Hospitality Daily Podcast

In this episode, Jeanelle Johnson, Managing Partner at PwC, and Abhi Jain, Partner at PwC, explore what the robotics conversation in hospitality is really about. They discuss where robotics makes practical sense today, and where human judgment and interaction remain essential. The conversation then shifts to the structural realities of the hotel business, including ownership models, incentive misalignment, and the complexity of the ecosystem that often slows technology adoption. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of why innovation in hospitality is less about the technology itself and more about who pays, who benefits, and how alignment drives change. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Jeanelle Johnson, Managing Partner at PwC, and Abhi Jain, Partner at PwC, break down what defined 2025 and what hotel leaders must focus on in 2026. From the rise of a two-speed market to persistent margin compression, they explain why operational excellence is now the primary driver of asset value. We explore how AI, "synthetic customers," and stronger data governance are reshaping pricing, product development, and time-to-market. If you own, operate, or invest in hotels, this conversation will help you compete in a structurally different hotel economy. Reports mentioned in the conversation: PwC Hospitality Directions USPwC & ULI Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2026PwC Holiday 2025 Spending Signals for 2026 A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Josiah Mackenzie reflects on leading change and reinvention, using Hospitality Daily as an example. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Ryan Mann, Partner at McKinsey & Company, shares how "AI has become agenda item one, two, three, four, and five" for hotel leaders worldwide. Recorded at ALIS in January 2026, this conversation explores how AI has shifted from experimentation to executive priority in a matter of months. Ryan outlines three key arenas shaping hospitality today: internal automation, on-property operational efficiency, and the high-stakes disruption of search and booking. He explains why AI is no longer a technology problem but an adoption challenge, why data readiness and trust will determine visibility in AI-driven discovery, and how leaders should think in scenarios as OTAs, suppliers, and agentic systems compete for control of the booking relationship. This episode offers a clear framework for where to act now and how to prepare for a rapidly shifting distribution landscape. See our previous conversation: How The World's Best Hotels Deliver Exceptional Service - Ryan Mann, McKinsey & Company A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Bashar Wali shares a personal look at how he approaches travel, often landing in a city for less than 24 hours and skipping the landmarks altogether. Instead of checking boxes or chasing must-see attractions, he spends his time in conversation, sitting at coffee shops and bars, speaking with strangers about their lives, ambitions, and perspectives. In this episode, he reframes travel as a tool for self-discovery rather than sightseeing, arguing that depth of connection matters more than distance covered. For hospitality leaders, the takeaway is clear. If you want to understand a place, a culture, or even yourself, start with people. Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, challenges one of the most common habits in life and work: leading with “What do you do?” He explains why that question limits connection, reinforces hierarchy, and undermines the core spirit of hospitality. Drawing from his global travels and leadership experience, Bashar makes the case for curiosity as a discipline and introduces a better starting point: “Where are you from?” Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, shares why staying culturally relevant is your responsibility. Read more from Bashar: The Merchants of Cool™ Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this conversation, Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Wellness Collective, returns to move the conversation from wellness theory to practical execution. Drawing on her background in luxury mystery shopping and experiential audits, she explains how a structured wellness audit helps hotels uncover hidden revenue opportunities already inside their operations. From sleep-focused room upgrades and minibar redesigns to team training and retreat partnerships, she outlines how operators can drive incremental top-line growth without major capital investment. If you are looking to offset rising costs, improve retention, and open new pockets of demand, this episode gives you a clear framework to turn wellness into a measurable profit center. More from Emily: Elevate Wellness CollectiveSubstackInstagramHospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this conversation, Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Wellness Collective, joins the show to unpack what hotels often misunderstand about wellness. Drawing on her background in hotel investment and development, Emily explains why wellness extends beyond the spa and how mental health and emotional well-being shape the overall stay. The discussion explores wellness as a strategic lens for design and operations, not a standalone amenity, and why hospitality leaders need to rethink how wellness fits into their business objectives. More from Emily: Elevate Wellness CollectiveSubstackInstagramGlobal Wellness Institute postAccor x Globetrender studyGlobal Wellness Summit recapHow Integrating Mental Health Into the Guest Journey Drives ProfitHospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, shares how observing human behavior shapes his perspective on hospitality. Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, shares a candid perspective shaped by staying in a different hotel every night he travels, explaining how overdesigned spaces, sensory overload, and scripted service have pushed hospitality away from its core purpose. This conversation reframes hotels as a respite from daily chaos, not an experience competing for attention. Also see: Delighting Guests: Easier Than Ever? (Bashar Wali, Practice Hospitality)Let's Return To The Art of Hospitality - Bashar Wali, Practice Hospitality Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Mews, the operating system for hospitality that replaces fragmented systems with one connected way to manage reservations, payments, revenue, and guest service. Listen to my recent conversation with Mews founder Richard Valtr for a deep dive on what's happening with AI and hotel tech today. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this special bonus episode from Actabl, Josiah Mackenzie and Sarah McCay Tams lead a candid discussion with Shozib Khan, David Lund, and Chris Green on how hotel leaders stop flying blind and win in 2026. The panel explains why having the numbers alone is not enough and why shared data, forecast accuracy, and daily execution drive real performance across portfolios. They explore how operators align revenue, labor, CapEx, and culture, while democratizing financial insight from the boardroom to the front line. You will learn how better reporting builds confidence, sharper decisions, and sustainable profit without losing sight of people. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Bashar Wali, founder and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, shares an unfiltered look at what is shaping his thinking as the industry enters 2026. He breaks down the reality of flat revenues, rising labor and insurance costs, policy uncertainty, and why eroding margins feel more dangerous than an outright downturn. Bashar explains how uncertainty is freezing investment, delaying renovations, and reshaping owners' thinking about growth, debt, and risk. This conversation provides hospitality executives with a grounded view of what matters most right now and where disciplined operators continue to focus to survive tough cycles. Also see: The Next Wave of Hospitality: Trends, Brands, and Innovation - Bashar Wali, Practice Hospitality A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Heather Dunwoody, founder and principal of Hospitality in Bloom, shares how participatory experiences, community, and a strong sense of place create guest experiences people remember and return for. Drawing from her background across agencies, large brands, and hospitality, she explains why humans are starving for connection and how hospitality is uniquely positioned to deliver it. You’ll come away with a clearer perspective on how designing for connection builds stronger brands and more resilient hospitality businesses. A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Stacey Milgram Plotska, VP of Operations and Implementations at Actabl, shares how hotel technology delivers the best results when it’s set up and used the right way. This conversation is a deep dive into what needs to happen, including the implementation, onboarding, training, and systems required to support ongoing learning and adoption. Stacey breaks down how strong technology partnerships work, what hotel teams need to do to succeed, and where some organizations struggle. If you care about driving performance, empowering teams, and getting real value from your technology investments, this conversation offers a clear, practical perspective. Resources: Request a conversation with ActablRequest a product demoFast Track to Financial Visibility: How Commonwealth Hotels Quickly Activated ProfitSword Across More Than 40 HotelsFuture-Ready Hospitality: Hotel Equities Invests in the Actabl Platform to Scale with PurposeBetter Together: How We Aligned Hotel Operations, Staffing & Financial Performance with ActablHow Hospitality America’s CEO Ben Campbell Makes Work a Team SportThe Secret to Unlocking Performance: Your Technology Partner's Customer Success TeamThe Magic Wand Question: Building Digital Night Audit (and Hotel Tech That Matters) A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Walter Isenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Sage Hospitality Group, shares how his company thinks about “Sportspitality,” the intersection of hotels, mixed-use development, sports teams, and entertainment districts. He shares how projects tied to arenas and stadiums create amplified demand beyond traditional group, business, and leisure travel. The conversation explores real examples across professional sports, universities, and urban cores, including how hospitality plays a central role in placemaking. Learn more about Sage's McGregor Square project More with Walter: Hotels Are Splitting Into Two Completely Different Businesses - Walter Isenberg, Sage HospitalityThe Dana Crawford Playbook: How Risk, Storytelling, and Grit Built Iconic Hospitality - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality GroupCrafting Places Guests Remember: Inside Sage Studio’s Story-First Approach - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality GroupHospitality as a Catalyst: Revitalizing Cities with Walter Isenberg (Sage Hospitality Group)The Letter That Turned a Young Dishwasher into a Hospitality Leader - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality GroupRegister here to join Josiah on February 5th for a live call on how to run better portfolio reporting A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Walter Isenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Sage Hospitality Group, shares why his company forecasts labor down to the minute and tracks forecast accuracy at 30, 60, and 90 days out. You'll hear how forecast discipline directly impacts labor planning, cash flow, and investment returns in a business Walter describes as having "one-day leases." Resources: Hospitality Begins from WithinLearn more about the technology Sage uses: ActablWhy The National Forecast Is Your Starting Point - Jan Freitag, CoStar Register here to join Josiah on February 5th for a live call on how to run better portfolio reporting A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Walter Isenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Sage Hospitality Group, shares his reflections on 2025, the lessons he's bringing into 2026, and his perspective on the bifurcation in hospitality: commodity hotels moving toward automation and reduced staffing versus experience-driven hospitality, where people remain the competitive advantage. More from Walter: Hospitality Begins from WithinThe Letter That Turned a Young Dishwasher into a Hospitality Leader - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality GroupHow Sage Hospitality Enriches Lives Through Culture - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality GroupThe Dana Crawford Playbook: How Risk, Storytelling, and Grit Built Iconic Hospitality - Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality Group A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Jan Freitag, National Director, Hospitality Analytics at CoStar Group, shares why the national forecast should be your starting point -- and gives specific things you can do to find growth this year. Links: Isaac CollazoApple PodcastsSpotify Read Jan's latest articles for CoStarTeague Talks with Jan Freitag of CoStar GroupTariffs, Travel Disruption, and What Hotel Leaders Must Do Now - Jan Freitag, CoStarI-92/APIS Dataset A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Nazpari Aydin is the co-founder and managing director of Destination AI — the #1 hospitality AI event — which she built from scratch in just two years. In this episode, she shares why she created the conference, how she approached speaker selection and community building, and what she learned from bringing hospitality leaders, operators, and technologists into the same room. Register now for Destination AI 2026 You may also like: The Next Phase of AI Adoption Inside Hotel Companies - Stuart Greif A few more resources: start heresend me a message heresubscribe here for freeYouTubeLinkedInInstagramhere are the ways we can work together If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands