Advertise on podcast: The Turndown: The Podcast for Hoteliers

What does it take to build Europe’s largest hostel chain while keeping stays affordable? Oliver Winter, Founder & CEO of a&o Hostels, joins The Turndown to discuss the decisions behind its growth and how he’s responding to rising costs and changing guest expectations. The conversation explores: Growing from a 164-bed property in Berlin to 46 hostels across Europe. Protecting margins when guests are reluctant to pay more. Where guests see value, from social spaces to premium hostel experiences. Developing future managers and widening the talent pool. Connecting sustainability investments with operating savings.

What makes a boutique hotel a compelling experience and a strong business? Tim Ensmann, founder and managing partner of Boutique Hotel Fund, joins The Turndown to explain the thinking behind The PineTree Hotel’s transformation, from investing in shared experiences to building direct demand and predictable group revenue. He shares the decisions behind its reported 98% direct bookings, the challenges of financing an independent hotel, and how he’s taking the model into new properties.

Hotels are rethinking almost everything: technology, revenue management, distribution, AI, and how they compete for demand. But Caryl Helsel, Founder and CEO of Dragonfly Strategists, believes the industry cannot afford to lose one thing in the process: hospitality itself. In this episode of The Turndown, Caryl joins Sébastien Leitner to discuss: Why hotels invest in new technology but often fail to change the way they work How poor RMS configuration can quietly leave significant revenue on the table Why revenue management is evolving into broader commercial leadership What hotels need to consider before deflagging and going independent Why AI search could create a major opportunity, or risk, for independent hotels How something as simple as the wrong word on a website can make a hotel invisible to AI How AI can help hotel teams identify operational problems and remove repetitive work Where automation should stop, and why human hospitality still matters   Related reading: Revenue marketing: The future of profit-driven hotel growth 6 hotel marketing trends: How to prepare your hotel AI visibility checklist

Jason Edwards, Director of Hospitality & Advisory Services at Première Advisory Group, has spent more than two decades in hospitality and 15 years in project management, leading technology integrations, revenue initiatives, and complex hotel transitions. In this episode of The Turndown, Jason looks at what happens after a hotel decides to change its technology. From getting operational teams ready to navigating deflagging, distribution, and go-live pressure, he explains why the technology itself is only one part of making change work. Topics include: Why hotel tech decisions can outpace operational readiness What makes technology implementations succeed or fail The realities of deflagging and going independent All-in-one vs. best-of-breed technology stacks When hotels have too many systems What owners should actually ask vendors about AI Why marketing, distribution, and photography still matter Measuring the real value of each booking channel   Related reading: 24-hour implementation: How Première Advisory Group and Cloudbeds redefine hotel technology deployment Hotel management software implementation: How to migrate, train, and go live successfully

Hospitality futurist Simone Puorto joins The Turndown to challenge the hotel industry’s obsession with buying more technology. He argues that hotels do not need another layer of software, but fewer disconnected systems, better data, and a clearer understanding of where technology genuinely improves the guest and employee experience. The conversation explores key subtopics, including: AI and its real impact on hospitality Hotel tech overload and system fragmentation The future of search and booking Why some properties may benefit from simplifying their tech stack   Follow Simone Puorto: Linkedin Hospitalitynet Sign up for Simone's newsletter YouTube   Related reading: AI hotel management software: Why connected data matters more than features PMS integrations: What they mean for hotels in 2026 Guest profiles: The foundation of personalized experiences

In this episode of The Turndown, Ally Northfield, Managing Director of Revenue by Design and creator of the Global Revenue Forum, joins Sebastien to unpack what it really means for hotels to stay commercially relevant when the old signals are becoming harder to trust. The conversation moves beyond rate changes, dashboards, and distribution strategy to explore the bigger shifts reshaping hotel performance: uncertain booking patterns, shorter lead times, rising operating costs, changing guest behavior, AI-powered travel search, and the evolving role of OTAs. Ally argues that the next generation of revenue leadership will need to be more strategic, more communicative, and far closer to the guest than ever before. Together, they discuss why RevPAR may no longer be enough, why the cost of acquisition deserves more attention, how AI is changing the way guests discover hotels, and why commercial teams need to break down the silos between revenue, sales, marketing, distribution, and reservations. They also explore what hotels must do to attract the next generation of talent, and why hospitality needs to rethink how it presents itself as an industry. This is a timely conversation about commercial leadership, guest relevance, and the uncomfortable reality that hotels can no longer rely on yesterday’s patterns to make tomorrow’s decisions.   Related resources: What is hotel revenue management? The ultimate guide The new rules of hotel revenue management: 6 strategies to stay ahead in 2026 What’s next for the hospitality workforce: Experts weigh in

In this episode of The Turndown, Marie Pier Germain opens up about leading one of Canada’s most distinctive hotel brands through growth, succession, and change. She reflects on what it means to expand Germain Hotels without losing the family values, personality, and guest-first philosophy that shaped the company from the beginning. The conversation explores leadership, legacy, brand independence, design, and why hospitality still needs to feel deeply human.

In this episode, hospitality technology pioneer Ted Horner joins the podcast to challenge the status quo of the hotel industry. He argues that major hotel brands have essentially become marketing companies and warns that the sector is severely underinvesting in technology, allocating only 3% to 4% of revenue because vendors consistently fail to build strong ROI cases for owners. Horner also dives into the profitability crisis facing hotel owners, who are operating on tight 5% margins while massive Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) capture 15% to 20% in commissions. Looking toward the future, Horner shares his bold predictions on how the guest experience must evolve to perfectly balance high-tech efficiency with high-touch personal service. He forecasts the gradual elimination of the traditional reception desk, in-room landlines, and plastic key cards in favor of seamless, mobile-first solutions. Furthermore, he explores the impending artificial intelligence revolution—from commercial robots stepping in to alleviate the hospitality labor shortage to the rise of personal AI booking agents that could finally help hotels win back their direct bookings.   Related reading and resources: Ted's Technology Summit  Hotel Management Software Buyer's Guide 2026 The guide to hotel contactless check-in

A 15-year veteran of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Charlie Lopez-Quintana is now rewriting the rules of luxury hospitality at ETC Hotels, home to Shutters on the Beach and Hotel Casa del Mar. In this episode of The Turndown, Charlie shares why the future of luxury isn’t about scripts, stiff formality, or hiding behind a front desk. It’s about laid-back luxury — a more human, intuitive approach where leaders roll up their sleeves, teams are empowered to create unscripted moments, and technology supports hospitality without replacing its soul.   Resources: A guide to improving the hotel guest experience Guest profiles: The foundation of personalized experiences Enough one-night stands: A guest marketing playbook for driving repeat revenue   ----more---- About Cloudbeds Cloudbeds is the hospitality management system built for ambitious hoteliers who demand more. The Cloudbeds platform unifies operations, distribution, guest experience, and revenue marketing, giving operators a breadth of tools to capture demand, grow direct bookings, optimize pricing, maximize upsell revenue, and act on real-time intelligence within a single system. Designed to scale with independent hotels, large hotel groups, and multi-property portfolios, Cloudbeds is trusted by tens of thousands of properties in more than 150 countries. Founded in 2012, Cloudbeds is recognized as a top Hotel Management System, PMS, and Channel Manager — and Best Place to Work — by Hotel Tech Report for eight consecutive years.

In this episode, Vipul Dayal shares how he stepped into hospitality after his father-in-law’s passing, inherited a powerful family legacy, and made the bold decision to take a historic Days Inn in San Francisco independent just as COVID shut the world down. The conversation explores what it really takes to leave a franchise, build a brand from scratch, lead with purpose, and prepare teams for ownership. Vipul also opens up about his A.L.L. philosophy, advocacy, leadership, and legacy, plus his views on AI, TrevPAR, front-desk-free hotels, and why the future belongs to hoteliers willing to rethink the old playbook. ----more---- Resources: Cloudbeds' 2026 guide to hotel deflagging What is Total Revenue per Available Room (TRevPAR)? 10 best hotel software systems for independent properties   ----more---- About Cloudbeds Cloudbeds is the hospitality management system built for ambitious hoteliers who demand more. The Cloudbeds platform unifies operations, distribution, guest experience, and revenue marketing, giving operators a breadth of tools to capture demand, grow direct bookings, optimize pricing, maximize upsell revenue, and act on real-time intelligence within a single system. Designed to scale with independent hotels, large hotel groups, and multi-property portfolios, Cloudbeds is trusted by tens of thousands of properties in more than 150 countries. Founded in 2012, Cloudbeds is recognized as a top Hotel Management System, PMS, and Channel Manager — and Best Place to Work — by Hotel Tech Report for eight consecutive years.

What does it really take to lead when the pressure never lets up, and the conversations most leaders avoid become impossible to ignore? In this episode of The Turndown, Suzanne Speak, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Radisson Hotel Group, shares an unfiltered look at leadership through constant change, personal strain, and menopause, a topic the industry has long kept in the shadows. Suzanne breaks down what it means to lead while navigating invisible challenges, why silence around menopause is costing businesses more than they realize, and how leaders can build cultures where people don’t have to hide. From high-stakes decision-making to redefining resilience at the executive level, this conversation pushes beyond surface-level leadership advice and into what’s actually happening behind the scenes.   In this episode, Suzanne shares: Why menopause is a leadership issue, not a personal one What’s really happening across UK & Ireland hospitality right now How guest expectations are evolving and what operators are getting wrong Where AI fits and where it doesn’t in a human-first industry Lessons from running complex operations like stadium hotels The leadership mindset shifts that actually move careers forward Why stepping away might be the most underrated performance strategy

What does it take to keep hospitality from becoming just another commodity? In this episode of The Turndown, Bashar Wali, Founder and CEO of This Assembly and Practice Hospitality, shares why the future of hotels lies not in points or perks, but in the power of human connection.    Drawing on his experience as hotel developer, operator, and tireless traveler, Bashar challenges the industry to rethink loyalty, guest experience, and the role of technology. Discover why emotional intelligence is hospitality’s greatest asset – and how small, thoughtful moments can transform forgettable stays into lifelong loyalty.

What does it take to create a hospitality experience so unique that guests become your greatest advocates? In this episode of The Turndown, Brad Steward shares the philosophy behind Caravan Outpost, a place where intentional design and experiential travel collide. Drawing on his background as a snowboarder, designer, and brand innovator, Brad brings a unique perspective to hospitality. Discover how his philosophy of “rugged luxury” combines innovation, storytelling, and hands-on craftsmanship to deliver experiences that speak directly to his guests’ desires—making them his brand’s biggest advocates and fans.

How do you create a truly memorable hospitality experience that keeps guests coming back? In this episode of The Turndown, James Kendall LaRue, COO of LOGE, shares his journey from consulting to leading an innovative hospitality brand that prioritizes community and authenticity. With properties designed to get guests out of their rooms and connected with each other and the outdoors, LOGE blends technology and personalized hospitality to create memorable moments across its growing network of experiential stays.   Kendall discusses how LOGE leverages tech to streamline operations while empowering team members to focus on human-to-human interactions and shares insights on why authenticity and genuine care are the core competencies he seeks in leaders. With a unique approach to staffing, training, and community engagement, Kendall explains why true hospitality is about creating meaningful experiences, not just selling rooms.

How do you balance guest experience with data security in an industry built on personal connections? In this episode of The Turndown, Claudia Infante, Chief Data Officer at Margaritaville, shares her perspective on the evolving role of technology in hospitality—what’s working, what’s missing, and what needs to change.   From guest data management to AI and facial recognition, Claudia breaks down how hotels can leverage technology without losing the heart of hospitality. She also shares her thoughts on the next generation of industry leaders and why seamless tech integrations are still one of the biggest pain points in hospitality. Plus, we hear about her career journey from banquet server to hospitality tech leader and what earning a Lifetime Achievement Award means to her.