-month lease, a hotel "lease" is signed every single night — with up to five different price points depending on supply, demand, and local events. When a big concert or conference hits your market, your nightly rate can 4X overnight. That's a level of dynamic cash flow multifamily simply cannot match.   In this episode, you'll discover:  

Hotels and OTAs have been battling over direct bookings for a decade — here's who's actually winning, Marriott just struck a deal that signals hotels are serious about selling more than just rooms, and two major hotel tech companies are joining forces to fix the data problem standing in the way of AI. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why hotels won the economics of the OTA war but may be about to lose their front doors to AI entirely, how Marriott's ResortPass deal reflects a growing push to turn empty pool chairs and spa slots into high-margin revenue, and why the Mews and SiteMinder integration is the unglamorous foundation hotels need before AI can actually take over. Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG Direct Booking Tug-of-War: Hotels' Long Bid to Take Back Power Marriott Signs ResortPass Deal. Why Hotels Are Pushing to Sell More Than Rooms. Mews and SiteMinder to Put Hotel Distribution, Operations Under One Roof — Exclusive 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.

What does it actually cost to win at work while slowly losing everything that matters most? I've been sitting with that question since this conversation ended. My guest today, Josh Kosnick, was at the absolute peak of his career, leading a firm of 250 people, hitting every metric, checking every box, and in one morning at a Marriott, it was gone. A fabricated lawsuit from someone he mentored. A company he loved that chose the easy way out. And a drive home where he had to pull over and fall apart in a parking lot because his whole world had just collapsed. But here's what got me. It wasn't the betrayal that broke him open. It was going down to his basement months later, opening boxes of trophies and accolades, and realizing, none of it meant anything. His marriage, his kids, his faith, his health, all still intact. Everything else? Just stuff. That moment is where the LQ Blueprint was born. And honestly, this framework might be the most practical, honest roadmap for high-achieving men that I've ever heard laid out in a single conversation. We go deep on why your priorities are probably in the wrong order, what it really means to lead yourself before you lead anyone else, the difference between being kind and being nice, why vulnerability isn't weakness, it's actually your strongest leadership tool, and the question that stopped me cold: are you chasing your wife the way you're chasing your goals? I PROMISE you, you need to hear Josh's story. Listen all the way through. The framework at the end alone is worth it. Connect with Josh Kosnick: Book: The Kairos Code, Amazon & Barnes & Noble Website: https://joshkosnick.com/ Follow Stephen: Website → stephenscoggins.com Instagram → @stephen_scoggins TikTok → @stephen_scoggins Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. It takes 30 seconds and it genuinely helps us reach more people who are ready to do the work! 

Anna Davlantes, WGN Radio's investigative correspondent, joins Bob Sirott to share what happened this week in Chicago history. Stories include the unveiling of the American Eagle coaster at what was then called Marriott’s Great America, the debut of “The Untouchables,” the “Poperoni Pizza” at Aurelio’s, and more.

México le ganará a Estados Unidos en beneficios económicos por cada partido, el Mundial aún no llena hoteles, pero se esperan reservas de última hora, y Carlos Slim pide replantear el registro telefónico ante dudas de los mexicanos, con Alberto Verdusco e Ivet Rodríguez.00:00 Introducción01:19 El Mundial aún no llena hoteles y Marriott espera reservas de última hora09:09 Carlos Slim pide replantear el registro telefónico ante dudas de los mexicanos16:40 Rocha Moya, Enrique Inzunza y vicefiscal con licencia de Sinaloa comparecen ante FGR19:07 Ferrari lanza Luce, su primer vehículo eléctrico

It's Ticked Off Tuesday and Jared is complaining with YOU about

In this episode, we sit down with Karolina Sliwinska — bartender, mixologist, bar program consultant, and founder of Elite Bartender — to talk about what it really takes to build a career in hospitality. From Toronto nightclubs to luxury Marriott and Hyatt properties across Canada, Karolina's path is a masterclass in versatility and knowing your craft inside and out. **From Poland to the KW bar scene** — Karolina moved to Canada at 18 and worked her way from wedding catering in Guelph to some of Toronto's most iconic venues, including the Government Nightclub. **Why nightclubs and chain restaurants matter** — Karolina makes a strong case that high-volume environments like Jack Astor's, Moxie's, and nightclubs teach speed, spill control, and accountability that craft-focused bars often skip entirely. **Hotel bartending and slowing down** — She breaks down how Marriott and Hyatt properties reward personality and genuine connection over volume — and what bartenders should know about unionized vs. non-unionized hotel gigs before signing on. **Spirit-free cocktails are here to stay** — Karolina has priced mocktails at $10–12 across menus she's designed for Hyatt, Marriott, the Gaslight District in Cambridge, and Mediterraneo in Waterloo — and they sell just as well as the boozy ones. **The business side of bartending** — Understanding cost, margins, and how to get your front-of-house staff actually selling the menu is what separates a good mixologist from a truly elite one. **Elite Bartender** — Karolina's KW-based brand offers bar program design, staff training, menu consulting, and private event bartending from house parties to 200-person weddings. Find Karolina at the following: @elite.bartender LinkedIn - Karolina Sliwinska A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste, using flavour profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more......Imbiblia - check it out! Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling and Malivoire Winery. Links kyppsaunders@gmail.com @sugarrunbar @the_industry_podcast email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

Live experiences drive operating success because they create reasons to travel, reasons to spend, and reasons to come back. That's why Marriott Vacations Worldwide is building Inner Circle around them. I talked with Mike Flasky, President and COO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, about what changes when the offer expands beyond the villa and into the full trip.

Evan and Bryan look at a very interesting scenerio. Should Disney have a Rewards program like Marriott or Hilton? .Join us as we bloesky the concept and look through out whiteboard topics. This becomes a VERY interesting conversation Will this work? What do you think? ======================================   If you'd like to join us and discuss your trip or any of the topics we discuss, please reach out to us on our Facebook page, Spoonie Nation, Instagram, or Twitter. All episodes, show notes, and other podcast-related information are available  here        

A cannes-i gonzó podcastsorozat különkiadásában Nemes Jeles Lászlóval beszélgetek a Moulin című filmjéről, de ez az adás is gonzó abban a tekintetben, hogy a Marriott hotel felé menet elmesélem az összes korábbi interjúmat Nemes Jelessel, és felvázolom ennek a mostaninak a körülményeit. Az adás végén pedig elemzem egy kicsit, hogy szerintem hogyan sikerült a beszélgetés.Az interjúban Nemes Jeles László elárulja, milyen érzés volt visszatérni Cannes-ba az új, Jean Moulinről szóló filmjével úgy, hogy az előző két filmjénél kikosarazta a fesztivál: sem a Napszálltát, sem az Árvát nem válogatták be a versenyprogramba.Szóba kerül a francia és magyar stáb közös munkája, a színészek — például Gilles Lellouche — hozzáállása, meg olyan magyar szereplők is, mint Mácsai Pál vagy Pajor Tamás. Emellett beszél az anyukája cameójáról, a saját pesszimista-optimista világlátásáról, és arról is, hogy a magyar politikai változásokat valamiféle közös ébredésként éli meg.Készítette: Varga FerencZene: Kristóf NorbertJó szórakozást az adáshoz, és ha tetszik, kérlek⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠támogasd a Filmklub podcastot a Patreonon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, egy dollár is nagy segítség! Ha a Patreon túl macerás, támogathatod a podcastot a PayPalon (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ferencv1976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) vagy a Revoluton (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ferenc7drh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) keresztül is. Nagyon köszönöm!

Alissa Coram and Ken Shreve walk through Wednesday's market action and discuss key stocks to watch in Stock Market Today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the year 2000, Lance Wallnau picked up the phone to prep for an interview with a U.S. senator who had been clinically dead for nearly 30 minutes. The voice on the other end told him a story about seven islands rising in heaven — a story that would become the Seven Mountains Mandate. Years later, when Lance called the woman back to confirm the details, she said five words that changed everything: "I never told you that." So who — or what — was actually on the other end of that call? Prophetic voice Lance Wallnau opens up about the moment he believes he was speaking not to a human, but to an angel — and the chain of supernatural events that birthed the Seven Mountains revelation now reshaping the global Church. What if the message reshaping the Body of Christ was confirmed by heaven itself? In this episode: * The Acts 12 "Peter's angel" parallel Lance says happened to him personally — and the woman who insists she never made the call * The Senator Mike Crotts resurrection story: dead 25-30 minutes outside a Marriott, commanded back to life by his wife Phyllis * The heaven vision of 7 islands and 1 great mountain — and the words Jesus spoke: "There must be agreement" * The Isaiah 45 / Cyrus prophecy Lance heard audibly about Trump as the 45th president — years before the 2016 election * Kim Clement's prophecy that hospital staff couldn't stop from being fulfilled * The hidden "Diamond" code in the Gladiator arena scene — and why Lance says it's a prophetic parable for end-times unity * The Voice of Apostles 2000 moment in Harrisburg when an entire crowd reported hearing angels echo "AS ONE" * The final phone call from Senator Kratz the day before he died: "Now's the time." This isn't a sermon. This is the origin story Lance has rarely told publicly — the supernatural fingerprints behind every Seven Mountains conversation happening today. Podcast Episode 2124: The 'Angel' Phone Call That Birthed 7 Mountains | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

Zack Gharib is the President of Red Roof, bringing decades of leadership experience across Marriott, Wyndham, Vacasa, and beyond. From a chance encounter with a hotel GM in Athens to leading one of hospitality's biggest tech transformations, Zack shares what it really takes to succeed in today's lodging landscape. Susan and Zack talk about AI automation, franchisee profitability, and vacation-rental versatility. What You'll Learn: • What vacation rentals taught him about operational chaos  • How AI is reshaping economy and mid-scale hotels  • Why hotel websites suddenly matter way more  • How ChatGPT is changing hotel booking behavior  • What hotels can learn from Airbnb-style personalization  • Why internal communication systems still fail teams  • Learning when to say "no" to shiny new tech  • Why smiles and room inspections still win  • Predictions for the future of non-luxury hotels  • The franchisee-brand relationship problem nobody solves  • What real alignment between brands and owners should look like  *** The Takeaway: Hospitality fundamentals still matter most, but the operators who win will use technology and AI to make those fundamentals faster, cheaper, and more personalized. Zack Gharib on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-gharib/ Red Roof https://www.redroof.com/

Crain's reporter John Pletz talks with host Amy Guth about Census data showing how Chicago is eking out population growth while big-city rivals are shrinking. Plus: Former John Hancock Center slated for luxury Marriott hotel, the parking meter deal Chicagoans love to hate is poised for another sale, Gene & Georgetti sues concessions operator over Midway Airport outpost and DraftKings reportedly closing sportsbook at Wrigley Field. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As a leader, you often spend so much time on the strategies and tactics that keep your brand growing that it's difficult to keep up with what's going on in the background with the platforms and the companies behind them.That's why I'm always glad to talk with our guest today, who is both focused on the business of CX as well as the business behind CX and the SaaS platforms driving so many customer experiences. I'm excited to talk again with our Resident Expert on the CX and MarTech platform landscape. We talked right at the beginning of 2026 as a look back at last year. Now that we've had a quarter behind us in 2026, it's time to talk about how this year is shaping up and what we can expect in the months ahead.To help me discuss these topics, I'd like to welcome, Bill Staikos, Founder at Be Customer Led. About Bill Staikos Bill Staikos is a senior customer experience executive with over 20 years of leadership across financial services, consulting, and technology. He has held senior roles at American Express, Freddie Mac, JP Morgan, and BNY Mellon, where he led global initiatives to transform client and employee experiences. A former SVP at Medallia, Bill helped organizations turn insights into measurable outcomes.Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice and one of the Top 50 Global CX Influencers, Bill is also the founder of the Be Customer-Led podcast and is now preparing to launch The Multimodal Experience. Known for his pragmatic, impact-driven approach, Bill advises leading brands, including Apple, Bank of America, Marriott, and T-Mobile, on connecting customer experience to business growth. Bill Staikos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billstaikos/ Resources Be Customer Led: https://becustomerled.com/ The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 We're proud to be a media partner for #MAICON26 - Oct. 13-15! Learn how AI can power your marketing and business and help you grow smarter. Use code AGILE150 to save! https://aglbrnd.co/r/7fe458ced0f04658Reach your customers with Reddit. Spend $500 in ad spend, get $500 back in ad credit! Learn more: https://advertalize.com/r/491818c79fb1873fDon't miss We Make Future - the International Festival of Innovation in AI, Tech, and Digital Marketing, June 24-26 in Bologna. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/c80991afff416bb2The most influential minds in software, AI, and engineering leadership will be at WeAreDevelopers World Congress North America, September 23-25 in San Jose. Learn more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/60a7299222a7bcf1 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You're invited.Let's talk about leadership… the kind that feels real, grounded, and aligned with who you truly are.In this episode of Overflow with Kimberly Snider let's sit down with Emma Marriott to explore authenticity, intentional communication, and what it actually looks like to lead with clarity and connection—without losing yourself in the process.Together, they open up a conversation around presence, energy, and the small but powerful shifts that can transform how we show up with our teams and in our lives.Along the way, you might find yourself asking:How am I really doing… and do I give myself space to answer honestly?What energy am I bringing into my conversations each day?Am I leading with intention… or reacting in the moment?What would it look like to bring more adventure, creativity, and even “magic” into my leadership?Because leadership isn't just about strategy.It's about how you show up ... moment by moment, ...conversation by conversation.✨ Key InsightsAuthentic leadership starts with self-awareness and honest check-insClear intentions create clearer conversations (and better outcomes)The energy you bring is felt before your words are heardLeadership can hold both pressure and self-compassionWhen we allow space for creativity and “magic,” connection deepensThis is a conversation that reminds you:you don't have to lead louder… just a little more intentionally!Connect with Emma Marriott here:Website: iris-hr.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-marriott-/DOWNLOAD: Bridge Builder Conversation GuideWhat if your next conversation felt clear, calm… and actually moved things forward?It's not about saying it perfectly—it's about how you show up.Download the Bridge Builder Conversation Guide to shift your energy, communicate with clarity, and create solutions with people, not for them. ......

New Arizona State Basketball head coach Randy Bennett

Ted Gibson and Jason Backe Live at ABS ChicagoSome conversations remind you why you got into this industry in the first place. This is one of them.Recorded live at ABS Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman, Corey sits down with Ted Gibson and Jason Backe for an hour covering three decades of hustle, heartbreak, reinvention, and beauty from the inside out.The Roads That Led HereNeither Ted nor Jason took a straight path in. Jason was a raver kid in Minneapolis who walked into beauty school and for the first time felt seen by a teacher. Ted was a Texas athlete who walked into a salon called Zan and Friends, saw a room full of stylish people in starched Wranglers, and decided that was the life. What followed was barber school, a cross-country move seeking fame, a detour to Atlanta to answer phones while switching his license, and a room with Confederate flags on the wall. He stayed anyway. The sacrifices nobody sees are always the foundation of the success they do.What Fame Actually CostsSaying yes to Angelina Jolie's hair for Tomb Raider changed everything. Vogue. Marie Claire. A PR firm that told them to drop the name Fame and call it Ted Gibson. A Fifth Avenue salon. A DC licensing deal tied to the Real Housewives. A move to LA where they gambled everything and learned more than they earned. Three years in Palm Springs that have brought more inspiration than anywhere else they've lived. Success is not linear. It never was.The Client Relationship... and When It EndsTed's rule: treat every client like it's the first time you've seen her. She is a different person. Jason goes deeper, describing 20 years of New York clients who didn't care what it cost, and how COVID ended it overnight. He had to create a new category... client friends. Losing them felt like grief. It changed how he understood his work entirely.Ted Gibson Beauty Wellness ScienceAfter Ted's mom was diagnosed with dementia, they dove into brain health and found lion's mane mushroom. They felt it. They kept going. A scientist in Oregon with 30 years studying fungi and algae helped them build a superfood powder: lion's mane, chaga, reishi, tremella, and blue-green algae in a coconut milk base with vanilla and coffee. Tremella is shown to be 100 times more effective than hyaluronic acid at moisture retention. Mix it into anything. A book is coming.Convergence: Beauty Wellness Science SummitMay 2-3 in Palm Springs. Professionals and consumers in the same room to collaborate, not compete. Mainstage education in cut, color, and dressing. Panel discussions including Guts, Brains and Beauty and Stars, Shrooms and Psychedelics. Breakout rooms. A cocktail party. The Beauty in Motion Evening Performance headlined by Ted and his artistic team. Day two is all professional education with business coaching from Steve Gomez. Blue Zones leads a purpose workshop for the Palm Springs community. Hotel reservations at the Marriott via the link in bio.@tedgibson... @jasonbacke... @genochapmanSponsored by Serious Business. January 16-18, 2027 in New Orleans. Tickets at seriousbuisness.net

Meet Nation Member Rachel Grabow!!!  #RunTJM Weekly Strava Champions Most Miles: Chris Miles 203.6 Most Time Runing: Chris Miles 78:59:11 Most Vert: Chris MIles 32,799 TRIPLE CROWN WINNER Sign up for theTen Junk Miles races here: https://www.tenjunkmilesracing.com Join the Official Podcast Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1057521258604634

INTRO (00:24): Kathleen opens the show drinking a Peach State Lite Lager from Peach State Brewing in Athens, GA. She reviews her week in Augusta, watching the Monday practice round of the Masters tournament.    TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her “Day Drinking Tour.”   TASTING MENU (2:02): Kathleen samples Ritz Toasted Buffalo chips, Skippy + Girl Scouts mashup PB Bites, and Limited Edition Nashville Hot Cheddar Lance crackers.    QUEEN NEWS (8:29): Kathleen shares an update on Taylor Swift's wedding location.   SPANISH PHRASE OF THE WEEK (35:22): The Spanish phrase to learn this week is “a qué hora cierra la cocina?” or “what time does the kitchen close” in English.   HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS (16:12): HollyBobby provides the latest news in Hollywood.   WHAT ARE WE WATCHING (39:22): Kathleen recommends watching “Trust Me: The False Prophet” on Netflix.    UPDATES (37:44) : Kathleen shares updates on Lindsey Buckingham's stalker, Britney Spears checks into rehab, Waymo's Nashville launch encounters many issues, Prince Harry is being sued by his own charity,    SPORTS NEWS (50:42): Kathleen reviews the 2026 Masters Tournament influencer culture, and Tom Watson calls for a lifetime ban on PGA players who left to join LIV golf.    FRONT PAGE PUB NEWS (1:10:36): Kathleen shares articles on Philly's reaction to Uber Eats delivery robots, Billy Idol makes an appearance at Coachella and Coachella is taken over by influencers, Lynyrd Skynyrd announces a new tour, Marriott swaps their 35-year relationship with Pepsi for Coca Cola, and Detroit offers new residents financial incentives to relocate there.   SAINT OF THE WEEK (1:27:25): Kathleen reads about Saint Vincent of Saragossa, the patron saint of vintners.    FEEL GOOD STORY (1:23:36): Kathleen shares a story about the world's oldest gorilla celebrating her birthday in the Berlin zoo.