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In this episode of Suite Success, Katie Cline sits down with Steph Weber, founder and CEO of The Weber Co. and co-owner of Cabins on the Cumberland — a 12-cabin micro-resort on the river in Kentucky.Steph’s journey is anything but linear. She began her career in fashion, became a full-time influencer, lost access to her entire business overnight when she was locked out of Instagram, and used that moment to reinvent how she builds — and owns — her audience. Today, she runs a branding agency for hospitality operators, co-hosts short-term rentals, and co-owns a $2.7 million micro-resort. At the heart of it all? A belief that transformation stories sell better than finished products. In this conversation, Steph reveals how documenting the messy middle—the construction, the pivots, the uncertainty—creates emotional buy-in that turns followers into guests, email subscribers into direct bookers, and brands into movements. You’ll also hear how she and her husband are stepping off the “hamster wheel” of conventional life to travel full-time in a camper with their two young kids. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠ ⁠Connect with Steph:⁠ Steph's LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephweberbrandcoach/ ⁠The Weber Co.'s Website⁠: https://www.theweberco.com/ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, Katie Cline sits down with Peter Greenberg—Emmy Award–winning journalist, CBS News travel editor, and one of the most trusted voices in global travel. Together, they explore a wide-ranging, unfiltered conversation about journalism, hospitality and curiosity. From covering campus riots as a college student with a gas mask, to becoming the youngest correspondent in Newsweek’s history, to shaping how millions of people understand travel, Peter’s career has been anything but conventional. Along the way, he’s moved fluidly between investigative reporting, television, film, and travel journalism, always guided by a commitment to telling the truth rather than selling a story. In this conversation, Peter reflects on the lessons that have shaped his career, from frontline reporting and fact-checking to the responsibility that comes with being a trusted voice. He shares his candid perspective on the travel industry today: passenger rights, airline accountability, the role of AI and the future of hospitality. He offers listeners an unbiased look at how the industry really works. Whether you’re in hospitality, media, or simply a curious traveler, this episode offers insight you won’t hear anywhere else. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠ ⁠Connect with Peter:⁠ Peter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petergreenberg/ Peter's Website: https://petergreenberg.com/ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We’re sharing a preview of a new podcast from Skift called Skift Take Sessions. Skift Take Sessions is a weekly, journalist-led podcast built from the most important conversations shaping the global travel industry. Each episode features candid interviews with CEOs and senior leaders across airlines, hotels, and travel platforms, recorded live at Skift events and expanded with context around why the conversation matters now and what we learned. Hosted by Wil Slickers, the show brings listeners inside executive-level thinking from leaders at companies like Hilton, Expedia Group, Airbnb, JetBlue, and more. New episodes drop every week. Listen and follow Skift Take Sessions: Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/skift-take-sessions/id1871511773⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4oKApv7z0I65VpySjh9rqP?si=2e8f1e3e83e8459d⁠⁠ Skift.com: ⁠⁠https://skift.com/skift-travel-podcasts/

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Lori Mukoyama, Principal and Global Hospitality Leader at Gensler, to get a first look at Gensler’s 2026 Design Forecast. Lori shares the macro trends influencing design overall, and zooms in on the four biggest shifts set to shape hotels, resorts, and guest expectations in 2026 and beyond. With real-world examples from her more than 20 years in hospitality design, Lori brings these trends to life. She shares how hyper-personalization, offline luxury, wellness, and adaptive reuse are already reshaping everything from luxury resorts to neighborhood hotels—and what that means for operators, brands, and guests alike. This episode is brought to you by ⁠Lodgify! Connect with Lori: linkedin.com/in/lori-mukoyama-4a71a57 Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline interviews Rafat Ali, CEO and Founder of Skift, to unpack the forces quietly reshaping travel right now, and why the most consequential shift has far less to do with technology than most people think. Rafat traces the unconventional path that led him from journalism to building Skift into the world’s leading travel intelligence platform, sharing the pivotal decisions, near-misses, and moments of reinvention that shaped the company over the last 13 years. From breaking major M&A stories to launching what’s now known as the “Davos of Travel,” he reveals what it really takes to build credibility, trust, and longevity in a global industry. The conversation goes deeper into leadership and media, including why scripted executives lose audiences instantly, what separates great interviews from forgettable ones, and how authenticity—not polish—has become the most valuable currency in public-facing leadership. Most importantly, Rafat offers a macro lens on where travel is headed next. Rather than chasing the loudest trends, he argues that demographic shifts, global population changes, and evolving social behavior will have a far greater impact on how—and why—people travel in the years ahead. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and leaders who want to understand the signals beneath the noise—and stay ahead of the shifts already underway. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify! Connect with Rafat! Visit Skift.com to stay up to date with the latest travel industry news, trends, and insights! Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes back Chris Sanderson, co-founder of The Future Laboratory, to discuss the transformative role of AI in luxury hospitality in 2026. The conversation reveals key insights from a new report- New Codes of Luxury: Elevating the Hospitality Guest Experience with AI, produced in partnership with Together Group. Chris explains how AI can close the innovation gap in luxury hospitality, providing a competitive advantage and redefining service excellence. They explore how AI can elevate the guest experience by enabling curated discovery, seamless journeys, and personalization at scale. Chris emphasizes AI's potential to act as a leveler, allowing mid-range hotels to offer five-star service, and predicts a broader transformation across the luxury sector. The episode concludes with actionable takeaways to help industry leaders embrace AI-driven innovation, highlighting the importance of removing friction from the travel experience and anticipating guests' needs. Tune in for an eye-opening look at the future of hospitality and how brands can stay ahead in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Connect with Chris: Chris's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-sanderson-99b583/ Be sure to check out Chris Sanderson’s previous episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-5-trends-that-will-define-2025-according-to/id1771523488?i=1000682381749 Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rather than approaching the new year with generic goal-setting, this episode revisits the conversations that defined Suite Success in 2025. The moments that lingered. The insights that challenged conventional ideas of success. The lessons that revealed themselves not as sound bites, but as lived experience. Drawing from a year of interviews with founders, CEOs, editors-in-chief, and hospitality disruptors, this episode distills those conversations into ten New Year’s resolutions — each one inspired by a guest whose story reshaped how host, Katie Cline, thinks about fear, focus, reinvention, money, and meaning. Tune in to hear: Why confidence is built after doing the uncomfortable thing, not before How choosing the harder path now can prevent living someone else’s version of success Why reinvention is not a failure, but a feature of a fulfilling career The difference between being rich and being wealthy How focus creates long-term impact Why leaving space for the unexpected often leads to the most meaningful outcomes Whether you’re entering 2026 with clarity or uncertainty, this episode offers perspective, reflection, and a reminder that progress doesn’t always come from setting new goals, but from choosing intention over autopilot. Brian Kelly: https://youtu.be/MUcOkEMwmM4?si=i3QZpsG0JUzHLV2Z Gail Simmons: https://youtu.be/f7DLWdz2HjU?si=OoQ29YNllKHrot58 Keir Weimer: https://youtu.be/nN5gkC4K2l8?si=Hq-sgBSuU8m4mjmv Jacqui Gifford: https://youtu.be/1-2SkSLr1Pw?si=kCWpTueq-uY_FtSE Leo Ghitis: https://youtu.be/X_lTp6Jh8ag?si=zkZhoqKKxZGv-BIg Phil Mc Aveety: https://youtu.be/QTM5xdu_cBw?si=VQ4WUQno0pXC8IWE Caleb Silver: https://youtu.be/JotexwVOXtw?si=J5_9crr4IcKHu8S0 Richie Khandelwal: https://youtu.be/g9bG5lOQRYA?si=-plnutQ3Os_2GKc- Jasmine Seliga: https://youtu.be/XNid0dQiAlU?si=f7Wjkfuq06FV9dPh Dr. Brittney Conners: https://youtu.be/PGh3ZdnCzko?si=aNcEH_CGU2Nrny9m Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this special holiday episode of Suite Success, Katie Cline hosts a roundtable discussion with some of the leading voices in the hospitality industry, including Josiah Mackenzie of Hospitality Daily; Zach Busekrus from Behind the Stays; David Millili and Steve Carran from The Modern Hotelier; and Glenn Haussman of No Vacancy. The discussion reflects on the pivotal stories and trends of 2025, such as the completion of the restoration of the Waldorf Astoria New York, the degradation of loyalty programs, trade show fatigue, and the role of AI in hospitality. They also each share their predictions for 2026 including the impact of economic bifurcation, the ongoing evolution of branded short-term rentals, and how AI will reshape the workforce. This episode emphasizes the industry’s continued commitment to exceptional guest experience amidst a rapidly evolving landscape. Connect with the hosts: Josiah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahmackenzie/ Zach's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/ David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-millili/ Steve's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/modernhoteliersteve/ Glenn's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennhaussman/ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if the best hotels weren’t designed to keep you inside—but to get you out into the world? On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Mike Weiss, co-founder and co-CEO of Trailborn Hotels and Resorts, to unpack how he’s building a boutique hospitality brand around nature, experience, and intentional growth. Mike’s path to hospitality wasn’t linear. From investment banking and real estate private equity to early-stage startups and product leadership, his career ultimately converged on one clear insight: travelers don’t just want beautiful rooms—they want meaningful experiences rooted in place. Mike shares how Trailborn identifies iconic outdoor destinations, repositions existing assets near national parks, beach towns, and mountain towns, and designs hotels that act as a launchpad for exploration—not a retreat from it. Together, Katie and Mike discuss what takes to build a modern hospitality brand: balancing growth with quality, real estate returns with guest experience, and ambition with restraint. They also dig into co-founder dynamics, the realities of scaling in remote markets, and why clarity about your customer is one of the most powerful competitive advantages you can have. Connect with Mike: Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedweiss/ Trailborn Hotels & Resorts Website: https://www.trailborn.com/ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes Richie Khandelwal, Co-Founder of PriceLabs, the dynamic pricing and revenue management platform transforming how short-term rentals and independent hotels optimize revenue. Long before AI became mainstream, Richie was already building an AI-driven product to solve one of the most persistent challenges in hospitality: how to price intelligently, dynamically, and with confidence. Across their conversation, Richie shares the story behind PriceLabs, from a spare bedroom in Chicago to a tool used across thousands of markets worldwide. He discusses the early days of dynamic pricing in STRs, why the industry lagged behind airlines and hotels, and the technological shifts that finally made advanced pricing possible for everyday operators. Listeners will learn: How Richie’s global background shaped his philosophy on personalization and hospitality The origin story of PriceLabs and why “AI” had to be removed from the company’s early messaging How PriceLabs thinks about the balance between automation and human intuition The three characteristics Richie believes every hospitality entrepreneur needs Why failure is often the clearest indicator that someone is finally operating at their full potential This episode offers an inside look at the future of revenue management, the evolving role of AI in hospitality, and the mindset required to build something that lasts. Connect with Richie: Richie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richiekhandelwal/ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes Mark Andrus, the co-founder of Stacy’s Pita Chips, whose career path is one of the most unexpected and compelling stories in hospitality and entrepreneurship. Mark never set out to build a beloved consumer packaged goods brand. His original plan was far simpler: run a small food cart in Boston with his partner Stacy and, if everything went well, maybe open a restaurant one day. But when he began baking leftover pita into chips just to keep customers in line, he unknowingly sparked the idea that would shape the next decade of his life. After scaling Stacy’s into a national favorite and selling the company to PepsiCo, Mark didn’t retire or slow down. Instead, he picked up a backpack, set off across Central America and the Caribbean, and discovered 55 acres of untouched coastline on the Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. Fourteen years, countless setbacks, and a steep learning curve later, that land is now Ocama—a sustainable, design-driven boutique hotel surrounded by dense jungle and panoramic views of Rincon Bay. This conversation is a rare look inside the mind of a founder who has reinvented himself multiple times while staying committed to creativity, flexibility, and following his instincts. Ocama Website: https://ocama.com/ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline welcomes Dr. Brittany Conners, founder and CEO of Optimistic Theory, who has pioneered in-home silent retreats. Dr. Brittany shares the benefits of incorporating silence into daily life, especially during the hectic holiday season. The conversation explores practical, guilt-free methods to build quiet time into busy schedules, manage stress, and achieve clarity. Dr. Brittany also discusses her personal journey that led her to this path, the challenges faced, and her framework for rest and capacity building. Tune in for insights on setting boundaries, embracing rest, and making impactful changes in your personal and professional life. Connect with Dr. Brittany: Dr. Brittany's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brittany-conners-a6b48218/ Optimistic Theory Website: https://www.optimistictheory.com/ Thank you to this week's sponsors! Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when someone grows up across multiple countries, works nearly every job inside a hotel, and then spends 30 years rising through one of the world’s biggest hospitality companies? On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline is joined by a true global citizen: Gonzalo Aguilar, CEO for Europe and the Americas at Minor Hotels. Gonzalo shares how an international childhood—spanning Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Brazil, Spain, and the U.S.—gave him an early crash course in adaptability, culture, and human connection. He walks through his three decades at Marriott, including opening hotels in challenging markets, integrating the AC Hotels brand, and navigating the Starwood merger from the inside. Katie and Gonzalo dig into the business differences between asset-light giants and Minor’s asset-heavy model, how ownership perspective changes decision-making, and why testing, speed, and control look completely different when you own 84% of your portfolio. Gonzalo also breaks down Minor’s multi-brand strategy—from Anantara and Tivoli to NH and NHOW—and what today’s travelers are actually looking for in experiential and urban stays. They also touch on: -How early exposure to every job in a hotel shaped Gonzalo’s leadership style -Why curiosity, not a master plan, drove his career -What he learned moving between the U.S., Caribbean, South America, and Europe -Minor’s growth plans and the benefits (and pressures) of an asset-heavy model -How loyalty is evolving under the consolidated Minor Discovery program If you’re interested in the realities of global hospitality leadership, this conversation delivers an unfiltered look at the operational, cultural, and strategic decisions shaping hotels today. Connect with Gonzalo: Gonzalo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gonzalo-aguilar Minor Hotels Website: https://www.minorhotels.com/ Thank you to this week's sponsors! Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What really happens when an independent brand gets acquired by a global hotel company—and can it stay “boutique” after the buyout? On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Vicki Poulos, Vice President of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts, for an honest look at growth, scale, and authenticity in modern hospitality. With over two decades of experience, Vicki shares how her Greek roots shaped her creative instincts, how she built the Moxy Hotels brand at Marriott, and how she now leads some of IHG’s most iconic names. Vicki and Katie unpack what happens after independent brands are acquired, why “scaling” isn’t the dirty word people think it is, and how strong leadership and brand clarity can actually make both sides stronger. She also opens up about balancing personal growth with professional ambition, especially as a working parent in an industry that never sleeps. Connect with Vicki: Vicki's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickipoulos Thank you to this week's sponsors! Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline speaks with Diana Ossa and Josh Dobken, two professional architects turned passionate hoteliers. When they stumbled upon a 13-room, half-demolished motel in Palm Springs, most first time investors would’ve ran the other way. But where others saw risk, they saw potential. Drawing on their backgrounds in architecture and design, they transformed the property into Terra Palm Springs, a serene, wellness-forward boutique hotel that was recently named to Travel + Leisure’s It List. In this conversation, they share how they were able bring a new level of hospitality to one of the most saturated markets in the U.S. and how they believe that everyone has an unfair advantage-–it’s just a matter of finding yours. Tune in to hear: Why they walked away from two failed hotel deals before finding Terra How they used their design expertise to turn a gutted concrete shell into a sanctuary Why they built a brand rooted in grounded luxury and restorative calm The secret to balancing creative control with smart partnerships And, how they translated lessons from architecture into hospitality success We also dive into their predictions for the future of hotels, why wellness is the (not so) new luxury, and how thoughtful design and human connection can turn even the smallest property into a five-star experience. Connect with Diana and Josh: Diana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-ossa-sierra-aia-82237837/ Josh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-dobken-75417015/ Terra Palm Springs Website: https://www.terrapalmsprings.com/ Design Invest Fi Website:https://www.designinvestfi.com/ Thank you to this week's sponsors! Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠