Podcasts about Starwood

Denise Walker, CIO at Starwood Hotels and Resorts, started her career on a TRS-80. Thirty years later, she told me AI is the first technology she's never had to explain to anyone — people already see why it matters.

Grant Cardone says he may have found a way to disrupt the $4 trillion real estate industry by combining income-producing real estate with Bitcoin. In this interview recorded live at Consensus 2026, Grant breaks down why the 1965 REIT model is fundamentally broken — companies forced to distribute 90% of their cash with nothing left for capital expenditures — and how his Bitcoin real estate hybrid solves the liquidity problem that's crushing major institutions like Starwood right now. He explains why 80% of his investors have never owned Bitcoin before, how showing them the hybrid model turned them into Bitcoin buyers on their own, and why he believes every major institution will eventually adopt this model. Grant also reveals how he almost lost $12 million in Bitcoin on a plane he sold to Tim Draper, why he thinks Bitcoin should be $150,000 today, and what Michael Saylor said when he saw Grant's first hybrid deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

There is something deeply witchy about leaving your normal home, your normal bed, your normal coffee mug, and stepping into a place where the land does not already know your name.In this episode of Back on the Broomstick, Laylla and Chelle are packing up the magical bug spray and heading into the wilds to talk about witchcraft while camping, traveling, and wandering off to summer festivals. Whether you're sleeping under the stars, staying in a cabin, road-tripping to a sacred site, or setting up your tent at Brushwood, Dragonfest, Starwood, Mystic South, or Pagan Pride, travel has a way of pulling us out of our everyday patterns and into threshold space.The witches talk about how to set up camp respectfully, create temporary sacred space, connect with the quarters in a new landscape, and build a mini altar that won't take over your entire backpack. They explore offerings for the land, listening to local spirits, working with tree, stone, and place energy, and why “leave no trace” might be one of the most magical rules a witch can follow.They also wander into the idea of land guardians, festival grounds that hold years of ritual memory, and how to form a temporary connection with a place without trying to claim it, tame it, or accidentally bring home every bit of spiritual static clinging to your hiking boots.From gratitude rituals before leaving a campsite to practical witchy packing tips, this episode is all about staying enchanted on the road without making things complicated. Sometimes the most powerful altar is a picnic table, a lantern, a cup of camp coffee, and a quiet thank you whispered to the trees.Starwood Sankofa FestivalSirius Rising FestivalGot a question? Send the witches a message here!Support the showWant to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?Our mailing address is:Back on the BroomstickPO Box 21Tioga, PA 16946Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.comYoutube FacebookInstagramBack on the Broomstick Website

Starwood Capital Group Chairman and CEO Barry Sternlicht discusses his company's business strategy and expansion plans. He spoke to Bloomberg's Romaine Bostick from the sidelines of the Milken Institute Global Conference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starwood Hotels builds 1 Hotels, Treehouse, and Baccarat around one idea: products need emotion and soul, not templates. While hosting Starwood's annual conference, I talked with Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels, about differentiation through nature-led design, human experience, and AI-driven personalization that stays human.

David Alton Clark, who runs Retirement Income Warrior, shares how he's taking advantage of the volatility by taking profits and getting into a dividend name (0:35) Past performance (16:15) Top income pick (23:20)Show Notes:Commanding Retirement Income: A Disciplined Framework for Retirement Income Generation, Wealth Creation, and Capital PreservationInvesting Experts transcriptsFor full access to analyst ratings, stock and ETF quant scores, and dividend grades, subscribe to Seeking Alpha Premium at seekingalpha.com/subscriptions.

Host Steve Turk introduces an archived 2022 Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring Raul Leal, then CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts (now CEO of Starwood). Leal recounts starting at Miami's Everglades Hotel working with his Cuban-immigrant father, setting early goals to become a GM, and progressing through front desk and food-and-beverage roles, including managing a Sheraton with a major nightclub, before becoming a GM in La Jolla and later leading larger Sheraton properties in Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, and Miami. He describes launching and scaling Teton Hospitality and its boutique arm, Desires Hotels, driven by frustration with legacy-brand sameness and belief in internet-driven distribution. Leal shares how meeting Richard Branson led him to build Virgin Hotels from scratch, and why he later joined Starwood/SH Hotels to lead brands including 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse, emphasizing sustainability, better back-of-house spaces, mentorship, clear goals, and kindness in leadership.Try Lodgify with a 60 percent discount on all their yearly and bi-yearly plans with our code THM60 , and that's THM6000:00 Podcast Welcome00:33 Sponsor Lodgify01:38 Archive Episode Setup02:10 First Hospitality Job04:12 Choosing Hospitality Career05:18 Learning Without College05:55 Climbing Into Management08:21 First GM Move West09:27 Mentors And GM Life10:24 Big Hotels Career Ladder11:59 Entrepreneurial Leap14:10 Building Boutique Portfolio15:47 Travel Reality Check17:40 Why Launch Desires20:26 First Boutique Wins21:43 Lifestyle Hotel Edge23:00 Richard Branson Connection23:43 Meeting Richard Branson25:12 Consulting Turns Into Leadership26:41 Inside Virgin Culture28:45 Building Virgin Hotels From Scratch31:00 Choosing The First Property32:24 Chicago Launch And Expansion34:20 Leaving Virgin For SH Hotels36:16 SH Brands And Sustainability40:31 Growth Plans And Openings41:28 Reimagining Back Of House44:04 Advice For Young Leaders45:46 Closing And Sponsor Message

Episode 183.2: Rod Vilhauer Pt. 2, Future Frisco, The Mix, City Council, Starwood Trail, Cocaine Hippos, Reflect Orbital, and Russel's Reserve Single Barrel

On this episode of Talking Guitars, we dive into a wild rock-history moment: “Randy was trying to get backstage to meet him, but Eddie was bouncing off the walls in his underwear!” That unforgettable story comes from Kelly Garni, who sets the record straight on the supposed rivalry between Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen—and the truth might surprise you. For years, fans and guitar magazines framed Rhoads and Eddie as head-to-head rivals: two young, groundbreaking players redefining rock guitar in the late '70s and early '80s. It made for irresistible headlines—just like the media-fueled tension between Metallica and Megadeth—but according to Garni, the so-called feud between Randy and Eddie was mostly fiction. Back when Van Halen was lighting up the Hollywood club scene and “Eruption” was blowing minds nightly, Rhoads was still shredding with Quiet Riot. The bands played the same circuit—Starwood one night, Gazzarri's the next—sparking rumors of a guitar war that fans couldn't get enough of. Then Randy joined Ozzy Osbourne and helped launch Ozzy's solo career into the stratosphere, and the “rivalry” narrative exploded. But Garni insists Randy had zero interest in competing. He respected Eddie's genius—he just wasn't wired to think in terms of beating anyone. The result? Not a bitter feud, but two legendary innovators pushing guitar into the future at the exact same time—each changing rock forever in their own way.

Michael Broadhurst is the Chief Operating Officer at StepStone Hospitality, a lifelong hotelier who sprinted from dish pit to nightclub manager to senior posts with Marriott, Starwood, Crestline, and Crescent. He opened the Westin Reston, later led the Westin Arlington Gateway, and built a reputation for turnarounds driven by culture, coaching, and cross-discipline training. Susan and Michael talk about teams, transitions, and top-line revenue. What You'll Learn About: • Why quick, personal, and approachable service beats fancy food every time • How learning Rooms turbocharges a hotel career  • The Westin Arlington Gateway story—and how to revive a once-beloved flagship • Culture first: rebuilding teams before chasing scores and stars • When to walk away from an owner deal and the integrity lines you don't cross • Why management-company churn is rising, and how to avoid becoming a commodity • A step-by-step takeover playbook that calms nerves and kills rumors • Sales x Ops, not Sales vs Ops • The full-service future: experiential stays, destination F&B, and activated spaces • Solving owner–brand–operator misalignment *** Our Top Three Takeaways 1. Culture Comes First in Turnarounds When taking over a newly transitioned or underperforming hotel, Michael's first priority is always stabilizing the team and rebuilding culture. He emphasizes transparency, reassurance, and respect, meeting with associates early to address fears about job security, benefits, and pay. His philosophy mirrors the Marriott fundamental: take care of your associates, and they'll take care of your guests.  2. Integrity and Fit Matter More Than Growth Michael insists that StepStone walks away from deals that don't align with their values. He's clear that integrity and impact outweigh expansion, rejecting "numbers on paper" deals or partnerships without shared ethics. His approach to ownership relationships is built on honesty, ROI clarity, and long-term collaboration. He'd rather under-promise and over-deliver than chase short-term wins.  3. The Future of Full-Service Hotels Is Experiential Looking ahead, Michael predicts that full-service hotels will survive by becoming destinations, not just places to stay. Success will depend on differentiated experiences like vibrant F&B concepts, live entertainment, wellness and fitness activation, and localized service that connects emotionally with guests. He believes traditional "three-meal" models are obsolete; the new era of full service is about lifestyle, energy, and creating a sense of place that guests (and locals) seek out. Michael Broadhurst on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-broadhurst-13626b5/ StepStone Hospitality https://www.stepstonehospitality.com/ Other Episodes You May Like:  202: Casino Money Bag with Liz Dahlager https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/202 193: Room for Trouble with Scott Roby https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/193 112: No 7 AM Breakfasts with Leticia Proctor https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/112

Most leaders talk about transforming hospitality. Bashar Wali actually walked away from a $150 million hotel portfolio to do it. The founder of This Assembly, Wali is building a new kind of hospitality ecosystem, one centered on emotion, belonging, and human connection rather than automation and efficiency. In this episode, Dean Arun Upneja speaks with Wali about why the future of hospitality isn't just digital, but deeply human. From challenging the idea that loyalty can be bought with points to exploring how AI should enhance emotional intelligence, Wali urges leaders to rethink what makes hotels truly memorable. A celebrated thought leader and frequent speaker at BU SHA, Wali is known for his powerful TED Talk on why “humanity matters more than material luxuries” and for his keynote at the 2024 BU Hospitality Leadership Summit. With more than 20 years of leadership experience at companies like Wyndham International, Starwood, and Provenance Hotels, he continues to inspire the industry with his conviction that hospitality isn't a transaction; it's a feeling. And in an AI-driven world, that feeling may be the most valuable asset of all. Email us at shadean@bu.eduThe “Distinguished” podcast is produced by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. Host: Arun Upneja, DeanProducer: Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations and Corporate RelationsMarketing: Rachel Hamlin, Senior Marketing ManagerResearch: Lu Lan Music: “Airport Lounge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

A great collection on this show that begins with Clem Clempson from Humble Pie on his audition for Deep Purple after Richie Blackmore left, then seeing The Beatles on their first ever North American tour, how seeing Thin Lizzy Live changed Damon Johnsons life, and his epic audition for Alice Coopers band and in a year that will see Megadeth say goodbye what chance of a re-union with Dave Ellefson , Dave and Jeff Scott Soto share their views, bassist Chuck Wright tells us what it was like to see Van Halen on stage for the first time this was at the Starwood in LA before they had signed and what were his first impressions of seeing David Lee Roth for the first time and to finish Glenn Hughes remembers his first meeting with Stevie Wonder and what David Coverdale thought when Glenn bought him in to the studio where Deep Purple were recording at the time

Great marketing isn't just strategy, it's intuition, timing, and a deep understanding of human behavior. That's the beauty of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a movie about erasing your memories. In this episode, we're breaking down its lessons with the help of special guest Noha Rizk, Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta. Together, we explore what B2B marketers can learn from putting human emotion at the center of their work, trusting intuition alongside data, and embracing mistakes as the path to growth.About our guest, Noha RizkNoha Rizk is the Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta. With deep expertise in Marketing, brand management, integrated channel management, product leadership, P&L accountability, and change management, across various industries and launching and leading partnerships, marketing and product in over 50 countries, Noha brings extensive experience and insights into how to execute for brand loyalty, growth and sustainable share of the market. Prior to Incorta, Noha led marketing for Meta AI, launching Llama, and leading other open source projects like PyTorch. She pioneered online banking for Amex and Citi, online booking and revenue optimisations and integrated channel strategies in the hotel industry with Starwood and Marriott, led partnerships and loyalty in emerging markets, launched NGO and Gov projects with US state department, launched and spun off two of her own successful businesses and helped organise PayPals enterprise, Platforms and Developer product offerings and streamline their GTM strategies.Noha loves to solve big problems and create groundbreaking products and services that inspire customers and business partners. She focuses on delivering insights and metrics driven outcomes, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and coming up with innovative solutions. She especially enjoys building and developing strong, resilient, and nimble teams that can adapt to changing market needs and customer expectations.Noha is an avid reader, developing painter and pianist, proud mother and animal lover with a passion for helping the private sector thrive in emerging markets.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:Lead with human emotion. Great marketing isn't about features, it's about people. Even in B2B, you're dealing with human psyches, behaviors, and emotions—not faceless corporations. Noha explains, “Even as B2B marketers… you're dealing with individuals. You're dealing with the human psyche, you're dealing with the buying behavior… ultimately that is the objective. The objective is to maintain a relationship with your customers.” The lesson? Build messaging that connects on a human level first, because behind every buying decision is a person making sense of their own emotions.Balance data with intuition. Metrics matter, but numbers can't capture everything. Noha argues that some of the best insights come from being present, listening, and noticing what the data can't show. “Some things can't be measured…A big chunk of marketing has to be intuitive. It's not always purely scientific.” Just as the film's dreamlike narrative reminds us memory isn't linear or logical, B2B marketers need to leave room for creativity, serendipity, and gut instinct, because not everything that counts can be counted.Embrace mistakes as part of growth. Trying to erase failures is as dangerous in marketing as it is in memory. Noha points out, “You can't just erase away the pain… you won't learn if you don't make mistakes. A lot of marketers have to be super buttoned up, their campaigns have to work… there isn't a lot of opportunity for marketers these days to be allowed to make mistakes.” But the best brands learn from experiments that don't go as planned. Failure isn't wasted, it's the raw material for innovation, resilience, and better campaigns down the road.Quote“ As marketers…we explore the human psyche pretty much day in, day out, even if it's not explicitly said. But that's essentially what we do.”Time Stamps[00:55] Meet Noha Rizk, Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta[1:26] Why Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?[5:51] Role of CMO at Incorta[9:07] Breaking Down Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[22:11] B2B Marketing Takeaways from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind[43:56] Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinksConnect with Noha on LinkedInLearn more about IncortaAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Head of Production). Remarkable was produced this week by Jess Avellino, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chad Lavender is the President of Capital Markets - North America @ Newmark. In this episode we talk about his journey through commercial real estate, from starting out in development during the 2008 financial crisis to building one of the leading senior housing brokerage and advisory practices in the country. We cover how he navigated tough markets early in his career, the lessons he learned from cold calling legends of the industry, and the growth of alternative asset classes like senior housing, medical office, and data centers. Chad also shares his perspective on current real estate markets, from multifamily and industrial to the resurgence of office and the expansion of build-to-rent housing. We discuss: Starting in high-rise development in 2008 and learning through the downturn Building a senior housing brokerage business from scratch and winning early deals with Starwood and Carlisle Moving from ARA to HFF to Newmark and helping create the alternative assets platform How recruiting, persistence, and long-term relationships drive success in brokerage Current insights on data centers, senior housing, office recovery, build-to-rent, and industrial demand Links: Newmark - https://www.nmrk.com/ Chad on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-lavender-03551bb/ Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:04:22) - Chad's career and background (00:06:39) - The rise of Alabama in real estate (00:09:24) - Breaking into the multifamily market (00:11:42) - Building a seniors housing brokerage team (00:20:13) - The evolution of senior housing (00:27:27) - Joining Newmark and leading alternative assets (00:34:35) - The power of passion and persistence (00:37:49) - Winning business (00:40:36) - Data centers and infrastructure (00:46:37) - The office market rebound (00:51:45) - Build-to-rent trends and challenges (00:57:46) - Capital markets and future outlook (01:05:04) - Final thoughts Support our Sponsors Ramp: https://ramp.com/fort Collateral Partners: https://collateral.com/fort Vesto: https://www.vesto.com/fort Chris on Social Media: Chris on X: https://x.com/fortworthchris Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepowerspodcast/   Watch POWERS on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://www.powerspod.com/ Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO   POWERS is produced by https://www.johnnypodcasts.com/

This week on Talk Shop, Ariel sits down with due behind Nickey Kehoe, Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe, lifelong friends turned creative partners whose shared love for design has shaped one of the most celebrated names in interiors. The two first met at a New York City dinner party, sparking a decades-long collaboration that would lead to their AD100 design firm and two beloved home stores across the country.Before launching their partnership in 2004, Todd honed his skills in retail design for fashion houses like Donna Karan and Badgley Mischka, while Amy was crafting hospitality spaces at Starwood. Together, they built a brand that blends curated vintage finds, private-label products, and globally sourced treasures—pieces designed to live far beyond a single lifetime.Now more than 20 years later, Nickey Kehoe has expanded its Los Angeles retail footprint and grown its thriving e-commerce business, with Amy leading design and Todd steering retail. Tune in as Ariel unpacks the story behind their friendship, their creative vision, and the business of building a timeless brand.—Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymkehoe/And Todd: https://www.instagram.com/toddnickey/And learn more about Nickey Kehoe: https://nickeykehoe.com/

Send us a textHi everybody and welcome to today's episode of Attendance Bias. I am your host, Brian Weinstein. I would imagine that most of us have been there: a Phish show where the first set gets off to a typical start, and then something happens-maybe a bustout or a special guest-that makes the show instantly memorable. Or maybe a show where the weather takes a turn for the worse and the show has to end early or there's a downpour that's almost as memorable as the music. Well, today's guest, Ric Hickey is here to tell us about a show that has both: July 1, 1999 at the Starwood Amphitheater in Antioch, Tennessee. When Phish comes to Nashville, it's not a given that there will be special guests onstage, but the odds are in your favor. Ric tells us about seeing Phish in the early 90s around the Cincinnati area and various parts of Ohio, but also how he became familiar with the Nashville area. The 1999 summer tour has become a popular time to discuss on Attendance Bias, and Ric was there for the tour's first few shows in the southeast. While he wasn't a bluegrass aficionado at the time, he was still impressed by the lineup of country royalty that joined Phish during the first set of this show for a mix of bluegrass standards and Phish originals. Then, a rollicking rainstorm caused an early end to the 2nd set, leaving most fans went, muddy, disoriented, but hopefully satisfied. But we'll let Ric tell the story.Let's join Ric to talk about the complex chord progression of Billy Breathes, short-lived DAT recordings, and what a dobro guitar sounds like as we discuss July 1, 1999 in Nashville.

Check out the latest TMG Hospitality Trailblazers episode featuring the Founder of Aligned Hospitality, Bryan Tubaugh!  Bryan joins the podcast to discuss founding Aligned Hospitality, the meaning behind the brand, technology in hospitality, improving the guest experience, and much more.  Tune in now. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree, with another edition of our TMG Hospitality Trailblazers series. This episode we head west to bring in my next guest from Aligned Hospitality, Brian Tubaugh, founder, and CEO. Thank you so much, Brian, for being on the Suite Spot. Bryan Tubaugh: Hey, Brian, I appreciate it and glad to be here. Ryan Embree: Yeah, exciting. We're gonna talk all about Aligned Hospitality. Talk about the journey where you guys are, you guys have seen some explosive growth, which we're gonna talk about, but first, since it's your first time, love to get people's background stories journey. What ultimately led you to Aligned Hospitality, but founding Aligned Hospitality as well. Yeah, absolutely. I'm one of the I guess, rare breeds. I grew up in the industry. Both my parents, were both general managers. Both of them started in the hospitality industry, line level, housekeepers, bellman, and then, you know, the typical hospitality love story fell in love, one became a front office manager. The other became a GM. Then they started traveling and they had me. So, yeah, so both my parents were in the industry. I, to be honest with you, it's all I've known. It's, you know, all I choose to know. Anytime I try to take away or get away from the industry, it brought me back. So yeah, so I was born into it. And then my business partner, Helinda, my mother, she raised me, my parents divorced. She raised me in Tucson, Arizona, where, you know, our headquarters is still at Tucson and Phoenix. And so, yeah, so we just I grew up in the industry. I started off in operations with Hilton. Went that route, started in housekeeping at 14. We won't tell people that though. So I was a houseman summer job. It was an exterior corridor hotel. So I got to feel that $120 heat. And, yeah, I mean, quickly worked my way up to the front desk. And you know, I may have had some back push on that help as my mom was the general manager at the property. And then the fun part of the whole story, the twist was when I was 18, I had an HR director at the DoubleTree that I was working at. It was a full service, DoubleTree. And the HR director called me into his office. I'll never forget him, love him to death, Eduardo. And he said, Hey, Brian, do you like this industry? I said, well, yeah. I mean, is there anything else in the world? And he said, well, if you like it and you love it, you need to leave Hilton. And I was like, whoa, did I do something wrong? I mean, I, I love Hilton. I'm at a double tree. This is what I've known. I eat a cookie a day. Like, you know, what, why? And, you know, and he kind of looked at me and he said, listen, because of who your parents are, you're never gonna be able to progress in your career. And you're never gonna be able to take that next step because everybody will know you as Rick and Helenda's son. And if you truly want to make your own staple in this industry, then you need to, you need to, you need to move on. And, I tell that story too, and I'll tell you where that leads, but I tell that story because I do think that's a gap nowadays in our industry, is that that mentorship, that line level to that middle management to management, right? We go rockstar front desk. You're now a general manager. Figure it out. So anyway, so he shipped me out. I found Starwood at that point. The four Points by Sheraton. I became an SRSA, I don't know if you remember that position. Sales Reporting Systems analyst.

Today we have some big news! Charlotte from New Zealand Shores joins us to spill the latest on the NEW Parent Visa Boost—making it easier than ever to reunite families in NZ. Today, we break down the visa, who's eligible, what's changing, and what you can do to get ahead of the rush when it goes live. Enjoy

Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to musician Kristi Callan, daughter of acting lifer, K Callan. Active since 1956, K has had many lives – in the theater, on television, in commercials and movies. In 2019, she co-starred in the hit film, Knives Out, in the 70s she was Cousin Liz in a famous episode of All in the Family, in the 90s she was Martha Kent on the beloved series, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, she's pitched Sanka and Anacin and is also the author of several books on acting and the life of an actor that might be her most well-known endeavor. And she's still going strong in 2025. Kristi talks to us about growing up with a very understanding mom who was nurtured her and her sister's interest in music while growing up in Los Angeles in the 1970s. In fact, music fans will know Kristi's various music projects from hither and yon in bands like Wednesday Week, The Roswells Sisters, a Cheap Trick cover band, Cheap Chick and a newer project The Dime Box Band. In fact, her musical world and her mother's acting career once intersected perfectly on a transatlantic flight involving The Ramones, who were fans of her mother's. We also hear about long lost LA venues like The Starwood and the Music Machine as well as perhaps one band you have never heard of, Goat Deity with future member of Paisley Underground darlings, The Dream Syndicate. We go the extra mile for your muso's on this episode. So if movies like Joe or The Onion Field or American Gigolo are your thing, or possibly TV shows like James at 16, St. Elsewhere or It's a Living float your boat, get ready for a walk down memory lane on this episode. The Rarified Heir Podcast, everyone has a story. Kristi has several of her own and more of her mother as well.  

Starwood Capital is suing GVA Real Estate Group for $110 million—sparking major concerns in the multifamily investing world. In this episode, we break down what went wrong, how personal guarantees work, and why more syndicators are getting caught in the fallout from rising interest rates. We'll also explain the risks behind floating-rate debt and what today's investors need to know to avoid similar mistakes. If you're investing in real estate syndications—or thinking about it—this is a must-listen.   JOIN RealWealth® FOR FREE https://realwealth.com/join-step-1 FOLLOW OUR PODCASTS Real Wealth Show: Real Estate Investing Podcast https://link.chtbl.com/RWS

Positive Market Performance and Key Economic Indicators - June 12th Edition In this edition of Dividend Cafe, Brian Szytel discusses the positive performance across major indices with the Dow up 101 points, the S&P rising 0.38%, and the Nasdaq up a quarter percent. Treasury yields showed weakness, and a lower-than-expected PPI number contributed to falling interest rates and a slightly weaker dollar. Initial jobless claims showed a slight increase for the fourth consecutive week, signaling a softening labor market, similar to levels seen in the summer of 2023. Brian also touches on the US-China trade talks, the significance of rare earth minerals and technology exports, and the current state of private real estate investment trusts, like Starwood and Blackstone. He concludes by urging viewers to send in questions and announces upcoming content for the week. 00:00 Introduction and Market Overview 00:22 Treasury Yields and Dollar Movement 00:34 Producer Price Index and Inflation 01:14 Jobless Claims and Labor Market Insights 01:56 US-China Trade Talks 03:22 Real Estate Market Analysis 04:28 Conclusion and Upcoming Updates Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

What determines value in your company? What should founders be asking themselves regarding pricing to determine value in their company? How do you know an effective negotiation strategy? On today's episode, Paul Watts welcomes back Sonia Dumas. Sonia is a selling strategist, entrepreneur, and co-author of The Market Ownership Method: 7 Proven Principles and One Profitable Plan for Higher ROI Clients. Sonia has worked with industry giants like Intuit, Investopedia, Starwood, and Marriott, just to name a few. Today she will discuss experience-based negation strategies and effective negation tactics. Outline of This Episode (0:00) Introduction to Sonia Dumas (1:15) The Difference Between Strategy and Tactics in Negotiation (4:45) Sonia's Most Effective Negotiation Strategy (9:55) Planning for Successful Negotiations (11:30) Managing Complex Sales: Simplify (13:00) Counteracting Aggressive Negotiation Tactics (15:00) The Top Three Negotiation Dos and Dont's Resources & People Mentioned The Market Ownership Method: 7 Proven Principles and One Profitable Plan for Higher ROI Clients Connect with Sonia Dumas Sonia Dumas - WOMEN Sales Pros Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter  Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In Episode 76 Carter talks with Mike Moser the CEO of Starwood Land Company. During the interview Mike discusses past work experiences and how his tenure at Taylor Woodrow set him up for success at Starwood along with lessons he's learned as he transformed Starwood Land from an opportunistic fund into one of the largest MPC developers in the United States. In this episode you'll learn: Leadership lessons learned at Taylor Woodrow. The secret of negotiating land sales with home builders. The relationship between Starwood Land and Starwood Capital. The importance of a top-notch reliable team. How the Land Tejas and Hines MPC acquisitions aligned with Starwood's business plan. The impact of the Launch Bond® on Starwood's capital stack.  (LINK TO LB WEBSITE) Show NotesWebsite: www.starwoodland.com  Mike Moser – mmoser@starwoodland.com Plus: Whenever you're ready here are 4 ways Launch can help you with your project: Prepare a Special Tax District Bond Analysis for your Project – If you have a projects in AZ, CA, CO, ID, NC, NM, SC, TX, UT, WA contact  Carter Froelich (ADD MY EMAIL LINK) and have Launch prepare an initial bond analysis for your project. Add Favorable Financing Language to Annexation and/or Development Agreements – Create certainty and flexibility related to your project's infrastructure financing by having Launch professionals prepare handcrafted favorable financing language for inclusion in your Annexation and/or Development Agreement. Perform The RED Analysis™ on your Project – We have developed a unique process at Launch called The RED Analysis™ in which we perform a diagnostic review of your project to determine possible ways to Reduce, Eliminate and Defer infrastructure construction costs in order to enhance project returns. Track Your Reimbursable Costs Utilizing The Launch Reimbursement System™ (“LRS”) – Never lose track of your district eligible reimbursable costs and have Launch manage your district's costs reimbursement tracking, preparation of electronic reimbursement submittal packages and processing of your reimbursement requests with the district, jurisdiction and/or agency. Complimentary Offers for Land to Lots™ ListenersComplimentary Land to Lots book: https://www.launch-mpc.com/offer Complimentary Bond Sizing Analysis:  https://form.jotform.com/231376408765160 Get all the shownotes here Learn more about Launch Development Finance Advisors Connect with Carter Froelich Connect With Launch Development Finance Advisors Carter Froelich – 480-828-9555 / carter@launch-dfa.com Carter Froelich hosts the Land to Lots™ podcast powered by Launch Development Finance Advisors. Carter shares how he and his team help their clients finance infrastructure, reduce costs, and mitigate risks all with the goal of enhancing project profitability.

Your best new tenant might be sitting right above your head. On this episode of Retail Retold, Chris Ressa is joined by Bill Fitzgerald of Radial Power to reveal a game-changing secret for retail landlords: your rooftop is prime real estate. Backed by industry heavyweights like Starwood and Related, Radial Power is turning unused roof space into pure NOI with zero CapEx. Forget about just cutting costs—solar is adding revenue streams, hitting ESG goals, and future-proofing properties.Bill breaks down how Radial operates as a tenant, not just a service, paying you for your roof space and handling everything from installation to energy sales. This is rooftop leasing redefined, and it's supercharging the balance sheets of forward-thinking landlords.Ready to make your roof work for you? Tune in now.TakeawaysBill Fitzgerald has been in solar for about seven years.Radial Power helps drive sustainability through rooftop solar.Solar can drive value add and increase net operating income (NOI).There are two main ways to operate solar on properties: ownership or leasing.Radial Power operates as a rooftop tenant, managing all costs and risks.Monetization of solar includes selling electricity and environmental credits.Regulatory environments significantly impact solar operations and pricing.Solar energy is geographically sensitive due to varying regulations.Solar providers like Radial Power are often misunderstood as sellers of solar systems.Solar installations can create additional NOI without upfront capital expenditures.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Solar and Retail Real Estate02:45 Understanding Radial Power's Mission04:56 Exploring Solar Ownership Models08:47 Monetizing Solar Assets13:39 Regulatory Challenges in Solar Energy

In this episode, we welcome Susan Barry, host of the Top Floor podcast and founder/CEO of Hive Marketing. Dive into Susan's extensive background in hospitality, from her early days in restaurant catering to her significant role in Starwood, opening New Build hotels. Discover her journey of starting her own business during the financial crisis and evolving it into a B2B marketing powerhouse in the hospitality industry. Susan shares how she launched her podcast, Top Floor, and its growth over the last four years, while discussing the state of the hospitality industry, technology gaps, and trends. Tune in for an engaging conversation that covers the importance of treating teams well, bringing back the essence of hospitality, and the future of hotel and short-term rental integration. Don't miss Susan's invaluable insights and her passion for the industry's progression! Connect with Susan Barry: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Hive Marketing The Top Floor Podcast SLICK50 - for 50% off LinkedIn Content Made Easy Connect with Wil: ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ This episode is brought to you by our sponsors at: ⁠⁠Hostfully⁠⁠ – $500 off onboarding fee using code SLICK500 - Connect with⁠⁠ Frank here!⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Send Squared⁠⁠, the Hubspot for Hospitality Brands & Professionals! Get your business and leads organized and automated with Send Squared, the industry's best CRM! ——– Thank you for tuning into our podcast!⁠⁠ Slick Talk⁠⁠ is a⁠⁠ Hospitality.FM⁠⁠ production, and you can find more of our shows at Hospitality.FM or anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! Listen to more episodes on our⁠⁠ website⁠⁠ and take a look at our amazing⁠⁠ podcast and network sponsors⁠⁠ that make this all possible! You can also listen to our Monday morning podcast,⁠⁠ Good Morning Hospitality⁠⁠, where we discuss the industry in a more casual setting! If you ever want to contact us for guest suggestions or anything else related to the podcast, please fill out⁠⁠ our contact form⁠⁠, and we will be in touch! Last but not least, we love to connect on LinkedIn!⁠⁠ Let's connect⁠⁠ there so you can see the daily content we post beyond the podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bio Moiz Doriwala is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning real estate finance, investment, and entrepreneurship .... Growing up in Naperville, Illinois, his interest in real estate was sparked by his father's career as a general contractor and developer. He pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Chicago and an MBA in Finance and Management and Strategy from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. His early career began in the finance sector with a unique rotational program at Bank One (later JP Morgan Chase), where he gained experience in asset-backed securities trading, commercial loan workouts, leveraged leasing, and even worked in a strategic group under Jamie Dimon. He further honed his investment banking skills in the Financial Sponsor Group of J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, focusing on M&A transactions and various financing activities. In 2005, Mr. Doriwala transitioned to the real estate industry, joining S&R Land Development, LLC in Reston, VA, where he was involved in the development of residential and commercial land. Leveraging his financial acumen and real estate exposure, he later became Vice President of Perseus Realty Capital, LLC, specializing in joint venture equity, preferred equity, and mezzanine financings. In 2008, Mr. Doriwala formed his own umbrella company, Stirling Realty Advisors, LLC, a boutique real estate investment bank that provides financial advisory services, primarily focusing on raising debt and equity capital for real estate developers and operators nationwide. While initially focused on capital raising, Stirling has evolved into a vehicle for his various investment activities. Under the Stirling umbrella, Mr. Doriwala manages and invests in several businesses, including: Bookhill Park: An entity that manages a series of small funds and operates as a finance company, providing opportunistic lending across various industries and geographies Investments in mental health and behavioral health businesses Investments in one off LPs in apartment projects His role as President of Superior Living Foundation Inc., a 501c3 non-profit focused on owning businesses in the healthcare region, such as senior housing and behavioral health facilities1 .... Mr. Doriwala also has experience in the senior housing sector, having served as Treasurer for Meridian Senior Living .... Additionally, he was involved in the mobile home park business for a number of years through BHP, building and eventually exiting a portfolio of parks. Throughout his career, Mr. Doriwala has demonstrated an opportunistic and entrepreneurial approach, building strong relationships and a reputation for his ability to navigate complex transactions and provide creative financial solutions. He values strong partnerships, thorough due diligence, and trusting his instincts in his investment decisions. Show Notes [6:30] Introduction to Moiz Doriwala and his diverse business background. He manages or participates in managing at least three businesses. [7:00] Overview of Sterling Realty Advisors. Formed in 2008 as an umbrella company for advising real estate operators and developers on capital raising (joint venture equity, mezz, preferred equity, debt financing). Now primarily a vehicle for personal and business investment activities. [7:50] Discussion of Sterling as an investor. Investing in individual real estate projects and companies, often as a passive investor or advisor. [8:20] Introduction to Bookhill Park. An entity managed by Moiz, functioning as a finance company providing loans across various industries and geographies, focusing on the borrower and path to repayment. [9:10] Overview of investments in mental health and behavioral health businesses. [9:20] Moiz's role as President of Superior Living Foundation Inc. A 501c3 non-profit focused on owning businesses in the healthcare region (senior housing, behavioral health, substance abuse). [9:55] Moiz shares his origins and early life in Naperville, Illinois. Noteworthy growth of the suburb outside Chicago. [10:40] Influence of his father's career as a general contractor and developer on his early real estate exposure. [11:05] Initial aspirations to be a lawyer but a shift to finance and banking during college at the University of Chicago (Economics). [11:30] First job at Bank One and the unique two-and-a-half-year rotational program with simultaneous part-time MBA at Northwestern Kellogg. [12:15] Rotations at Bank One: Asset-backed securities trading desk, managed assets (commercial loan workout group, including the Safety Clean bankruptcy), leveraged leasing group, and "skunk works" group working directly for Jamie Dimon. [14:30] Rotation in the banks' merger and acquisition (M&A) group. [14:45] Unique aspect of the Bank One program: Obtaining an MBA (paid for by the bank) through evening classes while working full-time. [16:15] Jamie Dimon's arrival at Bank One as CEO during Moiz's time there. [16:30] Merger of Bank One with JP Morgan Chase and Moiz's move to New York to work in the investment bank's financial sponsors group. [16:45] Fond memories of working in JP Morgan's financial sponsor group. Considered a top group on the street with a strong balance sheet and access to private equity firms. [18:40] Decision to leave JP Morgan in 2005 due to his wife's desire to return to the DC area and the demanding hours of investment banking. [19:30] Intense work hours in investment banking: Regularly working 12+ hour days, seven days a week, sometimes sleeping at the office. [20:15] Wife's background in the real estate industry and understanding of the demanding work schedule. [20:20] Opportunity to join his wife's family's business in land development in the growing DC area, prompted by his father-in-law coming out of retirement to help a large home builder. [20:50] Reasons for leaving high finance for land development: Opportunity to learn real estate on someone else's dollar, educational and financial rewards, and the desire to move to DC. [21:30] Eye-opening experience transitioning from Wall Street to land development. Different work hours and the need for patience when dealing with the public sector. [23:15] Realization that residential land development was not the right fit. [23:30] The financial crisis impacting the land development industry. Fortunate timing of selling their last project before the major downturn. [24:25] Pivoting after the financial crisis to Perseus Realty Capital. A brokerage firm focused on financing real estate transactions (joint venture equity, mezzanine, preferred equity). [25:15] Reasons for choosing Perseus over larger national players: Desire for a smaller, newer firm with more control over destiny, having experienced both very large and very small companies. [26:25] Perseus's evolution to PRP real estate and shift from intermediary to asset management. [26:45] Learning curve at Perseus regarding traditional real estate financing. Understanding mortgage financing, mezzanine debt in real estate, and the role of institutional investors and private equity funds. [27:45] Focus on networking and finding new sources of capital for clients at Perseus. [28:50] Most challenging deal at Perseus: A high-rise residential building in Denver during the financial crisis where the senior loan fell through after construction began. [29:30] Securing mezzanine financing for the Denver project with another intermediary bringing in Corus Bank as the senior lender. [30:10] Challenges with Corus after Starwood took over, transitioning from dealing with a bank to an opportunity fund. [31:10] Comparison of the lending environment today (more cautious with lower loan-to-cost, higher rates, stronger covenants) compared to before COVID. [32:30] Overview of Bookhill Park's lending activities. Opportunistic lending beyond just real estate, including first and second mortgages, mezzanine, unsecured and secured loans, asset-based loans, inventory financing, payroll loans to government contractors, and factoring. [33:20] Origin of Bookhill Park's lending business: Helping a government contractor with payroll financing due to challenges with traditional bank lending for new contractors. [34:20] Higher return expectations in Bookhill Park's early lending days (17%+) compared to today (12-15%) due to increased private credit competition. [36:00] Impact of higher generic interest rates versus the decrease in Bookhill Park's targeted returns due to market competition. [36:50] Bookhill Park's patient capital base (personal capital, friends, family, investors) allows for selectivity in deals. [38:10] Evolution of Stirling Realty Advisors post-Perseus, focusing on national JV equity and mezzanine raising with a business partner. [38:50] Strategies for finding clients and investors: Networking at conferences (ULI), cold calling developers, and building relationships. [39:55] Business partner's departure and Moiz continuing as a sole entrepreneur with Stirling, leading to involvement in other businesses through new partnerships. [40:30] Evolution of the senior living business involvement. Initial capital raising for healthcare deals leading to a role at Meridian Senior Living. [41:20] Role as Treasurer at Meridian Senior Living. Initially part-time but became more significant, involving corporate infrastructure and learning the operations-focused nature of the healthcare business. [42:50] Financing structure of Meridian Senior Living: Real estate financed by traditional sources (opportunity funds, REITs) through leases, while operations were primarily financed by the three partners. [43:20] Involvement in raising capital for Meridian. [43:30] Managing banking relationships at Meridian. The partners had existing relationships, but Moiz also brought new ones. [44:20] Growth and evolution of Meridian: Hiring a full-time treasurer and assistant treasurer, and starting ancillary businesses (pharmacies, therapy business). [45:20] Parallel development of Bookhill Park and how relationships from the senior housing business led to healthcare lending deals. [46:00] Bookhill Park's unique lending advantage in the senior housing space: Ability to potentially take over management due to the operating company connection. [46:30] Bookhill Park's partnership with regional banks to do larger "A/B" structure loans, effectively syndicating the "A" piece. [48:30] Mobile home park business (BHP): Parallel investment with a different group of partners, attracted by limited supply and affordable housing characteristics. [50:15] Portfolio size of mobile home parks at its peak. [50:20] Opportunistic investment strategy leading to eventual exits from mobile home park projects. [50:45] Sale of a well-located mobile home park in Maryland after a short ownership period due to a strong offer. [51:30] Institutionalization of the mobile home park space over the last 15 years, leading to increased competition and higher acquisition costs, making current returns less attractive. [52:00] Challenges in the current mobile home park market: Increased broker presence and sellers having unrealistic price expectations. [52:50] Differences between mobile home park and traditional multifamily operations. [53:10] Section 8 in mobile home parks. [53:30] Potential future re-entry into the mobile home park market when institutional capital exits. [54:10] Formation of Superior Living Foundation Inc. (501c3) in 2017 by the principals at Meridian Senior Living to grow their presence in senior housing and healthcare through tax-exempt opportunities. [56:00] Avoiding conflicts of interest between the non-profit and for-profit entities. Independent board for the non-profit making decisions at market rates with multiple operator options. [57:15] Interesting financing assignments: Maritime claim settlement through Bookhill Park, involving learning about maritime law and insurance claims. [59:30] Recent closing of a 14-property skilled nursing portfolio acquisition by Superior Living Foundation. A tax-exempt bond deal with institutional buyers, aimed at growing the foundation's ability to provide healthcare services. [1:01:30] Reflection on John's early prediction of Moiz's success and their collaborative transactions over the years. [1:01:45] Moiz's experience in the ULI mentorship program with John as his mentor. [1:02:30] Value of their ongoing relationship and how it has led to successful introductions and investment opportunities, including a senior housing deal in Florida and multiple investments in a former mentee's multifamily projects. [1:04:40] Advice for young listeners on investment criteria and sponsor selection. Prioritizing the sponsor, location, and the sponsor's financial resources and "skin in the game." [1:07:00] Views on signing recourse loans. Moiz's partner's perspective on the development game. [1:08:00] Not personally willing to act as a co-GP solely for providing a guarantee. [1:08:30] Ability to bring both equity and a guarantor to a deal. [1:08:45] The unique aspect of Moiz's ability to raise capital and bring a group of investors to deals. [1:09:50] Investment philosophy and what sets Moiz apart: Creativity without a fixed "box," focusing on the story and exit, and a commitment to doing what they say they will. [1:12:00] Clarification on partnership structure: While Stirling is his sole business, almost all other ventures involve partnerships. [1:12:30] Importance of having partners to bounce ideas off of. [1:13:00] Time management strategies: Making lists, prioritizing, managing multiple transactions, relying on mental organization, and detailed calendar use. [1:14:20] Financial management: Working with an accountant and using QuickBooks for many entities. [1:15:15] Lean administrative structure. [1:16:00] Personal management of investor payouts for Bookhill Park. [1:16:30] Utilizing technology for tracking investments (example of Colin's investor portal) and the recommendation to invest in such technology. [1:17:00] Limited personal exploration of AI but an interest in future use. [1:17:30] Use of a wealth management firm with strong technology to track personal and investment financials. [1:17:45] Effectively having a "family office" through their wealth management firm's tracking capabilities. [1:18:30] Ensuring his wife knows the location of important financial information. [1:19:00] Challenging trends and unique opportunities in investments and capital markets today: Uncertainty due to government changes, tariffs, and financial market fluctuations. Lending still tough, potential impact of rising unemployment on real estate. Possible positive impact on office sector. [1:20:30] Trends in the senior housing business: Demographic upside ("silver tsunami") but challenges with increasing labor, food, and supply costs not yet matched by rent increases. Impact of stock market and interest rates on affordability. Financing and construction costs remain high. [1:22:00] Dynamics in the skilled nursing space: Reliance on Medicaid with capped payments and potential cuts creating nervousness. [1:23:15] Growth potential in healthcare in general and the role of AI. [1:23:45] Growth potential in the energy business, including passive energy. [1:24:00] Concerns and questions surrounding the office sector: Return to office trends, occupancy rates, and the efficiency of operating buildings with hybrid work models. Impact on retail demand. [1:24:45] Approach to future investments: Remaining opportunistic and open-minded across various sectors, continuing high-quality lending and partnerships, and focusing on good real estate in prime locations. [1:26:00] The unique value of Moiz's diverse experience across institutional finance, small entrepreneurial groups, agency, and principal roles. [1:26:15] Accepting that not all ventures will succeed and the importance of learning from both successes and failures. [1:26:45] Most surprising lessons learned: No guarantees in business or life, and the critical importance of personally verifying key information rather than solely relying on team members or partners. [1:28:30] Advice to his 25-year-old self: Be curious, be patient, be a hustler, slow down (balance opportunism with thorough execution), and be passionate. [1:29:55] Priorities of family, work, and giving back: Family is paramount with a focus on spending time with his children. Strong emphasis on giving back in the education space, both domestically and internationally. [1:30:30] Supporting various educational organizations. [1:31:30] Final question: What would a billboard on the Capitol Beltway say? "Trust your gut." [1:32:00] Reflection on times when trusting his gut paid off and, more significantly, times when ignoring his gut led to negative outcomes. [1:32:20] Accepting missed opportunities without regret. [1:33:20] Thank you and closing remarks. Similar Episodes Brad Olsen Shekar Narasimhan Ken Bacon Willy Walker

Lan Elliott's career spans the highest levels of hotel real estate, from acquisitions at Starwood to asset management at IHG. Now, as the co-founder of Acacia Holdings, a champion for women in hospitality through Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance, and a podcast host on It's Personal Stories, she's on a mission to create more opportunities in leadership and investment. Susan and Lan talk about career pivots, negotiation power moves, and the myth that there aren't enough women speakers in hospitality. What You'll Learn in This Episode:

Tony Reflex of The Adolescents discusses the band's 45-year journey, from the early days, the Blue Album, the legacy of "Amoeba", working with Frontier Records to current day releases, rarities and more. Topics Include: Adolescents approaching 45 years as a band Band attracts three generations of fans to shows Beatles and Cheap Trick were major musical influences First records were children's Golden Records on yellow vinyl Cereal boxes used to come with cardboard records Tony couldn't play instruments, focused on vocals instead First vinyl appearance was "Amoeba" on Rodney on the Roq compilation Rodney Bingenheimer played their demo tape immediately after receiving it "Amoeba" originated from Rik and Casey's previous band Detours Lisa Fancher signed them to Frontier after shows turned into riots Blue Album recorded over single weekend with Tom Wilson Album cover inspired by Cheap Trick's logo design Band wasn't close friends, created internal tensions Pat Smear briefly joined band for three months "Welcome to Reality" single - Ed Colver gravestone cover photo Recently discovered Starwood live tapes from Rob Ritter Hollywood punks accepted Orange County bands despite distance Cuckoo's Nest venue paid bands very little money 1986 reunion show at Fender's Ballroom with Weirdos "Brats and Battalions" released on SOS Records Steve Soto and Tony called themselves "rock wives" Recent albums include Russian Spider Dump, Caesar Salad Days Tony collects CDs more than vinyl records Owns original Germs "Forming" single in true mono VIDEO version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Photos by Alan Snodgrass, Glen E Friedman Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

In this episode of the Defensive Security Podcast, hosts Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat discuss various cybersecurity topics, including the FTC's order for Marriott and Starwood to enhance their data security measures, a recent hijacking of a Chrome extension, and emerging threats for 2025. They also delve into the implications of AI in cybersecurity, emphasizing … Continue reading Defensive Security Podcast Episode 290 →